Non-fiction Books

This was a wonderful book! Having myself been to Addis Ababa recently (July 07) with my daughter to pick up her adopted Ethiopian baby boy (4 months old), you can just imagine how this story of one woman's love for so many orphans resonated with me. The book is a quick read -- something interesting in every chapter. The author intertwined Haregewoin's up and down story with bits of Ethiopian history and the unwinding spread and theories of HIV-AIDs plus added her own experience with H. and the adoption her own Ethiopian children -- which made the reader come away with a true cultural experience. H. is truly a "Mother Theresa" figure and an inspiration to all women. Thank you, Melissa, for introducing us to her. I really enjoyed having the photos of many of the children and their adoptive families to relate to. I will be sure that my daughter reads this book and I have suggested it to my book club in Boulder, CO which will read it in the fall. -- Gayle Weiss

I like what the story is about, however the book has so much detail it is hard to get through the first chapters.

I found the book There Is No Me Without You throughly enjoyable. I learned so much about the AIDS/HIV epedemic in Africa, how it's spread, the devastation of many African countries, the deplorable track record of the major drug companies in denying access of proven AIDS/HIV drugs, and the terrible tragedy of the millions of orphans now without parents. I also appreciated being able to follow the life of one woman who made a difference and how it came to be the Ethiopian orphans are now being adopted around the world. This book touched me personally. Just before Christmas our daughter and son-in-law traveled to Ethiopia and adopted two babies. These two precious children are deeply loved by their new parents, their three older siblings, and us--their grandparents.

There should be another Lady added to the Mother Theresa's of the world!

Haregewoin Teferra, an Ethiopian who has helped many orphaned children. Children who have been left behind because parents either died or left to have a chance at life! This books shares the struggles of Mother Teferra who had a wonderful life with her family to a helping those children with AIDS and with no homes.

My wife was reading this at the same time I was reading Dave Eggers' fantastic novel What is the What. We were supposed to trade when we finished, but she couldn't read this book without wanting to tell me about each chapter.

I finally read it a year later and am sorry I spent the previous year with just my wife's summary. Greene is a great writer --she mixes great storytelling with a reporter's eye for research and information. The book itself, based on any description of it, should be intensely depressing to read, but, because of Greene, I think, is actually very life affirming and energizing.

I think it would be hard to read this book and not feel a certain, almost painful, overflowing love for the world. It's absolutely great.

I had not heard of James Thurber (I'm not from Northern America :)) until one of my friends on a study abroad program brought this book to our apartment and we started reading it out loud to each other. I loved it so much that I've read it three times already. Thurber's playing with the language is so amazing, cute and fascinating that it makes you speak "his way" after you read the book. :) And all his ideas are wonderful! This all makes the book one of a kind, really.

read it, lest you end up being slit from your guzzle to your zatch! a book for all ages, and any age. Fairy stories with a twist of Thurber.

I really do like this book. I like fairy tales, especially the kind like Ella Enchanted and Fairest by Gail Carson Levine. In the pictures the wicked duke looks so hilarilously silly! The prince is handsome and the princess pretty, of course! The Golux's hat is indeed indescribable and the woman Hagga cries jewels instead of tears. He! He! He!

The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber, is a perfect book. The only way it could be better would be by being longer. The story is classic in its simplicity, so elemental that anyone can easily find a way inside. The big setting - a castle - the big players - a Prince, Princess, and wicked Duke (very wicked) - the big themes - courage, redemption, selfless sacrifice, and just a whiff of magic. Best of all, the big problem - time is frozen. Our enterprising Prince must do the impossible to win the hand of Princess Saralinda. This is road-tested material but Thurber breathes new life into it, making it fresh and irresistible. The musicality of his language is delightful, there is so much joy and play in the words, they giggle and dance like water gliding over stones in a stream. His rogue's gallery of secondary characters is just too good; each is slightly more improbable and splendidly cracked than the last. Most of all, this story ends exactly as it should, the resolution is not forced, it's simply correct. The Thirteen Clocks is a slice of heaven that can be enjoyed by anyone able to read. Thurber, it turns out, really was as good as he claimed. This lasting jewel proves it.

