The Ultimate Gift (The Ultimate Series #1)

Book Description

What would you do to inherit a million dollars? Would you be willing to change your life? Jason Stevens is about to find out in Jim Stovall's The Ultimate Gift. Red Stevens has died, and the older members of his family receive their millions with greedy anticipation. But a different fate awaits young Jason, whom Stevens, his great-uncle, believes may be the last vestige of hope in the family. "Although to date your life seems to be a sorry excuse for anything I would call promising, there does seem to be a spark of something in you that I hope we can fan into a flame. For that reason, I am not making you an instant millionaire." What Stevens does give Jason leads to The Ultimate Gift. Young and old will take this timeless tale to heart.

Customer Reviews:

life enhancing experience.......2007-10-10

A close friend gave me the book and the minute I opened it I knew I would not be able to put it down. It is a very fast read and it is packed full of valuable insights. As soon as I finished it I went on line and ordered a copy for each of my adolescent grandchildren. I believe there is something to be gained from each chapter. The book held my interest to the end.

Read the book, watch the movie - both will inspire!.......2007-10-01

I received this book as a gift shortly after watching the movie by the same name - I was greatly impressed with the movie and anxious to read the book (since everyone knows that the book is always better than the movie). This book is no exception to that rule - an outstanding read and it was as easy to read as the movie was to watch. This is a novel, a work of fiction that drives home some real life points! The premise of the book is about what's really important in life - is it what we build with our hands or the money and worldly success we achieve, or is it something more than that, something that isn't tangible and can't be bought or sold for any amount of money? In his final will, a dying wealthy man tries to communicate from the grave the true meaning of life to a family member who up until this point hasn't got a clue!

I would think that this book could probably be read to children in upper elementary school and could be read by 7th or 8th graders on their own. The book should be read by parents first so that they can engage their children in conversation along the way. While the book isn't overtly Christian, you'll find that the lessons taught in this novel are very similar to the wisdom shared in the Book of Proverbs and throughout Scripture. Stovall isn't preaching, but he sure can drive a point home with this story; and these twelve "gifts" passed from one generation to the next are essential for each and every one of us to learn as well.

While some say that the movie isn't as good as the book, I say that they are a pretty good compliment of each other. The movie takes various liberties with the book to get this message on screen, but you won't be disappointed with either. The book is written to provoke thought and discussion and families should use them as tools to teach valuable life lessons to their children - Red Stevens would have wanted it that way!

The Ultimate Gift DVD.......2007-09-27

The Ultimate Gift you sent me was a total disaster. I ordered the movie edition and you sent me a book and a promotional DVD. I did not receive the movie edition of the Ultimate Gift. Unfortunately I had ordered it to take on a bus trip that I was directing and I had not taken the time to watch what you sent me, thinking it was the movie edition. When I put it in the DVD player with everyone on the bus eager to watch the movie there was only the promotional disc. Needless to say I was embarrassed and not too happy. Fortunately along the way I was able to purchase the DVD that I thought I was buying from Amazon at a much higher price. I have ordered from Amazon before and have been very pleased but not this time.

A Timely Gift.......2007-09-24

Several copies of The Ultimate Gift were placed on a table at my workplace. A handwritten note read, "Take one and pass it on." The title was intriguing and never one to pass up something free or an opportunity to read, I took one.

Having gained knowledge of most of these gifts through the ups and downs of life, I enjoyed the validations, while unfortunately identifying with Uncle Red's mistakes. I am grateful to the person who made it possible to have a copy of the book.

I titled this review 'a timely gift' because I received in time read it and mail it to my son as a gift for his 26th birthday. Like Uncle Red, wishing to provide, I robbed my children of many of the gifts. I am hoping the book will make a difference in my son's life as he is not a happy person even though he has many blessings. When and if I am in touch with my prodigal daughter, I will share The Ultimate Gift with her, also. It is my goal to share copies of The Ultimate Gift with many, many young persons.

Good , but not terrific.......2007-09-19

The reviews I read promised an inspiring book. It was not to be. It was an interesting premise and story. But the lack of detailed story left me disappointed. Reading the story from the lawyer's view did not give us an opportunity to really travel the road to enlightenment. I felt I was reading the summary, not the story.

A movie of the book is coming out soon. I dare say, I see an immense opprtunity for the movie to outshine the book.

Average customer rating:

She's Baaaaaaccckkkk!
Well, at least it's not as bad as the last few...
Up close and Dangerous
Actually, it's better than she's been lately
not one of my favorites

Up Close and Dangerous: A Novel
Linda Howard
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Romantic Suspense | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0345486528
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Book Description

A mysterious plane crash . . . a dangerous trek through the Idaho wilderness . . . a smoldering attraction . . . and a deadly game of cat and mouse. In her latest tour de force of romantic suspense, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard blends these elements into a gripping story that will keep readers breathless–and leave them begging for more. For in Linda Howard’s world, trust can be a weapon, a kiss can be a threat, and intimacy can be deadly.

Bailey Wingate’s scheming adult stepchildren are surprised when their father’s will leaves Bailey in control of their fortune, and war ensues. A year later, while flying from Seattle to Denver in a small plane, Bailey nearly dies herself when the engine sputters–and then fails.

