This book is tragic and wonderfully written. Hardy uses words to create a scene for you that creates the visual for you completely. I think that the sadest thing for me was to realize people did live like this, life really was that hard. As a 21st century woman I was outraged at the way that Tess was treated by men and by society. Who is the true bad guy, Alec or Angel? When we read it with our societies mores we perceive it one way, but if we were ken to the morals of that society how would we see it? Are they really dastards, or are they all just victims. I am not a scholar, I liked the story for being a good story.

After reading the book I rented the A&E movie. As I watched it, I realized how well the book translated into video, because I had already seen the exact same scenery in my mind. The only thing that surprised me was the bleakness of the trunip farm and Tesses horrible conditions. I couldn't imagine anything that awful.

There are a lot of words, similar to DH Lawrence, but I wouldn't get rid of a one of them. If you come to this book as a great story and not as a classic novel, you will hold Tess to your heart and never forget her tragedies.

What I have written below is the assignment of my homework. (I'm a 9th grade student)

Tess's life was destroyed by men who loved her. But the right man hesitated, and the wrong man found her first. This was how her life was ruined and how miserable she was. If you want more derails, it is better for you to read the book yourself.

This book is a perfect demonstration that bad things happened to good people. But I have to admitt that it is quite difficult to struggle through the beginning. But after a few chapters, enjoyment continued filling my heart and eventually I could not stop reading untill i have finished it.

Alec d'Urbervill was the man who destroyed Tess's life. Tess met with lots of knotty difficulties in her life. It is fallacious to say that ir was her fault.

Tess is really a complex character. Her life was full of love , hate, depression and misery. Fortunately, she met Angel Clare who filled her heart with happiness.

Good writing do not often go hand in hand. But Hardy did it. THis is a tragic story. Why is the world so unfair?

Hardy used a magical way to write this book. Once you start, you can't stop. As you travel through this book, you will find yourself lost in admiration for the strong, honest woman.

Hardy showed me the true colours of depreesion and hapiness. He did a nice job and i did appreciate it.

It is definitely the most beautifully crafted book i have ever read. This book is truly worth reading and I hope you are not going to miss it.

Truly an excellently written book. From the very beginning, Tess comes alive. Her parents are witless drunks with two many children, and Tess must care for them. When news comes to her idiot of a father that once the Durbeyfields were the D'Ubervilles, a family with a famous past, money and land, her life takes some terrible turns.

One of the best things about this book is that it is not happy-go-lucky. When terrible things happen to her, Tess has no where to go. If you want to see what life for women was like, you can easily find out through Tess.

The end is very unexpected, and absolutely perfect, and very satisfying as well. I didn't need to know what happened next, I wasn't dying to read a sequel, I was content.

For you people who love happy books, that have happy endings, middles, everything- read something by Jane Austen. If you are into reality, check this book out.

Jan Karon vividly brings the citizens of Milford, North Carolina to life in the first installment of her amicable series that understandably achieved massive popularity. While the subplots concerning an international jewel theft and a dognapping vignette both seem extraneous and a tad farfetched, the uplifting novel more than succeeds in paying homage to the proudly quotidian.

The three-dimensional characters are all similar to everyday folks whom readers will know. Interestingly, the protagonist is a sixtyish never-married minister--not the typical lead character in current novels. Further deviating from the stipulations of modern day literature, he does not live a double life, engage in a tawdry affair, betray his duties to the church, or spout new age babble under the obnoxious guise of religious inclusion. He is a dedicated Episcopalian and all Christians and non-Christians will admire his commitment to his vocation.

What makes the desultory anecdotes referenced above all the more distracting is their complete lack of necessity to the plot. The book's tribute to the mundane is captivating enough without contrived plot twists to build drama.

The prose maintains eloquence throughout with its wholesome simplicity and on a few occasions the author's wording reaches rhapsodic heights. Certain sentences are so powerful that they not only conjure up palpable scenes, they nearly pop out of the book and act out the setting for the reader. At one point she describes an unwelcome rain with the hopeful undertone "every drop that fell contained the promise of another leaf, another blossom, another blade of grass." For transitional purposes she writes "early the following morning the leaden skies cleared, the sun came out and the village stirred briskly." The local newspaper is quoted in describing the nascent spring with a poetic paragraph that includes, "she (spring) is shod with ivy and dandelion... unfortunately she is easily distracted and often stops to tarry on a bed of moss." Listening to a parishioner's confidential tale, the minister is described: "he laughed happily; if there was anything more amazing and wonderful than almost anyone's life story, he couldn't think what it was."