Watch out for the Todal

James Thurber's The Thirteen Clocks is a delightful tale for people of all ages. I was first introduced to this seemingly conventional story at age five when my father read it to me as a pleasant bedtime story. It was not until I could read for myself that I began to notice what sets this story apart from so many other children's stories--its characters and great dialogue. Even re-reading it now, as a college student, I immensely enjoy its refreshing humor. Thurber uses a simple storyline, poetic devices, and clever characterization to make The Thirteen Clocks enjoyable to any and all ears.

The Thirteen Clocks is enjoyable for kids of all ages (meaning grown-ups as well) because it follows the basic and familiar "prince saves princess" storyline. Prince Zorn of Zorna must win the hand of Princess Saralinda by bringing back a thousand jewels to her uncle in "six and sixty days" (32). Though it seems that six and sixty days are not ample time for him to complete such a task, Zorn of Zorna miraculously succeeds. This follows the plot of most classic fairy tales I can think of (excluding Rumplestiltzkin and Beauty & the Beast). There are so many prince-princess stories because every child (and deep down, every adult, too) wants to be a prince or princess. There is something appealing to human nature about glory, fame, wealth, beauty, and general happiness, all of which are presented as direct benefits of being royalty. Also, everyone loves a happy ending where justice is served--the good guys win and the bad guys suffer. The Thirteen Clocks does indeed include a happy ending of this nature. Not only is the story simple enough, but it is also relatively short (my copy is seventy pages with fairly large text) and includes pictures. Bedtime stories are, by nature, short stories. When parents concede to read just "one more bedtime story," they do not want it to take all night. Furthermore, it is simply easier to understand a story when you sit down and read the entire thing at once. Children admittedly have short attention spans. The rest of us adults do too, but we pretend to have a more mature mind, especially when it comes to paying attention. The Thirteen Clocks appeals to everyone, young and old because it is a familiar and somewhat simple tale.

All audiences can also appreciate The Thirteen Clocks for its musical language as seen by the poetic devices of rhyme and rhythm. In the beginning of the story, Prince Zorn of Zorna disguises himself as a minstrel and sings of various things whose mention are forbidden by the evil Duke. A villager tells the Prince that one of the Duke's spies will "die because to name your sins, he'll have to mention mittens. I leave at once for other lands, since I have mentioned mittens...You'll never live to wed his niece. You'll only die to feed his geese" (17). The rhyme combined with the absolute hilarity of this statement amuses the reader and is rhythmically pleasing. Smaller children may not catch or understand the substance of this passage completely, but they will enjoy hearing the rhyme scheme (AAABB) and rhythm pattern (8-7, 8-7). Literary enthusiasts will take note and admire the patterns evident in Thurber's writing. Another great example of Thurber's amusing and rhyming style is, "'It's odd,' the Golux muttered to himself. 'I could have sworn that she had died. This is the only time my stomach ever lied'" (54). Here again, Thurber amuses his audience by using this constant pattern of rhyme and rhythm. Humans love to find patterns--it brings sense and order to the sometimes chaotic world we live in. By creating this literary and somewhat musical pattern, Thurber's tale appeals to both the young and old.

The Thirteen Clocks is appealing because its characters, the likes of which have never been seen before in literature, add excitement and flavor to this familiar story. There are three truly out-of-the ordinary characters--the Golux, who is "always on hand when people are in peril" (18), Hagga, the weeper of jewels; and the unpleasant Todal. Of these, the Todal is the most outrageous character. The Todal is "made of lip," "looks like a blob of gulp," and "smells of old, unopened rooms" (36, 29). This creature is "waiting for the Duke to fail in some endeavour such as setting you a task that you can do" and is "an agent of the devil, sent to punish evil-doers for having done less evil than they should" (29, 30). There is no monster as quirky, interesting, and terrifying as the Todal in real life or in a book. By presenting his readers with such bizarre characters, Thurber appeals to their sense of humor, as well as to their sense of terror. The creativity and flair for language possessed by Thurber are most obvious in the descriptions of his characters. This sets his tale apart from others with similar, but seemingly less lively stories. More than anything else, The Thirteen Clocks is enjoyable because of its uniqueness in characterization.

This truly wonderful and shockingly good fairy tale is full of enough excitement and goodness to be appropriate for a bedtime story. Yet Thurber's true talent lies in his creative and imaginative abilities which allow for readers and listeners alike to enjoy this book. It is set apart from other fairy tales by its clever use of words and unparalleled characters. Buy this book (though I would suggest the hardcover edition with colored illustrations) or run to your local library before the Todal gulps you!

