Reed Books

After reading Trainspotting I had to ask myself what else I've been missing. The main characters are addicts, junkies, heavy drinkers and a sicko or two, with heroin as the star here. It's an alien culture to me, but I just couldn't put the book down, dialect and all. I also have no clue about this subculture of underclass in 1980s Scotland, but Welsh writes it as if he's been there and followed this group of people around. I won't go into the plot here (there are lots of places you can find info on this book), but at times I was horrified to find myself actually laughing in the midst of what seemed several pointless and hopeless situations - in appreciation of some scenes of incredibly black humor. At the same time, I found myself getting into the characters emotionally, seeing them as people who are disenfranchised on many levels. Welsh does a superb job of capturing the anger, boredom and disconnection of his characters (who come off as being very real) showing both the positives & negatives of friendship & other emotional connections in a series of small, connected vignettes, told in chronological order.
Very well written; I highly recommend it. If you get stuck while reading it, there's a glossary in the back; I found myself at least at first trying the dialect orally and after a while it wasn't even noticeable and the book flowed. Readers of Palahniuk or other writers who have the ability to capture the rage of a generation might enjoy this one, but this book is definitely not for everyone.

I was a little skeptical at first. Loved the movie, but only so many good movies are made from good books. Excellently written. Had to get accustomed to the phonetic Scottish accent, but it allowed for the creation of recognizable narration styles that you come to recognize throughout the book. Wonderfully written- unyielding, brutal. Fantastic.

Trainspotting is a brilliant book that delves deep into the mind of an addict. Or more so addicts, as there are multiple narrators through out the story. Each chapter is a short story but yet a somewhat central plot ties them all together. The main character (who's in most of the chapters) is Renton, a drug addict and a failure to his parents. Through out the book he engages in many various, disgusting, vile things as well as an attempt or so to stop his addiction after getting another addicted and seeing the horrors of heroin.
Everything has pinpoint accuracy. Even the language and the accent is perfect. There are certainly some strong points in the fact that you can actually feel the need for heroin and how the characters become slaves to it. It's an uncommon, unbiased view.
Trainspotting has no candy coating. There is no kid friendly wrapping, it's all the terrible truth. However it's still hilarious. It's the kind of dark humor that's not expected in a book about addicts.
The plot isn't terribly complex. It's a rather loose one, since it's just a bunch of short stories. Renton and his buds are druggies, and they basically do a lot of drugs and various assosiated acts. Renton introduces Tommy to heroin early on, which ends up affecting his conscience later on.
I would not advise skipping over reading this book to see the movie. Both are absolutly brilliant but the book is different. Going into their minds is dark, real, and somewhatr funny. Everyone should read this book that doesn't mind 8 swears a paragraph and constant vile activities.

Sure the movie is fantastic, pretty much everyone will agree on that, but to really get the full story one has to read the book. Yes, as alot of people will say, it is hard to understand at first because of the dialect, but Welsh is a master at the Scottish dialect, and to truly be absorbed "intae" the story, you have to have that key component.

Welsh brilliantly combines all emotions here over a rollercoaster ride through the drug scene in Scotland. An absolute must read for any book lover. Read "Filth" also. Welsh is flippin great.

Although it took me about 30 pages to get the hang of the language, I found Trainspotting to be a intriguing balance of crass humor and sub-cultural commentary, with the occasional note of revelation.

I love Hugh Laurie For his acting, humur and sencerity
the book indeed was as good

I actually had no idea this was the same Hugh Laurie as the actor who plays House M.D. when I picked up this book. I'm a huge fan of the comic crime caper type of book which is why I bought this 1996 published story. It was only when researching what other stuff this author has written that I discovered this book is actually written by the same guy, and not just an author who shares his name. Incidentally in case you're interested there is one other fiction book by this author - Paper Soldiers (which at the time of this review is not on Amazon). Laurie also has four non fiction books (all co written with Stephen Fry) out there, all written before The Gun Seller, which are - 1990's A Bit of Fry and Laurie, 1991's A Bit More Fry and Lorry (doesn't seem to be on Amazon), 1992's Three Bits of Fry and Laurie and 1995's Fry and Laurie Bit No. 4.

It's a shame in some ways Hugh Laurie went on to become such a huge success in the acting field, which has obviously taken away the time needed to write more novels as The Gun Seller, is very, very good!

So anyway this is a very good comic crime turns into comic spy novel. Sort of reminded a lot of Donald E Westlake's The Spy in the Ointment. Laurie certainly knows how to twist the plot and throw out surprises. Plus his main character Thomas Lang, is a very likeable character whose commentary of what's happening certainly adds to the enjoyment of the book.

