Used Books

This is one of the only times I would say a movie is better than the book. But if you haven't seen the movie yet this is a great book. I like to read the book after seeing the moving to read what the characters were thinking etc.
I enjoyed the differences of the book from the movie but I liked the ending in the movie better.
It's a great rainy day afternoon read.

This book is a very quick read, only about three hours. It held me from the short sample downloaded to my kindle until the very end of the book, only stopping to refill my coffee cup. I am a Nicholas Sparks fan and this is definitely one of my favorites. I only wish it was longer!

I'm really not sure what all the buzz is over this story. I read it with high expectations, thinking it will be a very powerful and moving story. What I got was a predictable story line and no deep character development.

I was hoping for my heart strings to be pulled and tears to pour out, but instead I just put the book down and went to cook my dinner without so mcuh as thinking about the story.

There is nothing unique about this story, there are countless other stories like this but somehow with stronger character development where they will linger and stay with you long after you put the book down. As it is, my sentiment is more along the lines of "Jamie who?"

I must admit that this book was a page-turner, but I must also admit that I found it trite and schmaltzy. Sparks is a mediocre writer.

A WALK TO REMEMBER was a novel I checked out from the library because I was tired of fast-paced action novels by John Grisham and Tom Clancy (don't get me wrong; I love Grisham and Clancy). I like dramas and romances, so I checked this one out. It's the first Sparks novel I've read.

I was stunned. Not only was it intelligent and engrossing, but it pierced your soul; it could make you laugh and cry. The book tells the story of Landon Carter, a normal teenager who joins the crowds in stereotyping people, especially the preacher's daughter Jamie Sullivan. She is kind and generous and in no way warrants their behind-back teasing, and she doesn't know about it. But when dance dates are scarce, Landon finds himself asking Jamie. Little does he know that this small choice will lead to a moving chain of events the leads him spiraling into a touching romance that will change his life.

The author writes from first person veiw and honestly depicts life in a small town in the 50s; the widely spread innocence and growing new ideas. The book is engaging in its simplicity; it never tries to overdo any aspect. The novel never tries to be more than the straight-forward love story than it is, and that makes it all the more touching and tear-inducing. Sparks is a master at his trade, and I'm eager to read more of his books.

Highly recommended.

While reading this book you'll have a good time. It's not a thriller or a love story. Simply is a story.

I have not seen the movie for this book, and didn't even know about this book until I heard that the movie came out for it. I chose not to see it and never read the book. I thought it looked dumb.

But, needing something new to read, I picked this book up last week even though I was feeling a bit skeptical. I had it read in two days.

I really, really enjoyed this book! Even though there are four individual stories, it's nicely told as one intertwined 'sisterhood' story with the traveling pants. Emotions go up and down through it all, but it had my emotions going up and down with it, watching as the 'sisters' each have their own discoveries about life and themselves and learning how to deal with them. I found myself reminiscing of my high school days/summers with my group of friends and it had me wishing we had magical pants of our own then.

I enjoyed this book so much, I have already picked up and read the second book and am ready for the third.
It's a fun book and I highly recommend it!

I read this in high school. Maybe I wouldn't feel the same way now, but as a high school girl I adored this book. Well, heck, then. I guess it's aimed at high school girls and that is why the book is as popular as it is. It's cheesy and horribly girly, but that is how it is supposed to be and why it left such a mark in my heart. It's a charming, heartfelt tale of friendship and discovery. Yes, we see them so often in YA literature, but I still couldn't help but love it. Throw in the semi-magical idea of pants that fit everyone and you have a mix of girl power sisterhood.

