When we decided to read this novel in class, and we were told that it was inspired by the life of Gauguin I was a bit prejudiced against it, because I didn't like most of the pictures that Gaugin had painted. On the other hand I liked Somerset Maugham's style of writing So it was a bit a "to-and-fro" for me at the beginning. The 4 stars I gave the story make clear that Maugham has "won". In fact the story is inspired by Gauguin, there are parallels, but it's not the real story of Gauguin's life anyway Maugham's descriptions are absolutely convincing, and the end of the novel is... just great! I mean, a man who tells the others before what a great time he had at the front then quotes the Bible, which is so conrary to the main message of the book, which is NOT revenge: Do what you are called to do, live your life according to your inner voice, don't care about society and what people might say and think about your work of art whatever that may be. One piece of advice: I recommend to every reader to study the Maugham biography while reading the novel. You will discover a lot of parallels, similarities and projections (e.g. between Maugham and Strickland).

The main character is Charles Strickland, a successful stockbroker. He gives up everything to follow his own vocation. He's obsessed by the passion to create beauty. Even though you don't know much about his daily life you get involved in the spirit of art and the way artists live and think. The last part of the book when Strickland's life in Thahiti is narrated by people who got in touch with him there. There you learn most about his character and you understand his feelings better.

Somerset Maugham was inspired by the life of Paul Gauguin when he wrote this book. But it's not a boring biography which contains each detail of Paul Gauguin's life, a lot of the events in the book didn't happen in his real life at all. I really enjoyed reading this book and Ican recommend to read it to everyone.

It has been noted many times that artists are usually not the most pleasant human beings to be around; Maugham's novel is, among other things, a compelling examination of why this is so. The obsessed artist who dominates this book, Charles Strickland (based on the notorious Paul Gauguin), walks away from his cushy middle-class existence in England to pursue his dream to paint, amid frightful poverty, in France. Strickland is an unforgettable character, an inarticulate, brutishly sensual creature, callously indifferent to his fellow man and even his own health, who lives only to record his private visions on canvas.

It would be a mistake to read this novel as an inspiring tale of the triumph of the spirit. Strickland is an appalling human being--but the world itself, Maugham seems to say, is a cruel, forbidding place. The author toys with the (strongly Nietzschean) idea that men like Charles Strickland may somehow be closer to the mad pulse of life, and cannot therefore be dismissed as mere egotists. The moralists among us, the book suggests, are simply shrinking violets if not outright hypocrites. It is not a very cheery conception of humanity (and arguably not an accurate one), but the questions Maugham raises are fascinating. Aside from that, he's a wonderful storyteller. This book is a real page turner.

Ted Gup is a humble man who feels an obligation to those menand women who died in the defense of the greatest nation on earth. The author is not hostile towards the CIA. He strongly believes, as I do, that reluctantly this organization has a continuing serious role to play in the defense of our liberties. Alas, we live in a less than perfect world. Human nature is such that forevermore we will likely spy, and at times even discretely perform underhanded mayhem upon our enemies. A democratic society, however, must strictly monitor its spy agencies so that they do not get carried away and violate the limited mandate granted to them by the nation's elected officials. The innate secretive aspect of an intelligence organization's duties can seduce its top officers to perceive their actions as above the law and the consensus moral values of a civilized society.

This disturbing book echoes the warning of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan that the bureaucratic mind set of our spy organizations results in often stamping "top secret" on matters not requiring such extreme caution. Bureaucrats are generally timid individuals who virtually always prefer choosing the exaggerated safe option to make sure their careers are never jeopardized. Ted Gup found ample evidence that the CIA's laziness and indifference are usually the only reasons why the names of CIA operatives killed in the line of duty do not receive public acknowledgment. The surviving family members possess neither the financial resources or the political influence to force the CIA's hand. A cynic might justifiably conclude that dead agents are out of sight, and therefore out of mind. I found myself forced to control my rage learning how the names of agents who died 50 years ago are not released because of alleged national security concerns! I am appalled that both the Republicans and the Democrats have allowed this disgraceful behavior to continue.