Family Apart follows the lives of Irish children. They move from Ireland during the potato famine to NY to survive. But then their da dies and their ma finds it impossible give her family the basic needs. She decides to send them WEST so they can have the basics, education, and love. I read this book to many children because it is a quartet of books. Afterwards, they want to read the sequels. These tell the individual stories of each child. Being historial fiction, it also leads into to reading real accounts of Orphan Train riders lives. The book is exciting and has many emotions that children can identify with now.

What if you and your family had to leave your mother and go west on one of the orphan trains to be split up into differnt families?

In this book you'll experience the wide array of feelings the kelly children are feeling and the adventure that the kelly chilren have to endure. The kelly's dicover Mike, the oldest boy, is a copper stealer, they are being taken from thier mother, and most comfort Mike because he blames himself for all that has happened.

I recommand this book to anybody who like suspenseful novels or is just looking for a good book to read.

I really enjoyed reading the book Family Apart, because it keeps you guessing , whats going to happen next? Also it helps you learn a lot about orphans and what they go through. A Family Apart has a lot important teachings to offer. I would love to read the next six books in the series.

This wonderful book A Family Apart has a lot of meaningful things that can be learned. One lesson that can be learned is, that you don't know what you've got until its gone. If you have something or know somebody that means a lot to you, once you lose them you don't realize how important it was until its gone. A moral that can help you in life is to believe in yourself. Believing in yourself is good because if you are trying to reach a goal and you believe in yourself you will reach that goal and if you don't you might not. Another lesson that can be learned in this book is to love your family. You should love your family because they do a lot for you and they are your only family. The last great moral is to accept changes. Even though accepting changes is hard we have to, because sometimes we cant change them. As you can tell this great book A Family Apart has a lot of important teachings to offer.

This was a thrilling book about a poor family that live in newyork the family has to deal with many problems first the dad dies, then the 3rd eldest gets in to some trouble because he is a copper thief Mike (the copper thief) is sent to a hearing The judge announces under there mothers wishes that the children ( Petey, Peg, Danny, Mike, Megan, and Frances) are to be sent west on the orphan train. Before the train leaves Frances the eldest child overhears that two kids in the same family are more likely to be adopted if they are boys. So Frances promising her mother that she would take care of her youngest brother cuts her hair and pretends to be a boy named Frankie. That's just the beginning Frances and her brothers and sisters encounter many other things on there quest to the west. Read this fantastic book and your eyes will open up to a whole new world of adventure thieves, slaves, fear, and depression it's sure to make your heart ache.This is a book you will always remember.

If the world of Midkemia feels familiar--possibly even cliched--that's because it is. Ray Feist is writing from a D&D game that he had in college, so the fantasy is not original in setting. D&D itself is a rather clumsily thrown-together goulash of all kinds of fantasy stereotypes and cliches itself.

Despite that, Magician (and the rest of the Riftwar Saga) succeed where so many other novels in the genre do not, due to compelling characters, interesting and intriguing plot, drama, tensions, romance, and a very skilled writer.

So many other "high fantasy" writers leave me disappointed; Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Terry Goodkind, David Eddings, R. A. Salvatore... the list goes on and on.

Raymond Feist is one heck of a writer, and that's the secret of his success.

Raymond Feist was not the first author I read a book from when first coming into fantasy, but I wish it had been, he is by far the best in his class next to Tolkien. In the First book magician Pug And Thomas, I gat shivers thinking about it i have never enjoyed another book better then Feist's book's in my 20 years living I would say if you hadn't read this book you missed out on an experience. The transformation that Pug and Thomas go throw both being so unique and so original in thinking that i was blown away.; Arutha by far is the greatest charater in both a book world and someone you might meet on the street. Every character Feist introduces It's hard to explain it's almost like there real just coming out of the page and talking to you face to face he really makes it good and thr depth that the story goes into is almost feels like it could happen. The theres that deep family feeling that comes at you when you read about Duke Borric and Arutha and Lyme and of course Martin WOW!!!!!! Thats something only a Master of words can accomplish.

This book was simply amazing. At times it felt like I was reading one of the Lord of the Rings books but besides that everything seemed creative and original. Feist threw many very good ideas together in the book. He did a good job in making everything nice and understandable. While I was reading the book I felt like I was actually connecting with the characters. If you like fiction books then picking this up would be no mistake.

