This book by Amanda Quick was absolutely adorable, and is a perfect example of the Quick we all know and love.

Alice and Hugh the Relentless both have claims to a certain green stone, but neither actually has it, as it has been stolen from both of them. Alice believes she knows where it is, and makes a deal with Hugh to help him find it, and in return he will pay for her brother's education in France and giver her money to enter a convent and study. However, Hugh wants a wife, so he tells Alice he needs a temporary betrothal that he will later break, but in truth is counting on keeping Alice.

I can certainly see why, because Alice was inteligent, witty, and chanllenging. Hugh was an equally likeable character who was a good strategist, caring, loveable, kind, and of course, relentless. They were the perfect pair in marriage and partners in solving the mystery of the green stone.

This was an interesting change from Quick, who does not normally write medievals, but it was just as enjoyable as the rest of her books. If you like this one, I recommend With This Ring and Dangerous, or any other Quick book. They are all excellent. Happy Reading!

Well, Jayne Ann Krentz aka Amanda Quick has basically one formula for her stories. But what a formula. She is light, she is witty, but the Quicks are just her JAKs in period costume. But that does not stop her from giving you a winner tale. If you like JAK/Quick, you will LOVE her only medieval. If you are not her fan...your tough luck..lol...you are missing one great time!!
The one of two medievals (Desire being the other) from the talented Ms. Krentz/Quick. With her usual charm and wit, she creates lovable, endearing characters and as with all Quick/Krentz novels, the emphasis is on fun and hi-jinx and romance.

This time Lady Alice joins forces with Sir Hugh the Relentless,on a hunt for a long lost stone, which could cost them their lives. The tale is so endearing! Lady Alice will Capture your heart!!

When Lady Alice plucks up her nerve and approaches Hugh the Relentless, is its a dark and stormy night (lol). He is black haired, with amber eyes (with JAK you get amber, green or grey!). The first impression, he is every bit the fearsome warrior of his reputation, but to Lady Alice he is her knight in shining armour. She thinks she can control this man, after all she has been driving away fortune-seeking suitors for years, along with managing her interfering family.

Lady Alice has deliberately lured him to this man with the promise of a green crystal belong to him. But Lady Alice is using it as a bargaining chips (also she does not have it!!). She is hoping to find it, and her dowry to free herself and her brother from her uncle's clutches. Hugh agrees to her terms, only, he has terms of his own: that Lady Alice must agree to a temporary betrothal and spend the winter in Hugh's great stone fortress, Scarcliffe Keep.

The adventure begins, but Sir Hugh's lifelong enemy is plotting against them.

One of the few authors I keep in hardback and there is a reason for it!!

Thus, Alice and Hugh are thrown together in the thrilling novel, _Mystique_. In the style that fans have grown to love, Amanda Quick weaves the tale of a strong-minded, spirited heroine and an honorable, legendary hero. Both characters are bold and daring and complement each other's personalities. As always, I was well pleased with the way the characters were portrayed. They were not only plausible but charming. You'll feel as though you know these two people as well as they know each other. Alice is quite impetuous and head-strong and often reckless and willful. It is really quite comical the way she never listens to Hugh. Hugh is mysterious, vague and even exasperating but even so he is vastly appealing. Despite his name and reputation, Hugh the Relentless has a kind heart and is truly capable of love and mercy. Both are obstinately stubborn and seem to take great pleasure in arguing with one another. Even so, their love is at once touching and tender and will bring tears to your eyes. With her usual flare, Ms. Quick begins this book with a bang and the action continues from there. _Mystique_ is set in the middle ages and is a nice twist from Ms. Quick's usual books concerning the London 'ton.' She handles the medieval setting with the same elegance as her Regency titles. You're transported to Ms. Quick's world and it's a lovely, lively place to be. A peek at the future of our couple at the end of the book is a nice touch, letting you know that all will remain well between them. Once you start reading Amanda Quick, you'll never stop as she turns out one exceptional book after another.

