English Books

''Supposing that by casting all these things into an imaginary world, stripping them of their stained-glass and Sunday school associations, one could make them for the first time appear in their real potency?''
--C.S. Lewis

The heart of Narnia is its creator, the great lion, Aslan. Aslan, according to Lewis, is not allegorically Christ, but Christ in another form for another world. The heart and soul of Narnia is in its Christian roots; Aslan, is son of the Emperor across the sea. He wanders in and out of Narnian history, to give himself in sacrifice as Christ did, to right wrongs thousands of years old, liberating hostages and bringing life to the land, and to guide earthling adventurers in their quests. In these adventures, their main goal is to grow closer to him, though, as Lucy and Edmund are told, they must eventually come to know him by another name in our world.

Kenneth McIntosh helps children do just that in this wonderful book of devotions. He makes it easy to grasp onto those things about Aslan and Narnia that illustrate biblical truths, and illuminates them for young and old alike. Following Aslan is a great companion piece for those who wish to see just how deeply rooted Narnia is in the Christian worldview of its author, C.S. Lewis.

Watching Prince Caspian (the second in the Narnia film series) today, I was struck by the power of one simple line. When an older sibling asks why they hadn't seen Aslan, the youngest, Lucy, says, "Perhaps it's because you weren't looking." Perhaps that was it, indeed.

Look for Aslan in this warm, enlightening book. And then, once you've found Him, take Him to heart. You won't regret it.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Following Aslan, but I am very happy with what I discovered. As a child, I enjoyed The Chronicles of Narnia, and with the new movies being released, I thought this might be a good way to share a different aspect of the stories with my nieces and nephews. And it is! The chapters are short enough to keep the interest of even very young children, yet, they are chocked full of descriptions and actions. I enthusiastically recommend this book.

My kids love reading these devotions. I enjoy the way the Kenneth McIntosh relates the scriptures to the Narnia story in a way the children can easily understand. The simple prayers at the end of each devotion are another excellent tool in teaching kids how to talk to God.

It's nice to see a book of children's devotions that's relavant to their interests and reading habits. I enjoy reading the stories myself!!

As the mother of a five-year-old who loves books, I search for new books and new authors to encourage her love of reading. Kenneth McIntosh's Following Aslan is a wonderful find for me and other parents on the same journey. Although my daughter is not familiar with the Narnia characters, she loves this book and she especially enjoys the drawings. Mr. McIntosh provides enough information about the characters that my daughter feels she knows, and loves, most of them! Each chapter clearly tells a story that can stand on its own. When viewed together, Mr. McIntosh has drawn a life map that any person--let alone a child--would benefit from following.

I was introduced to West through her book The Thinking Reed. I liked her obeservations of rich Europeans, as seen through the eyes of an American, in the era before the first world war. The Fountain Overflows takes place in Edwardian England and tells the story of an educated but impoverished family, told through the eyes of one of the young daughters. Whereas The Thinking Reed was a pleasurable, almost fluffy read for me, The Fountain Overflows raised issues that I feel it didn't answer. The father is a gambler and not emotionally dependable, and the effects on the children are alluded to at the end of the story, but then dropped. I would have liked West to stay more superficial, describing the fascinating details of family life, and leave the emotional analysis out of the story, since she didn't follow the emotional analysis through. This is a quibble, however. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fountain Overflows, and will be moving on to Black Lamb and Gray Falcon soon.

to be savored - a real treasure.
This book is hard to classify because it is both densely written, and yet, it is like cotten candy. If you like to be transported to another place and time, and enjoy writers who know how to use the English language, this is a book for you!

This was my first encounter with Dame Rebecca West's writing, but it won't be my last. Nearly every paragraph stood alone, as a description to savor or an emotion remarkably described. The characters linger long after the book is closed. I believe that someone has suggested that they are somewhat Dickensian, with which I would agree. The plot conveys to the reader a deep understanding of the frustrations encountered by women whose lives are held in thrall by men who are indifferent to their wellbeing.