Do you have a best friend? Do you have four? Have you known them since you were born? Most likely not. But Lena, Carmen, Bridget and Tibby have that going for them. Their mothers were in the same pregnancy class, and they were all born within two weeks of each other. Virtually, their friends were made for them. Even as their mothers grew apart, the four girls remained inseparable. Faced with the prospect of their first summer apart, they were a bit more nervous than they should have been. They had never been away from each other for two months before! Bridget was going to a soccer camp in Mexico, Lena to her grandparents in Greece, and Carmen was going to visit her father in South Carolina. Poor Tibby was staying home to work at Wallmann's. Coincidentally, a week or so before their trips, they find a pair of jeans that manages to fit all four of their very different body types. They feel it is a good omen, and become slightly less nervous. They plan to send the Pants to each girl for a week, and are dubbed the Traveling Pants. Many things happen that summer, like finding love, and meeting new friends. Will this last? Read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants to see what happens.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is a book jam-packed with all sorts of action, romance, and some sad parts, too. With four different stories happening at the same time, there's never a slow part! The author, Ann Brashares, does a great job of describing her characters, and gives a real insight into some of the problems the girls face. Another interesting thing about this, and all three sequels, is that it tackles a lot of real-world problems, which makes it more serious and less sappy fiction for pre-teens. You should really try this book; it makes for a great, relatively easy read, plus you have three other equally magnificent books to read next!

Caroline M.
Grade 6
Ms. Kawatachi

These are great books on friendship and girls. It is interesting that if these girls stay together they will be very close for 20 years. Great books. Good reading.

We spent money on an item that we couldn't use. It was not clear that this was a radio play based on the book. Had we known that, we wouldn't have ordered.

I purchased the audio of A Wrinkle In Time for my classroom - I use it for my special needs students and also for students who have missed class while we read together (it is a quick way to catch up). I was excited to hear Madeline L'Engle read the story, but my students found her voice a bit tedious. My colleague and I have used this story as a science fiction genre unit for several years - the students love it!

I have often heard people comment about how good this book is, but I've never taken the time to read it before now. I can't say that I was mislead. This is a highly imaginative tale of good vs. evil, told from the point of view of young Meg Murry. Meg is smart but rebellious, fiercely protective of her unusual family. She and her brother, Charles Wallace, are about to go on a journey through space and time to find their long absent father, and in the process, confront an evil so powerful that it threatens to engulf them all.

Written with vivid imagery, this story is a fantasy wrapped inside some of the conventional trappings of science-fiction. Along the way, we consider the nature of evil, how it robs people of their individuality and choice. In the end, discovering the one thing evil can't do will be the key to Meg's victory.

I re-read this book from my childhood and I'm very disappointed with particular messages Madeleine presents to children. I think enough has been said about stars (angels?) being conceived as witches to "play a joke" on everyone and the centaur appearance of the other "angels". No matter what the rest of the story conveys, I am completely revulsed by the notion she presents that Jesus was a fighter. He is not a fighter, but represents peace & love spreading the word of the Father on this earth for all to follow. Also, Jesus has already won the battle for us. All of these ignorant statements in this book by Madeleine need to be pulled before I will even think about looking at this book or sharing it with others.

A book for children, but not too bad for that. A bored girl, her brothers and others get mixed up in an adventure across the space-time continuum by way of some nifty tesseract tricks.

When a strange older woman comes visiting they set off to find the father of all these children, who is a prisoner of one of your standard supervillains, a giant disembodied telepathic brain.

I enjoyed Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, with the exception of two things.

First, the version that I read has a nauseating, fan-boy introduction. I don't particularly care which version of this book you purchase; you should skip the introduction. Just in case. This is not the fault of the author, but of the editor, and I will not ding the author because of its presentation - especially hundreds of years after her death. It would be dirty pool.

Second, there is a single passage in the novel which details Elizabeth's growth as a character, where she, introspectively, weighs in on how she feels she has developed. This was out of character for her. She spends much of the novel in angst about various things (such as Mr. Bingley's interactions with her sister Jane, Mr. Darcy's feelings for her, and vacillating between like and dislike for Mr. Darcy himself). The loss of this paragraph would have, in no way, mutilated the perception of Elizabeth as a cogent and erudite character with a mind of her own that was well-working. Nor would its absence have colored an intelligent reader's perception of her growth.