We used this book in our math class. It was a wonderful explanation of how simple geometry works.
What the books about:
This book is about a Line, a Dot, and a Sqiggle. It shows you how the three relate, and differnt things you can do with them mathmatically, throgh the medium of a classic love story.
Its a wonderful book and i suggest you read it, even if your not in a math class. I also hear there is a short cartoon bassed off of it.

I first read this book about thirty years ago and still chuckle when I page through its plum, black and white illustrations that underline an understated love story. A book for all ages -- the twenties, thirties, and forties. As a teacher I've shared this story with fifth graders, college students in creative writing classes, and foreign students learning the English language. However, I don't keep this 1963 edition around for my students. I keep it for the tongue in cheek wordplay and illustrative battle between the line and the squiggle for the deep affection of the dot. An age-old battle.

I bought this book for my husband for our first wedding anniversary (first is paper.) He loved it! A great story, wonderful drawings and just the right message. A great gift!

Doctor Gregory Dixon and Attorney Derrick Madison have been friends since birth and it seems as if nothing can tear apart their relationship. That is until, an accident kills Derrick's mother. He is overcome by grief and wants the responsible party, a college student, Jessica "Grace" Charles dead as well. Gregory is forced to perform a life or death surgery on Grace, which causes the rift between the two friends. To further complicate matters, Gregory falls in love with Grace and the two begin dating. Sherry, Derrick's wife, tries to mend the broken friendship, but in the process only adds strain to her own marriage. In the end takes a great deal of love, faith, forgiveness, and "grace" to heal these grieving hearts.

FOR LOVE AND GRACE is a well-written novel that has romance and a hint of mystery, while keeping a Christian perspective. The characters Gregory and Grace seemed a little too "perfect" and their budding romance seemed like something out of a fairy tale. Derrick's character shows how grief and guilt can change a person, but in the end it is God's grace that eases suffering and pain. Through Sherry's character, we learn the power of prayer and that patience is indeed a virtue. This novel exemplifies the blessings that can be received when one has faith in God. Kendra Norman-Bellamy has done a wonderful job with her debut novel. ...

Lifelong friends, Dr. Greg Dixon and attorney Derrick Madison, find their friendship rocked to the core when Derrick's mother is killed in an automobile accident and Greg is selected to perform a life-and-death surgery on the suspect accused of causing the accident. The strain in their relationship is compounded when Greg falls in love with the suspect, a beautiful, young coed by the name of Jessica Grace.

This is the center of Kendra Norman-Bellamy's debut novel, "For Love and Grace," a book that is solidly written and full of interesting characters who look to God to help them through the troubling times that lie ahead.

"For Love and Grace" was a quick read for me. I read it in a few hours. I was really drawn into the story from the first page and Norman-Bellamy draws her characters very distinctly, giving them each something unique to draw upon.

Despite my enjoyment of the novel, there were a few things that hindered me from giving this novel a five. We know that Greg is a catch, but I began to gloss over sections where women were fawning all over Greg. A few select moments would have gone a long way. Some of the medical jargon or scenes felt as if I had seen them before in movies or read them in books, and I wanted something a bit fresher and authentic to the profession and this particular story. Grace's and Greg's mothers--Miss Lena and Miss Mattie--did a lot of comical bantering in the story and at times, it seemed to detract from the story instead of add to it.

Aside from these things, my overall read of this novel was great and fast, and I would recommend this novel to all that wish to read a heartfelt novel about love, death, forgiveness, and placing total trust in Christ.

Shon Bacon

Dr. Gregory Dixon and Attorney Derrick Madison are the best of friends. Then Derrick's mother is killed in a car crash when her car collides with a car driven by Jessica Grace Charles. That's when the drama begins. Greg saves Jessica's life in a tedious surgery and Derrick hates him because of it. Then, to make matters worse, Greg falls in love with his beautiful patient. Will they ever mend this broken friendship? Will Greg have to ignore his love for Grace in order to appease Derrick? Will Grace be able to date Greg knowing that it may totally destroy his lifelong friendship? Will they be able to rely on their faith in God to smooth out this troubled situation? Oh, my! This is a wonderfully written book about friendship and romance with very real situations and very believable characters. I loved it and I totally recommend it to anybody. Highly, Highly, Highly recommended!!!