The only thing that keeps this book from being 5-stars in my mind are occasional spots where you want it to move more quickly. Its subtlety and richness make it a book well worth revisiting.

A general comment about the Classics series of the New York Review of Books. I am particularly pleased to have discovered this series for two reasons. First, because of the beauty of the books themselves; the cover art is of a very high quality and the paper, printing and binding is as well. The books themselves are pleasurable to experience. Second, the series is introducing me to literature that I would otherwise have never read. I just finished "A High Wind in Jamaica," have begun "Indian Summer" by William Dean Howells (and my middle-school introduction to "The Rise of Silas Lapham" would have predicted that I would never have picked up a book by Howells again, which would have been my loss - I might even tackle Silas Lapham again), and have ordered a few more. I recommend that readers explore some of these treasures.

The header says it all. If pressed, I will have to admit that this is my absolute favorite novel of all time. There is something so haunting and so human and so memorable about this book, I can't stay away from it--I must have read it 20 times, and I never grow tired of it.

I had heard of author Rebecca West, mainly as the young woman who had a long term affair with a much older H.G. Wells and produced a child out of wedlock, back when things like this were considered shocking. I stumbled across a copy of this book and decided it might make an interesting read.
I never imagined that I had found a true classic, a book that uses the English language to a degree unsurpassed by any other author I have ever read. The story of is simple, that of a down on their luck family, living in London during the early 1900's. Their trials and tribulations are faithfully described, as are the multitude of characters they befriend. Actually to describe the plot, one might assume that not much really happens and to be honest, the plot is not the main attribute of this novel. But the language! I have often thought that I would some day like to write a novel but after reading this book, I would not even attempt it! This is how language should be used...clear and concise but also able to convey atmosphere and emotions. Page after page of luscious words, all combining together to create an unforgettable reading experience. If, like me, you wanted to read more, please note that the sequel, This Real Night is almost as good. A third book, Cousin Rosamund is much weaker since it was not completed at the time of the author's death.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book. I think this ranks with Pride and Prejudice and Wuthering Heights as books which define the best that the English language can offer.

Anthony Trollope is a favorite author of mine, and this audio CD version of Framley Parsonage, read by Simon Vance, is well worth the investment. Deft use of language and a keen sense of human motivation, time, and place characterize all Trollope's writing, and those who enjoy period literature will be more than satisfied with this book. It starts slowly, as Trollope's stories often do, but once the background information is given, there are many interesting social, political, financial, and romantic plot developments to engage the reader and listener. Simon Vance's reading is superb, as always. The only caveat is that his rendering of the voice and character of young women is not as good as his pitch, tone, and inflection when narrating the voices of mature women and all men. His skill in rendering different dialects for different social classes and geographical regions is matchless. By all means, listen to this book.

In this novel we find one Mark Robarts, clergyman and parson of Framley. He is an ambitious young man desirous of rising in society. He is friends since childhood with Lord Lufton who makes an unfortunate introduction in the person of Sowerby who seduces poor Mark into signing his name to a debt which the parson cannot afford.

Mark Robarts's father passes away early on and his sister Lucy joins Mark and his wife at Framley Parsonage where Lord Lufton falls in love with her. Two more couples form and while I won't reveal how any of these relationships work out it wouldn't really matter if I did. Trollope's plots usually vary from bad to good but they are hardly ever of any importance anyway. What is important in a Trollope novel isn't what the plot is or how it concludes, it's how it works itself out and how Trollope paints his characters.

The characters in Framley Parsonage are a little whiter and blacker than those of the previous novels in the Barsetshire series. Sowerby is by far and away the blackest and Trollope was so effective in painting him black that towards the end he clumsily appeals directly to the reader and assures us Sowerby isn't really as bad a fellow as he seems.