I was also upset to find out that our CIA slandered the Red Chinese by saying the latter had imprisoned a totally innocent business man. The truth of the matter, Gup had discovered, is that not only was the man a CIA agent, but also probably performed acts of sabotage! The Communists of China are vicious monsters deserving of our complete and unhesitating moral condemnation. Nevertheless, their vileness does not excuse our outright lies. I strongly contend that in the long run such contemptible dishonestly only furthers the cynicism and bitterness of those who otherwise might be converted over to the values of our political system. Ted Gup's superb book transcends the sometimes nebulous boundaries of conservative and liberal.... These agents died for our sakes---and thus we have no right to forget their sacrifices.

This excellent book by Ted Gup is a great testament to those who have gave their lives for their country but their contributions could not be fully acknowledged.

Those in our intelligence community know that if they die while executing their jobs then there is a good chance that their lives and their missions may never be fully disclosed by the government.

Gup does extensive research in this book and uncovers information that the CIA would probably not want people to find out. He writes this book so the families of the dead will finally know what their loved ones died for.

I reccommend this book to anyone with strong interest in intelligence and covert operations. Definitely one for your espionage literary collection.

This is a good book! It is good reading for anyone age 16 or older, casual reader to university professor. It is required reading for anyone serving in the intelligence or diplomatic fields - soldier or statesman. I was impressed that this is Ted Gup's first book, it is truly superb. Gup's research is among the best and most complete I have ever reviewed regarding this subject area. Book of Honor is about a small part of the CIA called the Deputy Director for Operations or DDO and about an even smaller part of the DDO that conducts clandestine, covert, and surreptitious operations overseas. It is a series of true action stories about the events of the men and women that died in the service of the CIA from its inception after WW II to the present. The author is fidelis honoring those who died and earned a listing in the "Book of Honor." You'll meet real heroes here. My favorite, whom I have long considered one of the bravest men I ever knew - Dick Holm. But, that's only part of the value of this living history. There is a second story between the lines for the more experienced reader. It is a story about an intelligence agency often more involved with nitwitery (like that in Laos) than sound objective or purpose. The reader will bounce between admiration of exceptional individual accomplishment and disbelief at the level of institutional incompetence by often unqualified managers - more mangers than leaders. This is a story too often about "playing army" than spying. Readers will cringe at a bureaucratic contest between better equipped and better trained military special operations units and CIA teams usually comprised of ex-military contract employees. Policy and law makers will see first hand the inherent problems of an intelligence agency wasting limited resources and valuable time trying to fight violent enemies at the expense of making sound intelligence about critical issues needed by others. The author includes a lucid passage attributed to members of US Army Detachment Delta - You just didn't know if you could trust the CIA. They were speaking about the reliability of both CIA intelligence and operational truthfulness and their assessment is directly on target. The CIA plays games when professionalism is needed. Too many CIA secrets are maintained more to protect incompetence than national security. The author with the help of many within the agency provides needed sunshine with the right blend of integrity and caution. There is no horse manure in this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and kept the reader thinking. I was continually wondering how many other things we, as a society, might have misconceptions about. I loved the style of writing. I could have read the book in one setting. It was funny, egotistical yet humble, and kept me enthralled. After reading Farley Mowat's story, I was ready to head out and live on the Alaskan tundra with wolves and eskimos. Who doesn't need a break from the world once in a while? Luckily, I was able to mentally visit the wolves and enjoy the comfort of my recliner at the same time. It was like Discovery Channel, only the narrator was hilarious. Great book!!!!

