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This well written story is a very inspiring read for all of us who care about social justice. Here is a man unskilled for the challenges he takes on and who without any financial resources follows up on his word and starts to improve the world. The example of Mortenson takes excuses away from everyone. His adventures are touching. His commitment is complete and unwavering.

With the tensions between the Muslim world and the western world, it is tempting to oversimplify our perception of the Muslim world and to see it as monolithic. Mortenson's story, well raconted, by Revlin, explains well the differences in beliefs and therefore behaviours of the various ethnies and Muslim communities he encounters and helps. The value of a promise kept is the best way to break down barriers between races and build lasting trust. We need more Mortensons and less bombs.

This is the best story I have ever read. The incredible journey that Greg Mortenson's life leads him is amazing! Greg Mortenson not only is helping children receive an education, he is also helping bring peace to our country and the countries he helps. The story is extremely exciting and it's hard to believe that it's true accounts of a single mans quest. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone!! It makes you believe that one person can make a difference!!!

Everyone should read this book - its a life changer. However, even better, but for some reason being overlooked by the world, is "Leaving Microsoft to Change the World" by John Woods. I don't understand why 3 Cups is being promoted by booksellers and is being given such high profile, where John Wood's book is not. John Wood went on to create the organization Room to Read which has a much broader goal, to build schools and libraries in developing countries around the world, not just one country. His book is a better read from start to end. I found that 3 Cups got bogged down with the details of the local politics. My suggestion; read both, but if you only have time for one life changing book, than choose the John Wood book!

I think this book was amazing. "Dr. Greg" spoke at my university which was amazing in and of itself, then after reading this book I have to say he is one of my heroes. The book is well written and gives insight into the many dilemmas facing the US in Afghanistan today while also providing an inspiring story of one man's mission to change the world and do what most believe is utterly impossible. Fantastic Book!!!

I bought this book because I was looking for something inspirational, and while it is a nice story, it is so poorly written I find it hard to recommend. It would have been interesting to see what an established writer like Jon Krakauer (Into Thin Air) would have done with it.

Great book. Read this when I was a kid and still remembered it years later when the movie came out. Great story complicated enough to interest a young teen, but entertaining enough to keep a kid reading. Great message for 10-13 year olds.

The spell that Ella was put under gave the book a nice twist, and this was a novel that I immensely enjoyed. Reading about Ella dealing with her gift/curse and the ways she found around was a delight. I stumbled across it in highschool, and reread it in college. The reading level is a bit under highschool level, but it was a enjoyable read nonetheless, and would be a great gift for a girl, and still a enjoyable however quick read for an adult.

Oh, wow. So, picture if you will, a girl bored in Reading class, beacsuse she's already read all the books we're reading. So I wander over to the book shelf, and I find Ella Enchanted. 2 years later, I think I've read this book about 16 times. It is great. If Ella hadn't married Char, I WOULD!!!
I love the step sisters. They're so stupid and hilarious.

Buy the book. Watch the movie. Obsesses if you want. I do.

Oh yeah, this is Karen's daughter.
So yeah.
See ya!

All I want to say is that if you like fairy tales and hot princes read this book. I have read this book at least 8 times starting from the time I was in middle school and I'm 22 now. If you ever need to get away from life or just need a quick fairytale break then this is for you. I laughed out loud and cried tears of anger and tears of joy. Read it you won't regret it!

Ps. If you have seen the movie don't judge this story by that, because it isn't anything like the book. The book is 1000 times better in fact the movie doesn't give the book any justice.

I came to this book in the odd position of having seen the movie first. I must say, I was quite surprised. Aside from the names of the characters and the curse of obedience, little was the same. When I started reading, my mind was trying to make comparisons... but the stories were so different that I had to stop. The two plots are so dissimilar, they can't really be compared.

The book features a spunky heroine who can more than look after herself, even in the face of a curse that makes her obey any order that's given to her. I enjoyed reading about her adventures and her blossoming friendship with Prince Char. Since this story is loosely based on Cinderella, of course we all know that Ella will live happily ever after. But how she gets there is in turns entertaining, frustrating, romantic, and clever. And yes, there are glass slippers in this version of the story.