Dr. Thorne and his niece Mary Gresham appear (from Doctor Thorne) as do the Grantlys and the Proudies (from Barchester Towers). Lucy Robarts is a fascinating woman even more headstrong here than Mary Gresham was in Doctor Thorne, but my favourite character in this novel is Lady Lufton. She opposes her son's desire to court and marry Lucy but does so politely and with consideration. At the same time, Lucy behaves in way Lady Lufton can only find irreproachable. So of course, not having anything with which to reproach Lucy, Lady Lufton has nothing with which to oppose her son's suit. And yet she does. How will this three-sided battle of wills, pitting Lord Lufton against his mother against Lucy against her suitor, resolve itself?

Well, that would be telling, wouldn't it? Let's just say that Lady Lufton has painted herself into a corner and let us leave it at that.

All in all, another fine example of Trollope's mastery of moral calculus.

Vincent Poirier, Dublin

Framley Parsonage is the fourth in Trollope's Barsetshire novels. Trollope (1815-1882) wrote the novel as a serial in the influential Cornhill magazine in 186-61, This novel along with the others in the series: The Warden; Dr. Thorne, The Small House at Allington, Barchester Towers and the Last Chronicle of Barset is a delightful return to mid-Victorian middle class society in a rural mythical county named Barsetshire.
In this long novel of over 600 pages there are several stories. The main character is the Rev. Mark Robarts, a
doctor's son, who at a young age becomes the vicar of Framley Parsonage. He has children and a kind wife Fanny. Mark has visions of grandeur in his head. He lends money to the unscrupulous Member of Parliament Mr. Sowerby. As a result of this fatuity Mark falls into debt. His friends rally to his aid.
Mark's sister Lucy Robarts is novel's heroine. She falls in love with the wealthy Lord Lufton who lives at Eustace Court with his formidable mother Lady Lufton. Lady Lufton wants her son Ludovic to wed Griselda Grantley the statuesque but dull as dishwater and cold as a cucumber daughter of Archdeacon Grantley. Lufton is torn between these two women. We see Lady Lufton overcome her prejudice against Lucy. Lucy is a kind girl who minister to the family of the poor clergyman Josiah Crawley. She wins over the heart of Lady Lufton and the reader.
Secondary plots concern the midlife romance of Miss Dunstable and good Doctor Thorne. Olivia Proudie daughter of the fussy busybody and scold Mrs. Proudie and the uxorious Bishop Proudie weds a clergyman Mr. Tickler who is a widower. Griselda Grantley is courted by the stupid Lord Dumbello who possesses a name and title to the Hartletop lands and fortune. Will she win Lord Lufton or choose Dumbello?
All's well that ends well in this classic Trollopian tale. Long before Jan Karon, Anthony Trollope wrote humorous, moving and plot driven tales of the lives of the clergy dealing with real life problems, romance and challenges. In my opinion, an Anthony Trollope novel is a good way to spend a quiet evening before the fireplace. Enjoy this wonderful author and the world he created.

I'm reading the Barset series in order and have not been disappointed yet. Framley Parsonage is substantive, richer than The Warden, more serious than Barchester Towers, similar in much to Doctor Thorne, and slightly more intricate than DT. I enjoyed the introduction of a healthy dose of political gamesmanship in the form of descriptions of the parliamentary machinations and electioneering strategies. One also learns how to conduct financial shennanigans with horses, farmland, and public forests. The characters in FP are textured and almost always believable; there's only a few caricatures here. As always, the Everyman's edition is accompanied by a lucid introduction and helpful timetable.

The fourth of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, Framley Parsonage (1861) is a gentle novel filled with memorable characters, including many characters from The Warden, Barchester Towers, and Dr. Thorne. Mark Robarts, a young vicar with a devoted wife, has a comfortable situation at Framley Parsonage on the estate of the indomitable Lady Lufton. Her son, now Lord Lufton, had been a friend of Mark Robarts at school, and it was their friendship which resulted in Mark's position. Mark, though conscientious in his duties and grateful for his situation, is ambitious, however, anxious to expand his horizons beyond Framley.

