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Authors Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Authors
City of Thieves: A Novel
Published in Hardcover by Viking Adult (2008-05-15)
Author: David Benioff
List price: $24.95
New price: $12.50
Used price: $11.98
Collectible price: $28.95

Average review score:

One of the best recent books
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-20
Simply put, this is one of the best books I've read in years.

I was born in Leningrad soon after the war, and grew up with many blockade stories, and can also picture in my mind the streets where the events of the book took place. The book is full of tragedies, but this is the way things really were.
One can only wonder whether the story of the authors grandfather is true, or the author's invention, and if the latter is the case, how did his grandparents manage to get out of the Stalinist nightmare during or right after the war. They should've been very lucky to survive both Hitler and Stalin...
It's so wonderful to see the bright new star of the American literature.
I'm loking forward to many more great books from him.

Terrific and Authentic
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-16
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The two main characters were extremely well fleshed out. I found the historic references to the German siege interesting and subsequently purchased "The Siege of Stalingrad" to find out more about that aspect of WWII.

An Amazing Story
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-17
This book was amazing. The siege of Leningrad took over 900 days before it was finally broken. The war in the east is much neglected here in the USA, but as desperate as it was, the war in the west was nothing as brutal or costly as the war in Russia. The numbers speak for themselves. In the west, there is a dearth of lore about the eastern front. This book provides a day to day account of life during the siege of Leningrad. It is delightfully short on polemic. Somehow, the characters can find some humor, even in this most dire of situations (city surrounded, starving, and daily pummeling by effective German artillery, about to be shot by the NKVD).

The characters were completely believable, and quite likeable, in different ways. I heartily recommend this book. It is sad and joyous at the same time. I hope that the author will write more.

I am the yegg man
Helpful Votes: 13 out of 13 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-21
David Benioff's "City of Thieves" is something of a coming-of-age tale with a twist. The twist is the fact that the tale is set in the besieged city of Leningrad in January, 1941. It is a city at war surrounded by the German army. The city is under martial law but its people are starving and fighting for food and even cannibalism is the inevitable result. The two `heroes' of the story, Lev Beniov and Kolya Vlasov are each picked up by the Red Army for crimes against the state. Lev is caught looting (taking the knife from a dead German soldier). Kolya, already a soldier is picked up and accused of desertion. Both crimes are grounds for immediate execution but the two boys are thrown together and given a `secret mission' by a Red Army officer, Colonel Grechko, who agrees to release them on the condition that they steal two dozen eggs in time for his daughter's wedding. The two dozen eggs are essential to make her a wedding cake. If they fail, they will be hunted down and shot. And with that bizarre quest ringing in their ears they are let go and sent out to scour Leningrad and the surrounding countryside in a quest for enough eggs to save their lives.

I liked City of Thieves for a number of reasons. First, Benioff does an excellent job setting the story up. It begins as a narrative of his own life as a writer and then evolves into getting his grandfather Lev to tell him the story of his experience during the war. All the author knows is that "my grandfather, the knife fighter, killed two Germans before he was eighteen". The story unfolds as a narrative told to his grandson. Second, the characters of Lev and Kolya were well-drawn and engaging even if Lev and Kolya did play into a couple of stereotypes, Lev the shy, quiet, intelligent Russian of Jewish descent is scrawny, short, and horribly shy around girls and seems to be able to do no more than dream wistfully of some dreamlike romantic encounters when he gets older. Kolya is handsome, tall, athletic and an accomplished Romeo. He has, if even some of his stories are true, become quite accomplished in the art of seduction. Third, the plot is well designed and well thought out. This seemingly bizarre search for eggs takes them through the dangerous streets of Leningrad into German-occupied territory where they meet up with a local group of partisans. Each story unfolds as a self-contained vignette but each has its own climactic moment that propels the reader into the next chapter. Last, Benioff has done an excellent job in creating a historically accurate picture of Leningrad during its siege. I've read a lot of non-fiction accounts of life in Leningrad, Stalingrad, and Moscow during the early years of WWII and nothing in this novel strikes me as out of touch with life during the siege including the Colonel's request for two dozen eggs.