Every detail of Jewish practice is in this book, along with some of R. Donin's own aggadot and midrash on why these practices are important. In the end though, R. Donin is a believing Jew, and aggadot aside, he would say that any practice we do, we do because it's a mitzvah.

Though Donin writes from an orthodox perspective, he is very gentle with the reader, never insisting that his way is the only way. He doesn't dictate, he encourages the reader to try what feels comfortable, and to explore, and provides material enough for a long, long exploration. I can't think of a single question about daily practice or synagogue etiquette that couldn't be answered by referencing this book.

This book is intended for Jews, and as he states, particularly for Jews who grew up in a household where Yiddishkheit was not present. R. Donin assumes a certain amount of prior knowledge (such as understanding the Hebrew and Yiddish words I've used so far), so this is not a book for non-Jews with a casual interest in Judaism. However, anyone who has read one or two basic books on Judaism, or anyone who grew up Jewish, even if just barely observant should have no trouble with this book.

Donin's writing is more than just engaging, it projects a kindness that really must be experienced. It was as though Zayde were reading aloud to me. The book has heart. Never once do I think that R. Donin has written this book because he is casting for people to turn back to orthodoxy. I really believe he was motivated out of a pure love for Judaism, and this comes out of the pages.

Being in the process of Baal Teshuvah, I have searched and read quite a few books on Orhtodox Judaism. No other book comes even close to exaplaining so many details of Orhtodox Judaism in such a simple way to understand. If you are intersted in coming back to you Jewish roots, this is the book to read. Everytthing from Holydays, Shabbat, to comforting the mourner is explained in this book. Also, many prayers are listed both in Hebrew and in English. Also, a brief but excellent chapter is devoted to the history of Judaism, from Abraham to the present.

As a French Catholic who has made the decision to convert to Orthodox Judaism, I found this book invaluable, both as a learning source and as a source of solace and joy. Rabbi Donin tells us, in lovely language, just what everyday life is like for the Orthodox Jew.

Unlike many other religions, Judaism is primarily a religion of action and not beliefs. Although certain basic beliefs do exist, much in Judaism remains open to personal interpretation. Judaism does not demand that other people convert; in fact rabbis are encouraged to make at least three vigorous attempts at discouraging the possible convert. Conversion is, nevertheless, possible, and it is important to remember that Abraham was a convert, as was Ruth, a descendant of King David.

In To Be a Jew, Rabbi Donin gives an overview of the history of Judaism and tells us that it was Maimonides who explained that any human being who faithfully observes the Seven Laws of Noah earns a proper place in heaven, no matter what religion he follows. Additionally, The Torah of Moses is a truth for all humanity, whether Jewish or not. Therefore, if one is not prepared to embrace the Jewish religion fully, it would be far better for him to remain outside this beautiful faith.

The Holy Temple, as well, did not benefit Jews only. When King Solomon built the Temple, he specifically asked the Creator to heed the prayers of the gentiles who came to the Temple to pray (Kings I 8:41-43). The Jewish prophet refers to the Temple as a "House for all nations," (Isaiah 56:7). The Temple was the universal center of spirituality, a concentrated point where the consciousness of our Maker filtered down into the world.

We also learn that in ancient times, the service in the Holy Temple during the week of Sukkos featured a total of seventy bull offerings. This, the Talmud explains, corresponded to each of the seventy nations of the world. In fact, the Talmud says, had the Romans only realized how much benefit, they, themselves, were deriving from the Temple, they never would have destroyed it.