My only real complaint was with the climax and the way Ella finally broke the curse. It seemed a little overly convenient to me, and I didn't really understand why she hadn't done it sooner. In that respect, the movie version of this event made more sense to me.

So, even though the way Ella broke the curse wasn't my cup of tea, I quite liked the rest of the book. The climax may have fallen a little flat... but getting there was more than half the fun.

Over all whether you like Ron Paul and his libertarian like views, the analysis that he presents is rather cut-and-dry. Following a wide range of issues that pertain to the American Political spectrum he piece by piece goes through the steps he sees as necessary in order to achieve what he refers to as a "revolution" similir to the spirt in which the Constitution was originally written. This book is NOT FOR BEGINERS in political science arena unless you intend to have both a dictionary and encyclopedia handy in order to appreciate the history and political science subject matter.

Someone recommended reading this, and I'm glad - Revolution presents so many challenges to current perspectives on government that it forces a re-evaluation of one's world view. While it's impossible to present a full school of thought in such a short piece, Ron Paul raises so many issues that it makes one question how our nation has been run for so long.

Again, I see this book as only an introduction to the Libertarian perspective, but it's got my interest. It's not enough to convert me, but it does force me to study more. I've still got a lot of questions, and I have to research some of the assertions presented... but it's raised a lot issues that people need to hear.

Dr. Paul doesn't pick a particular political party in his writing he is offended by anticonstitution politicians in both parties. I bought this as DVD's and enjoyed the form as well as the thought. Dr. Paul isn't a conservative but a libertarian.

After reading this book I was deeply saddened that Ron Paul's campaign was not taken more seriously than it was. His plans and ideas for this country are so far removed from the "pop culture" political climate that dominates American politics today. After reading this book I realized that this country made a big mistake not electing Mr. Paul. All I can hope for now is that if Mr. Paul will not run again in four years someone will pick up his torch and run with it. This book should be mandatory reading for anyone who is even thinking about calling him or herself a "Patriot".

Whether it's Ron Paul who leads us there or not, this book gives us a clear picture of where we need to go. Once the government is out of our lives for good, we can begin to enjoy life as American Citizens once again, instead of being treated like *mindless consumers* by the parasites who fight for more and more government control and intervention into our personal lives.

Unfortunately most Americans are not aware of the extent to which our inalienable rights are being undermined by treasonous public servants bent on ignoring the very document they were sworn to uphold. It is our right; it is our duty, to hold these treasonous criminals accountable for their actions. We need to get back to our roots; we need to say these words in public again and really think about what is important to us as Americans.

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security."

-Thomas Jefferson

The story of the rise and domination (within horse racing circles and the world at large) of the most celebrated race horse in history. Chronicling the horse, owner, trainer and jockeys; paying special attention to their remarkable place in history during a time in the late 1930's when the world needed a hero like Seabiscuit.

A terrific tale of heart and determination. The characters are richly drawn and the world of horse racing is told in a way that is fascinating to the non-enthusiast. The narratives of the races are constructed so well that they will keep your heart racing long after the horses are back in the stable. Wonderful stuff.

I purchased this book years ago when it first came out. My husband is an avid fan of horse races and having went with him on numerous occasions I became interested in reading about them myself. This book will not disappoint and even though the movie was very good the book is tons better (which is almost always the case). I enjoyed reading about the background of all the people involved with Seabiscuit it is a real heartwarming story about a horse that everyone gave up on but everyone ended up having hope in. A trainer that was an outsider and an owner that wasn't your average horse owner and the faith he put into the jockey who was left by his parents at a horse track because they couldn't afford to keep him home (it was during the Great Depression). I could probably go on and on about the book because I enjoyed it very much.