Lady Lufton, who rules with an iron hand, is appalled when Mark decides to spend a weekend with a "fast" crowd, one which he believes can advance his career. Young and naïve, he becomes the dupe of an aristocratic "con-man," an MP named Nathaniel Sowerby, who persuades him to help him out of a financial jam by signing a note for five hundred pounds (more than half Robarts's yearly salary), allowing Sowerby to draw funds on Robarts's name. Though Sowerby swears he will resolve the problem within weeks, he needs an additional four hundred pounds when the note comes due.

In the meantime, Robarts's sister Lucy arrives at Framley Parsonage upon the death of their father. Lucy, a sweet ingénue in mourning, soon comes to the attention of Lord Lufton, who is fascinated by her naivete, a marked contrast with the women he has known to date. Though Lady Lufton has much more "significant" matrimonial prospects in mind for her son, the courtship begins, and though Lucy declines Lord Lufton's initial proposal, she remains in love with him. As Robarts's financial miseries become more pressing, and as Lucy's misery at having turned down Lord Lufton increases, the scene is set for a final showdown.

Numerous peripheral characters, many of them known to readers of the series, add to the drama of the primary action. The implacable dowager Lady Lufton, wishing to maintain her family's social position, staunchly opposes the Duke's relationship with Lucy Robarts, pushing Griselda Grantly, daughter of Archdeacon Grantly, as the Duke's suitor. The competition between the (Archdeacon) Grantlys and the (Bishop) Proudies for suitors for their daughters adds great comic relief to the story, and the internecine manipulations among the clergy provide gentle satire in a novel which seems to be remarkably domestic in its focus.

Trollope provides a full picture of Victorian life, representing many aspects of society, and though his view of the clergy has in earlier novels been a bit jaded, he is sympathetic to many of its representatives in this novel, seeing them as humans, rather than as types. A sweet novel, part love story and part social commentary, Framley Parsonage is charming, memorable for its characters and picture of Victorian England. n Mary Whipple

The Warden
Barchester Towers
Doctor Thorne (Barsetshire Novels)

Reading this book makes you wonder why futurists didn't foresee the need for it earlier. But then, that's one of the major purposes of Future, Inc.: to de-mystify futures studies, so that people stop thinking of it as a way of predicting the future, with all the negative, crystal-ball charlatanism that evokes. I read futurist magazines and attended futurist conferences during the 90's, but was turned-off by two things: 1) the boring predictability of most of the speakers/writers, and 2) the irrelevance of their methods, most of them seeming to have been devised in tremendous isolation from the real world. Garland's book cuts through all that ingrown navel-gazing and gets straight to what most readers (especially business readers) care about: is there any way I can get a better handle on what might be coming down the pike, as it relates to my work? This should be on every executive's bookshelf (AFTER being read, of course).

Fantastic book!
Very interesting and well written. Connects directly "future studies" with "strategic planning". Introduces the concept of System Thinking, analizes trends and go through scenario generation, all ilustrated by good cases.

After hearing the author speak on a panel about the future, I decided to buy his book. And what a fabulous book it is! Displaying in-depth knowledge, and conveying it in an entertaining and clear manner usually don't go together. That is what makes this book a great read.
If you like ideas, thinking about them, exploring them, etc., then you will love this book.

Highly recommended reading for anyone. It contains important ideas. I think about its relevance, particularly in light of the news [daily] about an upcoming Recession. While this may tend to put us in knee-jerk reaction-mode, thinking about what we have to do presently in reaction to the possible conditions of the next 12-18 months; it is actually now more than ever that we need a framework for thinking about what is on the 10-20 year horizon. If you could effectively do that [i.e., build the scenario for 10-20 years out, and alter your current plans accordingly], imagine how far ahead of your competition you would be -- in business and in life.

