General Books - Page 3

Eldest (Inheritance, Book 2)

Christopher Paolini

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1513 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Darkness falls…despair abounds…evil reigns…

Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, have just saved the rebel state from destruction by the mighty forces of King Galbatorix, cruel ruler of the Empire. Now Eragon must travel to Ellesmera, land of the elves, for further training in the skills of the Dragon Rider: magic and swordsmanship. Soon he is on the journey of a lifetime, his eyes open to awe-inspring new places and people, his days filled with fresh adventure. But chaos and betrayal plague him at every turn, and nothing is what it seems. Before long, Eragon doesn’t know whom he can trust.

Meanwhile, his cousin Roran must fight a new battle–one that might put Eragon in even graver danger.

Will the king’s dark hand strangle all resistance? Eragon may not escape with even his life. . . .


Praise for Eragon:
“Unusual, powerful . . . fresh and fluid. An impressive start to a writing career that’s sure to flourish.” –Booklist, Starred
“Christopher Paolini make[s] literary magic with his precocious debut.” –People
“The new ‘It’ book of children’s lit.” –U.S. News & World Report
“An auspicious beginning to both career and series.” –Publishers Weekly

A #1 New York Times Bestseller
A #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller
A Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A Book Sense Book of the Year
A #1 Book Sense Selection


From the Hardcover edition.

Inkheart (Movie Cover) (Inkheart Movie)

Cornelia Funke

Amazon Price: $9.99 List Price: $9.99 Not yet published By: Scholastic Paperbacks

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 482 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Forgettable 1 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

As an adult, reviewing a children's book is fraught with danger. It's all too easy to forget you're not the target audience and don't necessarily see things the way the author intended. Having said that, it seems the most successful children's books these days are those that manage to appeal to both old and young alike (Quidditch, anyone?), and so on that basis I feel at least partly qualified to write a review. Any kids reading this who think I've totally missed the point of the book - please forgive me - you too will be old and out of touch one day.

Inkheart is a very long book. At a whopping 500 plus pages it ranks as one of the longer children's books around. Unfortunately a lot of this length is taken up with unnecessary exposition, narration and description, often slowing the action to a crawl or even a total standstill. There really is a lot to be said for crediting your readers with intelligence, but the author too often spoon feeds us exactly what to think, imagine and feel instead of giving us the basics and letting us do the rest. A good editor with a pair of scissors and an evil grin could easily have reduced the page count to 200 or so, creating a much better story in the process.

As for the characters, I found the good guys to be generally likable and to an extent believable. The baddies were a different category altogether. Capricorn and his cronies are straight out of the corny stereotypical villains handbook, complete with black clothing, and as a result they come across as more comical than evil. I kept expecting Mini-Me to leap out of the shadows and make an appearance, particularly when the age old cliché of scheduling your enemies execution at a later date appeared. The author is clearly gifted with a good imagination, I just wish she had used it more when developing the protagonists.

Seeing as I've probably upset enough people already, I may as well press on with a pedantic point. I had a beef with her use of elvish from the Lord of the Rings. At one point the characters apparently write messages to each other in this language, but the reader is never shown the actual words used. In my opinion if a writer is cheeky enough to make use of Tolkien they should take the time to do it properly, otherwise it comes across as lazy appropriation of a great body of work. Surely it wouldn't have been too difficult to employ the services of a translator to actually put the messages in Quenya or Sindarin, it would have gone a long way towards giving the author credibility.

Overall, the premise of this story is exciting and original, but for me the problems mentioned above turned what could have been a gem into an extremely ordinary and forgettable book. I give it one star for the concept, but none for its execution.

Editorial Review:

One cruel night, Meggie's father, Mo, reads aloud from INKHEART, and an evil ruler named Capricorn escapes the boundaries of fiction, landing instead in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie's in the middle of the kind of adventure she thought only took place in fairy tales. Somehow she must master the magic that has conjured up this nightmare. Can she change the course of the story that has changed her life forever?