Mr. Bennet, however, was hilarious. His steadfast perception of all of the women around him (excepting Elizabeth) as being irredeemably foolish was, I think, a major highlight of the book. Not because it was accurate (although it certainly was in the case of the youngest daughter, Lydia), but because it highlights and gently satirizes the perception of ladies at this time in England. This is made particularly clear in the case of his wife, who is the most grasping fictional woman since Becky Sharp. The juxtaposition of Mr. Bennet's foolish perceptions of women (as themselves being foolish), and the intelligence of three of his daughters (Jane, Elizabeth, and Mary) faithfully, I believe, points out one of the main purposes of Ms. Austen's writing: To throw into stark contrast the difference between the commonly, culturally accepted perceptions of women (e.g., Mr. Bennet) and the reality of their perceptions and their intelligence (e.g., the three eldest Bennet sisters). This was, in my perception, one of the most important purposes of Ms. Austen's writing, and she performed it well.

The interactions between Elizabeth and several of the other characters, especially Lady Catherine De Bourgh, are often times hilarious. Other times, such as her frequent misperceptions of Mr. Darcy and her excercise of her sometimes rapier wit at his expense, are less amusing than they are painful; not because of their inaccuracy or their sharpness, but more because an astute reader will realize the reality of Mr. Darcy's character much earlier than Elizabeth does. And once that point is reached, and even before, it is hard to take her chidings with equanimity. Even if he is a jerk, he is still a human being, and it seems malicious of Elizabeth to treat him this way. Unlike some, I will not excuse her behavior as common for the times, because Elizabeth seems...transcendent of her times in some ways, much like the author herself.

This was, by and large, a very entertaining book. It is well worth reading, whether you are curious about the foundations of romantic comedy (which got their first big push in the public here), in the time period of the Napoleonic War (which doesn't figure in the novel, but the social interactions of the time are well detailed), a fan of novels of manners (such as this one, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma, by the same author, Thackeray's Vanity Fair, or Evelyn Waugh's A Handful of Dust), or just in the mood for a fun book. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars.

A

Harkius

There isn't much else to say about this book that hasn't been said.

One of the best novels ever written, for its humor, plot, and excellent insight into the quirky-but-real relationships of everyday people.

Truly a classic.

This novel begins with one of the most recognizable lines in literary history: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife." With that begins, perhaps, the most copied plot-line in human history. Sisters Elizabeth and Jane Bennett are of a marrying age. When a handsome and wealthy young man comes to stay in their neighborhood, the Bennetts waste little time making his acquaintance. It turns out the handsome newcomer, Charles Bingley, is a fine and friendly gentleman and he has a liking for Jane.

Mr. Bingley's cohort, Fitzwilliam Darcy, is, however, not nearly so friendly. Cold and formal, he quickly incurs the dislike of Elizabeth. Mr. Darcy, though, appears somewhat taken by Elizabeth and makes some half-hearted advances. Despite his great wealth, Elizabeth distaste grows the more she learns of Mr. Darcy's past.

Just as the relationship between Jane and Mr. Bingley appears set for matrimony, Mr. Bingley suddenly leaves the neighborhood. Certainly, it seems, this is the doing of Mr. Darcy. Jane's hopes dashed and Elizabeth finding only comically unsuitable suitors, the Bennett sisters are headed for old-maidom. That is, unless the terrible events are due to improper pride and/or prejudice.

Though I am not a great Jane Austen admirer and find much of her writing overly ornamental and preoccupied with unimportant subject matter, there is no disputing the greatness of this novel. The language usage is clearly Austenesque, but this book is nevertheless genuinely a page turner. Moreover, the tone is pitch perfect - touching the emotions, but maintaining an appealing comic feel. I found myself delighted to be in the company of Jane Austen who, though her writing is over two centuries old and her experiences obviously much different from ours, has a surprisingly modern voice.

Even more importantly, this book is an invaluable cultural gift. Though perhaps not in the same league as the Bible or some of Shakespeare's works, the influence of Pride and Prejudice on our culture is simply vast. Familiarizing yourself with Pride and Prejudice will make literally hundreds of cultural products more comprehensible (or reveal them to be unoriginal). The plot-line alone has spawned countless imitations, slight modifications and commentaries. The characters, especially Elizabeth and Darcy, have become veritable archetypes. This is one of those stories that you are already familiar with through its imitators. None, however, has done the material so well and so thoughtfully as Ms. Austen.