I think knowing about trends and anticipating the future is an invaluable skill for consultants and senior HR people. This is especially true for the latter if they want to be a strategic player. If you truly want to make your "place at the table" being a "business futurist" is one way to do it. I just finished reading Eric Garland's Future Inc.: How Businesses Can Anticipate and Profit from What's Next and I think it is excellent. Garland steps you through the process of viewing the world as a system, recognizing trends, developing scenarios, drawing pictures to make those scenarios easier to communicate and then actually communicating the future to your target audience. One tool that I found to be very helpful, in fact I have already applied it to one consulting situation, is what he called the STEEP model. It is a model that you can use to think about all the potential impacts on your situation, as an example, your current recruiting method. STEEP stands for:


Society
Technology
Economics
Ecology
Politics
Thus, if you were trying to determine what future recruitment for you company might look like you would consider these areas and what their impact might be on recruiting. For example, society might include, Gen Y considerations, talent shortages, demographics, migration patterns, and educational shortages. Technology might include the impact of Internet recruiting and video resumes. Economics might include inflation, cost-of-living, and relocation expense. Ecology might include "green" considerations and your company's reputation. Politics might include federal and state legislative changes that would change discrimination definitions. If you get nothing else out of this book other than the use of this tool it will be well worth the price of the book.

Garland then finishes the book with his take on what he calls the "Drivers of the Future." He discusses: Aging, Information Technology, Health Care (versus what we do today which is 'sick care'), Biotechnology, Energy, Nanotechnology, Media and Communications, and Ecology and Sustainability. All of them are important, but for the HR professional the first three are of particular importance.

The key point of his book is to view the world as a system and to realize that there are multiple impacts on whatever you are working on and to be effective in anticipating the future you must consider this system. That is why the STEEP tool is so effective. This can be put to use today in ALL HR departments and it will have an immediate impact on how you view the strategic aspect of your job and how you are viewed as a contributor to strategy.

I think this is the best Jack Handey book. I should know, I have them all!My favorite story is about when he had his head out the car window and knocked off a dog's head! The only complaint I could possibly make is that it is a little short. Go buy this book nooooooooowwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!

What can I say, other than thanks to Jack Handey for inviting me to read his book. This here is some side splittin' humor - the type that makes you worry about your guts!! I have to agree with Dirk when he so eloquently stated "this book is funny". Thanks to Jack for giving us never before seen material (Susan the Eubie) and for making this the best EVER!

If you're only buying one Jack Handey book then buy this one. I love them all, but some are better than others, and this one is consistently great from beginning to end.

This Book is funny as well as it should be , it's jack after all
i have all of his books they're all funny , weird this book is no expection . a word to the wise don't drink or eat anything when reading this book . i'm just waiting for the next volume of deep thoughts until then i'll read fuzzy & the others for a laugh.
take care jack & keep martha in line haa . this weird warped journey through childhood for those who don't get dry sense of humor things i would'nt get this book but for those who do than i'd recommend it. it's real treat.

If you're a fan of the Deep Thoughts series, this is surely a must have. Unlike the Deep Thoughts, you now have stories that are as funny as the short quips you've previously seen. I only wish the book were longer because you find yourself wanting to read more and more. My personal favorite is the fried chicken story with his cousin Susan the "Eubie". You truly get a sense of the warped genius that created Jack Handey. This book is enjoyable enough to read again and again whenever you start to feel down. If I could give it 10 stars I would.

Gaunt's Ghosts is the tale of the Imperial Guard from the viewpoint of the Imperial Guard. Dan Abnett throws the reader into the fray immediately, with no remorse or apologies, just the way war really is.

To get the experience of 40K in the thick of front line combat, look no further!

This is the first in the series but I read it second. It was backwards, but it was a great read. You learn were the Ghosts come from, how Gaunt got them, etc. It is a great set of books about people you will care about. Hell, I had a lump in my throat more than once after an especially emotional turn of events.

A collection of the first books in the Gaunt's Ghost's series, it is great book for any Warhammer 40K fan. It is also a great book for anyone who has an interest in the series but hasn't picked the right book out yet.

