Fiction Literature Books

I can't count the amount of times I was holding the tears back to keep from balling. Such a powerful story about sin, guilt, betrayel, and forgiveness. It's unbeleivable how the emotions toil page after page from anger to hatred to sadness and even love. This is brutal, there is no doubt, but it is a must read for anyone who appreciates humanity and the power of love.

My brother gave this book to me and urged me to read it. Although, not one of my usual choices, I got through it on the second attempt, and was glad that I did. What a beautiful place Afghanistan was before the wars and the Taliban ravaged the land and stole its identity. A beautiful story of family loyalties, friendships and youthful bliss gets blown apart as war raged and a horrific event drives a wedge right through everything that the subject 'Amir' held dear. Emigrating and starting anew in America with new hopes and dreams gets interrupted by a phone call and a return to the place he once called home to dire consequences. I was throughly engrossed in this book until the writer's return to his homeland where I found the events that unfolded to be quite cinematic. This left me somewhat disappointed as it moved towards a 'made-for-TV' movie where the plot became predictable. A fascinating and well-written story nonetheless, that I am glad to have been bullied into reading.

The Kite Runner is a very well written novel that portrays the hardships of life growing up in the floundering world of war-time Afghanistan. Khaled Hosseini uses perfect imagery and truth to show the reader the world of his childhood. He describes everything, even (or rather especially) the parts of his life that he regrets the most. He gives the reader all the insight into his thoughts and feelings so that one feels as if they are right there with him while he experiences hate, jealousy, fear, and love. His style of revisiting scenes from his past gives one the connections to everything in his past, and the understanding of how much one small instant can affect him in such an enormous way. The way Hosseini has of describing every detail of an event with perfect clarity sets an amazing mood that, despite the tragedy and hardship in the novel, is actually extremely hopeful and determined. He reveals how good he is inside by showing everything that he has done wrong, and how remorseful he is for every moment of it. He tells it in a light that illuminates him as a coward, but by admitting this, the reader sees him as a hero. He shows that he has done so many horrible things, but he acknowledges them as that, and he feels grief and regret for every moment in which he wronged someone else. Instead of just forcing himself to forget all the things that he regrets doing, he dwells on them, and continually hopes for a way to make it all better. Hosseini truly gives the reader the feeling of living his life with him, and through his wonderful writing, he gives one the chance to experience everything he lived for.

The books begins with Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman and his very close, but poor and illiterate friend, Hassan, flying their kites. Later on Amir and his father, Baba, escape the dangerous political termoil in Afganistan and move to America. They live in San Francisco. The author of the novel lovingly describes the orange colored Golden Gate Bridge and the city's early morning fog.

Amir betrays Hassan by leading his father and Hassan's father to believe that Hassan has stolen Amir's watch. The years pass. Baba dies and Hassan disappears. Hassan's son, Sohrab, is placed in an orphanage where he is severely abused by a number of the other children. I will not say what takes place, but some of the novel's most powerfully evocative and very nearly tragic events occur in the book. Amir's great guilt over his conduct towards Hassan, leads Amir to make amends for his behavior. I will say that it involves Sohrab and Amir's great efforts to rescue him from his grave circumstances. There is enough here to make a grown man cry.

Mr. Hosseini writing is always moving and very realistic, particularly related to the friendship of the two boys and that of father, Baba, and son, Amir. The author even ties up the story by ending it the same way it began--with other boys running their kites.

The book centers around an Afghan named Amir who as a child pretty much srews over his friend because of his weaknesses in Afghanastan then moves to America with his father and then lastly he has to go back to Afghanastan to save his friend's son to make up for the wrongs he has done. The first part of the book takes place in early 70's Afghanastan when it was doing pretty good and before the wars. I liked this part of the book the most because for one thing you get to see how nice Afghanastan was a few decades ago and you learn that there hasn't always been war over there or the Taliban. You don't really get to learn that much about the culture, or at least that's how I felt about it, but you get a little insight of it. Another thing is that I feel like this part of the book is more well written than the rest of the book because it seems more like an autobiographical account.

After Amir and his father move to America the story seems to lose steam and pretty much doesn't go anywhere for a while until he goes to Pakistan to meet his fathers old friend who sends him to Afghanastan to find his chilhood friend's son. I liked his visit back to Afghanastan because you get to see how horrible all the wars and the Taliban have transformed the once beautiful cities into wastlands. However during the middle part of the book there are a lot of coincidences which I was able to be okay with but with, because this is fiction, but some of them are just unbelievable. Another thing is that you could see what was going to happen way before it did.

Overall this is a decent book that gives a glimpse of Afghanastan past and present even thought the characters are ficticious and I wouldn't highly recommend it but I would recommend it if this sounds like your kind of book.

My opinion should matter very little here. What's important is that young kids absolutely love this book. All 3 of my sons loved this during the 1.5 to 3 years of age range. It's a great book for them to wind down in the evening. They love spotting the moon, the kittens, and whispering the word "hush."

It's easily memorized (as an adult reader). The illustrations are adequate, but the flow of words just does not do it for me. It's not something I would pick up to read for a child, but when they start clamoring "moon, moon," there can be only one response. Yes, you read it to them again (and again...and again...).

I do recommend it, but don't expect to personally love it, like I do with other books (like the Spot books).

For some reason, my child loves this book and it remains a favourite bedtime story book! I like reading it to him since it is soothing.

This is a very sweet book. I had to read it at least twenty times in the same week to my children. They love it. I highly recommend this book.

This book is no doubt a classic and I love it. However, I noticed a significant difference in the print quality of the older version I had checked out from the library and this new edition. There is less detail and the color is not as good. I checked out the library's copy to do some paintings of some of the illustrations as a gift for my nephew, so I noticed the differences right away. Perhaps this is the times we are in, or perhaps there are better quality publications out there, not sure how to find them. It didn't stop me from buying one for my friend though.

I bought this book for my daughter - in paperback, hardback, coloring book, etc.! This was her all-time favorite book growing up and now I'm buying it for her newborn son! That makes me really think this is a book "for generations".

I read the first story in this collection with a lump in my throat. The way Lahiri describes her characters and their stories is so simple, yet so incredibly heart wrenching that I found myself aching along with the characters. Her writing is amazingly simple, no overwrought descriptions or tediousness, but I just found myself gliding into her characters' lives and feeling all the emotions: the loss of loved ones, sadness, isolation and hope. I think her stories are so universal that everyone can find something to relate to. Read this book--you will not be disappointed. The stories and emotions will linger long after you put it down.

I thought The Interpreter of Maladies was good, but this is even better. I most often prefer reading novels, but I have enjoyed Lahiri's stories so much. The length of the stories of the stories has a lot to do with it. Most are 50-60 pages. The last 3 stories are especially compelling. They follow 2 characters at various times in their lives: when they are children, in adolescence and later in their 30's.

Highly recomended.

I don't know why but I found each story gripping...I was always disappointed when each story came to an end.

Jhumper Lahiri is doing for America's Bengali community what Saul Bellow, Isaac Bashevis Singer and Bernard Malamud did for the Jews of America-and Lahiri lives comfortably with these greats.
Five short stories of love in a foreign climate-Bengali's adapting to America-and three forming a novella of the unfulfilled love between Hema and Kaushik.
These are stories to savour,that are completely satisfying on every level.
This is writing of Nobel prize standard without a doubt.

As we've come to expect from Jhumpa Lahiri, this collection of eight short stories examines the immigrant experience in America, including the difficulties of adjusting to a new culture and workplace and the clashes between immigrant parents and their fully American children. Lahiri's stories, however, are not limited to immigrant issues but address global issues relevant worldwide: how we need our parents, how we develop our independence, and how we give up that independence to form lasting relationships. More than anything, these stories capture the search for a comfortable identity.

Lahiri's writing is rich with detail and complexity, making these short stories seem more like novels that end too soon. Lahiri's style is powerful. There's no sentimentality here but plenty of sensitivity and feeling. Many of these stories contain a hidden element or event of such significance that, when finally revealed at the end of the story, changes everything that came before. It's the shock of these surprising occurrences that makes each story a living, changing experience. Fabulous.

I was somewhat dismayed upon reading this book. I had heard so much about it that I couldn't wait to buy it. The author was on the Oprah show. Oprah and the audience led one to believe it was the best book ever written. Maybe it is just me, but it just wasn't my "cup of tea".
The story is o.k. but not even close to the hype that came out about it. I won't even bother buying the sequel, "World Without End". It may be my fault for thinking it was so great from listening to the Oprah show. I have bought other books she has recommended and have been disappointed. So maybe I should have known better.

I guess with all the hype, I expected more. At times it was a very boring read.

I couldn't believe how uncreative this story was. After hearing gushing praise from you know who I expected something better...much better. I found this story boring and predictable. I'm offended when an author can't create drama in a female story line other than repeatedly raping her. It doesn't pass as depth, drama or creative...and it doesn't get a free pass from this reader. Don't bother waiting for it to get better.

When I finally came to the conclusion that I was to read the Pillars of the Earth for my summer reading, I was rather skeptical that a near thousand page book, dealing with the construction of a cathedral could keep me inspired enough to read it. I was ineffably mistaken.

Ken Follet introduces the book in a scene that feels abruptly tossed at us, but is nevertheless a phenomenal foundation to the plot. Follet chooses to write the chapters, deviating from character to character. By the time you finish the first chapter, your enticed by one of the main characters, Tom. You simply cannot wait to know what follows the end of chapter, so naturally you'll eagerly begin to read the subsequent chapter and notice that the perspective has changed to another character. "What's this?" I couldn't help thinking angrily. I continued turning the pages, impatiently waiting for mention of the character that I just formed a bond with, and to my surprise, I quickly realized the current character is just as eloquent written and genuinely admirable as the previous. Follet uses this tactic throughout the novel that you ultimately come to understand and appreciate all the characters on some deep level, from Tom to Prior Phillip, William of Hamley, Aliena, Jack, Richard, Ellen, and Waleran Bigod.

The plot also becomes as gratifying in its authenticity as it's characters. The beautifully vivid world of 12th Century England becomes as genuine as today's society is to us. After reading a copious number of pages, it takes some effort to snap back to our 21th century society. Follet balances, although some may argue, the unfortunate events and the elations of the novel perfectly. It's the sorrows that characters experience that give us such powerful, jovial feeling when something finally goes right. Although it stands as the basis of the novel, the Cathedral of Kingsbridge stands for so much more. It's what continuously caused admiration and despair, till Jack's motivational ardor constructed the most magnificent cathedral in all of England.

The only negative thing that I can bring up about the novel is the incessant malevolent acts Bishop Waleran commits. His never ending plots to destroy Prior Phillip, although understandable to some level, become tiring by the last 20 pages of the book. I understand it as his personality, but it's terribly infuriating when the man simply won't quit. All the better I suppose, for the satisfaction of the conclusion.

Far from the trite novel that I was expecting, The Pillars of the Earth has actually given me insight on certain inscrutable things about life. I will inevitably, I'd think, always admire the characters and words descended me within another world. This truly is epic.

I'm only part way into reading this book - but it's one of those that I can't put down. Not only is it well written, but it is also a fascinating study of the period and a well developed cast of characters. I'm thoroughly enjoying Pillars of the Earth.

Wonderful voyeuristic thrill of reading other people's lover letters, without the shame or guilt. But even more than that, this book will pull you into the world of the lover and the loved. Makes a great read, and would be an excellent gift. Read it in bed together, just like Carrie and Big did!

Great Book. Well written. History fans will enjoy this book as well. Can't wait until volume 2 is written.

This book is a wonderful collection of deep and inspiring feelings of love and intimacy. There are many beautiful heart warming letters, as well as tragic stories of love gone awry. It's truly astonishing to have a voyeuristic look into the real lives and souls of writers, presidents and explorers we have heard about since childhood. This is not just made up, but real life (and real love), with all its twists and turns. There is an immense range of letters and feelings, all of them enjoyable to read. I love reading a new one every night

I have seen the "Sex and the City" movie several times. This book has all the love letters that Carrie and Big read each other in the movie. It looks to me like the book that Carrie reads in bed. Maybe the book was just inspired by the movie, which came out the same day. Either way, this book is very beautiful and romantic.

I especially enjoyed learning the details of each writer's life. It's amazing how passionate some of our greatest leaders really were. I also love the illustrations, which make me feel like I'm going back in time.

My favorite letter was from John Keats, who (I learned from reading the book) died from consumption at the tender age of 26. While separated from his true love in his dying days, he wrote:

"You could not step or move an eyelid but it would shoot to my heart--I am greedy of you--Do not think of any thing but me. Do not live as if I was not existing--Do not forget me--But have I any right to say you forget me? Perhaps you think of me all day.

"Have I any right to wish you to be unhappy for me? You would forgive me for wishing it, if you knew the extreme passion I have that you should love me--and for you to love me as I do you, you must think of no one but me, much less write that sentence. Yesterday and this morning I have been haunted with a sweet vision--

"I have seen you the whole time in your shepherdess dress. How my senses have ached at it! How my heart has been devoted to it! How my eyes have been full of tears at it! Indeed I think a real Love is enough to occupy the widest heart--Your going to town alone, when I heard of it was a shock to me--yet I expected it--promise me you will not for some time, till I get better. Promise me this and fill the paper full of the most endearing names."

Amazing, heartbreaking, wonderful! Have to stop now, and go read it again

Before I read this book, I always had a stereotype about men, that it is not easy for them to express their feelings. This book has reversed my impression. In fact, a man can fluently convey passion to his loved one. Each love letter in this book was like a complex of musical notes, that accelerated the most affectionate feelings when I was reading it. Some letters gave me cheers; and others gave me tears. I would wonder to whom each love letter was written, and what's their love story? In this book, the author gives the circumstance, an explicit background to satisfy those wonders. It is so well written that I am not only recommending it to men, but also to women. No matter how strongly we desire to be loved, we will not fulfill it unless we believe there can be someone who loves us so endlessly and unconditionally. This book gives me that assurance. Fabulous book to read.

I only got half way through before life got in the way. It was an interesting read and I'm hoping I can get back to it soon.

The abridged audio version of this book, as read by Edward Herrmann, is an astounding piece of literature, a piece of pop culture, and must read to understand the philosophies of free market economics, liberty, and capitalism.

The story is a dystopic account of the fall of American civilization because of a strike of the people of the mind because of people known as the looters who look to interfere with their ability to make money and profit, and redistribute the wealth of those who created it. The more the government interferes in the economy, the more things fall apart and more men of the mind begin their strike.

Edward Herrmann does perhaps the best job of reading a book that I've ever heard. It is unobtrusive, yet forceful, and he does a great job giving voices to individual characters.

If you can't read the book, have it read to you! This is a rare 5 star review!!

I read that book about seven years ago because I was intensely curious about Ayn Rand and her books. So many people waiting for the bus or riding one seemed to be into her books so I bought a hardback edition and started reading it. I could not stop reading it and turning the pages. When I came to the last page, I was so terribly disappointed that the marvellous story had to come to the end. I WANTED MORE!!!

That book made me see how the material value is determined and how it is diminished by the intensive governmental intervention as well as the corporate interference.

The strong parallel between the society as depicted in the 1957 book and the society in reality is astoundingly accurate. You owe it to yourself to read this book as to understand the financial crisis of 2008 better.

Ayn Rand does understand the economy and its ramification on the modern society so splendidly. She also told it very brilliantly.

I shan't reveal who is John Galt and what is the "motor" that moved the world.

A long read, but Ayn Rand tells the story of today's America. Politicians stay in power by redistributing wealth. Achievement is penalized, mediocrity is rewarded, and the country spirals down. Hmmm, sound familiar?

Loved it. Gave copies to all of our six children.

A must read...truly. Especially in this election year.

The very instant you hear someone saying "She thinks so-and-so because in the end it's better for humanity" stop the conversation, because that person has either not read the book, or did not read it closely.

Ayn Rand's philosophy attempts to destroy the common trends in modern and contemporary philosophy who claim either there are no moral absolutes, or there are no absolute truths in reality. The claim is that in both instances there are absolutes, and we can know them.

Yes in this novel the characters are unrealistically good at everything, (good looking, can fly airplanes, incredibly intelligent, etc. etc.) Many people have taken this to be a sign of naivety in her writing. To those people I suggest you look at your premises of what constitutes "naive." Ayn Rand tries repeatedly to show that excellence is something to be loved, not flaws.

This sort of theme is present in all Greek epics, and in fact to the Greeks the very definition of "Hero" is something absolutely indistinguishable from what we typically see in our culture today. To the Greeks, heroism was practically synonymous with today's highly successful businessman. They attained wealth, and fame/glory. Yet the very same literary minded people who attack Atlas Shrugged for this precise theme will write entire dissertations on Greek epics, usually in extremely high regard.

The difference is a change of setting, and the philosophy of the person reading the book. She wanted to bring back the values which brought out the best in an individual, where all around her were novels which said that people are to be loved for their flaws, and that one should be GUILTY for loving something for how good it is.

This is only one aspect of the book, but an important one.

As for the economic themes, if you disagree with anything said in the book I only have to direct you to the American economy today. Banks are being seized and sold by the government, hundreds of billions of dollars (forcefully seized from its citizens) being spent to bail out banks (And should I add that in the beginning the banks were forced to take on these subprime loans, or else be sued for 'economic discrimination' and face other fines/legality issues. I know no other way to determine who to give a loan to except for 'economic discrimination' ) Smoking bans for private property, private property seizures.. the list goes on.


I think it's very unfortunate that people will read this book and leave it with such a deep rooted misunderstanding of it, when I approached this book I thought that I understood Ayn Rand's philosophy (at the time I was a libertarian) but I realized that I had everything absolutely wrong, and I had to go on a personal quest to figure out right and wrong practically from the beginning. This book changed me from pragmatism, (The exact antithesis of "absolute" the most subjective philosophy to exist) and showed me a way to live my life and be supremely happy with my accomplishments. I've never been happier in my life, and I only intend to continue accomplishing and bettering myself. Why? because I want to.

That's what this book has done for me.

Pop-up books don't work that well for children. It is a rare child who can be trusted alone with one, and they all want to use them by themselves -- who wouldn't? There is no coolness like the coolness of a pop-up book. For someone who writes, they can be the avatar of the goal -- to have things leap off the page for the reader.

When you reduce what makes pop-up books amazing to the least common denominator, you have ABC3D. Here, magically alive, moving and turning and changing, are the operative agents of literature -- letters. They have depth and shape. They have character.

ABC3D makes you remember all over again how and why you first fell in love with words. You can get it for a kid who's at that point in their life, and sit with them to enjoy it -- or you can get it for you.

Really. You can.

I was in awe when I opened this amazing pop-up book. It is a three-dimensional look at the alphabet that stands alone in excellence. The cover is holographic. You are intrigued right away as your eyes feast upon a shiny red cover that changes its letter upon movement, but the real pleasure awaits you inside the pages of this work.

Within you will find the alphabet set before you with the most imaginative use of paper that I have ever seen. With the flick of your hand or the movement of a page one letter will turn into another, one spins around, the letter B slides out to greet you. Every page is an exciting surprise, an adventure for your mind and a morsel of delight for your eyes. Children learning their alphabet will be encouraged to look at this book over and over again. It has a drawing power like none other that I have seen. Adults as well will not be able to resist the urge to study each letter and be in awe at the imagination of this author.

I am impressed and am proud to give this book a hearty recommendation. New invocative work that every household would benefit from having, definitely an investment that will continue to bring pleasure and learning for years to come.

This is an elegant art book. It is not a children's book. The book is printed using only black, white and red with no pictures at all. The pop-ups are beautiful and very clever.

This is a really cool Alphabet pop-up book! The cover is one of those optical plates (sort of holographic), where what you see changes depending on what your angle of approach is.

Kids of all ages love this type of stuff, but to test it out I not only gave "ABC3D" to my own two children -- currently 6 and 8 years old -- but I loaned it to my son's kindergarten teacher from last year. The response was overwhelmingly positive. (The teacher wanted to know where she could get her own copy, and my kids kept clamoring to get the book back, so they could play with it some more.)

One of the reasons for the book's popularity is that the pop-ups are clever. While generally speaking each letter sits between it's own two pages, there are some clever variations that keep kids guessing. "C" becomes "D" , for example, when the C flops over and a previously hidden vertical bar becomes the upright part of the "D". Similarly, pulling the page taunt, turns E into an F. And O and P have a special transparency page with two slanty-bars that remake them into Q and R. But if you have time, look at the video and see for yourself.

As with all pop-up books, I would suggest that "ABC3D" be used with parental help. Toddlers and Preschoolers and even Kindergartners can be really rough on paper.

This book shows you that thinking outside the "box" can truly be illustrated so inventively here that not only will any age enjoy it,
but it makes you reflect. This small book is a great coffee table book, great for a small group show n tell and great just to
relax with from time to time. What I enjoyed about the book is that seeing the transformation of the letters in various formats makes one think about life's options. When you look at something, letters or anything else , how many different ways can it be reinvented- repurposed, effectively and creatively. I enjoyed how the letters are morphed so that they have a fluidity and a beauty to them. I think this book is great for the elementary teacher who is teaching penmanship to add a little whimsy to learning. Great for the art teacher or fashion instructor whose trying to get the students to look at other creative options. If your are creative I think it could even be used as the back drop for a good bed time story for parents to use with kids to show them creativity as well. If your not into being creative visually, the book definitely will show you that if you put your mind to it, you've got so many more options than the old standards. Look around in your world and see it differently.

The most action-packed book of the series-interesting histories of the Cullen family and Jacob's tribe members.

I love all of her books, this one is also a great read for many different reasons. I know other reviews in the past had a hard time warming up to Bella. I really liked her in the first two because she was young so I cut her a bit of slack with being indecisive and just not really knowing what was going on. In this book I feel like the maturity difference between Edward,Jacob(who's even younger than her) and Bella was a bit much. They seem so much older and self sacrificing and she just comes off acting very childishly. I guess I just wish she would man up a bit. It seems like every time she tries to be all self sacrificing and "brave" it's really just to admittedly manipulate one of the two guys. I guess we're just supposed to accept that she's just so freak'n great (even though she's kinda winey, and not that pretty) that the world revolves around here. Besides my problems with Bella this is a wonderful book and I can't wait to get into the 4th one to see how everything gets tied up. All of the other Characters are great, and Bella's not that bad I guess I just can't really identity with her.

The book was written well, but as other reviewers have stated this book is NOT for the middle aged man. This book seems more suited for teenage women. So I gave it a 4 star because the writing was hoever impressive.

I absolutely loved this book and of course, the entire series! They were absolutely incredible and I NEVER got to a point in the book that I didn't want to read more.

I love all the books and the author definatly got better at each book. Have recommended to friends and family and have loved them as well. Even though we do not fall into the "designed" graphic of teens, we are more like the author, and since she wrote it for herself I guess we fall into her graphic. Looking forward to the movie, looks like it may stick to the book close.

This book was great for a few reasons...

Theme - a utopian society will always be relevant and always be thought provoking. Especially when its well written like The Giver is. I find the theme to be incredibly interesting, especially since I have only ever read one other similar novel which was 1984.

Size and syle - It was short, very easy to read and follow. The thing I liked about it is that even though its technically a young adult novel, it can be read by all ages.

The characters were interesting. The plot was fast paced and engaging.

Overall, its a must read for all ages.

Lois Lowry's The Giver has just made my top-ten list of favorite books. Although I am a senior in college, this is the first time I have ever delved into the intriguing world of The Giver, and I found it fascinating.
The story revolves around a young boy named Jonas. Jonas has grown up in a supposedly perfect society where no one experiences pain or suffering and no one has to make their own choices. Everything about their lives is carefully controlled, from how they wear their hair, to their jobs within the community and their assigned spouses. At the beginning of the book, Jonas is about to become a twelve and receive his assignment within the community. Jonas learns that he has been selected to be the new receiver of memories. The giver is the man who currently holds those memories, and he begins to give some of those memories to Jonas. As Jonas receives these memories, he learns of a long forgotten world, a world full of pain, full of sorrow, full of color, full of joy and full of love. It is as he begins to learn about things such as sunshine, war, holidays, and family that he begins to realize what is missing from the society he lives in--depth of feeling and the ability to make choices for oneself. Jonas struggles as he tries to adjust his new knowledge in to the perfectly ordered society that he lives in. And the more he thinks about how things were, and how they could be, the more he begins to wonder if things can change.
I gave this book five stars for two reasons. Number one, as a life-long lover of books, I particularly enjoy reading a story that is very unique, even for its genre. Although one could argue that The Giver is similar to other dystopian novels such as 1984 or Anthem, I thought that Lowry's approach was quite original. The second reason that I loved this book is because it was thought provoking. It truly made me ponder the importance of choice, the necessity of experiencing pain and sorrow to understand true joy, and the significance of feeling and being loved. Unlike other dystopian novels, this book didn't seem to be a political statement or a warning of what society could become, but rather just a story that raises questions about what is most important, and what a perfect society truly is.

I found the book intriquing, perhaps a little rushed towards the end, but intriquing and thoughtful.

Lois Lowry has created a world to think about. What if we could all live together happily, politely? Lots of people think we can, but as we are all different could we. Would we have to take those basic of human emotions and suppress them beneath drugs and courtesy. Would we stop hunger by the simple expedient of choosing how many could procreate and who would live once they're done. Would we stop seeing the differences between ourselves by denying them? And is this society unrealistic? I think with the right circumstances, we could be there and that's what makes it frightening.

An excellent book by an excellent author.

In a self-contained community lives eleven-year-old Jonas. This community differs from real life settings. Citizens receive primary duties and adhere to community's regulations. Transgressors are chastised regardless of their age. There is uniformity in everything, from appearance to experience. Freedom does not exist because no one is aware of it. Religion is also nonexistent yet everyone lives in harmony because there is only one group called "the elders" who decide what is right and wrong; what is good and evil. Every child who turns twelve acquires a vocation suitable to his or her capacity and personality. Upon reaching the age of twelve, Jonas is assigned the single most important role, the giver. However, during his training Jonas discovers that outside the community there is life completely discordant from what he is exposed to. That people in this kind of life experience all sorts of emotions foreign to him. Finally, Jonas makes sudden decision to escape.

This is a valued reading for youths and adults as well. The repercussion of Jonas' escape is a healthy fodder for dialogue between parent and child. As part of his Language Arts project, my son has to make a movie poster based on a particular story. Co-incidentally, he picked up this book. Not only he and Jonas are the same age, they also have similar disposition.

This book sets the stage for a utopian society, and it's very believable. Who's to say that this couldn't really happen sometime in the future? However, what I really liked about this book, is that once Jonas found himself, he wasn't afraid to take action and stand up for what he knew was right. Loved it. The first time I read it was the sixth grade, and I still enjoy it. It's one of my favorite books of all time, it's a relatively quick read for an adult, but it really makes you think.

What was reported of the book by the seller was true and was delivered on time.

Because this is one of the most heavily reviewed books on Amazon, I will not at this late date attempt to do a comprehensive review. I'll merely focus on one reason this is such an important book and then comment on one odd yet persistent misreading of the novel.

First, this is the first novel that was written with the narrative voice of a disgruntled youth. In fact, one of the most amazing developments in the 1950s was the birth of Youth. Before the fifties there was no sharp chasm dividing young and old. There were, of course, differences between being young and being older, but the main difference was mainly that you were merely younger, not that you embraced a completely different culture. CATCHER IN THE RYE anticipated everything that was about to happen in youth culture within the next few years. No novel had been written in slang before, at least not in youth slang. You would be a very rich man or woman if you could count the number of times that Holden says something like "I'm not kidding" or "I can't stand it." Salinger's genius for maintaining a consistent narrative voice from beginning to end is unquestionably one of the novel's greatest claims to fame.

The second thing I wanted to mention is the rather bizarre turn that so many people consier Holden Caulfield a hero. If anything is clear in the novel, it is that Holden is a profoundly troubled, disturbed, emotionally stunted and sick individual. The events he narrates are cleary done so in a mental health institution. For all his railing against phonies, no one in the book is as phony as Holden. To appropriate the language of existentialism, he lives a completely inauthentic life. But sadly the only person who calls him on the pathetic existence he is living is his teacher that Holden suspects of making sexual overtures near the end. But clearly the events in the novel presaged some kind of emotional collapse. Holden at age 17 in the mental institution writes about significant events leading up to his collapse at age 16. That anyone could view Holden as a role model or a hero is unfathomable.

I reread this because I'm about the read the Frank Portman novel KING DORK, in which CATCHER IN THE RYE features prominently. I had not read CATCHER since college, but I was pleased to discover that it was as excellent as I remembered it being. I wouldn't rate it as one of the greatest books that I've read, but it is unquestionably one of the most important American novels of the past century.

I don't see how so many people rated this book so highly. I spent precious time reading this, that I'll never get back. If you want to waste your time reading about some stupid, snotty kid's boring experience in New York, then go ahead, read it. This book is not a classic and all copies should be burned out of existence, they really should.

This is the kind of book that people of all ages remember their whole lives. It's indescribable how the story can sweep you off into Holden's life, the angst he feels, and the time in which he lived. Truly a great work that is worth reading if you have not and worth reading again if you have.

At the risk of offending all the fans--this book should not have been banned because of the cursing or the sexual references. It should have been banned because it is uninteresting and tortuous to read. The sentences and the dialogue are so annoying they make me want to punch Holden Caulfield myself. I understand that was what the author was going for, but it doesn't make it any more palatable. I also understand that the novel was groundbreaking in its time. Regardless, I lost interest about 70 pages into the book and moved on. This is no classic.