Basic plot is Thomas Lang is approached by a man to murder the American Alexander Woolf, owner of a plastic's industry company, living in the UK. Although prepared to break the law, Lang has some morals and leaves the offerer in pain, and with no doubt, he's not into that type of thing. Lang decides he will warn Woolf so visits his house only to find himself in a struggle with his arm about to be broken by a large thug (which is where the novel begins). Once that problem is over his next is Woolf's beautiful daughter who demands on knowing what he's doing in the house. Soon intelligence agencies wants to know what his interest in Woolf is as well, plus he seems to be being framed for a crime he did not commit. Lang's world turns upside down when he actually meets Woolf and his confusing ride will not end until the final page of this sensational humorous plot, involving business men, terrorists, the CIA and all kinds of fun people. A great read, check it out!

This book is amazing, I've been a fan of the genre since I was about 8 and raided my grandfather's book collection, I read Eye of the Needle, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, The Key to Rebecca among others, and Hugh Laurie's narrative in this book has impressed me deeply, he uses language as an expert and for the first time in my life I loved descriptions and narrative in books which was something I normally don't have much interest in as opposed to dialogue, which is also wonderfully done in the Gun Seller. I really hope he has some spare time to finish the sequel.

Although I am one of the ones that discovered his works through House M.D., I say unfortunately because I'm deeply, deeply ashamed of that fact. Simply because my life would have been far better by seeing his other works earlier, Blackadder, Jeeves and Wooster, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, etc, not because I don't like the show, which I do.

So I feel that this book should be judged by its own merit, Hugh Laurie even said he wanted to publish it under a pseudonym so that his career wouldn't influence on how the book would be received and I have to say that he should not worry about it, the book is wonderful and excellent and everyone who likes this genre will love this book, he deserves all the merit he can get as a very accomplished writer.

As a huge fan of House (not to mention my fascination for stars that try to break into other creative mediums), it was only a matter of time before I picked this book up. I won't lie; my expectations were not high, partially because I'm not familiar with Hugh Laurie's body of work outside of House and mostly because I am prepared to be disappointed by crossover work by people I admire.

My fears were completely misplaced.

I can honestly say that this is my favorite book in a long time. The style of writing is humorous and interesting, the characters are likable in their own quirky ways, and the plot twists unpredictably. This is a book I'd put right next to Fight Club on the list of "Books That Revitalize My Desire To Read."

I read one review that gave this one star because of the salty language. I can honestly say only a fool would let language ruin this book for them.

I don't watch House, but I've seen Hugh Laurie in other work, and apparently he's very talented. Not only can he pull off a genuine American accent, he can write a heck of a crime novel.

The Gun Seller works as a thriller and a comedic novel. It is expertly written, very smart (well researched, with sundry technical details about motorcycles, weaponry and international espionage), and hilarious. A lot of full-time crime writers would do well to read this work.

The protagonist is in many ways a typical crime novel hero -- full of faults, doesn't quite fit in with mainstream culture, has a taste for liquor and the occasional woman, falls for a femme fatale and has at his center an admirable moral code -- but Laurie also gives Thomas Lang a hilariously scabrous interior monologue that will keep you laughing throughout. Also, as is typical in crime novels, Thomas Lang, for all his tongue-in-cheek dialogue, takes doing the right thing very seriously. At times, he is alone in a world filled with corruption, cowardice and greed.

This novel isn't just good because it's surprising that an actor could pull it off. It's excellent work on its own. It's no wonder that Laurie has become such a big success: He's got the chops.

Highly recommended for fans of crime novels, espionage thrillers and irreverent humor.

Book as I expected, although I remember the story being a little longer. But, new condition.

This is a very wonderful version of the classic story by Margery Williams. The illustrations by David Jorgensen make the book especially inviting and personal. It is the only version we would ever buy for gifts.
Thank you,
Nancy Martin

I read this book years ago at the home of a child for whom I was babysitting. Recently I remembered it and read it to my 9 year old granddaughter and my 7 year old grandson, and we all enjoyed it very much. Its message spans the generations.

This is my favorite childhood book EVER! I have it stashed in my bookcase and when ever I feel nastalgic or sentimental I open up its worn pages and let the happiness seep through me. The truth and pureness in this children's novel will bring tears to your eyes. Read this book to your children and you will get constant: "Oh, what happens next?" and/or "Don't stop reading NOW, I have to know the next part!" I love this book, it will warm your heart and the illustrations are sweet, too. Thank you mom for reading this book to me, it was a real experience. :)

"The Velveteen Rabbit" is a parable, a story about that refining fire: redemptive love. The Velveteen Rabbit gave himself in love to the little boy. In return, the little boy loved the rabbit completely. This love caused the rabbit to begin to look around and question what was real. In questioning what was real, the rabbit ultimately believes himself real and wishes himself real. Once real, he achieves a new life and he revisits the little boy in his new form. Despite this new form, a quiet act of recognition passes between the little boy and the rabbit. By the conclusion of the story, the reader is led to believe that the rabbit will continue to watch over the little boy protectively and love him as the little boy continues to grow.

