Fiction Literature Books

What a delightful Sunday afternoon reading!

I really like Georgia Beers' books, with the exception of Thy Neighbor's Wife, and this one delivered as well.

I think her strength is coming up with realistic scenarios and filling them with believable characters. I enjoy that so much in contrast to far fetched plots and super-human women that sometimes inhabit lesfic. Her writing is solid, dialogs well written with a feeling of authenticity, for lack of a better word, to them.

All of that is true for this book as well. I was a bit 'scared' when I read that a dog had such a bit part in the book, but that as well is really well written.

I really loved this book. It took me a day and a half to finish it because I was so glued to the story. If you are looking for a cute, well written lesbian love story this is it!

After Too Close to Touch and Fresh Tracks, both good romances, I was looking forward to more of the same from Ms. Beers. Her romance, Mine, didn't capture the feeling and Finding Home seems to have missed the mark by an even wider margin. Still. I love dogs, so the canine hero of this book, Bentley, compensated a bit for what was a tepid romance with characters that felt like they were just going through the motions.

One of the things I've always liked about Ms. Beers' romances is that they're light and entertaining without being shallow. This is a sign of a good author. Her characters have had depth and it's been easy to identify with them. This time, it's as if the author thought that if she threw Sarah and Natalie together in a quirky twist of fate and they agonized for awhile and then decided they were in love, that was enough. It wasn't for this reader.

I suppose, like a lot of women, I bought this book because I've had good experiences in the past and I thought Mine was an aberration not the start of a downward trend. Also, Finding Home has a very appealing plot. Unfortunately, it never gets off the ground the way that it could. This book is not in the same class as several other Bold Strokes romances I've reviewed recently. Maybe that's just a matter of personal taste or maybe it didn't help that I read this book in between others that were far better in every department. But I usually like Ms. Beers' novels, so I was surprised not to enjoy this one.

It's not easy to keep writing good romances, I'm sure. I can only think of about three authors who have written more than ten romances that are all excellent. I wish Ms. Beers better luck next time.

I've been a fan of Georgia Beers' writing ever since I read "Turning the Page" (1st ed.) many years ago. In these (happy)days when new lesbian novels keep raining and pouring over us, it's good to have writers who remain true to their style of story telling.
"Finding Home" is a love story, yes, but I think the main character is this adorable Mini Aussie Shepherd Bentley who sees and feels everything, and leads his two "mistresses" in the right direction.

The main characters are very real, very human and very lovable, with all their stubborness and insecurities. I want Mrs Valenti for my mother and was very irritated with Andrea most of the time!

Georgia Beers writing is, as usual, fluent, funny, and often very deep. I appreciate the fact that she doesn't feel obliged to introduce terribly big dramatic happenings in her story. It evolves naturally, almost softly, and with Bentley's help into the happy ending we know will be there.
It's like eating wonderful chocolate, with quite a few hard nuts in it!

When I sit down to read a novel I expect to find angst, good characters, a story that moves forward with every page, and sex. For those of you who also look for these things, this book doesn't meet the requirements. It's a nice story and the characters are well developed, but, for me, the other things were lacking. (Ok, there was one sex scene, but it came at the very end of the book). From reading her other novels (Turning the Page and Thy Neighbor's Wife), I expected more than I got from this one.

After 4 years, 2 readings, a wasted week of my life, and feeling like a moron who sees glass while everyone else sees diamonds, I finally understand One Hundred Years of Solitude. In an interview, Marquez stated essentially that most reviewers don't realise the book is an inside joke. Bingo. If I interpret this waste of paper and ink as a parody of the Seven Deadly Sins then I can understand why Marquez wrote it. I hated this book but now, just like the dinner host who pours Costco champagne into a Dom Perignon bottle knowing his guests won't know the difference, I can at least get a laugh out of it.

This book was good, but at some times it was hard to follow. This novel was difficult to keep straight. It run the gauntlet from comedy to tragedy and love to death to war and everything in between witch made it very emotional. This book was also a kind of history textbook witch is ok if history is in your blood but it is not in mine. Irregardless it was emotionally satisfing. But it could have been improved if it could have been simplified. When you finish the book, don't be surprised to find yourself stepping out of a dream and back into the real world. Only in the mind of the master can a wounded arm turn into a field of butterfiles. If you like this book, you might want to try Marquez's new autobiography.

Absolutely loved it. Vivid and full of creativity, if anyone wants to read a good book I definetly recommend it. Actually not a hard book to read, but it should not be read in a hurry either.