"Beguiling...the story seems to have been sprinkled with some magical fairy dust."--The New York Times Book Review

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book 6)

J.K. Rowling

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3594 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Didn't live up to the standard set by the previous books 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Bottom Line: Loaner (unless you have to have it for your collection)
I have to say I was disappointed in many things about this book.
First and foremost, it didn't grab my attention at the initial start of the book, like the previous books had.
Then, the insertion of the flashbacks at the first third of the book I felt was, confusing. Added to that, they seemed to drone on a bit longer than they needed.
Thirdly, the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore seemed to suddenly turn in another direction..which didn't feel 'true' to me based on the relationship portrayed in the previous installments..and it also added to the 'overness' of the book.
Then, we add in the relationship between Harry and Ginny, which was the all time most forced thing in this book, for me. It didn't feel right, didn't make any sense, on any level. It felt like a hasty move to shove another love scenario into the story. And then Ron and Hermione are supposed to like each other? I didn't get that either. There wasn't any or enough foundation laid for any of it, to me. It would have been far more interesting had Luna taken a romantic interest in Harry..now there's a chick who could have turned him every which way but loose.
All and all, it felt like, a book written by an author who might be perhaps 'over' this entire series and its characters.

Editorial Review:

The war against Voldemort is not going well; even the Muggles have been affected. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses. And yet . . . As with all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Harry receives some extraordinary help in Potions from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. And with Dumbledore's guidance, he seeks out the full, complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort -- and thus finds what may be his only vulnerability.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: 10th Anniversary Edition (Harry Potter)

J.K. Rowling

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5432 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Anniversary Ed 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, but I must say I did delay ordering this book. I just didnt think a new cover and a few extras was worth the price. Now, having seen the pictures put up by others, I am so glad I did order it! I think the new cover looks gorgeous and cant wait for Amazon to ship my order! (I am in NZ and so have selected for all my books to arrive in 1 shipment to save on postage. I just have to wait for the release of Beedle the bard and all my HP related books will be on their way to me...yay!)

Editorial Review:

New Jacket artwork by Mary GrandPre

Additional four-color frontispiece artwork from Mary GrandPre

Two pages of special content from J.K. Rowling

Full cloth case with gold stamping

 

28 million copies sold worldwide!

 

The wickedly funny debut novel from master storyteller J.K. Rowling tells the story of Harry Potter who, having endured 11 miserable years with his hideous aunt and uncle, is invited on his 11th birthday to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  There he learns of his distinguished wizard pedigree—and his frightening destiny.

Chosen (House of Night, Book 3)

PC Cast, Kristin Cast

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 57 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Dark forces are at work at the House of Night and fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school take a mysterious turn.  Those who appear to be friends are turning out to be enemies.  And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends.  So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before.  Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity.  Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected and rare position of having three boyfriends. Mix a little bloodlust into the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster.  Just when it seems things couldn’t get any tougher, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-father in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres.  But, as Zoey and her friends so often find out, how things appear rarely reflects the truth…

Harry Potter Paperback Box Set (Books 1-6)

J.K. Rowling

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 272 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Harry Potter 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

buying the 6 book set enabled me to read all 6 books in less than a week. enthralling reading for any age.

Harry Potter Series 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have read all of these books and they are wonderful. Amazing detail. My nephew who is 8 wants to read these so I bought this set for him to enjoy.

never received product 1 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The price was certainly good but as of today I have still not received the product and as of today I have not had a response to mya email from either soveryunlucky on where my order is.

Completely entertained and satisfied 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The stories were rich and captivating and the books were in great condition, especially for such an outstanding price. I would highly recommend this paperback set if you are at all interested in this series.

Editorial Review:

Follow Harry from his first days at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, through his many adventures with Hermione and Ron, to his confrontations with rival Draco Malfoy and the dreaded Professor Snape. From a dangerous descent into the Chamber of Secrets to the Triwizard Tournament to the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, each adventure is more riveting and exhilarating than its predecessor, and now all six books are available together for the first time in an elegant paperback boxed set.

Where the Sidewalk Ends 30th Anniversary Edition: Poems and Drawings

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Authors & Illustrators, A-Z -> ( S ) -> Silverstein, Shel

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 74 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Heart warming 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

A collection of poems unlike any others. Many times I can't understand the poems I read and it is frustrating, but not with this one. I actually enjoyed it and would recommend it to any parent. Great book.