First published in 1922, this was Margery Williams (Bianco)'s first children's book. Spanning a career of nearly 40 years, "The Velveteen Rabbit" was the most successful of her approximately 25 works. The dedication, "To Francesco Bianco from The Velveteen Rabbit" is addressed to Margery's husband. Margery collaborated with artist and illustrator, William Nicholson (Sir William Nicholson (1872-1949)), who was better known as a portrait painter in his later career, but was also known for the woodcuts and poster work he produced in partnership with his brother-in-law, James Pryde.

The illustrations were executed in pen and ink with watercolor wash and, for the most part, appear as full page illustrations, or in some cases, a two page spread. The illustrations of the rabbit, standing very tall and inert, with his paws stuck out straight in front of him, are very touching evoking feelings of sympathy for the rabbit just on sight. The use of strong light and contrasting shadow is also very convincing in conveying a feeling of melancholy and, in some spots, unreality. My favorite part of the book is when the rabbit sheds a real tear and at the instant the tear touches the ground, a mysterious flower begins to grow. That, too, is conveyed so well by way of illustration. This is a very lovely story well illustrated.

This is an excellent book. Its greatest strength is the main character Mathilde. She is a complex, three-dimensional character who is believable and interesting. At times maddening, you still can't help but like and admire her.

The plot is a kind of mystery which does make for compelling reading. However, since it incorporates so many different stories, story lines, and characters it becomes needlessly complicated at times and, yes, might even strain your patience.

Still, after reading this book I now want to see the movie to see how the director approached this ultra-complex story.

This novel is beatiful. The faith of the principal character is so amazing that I cannot stop the reading until the end. Outstanding.

I'm one of those people who never watches the movie first. The book is simply the better experience, and it's lessened, typically, by having seen the film first.

That truism didn't exactly hold for A Very Long Engagement. I actually saw the movie first (didn't know there was a novel at the time), and I loved it. I watched it twice and immediately recommended it to my friends. About a year later, then, I happened upon the book and picked up a free copy. I doubted that I'd ever read it, but one rainy day, I picked it up. Before that day was over I was finished.

The movie does follow the novel very closely, but I was still swept away. The mystery is so complex, and yet tight and logical. Once you're grabbed by it, you must follow it through to the end. The characters, especially Mathilde and Manech (who we've gotten to know through memory), are so engaging.

Mainly though, it's just so hopeful. I think that's what got me each time I've experienced the story, the romantic notion that no matter how absurd and confused and sorrowful and illogical this life can seem, perhaps truth and love at least have a fighting chance.

I think everyone needs to be told that sort of story every once in a while. This one does it awfully well.

Wheelchair-bound Mathilde Donnay sets her sights on the past to unravel the mystery of her fiance's death in Japrisot's complex novel of love and human perception. Set in post World War I France, the story opens with a masterfully sardonic description of five soldiers, condemned to die for shooting themslves in the hand, being tumbled into the no-man's land between the French and German trenches.

Their loved ones are informed of their death in combat. One, Mathilde, determines to know more and is assisted by a dying ex-soldier -- the man who led the condemned group to the Front.

Mathilde, still unsatisfied, notes oddities and discrepancies in the meagre record she has compiled. She tracks down any possible witness, relentlessly pursues every lead. All evidence, however contradictory in other respects, points to the same end and even Mathilde finally seems resigned to learning no more than just how her lover died.

With humor and an anecdotal style, Japrisot maintains a certain distance from his characters that makes the savagery of war all the more visceral. He leads the reader on with human mysteries -- there are as many versions of the soldiers' deaths as there are individual memories -- and with flashes of pathos and kindness. And the story's ending is as touching as it is surprising.

I picked up this novel in part due to the many glowing reviews here. In retrospect, I have to wonder if these people were lauding the book or the movie. The book is very tedious in many respects due to its format. I think that Japrisot based his writing partially upon Calvino's work, such as the novel 'If on a Winters Night a Traveler,' or 'Invisible Cities.' The chapters of Japrisot weave from here to there in time and perspective dealing with first hand accounts, letters, and conversations. I think that all of this was a little too clever for Japrisot and that after a while the cumbersome nature of all this forces a collapse of will and you as a reader will be overwhelmed by its overworked zeal. I brought up Calvino because where-as 'Winters Night' is magical in many ways, 'Engagement' comes across as sort of typical.

You might disagree with my summation here. The story is pretty good, though I would not recommend it to anyone. I think that Japrisot's cleverness smothers a lot of what was enjoyable in regards to the plot. I would say that if you enjoyed this book, you are in for a nice treat if you have not read 'Winters Night...' by Calvino. You might also be interested in Murakami's 'Wind Up Bird Chronicle'.