Magician is the first book in Raymond E Feist's epic Riftwar series. Set primarily on the world of Midkemia, a medieval, rural type world, the story centres on two boys, Pug and Tomas. Pug's ambition is to be a magician whilst Tomas wants only to become a soldier. All is going well in their lives until war erupts, changing the boys' lives forever. The twist in this tale is that the invaders are from another world, a place called Kelewan that is medieval Chinese in style, populated by a harsh and cruel race. They have discovered a rift in space/time that allows them to cross to Midkemia where they cause havoc, murdering and enslaving the Midkemians. Naturally, as with all fantasy books, the two youngsters are, in their differing way, to become heroes and to save the day. One criticism could be that there is not much detail given regarding Kelewan but Feist (along with Janny Wurts) has brought out the Empire trilogy which is a series set on that world. For anyone wanting that extra information, they will find those books a real treat.
This book seems (judging by previous reviews) to be one that you will either love or hate. Many have tried to compare it to Tolkein whilst others belittle that view. It certainly isn't Tolkein, but is an original and interesting book in its own right. Sure, many of the staples of fantasy are there such as elves and dwarfs, swords and sorcery etc. but there is enough originality in this book to make it a very worthwhile read.
This is a big book to read (in the USA it has now been split into two volumes) but don't let that put you off, it's not so heavyweight that it becomes a chore to read, nor so lightweight it becomes boring. It's certainly worth the time of any lover of fantasy fiction.

This is my favourite science fiction fantasy book of all times. Raymond E. Feist created a masterpiece in this book which he continued over his next set of books.

I loved the excellent character development in this book. Pug and Thomas are amazingly complex characters that you feel like you know after reading the book.

I find it very hard to believe that this amazing book has gotten so many bad reviews here. I don't expect everybody to like science fiction/fantasy but if you do, you will love this book.
In fact if asked to recommend a starting science fiction/fantasy book I will always recommend this book.

Myself I have read it many times and no doubt I will read it again. Although some of his later books were excellent none of them came close to this wonderful book until the daoughter of the empire series which was co-written with Janny Wurts.

I loved this book as a kid and I still love it now!! It was great to read it again and share in this girl's view of the world and the things that scare her and how she overcomes them!!

This was my all time favorite book as a kid. I still will recall parts of it in relation to my life now (im 39) . My daughter is finally eight and I cant wait for her to read it. Love this book, I could not have made it through childhood without Judy Blume and this book.,

My fourth grade teacher read this book to my class over a course of several Friday afternoons. It was the second Judy Blume book she read to us, the first being, "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing". I was introduced to Sheila Tubman in "Tales", and then we got a chance to really get to know her.

Sheila sounds a lot like me at ten, trying to figure out where I fit in and trying to appear "perfect". Unlike Sheila however, I loved dogs, loved to swim, and I had to kill spiders for my sister, who was deathly afraid of them. I thought Blume dealt with Sheila's story with a lot of love and humor and sensitivity. By the end of the story, Sheila soon learns that when she really puts her mind to facing her fears, they're not as bad as it seems. This is an important lesson for us all and the younger you can get it, the better off you'll be.

Since the fourth grade, which was over twenty years ago, I have read many of Judy Blume's books and have enjoyed all of them immensely. I'd recommend this book for boys and girls alike. If anything, it'll make you grab your side and laugh. :)

I read this story named "Otherwise known as Sheila, the Great," by Judy Blume. In my opinion this story is really great because there is a whole family which is the parents and two girls, shiela and Libby. The main character is Sheila. She is 9 years old and she thinks that she deserves everything because she is the smallest one in her family. And her parents dont belive that. There si ehr sister which is Libby she is 13 years old and she thinks that she is the best dancer vere. The whole problem in this story is evry similar in real life because many brothers and sisters do not get along at all and they are always fighting about something.
There is another main character in this story her name is Marry but many peopel call her Mouse. It turns out that Sheila and Mouse get along very well and they bacame very best frineds. Sheila and Moiuse do everything to together. One day Mouse scared so bad sheila that she couldn't sleep at night. Mouse scarred her by saying that there was a headless horseman in Tarrytown is where they live. By mouse telling Sheila she ot so scared that she got to go to sleep to the parents bedroon because. And whenever she hear a sound she thought that it was the hedless horseman. Mouse had told sheila many things that would freak her out and she makes alto of dome things. So if you want to find out what does Mouse tells Sheila and what kind of things she does you should get this book and read.

