K Books

McAbee deserves a huge audience. From her plotting to her amazing details, she is a master of the craft.

For killing his owner, he is to be executed in the human and the hounds playful manner of the elite. Thus the hounds and their aristocratic owners pursue the condemned slave. Valerik's flight for life seems futile until he meets Madryn, who rescues him from certain death. However, though he has little choice, Valerik wonders who the mysterious woman is and if he has entered the fire after escaping the frying pan?

Thugs attack them and they are fortunate to survive. Other adventures follows as dueling sorcerers plot their fate. While Valerik ponders deserting his hostess, Madryn distrusts him though she intellectually knows she needs him to succeed on her quest. Though attracted, they fight to thwart the feelings that bind them together, but love blossoms anyway. With Garet the thief tolerated as an unwanted appendage, Madryn and Valerik continue on her mission, which looks more hopeless than a relationship between an aristocrat and a slave, if that is even their true identities.

ESCAPE THE PAST is an interesting romantic fantasy starring an engaging heroic pair and an insightful, irritating (to the lead couple but not the reader) young thief (mindful of Broderick in Ladyhawke). The story line is fast-paced but similar to other sub-genre novels as side adventures test the mettle of the hero and heroine during their epic journey. K.G. McAbee provides fans with a fun fantasy filled with delightful protagonists struggling to endure on a vividly described world of magic.

Harriet Klausner

Valerik had been a gladiator and then a slave. When he murdered his Mistress, he was sentenced to death by hunting. So Val was released to be prey and the hounds were shortly released afterward to kill him.

Saved by the mysterious and lovely Madryn, Val accompanied her on her self appointed mission. Unknown to them, they were to become the champions of some magical guardians in a war against a sorceress and her evil brother.

***** K.G. McAbee seems to breathe life into her unforgettable characters! From the opening sentence, until the last, it is non-stop thrills which is destined to captivate readers! I am proud to recommend it to everyone!

K.G. McAbee is now an auto-buy author for me. This tale is a nonstop action, suspense, adventure fantasy that kept me glued to the pages. Valerik is the epitome of any woman's hero and Madryn is a strong, mystical match for him. Good prevails over evil; and I mean EVIL! Whew.

K.G. McAbee has an imagination that knows no bounds and I look foward to reading her other unique books - as soon as I can find them all!

Valerik had been a gladiator and then a slave. When he murdered his Mistress, he was sentenced to death by hunting. So Val was released to be prey and the hounds were shortly released afterward to kill him.

Saved by the mysterious and lovely Madryn, Val accompanied her on her self appointed mission. Unknown to them, they were to become the champions of some magical guardians in a war against a sorceress and her evil brother.

*****K.G. McAbee seems to breathe life into her unforgettable characters! From the opening sentence, until the last, it is non-stop thrills which is destined to captivate readers! I am proud to recommend it to everyone!*****

My 5 year old would read this book every time we went to the doctor's office. A must have for little firemen!

First of all the pictures are well painted. Our son who is not yet 3 can finish the sentences from memory for each letter as we read together. This one was well worth the purchase.

This book is a great ABC teaching tool for children fascinated by the big red fire engines racing past. Learn some of the key terms and aspects of what firefighters do to save lives.

Young children will enjoy learning about the very exciting and dangerous aspects of being a firefighter. With the imagery and vivid colors, children will certainly get the message that fires are serious and dangerous business that should be left to professionals (and trained volunteers). It is a great book to approach the topic of fire safety with young children.

This is a really nice book to learn about firefighters. The pictures are bright. The fire is really vivid and a couple of the pages might scare really young children. It would be a good tool for teacher's to use during Fire Prevention Week.

My almost three-year-old son Devon loves fire engines. He gets so excited whenever we're out and one goes roaring by, siren screaming. He loves books too and he already knows his ABCs, both upper and lower case and this book shares the credit with a few others and his loving and attentive parents for giving him this gift of the Alphabet as such an early age. He'll be reading by Kindergarten.

In addition to being a very good ABC book, this book tells the story of firefighters fighting a fire, something guaranteed to hold the interest of any little boy (and a lot of little girls too). All of the letter pages have beautiful, action filled illustrations that seem to draw Devon right into the book. No wonder he can sing that ABC song so well.