This book is very informative, but it is hard for the first-time "acupuncturist". :) Overall, I am learning more about the art from this book, but it could be a little more user friendly. :)

I go to an accupunturist but I really wanted to learn how to manage my health issues between appointments (it's not cheap) and this book was perfect for it. I also use it for my husband and our 3 year old. If they are having a specific complaint, we look up the points and the easy to follow information helps us treat ourselves. I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to heal themselves or simply feel better on a daily basis.

My acupuncture M.D. recommended this book to me. I first borrowed it from the library & it proved so good, I bought my own copy. We've used it as a household remedy for charley horse spasms, headaches, insomnia, allergic reactions & more. My husband gets charley horse spasms in his thigh & finds it difficult to get relief. The acupressure points recommended in the book for spasms cleared his pain within 60 seconds. For that alone, it's priceless in his eyes. I found that holding the recommended points when I am experiencing mild allergic reactions at least lessens the reaction if not clears it up entirely. Ditto for mild headaches. It's been extremely helpful & well worth the purchase price.

This is a totally clear, easy to read, fact supported guide which addresses just about every need we humans could ever have.... things I'd never considered with respect to acupressure therapy. I'm looking for relief from Fibromyalgia, and found it here. The book has been passed around to every family member. Everyone agrees, it's complete. The author even adds warnings about interactions, information about what NOT to do, demonstrating his comprehensive knowledge of the subject. The book truly guides you through every step, giving you valuable facts as well as confidence to go further. The results have spoken for themselves. An excellent investment!

I borrowed this book from the library and now I'm buying two. The trigger points for insomnia really helped me. I've never slept so well. This is a great reference book for anyone's library.

i ordered Up from Slavery because I thought I needed to read it. However, I found I wanted to read it. I recommend it for all Americans. It was truely inspirational.

Booker Ts story really inspires. It just shows that with positive thinking and motivation, tremendous difficulties, odds and challenges are beatable. It's a message many of us would gain from if we would just stop complaining and blaming others for our lot in life, and just get moving on up!

I've reviewed the CreateSpace edition, ISBN 1438268165. It's a clear, easy to read version, well designed and the print and binding are excellent. Highly recommended!

Wow! What an amazing story! It is fascinating to read Booker T. Washington's account of a childhood in slavery followed by his rise to national prominence as the founder of the Tuskegee Institute.

While some may argue that Washington was naive and overly accomodating, I was amazed at his ability to forgive and see the best in people. He did not nurse grudges or let others bring him down. Whether or not you feel that he should have spoken up more for judicial equality, you have to admit that he was a strong, dedicated man of character.

Everyone: white, black, brown, or any other shade, can benefit from reading the autobiography of this great American.

Washington's relentlessly positive message is encouraging but at the same time too perfect for believability. The reader desires that Washington would once take off the mask of cheer that he appears to be putting over some parts of his autobiography and tell us what he really thinks.

His optimism extended to the political status of African-Americans and their future integration into American society. As the constant threat of lynching and KKK-ism continued throughout most of the 20th Century, even as positive steps were made in racial integration, it appears his optimism was at best proven wrong, or at least premature. And it is easy to understand the criticism by other contemporary black leaders like W. E. B. DuBois for his easy optimism.

But on the other hand, until and unless I read otherwise in a well-researched biography, perhaps Washington's optimism isn't a front or a mask to cover deep bitterness, but is true and sincere, and indeed, nothing in his story hear reads as if forced or fraudulent.

I purchased this book at the small National Park bookstore at Booker T. Washington's birthplace in rural southwestern Virginia. The setting still matches the quiet and isolation that Washington describes, and lends credence to his tale of self-reliant optimism. I also purchased a National Park Service pamphlet Booker T. Washington: An Appreciation Of The Man And His Times, which makes a nice short companion to Washington's masterpiece.

Up from Slavery, autobiography by Booker T. Washington, is a true classic in African-American literature. Washington opens Chapter 1: "A Slave Among Slaves" with his vivid recollections as a Negro child growing up in the South: a slave on a plantation in Virginia, a white father he never knew, illiterate and living in horrid conditions. After the emancipation of slaves, Washington's family moves to West Virginia where he labors at the salt furnace and in the coal mines. In his precious few moments of spare time, he learns to read and gains enough confidence to leave everything behind to journey to the Hampton Institute. Later, because of his success at Hampton, he is given the opportunity to start Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Tuskegee Institute is successful partly due to Washington's extensive travel to the North to solicit funds for the school. The students at Tuskegee, in addition to the day-to-day traditional class work, are expected to learn an industrious trade and to work at mastering that trade. Based on his own life experience, Washington believes that the most prudent way the Negro race will persevere is through this combination of education, hard work and service to others. He believes that the White race will come to appreciate the Negro race only if the Negro people prove their worth to society. Because of his passive stance, many, such as W.E.B. DuBois, et. al., labeled Washington as "The Great Accomodator." In other words, accommodating those who were the enslavers instead of advocating for the rights of those who were enslaved. You can get a sense of this in Washington's most notable speech, the address to the Atlanta Cotton States and International Exposition of 1895:

"The wisest among my race understand that the agitation of questions of social equality is the extremist folly, and that progress in the enjoyment of all the privileges that will come to us must be the result of severe and constant struggle rather than artificial forcing."