Even if you don't have the stomach for Ms. Austen's other material, this novel is worth reading. It's both good for you and an enjoyable read - often a tough mix to find.

Never fear this is not a novelization. It's the classic story with a revamped cover. If you are interested in getting the book this is not a bad choice

I am so disappointed. Being a fan of classic literature I was looking forward to reading Pride & Prejudice. But what I got was moderately-well written chick lit. Think of Pride and Prejudice as the Bridgit Jones of the 18th Century.

The story-line is predictable - you know how the whole novel is going to play out after the first couple of pages. The only thing that kept me going was the hope that there would be some little twist. Maybe Jane would end up with Darcy, or something a little more interesting. Unfortunately not.

I honestly think Austin was writing a parody of women. The only concern of every female character in the book is to get married to a rich, well-to-do gentleman. Of course, some will argue that Elizabeth is different, but as she states herself, her interest in Darcy is only aroused when she sees what a wonderful estate he owns and considers that she may be the lady of it. Each of the female characters are shallow, self-centred (Jane excepted) and vacuous.

On the positive side, some of the characters are interesting - Mr. Bennet is amusing, and Darcy started out being intriguing before turning into a school girl-like idiot.

Perhaps, if you're a fan of straight-down-the-line, predictable romantic (semi comedic at times) novels then you might enjoy this. But don't expect to find a masterful tale, expertly told. Unfortunately that is what I was expecting (it being a "classic" and all) and I was totally disappointed. I really think this is one of the worst books I have ever read.

Anyone says that the movies are preferrable to this needs to learn how to read (that said, I'm a huge of the movies--they are cinematic masterpieces).

But this is classic fantasy at its best. Every other fantasy author to come along, as great as they are, still have not managed to create the depth of what Tolkien created.

Stemming from the world he created for "The Hobbit", Tolkien writes a truly epic story of good vs evil, friendship, and loyalty. All simple, wonderful themes that speak to us whether we live in Middle-Earth or the real world. He has managed to great an entire culture that the reader finds himself caring for, a world that needs to be protected at all costs.

Tolkien is a master of plot. While the story isn't unnecessarily complex, it is broad and you have to hand it for him for juggling so much.

The characters even more so are wonderful. They are flawed, but at the same time properly heroic.

"The Fellowship of the Ring" is an excellent beginning to a classic trilogy.

The title pretty much says it all. In fact had it not been for this very version of the story I might never have been able to read the trilogy in its unabridged form. The Library of Congress version, better known to some of you as the Talking Book version recorded mainly for blind would-be readers, just didn't capture the story at all. Because of the narrator's voice I just couldn't get into it.
Then along came Recorded Books Incorporated with their unabridged recordings. In fact when I have a choice of audio book companies I generally go with them because of their excellent narrators. Actor Rob Englis does a fine job of bringing these classic novels to life, and Fellowship of the Ring is no exception.
The book comes in a very portable box and consists of about sixteen disks in four cardboard holders, although only fourteen or so are given over to the actual story. The remainder are given to Tolkien's afterward and the Concerning Hobbits material actually found at the beginning of the book. It's actually quite a nice setup. In fact I've got the entire trilogy, minus the Hobbit, stacked on my dresser beside my bed, next to a small boom box for easy listening.
As for the performance, as I said, Rob Englis does a very admirable job. With his deep, calm English voice he's able to convey the narrative quite well, and while his voices aren't extremely varied it's still easy to tell who's speaking, whether it be Aragorn, Boromir or one of the hobbits. I particularly like the fawning yet sinister portrayal he gives to Gollum.
All in all this is an excellent version, not the least because it includes everything found in the print editions. An excellent narrator only makes things better. It's great for lying at home reading or taking a long trip in the car. I listen to them at least once a year, generally more than that.

If you are a fan of The Lord of the Rings, this audio recording is must-have for your collection. I love to read and re-read the trilogy; there is something magical about these books. Sometimes I focus on the poems, sometimes the characters, sometimes I just read them because they are familiar and comforting.

