Customer Comments

I was worried that this was going to be "just another YA paranormal romance about a dorky awkward girl who travels through time and meets a guy who she hates at first but then falls in love with him." I am always wary of YA books where romance is considered a selling point, because invariably the characters will be so obsessed over the "will-they-won't-they" factor that they don't ever get around to actually DOING much except screwing up. I WAS SO WRONG. Kerstin Gier is a brilliant storyteller. The main character, Gwyneth, was wonderfully dimensional. She does not fall into the "Family Dork" trope, nor the "destined for something more" cliche; I actually found her quite likable and credible. Oh, and the book isn't about romance; it's about the genetic disposition for time travel. And it actually makes sense, and the two love interests are from the same time period, so there's no "star-crossed lover" sort of tripe that usually clutters up YA novels with this premise! VERY fascinating! This first book does an incredible job of both "setting the board" with the characters, if you will, and presenting questions that no doubt will be answered in the next books. Here I go into another series!

Gorgeous and magical. Have I said enough how much I enjoy the retellings of Cameron Dokey? Because I love them, every part of them. First, Cameron starts with a world where magic is acknowledged and exists, but is feared and relegated to isolated areas where "nobody goes." Then she fashions the Princess Aurore as a headstrong girl cooped up inside the castle (instead of sent far away) under the watchful eye of her father (instead of shunned by him) who only wants to be outside and free. Clever Cameron deftly weaves a tale that at first seems "all wrong," but then she manages to pull in the details we know so well at just the right moment to turn her thrilling story into the fairy tale it was always meant to be. I loved the characters and I loved the way this story worked!

Whee! I am breathless, I am tense, I am giggling like a crazy person... And I could not be happier with this series!! What Meyer has done with Cinderella, with Red Riding Hood, and now with Rapunzel is so much more wonderful than anything I have ever seen, or (I believe) will ever see in the future! Her writing is a spectacular example of how to foreshadow without ever letting on that you're foreshadowing... For example, she introduces the airship Rampion in the last book... but I was halfway through this one before I suddenly realized... "Wait a minute.... RAMPION!" and suddenly it was hilarious and delightful. She adds characters each time, and they're all connected somehow, (Cinder is searching for Scarlet's grandmother, and Cress is the girl who first contacted Cinder to let her know that the Lunar Queen was up to no good!) and I am hopelessly and shamelessly in love with each and every one of them! Anybody who loves both sci-fi and fairy tales simply must get their hands on these first three books of the Lunar Chronicles... Meanwhile I am on absolute pins-and-needles for the release of the fourth (and final?) book, Winter!

To be honest, I had always hated geometry. It has long been one of the most confusing and least practical branches of arithmetic. Leave it to Sanderson to make it entertaining! In his alternate world where the regions of the United States are all islands separated by waterways, there is a sort of Rithmatic power that brings two-dimensional chalk drawings to life�"and attacks depend on certain angles, one's defense is only as strong as one's ability to inscribe perfect geometric shapes, and those who can't draw are vulnerable to those who can. Not only is Sanderson's story accompanied by detailed diagrams that coincide with descriptions in the story and add an air of legitimacy to the situations described, but the characters are distinct and wonderfully individual. Many of them made me laugh! I really enjoyed this book!

Meyer does it again! Her characters are real and entertaining, the mesh of fairy tale with dystopian sci-fi is absolutely stellar, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book! She's telling a different story (Red Riding Hood, to the last book's Cinderella) but the treatment is the same... And in the process of introducing a new story and new characters, Meyer does a fantastic job of continuing where she left off in the last story and then bringing two girls from opposite sides of the world together. I love they way she foreshadows... Suddenly things that seemed small and insignificant in one storyline become central to the action in the next book, so you'd better pay attention! I loved every minute of this story!

