Helene Hanff was a New York writer and Frank Doel was a London bookseller. This book chronicles the letters they wrote over a period of many years to one another. Although they never met, they became true friends bonded by their love of literature.

Having read this tiny little gem, I can tell you that I'm not even sure why I liked it so much. Maybe it was because I loved seeing a warm friendship develop between two total strangers. Maybe it was because I loved the dry wit of Helene and the staunch Britishness of Frank. Maybe it was because I liked hearing about the WWII years, how the people of Britain sacrificed, and how one caring American woman made a difference to this small group of Britishers.

One note: this is the only book I have ever read that is truly enhanced by the video. Read the book, then rent the movie. Anne Bancroft is the perfect Helene and Anthony Hopkins is brilliant as Frank.

This is the story of an American writer (the author of the book) who strikes up a friendship by mail with a bookseller in England. The entire book is a series of unedited and un-commented-on letters exchanged between Hanff and the Marks & Co. booksellers at 84 Charing Cross Road. Her primary pen pal is a man named Frank Doel, with whom she shares a love of old books. [Perhaps this is the point where I should say that I flatly disagree, without reservation, with the previous reviewers who believe there was a potential romantic attachment between the two of them.]

The correspondence runs from 1949 until 1969, during which time Helene and the people at 84 Charing Cross Road exchange Christmas gifts and news of their families, but never meet. At least in the early years of the correspondence, almost every year Ms. Hanff states her intention to come over to visit England, but something always comes up to prevent the trip.

In 1969, one of Hanff's letters to Frank Doel is answered by another member of the firm, informing her that Frank Doel has died.

This is a beautiful book, which can be read in 45 minutes. I suppose every reader will take his or her own lessons from the book, but here is mine: If there is something you really want to do in your life, then DO IT when the opportunity arises. Time is finite. If you keep saying, "Maybe next year," there will eventually come a time when there IS no next year. It is a painful tragedy that Helene Hanff never got to England to meet Frank Doer and the other people at Marks & Company, and that poignant sadness is what stayed with me after I had closed the book.

84 Charing Cross Road is a small book of correspondence between Helene Hanff, the author and Frank Doel, a London book seller. These letters chronicle their lives over a twenty year period from 1949 to 1969. Though never meeting, they share a very special friendship, almost a chaste love affair, that extends to his co-workers and family. This is a charming and delightful book about two people you come to care for through their letters and wish you knew in person. A must for your home library. A book you'll read over and over again and share with friends.

This book is one of the Top 10 best war novels of all time. Webb's experience as a platoon commander in Vietnam makes him expertly qualified to comment on the gap that existed between the "haves" and the "have-nots." His combat experiences are thinly veiled through the eyes of LT Hodges, a main character in the novel. The enlisted Marines in this book are based on the farmers, coal miners, drop-outs, immigrants and the lower class in general who fought and died in the war. The quote at the beginning of the book, from a General to a war correspondant, accurately depicts the gap in society that was created by LBJ's draft laws. The draft laws were full of loopholes that the middle and upper class were only too eager to exploit. Webb uses "Senator" Goodrich, an Ivy League dropout and a disabled infatryman, as an anti-hero to explain the war to the privilaged few who decided to protest the war from thousands of miles away. His epic quote of " How many of you are going to get hurt in Vietnam? I didn't see any of you in Vietnam. I saw dudes, man. Dudes. And truck drivers and coal miners and farmers. I didn't see you. Where were you? Flunking your draft physicals? What do you care if it ends? You won't get hurt." to a peace rally at Harvard is one the most gripping paragraphs in context of the civilian protests of the Vietnam War. Webb has shown that the college students, the draft dodgers and the morally weak deserted the country in it's time of need. The United States used the underprivaleged to fight a stupid war. How would the war have turned out if a few senator's sons, or a few sons of prominent businessmen were KIA in Vietnam? How many lives could have been saved if this occurred? As Mr. Goodrich eloquently states in the novel," These people have no sense of country. They have no sense of obligation. Well, so be it. If they are willing to accept the benefits of this society- such as a Harvard education- the they should also accept the burdens." A fascinating look into the souls of the forgetten men who were willing to fight for no other reason than brotherhood. They didn't fight for the US, they didn't fight for the society- they fought for themselves, and they often paid the price in blood. Mr. Webb- thank you for such a wonderful novel. It helped see what my father had to endure as an Army infantrymen in Vietnam.