This unabridged audio recording brings the book to life in a new and wonderful way. The narrator's voice is a perfect match for the story. Rob Inglis gives each character an appropriate voice, and his reading of the narrative is excellent. It's wonderful to listen to the story read aloud by such a fine actor!

I've purchased dramatic abridgements of the trilogy, and was disappointed. So much was left out! With an unabridged reading, I can enjoy the whole story. If a poem or passage strikes my fancy, I can listen to it again.

I am very pleased with this version, and highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good audio version.

The BBC verison is superior in almost every way than this NPR version, but this does have a few things to recommend it. Tom Bomdadil sounds just as I imagined he would. Sam's voice is childish, but for the most part endearing because of that. I imagine this is how he sounded at nine when he first met Frodo and you can easily hear how much he loves his master as this version includes my favorite scene from Book IV as Sam watches Frodo sleep and the light that is shining from within and says to himself, "I love him" and the loving reunion in the tower. Both are interesting inclusions because Americans usually shy away from the showing of same-sex affection so this was welcome in showing that beautiful, pure bond of theirs. The scene with the Barrow-wights is very well done and quite terrifying. You can very easily understand why Frodo would have been scared enough to want to run away. The narrator's voice sometimes gets really caught up in the action, dramatically describing the fell beast of the Ring-wraiths or especially Sauron's realization that he is doomed as Frodo puts on the Ring. I almost felt sorry for the Dark Lord there for a minute as he frantically sends his Nazgul to stop that little one, but then I crowed in delight, "Too late! Too late!" Unfortunately, the narrator is the only one that is enthused in this, except for Sam. Frodo is quite lackluster. Don't try to take the Ring away from him, but otherwise you have no idea that his soul is being torn apart. When he claims the Ring/is claimed by the Ring is done well though.

This is one book to enjoy. Tom Bambadil is the best! Tolkien creates interesting stories with classic creatures that most people have a slight background of information to, thus not wasting time on creating a new world of different names.

I have read this countless times since the 4th grade, and it still continues to be one of my favorite books ever. The odd thing is that I remember being severely disappointed to learn this was not a fantasy.

But the real story is stronger, that of a deep friendship that affects a young boy for good and bad.

There are so many levels to this book, and thus it becomes clear why these two kids would create a fantasy world for escaping the challenges of the real world. Ironically, it is the time they spend here that allows them to deal with truth and tragedy.

A celebration of friendship, life, and the human spirit, this is probably one of the greatest kids' books out there.

The movie did not do it justice.

My 14-year old son said it's not very goof "fantasy", and he'd give it a half a star. He thought it was just depressing about a boy with many problems.

I have recently read the beautiful novel Bridge to Terabithia. What an amazing children's book. I highly recommend this book for the young adult reader. The two main characters Jess and Leslie form a close friendship with the usual ups and downs of school children. Both children come from different backgrounds but are drawn together. This friendship strenghtens into a beautiful relationship and a closeness between to children you don't often read about these days. Tragedy strikes and young Jess experiences one of the most painful aspects of life and begins his journey into growing up. The subject covered in the story may be heavy for some children so it would be a nice book to read together. Be prepared for tears and have a box of tissues handy. It's a great book for families to discuss some sensitive issues in life.

My daughter got this for her birthday. I hated this book!! The story is fine. Maybe kids might get something deep from this but I doubt it. From the first page, the characters are all dark and ugly to each other. There is no respect shown for any authority figure in the book from parents to teachers. There is no love or respect between any siblings. There are plenty of cuss words throughout the book. There are illusions to a child/teacher inappropriate relationship. There is a whole discussion about God d---- people to h---. The words in this book can't be typed in this review, so why would you allow your child to read them?? The death of the child holds no meaning, because I didn't feel anything for any of the characters and there's no great lesson in the death either. There are lots of references to killing people "by the childen"! Such things like "I'd like to kill him/her" said repeatedly, like it's ok to say that. The parents are portrayed as insignificant and stupid. There are illusions that the boy may turn out gay because he draws. There are lots of mean remarks about fat people. I have no idea how this book got an award and why it has 800 star reviews. I only know I am sick that my daughter got this book as a gift and read it before I checked it out. There is nothing edifying in this book whatsoever and I'm probably on damage control for the next 6 months with my child.