Set in a future where humans own android servants, Cinder, as a cyborg, is definitely a second-class citizen. Her "stepmother" is the wife of the man who adopted her and died soon after, leaving this shallow, materialistic woman with two daughters and a cyborg. The winks and nods to the original fairy tale fit wonderfully into this new setting (like the "pumpkin coach" is an "ancient" orange-colored Volkswagen Beetle that she fixes up to drive herself to the ball) and the twists and new sides of the story are both intriguing and amusing. I loved all of the characters, it made me smile, squeal, giggle, hold my breath, gasp--a general evocation of all the feelings one wants from a book! Cinder is no Mary-Sue, and the other characters are given their own dose of intrigue and made every bit as interesting as the "central couple." I am excited to see what she has done with other tales as I continue through the series!

This pleasant little book had me grinning as I read it all the way through. This delightful story was recommended to me by a friend, and I couldn't be more grateful. I am an avid fan of Alcott any day of the week, and this book was 11 hearty chapters of "I'm with you there, sister; weren't the Marches just awesome?" The Atwaters were every bit as dimensional and fascinating as the March girls, their fictional ancestors, and for the first time ever reading a book I had the distinct impression of reading a character that could have been inspired by key characteristics in my own life, in the middle Atwater daughter, Lulu. The book spanned a year, just like the original novel, and focused on the escapades of three sisters: Emma--whose name is actually Josephine, as the tradition has been for the oldest girl in the family to be named thus, yet she goes by her middle name; Lulu--the one who majored in biochemistry because it was an interesting field, but not one with very much of a career, so she is working at a small bookstore and still trying to find her niche; and Sophie--the baby, the dramatist, the actress who's hungry for her next big break. Their parents, Fee and David, are loving and supportive of their girls. Also living at the house is "The American Lodger", a mysterious man named Tom whom we don't see much of for most of the book. In and out of the lively British home are friends of the family: Charlie, the exotic Irish-Italian heiress who shared a flat with Lulu; Matthew, Emma's fiance; and Jamie, Sophie's oft-ignored boyfriend. The book was well-paced, the characters every bit as dear as one could wish, and I can honestly say that this was one of the few books I've ever read that I actually enjoyed the activity of reading itself!

A sweet, innocent story every bit as enchanting as the original. A childless couple, a coastal kingdom, a stormy night... And the catch of a lifetime: a young girl with extraordinarily pale hair and skin and extraordinarily long legs. She is raised fearing water, feeling like a foreigner in her own community, befriended by the only person outside her family who doesn't sneer at her for being different: he happens to be the crown prince. One day, her whole life turns around when she meets two strangers--one is blind, the other mute--who seem to know her by a different name, and who claim to be former mermaids who received their human shape from a sea witch who took the aforementioned senses as payment. Also involved is a rather nefarious plot by a double-dealing duke who is interested in usurping the royal crown, and has just the innocent pawns conveniently positioned to help his plan along... The book thrilled me from start to finish. I wanted to read it over again... and I want to read others like it. I want to read every single one of these re-told fairy tales; I am so going to own them. As far as I can tell, the series is penned collectively by three different authors, yet each holds the same tender care and vivid beauty that made the original stories so beloved; now they are timeless, and we can fall in love with them all over again.

Wow! Sanderson has done it again! Sometime in the future, Calamity (some kind of celestial entity) explodes, turning some of the human population into Epics: people with superhuman powers. One Epic in particular decides to use his elevated status and power of invincibility to set himself up as ruler of Newcago: Steelheart. He is unstoppable, incalculable, untouchable... Except this one time, when an innocent young boy saw him bleed as Steelheart killed his father. From that day, David devotes himself to the study of the Epics, intent on making Steelheart bleed a little more fatally this time. He crosses paths with the Reckoners, a group of resistance fighters intent on bringing down the Epics, and it looks like he might get the chance he's been waiting for. Once again, Sanderson uses real-world concepts in astonishing new ways, populates his world with relatable, funny, intriguing characters, and imparts relevant life truths for the reader's benefit even after the book is over. I loved reading Steelheart because of the fantastic adventure it was. The whole novel is poised with calculated artistry and the signature Sanderson Flair. Totally going to read the sequel!

