Downloads Books

I use this book as part of my 100th day of school celebration. It helps my k students to have empathy for the elderly. We also discuss what they may look like when they are 100. Wonderful illustrations - typical Mem Fox style - perfect! Love it!

I discovered this book when my roommate told me it was one of her favorite children's book. Both my roommate and I are currently pursuing our Master's Degree in Elementary Education and are always looking for great books for our future classrooms. She informed me that this book is one she had to have immediately after reading it! Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge is a young boy who lives next door to an "old people's home" and he describes each of the elderly people he has become friends with. His favorite is Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names just like he does. When Wilford overhears family members discussing the sadness of Miss Nancy losing her memory he sets out to find out what a memory is by asking all his elderly friends. He takes all the things he thinks are a memory and gives them to Miss Nancy. She begins to reminisce about the memories that the items remind her of and she is so happy that Wilford has given her back her memory. This book is incredibly sweet and will have you "awwwww"ing on each and every page. The illustrations are hilarious and depict abstract pictures of the elderly people and Wilford. As a 21 year old I found the book touching and think that children of any age will also be able to relate to it. It is a wonderful book to read to children who have grandparents or family members who have Alzheimer's and can make a little sense about the aspect of losing a memory. This book will most definitely be in my classroom no matter what grade I teach. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age!
-Andrea W.

This book was a favorite of mine when I was young and now I love reading it to my girls. It is so sweet and wonderfully illustrated. My absolute favorite from the spectacular body of work of Mem Fox.

This is a beautiful story. It's perfect for reading to children who have grandparents with major memory loss. The illustrations by Julie Vivas are equally beautiful.

All I can say is I have had this book for many years and it is one of my FAVORITE children's books. Cutely written and the message is wonderful.

Volume two of Le Proust's great work is a sensual delight. Part One (of Vol.2), by and large, is more about Swann's family and, of course, the agonizing and philosophizing in regard to "getting over" Miss Gilberte. There is much less about the narrator's family which ran the course throughout SWANN'S WAY. Stylistically, BUDDING GROVE is an absolute wonder. We are once again treated to the narrator's philosophies on life's ups and downs (how's that for a summation?). Once he gets to the fictitious seaside town of Balbec, the book surges--taking on the proverbial "life of its own". The reader is in the hotel room with him...and on the beach...and on the boardwalk, etc. It was a joy to see how Proust/Moncrieff would occasionally work in "street talk" with the mainstay of aureate and lyrical prose: a woman in Balbec is described as having "yellow hair and six inches of paint on her face and a carriage which reeked of harlot a mile away..." Delicious. Priceless.

I cannot imagine trying to read Proust's Everest of a novel until I've had enough life experience to be able to identify with his insights. How on earth was a man who died young and was confined to a bed for so many years able to learn so much about life and common human experience, emotion and perception? I don't know how, but I thank God that he was.

For modern readers, Proust is definitely an acquired taste that rewards patience. I never thought reading the works of one author would make those of others seem so much easier to read. But such is the case with Proust. Nevertheless, one shouldn't regard his writing as therapy or medicine; it may read like self help at times, with its frequent use of the first-person plural, but it is a story first of all. His writing is just more detailed and insightful than that of all but a handful of modern novelists.

Within a Budding Grove is a primer on patience and perception, one that will probably make you a better reader, perhaps a better writer, and certainly a more interesting human being. Struggle on patiently. You will get used to the labyrinthine sentences, paragraphs that run on for pages, and gargantuan chapters (if they can be called that) that don't really begin or end anywhere tidy. Eventually, you will likely come to enjoy it.

My only criticism: at times one does get annoyed by the slow pacing. For instance, I knew that this is the volume that introduces the reader to Albertine. But it did take about 600 pages for the narrator to meet her! That said, there are plenty of tasty morsels along the way. Read it, not so much for the simple story or the minutely detailed descriptions, but for the numerous insights and the astounding wisdom.