Although Judaism certainly does not consider conversion a necessity, what about those who, like me, do find that Orthodox Judaism is the only way to fulfill their own spiritual needs? As we learn in this book, the Code of Jewish Law (the Shulchan Aruch), prescribes three requirements for a valid conversion. Those three requirements are: (1) Mitzvahs. The convert must believe in one Creator and in the divinity of the Torah, as well as personally observe all 613 mitzvahs (commandments) of the Torah; (2) Milah. Male converts must undergo circumcision by a qualified Mohel or a ritual known as hatafas dam; (3) Mikveh. All converts must immerse in the Mikveh, a ritual bath linked to a reservoir of rain water. This must all be done before a court of three Jewish men who themselves are true believers, who accept the divinity of the Torah and observe the mitzvahs.

Conversion, as Donin tells us, must be motivated out of pure love and spiritual desire and not done for the worldly purpose of furthering business or marriage, for example.

Those who are simply interested in the Jewish liturgy or the everyday life of an Orthodox Jew will find this book very interesting, even fascinating, reading. But those who, like me, have made the firm and irrevocable decision to convert, will find the book invaluable.

And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie is a mind bending, and thought provoking murder mystery. Eight guests are invited by seperate but mysterious invitations to spend their holiday together on Indian Island. While each guest is different in many ways all have one thing in common, which you will find out as you read. An old nursery rhyme of Ten Little Indian Boys leads a scandalous curiosity throughout the book. I've never read a book like this, it's almost like playing the board game Clue. You must play close to every chapter and detail if your ultimate goal is to solve the mystery before you're done with the book. Agatha Christie did an excellent job creating different characters all playing key roles to the mystery of Indian Island. This book his different because it is written with thoughts coming straight from the characters rather then just telling the events. The reactions of the characters help develope a good flow and clear up any confusion you might have while reading. "It is lovely here. The hills and the red earth and everything so green and luscious looking."-pg18 said by Vera Claythorne You wouldn't have guessed that this novel was going to be any kind of mystery. Agatha Christie leaves no description out, at the beggining of the novel. Although the title may sway your oppinions, her description of a what seems to be vacation island is the last thing Indian Island is. Many of the guest who would be staying on Indian Island first viewed it as a welcoming of oppurtunities, that was also assured in their invitations to the island. What the guest do not know is their beautiful beach resort island is going to be the setting of a huge murder scene. The vocabulary that arises in this novel is not too difficult but does take some time to analyze as you read. This book is for anybody who wants a good suspensful mystery. And Then There Were None has many main characters and is often hard to follow. If you have trouble with this, I do not reccomend this book for your choice.

I was assigned to read this book over my summer vacation. At first I didn't really want to read because it was vacation time. I started the book with little interest, but wow what a great book, or at least I thought so. It took me a little bit to get into the book, but as the story line quickly progressed after the introduction of the ten main characters, the mystery had me glued to my reading chair. The book is not just one mystery but three mysteries in one, who is the murder, who will die next, and the mysterious past of the main characters. A mysterious person named U.N. Owen invited ten strangers to an island. One by one they were all mysteriously killed. Each murder mysteriously follows the lines of a poem that is introduced in the beginning of the book. The only murder suspects are each of the invited ten guests. Each guest tells the story of their past and one by one they die. Everyone suspects each other and ciaos unfolds as each guest wonders who will die next. Agatha Christie sets up each situation, which probably would never happen in real life, and makes it happen right before your eyes. Excitement, mystery, suspense then fill the storyline right to the end. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and likes to solve puzzles.

Unlike most mysteries you will read, this one will always stay with you. Agatha Christie has surmounted the mystery form to provide a fascinating story of morality and immorality, in which justice plays an unusual hand. The title nicely displays the mystery (which has a perfect plot from my point of view). And then there were none -- who did it?

Agatha Christie wrote this in a spare and efficient way so that the story starts moving immediately, and speeds up as you go. It will be impossible to put this book down once you start reading it.

As you can imagine from the book's age and the author, this is a classic English murder mystery. The murders are there, but the blood does not overwhelm. Violence and social niceties nudge one another for your attention. At the same time, there is hope. Agatha Christie adds her hope for the future in a most unusual way in this novel, that will leave you encouraged for the future of humanity after first causing you to despair.