Many wonderful and amazing life stories populate the pages of this pioneering work. A visit to Lord's Chapel and all its parishioners and neighbors relaxes the weary traveler and leaves one feeling renewed and wanting to come back in one of many sequels.

I absolutely loved 'At Home in Mitford'. It is probably the best book I have ever read. As a mother of three small children, I rarely get to read anymore. I was surprised by a friend with a gift of this book. When I started reading - I just couldn't hardly put it down. I looked forward to my quiet reading moments with an unquenchable enthusiasm and finished it in record time (finishing a book is alone a record for me)! The characters were so vivid - I felt I knew each one. One negative reviewer criticized the character "Catherine" when the name is actually "Cynthia" (makes me wonder whether THAT interviewer actually read the book) and she is a character so full of life,so quirky, happy, and fun-loving; she reminds me of my incredible mother. Another one of the few negative reviewers said that it was boring. Well, I don't want to give any of the many interwoven plot lines away so I will just say that a lot of real "action" doesn't happen on the show 'Friends', for instance but you watch it for the characters. It is more 'on par' with "Steel Magnolias" than "Hunt for Red October". Another great asset of this book is it's DIALOGUE. I just laughed throughout the entire book. I would LOVE to meet Jan Karon. And finally, this book was an incredible blessing to my Christian walk. To read a 'picture' of caring people SHOWING their love was so uplifting. I pray that it will bring many blessings to many others. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the Mitford series.

If you like warm & cozy reads that are character driven, then At Home in Mitford is for you. The imagery that Jan Karon paints is picture perfect, with streets named Lilac Lane & Old Church Road, and the local diner, The Grill, where the townfolk gather and catch up on the latest goings on.

Mitford is the ideal of small town, southern life. It is here that Father Tim lives & breathes, where he is the pastor of a small parish. For the past 12 years, without a vacation or break, Father Tim has nourished his congregation while neglecting himself. Little does he realize how a new neighbor, a little boy, and a faithful dog will come into town and change his life. Mitford has a cast of wonderful, colorful characters and the pace is just right for the simplicity and loveliness of Mitford. This is not a book if you're looking for action, but if you like warm and cozy reads, this book is a must. I can't wait to read the rest of the series~

~The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a fascinating and adventurous book about a boy named Tom Sawyer. He has a major crush on a girl called Becky Thacker. In this book, Tom goes to an island with two of his friends, attends their own funeral, and look for treasure! Tom sees Injun Joe a killer with treasure. He wants it, but his only clue where Injun Joe hid it is that it has something to do with number 2. Tom is now lost in a cave all alone with Becky. Can he find his way out of the cave and~~ the way to the treasure? I agree with Mark Twain's decisions and ideas. I believe that I would be doing the same thing if I were in his position. His decisions are able to happen; yet The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is such a good book. I would recommend this book to people who like adventurous books, and likes classics. It leaves you at so many cliffhangers that you can help but read all of it at once, for the people who like cliffhangers.~

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is one of the best books I have ever read. The language,the thinking,the adventures-all of it was just incredible and enjoyable. The only thing this book needs is more pages! Mark Twain's skill in writing has created a book that all ages should read (or have it read to).Mark Twain reactivates the life and actions of a boy in the mid-1800's,and showed me that kids should be who they are- not what they will be. This is a classic for every generation to read and enjoy.

Mark Twain's,The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, tells about a boy loving and living his life to the fullest. Tom Sawyer is the kid that the world has seemed to forgotten. He is the kid who always get in trouble but continues to have fun with life. In this book, Tom does everything from being engaged, to watching his own funeral, to witnessing a [death] and finding treasure. Twain's creative character finds fun everywhere in his little town in Missouri, as do his friends. The storyline is basic, but it is a piece of the past that everyone should hold on to.

In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I learned mainly two things. The first thing I learned was that you can make life fun with just about anything if you use your imagination. Life is too short and precious to be wasted. I also learned that where you least expect it [help or protection], you might just get it. This book was just amazing-filled with unique characters, exciting events, and how a town can pull together to help those in need.

Set on the 19th century river banks of Mark's Twain hometown, the Adventures of Tom Sawyer takes you on the raft ride of your life. It is starts by a synopsis of the character of Tom and his friends, by cataloging a few of the queer things that they involved themselves in. Nonetheless as the story unfolds it deepens into a more serious nature. Tom and his friend Huck witness a murder. Moff Potter the town drunk, is accused of the crime and only Tom and Huck can save him. However, they fear that the real killer Injun Joe,will exact his vengeance on them. The story ends in the last scene with a dark rendition of finalty in the cave with wild Injun Joe. Tom and Huck end up rich with more than a dollar a day for the rest of their life.. " More than a body can handle".. This is a truly a remarkable book and a must for every young boy. It is filled with laughter, suspense and cheer for those of all ages and gender..But don't think it ends there.. Just wait till you read the adventures of Huck Finn!