Cam Justice, her sexy Texan pilot, manages to crash-land the aircraft. Stranded in the wilderness, and struggling to douse her feelings for the ruggedly handsome man by her side, Bailey begins to wonder whether this was a mere accident. Who tampered with their plane? Who’s trying to reunite Bailey and her husband in the afterlife? Cut off from the world, and with little hope of rescue, Bailey must trust her life–and heart–to Cam, as they battle the harsh elements to find a way out of the unforgiving wilds and back to civilization . . . where a killer may be waiting to finish the job.

Sexy, suspenseful, and lightning fast, Up Close and Dangerous showcases a beloved author at her dazzling best.

Customer Reviews:

She's Baaaaaaccckkkk!.......2007-10-15

Well, thank goodness, Linda Howard has finally reappeared. I really liked this book and even found the survival lessons interesting. As far as the resolution of the mystery, believe me, you will not see it coming. Quite a good read.

Well, at least it's not as bad as the last few..........2007-10-14

so I rated it a 2. But I still want the old Linda Howard back.

At least when Andre Norton stopped writing her sci-fantasy novels, she put the real author's name on the cover, and by and large, they stayed faithful to the style. Whoever is writing for Linda apparently never read any of her early works.

Up close and Dangerous.......2007-10-12

This sequel to her last book was not as interesting as the first. But still a great suspense novel.

Actually, it's better than she's been lately.......2007-10-09

I have been SEVERELY disappointed in Linda Howard's books lately, but I actually enjoyed this book....for the most part. The ending came rather quickly and was a total surprise....and it was disappointing that some characters didn't get what was coming to them....the story just ended abruptly.

Will Seth grow up and get his own novel with his own strong woman???

not one of my favorites.......2007-09-27

this was not one of my favorite Linda Howard books and I have read them all.
The Plot was unbelievable and the characters were weak...
Hoping for a better story next time around..

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral

Average customer rating:

Make it end!
What a way to go!
Too tedious
Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral
Fab idea that just doesn't work

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral
Kris Radish
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Friendship | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0553382640
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Book Description

For Katherine Givens and the four women about to become her best friends, the adventure begins with a UPS package. Inside is a pair of red sneakers filled with ashes and a note that will forever change their lives. Katherine’s oldest and dearest friend, the irrepressible Annie Freeman, left one final request–a traveling funeral–and she wants the most important women in her life as “pallbearers.”

From Sonoma to Manhattan, Katherine, Laura, Rebecca, Jill, and Marie will carry Annie’s ashes to the special places in her life. At every stop there’s a surprise encounter and a small miracle waiting, and as they whoop it up across the country, attracting interest wherever they go, they share their deepest secrets–tales of broken hearts and second chances, missed opportunities and new beginnings. And as they grieve over what they’ve lost, they discover how much is still possible if only they can unravel the secret Annie left them....

Download Description

KRIS RADISH is an author, journalist, and nationally syndicated political and humor columnist. Her Bantam Dell novels, The Elegant Gathering of White Snows and Dancing Naked at the Edge of Dawn, were both Book Sense 76 Selections and appeared on national bestseller lists. She is also the author of the true-crime book Run, Bambi, Run and a psychology book, Birth Order Plus. Her speaking engagements take her across the country to talk about writing, and women’s and feminist issues. Her Elegant Gatherings and Dancing Naked workshops have set more than a few women on fire.

She lives with her two tall teenage children and her partner in Wisconsin, where she rides her motorcycle–usually fully clothed–loves to swim, hikes with her writing tablet in her back pocket, and often scares unsuspecting neighbors with her wild laugh. She is working on her fourth novel, The Sunday List of Dreams, which Bantam will publish in 2006.

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Make it end!.......2007-10-02

This book was highly recommended by a number of my book group members who were excited about re-reading it. I was really looking forward to the book. After the first couple of pages, I felt like it would never end.

The characters are flat, and the dialogue is unrealistic. The story is devoid of plot or character development. NOTHING actually happens throughout the entire "story". Ugh! My friends told me that the book made them laugh and cry. I didn't laugh once...didn't even come close: just read over and over again about a group of women laughing and laughing. WHAT were they laughing about?? The book didn't make me cry either, except to cry out, "Dear God, make it end!" (Does that qualify as a religious experience?) Ms. Radish confuses meaningful with maudlin, and insight with inane when it comes to writing. After successfully forcing myself to finish the book, my next challenge is to come up with a tactful way to express myself at the next book group meeting.

What a way to go!.......2007-09-18

Beautifully written, I was drawn in immediately and loved the whole trip! I had gotten this from the library but after reading it bought a copy to share with my daughter, sister, mom and nieces. It is just too good to keep to yourself. I want to read everything Kris Radish has ever written!

Too tedious.......2007-09-02

This is a great concept, and maybe I'm just not old enough to appreciate this story, but I didn't care for the author's writing style. I don't find it unrealistic that these women would not know of so many places and events in Annie's life, as some people are just very good at compartmentalizing bits of their life. I think this is the point of the story, discovering these pieces of Annie's life, which then lead to self-discovery. However, these new acquaintances get along just a little too well for me.

Some of the surprises the women encounter are unexpected, but I found it disconcerting the way the author would tediously go over and over one event or conversation and then suddenly skip ahead in just a few sentences. Why was what happened in between irrelevant? I found myself wanting more at some times, and less at others.

I enjoyed the stories of how each woman came to know Annie, but the development of the story goes down hill from there. The characters are a bit predicatable and sugary, and their actions and speech didn't always seem natural or realistic to me. The emotions and revelations were overly dramatic, and their mannerisms a bit forced. The author had no problem giving each woman individuality and a realistic sense of emotion when writing in the "thought book." It's too bad this wasn't carried over into the rest of their personalities.