Montcrief's translation, is the quintisential Proust. The, beautiful, florid prose is reminiscent of a time and a place that no longer exists, and captures the French aristocracy in the advent of WWI -- full of old-world trappings, yet abounding with subtle reminders of the globalization that was to follow. Proust's style and vision are directed admirably towards his artistic goal of appreciating art through sublimation, and express his idea that a true understanding of art comes first through appreciation, and then expression through a medium. This volume is full of Proust's own philosiphies on art, life and the people who abound in both. His observations, pointed and amusing, keep this volume relevant. Considering the wave of expatriate and existentialist writers who propogated Paris after the Great War, this book is truly the last in a line of works that view life in a grand, sweeping and elegant manner. Within a Budding Grove brought Proust fame and acclaim in his own time, and in ours can be seen as a masterpiece reflecting a time past, yet glimsping assiduously into the future. For those "in search of lost time" this is truly a great read.

How can anyone summarize even a single volume of Proust's massive six volume novel? Within a Budding Grove (sometimes translated as In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower) is the second installment of In Search of Last Time. We find the narrator perhaps marginally older on vacation with his grandmother living in a luxurious hotel in Balbec off the coast. This volume, paired with the first (Swann's Way), is really the introduction to the work entire if you can believe it. In it, the narrator perhaps matures slightly; he cultivates his keen awareness of art, meets new people, and ultimately falls out of love with Gilberte and falls in love with Albertine. His relationship with his grandmother is certainly expanded, and the reader comes to learn that the narrator is not merely motivated by a trivial pursuit of pleasure and bourgeois charm. He is in fact, a truly full human being, complete with fear, love, desire, and ambition. He meets one of my favorite characters in the whole book, the impressionist painter Elstir, a character clearly based Monet, Manet, Pissaro, and others. He introduces the narrator to Albertine through his paintings, and teaches him about the joys of life and art. There are some passages in this section of the book (the latter half) which I just can't resist from quoting,

"I could never have believed that I should now be dreaming of a sea which was no more than a whitish vapour that had lost both consistency and colour. But of such a sea Elstir, like the people who sat musing on board those vessels drowsy with the heat, had felt so intensely the enchantment that he had succeeded in transcribing, in fixing for all time upon his canvas, the imperceptible ebb of the tide, the throb of one happy moment; and at the sight of this magic portrait, one could think of nothing else than to range the wide world, seeking to recapture the vanished day in its instantaneous, slumbering beauty" (pg. 657).

also (how French is this?),

"For a convalescent who rests all day long in the flower-garden or an orchard, a scent of flowers or fruit does not more completely pervade the thousand trifles that compose his idle hours than did for me that colour, that fragrance in search of which my eyes kept straying towards the girls, and the sweetness of which finally became incorporated in me. So it is that grapes sweeten in the sun. And by their slow continuity these simple little games had gradually wrought in me also, as in those who do nothing else all day but lie outstretched by the sea, breathing the salt air and sunning themselves, a relaxation, a blissful smile, a vague dazzlement that had spread from brain to eyes" (pg. 669).

I certainly cannot add any insights into the greatness and profundity of this work which has not already been said by Edmund Wilson or Vladimir Nabokov. Within a Budding Grove is a deeply felt, beautiful and fleeting segment of one of the finest novels of the last century, I urge you to read it.

.
This is a great copy of Vol. 2 of A la recherche du temps perdu [In Search of Lost Time].
Each volume in the septrology may be read individually as an independent novel.
This is, of course, the very best translation available in English; probably the very best that will ever be available in English: certainly the next best thing to reading the original French.

NOTE: Proust is not quick reading, and one who tries to read him too quickly will just as quickly lose the tread of the narrative.
This text has its own time scale, and the reader must adjust his/herself to the text--not the other way around.
In this stream of consciousness narrative, the narrator (/author) digresses as he speaks (/thinks): he digresses, digresses, digresses; and then, he returns, returns, returns to the point where he began. One has to follow his line of thought: this is the art and beauty of the text.