One of the things Judy Blume does in her writing is that she makes characters kids can easily and fully relate to, and this brilliant feature of her writing isn't missing in this funny novel that is a must read for all young readers.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. The time period in which it was written is fascinating, and DeBlasis does a wonderful job of bringing it to life. Gavin and Tessa have a truly legendary love story!

I first read this book years ago, and have re-read it many times. I could really relate to the locations, as I live in the San Joaquin Valley in CA close to the foothills. I could envision them in Monterey, San Francisco, etc. and traveling inward to the valley and foothills. It is a beautiful, moving and very real story. It would be nice if it was reprinted. My copy is getting tattered!

I found this book on my bookshelf years ago and when I started it I couldn't put it down. This is the best novel I have ever read. A lot of books don't follow the characters as far as this book does. Tess and Gavin do experience hardships, but it makes the book even richer. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

This book captures all that you would hope for in a romance novel. Tessa and Gavin have a love so powerful and strong, it bends but never breaks. You will not want to put it down, but you'll have to because it is a long book. But I assure you, worth every hour of reading. This book and her Tiger's Woman are right at the top of my all time favorites list. Have read them both many times.

I read this book back when it was first published. It is still my favorite book of all time!!!! There never has been another love like Gavin and Tessa. I love sagas and this is the best ever written.

This has to be among the best of Wodehouse. As so many other reviewers have remarked, the novel has a fluid feel to it; total and complete chaos. Starting with an ominous phone call from Aunt Dahlia, Bertie jumps from bowl to bowl constantly in the soup.

I loved the quotes from this book, on things being gruntled and what not. The characters are also amazing. Sir Watkyn Bassett, the treacly Madeleine, with Spode running after Bertie wanting to break his bones, the dog Bartholomew (this was perhaps one place where I almost laughed out loud) which terrorizes Bertie and Jeeves when (I think) they have to take shelter on top of the cupboard-Bertie goes to great lengths introducing this terrier. The moment is when they throw a candle at Bartholomew and it eats it.

The cow creamer plays no small part in the plot. It is a hideous silver jug that uncle Tom collects. Aunt Dahlia wants Bertie to 'sneer' at it by saying that its modern dutch, which might lower its value, apparently.

There is also Stephanie Byng and stinker Pinker who constantly trips over things. And constable dobbs, Aunt Dahlia herself, and Gussie Fink Nottle. There couldn't have been a more ridiculous set of characters than here.

This,and perhaps some of the Pig books (Pigs have wings, and Summer Lightning come readily to mind). I wish the world were as nice as that depicted by Wodehouse.

Believe it or not, I am 74 years old and had never read
about the trials and tribulations Jeeves put up with
Bertie Wooster. I have never laughed so much in my life.
I am now going to get my hands on every word P.G. Wodehouse
ever wrote. I truly would have loved to meet the man.

The Code of the Woosters, by the inimitable P. G. Wodehouse, is a fun and enjoyable romp with Bertie Wooster and his Man Jeeves. This novel features numerous plotlines, including but not limited to, the battle over a cow creamer, a lost notebook, romantic entanglements, the theft of a policeman's helmet, a potential jail sentence for Bertie, a dictator, and more romantic entanglements. Each plotline is brought to a conclusion by the brilliance of "Plum" the excellent English humorist. The book is full of hilarious one liners and brilliant wit. Amazingly, this novel was first published in 1938, yet it is still full of timely situations.

This novel of classic comedy introduces us to Totleigh Towers and its owner, Sir Watkin Bassett. Several memorable mainstay characters are in this book including Gussie Fink-Nottle, Aunt Dahlia, Madeline Bassett, and Stiffy Bing. Any journey taken with Wooster and Jeeves is time well spent. This classic series endures because the characters are wonderful and memorable. A 5 star fun-filled romp.

An early critic of P.G. Wodehouse complained that his second book was identical to his first, only the character names had changed. In response, Wodehouse resolved to continue writing identical stories, but to keep his character names the same. And so, The Code of the Woosters is nearly identical to all other Jeeves and Wooster novels; Bertie gets into a sticky situation, inadvertently makes things worse, and is ultimately rescued by Jeeves. Could any one of them possibly be any good if they are all so unoriginal? Yes. In fact, they are all excellent. How? Wodehouse was a genius; reading any one of his books will prove it to you. His characters are unforgettable. His narrative is brilliant. Above all, his books are hilarious, and The Code of the Woosters is one of his finest.