Bridge to Teribithia is a great book! It is about friendship. Jesse, the main character lives with his four sisters, momma, and papa. When Leslie moves in next door, Jesse's life was changed. Jesse and Leslie started Teribithia, an imaginary kingdom where they rule as king and queen.At the end of the book, Leslie mysteriously dies, and Jesse feels like his life is over. May Belle, one of his sisters, becomes queen of Teribithia.

This book is truly great. Jesse stuggles with his life every day. That makes the story more exciting. Katherine Paterson wrote a great story. She wrote it with suspensing moments. This book is good for people of all ages.

Sunday, July 09, 2006
"Sphere" by Michael Crichton, ©1987
This is an interesting book. I started reading it because it seemed better than that J. A. Jance story I had brought with me.
It has the distinction of having a psychologist as its hero. There are not too many science fiction books that even have psychologists in them, much less, as the hero. The best part of the story is the end: it makes so much sense and it was so obvious to start with. Then there is the inevitable what happens now that we all feel after a good story.

This was the first Crichton book I read a really long time ago. The book is great. Way better than the movie that came out. The mood and characters were developed so well and just kept me reading.

Michael Crichton weaves an awesome tale in Sphere. It's a unique and mind-bending tale that spins from one catastrophe to another with nice fluidity. Your'e constantly reading to find out not only what the Sphere is but the history of the characters. Crichton explains some difficult concepts using simple grammar which will help any reader who didn't pass chemistry. The Sphere is a character in it's self and that help propels the story forward. It's very creepy and makes you realize how powerful free will is. I highly recommend it because of the action, characters and story.

The writing in this book was really good. The underwater scenes described and the dicovery of an unusual spaceship at the bottom of the ocean are rivetting. I love books that explore and discover something unknown! The ending however is really, really ...lame! Like he intellectually just ran out of gas and wanted to end the story right away. (It is very similar to the movie.)

I've read this one 3 times and it's one of my favorite books of all time. Crichton's writing is as smooth as anyone I've read. Great story. Sped through this in about 2.5 days.

This is one of the most powerful book I've ever read.If your familar with the book, then you will truly love this.

While not a fan of all his novels, I think the Green Mile serial was very well done. This version is an excellent and complete hardcover.

A wonderful story; beautifully presented and well told.

I think that this is my favorite Stephen King story (although 'The Dark Tower' series comes close as well). This is a tale of a prison guard (Paul Edgecombe) and convicted child murderer (John Coffey) and the unusual relationship that developes between them on death row in the of fall of 1932.

I saw the movie some time ago and it is one of my all time favorites; great acting, well directed and, as with all great movies, has moments that seem to linger with you and are recalled from time to time (and sometimes at the strangest moments).

The book and the movie are somewhat different. The story is basically the same of course, but because the book was written in installments, (featuring the main characters serially), I believe it would have been difficult to make a movie of the book that would have made sense. However, what they did with the movie turned out well.

The book, not surprisingly has some additional story in it, that is not found in the movie. We are provided with some extra information that deals with Paul's life after he retired from his job on death row and also with a different ending for Mr Jingles then was seen in the movie; both additions alone make reading the book worthwhile (especially the latter).

Conclusion;
The memorable story of Paul Edgecombe and John Coffey ("like the drink, only not spelled the same way"). An emotional story with some haunting attributes; simply exquisite.
5 Stars...more if I could

R. Nicholson

Paul Edgecombe is trapped, figuratively and literally, in an iron cage. Edgecombe works in a killing machine where condemned criminals await death. Rationally, he and his co-workers await orders and carry them out with practiced efficiency. Events are pre-determined by outside forces. He carries out the death orders without question. That is until he meets a certain large man and small mouse. With 20-20 hindsight from the perspective of his old age, Paul recalls his memories of the events on the Green Mile in an effort to make sense of his own life.