Proust's achievement is one of the greatest edifices of Western art, perhaps comparable only to Wagner's Ring cycle.
.

I am Pete Sampras` fan and of course I enjoyed this book a lot!
I knew about most of the matches and important events, so it was really interesting to read Pete`s view of things.
And at the end I had a feeling, that the book was too thin:)

Pete Sampras is my all time favorite tennis player and this book was a unique opportunity to gain insight into the personality and make up of one of the greatest champions of all time. It is hard to put the book down, once you start reading it. I would definitely recommend it to tennis players and non-tennis players alike.

What a wonderful book. I could read a section about a match and want to pull out a tape and watch the match over because the book explained what Pete was feeling as he went through the match. Also, it was so interesting to read about how he was feeling during the many emotional times times in his life. The book shows us a Sampras that we rarely saw on the court.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it to everyone, not just tennis fans.

The audio book I purchased by Pete Sampras called A Champion's Mind was a great price and in great condition. It has been very enjoyable to listen to. I couldn't get over the reasonable price and how quickly I received it!

Pete Sampras - A Champions Mind was truly an amazing experience. Sampras lets you into his heart & mind and once you start reading his autobiography you just cannot put this book down. He really deserved more
respect than what he had received. I truly recommend this book to everyone, especially up and coming young athletes. Sampras was born with TALENT and was a true Gentleman but hard work is what made him a true Champion.

I am a nurse, so of course, I loved this. It has wonderful, uplifting stories. It would be a wonderful gift for any nurse, or for yourself, if you are a nurse or for anyone thinking about becoming one.

As always, very pleased with yet another Chicken Soup book.

Incredibly touching with quotes to remember. A book I will pass along so others can enjoy the soul warming experience as I did.

I was feeling really down until I read this book and now, after 27 years in the profession, I can remember why I love this job!!!

I work as a Director of Nursing and I enjoyed this stories.

Like others reviewers before this, I'm rather surprised how obscure this wonderful, quirky book truly is.

The story revolves around Toseland, a young child who goes to live with Mrs. Oldknow. He goes to live in a big manor in a country estate (think the estate the Pevensies go to live on in Lewis' THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDOBE). He soon realises there's something odd about the house, and is puzzled why Mrs. Oldknow talks about the history and past inhabitents of the place like they were around only yesterday. It turns out the house is inhabited by children of the past, and he learns of an evil gypsey named Green Noah who he ultimately must confront. This final confrontation is rather scary, and Green Noah is one of literature's most memorable villains that I've encountered in a long time.

The book is a rather charming blend of supernatural meets reality, and there is something very delightfully English about the whole affair. The author's Catholocisim is rather apparent n the book, and she fits a lot of different allusions to literature, music, and history.

For those looking for good Children's fiction, this is a powerful story. It's too bad it's not well known.

I found this to be an excellent novel not only for children but also for adults. There is enough intrigue to hold the reader's interest throughout the novel as well as being a lovely, warm family story.

I first read this book when I was a child (in the 60's) and immediately fell in love with it. It has everything I adore in a book; a little magic, a little ghostliness; an English castle; lovely animal companions; characters from times past; people with manners, morals and down to earth values and last but not least--love. I have re-read this book many times and have just finished listening to an audio-version. This is forever a beautiful and enchanting book.

The book I'm going to talk to you about is called; The Children of Green Knowe, by L.M. Boston. I didn't really like this book. It was a little confusing and hard to understand. There just wasn't a clear point. There was not middle, or a climax and resolution. I thought this book was about a mystery or a ghost story, by the cover and the blip from the back. I was very disappointed in the ending, and that it was appoint-less fantasy, that bored me half to death!

The Children of green knowe was about a boy named, Tolly, who was the age of 8-11,whose parents die (they don't say how),so he was sent to live with hisGreat-Grandmother in Penny Soaky. Her house was called Old Knowe.
Three children, Alexander, Toby, and Linnet, died in Tolly's(the boy's name), Great Grandmother's house many centuries ago. They started appearing around the house just days after their death. They played with Tolly, and went on great Adventures. Enjoy one of Granny's stories every 20 pages, and learn about Tolly and Granny's love for the flute andthebirds.