Betram (Bertie) Wooster, a lazy, bumbling (but well meaning!) gentleman living in Britain during the early 1900's, is pressured by his aunt Dahlia to steal a cow-shaped milk creamer from Sir Watkyn Bassett, a magistrate who once fined Bertie five `quid' for `pinching' a policeman's helmet. The task is made complicated by the presence of Roderick Spode, the amateur dictator who founded `the black shorts' and who is a friend of Sir Watkyn; Spode is watching Bertie like a hawk and threatens to break his neck if he sees Bertie so much as glance at the cow-creamer. Things go downhill when Gussie Fink-Nottle (a newt fancying friend of Bertie's) suffers a snag with his engagement to Madeline Basset (a dreamy girl who holds opinions like `the stars are God's daisy chain,' and who thinks that Bertie is madly in love with her). Bertie rushes to patch things up between them, but nearly becomes engaged to Madeline himself. In the end, only Jeeves, Bertie's brilliant, (almost) all-knowing manservant, can guide Bertie out of these troubled waters.

If you aren't familiar with P.G. Wodehouse's dynamic duo, you owe it to yourself to read this book. I guarantee you won't be able to stop laughing. Nearly every line is comical. The narration itself (the story is told by Bertie) is positively hilarious. And so, I give The Code of the Woosters the highest marks I can!

After every two sentences or so, I had to put this book down and howl like a hyena. This was my first Bertie and Jeeves book and I think it's a comic masterpiece. In Code of the Woosters, the plot spins faster and faster until the immensely satisfying end, where everyone gets what he or she deserves.

Wodehouse's comedy has no mean side to it - his writing remains engaging without resorting to the snideness that many humor writers employ. I still can't figure out how Wodehouse keeps my attention and keeps me laughing when his general theme is the unwavering silliness of the English twit. I'm heading to the bookstore for more.

This is the fourth and sadly the last of the Julian Kestrel Mysteries.

I have enjoyed reading all of the books in this series. The first three take place in England while this story unfolds in Italy.

In Italy a wealthy nobleman, Lodovico Malvezzi, was murdered five years ago, the true cause of his death was concealed for years and has only recently been disclosed to his family. The prime suspect in Malvezzi's murder is the young English tenor he was grooming for a career on stage. The singer's true identity was unknown to all but Malvezzi, who concealed it from everyone and referred to the singer only as 'Orfeo'. Orfeo vanished five years ago.

I thought this was the most intricate story of all the Julian Kestrel mysteries. I enjoyed learning more about Julian's youth and upbringing.
I was surprised several times by the twists and turns of the story and I was pleased that I figured out who the murderer was. And just as I was wishing for a particular thing to happen, the author granted my wish!

I'm very sad that Kate Ross has left us and with her died Julian Kestrel.

If you like historical novels and mysteries my guess is you will like this as well. I recommend reading the Julian Kestrel Mysteries in the order they were written.

Once again I liked the list of the cast of characters and the map of the region.

This excellent fiction falls between four and five stars, and I'm rounding up, as a generous Italian may have during the lively festival that occurs in one segment of the book. The late Ms. Ross has chosen an unusual time and place for her intrigue and historical backdrop, 1820s northern Italy post-Napoleon, and an atypical hook with the opera in a key role. Those fundamentals bring a freshness to the story, as providing the background on the political scene, culture, the meaning of rank relative to the peasants, daily life and music gave Ms. Ross plenty of room for overview and vivid detail without being stale.

The length (440 pages) came in a little too long for me, with some trimming certainly possible. The wrap-up after the climax was a little disjointed, as there was quite a bit of dialog in the remaining scenes finishing the story and explaining much of the complexity. The plus side of the length is that she gave depth to the background and characters, with multiple threads, all related. I can't recall any completely irrelevant subplots, as seemingly every character who appeared more than a trivial amount somehow figured into the plot itself or its resolution. Many tidbits read as obvious clues - they just won't be obvious in meaning. For example, Julian discovers that a servant is literate and knows Latin, highly unusual at the time. If you don't figure out why that matters, you will eventually.

Don't be scared off if you have no interest in opera and think this is a story for specialists. Music lovers may have an extra appreciation of the scenes at the opera, perhaps, but the connection is handled lightly enough and with enough explanation to be entertaining and informative for the casual reader. I say that as someone with virtually no interest in opera.