The outcome of the story may be thought of by some as predictable but I found the ending more than satisfying even if some of the `results' did not take me totally by surprise.

I think City of Thieves is an excellent story and well worth reading. L. Fleisig

Enjoyable, Crowd-Pleasing Book
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2008-08-13
I've never heard of David Benioff before, but he's apparently a well-known Hollywood screenwriter, writing the screenplays for films such as TROY and the upcoming WOVLERINE movie. He is also married to actress Amanda Peet, which makes him a modern-day oddity: a fiction writer who is something of a media celebrity. I must admit that Benioff's fame made me somewhat skeptical of his writing talents. However, I ended up being pleasantly surprised by his storytelling skills in his new novel, CITY OF THIEVES.

CITY OF THIEVES is a historical novel that deals with the German siege of Leningrad in the early 1940s. It is told from the perspective of two young Russian men (one Jewish, one not), who are ordered to find a dozen eggs for a powerful colonel to use in his daughter's wedding cake. Given the fact that most of the residents of the city are near starvation, this is a near-impossible task for the two young men to complete. The novel deals with the young men's weeklong journey across a nation devastated by war and poverty, as well as their developing relationship.

This novel is well written, but quite formulaic. For example, it's easy to predict that the two young men, who are opposites of one another, will eventually become friends by the end of the book. I also found the ending of CITY OF THIEVES to be on the cornball side, containing several plot twists that most experienced readers will spot way in advance.

Still, I don't mind predictable plotlines as long as they are well executed, and Benioff knows how to tell a good story. The two main characters are quite likable, and the story is well-paced and contains a lot of suspenseful moments. In particular, Benioff does an exemplary job with the setting, re-creating the desperation of daily life in Leningrad during the German siege. I know very little about this period of history, and CITY OF THIEVES made me interested in learning more about it.

In the end, I found CITY OF THIEVES to be a highly enjoyable read. If you're looking for a short, highly readable novel that will tug at your heartstrings a little bit, this is a good choice.

Authors
Trifecta of Suspense
Published in Hardcover by AuthorHouse (2004-07-22)
Author: G. Novitsky
List price: $34.50
New price: $34.34
Used price: $25.00

Average review score:

Would give it ZERO stars if I could!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-17
This is a classic case of the author's many friends/family members writing great reviews for him/her. The book is TERRIBLE. First of all you can barely get through a page without finding several spelling and grammar errors. The stories are supposed to be adult-themed (foul language and all) but are obviously written by a child. The thinking and facts do not make sense and are not researched. This is like a collection of some high school kid's short stories. I myself quit school without finishing but stayed long enough to at least learn proper grammar and how to spell! I feel terrible, I had my mother buy this because of the great reviews. She paid $25 for a joke. The positive ratings have been "spammed".

Something fishy...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-06-26
There's something fishy about all customer reviews on this book. They all give 5 stars and all have 100% review-reader agreement that the reviews are useful...
Having read Trifecta of Suspense I liked it very much at first but then I grew tired of the characters.... The author does not make them believeable and while that's OK at first it ends up being like reading essays by a middle school student... I am a scientist myself so the desription of the scientist in "Sheep" is just downright laughable. Usually authors do a little research first above how there characters work, live etc.
That's just one example so if i take it as an artistic touch instead of plain lack of knowledge of what real people in the real world are doing, then OK, it's interesting...

TRIFECTA
Helpful Votes: 32 out of 32 total.
Review Date: 2005-06-02
Very gripping stories, well told. Makes you feel as if you are in the story. Character development was great. Meaningful and memorable cast.
Recommend this one highly.

NOVITSKY out did himself with SHEEP and THE CEMETERY FENCE. Putting them both in here with THE MISTY DINS, put this book over the top.
The Honeymooners quotes in THE CEMETERY FENCE were a nice touch.

