Cart
|
|
my account
|
wish list
|
help
|
800-878-7323
Hello, |
Login
MENU
Browse
New Arrivals
Bestsellers
Featured Preorders
Award Winners
Audio Books
See All Subjects
Used
Staff Picks
Staff Picks
Picks of the Month
Bookseller Displays
50 Books for 50 Years
25 Best 21st Century Sci-Fi & Fantasy
25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
25 Books From the 21st Century
25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
25 Women to Read Before You Die
25 Books to Read Before You Die
Gifts
Gift Cards & eGift Cards
Powell's Souvenirs
Journals and Notebooks
socks
Games
Sell Books
Blog
Events
Find A Store
Don't Miss
Big Mood Sale
Teen Dream Sale
Portland Like a Pro Sale
Powell's Author Events
Oregon Battle of the Books
Audio Books
Get the Powell's newsletter
Visit Our Stores
Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
(0 comment)
Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
Read More
»
Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
(0 comment)
Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
(0 comment)
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
Customer Comments
C Horne has commented on (30) products
Watch You Bleed The Saga of Guns N Roses
by
Stephen Davis
C Horne
, May 04, 2009
Big G&R fan! Well, as you may know, there a not worthy Gn'R biographies. There are some "fake" ones (which all of us have purchased some time ago...), but this isn't like the others. It hasn't been a very easy band, so to research all this information it is a very good job indeed. I trust in Stephen Davis and I believe this is a very good book (if you are a Gn'R fan). The worst of this book is that it's been eclipsed by Slash autobiography (well, nobody's perfect...). Anyway, if you want to know how this band "really" was explained from the outside, definitely, this is the book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(11 of 21 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Saturns Children A Space Opera
by
Charles Stross
C Horne
, April 29, 2009
This is one heck of an entertaining and thought provoking book. Again, the book is almost entirely centred on a female character - one Freya Nakamachi - Baroque and Renaissance musician, professional concubine and kick-butt cybernetic dame! (you gotta be interested after a resumé like that!?) One of his best characters since Reeve in "Glasshouse" and Sue, the Lesbian Scottish cop in "Halting State". The book is full of ideas and some challenging ones - like can we produce artificial intelligences similar to humans? Stross's answer is yes. I am kind of wondering if the people who made "Ghost In The Shell" might be interested in animating it. I think Charlie Stross would be down for it! Maybe someone could animate it and I could present the Renaissance and Baroque music for the soundtrack. Well, one day .... Great stuff! Full marks to Charlie Stross!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(13 of 25 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Rodrick Rules: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2
by
Jeff Kinney
C Horne
, April 20, 2009
I think Jeff Kinney hit the BullsEye with the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I first read some of it at the internet. However it did not take me long to figure out that I had to have a hard copy of this book. Once I got it, I read it from start to finish and was unable to put it down until the end. It is THAT hilarious! The writing by itself is good and the cartoons make all that even better! And I am not the only one to love it. Since the time I got it, my book is being borrowed again and again by all my friends. In fact, I haven't seen it myself for long. It is just being passed from one friend to another. And we are all waiting for the next book in the Wimpy Kid series. I don't have an older brother. But although Greg seems to be complaining a lot about his brother Roderick, I wish I could get all this kind of troubles that Greg gets with Roderick. Life would be that much more interesting!!!!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(29 of 46 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Are You There Vodka Its Me Chelsea
by
Chelsea Handler
C Horne
, April 20, 2009
All I can say is buy this book!!! I was reading it on my flight home yesterday and was laughing SO hard that people were staring at me...but I couldn't help it. Chelsea is just that funny! Her writing about her parents is the best. And as a redheaded woman, I agree with her about reheaded men from my own experience. I try to avoid them too. Plus, she's way funnier than that crazy Manc, Karl Pilkington.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(11 of 25 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Three Little Kittens & Other Favorite Nursery Rhymes
by
Tony Ross
C Horne
, April 18, 2009
Excellent bed time story book. My kids just love this book; and I have to admit so do I. It is full of the classic Nursery Rhymes as well as some I have never heard of. This a treasured book around our house. Great Read!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(13 of 23 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Host
by
Stephenie Meyer
C Horne