Also have no fear of reading "The Devil in Music" without any familiarity with Julian Kestrel from her three other novels. Ms. Ross included sufficient background for you to get the idea, and I assume that this one stands well enough on its own that those three wouldn't necessarily have given the reader a better chance of solving the mystery early.

Julian seemed almost too good to be true, living the life of the "dandy" and blending with the aristocracy that somehow keeps itself occupied and (usually) funded. And he's a natural with the servants and peasants, too. Smart, sophisticated, musically talented and courageous, who could blame him for his attraction to Beatrice or another sultry, spirited Italian. Some other characters, such as the unfriendly Grimani and the murdered marchese, have enough edge to be plausible and interesting.

How did a trial lawyer manage to write such an intelligent novel? It's sad to imagine what else she may have published in the ten years since this fine work.

I grieve for the marvelous Kate Ross, who died after penning three of the best novels in any genre. Luckily, the strength of her writing (plot, characters, feeling for historical setting) allow for endless re-reading. The Devil in Music is, to pun, a virtuoso masterpiece. A tense manor house mystery becomes something far more grand, with much more reach when it is set against political upheaval in 1820's Italy. The role the opera serves that piece of society, the effect music has on every soul are both explored, but in a way that does not necessitate a previous knowledge of any of the subject matter. Julian Kestrel's man-servant provides an outsider's view of everything, particularly of political high fliers and of those who hide behind costumes for the opera. He serves as Tolstoy's Natasha at the theatre.
Ross lets the tension ease only to bring it on more strongly. The reader is gripped from beginning to end by the intense personalities of the main characters. Evil seems to lurk everywhere, and only the astute Julian Kestrel will ever be able to see things for what they are--and they are very, very unexpected.

Kate Ross left us far too early, but as the reviewer below stated, she did leave us with Julian Kestrel. And for that, we are grateful.

What an amazing fourth book. Unlike the previous three in the series, this one does not take place in England, but in Italy. The ending was as surprising a twist as any twist I've read in recent memory. The plot is rich, the characters are colorful, the dialogue wonderful, and Julian is once again the character you stand up and cheer for. Please do not be put off by the thickness of the book. The pages fly by and when it's finished, you'll find yourself wanting more.

These are the Julian Kestrel books in chronological order:

Cut to the Quick
A Broken Vessel
For Whom the Gods Love
The Devil in Music

I heartily recommend this series to everybody, not just historical mystery fans.

Kate Ross's body of work may be small - only four Julian Kestrel novels - but it stands up to the greats of the genre. All the Kestrel novels are rewarding reads and this is the best of the four. As much about the passionate love of music as passionate love itself and what it can drives us to do, The Devil in Music is fine mystery, a fine comedy of manners and a great novel. Kate Ross left us too soon; thankfully she left us with Julian Kestrel.

I have a number of Ramona CD's so thought I'd venture out into Henry Huggins. As much as I love Ramona, this Henry CD is the best, due in part to the voice of Neil Patrick Harris. My son loves to listen to a CD every night before going to bed, and he requests this one more often than any other. It's amazing to think that Beverly Cleary's book, written 50 years ago, can still appeal to youngsters today. It's timeless. Thank you Beverly Cleary!

I started reading the Henry Huggins books to my son when he was 5 years old. We read a chapter every night and my husband would come in to see what was going on because we were laughing so much! When Henry's mom gave him a home haircut, we cried we laughed so hard. My son is now 22 years old, and he still has his Henry Huggins books. He is saving them for when he has children of his own. I highly recommed these books and anything by Beverly Cleary. Reading with your children is such a joy and these books bring back the wonderful memories that my son and I made while hanging out with Henry and Ribsy.

I read this book when I was a child and I truly enjoyed it. I am now home schooling my son and we are going to read the entire series together. I think that any child from the age of 7-12 would enjoy this series. Especially little boys. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Happy reading. Carol Salyer from the great state of Tennessee....

Henry Huggins is a boy that lives with his mom and dad in a house on a street called Klickitat Street.Henry is a ordinary boy that nothing excited ever happens to him except when he was 6 years old he broke his arm by falling out of the cherry tree. When Henry goes downtown to swim at the Y.M.C.A he finds a dog thta he wants to keep and then his life changes when he has that dog as his pet. He relizes how pet are important and hard to takt care of.He needs full responsibilities to take care of his dog named Ribsy.

