Maine Books

One of my favorite things about John Grisham is his character development. His accomplishments in delving deep into the souls of his creations and slowly letting them emerge onto the pages keeps the reader captivated through the novel. The plots are bizarre, yet real, and the characters become fixtures in the reader's mind long after the book is finished. Superb work!

I must admit that the book just was not good enough to hold my interest. I am an avid reader who is interesed in many sorts of books, and while the book deals with issues that may be hard for some readers (abortion and adoption), the amount of charecters and Irving's constant backflashes and side stories really did me in. I wished it could have been better, but for people who really like a challenge, you should definately dive right in.

Maybe it's the fact that it was my first book by John Irving, but I truly loved The World According to Garp, and I have not been able to find that feeling in any of the books that followed in my list. I liked A Widow for One Year (guess what, my second...), I didn't care much for The Fourth Hand, which I found lame. I liked this one, which I have not really read, but listened to in the truly splendid reading by G Gardner. But I never cared too much for Homer Wells, another main character of Irving's to whom things just seem to happen. I don't know how else to put it, but I could not help imagining Homer in this book as a never-smiling character that lets his life decide for him. Indeed, I am not sure I recall instances where Homes laughs or even just smiles.

The book is, also, endless. I liked the first part better, but the second part, which tells the story of Homer as an adult, felt overlong. Irving writes really really well, but there are too many well written but uneventful pages here.

I found the "message" of the book about abortion well delivered, but I doubt it will change anybody's mind on the matter. It will most likely shock some and sound perfectly reasonable to others.

Overall, I am happy I purchased this audio book (again a VERY good reading), but (unlike for Garp) it's unlikely that I will reach for it again. I was sort of happy when I got to the end and could move to another listening.

I generally read the book after I have seen the film. I do this so I am not disappointed in the film/screenplay. Generally the book proves to be much more entertaining than the movie. The movie was fantastic, the book a delight to read.

This book is a wonderful read; engaging and well written. What is remarkable about it is that the writer is able to depict men so well; how they think, how they behave. All the motivations and emotions are covered with each male character which was especially appealing to me because I actually believe that after reading this book not only had I felt a sense of accomplishment in reading such a wonderful story, but I had a sense that I understood men better, too. Highly recommended.

That Was Then This Is Now

Bryon is a strong, 16 year old teenager in the book That Was Then This Is Now by S.E. Hinton. Bryon has a very special talent which is hustling people in pool. He has been doing this since he was 12 years old. Bryon lives with his mom in a little town in Oklahoma. His best friend Mark is living with him.
There's a reason why Mark is living with him. That reason is that his parents died when he was nine. Mark's parents were drunk and they were arguing that night. His dad got mad at his mom. Then his dad shot his mom and she fell to the ground. Then his mom shot his dad back. They both bled to death. Then Mark went to live with Byron and his mom.
Byron and Mark have been friends since they were very young. They grew up together in the same little town. Byron says there like brothers. Byron is big, tall, and strong. Mark is short and strong. They like to get in fights a lot. Mark hot wires cars to get around town. He has done that since he was twelve.
But they also have a problem. As they grow up they are growing apart from each other. Bryon starts going out with Cathy. Mark starts to get jealous of Cathy because Bryon is spending more time with Cathy. Then Mark starts acting a little weird and Byron notices it. He starts to look a little different. Then his attitude was changing about everything. He starts to talk back to Bryon and he has never done that before. Then Byron figures out why he is acting strange. Mark has a big secret. But you have to read the book to find out what it is.
If you like books about love, growing up, and a little action then this book is for you. This book is very interesting. I think it was very interesting when they protect their friend M&M from the guys who jumped him. I think the author wrote this book so kids won't get in gangs. They won't get a bad life or future. If you read the back it makes you want to read it. I wanted to know what kept them apart so I read the book at home for an hour each day until I got to the end. I was amazed by the ending. The book has 159 pages in all. Its reading level is 4.6.

...If you have one good friend you're luckier."