I've read Gustav Hasford's "The Shorttimers," and Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried." Both are excellent books and I heartily recommend them, but neither I think can compare to James Webb's classic "Fields of Fire."

Webb's book is from the James Jones school of realism. The book has the stinging ring of authenticity and no wonder, Webb was a Marine officer in Vietnam himself and won the Navy Cross, a Silver Star and two Bronze Stars so he definitely knows of what he writes.

But this isn't just a book written by an officer about officers. His portraits of the enlisted men are just as real and are full blooded characters. Some are tough, mean and unlikeable, but hey, that's real life for you.

And just like real life, you'll find yourself bonding and getting close to these characters and when some are killed, you are affected.

Be warned: "Fields of Fire" isn't a happy story. The ending is tragic but given the setting of the story, it's entirely appropriate.

Mr. Webb has done himself and the Marines who served in Vietnam a great honor.

Semper Fi Mr. Webb.

The thing I most like about Fields of Fire is the emphasis it puts on showing how things in Vietnam operated. I've read other pieces about the war where the author takes a somewhat trippy approach and dwells on a few enlisted men doing and experiencing surreal, terrible things. I've enjoyed those kinds of stories from a literary perspective, but they don't really give much insight into what was going on. Webb ventures beyond the viewpoint of some prototypical disoriented recruit and shows more of the actual military operations: what it was like for the lieutenants, how Marine platoons were organized and run, what the day-to-day procedures were.

True, Webb's characters don't have the depth of some. He's working with an ensemble cast, and he's trying to get a lot of information in. If you're looking for a character study, you might try Kent Anderson's Sympathy For the Devil and its sequel Night Dogs, which do just the opposite of Fields of Fire: follow a single character before, during, and long after the war, without a lot of attention to sequence, context, or minutiae. But I'd have to say Fields of Fire is stronger: the ensemble is diverse, and none of the characters are stereotypical or even flat. Likewise, Webb's prose is not perfect, but he never holds forth.

One other book that goes well with Fields of Fire is The Nightingale's Song, by Robert Timberg. Among other things, Timberg writes about Webb's life and what went into Fields of Fire. But this is an excellent book even without a counterpoint or a companion piece.

I read this book at the insistence of my boyfriend, an avid flyfisher and owner/operator of a fly fishing shop. Not being a fisherman, I approached the book with some hesitation as to whether I'd enjoy it. I found the story of the piscatorial and philosophical pursuits of a guy named Gus to be endearing, enlightening and entertaining. A knowledge or love of fishing is not required to enjoy the adventures of Gus nor the clever prose and talented use of language by David James Duncan. I believe just about anyone would like this book, whether they are a worm-dunker, dry fly purist or non-fisher. I plan on purchasing a copy for my father, a dreaded worm -dunker according to my boyfriend

A few years back, I talked to a friend I hadn't heard from in a few years and she asked how I was doing. I replied, "Pretty good, but I have this incredible urge to go stand in a river for a couple of weeks fly-fishing." (I've never fly-fished in my life.) She said, "You just read The River Why, didn't you?" Duncan is masterful at playing the reader as well as Gus plays a fish. He sinks the hook into you so subtly, you're not even aware it's there and guides you to realizations about yourself. The River Why may be the most spiritual book I've ever read, and yet is never santimonious. When I travel, I take a copy of this book along to read on the plane. More often than not, I wind up giving it away to a perfect stranger in the seat next to me.

