Writers Books

I feel like I am in a Master Class and teacher's pet! Ellen Sandler provides a friendly and in-the-know work guide in how to write TV scripts. She offers exercises that had me laughing hysterically at my OWN details/specifics that will be used for my characters. The 7 deadly sins became that evening's "dinner topic" with a group of journalists that not only livened up the night but provided MORE embarrassing, sensitive and humiliating inspiration. I have more to read and to study but I knew I was in wise and experienced hands from the first few pages. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

This book was in excellent condition and arrived quickly. What more is there to say.

I've been using Ellen Sandler's book as a guide for the last few weeks, and I feel I've done much better work in that short time than I did all last year. The book is mainly geared towards sitcom writers, and for those interested in writing a comedy spec, this book is the one to get!

But for the sake of those wondering if they should purchase this or not, I will try to find some. YES, YOU SHOULD BUY THIS! How is that? :) Putting aside the fact that Ellen has written for some of the best TV I've ever watched, I don't see how anyone couldn't benefit from the generous advice she offers in this guide and so inexpensively! Be warned though, this book is not one that you just read. I guess you could, but I would honestly recommend trying the things she suggests. I tried most of her exercises and the differences in my spec script definitely stood out. This book is priceless, in my opinion.

This is by far the BEST TV writing book I've ever read and I have nearly all of them. Sandler doesn't just tell you the steps necessary to write a fantastic spec script, like all these kinds of books do, she guides you through the creative process of mining story material for it. And she tells you how to fashion subject matter that has the most emotional meaning for you, the author--which is the benchmark of great writing. It was a concept that until now, that no matter how many books I read, or how many harsh notes from execs I received on all my previous specs (or so I thought, now I FULLY understand their notes!) that I didn't grasp until now. TV Writer's Workbook, has provided the creative lightbulb I needed to get me out of my sucky spec script darkness. Highly recommended!

If you haven't given yourself a gift lately, get comfortable in your favorite chair, and begin Victoria's Quest! I was initially drawn to the book because of my facination with lighthouses, beaches, and historically accurate novels. The book held my attention to the point that I completed it in one sitting! I found the book compelling, the characters facinating, and I am hoping this book is the first of a series...

Reading for the second time Victoria's Quest has been such a joy. Once again I found myself completely enthralled, unable to put it down, still hearing in my mind the howling wind outside the lighthouse as I turned the pages. It is a wonderful journey into the inner thoughts and dreams of a young woman who lives for her art and risks everything to become an artist in the late 1860s. A finely woven tale that is both extremely moving as well as historically fascinating. The heroine of this novel, Victoria Willoughby has become a friend for life.

If you love novels about women, about history, about class and conflict, then this book is a must-read.

This is the story of one woman and her struggle to make a life for herself during a time when women did not venture out on their own -- certainly not as an artist. The protagonist, Victoria Willoughby, has been born at the wrong time in this world to become a great artist. Yet she sets out to do so, but not without having to overcome significant hurdles. Her story will keep you on the edge of your seat; will she be able to surmount the tremendous obstacles that stand in the way of her realizing her dreams? Or will she be destined to fall to the fate of so many other women?

The story is told with compelling writing, and you won't want to stop until you find the answers to all your questions. The story will spur discussion and make you reevaluate what you think you know about women and their place in the last century.

A well-written, well-researched book. I look forward to reading more work by this author.

Victoria's Quest is the compelling story of Victoria Willoughby, a Civil War era woman who disregards the social expectations for women of her time and seeks to fulfill her dream of becoming an artist. The obstacles she faces are particular to her time and circumstances and provide a richly detailed picture of life in the nineteenth century. The story also made me realize that, even though women have gained a great deal in the way of rights and freedom since that time, Victoria's story is a universal story. The obstacles she faced are representative of obstacles faced by all people, especially all women in all times. She endures the loss of loved ones, human frailty, the strictures of prejudice and religious fanaticism and finds the strength to go on. It is an inspiring story. The epilogue suggests that Victoria's story as chronicled in her diary was an inspiration to her descendants. Hopefully, the author will go on to tell us more of their stories as well.