I saw both flims the original with Shirley Temple/Lon McAllister also the newer version both were great
So the the book was a must have also to learn what had happen to rest of the story(the horse/the people)

This is a wonderful book about an unbelievable champion - the kind we need today in America. A champion that reaches into the hearts of the people, unifies us and inspires us to prevail. The men who believed in Seabiscuit were not perfect, nor was Seabiscuit but they all managed to be imperfect winners. The writing itself might be a bit flourished but it is certainly well-researched and the story is entertaining told. Hillebrand has captured the ironies, truths, the agony and ecstasy of horse-racing and life itself as well. This one will make you cheer.

When I finished reading this book five years ago, I thought "Wow, that is the greatest sports book I have read." Well, I still think that way and I've read some great sports literature since.

It's the combination of fascinating mini-biographies of Seabiscuit's owner, trainer and jockey that make this book so entertaining. These were fascinating people and if you were a horse racing fan, the era was just about perfect. People went nuts over horse racing, baseball and boxing. It's not like today where football, basketball and hockey share the limelight, sports-wise.

Author Laura Hillebrand's account of owner Charles Howard, trainer Tom Smith and jockey "Red" Pollard are just incredible. These man have amazing stories and what they and Seabiscuit attained in racing, are almost unbelivable.....yet everything in this easy-to-read book is true. From the early pages on, the book hooks you in to the point where you care deeply about all the main characters.

I'll always remember getting to the chapter which told about the famous match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral. Hillenbrand had done such a great job of building up to that, I almost didn't want to read on for fear I would be greatly disappointed. That's how involving her book was for me, and for many others.

I guess the highest praise I can give this book is so good that it got me back reading, after a long absence.

Book 1 in Song of the Lioness series
I first read this book aged 13 and have read it at least once a year since then throughout my teens and twenties. This book is an inspiration for girls everywhere - if you want to achieve something badly enough then you can.
Set in the fictional kingdom of Tortall, this book is an excellent start to Tamora Pierce's universe of magic, myths, adventures, excitement, and romance.
Alanna is the daughter of a noble and expected to grow up to be a noblewoman, to marry, have a family and care for her husband's household.
She does not want this life and seeks to escape it and find adventure. Alanna becomes Alan, a page at the Court of Tortall and a potential knight.

This should be recommended reading for every girl from 10 years upwards.
I think it might be the first book ever to deal with female puberty appropriately - providing information and a situation girls can relate to without being the focus of the story.
Thanks Tamora Pierce - please keep writing.

Review: These books are my comfort books. In fact, all of the Tamora Pierce books from the Tortall series' are in that category. This is the first of Pierce's quartets ever published, starting with Alanna: The First Adventure. They all have a very strong female protagonist, who takes her destiny head-on and finds a way to train as a knight, even though such a thing is only for boys and men. She is a lovable, and tough character, who is very full of honor, pride, and hard work/determination. She goes through her moments of confusion, especially in times where she is out of control, but it never stops her for long. It's just enough to add a dynamic and believable honesty to her character.

Recommendation: This should probably mainly be read by kids/young adults. While I have known people who read them only when they were older, they generally only ever liked the books, not loved them. As I re-read them now, I do notice the lack of development in the writing style and story lines - but I still love them, because I have loved them for a long time. They are generally appropriate for middle school students.
--Note that I say "middle school", because there is some confusion about menstrual cycles and sex. Nothing is very explicit, and all of it is done in a very naive sort of way, since Alanna doesn't understand much about womanly things. However, there are some parents who wouldn't think such things were appropriate for their little girls until at least middle school - if you make them wait until high school, however, they probably will miss out on the wonderfulness of the tale and the great values that are displayed. Personally, I read these in 6th grade.

Here are the other books in this wonderful quartet, in order:
#2: In the Hand of the Goddess (The Song of the Lioness)
#3: The Woman Who Rides Like a Man (The Song of the Lioness)
#4: Lioness Rampant (The Song of the Lioness)

A tale of growing up and acceptance with a strong female lead who shows, without being ultra feminist, that girls can accomplish anything that boys can.