I loved most of this book. There are a lot of quotes i can relate to and a lot of the emotions the characters go through i have gone through myself. SE Hinton is my absolute favorite young adult writer of all time. Its not quite as good as The Outsiders but i don't think any book could have topped that. I enjoyed reading the book and it gives you a new perspective on things.

My only problem with it (the reason i didn't give it 5 stars) was i didn't understand the ending. I have a vague idea but i don't know why Bryan did what he did.

I think it's a good short read obviously for young adults, but really for anyone who likes a good story.

The main character in my story is a 16 year old boy named Bryon. The other main character in the story is 15 year old boy named Mark but there are other character such as M&M and Cathy. The setting takes place in the 70's. Mark's parents are dead they killed each other. Bryon dad left him and only his mom takes care of him and Mark. Bryon's mom has a thing for taking in strays but she dose not mind. The problem later on in the story is that Cathy's brother goes missing and their best friend gets shot and to top it off Byron mom dose not have enough money to pay her hospital medical bill. Later on Byron gets a job at the grocer y store to help and Mark dose something but he brings home to much money for one night. Later on they found M&M and he took a drug that mad him crazy. Towards the end of the story Byron found out that Mark was selling the same kind of drug that M&M took, and he called the police they took away Mark and the last words he uttered to Mark was `why you doing this to me buddy'.

This book was very good. We enjoyed reading about the fights, drugs, and real life situations. We could not predict what was going to happen next. It related to some people's everyday normal life. The characters were simlar to some of the kids who attend our school. Mark and Bryon go through several changes throughout the book, both in their relationship together as well as their individual personal lives. For example, Bryon gets a job while Mark pushes drugs. They begin to grow apart when Bryon starts dating Cathy. The climax is the ending when Mark tells Bryon that he hates him while Bryon is visiting him in prison. If we could rewrite the last couple of chapters, we would have Bryon talk to Mark and stop him from selling drugs, instead of him being a snitch. Bryon and Cathy would stay together and Mark would not go to jail. M & M would overdose but be okay afterwards. The sequel would have Mark get out of jail and Bryon and Cathy get back together. M & M would go to rehab. Overall, we really enjoyed this book and recommend it to all students.

i loved this book it so really amazing! if you are a fan of S.E. hinton's books, you will not be disapointed this book deserves 5 stars!!!!

I've always been a fan of Preston and Child. This book is no exception. The best "water based" thrillers I've ever read. Charcter development is unsurpassed. Four months after reading this I still vividly remember the characters and thier lives. The creepy island is extremely interesting and the twist at the end is great. With that said, its not their best novel but probably top five.

I have read Preston and Child books since discovering them last year. All the books are great and thrilling. I was a little concerned because many of the ones I'd happened to read all involved monsters that emitted strange scents. I'd begun to wonder if the duo was stuck in a rut. Well, I didn't have to worry, because Riptide is a whole different ballgame, yet equally as thrilling. The reader is hooked into the storyline on the first page, because yes, of course we all want to know what happens to Malin's brother. And yet, we are not bored with the convoluted way the author takes us to that answer. Kudos to Preston and Child for producing yet another excellent thriller.

This was the first Preston/Child book I had ever read, and if this book doesn't hook you on their work, nothing else will! This book blends science, pirate lore, and history seamlessly as we follow the adventure of a man desperate to confront his past, and a greedy company bent on recovering an ancient treasure.

Using their uncanny understanding of science and history, Preston/Child spin a fabulous tale that keeps the reader hooked until the very last page. This is a must read for anyone who loves scientific, historical thrillers or is just a fan of Preston/Child.

Timothy Lassiter, author of Three Degrees of Separation and The Devil You Know.

What a clever writing team...Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I have never read a book by them that I didn't like immensely. Riptide is no exception. It's full of thrills and suspense. Move over Michael Crichton!
The plot involves an island that has a Water Pit that was commissioned by a Renaissance era pirate and designed by a captured Renaissance architect. There is a huge pirate treasure buried at the bottom of the Water Pit, but all who have attempted to retrieve it over the centuries have given up, died, and/or went bankrupt. Will this new venture be any more successful? You won't want to put this book down until you've finished it.