This is a treasure of a book and hard to put down once you start. Victoria's brave, determined voice kept me on her side through out the novel. Hers is a lone voice of a woman who defies the expectations of her times in order to achieve her goal of being a painter.

It seems to me that she was never meant to be born into a lighthouse keeper's family. She seems to know her destiny lies outside her family, yet like many who adventure out on their own away from all they have known, there is often a price to pay. Her story is suspenseful and masterfully told so that you have to keep turning the pages.

Anyone who has ever contemplated the failings of the Catholic Church, as well as the failings of the flesh will find the story of Victory compelling, sympathetic and noble. Born the daughter of a religious lighthouse keeper, she knew she would have to expand beyond the rigidity of the routine of keeping a lighthouse, but nothing is made easy for Victoria and the things she has to do often make her alone in the world.

Victoria has to combat social prejudices, her father's religious temperament that tries to psychologically imprison her, poverty and the obstacles inherent in all artistic aspirations. She is a victim, but not because of a flaw in her character, but because of the times in which she lives. Victoria's Quest reminds me of a Thomas Hardy novel, because his characters too are often helpless before relentless social mores that prevent them from reaching their potential.

The mid-1800's, the time of the civil war in Indiana, have been fully researched, and the reader gets the pleasure of immersing oneself in history so that we feel its presence and we hate what it does to Victory.

Victoria's Quest is strong historical fiction.

Few writing books get right to the point. Most take the long route with fluff, long exposition, winded prose that forces you to find insight buried deep.

Not this one.

The Writer's Book of Wisdom serves the main course from the start and tells it like it is.

If you love writing, you'll love this book. It will teach you critical understanding you need to know, will always use and remember. This small book requires a place on every writer's shelf. It delivers critical information to the point without any preamble.

I loved Rule #6. That one rule came at a pivotal moment in my writing - the nasty, stalker critic - and it sang.

Worth every penny.

Wolfe

Great little book to read one rule a day for inspiration or just to think about.

I've read this over and over again. Anyone who lives in a 'writer's world' will be able to relate to this book. From living in a vacuum to believing in your writing even when no one else does - this book will keep you going whether you are writing fiction or non-fiction. A few of my favorite chapters include: Embrace the wisdom of opposing views; Ultimately content matters more than craft; Get used to despair; Fail; Write to be great, not rich, and Trust the muse of revision. Writing is the vehicle of truth is another one that I loved. I recommend this to anyone who is in or is entering the world of serious writing.

101 writing rules are presented in short and straight to the point format. Each 'rule' is 1-2 pages. Fun and useful snippets of information and ideas for each chapter(rules).

The book is interesting and attractive with color and designs and on every page. This is a nice little book to have in your collection. I think it's a great little motivator, or something you'd pick up to get yourself refreshed and ready to go again. There are lots of quotes throughout the book. This features a very wide range of writing topics. Advice like 'Work in an inspiring environment, Resist distractions, Don't overuse negatives, Trust the power of your own voice, Art shows up in rewriting' -and loads more! I liked the appendix which is an evaluation guide that has questions to ask yourself about your work.

"Your manuscript should invite the reader in and constantly reward him for his time." -from Rule #99 on Submit a Professional Manuscript.

I've perused the shelves of Barnes & Noble many times, absolutely convinced that some day I would find a book that would give the boost I felt that I needed to become a writer. Recently, I found that book. Did it give me the boost I needed? Wow. Did it ever.

The Writer's Book of Wisdom by Steven Taylor Goldsberry put so many things into perspective for me and really helped me see things in a new light. This book is the PERFECT balance of motivational and educational, being that it is split into three sections:

1. Approach: Mainly intended to just get you motivated to start writing.

2. Language: Grammar and use of words/punctuation/etc. This is naturally my least favorite part, but some of it, I realize, I just need to know.