Admittedly a huge fan of the "women-warrior, disguised as a man" characters, I have been disappointed time and again by peoples take on them, but not this time. The take on magic, the involvement of the gods, and the world, which holds different morals, gave to a very interesting atmosphere for the books to be set in. Alanna is a character that I couldn't help cheering for, and identifying with.

Granted as others point out, this is very obviously a first novel that will kick-off a series. And while I did enjoy it, I do prefer to have series of novels have the ability to be stand-alones.

A terrific kick-off, to what I hope to be a wonderful series.

The first two books in this series are a good read for 6-9 graders (advertised for these grades) but the 3rd and 4th series have some serious moral issues for this group. Alanna sleeps with three different guys in the last two books. I don't want my 6th grader to read these.....

Redeeming Love, is a hard story to read and very unbelievable that any person would forgive a spouse the rank sins committed against themselves and their relationship. But this is a mirrored story of our relationship with a loving, forgiving and redeeming God who continues to love us while we are unfaithful to his mercy, grace and forgivness.

**This review contains spoilers**

I'm not into romance novels, but the person who gave this to me assured me this was a different type of romance and that it would be spiritually uplifting. I'm truly glad that so many people have benefitted from the book. I'm particularly glad to know that some women with abuse in their past have been helped by this book.

I'm fortunate to have not suffered abuse and therefore maybe I just can't relate to this. The book was very hard to get through. It's long and tedious to read, and the subject matter is very grim. Hearing about children being raped and prostitutes being abused does not make for pleasant reading. But these horrors are indeed part of life for some people, so maybe it's good to bring these matters in the open. But this book didn't feel realistic to me. Most of the characters were all-good or all-bad and not credible.

The novel makes frequent mention of the characters' sexual urges and longings. Rippled muscles under shirts, pulses pounding as bodies melt together, a warm curling in the belly (I could go on and on). In particular, I object to expressions like "she had brought him to the edge of heaven" (p. 156) and "she flew, Michael with her, into the heavens." (p. 285) I find it distasteful and irreverent for sex to be described in religious terms. While the sexual references in this book weren't explicit or obscene, they were nonetheless plentiful and, in my opinion, inappropriate for a book that's meant to be spiritual. Certainly sex between a husband and wife is a beautiful thing, but it's also a *private* thing, and I don't care to read about it.

Like everyone else, I was relieved that Angel returned to her wonderful husband at the end of the story. But why did she need to do it in such a bizarre manner? He hadn't seen her in 3 years, then out of the blue, he sees her walking across the field toward him *totally nude*! I don't care if this was symbolic of her shedding her sins and burdens and finally revealing her true self to her husband, it's still an over-the-top, weird, inappropriate thing to do. This is the type of content which took away from the spiritual aspects of the book and made me want to roll my eyes. For those who were helped by the book, I'm glad--but I'm not in that group.

I absolutely LOVED this book. If I didn't have to go to work during the week I would have finished it in a matter of hours (not to say that I didn't read a bunch while sitting at my desk -lol). Reading this book was like looking in a mirror. Every time I wanted to lash out at Angel when she ran away, I heard that still small voice saying, "You've done the same." It was a very sobering, yet exhilerating read. Francine Rivers has officially become my favorite author (and this is the first book of hers I've read). I'm now reading the Atonement Child, and am already captivated. I'd say go out and get ALL of her books cuz that's what I'm on the verge of doing myself! :)

My favorite book is "Hadassah: One Night with the King." I was looking for something spiritual to read that would be as good.

This was close. It's a fast read. It helps you to be more tolerant of others, because you don't know what has shaped them to become what they are.

I enjoyed this book, but it was quite predictable (especially if you know your Bible stories). The characters were well drawn, but it all was a bit melodramatic for me. It bogged down a bit in the middle to end, but was an incredibly fast read up until then. I enjoyed the journey to God and redemption that is played out in the novel and would recommend the book for that reason.