Jack Priest, Dad in Training

James "Ty" Tyrone writes sports columns for a "rag," but his excellent salary supports the tremendous medical expense of his wife who must live in an iron lung, a victim of polio. FORFEIT is a masterful thriller from Dick Francis.
Ty meets Bert Chekov, a fellow writer, on the street. Bert is drunk, but warns Ty not to sell his column. A short time later Bert falls or is pushed to his death. Thugs demand Ty's support for their race fixing scheme and resort to intimidation through his wife's frail grip on life. A must read for Dick Francis fans.
Nash Black, author of WRITING AS A SMALL BUSINESS and SINS OF THE FATHERS.

This was my first Dick Francis novel. Took a while to get into it, but it was a page turner by the end. 3 stars for those who aren't racing fans.

I've probably read all of Dick Francis' many books and always await the next one happily. In between the advent of his new books, I occasionally re-read some old ones with pleasure, which I rarely do except in the case of classics. He writes literature equaling, for example, Eric Ambler's writing in quality.

Forfeit, by Dick Francis, tells the story of sports writer James Tyrone beginning when a drunken colleague, Bert Checkov, warns him not to sell his column. Making vague allusions to blackmail and bribery, the man is so drunk that he's all but incoherent and then goes his own way. Chalking it up to the booze, Tyrone leaves his friend only to learn minutes later that the man has just fallen out of a window and died. A short while later, we learn that Checkov has been heavily touting a large number of horses that end up getting scratched from their races shortly before post time. This is the tip of the iceberg that leads Tyrone into conflict with bookmakers who will stop at nothing to continue a scheme that has already netted them a small fortune.

Tyrone is a remarkably strong character who deals with a home life that could only be called difficult, an editor who doesn't mind risking his life to get a story, and a gang of thugs that don't mind dishing out a beating or even murder to get what they want. He is not perfect, but he does have a good heart and readers can't help but root for him. Most of the characters are interesting and portrayed uniquely enough that they remain distinct and not just cardboard cutouts put in place to fill their assigned roles. The story builds momentum as it goes. In the beginning, I found it mildly interesting but as it progressed it became a real page-turner.

This is the first novel by Dick Francis that I have read but he has been one of the most respected mystery writers for many decades. His writing style is very clear and crisp, easy to read and understand. Some English novelists use language that can make it hard for Americans to follow but I didn't find that to be the case here. I am not particularly interested in horses or horse racing but I do like good stories with interesting characters and there was a healthy dose of that in Forfeit. After reading this book, I'll be ordering more Dick Francis novels soon.

I had been thinking: Do I really want to read about horse races? I only watch the Kentucky Derby and sometimes two more races, if there's hope for a Triple Crown.

My friend had been urging me to read Dick Francis, and recently recommended Forfeit, which finally I read.

In the book, Francis is always low-key and, as a former jockey, knows his stuff. Suspense is permanent, the plotting intelligent and flawless.

In Forfeit, we follow journalist James Tyrone, as he and his London newspaper colleagues investigate racetrack fraud. The highly profitable criminal organizations pressure racing writers to mislead England's legitimate bettors. The perpetrators are not hesitant to inflict serious bodily harm and worse.

Francis draws his characters carefully. We know them all, sometimes gaining our affection, identifying with their personal struggles. Tyrone cares for his mostly paralyzed wife Elizabeth, who could not survive without a breathing machine.

A major plot mover is a relationship between Tyrone and an attractive university professor, leading to extended complications and threats.

We also meet a stable owner who is dealing with his spacy wife and troublesome sons. We see the bad guys. We are introduced to the horses, especially a central one named Tiddely Pom.

We are in the British racing world. The writing is memorable.

These books are a favorite with my 9-year old boy. His only complaint...there aren't enough books in the series!

My son loves the Magic Tree House series and Caption Underpants series---and now this one too. I especially like that these books star a girl, yet appeal to boys. In terms of reading level, this series is easier and less "serious" then the Magic Tree House series---it's closer to Caption Underpants (lots of scribbles and drawings, goofy antics, and not too much text on each page).

My 2 older boys (ages 6 and 8) have been enjoying these books. They seem to have a good mix of kid-like silliness as well as a reading challenge and a good message.

Franny is a bit of a loner who marches to the beat of her own drum. In one of the books, she tries to change herself to fit in, ultimately realizing she is happier as herself. This theme follows throughout the series - she is different than her classmates, but likes herself and learns to make friends as the mad scientist she is.