It's so disappointing, not to mention depressing, to read the negative reviews of this book on line here. We are speaking of one of the dozen finest books of the twentieth century. The failure is not the book's. I encourage all of you to try again--let the book lift you.

When reading is a chore and makes absolutely no sense at all, what is the point? I could not have made it through this book at all without the family tree in the front since so many of the characters have the same or similar names. I read on and on thinking it was going to all start making some sense or there would be a big ending, but in the end I put it down and felt like it was a huge waste of my valuable reading time. I re-sold the book as fast as I could unload it. It is really interesting and amazing to me how so many people love this book....I'm a reader in general but this one I just don't quite grasp. It is a nightmare of a read.

It was only after I had engaged that author that I realized this was the fourth in a loosly connected series. I am not sure, however, that reading the priors were necessary. I just could not get into the text. It took so much work to sort out what was happening, I gave up. Some called the book funny, I called it redicuous. It's not my genre and maybe my mood was too serious, but it seemed a confusing waste of time to me.

Like all of Jasper Fforde's books, Something Rotten combines literary allusion, alternate history and science fiction in a seamless narrative. In this installment of Fforde's Thursday Next series, Ms. Next, a real person who has spent the last several years living inside of books and leading the BookWorld's police force, Jurisfiction, returns to the real world to get back her husband, Landen. In a bizarre twist of circumstances that Thursday herself can't understand, the time-traveling police force known as the ChronoGuard has eradicated Landen by changing history at the moment that would have been his conception. The only evidence of his existence is Thursday's memory of the life she had with him in an alternate past, and the paradoxical existence of Friday, Thursday and Landen's infant son.

Other matters also preoccupy Thursday upon her return to the real world. Hamlet has also left the BookWorld temporarily and starts to think about rewriting his play. Thursday's old nemesis the Goliath Corporation is, for some reason, trying to convert itself into a religion. Worst of all, Yorrick Kaine, the Chancellor of England, has won the mindless devotion of the whole country and seeks to become absolute dictator. Thursday must fulfill the prophesy of a resurrected thirteenth-century monk to prevent Kaine from seizing power and starting a war that destroys the world.

Like all of Fforde's books, Something Rotten piques my interest in classics I haven't read yet and refreshes my memory of English class discussions about ones I have. This installment of the series brought to mind discussions of Hamlet with one of my favorite high school teachers, and it provided an entertaining reminder of the play's principle themes. When characters try to change their own stories, it's fun to recall the original version and how it differs. I also find myself looking up place names on maps to see how the locations in Fforde's universe, with its alternate history, match up with real-life ones.

I also loved the book's humor. Memorable examples include Fforde's description of a high-stakes croquet game, which uses a tea party on the lawn and an Italian sunken garden as obstructions and hazards. Another favorite of mine was the way the narrator of the audiobook pronounced the obscene Old English of the resurrected monk Saint Zvlkx.

I recommend this book for people who enjoy humor, alternate history, or a lighthearted exploration of classic literature.

This is the fourth book in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. I liked all of them. They provide a similar kind of escapism, magic and drama as Harry Potter books, but there is also a lot of original humor.

While completing undergrad and law school, I had no time to read for fun. In the period between graduation and taking the Bar, I needed brain candy that was substantial enough to chew on, yet satisfingly low on nutritional value. The Next novels were the perfect solution for my summer vacation! Be sure to bring your towel when you read this, bookjumping is almost as challenging as hitching a flight to Zenobia.

Unlike just about everyone else -- I actually read this book *without* reading the other ones in the series.

Even with that I give this book 5 stars.

Now it doesn't rise to the level of Douglas Adams knock down drag out farce, but it clearly has elements of the dryer wit of writers like Adams or Robert Aspirin (of the Myth-- series).

In short (though the other reviews do a better plot synopsis) Fforde's universe it set in a world, where not only time is fluid (as the Chronoguard can jump back and forth and "fix" history) but also the boundry between fact and fiction -- as characters can jump from the fictional world into the real world, as well as between books.

Fforde's world is one where items tend to be subltly different than reality -- likely because of all that mucking about in history that has gone on and the world is bureaucratic to the point of lunacy.

Also a 2 year old that only speaks "Loren Ipsum" is a wonderful touch.

Great for anyone who likes British humor or literary humor. The story is less important than the world that is spun along the way.

I have been perusing children's books for historical events and people. This is a nice introduction to the Mayflower and the history of Thanksgiving. It gives enough detail that very young children will actually learn some history, yet it is short and to the point to keep their interest. The only fault is that I could not get a hardcover edition.

I like this one better than The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern.