3. Style: I guess this would be the section that discusses finding your "voice" as a writer. This section really helped me realize how ignorant I've been on my quest for my "narrative voice", shining a new light on the entire issue.

So, in conclusion, whether you're just looking for something to get you motivated and inspired, or if you're looking for something technically educational, this book is just what you need.

The Writer's Friend is one of those books that should be on your shelf so that, when you are suffering from 'the rejection blues,' you'll be able to pick yourself up and begin again, using the information between this book's covers as a guide to solve your problems. The talented authors show you how to take an idea for one article aimed at one publication and turn it into several articles written from several points of view for as many different markets. They point out the pitfalls of ignoring an editor's instructions or submitting an article to the wrong market. The Writer's Friend gives you a thorough look at the other side of the writing field, that of the editor working for a publication or publisher. Here you will find advice on the many points most new writers will ignore while they focus on getting their work published; that of contracts and rights and learning your market before submitting. Invaluable information and tips on how to aim for a particular audience and market are included as well as help with the query process. The authors draw upon their own experience to guide you around the roadblocks to success. The Writer's Friend will serve you long and well, and you'll find the more you use it, the more of a friend it will be come.

If you are desiring to write magazine articles then this is the book for you. I've read several books about getting your magazine articles published and the Writer's Friend is truly the best. This book is comprehensive in that it covers what you need to know about writing query letters, doing research, understanding legal ramafications & contracts, targeting your market and so much more. I now feel prepared to begin submitting my queries to magazine editors. Honestly, this book should have been called The Writer's Best Friend.

This excellent little book is a giant in its field. It is more than interviews with editors, it is a wealth of advice with practical and workable examples. If you want to see your work published follow Kyle,Gregg and McAlary's profound visions on the process. Their tips and sage advice help you establish sound, publishable writing and if you follow them, will give you an edge in the publishing world. I highly recommend this magnificant book as an absolute must have for any writer's book shelf.

This imminently readable book takes an inside look at exactly what editors look for in writers:
Do your homework
Know the magazine
How to prepare a successful query
Grabbing an editor's attention by slanting your topic to fit the magazine of your choice

The Writer's Friend also includes valuable information for technical writers looking for assignments.

Reading this book and knowing what editors look for, paves the way to success.

This book is all about the fundamentals that a writer needs. He spends the entire first chapter just talking about the necessary qualities any writer must spend a lifetime to develop. It was a good wakeup call for me.

If you're a serious writer, it's a good idea to learn the business of getting published.

This book takes you from the basics to the insiders-know-hows. Plus, you're being instructed by a great author (have you checked out his highly recommended book, Scene and Structure) Jack M. Bickham.

I have probably read over 50 books on writing fiction, plot, character development and what not. And I have finally stopped looking. Don't get me wrong, this is not the "All" book for writing fiction, but it addresses just enough information to get you on your way in writing good fiction and believable characters. I already have Bickham's book on "Scenes and Sequels" which is a must, but if you don't have it yet, this book does a nice job in giving you the "meat" so to speak. His section on viewpoint, which some may disagree, gives you his interesting logic about what viewpoint to use. Some may argue, that his advice and style might be too formulaic, but just suck it in, because there is something to be learned. Use the advice that feels right to you. This was the first book that introduced me to "Transactional Analysis" when considering my characters' actions/ motivations. Get this book, you won't be sorry. I bought his other book on "Settings" however, and this book gives you a good enough review, so you don't need to purchase it.

However, Bickham does have another book on How to Write a Short Story. I have it and I recommend it Highly. It does overlap alot with this book, but it is formatted in a way that it maps out step by step on what you need to do and consider when writing a short story or novel from scratch. It uses the system of index cards which I like. However, if that doesnt seem to your liking, just consider it. I did and i am well on my way to finishing my first novel. The overlap in both books are not duplicate materials, just that each book has a somewhat different approach to presenting the information.