I give this book two stars mostly based on personal taste. It is a fun read, and has an up-beat tone that leaves you feeling pretty good about people and the world. Unfortunately, though, there just isn't much to it. The scenery, characters and story telling are a banal mix of Hickham's strung-together memories and a big rusty can of Americana. There isn't anything very ambitious or exciting about it; Rocket Boys is simple, straight-forward, and decently entertaining. If it were a food, it would be chicken soup. A hearty, unimaginative, comforting bowl of chicken soup.

I enjoyed this true life story so much I bought a copy for our grand children. It is inspirational, I would like to see it on the reading list for middle schools everywhere. When young people are motivated, encouraged and supported, they can and many times will do amazing things. To struggle through some difficult circumstances, have some expected support and some un-expected opposition and to achieve their goals was a great story. The relationship between Homer and his father will be related to by many. One page will have you laughing and the next will have you in tears.
I loved it.

If you were born in the 40s as I was, in New York, reading this book will take you back to the time you 'heard' about the coaltowns in West Virginia. This story will match your memories ... not to mention your memories of the era it represents. I LOVED it!

escape via rocket, October 6, 2008
By V. N. Dvornychenko (Rockville, MD) - See all my reviews


Part "Angela's Ashes" (Frank McCourt) and part "I Aim for the Stars" (Werner von Braun), this book chronicles the efforts of a teenage boy to escape the confines of his West Virginia coal-mining milieu. Fourteen-year-old Homer/Sonny Hickam (the protagonist and author) is determined not to follow in the footsteps of his coalminer father - who is already showing signs of black-lung disease, a disease which will eventually kill him.

Homer/Sonny has an older brother, of whom he is very resentful. Among his brother's "sins" are ease with the girls, success at high school football - and most of all - favor with the parents. Normally there are only two paths for escape from Coalwood: the military, or a football scholarship.
The brother, Jim, holds a strong suit in the football option. Homer, slightly built and very nearsighted, knows he has no chance at footfall - and, so it would appear, with the girls. Then a miracle happens.

The "miracle" that provides a third avenue of escape is the launching of Sputnik by the USSR. The shockwaves produced by this event change American values almost overnight. Intellectual "nerds" suddenly become fashionable. Homer hatches a plan which he hopes will eventually land a job designing rockets for Werner von Braun. The plan is to design, build and launch model rockets. Homer collects a circle of followers - mainly other "nerds" -- and together they put the plan into action.

Besides the shockwaves produced by Sputnik, another kind of fault line runs right through the Hickam household. On one side stand Homer with his mother, on the other his father and brother. A major reason for the fault line is that the mother does not wish to see her sons follow the fate of her husband. But that is not all; it appears the mother has certain misgivings about her marriage. With her artistic bent, and something of a free-spirit, she harbors feelings that perhaps -- just perhaps -- she married beneath her station. A consequence of her frustration is that she succeeds in pulling Homer/Sonny over to her side, resulting in a more-or-less permanent rift with the father. It is also interesting to speculate what other personality traits may have resulted from Homer's closeness to his mother. Homer appears to have a penchant for being attracted to girls that give him conflicting signals - somewhat in the manner of Lucy of the famous comic strip, they entice him, only to pull the ball away at the very last second. Homer is also attracted to an "older" woman (though she is only in her early twenties), his science teacher, Freida Riley.

Although Homer appears to fear and hate everything about mining, some of the most spellbinding moments are excursions into the mine. His favorite science teacher would not, however, approve of the chemistry in the book, which contains several mistakes.

I began by characterizing "Rocket Boys" as part "Angela's Ashes" and part "I Aim for the Stars". In retrospect, is little doubt that "I Aim for the Stars" constitutes the minor component. Although much of the book details the design and building of rockets, Homer's fascination with rocketry and Werner von Braun appears to be mostly motivated by this "ticket out of Coalwood." The epilogue to the book reinforces this. After some delays, Homer Hickam does indeed go to work for NASA, and enjoys a successful career. But sadly, no speculations appear in the book regarding man's role in the cosmos - the "extraterrestrial imperative" Krafft Ehricke called it - nor did any subsequent books on astrodynamics or space theory emerge.