Each book involves Franny "saving the day", using her scientific capabilities. Sometimes it's her experiments that create the problem in the first place, but none of her peers seem to hold that against her.

The reading level is a bit simple for my 8 year old, but he has enjoyed them anyway. He's able to read them through in one sitting, so these books are an alternative for him to the long chapter books that take a couple of weeks for him to read.

My 6 year old and I read them together, trading off chapters. The chapters are usually only a few pages, and simple illustrations help keep him interested as well. He and I usually require 3 sittings to complete a book (15-20 minutes per sitting, trading off chapters).

This package includes the first 4 books in the series. Two subsequent books exist as well, however I couldn't find a box set with more than these 4 original books.

One of the beautiful things about Franny K. Stein books, is what they inspire in my 6 yr. old little girl. I can't wait to see what invention my daughter will draw after reading a Franny book. After reading "The Invisible Fran", for instance, my daughter drew her very own robot that had new and different things than in the Franny book! After reading "The Fran that Time Forgot" we went around laughing about Fran's middle name for weeks!
Franny, that adorable little scientist, is PASSIONATE about science! She cannot understand why her schoolmates are not as passionate as she is! She gives our little ones permission to be passionate about the subjects that they like best!
Franny is wholesome, hilarious, and educational. (and I have not read the captain underpants series) I think that Franny can stand alone as a championess for science! Franny's zeal for science and discovery is contagious and I'm glad, I want my daughter to be encouraged and inspired by books.
I'd like to shake Mr. Benton's hand for creating such a lovable little "mad" scientist like Franny. Franny K. Stein is a fun and funny read, perfect for kids who love science and even those who don't love it so much.

My boys are 4 and 6 and they loves these. My 6 yr old can read them with no problem but they like for me to read to them both and we got The Fran with Four Brains just yesterday and they had me read the entire book to them last night. They are excited about the fact that i have ordered them this boxed set, and when it comes I am sure we will be reading them till we have read them all. I hope the author starts more in this series of books so they can continue to have a Great series that they enjoy that pulls u right in.

Overall this is a really great book with lots of examples and good problems, however my complaint is that some of the problems haven't been covered in the examples and so they are too difficult to solve. For instance, in the chapter on node voltages, none of the examples covers floating voltage sources that have other components like resistors in series with them, yet a number of the problems involve such floating voltage sources. I had to refer to the Schaum's Outline of Basic Circuit Analysis (another very good book, btw) to find an example problem for that.
If you're looking for books on electric circuits, however, I would definitely recommend this one along with the Schaum's Outline book I mentioned above.

This is a decent start for novice engineers. Unlike other texts on the same subject it has very effective methodology of teaching the very basic concepts of electric circuits. A bulk of solved examples is there to help you understand techniques of circuit analysis. It really soothed me when I was suffering from "circuit phobia". This text is highly recommended by me for beginners.

I am very satisfied with Alexander's book. Compared with any other book in this field, the others actually don't really stand a chance. Why? Because you can actually teach from this book EFFECTIVELY. The pedagogy works here, whereas many other authors have unfortunately failed. The communication works; and the chemistry works too. I think we engineers really need to realize this important issue. And always try to improve.

This one book ist the best Engineer book for me since my undergraduate years. The great difference between this one and others are the very illustrativ problems. Charles Alexander is somewhat well known as an engineering educator - I could very feel this from the book's layout.

This is probably the most useful engineering textbook I have on my shelf. Not only is it very easy to understand, but as a reference, I like it even better! The math is lucid, yet never overwhelming, and in addition, the problems are quite interesting. I highly recommend this book, rather than Nilsson's. (I think one of the Authors of this book has written/edited an EE handbook as well, which I am less familiar with. Maybe I'd check that one out too)

I really enjoyed reading this book because it provided a real experience of how it would be like living on that base which most people will never get to experience. The book provided so much information about the history of the base as well as the personalities of the families that live there. I actually feel like a tiny expert on Gitmo.
The book was a very enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it.
Looking forward to another book from this author. Great Job.