, April 17, 2009
It's been years since parasitic aliens calling themselves "Souls" have invaded Earth and taken over. Once a "Soul" is placed in a human host, the alien takes over and suppresses the human's mind. But when Wanderer awakes in her new body, she finds that her human host isn't so easily overcome. Melanie, her younger brother, and the man that she loves have been in hiding; and she'll do anything to get back to them, even resist the alien parasite that has taken over her body. The parasitic "Souls" are easy to dislike at first. But Meyer has given the alien race such a rich and colorful backstory that is truly fascinating. And Wanderer is a unique "Soul" who soon finds herself caring for the same people as her host, and finding herself torn between ties to her own people and the humans. It's been a long time since I've read such a stirring, science fiction tale that has made me go through so many emotions. The Host is a deep and beautiful story, and very different from Meyer's popular, young adult series. This is a rare story that made me stop and think about the choices that are made and what I would do in their place. Intense, exciting, dramatic, and inspiring, I'd highly recommend this novel to any reader, not only science fiction fans.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Last Lecture
by
Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow
C Horne
, April 17, 2009
The Last Lecture is a book filled with living-life-to-the-fullest advice from a college professor. While to some this might sound as interesting as reading a doctoral dissertation, you'd be surprised. The author, Randy Pausch, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon who was diagnosed with terminal cancer, writes so well that you'd probably let him teach you about computers too. Some things he talks about include: remember to laugh, seizing every moment, overcoming obstacles, appreciate the gifts you recieve, and enabling the dreams of others. Although the author died this year, his wisdom will no doubt be around awhile in this very enlightening book. Other books in this genre I liked include "Finding Happiness in a Frustrating World".
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Collected from American Folklore
by
Alvin Schwartz
C Horne
, April 16, 2009
If you are having a sleep over or planning a camping trip this book is a must. It is full of scary stories that I had never heard of before I read it. It is just the right amount of scare with the entertainment. It is a good book for kids ages 8-11; so no worries about nightmares. It is a good easy read and is a great addition to any sleep over or camping trip.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Chronicles of Narnia Movie Tie In Box Set Prince Caspian Rack
by
C S Lewis
C Horne
, April 16, 2009
I recently purchased this set from Powell's and reread this wonderful series. I had read them years ago when I was in school, but for some reason I decided to reread them now as an adult. I was wonderfully surprised to realize they were still able to capture my attention and leave me wanting more after each book. If you are reading these books for the first time or revisiting them they are an excellent read. This was an easy 5 Star rating from me!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
All the Sad Young Literary Men
by
Keith Gessen
C Horne
, April 13, 2009
What you want to know is whether or not the book is good enough to spend your hard earned wages on. It is. I toyed with the idea of not buying it and just reading it at Border's, but once I got 75 pages into it, I decided it wouldn't be a waste of money. It is not overly high brow like I thought it might be (I harbor a little resentment toward Ivy Leaguers), and even the parts that are crying out for a back slap from Mr. Intellectual don't detract from the book's entertaining qualities. I laughed out loud about three times. And that rarely happens when I read. I enjoyed the interplay of nuances and gross oversimplifications as they related to the characters' personal relationships, but grew a little bored with the obscure historical Russian references that were thrown in here and there. Also, I agree with Gessen on his take of being single in New York and under thirty: it is all about getting drunk and having sex. Whether or not you choose to over intellectualize it.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Paula Deen's the Deen Family Cookbook
by
Paula H. Deen
C Horne
, April 09, 2009
Omygosh...a cookbook that's a good read. What a concept. Paula makes cooking fun and just a little naughty...I mean...real butter, bacon, sugar and just the right amount of sauce. Thank goodness there are still cooks who create real food. Lots of great recipes...if I had to pick a favorite I guess it would be Michael's sinful twice baked potato...it's a meal unto itself. With the fabulous photography and easy instructions you can't miss...and believe me, I am no cook...but I can wow my guests with these recipes.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Jimmy Olsen Adventures
by
Jack Kirby
C Horne
, April 08, 2009