Thanksgiving is a harvest festival; a time to show appreciation for all we have. Teaching our children a biased viewpoint of the First Thanksgiving empowers racism to continue in this country. Popular renditions of the First Thanksgiving (such as this book) give children the mistaken impression that the relationship between American Indians and English colonists was one of mutual help, respect and friendship. This popular belief does not take into account the way in which the colonists persecuted the American Indians, sold them into slavery and drove them from their homes. Not to mention the epidemic diseases colonists brought to America, genocide and erosion of tribal soverreignty. Get to know American Indian history through their stories, captured by Gerald McDermott or other authors at another time of year rather than celebrating the dreadful.

Short, to the point, and teaches a lesson. This is the book that termed the phrase go-getter and really shows what it is to be one. The themes and story translate very well to todays era, every high school student should read this book or have it read during graduation.

If your intent of reading self help books is to discover a resounding message that will resonate in your life, I can certainly recommend The Go Getter. Its directness of message is only matched by its brevity. There is merely a lone principal to be uncovered within this book, but the message is timeless and profound.

This book garnered 4 stars from me because although the message is found among many other self help books, I can only think of a handful that display its portrayal and influence as well as The Go Getter.

The message of the book is lived out in the execution of the purchase. Simple fast and efficient, being a Go-Getter is performing above expectations - - that is what occurred. Well done.

This book was honestly the worst book I have ever tried to read. HORRIBLE!

This is a good story that has great application for a wide variety of people. We read this as a staff to help us remain motivated to work hard, to go beyond the average worker and really apply diligence to every obstacle we may find before us. The Go Getter is a story that many should read and implement into their lives. Good example of someone who overcame personal handicaps and difficulties to see that he did a honest day's work for his employer. The second story in this volume was not good and I don't recommend it, but the book is worth buying for the titled piece.

Mark Twain's great American classic cannot be classified as any other than children's literature, but don't let that scare you more advanced readers away. This book is nothing other than a joy to read, and I am glad I made the effort to revisit this memorable read from my youth. Light-hearted fun and mischief, along with brilliant looks into the psyches of young boys put this book up around the most enjoyable one I've read in a long while.

As Tom and Huck live out their fantasies, and go through a series of good times and bad, the reader is taken on a nostalgic tour of what it means to be a kid (pre-Nintendo). When the slightest discomfort can seem like the end of the world, the adults are the avowed enemy, and imagination is your greatest tool of all, the world is a much simpler place (and somehow more exciting). I strongly suggest finding the time to take this tour again and remember what it was like being Tom Sawyer.

As to the reviewer that didn't like this one (can't believe Twain made any money off this one??), I'd suggest trying it again when you're not forced to by your teacher. Reading for fun is always much more enjoyable.

The first, (and hopefully last) time I read this book was for a school assignment over the past couple of months. The first couple of chapters use this exact layout:

1: Tom does something stupid
2: Tom lies to his aunt about the aforementioned stupid thing
3: His aunt believes his lie about the aforementioned stupid thing
4: His half brother Sid (Great name by the way) rats on him.
5: Tom gets yelled at and gets his friends to do his menial chores.

The first chapter is fun to read, but after you find out that Mark Twain is just using a "Making Chapters for Dummies" book to help him write Tom Sawyer, that just sucks the fun away from it.

It's a wonder that Mark Twain made any money off this book, or Maybe his customers were just plain stupid. Maybe they just bought the book out of pity for him and in hope that he would write a better book.

If you are a boy, or once was a boy, you will remember the days of mischief described in this book. This is a timeless classic that I will always treasure. If you enjoy this book you will also enjoy: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Treasure Island.

I am not educated in philosophy, so I read this book slowly with the help of Sparknotes and ended up really enjoying the book, not only for its philosophy (not all of which I found agreeable, however, tremendously interesting) but also for its creativity, humor and its literary energy and complexity. It is always a treat to read writings of such a brilliant thinker of our time.

This is an amazing, but also sometimes amazingly difficult to access, work. It is unfortunate that Kauffman's is the most widely used translation, because his translation is clunky and ponderous. T. Wayne's translation, in contrast, is very lyrical and frequently simply makes more sense. In some places it does appear that Mr. Wayne tries too hard to distinguish his translation from that of Kauffman, meaning his difference in word choice does not improve the work but rather makes it worse. However, to be fair, that is rare and the vast majority of the differences mark a substantial improvement. The most disappointing thing about this edition is that the publishers/editors (Algora) did a pretty sloppy job, so there are a number stupid typographical errors that will hopefully be corrected if Algora ever re-publishes it.