One of the beauties of the plot is that it expands on the famous locked room format to include an island where there is no access or exit, nor any way to communicate. That gives much more room for interesting plot developments without losing any of the intellectual puzzle of a locked room.

An unusual factor about this novel is that you will soon find yourself identifying with the guilty victims (even though you are not a murderer). Usually, mystery novels have the reader identifying with the innocents or the detective. That is accomplished by creating a gripping sense of paranoia as the numbers of those on the island rapidly dwindle.

Don't miss this book!

After you are done and have savored all of the book's brilliance, reflect a little about how Agatha Christie explored stalled thinking about what was going on to make the plot so effective. Then think about all of those places in your life and business where things may also not be what they seem. If you can use this insight to locate your misconception stalls, you will be doubly blessed by reading this book.

I remember reading Norton Juster's "The Phantom Tollbooth" when I was in third grade and liking it for its adventure, its characters, and its wordplay (though I missed most of it that time around). I've kept the same copy over the years - both covers have fallen off, but I have fond memories of it. About a week ago I took it off the shelf and read it again because I was bored (much like Milo, the book's main character, was when he first stepped into the Tollbooth). What I found was a splendid allegorical story that has a refreshing lookout on life quite different from that preached by most children's fantasy. The genre of escapist fantasy, fueled by claims that as long as one has imagination one doesn't have to do anything, is debunked by this book. Its last words are "I would like to make another trip, but I really don't know when I'll have the time. There's just so much to do right here."

The wordplay in this book approaches Carollian proportions in parts. The descriptions of the demons near the end (including such monstrosities as the Horrible Hopping Hindsight, a "most unpleasant fellow whose eyes were in the rear and whose rear was out in front... he invariably leapt before he looked and never cared where he was going as long as he knew why he shouldn't have gone to where he'd been") are wonderfully clever and illustrate the worse sides of human nature very well. Other characters - Alec Bings (he sees through things); the fat/thin/tiny/giant man, Dr. Dischord and the Awful DYNNE; Chroma the color conductor; the Spelling Bee; and the .58 of a boy (he's one of the 2.58 children the average family has) are all so well done that one finds oneself reading their parts over and over again with a grin on one's face.

Though the allegory becomes too simple as one grows older, it should be returned to over and over again just to see if you missed anything the last time around. It was only recently that I noticed the wonderful line "Is everybody who lives in Ignorance as bad as you?"

The Phantom Tollbooth is an unforgetful fantasy book, which is like no other. Milo is a bored young man who feels like there is no excitement to be found anywhere. His world is turned upside down when suddenly a Tollbooth appears in his bedroom one day. Milo having nothing better to do, then drives away with the Tollbooth in his toy car and begins his extravagant journey through an unknown world to reach Dictionopolis. Throughout his journey he encounters many different sorts of creatures and characters, all of which are fascinating and everything opposite of boring. Later in his journeys he travels to Doldrums and meets, Tock, a dog that has an alarm clock for a body, and takes him along for the ride. As Tock, the Tollbooth, and Milo travel through the unknown lands they come upon Word Market, where Milo is given a difficult task to rescue two Princesses, Rhyme and Reason from the Mountains of Ignorance.

The Phantom Tollbooth is a book for all ages. It has great comedy in the dialogue, and the originality used by Norton Juster is something to be remembered. It is a book unlike any other I have read. If you enjoy a book that let's you escape reality and into a world of mystery, The Phantom Tollbooth is the book for you.