This book is the first book I ever read by Preston and Child. I loved it! Now I am addicted and have read every single book by both authors including the books they have devised separately. I have loved all of them. The only exception is Utopia which was a little harder for me to get into.

If you are looking for an adventure thriller book, Riptide is perfect. It has all of the classic elements of Preston and Child's books that I love: adventure, action, thrill, love, and science. I recommend these authors to everyone I know who are looking for a very entertaining read.

This book is an invaluable resource and every parent should read it. We all say that a child should come with an instruction manual - well, this book is just that! I would highly recommend the active listening and talking techniques to anyone with children. The skills that are taught can transform a bad behaviored, ill-tempered child into a good kid with little effort. Wonderful Book!

"Describe, don't evaluate."

That was probably the most helpful information FOR ME in the book. If I could have given this ten stars I would have. It really forced me to examine how I was speaking to my children. This is definitely the kind of book you want to buy and not borrow---it's easy to slip back into old habits and you'll want to reread some sections frequently.

My son has gone tantrum free for days now. Un-freaking-believable!

Note that this book will not tell you how to discipline or punish your child. Nor will it teach you how to "make" your child "mind you." This book WILL teach you how to engage cooperation without disrespecting your child. The skills taught here will take a lot of practice. It may be several weeks before results are apparent. My son is not an "easygoing" child, but this book has changed our relationship. I now have read it several times and continue to re-read it whenever my son goes through a transition. The skills taught are simple but they really work!

when you start using the methods your life changes! I did it with my 6 year old and so far it changed our lives! a must read!

This audio tape made me realize why I wasn't getting anywhere with my lengthy lectures as to why we don't do this or that. So far this has proved to work. I will recommend to others.

I loved this book! It is always entertaining, at times heartbreakingly poignant, and very difficult to put down.

This book beautifully marries form and content. The book is J.R. Moehringer's autobiographical memoir, spanning from his elementary school years into young adulthood. Much of the book revolves around the hours Moehringer spent in a neighborhood bar on Long Island, trading stories and having friendly but impassioned arguments with the other barroom regulars. As you read the book, you almost feel like you're in the bar listening to the conversation. Each chapter is really a barroom story in itself; you can almost hear Moehringer, lubricated by a few drinks, sharing yet another anecdote from his life history.

Some of the stories Moehringer recounts seem too good to be true. Perhaps, like any good barroom raconteur, Moehringer embellishes a little for dramatic or comic effect. At first I wondered if the stories really were factual. By the end, I decided that I enjoyed the book even more for not being sure.

I don't drink much, have rarely been in bars, and have spent little time on Long Island. Nonetheless, I had no trouble inhabiting Moehringer's world.

I highly recommend this excellent memoir!

The less than 5 star reviewers are not understanding this story. JR's memoir is not about a bar, not about avoiding a life of achoholism, not about whining over misfortune, and not about overcomming childhood challenges. The real story here is sharing boldly and courageously what it is like to grow up fatherless. JR speaks for all of us men who grew up without fathers and his medium is great storytelling. While "growing up" we really were always searching for the right templates for manhood. We would grab ahold of anyone who paid attention! That could be good and that could be bad, but fortunatly for our author, the men at the bar were ultimately a good influence, not all of them as career path role models, but certainly as "man models" and that is what was needed. It is impossible (no criticism) for individuals who grew up with a father to empathize. This is not whining, it is just plain being honest and sharing what it is like. JR's memoir resonates with all of us "fatherless boys" and he must be reviewed from that perspective. For those of you who would like to know what goes through our minds and our orientation to the world, this is great primer/story. BRAVO JR.

I enjoyed reading this book, especially when J.R. talks about the book he wanted to write, especially the chapter in which J.R. includes a number of anecdotes & jokes he meant to include in the book he imagined. I enjoyed the process aspect of this book--the process through which we see Moehringer realize his insecurities and identify his alcoholism, problems with women, and the role the bar plays in his life. It's a little bit like watching someone you care about grow up.

