Awards Books

For the legion of Hiaasen fans out there, 'Hoot' is pure Hiaasen but without the raunchiness and ribald humor. It is more whimsical than funny, its plot rather obvious and ultra-wholesome, but it's a very enjoyable read nonetheless. Hiaasen transforms himself into a young teen who, with other rascals his age, fight corporate America from building upon land where nesting ground owls call home. These kids pull all sorts of tricks to defeat the wicked and inept adults. Although this book is clearly targeted to the junior high school set, and I think it makes a wonderful read for boys and girls, it's the sort of read adults can enjoy especially if they don't want to think too hard. You will never confuse 'Hoot' with works by Leo Tolstoy or Henry James.


Bottom line: lighthearted and politically correct.

The story is divided into three main parts. This gives the reader different points of view from each character. The main part is about Roy Eberhardt and his friends "Mullet Fingers", and his stepsister Beatrice. The main part focuses on their efforts to try and save the owls' homes from getting bulldozed to make way for a construction. The second is about Officer David Delinko, who is one of the Officers investigating the sabotage acts on the construction site. He was caught sleeping during his early morning patrol once and was nearly fired. Now, with his job on the line he basically thought about nothing else but getting his job done. But when he sees the Burrowing Owls and slowly thinks about what will happen to them, he slowly has a change of heart towards the end of the book. The third part is of the construction Foreman Leroy "Curly" Branitt who also has his job on the line now that the construction was two weeks late. Despite his efforts to guard the construction site, the site is continually sabotaged and gets fired in the end. In the last part he doesn't join Roy and the rest of the crowd to protect the owls, but refuses to take any orders from his boss.

Overall I'd say this is a great book with its unpredictable and hilarious characters. Aside from being funny you could learn something too. I noticed that Hiaasen writes mostly about environmental problems. This book illustrates how animals are affected when we destroy their home for the sake of money. Nobody likes seeing their home destroyed. How would we feel if someone showed up on our homes and told us that our house was going to get bulldozed? In the words of Calvin and Hobbes: "How would humans feel if animals bulldozed a suburb and put in new TREES?"

Carl Hiaasen never disappoints when it comes to witty stories and charming characters. In this first attempt at fiction for young readers he lives up to his reputation. Roy has just started middle school in Florida after moving from Montana with his family - against his wishes. He is being beaten up by the school bully and is having a hard time fitting in. But he becomes entangled in an environmental battle when a chain pancake restaurant wants to build a new pancake house on a location that houses unique and rare owls. Roy and his tenuous friends take on a battle that may be bigger than they realize. Roy must find a way to follow his heart without breaking the law in protest.

Hiaasen has a real way with his characters. They are people you love and get to know through the pages of the story. There is almost always some sort of environmental twist and, in some ways, it is like beating a dead horse. But the writing is always hilarious and entertaining until the last page. Readers, both young and old, will enjoy this effort.