If you want a book with mapping instructions to write a short story or novel, then get his "How to Write a Short Story" book instead. If you are comfortable with the Preplotting stage of writing, then get this book instead. If you are looking for advanced Scene & Sequel techniques, then get other book on that topic too. All in all, these are great beginner's to intermediate level writing books!!! Highly recommend.

For all of you budding writers out there, who just can't seem to pull it all together, you've just found your new bible. In this instructional guide Bickham successfully interweaves elements of plot formation, character development and scene structuring, effectively creating perhaps the most comprehensive `Writing Fiction' manual available on today's market. Read it, enjoy it and I wish you the best of luck in your writing.

Want to study the art of rich character development, look no further. Fundamentals, techniques and fine tuning; it's all in there.

This book is a must-have for aspiring magazine writers. I used it early in my career, and I credit Yudkin's no-nonsense, entertaining advice with much of my success.

This is a wonderful book for beginning writers and a refreshing, enlightening, and inspiring book for veteran writers. Sometimes, we get so busy with our writing careers that we forget to take the time to look at the beauty around us and write about it. This book will bring back the life in any tired, worn writer, while encouraging, and uplifting the person who wants to write but doesn't know where to begin!

This is a must have book for the beginning writer. Yudkin takes one idea for an article and twists and turns it into a half-dozen for you. Her suggestions generate idea after idea. Even if you're not a beginner, you'll find yourself refreshed and resurged to look for the unique way to sell your articles. I highly recommend Marcia Yudkin. She's a supreme marketeer.

I am a beginner freelance writer. I found this book the best among 8 other simple books about writing basics. This book starts with things, people & events close to you and how to make them as raw materials to headlines IDEAS. Also, it shows you how to transform ideas to pragraghs.

Then, it guides you in how to contact the editors and the keys to make them accept your articles by explaining how they think and what pressures that influence them.

It is a great book to start with. If you are a beginner freelance writer, don't miss this book. It encourage you a lot.

I am a beginner freelance writer. I found this book the best among 8 other simple books about writing basics. This book starts with things, people & events close to you and how to make them as raw materials to headlines IDEAS. Also, it show you how to transform ideas to pragraghs.

Then, it guides you in how to contact the editors and the keys to make them accept your articles by explaining how they think and what pressures that influence them.

It is a great book to start with. If you are a beginner freelance writer, don't miss this book. It encourage you a lot.

Poetry of superlative quality is exactly what "You Beckon," by Author Peggy Eldridge-Love represents. Ms. Eldridge-Love is definitely a talented writer. Each of Ms. Eldridge-Love's poems allowed me to feel the words, which were inspiring, soothing and thought-provoking. This author without a doubt is gifted with evoking emotion. "You Beckon" is a breathtaking collection of poetry that I highly recommend.

I feel fortunate to have been recently introduced to the poetry of Peggy Eldridge-Love. Her work does not provide easy, comfortable reading, but rather familar places, people and memories that figuratively beckon the reader to take a closer look at the tender ache that may wait beneath the surface of the ordinary. Through Eldridge's artistry, common contemporary scenes and themes of our shared recent history take on a new dimension. Her collection is filled with timeless peices that you'll want to read and read again.

M. LaVora Perry,
Author of "Taneesha's Treasures of the Heart"

Ms. Peggy Eldridge-Love's lyrical masterpiece "You Beckon" is a witty, passionate creation that can hold its own among the Angelou's and Giovanni's. Taking everyday emotions and situations Peggy breathes life into the art of poetry with wisdom and beauty, speaking on subjects everyone from all walks of life can relate to. With a unique spin on the ordinary she shares her life's lessons in a "bare all" fashion, allowing readers a look at the woman within the writer.