This may be the most meaningful novel I have ever read. Duncan's book takes the reader into a deeply touching world of ecology, wit, Spirit, desire and fish. Lots of fish. While I could heave accolades on the author's fabulous dialogues and descriptions or the level of character development, all of that would be to miss, what was to me, the greatest quality of the book. Duncan takes the reader into the searchings (and findings- kind of) of one Oregon soul. The reader will not only laugh, cry and ponder... the sensitive reader will travel with Gus Orviston and encounter life and vibrancy too scarce in our world. It is a transforming book. Read it. Read it on your knees. Read it while dancing. Read it sailing. Read this book.

Mick Harte was just your average kid...was. Was until that fateful day that changed the Harte's lives forever-the day Mick Harte died... Phoebe Harte is Mick Harte's sister. She tells a story of the kind of kid everybody liked-a practical joker; a good brother; an OK student. And she tells the story of herself, dealing with the trajedy of her brother's sudden death-her father is an unshaven, no-self-esteem creature, her mother a zombie terrified by her once-loved son, herself angry at her so-called "friends," and angry at Mick for ruining a perfectly good life. I give it ****, and it has a little of everything in it-sadness, love, humor, and regular fiction. So go ahead and read this sad little book--its worth it.

MICK HARTE WAS HERE is about Phoebe, the sister of Mick, tells the story of how her brother died, the guilt she had in herself, and the sad and happy memories they had together.
I read MICK HARTE WAS HERE in 4th grade. I read it again in 5th grade because it was such a good story. When I read it, it touched my heart. I then realized that so many people die of bike accidents. One of my friend has died on a motor bike. I cried and thought how sad it was to die at such a young age. I would recommend this book to anyone from 5th grade and up. If you read it, it will touch your heart like it touched mine.

Mick Harte Was Here is a story about a boy who died in a bike accident, as told by his sister Phoebe. The book was funny at times but mostly sad. I liked it because it was funny, especially the part when Phoebe and Mick write the word FART in cement. I would recommend this book for other kids to read, and maybe they will all wear their bicyle helmets when they ride.

This excellent compilation of essays by James Allen truly holds the key to success, amongst other things! I feel so inspired after reading this book, so ready to put into practice what this powerful, little book is teaching. This "classic" has been around since the turn of the century and it seems to be even more relevant in today's stressful and competitive society. I underlined so many wonderful and inspiring passages that I intend to refer to on a daily basis. As Allen states, "a man is literally what he thinks", or as the saying goes, garbage in, garbage out! Or put another way, "All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts."

I have learned that I cannot blame others for my life, or my state of affairs - they are my creation, the end product of my thoughts and actions. Allen states that man makes or unmakes himself by the thoughts he keeps and cultivates. Man is truly is his own worst enemy!

I really resonated to his quote on fear, "Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplish anything, and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in." How profound and how true. How we let fear run our lives - again proving how powerful our thoughts can be. Allen further expounds by saying, "He who has conquered doubt and fear has conquered failure."

The garden of our mind is only cultivated by us. What kind of crop we want to consistently yield is solely determined on our positive, enriching, and encouraging thoughts or on our doubting, destructive and negative ones. We alone hold the key to our future, and our success, and our attainments in life. We can either have a feast or a famine - it is only up to us.

This highly inspirational book cannot help but to motivate you in some degree. I feel like I have been given the keys to a door that was once rusty and would not open, but now will yield freely in my hand. Another great quote is, "The Vision that you glorify in your mind, the Ideal that you enthrone in your heart - this you will build your life by, this you will become." This is one book that you will want to keep constantly by your side, especially for those times when you get discouraged, or when the road seems rough. Just reading one page will have you having a change of heart, with its motivation putting you back on that right path.

This book is a MUST read if you are desiring to change your negatives into positives! The power of the mind is incredible - in all areas of our life!

