Review:Big surprise was revealed way too early and the rest of the novel contained the "fallout." Dumas tied up almost all of the loose ends so it ended well...I guess I was expecting it to build a bit more with the big "reveal" at the end.

Oxford World's Classics are the way to go with this series.

Still a good book and I recommend that you read it; especially if you've read all of the other previous books in this massive saga as I did :). Read more

Review:This book was a Christmas gift from my son's wish list. He was thrilled when he opened it. I was thrilled that he asked for a book. He is a fan of "The Three Musketeers" and has read it at least twice. I never knew there was a sequel. As a gift, it was a hit. Read more

Review:An imaginative concept carried out with beautiful writing. Taking the story of "The Stranger" by Camus told from the point of view of the unnamed arab boy who was murdered by the protagonist in the original story, filling him out with a history and coloring in the background that was omitted. The story told from the other side. Brief, compelling and angry. Read more

Review:Although the Plague is not my favorite Camus, that honor belongs to The Stranger and The Rebel, it is nonetheless a great allegory for the grinding nature of life under occupation by a foreign dictatorial regime.
Just as Camus experienced first hand the way in which the Nazi occupation of France beat down the spirit of the French people, in The Plague he parallels that with the way in which an isidious disease can beat down the will of a city's people to live life.
Perhaps, the way in whic... Read more

Review:The essential theme of this sequel emerges and develops with the same exciting thoughtful prose and rapid action--but this theme is more about moving on and redemption than the Shantaram theme of exile. The characters are memorable, as vivid in my imagination as Durrell's characters in The Alexandrian Quartet, years ago. How I hated getting to the thin pages signaling the end of this adventure! Read more

Review:After the travesty of "The Gathering" being named the best work of fiction in 2007, I had given up on the Booker as the standard bearer of quality or guide for readers of serious fiction. I am therefore delighted to say that with last year's choice for the prestigious award, my faith in the committee's judgment has been restored. Aravind Adiga's debut novel, "The White Tiger (WT)" could be the most contemporary and relevant prize winner of the past 5 years. In a year when the feel good movie "Sl... Read more

Review:I don't deny that Kafka has a very out-of-the-box way of writing, but to be honest it didn't do it for me. While I wouldn't recommend it to someone looking for a light/fun read, if you're looking for something that will test your grip on reality, I'd take a gander. Definitely gets you talking. Read more

Review:I enjoyed reading The German Girl but at times found myself experiencing the emotional traumas that the characters were experiencing. Well written. I did find the pace slow but this is a positive as once again it brought me into the story so deeply that I was also experiencing being on the ship living the sad and difficult experiences that the author describe so vividly. I would definitely recommend this book. Read more

Review:One tends to think of the Dark Ages as a gloomy colourless period of restraint and oppression. Eco, however, shows that straining against the yokes of this repression is a vibrant, vivid and fantastical cast of characters. Styled as a "who-dunnit", this story is nevertheless a very realistic and accurate portrayal of 13th century Europe. (I have even seen The Name of the Rose on a recommended reading list for a university history course).

But besides been an accomplished writer, philosoph... Read more

Review:Well written, amusing, interesting, observant and very true to life. I am a resident in
a retirement village and it could have been written by a resident here, as such a lot
of the characters were similar - you just have to have a sense of humour when you
live in a place like this!!!! Read more