Hoot is a fabulous adventure and realistic fiction coming of age story by Carl Hiaasen about a young boy named Roy who is new to town. It is 292 pages of adventure, as Roy is bullied by Dana Matherson, the town bully. While Dana, the story's antagonist, is anything but a good person, his bullying does lead Roy to notice a boy running barefoot alongside the bus he is on, eventually taking him on an adventure of a major ecological and corrupt problem caused by a fraudulent business.
The boy Roy saw running calls himself Mullet Fingers. He comes from a troubled home but is determined despite the odds to stand up for what he believes. Meanwhile, a breakfast chain, Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House, is going to open up a restaurant in town but the building's construction is constantly delayed due to damages that occur to the area in the middle of the night. The pancake company wants to begin building on the property and so hires a security guard to protect the area from any possible vandals. Through yet another scheme, Roy convinces Dana to enter the construction site in search of cigarettes. Dana is quickly caught in the act and people believe that he is responsible for the vandalism.
Dana's trespassing brings light to the habitat of the burrowing owl, which is currently in the very area that the Mother Paula's intends to builds its restaurant. People quickly jump on the children's bandwagon, which wants nothing more than for these owls to live in their natural habitat. These children expose the company for what it really is and uncover some deals that are anything but legal among adults in his new.
This story is perfect for the young adult reader, as it clearly shows that whether we like it or not, we all grow up. And when we grow up, we take on responsibilities that we never before dreamed possible. It is an inspirational tale to see young adults making responsible decisions on their own. Simultaneously, the young adults are forced to look at the adults around them who are taking bribes and making illegal deals, while they are fighting for what they believe and know is right. They are ready to take on the powerful executives, even though their chances might seem bleak.
Throughout the story, Roy is forced into the world and must grow up, even if the adults around him might not have. It is a great read for young adults, as Roy is forced to adjust to the changes around him that come with moving to a new town. However, he quickly prevails.
I personally loved this story because it allows young adults to see that despite all of the problems that occur in life, they actually can prevail and bring about good things through action. This story teaches students that it is imperative that they stand up for what they believe. Young adults of today can easily relate to Roy, for Macmillan Publishers just recently published it in 2002 at a Lexile Level of 760. Simultaneously, as a teacher of young adults, I personally have an issue with the presence of cigarettes and curse words in a story. And I know that many of my students' parents also would not appreciate some of the content that Hiaasen has chosen to include. Nonetheless, I appreciate that he does not sugarcoat any of the topics but rather "keeps it real" for the kids, allowing them to wrestle with the issues as though they are in Roy's shoes.

Hoot by Carl Hiaasen is about five characters (Roy, Mullet Finger, Beatrice, officer Delinko, and Curly), one group of animals (the owls), and one pancake house (Mother Paula's) fighting over an area of land and trying to save the owls. Roy tries to find out the right thing to do. Mullet Finger tries to help a group of owls. Beatrice tries to help Mullet Finger. Officer Delinko tries to solve the pancake house case. Curly tries not to get fired.


This book is worth reading for several reasons. It tells about certain animals. Also it tells about right and wrong. It also shows many legal things. Finally, it shows that a little devotion goes a long way. Nine to fourteen year olds would like this book because it is funny and somewhat easier to read since it's in third narration.

One of the best books I have read (listened to) in a long time. I read Bridge Jones' diary several years back and really enjoyed it, but this was even more fun than I remember.

I listened on audio and Barbara Roseblat does and amazing job bringing Bridget to live. Adored her at it.

It's got a nice mix of everything romance, career, friends and tons of humor. At the very end I found myself laughing histerically listening to what she wrote in her Christmas cards after having a few drinks. It's absolutely hillarious.

I will definetly give this one a listen to again. Probably on my top 10 list. Only down side and is I got out of library and would like my own copy. V. difficult to find. An absolute treasure that I hope to find. (Unabridged with Barbara Rosenblat)

Adore this book. Read it every year. It has gotten me through break ups, break downs, and life in general. Thank you Bridget.

Bridget Jones is a very memorable and enjoyable character. You never know what kind of antics are up her sleeve. It's alot of fun and will keep you smiling! It's pretty close to the movie but of course things are a little different and closer to the book version.

I read both this book and the first before I watched either movie. Both were great movies; even better books! It's the same old thing, the book is always much better than the movie. More of the plot reaches your eyes and is left to great imagination. I loved these books so much!! I'm so ready for more of Helen Fielding's books!

Bridget seems not to have grown since the first book and, frankly, sometimes seems very childish. The author relies heavily on characters failing to communicate their feelings in order to allow everything to fall apart and still be salvagable in the end. A common literary technique and nothing to be ashamed of, but nothing here really to be proud of either.

I enjoyed the reading, but I wouldn't read a second time.

It is in our most difficult times that we discover our true character and that of those around us. This type of discovery is at the heart of the tale of Bud, the 10 year-old main character of Bud, Not Buddy (Random House 1999), a novel by Christopher Paul Curtis. In this wonderful piece of historical fiction, Curtis artfully crafts Bud's story, weaving together inspiration, humor, and the realities of the Great Depression to create a heartwarming and upbeat story about the power of the human spirit.