This work is very innovative considering how Marvel treated him. It marks the start of his Forever People Saga and the New Gods characters that were introduced later. I am very happy that the series was reprinted in color. The current black and white reprints don't do the stories justice. Someone at the corporate level must be listening to the fans, such as myself, who demand that Kirby's work has to be reprinted in color. I hope to see a lot more of these Kirby reprints in the future. Fans young and old alike can see where it all started.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed & Organic Materials Plus Tips & Resources for Earth-Friendly Stitching
by
Betz White
C Horne
, April 07, 2009
This book Feels good in my hands, feeds my hungrylittlecrafty-eyes, and is also nice to READ. Betz dicussses fabrics and thrift stores. The projects are: aprons mades from men's shirts (cute!), coasters from wool, (cute and different than other things I have seen), vintage napkins and rings from ruined old tablecloths,lounge pants from old cute sheets, pillows, an adorable draft-buster that looks like a branch, sweater-slippers, a wallet made from a shirt-cuff,a reversible wrap skirt,lunch tote, reusable sandwich wraps,more bags, a pillowcase skirt and MORE! I haven't sewn anything from this book yet, but have "walked" through a couple of the projects and the instructions seem solid. The patterns need to be enlarged, so I need to go to my copy center to get that done. This is a beautiful book that inspires me each time I look at it--I just like having it near! If you like to sew, you will probably find a few projects, at least, that you will want to make right away!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Vampyres of Hollywood
by
Adrienne Barbeau
C Horne
, April 01, 2009
Hollywood cop, Peter King is under pressure to solve a bizzare string of murders. Some of Hollywood's greatest talents are being murdered--in exceptionally disgusting manners. King is well-equipped for the job--his mother was a bit player herself and stays current on all the stars. Still, if he doesn't act quickly, he'll be out on the street. One thing he knows is, Scream-Queen Ovsanna Moore seems to be the connecting link to all the victims. What King has to decide is whether she's the killer or the next victim. Ovsanna Moore has followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother starring in countless low-budget Hollywood monster films. Only a few know her secret--that they weren't really her mother and grandmother at all but Ovsanna herself. Over five hundred years old, Ovsanna helped create Hollywood and has made herself Queen of the area. Orson Wells, Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolf Valentino, and several others are among her creations and, despite rumors to the contrary, they're still alive--or at least undead. But they're very worried--a vampyre hunter is on the loose and if Ovsanna doesn't vanish, they've decided they'll force the issue. Authors Adrienne Barbeau and Michael Scott combine to create a vision of Hollywood that's exact enough in the details to make the suspension of belief required to accept vampyres running the place to see easy. Ovsanna, in particular, comes off sympathetically--with her cynical attitude toward Hollywood, her willingness to fight for what she's made her own, and her ability to control some of Hollywood's scariest ancient stars. Bringing in old-time stars like Orson Wells adds a nice touch. VAMPYRES OF HOLLYWOOD rides a bit on the recent vampire wave, but it's definitely an enjoyable addition to the genre, with the Hollywood angle adding to the interest.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
One Nation Under Dog Adventures in the New World of Prozac Popping Puppies Dog Park Politics & Organic Pet Food
by
Michael Schaffer
C Horne
, March 31, 2009
One Nation Under Dog is witty, entertaining and informative as the author examines how the role of dogs and their relations to their owners are changing in America. The author uses interesting and surprising statistics to illustrate key points about the way we perceive our pets. At the same time, the author, while a keen observer, does not take sides in condoning or condeming a social trend that's easy to criticize without understanding. This is what makes this book such a delight. Dog lovers can enjoy it without guilt, and take some amusement at how much Fido means to them, and those who have no idea why anyone wants a dog will perhaps grasp the attraction.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(8 of 12 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Ten Stupid Things Couples Do to Mess Up Their Relationships
by
Laura Schlessinger
C Horne
, March 30, 2009