Nietzsche was controversial (and reveled in it), but he was also grossly misunderstood. To pigeonhole his philosophy as simply about glorifying barbaric agresssion does a grave disservice to his quest for uplifting the human soul. Nietzsche was a man who absolutely ABHORRED mediocrity, and dedicated his work into helping man reclaim the "star" that he always potentially possesses, provided he is willing to free himself from the shackles of dogma and conventionality. "Thus Spoke Zarathustra" is Nietzsche's manifesto on how to get there.

The concept of the "last-man" is brilliant, and unbelievably prescient!! This smug. self-satisfied, herd-like man exists today in overwhelming abundance!! The "last-man," to quote Nietzsche "has no shepherd and one herd! Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same: whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse." When you look around and see the mindless banal dreck on televison, in newspapers, and throughout society in general, you see the deleterious effects of the contented "last-man" who can no longer have contempt for himself, therefore, he cannot and will not strive to advance himself!!

One may not agree with everything in "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," but it is unquestionably a brilliant work that will open up new vistas of the mind and have you examining man's spiritual condition in an utterly profound way. And Nietzsche's writing style is, at its best, almost lyrical!!

"But by my love and hope I beseech you: do not throw away the hero in your soul! Hold holy your highest hope!" ~ Friedrich Nietzsche from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"

You ready for some Nietzsche? Let's start with how you say the guy's name shall we? You can pronounce "Nietzsche" either "knee-chee" or "knee-cha." (I prefer the latter...sounds cooler, don't you think? ;)

With that behind us, you're ready for a warning: Be warned: The man, as they say, delivers his philosophy with a hammer. As Walter Kaufmann brilliantly articulates in the foreword, Nietzsche "is a dedicated enemy of all convention, intent on exposing the stupidity and arbitrariness of custom."

In "Thus Spoke Zarathustra," we meet the enlightened hero, Zarathustra, who has come down from the mountaintop to deliver a series of scathing rants on everything from his famous proclamation that "God is dead!" to admonitions to forget loving thy neighbor and instead learn to love the farthest.

It's written in a mock-Biblical style and features Nietzsche's undying commitment to our potential. If you're new to Nietzsche and thinking about reading the book, you'll definitely want a quiet space to read but don't be intimidated. Once you get into it, it flows.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra (originally Also Sprach Zarathustra) is considered by some (myself included) to have been the crowning work of the nineteenth century German philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900). Unlike most modern philosophical works, Zarathustra's format harkens back to the Bible and to the ancient Greek works such as Plato's dialogues. In it, Zarathustra wanders the landscape, talking to people, drawing out the fallacies of what they believe and propounding Nietzsche's philosophy.

Overall, I found this to be one of the most challenging works I have ever read. Nietzsche's use of paradox and ambiguity tends to obscure his teachings, while at the same time challenging the reader to read closely and understand what he is saying in spite of the ambiguity. But, it is well worth the effort.

In his seminal work, The End of History and the Last Man, Francis Fukuyama argues that the last philosophy standing that can possibly challenge the reigning philosophy of the West is that of Friedrich Nietzsche. And so, I do believe that it is worth understanding Nietzsche. Is this the best book to read to understand the great philosopher? I can't say. But, it is the book I started with. It is a challenging read, but definitely well worth the effort. I have had a copy of this book since college, and to this day I still periodically take it off the shelf and read it again.

This Viking edition includes "Mr. Harrison's Confession," "Cranford," and "My Lady Ludlow," the three novellas
combined to produce the Cranford BBC series. The works are quite different from each other, "My Lady Ludlow" differing the most in tone and style.

"Mr. Harrison's Confession" is the droll account of a young doctor who comes to Dunscombe (a Cranford stand-in) to practice with the much older Mr. Morgan, an old friend of his father's. As young Harrison makes the transition from the lively streets of London to the quaint lanes of the little town to which he has moved, he is involved in many humorous misunderstandings--and especially troublesome are those caused by a prankster friend of his! There are poignant moments too, as Mr. Harrison and the townspeople learn to know each other, and the young doctor finds love.

"Cranford" is the most fully fleshed out of the three novellas, and easily the most readily absorbed by the modern reader. To one who grew up in New England of swamp Yankee parentage, the mindset of the Cranford ladies is completely familiar. Why care about dress when everyone in your town knows what clothes you own, and why care when you are away where no one knows you at all? The various subplots of the story are very reminiscent Sarah Orne Jewett, who wrote a few decades later in the US--"The Country of the Pointed Firs," for example. The novel comprises several interlocking stories centering on Miss Matilda Jenkyns, her family and her friends who inhabit the little town of Cransford--a town of Amazons. Very few men live in the village. Though many of the stories are humorous, there are those that touch the heart.