For anyone who has "been there" or is just curious to know "what's there" this is a must read! K. R. Jones captures the unique feel of life in GTMO on each page. The story is intriguing, mysterious and surprising. The characters passionate, compelling and all too real.
The ending had several "A HA" moments-definitely not one of those stories where you can figure out what happens! Cleverly done and most satisfying!
Bake up a loaf of mango bread, pour yourself a rum punch and get ready to "dive in" to life, love and mystery in "the least worst place" AKA Guantanamo Bay-a place near and dear to my heart.
Congratulations K.R. and best wishes for a successful future!

Writing about combat is easy. KR Jones writes about the true 'garrison' military that non-deployed soldiers face every day. She writes of the excitement of arriving at a new duty station and spares no details in describing the setting of GITMO, but also the effect a base and its personnel can have on service members. And she also includes an engaging mystery that will cause you to lose a day reading the book; you won't be putting this one down!

Marine Captain Adam Claiborne and his wife Audrey have just been assigned to Guantanamo Bay, a US Naval Base situated on the island of Cuba. From the very start, the couple realizes that things run a bit differently at Guantanamo Bay than at other Naval Bases. The commanding officer and his wife run the island like tyrants. Officer's wives are expected to comply with all orders as given by the commander's wife. Woe be she who gets on the bad side of the woman. One husband is severely disciplined when his wife doesn't wave to the commander's wife.

Guantanamo Bay is also the home to multiple mysteries and cover ups. Everyone seems to be having an affair with someone on the base. Official records are often doctored. Telephone calls and private conversations with the chaplain are monitored. Then there are the strange deaths that don't seem to have any logical explanations.

The Ghost of Guantanamo Bay is a well developed book that delves into the dirty world of Guantanamo Bay. I was quite partial to the characters of Adam and Audrey. I could see myself getting deeper and deeper into a messy situation and not quite able to let it go, just like Audrey. I could also see my husband wanting me to drop it but secretly being just as curious and drawn to the mystery like Adam.

My husband was stationed in Gitmo from 1973-1976. Both my children were born there. I found the history of the Naval Base very interesting and plan to purchase this book for my children, too.

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.

Of the many books I have borrowed from my dad, this was one that I have read repeatedly. Unlike some humor, I still chuckle every time I read "A hunker is not a squat" or the one about the grasshopper trap. This is one of three of Pat's books that I regularly give as gifts to those young men of impressionable age in their pre-teen and teen age years. Hopefully reading this book will enlighten both their minds and hearts.

I picked this book up at a liquidation sale at a used book store mainly because I liked the title and not knowing anything about the author. This was my first reading of Patrick McManus and now I just have to read more of his works. My better half was trying to watch TV while I was reading this and I kept interrupting by reading sections of the book. His comment was "I can relate to that." I got to the point where I couldn't read any more until I wiped my eyes. This is a must-read for anyone who needs a good laugh.

A book filled with humorous stories, this compilation of experiences was a treat to read! The Grasshopper Trap is only the second book I've read by Patrick McManus but now I want to track down all of his stories. McManus writes humor without the obscene, offensive language that seems so common everywhere these days. It's a refreshing, fun read with stories that entertain as well as remind us of a simpler, less frantic way of life.

The title of these comments is from one of the tales in this third collection of short stories I have read by Mr. Patrick F. McManus. The author has been writing the yarns and his versions of his childhood "true" stories for decades, and has now produced 12 collections of these essays in book form. Many of the stories are about being outdoors and failing miserably as a hunter and fisherman, but one gets the impression that to the extent he fails, he does with seeming intent. It's the outdoors he loves, not harming it or its inhabitants. When he does speak of a successful outing with his friends he complains so much about the "success" that again you can tell coming home empty handed is his real goal. A collection of stories is what he is after.

The best stories here range from his childhood when speaking of why an 8 year old is perfectly competent to own his first knife, while even one day short of the 8th anniversary would be nothing less than a felony were a knife to be given to such an infant. He goes on at length as to how men delude themselves in to their thinking they have convinced their wives how their gun collections multiply without a single purchase. And in a story entitled, "A Hunker Is Not A Squat", he explains how with the correct posture, a stick and a dirt floor, The United Nations would be unnecessary, and world conflicts would end.

Mr. McManus writes for everyone who enjoys a good laugh, uncontrived humor, and just simple observations about human nature. He does not preach about the solutions to world problems, claim a cure for the common cold, or how to get rich. He just gives the reader the gift of laughter, an invaluable gift.