I suppose the comparisons to Eco are appropriate, but I kept thinking "Brother Cadfael meets Rashoman". I wasn't familiar with the historical setting, and found the various viewpoints on the era more interesting than the multiple narrations of the plot events themselves. But ultimately the mystery wasn't quite interesting enough. The ambiguity of the revealed "truth" of each section, while an effective metaphysical approach, undermined the narrative. The first "author" sets the stage, so as I read it I didn't yet know enough to disbelieve anything. But by the time I got to the "fingerpost" in the last section, my willingness to distrust any narrative made the conclusion less satisfying. And, since the style invites you to try to compare the different versions of the same events, you'd like to be able to more easily FIND the other narrators' descriptions ... I discovered that trying to flip back to previous sections and reread parts was difficult and frustrating. I'm not really sure I'd recommend this book to my reading-circle friends.

Warning: This is not a pick it up and finish it in a day kind of book. No matter how many historical mysteries you read you will not be able to get through this book in a day, or even several days.

That being said, it is one of the most rewarding mysteries you are likely to read. Pears's incredibly detailed depiction of Oxford in the late seventeenth century bristles with life, lust, and treachery. First through the eyes of a wandering Italian Marco da Cola, and then through the eyes of other major figures like John Wallis and Anthony Wood, we are introduced to the strange events surrounding an even stranger person: Sarah Blundy. The history of science and medicine is very accurate and very well-treated (not always the same thing!), especially in the sections on Wallis and Wood. The pace of the book does pick up the deeper we get into the twisting paths of Oxford life and legend, but I don't think that makes the first two accounts any less riveting. Instead, it brings home how different people see the same events, and makes us evaluate more critically every "fact" we think we know.

This would be a great book to take on a one-week vacation, since it will probably get you through the whole thing without having to take 6 books with you. If you like historical mysteries or historical fiction, or even the history of medicine, I highly recommend this book to you.

PS. The ending knocks you off your feet. Totally unexpected!

I found An Instance of the Fingerpost to be one of the most engaging mysteries I have ever read. The book's basis is a murder-mystery focused upon the death of an Oxford professor and priest, Dr. Grove. The central premise is explored by four highly different narrators - an Italian visitor, a young student whose father was accused of treason, a cryptographer with the English government, and a historian. I found the use of the different narrators fascinating, as the reader is able to explore how different viewers of the same events can see things very differently, depending on their prior knowledge of and interest in the events.

While the solution to the central mystery is a shock and a revelation, the interest of Pear's book does not stop with the who-dunit aspect of the book. Rather, the reader is drawn into a scholarly exposition on the history of science; an interesting study of the political scene in England at the time of the murder; and a close development of all the central characters.

Having recently finished this book, I plan to read it again in a few weeks. I think that, knowing the ultimate result, rereading the stories leading up to it will be time well spent.

I thought that Heart of Darkness was an excellent book that everyone should read. I portrays every single persons true self, there sense of darkness and treachery in the world. Not every person you meet shows there sense of darkness, but this book displays how there is a feeling in that amongst all of us. Joseph Conrad shows a lot of feelings that some humans experience, like racism, and insanity. This book takes you for a real roller coaster ride. If you liked Heart of Darkness, you should see the movie Apocalypse Now. This movie is exactly the same thing as this except it's in a different time period. This novella is a story about Marlow and is adventure through the Congo River. As Marlow goes down the river, he encounters several obstacles that make him realize the true threat of the Congo River. The plot and the themes of the story are difficult to understand but eventually it can be grasped. The only attribute I particularly didn't like about the book was the extreme detail that Conrad shows in the book. I thought that he could have summed up most of the stories details to a shorter version. All and all it was a very interesting book.

Heart of Darkness is a novella that really needs to be read more than just once to fully appreciate Conrad's style of writing. The story is an account of one man's simultaneous journey into the darkness of a river as well as into the shadows of a madman's mind. There is a very brilliant flow of foreshadowing that Conrad brings to his writing that provides the reader with accounts of the time period and the horrible events to come. Through Conrad's illuminating writing style we slowly see how the narrator begins to understand the madness or darkness that surrounds him.

I recommend this particular version of the novella because it contains a variety of essays, which discusses some of the main issues in the reading and historical information. Issues like racism and colonialism are discussed throughout many essays. It also contains essays on the movie inspired by the book Apocalypse Now, which is set against the background of the Vietnam War. I recommend reading Heart of Darkness and then viewing Apocalypse Now, especially in DVD format which contains an interesting directors commentary.