"My Lady Ludlow" is the most old-fashioned of the three novellas--set decades before the others at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and full of sentiment. Lady Ludlow, herself in old age, must learn to change as the world around her does. The story, narrated by a young woman in frail health, from the vantage point of later years, contains a lengthy and melodramatic subplot reminiscent of "A Tale of Two Cities."

"Cranford" is a wonderful piece of work, and the other two novellas are very enjoyable. Especially if you liked the BBC series, you'll enjoy this book.

This paperback version is the one that the recent tv series fan will want, because unlike some of the other paperback versions, it includes the three Gaskell novellas that were the basis for the Judi Dench-Eileen Atkins miniseries. The three books were
"Cranford", "My Lady Ludlow" and "Mr Harrison's Confessions."
Mrs Gaskell stories are considered comedies, and this comes clear in the original texts. Some sadness of course in events, but mostly there is a clear comic, even sardonic voice in which we can fall in love with the characters and still laugh at their foibles, fashions, and foolishness which seem still so apropos today.
Highly recommended.

I have just discovered this wonderful author after watching "Cranford" on Masterpiece Theatre. I ordered several of her titles and I am hooked. I will read everything she has written. As someone who always wished that Jane Austen had written just one more book (or two or five or forty!!!), Elizabeth Gaskell is a real find. Her works are more "worldly" than the mild Miss Austen, but her characters are just as compelling and I love her.

"How Harry Cast His Spell" by John Granger (Any relation to Hermione?) initially captures the reader's attention with the lovely cover. Inside, the beautiful font, wonderful graphics and page header designs tickle the eyes. This is a humorously written look at why the Harry Potter franchise is such a phenomenon. The author points out the Christian concepts that are prominent in the immensely popular boy wizard stories, which only seems to prove that you can find the good in something if you go looking for it. Sadly, I find that the same is true if you go looking for the bad.

I don't consider this a must read unless you're severely anti-Harry Potter, in which case, you probably wouldn't read the book anyway. However, I must applaud the author for the amount of thought he put into this book. His research and the conclusions he's drawn are fascinating. This takes Harry Potter to a whole new level of enjoyment for me, personally.

John Granger has done it again. This book is absolutely indispensable for anyone who wishes to discover the greatness of the genius of J.K. Rowling's
Harry Potter books.
Don Holmes

This item was exactly what i ordered in the exact condition that i ordered it in. Would definitly do business with seller again! Thank you

I bought this book for my 5 year old and it hooked her right away. After a brief explanation of "how it all got started", there is approximately one page devoted to each god/goddess and at the top of each page it mentions who the parents are which is great to give a youngster an idea of how all these gods, goddesses and mortals fit together.
The picturess captured her attention and the level of detail is just enough so that she remembers the salient qualities of each character. After having read through this many times, I feel she will be more than ready to handle the next level of detail. If they only had Greek Myth. action figures, she'd be in heaven (or, I guess, Mt. Olympus)!

This is a wonderful book - geared for children but enjoyable for any age. The book uses straightforward language, so that the reader and listener will not get overwhelmed by complex or archaic terminology. The artwork is just beautiful and will keep the young audience engaged while listening. The book is quite systematic, starting with Gaea and showing the lineages of the Gods, the Titans, etc. By the end of the book, you can look at the last page and identify the 12 Gods who sat on Olympus and a few others to boot. Even adults who have some knowledge of Greek Mythology will appreciate its orderly presentation and the book will help you understand the relationships between the Gods. My only criticism is that pronunciation keys were not provided. This would really help a novice like me (and most children) so as not to butcher their beautiful greek names. Otherwise, I have no criticism at all.

It is a beautiful book. I really like the picture of The Birth of Athena. The Athena in it is so cute. It has stuff like Gaea, Cronus and Rhea, Hestia and Zeus, Hades and so much more. You should read about Aphrodite and Eros (Cupid). Buy this book for any child. I am 7 and I love it. Enjoy this wonderful any age book.

This is by the far the best book I have foud that explains the creation according to the Greeks. I have used it in my high school classroom as well as my junior high and it is always a hit. This book contains the origins of the universe starting with mother earth (Gaea) and father sky (Uranos), the birth and the reign of the Titans and the reing of the Olympians Gods when they took over the earth. It aslo gives a great and thorough introduction of each of the 14 Olympian gods that reign upon Olympus. The pictures are amazing. The whole book is a work of art!