Though Mowat's experience with wolves occurred over 30 years ago, it managed to captivate my interest and provide me additional insight to a species I am very concerned about. As a short novel, I wasn't sure whether Mowat intended his narrative to be that of a scientific account or a "coming to terms" with the human/wolf spiritual experience. Either way, it was in parts both vastly entertaining as well as intellectually well-grounded and thoughtful. Anyone concerned about the constant perpetuation of negative myths about wolves in our or any culture should read as much as possible about wolves in order to begin to understand where society has wronged such an intelligent, special animal. Mowat's book is an excellent source of information for the conservationist seeking a view into the lives of an artic wolf family, as well as for the reader who may have no idea how unfairly ostracized this species has been--30 years ago or not, the concepts of human encroachment, unfounded hatred and unjustified blame are alive today, as is human's preoccupation with pest control in the name of profits.

The first time I saw,Never Cry Wolf, I thought I would not enjoy reading it. First, because it was an assigned literary book to read: secondly, it was not a book I would normally select to read. However, I was pleasantly surprised with this book, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Farley Mowat, the author, has an incredible vocabulary that he uses to tell the story. But, while he may use some scientific or big words it doesn't distract the reader too much. In his writing, Mowat has a lovable quality, sarcasm. This trait makes the book fun to read and easily relatable to real life and people.

Mowat takes the reader to the world of the Arctic Wolves in the Canadian wilderness. The narrator, a biologist, is sent by the government to explore the life of the wolf, and, more specifically, to find out more information on how the wolf is interacting with the other species of life. What the narrator learns through his study changes his views on the wolf and on the world. He realizes that things aren't always as they seem, and facts are not always simple to understand.

I read this book a few months ago and I agree that it is a good book. The adventure and depiction of the characters is excellent. You feel as if you are watching the scenes come to life right in front of you. I feel the title of the book is not a good one though. "Phillipe", for one, is the "Man In the Iron Mask", but, he isn't a main character at all. He also never becomes one. I had watched the movie and now own it, so I assumed that it would follow the book. It doesn't at all. It's totally a different story from the book. I loved the movie, don't get me wrong. But if you've watched the movie and now want to read the book, expect something totally different. This book should be titled "The Last of the Muskateers", because that's what it's really about. How all of the muskateers are in their prime and how they slowly but bravely die off. Until there's only one left. I don't know if Mr. Dumas wanted to suprise people or if he thought that he had the appropriate title, but it really doesn't fit the book. The outcome of "Phillipe" is extremely different from the movie and the "Queen Mother" isn't so kind. The movie was appropriatley titled, not the book. Both good stories, two different depictions.

I read Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo when I was a freshman and fell totally in love with his writing and the story. Surprising then, that I didn't pick up more of his books till three years later, after seeing The Man in the Iron Mask the movie. Guess what, the book and the movie are nothing alike, (what a shocker) but the book is better in all ways. Only Dumas can capture the sense of history and timelessness that is in his novels. I admit that the beginning of The Man in the Iron Mask is confusing for those who haven't read the previous four books(it was for me) yet the story is a wonderful one, richly told and full of the adventure and excitement that Dumas puts into all his works. Within pages I was hooked on the book and found myself totally engrossed with characters I had never met before. It has all the qualities of a first-class adventure story: bravery, friendship, love, death, and an indefinable longing for the world to be somewhat better than it truly is. The plot has little to do with Philippe (The man in the iron mask) and deals with the last adventures of Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan, and the ties of friendship which bind them together. I cried throughout the last fifty pages of the book. After finishing it, I immediately read the rest of the Musketeer series and have become a life-long fan. I recommend this book to anyone who has a sense a romance and adventure.

I admit, I read this book because I saw the movie and wanted to expand my knowledge of the plot. Don't be fooled by the title. The character in the iron mask is merely a subplot. In fact, The Man in the Iron Mask was not the original title for this book. However, it was magnificintly wonderful. I couldn't put it down. It is filled with adventure, romance, and the undying friendship between Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan. I also admit to shedding a tear at the end. This is a wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who loves adventure with a little history mixed in. If you saw the movie, don't be fooled. The book and the film are nothing alike. Thank goodness for literary genuises like Dumas.