Clearly a new and rising talent.

fabulous mixture
Helpful Votes: 32 out of 32 total.
Review Date: 2005-04-12
Amusing, creepy, scary, and romantic. Not that I look for romance in a book. My wife wanted to make sure I mentioned that. It was romantic in a manly way though. The stories were entertaining in many different ways. That is what I liked most about it. They also tie in so perfectly in the end. They make you feel like getting to the finish is worthwhile instead of being left hanging. The geography lesson of the US was a plus. I've never been to NY or some of the other states mentioned but now I feel like I know them a little bit better. I never heard of Radcliff Kentucky until reading the misty dins. All in all I would recommend trifecta of suspense to anyone looking for a mystery novel. It is actually three in one.

Looking forward to more by this author.

EXPLOSION
Helpful Votes: 8 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2005-09-16
THE BOOK TAKES OFF LIKE AN EXPLOSION - I SEE A CULT LIKE FOLLOWING

Authors
A Twisted Tale of Karma
Published in Paperback by Melodrama Publishing (2005-07-01)
Author: Amaleka G. Mccall
List price: $15.00
New price: $6.99
Used price: $2.99

Average review score:

Good book
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-21
I really think that the author of this book trully out done herself a great book. I can not wait to read more from this auhor.

DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-24
Looking at the cover of this book, I wasn't eager to read this book. Once I started to read it, it was soo good! I read this book in one day! Please go out and get this book, you will not be disappointed!

Don't sleep on a cheezy cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-05-26
For starters lemme start out by saying that i slept on this book for 2 yrs b/c honestly if that is supposed to be a picture of Milton, the main characters boyfriend, 1 he aint cute and 2 he look like a dyke not even a man. And too me the cover is just cheezy looking, however this book was excellent. At first i couldn't see how this book could have so many twists and so much evil could happen to the main character but i must say all in all she overcame everything and good things come to those who wait. I understand Milton was abused but what he did to Myra was unforgivable and it was sad but things like this really happen. If you sleeping on the cover like i was don't immediately pick this up and read now. It kind of reminds me of "Harlem girl lost" by Treasure E. Blue just the way the turn of events took place. Go buy and read!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Grass Ain't Greener...
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-14
Such hardknock lives but I always like happy endings....this was my firs AG McCall read...she went back and forth but she kept it all under control...seems like everything got a little rushed in the end... it will keep you company because you won't want to put it down...all in all I gave it 3 stars.....plus there's room for a sequel....I think....

TWISTED,TWISTED AND MORE TWISTED
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-11
I do not know what to say about this book. I don't think words would do it justice. This book is one of the best well put storys. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, YOU ARE SURELY MISSING SOMETHIN!!!

Authors
A Christmas Dozen From the Christmas Story Pastor (Storyteller of the Heart, 2)
Published in Audio CD by Burt Creations (2001-04-19)
Author: Steve Burt
List price: $16.95
New price: $16.95
Used price: $14.41

Average review score:

NOT A GOOD BOOK
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2001-12-15
I didn't like this at all. Very poorly written. Many better books out there.

Year's Best Inspirational Book, Honorable Mention
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2003-04-17
On March 28, 2003 Writer's Digest announced that A Christmas Dozen won the Honorable Mention in Best Inspirational Book category of its Self-Published Book Awards. (author note)

Warms the heart and the soul
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2002-01-10
Steve Burt's stories are perfect reading especially at Christmas but heart warming the whole year. We will include each of these with the traditional "Twas the Night Before Christmas" reading during family gatherings. Great writing and touching themes to each of the stories for all ages.

A Gift for Us All!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-30
I find that my reaction to Steve Burt's stories in A Christmas Dozen, is always the same - a smile and a tear. A smile because my heart has been warmed and a tear because of the sublime beauty of the human spirit expressed in simple words. These stories are a delight and should be read by anyone, young and old, seeking a peaceful respite from the chaos of a hectic holiday season or from the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life. The few minutes you spend reading one of these gems can alter your mood for the rest of the day. Steve Burt has truly given us a gift to treasure!