Bud's story is a fast-paced narrative describing a resilient, determined orphan in search of a new home at a time that was difficult for many Americans. After running away from an abusive foster family, Bud is forced to move through a difficult world in search of a compassionate and caring new home that he hopes he will find with the man he believes to be his father. Armed with a beat-up suitcase filled with all of his possessions and only a flyer as his guide, Bud sets out to find a better life and ends up finding more than he could have imagined.

In his search, Bud encounters a number of helpful and interesting individuals who assist him along the way. At one point, Bud meets a homeless family who helps him sneak into a line to get bread. Bud also encounters a shantytown, known as a Hooverville, where families sleep in tents after becoming homeless. Bud meets families who wait while fathers and husbands hop trains in search of work. Bud's tale recounts the difficulties for many individuals, especially African Americans, during the Great Depression. Throughout his travels, Bud encounters the difficulties of finding food, shelter, and money, as he looks to others and his own strength to continue his journey.

Fortunately, Bud meets a number of individuals who are willing to share the little bit that they have in order to help him. Bud's search eventually leads him to the man in the poster that he believed to be his father. Although Bud's final destination may not be exactly what he thought when he set out, it is exactly what he needed. Despite the difficult times, Bud's journey is a heartwarming tale about the compassion of strangers, the beauty of music, and the power of family.

Curtis' novel is a great read for families and a perfect selection for middle school children. The 243-page novel moves quickly as Curtis' narrative-style leaps off the page. Based on the Fry readability formula, this book has a fifth grade reading level, but it may be a great for students above that level as well. Although the realities of the Great Depression may be difficult for younger readers to grasp, the life lessons that Bud encounters are valuable for any student. Despite the bleakness and difficulty of the historical setting, Curtis does an excellent job of describing the strength and compassion of the individuals. I personally enjoyed this book a great deal and would recommend it to others.

My 3rd grade class really enjoyed listening to this story. The adventures of Bud, while many times being funny, touch my students and help them to see what another 8 year old in a past era had to endure. Great story line.

I am the parent of a 6th-grade reluctant reader. Luckily, he will still cuddle up to listen to a good book read out loud, though his preference is for plots involving dragons, elves, and convoluted quests. I have occasionally been able to slip in a more realistic novel, but more often than not, my son will dismiss it as "BORING" just as I am getting absorbed. "Bud, Not Buddy" has been an exception. Bud comes across as a real kid with a real kid's voice and my son has found himself drawn to the character as well as the adventure (and it is quite an adventure that Bud has). I appreciate Curtis's ability to conjure Flint, Michigan, and the Depression so vividly for the reader and I love the incidental learning that goes along with the story, from the existence of Hooverville(s) to the early days of unionizing. I highly recommend this book for 10-12 year-old kids and their parents. It is a wonderful book to read out loud.

Ten-year-old Bud, living during the Great Depression in Flint, Michigan, was left after his mother's death with only a suitcase of band fliers and a bag of stones. He leaves his latest foster home and ventures on a Steinbeck-like odyssey to find his father--whom his believes to be the man on the fliers. Excellent coming of age tale that beautifully captures the voice of both a young adult and the time period. Grade: B+

The book I read was Bud, Not Buddy. It was by Christopher Paul Curtis. He also wrote The Watsons Go to Birmingham. This book was Historical fiction.
In this book Bud was adopted from an orphanage. He goes to live with this really mean family who locks him in a shed. He breaks out and runs away to a library. On the second night at the library his friend Bugs finds him. Together they walk to Hooperville. They were going to hop a train that left from Hooperville the next morning. Bugs makes the train but Bud doesn't. Bud walks back to Flint and back to the library to get direction on how to get to another town called Great Rapids. He was told it was a twenty-four hour walk. He started to go to Great Rapids that evening. One guy saw Bud and asked where he was from and why he was walking to. Bud lied and said he was from Great Rapids. The guy drives Bud to Great Rapids and drops him off at his dad's house. Bud's dad didn't know he had a son so he was confused.
I like this book because it tell me about people who aren't as lucked as I am. I think this book would be good for greedy kids because it teaches them how they are luckier than others. I was inspired by this book because of the message it sent out. I recommend this book for all kids because it is really good.