I don't agree with everything she says, but I have always learned something of value to me. So I began reading Dr. Laura's "How Could You Do That?" She re-enforced moral issues for me and started me re-evaluating several other issues. Having gotten good information from that book, I went on to read, "10 Stupid Things Women Do..." Low and behold my dating/relationship issues cleared up and I'm now on the path to marriage with a wonderful guy. So thinking I've resolved everything, I questioned what she new things she could tell me. Began skimming the book in a bookstore. Several chapters later, I realized I still have much to learn and she has a lot to teach. We get so caught up in ourselves, we stop thinking about the whole picture. A relationship is a group effort, made up of individuals, but it is a group. And it is bigger than it's parts. So when I get caught up in Pettiness (my perfectionism), Power Struggles (okay, yeah, I like to control situations), and Stupid Priorities (yes, I can say, "No." now) and look back on those chapters and get my head straight. I've already begun recommending it to my friends whenever they say..."I can't believe he/she just doesn't get it about X issue..." FOR THEM, not the person they're talking about!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Turtle Catcher
by
Nicole Lea Helget
C Horne
, March 29, 2009
I wasn't sure what to think when I ordered this book. The story line seemed interested enough, but I had no idea it was going to be such a surprising start. I thought this book was wonderfully written and dealt with subjects such as immigration to the U.S. from Germany during the war (which gives the reader insight into what made people leave their home countries and how they felt about it), how it felt to set up an entirely new life in foreign land, both trying to assimilate and keep a bit of your own heritage and then some surprising added issues that just bring everything together. This book is a yes, I'd definitely say give "The Turtle Catcher" a try.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
What Are the Seven Wonders of the World?: And 100 Other Great Cultural Lists--Fully Explicated
by
Peter D'Epiro and Mary Desmond Pinkowish
C Horne
, March 28, 2009
Among the recent spate of "cultural literacy" books, What are the Seven Wonders of the World? is in a class all its own. It takes a huge chunk of the western tradition and offers it up in easily digestible morsels--and does so (incredibly) without dumbing it down. On almost every page I found things I thought I knew but had forgotten--as well as plenty of others I should have learned but never did. But don't get me wrong. This book is FUN too. Horace put it best: An effective writer will mix the practical with the pleasurable ("utile dulci"), and entertain the reader at the same time he instructs. D'Epiro and Pinkowish do just that. If you know a lot about history, literature, or art, check this book out. If you don't, check it out too.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Tunnels 01
by
Roderick Gordon
C Horne
, March 27, 2009
The strength of Tunnels lies in its potential scope: a subterranean world, trapped by earth and time, a concept that pays subtle homage, intentionally or not, to Jules Verne's Journey to the Centre of the Earth. Gordon and Williams have crafted a detailed, albeit unsettling, vista for the wayward reader. Yet, as with the murky surrounds of The Deeps, it is not only the labyrinthine world that is dark, the themes and concepts contained within the book are equally so. There are scenes of torture, drug references and violence that nudge this book away from the comfort zone of the average teenager, or adult for that matter. Parental caution is advised for younger readers. Sadly, the problem with `Tunnels' lies not within the inventive and fascinating storyline, but in the narrative and aspects of character development. The first third of the book lacks pace, and runs the risk of losing all but the resilient by the time young Will Burrows finds The Colony on page 171. Another anomaly is the presence of two clear writing styles. This often leaves the reader off-kilter. And despite a book that runs for 460+ pages, the characters lack depth. In fact, it is difficult to connect to most of the characters, including the protagonist. So, you may well ask why is this reviewer giving Tunnels five stars? Well, I can see massive potential and clear scope in subsequent books. I suspect that by the end of this story people will gauge the whole rather than individual parts. I will be in line to read book two. Only then will one be able to judge, inexorably, just how deep Tunnels will really go.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant Ethnic & Regional Recipes from the Cooks at the Legendary Restaurant
by
Moosewood Collective
C Horne
, March 24, 2009
I have never been one to want to try new recipes especially non american ones. I was given this book by a coworker who marked a few that they thought I would enjoy. Man were they right. If you are looking for fast delicous recipes that are out of the ordinary this is the book for you. Very Tasty read!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(3 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant Ethnic & Regional Recipes from the Cooks at the Legendary Restaurant
by
Moosewood Collective
C Horne
, March 24, 2009
I havenever been one to want to try new recipes especially non american ones. I was given this book by a coworker who marked a few that they thought I would enjoy. Man were they right. If you are looking for fast delicous recipes that are out of the ordinary this is the book for you. Very Tasty read!