The author produced a sequel "Coalwood Ways." Published only two years later, it covers much the same territory, but has a very different flavor. It concentrates on interpersonal relations, and is much "sweeter" in its outlook than its precursor. It gives the appearance that the author underwent some personal event between the two books which changed his outlook. A film, titled "October Sky," was made based on "Rocket Boys." It has a different flavor yet. "Rocket Boys" is a fine book, and after all is said and done, it would appear that Homer Hickam's true calling is writer.

THE EXPERIMENTS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED.

Loved this book. Was on the last chapter when I threw October Sky into my Netflix queue; Hoping I'd have it in hand when the book was finished. Timing was perfect. As usual, the book eclipses the movie, but both are great. Passing it onto my 10 year old son who already has aspirations of going into the sciences. Enjoy!

I had quit years ago, several times. I just couldn't bring mself to start what would certainly be another failure. I enjoyed my cigarettes too much to gird up to tackle this problem again.
Then I saw a reference to this book on an online quit forum (a well meaning forum sponsored by the medical nicotine industry). I looked up the book, looked up Allen Carr's site... and was struck with all the hype. AND all the hype by celebrities. WAY TOO MUCH HYPE, I was sure. What was the deal???
Oh heck. The book was about $11 here, so I ordered it. I was curious. I was not planning; I was not determined; I was not hopeful. I was curious. And since I could smoke while I read.... what the heck.
The book arrived on Wednesday. I started reading immediately -- and was now real curious what the heck this Allen-person thought he was doing. I knew hypnosis by reading was impossible. And I noticed he was a bit repetitive. But then, I found myself re-wording some of the phrases he stressed so that they were MY words.
Long-story-short: By Sunday (I was taking my time reading) I was coming to the end of the book. When I got to the part where he said "Okay. This is it. You have to be 100% certain..." I realized I was NOT 100% certain... but I WAS about 96% certain. I wonder. Maybe it will work with 96% certainty. Okay... I'm doing it.

I quit on June 4, 2006, at 8:30pm. Allen Carr is right. I did not experience the suffering of withdrawals that I had the first times I quit the "old way". Here is one thing that I feel help me supremely: When I did feel a twinge, or an urge, or a sensation I related to 'wanting to smoke'... I turned my whole Attention INTO it. NOT away. NOT ignoring. Not avoiding. I FOCUSED on what I was really feeling, where I was feeling it, is it already gone??? (Most times, YES!) Instead of intensifying a desire, the 'urge' or twinge vanished or turned into a sensation or an emotion.. 100% of the TIME!!!!
NO nicotine has entered my body since that last cigarette. I am STILL AMAZED and deeply, deeply grateful.

this book is full of helpful information on misconceptions about smoking. this book gave me a great deal of hope that i would be able to quit smoking at last. right after i read this book i smoked the last cig in my life and felt really good about quitting. i didn't feel any pain even the lil nicotine monster in my stomach urged me to smoke, i was enjoying that he was going to die soon. now i'm a non-smoker and feel really good about it. thanks allen!

I felt almost panicked when I neared the end of the book. I am still smoking. I will reread the book (as another person suggested). While reading the book I felt empowered, but something broke in the last few chapters.

I purchased this book after reading about 50 positive reviews here on Amazon, still unconvinced that a book would undo 15 years of smoking. Well, I followed the instructions, and here I am: a non-smoker of 6 weeks. I must admit, you probably will have to want to quit smoking to accomplish this feat, but aside from having the desire, Allen Carr takes care of the rest. I am not sure how it works; it is my theory that the author hypnotizes the smoker into being a non-smoker through repetition. No matter how it works, I can breathe, and my fiance was pleasantly surprised with my dedication to non-smoking.
Give this book a try. You won't regret it.