The concept of this idea is fantastic, but the story droned on a little too long for me.

Annie Freeman's Fabulous Traveling Funeral.......2007-08-13

Just started this book and because of other reads, I know I'm going to enjoy this one....Keep writing Kris Radish....You give us HOPE!!!

Fab idea that just doesn't work.......2007-05-26

Before dying, Annie Freeman makes meticulous [and surprise] plans for five of her closest friends to take her ashes on a traveling funeral. The friends,who have never met one another prior to the trip, scatter Annie's ashes at various places which were very important parts of her life. Incredible idea for a story that just didn't make for a good read. The book stresses over [and over...and over]what close friends these women were to Annie. Maybe I'm picky but if that's the case, then why didn't these women - at least one of them here and there - know about any of these important places in Annie's life? After awhile it was like they were on a trip spreading ashes of a total stranger, not someone who they were incredibly close to. At each stop, instead of recalling Annie's connection to the location, they were always wondering why Annie would want her ashes there, what the place had meant to their friend, had their friend ever been there, what were they going to learn about her, etc. etc. They continually professed what fantastic friends they were of Annie's, but it seems to me they hardly knew the woman at all. At one point a character - a relative along one of the funeral stops - actually makes that remark, wondering aloud why Annie had never brought any of the friends there before or had spoken about the place. Uh, yah - I was left asking myself the same thing. Lots of over-drama, too, as if the entire book was leaning backwards, back of the hand pressed to the forehead, saying Oh! nobody understands, nobody can possibly understand. Like other readers I ended up skimming many pages, just wanting to see where the whole thing would end up. Bummer of a trip, since the idea is such a cool one.

Average customer rating:

inside the whitewashed farmhouse
Lacking in character development
Age Appropriate?
A Compelling Read
Tedious writing and shallow characters - reasonable story

A Thousand Acres
Jane Smiley
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Family Saga | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0394577736
Release Date: 1991-10-23

Amazon.com

Aging Larry Cook announces his intention to turn over his 1,000-acre farm--one of the largest in Zebulon County, Iowa--to his three daughters, Caroline, Ginny and Rose. A man of harsh sensibilities, he carves Caroline out of the deal because she has the nerve to be less than enthusiastic about her father's generosity. While Larry Cook deteriorates into a pathetic drunk, his daughters are left to cope with the often grim realities of life on a family farm--from battering husbands to cutthroat lenders. In this winner of the 1991 National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction, Smiley captures the essence of such a life with stark, painful detail.

Book Description

A thousand acres, a piece of land of almost mythic proportions. Upon this fertile, nourishing earth, Jane Smiley has set her rich, breathtakingly dramatic novel of an American family whose wealth cannot stay the hand of tragedy. It is the intense, compelling story of a father and his daughters, of sisters, of wives and husbands, and of the human cost of a lifetime spent trying to subdue the land and the passions it stirs. The most critically acclaimed novel of the literary season, a classic story of contemporary American life, A THOUSAND ACRES is destined to be read for years to come.
"It has been a long time since a novel so surprised me with its power to haunt . . . . Its genius grows from its ruthless acceptance of the divided nature of every character . . . . This gives A THOUSAND ACRES the prismatic quality of the greatest art." -- Chicago Tribune
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

inside the whitewashed farmhouse.......2007-10-02

Way-too-human darker side of the many facets of the Midwest farm life, plus some deeply satisfying glimpses into its regional and natural history. A good read. I guess Smiley did create a very well-developed main character, because I still keep worrying about how she's doing. The others, however, were pretty one-dimensional, and more than a few of the plot turns seemed unrealistic, definitely not fleshed out, but I was completely willing to suspend disbelief in order to continue turning the pages to peer into the mind of that main character.

Lacking in character development.......2007-07-13

This book held my interest enough for me to finish it over the course of 3-4 days (I have two toddlers so that's an accompishment!), but by the end of the book I thought there were way too many unanswered questions, particularly due to poor character development and the relationships among the family members. I kept waiting to understand why Caroline was so distant from the family, but there were only mentions here and there but not enough of an explanation. I feel the author could have added so much more to the story regarding the death of their mother when they were young children. There was no depth or dimension to the characters of Ty, Pete, or Rose. Ginny, perhaps because the book was told from her point of view, was the only character I felt like I really knew. The story had the potential to be better but it was difficult for me to invest in any of the characters.

Age Appropriate?.......2007-06-27

This book was a part of my senior reading list for my upcoming AP Liturature course. The characters routinly annoyed me with their inability to see Ginny's father for what he really was and I found Ty's lack of loyalty to his wife the most distressing of all the character relations. The author does a splendid job of convincing you of Ginny's choices and I often found myself unable to wait for the next chapter. Despite this, I didn't feel that the ending was very helpful in its resolution of the conflicts created throughout the story. I realize it's a modern adaptation of "King Lear" but I could not find full satisfaction. It all seemed insufficient. There were also several brief descriptive moments of sexual thought and action that I found very inappropriate. As an AP student I must be mature but, at 16 I am conflicted with the notion of reading the explicit beginning of a sexual encounter between a husband and his wife. While some teens would read such descriptions with lust and others might not even notice, I felt very uncomfortable and couldn't get over the sensation that someone was going to scold me despite my age for reading something as open as this book is. My discomfort overruled my opinion of plot and I would only recommend this book to someone over the age of 18.

A Compelling Read.......2007-06-15

I've heard of references to King Lear but as I read on, I was also struck by similarities to "Wuthering Heights"...families torn asunder, too, and some outlandish emotions. Dramas played out against an unforgiving landscape, and the sense of isolation. But the detail to every-day life, such as the narrator attending to the process of keeping a farm and farm-house running, both makes it more plausible and keeps us anchored. When Ginny plans revenge on Rose, her actions and methodical, painstaking steps she takes, are ghastly but have a certain dark humor, too. I read this in just under three days, and had to force myself to stop at times, just to attend to details of my own household.

Tedious writing and shallow characters - reasonable story.......2007-05-30

I liked the idea of the book, but expected a more riveting account about 3 sisters, their men and their inheritance. The characters were run-of-the-mill and could have been described with richer adjectives. Sibling rivalry, sisterly love and differences in these slightly boring characters could have been refined further.

The scenes are credible with descriptions of the food, crockery, clothing, if a little unimaginative with cliches and tautologies. There were a few twists in plot, but it was stale.

A good editor could have condensed the book to about 1/3rd the length and replaced some obvious adjectives to improve the writing.

C J Critt's reading was clear and voices were well differentiated on the tape, even if the tone was a little patronizing.

I managed to go through all 11 tapes, but it didn't hook me like some books. Finally a note of caution - whereas most of the book is suitable for youth, the sexual nature of the content makes it unsuitable for playing on family trips with children.

Average customer rating:

MNReview
Far from earlier brilliance!
Boring and Repetitive!
Started out slow
a major disappointment...

The Ravenscar Dynasty
Barbara Taylor Bradford
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All Deals | Blowout Books | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Blowout Books | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0312354606
Release Date: 2006-12-26

Book Description

Barbara Taylor Bradford introduced the illustrious Harte family in her blockbuster A Woman of Substance. Now she has created an unforgettable new dynasty: the Deravenels.

On a bitterly cold day in 1904, the Deravenel family’s future changes forever. When Cecily Deravenel tells her eighteen-year-old son Edward of the death of his father, brother, uncle, and cousin in a fire, a part of him dies as well. Edward and his cousin Neville Watkins are suspicious of the deaths. They vow to seek the truth, avenge the deaths, and retake control of their family’s business empire.

As he grows into a handsome, charismatic man, Edward is torn between duty and desire. There are women in his life for whom he’ll risk everything—and one woman who might destroy him. But madness and secrecy lie at the heart of the family, and Edward’s enemies are far more ruthless than he knows. He will need his strength more than ever when the house of Deravenel is fatally rocked by betrayal from within. Who will become the ultimate ruler of the Deravenels?

Power and money, passion and adultery, ambition and treachery all illuminate a dramatic epic saga that brings to life the glittering Edwardian Era. The Ravenscar Dynasty is based on the familial factions of England’s Wars of the Roses, brought to life by the magical, memorable storytelling power that is Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Customer Reviews:

MNReview.......2007-10-02

Another super, can;t put it down book. (Review may be biased, as I am a huge Bradford fan.) Book would be a great gift - asorbing story to 'just read".

Far from earlier brilliance!.......2007-09-30

"The Ravenscar Dynasty" is the first book in a saga about two families, the Deravenels and the Grants, and the struggle for power of the house of Deravenel. The story takes place in Edwardian England and starts in 1904. Loosely based upon the life of King Edward IV, but with obvious flaws, I don't applaud this idea.

Most of what happens is, however, not entirely unexpected. Convenient "co-incidencies" easily guessed by the reader, destroy any hope of possible page-turning quality. When, for thirty pages or so, none of the book's characters have a clue about what the reader already knows, it's easy to just skip those pages.

"The Ravenscar Dynasty" is still not totally unenjoyable. I suppose the setting, English upper class in the old days, with their grand homes and traditions, has its attraction, a special "glamour of lost times". Not much excitement, but a certain charm. It did not keep me awake at night. Neither am I eagerly awaiting Book II. Compared with the unforgettable "A Woman of Substance", it lacks a lot. Too much is predictable. The people are settled in their world, in spite of a bit of trouble to maintain it. There is nothing of the strength and magic of the story about a young woman from Leeds who single-handedly built an empire. Emma Harte crept into my heart and her story is one of those unforgettable moments in literature.

I'll follow the Deravenel's destiny further, but next time I'll wait till the paperback.

Boring and Repetitive!.......2007-09-26

urgh.. couldn't stand this one. How many times can the author tell us that the main character is good looking and likes older women?? How many times can she explain the family and its history? Boring.

Started out slow.......2007-09-23

The book started out slow but then got much more interesting. Love Barbara Taylor Bradford, she does weave a great story. Ordered "the heir" which is the second book of the trilogy!!!

a major disappointment..........2007-09-19

I so looked forward to reading this book because I truly enjoyed a "Woman of Substance" and others by this author. Sadly I found it to be tiring with its overstated descriptions of wealth, opulence, gratuitous sex, and pretentious dialogue. Getting to the actual plot came about three fifths of the way through and was so shallow, I felt robbed. New characters were still being introduced in the last 100 pages, almost as though the author herself was getting bored with where it was going.

Average customer rating:

Recommended
A Fool No More
How can I like this more than Philippa Gregory's Boleyn stories??
The Queen's Fool: A novel
WONDERFUL

The Queen's Fool: A Novel
Philippa Gregory
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743246071

Book Description

A young woman caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, must find her true destiny amid treason, poisonous rivalries, loss of faith, and unrequited love.

It is winter, 1553. Pursued by the Inquisition, Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, is forced to flee Spain with her father. But Hannah is no ordinary refugee. Her gift of "Sight," the ability to foresee the future, is priceless in the troubled times

of the Tudor court. Hannah is adopted by the glamorous Robert Dudley, the charismatic son of King Edward's protector, who brings her to court as a "holy fool" for Queen Mary and, ultimately, Queen Elizabeth. Hired as a fool but working as a spy; promised in wedlock but in love with her master; endangered by the laws against heresy, treason, and witchcraft, Hannah must choose between the safe life of a commoner and the dangerous intrigues of the royal family that are inextricably bound up in her own yearnings and desires.

Teeming with vibrant period detail and peopled by characters seamlessly woven into the sweeping tapestry of history, The Queen's Fool is another rich and emotionally resonant gem from this wonderful storyteller.

Customer Reviews:

Recommended.......2007-09-14

This is the first Philippa Gregory novel I've read, and I chose this one because of the slight fantasy of the main character's "sight" that she uses to foretell events. This aspect I would have enjoyed had the author used it more; however, then it would be even more of a fantasy than historical fiction. Regardless, the story held my interest and I liked the characters.

A Fool No More.......2007-08-27

Another drama of the Tudors by Philippa Gregory. I enjoyed this one more than "The Other Boleyn Girl" because the main character had spunk and independence, unusual for a girl in those days. Although a vassal to a Lord with his own agenda, she developed a deep love for Queen Mary and was a loyal friend to her through all her suffering. For the first time, I got a clear picture of the conflict between Mary and Elizabeth before and after the death of their young brother the King. Both made huge mistakes but were strong women to be reckoned with. Hannah serves both but is still her own woman. Very exciting events unfold as the balance of power shifts back and forth between these two woman and their supporters. Adding to the drama is the fact that Hannah and her family are Jews passing as Christians during a time when heretics were burned at the stake.

How can I like this more than Philippa Gregory's Boleyn stories??.......2007-08-07

I don't know how it's possible that I liked "The Queen's Fool" even more than "The Other Boleyn Girl", and "The Boleyn Inheritance" which I loved. I think it's partially the addition of Hannah Green the young jewish girl escaping the Spanish Inquisition and becoming the Queen's Fool, telling the story. Having Hannah tell the story introduces how great an effect all the european countries and their politics have on other European countries.

I am sure it is also the fact that these stories build on each other, with characters whose families and circumstances are already familiar from the book before. I encourage you to read in sequence - and I encourage you to READ these stories and learn some history. Even if it is couched in some fiction, you still learn and this way is so much more fun. My friends are now as hooked as I am -- this many people can't all be wrong.

The Queen's Fool: A novel.......2007-08-02

Intriguing! Great descriptions of the Tudor court in a suspense filled, exciting time in history. Had me hooked.

WONDERFUL.......2007-07-19

Ms. Gregory's The Queen's Fool is as beautifully written as her other historical fiction novels. We continue the story of the Tudor line in England, but instead of being guided through a queen's view or a princess's view, we read through the eyes of Hannah the Fool. Hannah is a wonderful character who grows from an apprentice tomboy to a desirable woman. We pick up the story from Henry VIII's last wife to see his son, Edward IV, on the throne. Edward, ruled through the Duke of Northumberland, dies and the throne is shoved into the hands of Jane Grey (Northumberland's relation). The victory is short-lived, because Mary (Henry VIII's first and only child with Katharine of Aragon) raises an army to fight for her as Queen. Though she wins, it is not long before her sister, Princess Elizabeth (Henry VIII's first and only child with Anne Boleyn), conspires to take the throne. Hannah is thrown in between the half-sisters and must use her Sight as a gift to help both women. The story line is filled with historical fact, tweaked enough to give a well rounded account of The reign of Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. WONDERFUL!

Average customer rating:

This detective novel is a classic--but it's also a lot of fun.
Wow! I just finished this book
The best of Victorian suspense
Totally gripping
Woman in White Book

The Woman in White (Penguin Classics)
Wilkie Collins , and Matthew Sweet
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0141439610
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Book Description

Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Matthew Sweet.

Customer Reviews:

This detective novel is a classic--but it's also a lot of fun........2007-09-17

I'll confess that I almost put The Woman in White down after the first fifty pages or so. It seemed obvious to me what would happen: a beautiful and delicate heiress falls in love with a poor drawing master, but is forced to renounce him for the evil nobleman who really only wants her money. Then, the intricate plotting (the story is related in the voices of different characters) drew me in and the plot turned out to be not quite so obvious, after all. Sure, you can read quickly past some of the verbose descriptions, Marion is too good to be true, and Collins does deal in stock figures when it comes to the "lower" classes. Despite these flaws, the mystery at the heart of the novel will keep you turning the pages. It's a wonderful diversion when you're too tired for more weighty reading matter and you'd like a detective story that's decidedly NOT contemporary. The portrait of the "invalid" uncle, Mr. Fairlie, is wickedly delicious, too. Have fun.

Wow! I just finished this book.......2007-08-01

and I loved it. I couldn't put it down. It is a 19th century puzzle that is so well written and so much fun.

The best of Victorian suspense.......2007-07-10

Collin's novel is the best example of Victorian mystery and suspense. Full of tangential story lines and detailed, lush descriptions of nineteenth-century England. A must-read for any student of literature and anyone interested in Victorian history and culture.

Totally gripping.......2007-06-26

I have read this book several times and just reread it after many years. I don't understand those who think it hard to follow. If one pays attention the plot is easily understood. Too many people are used to being spoonfed and have trouble with Dickens and Collins because they demand attention.

This book is frightening and not in any supernatural way but because I wondered what I would do if I had been Laura or Anne, shut away in an asylum against my will. what would I do if I were trapped and unable to reach anyone to help me? It's this helplessness that is so frightening and the inability for the law to do anything without proof.

I highly recommend this book. And Marian Halcamb is a true heroine in a Victorian era, fighting back at injustice. These are characters you won't soon forget although Laura is very much in the Dickens mode: pretty, complaisant, mostly, and depending on others. A woman of her times.

Woman in White Book.......2007-05-25

The book was in very good condition and arrived in a timely manner.

Average customer rating:

How does one make a play by Shakespeare accessible to those disinclined to read one?The answer is Sixty-MinuteShakespeare Series
helpful
Great for studying Hamlet!
Helpful edition; entertaining play.
A good reading copy

Hamlet (Shakespeare Made Easy)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

History | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Notes | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Accessories:

ASIN: 0812036387

Book Description

Here are the books that help teach Shakespeare plays without the teacher constantly needing to explain and define Elizabethan terms, slang, and other ways of expression that are different from our own. Each play is presented with Shakespeare's original lines on each left-hand page, and a modern, easy-to-understand "translation" on the facing right-hand page. All dramas are complete, with every original Shakespearian line, and a full-length modern rendition of the text.

Customer Reviews:

How does one make a play by Shakespeare accessible to those disinclined to read one?The answer is Sixty-MinuteShakespeare Series.......2007-07-14

Reviewed By: Beverly Krueger, Eclectic Homeschool Online

How does one make a play by Shakespeare accessible to those disinclined to read or see one? Or how do you make it possible for those who just don't have the time to do the play full justice, but nevertheless want to have more than just a taste of the bard, to find the time to read it? The answer is the Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series. I've got in my hands their version of Hamlet. There are two important distinctions to this edition. First, it is abridged. The core of the play is left untouched, so the play and its themes are still understandable. Famous soliloquies are also left untouched. The dialogue that fleshes out the minor characters is often abbreviated. Second, the play is rendered in the original language, but uses standard spelling. This is not a modernized version of the play.

The Sixty Minute Shakespeare series was also written to give a shorter, easier to produce version of the play for theater groups that wanted to put on a production of a Shakespearean play. Any of this series would be a great production piece for a homeschool theater group. I recommend Hamlet in particular because there are so many resources available to help young actors learn more about their roles, especially the many fine productions of Hamlet on video or DVD. A short section on staging a production gives useful advice for staging and pacing of a production.

For those who want to use this edition for a study of Hamlet, I suggest getting a study guide to help with understanding the themes of the play. The notes at the bottom of each page help with understanding some of the unfamiliar words used, but those who are not familiar with Shakespeare will benefit from additional explanations of what is happening in the text.

helpful.......2007-01-15

I have my degree in English... I like reading and teaching with this version as "help" not as a substitution. It gives a clearer understanding to Shakespeare for people who have difficulty with it.

Great for studying Hamlet!.......2007-01-10

I had to use this for a course I was taking. This book was very clear and very helpful. It definetely made reading Hamlet a lot clearer and simpler.

Helpful edition; entertaining play........2006-09-14

"Hamlet" was not a Shakespearean play I had plan on reading outside of my Movement in Theatre class and this edition made it one hundred times easier. I had to read the play in a week, so reading the modern English side made that process effortless. I then read over the original Shakespeare version when I had to focus on the character Ophelia. Overall, I found that this play was easier to read in Shakespeare's writing, as opposed to some of his other plays. The play is interesting, but I felt the ending to be boring. I "sorta" recommend.

A good reading copy.......2006-08-25

Once you get used to the layout, this is a good copy to read along with as you listen to the play. Some valuable insights too and not just for students.

Average customer rating:

Not Impressed
Excellent, brilliant, and breathtaking
Wow is all I can say...
Doesn't disappoint
After all, I was my mother's son.

Kushiel's Scion (Kushiel's Legacy)
Jacqueline Carey
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Dark | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 044661002X

Book Description

Imriel de la Courcel's birth parents are history's most reviled traitors, but his adoptive parents, the Comtesse Phedre and the warrior-priest Joscelin, are Terre d'Ange's greatest champions. Stolen, tortured and enslaved as a young boy, Imriel is now a Prince of the Blood; third in line for the throne in a land that revels in art, beauty and desire. It is a court steeped in deeply laid conspiracies...and there are many who would see the young prince dead. Some despise him out of hatred for his mother, Melisande, who nearly destroyed the entire realm in her quest for power. Others because they fear he has inherited his mother's irresistible allure...and her dangerous gifts. As he comes of age, plagued by unwanted desires, Imriel shares their fears. When a simple act of friendship traps Imriel in a besieged city where the infamous Melisande is worshiped as a goddess and where a dead man leads an army, the Prince must face his greatest test: to find his true self.

Customer Reviews:

Not Impressed.......2007-10-09

As Scion began, I really thought I was going to enjoy it. In fact, I was enjoying it, at first. Imriel's youth and adolescence is at least interesting, but that's about it.