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(3 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Cloud Chamber
by
Joyce Maynard
C Horne
, March 19, 2009
Nate Chance's life was fine. He has a best friend that did almost everything with him. His father taught him everything he knows (which was quite a lot), but after a freak hailstorm killed off the hay crop that would take the family out of debt, everything changed. Nate's mother became a walking vegetable and Nate's best friend doesn't even act like Nate ever existed. Only sister Junie believes that everything will be better. Nate somehow sees a ray of light in his klutzy science partner, Naomi. If they could win 1st Place, they could see their father in a mental hospital on the way to the state finals. Of course, this would never have happened if his father wouldn't have shot himself. But what if this family falls apart before then? Only time will tell. The Cloud Chamber was one of the saddest books I've ever read! If you read this book because it sounds like a book full of hopes and dreams-- don't. It is sad in a very layered way. You get sad when the father shoots himself and even sadder when Nate's mother stops caring about life. There's a lot more layers that that. The descriptions and imagery in this book were amazing. I had an internal picture in my mind word for word through the entire book. You find yourself relating to all of the characters through your emotional journey. Towards the middle of the book, I hoped and prayed that the character's lives would turn back to normal. Overall I don't really count this as a book, but a life in itself - it was THAT extraordinary. Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Flannery A Life Of Flannery Oconnor
by
Brad Gooch
C Horne
, March 17, 2009
Brad Gooch's "Flannery" passes the test fundamental test for excellence in a biography: when the book is finished the reader fundamentally understands the subject of the book in a way he or she did not before. Brad Gooch's exhaustive research surely paid off as he fills in the details - about her family life, her medical conditions, her spirtual life and both the joys and difficulties of her writing. Perhaps what surprised me the most were the legion of friends and fans this very unusual women attracted living, as she did, a rather quiet life in a generally quiet place. Professor Gooch provides his readers with a very vivid portrait of Miss O'Connor's struggles - and how her faith and her sickness found their way into her works. As a Roman Catholic myself, reflecting on Miss O'Connor's strong faith in the face of her difficulties through this biography seemed very fitting for Lent.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(5 of 20 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Fetch
by
Laura Whitcomb
C Horne
, March 16, 2009
I thought this book was an enjoyable read. It dealt with an angel of sorts, who is sent to retrieve the souls of those who die. He falls in love with a human and breaks the rules of heaven by trying to cross over so that he can be with her. In the process he learns that there is forgiveness even for those who think they cannot be forgiven, and that love may come in a different form than what we expect. I think the writer set this book up to be part of a series, but I enjoyed it. I do not think it is for children 12 and up, but is more appropriate for 14 and up.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Bury the Chains Prophets & Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empires Slaves
by
Adam Hochschild
C Horne
, March 12, 2009
This is a well-written, readable account of the British movement to end the trade in slaves. Hochschild argues, with justification, that this movement was in some ways the template for all future political movements, complete with newsletters, buttons, and boycotts. The main weakness of the book, in my view, is its failure to appreciate the transatlantic nature of the anti-slavery movement in the late 18th and early 19th century. Hochschild mentions only a few American antislavery advocates (curiously including Jefferson in his list); he fails to mention John Jay (who served as first president of the New York Manumussion Society from 1784 onwards) and Alexander Hamilton (another member of the NY Manumussion Society and proponent during the Revolution of a scheme to enlist blacks in the army and "give them their freedom with their muskets.") Anthony Benezet, whose antislavery pamphlets preceded and indeed guided the British, is given a brief mention. Those interested in the US side of the story could consult Ron Chernow's book on Alexander Hamilton or my new biography of John Jay, set to appear in March, as well as more specialized works such as Zilversmit, First Emancipation.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(6 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Survivors Club The Secrets & Science That Could Save Your Life
by
Ben Sherwood
C Horne
, March 11, 2009