Anna del C.
Author of "The Elf and the Princess"
and "Trouble in the Elf City"
The Elf and The Princess: The Silent Warrior Trilogy - Book One (The Silent Warrior Trilogy)

Editorial Review:

Including 12 New Poems!

If you are a dreamer, come in,
If you are a dreamer,
A wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er,
A magic bean buyer . . .

Come in . . . for where the sidewalk ends, Shel Silverstein's world begins. You'll meet a boy who turns into a TV set, and a girl who eats a whale. The Unicorn and the Bloath live there, and so does Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who will not take the garbage out. It is a place where you wash your shadow and plant diamond gardens, a place where shoes fly, sisters are auctioned off, and crocodiles go to the dentist.

Shel Silverstein's masterful collection of poems and drawings is at once outrageously funny and profound.

The 39 Clues: Card Pack

Scholastic

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

website does not work 1 out of 5 stars.
8 of 17 people found this review helpful.

Don't bother buying the clue cards for this series, at this point anyway. My son tried creating an account with his cards the first day the book came out. The website is supposed to send you an email with a link to activate your account. We never received this email. We tried a second time to create an account the next day.... still no email. I sent them an email informing them of the problem.... still no email. I like the concept of the whole thing; however, they haven't been able to pull off the website game aspect of it. Hopefully, they'll get it to work soon. Is anyone else having this problem?

Editorial Review:

Harry Houdini. A poison injector ring. Alcatraz. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. What can they possibly have in common? Amy and Dan don't know, but fans of the 39 Clues series will soon find out.

The first Cahill card series features 56 thoroughly intriguing evidence cards that kids need to hunt down the 39 Clues. The oversize cards (3.25 x 5) are loaded with top-secret Cahill information and intriguing puzzles that unlock the family's secrets. Each pack contains 16 randomly assorted cards, with at least one rare or ultra-rare card per pack.

From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 310 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A delightful classic 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's wonderful to see a book first published in the later 1960's still being loved and enjoyed today. It was a special treat to pass this fantastic read on to my children since it was one of my favorites growing up. Living near enough to New York that we get to the MET at least once a year made it even better for them.

Some things haven't changed in over 40 years. Kids Claudia's age still feel they have the worst parents and most miserable situation at one point or another. What sets this story apart from other "kid hates parents, kid runs away..." stories is that Claudia comes up with an adventure so that she isn't running away, but running to something - the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art. Rather then reciting the whole story I'll just say this is a fabulous book and if you didn't read it as a child, get it and read it now with your children.

Editorial Review:

When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn't just want to run from somewhere she wants to run to somewhere--to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and preferably elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing that her younger brother, Jamie, has money and thus can help her with the serious cash flow problem she invites him along.

Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie, find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at an auction for a bargain price of $250. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn't it? Claudia is determined to find out. This quest leads Claudia to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Boxed Set, The (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)

Rick Riordan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Humans and half-bloods alike agree--Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a series fit for heroes! Re-live the adventure from the beginning with this boxed set of the first three books.

The Lightning Thief Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. When his mom tells him the truth about where he came from, she takes him to the one place he'll be safe--Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island). There, Percy learns that the father he never knew is actually Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon Percy finds himself caught up in a mystery that could lead to disastrous consequences. Together with his friends--a satyr and other the demigod daughter of Athena--Percy sets out on a quest to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

The Sea of Monsters After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly calm. But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters--the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia--only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new nameL: the Bermuda Triangle. Now Percy and his friends must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family--one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke...

The Titan's Curse When Percy Jackson receives a distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he'll need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side; his trusty broze sword Riptide; and... a ride from his mom. The demigods race to the rescue, to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two new powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The Titan lord, Kronos, has set up his most devious trap yet, and the young heroes have unwittingly fallen prey. Hilarious and action-packed, this third adventure in the series finds Percy faced with his most dangerous challenge so far: the chilling prophecy of the Titan's curse.