Overall, I thought The Phantom Tollbooth was a phenomenal piece of literature. I couldn't agree more with the fact that it won the Newberry Medal. There is text by Norton Juster and illustrations by Jules Feiffer. Its the perfect length, about 250 pages or so. The fictional novel read quickly, especially since it never got dull, with its fun characters and vivid descriptions. In the story, Milo is a young boy, still in grammer school, when he discovers a magical tollbooth, which appears suddenly in his room. His feelings, disposition, and outlook on life are presented quite humorously early in the story, and seem to fit right into the sequence of events that would soon follow. As Milo embarks on his magical journey, the circumstances, from the setting to the characters, are all so far from reality that they make the story all the more interesting, sort of like the icing on the cake. As the story progresses many of life's questions are answered like, "Where does sound come from?" "How are words made?" and the ever famous," Why is the sky blue?"(The answers are all figments of the author's imagination, however.) Several "what ifs" are also answered. The story also has a great message or theme. I felt that the answers to your problems are in your hands.(Milo was bored so he let his imagination fly and fixed it.) The story's strongest element has to have been it's vivid descriptions and the element that was described the best was the setting. I had no trouble transferring myself from place to place as Milo advanced on his edge of your seat adventure. I pictured the setting quite vividly in my mind for the entire story. What I liked most, however, is that the story was imaginative. It encourages kids to use their imaginations and think creativly. It was easy to get into and enjoy and tough to put down. The only things I didn't like were the pictures(I like to picture the story in my mind in the way that I interpret it). I also didn't like the fact that there were so many characters. That could get confusing. But, again, overall I would recommend The Phantom Tollbooth as a great read for all ages.

After years without picking up a novel by Dickens (memories of starchy classes at school), I decided to plunge into "Bleak House", a novel that had been sitting on my bookshelf for about ten years, waiting to be read. Although I found it heavy going at first, mainly because the style is so unfamiliar to modern readers, after about ten pages I was swept up and carried off, unable to put the hefty tome down until I had finished it. This book is a definite classic. The sheer scope of the tale, the wit of the satire (which could still be applied to many legal proceedings today) and the believable characters gripped me up until the magnificent conclusion. One particularly striking thing is the "cinematic" aspect of certain chapters as they switch between different angles, building up to a pitch that leaves the reader breathless. I can't recommend "Bleak House" too highly. And I won't wait so long before reading more Dickens novels.

This is the second book by Dickens I have read so far, but it will not be the last. "Bleak House" is long, tightly plotted, wonderfully descriptive, and full of memorable characters. Dickens has written a vast story centered on the Jarndyce inheritance, and masterly manages the switches between third person omniscient narrator and first person limited narrator. His main character Esther never quite convinces me of her all-around goodness, but the novel is so well-written that I just took Esther as she was described and ran along with the story. In this book a poor boy (Jo) will be literally chased from places of refuge and thus provide Dickens with one of his most powerful ways to indict a system that was particularly cruel to children. Mr. Skimpole, pretending not to be interested in money; Mr. Jarndyce, generous and good; Richard, stupid and blind; the memorable Dedlocks, and My Lady Dedlock's secret being uncovered by the sinister Mr. Tulkinghorn; Mrs. Jellyby and her telescopic philanthropy; the Ironmaster described in Chapter 28, presenting quite a different view of industralization than that shown by Dickens in his next work, "Hard Times." Here is a veritable cosmos of people, neighbors, friends, enemies, lovers, rivals, sinners, and saints, and Dickens proves himself a true master at describing their lives and the environment they dwell in. There are landmark chapters: Chapter One must be the best description of a dismal city under attack by dismal weather and tightly tied by perfectly dismal laws, where the Lord Chancellor sits eternally in Lincoln's Inn Hall. Chapter 32 has one of the eeriest scenes ever written, with suspicious smoke, greasy and reeking, as a prelude to a grisly discovery. Chapter 47 is when Jo cannot "move along" anymore. This Norton Critical is perhaps the best edition of "Bleak House" so far: the footnotes help a lot, and the two Introductions are key to understanding the Law system at the time the action takes place, plus Dickens' interest in this particular topic. To round everything off, read also the criticism of our contemporaries, as well as that of Dickens' time. "Bleak House" is a long, complex novel that opens a window for us to another world. It is never boring and, appearances to the contrary, is not bleak. Enjoy.

"There is little to be satisfied in reading this book"?? I couldn't disagree more. Bleak House left a profound impression on me, and was so utterly satisfying a reading experience that I wanted it never to end. I've read it twice over the years and look forward to reading it again. Definitely my favorite novel.