Perfect - Perfect
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-29
Playing these tapes in my car gives me the feeling of having my own personal counseling session. The Story-telling and stories are supberb. While listening - you smile, giggle,laugh and cry. They are fantastic. I recognize areas, names and characteristics of many of the locals on the east end. Thank you Steve.

Authors
Successful Astral Projection to the Space and Universe
Published in Paperback by Sapphire (2006)
Author:
List price:
New price: $18.99
Used price: $210.00

Average review score:

Best support! Best astral projection author!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-02-11
Author offers support in his forum, that is wonderful. I still have many questions after reading the book, I joined his forum, and he is able to offer support. For example: I could never see my own looks in astral, author told me a way on his forum. It is like a personal teacher right next to me. Great author. And every buyer kept this book, I am the same, whenever I forget something, I can always refer to the book. WONDERFUL.

Good.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-03
This is most useful astral projection book, I have used the methods myself. These books from Sapphire are actully very good, I am keeping all the books.

(There is a 'group attack' organized by another astral projection writer on Sapphire's book reviews. I am sorry for Sapphire. Please be aware, don't be fooled by these evil human beings.)

Near death experience.
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-08
I had a car accident, I was sitting at the backseat. However, due to the accident, I got my first OBEE experience, I was floating in the air near the car and saw my body was rescued by the ambulance workers. And later, in the hospital I had a near death experience. I could not quite comprehend all of these, then was referred by a friend about this book.

A keeper will last generations.
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-27
I have no idea astral projection could be so easy. My mother was curious about astral projection also. According to the author, this is one of the skills to find relatives who passed away. I share this book with my mother, one day, she told me...she found my father in astral who passed away ten years ago. Thanks to this book.

No one re-sell this book, it is the proof. And self explanatory about... why this book is a keeper and will last generations.

Wonderful astral projections!
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-08
What I like about the author is: Author is straight forward, will not waste your time reading million worthless words, I mean who has the time. This book is certainly my style. Astral projection opened my visions, found many wonders that cannot be explained by human nor scientists. Like this book and recommend it.

Authors
Within The Shadows
Published in Paperback by Kensington (2005-06-07)
Author: Brandon Massey
List price: $14.00
New price: $2.80
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $17.37

Average review score:

Do yourself a favor
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-30
Pick up any book Brandon has a part of. This guy is remarkable at what he does. I started reading him because i wanted to read a "supernatural" book. When reading the "unreal" it is just that....unreal. But his way of writing will have you wanting more.

This is another great book he has put together. Left me on the edge of my seat expecting more and actually receiving it. Good read. Pick it up

OK
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-21
I thought this book was a little over the top. This was the first book I read of Mr. Massey and it didn't really sell me. I will probably try another book of his before I make a final judgement. I love to write and Mr. Massey is inspirational. He is very passionate about his writing and I admire him for making his dream come true. I think the best is still to come with Mr. Massey.

Didn't like author's style
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-23
Although the plot was mildly interesting, it was a little too 'far out there' to be truly captivating. I wasn't especially impressed by the author's writing style; I found his repeated inferences to the black culture interupted the material's flow. I most likely won't seek out other works by this author.

Mika takes stalking to a whole other level!
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-08-28
Drew (short for Andrew) is a successful novelist who appears to have everything. He has a hit thriller series, a nice large home in Atlanta, several wonderful friends, and is eagerly awaiting his new book deal (which promises to make him hundreds of thousands). The only thing missing is the love of a good woman, or to finally admit that he is in love with his best friend, Carmen. A slave to habit, his life, which is clearly outlined and followed, is disrupted when he meets the "woman of his dreams" (Mika) in Starbucks. She seems, initially, to be everything he wanted....beautiful, smart, rich, sexy and seemingly independent. However, after a night of passion, Mika turns into something he doesn't want and can't handle. As the novel unfolds, Massey introduces an element of the supernatural that promises to hold the attention of the reader until the very end. With a stormy parental relationship with his father, and his mother's psychic dreams, Drew realizes that he is in trouble, but is unsure of how to escape the one he thought that he desired. Filled with psycho cats, a sweet ghost named Sammie, and a scary groundskeeper (Walter), this novel has it all.....a little romance, some mystery, some deaths and a great story. I won't tell you what or who Mika is, reading this novel will tell you that, but I will say that Massey is among the few today who can create a story to be rivaled by Tanarive Due or Octavia Butler. Read this novel and you will not regret it.

Is it Love or is she Crazy?
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-04-27
So I had to take a break from the romance novels and hit up one of Brandon Massey's new thrillers titled "Within The Shadows".

If you love a good thriller, then this is the book for you! It started off with a bang! It ended with a bang! This book shows you that you should be open for the possiblity of anything happening in your life! The good, the bad and the UGLY!

Brandon's main character Andrew realized all that. He was a creature of habit until the one fatal day he did something he didn't normally do! Yep, it costed him a lot when he stepped out of his normal habit and didn't FOLLOW his CONSCIENCE!!!! True enough some good came out of it. BUT a whole lot of bad and ugly came out of it ti! It was a great tale of friends, family, and lust!

Take a ride with Andrew as he deals with writing a book, selling his 4th novel, sex, love, and the ghostly adventures!!!!!

Authors
Front Porch Tales
Published in Hardcover by Multnomah Books (1997-01-01)
Author: Phil Gulley
List price: $12.99
New price: $0.98
Used price: $0.01
Collectible price: $12.99

Average review score:

wonderful stories presented in a wonderful manner
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-17
Philip Gulley gets it. He understands so much of what has gone from our lives, where society has fallen off the path. And though he is a Quaker Preacher, he doesn't force feed it down your throat. This book doesn't come off as preaching, but rather as Gulley allowing you a glimpse into his life.

He shows us by examples rather than telling us. His stories of neighbors and family are as heartwarming as the front cover of a porch with rocking chairs promises. He references Bible passages but not in every story, and in a manner that is easy to relate to. His humor and wit are evident throughout and gives the reader the feeling that Gulley would be just the person to sit next to in those rockers and listen to for hours on a summer night.

If you are in the need for a pick-me-up, quick and easy read, I highly recommend this book.

Front Porch Tales: Warm-Hearted Stories of Family, Faith, Laughter and Love
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-05
This book's title gives an excellent description of the book. It is a book that I will keep and read over and over. I recently gave a copy to my pastor and have also given copies to a couple of friends. The stories help me to be a better person.

Great choice
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-06-05
I purchase this book for my elderly parents and listened to them read every night until completed. They thoroughly enjoyed the book and the large-print edition is a bonus.

late
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-22
Book arrived as advertised BUT shipping via USPS very slow, took almost a month for book to arrive.

Observations of life with a touch of humor
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-05
Philip Gulley serves as the pastor of a small Quaker church. He was asked to write something for the church newsletter which he did, little suspecting that some of his writing would end up in the hands of Paul Harvey who read it on his radio show. This book is a compilation of the essays that Gulley wrote for his church newsletter. They contain his observations of life summed up in chapters such as "My Cup Runneth Over, and So Does My Toilet" which I'm sure many readers can identify with. His wry humor is evident throughout the book as is the genuine compassion he has for other people.

Authors
The Best Of Roald Dahl
Published in Library Binding by Topeka Bindery (1990-07)
Author: Roald Dahl
List price: $26.20
Used price: $44.44

Average review score:

Roald Dahl for Grownups
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-12-09
This is a great compendium of short stories from the mind of the man who dreamed up Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda, all renowned stories for children. The book pulls together some of the best from several of his collections.

Dahl, who was married for a long time to actress Patricia Neal (The Day the Earth Stood Still), hosted a British television show in 1961 called "Way Out," an anthology show whose episodes are hard to find today. He later hosted another anthology show called "Tales of the Unexpected" (1979-88). Both shows featured a number of Dahl's own stories. Some of Dahl's work has also been adapted to other television programs, notably "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."