Considering that I too am a Daddy's girl, I know what Tina Sinatra feels, when she talks about the first man she ever loved; her father.

In my opinion, I didn't think that Tina wrote this book to exploit her father's memory, or the family name. I also don't believe that she wrote this as a ploy for money, because of you really read it, you'll notice that neither did she glamorize the life her father led, nor did she paint herself out to be the perfect daughter, but told the story the way she saw things. The only time this books goes into mud-sliging is when the mention of stepmom #3, Barbara comes up. Being that the last Mrs. Sinatra didn't have that great of a rep with those who knew her, it wouldn't be too hard to believe a lot of what was said about her. Considering there were nothing but nice comments made about the other Mrs. Sinatras, you wonder what it was about Barbara that made his children drift away. And think about this, a child will always see things differently than those on the outside looking in, because of the bond that is shared with the parent; especially the bond between a father and his daughter. Of course the Sinatra children had very privileged lives, but reading this book, will make you realize that even money doesn't make up for time spent with parents; Tina makes that very clear here.

If you are a Daddy's girl, or a Daddy with a little girl, read this book. Reflected here is a daughter who pained, and longed for the father who was always away. The bond between a father and daughter will always remain, even in death, and this book is a reminder and reflection of that.

I'm glad Tina Sinatra wrote this book about her late Father,and got the truth out about her money hungrey Stepmom Barbra,who wanted to get all she could for herself and son Bobby before Frank died.Its sad to think about the last days of Frank Sinatra.His kids were not even alerted that there Father was dying in the hospital.There was plenty of time ,but Barbra chose not to call the family untill Frank was already gone.I know there's two sides to every story,but I believe Tina. The pictures in this book are wonderfull.The last photo of Frank was sad.You realize how sick he was at the end,but what a great life he had.Tina writes about her Father's on going relationship with her Mom,Nancy,and her love for Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow.Also,Tina is the first family member to admit her father consorted with gangsters,like Sam Giancana,to help JFK nail the 1960 election.After reading all the other books about the late Frank Sinatra,its wonderfull to finally read the truth.

The reason I enjoyed reading this book so much is that I appreciate the expression of Tina's honest and true feelings, even if sometimes painful. I applaud her courage in telling her story as she saw it. Being her "Father's Daughter", she had a definite vantage view as an insider who could shed some light on her beloved father's life. This book was difficult to put down once I picked it up. I enjoyed learning more about Frank Sinatra as the world famous Icon as well as a family man and by the time that I finished the book, I felt he was also a remarkedly loving, passionate and generous man during his best times. This book also was truthful enough to point out the temptations of living in the spotlight as a celebrity and the pitfalls that exist for anyone living that type of lifestyle. Thank you Tina! This was definitely an enlightening book worth reading!

When I first received this book, I thought that it would be one of those tedious books that you have to write reviews on while in school. While reading the first chapter, I confirmed that thought for myself, and left the book for a week or so. The first chapter, to me, was this quite confusing chapter which had no real beginning or end, and no real meaning. When I finally had to read the book to start writing my review, I struggled through the first chapter again. And then I came to the second. What a breath of fresh air it was, and from then onwards, the book flowed as the rivers and streams that it describes.

The story is one that is very true to the world today - it talks about a culture that is slowly being lost to technology. It is a very touching story, about love, loss, friendship, trust....in fact it is about every conceivable human emotion. It is told in a beautiful way, that iss incredibly realistic, and transports you to its setting. The myths and stories that are described are very insightful of the tribal culture. The stories were believed whole-heartedly, even though they may seem childish and unbelievable. But it is that childish innocence that allowed these tribes to thrive and live in a peaceful way. The dimension that the vicar from the outside world brings is interesting in the sense that although he symbolises the technology that is overshadowing the tribal culture, he is the one who is trying his best to maintain it. It shows how a simple life can silence the want for a more luxurious one.

All in all, this book is extremely good, and I recommend it as a very interesting read. The author has managed to show a culture that is dying out, without distorting it or adding overly-fictitious elements. Simply beautiful.