Glorious and epic. Some authors exhaust their genius on a work of this caliber�"but Brandon has cared to practice developing his characters first in other novels, and so this comes out in vivid Technicolor with "Mistborn"! The world of his novel is grey and ash-laden; the characters can't even imagine plants that are green, not brown. In this world, there exists a science called Allomancy, which is the ability to "burn" metals within one's digestive system, which enhances or unleashes certain abilities (pewter enhances resilience; tin super-enhances the senses, and so on). It's a world that should be as complicated as "Dune", but Sanderson keeps it all relatively confined to one city�"Luthandel�"and one resistance group seeking to bring down the Lord Ruler who has set himself up as God and Chosen One. Whereas I felt like Herbert was deliberately setting up Arrakis as his land of all the anti-Protestant religions, such as Islam and Catholicism and even pantheism as a definite exclusion of said Christianity, Sanderson thought to include religion in just such a way that the resistance affirms the Lord Ruler is not the god he claims to be, and there is another character, Sazed, whom I absolutely adore, who has all of this knowledge about hundreds of different religions, and he is always recommending religions to his fellow fighters, based on their personality. There's a definite gravity and respect for religion there, not just a "grind-it-in-your-face" attitude. It's funny, but respectful. Meanwhile, you have the one girl who is a natural Mistborn without realizing it, so the others must train her in the art of Allomancy; the Survivor who endured unspeakable torture and has the most to gain or lose depending on the outcome; and�"because Sanderson is awesome�"then you have Lestibournes, renamed Spook because one of the characters can't pronounce his name, who is by far the most creative, crazy character I have ever encountered in all the books I have read. It seems like Sanderson, exclusively for this character, invented the most convoluted, upside-down-and-backward way of speaking EVER. For example, the name "Lestibournes" is actually derived from the phrase "Lefting I'm born", or "I was abandoned as an infant." At another point, Spook says, "Wasing of the wishing to happen he had!" (Or something like that) meaning "He wanted this to happen!" There is even one whole conversation the others have in this crazy "street slang" that I had to read THREE TIMES and I was laughing so hard because I could not make head or tails of it! Sanderson's characters will tug at your heart and take your breath away. I highly recommend any of his books!

Joss Whedon once said: "Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough... Then for the love of God, tell a joke!" As a committed Whedonite (Whedonian?) it is most certainly a high compliment when I say that Lawrence has officially succeeded as "the Joss Whedon of Fantasy." The man just does NOT slow down! Just when you might think a spin-off from a series will likely not be as good as the original�"or at worst, just a copy of the other characters and plot�" Lawrence gives us Jalan Kendeth: a prince of far less ambition than Jorg, which he makes up for in cowardice�"but at the same time, the dry humor Jalan plies makes this book much lighter than the Thorns trilogy (I giggled quite a bit through this one!) but no less compelling, as Jalan unwittingly ends up on the business end of a curse that should have killed him, but instead ties his fate with that of a big burly Norseman named Snorri. I loved Snorri. He balanced Jal perfectly: brave where Jal was cowardly, strong where Jal was weak, wise where Jal was foolish�"and the two of them traveling together was downright funny! The stakes are even higher on this trilogy: what is killing people to become Emperor compared to breaking a curse, finding the key to the supposed Underworld, and stopping a war?

All the wiles of a Shakespeare villain in a teenage warrior traversing a world that throws time completely backwards at every turn. The more I read it, the more I realize that this series is like crack: so many features that would automatically go on my "bad" list... but soo phenomenally irresistible! The Broken Empire series consistently defies my every attempt to put it down. Yes, the antihero is a 15 year old boy--but he has managed to reclaim his kingdom, and so is no longer a prince, but still on the run. He leads with all the cunning and bloodlust of Richard III, yet the depictions are chillingly straightforward and disturbingly well-written. As for anachronisms--really, there aren't any. I have been totally hoodwinked by the "medieval" setting of this novel, duped into thinking this book was cliche. In your average book that deals with kings and horses and knights and vagrants, the setting becomes an assumption, a byproduct of the characters. Lawrence defies long centuries of "tradition" by giving us a setting that uses the medieval references--but then you realize that this boy king is wearing an "ancient" device called a wristwatch, and that the structure they're calling "Tall Castle" is actually a glass-and-steel skyscraper, and at one point he passes by a building printed with the incomprehensible words from a bygone age that make no sense in the present era: "No Overnight Parking." What is this sorcery? Ordinarily I would not stomach a book that seems to rival "Game of Thrones" for body count... but by jingo, I have to find out what happens!

Bizarrely captivating in an oddly chilling sort of way. Yet another book that I probably wouldn't have picked if it hadn't been recommended to me... and as somebody squeamish, I freely confess I did not like some of the images it brought to my brain... but... Ohhhhh boy! The main character of this book is neither heroic nor in any way noble... in fact, he is an antihero, bent on revenge and obsessed with murder. Yet Lawrence presents his whole cast of thieving, murderous characters like a collector of venomous snakes displaying his array of vile creatures: carefully, in a way that demands respect, and with such thrilling ease that one cannot turn away. The loyalty these vagrants have to the Prince as the true heir and their leader is certainly worth noting, and the thirteen-year-old's mastery of battle strategy and princely protocol is not something to be taken lightly. It is a very bloody book (almost like a YA "Game of Thrones", perhaps) and yet there are several things�"the unique setting, for one, and the character development, for another�"that compel me to see this series through.

A rousing mystery from start to finish! King and Maxwell are at it again, with an intriguing story that quite literally crosses their path one stormy night. Running up against conspiracy buried under conspiracy, the two agents face stonewalls at every turn as they attempt to answer the one question posed by their unexpected teenage client: "Is my dad dead like the military says he is, or not?" I have loved King and Maxwell as a highly inventive series and as unique characters from start to finish. Baldacci gives them life and lets them balance each other and play off each other through all six books, and it is wonderfully satisfying. Having simultaneously experienced at least two other "thriller" authors who feature female main characters, Michelle is a refreshing mix of equal parts tough and sensitive; Baldacci carries more insight into a tomboyish only-girl-in-a-cop-family than Patterson and his gaggle of "lady crimestoppers." You'll find yourself as much attracted to her wit and logic as you might be repulsed by the legendary landfill-of-a-truck she drives. If you like mystery, intrigue, writing that feels well-researched and plenty of characters presented with such depth one can almost picture them as unique individuals instead of celebrity portrayals, King and Maxwell is for you!

This was my first non-"King & Maxwell" Baldacci novel, and... It was still amazing. It starts innocently enough: a con-man with spectacular costuming and makeup skills sails into a small Georgia town and offers a poverty-stricken single mother the chance to guarantee her win of the hundred-million dollar national lottery. Her drug-dealing boyfriend gets killed over drug money, so she has plenty of motivation to want to leave her old life behind like this man wants her to... she wins, and goes on the run with the man who's supposed to protect her and make sure her cover stays in place... Ten years later, the case is drug up by an ambitious journalist, and old secrets come to light... loyalties tested... but how can the Feds find a man whose real face no one has ever seen? It was a very intense read, one that kept me tearing through the chapters and wondering what was going to happen next. Baldacci still crafts an amazing cast of characters and a driving mystery with twists and reveals saved all the way to the very end!

Baldacci weaves an interesting mystery and intense drama that pulls characters from several different directions and manages to connect them all, give the readers some informative tidbits as a garnish, and reveal more about his leading characters besides. Finally, we get to learn about the part of Michelle Maxwell's past that I have been wondering about since reading "Simple Genius", and it brings a certain level of closure. "First Family" of course refers to the First Family that is the centerpiece of the novel�"but the concept of family is also driven home for King and Maxwell, as the difficulties they face brings Michelle closer to her estranged family, while King observes. A great book, and I can't wait to move on to the next one!

The job of a government hit man is never through. The minute he finishes one job, it's on to another. This time, the agency is after one of their own, an assassin as good as�"if not better than�"Robie himself. It's a race, killer against killer, and all is not as it seems. I love the way Baldacci crafts his characters in a very realistic manner, with a keen sense of pacing and detail. The development of both Robie and Reel is stellar in form. Two killers with the similar skill set, tracking each other and making hits that leave the ignorant victims and witnesses with their heads spinning, thinking a traceless ghost has done the impossible. Only--Baldacci is so meticulous with his descriptions that the reader knows exactly how it was done, and we are left in awe of individuals with finely-honed skills. Also highly entertaining is to read the acknowledgements at the end of each book and find out that one of the things Baldacci does is name characters after charity donors who request it! And the characters are always amazing. Well played, sir!

Another epic win for Baldacci! As the last book in the trilogy, it's a fast-paced culmination that weaves each character's story together. I found Jessica's backstory intriguing, and it was fun that Julie was involved (I missed her, the last book! She's probably my favorite!) Baldacci is a master storyteller with an epic sense of pacing and character development. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down!

Baldacci does it again! It is so rare to come across an author who can pen characters so distinct from each other and so indelible that they fairly live in the minds of the readers. Each time I read a Baldacci novel, I come away wondering if I'd heard of a similar situation on the news somewhere. Baldacci proves himself a master of mystery and heartwarming "family values": not only in the gradually-deepening relationship between King and Maxwell that moves at a credible pace through the novels, sliding through bouts of mistrust and distance, and coming to a close here at the end of the series, but also in this particular novel, between half-siblings Edgar and Kelly. Who else can write a character who doesn't say a word for forty chapters, and yet we are fully acquainted with him as we are with those who say a lot, but reveal so little about their true selves? Only Baldacci delivers such a full and enduring thrill-ride for readers everywhere!

Marissa Burt does it again! After finishing STORYBOUND thirsting for more, I immediately acquired STORY'S END--and it did not disappoint in the least. With the same inspired pen that created the world of Story and began the adventures of Una Fairchild, Marissa Burt draws us deeper still into the various "genres" of Story--its cities and municipalities--and engages us in the war against the Enemy who desires to set himself up as King of Story, with the power to Write a new Story, all according to his whims and under his control. A rousing adventure from start to finish, and a fitting End to the Tale of Una Fairchild!

It was by pure chance that I came across this book--and after reading it I wondered if it could have been Fate. Storybound is an epic tale set in the world of Story, where Characters attend classes, learn lessons, and take Practical Exams to receive their Roles in the stories we know and love. Una Fairchild has been Written In to Story--but who would have the power to do such a thing? What reason could they have? and can she ever return to her own world? I fell in love with each of the characters; I laughed, I cheered, I trembled--this is the way Fantasy ought to be written.

A friend recommended this book, and when I first picked it up, I had no idea what I was getting into. By the time I finished the first page, I knew I would not be able to put it down--I had to find out what would happen next! The story held me in its thrall to the very end; I saw the various characters she wrote about. I felt the pain of betraying her friend and her country as she spilled secret after secret because her life depended on it. I felt her fear as every day might be her last. This is truly a tale not to be missed.

"Beautiful" is certainly a word I would use to describe not just the content of this book, but the style in which the authors communicate. Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl have collaborated and produced a picture of the South that is haunting, vivid, and yes--BEAUTIFUL. I love everything about the way this book is written: the language, the descriptions, the pacing and flow. This story was a pleasure from start to finish!

One of the things I love about Crichton is his ability to make even the most mundane of objects--such as the small catch-lever on a printer, or a single cell of an organism--carry the greatest importance. "Andromeda Strain" synthesizes the mysteries of biology and technology and creates a breathtaking mystery that kept me hooked till the very end!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book. I admit, I was a bit jostled by the first few pages. Jonathan's style flows directly from one thought to the next, sort of like stream-of-consciousness, without being so deliberately adamant in the aversion to anything remotely organized. And yet, the more I read, the more I had to think about. This is more than just the abstract ramblings of a young boy's thoughts and interactions in a borough of New York. This is a son trying to gather the scattered memories of his father in the wake of unspeakable tragedy. This is a boy trying to reconnect with someone he will never see again. This is one person among millions who latches onto even the smallest aspect of everyday life that the rest of us take for granted, and use it to restore meaning and purpose to his life. Because the more we are inclined to feel like everyone around us is silent and far away, the more we realize that the world is shouting, and it's extremely loud and incredibly close.

Wow! What an incredible book! Just when Artemis was beginning to turn into something of a hero as opposed to the arch-criminal he had set out to become--he falls under the grips of an Atlantis Complex, a complicated psychological condition that threatens to destroy everything he has built over time. Now Holly Short must come to the aid of the one human she has begun to regard as a friend--but can Artemis be trusted ever again?

