General Books - Page 4

Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe

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Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> ( A ) -> Achebe, Chinua

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 533 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

What makes fiction important 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I know this is the classic debate of all time when it comes to literature: Is it about beautifully written prose (THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE, incidentally, is a good example of this problem) or does it tell a compelling story? (yet the prose itself is not its strong point).

It seems that many works of fiction these days are of the former and unfortunately, not enough of the latter. I recently re-read this book along with another classic, JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN, after a discussion I had with a friend about this very subject. As a middle-aged person, I often look back at the books that made a difference in my life and much of the time, it's not about the author's writing style. Achebe's is a plain, straightforward style, but it's what he is conveying that is so striking about this story. (I am a bit miffed at the "English" teachers and the like who are downing this book!) Bottom line: I was left with a lasting impression that stayed with me. I can't say that many books do this today.

All I can say is pick up this read and decide for yourselves. Bottom line, this story is just as relevant today as it was so many years ago when it first appeared. These issues are universal and the world today is replete with similar conflicts. It's unfortunate to have to go back in time to find classic works of fiction, but sometimes there are exceptions. Check out--SIM0N LAZARUS, a word of mouth wonder more should know about.

Editorial Review:

Okonowo is the greatest warrior alive. His fame has spread like a bushfire in West Africa and he is one of the most powerful men of his clan. But he also has a fiery temper. Determined not to be like his father, he refuses to show weakness to anyone - even if the only way he can master his feelings is with his fists. When outsiders threaten the traditions of his clan, Okonowo takes violent action. Will the great man's dangerous pride eventually destroy him?

Hatchet

Gary Paulsen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1162 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Content may be too mature for young readers 3 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I was pre-reading this book for my 10-year-old who enjoys adventure stories (along the lines of "My Side of the Mountain") and was glad that I did. Some of the content of this book is NOT appropriate for this age -- for example, when the boy recalls the details of witnessing his mother engaged in an adulterous passionate kiss with her lover, which became "the Secret" his father did not know about. I'm not saying it is a bad book for an appropriately aged reader -- but I do want to warn parents looking for an innocent adventure story for their children -- this is not it.

One of the best I've ever read! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Of course, like many of the reviewers, I had to read this for school. And it has turned out to be one of my most favorite books of all times! I LOVE this book!

If you do not like wilderness, don't read it

If you do not like very vivid detail and description, don't read it

If you do not like to believe that a child at the age of 13-14 could survive on their own, don't read it.......

I've read almost all of the 1 star reviews and a lot sound like they came from really immature people, or people who don't like really good descriptions of things (ie the repitition in the book)

I for one really appreciated the detail that Gary put into the book. It really makes the story come to life. I went on to read the sequels, and while not QUITE as good, they are still good. I would recommend this to any child that has a very vivid imagination

Editorial Review:

Haunted by his parents' divorce, Brian Robeson, sole survivor of a plane crash, must draw on his untested skills to survive in the wilderness.

Caps for Sale Big Book (Reading Rainbow Book)

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $24.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HarperTrophy Amazon Marketplace: 29 new & used starting at $11.85

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Apes & Monkeys -> Fiction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 71 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

As much song as story. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This makes the top ten list out of all the great picture books we read to our kids when they were young. I never tired of reading it. So simple, symmetric, even musical. The story? How does the peddler get the monkeys to give back all the caps they've stolen from him and carried up into the tree? Okay, I'm the publisher of One Monkey Books, so call me biased. But try this one on your three or five or year old, and really get into singing, "Caps for sale! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!" It's been around for ages already, and this book will still be there when your kids are having kids. Nutty to Meet You! Dr. Peanut Book #1

Editorial Review:

Monkey Business"Caps! Caps for sale! Fifty cents a cap!" The peddler has huge stack of caps, balanced carefully on top of his head. Brown caps, blue caps, gray caps, and red caps. But no one wants to buy a cap. So he goes for a walk in the country, and takes a nap under a shady tree. When he wakes up, the caps are gone -- al except his own checked one. Where could his caps have disappeared to? And how will he ever get them back?

The Hobbit

J.R.R. Tolkien

Amazon Price: $13.46 List Price: $17.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Houghton Mifflin Amazon Marketplace: 103 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1630 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

UNabr CD read by Rob Inglis is EXCELLENT!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Rob Inglis is, in my opinion, one of the best readers out there, and I think he's perfect for "The Hobbit" and the complete "Lord of the Rings." He sings what needs singing, very well, which is relatively unusual. I have thoroughly enjoyed the creation he has wrought!!