I Heard the Owl Call My Name was a great book. I read it in class and did a long research report. At first I found the book dull and confusing. After reading for a while longer I really got hooked. It is one of those books you can't put down at night. It doesn't have a lot of action, but it moves along. The author describes the characters personalities. It is about a young vicar who is sent to a remote missionary in Canada. Throughout the book he gains the trust of the village people. It isnt too long so give it a try.

Normally I don't like books about people who invade other people's lives and cultures and proceed to preach christianity to them. However when I read this book I found myself sympathising with the dying priest and admiring his relationship with the Alaskan Indians.

I was surprised at how easily Margaret Craven made it all so believeable. Kingcome became real and the slowly disintegrating tribe of the Kwakiutl Indians touched my heart as I thought of the many indiginous tribes of people all over the world forced to integrate in a world that is not their own. Margaret Craven showed how humanity's progress and ignorance can be the footsteps of doom to others. Even the "Christian" theme did not offend, in fact it softened my usually hard heart toward people who interfere in others lives.

This is a wonderful book and it is one I will always treasure.

I might also point out that the video with Tom Courtney playing the part of the doomed Priest is not bad either, though like most films it does not alway follow the plot of the book but then you can't have everything in life, can you ?

Henrik Ibsen has written a penetrating play about marriage and gender roles in 19th century Europe. In what was surely shocking to European society at the time, Ibsen attacked the system that reduced women to mere possessions. In a society where women didn't even have the vote, this must have been a shocking statement.

The play is very short at 72 pages. I'm not going to divulge the plot but I will say that I found the play to be average. I will also say I'm not a big fan of reading plays, since they are usually written in a form to be performed, not read as literature. I also fault Ibsen with writing a play that fails to show the consequences of his characters actions. When Nora changes and leaves at the end, we get no information on what happens to her children, who have now been officially abandoned by their mother. In this way, Ibsen's play can be seen as a precursor to today's problems, where both men and women duck out of the family life. While this may be "liberating" to the woman (or the man, for that matter), it doesn't bode well for the kids. Maybe Ibsen could have written a sequel showing the kids growing up without a mother and getting hooked on liquor, or getting pregnant at age thirteen.

This play is most likely a big hit in the feminist cliques and the "find yourself" crowd. For me, I'd have rather read something else. It still had some good points, though. The dialogue at times was pretty snappy, and I kept picturing actresses that might play Nora as I read through the play. Ibsen is also certainly adept at characterization and pacing. Overall, average.

The Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen subjects his writing to the intricacies of marriage time and time again. He seems to have an omniscient power and ability to observe the sacrament itself, along with the fictional characters whom he creates to engage in these marital affairs. Such is the case with his classic drama, A Doll's House.

The play raises questions about female self-sacrifice in a male-dominated world. Nora is a "wife and child" to Torvald Helmer, and nothing more. She is his doll, a plaything on display to the world, of little intellectual value and even less utility in his life. Thus it is logical for Helmer to act so shockingly upon his discovery that Nora has managed financial affairs (typically a family responsibility reserved for the patriarch) without so much as his consent or knowledge. What, then, is the play saying about women by allowing Nora to act alone and independently, all the while allowing her to achieve little success in doing so?

Such an apparent doubt by the playwright of the abilities of women is quickly redeemed by Nora's sudden mental fruition, as though she, in the course of a day or so, accomplishes the amount of growing up to which most persons devote years and years. She has developed the intuition and motivation to leave behind everything she has lived for during she and Helmer's eight years of marriage in exchange for an independent life and the much-sought virtue of independent thought. Nora suddenly wishes to be alone in the world, responsible for only her own well-being and success or failure. She is breaking free of her crutches (Helmer, her deceased father, the ill-obtained finances from Krogstad) and is now appetent to walk tall and proud.