I don't know what the previous reviewer's demands are when reading a novel, but mine are these: the story must create its world - whatever and wherever that world might be - and make me BELIEVE it. If the novelist cannot create that world in my mind, and convince me of its truths, they've wasted my time (style doesn't matter - it can be clean and spare like Orwell or verbose like Dickens, because any style can work in the hands of someone who knows how to use it). Many novels fail this test, but Bleak House is not one of them.

Bleak House succeeds in creating a wonderfully dark and complex spider web of a world. On the surface it's unfamiliar: Victorian London and the court of Chancery - obviously no one alive today knows that world first hand. And yet as you read it you know it to be real: the deviousness, the longing, the secrets, the bureaucracy, the overblown egos, the unfairness of it all. Wait a minute... could that be because all those things still exist today?

But it's not all doom and gloom. It also has Dickens's many shades of humor: silliness, word play, comic dialogue, preposterous characters with mocking names, and of course a constant satirical edge. It also has anger and passion and tenderness.

I will grant one thing: if you don't love reading enough to get into the flow of Dickens's sentences, you'll probably feel like the previous reviewer that "...it goes on and on, in interminable detail and description...". It's a different dance rhythm folks, but well worth getting used to. If you have to, work your way up to it. Don't start with a biggie like Bleak House, start with one of his wonderful short pieces such as A Christmas Carol.

Dickens was a gifted storyteller and Bleak House is his masterpiece. If you love to dive into a book, read and enjoy this gem!

This book is, quite simply, a fabulous trilogy of novels. It deals, of course, with the two-year voyage of HMS Bounty from England to Tahiti, the captaincy of Captain William Bligh, the mutiny against him, and the aftermath. This is an unforgettable story, beautifully told, well-written, and fast-paced.

I have read reviews here and there that claim this book is written at a "young adult" level. Not so. This is a complex story that only seems to be easily told because the author has mastered the ability to write with utter clarity, and without sacrificing style. As one who reads all day for a living (attorney) I have learned to appreciate authors who can write well. Nordhoff does this--the reader never loses the storyline because it is well told. The novels proceed with the precision of a laser beam but with a poetic, wistful, thoughtful tone that is a delight to read. This book has class.

The story of the trip to Tahiti and the mutiny which takes place early on the return voyage are wonderfully told. The ONLY possible criticism is that this story is not terribly true to the facts of the actual mutiny. The protagonist, Roger Byam, is an imaginary person. By the way, this novel is the source for the first of the Mutiny on the Bounty movies starring Charles Laughton.

The other two novels in the trilogy deal with the voyage by Captain Bligh and those of the crew who remained loyal to him, and the aftermath of the mutiny when the mutineers settle on Pitcairn Island. Both stories are first-rate.

Persons interested in a somewhat more accurate depiction of what happened on the Bounty voyage, as well as a ripping good movie, will want to see "The Bounty" starring Mel Gibson (Fletcher Christian) and Anthony Hopkins (Captain Bligh).

The Bounty Trilogy is a book anyone who enjoys adventure will want to read and own.

I read these stories while at sea on a British research vessel. If you've ever been to sea, or have ever wanted to, you'll probably enjoy reading this trilogy. Nordhoff and Hall write in plain, unelaborate English, so the phrasing never gets in the way, and you can concentrate on all the colorful characters and incredible events. The first two (and half of the third) books are written in first person, putting you right into the action and events, making you think about what you would do in the situations as they arise.

This trilogy has it all: adventure, drama, comedy, history, life at sea, love and loss. It's hard to believe this all really happened. I've given this book to two of my friends already, and they both liked it. You'll probably like it, too.

I give my highest praise to these books. They are far better than current "adventure" stories because of the struggles they had to endure. I found all three books in the trilogy to be excellent (Mutiny on the Bounty, Men Against the Sea, and Pitcairns Island). My favorite one was Pitcairns Island. In all the books I have ever read, this is the first book that ever actually sent a chill up my spine. I won't give the story away, but you will not believe what happens in that book. It's absolutely thrilling and fascinating!