I have always thought that Patrick McManus is the funniest writer on the planet. I read his stories when I need to laugh or relax. Sometimes I irritate my wife by reading it in bed. I try not to laugh out loud, but I only succeed in sounding like I am trying to muffle continuous sneezes.

However, not everyone gets it. I have been shocked by watching people read McManus without so much as a smile (though most start snorting like wild pigs on acid) . My only guess is that getting McManus requires a couple things. First, it requires some understanding of his experiences. He absolutely nails all of the stupid things 'outdoors men (outdoors people)' do and think, but don't want anybody to know about. Second, you have to see the self-deprecating aspect of his humor. Third, you can't look for great literature in integrated books. Patrick McManus is an excellent writer, if you see these as independent stories simply collected in a volume. They are meant for adults who want to laugh at themselves. So, If you are willing to or already meet the above three criteria, you will love this book.

By the way, I am a professor of clinical psychology and (other than worrying a little about McManus) I sometimes recommend this and other McManus books. I do this with people who have racing thoughts and anxiety at bedtime, and when I believe they have the necessary experiences to find it funny. It often works quite well. I think of his stories as little pieces of happiness. (Oh, that even makes me sick to hear. Sorry)

This was my favorite (so far, we'll see what #6 is like) of the Harry Potter series.

Harry is coming of age and starting to get caught in that horrible world between being an adult and being a child. Ron and Hermione are there and are going along for the ride.

The part I like best about this series, is that these are real kids. They act like it. They're not perfect, they screw up, and they are fiercely loyal to each other.

The plot is like most of Ms. Rowlings works. Lots of twists and turns and surprises. Plus a few things are explained that I had wondered about and a few things that I hadn't caught on to. I have never read an author who could reach all levels of readers. Whether you are 4 years old, 25 years old or 72 years old, you will enjoy this book.

I would greatly recommend this book to any science-fiction lover. However, reading the first two books or seeing the movies of the books would be highly recommended so you can keep up to speed with the story and not feel clueless.

When I first came across this book I was a little hesitant on whether I should read it or not since I have had a lot of opinions about the book, good and bad. Finally, after seeing the first two movies I decided to give this book a shot. This book was AMAZING!! After reading the first few pages of the book I was already hooked. This book is about Harry Potter and his 3rd year at Hogwarts. There is a mysterious criminal that has broken out of one of the toughest prisons in the wizarding world. And to make matters worse it seems that he is after Harry. Why is this person after Harry, and what is the true story behind this person? This is what you will figure out after you purchase this book A.S.A.P

Question: Can you have a better book than this? Answer: NO!!!!!If you like Harry Potter or just like to read you better buy this book! It rocks! It makes happy every TIME I read it. GO OUT AND BUY IT!!!!!! You won't regret it!

I love this book. The only book I have found better than this one is Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. I have been reading it for years.

This book starts out with Harry doing his homework in the dark on his birthday. When he goes to the kitchen, a murderer called Sirius Black is being reported as and escaped prisionor and highly dangerous. The report doesn't say where he is from, and the Dursley's are angry. It turns out that Sirius is from the wizarding world and killed thirteen people with a single curse. He escaped from Azkaban, the wizarding prison, and became the only person to achieve that.

The whole book is based on his troubles in school and the extra security everyone seems determined to give him. In this book, Professor Lupin is intruduced and becomes everyones favorite teacher. Lupin has a mysterious thing going on in his life, but I won't spoil it for you. This book is a definate read, but I recomend reading the first two fist if you haven't already.