Through the marital madness of Helmer and Nora, Ibsen is questioning the roles of both husband and wife, and what happens when one person dominates such a relationship in a manner that is demeaning to the other, regardless of whether such degradation is carried out in a conscious, intended frame of mind. Ibsen is truly a master playwright, and his play A Doll's House is truly a masterpiece.

The Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen wrote an insightful play about marriage and the role of women in Ibsens time (19th century Europe). I am sure that "A dolls house" must have been a shock to the European society when Ibsen first published this book. He criticised the system that demoted women to mere property and this must have been an outrageous statement in a society where women didn't even have the right to vote!

The author himself said that this play was about human rights, not women's rights. While I believe this to be true, I still have no problems understanding why the female rights groups says that "A dolls house" is about women's rights. Whilst this play was written over a hundred years ago, many of the issues about women discussed in "A dolls house" are still applicable today. I think Nora is a *great* role model for a woman of the new millennium!

If you, like me, had to read this as a part of your college literature requirements, give it another try! It is a wonderful book.

First off I would like to make a distinction between the Python programming language and this particular introduction to it. Python is a great language and you will enjoy programming in it. This is probably the source of excitement in reviews on this page. Because the book, unfortunately, has a number of flaws.

The tradition of O'Reilly Perl books has been not only to teach you the syntax of Perl, but also to introduce programming techniques and ideas how to make best use of the language features. This Python book scores zero on these points. It focuses on syntax exclusively and this makes it unsuitable for an absolute beginner. The examples are unimaginative. The authors show you how to write correct code for using "dictionaries", but not how to USE "dictionaries". A Perl book author would throw in a program that uses a "hash" to search for duplicate data entries (as they did).

Besides, the flow of the book is uneven. Functions and classes are discussed at length, but built-in data types and exceptions are looked at only briefly. All this is really unfortunate because there are not very many Python books on the market and it is a very good language.

Overall, I think, this book is best for experienced programmers who already know their CS, have to get up to speed with Python very quickly, have $30 to waste, and really love to own O'Reilly books. The rest might be better off by printing out the Python tutorial.

I first purchased this book nearly two years ago, but I never got past the first few chapters.

I just picked this book up again, with the benefit of two years' experience programming in PHP and a little but of Java, and I realize why working through this book seemed like such slow going the first time around.

On the one hand, "Learning Python" is written with a lot of hand-holding for readers who may not have much programming experience at all with any other languages; the basic concepts of variables, statements, functions, data types and the like are all clearly explained, which is a good thing for someone just starting out.

On the other hand, there are also quite a few tips and bits of information about memory efficiency, or how certain elements of Python relate to their C underpinnings; things that a rank newbie probably won't understand, and probably doesn't need to know when they're just trying to learn the basics. These esoteric points are probably quite helpful/interesting for programmers coming from low level languages like C, but those programmers will be frustrated by the slow page of the sections covering basic mechanics.

So you've got a book that moves at a beginners' pace that's full of asides targeted towards experienced programmers; beginners will be confused and overwhelmed, and experienced coders will just get frustrated.

For what it's worth, I have the first edition of this book; I'm not sure how the second edition compares.

Mark Lutz and David Ascher deliver precisely the needed information to meet the objective stated on the cover of the O'Reilly text, "Learning Python" (Help for Programmers).

A succinct, yet thorough treatment of the Python programming language is presented in some 350-plus written pages that are well organized and facilitate the development of Python programs in a "Read and Code as You Go" fashion.

After spot reading the Chapters on "Getting Started", "Types And

Operators", "Basic Statements", "Functions", "Modules" and "Common Tasks In Python", I was coding and running my first text file I/O Python programs within the first half of a day. The authors concise presentation of the concepts definitely facilitated the "learning curve", which so often is an obstacle when learning a new programming language. The material was also indexed very well with clear index descriptions to easily determine what the topic was and where to find it.