I personally enjoyed the use of dialect. I read some of the book aloud to my daughter which is a good way to experience the beauty of their speak. All good books show you things you could never see and enlighten your mind to ways that were unknown. So that when we are done reading their gift stays with us.

I liked this book. I would laugh and cry reading it, the movie is good, too. Haly Berry is in the movie and I love her movies. You cannot not go wrong getting both the book or seeing the movie.

This book arrived right on time. It was in excellent condition. I really enjoyed the story.

Zora Neale Hurston will probably be remembered best as the author of this novel. She writes in dialogue or dialect in the South especially to help establish the realism and relationships between the characters. This book is about Janie Crawford, the granddaughter of Nanny Crawford (who was a former slave who had a child with her white master known as Leafy). Nanny wisely leaves the plantation with her baby. She raises Leafy who gets raped by her teacher and gives birth to Janie. Leafy abandons her baby daughter in the care of her grandmother who raised her with other children. It wasn't until 6 that Janie realized that she was different from the children that her grandmother cared for. Janie realized that she was black or African American. Until then, she was just one of the kids. As an adult, she yearns for love from a man. She is married off to an old farmer, Logan Killicks. She leaves him for Joe Stark and finally there was Teacake Magee, the love of her life. This book is a classic. In order to teach it, I would recommend the movie with Halle Berry and the audio version with Ruby Dee who also played Nanny in the television film version. The audio helps bring alive the rich dialect that Zora recreated to help establish the realism of life in the South during the 1930s and Great Depression.

In this charming tale of one woman's experience with love set in small closely knit African American Southern communities we are introduced to the life and culture of American blacks in the 1930's. The author who is also an anthropologist tells the tale in the heavy black dialect that was so prevelent in small rural southern towns. The author's technique in using the vernacular created a rich atmosphere and back drop for Janie's experiences with love and spiritual growth. I gave the book 4 stars, because understanding the dialect was challenging for me. A reader more familiar with the dialect would have an easier time with the story. However, interspersed with the dialect came crisp clear and charming images narrated in the author's own articulate voice. Some of the images are simply charming. One example is the following: "The spirit of the marriage left the bedroom and took to living in the parlor. It was there to shake hands whenever company came to visit, but it never went inside the bedroom again." (pg.71) "She took careful stock of herself,then combed her hair and tied it back up again. Then she starched and ironed her face, forming it into just what people wanted to see.

In the end Janie has triumphantly broadened her horizens and possiblites. This has brought her peace.

In "The Screwtape Letters", author C.S. Lewis sets out to tale the story of two demons attempting to keep a man from finding and keeping faith in Christ. Such a premise could easily have turned into a silly and not particullary interesting book. However, Lewis actually does a fantastic execution of his preimse. It held my interest. Lewis tales the story through letters written between the villians and weaves in some interesting commentaries on friendship, spiritual growth, and even the Second World War (I believe the book was finished in about 1941 or so though the particular edition I read had some later material as well). The writing is good and fans of Lewis will probably enjoy this work greatly. Overall, a fine book that I was glad I took the time to read.

With so many books to read and so little time, I rarely go back to re-read even my favorite works. Years ago, I discovered The Screwtape Letters and was blown away. The other day I found myself skimming through it again, then settling down to dig deeply through this treasure trove of misinformation.

A senior demon, Screwtape, is writing letters to an underling and giving advice in the ways of bringing down mankind one person at a time. He speaks with disturbing clarity, marked insight, and insidious desire. He wants to feast upon the souls of all of us, while serving Our Father Below. In this twisted world, we see life from the side of evil. From this framework, God is the Enemy, and so the reading requires a constant attention to the subtle lies Screwtape is mixing in with his letters.

The insights we discover through this flipped script are unsettling and important. We see the follies of self-righteousness and even unselfishness. We see through the schemes used to divide man and woman, the ploys of twisted pleasure, and the cyclical trap of pride/humility/pride. Every page brings revelation in this ultimate cautionary tale.

I'm a fan of Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, Space Trilogy, Mere Christianity, and The Great Divorce, but this title is still one of the most mind-blowing, yet accessible, books I've ever read. And re-read. And, most likely, will read again.