King's constructs a masterful setting that permits him to present superficially many subtle points. Several times during the story, I wished he derailed his narrative to delve deeper into specific issues he sounds upon. However, for King, the story is the priority and the reader can think about the issues on their own. There is a clear undertone of anti-death penalty throughout, but he stirs other questions: What is the role of atonement? What would you give up if you could facilitate a miracle?

The Green Mile flirts with allegorical motifs. Christian references to atonement are made throughout the book. The story takes place deep within the Bible belt (Georgia) and many characters are depicted with Christian values of varying levels of orthodoxy. For Paul, atonement of sins is central to understanding is past: "Only God could forgive sins, could and did, washing them away in the agonal blood of His crucified Son, but that did not change the responsibility of His children to atone for those sins (and even their simple errors of judgment) whenever possible. Atonement was powerful; it was the lock on the door you closed against the past (p. 314)." Early in the book, Paul struggles with the meaning of salvation in his setting as opposed to that contrived in movies: "In the movies, salvation is cheap. You pay a quarter and a quarter's worth is just what you get. Real life costs more, and most of the answers are different." At times, fundamental Christian views are presented with hints of hypocrisy. For example, he briefly tells the tale of a Baptist Sheriff who dies in an adulterous act. Also, the nursing home bully Brad Dolan has a bumper sticker that says "I have seen God and his name is Newt." Buffoonish Old Toot's red snack wagon has apocalyptic verses including "REPENT for the Lord shall judge his people" (Deut. 32:36) and "And surely your blood of your lives will I require" (Gen. 9:5).

However, despite some allegorical sermonizing, King in no way comes across as pontificating. On the contrary, the story is paramount. He presents teasers at the end of each chapter so you can never find a good place to out the book down. The plot is engaging and characters are so representative of universal real world acquaintances. Everyone knows people like Brad Dolan and Percy Wetmore, ill-natured bullies who seem unhappy unless they can make those around them are unhappy. That was the real genius of the book; the characters and engaging drama. Of course, I read the book with all its pieces put together, but I can imagine the book would be extremely suspenseful if purchased the serial form...waiting in suspense for each section to arrive to find out what happens next. Probably the fastest 536 pages I have ever read. Well done.

I love Stephen King, but I have find most of his novels after 1988 to be disappointments. THE GREEN MILE is the big exception. This an almost perfect novel with a great story, believable characters, and a terrific sense of momentum that carries you to the very end. It's a King book that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with his other classics, such as SALEMS LOT, THE DEAD ZONE, THE STAND, THE SHINING, PET SEMETARY and MISERY.

If you've never read King before, THE GREEN MILE a lovely place to start, and will help you understand why he's such a popular writer with such a huge following. Highly recommended.

Very thorough, with great reviews on almost anything one can fathom with regards to expecting a baby.
Thick book with lots of info, not an easy skim, but that's great for us who LOVE to read as many reviews as possible before settling down for major (and minor) purchases!

Great seller. Item is exactly as described but at 1/2 the price in stores.
Super fast shipping as well.

After using the Bridal Bargains book 8 yrs ago during my wedding planning, I was so excited to learn that they made Baby Bargains! I love the straight forward advice they give, the additional info offered that you can find on-line, and everything about this book!! Highly Recommended!!

Love this book! I am an older mom to be...first born. I have a busy career and am not a huge shopper. Although I like nice things I am very practical. I was completely overwhelmed & shocked at the amount of items on the market today for babies. This book enabled me to basically stay home, research, & register online which was so much less stressful! I highly recommend this book for the moms or dads that are looking for the latest in style, convenience & safety. Oh, and I was planning to purchase the Consumer Reports book on baby but saw a review from someone that said don't buy it buy the Baby Bargains book instead! They were right.

As a first-time parent with about the littlest prior knowledge of the baby world, this book has been invaluable! It incorporates consumer reports, recall info, customer feedback, price-to-value, and other testimonies to come up with ratings for the different products.

I feel confident that the products this book has helped me choose will be of good quality for the money I spend, and it's been reassuring that when speaking with veteran parents they seem to echo a lot of what has been said in the book about various products.

Great purchase, highly recommended.

Very good read ... Great story of supernatural terror and suspense. Enjoyable characters, too! This is classic King! Highly recommended.