What I found to be the strongest point of the book were the "Gotchas" sections, in which the authors discussed topics such as Python Language Constructs, Program Class Usage and Coding Practices to be aware of. I found the "Common Coding Gotchas" section at the end of Chapter 3 of great benefit in coding and debugging my first self-authored Python programs (As I learned, Python is definitely a language where you want to indent consistently, avoid the mixing of blank spaces with tabs and not forget the use of colons to denote decision logic). The application of these concepts alone were a great asset in reducing the "Learning Curve" for me.

The program examples provided reinforced the clear, concise concepts presented by the authors. The programs that I studied were suited to running in both a Linux environment (using Linux Python Version 1.5.2 for SuSE(tm) Linux 7.0 and Red Hat(tm) Linux 6.1) and MS Windows(tm) NT/98 (using Active State's Active Python(tm) Version 2.1).

Exercises presented at the end of the chapter were effective at reinforcing the programming concepts presented. With some supplemental tutorial material for non-programmers, this book could be used as an educational text for a Python programming class, particularly one geared for programmers with scripting language experience.

The authors did a good job of covering a number of topics important to application programmers. Object-oriented Constructs, Manipulation of String Objects, Operating System Module Use, GUI Programming Component Frameworks and Applications such as Tkinter and JPython are discussed to provide the reader a good exposure to the extent of the Python language implementation and its strenght as a robust, object-oriented scripting language.

The book is definitely an invaluable resource for providing the essential material necessary to construct your first Python programs, especially if you've had prior programming experience with other scripting languages, such as REXX, Javascript or Perl.

Definitely one of the best O'Reilly publications I've read to date. Kudos to Mr. Lutz and Mr. Ascher for their contribution to making the experience of "Learning Python" a fun and productive pursuit. Five Stars!

Well, like many who thought about buying this book, I watched Silence of the Lambs and read Hannibal. Great movie, great book. So, I decided to check this book out. Big mistake.

There's not really anything good about this book. This book is extremely outdated, really slow, and not very fluid.

It's amazing how a couple of decades could improve someone's writing style. Black Sunday, in terms or readability, is not up to par with many of the other books I have read. Normally, I wouldn't comment on this, but at some points it almost gave me a headache. Maybe I was having a bad week, but many sentances were very terse. I'm not an English professor, but let me give you an example. Harris, describing a character seeing a blimp up close for the first time: "It was big. Fasil was reminded of his first view of an aircraft carrier." Why didn't he say something like, "It's size reminded Fasil of the first aircraft carrier he saw."? Maybe I'm some type of picky freak, but when every other sentance is written with extra small words (e.g. of, his, was, an), and there are a lot of passive sentances, it kind of gets on your nerves.

Adding to that is the lack of action and very little dialogue. I was reading about half as many pages per sitting as I usually do because of this. Except for the last twenty pages, the rest of the book could have been condensed into about 50 pages. Except for the details of Lander, the book is full of boring side stories about peripheral characters and annoying little details. I personally never cared about how a helicopter hoists roof parts or how a blimp works, but you'll learn it if you read this.

Finally, this book is sort of outdated. You can't fault Harris for this, but it's worth noting. Though it doesn't really show up in the book (thankfully), the general plot (Middle Eastern terrorists trying to blow something up) sort of prays on the fears of the zenophobic middle American. It's a simple formula which I've seen many times, and has been done many times.

So, if you're looking for another thrilling Hanibal Lector type novel, it would be best to pass on this one.

Michael Lander is an ex-POW from Vietnam, who has taken up a civilian position flying the Aldritch blimp for the football each Sunday. However, his time as a POW has left him emotionally scarred and he embarks on a deadly plot, enlisting the help of an Arab terrorist group. Through the book, the details of the plan are gradually unveiled, where he plans to blow up the Superbowl, killing 80,000 spectators, including the president. In the first half of the book, sympathy is built up for the terrorists, by concentrating on the relationship between Michael and terrorist Dahlia Iiyad, adding an extra dimension to the book. Another thing I liked about the book, was the way Harris has continually referred back to how the incident relates back to Middle Eastern politics, which is the motivation for the terrorists' involvement.