Other reviewers have praised the book. But then, they also liked Harry Potter, and "Series of Unfortunate Events" as well, so that clearly showed me, as a College Prof, now HS dad, that I might not like this book, as the excesses of sardonic humor, death, magic, and evil, are all too prevalent in this day and age, to encourage the reading of fiction to stuff yet MORE garbage into my children's (or my!) head. As it is said, "Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof...".

But Green Knowe is different- perhaps because it was written in a gentler, kinder time. While there is fantasy, and a sense of the blurring of the dimensions (ghosts that are not evil, a world within our world that has connections to the past, and the interpenetration of them all) overall, this work has as much depth as Potter's does for the adult reader, without all the preachiness of 'PC' dogma which has so marred Rowling's later writings, and has influenced all of the film treatments. One really does not need to rehash Shirer's work on WWII in a Children's fantasy novel, which is all Rowling's works have become at the hands of her American editors...

Boston's world is alive- with literature, history, music, and artistry, which Rowling's is not. For adults, the references to the Restoration, Cromwell, Purcell's music, Anglican Church, and British Christmas customs provide a wealth for any HS parent discussing the period 1660-1700. But, as another reviewer noted, she never GOES anywhere- unless just BEING is enough. Her world is one to inhabit, not to holiday through, as if it were an itinerary of sights to check off. The ONE confrontation is scary, and could frighten younger audiences...but a vision of a redeemed world shines through. I was reminded while reading Boston, of Jame's novella, that Britten set to music in the opera, "Turn of the Screw." NOT "cheery" stuff, that!

If I seem ambivalent, it is because, while there is much to recommend in her writing, and the pictures she paints are very vivid, and full of life, the theological issues of the spirit world interacting with the real world, the malevolent curses of a gypsy long dead, and the subtle hints of either a strong genetic lineage, or a nascent reincarnationalism, coupled with clear Christian imagery and pious sentiment (Do ghosts really sing Christmas carols, without malevolent intent?) bothered me.

Is the book magical? oh yes, in many ways. Is it troubling, as say, Wind in the Willows is not? Oh, yes.. in equal measure. Is it a good read? Definitely. But the rest? I'm not sure....

Delivery was super speedy! The product was exactly as the seller described! I would definitely do business with them again!

The product was as I expected it to be according to the product description. Very satisfied.

Cuanto me alegra que haya una autora que cuenta parte de la historia dominicana. Me encanta como Julia escribe. Este libro esta muy bien hecho pero ojo: Julia Alvarez escribe en ingles no en español. Aun asi, me parece que la traduccion de esta historia esta estupenda.

Me quedé muy impresionada con la historia y literalmente me lo devoré. Está basado en hecho reales, lo cual fue un factor para que me gustara más. Lo recomiendo.

Es una historia interesante y entretenida, sobretodo para aquellos latinoamericanos que nos interese la historia. Aunque es una novela, tiene mucho de fondo històrico. Los personajes son agradables, bien logrados. Me dejó el interés de conocer màs sobre la historia de Trujillo. No llega a la excelencia de La Fiesta del Chivo de Vargas Llosa, es una buena Historia

I like the opening dream in this excerpt. It is vivid and fast-paced and includes signals to the reader of who this narrator is and what her cultural background is.

Meena's description of her relationship with her sister is nicely done, especially as the details of her appearance are included in this scene, and more details about her culture.

I liked the flashback to Meena discovering the photo album in her parents' closet, and the shocking pictures of her father in his coffin. Her childish curiousity is easy to believe, as is her horror when she sees the pictures.

Meena's desire to be a normal kid, hanging out with friends and talking to boys, was also realistic. I liked the glimpse of her discomfort at her situation and her desire to be out from under her mother's thumb.