There can be long debate about the hidden meanings, etc. in Heart of Darkness. And, of course, if one pays even a scintilla of attention. one's mind will no doubt be provoked by this deep, mysterious and moving tale. For example, there could be (I'm sure there has already been) a century long debate on the exact meaning of the title. However, besides the import of its moral/human/instinctive/spritual teachings, Heart of Darkness is often overlooked for the sheer excitement and anticipation the words cause. This is, to put it bluntly, a terriffic story. I was so anticipating the meeting between Marlow and Kurtz that I could barely stand it. And the visual imagery is astonishing. I will never forget the stakes with heads of savages. One must wonder how familiar Conrad was with the story of Vlad the Impaler (Dracula)!! Of course, it is the importance of the work that has made its immutable mark on literature. Any reader will surely be able to recognize his or her ! own instinctive/unconscious capabilities (desires, perhaps?) when they read this book. Who among us can wholly deny that we would not have behaved like Kurtz when left unrestrained by our society and placed in a position where it was not difficult to make a relatively unchallenged rise to power? Perhaps imperialism, left unchecked, is human nature, and our nature, our instinct is to civilize those different from us by way of any means feasible, which, with "savages" or the "uncivilized", is violence, fear or terror. Do a quick check of history, and you will find this to be true. The Heart of Darkness may in fact be the heart of man, a metaphor for the instinctive nature of man.

I would give Anthem 3 out of 5 stars. It was a very interesting and powerful book. The main character's name is Equality 7-2521. He is a very intelligent street sweeper wanting to be a scholar in an intellectually repressed society. This book most likely takes place in the future after a worldwide disaster. This man enjoys experimenting (illegally) with lightbulbs which haven't been "invented" yet. After showing the "light box" to the council of scholars, he is heavily repremanded. Equality 7-2521 then escapes into the uncharted forest where he discovers many things with his companion Liberty 5-3000. Their most important discovery is the discovery of the forbidden word ego. This book's theme is human individualality. People in this society do not have any individualality. They are assigned strange names, do not have any family, and are not allowed to talk to the opposite sex. Probably the most strange and confusing part of the book Anthem is its use of the word we. For a large portion of the book we is used instead of I becausre of the society's beliefs. 3 out of 5 stars.

Narrated by Equality 7-2521, Ayn Rand's pithy Anthem contains enough egali-TERROR to ignite an abundance of thoughts in any cognizant reader, despite its repetition (scarcely permissible by its brevity) of many of the same ideas. Certainly, one can compare its communal society with Soviet Russia, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of China, and so forth, but it is also shockingly easy to find relevance to modern America. As you read, beware; this is what the liberal elite is planning for us! One cannot read Anthem's description of education (pronounce "indoctrination") system and not consider America's public schools--dominated by such asinine "reforms" as OBE, School-to-Work, dumb-down-the-curriculum-to-raise-up-self-esteem, and, of course, cooperative learning. (Oh yeah, just for the record--in case any of pythia's teachers see this--not *all* educators are evil. . .)

As is characteristic of any dystopia, Anthem relates the struggle of an individual against the juggernaut called society and exposes the dehumanizing effect of egalitarianism. Of all I've read, Ayn Rand's depiction of the future is nearest an ideal utopia, with total abolition of private property and with perfect equality in the absence of class distinctions or authoritative figures. True, occupational statuses differ, but, as in Ira Levin's This Perfect Day (I strongly recommend this novel as well; why is it out of print?), all are equal. When I read Anthem, it gave me the sense that its society, in the latest evolutionary stage of egalitarianism, has existed for a longer time than those of similar novels. Of course, they're all just fictional. . .right?! When compared to most of its genre, Anthem's most salient difference is its technological primitivity. I find this depiction of the future a fascinating and refreshing diversion from typical portrayals--as well as being, according to my own vaticination (keep in mind that I do call myself "pythia"), much more accurate. To maintain its stability, the communal society requires its members to abide with minimal comfort while engaging in continuous drudgery. Additionally, once the society has been established, its members are utterly incapable of producing technological advancement, perhaps even incapable of realizing the need. (On a similar note, check out Kurt Vonnegut's story "Harrison Bergeron," also revealing the stifling consequences of equality.) Tempting as it is to continue elaborate upon this topic, I dare not write more lest I reveal too much--that is, more than the too much I've already written. (Mea culpa for partially spoiling the analysis your own mind ought to initiate.) I'll conclude this segment with three words: House of Scholars!