My only gripe is that I felt the ending was a little weak, after such a brilliant book. This seems to be a feature of Thomas Harris' writing which is also apparent in The Silence of the Lambs. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book highly

This was a great novel. Thomas Harris keeps you intrigued, and gives great descriptions of both characters and events. The plot and Characters were well developed and very believable (now more that ever after the recent tragedies our nation has been faced with). The only problem I had with this book was his over attention to detail. At times, I thought, the information he gave was useless, and did no more than bore me. However, I can see how someone else may see the information as valid and fascinating. Overall, this was a well-written novel, and I would suggest it to anyone who enjoys fast paced novels full of suspense.

I find that Mr. Stevenson is a very talented writer because his story was described excellently and the suspense seemed very real.

Kidnapped is the story of a young man's adventures. This particular young man was named David Balfour. After his parents passed away David set off in search of his rich uncle, to find himself a new home. Little did he know that on his arrival that his uncle would try to chase him away with a gun, and would be the most miserly person David had ever met. For fear of having to feed David, the uncle had him kidnapped aboard a ship that would take him to America to work on the plantations. Due to an unexpected change in the weather, however, the ship was wrecked on the coast of Scotland, and there the adventure began.

On the back of the novel it says that this book has been enjoyed by generations and shall be enjoyed for generations to come. When I chose to read this novel I wasn't sure if that statement would be true. I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the story, I found it to be well written and exciting. I looked forward to the end because I was curious to see what would happen.

I'd say any book that is good enough to be deemed a classic has an importance all it's own. I have not read many classics but I find this book important because it holds a lot of information pertaining to the history and culture of Scotland and it's people.

In other words, this is a great story, read it!

Robert Louis Stevenson was without a doubt one of the greatest historical/adventure novelists that ever lived, and Kidnapped is unquestionably one of his best works. My only regret is that I waited so long to finally read it. It was a new and exciting change from Treasure Island, a book which I love, but have read approximately once every year since the second grade. Finally, longing for a little swashbuckle, and wishing for a way out of my Jim Hawkins rut, I picked up Kidnapped, and was immediately swept off on a thrilling, suspenseful and exhilarating adventure through the Scottish highlands. For days I sat rigid on the edge of my seat, eagerly following the young David Balfour as he was cheated of his inheritance by his wily uncle, kidnapped by pirates, and befriended by a cocky Jacobite outlaw. Breathlessly, I followed him and his companion as they were falsely accused of murder and forced to flee from British troops. Finally, I heaved a sigh of contented disappointment as the story ended, glad at the way things had ended, yet upset that it all had to end and that I would at last have to part from the two heroes of whom I had grown so fond. This is without a doubt a book that I will reread as many times as I have Treasure Island, and I envy the lucky reader who is picking it up for the first time. It is thrilling, exciting, suspenseful, unpredictable, and thoroughly intoxicating. After reading it, my thirst for such dashing adventure was so terrible that I immediately had to run to the library and lay my hands on every adventure novel I could find. I would highly reccommend it to every lover of adventure stories, particularly those with a historical base. I would suggest though that first time readers take a minute to read just a very little bit about the Jacobite rebellions, particularly the one of 1745. It will help greatly to clarify the story, and make it that much more enjoyable. (If indeed, it could get any better than it already is!)

Let me tell you now that 'Kidnapped' is my personal favourite, and I've already read it four times! You'll never get a moment to pause to take a yawn. R.L. Stevenson with his superb writing capabilities writes of a young man named David Balfour. When his father dies, he is told to go to his uncle's house. After several failed attempts to kill David the wicked uncle sells him off to a skipper of a ship. In the course of his stay on the ship David meets the Jacobite, Alan. I can't describe the novel in words you gotta read it to know what you are really in for! This is the greatest adventure novel I've ever read. If you have read Stevenson's 'Treasure Island' then you won't be disappionted with this one.