Here's a club everyone wants to be a member of. It's probably human nature to wonder if you have what it takes to survive in a crisis. This thought-provoking book not only profiles dozens and dozens of people who have done just that, it also gives you a way to grade yourself on your likely survivorship, and tips on how to raise your score. You even learn which seats on an airplane are the safest (be near an exit, and forget about that window seat). The three rules of the Survivors Club, according to author Ben Sherwood, are that everyone is a survivor, one person's crisis can't be compared to another's, and people are stronger than they know. Attitude has a lot to do with it. If you see yourself as a survivor, you'll likely be one. You learn many of the reasons why people do not survive. One is called the Incredulity Response -- people simply don't believe what they are seeing. Two gripping stories bring this idea to life. In the first, a car-ferry sinking in the Baltic Sea, many victims didn't move or try to get out of the sinking ship, but were rather "frozen to the spot" looking like "marble statues, pale and immoveable." 852 passengers died. In the second story, a fire in London's Underground train station killed 31 people, with many commuters marching "right into the disaster, almost oblivious to the crush of people -- some actually in flames -- who were trying to escape." "Brainlock" is another reason some people in crisis die. They respond to the shock of the situation by forgetting to think. "Under stress... people often display memory problems. They seem to forget what they're supposed to do." This isn't good if you're skydiving. As Sherwood puts it, "panic is the archenemy of survival." The final section of the book is devoted to helping you understand your own survivor potential, with quizzes to take and a website to visit. Reading this book will make you think about how you live your life, and ways to ensure you can keep on living. It's fascinating.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(3 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
The Graveyard Book
by
Neil Gaiman
C Horne
, March 10, 2009
The Graveyard Book isn't just a middle grade book - just as the inspiring Jungle Book can be enjoyed by adults, so can Gaiman's well-composed scary-but-not-too-scary novel. The opening scene is the most chilling in the book - after murdering the rest of the family, the 'man Jack' stalks the infant, and the descriptions are indeed spine-tingling. That might disturb the younger readers, but once you get past the first chapter it settles into a less-scary tale. It has some other moments of conflict and fright, but I never got the feeling that Bod was truly in peril in those, and while Gaiman certainly describes those well the shivers were less than from the opening scene. Gaiman does what too few authors do - stretches the language and the mind of the reader, even in a book marketed for young adults. He does this not in an uncomfortable, 'what am I reading' way, but in a manner that raises the curiosity, by throwing in an interesting word or phrase that scratches at the mind and enriches the reading experience. He doesn't waste opportunities, from something as simple as mentioning the epitaph on the various tombstones as each inhabitant is encountered, or by taking something that could be simple such as ghouls and making them comical characters while retaining their horror. He seldom settles for the expected or happy-ever-after endings, and the result is more believable and satisfying. This was a fast-paced and very enjoyable read, and is highly recommended for young and old.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(8 of 18 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Hurry Down Sunshine A Memoir
by
Michael Greenberg
C Horne
, March 09, 2009
"On July 5, 1996, my daughter was struck mad." With that perfect opening line author Michael Greenberg draws us into his bewildering summer 12 years ago, when he and his family learned more than they wanted to know about the frustrating world of mental illness. He writes with a more literate pen than many, in this age of books written at the sixth-grade reading level, and does so with enough feeling that I got to know these people well enough that I wish his book were twice as long. If that's my only complaint, you know I have to rate this as one of the best books I've read in years.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(20 of 34 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Handle With Care
by
Jodi Picoult
C Horne
, March 04, 2009
Jodi Picoult... ...does it again! A great book, stimulating and emotional. It is not leisure reading by any means. But if you have read Picoult's other books, you already know she incorporates tough issues in her novels. You won't be disappointed.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment
Associate
by
Grisham, John
C Horne
, March 03, 2009
I have to confess that I haven't read any books by John Grisham in a while, but when "The Associate" hit the bookstores, I felt compelled to read this book. I was taken back by the great difference in opinion with current reviews, but quickly put them aside as I enjoyed the book with only a couple of objections. It is true that this story is somewhat reminiscent of "The Firm", but with a distinction of the outside sources blackmailing the main character into stealing secrets from the biggest law firm in the world. Young Yale graduate, Kyle McAvoy, is being blackmailed by an unknown secret source and by a handler known only as "Bennie Wright" for his participation in a possible frat house rape years before. McAvoy must secretly steal documents from a large and controversial lawsuit or fear the consequences of a damaging video going public. This book is an easy read in Grisham's typical storytelling style. Then the story picks up with interesting angles and begins to unfold in the usual entertaining fashion. At times, I did feel that the book read more like a field report from a private investigator than a thriller novel. My main complaint would be that the character of "Bennie Wright" should have been more of an integral part of the storyline. We needed to see this crafty and secret character conducting business so that it would really pull the reader into a more suspenseful mode for McAvoy. I think the reader would have felt more distress and not feel cheated with the ending. As far as the ending goes, it has an ending but maybe not as satisfying as most would like. If you want a nice easy weekend read in the standard Grisham style, I would recommend this book.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment