General Books - Page 11

Blindness (Harvest Book)

Jose Saramago

List Price: $24.55 By: Topeka Bindery Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $32.12

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Action & Adventure

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 367 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Unfinished 2 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

In an unnamed city lives an anonymous reviewer who has been struck by a sudden and unexplainable affliction: he cannot finish any book by Sarramago, no matter how hard he tries. "Blindeness" is his second such book - the story of a plague of unseeing that spreads through an unnamed, South European capital, causing the government to quarantine the afflicted. Alas, to no avail - the plague spreads, exacerbating the inherent cruelty of society... soldiers shoot at the blind, afraid they might be infected; one blind thief tries to fondle a blind hottie, gets stabbed in the leg by her stiletto heel, gets infected and dies... and on and on, through page after page of unpunctuated sentences, each running longer than the eye can see or the mind can follow without yawning.
The initial premise is interesting - there is something there, you tell yourself. The unashamed, unafraid approach to political topics - and such an interesting starting point! Add to that the quirky style, the flowing, meandering sentences, and it's no wonder the man got a Nobel. For my money, though, once I got over the inherent shame (he's a genius, a friend said - read him!) I realized I had to stop, after about 130 pages. The thing is, the stuff is boring, which sounds paradoxical, given all the details I've given. i read another book by him, something about the voters returning all blank ballots, and it had the same feel to it - and then it hit me: the unusual syntax hides the fact that most things he says are very banal: to read, stroke by stroke, what happens in the hospital with the blind is to realize that, even though the most unusual sequence of events is happening, he's managed to make it feel boring; I got hammered by all the small details of existence, the humdrum noise of daily conversation and chatter - he goes on so much about mundane stuff, his free-flowing style covering everything under a patina of sameness, that I stopped caring about the extra-ordinary things: the soldiers start shooting at the blind men? yes, but God, you know he's gonna go back soon to telling you all the petty details about it, sprinkling in some rhetorical question, or proverb in-between, to make it sound deep.
I'm unhappy to add that this disease of not finishing, which started with "Blindness," has now spread to other books. Maybe it will mysteriously afflict those few who read my review, thus unleashing forces greater than myself, and revealing the inherent oddness that ensues once you accept odd premises. As for myself, I haven't given to despair yet - there's always the movie tie-in.

Editorial Review:

A city is hit by an epidemic of "white blindness" which spares no one. Authorities confine the blind to an empty mental hospital, but there the criminal element holds everyone captive, stealing food rations and raping women. There is one eyewitness to this nightmare who guides seven strangers-among them a boy with no mother, a girl with dark glasses, a dog of tears-through the barren streets, and the procession becomes as uncanny as the surroundings are harrowing. A magnificent parable of loss and disorientation and a vivid evocation of the horrors of the twentieth century, Blindness has swept the reading public with its powerful portrayal of man's worst appetites and weaknesses-and man's ultimately exhilarating spirit. The stunningly powerful novel of man's will to survive against all odds, by the winner of the 1998 Nobel Prize for Literature

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: A Commemorative Pop-up

L. Frank Baum

Amazon Price: $18.47 List Price: $27.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Little Simon Amazon Marketplace: 75 new & used starting at $11.67

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 128 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Wonderful Wizard is Wonderful 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book as a birthday present for my Dorothy-obsessed 3-year old and she LOVES it. I was a little worried that it would be seriously abridged when I read that it only had 16 pages, but no need to fear. Within each page is a chapter of the book so there is plenty of story. It takes almost an hour to read it to her but it is well-worth it.

Sabuda Does It Again 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Robert Sabuda is a master of the pop-up book and this is the second one I purchased of an adaptation of a famous children's story, and once again it does not dissapoint.

A good telling of the story combined with some incredible pop-ups, the one of the Emerald City makes you feel like you are in the story.

If you are a collector or have children you must get at least one of these books. Make sure you read it with the younger ones to show how books should be handled properly, though make sure they really understand before letting them use the book on their own.

Editorial Review:

Robert Sabuda has created a resplendent pop-up version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the original publication. This glorious edition is told in a shorter version of L. Frank Baum's original text, with artwork in the style of W. W. Denslow. With sparkling touches of colored foil and Emerald City eyeglasses, this classic tale is certain to find an honored place on the family bookshelf.

Queste (Septimus Heap, Book 4)

Angie Sage

Amazon Price: $12.23 List Price: $17.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HarperCollins Amazon Marketplace: 58 new & used starting at $9.93

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Action & Adventure

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

I HAVE TO SAY THIS WAS A BIG LET DOWN(sobsob sob sobsob) 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Well this was a let down thay prity much just happen to stumble on a gait way back to their time and thats about it.Ugg is a good book but the end just sucks .(Sob Sob Sob)

Hmmmm 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The reason that i'm giving this book a three is because i honestly don't know if i would recommend the series. I have enjoyed all of the previous books and i enjoyed this book but there is just something missing... After each book i feel so unsatisfied, though i'll exempt the first one from this. The books tend to be a bit predictable and the plot is pretty simple, which doesn't really bother me as the characters make up for it. I even don't really mind the bits of detail that she leaves out here or there.

I think my main problem is that there is no general goal for the series and the characters have virtually no development. Just an example of a disappointment (from Physik). She could have had a great plot twist with the bullet with the initials I.P. if she would have planned a ahead a little, but instead she probably thought of it after the fact and tried to make a plot twist by squeezing it in there. In my opinion I lost trust in her writing because now anything is possible if she so decides to flick her pen in the right direction.

Septimus has pretty much been the same character for the last several books and his relationships with his friends/Jenna are pretty much the same. Though there is a bit of development between Jenna and Beetle... Also there is nothing really obvious that is building up for the story of the series. Though there are a couple people in the world that would like to see Septimus hurt. A good series should build up individual books while slowly unraveling the big picture and conflict... Dom is pretty much out of the picture, though he might be brought back again but who knows?, Simon is out of the picture as well, and there is just dom's apprentice... Nothing is really connecting the dots, every round there is just a new conflict. Perhaps these all may be connected somehow and the history with Fume may become more significant. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

I flew through this book and enjoyed it, and i plan on continuing, but if you haven't started the series yet, I would give it another book or two before starting, to avoid unnecessary frustration. I'll make sure to comment on the next book to let you know if she's turning the series in the right direction.

Editorial Review:

There's trouble at the Castle, and it's all because Merrin Meredith has returned with Darke plans for Septimus. More trouble awaits Septimus and Jenna in the form of Tertius Fume, the ghost of the very first Chief Hermetic Scribe, who is determined to send Septimus on a deadly Queste. But Septimus and Jenna have other plans—they are headed for the mysterious House of Foryx, a place where all Time meets and the place where they fervently hope they will be able to find Nicko and Snorri, who were trapped back in time in physik. But how will Septimus escape the Queste?

Queste, like all the books in the Septimus Heap series, is filled with nonstop action, humor, and fantastical adventure as Septimus continues his journey of Magykal self-discovery.

The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath

Holly Black, Tony DiTerlizzi

Amazon Price: $31.49 List Price: $49.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $27.40

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Action & Adventure

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 142 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Pleased Customer 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The books were in excellent shape and arrived in quick time. I was very pleased with the service.

Great way to pass the time! 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I too, like the other reviewers, have my questions about these books. It is simply written and a bit gory at times. But's what's with all the bickering? Sometimes you want to read books to get away from reality! Enough with the sibling rivelery already!
If you want to get away from all that nonsense then try reading the Adventures With Boys series. But, if you like constant fighting then Spiderwick are the books for you! Enjoy!

Editorial Review:

It all started with a mysterious letter left at a tiny bookstore for authors Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Its closing lines: "We just want people to know about this. The stuff that has happened to us could happen to anyone." Little could they imagine the remarkable adventure that awaited them as they followed Jared, Simon, and Mallory Grace and a strange old book into a world filled with elves, goblins, dwarves, trolls, and a fantastical menagerie of other creatures. The oddest part is in entering that world, they didn't leave this one!

Five captivating books! One thrilling adventure!

Lawn Boy

Gary Paulsen

Amazon Price: $10.18 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wendy Lamb Books Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $7.12

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Humorous

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

What can happen when you start your own business? 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The narrator inherits an old lawn mower and starts a lawn mowing business. Before he knows it, he's got more business than he can handle and a hippie stockbroker making investments for him. Each chapter title has something to do with an economic principle and we are taken along on the ride as the young narrator learns more than he ever wanted to learn about capitalism.

Very quick read. Cute.

Editorial Review:

One day I was 12 years old and broke. Then Grandma gave me Grandpa's old riding lawnmower. I set out to mow some lawns. More people wanted me to mow their lawns. And more and more. . . . One client was Arnold the stockbroker, who offered to teach me about "the beauty of capitalism. Supply and Demand. Diversify labor. Distribute the wealth." "Wealth?" I said. "It's groovy, man," said Arnold.

If I'd known what was coming, I might have climbed on my mower and putted all the way home to hide in my room. But the lawn business grew and grew. So did my profits, which Arnold invested in many things. And one of them was Joey Pow the prizefighter. That's when my 12th summer got really interesting.

The Clique

Lisi Harrison

Amazon Price: $18.99 List Price: $18.99 Usually ships in 24 hours Amazon Marketplace: 11 new & used starting at $18.46

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Issues -> School

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 442 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Massie Block: With her glossy brunette bob and laser-whitened smile, Massie is the uncontested ruler of The Clique and the rest of the social scene at Octavian Country Day School, an exclusive private girls' school in Westchester County, New York. Massie knows you'd give anything to be just like her.

Dylan Marvil: Massie's second in command who divides her time between sucking up to Massie and sucking down Atkins Diet shakes.

Alicia Rivera: As sneaky as she is beautiful, Alicia floats easily under adult radar because she seems so "sweet." Would love to take Massie's throne one day. Just might.

Kristen Gregory: She's smart, hardworking, and will insult you to tears faster than you can say "my haircut isn't ugly!"

Enter Claire Lyons, the new girls from Florida in Keds and two-year-old Gap overalls, who is clearly not Clique material. Unfortunately for her, Claire's family is staying in the guesthouse on Massie's family's huge estate while they look for a new home. Claire's future looks worse than a bad Prada knockoff. But with a little luck and a lot of scheming, Claire might just come up smelling like Chanel No. 19. . . .

The Clique . . . the only thing harder than getting in is staying in.

A Christmas Carol

Charles Dickens

Amazon Price: $12.48 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Candlewick Amazon Marketplace: 34 new & used starting at $6.10

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Classics by Age -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

One of the pillars of the Christmas season 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

A Christmas Carol

It was my goal this December to read to my children, ages seven, nine and 14, the Christmas Carol story by Dickens so that they would know the original before seeing the movie. I also thought this would be an accessible way for them to get oriented to English literature and prepare them for further reading.

The requirements of the Christmas Carol book to be purchased were that a) it be new as opposed to a ragged used copy, b) it be unabridged, c) it have good drawings; and d) if possible it be inexpensive. I first looked in the library, but their book was checked out, and anyway I was looking to start a family tradition of reading the story every year with our own copy if possible. The Candlewick Press edition with illustrations by P.J. Lynch appeared to fill the bill; I bought it; and it delivered the goods. The book is nice and readable-sized, the illustrations good, the type pleasing. Thirteen bucks. I was immensely satisfied with the purchase.

As to the fate of the reading, we handled one chapter per evening, there being five chapters; each took an hour or so to read. I found Dickens to be sometimes heavy going for the younger TV and video-generation kids to get a sense of what is going on. I did not recollect Dickens to be so when I read some of his works as a younger person, but apparently it's something you have to be exposed to and get to understand. Anyway I was happy to provide my children with the chance to get started. It gave me a measure of the gap between the reading preparation of today's youth versus my pre-Cambrian elementary and middle school days. On Christmas Day I showed them the George C. Scott version of the movie, and they all liked it. But all knew the basics from the book, which was my goal, even if the mid-1800s prose obscured many of the action points to the younger ones in their Sponge Bob and Hannah Montana mindsets.

So the effort was a success, and this edition of the book did what I had hoped by delivering up an excellent presentation at a very low cost.

Dan of Arlington

Editorial Review:

The celebrated P.J. Lynch captures the spirit of Dickens's beloved tale in a richly illustrated unabridged edition.

The story of Ebenezer Scrooge opens on a Christmas Eve as cold as Scrooge's own heart. That night, he receives three ghostly visitors: the terrifying spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Each takes him on a heart-stopping journey, yielding glimpses of Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit, the horrifying spectres of Want and Ignorance, even Scrooge's painfully hopeful younger self. Will Scrooge's heart be opened? Can he reverse the miserable future he is forced to see? Now in an unabridged edition gloriously illustrated by the award-winning P.J. Lynch, this story's message of love and goodwill, mercy and self-redemption resonates as keenly as ever.

The Arrival

Shaun Tan

Amazon Price: $13.59 List Price: $19.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Arthur A. Levine Books Amazon Marketplace: 55 new & used starting at $9.99

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Comics & Graphic Novels

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 47 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

"A shockingly imaginative graphic novel that captures the sense of adventure and wonder that surrounds a new arrival on the shores of a shining new city. Wordless, but with perfect narrative flow, Tan gives us a story filled with cityscapes worthy of Winsor McCay." -- Jeff Smith, author of Bone

"A magical river of strangers and their stories!" -- Craig Thompson, author of Blankets

"Magnificent." -- David Small, Caldecott Medalist

In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life - he's leaving home to build a better future for his family. Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant's experience through a singular work of the imagination. He does so using brilliantly clear and mesmerizing images. Because the main character can't communicate in words, the book forgoes them too. But while the reader experiences the main character's isolation, he also shares his ultimate joy.

Song Of Solomon (Cliffs Notes)

Durthy A. Washington

List Price: $4.95 By: Cliffs Notes Amazon Marketplace: 7 new & used starting at $2.75

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 9-12 -> General AAS
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Literary Criticism & Collections

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 218 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A total distortion of the novel 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I can't believe that an artist like Toni Morrison would allow the book to be slashed and altered with this abridgment. The result of this Reader's Digest style alteration is a work that bears no relation to the novel. If you want to misunderstand the novel, use this recording. You'd be better off in Sparknotes than in listening to this. What a waste.

Song of Solomon is... 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 21 people found this review helpful.

... pretty terrible. I had to read this book for a class in high school. It has the appearance of being deep and meaningful, but in reality, Toni Morrison just throws a bunch of symbols together and calls it a book.

Editorial Review:

Song of Solomon explores the quest for cultural identity through an African American folktale about enslaved Africans who escape slavery by fleeing back to Africa. The novel tells the story of Macon "Milkman" Dead, a young man alienated from himself and estranged from his family, his community, and his historical and cultural roots. Author Toni Morrison, long renowned for her detailed imagery, visual language, and "righting" of black history, guides the protagonist along a 30-year journey that enables him to reconnect with his past and realize his self-worth.

The Night Before Christmas: The Heirloom Edition

Christian Birmingham, Clement C. Moore

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: Running Press Kids Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $11.03

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> Picture Books
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Ages 4-8 -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Wonderful Tradition! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I was so excited when I received this book. The fabric cover is gorgeous, and the pictures inside are so beautiful. I wanted a book to start reading to my daughter every christmas and this is so perfect for our new tradition.

Generations of tradition 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I remember this book from my childhood. I remember reading it to my own children. We went through more than one copy during their childhood years. I purchased it for my first grand-child, who lives far away from me. I wanted her to have this book to carry with her wherever she travels through her life. It is one of those classics that never growns old. It brings Santa to life. The magic lives on, through this classic.

Editorial Review:

This deluxe volume of the Christmas classic is nothing short of dazzling--an heirloom-quality treasure to take out each holiday season and read aloud with family and friends. This elegantly designed version is printed on heavy art stock, with cloth binding, tipped-on illustration, and foil stamping in copper and gold. Vibrant full-color images and debossed duotone spot art by award-winning British illustrator Christian Birmingham bring Moore's beloved poem, Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas, to life as never before.