The hallmark of Dahl's stories is a good dose of irony, coupled with a macabre sense of humor. Dahl's stories work fantastically well on this level, bringing the reader to laughter in a horrified kind of way. His dialogue is sharp and characters are well drawn and very human, even at their worst. In "Lamb to the Slaughter," for example, a woman kills her cheating husband, then disposes of the murder weapon in a singularly unique way. The reader will feel for her and root for her to get away with it, and she does. Another frequently adapted work, "Man from the South," tells the story of a man who likes to wager with other people's fingers.

For readers who fondly remember Charlie Bucket and Willy Wonka from childhood, and who also appreciate poking fun at the dark side of human nature, The Best of Roald Dahl is highly recommended.

thrilling strories (for adults!)
Helpful Votes: 16 out of 16 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-11
Very often the writer's skill can be appreciated after reading their short stories. The short form requires discipline and has to catch the reader's attention in a short time. Roald Dahl managed to do this in his short stories (the shorter ones from this collection are the best!). The stories are truly timeless - although written between 1945 and 1965, they have not aged at all. They still keep the readers holding their breath and having goose bumps. There are horrors, great insights into human soul, relationships, perversions, addictions...
I knew only "James and the Giant Peach" before I was recommended this collection by a (British) friend, who I am very grateful to. I have been returning to the stories over and over again. My favorites are probably the most morbid ones, starting with "Man from the South" through "Skin", "Royal Jelly" to "Pig". I like also "Taste" which is more focused on psychology. Anyway, Dahl knew how to find an original subject, how to twist the plot leading to the unexpected and very satisfying finale, and how to use the English language.

Delightfully dark
Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-09
Roald Dahl is best known for his children's books, namely CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH. This book collects some of his best adult short stories from his long career. The dark humor and morality that guides his children's books are amplified here. Outlandish, often unlikable characters often personify one or more of the seven deadly sins and usually pay for it. Dahl's dark sense of humor is fantastic and almost every story ends with a delightfully surprising and ironic twist. Dahl's macabre sensibility might draw comparisons to Poe, but his style is not nearly as laborious. Gems from this collection include: "The Man From the South," (a story that Quentin Tarantino, among others, has paid homage to); "Skin" about a million dollar tattoo; "Pig," in which a vegetarian boy discovers the joys and horrors of meat; a story about a hair-brained wife-swapping scheme; and "The Sound Machine," which allows one to hear the screams of plants. My only complaint about the collection is that the order is chronological and some of the more absurd stories fall in the middle, which makes some of the later, less absurd stories a bit of a letdown. But overall, a fantastic collection.

The Best of Roald Dahl
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-05-09
As a child, I loved Roald Dahl's books from James and the Giant Peach to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Now that I am a little older, I started to read his mature works. I never go so enthusiastic about reading a book. You get it all with Roald Dahl, humor, suspence, brutality, and horrific stories all end with a surprising twist that you will never suspect. The best reading in years. Highly Recommended. My favorite is The Great Switcheroo. He is definatly one of the greatest writers of our time.

For adults or kids, Roald Dahl rocks!
Helpful Votes: 5 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-25
Have loved his kids' books ever since I was a child and am now reading them with my daughter. This one is for grownups only, though! I described this collection to friends by saying "Roald Dahl is the British Flannery O'Connor." If you like dark, funny (sometimes truly twisted) short stories where, in surprise endings, those who scheme and plot always get theirs, you will truly enjoy this book.

Authors
The Bondwoman's Narrative
Published in Paperback by Grand Central Publishing (2003-04-01)
Authors: Hannah Crafts and Henry Louis Gates Jr.
List price: $14.95
New price: $3.97
Used price: $1.71
Collectible price: $14.95

Average review score:

I'm happy
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-03-22
I am very happy I could locate this book. It is one of my favorite books, and one I insist being on my shelf. Thus, my copy was missing and I was pleased I could replace my copy. I am happy with the condition of the copy I just recently received; it arrived quickly, and I'm glad to have it in my personal library.

Historical Fiction original
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-26
A fascinating and horrifying account of a slave woman's experience. While fiction, the story appears to be based on the life of an actual Hannah. Don't be put off by the long introduction. It becomes more significant after reading the narrative itself.