This book describes how demons attack people spiritually by using various kinds of interesting stories. You will find the stories very interesting and easy to read.

This audio book really brought the story alive. This and the book itself really makes you think on your own life. I would recommend this to anyone, saved or unsaved, because anyway you look at it its pretty cool.

For those interested in exploring the ways in which the world trys to seperate us from God there is of course no one better to read than C.S. Lewis. Lewis uses subtle humor with his little devils in this short book and one can see the self in every chapter. I particularly like the chapter on the misuse of humility.

I found this book to be rather stupid and a pathetic story to boot. First of all, who would name a princess Pea? But, more to the point, the story includes a girl who is sold by her father and then beaten up by her owner. Why is that a good plot line for a childrens' book? My nine-year-old daughter liked it however. I thought some of the plot twists and turns odd like the jailer and the dungeon he works in. And the Miggery Sow character sad, and not at all sympathetic. I liked the little mouse, however. I just did not like it. I don't know why kids do.

I have to read 4 Newbery Award books for a College Literature class I am taking this summer. This book has been the best so far! I have refound my LONG lost love for Children's literature! Read it aloud to a child and watch their eyes sparkle! It is wonderful! I am reading it silently alone because I have a strict time limit, but I am also reading it nightly to my 10 and 2 year old children. Even my 2 year old just lays by my side in wonder as I read this charming tale. This is one to keep on the book shelf for years to come!

A book you can read to kids with great drama and they love it. A good tale well told, my 3yr.old and 6 year old grandkids loved it. Highly recommend this book

The Tale of Despereaux is really 3 stories in one that all intertwine around one central character, the Princess Pea, at the end. It is the story of Despereaux Tilling, an uncommonly small mouse who was born with his eyes open and who has uncommonly large ears and who falls in love with the Princess Pea; it is the story of the rat Chiaroscuro, who discovers the joys of light even though his place should be in the dungeon and learns a great hatred for and wishes for revenge on the Princess Pea; and it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted servant girl whose greatest wish in the world is to be just like the Princess Pea.

I was intrigued by this book after a friend recommended DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, which is a beautiful cathartic tale of love and loss. The Tale of Despereaux just doesn't seem to have the same impact on me. Ultimately, it is a story of forgiveness and redemption, but it all seemed a little too mannered and forced for my taste. Perhaps in the right hands, this story would be perfect, but I found it lacking in any real substance. It's not a bad tale, but not perfect.

This book is so good, and a lot of other people that I know think so, too. This book is about a mouse that broke two rules of being a mouse. Those rules were not to talk to humans, and not to let humans touch you. The mouse' name is Despereaux. His brother's name is Furlough. Despereaux falls in love with Princess Pea, but gets sent to the dungeon for breaking two very strict rules of being a mouse. Then there is this rat called Ruscuro. Ruscuro meets a girl named Miggery Sow. Later, Despereaux gets out of the dungeon and goes to save the princess. The best things about this book are funny. Like the time Despereaux had to hold on to the tail of Ruscuros brother and then the book says "Reader, have you ever held on to a rat's tail before?" My favorite character is Ruscuro because he always looks mischievous and that makes him seem like he would do something really cool the next chapter. There is nothing I don't like about this book. My least favorite character is Miggery Sow because she is fat and does not do much but say "I want to be princess". You should get this book if you love reading very interesting and adventurous books.

With bright humor, wicked insights and a strong stomach, appropriately-named author Mary Roach pierces the veil that separates -- if not death from life -- then the dead from the living. Ever wonder how crash test dummies so closely mimic the human body's frailties? Ponder on how plastic surgeons practice the craft of sticking knives into people's faces? Curious about how analysts can tell whether a plane crash victims were killed by explosions or by impact with water (hint: it all about broken ribs skewering lungs)? Perplexed about whether footwear worn by mine clearers will protect their feet? Wonder no more! Roach explains how human beings -- at least their corporeal remains -- find usefulness even when their current occupants no longer do. Her travels to her to embalming rooms, anatomy classes and open fields where cadavers are set up to study decay rates. While she does not meet with any truly ghoulish characters, the activities of the people she does interview engage in activities that are as gruesome, distasteful and repugnant as they are necessary and even potentially lifesaving. She deals with the ethics of damaging dead bodies in the name of science and safety, and whether relatives have a right to decide whether Granddad will get slammed into a wall to test a new airbag design. Roach also deals with how medical people and others try to depersonalize their test subjects -- who so easily "read" as people -- not test dummies. There's enough talk of beheading, putrefaction, maggots and cadaver bashing to make the squeamish think twice. But Roach, gauging her text by her own limit of repulsion, draws the veil shy of the disgusting to reveal a world in which the recently dead still have a chance to serve the living.