I ran into this little book in a bargain bin. And what a bargain it was! It clearly shows how the workings of your mind have a direct effect on your life. Like the old computer adage, "Garbage in, garbage out", it shows how we sabotage ourselves with our own thoughts and further reduce our energy to deal with whatever comes our way. It also made me think of the people I have known who have inspired me or brought me down, what kind of person they were, and how they thought about life. Negatives will get you nowhere! Although I'm in my 60's now, I wish I had read this book as a teenager. The precepts in this book can only help you to be more fulfilled, successful, giving, centered, wise, and happy to be you! Buy this book, or even more to give away, because you won't want to let yours go. I just keep going back to mine. After reading this little gem, I got the book called "The Wisdom of James Allen, which contains 5 of his inspiring essays, including this one. We should share the word about this amazing and under-appreciated writer to those around us.

It is a joy to see there are others that found this book to be a Masterpiece. I found it right after I finished high school and have read it no less than 100 times. It is like an old friend who reminds me that my life is what I make it, without exception. It helped me learn that I could not blame anyone else for the condition of my life, I was sololy responsible and therefore only I could change it. I finished high school in 1984 with a C average (I thought I was quite stupid) and in 1997 I finished my Ph. D. in Computer Science with an A average. I believe the ideas that James Allen wrote in this short Masterpiece with all heart and these ideas helped me change my life, drasticly. James Allen was a very wise man, anyone could learn something from him! I will close with some of my favorite quotes from this Masterpiece, "You can not travel within and stand still without.", "There is effort and there are results, chance is not.", "Dreams are the seedlings of reality.", and "You will receive exactly what you earn, no more, no less."

Robertson is a professor of history, and reading his book makes me wish I had taken one of his classes as a college student. This well-researched book debunks many of the myths surrounding Stonewall, and makes the famous general appear much more human, and much more worthy of genuine admiration.

Jackson's modest behavior and deep religious conviction stood in stark contrast to his absolute tenacity on the battlefield. Over the last century Stonewall has grown into either a leader of an unholy cause or saint, depending on your point of view. The truth is a lot more complicated. Jackson was a kind man who could be explosive in explosive situations. And he wasn't nearly as eccentric as some legends claim. The real Stonewall Jackson -- revealed in Robertson's book -- is much more interesting, and believable, than the legend.

This is perhaps the finest work I have ever read on a single individual. The book itself is remarkable both for the amount of detail and for the care with which it is documented. Robertson debunks many previous Jackson myths, and seems to be able to explore the mind of the man with comfortable ease. You get the sense that he actually was aquainted with the great man. The story of Jackson is quite thorough, presenting not only Jackson the Confederate general, but also Jackson the schoolboy, the teacher, and the devout Presbyterian. Even without the Civil War sections, this book would still be fascinating reading, especially the years in which he taught at VMI. The Civil War years are chronicled well, but be warned, this is a book about Jackson, and covers only those engagements in which he had direct influence. This is not as distracting as it sounds, and in fact is somewhat practical, as it presents the battle from Jackson's front. The book is rather lengthy, but not monotonous, and it reads very well. The end is especially heartbreaking and emotional, and summarizes well the life of a remarkable man and his tragic death

This book is the best biography, and one of the best books, period, that I've read in the past five years.

I couldn't help but wonder before starting the book how enjoyable and readable it would be--the 900+ pages seems a bit daunting even to an avid reader. As it turned out, I didn't have to "tackle" or "work on" the book at all; it was accessible and very enjoyable throughout. I expected that I would enjoy the latter portions of the book (Jackson's leadership in the Civil War), but I found the earlier portions, particularly Jackson's training at West Point and his teaching at VMI, very interesting as well. The book is filled with familiar stories well told and plenty of new ones you've never heard.

I can't recommend it enough. An absolute "must read" for history readers.