This book gives a great emotional account of the horrors of slavery. It is amazing the vocabulary the author had without being formally educated.

This book will stay with me for a while.

A vivid account of slave life
Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-15
In her novel, Crafts illustrates her life as a slave over the course of many years. Starting at a place cursed by a linden tree, things only seem to get worse. Though she is taught to read, her teachers are punished and banished from her life. Her early years are filled with much more than learning, however. She witnesses many horrific aspects of slave life, which are depicted vividly by use of imagery and her colorful similes. In her story she attempts to obtain freedom with her new mistress, but the success is cut short.
By the middle of the story, the reader can easily assess that slave life is neither desirable nor easy. Crafts and her mistress are captured with only more hardships following. Crafts depicts for the reader her passing from one master to the next after her mistress's death. Things only continue to get worse until she brings the reader along with her on her flight to freedom.
Though met by a series of mishaps throughout the novel, Crafts finally obtains freedom to live life with her husband and her recently found mother. No doubt, the reader is happy to see something pleasant finally happen for Crafts. The reader is left with not only a sense of happiness for the author, but with a vibrant image of what it took to get there. The Bondswoman's Narrative is most certainly a good choice for anyone wanting a harsh, yet inspiring, account of what slave life was truly like.

An unpublished masterpiece?
Helpful Votes: 6 out of 21 total.
Review Date: 2004-10-10
As background for this slave's narrative, we are introduced to John Hill Wheeler, writer, who had published HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF NORTH CAROLINA, 1584-1851), who served as assistant secretary to the U. S. President Franklin Pierce (always one of my favorites) in 1854. There is a good photograph of Wheeler and a painting of his wife, Ellen, with her two sons by Thomas Sully who made the youngest look like a sleeping angel.

There is also a photo depiction of the abduction of his slave, Jane Johnson with her family, off the Steamer Washington on July 18, 1855, in Philadelphia "by force" by a gang of Negroes led by an abolotionist. Since he was unable to locate and reclaim his servants, Jane was subsequently replaced by Hannah -- who escaped in the Spring of 1857. He must have been a hard taskmaster.

One interesting thing (for me) was a mention of John Brown's (of Harper's Ferry, West VA fame) hanging in Charleston, VA. It was observed that he died as he lived, "game." He certainly was no coward.

I found too much redundancy in the introduction by Henry L. Gates, Jr., and the narrative itself. Absorbed in finding and preserving black culture in written form, he spends a lot of effort propounding on his conclusions, instead of the facts. Like a local writer involved in uncovering ancient history, he uses too many "that's" proving he is not scholary. To me, it shows a definite lack of education and too much emphasis on self promotion, so that whatever is printed will be thought or taken as the truth, the whole truth and nothing else.

As with all autobiographical material it is hard to tell what is fact and where the fiction begins. An old acquaintance now deceased who had been in the Merchant Marines in his younger years and received much enjoyment in bewildering strangers with his detailed stories, told me how he manufactured "truth." Add a few relevant facts which can be substantiated and names of real people and presto! it's history -- not fiction.

As with science, the individual authors are expounding on their own theories, not facts per se. It's the same in any field and any "case" history. Mr. Gates wanted to prove this narrative was authentic; therefore, he spent more effort with his "proof" than the slave's account itself.

Something that old can never be proven beyond a doubt. Now Clifford Irving's bogus biography of Howard Hughes was ill-timed. Had he waited until after the person's demise, there would always be doubt and nothing to prove he was a liar.

I don't believe a slave would know some of the words used by this writer. By including family background and descriptions of events, it is taken as the authentic tale of a real Hannah Crafts. He did too much surmising "what if's" to have run down the actual writer to New Jersey -- to have been the runaway slave from North Carolina.

I found the marked out words and phrases to be distracting (also detracting). It would have helped to have the edited parts left out; the 21 chapters would have sufficed without so much explanation and additions (in brackets). Instead of making this clearer, it befuddles the story itself.