Anthem's only major shortcoming is its ending. After the story's resolution (which is by no means the most emphatic), there follows two chapters (a relatively large chunk of this short work) didactically exalting the Objectivist philosophy of egotism. . .er, I guess that's egoism. . .oops. Because everything stated therein is a clear conclusion clear from the preceding chapters, these chapters are superfluous, serving only to lessen the impact of what the reader would otherwise cogitate himself. (Hypocritical pythia. . .you're one to talk.)

In part because of the former, I do not rank Anthem at the top of its genre in strictly literary terms. Moreover, character and plot development are minimal and vague, as a direct result of the work's brevity, and the rhetorical style is simplistic. However, this cannot be held against the novella; rather, it is integral to the protagonist's character. As unadorned as the writing is, Rand actually took artistic liberties with Equality's rhetoric; a novel truly commensurate with what his education level must have been would be illegibly poor! Furthermore, the terse, simple sentences render the theme as powerfully and emphatically as complex, adorned language could have, probably more so.

You have nothing to lose by reading Anthem. Although you can finish the novella in one evening, you will keep it in your thoughts long afterwards. . .but pray that in thoughts alone will it remain a reality. . .

Alexis de Tocqueville once said that if even people were to attain equality, inequality of minds would still remain. Equality 7-2521 proves this point. Try as they might, no one can completely steal the mind--thus, is it not cruel and inhumane to force it into a state of conformity and mediocrity?! Listen, never believe anyone who tells you that equality is a good thing. Do you want to live in Anthem-land?? Egad! Long live Capitalism!! Long live freedom!! Long live inequality!!!

~pythia~

I first read this book way back in high school, 9th grade to be exact. I HATED it at the time. I agreed heartily with its point and purpose, but thought it was far too simplistic and obvious to promote any serious thought. Then, about 6 years later, I began reading Rand's other works. After reading Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, Anthem made more sense. It wsn't as simple as it appeared to be. I read it again and enjoyed it. People tend to read Anthem at the age that I did, because of school curriculum, and it is their first exposure to Rand. This is likely done because Anthem is her shortest work of fiction. But I think that is a grave mistake, because Anthem is best read after reading her longer works. This approach has probably turned potential readers away from Rand. Recently, I read her letters in their published form, and in them she refers to Anthem as a poem. Armed with this knowledge, as well as with the knowledge of her other works, Anthem is a much better reading experience than it was when I was a 14 year old with no idea who Ayn Rand was.

I first read this book over fifteen years ago and it says something about the potency of the story that I (who am usually bad at remembering names) can still rattle off the characters' names -- Sidney Carton, Doctor and Lucy Mannette, Charles Darnay, Madame DeFarge ... I began reading the book sitting outside on a hot summer day, but was soon actually feeling cold as I was drawn into the freezing rain and mud of the openning scene on the Dover Mail coach. This book has it all: romance and tragedy, mystery and history, revolutionary atrocities and courtroom drama, not to mention both openning and closing lines which are unforgettable and famous (It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ...). It's a book that truly transports you to another time, one of history's most terrible and frightening, as well as one of its most idealistic and noble. A word to all those kids who had to read it for school and gave it bad reviews: there is something about having to ! read a book for school that makes you hate it. Don't let that throw you. Read it again ten years from now, after you've had a chance to experience life (both the good and bad stuff) a bit more, after you've learned a bit more history so you can understand all the book's allusions, and when you (and this time not your teacher) are really in the mood to read, and you'll see why this book is considered one of the truly great classics.

I just finished reading this book in my 9th grade Honors english class, and I have to say that I loved it! It was terribly boring at first--very hard reading! And Dickens IS VERY wordy; or, as my English teacher says, he likes to make his point and than slap you in the face with it several times until you get the point! Aside from that however, I really enjoyed the story. I laughed with my friends over the mini battle between Madame Defarge and Miss Pross, and cried with them at Sydney Carton's courage(he made Charles Darnay look meaningless). Although this classic story is by far one of the best I've ever read (Black Beauty is THE best), I don't think I could have enjoyed it nearly as much without my wonderful English teacher explaining every "difficult" section-- and pointing out the humor that Dickens uses, and which many overlook. To fully enjoy this book, you have to read "between the lines", but if you have the patience to do this, I gaurentee you will love this book as much as I do!