The scene of the mourning guests was well described, exhibiting the attitudes of Meena's mother about her long-dead husband and the attitudes of the guests toward a widowed woman unlucky enough to end up with six daughters. Meena's description in the next scene of her school experience was depressing; I was surprised a girl who had been harassed since kindergarten wasn't more beaten down than she was at this point.

I really liked this story's immersion into the Indian culture, and the way it highlighted the thoughts and feelings of a teenager pushed by her family in one direction, while trying to fit in with those her own age at school. I'd like to read more about Meena's search for self.

The story of Meena, a teenage Indo-Canadian growing up in the shadow of her father's untimely death, is that of a young woman suffocating in her prescribed role of perpetual mourning, but finding contemporary North American culture as uncomfortable as her salwar kameez. Whether her heroine is defending ungrateful "ethnics" at her high-school, or chafing under cultural prejudices that alternately confine and ignore her, Basran's prose is lively, beautiful and painfully convincing. But it's not just about the immigrant experience, or the Desi immigrant experience. It's also a story of alienation, self-discovery and loss--in short, a story for anyone who has survived childhood. This glimpse left me wanting more.

Basran's novel poetically weaves together the strands of past and present, modernity and heritage, and two cultures in order to provide an authentic look into the life of Meena, a young Indian immigrant girl. Basran's writing flows seamlessly and never feels forced. All descriptions, and flashbacks to the past have a definite purpose in developing the characters as well as propelling the story forward. The novel seems to promise to be an enchanting read. The end of the excerpt left me wanting to read more and more.

This very descriptive coming of age story immerses us in the life of Meena, her still grieving after 16 years mother, and their traditional Indian culture. I loved learning about some of the Indian tradtions, as I am always fascinated by how other traditional cultures live in a modern society.

Meena seems determined to shake off some of her family's customs and forge her own path in life. This may not be as easy as she may like as it seems she must defy her family, struggle through intolerance, and embrace the future instead of dwelling on the past as she has been taught.

The writing is meticulous, the plot clear, and the characters well developed and authentic.

The only thing I had trouble with was the lack of dialogue. Or maybe not so much lack of dialogue as the over preponderance of narrative. Meena internalizes often, almost to a fault, and I found myself losing interest in spots.

All in all, this is a nice coming of age story, with some interesting and original characters, and I'm interested to find out if Meena's path to self discovery will land her embracing her culture or rejecting it.

Meena's teenage a Sikh girl growing up in Vancouver, Canada. Her father died 16 years ago and her Mom is doing her best to raise the family traditionally. Meena's caught between tradition and making her own life choices.

"The past is the only thing that matters, because it is the only thing we know."

The writing here is beautiful. The voice is spiced with Chai and curry and just exquisite. This is a great coming of age tale and one I think that will work as both womens fiction and young adult.

Best of luck to Gurjinder Basran on her ABNA Top 100 award.

Giving Shelter is a story about the realities of war, as seen through the eyes of a Marine who has been on the front lines. It offers a compelling look at what it means to be a soldier in a much-debated war.

Michael P. Gilbert writes with such authority that the book's details ring absolutely true. His descriptions paint a vivid picture of war-torn Iraq; I felt as if it was me out there sweating in the desert heat, my heart pounding with fear. Gilbert also knows how to write solid action scenes and realistic dialogue. Thus, the story is already gripping, despite the fact that an actual plot has yet to emerge.

Giving Shelter is not for the feint of heart - it's honest and angry, so the language and details are unsparing. For this reason alone, I wouldn't finish reading it, but I'm sure fans of war fiction will devour it completely.

This was a very well written view of the war in Iraq. Disturbing, yet utterly true.

Knowing someone who has been to Iraq twice now, I can say the author does a great job in describing the emotions and experiences faced by our troops.

The writing is clear, crisp, and at times very poetic. The characters are well drawn.

I really enjoyed this piece and look forward to reading the rest when it's published.

I hesitated to read Michael P. Gilbert's Giving Shelter because of this comment in an official review: "It is as one would expect a soldier's journal to be, somewhat vulgar, short sentences, cynical asides, verbal middle finger to the higher-ups. Is that enough for a novel? There is too much of the real soldier's journal here to be a convincing novel."