This speech brought national acclaim to Booker T. Washington and, at the time, placed him in the forefront as one of the leading authorities of his race.

Written on two levels,this tale has much to offer. Superficially the Australian novelist and aviator, Nevil Shute weaves a suspenseful roller coaster story energized by life altering events that happen to ordinary people in little known locales in Malaya and Australia. Beneath the surface if you care to look for Aesopian conclusions there is a feast of commentary on the British character. Without revealing too much let me simply say that more respect is lavished on those who fully adopt the land they live in when compared to those who don't. Complacency in the face of danger, inability to adapt as conditions change, and unrealistic hopes contrast with courage, perserverence and ingenuity. Read this book; the journey is intriguing.
And if you're like me you'll add a number of remote destinations to your "bucket list".

OK, the first 100 pages were great. It was a very gripping story. But when the tension ended, the plot ended. Who cares if Jean wanted to make shoes? Who cares how many stops her plane made, going all over Australia? Who cares what the people looked like, and what they did? If I wanted a book called "People and Places in Australia," I would have checked it out. Meanwhile, back in the outback, there's no plot left. I can't make myself finish it.

Its a wonderful story, a good read! Book was a re-print tho and a few of the pages were out of order...but it did not detract from the story at all.

This book is one of my favorites. I have a old well used copy on my book shelf that I bought years ago. The first time I read this book I borrowed it from the local library and the name was "The Legacy". This was probably 30 yrs ago. I think I have probably read this book at least once a year since then. I don't think I have done that with any other book.

When is a love story not a romance novel? When is a book about Japanese POWs not a book about war? When it's A Town Like Alice. I've been a fan since seeing the Masterpiece Theater version about 20 years ago (after which I had to immediately run out and buy the book. There are lots of reviews posted here, so we don't need another rehash of the plot. Suffice it to say, if you are NOT a romantic, if you are NOT a fan of romance novels, this is a book for you. The context of WWII and Jean Paget's experiences as a prisoner of the Japanese ring with accuracy. Her prosaic life in London, her eventual return to Malaysia and journey to Australia don't stretch credulity. The romance between Jean and Joe, and even her shy Scottish attorney's feelings for Jean, are beautifully developed. It's just a wonderful read, and Neville Shute never wrote a better book (although he wrote many, many worse ones). There are two excellent filmed versions of a Town Like Alice. The Masterpiece Theater version stars Bryan Brown as Joe Harmon and Helen Morse as Jean Paget, with Gordon Jackson as Noel Strachen--a completely new and romantic turn for the actor I will always think of as Hudson-The-Butler. An earlier version with Peter Finch and Virginia McKenna is also very watchable. I can't recommend this book highly enough. Just read it. And then go out and rent the movies. Both of them. You have your orders, what are you waiting for??

To say that I enjoyed The Woman Who Walked into Doors would not be the right description. The book is a rather harrowing depiction of a woman in the grip of spousal abuse and alcoholism. A woman who tries, in a now familiar story, to reconcile the idea of a man who loves her with a man who beats her.

I was suspicious about anyone who isn't Paula Spencer (or someone very close to her) claiming the experience of poverty, alcoholism, and abuse in a first person narrative fiction. As it happens, however, Doyle does a credible job with this. Given the time that he spends in Paula's head, I had the feeling that he was trying to work out the question that many of us have watching a situation like that-- why? why does she stay? how does she survive?

What's really nice about the work is that it resists the temptation to make Paula and her situation sentimental. That resistance makes the real love that she has for Charlo really affecting. She clings to it in the face of all reason and against all circumstance. I do not feel as though I closed the book any wiser about why a battered wife stays battered, but I did feel as though it lifted a little corner off the mystery as to how you keep loving someone who torments you. And how little/much that love means stacked up against the other other aspects of the relationship.

In the end I found it a good book, if often a little bit difficult to read. It is not a pleasant subject, and Doyle doesn't pull his punches. For me I found that it missed something-- something larger than the main idea, perhaps. That something kept me from finding it a great book. But it was still certainly a worthy use of time, and a book that I would recommend. I would particularly recommend it if you have some special interest in the treatment of the subject matter.

A number of my friends recommended Paula Spencer and even noted that they liked that better. I'll be giving it a try.