I love alll of the Anne of Green Gables series. They are so vividly written you find yourself wishing that you were born as Anne a hundered years ago on PE Island. I would have happily endured all her hardships for all the wonderful moments in her life, and the fact she married Gilbert Blythe! It's so well written that you actually feel that you know Gilbert and I actually found my self falling in love with him! I've read the series 2 times. The first time I couldn't stop thinking about Anne. I read Anne, I tried to live like Anne and I dreamt Anne. Anyway, although I love all 8 books almost equally Anne of the Island is just a little better. And although it's romantic it's definitely not just a romance. Anne of the island includes wit and humour that makes it an all-round perfect book. If you're an Anne fan you havvvvvve to read this. I could not describe how wonderful it is in 1000 words. Anne of the Island is truly a book you CANNOT put down. After reading this I recommend you read all the rest of the Anne of Green Gables series (there are 5 more book,) although you'll probably be rushing to buy them anyway.

If you like the Anne of Green Gables series this is the best one in the whole thing! Anne of the Island has something for everyone! Anne Shirley leaves the small town of Avonlea to attend Redmond collage.. There the novel introduces you to a character who is extremely funny named Pricella! (Hope I spelled her name right). In this novel Anne falls in love with a fellow school mate, while her long time friend Gilbert Blythe finds a love interest as well! Do they end up together at last? Read the book and find out! This book is definatly for people who liked the movie "Anne of Avonlea". They are without a doubt slightly similar, but the book is definatly better!

I think that this is my favorite Anne book. I have read it over a hundred times to myself and soon I will need to order a new copy. It tells the ongoing story of Anne Shirley and chronicles her adventures in higher education, friendship, love, and of course WRITING! This is not a childrens' book as some might think. It is very easy to read, but it is for people of all ages. Of course, it features the same Gilbert Blythe who we all know and love as Anne's constant admirer and the irredeemably Sloanish Charlie. She also has Priscilla Grant at her side. She also makes a new friend, Phillippa Gordon, who makes Anne's freshman year wonderful and may someday prove to be quite sensible. In the course of the book, Anne will gain friends and admirers as well as continue to matchmake and write (of Course). She will have her share of joy, tears, loss, and love and ultimately set her course for her life beyond the bend in the road. I learned an important life lesson from this book,you never value what you have until you have lost it. I loved the characterization of all the new characters especially Phillipa, I think that we all know someone like her who attracts men without knowing how or wanting to. I can relate to Anne in this book. This book is thoroughly enjoyable and you not regret reading it. If you still want more Anne after reading this book,you should read all of the other Anne books (the next is Anne of Windy Poplars) and the Chronicles of Avonlea(it includes several stories which include Anne in them: The Hurring of Ludovic, The Winning of Lucinda, etc.) I hope that you will love it as much as I did!

This well written biography of Warren Buffett is just that, a biography. Those readers seeking Mr. Buffett's investment advice need to look elsewhere. "The Warren Buffett Way" written by Hagstrom or Mr. Buffett's shareholder letter in Berkshire Hathaway's annual reports would be an excellent place to start. In this book Lowenstein descriptively documents the events that shaped Buffett's life beginning with childhood. The reader gains an in depth understanding and appreciation of Mr. Buffett's business acumen. Any disappointment that the reader encounters is probably a result of the fact that Mr. Buffett leads an exceptionally mundane life. As a result, the reader at times will feel compelled to put the book down. If you are fascinated with Mr. Buffett's ability to consistently outperform the market or are a Berkshire Hathaway shareholder this is a must read.