With respect, I completely disagree with this comment. Gilbert's writing is beautiful! Like the waves he describes in the opening scene the sentences rise and fall with a comforting rhythm. Sometimes they are long and full of intelligent and wonderful words. Then they are short and philosophical. And then suddenly they come at you like bullets - full of curses and exclamation points. This is writing that evokes the action of the scene.

As a fellow top 100 semi-finalist I can say without reservation that if Gilbert's manuscript is consistent with this excerpt it deserves to go even further in this competition.

He says the worst part of war is waiting...waiting packed in a trac like sardines, smelling each other, but grateful for the padding of the other people because it prevented bumping around...

And--what was the war really about? They didn't find the weapons of mass destruction that sent them into Iraq. And he's angry about that--angry because bad intelligence cost soldiers' lives:

"But what really ### me off was that every one of us had to hump extra gear because they got it wrong. Had to wear layers of protective clothing and sweat more, and in that ### desert more than a few of us went down as heat casualties because of it."

What the war was really about--for him, and for others in his platoon was 'giving shelter':

"The men from that village walked into the night for one reason, for shelter. That's right, it's that simple. Shelter. Not their own, they were like you-unselfish-but shelter for the ones they loved...."

He and the Marines in his platoon fought for the Iraqis shelter and for that of the American people as well. A good sound reason and one the whole Marine platoon could call out a healthy "OORAH" when their CO gave them the pep talk.

Yes, this is a fictional account, but Michael P. Gilbert really does have a Marine voice down solid. His guy's a decent person, the kind of person who'd lay his life down to 'give shelter' for strangers and for the people he cared about, too.

The excerpt is well-written and well worth a read. The only nit this reviewer could pick is sound 'bytes'. Congratulations to Mr. Gilbert on his ABNA Top 100 and I wish him much success with his future.

....and sometimes it's just miles and miles of sand.

This excerpt tells the story of a surfer dude who joins the Marines, survives boot camp, and then gets sent to Iraq via Kuwait.

The rather irreverent Marine shares his experiences of wearing ill-advised, ill-fitting, heavy and ugly protective clothing while dodging snipers and making like a sardine in the cast-iron interior of their transport vehicles.

From rousing speeches to invisible weapons of mass destruction, this story, although fictional, feels real enough for the sand to seep through the pages.

I'd be very interested in seeing how this one ends. Rated: 4.5 stars

Note: This review is based on the excerpt submitted for the Amazon
Breakthrough Novel Award, and awarded a place in the Top 100.



Amanda Richards, February 19, 2008

The opening was solid and a pull on the reader to continue into a world the author has created more from experince than imaginations since the details seem more real than not. She has a grip on mixing the advancement of the story with bits and pieces of observations, descriptions that never deter from carrying us along. Unfortunately for me, it's slow very slow but for someone who is inclined toward this type of development, it'll be a good read since the author knows how to write.

For people from the midwest it draws us right in with referrences to towns and city's we live near and somehow Meridith seems very much alive. I am so impressed with the writing skills of this writer and envy her wonderful vocabulary and skilled use of it. I want to call her up and find out what is the resolution in this family. Does the spouse live? Does Leola go into an AFC home or does Meridith sacrifice herself and continue to care for her? And who is Bill anyway.. I look forward to reading the rest of the story! B.

This is the second review that I have sent on this entrant. The first must be lost in space..it was submitted 10 days ago. I wanted my vote to count, so I am sending it again.

I'm an avid reader of a variety of authors and this is definitely one that I would like to read to the end. The author has gotten me interested in Meredith and Jay..what happens with Brian? When can we read the whole novel? I'm ready.

This excerpt is moving and exceptionally powerful; made from all the things that make a reader want to return for more. Angie Mccullagh writes with the lyrical style of a seasoned professional.