Henry Huggins wasn't the best book that I have ever read, but I did enjoy it. One of my favorite parts is when Ribsy, Henry's dog, rolled in the mud right before the dog show. Henry saw another boy putting white powder on his dog to make him look whiter, so he tried it also. He was surprised that the powder was not white, but PINK! Since Ribsy was wet from the mud, Henry could not rub the powder off of him, so he decided to cover him completely in pink. At the end of this chapter Ribsy won a silver cup for being the most unusual dog at the show.
I would read Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary again, and I think that boys would like it even better.

(Note from mom: I read chapter one aloud to my first grade daughter whom decided to read the rest to herself. This is a good read for a child who is ready to go beyond simple chapter books, but is not yet ready for something too long and thick.)

I thought this book offered some different ways in the effort to learn more about myself. The exercises are thought provoking and easy to do and provide a good insight into my own thoughts, habits and self. I don't think it is ground breaking or the answer to the million dollar question "Who am I?" but it does offer exercises to learn more about self and I think it is an excellent read and book.

Wishcraft is divided into 2 parts: the wishing part and the 'crafting' part. The premise of the book is that you cannot get what you want unless you have done the wishing you need. So the first part of the book takes you through a series of exercises designed to get you to dream your wildest dreams about your life and what it could be. It is both powerful and freeing to do this. Barbara Sher also gives you ways to distinguish between 'real' dreams (the ones you really truly want) and fantasies (things you just think you want).

Once you have some clear ideas about what your dreams are, the second part of the book gives you great approaches to achieving them. One of the most fantastic aspects of this section is the focus on the problems list. barbara says that your list of problems are like gold. in the beginning i did not realize what she meant but once you have clearly articulated what problems you have then you can start attacking them one at a time. So the problems lead you to the dream.

Don't get me wrong, this book will require you to work hard but the exercises are great and her writing is fantastic. Having a dream (or 20 perhaps) is something I had forgotten about as I make my way through a busy and complex life. Now I feel like I am taking control of where I am going with the aid of her wisdom and direction.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to make life changes, career shifts, or just wants more from their lives.

This was Barbara Sher's first book, but until now I'd only read (and loved) her follow-up books. I've read alot of other books on positive affirmations and projecting to the Universe what you want and was stunned to see that this "oldie, but goody" was really one of the most simple and straight-forward approaches to that concept.

Even if you've read lots of other self-help books, this classic is still one everyone should read.

I got the 1979 copy of this book about 4 years ago on a recommendation from a therapist who saw that I was drifting along with no real goals. I had tried college twice before (by this time I was in my late 30's) and each time quit because I didn't know what I wanted to do or to be. The "college career center" was no help whatsoever. The test I took there had me taking courses for industrial engineering, which I had zero interest in, but I figured maybe the test saw some hidden talent that I didn't know I had. Wrong. I started reading this book and doing the exercises and slowly discovered what it was that I wanted to be....an interior designer! I would have never thought of it in a million years without this book changing my way of thinking. I felt like it was a huge revelation! It was a relief to finally know, at the age of 38, what it was that I wanted to do! I started college again and had to quit after a year and a half due to a pay cut at my job. The old me, the pre-Wishcraft-reading me, would have just given up right then. Actually, I DID freak out for about a week. But the new me sat down and brainstormed like in the book and thought long and hard about what needed to be done to be able to stay in school and follow my dream. I'm happy to say that I only took a year off of school and am actually now in a better school. I've also been so inspired by the other reviews for this book. I have recommended this book to friends and will always keep my copy no matter where I go in life.

Growing up Asian without knowing I was an ADD scanner, I really struggled with "why am I so different?!" Reading Wishcraft in college was my first and best ray of hope towards creating a life I love, finding ways to learn and live that really work for me, and also coming to appreciate all of who I am.

In 8th grade, I thought that I had No Talent whatsoever and had no idea "what to do with my life", now I'm amazed at all the talents that keep showing up now that I know how to find what works for me!

I currently love teaching voice lessons 5 days a week, performing with my Global Jazz band, and I'm creating my first full 2-hour musical theater production with a Persian Iranian jazz singer friend of mine called "Memories & Media Myths of Iran & North Korea" -- for which we received a Minnesota State Arts Board / National Endowment for the Arts grant!

THANK YOU BARBARA!