" You Beckon" By Peggy Eldridge Love, is a collection of voices: A young girl, an old man, a worried wife, a soldier, a cosmopolitan and a lover as well as many others. All within the pages of this fine collection of poetry Eldridge Love handles many characters and gives them clarity and dignity that is rare in voices.
The poems work because the reader can connect with them and relate, living vicariously through their losses and victories.
The majority of Eldrdge Love poems succeed because they evoke a satisfying emotional response. It is one thing to write a well crafted poem that follows the rules of poetry, another to make a poem that touches the soul.
from " Repertoire"
I gave up wanting long ago
Believing that i bargained away
all hope of arms that might hold
eyes that could see
ears that wanted to hear
the repertoire of my soul.
Eldridge Love's poems are direct enough to draw the reader in. Complicated enough to hold the their interest. Love sports a fiskle intellect. But she doesn't put herself on a pedestal. She wants you to come into her world of words, which are often deep, always provocative and razor sharp in their brevity. Her family poem's " My Father" are snap shots of a Black girls life in Kansas who describes herself as a "hick", but don't be fooled by Eldridge Love's modesty. These poems are the documentation of a creative force at work.

Erren.G.Kelly

Being a poet at heart I must highly recommend You Beckon by Peggy Eldridge-Love. They say poetry is subjective but I beg to differ, "First Fruits: A Wedding Lullaby," "Cold Fever," "Wall Flower" and "Go" (a simple yet urgent plea) just to name a few herald the love and appreciation of this collection. Peggy has a sweet way with words that carress you as you read like waves on an ocean vacation. I love the memories as if they were my own. I look forward to reading additional volumes of poetry from this wordsmith. You've gotta get a copy. This is a must for every collection.

This book made me laugh out loud, kept me guessing and made me think about the bonds we create in life. We never know what life has to offer. This is a great story of suspense, friendships and life.

An excellent book with realistic characters, superb descriptions, and classic dialogue. A must have for your collection.

I have never been to San Francisco or seen the Golden Gate Bridge but feel that I experienced a little taste if it by reading this book. The author creates a vivid picture that stays with you. I enjoyed the story line and the plot kept me interested from start to finish. The characters were wonderfully created - I can't wait to see what happens to them next. (I hope there will be a sequel!) I think this is an excellent first novel for Jim Zoller and I look forward to reading many more.

This book has it all. It holds your attention with the suspense and intrigue and you don't want to put it down. The characters are quite unique and blend together very well. This book puts you through an emotional range of feelings and keeps you interested until the very end. I really enjoyed this book and hope to see more from this author.

This book made me laugh out loud, kept me guessing and made me think about the bonds we create in life. We never know what life has to offer. This is a great story of suspense, friendships and life.

A voracious reader I thought I finished the Russian classics when I completed Cancer Ward and the First Circle having devoured Crime and Punishment and War and Peace years before. Not so . Victor Serge has it all :the prose of Tolstoy, the impending doom of Dosteyesky and the currency of the Stalin era. Don't miss this one. FPB Ann Arbor

A repressive shadow looms over the destiny of these men of all age, beliefs, and ranks ... insidious terror creeps into those innocent minds and their lives ends before they know it or before their hearts stopped beating. Some vainly fight back, some don't, but all are hopeless.
The implacable and revengeful wave of the Soviet rotten bureaucracy destroys the life of innocent men. When tyranny and deception shutters the greatest hope of and for humanity, one ought to question if it had to be that way.

This book is amazing for its ability to communicate the intimate thoughts of the characters and employ beautiful prose to describe the physical settings in which the action takes place, without abandoning the larger narrative. I loved it and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in Soviet history or literature. I read it after reading several other books on the period, and felt that they were an excellent preparation for this one (The Unquiet Ghost - Hochschild, Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar - Montefiore, The Gulage Archipeligo), but even without the background this is a fantastic read.

in time the mind will make chains snap." Victor Serge.

Victor Serge's novel "The Case of Comrade Tulayev" is set in the Soviet Union in the late 1930s, long before "the chains wore out." It is a classic and haunting look at Soviet society during an era of party purges, show trials, and executions that deserves a place of honor on any reading list that also includes Arthur Koestler's "Darkness at Noon", George Orwell's "1984" and Vasily Grossman's "Forever Flowing" .