An immediate sensory experience. McCullagh quickly pulls you into the story as if you were there! Character depth evokes emotion and in such a short amount of time. They allow you to reflect on your own life, but not for long as you can't wait to turn the page!

This is the prequel to the Tales of the Otori series although it was written last. As are all the books in the series, this novel is well written and rivetting as are the others.

Heaven's Net is Wide is Lian Hearn's stunning prequel to the Tales of the Otori saga. This book tells the story of young Otori Shigeru and his rise to become Lord Otori, head of his clan, amidst triumphs and tragedy, friendship, love and betrayal. Hearn's alternate historical version of Japan is as beautiful as ever and her writing adds depth and detail to the picturesque scenery carried through all her novels.

I really enjoyed how Hearn stayed true to her multi-character storytelling. Though the story was Shigeru's, I appreciated the chapters devoted to mysterious Tribe members Muto Kenji and Muto Shizuka, and also the background of Lady Maruyama Naomi and the members of the Hidden. Heaven's Net is Wide would be a great starting place for those new to the Otori series, but it is equally enjoyable as the final book in the Tales - bringing the story full circle to where it all began.

This book is up there with the many great books I've read - and I've read a few. Of course it's all down to opinion and taste but I found this book magnificently written - so well written I can't describe it with the acclaim it deserves. It is a HIGHLY, HIGHLY underatted book.

As I had read the first two books in the Tales Of the Otori Trilogy, when the prequel came out I decided to read the series from the start (From the prequel to the trilogy to the sequel). This proved to be a good decision as I (and I know this is very cliched) just couldn't put the book down! Because I had read the first couple of books and knew the characters - or for that matter of past characters that died before book one, to be able to read of things discussed in the trilogy actually happening before my eyes (because that's how well it is written) was an absolute treat.

But what I marvelled at most, was how well Hearn planned out the series. I just could not believe that events fell into place so well at exactly the right time, in exactly the right places.

Hearn creates a world where there are animals you'd find in from Europe to Asia to the Americas. There is talk of creatures like Goblins and Demons aswell as Spirits and Gods of various elements all set in feudal, mythical Japan with a magnificent touch of ancient history - of warlords and clans, of religions and beliefs, and of the struggle the women had and the dominance of the men.

Yet it is written and described quite subtly so that the loyalist of fantasy fans will enjoy it alongside the firm general fiction readers.

I suggest you read the trilogy and also if you want, the sequel first, so you can get the sense of appreciation for Lian Hearn's work and get an even more amazing read out of such and underated tale.

I believe this book alogside the trilogy and sequel, although it has some sex scenes, would be suitable for boys and girls, men and women alike above the age of 12.

Lian Hearn has created a world. It resembles Japan in the 16th century, but with added imaginary elements. The writing is exquisite - elegant, precise, rich and evocative. Once you start reading the Tales of the Otori you don't want to quit.

The ability to project yourself into a different personality set in a different culture and period, and do it convincingly and movingly - that is the mark of a very good writer indeed!

After reading the first four books-- Across the Nightingale Floor, Grass for His Pillow, and Brilliance of the Moon, Harsh Cry of the Heron (which, truth must be told, I don't know if I could read again... I got too angry at the end... Stupid Kaede!)-- I fell in love with the world and the characters. Heaven's Net is Wide is a MOST welcome expansion upon the character and story of Shigeru. He had been somewhat of an enigma in the first book- we never quite knew what he was thinking- but HNiW explains his personality and actions beautifully.

The fact that I can't reread Harsh Cry of the Heron because it is literally too painful speaks volumes for the author's abilities, and Heaven's Net is Wide definitely showcases those abilities as well. Both books made me feel for the characters so acutely it translated into real physical anguish. I knew, from reading the other four Tales of the Otori books, what would ultimately occur, and in Heaven's Net is Wide, I could see the characters make the decisions that would put them on the path to that end, and it nearly killed me. I actually found myself yelling at the book a couple times, as ridiculous as that sounds.

In all, a very well executed return to the beginning of the events in the Tales of the Otori series. Most definitely recommended.