As someone who primarily reads fiction--and much of it adolescent lit due to my career--I found this memoir fascinating to read and thoroughly engaging. The men in JR's life are quite the collection of characters (as are his many family members), and their stories kept me entertained as much as--or even more so--than some of the fiction I've recently read. I cared about JR and his conflicts, and not once was I bored or let down by his storytelling. This was a great book, one that could be put down and picked up again easily, and one that left me thinking about the author and the course his life has taken. I definitely recommend this!

Unbeleivably honest and extremely inspiring. Despite of what he has been through, he is now a successful journalist and a Pulitzer Prize winner. What is ironic is that his book ended up on the NY Times bestseller list. It is as if Moehringer is sticking his tongue out to the senior editors who previously declared him as "non NY Times material". It is a lesson in perseverance and endurance. One should always keep trying and never give up.

With books like this one from King , you do much better reading the thoughts in the minds of the characters. This one will keep you up at night reading. Another one that i loved. I highly suggest this one.

This is a story about two deaths. Dolores Claiborne is the housekeeper for a wealthy lady, and the police are investigating her death.

There is the killing of a husband in the past, and the police suspect Dolores of causing this death, as well. The novel then goes into the backstory of the relationship between the two women, and what is really going on.

Dolores Claiborne is an unusual novel. The story is told by Dolores herself from start to finish as she tells police about a murder she committed and one she did not. Even when the police speak to her, the reader only sees Dolores's response. For nearly 400 pages, we hear one voice in one long chapter. We follow her life primarily through her troubled family life and job as a housekeeper for a stern woman named Vera Donovan. Dolores has been accused of murdering Vera and to help convince the police she didn't do it, she confesses to murdering her husband years earlier. She gives a candid account of a fairly miserable life leading up to the day of Vera's death.

This book obviously represented an experiment for Stephen King. No chapters, no voice but that of Dolores, all of it told as a flashback, etc. By all rights it shouldn't work, and the thick Maine accent of the narrator should have been the final ingredient in a recipe for disaster. Yet, somehow, it does work and works well. Dolores is a tough, salty, old woman but she has her good points. She's a tireless worker, fair-minded, and she tries to be a good mother and wife. Unfortunately, her husband is far too wretched a specimen to allow her marriage to work and her boss begins to lose her grip on sanity, which exaggerates her already harsh attitude.

Dolores Claiborne is not a horror novel so much as a character study. I used to think that was unusual for a King novel, but I'm starting to realize that he actually doesn't write nearly as many pure terror novels as his reputation would indicate. Still, it is suspenseful in parts and you quickly come to care about the characters and what happens to them. I would recommend the book whether you're a long time fan of the author or just looking for something different to read.

This is a wonderful mystery that begins in a slow roll, but becomes a page turner. Delores Claiborne, a cranky old maid for a rich lady, tells the story of her life. Highly recommended, but it is not a horror story if that is what you are expecting from Steven King.

Another lightly supernatural book, and different than King's usual stuff, is "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon." This story of a nine-year-old girl lost in the Maine woods is super. Read it! Click here: The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon

I found this novel by MR. King to be absolutely wonderful. It was so interesting to read and the well written story was very unique. This book is not frightening like many of the author's stories, but it still keeps an overwhelming spookiness about its tale. The story looks into emotional bond between two different women and their lives that are betrayed by violence, abuse and many other emotional problems. This is a strong and emotional story that is well worth your time. Highly recommend for your reading pleasure.

Every parent, teacher, youth sports coach, and general public who interact with boys should read this book. After reading it, discuss with others who read it. Women, ask questions with trusted male friends.

This is an insightful look into the male mind. My homeschool group is reading/discussing it right now and it has been eye opening to say the least. Although it has been painful to the point that most of the men in our group would not read it, it has still been a great tool in trying to understand our boys and men. I recommend this for reading to anyone who has a boy in their life.