Serge, born in Brussels in 1890 to Russian emigre parents, returned to Russia early in 1919 in order to support the newly created Soviet Union. He served as both a writer and journalist. However, Serge was one of the first of the old-line revolutionaries to oppose Stalin's concentration of power. He was arrested, expelled from the party, released, and arrested again. Finally, in 1936 after a public campaign by leading European political and literary figures, Serge was released and deported to France. He eventually found his way to Mexico where he died, penniless, in 1947.

The Case of Comrade Tulayev mirrors in some respects the murder of Sergei Kirov that set off Stalin's first great purge beginning in 1934. The story begins with the almost accidental murder of a leading member of the Central Committee, Comrade Tulayev by a disaffected clerk. The Chief (Serge's allusion to Stalin) immediately commences a round of purges, investigations, show trials and executions. The rest of the book takes us on a chapter-by-chapter account of a group of individuals caught up in the aftermath of the murder. Each individual represents a different component of Soviet society, from the lowly clerk to the high-ranking party functionary to the `oppositionist' already living in exile in Siberia.

Serge paints an intimate, vivid picture of each individual as they meet their fate. Like a storm at seas these people can see the storm on the horizon but they all seem powerless to either flea. They are swept up and prepared for show trials. The only option available to each is their ability to fight the omnipotent forces that want them to admit to crimes they did not commit and to implicate others in these same acts. The power of Serge's writing lies in his examination of the inner lives of his protagonists and their reasons for either accepting this fate or fighting to retain some shred of inner dignity. The outcome of each protagonist's story provides a cross section of human responses ranging from cringing supplication to death-defying resistance. The story of Ryzshik, the exiled oppositionist is particularly haunting. As with the others, he knows what is expected of him but he chooses to starve himself to death rather than confess to some non-existent crime.

The Case of Comrade Tulayev is most often compared to Koestler's Darkness at Noon. Although the comparison is very apt there are some critical differences in approach that bear mentioning. Darkness at Noon focuses on the self-reflection of one key player in the creation of the Soviet state, Rubashov. Koestler took one life, Rubashov's, and reflected on his own role (or guilt) in creating the state that was about to murder him. The emotional heart of Darkness at Noon (for me) is whether and why Rubashov would perform one last act for `The State". Serge, takes a broader look at the questions of individual guilt and collective responsibility. I think that by taking this broader look both Serge and the reader begin to think about, if not find a rational explanation for, how a society based on egalitarian ideals can allow itself to be transformed into a compliant, totalitarian state in less than a generation.

Victor Serge's Case of Comrade Tulayev is an excellent piece of writing. Highly recommended. L. Fleisig

Most of the other reviews of this book are right on the money and more articulate than I could be, so I won't try to repeat them. But I will say that I found this book to be a compelling piece of work; a classic. I never quite appreciated the depth of dysfunction, even depravity, of the Soviet system. It bewilders me that such an abomination took place in my lifetime. It frightens me that it could happen again. I just finished reading about the Spanish Inquisition, where the same terrible mechanics were perpetrated on the Spanish. Whether the motivating spark is political ideology or religious orthodoxy, demented societies like this can spring up like mushrooms. Communism was a massive crime upon the Russian people. And it provides little satisfaction that the criminals were often the victims of their own crimes. A devastating but outstanding book!

Rona holds your interest in the lives of four girls and the men in their lives over three decades after meeting at college in the 50's. You'll find yourself in one or all of these girls, whether it was yesterday or today, which makes it such a wonderful read. Rona doesn't drag their lives out and you see spans of years, showing changes in all four girls' lives, from students to mothers with happiness, heartache, trials and tribulations,and I'm anxious to read the sequel It's a book that when you finish, you still want more.