I read this book in one sitting and ended up so befuddled I had to sit and try not to think for several minutes afterward. Colfer delivers a truly mixed-up adventure in which Artemis Fowl finally faces a worthy nemesis: himself, before he became fixated with the fairy world. In a mind-boggling adventure of time travel, magic, and paradoxes, this book takes the reader on a wild ride that will mystify and intrigue far beyond the last page.

If fairy technology could be used in the manufacture of a computer... it would be much smaller and faster and more versatile than our own--and it would be designed by Artemis Fowl. A Artemis attempts to profit from his invention, but of course, even a twelve-year-old does not have complete control over the circumstances. The double-cross costs Butler his life, and now Artemis must rescue his invention (that never should have existed) or risk putting the entire Lower Elements in jeopardy. Colfer's ability to create loveable and realistic characters like Mulch Diggums and Foaly out of thin air is skill indeed. It is a marvelous series, and each book better than the last.

If Danny Ocean lived in the early 19th century... he would have done what Edward Pierce did. The "First Great Train Robbery," in a time when such things as safes and trains were considered nearly impregnable, receives a thorough exposition under the pen of Michael Crichton. I enjoyed the detail and the realism, the dedication to the context, and the excitement of a real, elaborate heist.

I found this book at the library and knew I had to read it, since I had read and loved "The Inheritance", also by Simon Tolkien. The Tolkien name is certainly synonymous with literary quality. Like his grandfather before him, Simon continues his foray into the life of Inspector Trave, showing us the worth of a man as Inspector Trave goes up against everyone else in Scotland Yard to prove that an unscrupulous man has framed one innocent man in the murder of another--the same man who is busy seducing Trave's oft-neglected wife. Has his professional capacity been compromised by his personal interests? Strong, quality writing, a compelling tale, and marvelously alive characters make "King of Diamonds" a fantastic tale that must be finished once it is begun!

I picked up this book on a whim off the library shelf because it bore the surname "Tolkien." I knew and loved the "Lord of the Rings", and part of me was marginally curious to see if his grandson had inherited any of the talent that made the family name legendary. Nothing prepared me for the gripping intensity of the tale contained within. Mr. Tolkien, a barrister, communicates clearly the details and process of a trial, meanwhile crafting a setting of lies and deception and half-truths and secrets and a staunch Inspector that would have every famous detective in classic literature nodding with pride. This was a wonderful book, a compelling mystery, and Inspector Trave is a man certainly worth rooting for!

I read the English version of this book. I. LOVED. IT. Bradbury totally revolutionized my perspective on books and their value (ironic, because the story is about book-burning...) I loved the frequent literary references and quotes, and the message contained in this unique adventure is one that we need to be reminded of every generation or so. I would recommend it for all my friends. If you enjoy reading, you MUST READ "Farenheit 451."

Agatha Christie does it again! The Queen of Mystery delivers a mystery full of red herrings, compelling motives, and the fingers that point around and around to everyone in general, but no one in particular. Chance encounters turn out to have surprising significance, and Poirot ferrets them all! A spectacular mystery (and a side of Captain Hastings) you won't want to miss!

Colfer does it again! Another day, another mystery to solve, and a major crisis to avert! Colfer's creativity knows no bounds as he reinvents the fantasy world of creatures like fairies, dwarves, and the like. Artemis' uncanny ability to strategize beyond anyone's expectation meets his match, and this time, it involves family. How far will Artemis go to protect the secrets he knows of the Lower Elements, and the power they provide? A series that delivers entertainment for young and old alike!

This was my first Isaac Asimov book. I was moderately familiar with the author, having seen the movie "I, Robot," but the wealth of detail and the richness of his plot, coupled with the simple style of writing was much beyond any other science fiction author I have ever read. Asimov is truly the "Father of Modern Science Fiction", and Grand Master of the craft. A very enchanting, thought-provoking read. They just don't write them like they used to!

I started reading Agatha Christie because of my love for Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. Her mysteries are suspenseful, artful, fascinating, and admirably executed. This particular mystery was by far the creepiest. So many times I thought I knew how it would all end up... and yet still Christie manages to evade her readers and smuggle her killer out of view until the last moment, where she displays true finesse in her treatment of the denouement for a finish that will stick with you for weeks after you finish reading!

I wasn't sure how this book would be in terms of Christian fiction. I was pleased to find that the characters had realistic struggles, believable personalities, and they didn't use their faith as an "every-question-answered" fall-back. I would say this is the least overt Christian fiction novel I've ever read. I appreciate the way it did not fall into the romantic-cliche that seems to plague other Christian books. Francine Rivers is truly a spectacular author in the way she writes about real-life characters having real-life reactions to real-life situations.

They don't make them like they used to! As a bit of an "old-fashioned girl" for my generation, I found Louisa May Alcott's novel pleasantly refreshing and comforting. The pleasantness of Polly and her friendship with the Shaw family shows that styles my come and go, but "old-fashioned" manners are never out of fashion!

I had heard of this book while studying literature in college, mostly as "a book by Ray Bradbury," not so much for its content. Nothing quite prepared me for the story behind the title! Bradbury is one of the most intriguing dystopian authors I have ever read. His book takes something dear to my heart--literature--and explores the look of a world where that thing is considered hazardous material, fit only for burning. I was near-horrified at the perceptiveness of the way Bradbury presented the fact that a world without literature would quite literally be a world without thought. I loved the way his characters constantly referenced and cited the old classic works of literature, immortalizing them on the pages of this book, even as the characters obliterated them one by one. Everyone must read this book!

The "Enchanted Castle" was the first of Edith Nesbit's books I ever read, and by far the most charming. Three children come across a young girl while exploring a dilapidated mansion that she only pretends is the "enchanted castle"--until to their surprise they discover that it really IS enchanted! So begins adventures galore as the four friends' attempts to right the accident wrongs done unwittingly by the newly-awakened enchantment result in more delightful chaos and a truly unbelievable tale!

A charming adventure! Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have your wishes granted for a whole day? Have you ever wondered what sort of creature would have the ability to grant those wishes? Nesbit takes her readers on a wild romp through the English countryside (among other places) with five siblings who are having trouble coping with the absence of their parents during wartime. From buckets of gold to their infant brother grown into a man at a moment's hasty, mayhem is sure to follow when the Psammead (sand-fairy) named IT grants them one wish for an entire day!

Dee Henderson has achieved the place as one of my favorite mystery/drama authors. I have absolutely fallen in love with the O'Malleys: Marcus, Kate, Stephen, Lisa, Jennifer, Jack, and Rachel. Kate's book, "The Negotiator", goes deep inside the life of someone who regularly puts their life on the line to try and defuse an extremely volatile, highly dangerous situation. Henderson handles it all with finesse: danger, romance, and the close ties that bind a family. A marvelously good read!

I had my misgivings when I first picked up this book. A 12-year-old millionaire criminal mastermind? Just how many loose juvenile fiction cliches can one combine? Yet Eoin Colfer blew me away from page one. His fantasy creatures are diverse and creative, defying every stereotype traditional fantasy literature has placed on them. While, yes, young Master Fowl seems rather too young to be blessed with a cunning akin to Sherlock's Moriarty (not to mention as many gadgets as James Bond), he moves through it all with chilling grace and ease. A wonderful adventure for young and old alike.

A fairy-tale for the ages! Shannon Hale's adventure takes you far beyond the traditional and into a deeper world of magic and adventure, crafting an underlying motivation for the antagonist that both does proper homage to the original tale and moves beyond it for a truly compelling storyline. I want to read all the Bayern books!

An extremely intense book! Herbert's masterpiece makes you feel like you're reading a tale from ancient history, so thorough are his details, from the locations of the planets to the description of the kinds of clothes they wear, based on the climate they live in! An adventure that will leave you awestruck and pensive for a long time afterwards!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found myself compelled at times to read it aloud-- just to see what would happen! Cornelia's descriptions are so clear I could see them in my mind's eye, her plot is sound, and her character developments are absolutely endearing. I almost had to read it all in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down! An enthralling adventure... and this is only the beginning!

Persuasion is an excellent novel, Jane Austen's best. I thoroughly loved reading and experiencing Anne's trials along with her, as she carefully maintained her moral purity throughout the course of some very trying situations. Anne Elliot strikes me as one of the more docile of Jane Austen's women. She is not headstrong like Elizabeth Bennet, nor immature like Emma Woodhouse. Instead, she is quiet, amiable, unconditionally loving regardless of whether she receives love in return, and perpetually thinking as well of everyone as she can. This is an enchanting tale of heartbreak, faithfulness, acceptance, and forgiveness.

This is absolutely my all-time favorite novel, the best I've read in a long time. Cleverly, Goldman weaves a tale where fantasy is matter-of-fact--history, even--and captivates the creative mind in spite of anachronistic references, (such as talking about Princess Buttercup wearing jeans), poking fun at "Morgenstern" (really, himself; some of my friends did not even realize that the "good parts version" was the only version!), and an altogether unorthodox yet entertaining style. I read this book and I'm laughing the whole time, cheering for Westley, and voyaging together with the characters on an unforgettable journey.

You always thought you knew the tale... until you've read it like this! The relationship between Fish and Rose is tactfully developed under Regina's careful, respectful direction. The mystery of one's past, the intrigue of back-room medical conspiracies, the struggle of trying to "fit in" at college in another state--all are relevant to today's youth. Yet who would expect Sleeping Beauty to fit into modern society so well? I thoroughly enjoyed this book, all the way through. Regina has crafted a series of "new classics" that are timeless enough, and relevant enough to last through the ages.

This is the second book in Regina's "Fairy Tales, Re-Told" series, but it is every bit as good as the first! I received it from a friend and read the whole thing in one sitting! The correlations to the original fairy tale are unmistakable, but at the same time, the mystery is so compelling that you really don't feel like you're reading a mystery at all! Snow White's troubles and struggles are explored in a whole new light with a modern-day setting, and I've found a whole new set of characters to love, as much as I loved the old fairy tale. A thrilling tale from start to finish!

This is a fantastic book, spectacularly re-spun into the exact sort of fiction novel we all love to read. Yes, it's based on a fairy tale, and the way Regina includes segments of the original fairy tale along with her "re-configuration" serves as an easily-forgotten reminder that this is indeed a re-told fairy tale. Unlike "Beastly," Regina's book crafts a tale centered on its characters and retains the magical nature of the fairy tale without cheapening the personalities of her characters one iota! A thrilling mystery, an awe-inspiring romance, and a marvelous book from the first page to the last!

This is quite possibly my favorite Louisa May Alcott novel. An innocent, orphaned young girl, having lived with several great-aunts following the death of her father, is at once thrust into not one but TWO of the worst situations she could ever imagine: the arrival of her "wild, seafaring" uncle who is now her guardian, and the descent of not a few, but seven "dreadful boy" cousins. What will become of young Rose now? With the skill and tenderness of a thoughtful writer, Alcott takes Rose and the reader through many encounters and unexpected adventures as Rose learns valuable moral lessons on love, caring, obedience, and true modesty from the unlikeliest of sources: her Uncle Alec. Reading this book again and again, I am constantly struck with the care with which Louisa Alcott crafts her characters. Each individual is distinct: the responsible leader Archie, fun-loving, lackadaisical Charlie, dandyish Steve, bookish Mac, Will and Geordie, brothers who are never without each other, and little Jamie, the "baby" of the gang. Each Aunt wants a piece of Rose, for different reasons: Aunt Plenty would see her an excellent housekeeper, Aunt Clara wants a debutante, Aunt Jane wants for her a polished education, Aunt Jessie approves a more carefree, active lifestyle befitting her youth, and Aunt Myra is convinced the child will die an early death. None of them approve of Alec's appointment as guardian, and everyone watches to see if Rose will bloom or wilt in his unorthodox, madcap, inarguably logical care. From the author who gave us "Little Women" comes another tender, pensive, heartwarming tale of love, humility, wisdom, and femininity.