Charles Dickens deserves two thumbs up for his magnificent creation, A Tale of Two Cities. This novel does an explicit job of foreshadowing and portraying the French Revolution in the eyes of many different people. Dickens' attention to details also helps the novel flow well and at the same time, create irony and suspense. For example, when Mrs. Defarge remained almost invisible, her stitching revealed a lot about who she was and what her plans were. This brought irony to the plot. I also enjoyed the symbolism throughout the story. It was thought provoking. When I read the story for the first time, I thought some situations were unnecessary and were dragged on, but as I furthered into the book, every detail that previously occurred started to make sense. It is amazing that an author could make all of these details have parallels and with so much precision. I also liked how he formed the characters. Many of the characters within the novel were clearly described for a good reason. Most of them had one other character that they paralleled with. It is not easy to develop characters that are similar to one another, yet also opposite. There were also many twists to the story that made me want to keep reading so I could find out what was really going to happen, but I do not want to reveal any twists as to spoil the story for those who have not read it. I would highly recommend reading A Tale of Two Cities to any person who enjoys reading a wonderful story. Just remember to pay attention to the details and the book will make sense in the end.

One of my friends recommended this book to me. But she also wanted her doctor to "knock her out" as soon as possible and not wake her up till the baby was born. The impression this physician-author gave me was that he comes from that old school in which the mothers *were* knocked out and a pregnant woman didn't need to worry her pretty little head because the (male) doctor would take care of everything. Although it's fun to have a new section to read every week instead of only every month, I found the condescending tone so annoying that I stopped reading it with about twelve weeks to go. The actual information in this book can be a useful supplement to a more comprehensive book, but this is not a "stand-alone" pregnancy book.

This was one of the first pregnancy books that I bought. I liked the idea of seeing the progression on a weekly basis. However, not only was I disappointed, but terrified! Each week of pregnancy has several pages devoted to it, many of which tell you things that could go wrong. Plus, these things were not specific to the week being discussed, but applicable to the general time frame. For example, one week devoted several pages to all of the different types of miscarriage - any of which could happen in the first trimester. I felt there was far too much focus on things that could go wrong - these things should have been combined in a separate chapter or section of the book instead of intermingled with the fetal development weeks.

In addition, each week had a nutrition tip, which sounds fine at first. However, it's a little frustrating to read week 18 and find out that you should have been eating or not eating something since the start. It's cumbersome to go through the whole book to get and combine all of the nutrition info yourself. Again, a separate chapter on nutrition would have been much more useful.

Basically, while the concept was good, this book was not what I'd hoped - I ended up worried and frustrated after reading it. I then bought "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and was much happier.

This is my first pregnancy, so I had lots of questions. I went overboard on the books - I own 3. The other 2 are informative, and I am glad I had a chance to read them, but if a woman wants one book that will answer her pregnancy questions, "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" is the one I recommend. This book explains the stages of the pregnancy, both for the mom and baby, at a nice pace, weekly. I own "What to Expect When You Are Expecting", which goes month by month, but that seems too general because I want to know what is going on with my body and my baby now, not "sometime this month". "The Pregnancy Journal" goes day by day, which seems to be a bit much - nobody's pregnancy is going to follow the book exactly. With this book, I can read about what will be happening the following week and share the information with my husband, which makes him feel more involved. I love the fact that it explains how I am changing, how the baby is changing, and what I should be expecting (it's very reasuring when a book tells you that the crazy things you are doing and feeling are normal). I recommend this book over any of the others I have seen.

Simon Winchester answers this question with a story of violence, passion, tragedy, and sympathy. What more could you want in a story about a dictionary? I love books that shine with the author's enthusiasm for the subject. _The Professor and the Madman_ is just that type of book. Winchester obviously loves language and word origin. He gives the reader a look at etymology that is detailed enough to make you feel like a scholar, but selective enough so that you aren't overwhelmed with the rather dry science of language. But this is only the secondary plot. The main story, that of the obsession of the scholarly but homicidally deranged Dr. W.C. Minor, the focused and driven brilliance of Dr. James Murray, and the Oxford English Dictionary that brought them together is thrilling and tragic. Winchester does a great job of sharing with the reader the sadness and regret of Dr. Minor's amazing intellect trapped inside his deranged mind. If you've ever had a relative or friend succumb to Alzheimer's or another mental disease, you can understand the tragedy of such an intruguing person losing a battle with sanity. The story is so unique that it could only be true, and Winchester seems to have researched it thoroughly and accurately. I highly recommend it.

The Professor and the Madman deals with the role of asylum inmate Dr. William Minor in the development of the Oxford English Dictionary, and with the relationship of Dr. Minor to James Murray, the OED's longtime editor. The book's main strength, and also its primary emphasis, is its treatment of Minor's downward psychological spiral, beginning with his traumatic experience as a surgeon in the US Civil War, continuing through the murder that landed him in the asylum, followed by his extremely productive years as a volunteer researcher for the OED, and finally through his severe sickness in his later years, when he no longer channeled his energies into the OED and slipped even further into insanity in the absence of the obsession that had linked him to the outside world. The book deals with many tangential matters as well, giving a brief but interesting history of the dictionaries predating the OED and going into some detail regarding the development of the OED itself and the lives of its primary editors, notably Murray.