This book is not quite what I expected. I was somewhat disappointed in the content.

A big support to re-convince you that teaching emotions and love to your son is a bigger asset than teaching how to fight.
Good to know that it will pay off when he is older, as a happy man.

This is the best book I've seen about raising boys. My husband and I both have read every single page -- it's the first parenting book we've ever really read together, and we've talked about all of it. My husband felt like he was reading about all the secret struggles he went through as a child too. This is the first book that's made me want to change the way I parent...

This is one of the finest debuts I've ever read. Blanchard's voice is crystal clear and powerful. The book seems to come from a genuine knowledge of the circumstances. Complex characters and situations that arrive on the page from depth of experience. I am often left so cold by these banal, calculated police procedurals; they are so dull. Not this one. There's a beating heart at the core of this wonderful book. Do yourself a favor; read Darkness Peering by Alice Blanchard. It's a sure thing.

This book is a must-read for everyone who has tired of the formula "thrillers." The conclusion is a total surprise, even to those of us who paid attention and usually can guess the end. The character development was reasonably thorough and the plot progression was filled with unexpected twists and turns. The complexity of the relationships added credence to the conclusion. This is a book that will haunt its readers for awhile. Alice Blanchard has a unique gift that leaves her readers wanting more.

Blanchard's "Darkness Peering" is one of the single best debut thrillers I've ever read. It's original, powerful and utterly brilliant, with that raw energy of a writer discovering their talent right in front of our eyes. Great book.

This was an awesome read. Constant suspense. Characters were all believable. The author led you to believe that there were several possibilities of who the killer was. I did not even suspect the actual culprit. Well done in keeping the reader guessing and then surprising them at the end. I would definitely recommend this one.

Just a great, great, great piece of writing here. A freakin' amazing twist at a totally unexpected point in the story only pushes my thumb's up even higher toward the sky. This is a writer of rare talent and insight into the darker aspects of humanity.

I was drawn in, right away, to the characters. LOVED the end-it was so uplifting! An easy, fun read.

What a joy to watch the main character of this book gain peace in his life. Such an uplifting, but certainly not perfect, group of characters were found in this small town. It made me initially yearn to move to a small town, then helped me to see that such characters are all around me if I only open my eyes and my heart to them.

Good characterizations and descriptions. An uplifing story, perfect for Christmas time. My elderly parents both enjoyed reading it, too.

Fannie Flagg Is the Best Writer I have come across in many years. She has a magic on par with Mark Twain. You will fall in love with her novels and I would recommend any and all. I cant say enough good things about her. Even before I finished my first book of hers I ordered all of the rest! I only hope she writes many more as they are each a jewel and a treasure. Happy reading.

This is a touching, heartwarming, picture yourself living there with those people as your friends and neighbors story. It is easy to envision all of the things taking place. This is a good spirit of the season read.

This is a unique book and very good. If you have ever had a dream or feel God leading you into a new era of your life this book is for you. Very encouraging! You may feel you are part of the story, because you are.

This is a must read for all from age 13 and up. It is simple yet powerful and explains who God is the ultimate Dream Giver and how we and others may stand in our way of achieving His Dream for us. I buy these and give as gifts and will until I can find no more copies.

This is an outstanding book to use in an adult Christian education class. It teaches us about the purpose God " The Dream Giver" has for us and how we can achieve the dream with HIS help. It leads to wonderful discussions.

The book came very quckly and in very good condition. I purchased it for our adult grandaughter and I've no feedback from her yet but I'm sure she will enjoy it. I have several books written by Bruce Wilkinson and my husband and I have found him to be one of our favorite authors. Thank you for you promtness.

This is a Christian book but you wouldn't know it reading it. and least not for 3/4 of the book. i mean that as a good thing. It's not preachy and i thoroughly recommend it for Christians and non Christians alike. The first part is a really motivation story about someone going after his goal despite everything around him holding him back.
I've bought 2 copies of this book so far to give to others.