When I was nineteen, I shipped to basic training. I was a smoker at that time and knew I was not going to be able to smoke for four months! I thought it was going to be horrible, but it wasn't. It was not hard to quit (not that I had a choice anyway), and I had no ill effects due to it. The first thing I did when I graduated was to buy a pack of cigarettes and picked the yucky habit right back up again.

Since then I have tried to quit literally hundreds of times since, and wondered why they were not easy like the time I went to basic training. The answers lied in this book. It is purely mental. Yes there is a small physical piece to quitting, but I truly believe for me the hardest part was the mental portion. This book gives you the proper mindset to quit smoking, and does that well.

Take it from a guy who has literally tried hundreds of times to quit, and thought I was what Alan Carr describes as a confirmed smoker, you can quit and enjoy it!

I have now been a non-smoker for two weeks. To those who have not yet read the book, that sounds like an incredibly short period of time. However, I know without a doubt that I will never place another cigarette to my mouth again. This is the best book I have read, as it has given my life back to me.

If you are a smoker in a various state of confidence of your ability to quit smoking, buy this book and read it, then read it again. I had to read it twice for some points to stick.

We only recently found out that all our copies of The Count of Monte Cristo were abridged. We checked this out of our local library and liked it so much we bought a copy for our home library. The type setting is very readable and best of all, it's not abridged.

The story is a classic and a great read. I recommend it for everyone.

I boutht this for my Grandson freshman class in World History. He enjoyed the book and recieved a good grade on his report

The book arrived in excellent condition and it has been a delightful book to read.

I've often heard of references to this book, but never had an occasion to read it. After reading "Lone Survivor", I was curious to read "The Count of Monte Cristo". Dumas certainly set the bar high for all those to follow in this genre. The intrigue and twists are exceptional. A classic which should be a "must read".

How does one review a classic? Especially one so noteworthy as to have demanded the creation of 11 or more film variations, numerous adaptations, and even television series? I long avoided reading this novel due mainly to it's daunting size, and the fear that it's translation would cause the reader more work than I was willing to put into it. However my burning desire to know the true tale of Edmond Dantes overruled my hesitation.

The story, for those of you who are unfamiliar, follows Edmond Dantes in his wrongful imprisonment at the hands of his friends, his 14 years in the Chateau D'If, his escape and rebirth as a self proclaimed hand of vengeance against those who had wronged him. If you have only seen the movies, the book, particularly the ending, is far different than what Hollywood has created. There are no dramatic duels, no massive swordfights with brigands, and not everyone who we believe should, lives happily ever after. This is instead a slow but genius work of Dantes methodically stripping away all that his enemies held dear to them, at whatever cost. None die by his hand, but are rather destroyed by his influence, and their own evil choices come back to haunt them.

The story itself is genius, interesting and very fun. The writing, particularly the translation that I read, is an often difficult and sometimes tedious work that one may need a notebook to keep straight. The cast of characters is very large and they are often referred to by different names, making it a bit more difficult to keep track of who is who without some sort of note taking. I was not smart enough to take notes, and thus had to spend quite a bit of time searching my brain to make sure I was thinking of the correct person as I read, particularly with some of the more minor story lines and the characters that weaved in and out of the story with multiple chapters between their appearances. Also, this book will probably be disappointing to those who are interested in the action that the movies provided. The Count of Monte Cristo, does not come in with guns blazing, but rather plays a very well thought out and disturbing game of mental chess against his opponents. As readers we hope for their downfall, but also wonder how far the Count will go... his years of imprisonment have left him hardened and disturbingly without remorse at the use of innocents to gain his vengeance. As he plays his pieces we wonder just who will be sacrificed, and who will have the chance to live happily ever after in this dark world of Dumas.

Readers of more modern novels may have trouble with this book because of the sheer volume of concurrent story lines, all of which are necessary for understanding the strings being pulled by the Count. But to remember the tale of the lovers, the orphan, the bandit, the banker, the ship builder, the assassin, the count, the princess, the steward, the military man, the lawyer, the cheating husband and wife, the lost love, the musician, the buried baby, the dying father, the paralyzed grandfather, the murderess, the thief, the countess, the emperor and all of their relations, can be quite a daunting task for any reader. Still each of these stories could be a book of their own, keeping the reader quite entertained, but Dumas has managed to weave them all together into one, brilliant and shining tale... if you can keep them straight through the end.