An amazing story which leaves in the dust other "Buffett" books, notably "The Warren Buffett Way" (which is more like a Street Analyst trying to "predict" Warren Buffett- albeit after the fact). Roger Lowenstein's book reads like a Harold Robbins novel, in terms of the story and the manner in which it is told. Also, the author never loses sight of the fact that Buffett neither assisted nor obstructed the book. This is seen in the way he writes about Buffett's personal life. Using the knowledge from his years of Wall Street Journalism experience, Lowenstein makes it really simple for a layman such as me, what is unique about Warren Buffett, and how ridiculous almost everyone else on the Wall Street has sounded over the years. But the wisdom I've gained from this book is that the single most important factor that contributed to Warren Buffett's success was not his mathematical ability or the teachings of Ben Graham, but his own "Strength of Character" - his complete Honesty, Unwavering Adherence to his Principles in the face of contrarian beliefs by the rest of the world and testing times, total Dedication to Work, and Incredible Patience. Warren Buffett has blown away the common notion that if you believe in and practice honesty, faithfulness, and simplicity, you can't become rich.

He's perhaps the most successful self-published author in the world. His books cost several thousand dollars and up. He's the world's most successful work-at-homer (he started out in a home office in the 1950s, way before it was cool). That he has entrepreneurial instincts there can be no doubt. We're talking about publishing wunderkind, Warren Buffett. Is it no coincidence that this formerly low-profile investor from Omaha, Nebraska has achieved pop icon status around the same time that working Americans are questioning and re-evaluating their own economic status and security in light of their career investments in time, money, and education? Roger Lowenstein is a Buffet biographer who was somewhat surprised when sales of his book passed the 100,000 mark. "I guess I underestimated the number of people out there who want to get rich in the stock market," he said. His paperback edition of Buffett: The Making of an American Capitalist, will hopefully begin to pay dividends for Doubleday's Main Street Books imprint this month. Warren Buffet is a well-known author to stockholders in his Berkshire Hathaway investment vehicle. He writes lengthy, folksy, and astutely analytical annual reports that stand in marked contrast to the PR-speak of most such documents. Some pay thousands of dollars for one share of Berkshire so they can read his annual missives. Lowenstein, a Wall Street Journal columnist, was a longtime reader who yearned to write about Buffet at length. Buffett did not share Lowenstein's enthusiasm so did not cooperate with the book. But he didn't try to interfere, either, according to the author. "He was inadvertantly an entrepreneur, "said Lowenstein. "He started out as a guy in Omaha going around trying to raise money from people who were impressed with his self-confidence and brightness, and he worked out of his study. He had a neightbor named Don Keough, who later became president of the Coca-Cola Company. Buffett told him, 'have you ever thought about these great kids you have, w! ho's gonna provide for 'em? Maybe you oughta give me some of your money and let me invest it.' Keough thought about it and talked with his wife about it, and he knew that Buffett was right, but he told me he just couldn't get over the hump of giving money to somebody who sat around all day in a t-shirt. "Buffett spent the day in his study when the respectable folk wore a coat and tie to the office. So Keogh didn't invest...After about 5 or 6 years Buffet got an office and he's in the same office his whole career. It's two miles from his house, so it's almost as if he just lengthened the corridor. He doesn't lose much time commuting." Home officing and entrepreneuring doesn't get much more successful than this.

It's been six years since I first bought one of James Herriot's novels, and far longer since I read his picture books (e.g. Bonnie's Big Day). Even now in my last year of high school, it's a choice I have never regretted making. All Creatures Great and Small is just one of the most heart-warming and touching books written by someone who was truly blessed by God. This book is serves as an inspiration and companion for the soul of any animal-lover, one whose stories will never fade with the passage of the years. It brings every facet of life and love into being, and is a calling for all animal-lovers around the globe. I have James Herriot, my idol, to thank for helping me choose veterinary medecine as my future career, a choice I have stood by for eleven years!

Written by James Alfred Wight under the pen name James Herriot, ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL is the semi-autobiographical adventures of a 1930s vetenarian working in Yorkshire, England--and as he grows in experience we meet the people and animals that populate his world.