Especially near the beginning of the book, I felt that Winchester was going off on a few too many tangents, as though he thought he needed filler to give the subject a book-length treatment; for example, he spends nearly four pages discussing the definition of the word "protagonist," and, after telling us that in Shakespeare's time there weren't any English dictionaries, proceeds to do nothing but restate that fact for the next two or three pages. His tangents are, admittedly, written in a charming style, but they can be frustrating for those of us who might like Winchester to simply get to the point. Another thing that disappointed me was that Winchester spent very little time speculating on why it was that Minor chose to obsess himself with the OED, and why his contributions tapered off around the turn of the century. Of course Minor was bored and had relatively few options because of his detainment in the asylum, but clearly most people in his position found other things with which to busy themselves. The fact that both Minor and one of the other greatest volunteer contributors to the OED, Fitzedward Hall, were Americans with psychological problems is an interesting fact. Considering that Winchester was audacious enough to speculate that Minor's autopeotomy near the end of his life may have been a result of his shame over romantic feelings or possibly even acts involving the widow of the man he murdered, it's disappointing that Winchester didn't spend much time considering the much more central question of why the OED attracted Minor so.

Despite these weaknesses, The Professor and the Madman is an interesting book and on the whole does a very good job dealing with Minor's schizophrenia. Short and written in an engaging style, it's a quick read and was well worth my time.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mainly for learning about some of the key people and events behind one of the greatest undertakings in the English language. A lot of us today take the existence of the dictionary for granted, not realizing how it evolved from its first incarnations, or exactly what kind of work went into its preparation. Simon Winchester does a great job tracing the history of the dictionary to give frame of reference to his main story. The details of Dr. Minor's and James Murray's histories have been carefully researched and presented so as to thoroughly engage the reader. The only drawback I found is, despite the book's applaudable effort to dispel the myths surrounding Dr. Minor's involvement in the making of the OED, sometimes the writing style inadvertently falls into this same trap of myth-making. The words "lunatic" and "madman" are often used in the sensationalized sense the Victorians used them, thereby unnecessarily judging and glamorizing Dr. Minor's mental illness. Also, the defining incident at Lambeth is written as a Victorian thriller, complete with gas lamps, "bone-chilling cold" and a figure lurking in dark narrow streets. This extra air of mystery was not needed, as the real events are more than compelling enough to make you want to read more. All in all, though, an absorbing tale.

I have to admit that I have not really given Jack London his proper due up to now. Perhaps it is because I don't by my nature like outdoor adventure type stories, or perhaps it is because I associate White Fang and "To Build a Fire" with my youth. The fact is that Jack London is a tremendously talented writer. His understanding of the basics of life matches his great knowledge of the snow-enshrouded world of the upper latitudes. The Call of the Wild, despite its relative brevity and the fact that it is (at least on its surface) a dog's story, contains as much truth and reality of man's own struggles as that which can be sifted from the life's work of many another respected author. The story London tells is starkly real; as such, it is not pretty, and it is not elevating. As an animal lover, I found parts of this story heartbreaking: Buck's removal from the civilized Southland in which he reigned supreme among his animal kindred to the brutal cold and even more brutal machinations of hard, weathered men who literally beat him and whipped him full of lashes is supremely sad and bothersome. Even sadder are the stories of the dogs that fill the sled's traces around him. Poor good-spirited Curly never has a chance, while Dave's story is made the more unbearable by his brave, undying spirit. Even the harsh taskmaster Spitz has to be pitied, despite his harsh nature, for the reader knows full well that this harsh nature was forced upon him by man and his thirst for gold. Buck's travails are long and hard, but the nobility of his spirit makes of him a hero--this despite the fact that his primitive animal instincts and urges continually come to dominate him, pushing away the memory and reality of his younger, softer days among civilized man. Buck not only conquers all--the weather, the harshness of the men who harness his powers in turn, the other dogs and wolves he comes into contact with--he thrives. This isn't a story to read when you are depressed. London's writing is beautiful, poignant, and powerful, but it is also somber, sometimes morose, infinitely real, and at times gut-wrenching and heartbreaking.

The two rivals circle the ring, probing for any point of weakness. The duel has lasted longer than either competitor had anticipated. Weakened by fatigue, the challenger feints high and goes for a crippling blow. No, this is not a boxing title match in Las Vegas. This is a life-and-death struggle of one domestic dog for survival in the cold, icy, barren regions of the Alaskan plains. This is a clash between the civilized and the primordial. This is the conflict between domestication and liberation. This is the Call of the Wild.