What surprised me most was the ending of this story. It was not what I wanted, or hoped for. True I loved Haidee, and wanted nothing but her happiness... but many seemed to be left in suffering that did not deserve the fate that they were bound to. I will not elaborate for fear of spoiling the ending... but this does not end on a Hollywood, "they all ride off into the sunset" ending. Perhaps the meaning of the story is not all about revenge, but rather what damage the hunt for vengeance can bring to not just those who have wronged you, but to all those that surround you. The downfall of selfishness; be it falsely imprisoning someone to gain what you may, to the selfishness of vengeance... there is so much meaning in this book, I can see why it is so often "required reading." Though I highly recommend this book, I would advise you attempt to read it with others either in a class or a reading group so that you can discuss all of the rich meaning behind Dumas's words.

I ordered and paid for new - but got a used book full of dirty fingerprints.
It was supposed to be a gift for our grandson....ugh!

I was pretty surprised and disapointed in some of the reviews on this book. Several of the people who didn't like it themselves seemed to think that nobody 'really' does, and that they are only saying they do because it's a popular book. What a silly thing to assume. After all, the book didn't become popular for no reason whatsoever. Honestly, I think some people simply forget how to use their imagination, and you do have to have some use of it to enjoy this book. Yes, I do believe that, as humans, we like to blend in, and so SOME people might be tempted to say they liked it just because their friends did. That is not the case for everyone, and I would say, not the case for most.

This book has a sweet, imaginative story line about a little boy who gets sent to his room and so imagines himself somewhere else, with monsters that he becomes friends with. (Obviously, these are friendly 'monsters'). There is nothing difficult about the story line, especially if you use your imagination. The pictures are beautiful, but, not every child will like them, because every child is unique. I think this is a good book for children who are afraid to sleep because of monsters under the bed, because it protrays monsters (which are very real to many small children) as friendly and playful. This is a wonderful story, especially if you have a rambuncious child with a vivid imagination. But, as with all books, before you buy it, check it out at your library or from a friend to see if you and your little one will enjoy it.

childhood classic, what else is there to say. aweome book for any child or parent!

Among the hundreds of books my husband and I have purchased for our seven-year old daughter over the course of her young life, "Where the Wild Things Are" is one of the absolute best. She loves the freeing world that Max enjoys and its ever-so-slightly dangerous vibe. When she was younger, my husband and I loved the simple poetry and cadence. It's fun to read! It's almost like singing a song. (My daughter especially loved the female monster.)

The message is a good one: our imaginations are rich beyond measure, joy is a universal desire, and one need not go anywhere outside themselves to experience adventure.

Let the wild rumpus start!

This story is about imagination and reality and maintaining a healthy balance between them. The understanding that was intended to be brought from reading it is that imagination is good but remember that make-believe is make-believe and reality is reality.

The story has remained popular with children because of it's simplicity, because of the element of adventure. The pictures of course draw the children in. When teaching high school English I brought my copy to school and had a student that was enjoying reading my Dr. Seuss Sneeches book, and I showed him Where the Wild Things Are (he is a senior! And 18 years old) and he had never seen the story before! I was amazed.

What part do the pictures play in it's popularity? It is a big facet of it! The pictures are soft, they give a humorous twist to big hairy monsters... It is appropriate for the age group it was written but also a great blast of the past for us adults. The book is adventurous and jovial. It has a happy ending. I've remembered this story all of my life. I used to have a copy of this story as a child... I purchased a copy for myself as and adult and it remains in my collection. I remember this story because my parents read it to me - it was one of my favorites. I think it is the artwork, the muted colors of the story and the warmth of the book that makes it a classic. The overall message of the book: Daydreaming can be fun. (even as adults!)