Great Stephen King novel. It is different from the (excellent) Kubrick film-- more character development, alcoholism, and abuse. My only complaint is it is a little bit long.

I'm glad I read it. From page one, I was hooked on this novel. It's just the kind of book that you cannot put down. I liked Danny and Wendy and I wanted them to be ok. Having seen the film so many times, I know what happens but the book was excellent. It scared me. The thought alone of being stranded in a large hotel for months in the dead of winter scares me. And poor Wendy and Danny, they are supposed to be able to trust Jack to take care of them.

The way King describes the hotel, it's corridors and sordid past, the hotel becomes a living thing, a main character in the story. Then Jacks anger issues and Danny's premonitions, the way Wendy slowly comes to realize her husband has gone insane...all of that makes for an amazing and terrifying story. This book is on my top five favs read this year, and one of my favorite books now.

I just happen to finish this book today, which I just found out is Mr. King's birthday (Sept. 21st). After reading King's The Tommyknockers and Lisey's Story, which were exasperatingly wordy, I found The Shining a real treat to read. The novel has a richness that Kubrick's film lacked completely. King has a superb talent for creating characters that seem unbelievably real. You really get to know the characters inside and out - especially Jack. He's a good, highly intelligent educated father that loves his family and tries really hard to do good for them (like giving up alcohol) but he just has a real bad temper (he bites his tongue and restrains his fists throughout most of the story). Unable to find work, his friend hires him to take care of The Overlook Hotel during the winter season. From the very beginning, Jack and his family have to contend with the dark supernatural forces that live within the hotel. Not only does Jack have to battle against his constant craving for a drink, the hotel's evil forces play on his temperament and drudges up his past; namely, his relationship with his abusive father when Jack was a young boy himself. He starts to feel that his struggles to provide for his family go unappreciated, and he ultimately ends up personifying his father and the Overlook itself, sending him off into a murderous rage.

Blessed (or cursed) with the shining, Jack's son, Danny, seems to suffer the most. Not only does he have to endure terrifying encounters with ghouls and ghosts, his sixth sense does not spare him the terror of what's to come.

And poor Wendy.......

There are many scenes in the novel that the movie did not have, and many scenes in the movie that the novel did not have. The climax and ending were completely different. So just because you saw the movie, doesn't mean you won't enjoy this riveting story all over again in book form. If you get your hands on this book, just make sure you have plenty of free time planned ahead because once you pick it up you're not going to want to put it down.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mr. King! :) You truly are a genius in every sense of the word.

After reviewing a nice little Swiss thriller set in a Swiss mountain resort (Deal with the Devil), I thought I might visit the mother of all mountain resort horror stories, and pay a tribute to the king of popular literature. The man knows his craft. I have not read much by him, previously only Carrie, which is a small first novel, but a good basis for a strong movie, and Lisa's Story, at the time his latest publication, which I liked a lot, but which disappointed the fan club.
My main encounters with SK happen through the many movies made after his many stories. The Shining was one of the best of those movies, though it appears from SK's introduction to this 2001 reprint that he had some reservations about Kubrick's version. I ought to watch it again. I have a faint recollection that I found Jack Nicholson's acting overdone, long time ago.
The novel is a marvel of efficient storytelling. SK says it was his 'crossroad' novel. At that time, i.e. the early 70s, he decided to branch out from the pure horror approach and weave in a 'real' theme, which is the story of a troubled man and his struggles against his worldly demons: alcohol and violence. The hero Jack, best known with Nicholson's face, has a tendency to 'lose his temper'. In the process he loses his teaching job and his home and nearly loses his family. The road downhill leads up to a Colorado mountain, where he gets hired as a winter caretaker in a monster of a hotel, the Outlook. SK prepares us for all kinds of horrors: ghosts of dead hotel guests, a malfunctioning and possibly dangerous heating and plumbing system, the prospects of being snowed in for a long time, a predecessor who couldn't take it and killed his wife and daughters, a little son with supernatural abilities who can read his father's mind and can see the word 'suicide' there, which he does not understand ... Enough for today. Go and read it, if only in the interest of a balanced diet.