Jack London centers his story on a dog by the name of Buck. Buck is a big, strong dog, his father being a St. Bernard and his mother being a Scottish shepherd dog. At one hundred and forty pounds, Buck was no mere house pet. Kept physically strong with a love of rigorous swimming and constant outdoor exercise, Buck was a lean, formidable dog. Undoubtedly, his great condition was part of the reason that the gardener's helper dog-napped and sold him to dog traders, who in turn sold him to Canadian government mail couriers. The gold rush in Alaska had created a huge demand for good dogs, which eventually led to the "disappearances" of many dogs on the West Coast. Buck was no exception. He was sold into a hostile environment, which was unforgiving and harsh. Although civilization domesticated him from birth, Buck soon begins almost involuntarily to rediscover himself, revealing a "primordial urge", a natural instinct, which London refers to as the Call of the Wild.

This book is set in the Klondike, a region in Alaska that was literally stormed by thousands of men looking to get rich quick via the gold rush. Transportation was increasingly important, but horses were near useless in winter, prone to slip and fall on snow and ice. Dogs were by far the best means of transportation in Alaska at the time, somewhere near the end of the 19th century. As the demand for dogs grew, the prices for good dogs skyrocketed. This price hike inevitably created a black-market- style selling of dogs, and the gardener's helper Manuel did what many men did; they sold the dogs for a good price.

A recurring theme in London's novel is the clash between natural instinct and domesticated obedience. Soon after the dog traders captured Buck, a man broke him with a club. Buck is thoroughly humiliated, but learned an all-important truth of the wild: The law of club and fang. Kill or be killed. Survival is above all. Buck resolved to himself to give way to men with clubs. In the beginning, Buck had problems with this new restriction, but learned that when his masters' hands hold whips or clubs, he must concede. However, that did not keep Buck from doing little deeds like stealing a chunk of bacon behind his masters' backs. However, as London says, "He did not steal for joy of it, but because of the clamor of his stomach . In short, the things he did were done because it was easier to do them than not to do them." In this way Buck learns the way of the wild but also acknowledges his inferiority to men with clubs or whips. Eventually in this novel, Buck throws away his old life completely and replaces it with his natural urge, the primordial version of himself, the Call of the Wild.

Another underlying theme is the relationship between dog and master. In the beginning, Buck is acquainted with the Judge with a dignified friendship, his sons with hunting partnership, his grandsons with protective guardianship, the mail couriers Francois and Perrault with a mutual respect. Against the man with a club he despised but gave respect. However, when Buck met John Thornton, he loved his master for the first time ever. There wasn't anything Buck wouldn't do for his master. Twice Buck saved Thornton's life, and pulled a thousand pounds of weight for Thornton's sake. Even after Buck routinely left his master's camp to flirt with nature, Buck always came back to appreciate his kind master. However, even after Thornton was gone and Buck had released all memories of his former life, Buck never forgot the kind hands of his master, even after answering the Call of the Wild.

Jack London truly brings Buck to life. Using a limited 3rd person view, the reader is told of Buck's thoughts and actions. Obviously, London gave several ideal human qualities to Buck, including a sharp wit, rational reasoning, quick thinking, and grounded common sense. However, he does not over-exaggerate the humanity in Buck, which would have given an almost cartoon-like feeling for a reader. Rather, being a good observer, London saw how dogs acted and worked backwards, trying to infer what the dogs think. The result is a masterful blend of human qualities and animal instinct that is entirely believable. It is obvious that Buck's experience was similar to many other dogs' experiences.

The Call of the Wild focuses on a house pet named Buck who is stolen from his comfortable life and inserted into a harsh life working as a husky dog in Alaska. Buck becomes acquainted with some vicious animals and begins slowly to de-evolve. He reverts back to a wolf like his ancestors were before him. The Call of the Wild is useful as an historic tribute to the Alaskan Gold Rush. It tells of the hardship up in Alaska through the eyes of a dog but it's about more than a search for a metal. It's about an animal de-evolving. He is removed from domesticated life and finds the life of a working dog difficult at first but he eventually grows to love it. A man saves him from his turmoil and he becomes domesticated again but he can't silence the wolf inside him. On the death of his new master he reverts to the wild where he stays forever. How can this be classified as a children's book? This is one of the most adult stories I have ever read and I don't think any child will get the books qualities. This can only be appreciated by very mature adults but if you can appreciate you're life will be better for it. This is a great read - an all time classic.