FIRST AND ONLY
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The first book in the Ghost's series, it tells the story of the Ghost's fight against an army of heretical troops. But along with the enemy facing them across the trenches, the Ghost's face an even greater threat: an ignorant military leader who is more than willing to throw troops to the meat grinder that is this war.

GHOSTMAKER
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A sequel-prequel-connector story, Ghostmaker works to tie the reader in to the story of the Ghost's current position. Fighting on a forest world against a dug in enemy, some Ghosts remember life before this fight. A collection of short fights and battles, along with some non combat situations, really flesh out who the Ghosts are. Whether they're fighting in city streets, dropping into Normandy-like beach fights, or just gambling with a group of rowdy soldiers, the Ghost's really start to grow on you.

NECROPOLIS
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Necropolis is the first of what I call "epic" fights in the Ghost's series. The Ghosts have been sent to stop a civil war between two giant industrial cities. The city is easy to defend, but treachery and back stabbing among bring down its shields and walls. The Ghost's fight enemies on all sides, and when the hour is dark, heroes will rise, and the fate of the city will be decided.

I started this book before being a fan of Warhammer 40K or the Black Library and it was still interesting and fun to read. You don't have to be a 40K expert to enjoy the story and the interesting characters. Dan Abnett is also great at keeping a series interesting and different by keeping the same characters and ideas, but writing with very different plots and styles. One thing I hate in a series is when it seems like the author follows a specific plot outline with every book and just adds new places and storys. The Dan Abnett books do not do this, and this keeps the books very interesting.
The characters are the best part of the books, they are not archetype characters that are either purely good or completely evil. The characters have depths and shades of gray.
Overall I would say this book is a great read, and I highly reccomend the other works by Dan Abnett.

This is was my first of the much larger Gaunt's Ghosts series -- I'm ready for the rest!

I lov this book and use it every year at story hours for kids ages 2 and up and we have a great time singing and acting out the book. I even sing it with the one year olds--we just act out the animals as we sing the song!

My favorite memories of this book/song are of my then 2 year old daughter singing "Zoo,zoo, zoo!" in the back of the car whenever she wanted us to sing this together!

If you don't know the tune for this, you can find it on the Peter,Paul and Mary album "Peter Paul and Mommy". In fact, if you look it up here at Amazon you can hear a clip of the song. Sadly, the Tom Paxton recording is out of print.
And don't worry about your voice quality--kids just love it when you sing with them!

My two year old loves this book. I was hoping to find some other books for my daughter by checking reviews from other readers, but no one had any- so I thought I would recommend Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (another sing songy favorite that we have memorized) and Eric Carle's book about Papa getting the Moon (exact title escapes me). The Carle book is a necessity if your child likes the moon like ours does.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R240EISQX24WSR Cullen of CullensAbcs.com reviews this book and gives you ideas on how to use to use it interactively with your child. For you I have more video book reviews, free children videos and free activity idea videos at the CullensAbcs.com website. If you have a children's book you would like me to review and offer ideas on how to use it interactively with children please send an email to CullensAbcs@gmail.com. Also, feel free to to add me, Cullen Wood, as a Facebook friend.

My 4 year old read this book at her daycare and came home asking for it. It is a great book because it is also a song, very appealing to the 4 year old group and makes it easier for her to remember when she is "reading" the book.
The illustraions are very clever and very cute. A book that parents and children alike can read many times without getting tired.
I highly recommend!

I've got this book/song memorized now after having read it millions of times. My children and preschool students LOVE this book. I do too. Great song and fun illustrations. Must have for your home and school library.

Oh my God- this book is wonderful! This ranks right up there with my favorite Victoria Holt titles. I will not summarize the story- other reviewers have done this. The story is told in first person narrative, by our heroine Mitji/Meg. It is poignant, wonderful and romantic. The guilt Luke feels in his attraction to Meg, her bewilderment at his mood swings, their growing love for each other (*sigh*), just fantastic. No graphic sex, just a lovely story well told. How refreshing in todays era of paranormal romance. You will not regret purchasing this book, it epitomizes the meaning of romance.

I loved this story and the adventure was top rate. Brent writes the best heroines and this girl was tops. You also get the tortured but honorable hero in this story. Every character is written exquisitely! I have rarely read such a charming tale.

I couldn't put this book down. It had everything I love: shipwreck, romance, and danger.

I was totally involved in this wonderful story. I've never been disappointed by Madeleine Brent, but this must surely be her best work ever.

The somewhat slow beginning is probably not for everyone, but it helped me get into the story. By the time Mitji found Luke and rescued him, I already felt that I knew her. Her life and adventures as Meg were never completely free of the Mitji period, and when Mitji was needed again, she was up to the task.

I bought this book used, which apparently is the only way to get it, but I would have paid the cover price just to have it.

I have discovered Madeleine Brent's novels recently and liked those so much that I have tried to read all of them. Two of these novels I have not managed to find yet (for a reasonable price), but so far Golden Urchin is my favorite of Brent's novels. Mitji is a white girl which has been raised by aborigenes and as the novel starts she is leaving her tribe to go search for the tribes of more white people. And Mitji's personality is fascinating, she looks at things very differently than expected because of the way she was raised and it is touching to watch her adapt to Western civilization. The love story is also believable and touching. Excellent novel, very recommended.

If you want to order an out-of-print book, I strongly recommend Book Rescue. I received my copy of "Good Morning, Miss Dove" by Frances Gray Patton just two weeks after ordering it. The service was prompt and the description of the book given on their website was accurate. I certainly received excellent value for the money invested in this out-of-print book.

This is the story of a school teacher and her sudden illness which requires a life threatening surgery. As she prepares for her operation she reflects on her life and her former students who are now grown and serving her as her doctors, nurses, etc. This is a portrait of a small town and a teacher that you won't see today. It was a simpler, quieter life and Miss Dove is a stern, no-nonense, humorless woman who has ruled decades of classrooms with strict rules and intimation yet her students respect her and have learned valuable lessons from her. Well written and filled with humor and nostalgia, the book still holds up well today. It was filmed in 1955 with a wonderful performance by Jennifer Jones, who brought Miss Dove to life. The film is almost identical to the book with some minor changes which actually make the film a little better than the book (especially the memorable ending scene).

I'VE NEVER DID A BOOK REVIEW BEFORE, HERE GOES:THE YEAR THE MOVIE WAS MADE WITH JENNIFER JONES, I WAS BORN, I DONT KNOW WHEN THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN, BUT MY 7TH GRADE ENGLISH TEACHER HAD MY CLASS READ IT AND WRITE AN ESSAY ON IT. FRIST OF ALL I LOVE TO READ AND MADE A B+, ANY WAY ONE LATE NITE I SAW THE MOVIE, I GUESS I WAS 12 OR 13 YRS. OLD THEN, AND I TELL YOU THAT MOVIE MOVED ME SO MUCH THAT I CRIED FOR DAYS WHEN MS. DOVE BECAME ILL. I WAS MOVED BY THE LIVES SHE CHANGED,I REMEMBER CHUCK CONNERS WAS A POOR CHILD IN HER CLASS AND WITH HER ENCOURAGEMENTS HE FINISHED SCHOOL AND BECAME A COP.WHEN WORD GOT AROUND TOWN THAT MISS DOVE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, THE WHOLE TOWN WAS UPSET.EVERY STUDENT SHE EVER TAUGHT WENT TO VISIT HER IN THE HOSPITAL,MOST OF IT WAS FLASH BACKS. SHE TAUGHT SEVERAL GENERATIONS. I WENT BACK AND READ THE BOOK AGAIN AND AGAIN, I'VE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THIS MOVIE EVER SINCE. I AM 47YRS. OLD AND TOLD MY DAUGHTER ABOUT IT, SHE'S (26) AND SHE CAN'T BELEIVE THERE'S SUCH A MOVIE! MY BOOK WAS LOANED OUT YEARS AGO AND LOST IN THE SHUFFEL. BUT TELLING HER THE STORY INSPIRED HER TO BE A TEACHER (3RD GRADE)CAN YOU BELEIVE IT! IN THIS MIXED UP WORLD TODAY. WE SHOULD THANK GOD FOR OUR TEACHERS TODAY! I HAVE CABLE WHICH AIRS OLD MOVIE CLASSICS, IN HOPES THAT IT WILL AIR REAL SOON, BEFORE I LOSE MY MIND!! I HAVE NEVER FORGOTTEN THE MOVIE NOR THE BOOK I GIVE HOMAGE TO THE ARTHUR, IT WAS A GREAT BOOK AND I WILL NEVER FORGET IT. TO PARAMOUNT PICTURES PLEASE RELEASE THE MOVIE ON VIDIO!! FOR IT IS TRULY A CLASSIC AND EVERY SCHOOL LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE IT. I WISH I COULD GET MY HANDS ON ANOTHER COPY, BUT IT'S SO HARD TO FIND. THE BOOK AND THE MOVIE SHOULD BE RATED "10"

After reading this book several years ago, I still wish I was lucky enough to have a teacher that understood children and still wished to be around them. Children aren't angels or despite evidence to the contrary, demons. Miss Dove didn't want to soften their lives- She wanted to train them to meet it well. She is likend in the book to a general marshalling troops but another military similie is to a drill srgt. She understands that children are different and special but she doesn't care. She cares that they conform to the rules. Which in general is how society is.By the end of the book you want to move to Liberty HIll and be taught geography by The T MIss D. If you have never read it -you are in for a treat and a thrill. If you have read it you are going for a specail vist back. ENJOY

I have loved this book since I read the original stories in a magazine when I was a child. The story is well-written, depicting a dedicated teacher who truly cares about her children but is not sentimental about them. Instead, she instills values and behaviors that will serve them well all through their lives. Her own behavior is impeccable, and she is a moral touchstone to the entire town and the several generations whom she has taught.

The story itself has wonderful flashes of subtle humor, as well as charming moments of tenderness, even though Miss Dove thinks herself above such behavior. I would very much like to see the movie with Jennifer Jones made into a video and think that there would be a real market for it. I heartily recommend this book -- it should be required reading for all teachers and students and all people who love a good, well-written story.

A wonderful resource book with easy tab reference locations

I discovered The Gregg Reference Manual as a student in an Executive Secretarial curriculum at a local community college. It was a required textbook at that time. Not only did I come to depend on the book for everything, it has become a permanent fixture in my library of books, and I continue to use it daily. It truly sharpened my grammar and punctuation skills, and I now have excellent verbal and written skills as a result. It has been ten years since I purchased the book, and because the world has advanced in such a short period of time, I decided I needed a more recent edition. I began searching for the Gregg Reference Manual, but I had no success. I had just about given up when I discovered the Amazon.com website. I was really excited to find the book via website, so I quickly ordered it.

I used this book for years while working at a university bookstore. No matter what rule of punctuation or grammar I needed -- and no matter how unusual the application -- I could always find the answer in the Gregg Reference Manual. It's the most complete writing reference I've ever found.

This manual is really excellent: clear, succinct yet detailed, and very user-friendly. It is a much better guide for the everyday or business writer than the Chicago Manual of Style. In particular, its organization and layout make it easy to quickly find the answers you need. Definitely recommended by this average writer.

I'm buying my second copy of The Gregg Reference Manual today since my old one has apparently disappeared. I purchased my first copy of this book as a secretarial student in the early 1980's and have used it regularly for both professional and personal writing and editing ever since. I feel lost without my Gregg Reference Manual. My kids will get lots of use out of the new copy as they write reports and business letters in junior high and high school. I can't wait to receive my new book. It's too bad it won't come with the dog-eared pages I used to mark the most frequently used subjects in my old copy.