I'm not a user of the word "that" which is grossly overused in newspapers today. About ten years ago, I typed the lengthy "memoir" of my ex-husband, a college English professor, and edited at intervals throughout. Of course, he proof-read every page before having the entirety copied and bound to distribute to members of his family. Sometimes, he agreed to my "clarifications"; at others, he'd say, "but we didn't talk that way." Growing up in a tiny hamlet between Shelbyville and Chapel Hill (where he'd been born) in Middle TN, and being about fifteen years my senior, he'd experienced things and feelings totally opposite to what I had in Knox County (East TN). My reasons to "edit" were for the benefit of those who'd be reading his memories, not to change events -- and he finally agreed with me.

Perhaps I should have left things exactly the way he expressed them, no matter how grammatically incorrect they were, as now that is what I am wishing Mr. Gates had done with this manuscript. The things he marked through seemed inconsistent vocabulary for such a young, uneducated woman confined in "the peculiar institution", and I'd have preferred not to have to think about them.

The textual annotations did not add to the story and were a bit too detailed. You can analyze a situation "to death." Some things are better left to the reader's imagaination.

This story is as old as the hills. Didn't he see the similarities between characters of this narrative and those in SHOW BOAT? Sad but true. Life is not always easy for those without power or money.

You have to enjoy this style of writing
Helpful Votes: 7 out of 8 total.
Review Date: 2004-07-10
This book may have great value as a historical document, however, I evaluate it from the 'fun to read' point of view. I did not find it a greatly enjoyable read. It is written in the old novel style- "Perils of Pauline" comes to mind. Neither did I find that I learned much about it was like to live like a slave during that time. I am now reading a historical novel in which there are a few pages describing a slave market in the USA during the Revolution; which gave me a much clearer picture than Bondwoman's Narrative did. The description of how the field hands lived left me wishing to read more about that, and in fact, I felt I did not even get a good picture of how the house servants lived. There was quite a bit of philosophizing during the entire book so the author came across as an intellectual. In this respect, her comments about the death of a fellow runaway slave towards the end of the novel were very interesting to me.

Authors
Breaking Free: Making Liberty In Christ A Reality In Life
Published in Paperback by Lifeway Christian Resources (1999-06-30)
Author: Beth Moore
List price: $14.95
New price: $7.99
Used price: $6.98

Average review score:

A release in the spirit
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-07-05
A Letter to My Sisters: The Way Out
I am indeed invigorated and ready to proceed into the future. This book helped me to break away from the bondage of things that had been sitting in my way for a while. Thank you Lady Beth for sharing you revelation.
A Letter to My Sisters: The Way Out

Breaking Free: Making Liberty in Christ a Reality in Life
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-07
This was one of those really excellent experiences. Shipping was done within the days specified. The shipper sent notification the book had been shipped and the book arrived within a week. Above and beyond expectations!!

Great Amazon Seller! Would buy from again.
Helpful Votes: 0 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2007-11-05
Great Amazon Seller! Would buy from again. Received book exactly as described in great timing.

breaking free with a break through!!
Helpful Votes: 1 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-18
Don't you just love Beth Moore?!? What an inspiration Beth is to ALL Christian women across this world. God has used Beth in such an awesome manner - don't you wonder what it's costing her? To whom much is given, much is required. This book flows just like her Bible study with the same title. This book will help you to find areas in your life where you are being held back and weren't even aware you were being held back! There are so many things that we as humans accept as just a part of normal life. Beth shows us in biblical terms why that is just not true! Just because it's a common 'side effect' of living in this sinful world DOES NOT mean that we have to accept it in our lives! I strongly urge you to find a church in your area that offers Beth Moore Bible studies. Read this book - it will set you free!!!

GREAT BOOK-SHIPPING HIGH
Helpful Votes: 2 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2007-07-30
Several of my friends and I are using this book for an e-mail small group Bible study. It is well suited for that with its short chapters and review questions.
I ordered 3 items at exactly the same time and had to pay 3 separate shipping charges. I probably would not do that kind of shopping again.











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