(p.s. From reading reviews here and online reviews, it appears that a lot of readers are picking up Doyle based on a recommendation from Rowling. This book is really really different from anything she's written, and you should be prepared for very dark material, adult language, and physical/emotional violence if you pick this up.)

I read that Roddy Doyle was J K Rowling's favorite author. His fiction was too real and depressing. Plus it was hard to follow as he jumped from the past to present day often.

I think my main problem with this book was the language. I found all the cursing distracting, and made the flow of the book choppy. I gave it three stars because if you take all the cursing out of the book, it was quite good.

Doyle did an excellent job in describing the life of a physically abused wife, I was completely drawn into her life from page one.

Written in 1996, this "prequel" to 2007's Paula Spencer, tells of Paula's life from her teen years to her passionate relationship with Charlo Spencer. Part of a family of robbers, Charlo is an exciting man who makes her feel alive and gives her a sense of selfhood. Booker Prize-winner Doyle crafts a dramatic first-person narrative told by Paula, who leaves her rigid home and unsympathetic father to marry Charlo, a man her father disapproves of. Their passionate relationship and remarkable sense of communication vanish when Paula becomes pregnant with the first of their four children. Gradually, Paula finds solace in alcohol, as Charlo becomes an absentee husband and father and eventually a philandering wife-abuser.

Paula begins her story in the present, with Charlo's death--shot by the police after he has murdered a woman during a robbery--then develops the story through her reminiscences about both the good and the bad times. As she relives her courtship and early marriage and explores her early past and her more recent past,, she also tells us about her present battle with alcohol. She regrets that Nicola, her teenage daughter is responsible for the family on many occasions, since Paula works nights cleaning offices and then returns home wanting only to tell Jack a bedtime story and then abandon herself to drink.

As the story of her abuse evolves, the reader is privy to Paula's innermost conflicts. Though she knows that "I lost all my friends--and most of my teeth," she also bemoans the fact that "he beat me brainless and I felt guilty." The tendency of abuse victims to blame themselves, especially when their love has been as great as that of Paula and Charlo, explains Paula's comment that "for seventeen years I was brainwashed and brain dead." She knows that she has made her children suffer, not only because of her abuse but because of her alcoholism, but she has been powerless to change until in one violent moment, she sends Charlo out of the house and determines to live her life on her own.

Doyle's ability to structure a novel such as this one, which moves from immediate present into recent and then distant past, providing important information about character in the process, brings this dramatic novel to life. His trademark humor is subdued here in favor of the ironies of Paula's life. This is a far more serious novel than the Barrytown Trilogy--more in keeping with the Booker Prize-winning _Paddy Clark, Ha, Ha, Ha_, an equally sad story of a deteriorating marriage from the point of view of a ten-year-old boy. This poignant novel is ultimately a celebration of the human spirit as Paula determines to take control of her life and to provide a family for her children. n Mary Whipple

I would recommend this book to a friend. It is not a happy story, but the main character is immensely likable, and her story is interesting and worth reading. I liked Paula Spencer. She's funny, insightful, vulnerable and charming. She is also flawed, which makes her seem very real to me. It was hard to read this book though, because the shadow of her tragedy creeps across every page. Doyle waits until the final chapters to tell us, though, about Paula's battering at the hands of a man she loves, her "shattered" husband, Charlo. The title tells us what we do and do not want to know, so I think it's fine that Doyle waits until the end to reveal it all.

This book is written in the first person, and as an American the Irish vernacular was initially difficult for me, but Paula's inner dialogue is well written, and very enjoyable. I think I might have picked up a few Irish colloquialisms.

Kudos to Roddy Doyle! He has created a wonderful, likable, character in Paula Spencer.

If you like SiFi then you'll really like this series of books. I have the whole series and re-read them over and over.

I've enjoyed reading this book for years and loved to get my hands on the audiobook version. The MP3 audiobooks are great for long drives in the car since you don't have to switch discs as you're driving. The only thing I didn't like was how few bookmarks there were on the audiobook (only 4) rather than every 1/2 hour or hour like most audiobooks I've gotten before. I would definitely recommend this to any Anne McCaffrey fans.

I first read this book sometime in middle school, and my memory from then was that this book was awesome, while the later installments in the series started to go downhill. I recently saw a copy of this in a used bookstore, and decided to have a little fun and reread it. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed. I am drawn to books that have protagonists who can do really cool awesome things, but they also need to have commensurate obstacles to face, and in this book, for the most part they don't. Really, the overall plot is just kinda boring.

It starts well. The Rowan is a poor orphan girl with awesome mental powers who is somewhat oppressed by the woman in charge of things, but has people who care about her helping make sure she reaches her full potential. The problem is, that full potential consists mainly of psychically slinging large objects through outer space. Although this is undoubtedly quite difficult, it is not particularly exciting.