This book is fantastic FUN! Roach is an interesting and hilarous writer. She thinks like most of us do and isn't afraid to put her thoughts on paper.
A must read for anyone!

I was told about this book from a working in a bookstore.. and trust me I didn't really know what it was going to be about. I took the rish and have come to love this book. It's interesting, entertaining, funny and fresh. I guess for me, one of the biggest things i took away from the text outside of making my own decision about donating my body to science, was the fact that these people treat the dead well. And in fact the dead often receive my dignity, respect, and honor that the living are ever given.. It makes you think about bestowing those things on the living while they are there to enjoy them...

I picked up this book, curiously enough, at the Our Bodies: The Universe Within exhibit in Ohio. I've often wondered about human body donation and just what happens to all the people who opt for that.

I found this to be an enjoyable read. It's a little slow at times, but the humor is sparkling in just the right areas. It kept me interested, especially the history behind cadavers being used in scientific experimentation.

It's not a book for everyone, but after reading this one, I'm definitely going to check out her other two books. I like her style, not too text-book, not too tongue-in-cheek, just right!

This was a very interesting book. It was unlike anything I have ever read. Mary Roach described the many uses for cadavers with great humor. This gave me a different perspective on cadavers.

Coraline is a somewhat bored young girl in a new home. She's an explorer at heart, so she pokes about the new place - even into the dark corners best left undisturbed.

A lovely book with a brave young protagonist, who takes matters into her own hands when things go awry at home, despite the warnings, dangers & the unknown. Only she could make things right.

Meant for children, yes, but a nice, quick read for us old fogies, too.

Coraline's parents are too busy to give her the attention she craves and no one can seem to figure out how to pronounce her name correctly. While exploring one day, she finds a secret door that leads into a parallel universe where her "other parents" dote on her and everyone says her name properly. At first, she enjoys her "other home," but when she is ready to return to her normal life, she realizes that her "other mother" has other plans. Coraline must find a way to be brave and outsmart the evil "other mother" in order to find her way home.

Deliciously creepy!

It's Coraline, not Caroline. That's Coraline's problem. no one gets her name right. It's boring glum in her old flat apartment.You'd think crazy Mr. Bobo who is raising a mice circus would keep her busy since her parents have no time for her. One day Coraline finds a door to a world almost congruent to her own. Every thing is alike from her Dad's office to her great grandma's junk packed room, When a women with paper white skin and button eyes in this world seems to "love" Coraline. So maybe if this women is crazy enough to knit buttons in her head, she's crazy enough to try and win Coraline's love by smashing the whole world together. Worse, she takes her anger of failing outon her right hand. Will Coraline escape while her blood still flows?

This story of a little girl who loses her parents is quite entertaining. A little too short but since it was made for his kids, it's alright. Made for children but an adult can like this just the same since most of the time it's not infantile at all.
Very cute, very creepy, I love it.

Coraline is a kid. That obvious truth struck me many times throughout this amazing little gem by Neil Gaiman of "American Gods" fame. Not to blunt my praise for Gaiman's creative ability, but he MUST have drawn on his parenting experiences for "Coraline." The titular character is equal parts charmingly honest and frusteratingly picky, she styles herself as independent but her world is bordered by the arms of her parents. People will inevitably compare this book to "Alice and Wonderland," but Coraline (not Caroline, mind you) is not a moralizing avatar of the author. She is a self-styled explorer that any kid (boy or girl) could easily get behind.