This is one of Ms. Jaffe's first novels but has been reissued as a collector's item at twice the price the library paid for this book when new. Romance and personal secrets never get old. This one is about those who grew up in the '50s as I did, only these four "girls" were college students while I was still in high school. They were privileged pre-yuppies at Radcliffe, each having her own Harvard man. Since the author is a Radcliffe grad, I am supposing her characters are based on real people. Most beginning novels are.

Daphne and Richard were the Golden Pair of the group, as were Jim Darling and his Carolyn, a cheerleader at Central High. They both were in sororities and social clubs in one guise or another, while at the same time I was only in the National Honor Society, not much of a social organization, but as parliamentarian of the D-E group, I had a bit of prestige. We never had meetings so I was never called upon to decipher Robert's Rules of Order.

Christine, Daphne, Emily and Annabel played by the old rules to find men to support them as they were accustomed by prominent parents. Emily became the perfect doctor's wife. As they went their own ways, they managed to keep their friendship intact and kept in touch thereby preserving their secrets. Twenty years later, They enjoy fulfilling and promising lives of status and prestige.

The reunion offers the opportunity of the four friends to return to their past in memories and in fact of schoolgirl pleasures. At Cronin's, in 1957, everyone drank beer and made fools of themselves. As they reminesce about the good old days when all was bright and problems few, they see the changes. In Fountain City, we didn't have a Cronin's (now there is Litton's), only an ice cream shop and playground in which I'd watch Jim and Carolyn act like kids on the swings. This year, the alumni association has planned a "100 year celebration" in place of a class reunion. Since my graduating class bypassed reunions through the years, I'd thought about going to this free event to see Jim as an old man. And yet, I think I'd prefer to remember his cute smile and strawberry-blonde hair as the double for Michael Pare in 'The Philadelphia Experiment.'

It is a homecoming of sorts for these four friends to "catch up" and see how much things have changed on campus and in the town where they had glided through life on a cloud. At last, they are grounded and see themselves as they really are -- middle aged has-beens. Life was good; now was the stage of living it through the children and learning how to settle into a more sedate existence.

Now, twenty years since this edition hit the book stores, she's still writing about The Best of Everything.

Since discovering Ms. Jaffe, I've been devouring her books as quickly as I can, though I'm also trying to savour them knowing that once I've read them all, there will be no more. While my favorite is still 'The Road Taken'...'Class Reunion' is my now second favorite.

Emily, Annabel, Chris, and Daphne are young women of the fifties when we meet them; starting their freshmen year at Radcliffe, and looking for potential husbands at the neighboring Harvard. These women are so different, and take such diverse paths in their lives, you can't hardly put the book down without wondering what's gonna happen next! There wasn't a character I didn't like in this book...and the ending was very satisfying.

As soon as I finished this book, I picked up the sequel 'After The Reunion', and I'm lovin' it. I have nothing but praise for Ms. Jaffe's and her books, and am looking forward to all the books of hers that I have yet to read. If your a fan of women's fiction...DEFINITELY give Rona Jaffe a try...you won't be disappointed!!

This is a wonderful novel that tells the story of 4 college girls coming of age in the 1950s: Emily-The Idiot, Chris-The Intellectual, Susan-the Golden Girl, and Annabelle-the Harvard Wh*&#.

Each has her own personality, issues, and baggage they bring with them and deal with throughout the novel.

There is a strong sense of movement and travel from one point and time to the next as this novel spans the 1950's, 60s, and into the 1970s, and it is fun travelling along with these girls's adventures as they navigate through life.

This is easily one of Rona Jaffe's best.

A must-read, at least every 5 years before your own class reunion. You'll identify w/each character...the odds are, one will be reminiscent of yourself, another of your best friend! So much so, you'll be wondering if Rona Jaffe stole your diary!! The trials & tribulations of 4 friends, each w/a distinct personality, culture & lifestyle. Linked by memories which are endearing, poignant, humorous, sexual, sometimes shocking. It's typifies life's roller coaster ride. Only the real world could be so unbelievable & unpredictable. A literary hot fudge sundae!