Then we meet Jeff, who is even more awesome than the Rowan. This is where the book really starts to get ridiculous, as it devolves into basically a love story between these two characters, with some evil aliens they have to defeat thrown in for conflict. The problem is that there is absolutely no explanation for/demonstration of them falling in love. It's just sort of assumed that they must fall in love because they are the awesome co-protagonists-of-the-opposite-gender in a book. Really, I think this is possibly the worst treatment of romance I have ever read.

So why did I give it three stars? Well, I did really like the concept, and the characters are all pretty good too until Jeff shows up. And I think my childhood nostalgia also contributed toward my overall satisfaction upon finishing the book. But don't read the sequels. This book is pretty self-contained, and even as a kid I thought the sequels were terrible.

This is set in a universe where psionic abilities are utilised in a commercial sense, and have guilds and organisations set up around them.

People use teleportation for space travel, and telepathy for communication, all that sort of thing.

They are graded on ability, and the most talented can do the move the spaceship trick. The book follows a young girl of this variety, of course.

When we are first introduced to the Rowan, we know she's destined for great things. We travel along as she grows up, becoming an intelligent, articulate, and self-sufficient young woman. She's poised to become a heroine who kicks butt and takes names.

Then, she meets Jeff, turns into a pile of brain dead mush, and is content to forevermore squeeze out lots of babies.

It's sad when things start out looking good and fizzle to a lame end. The Rowan could have been a contender.

I bought this book as a "collector" item for my 15 year old.
This is her favorite story and she wanted the original illustrations in the book. She was thrilled!

Far better words than mine have extolled this book. My favorite as a child, then my children, and now my grandchildren. And I expect my great-grand-children will also love it.

One of the classic Disney movies I remembered was the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Reading this novel gave me the same feelings I had in my childhood years watching the movie. I could be wrong but it seems to me that everything in the book was exactly like the movie. Alice was reading her sister's book and fell asleep under a tree. Then she woke up, saw a rabbit in clothes with a clock talking. She then followed the rabbit into this hole. After that she was in a never ending tunnel, which lead her to a strange world. Alice encounters many obstacles in the story and showed how she dealt with them.
I thought the book was just like the movie. I guess was I was reading the novel made me have a better understanding. I was mainly looking for any symbolism of some sort, but failed to do so. I was also shocked at what the things characters were doing in the book and made it into a Disney movie. For example the Caterpillar smoking a hookah. I didn't know what hookah was until last year. I was really confused in some parts of the novel. This book I thought was great for someone that hasn't even heard of Alice in Wonderland. It is a very thin book but it was like reading a children's book. I thought the novel would have a different story than the movie. From a scale of 1 - 10 I would give it a 7. Just because it was interesting and reminded me of the past.

In the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll a young girl with the name of Alice travels to a distant land that seems altogether and quite possibly unreal to her. The book starts off with Alice in the park with her sister. She has nothing to do as her sister is reading so when Alice sees a talking white rabbit scampering by, she doesn't hesitate to follow it. Following the rabbit leads her to a world she could have never dreamed of. This book can take you to magical places you would have never dreamed of. Through the use of Carroll's thorough descriptions and dramatic elements this book is sure to take you on one wild ride. I thought that the book was very well written and very interesting. I could really imagine what the characters look like and feel how Alice would have felt. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a good adventure and lots of twists along the way. This book is for children and adults alike. As long as you have an imagination and a great sense of adventure you are sure to love this great tale of a girl and how she found herself in an imaginary world.