That's not to say that Gaiman's only triumph is creating a single great character. The narrative has a unique way of causing fear that I've honestly never seen before. To all but the most sensitive children "Coraline" is a great spooky tale to tell kids old enough to understand the concept of fiction. (anyone reading Goosebumps or other kid-friendly thrillers) Adults, specifically parents, may feel a different kind of fear as Coraline enters a very twisted version of her own home. It may even be more terrifying to a parent that, at it's heart, "Coraline" is a story about a young girl that is kidnapped by a hostile and even murderous force.

To go into setting and the other plot details would destroy a lot of the suspense that mounts as Coraline explores her new world. It's best that the reader encounters them as Coraline does: brave and horrified. However, it is worth noting that this isn't a story aimed at seeing the child-hero through to adulthood. It's not a innocence-crushing coming of age tale. If anything the journey makes Coraline just a bit more grateful for what she has, and that's a lesson that any kid can take to heart.

If this were just an excellent piece of children's fiction it would easily deserve five stars. As it is a delightful read for any age it should be purchased immeadiately for anyone even slighlty interested in the sort of surreal fairy tale that Gaiman has mastered writing.

If you are rushed or distracted, don't read this book. Rushing through this would be like gulping down a fine wine as though it were apple juice (a crime!). Rather, get everything done that you need to get done, put the kids to bed (if you have any), turn off the tv and pour yourself a dram of whatever you love best. Find a comfortable chair and warm lighting, and enjoy.

This first installment is mainly a narrative of the life of a man named Kvothe, and it is rich with heart-moving imagery and subtley laced with the perfect amount of wry, tongue-in-cheek humor; yet there is an underlying sense of tragedy and forboding that pervades the tale throughout that actually builds suspense so gradually that it's almost feels subconscious.

Highly recommended.

Really good fantasy. Explores the characters deeply, making them real persons instead of stereotypes. Good development of social/class issues, economics and petty politics. A very good start to a series, really looking forward to the second one.

First off, I would like to say that I really did enjoy The Name of the Wind. It was a great book, and I found the plot to be engaging. I found the subjects discussed to be fascinating, and I often felt as though I was right there learning along with Kvothe. Patrick Rothfuss has created an interesting world, which I will gladly return to with The Wise Man's Fear. I would highly recommend this book.

However, the book gets four stars because there were a few occasions where I just grew bored. You can only take so much of Kvothe talking about where he's going to get the money for next term's tuition. It also gets a bit annoying when he discusses how he doesn't know anything about women for the thousandth time. I also felt like there wasn't as much action in this book advancing us toward the present as I would have liked. However, I know that story will be told eventually, so I'll just have to wait.

Don't let these things keep you from reading it, though. They are mild annoyances in an overall excellent work. Name of the Wind is one of the best reads I've had in a long while, and I read quite a bit of fantasy (a good 5 or 6 hours a day at the least). Even with the rather large page count, it took me only a day and a half. I would've read it straight through, but I started too late in the day and needed sleep. Now I'm rambling, but in any case, a great read, and highly recommended from me.

I struggled to get through the first 50 pages of this book. I thought when I started this would be like any other book I've read. Boy was I wrong...

You know a book is good when you can't even figure out where to start with the review. So instead of talking about everything, I'll just like you know why I loved it.

First, the world. It's developed, alive, and refreshing. There is no magic. Instead, there is sympathy. Sympathy allows people to bind objects and thereby manipulate them. If that sounds boring, just wait. The way the author uses sympathy is usually very clever. There is also a sympathy battle at one point where you get a good idea of just how intricate it can be.
Second, the character. Kvothe is built up from nothing. You start with a simple boy, but he develops. The best part about it is, this book focuses on Kvothe's intelligence. It uses it to create a really interesting character. I can't think of any other fantasy books that develop such an intelligent and clever character.
Finally, the story. The story is interesting. I couldn't really tell you what the plot was because honestly, I don't know if there was one. But there is a reason for the character's actions, and he does have some direction.

I enjoyed it, and hopefully you will to.