Any one old enough to turn a page will love this book. It is written in an effortless and easy-to-read style, and the clinic's experiences with everything from runaway pigs to lavishly spoiled lapdogs makes for laugh-out-loud fun. Who could forget Tristan's battle with a savage sow or the dog that howled? How about the hens that flew the coop or Tricki-Woo's birthday party? Or the car with no brakes or the cow that would never get up again? Herriot's comic tales can easily make you laugh until you cry.

But ALL CREATURES isn't only about laughter. There is also the hard work of farming and the simple integrity of those who struggle to survive on the land, where the loss of a cow can mean the difference between surviving another year and financial disaster. There is also the sorrow at the loss of a treasured companion. And through it all, from the wildly comic to the poignant and touching, there is always, always the story of the relationship between man and animal, joyously told. Easily one of the most completely enjoyable books I've ever read, and very strongly recommended.

James Herriot's books stand out in modern writing as absolute classics, evocative of an earlier, more innocent time, and more wonderously, by the skill with which these deceptively simple, entertaining, moving stories are written. Beneath the entertaining text and characters lies absolutely beautiful, artful writing, with craft and skill that ties all these chapters and stories together in a pattern of one country vet's life in England in the 1930's and 40's. These are so much more than animal stories. I am biased; these are my favorite all-time books, read and re-read since my youth. Increasing age has not diminished their charm. History will write James Herriot's name large. If you haven't read these books yet, you owe it to yourself to start with "All Creatures Great and Small". Whether or not you care for animals, you will fall in love with a gentler time, the escapades of a trio of young men, and the laugh-out-loud as well as very tearful events this author writes about so beautifully. Absolutely timeless and a classic.

The Grinch story is a different story from the other books that I have read. It was easy to understand and it was so interesting to read. The common Christmas day is a happy day for children, but the Grinch hated Christmas so he would do anything to stop Christmas from going on. However finally, he accepted and found the true meaning of Christmas. Cindy Low has a good character filled with intelligent, humor, and innocence. She was very young for her age, but ready for anything that could happen to her life because she lived in an adventure. She reminds me of when I was little innocent girl that loved to have fun. She was my favorite character in this book. The end of the story was very touching and it ended happily. My feelings for the ending were happy for the Grinch.
I thought this novel wanted to tell us that we should search for the truth because we thought we know everything about ourselves but we really didnft.
I knew this book has a power of knowing our personalities in our hearts. I think it might have a great influence on you.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a great story written by Dr. Seuss. You should purchase this amazing book because it has many morals. The book shows that you can be happy on Christmas without any presents at all. It is a great book for kids and adults to share. You can enjoy this story with the famous main characters, the Grinch, Max, and Cindy Lou-Who. The story is about the Grinch trying to steal Cristmas so there is no happiness in Who-ville. Max is his dog and is transformed into a fake reindeer by the Grinch. Cindy Lou-Who is a little girl who lives in Who-ville and is tricked by the Grinch. This book is great for kids that are just learning to read because it has many rhymes. The story starts with a rhyme that goes like this: "Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot...But the Grinch, who lived just North of Who-ville, Did NOT!" The story ends with: "And he brought back the toys! And the food for the feast! And he...HE HIMSELF...! The Grinch carved the roast beast!" To fill in the blanks you should read this magnificent book.
-Michelle and Natasha

I have memorized this book I love it so much! The young and young at heart will love Dr. Seuss's crazy rhymes and cool words (have you ever gotten a "fuzzle" for Christmas? have you ever eaten "who hash"?...but you must have been to Whoville!) This book is silly and crazy, but it also gives a very important Christmas message which I think has been very much lacking in our society today. It's so easy to get caught up in the holidays (or hating the holidays, a la Grinch), that we forget the true meaning of Christmas. I'm not only talking about religion (which is ultimately the reason for the season, but don't get me started!), but also the time we spend with family and friends. Here's one of my favourite Grinchy quotes: "He puzzled and puzzed til his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. "Maybe Christmas.." he thought "Doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." Keep that in mind. Merry Grinch-mas! "Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all Whos far and near. Christmas day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand."