Fiction Literature Books

A true classic of adventure with real name places for authenticity. Only one place on earth, Iceland, can be the beginning point for such a fanastic venture. Even the early versions on screen added Hollywood schlock to ruin this fantastic story. Read this book, have an atlas handy, and escape. For more fun, become familiar wih the "Hollow Earth Theory".

I'm a dissapointed ten year old rating this book. Up until the end it
Was probably one of the best books I've ever read. It was full of adventure and excitement, but then I got to the end. The book did not live up to it's name. It would be more appropriately called "Journey Almost to the Centre of the Earth. I recommend this book only to people who like major dissapointments.

Go get the music CD "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" by Rick Wakeman right after you read this great little book by Jules Verne. You won't be sorry.

I bought this book for my 9 year old son and he really liked it.

If you are looking for a English translation of JTTCOTE that is faithful to Verne's French one, this one (and a couple others) has been recommended to me by members of the North American Jules Verne Society ([...]). Verne has been poorly translated since the novels were first published and he has received unfair reviews based on those poor translations. I think we owe it to this brilliant man to at least read his books the way he intended them!

This is a must have resource for anyone required to use APA format for papers or publications.

This purchase was required by my grad school program. I am taking a class with a psychotic ex-English teacher. For instance we had to take a 35 question quiz on APA (I received a 34/35 thank you and thanks to this book:-) and it was an Intro to Teaching course...but anyway that is another story.

I was actually glad to have this book though once it arrived because it's everything, and I mean everything you could ever possibly encounter with regard to APA format, it's just exactly the information you need. Concise and to the point, with no unnecessary fluff. And because of its size it is really easy to carry around and flip through.

Also I recommend buying this on Amazon.com because they by far have the cheapest price (I checked 3 different places), no tax because I'm out of state and this is an online purchase and no shipping charges (for standard shipping on orders of $25+).

(Down with the Campus Bookstore! :-) I love Amazon; I've been a customer for a few years now and could not be more satisfied. They bring me joy!

This guide covers most of the APA basics, but I found one place where it differs from the APA Publication Manual. A period in an intext reference was misplaced. My professor caught the mistake when I followed this guide's placement. It is, however, very handy and fits in a brief case nicely so I use it often.

After a 'vacation' I have gone back to school for my Masters.This little book is very helpful in citing and referencing.The sample refs inside the back cover make checking your references quick and easy. It is able to lay flat so you don't hold it open while using it. I find that thoughtful on the publisher's part. The sample paper's are nice too. They are a good review and also remind you that you will eventually have a finished paper that looks like an educated person wrote it. My Pocket Guide is at my elbow as I write this review because I just finished a paper and now I'm buying one of these for my best friend who just started back into a Bachelors program.

The Pocket Guide to APA Style by Robert Perrin was
recommended by the Chairman of my dissertation
committee as the "must have" for completing a
dissertation. The Pocket Guide became an excellent
tool giving a quick reference for formatting my
dissertation as well as other research papers.
Dr. Carol Hendrix

I have really enjoyed reading the Honor series and was super excited when Word of Honor came out. It did not disappoint! Although the story does seem a little repetitive at times, it is well written and shows excellent character development. I love this series because I love reading about Blair/Cameron and Stark/Savvard's growing relationships. Who doesn't love a good romance? Now I have to wait for the next one!

There are so many wonderful characters in WORD OF HONOR.

Radclyffe did a great job developing Cam and Blair's entourage.
I love the way these women all support each other. Even if one messes up, the others are there to pick up the slack.

I Like how Rad develops the mysterious Valerie and the OH SO FINE newcomer, Dana.
The interaction between the news reporter, Dana, and the alluring scientist, Emory, is done flawlessly.

There is always something happening in this novel - some new event to wonder about.
Yes, it IS fast paced! The adrenalin rushes as Rad describes the enemy and brings the reader into his 'camp'.

If reading about powerful women trying to find the enemy isn't entertaining enough, one is then dropped into Cam and Blair's Rocky Mountain wedding, where LOVE is the happening assignment.

If only I could talk about the ending! It must have had Radclyffe glowing when she thought of it. It's clever, inspiring, terrifying, powerful, heart stopping, take a breath now, kind of ending. One of the best yet.

I think Rad has mined the last gold from these characters. I'm glad she tied up most of the loose ends, but if there is another book, I think it will be one book too many. I found myself thinking that the protective arm of the Secret Service is seldom called to fire their guns in this country (much less every six months). The problem with writing fiction that parallels contemporary happenings is that it is difficult to do it without treading on reality and putting some of what we wish will/had happpened in the fiction. It is another good read, but I'm glad the series seems to be at an end. Yes, I know that there are other stories that could be told because she has so many characters that we care about, but for the nonce they should be allowed to live their lives in our imaginations and not on the printed page.
One question: How did Ellen Grant (first two books) morph into Ellen Marks in this book? If she took her husband's name or went back to her maiden name a nit-picker like me would like to know.

I was so looking forward to this new arc into the lives of Cam and Blair and hoping this is where Cam gets to be the great agent she is supposed to be and bring down the bad guy. Disappointed again. She's turned Cameron into a whimp who cowtows to Blair. I'm ashamed to say Radclyffe has turn the series from suspense to smut. She has lost her objective of the secret service agents, which is to get the bad guy, not jump each others bones every five seconds. And another thing, this story was so short it was more like a school essay than a novel. I'm tired of these writer's getting away with less than 300 pages and some of the pages are blank. Here it is, you wait for almost a whole year for the sequel and its over in two days. I hope this is the last of this series. The characters could have been so much more.

I am truly an avid reader and love Radclyffe as much as the next lesbian, but this series is starting to wear on me. I mean come on how much physical abuse, i.e being shot etc. can Cam take book after book and how much action can the reader be made to read. I am getting to the point where it is hard for me to believe the story line anymore. It is starting to get too far fetched for me to believe. I really do enjoy Radclyffe's ability to write in the here and now, but this series has been there and done that and I really think she needs to wrap it up soon.

Robert Whitlow has yet to disappoint. I was a little surprised at the ending because our culture conditions us to expect the worst outcome but sometimes by the grace of God, justice, mercy and right wins. I can't wait for the next Tides of Truth novel.

I was looking for this book in my regular book club and was not able to get it. So I was so tickled when I took a chance and found it at Amazon.com. Thank you so much and for the quick service as I got the book in only a few days. Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors and I was dying to read his newest book.

Christy Award-winning author and attorney Robert Whitlow combines his professional expertise, Bible knowledge and strong faith to deliver DEEPER WATER, a legal drama set in the South. Like his character's aluminum johnboat, the storyline drifts slowly along for the first half as the scene is set and characters and complex relationships develop. Though this portion of the book lacks any page-turning action, it serves to bring us into the sharp mind and faithful heart of Tammy Lynn Taylor, a law student whose family ties and convictions will navigate her through the challenges of a summer internship at a prominent Savannah law firm.

In the prologue, we meet Moses Jones, a southern black man whose home is a piecemeal wooden shack on the Little Ogeechee River. His life is little more than a routine of collecting cans from town during the day and fishing by night. For all the world, Moses anonymously leads his simple life without a care. Below the surface, however, he conceals a secret that weighs heavy on his heart --- a secret that sometimes brings "faces" to the surface of the river's black water. When Moses is arrested for tying his johnboat to private docks at night, his case is put in the hands of a sweet, intelligent legal intern.

Tammy seeks the Lord's guidance in everything and follows through by opening her heart to His responses. As she traverses the murky waters of her profession, Tammy glides into Moses Jones and quickly uncovers a scenario far more sinister than a poor old man illegally tying his battered boat to people's docks. She wonders about his "faces in the water" and questions whether or not he may have put them there.

Further research leads Tammy to an unexpected source: the elderly woman with whom she is living for the summer. As more and more clues are revealed, Tammy is sure that the senior partners of her law firm are tied to her client in a cold case involving the murder of a young girl. Her friendships with three co-workers are complex, and doubts arise as to whom she can trust. Answered prayers and an interesting twist set the record straight as Whitlow ties it up in a neat little bundle, still leaving the readers to ponder a relational question.

Tammy's deep-rooted conviction is evident in every move and conversation, whether or not it leads to stares, persecution or simply awkward moments. Unwavering in her faith and as obedient to her parents as she is to God's laws, Tammy is almost unbelievable as a character. That said, I have to add that she is inspirational as well, and may lead readers to pause now and then for some self-reflection of society's influence on their own spiritual journeys.

--- Reviewed by Susan Miura

This is Whitlow's best writing yet. It's another "can't put it down" book that will appeal to both men and women, and should make another excellent film (be sure to catch The List, which is now out on DVD)!
I look forward to the second and third novels in this series, to see how Tami will develop her own faith and character.

Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors. I can't wait until the "next" book comes out. I have all of Mr. Whitlow's books (most of them signed) and have enjoyed everyone. I have met him several times in person and found him to be a very gracious person. It is uplifting to read his caliber of books. I could not put Deeper Water down until I finished it in the second afternoon.

This book was just made for grandmoters to share with their grandchildren. Mine loved it and we spent a great deal of time discovering new things among the intricate work of the children, their clothes, bugs, etc. It is a delight.

This is a beautiful book showcasing an extraordinary quilt although one need not be a quilt aficionado to love and appreciate it. It is my favorite gift for a young child, or any adult who loves quilts or children's books or fairytales.

I found this book and story so enchanting!

Everytime I look at the fotos of the actual
quilt - I see something new and am thrilled.

My only regret is that there is not more of
the wonderful fotos and story....

What a treat!

Beautiful book! I love this children's book and am also a quilter so I enjoy having this work of art all the more!

This book is worth every penny for the close-ups of the quilt used in the illustrations. This is a very pleasant story of the earths renewal. Not too long and not too short, it should hold a young child's attention very well.

I think the book is a great resource, easy to understand and purchased well. I would highly recommend this book.

National Geographic has taken their award winning atlas to another level with the current revision. Whether you are a teacher, student, or parent, this atlas will open the world in a manner that is fascinating, informative, and enjoyable.

This book is an excellent reference guide for a geographical understanding of the world. I travel a great deal and I consult this book before I go; it's a big help.

I bought this book for my niece who is 16 months. She too can be a quiet and a loud baby at times. This is a great book for toddlers because of the bright colors and length of story.

Both our girls love this book. Our 4 yr old loves reading it to her 18 month old sister too.

My daughter loved the Yummy/Yucky book, and now enjoys the Quiet/Loud book as well (of course she likes the Loud better than the Quiet). Fun illustrations and simple concepts would be appreciated by almost any child.

A friend just bought this book for my son. It is the first book he has ever brought over to me to read. I read the quiet parts in a whisper and then read the loud parts...well, loud. He loves it. He also wants to go get my shoes when I read "Mommy's shoes are LOUD." It is pretty funny. Great book! Also would recommend Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.

My 16 month old daughter absolutely loves this book. She will bring the book to me at least twice a day to read to her. The toddler in the book series is just so cute and adorable that I even enjoy turning every page. This book will also be a great for younger babies since there is a lot of color contrast in the pictures.

This book will boggle your mind. The words used to describe the situations in the short stories. There are more that many excellent stories in this book. I find it more enjoyable that a single novel. Advanced school programs use this as a learning experience. It is a 4 star book.

Perhaps I am biased by nostalgia since this was the text used way back in my high school creative writing class, but this sublime anthology is pound for pound the best collection of short fiction around. There are other excellent collections -- Scribner's Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction comes to mind -- but ASS masterpieces (as we called it back then) has a splendid mix of short story classics in addition to an absurd number of gems. On the all-time classic side, there is "Sonny's Blues," "Rock Springs," "Where are you Going, Where Have you Been?", "A Good Man is Hard to Find," "The Conversion of the Jews," and "The Liar" just to name a few. It's already a terrific list; how many other collections have all these under one roof? But then there are a whole host of lesser-known stories that push this sucker over the top. "1/3, 1/3, 1/3," "A Poetics for Bullies," "The Ledge," "The Heavenly Animal" ... all first-rate stories. And it's only $8.00! Forget Best American Short Stories of the Century. Forget the Norton Anthology. If you can only have one fiction anthology on your shelf, this should be the one.

I read "Midair" standing up in the bookstore. This book contains some true classics in short story writing.

I started this book with low expectations, but was plesantly suprised that I turned out to love this book! I would also recommed "Phantom" by Susan Kay.

The Phantom of the Opera: The Original NovelAfter seeing the play years ago and recently seeing the movie, I was curious to see in what ways they differed from the original novel. What a pleasant surprise! Leroux is wonderful at bringing characters and feelings to life and indeed makes it a hard book to put down. The introduction tells you that Leroux in fact studied the phenomenon and that the story is based on fact. This makes it all the more interesting to me and I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any reader, especially ones interested in the supernatural, mysteries, thrillers and love stories. The history of the Opera House is fascinating as well. I LOVED IT!!!!!

A captivating love story, and Leroux's surprisingly modern style was much easier to read than I expected. This volume contains much more character background than the movies/musical do, but still leaves the reader wanting more. If you're a fan of the Phantom, I also highly recommend Susan Kay's "Phantom", which does Leroux's story justice.

Fantastic condition, NEW. Halfway through the book, enjoying it immensely.
Perfect purchase, great seller.

The mask, the music, the dark mysteries, and the tortured, deformed genius who just wants love. "The Phantom of the Opera" is so well known that its story needs no explanation.

But Gaston Leroux's novel is still a spellbinding experience, full of atmospheric horror, a sense of gothic mystery, and lushly evocative language. But its crown jewel is Erik: a magnificently tortured anti-hero who inspires more horror, pity and sympathy than the rather flat hero and heroine.

The Paris opera house is said to be haunted by a ghost with a "death's head," who demands a small salary and a reserved box. Despite the sightings and fears of ballerinas and stagehands, the new managers are determined to stamp out this ridiculous story -- despite threatening letters and increasing accidents that happen around them.

Meanwhile, budding diva Christine Daae is taking Paris by storm, although nobody quite knows who taught her how to sing. And when her childhood friend Viscount Raoul de Chagny pays her a visit, he hears a passionate exchange between her and a man -- but there's no man there. She credits her new vocal abilities to the Angel of Music, but of course, that self-same Angel is the opera ghost.

As the Phantom becomes even more attached to Christine, Raoul soon finds that the ghost is actually a half-mad, horribly deformed musical genius named Erik -- and that after Christine saw his true face, he made her become engaged to him. The young lovers plan to run away together, but the "Angel of Music" isn't about to allow his beloved Christine to leave him...

Apparently there actually were some odd events -- including rumours of an opera ghost -- happening when Gaston Leroux began writing "The Phantom of the Opera." And it's a credit to his imgination that he was able to spin a some odd facts into a harrowing, heartbreaking love triangle that's based on music, obsession, adoration, and a bit of pity. And, of course, a frighteningly sympathetic "villain."

Admittedly the style is very "penny dreadful": melodramatic and overloaded on prose. But Leroux's talent shines through -- he drapes the book in a haunted atmosphere, full of snowy graveyards, dark opera backstages and underground labyrinths, all with Erik's presence hovering over it. The plot is mostly a slow, satiny procession toward the inevitable blowup, but Leroux does tinge it with scenes of romantic drama, a feeling of dread, one shocking action scene, and even some quirky humour at times.

And Leroux's writing is simply astounding as he describes the corpselike appearance of Erik ("... tore his terrible dead flesh with my nails") and his "death's" head appearance at the party. But he also excels at the more poignant moments -- Erik's final, rambling monologue to Christine after she kisses him is heartbreakingly clumsy and saddening.

Though Christine and Raoul are the hero and heroine of the book, they're actually kind of flat. Erik is the real star -- an arrogant genius who is also pitifully lonely. And insane. Despite his crazed behavior -- which results in at least two deaths -- it's hard not to feel sympathy for someone cursed with such a ghastly appearance, and so starved for human contact that a single kiss changes his life ("... he tried to catch my eye, like a dog sitting by its master").

Despite being a bit overblown in the style of its time, "The Phantom of the Opera" is a triumph of atmosphere, horror, and one of the most memorably sympathetic "villains" that you can find on the shelves. Magnificent.

Having never read The Count of Monte Cristo and only faintly recalling a movie of some years ago, I was prepared for a swashbuckling epic of swordplay and derring-do. My expectations were entirely inadequate. The Count of Monte Cristo is rather a tale of revenge through the artifice of intrigue and cold calculation. Dumas creates a broken man, betrayed by a trio of duplicitous schemers, and devotes the bulk of the book to the complex machinations employed in retaliation.

The phrase "intricately detailed" does not begin to describe the plots and sub-plots which carry this classic forward. Like all novels of its period, the author relies on what the modern-day reader would consider implausible convenience. This doesn't detract from its worth. To create such a tightly-laced weave, some liberties must be granted. The reader gladly forgives Messr. Dumas.

On par with The Brothers Karamazov, Anna Karenina, and the works of James Fenimore Cooper, The Count of Monte Cristo is wonderfully thick and magisterially constructed. Set primarily among the preening social elite of post-Napoleanic Paris, yet ranging from Rome to Normandy, it is a 5-star reading experience.

NOTE: I really hate that Amazon includes reviews from several editions of the same book under one heading. Some editions are abridged for this novel, and that truly is an injustice and the reviews show that. The Oxford Classics version - which I read - is an UNABRIDGED version, and my review is based on that.

This story revolves around Edmond Dantes, a young man who seemingly has everything going for him. His employer has much regard for him and is about to put him as captain of his own ship, he is about to marry the woman he loves, all is right in Dantes world. Unfortunately, this type of happiness and success breeds jealousy and envy, and Dantes finds himselft falsely accused and imprisoned. He does escape, and therein the true tale begins.

The story weaves back and forth and entangles lives - but central is the thirst for revenge. Dumas certainly has a way of telling a story, even a long one, and keeping it interesting a fresh. There are twists and turns and an entire host of interesting characters. One moment I found myself cheering for Dantes and the next I was hoping he wouldn't do what I thought he would. However, one can never be too sure of what might happen next or where the story might go.

I had put off reading this novel because of the length for so long, and I now regret having done that. Although the tale of revenge is an old one, Dumas has managed to weave a story filled with mystery, adventure, and excitement with just a touch of romance - what more could a reader possibly want?

I saw the recent movie, (The Count of Monte Cristo - 2002, staring - James Caviezel) and loved it so much, I ordered the book, and this is the version I choose. Unfortunately, this is the first book I've ever read that the movie is actually better! The abridged version is so limited it misses the very crucial points in this wonderful insightful story. If you're an adult I suggest reading an unabridged version in order to get the profound message this book addresses.

I bought this book for one of my children for a summer reading project. I needed a specific version and was glad I could search Amazon by ISBN. The book arrived quickly and the price was reasonable. I'm sure other family members will enjoy the book when the projcet is complete.

except for the Bible, this is the best.
It is the full and undiluted version from the first english translation.
read it, learn it,live it.
j