Review:Brilliant, epic coming of age story.

In this ambitious, massive novel, Dickens brings plots, subplots, and unforgettable characters together to address themes of wealth's corrosive influence, the pain of love, and the meaning of friendship.

Although written in a dated, flowery, difficult style (by design), the actual ideas that Dickens explores are timeless. Not an easy read, but a worthwhile read.

The tone is dark, gothic, and foreboding. Dickens at times is lyrical in hi... Read more

Review:This book is a classic, written tongue in cheek and sometimes overly wordy. It is an entertaining story of a lady rogue who struggles to survive in London during the 1700s. She is without a profession, but not without guile. Read more

Review:I have read the Earthsea Cycle over and over, but I have worn out the pages of Tehanu. It is by far the most heartbreaking and redeeming of the series. Unlike most fantasies, human conflict is not caused by the BIG BAD EVIL; it is caused by ordinary humans mistreating other ordinary humans. Most human conflict is acutely personal.

Nowhere is that seen better than in the simple life that Tenar chooses for herself. She experiences love, loss, and disappointment as a widowed mother runni... Read more

Review:Writing a story of the southern culture of 1940's, seems to have persisted to this day. The anger of haves and haves not, power and lack of power, and the want to gain power to keep the same system. Brilliant writing, thoughtful character building and identification. It was written in1940 but can be placed in a southern town today. Believable. Read more

Review:What is the "heart of the matter"? For me, Graham Greene ranks with Faulkner and Conrad in his unsparingly honest, yet empathetic insight into the human heart. And, not that of great men, but of ordinary people who try hard to stay right, not always succeeding, but often failing nobly. The Heart of the Matter is to me Greene's most vivid and memorable foray into this terra incognita. Scobie is noble, flawed and fully realized. The so-called "invented" world through which he walks is so richly at... Read more

Review:This grim and pessimistic view of the world south of the border during the 1930’s was hailed in the literary world as one of Greene’s best, but it plunges readers into a milieu of racial disgust, religious bigotry, and personal despair. The plot can be reduced to a few sentences, so the bulk of the 220 pages presents exposition and deep introspection it requires many chapters to actually identify the unheroic protagonist, one unnamed “whisky priest.” Hunted by a megalomanic Lieutenant--determine... Read more

Review:Can someone explain to me why this book has gotten glowing reviews and high praise? I've read half of the book and so far, nothing has happened. So OK, Ravelstein is supposed to be Allan Bloom and he's brilliant and witty and Bellow loved him. I am not charmed by Ravelstein/Bloom's charm and scintillating conversation, alas. Bellow also is taking the opportunity to trash his ex-wife in a very nasty and unpleasant way. (Do we really need to hear about her pubic hair? ) My recommendation: if y... Read more

Review:Like french movies, this book was not about happy endings and a happy storyline. It was a sad, raw, human book. As much as I was disgusted by the actions of the some of the characters, I still enjoyed every minute of reading this book because the storyline is interesting and has a great flow. Read more

Review:The Highlander's Secret Maiden. Georgina Andrews was at a wedding when she found out she was to marry Morgan Bolton, whom she despises. As the announcement was to be made, she runs away with Laird MacGowen and his brother Marcas. Watching this story play out made it impossible to put this book down. A great read for sure, from the brothers both wanting her, Bolton wanting her back, her kidnapping, and the war fought. Read more

Review:Don't you just love books with nice tidy resolutions, where the good people end up triumphing and the baddies get their just desserts? Somehow I'd missed out on reading Cold Comfort Farm before. Glad I was able to remedy that, and to enjoy the ride. Read more