To be frank, I've seen the movie more times than I'd like to admit. I was going to give this book four stars based on the movie (the movie was excellent, but not the year's best, even if it is my preferred one), but that wouldn't be honest. This review is about the screenplay, not the movie. Besides, the best part of the movie is the script, anyway. Boastful, light-hearted, and delightful, this romp plays around with you, targeting you with its acid wit. It is also completely fictional, so don't expect much truth in it, even if the background and some of the history is real (including the subtle fact that Shakespeare really didn't have his own stories, with exception to two of his plays). There was no Viola, nor was there a Lord Wessex. This script is not to be taken seriously. But even if you are serious, you'll find yourself defrosting around the edges by the time you flip to page two.

The movie was so great, and mostly on the strength of it's terrific script, so could this book be anything but a great read? I loved, absolutely LOVED this movie, went to see it four times and I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the video. This is very much worth the read, because there is just such a volume of literary and historical allusions that's its impossible to catch all of them at the theater, especially if you only see it once, since all you end up doing is trying to keep up with the plot, which moves at such excellent speed. Reading the screenplay allows you to catch many of the subtler jokes you may miss even upon repeated viewings. Thank you Shakespeare In Love! You have renewed my belief in the capability of the language of movies to be as meaningful and sublimely beautiful as any found in literature ("Love knows nothing of rank or riverbank! It will spark between a queen and the poor vagabond who plays the king, and their love should be minded by each, for love denied blights the soul we owe to God!") (Viola as Thomas: ....Tell me how you love her, Will. Will: Like a sickness and its cure together. Viola as Thomas: Yes, like rain and sun, like cold and heat. (collecting herself) Is your lady beautiful? Since I have come from the country I have not seen her close. Tell me, is she beautiful? Will: Oh, if I could write the beauty of her eyes! I was born to look in them and know myself. Viola as Thomas: And her lips? Will: Oh Thomas, her lips! The early morning rose would wither on the branch if it could feel envy!") Etc.

Great movie. Fun to see and HEAR. Very refreshing to watch a highly entertaining movie for educated adults. FYI to reader from Tenafly - ROMEO AND JULIET was written in 1596, TWELFTH NIGHT in 1600. The only KNOWN facts about Shakespeare are his date of birth, his marriage to Anne Hathaway, the birth of his children, and his death. Besides, this was a movie not a documentary. Relax and enjoy.

"Rees Howells: Intercessor" is truly an amazing book. It demonstrates vividly to anyone who has any doubt, that it is possible to walk the path that Jesus walked (although not as perfectly as he did). When you read of the manner which Mr Howells completely abandoned his self for God, you will realize we had in our midst a true apostle of Christ; as much of an apostle as Peter, Paul, or John. Anyone who thinks, "I am a sinner and can never hope to achieve today what Christ and his followers did back then" should think again; Rees Howells' story is in many ways as amazing as many stories I've read in the Bible. A warning is; if you are in any manner loyal to the Roman Catholic faith, you may find several passages disturbing; otherwise, prepare to be astonished, amazed, and delighted to know about someone you will wish you already knew of long ago! There is no doubt that Rees Howells is sitting in a very special place in heaven right now; a place reserved for Christ's most dedicated and spiritual followers. Enjoy!

I have read this book for the second time - laughing on many occassions and weaping on still many more. Rees Howells' intimate (and normal) communication with God in the person of the indwelling Holy Spirit broke my heart (again, the second reading) with the recognition of how "watered down" and powerless Christianity seems today in America and in my own life. If you desire to see what a life of faith and fellowship with God can look like - this is the book. It has deepened my spiritual resolve to cooperate with God to break "self" that His life can be manifest in this vessel.

Rees Howells Intercessor WILL change your life. Take the time to read this book and I believe, you, like me, will never be the same. You will see how God used an ordinary man to do extraordinary things when he surrendered himself fully to the will of God. This book will touch your heart from the first page to the last.