Usually Carey's Kushiel books are a mixture of intrigue, sex, action, and adventure. A very good, pretty well-balanced mix. Unfortunately Scion is largely sex and intrigue. Now, I like both of these things, but they vastly outweighed the action and adventure in the book. I really like the way my boyfriend put it: It's like having a sundae that's made completely of hot fudge and whipped cream. Sure, those are an awesome part of the sundae, but eat too much of only those, without the ice cream and other things, and you start to get sick of it, not to mention a bit queasy.

The whole middle of the book is a bogged down mess of intrigue and sex, sex and intrigue, with a bit of intrigue and a hint of sex thrown in. And none of it was very interesting, either. Imriel's waffling personality and uncertainties make the sex mostly annoying. And even once the scene moves to Tiberium (Rome) the intrigue is just meh. Okay, not a professional term, but that's really the best way to describe it: Meh. I just wasn't that caught up in it.

Imriel doesn't help the matter. Where Phedre was a fascinating, believable character, even in her gift/curse, Imriel's issues just read false. As I said before, he flip flops constantly in his uncertainties. He just comes to accept who he is and something happens to make him go right back to doubting. Most of the situations are, unfortunately, not very convincing. With a distinct lack of real personality and what I can only a call an angsty, emo teenager attitude, Imriel just isn't enjoyable to follow. Some of the supporting characters are a lot of fun though, adding some bright spots. And the ending, the last 100 or so pages, picks up considerably.

Scion isn't terrible, but it was bad enough that the hardcover of Kushiel's Justice has been crossed off my Christmas wish list. I'll wait for the paperback, thanks. This one just didn't leave me wanting to read the next one that badly.

Excellent, brilliant, and breathtaking .......2007-08-11

After reading a review that claimed that one could skip reading Kushiel's Scion and go on to read Kushiel's Justice and not have missed anything of consequence made me quite upset and angry. Now that I have read Kushiel's Scion I know that the person that wrote that review was mistaken. Kushiel's Scion sends the perfect ideas about light and dark and the cycles of life that with the bad comes the good and vice versa. The struggles that Imriel faces are well substantiated in the emotional intricacies of his life as Phedre's were in the previous three novels. The wording is exquisite and I am not sorry for reading this addition to the series. Every addition to this series is worth reading for their is much insight and knowledge to be gained from the emotional turmoil of life.

Wow is all I can say..........2007-08-08

This book was amazing! I was searching for a new something to pass the time as I sadly abandoned the Anita Blake Series.
This Book was a welcome change from the mindless sex scenes in the Anita Blake Series.
The book was well written and it contained a very though plot/character development. I was instantly drawn to this book. I finished the book in a matter of days (Sadly work gets in the way of reading time). Imriel is an engaging character! The best part is that he is not alone, Phedre, Joscelin, Gilot, the entire array of characters only enrich the story.

I give this book five stars! And tonight I start the next book Kushiel's Justice.

Doesn't disappoint.......2007-07-26

Have read the original trilogy some time ago, I was afraid that I would not be able to get back into to caring about the characters without first re-reading the originals. That was not the case at all! My memory was certainly rusty to begin with, but this beginning of a second trilogy pulls you right in and includes gentle reminders of past occurrences whenever necessary, without burdening the reader with a lot of wasted time reviewing "what has gone before." I was also afraid that a new trilogy, focussing on a new main character could not possibly live up to the originals. I was completely wrong. The story is every bit as rich and engrossing as any of the first three books. I was captured immediately and couldn't put it down. Read this book. If you haven't read the first trilogy, read those too. You won't be disappointed.

After all, I was my mother's son. .......2007-06-24

"I felt at once tired and sad. "Why would you think it was anything else, Sidonie? Who told you to be afraid of me?"

Jacqueline Carey revisits her engaging world previously conceived in the first of the "Kushiel Legacy" trilogy with a fervor and skill that we have come to know and love. She deftly weaves the previous storyline of Phedre and her companion, Joscelin, into a new tale surrounding Imriel, the son of the traitorous Melisande Shahrizai, Phedre's former patron and greatest enemy. Imriel, recovering from the horrors of Darsanga, cannot wholly escape his past. He is now laboring under a new mantra, having been adopted into Phedre's household... "I will try to be good".... In other words, he is trying not to succumb to the treacherous nature of his blood and the cruel and malign hand of the God Kushiel, whom the Shahrizai are direct descendents of.

The story begins when Imriel is thirteen, three years after his rescue from Darsanga and after the fateful trip that released the Master of the Straits, Phedre's childhood friend Hyacinthe, from his eternal curse. Now, Imriel is growing up, learning the discipline of the Casseline Brotherhood under Joscelin's tutelage, and trying to forget the fact that he is a Prince, third in line for the throne of Terre d'Ange. There are the beginning stirrings of puberty and manhood taking their toll, but Imriel is still far too tortured from Darsanga to heed their call. Suddenly, something no one excepts occurs; Melisande disappears from the Temple of Asherat without a trace. This causes a stir in the Royal Court, but Imriel tries to remain above it. Some time later, at the behest of Phedre, he decides he wants to become friendlier with his Shahrizai relatives so his cousins Mavros, Baptiste, and Roshana come to be fostered at the Montreve estate for a summer. It is then that he discovers the true nature of what lies in his blood, and begins to realize the beginning stirrings of desire which he attempts to quell. During the same year the son of Grainne and Quintilus Rousse, Eamonn mac Grainne, comes to the estate and falls into a fast friendship with Imriel.

"Is it possible to fall upward? It seemed it to me. Lying on my back, I fell upward into Emmeline; into her mouth, into her. Every part of me she had touched and made sacred blazed with desire that was Naamah's gift, clean and pure, untouched by any shadow. I offered it back as tribute, and she accepted it with gladness.."

When Imriel turns 16 he visit's the Balm house and couples with the adept, Emmeline, who teaches him the true nature of desire. This helps him to repress some of the atrocities of Darsanga, but healing is very hard to come by. It is not until his cousins take him to Valerian house when he truly begins to know himself, and the cruel hand of his lord Kushiel. To his horror he realizes the allure of power over another and this knowledge, combined with the realization that it will forever alter his and Phedre's relationship causes him to flee to Tiberium, assuming the life of a poor student so that he may attempt to flee his duties, including a proposition that he wed the Princess Dorelai of Alba.

Carey's incomparable with and narrative are still very present in this revisiting of the Kushiel world. I found myself powering through the book with extreme alacrity. The one part that I did not find myself enjoying, however, was the siege of Lucca. To be frank, I skipped some of it. I cannot even say why but I found it to be tedious and uninteresting, which is the only reason I am rating the book 4 stars instead of five.

The remainder of the book, however, was superb, and I found myself falling in love with Imriel as a narrator and the protagonist. Actually, for a time, I thought that he was more interesting than Phedre. Of course, he has a more interesting basis for comparison, as he is the son of Melisande Shahrizai, and he has all of his past to contend with. I found him to be extremely empathetic and tragic, and that made me compelled to read the book that much more swiftly. Plus, the fact that he was a dominant sexually, as opposed to Phedre's submissive tendencies, but was fighting against his own nature, made him more exciting to read. I adored this book, with the exception of the one detail of Lucca, and would recommend this series to everyone. Carey has definitely found another way to captivate an audience with the world of Terre d'Ange and I applaud her for doing so.

"I was tired of being afraid."

Average customer rating:

Julia Lacey
These are getting a little creepy
Good Book
incredibly powerful....
Disappointingly Miserable

The Favored Child : A Novel
Philippa Gregory
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Romance Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743249305

Book Description

The Wideacre estate is bankrupt. The villagers are living in poverty and Wideacre Hall is a smoke-blackened ruin. But, in the Dower House, two children are being raised in protected innocence.

Equal claimants to the estate, rivals for the love of the village, they are tied by a secret childhood betrothal but forbidden to marry. Only one can be the favored child. Only one can inherit the magical understanding between the land and the Lacey family that can make the Sussex village grow green again. Only one can be Beatrice Lacey's true heir.

Sensual, gripping, sometimes mystical, The Favored Child sweeps the reader irresistibly into the eighteenth century, a revolutionary period in English history. This rich and dramatic novel continues the saga of the Lacey family started in Philippa Gregory's bestselling and enduringly popular Wideacre.

Customer Reviews:

Julia Lacey .......2007-09-04

The book is called The Favored Child, due to a legend that has sprung up around the village of Acre that Beatrice's true heir will return and the land will be happy again.

That's the only interesting thing about this book. Julia is an extremly weak character, due mostly to the fact that she is raised by Celia, the late Harry Laceys wife. But her real mother, Beatrice, is hardly in evidence in her daugther. Other then her love of the land and it's people,Julia is very different. She was raised as an indoor girl, and was taught to know her place. But i still can't believe how she puts up with Richards abuse. From almost the first chapter, when see her cavng in time and again, simply because he's the boy!

Her only attempt to escape Richard, a betrothal to James,a man she meets in Bath, is thwarted by Richard.

Richard is himself a very unlikable character. i never felt sympathy for any of the charcters. Well, a little bit for Julia at the end. Thats why the book got two stars. She finally starts tro prove herself towards the end.

Read it as the middle part to the wideacre trilogy.

These are getting a little creepy.......2007-08-11

In this second book in the Wideacre trilogy, Julia and her cousin Richard have grown up together among the ruins of their family estate and have always planned to marry, despite their guardians' disapproval. When, as a teenager, Julia begins to demonstrate a talent for working with the land and its inhabitants, Richard grows resentful. After all, only one of them can be the rumored favored child, the true heir to Wideacre.

Gregory's early works are starting to remind me of V.C. Andrews' style of near-horror stories, only with richer detail and better writing. I really wanted to strangle Julia for her stupidity at times. Yes, she was confined within the role of women in her time, but had she told someone - anyone! - what was happening, at least some of the tragedy might have been avoided.

Good Book.......2007-07-19

After reading the first book in this trilogy (Wideacre), I was not too excited to read this one but I wanted to find out what happens to the Lacey family. I have to say this book is much better than Wideacre. I am now reading the third book (Meridon) and I believe it is even better than the second book. So, if you got through the first book and are wondering if you should venture into the other two, it is definitely worth your time.

incredibly powerful...........2007-07-06

so i just finished reading this book and my stomach is still in knots. philippa gregory is a puppet master and with every word she will tug on your emotions with this book along with her many other masterpeices....simply amazing. there were times when i was afraid to continue reading it because i was actually scared of what would happen next. it is beyond powerful. truly spectacular. i cant give this book or this author enough praise.

Disappointingly Miserable.......2007-06-11

This book did not live up to Gregory's later book, Meridon. I don't know about Wideacre because I haven't read it yet but reading The Favored Child made me not want to go back to the first book.

Julia is just an idiot. I felt really bad for her but she kind of just screwed herself over throughout the entire story. And nothing good ever came out of all of her struggles.

It left me with a really disturbed, and unsatisfied feeling. I do not recommend this novel.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books