You know how sometimes a book, or a movie, or a concert gets so hyped up in the press and you have such high expectations that when you finally get around to reading/seeing it, it disappoints? That's what I was worried might happen when I decided to read The Name of the Wind. I purposely came to it late, hoping to wait until Patrick Rothfuss was nearly finished with the trilogy before I starting it. But, the book has received so much attention that it became inexcusable for me, as the editor of a fantasy review website, not to read it. So I did -- in two days. (It's a huge book.)

And I'm very happy to report that The Name of the Wind did not disappoint -- I was completely enthralled. The pace was quick and never lagged. The plot was tight and had just the right amount of mystery -- I always understood what was going on, but Rothfuss regularly added new elements, twists, and layers to keep me wondering where this was going and what would happen next. In fact, by the end of the book, there are more unanswered questions than answered ones. Throughout, the writing style was smooth and pleasant, with enough wit, humor, foreshadowing, and artistry to be intellectually stimulating, but never pretentious. Furthermore, the magic system in Rothfuss's world is thoroughly explained to us, bit by bit, and it is complicated and makes sense.

Perhaps most important, Mr Rothfuss writes excellent characters. I especially appreciated what he did with his hero. Kvothe's circumstances are familiar; he's an exceptionally bright kid whose parents are killed by something evil, nobody cares for him, he manages to get into magic school on long odds, he has trouble fitting in with both students and teachers, he makes two close friends and one rich and handsome enemy from a powerful family, he's obsessed with finding out about the evil people who killed his parents, he regularly gets punished for his exploits at school, he has no clue about girls, and he actually meets one who lives in the pipes under the school .... Hmmm... This does sound familiar.

But I'll bet that most people who read The Name of the Wind never thought of Harry Potter, because Kvothe and his world are new and refreshing. Kvothe is a product of his liberal education and a lot of time spent trying to survive on his own as a beggar. Sometimes he is selfish, sometimes he is cruel, sometimes he does the right thing. At one point in the book, while Kvothe was living on the streets, he had an opportunity to help someone in distress (a particular distress that Kvothe himself had experienced). I was nervous -- worried that Rothfuss would ruin his careful characterization by having Kvothe perform a heroic deed too soon. But, no, Kvothe pulled a Kitty Genovese, which gave me a deeper respect for Mr Rothfuss. During Kvothe's maturation, we see him make more right choices and fewer wrong ones, but he is complex and inconsistent enough to make us lack confidence that he's going to turn out okay. And that makes for a very interesting story.

I'm very much looking forward to continuing this mystery next April; so much so that I'll pre-order the hardback of The Wise Man's Fear (something I rarely do). Patrick Rothfuss is a much-needed bright young star in the fantasy field. Let's hope that he can keep it up! --FanLit.net

I picked this book up at a local book store because I was going on vacation. I read a lot of complex books and such, in my profession so I was looking for something simple, easy to read, but very fun and enjoyable. WEll, this book accomplished all of the above.

The book is a great introductory book to a young person who is a pre-teen making a transition into chapter books. Ms. Konigsburg develops the characters well, especially the children, and I promise there are surprises around every corner.

My favorite character in the book has to be Mrs. Frankweiler. She is so mysterious only because she wants to be. I remember many times growing up wishing I had some all-important secret that I could keep to make me important. Then I wondered could I actually keep the secret? Mrs. Frankweiler doesn't just have one important secret she has file cabinets full.

I went to the national Naval Air Museum in Pensacola, FL right after reading this book, and found myself asking where would I hide in here.

I love this book, and would reccomend it to the young and the young at heart. Just when you think you know everything, trust me you know nothing in this book. Even at the end you understand that Mrs. Frankweiler is the master keeper of secrets.

Does anyone know what the title of the movie was that is based on this book?

I love this book. I saw it one day in the bookstore with my 7 year old who is a good reader. I bought it for her as a gift and re-read it first. I enjoyed it again as an adult and she has enjoyed it too. A good read with enough excitement and mystery to keep you turning the pages (but nothing scary).

One of my childhood favorites! I recently went to the Met and just had to purchase and re-read the book!

I think this is one of the best books I read growing up. I can't say enough good things about it. It is a must read!