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Reading 03
Book Report

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is an instant bestseller. It is a book that everyone loves. No one can resist Rowling's mesmerizing writing. She uses vivid descriptions to make all of her characters come to life. In this book Rowling uses a sentimental ending and a theme of working together to capture every reader's heart.
The famous Harry Potter is returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for his third year after spending a grueling summer vacation at home with his Aunt and Uncle. Harry's Aunt and Uncle are Muggles or non-magic folk. Harry almost got expelled for inflating his Aunt until she exploded. Luckily Harry didn't get in trouble. When he was only a baby, Harry was able to defeat the evil Voldemort. For this reason, people are worried that he will be the next victim of the escaped murderer, Sirius Black. Harry and his two friends, Ron and Hermione foolishly go looking for Sirius Black, only to find out something unexpected.
One reason that you will want to keep reading this book is because the characters are so memorable and life-like. Ron is Harry's best friend. He has a great sense of humor and is never afraid to say whatever is on his mind. Hermione, Harry's other good friend is somewhat of a know-it-all. She's obsessed with getting good grades and is a loyal friend. She and Ron are always getting into little verbal spats. Rowling admits that she based the character Hermione, on herself. Harry Potter's archenemy is Draco Mallfoy. Draco is a rich, spoiled "pure blood" wizard. This means that neither of his parents were Muggles. He is a classical villain. He teases Harry incessantly and pokes fun at Ron and Hermione too. He loves to bother Hermione about the fact that she is half Muggle. My favorite character is Albus Dumbledore who is the Headmaster at Hogwarts. I love him because in this and all the Harry Potter books, he always gives out good, real life, advice. The lessons he teaches are for everyone, young and old.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is what a fantasy genre is all about. The magic in the book is infectious. One has to keep reading on to see what will happen next. It draws the reader so deeply into the story that he or she finds himself or herself dreaming and wishing that it were all true. A class in Potions would really liven up the school day for me! I could really get into a class called Defense Against the Dark Arts too. I whole-heartedly recommend this book for all ages. The best part about Harry Potter is that the books are a series so the magic never ends. I find it truly inspirational that this whole story was born out of the imagination of a woman who wrote it down in little bits and pieces, on scaps of napkins and papers. She was a single Mom who was struggling for the survival of her family and now her name is known everywhere in the world. Don't miss this or any of the Harry Potter sequels.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows is an all and all good book. You connect with the characters as the books goes on and you see how some friendships grow. Harry, Hermione, and Ron seem like they are the best of friends, but after you read this book, you see that they can be even better friends.
I really like in the book how some things are not completely explain and you have to think to figure some things out. I like to think when I read the book. When things are just given to you things get a bit boring. The ending is pretty good, but I just sort of wish that there would be a bit more explanation to it.
There are a few things that could have been better. It gets into a lot of detail and a lot of people their minds start to wonder and they get off topic so the explanation of some things could be a little less yet there are some things could be a bit more detailed.
So I think the book was very interesting and I would recommend the book to anybody who wants a good read and would take the time to read it. º

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the unabridged audiobook conclusion to J.K. Rowling's acclaimed "Harry Potter" fantasy series, about a boy wizard on the verge of manhood who must stake all he has - even his life - to defeat his murderous, virtually immortal archenemy Voldemort. Voldemort and his Death Eater minions have taken over - wizards who are not "pure blooded" are being systematically hunted down and imprisoned or executed. The Magic of Ministry has fallen. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is no longer a safe refuge. Dumbledore, the only wizard Voldemort ever feared, is dead. The one way to end Voldemort's menace is to find and destroy the pieces of his shattered soul - but Voldemort has hidden them well! Harry and his best friends Ron and Hermione must undertake an epic quest that will pit them against the most formidable of foes. Perhaps worse than the quest itself are the lingering secrets that Dumbledore has hidden from Harry. Three powerful magical artifacts, known as the Deathly Hallows, will have a crucial bearing on Harry's quest, but will they be his rescue - or his ruin? A monumental epic and a satisfying conclusion to the wildly popular saga, impressively narrated by Jim Dale. 17 CDs, 21 hours 39 minutes.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows and really think this was the best harry Potter book so far. It was spectacularly narrated and, is 19 CD's long, which is probably why I haven't written a review for a while.

I particularly enjoyed the environment in this latest one. It is darker and more urgent. Harry, Hermione and ron are on the run! Harry must find horcrux's which contain bits of Voldemort's soul. Our heroes are also battling uncertainty, doubt, and betrayal. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Dudley seemed to have shown a kinder side, and the revelation about Aunt Petunia was just fascinating. I almost felt bad for her.

I enjoyed the backstory with Lily/Snape which explained a lot. I only wish Harry's dad had been less cruel towards Snape.

Overall, this was a spectacular conclusion to the HP series, although, I think I could've done without the epilog at the end. It didn't add anything.