This book is the Norton Critical Edition (Second Edition) of _Alice in Wonderland_ by Lewis Carroll, edited by Donald J. Gray, with the picture of the "Jabberwock" on the front. The Norton Critical Edition contains the following parts: a brief preface, the text of _Alice's Adventures in Wonderland_, the text of _Through the Looking-Glass_, the excised "The Wasp in a Wig", the poem "The Hunting of the Snark: An Agony, in Eight Fits", background material from Carroll's early life, the Alice books, and later life (including letters of his), and several interesting essays in criticism. The Alice stories are some of the greatest classics of children's literature, but their bizarre nature and intriguing mathematical, philosophical, and theological speculations make them interesting for adults and thinkers as well. Many have tried to psycho-analyze the stories (using absurd antiquated Freudian methods), but I agree with G. K. Chesterton that to do such is to destroy the stories. These stories exist in the fine tradition of the Victorian fairy tale (which emphasizes what has been called the "Victorian cult of the child"), and despite modern difficulties, they remain an important contribution to children's literature. Among other things it has been suggested that the stories include elements that resemble drug use and that Carroll was a precursor to Einstein in his understanding of the relativity of size and shape, but despite these understandings the stories remain unique for their captivating power and intriguing as stories themselves. Lewis Carroll was the pen name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832-1898) who was perhaps best known in his time as a logician and tutor in logic and mathematics. Dodgson did quite well in mathematics as a youth (as he did in nearly all his subjects, but particularly in mathematics) and continued his studies at Oxford. Originally Dodgson had promised to become an Anglican clergyman upon completion of his studies, but he never fully completed his ordination. Instead he served as a lecturer in mathematics and logic, writing several interesting books in logic for popular audiences at the time (though he could not have foreseen more recent developments in logic, such as the work of Russell and Whitehead in the _Principia Mathematica_). Dodgson also served as a tutor to children (and he developed a particular fondness for children, particularly young girls, that many would come to criticize later). As a tutor Dodgson met the girl Alice Liddell, who served as the inspiration for the Alice stories. It is rumored that Dodgson may have fallen in love with her, which led to some difficulty. Dodgson's philosophical, religious, and social views were notoriously conservative and conventional, though it seems that he incorporated many unconventional ideas into his stories. In his old age, Dodgson remained a bachelor, though he increasingly involved himself in amateur photography (some of which proved particularly risqué and has led to subsequent rumors about Dodgson). Today, what Dodgson remains most famous for are his stories for children. Within his stories interesting mathematical, philosophical, and theological issues are raised; among them, the issue of the meaning of words and language (Dodgson's writings and poems have been called "nonsense" and he frequently makes use of "nonsense words" of his own invention) calling to mind the later philosophy of Wittgenstein, various theological issues, the philosophical issue of the dream-like nature of reality, the issue of birth, adolescence, sexual development, and life and death, the issue of Darwinian evolutionism, and various mathematical and logical issues, as well as interesting puzzles. The essays included with this volume bring up some of these issues and provide interesting points about the stories.

The works of Lewis Carroll included in this volume are as follows:

_Alice's Adventures in Wonderland_ (1897 edition) - a rewrite of the original _Alice's Adventures Under Ground_ and beautifully illustrated. This is the story of Alice (based on Dodgson's student Alice Liddell) as she encounters a talking White Rabbit, travels down a rabbit-hole, and there encounters many bizarre happenings and various talking creatures. The story has an eerie drug-induced feel to it (which causes one to question the very basis of reality) and many have speculated that this story may include instances of drug use. In particular, while in "Wonderland", Alice eats various foods and drinks various potions which cause her to grow taller or shorter. In "Wonderland", Alice encounters the rabbit, a talking mouse (who she reminds of her cat Dinah and provokes him thus), various birds and animals (in which they have a "caucus race", perhaps calling to mind the "Caucasian race" and various racialist theories of the time which Dodgson disapproved of), a lizard named Bill, and a puppy. After this, however, Alice encounters a caterpillar sitting on a mushroom. The caterpillar is smoking from a "hookah" (perhaps a reference to drug paraphernalia) and invites Alice to take a bite from the mushroom. Upon taking the bite from the mushroom, Alice undergoes radical changes in height. Some have regarded these alterations to be reminiscent of the hallucinations that occur upon ingestion of certain mushrooms, such as the Amanita muscaria. Alice also encounters the Duchess and her baby (a pig), the Cheshire cat (who fades away leaving only his grin), the Madhatter (mad no doubt from mercury poisoning), the March Hare, and the Dormouse having tea, and then she encounters the Queen of Hearts playing croquet as well as the "mock turtle". Finally, a trial occurs in which the Knave of Hearts is accused of stealing the tarts from the Queen of Hearts. At this trial, Alice must testify and present her evidence. At the end, Alice awakes from her dream after realizing that the Queen and the King are nothing but a pack of cards.

_Through the Looking-Glass_ (1897 edition) - This story begins with Alice reflecting on her cats and a game of chess. Indeed, the entire story involves a set-up on the chess board in which Alice herself is to eventually become queen. Alice enters a mysterious world ("Wonderland" again no doubt) through the looking-glass and there encounters various creatures. This is of course the story where the infamous nonsense poem "Jabberwocky" appears. Alice encounters various talking flowers, various insects, two brothers Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Humpty Dumpty (an egg), and the lion and the unicorn. Alice also encounters the red and white queens and eventually is to become queen herself. During the course of the story the secret meaning of certain words in "Jabberwocky" are revealed to Alice. At the end, Alice is at a feast when she suddenly shakes the red queen who becomes a kitten. Alice awakes to conclude that it was "all a dream", though the issue of reality is raised again.

"The Wasp in a Wig" is a short scene left out of the original _Through the Looking-Glass_.

Also included is the poem, "The Hunting of the Snark" (1876), which is a nonsense poem about a group of men on a ship who are hunting a "snark".

This Norton Critical Edition is an excellent edition of Lewis Carroll's children stories and poems. Carroll's stories are to live on due to their uniqueness and their bizarre nature. But, as pointed out they also raise several interesting philosophical questions and thus are interesting for adults as well as children. They are also greatly enjoyable and certainly recommended.