Definitely There and Back Again 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

We owe a debt of incalculable value to J.R.R. Tolkien. He is the father of an entire genre, a genre that has been able to carry many of us through our darkest hours. Although The Hobbit came out over 70 years ago, it is yet fresh and vibrant. Dear Bilbo is still an enchanting hero and still unique--so many main characters are thinly veiled reflections of ideal selves, whereas Bilbo makes us instead rather want to become Hobbits.

The Hobbit is less world-weary than the Lord of the Rings. It is also a more tightly knit story. For these two reasons, I prefer The Hobbit to the later saga, but I am still grateful that I am a better person for having experienced both The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings.

In The Hobbit, we experience a series of adventures that are precipitated by an odd invitation from Gandalf, and through these adventures we see Bilbo pass from mere observer to central character. Tolkien was a master at many things: character, mythology, story; however, his observations of the essential qualities of human nature make his writings timeless and transcendent of societal changes.

It was a joy to experience The Hobbit. I look forward to reading it to my girls. I don't consider it merely recommended reading; I classify it as canon.

Editorial Review:

Tolkien's classic is splendidly illustrated in full color by noted artist Michael Hague.

The Lorax (Classic Seuss)

Dr. Seuss, Theodor Seuss Geisel

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Random House Books for Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 94 new & used starting at $2.99

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 130 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Hypocritical 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 16 people found this review helpful.

Dr. Seuss, turned holier-than-thou by his elevated status in society, decides to preach to us about the evils of industrialization. Does he realize that the many millions of copies of "The Lorax" were all made in factories, using paper that came from trees?

Imagine 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Is it a coincidence that Thneed rhymes with Deadly Sin #3? Growth for the sake of growth is where we are today. This too shall pass, UNLESS....

The Dr.'s Inspiring Masterpiece 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

While most Dr. Suess stories are pure fun without any heavy message, The Lorax delivers an extremely blunt lesson on ecology. What's amazing is that Dr. Suess does this with a narrative that is engaging, entertaining and ultimately inspiring. You might think a book with such a heavy message could be a turn-off to young children, but I have found the opposite. My preschoolers find this story absorbing. I think they understand there is something truly important at stake, so the book means more to them than other Dr. Suess titles.

Editorial Review:

"UNLESS someone like you...cares a whole awful lot...nothing is going to get better...It's not."

Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth's natural beauty.

"The big, colorful pictures and the fun images, word plays and rhymes make this an amusing exposition of the ecology crisis."—School Library Journal. Illus. in full color.

The Phantom Tollbooth

Norton Juster

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 552 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

The point is to learn how to think 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

"Can you help me?"
"Help you! You must help yourself," the dog replied, carefully winding himself with his left hind leg. "I suppose you know why you got stuck."
"I guess I just wasn't thinking," said Milo.
"PRECISELY," shouted the dog as his alarm went off again. "Now you know what you must do."
"I'm afraid I don't," admitted Milo, feeling quite stupid.
"Well," continued the watchdog impatiently, "since you got here by not thinking, it seems reasonable to expect that, in order to get out, you must start thinking."

Editorial Review:

Illustrated in black-and-white. We're celebrating the thirty-fifth anniversary (1996) of this modern kids' classic with a special hardcover edition! This ingenious fantasy centeres around Milo, a bored ten-year-old who comes home to find a large toy tollbooth sitting in his room. Joining forces with a watchdog named Tock, Milo drives through the tollbooth's gates and begins a memorable journey. He meets such characters as the foolish, yet lovable Humbug, the Mathemagician, and the not-so-wicked "Which," Faintly Macabre, who gives Milo the "impossible" mission of returning two princesses to the Kingdom of Wisdom...  

Horton Hears A Who!

Dr. Seuss

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Animals -> Elephants -> Fiction

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 63 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A timeless masterpiece for children of all ages 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Horton Hears a Who is a masterpiece. Often heralded as a book on friendship, it is much more than that. Theodor Seuss Geisel was an outspoken critic of Hitler and Mussolini, and Horton Hears a Who has been said to have been Geisel's call to support the fledgling democracy in Japan after World War II. But Horton is much more than that. Horton Hears a Who is a reminder of the importance of protecting those weaker than we and a timeless call for people to unite and speak up for themselves.

The Kids Love it 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

The kids saw the movie and really enjoyed the book as well. What more can I say, it's Dr. Seuss!

Horton ! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very pleased with quick shipping, a quality product as described, and would do business again with Amazon. Saw the movie and read the book with grandkids. What a joy for them and me. Satisfied customer. psw - S.E.Oklahoma

Horton, My Hero 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you haven't seen "Suessical the Musical" by all means do so. This clever adaption of Suess books and characters is just wonderful. The Horton books are primarily the source of this children's musical. Horton again shows what a fine elephant he is by standing fast to his ideals. Children can learn a lot by reading this rhyming, entertaining book.

Editorial Review:

Illus. in color. Horton, the lovable elephant, tries to protect tiny creatures on a speck of dust. An easy reader with delightful verse and pictures.  

The Little Prince: Sixtieth-Anniversary Gift Edition

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Amazon Price: $17.13 List Price: $25.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Harcourt Children's Books Amazon Marketplace: 40 new & used starting at $14.94

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 279 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

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

Ah, the amount of philosophy and beauty and imagination you can cram into a story this short! I have never read the original French version, but the English translation is as powerful as I could hope for, a surreal story of fantasy that speaks such eternal truths of love and life and the sheer faith of childhood.

We have a man who has put aside his childhood dreams to grow up. His plane crashes in the desert, and it is here he meets a young prince from a distant asteroid.

As we have the gritty real story of survival, we have a powerful and yet just as real story of this little boy's adventures and discovery.

It's a strong and complex parable, and also just a great story besides.

Editorial Review:

Since 1943, the wise little boy from Asteroid B-612 has led children and their adults to deeper understandings of love, friendship, and responsibility. The Little Prince is a cherished story, read by millions of people in more than a hundred languages. In honor of its sixtieth anniversary, Harcourt is proud to present this special edition of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s treasure, which includes a satin bookmark and presentation page, and comes in an elegant cloth slipcase enhanced with gold stamping and embossing. A must-have edition for any collector, this lovely book is also the perfect gift for those new to the wisdom of the Little Prince and the charms of his rose-and-star-filled worlds.

Little House 9 Book Box Set (Little House)

Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 151 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fun Books 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I purchased these books for my eight year old daughter. We read all of them already. She loved them, and so did I. I was a little disappointed that there were no pictures at all. In the older version, there were some very beautiful pictures that helped bring understanding to some of the concepts of being a pioneer. Overall, this was a great purchase.

A Magical Wonderland 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 30 people found this review helpful.

"They're an inspirational source of literature that celebrates the turn of the century, the struggle of the American family and the bonds that held them together."

These books are straight garbage, a friend got them for me and they stink...I could totally pWn Pa Ingall's IRL.

Josh's review 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a whole series of books about a girl named Laura Ingalls Wilder. The books talk about some of the hardships Laura and her family faced. These books also tell about every thing that happened in her life from Wisconsin all the way to Kansas. The story of her life starts as a young girl and talks about her getting married as a young lady. The books tell how she changed and some of the places she went and even some of the people she met.
I like these books because the way these books were written because they were written so you fell like you are actually there. I also like these books because they tell what people had to go through in the 1800's. I read all these books and I liked them. If you read them you will like them too.

Editorial Review:

The original nine Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, featuring their fresh new photographic look, are available together in an attractive box set, just in time for the 75th Anniversary!

The Grapes of Wrath

Earle Rice, John Steinbeck

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 592 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Get ready to relive these times soon! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

The second Steinbeck book that I've read as an adult, and probably one of the best books I've ever read. I had no idea California was so messed up until I read it. Unlike some modern readers who may complain about the alternating chapters, one dealing with plot and the other with seemingly irrelevant information, I thought that they added a lot to the book and gave it the feeling that there was more to it than just the story of one family. Everyone needs to read this book. The movie's also great, and I can't say that either one is better than the other.

[Good] required reading 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Yup, I'm one of the freaks who actually likes this book, despite my roommate's information that it is highly melodramaticized. I don't care. I think it's great writing, and I love the interspersing stories that have nothing to do with the plot, and yet are so insightful.

Sorry, but I was actually touched.

Editorial Review:

Forced from their home, the Joad family is lured to California to find work; instead they find disillusionment, exploitation, and hunger.