I wish to instill upon all my readers the solemnity with which I type these words today. It's been just under 48 hours since a large percent of Muggle-kind poured into bookstores worldwide to get their own copy of the most awaited book ever published. It was without a doubt the greatest novel I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Rowling writes so well that it all seems so real, real enough to become an international phenomenon that has made Harry's world leap into our hearts and homes. Hogwarts, Godric's Hollow, and Hogsmeade have all seemed to be out there just beyond the reach of our outstretched, groping fingertips. It is because of this that what I am writing now will be like no other review that I have ever penned. I have followed Harry from Number 4 Privet Drive, to the very end, and cherished every word. Ending the Harry Potter series is like drawing a line between his world and ours, it's the final breaking point at which our ever-growing curiosity will never be satisfied. And we know it. Even though it was voiced by J.K. long before the release was scheduled that this would be the final installment, I thought that, maybe, just maybe, there was some fleeting chance of another book. The first thing I ever read in the book assured me that it was a futile impossibility. In place of a synopsis, it simply stated 'We now present the seventh and final installment in the epic tale of Harry Potter'. This was it. End of story. Literally.

This is a book that cannot be passed up. It answers more questions in such a special way that only Rowling is capable of. If you wanted to know something about the previous books, the answers are in here. Every chapter was a good read, with nonstop action throughout. Many very important questions are left addressed, but unanswered until the latter part of the book, but within the first chapter, key elements of the plot are unveiled. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is one of those books that you will lay reading at night, fighting to overpower sleep, unable to put it down, and get through 100 more pages than you originally expected to before the drowsiness finally overtakes you. The dedication in itself is enticingly vague enough to make you want to read the book all in one sitting. Rowling addresses six of her friends and then has one final thing to say: 'And to you, if you have stuck with Harry until the very end.'. It made me uneasy, and it made me wonder, as I'm sure it will you.

I cannot say much about the plot that you do not already know, without revealing important determining factors in the book. I will however say that during Harry's search for the Horcruxes, he faces more obstacles that he has in any previous endeavor that he has undertaken. The power of evil is growing even stronger, and the magical world is not what it used to be at all. You'll have to read it to get to "the good stuff", and this is guaranteed a book that you won't find boring. It will be one of the best decisions of a read you'll ever make.

As we come to the end of this unique world of fantasy which JK Rowling created, kudos must be given to Jim Dale, who from the first book made every character come alive with a distinctive voice and personality. I have read the books, but for me, listening to the CD's of Jim Dale's narration made the experience fully real. He created little children, old women, giants, monsters, centaurs, and the hissing voice of the snakelike villain. Each voice so distinctive we came to recognize it instantly.
As for the this the final book in the series:
This is the last book in a seven book series that reads as one long fabulous story, a fantasy classic for all ages. It stands with JRR Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" in that it started out as a children's book: "The Hobbit" in Tolkien's case; "The Sorcerer's Stone" in Rowling's case, and both moved on quickly, as if of their own volition, to proceed away from a simple child's story and become a real world in fact, with humor, tragedy, love, and loss and a great overwhelming evil that the decent people are required to fight in order to keep their self-respect and honor. In each case, the sagas are works that can be appreciated by every age. The Harry Potter series gives us characters as real as any people we have known. They have faults and frailties, we have seen them grow and mature before our eyes through the series from childhood to late adolescence with all that entails, and we have come to really care for them. Though surrounded by magic, by potions, by fantastic animals, and unknown species, the main characters are deeply human. The world they live in is similar to our own, but has the added ingredient of magic, which all the major characters can use. However for much of the story magic is a sideline---very important, discussed and used continually--- but not as important as those very human qualities of friendship, love and trust which actually pull the characters through their losses, to fight their battles, and get them through the on-going great battle with almost overwhelming evil. The human qualities inevitably trump the magical ones in this world: The protective spell of a mother's love...sacrificing oneself for one's friends...those qualities and others are more powerful than spells, potions and wand-work. This, the final book is an excellent entry to the series. Every thread is tied up, and a surprising new subplot is introduced. There is much fighting and death, but it is for a cause well worth fighting for, which mirrors events of our times, and no death is for shock value or the wantoness of blood, gore and pain. The losses suffered by the good people in these last two books have been enormous, yet, again, suffered meaningfully for that great cause, and always appropriate and always mourned. As the book ends, one feels that this world exists and will continue. The work which is the seven part series will stand, I think, in the fantasy literature genre as a classic to be read and remembered. The word "heart" is used frequently, and "heart" is at the center of this world: love, friendship and self-sacrifice are themes repeated over and over, and are the touchstones of this world and what make it special. No recent great work has so unashamedly been so clear on that point, and that is what has drawn so many to it.