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.

The story is about the reforming of a notorious rake named Lord Dain who is a devoted whoremonger and debauchee and appears not to have a single decent bone in his body. He meets Jessica, a stunningly beautiful spinster woman in an antique shop in Paris. Sparks fly, but after all the bad experiences he has made with mankind (especially with women) he cannot believe Jessica finds him attractive. When the ton finds them in a very compromising situation he refuses to marry her saying the infamous words "Shoot me!" Well, sometimes people get what they want...
The story is hilarious sometimes and also entertaining in the second half of the book. I especially liked the part where Jessica makes Lord Dain accept his ignored by-blow son Dominique. This alone is worth reading the story. Yet I felt disturbed by the total lack of realism and the much too perfect heroine. First of all: A girl like Jessica, extremely beautiful, very sensual, daring and admired by almost everyone wouldn't have stayed unmarried or a virgin till her 27th birthday and then feel an overwhelming lust for the first time for a man like Lord Dain. She is knowledgeable about and interested in sex and not at all afraid of it but we shall believe she never before was erotically attracted to someone. Most of us already feel atttracted to the other gender in our teens even if we are not a sex-goddess like Jessica. Lord Dain seems to be the only handsome and sexy man in two countries. This is too much, really. Lord Dain on the other side who always has felt erotically attracted to big-boned and plump whores (the only sympathetic trait he shows in the beginning of the story)who he changes so frequently like other people change their underwear is now fiercely attracted to petite and delicate-boned super-model-slim virginal Jessica. If a man prefers a certain kind of looks in a woman he most likely sticks to it or doesn't change his preferences so drastically. Furthermore we shall really believe he will be able to stay true to one woman after having used a thousand of them? Shall we really believe he has not caught a serious venal disease while bedding one whore after another (sometimes even two at a time) without protecting himself which he obviously didn't ? Why did the author not made Jessica a sexually experienced widow and Lord Dain a man who avoids females due to his bad experiences with them? I'm really fed up with the extremely unbelievable cliché "debauched rogue is reformed by lovely virgin". And although I could understand Lord Dain's plight and felt sympathy for him I couldn't feel much for Jessica. She was so damn perfect and flawless. Beautiful, intelligent, sensible, sensitive, extremely caring, patient, virtuous, sensual, sexy, courageous....the list could be much longer. She always said and did the right thing. Therefore she remained somehow artificial and sterile. I couldn't like her for she seemed to be too much a role-model. I liked Lord Dain much better for he was much more human. If you want to read a better version of the reformation of a rake read Mary Joe Putney's "The rake". The characters are much more credible and in the end you believe that such a transformation could be possible which I here doubted very much because the glue between the two heroes is mainly sex and the fact that Jessica is the first decent woman who feels attracted to Lord Dain. I think his overwhelming sexuality caused his frequent demand of whores not his bitterness and disappointment in life. This is why I couldn't believe the transformation. When Jessica isn't a erotic sensation anymore he would -in reality-follow his old path especially when she is worn out by pregnancies and not so sexy anymore.

I love romance books, but originality is scarce. In a genre where too many books seem to blend together until I can hardly tell them apart, LORD OF SCOUNDRELS is a true original. I haven't read anything like it. Dain and Jessica are a very unique, loveable, frustrating, sexy couple. But there is so much more to it than that and I fear I don't have the words. Only this: DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK! Reading it was a true pleasure. Jessica calls Dain Lord Beelzebub. I loved that she wasn't clueless or skittish around Dain. Dain has been used to most people, especially women, looking at him as though he is a freak. He's big, brutish, and a bully. He's also a "whoremonger" who has sworn never to get involved with a lady. But Jessica gets under his skin upon their first meeting. She accepts the fact that for the first time in her life, she has fallen in MAJOR lust with a man. This is where the fun begins. The prose is fluid, lyrical, and smooth. It NEVER falters. The dialogue is the most original and witty dialogue I've read in a very long time. Don't miss it!

I have read hundreds of romance novels. I have my share of favorite authors and have seldom ventured on the untried ones. I have never done any review of any single book because I have yet to find one I can call as THE ONE, which is worth the time and the effort to give praise to an author for a romance book that's superbly done. It takes a real good book to write a review. The Lord of Scoundrels in THE ONE.

I bought this book, my first of Loretta Chase, on the strength of the reviews in the amazon.com site and I am very happy I did. It is lush, witty, entertaining and very sensual- the elements romance readers look for in a book worth to be in a keeper's shelf. No complicated plot but with very good, characterizations, witty dialogues and unforgettable scenes that make the book worth keeping.

Dialogue sparkles and sparks fly between the two main characters: Lord Dain, the dark, tortured reprobate, who had very little opinion of himself but who was hopelessly besotted with the "needle-tongued, conceited, provoking ape leader of a lady" and Jessica, the beautiful, strong-minded, sensuous spinster who in her words declared "I've been in lust with you from the moment I met you". The sizzling verbal fights are very captivating. The "animal lust" and the deep desire for conquest and possession just leap off the pages to keep the reader enthralled. Lord Dain's use of the endearments in Italian during their very intimate moments makes the story even more romantic and titillating. But wait, please let me include the notorious punchline, "I should like to see you try".

When I finished the book, I read it again and again and then again most especially some of the very poignant, even hilarious and totally comical scenes, i.e. the preconceived notions of Lord Belzeebub about the "carnage he thought his overwroght imagination had pictured" in bedding his virgin wife. You will find yourself smiling and later laughing out so loud. And of course their romantic and passionate encounters are original and unforgetable they are so totally hot, hot, hot!!!

Scenes like the unbutonning of the gloves, the lamppost incident, Lady Wallingdon's party, the Hyde Park with Jessica on Lord Dain's lap, the brawl with Ainswood, they are so vivid and well played out that you will in turn even fantasize some more scenes of your own of Lord Dain and Jessica!

There are two scorchingly sensual and highly erotic highlights in the book that romance reader will remember:
1. The showdown between Lord Dain and Jessica barely three days wed
2. The boxing bout they attended that culminated in Jessica's declaration of her love for Sebastian again and again while against the pillar in a burial ground attached to a tiny crumbling church.

But of course, who will ever forget the way Jessica sought satisfaction for the very scandalously compromising and public position he put her in: "her bodice undone and sagging to the waist, his tongue down her throat, his filthy hand up her skirt?"

I totally agree with Lord Dain's rumination while leisurely taking his bath after successfully "tumbling" his wife,"Since the Almighty had not done him a single act of kindness in at least twenty-five years, Dain thought it was about bloody time...."

Yes, the Lord of Scoundrels, the dark and tortured Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain deserves the beautiful, virginal and passionate Jessica Trent.

To Ms. Loretta Chase, your Lord of Scoundrels is absolutely WONDERFUL! It is an absolute MUST for romance readers.

The Coalwood Way, by Homer Hickam, is the sequel to October Sky. It is 1959 and the
Rocket Boys are still making their handmade rockets. Homer "Sonny" Hickam is trying to
prove to his father that he will go to college and succeed. Although with the mine not
doing very well, it does not look like any of the Coalwood children will get very far in life.
A lot of the miners have lost their jobs and Sonny's father has to make some dangerous
decisions about what to do to keep the town and the mine from going poor. Sonny's
mother feels cut off from her husband and the townspeople. Her role as the
superintendent's wife makes things difficult with the wives of the union workers.
In the bleak, cold winter months optimism is hard to come by in Coalwood. Sonny
is overcome with a sense of gloom and trys desperately to figure out what is causing it.
When Coalwood is in need of some spirt-lifting, Sonny and his friends bring back the spirit
of Christmas just in time.
Hickam's story brings the characters from his childhood to life in a touching tale
that provokes the mood of the mid-twentieth century. Sonny learns many things about his
brother and his parents throughout the story. His father is a workaholic who feels
responsible and inadequate, and his mother is very intelligent and perceptive who feels
isolated from her whole family. Sonny moves from childhood to adulthood in a few short
months as Coalwood changes in many different ways. The story reminds us of the
importance of keeping our dreams and not letting little things or big things change them.
It also remids us that growing up is hard, yet possible. If we stay together with our friends
and family and we we pray and learn to live together, then we can get through anything.

If you enjoyed Homer Hickam's Rocket Boys or the movie October Sky, this book is for you. Homer doesn't so much pick up where he left off at the end of Rocket Boys, but rather returns to the fullness of his senior high school year. He weaves a tapestry that provides detail in breadth and depth that keeps the pages turning. You'll suddenly discover it's well past bedtime and you are content to keep reading.

Homer discovers truths about himself and others, even as he's about to move away from home. There is always more to learn from one's parents. There are many emotional highs and lows in Coalwood, but lessons learned from both will leave you feeling hopeful for the human spirit. The people of Coalwood continue to display a dogged determination to get though the difficulties, even if they stumble along the way. Not one to cry easily, I found my eyes welling up with tears during the last chapter. It is possible to find great joy and beauty in hard times.

Homer doesn't miss on emotion. There's anger, joy, fear, excited anticipation, sorrow, laughter, and contentment. You may very well learn something about yourself while reading The Coalwood Way. I highly recommend it!

In a time when so much that is published and shown in the media is negative and inconsequential, 'The Coalwood Way' uplifts the spirit with the honest reflections of a young man who discovers the secret of growing up. Homer Hickam reveals the deepest longing of his heart as the book carries the reader through a short but significant period of time that changes his life. Homer's heartwarming self-searching is so reflective of what I experienced as a teen that I'm certain that many others can also relate to his story. The Coalwood Way is not a sequel to Rocket Boys but rather an 'equal' that enlarges upon the relationships and complex personalities of the characters in the town. Homer (who is as sincere and nice as he comes across in the story, and is married to ones of the most beautiful and talented ladies around) seems to unroll the story like a red carpet, encouraging the reader to follow and explore the richness of this coal mining community in southern WV. My husband, daughter and I have visited Coalwood several times and spent time with the gracious people who live there and who are working so hard to bring restoration to this gem of a town. There is a proud spirit among the citizens and that rare closeness that the word 'community' stands for. The reader of Homer's Coalwood books are able to experience this spirit. If you are wondering what exactly Homer means by 'The Coalwood Way' I encourage you to read the book. It's one of those 'life lessons' we need to share with our kids, model ourselves, and encourage in others. Warm, rich, uplifting, thoughtful, and engrossing. It's a rare treat to find an author like Homer who writes with consistent integrity and unashamed joy. I'm so thankful he is working on a third book and can hardly wait to read it!

Caputo describes the Vietnam War, or the "the splendid little war" as he ironically calls it, as his journey from being an enthusiastic idealist poisoned by the romanticized view of war as a chivalrous and noble enterprise to the dehumanized and desensitized wreck that he becomes during his tour in Vietnam. The book is an amazing testimony about the true nature of war with all its atrocities and horrors. Caputo brilliantly captures the endless despair of being strained in the jungle with no clear reason for being there, the hopeless madness of chasing the guerillas and the agony of loosing friends. But the most important aspect of this book is that it shows how a normal mentally healthy person can be turned in the course of a few months into a thoughtless killing machine, fast on the trigger, without any remorse for his victims. Caputo exploits very strong and vivid images such as "pigs eating napalm-charred human corpses" to force the reader into his story and make the reader feel what Caputo has felt. Every single high school student, every single gung-ho young kid in boot camp must read this book -it is about real war, real corruption, real deaths, and real emotional scars left for life.

Very realistic book that cannot leave you indifferent, definitely up there with Remarque's "All quiet on the Western front." If you want to know what fighting the Vietnam War was really like, I can't imagine how any book can possibly be better than Rumor of War.

Caputo describes "the splendid little war" as his road from an enthusiastic idealist poisoned by the romanticized view of war as a chivalrous and noble enterprise to the dehumanized and desensitized wreck that he becomes during his tour in Vietnam. The book is an amazing testimony about the true nature of war with all its atrocities and horrors. Caputo brilliantly captures the endless despair of being strained in the jungle with no clear reason for being there, the hopeless madness of chasing the guerillas and the agony of loosing friends. But the most important aspect of this book is that it shows how a normal mentally healthy person can be turned into a thoughtless killing machine in the course of a few months, fast on the trigger, without any remorse for his victims. Caputo uses very strong and vivid images such as "pigs eating napalm-charred human corpses" to force the reader into his story and feel what Caputo has felt. Very realistic book that cannot leave you indifferent, definitely up there with Remarque's "All quiet on the Western front." If you want to know what fighting the Vietnam War was really like, I can't imagine how any book can possibly be better than Rumor of War.

For anyone who has ever asked, "What was Vietnam really like," Marine Lieutenant Philip Caputo's book, "A Rumor of War," is a must read. In this autobiographical account of his time as an infantry officer in, "the 'Nam," he describes the experience in authoritative terms enhanced by collegiate English studies and time spent as a combat journalist. The result is the most well written account of life in an infantry platoon in Vietnam that I have ever read.

Phil Caputo could have been virtually anyone in America in the early '60's. A young, idealistic, all-American boy who joined the Marines in search of adventure, and out of a patriotic desire to answer John Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you. . ." He and his platoon marched off to war to find glory and honor. What they found was, "death, death, death."

Caputo takes you into the muddy foxhole with him, making you feel the heat and annoyance of the ever-present insects, and the sniper shots that all united to deprive you of the precious commodity of sleep. He takes you on patrol with them down, "Purple Heart Trail," where the main enemies were the heat, the insects, and endless mines and booby traps. The reader can feel the rage of the infantrymen who fought endless battles with an enemy that was everywhere, yet nowhere. Gradually enthusiasm turned to pessimism; pessimism to despair; and despair to rage; rage that ultimately vented itself in mindless violence against anything Vietnamese. They were then left with the heat, the insects, and guilt borne of actions taken that they would never have dreamed of a few short months before.

Caputo and his enthusiastic, young, Marines could have been anyone who has ever fought: the patriots at Lexington and Concord, who later found themselves half starved and freezing at Valley Forge; or any number of Union or Confederate soldiers from Bull Run to Appomattox. They could have been "Doughboys" who went, "Over There," to "Make the World Safe for Democracy," only to find themselves "fighting" immersion foot and mustard gas in the trenches of France; or perhaps even soldiers serving under, "Ol' Blood and Guts" himself, George S. Patton; "Our blood, his guts," as the GI's said. Their stories all verify Gen. Robert E. Lee's famous quote: "War seldom avails anything to those unfortunate enough to have to fight it."

A Rumor of War ranks up there with Gen. Harold Moore's, "We Were Soldiers Once and Young," and Col. David Hackworth's, "About Face." All three show how debates that raged in Washington, Paris, Saigon, and Hanoi were ultimately scored. Whether you were a "hawk or a dove," a liberal or a conservative, a professor or student, you will benefit from reading this book that answers the question authoritatively: "Hey! What was Vietnam really like?"

HEAVEN, TEXAS by SEP is the second book in the Chicago Football Stars series. The prequel to this novel is IT HAD TO BE YOU, which I have yet to read. I always seem to be reading series in the wrong order, but all I can say is that HEAVEN, TEXAS is an awesome book on its own. This is the love story between Bobby Tom, a famous Chicago Stars quarterback and a-one-of-a-kind lady named Gracie Snow.

Bobby Tom was just forced to retire from playing football because of a bad knee injury he received during one of the games. Being very depressed, he decides to have some fun and signs up to be a star in a Hollywood movie. When he doesn't show up for his filming, newly hired Gracie is sent to find Bobby Tom and bring him to set. Poor Gracie, her first assignment and she bring Bobby Tom back to the set, two weeks late!! Even going through an impromptu striptease for Bobby Tom, she was unable to get him in on time. Well it is not right to completely blame Gracie, for Bobby Tom did give Gracie a lot of trouble. He's just not used to a lady with a bossy mouth and a bad perm to tell him what to do! Moreover, feeling attracted to such a lady, when he's seen ones that were ten times more beautiful, is something he'd never imagine he'd do. But what he does not notice and takes for granted till the very end, is that Gracie has the most generous and kind heart in the whole world. Only until Bobby Tom breaks Gracie's heart and when she runs back to her old life, does Bobby Tom realize how much he took for granted and how much he has come to love her.

What did I like most of the story? Like all the other readers have said... sometimes when you feel awkward or unattractive, just be yourself, for there is always someone that will look right into your heart and love you for who you are. I believe SEP has delivered a wonderful story with a beautiful message.

When I first picked up this book, I thought, uh-uh. No way can I get into a book where the hero's name is Bobby Tom. He sounded too much like some red-neck cowboy and not at all like the darkly handsome heroes of other romances. However, it took me about 2 whole seconds to fall head over heels in love with both Bobby Tom and this book. Phillips perfectly masters the romance genre combining great characterization with an interesting plot and lots of sweet humour. Yet at the same time she spices up her story with steamy sex scenes and gut-wrenchingly emotional confrontations between her 2 lovers. The romance between former NFL quarterback and Miss Gracie Snow is a roller coaster ride of thrills and smiles from start to finish. In short, its absolutely wonderful and I highly reccommend it.

If you never read any of this writer's books or just read a few, then you MUST MUST go for THIS ONE. I'm one of her very royal readers. Besides reading all her books, I also can't help evaluating and rating each books. From the early "Fancy Pants" to the latest "Lady Be Good", I still keep my opinion that this one is the BEST. Gracie is the most simple yet most assuring and lovely lady among all created female characters. Bobby Tom is the most handsome, most tomboy yet most romantic male character. Actually, before writing this review, I have gone through all other reviews and found out that all the reviews give this book 5 STARS (This means most of the readers agree with me that this is really a GREAT book and deserved more than 5 stars. The story is well-versed and all the characters in the book are very real. It is a funny story and Susan Elizabeth Phillips has successfully created the constraint among the man and lady. I like the part that Gracie knows very well she has fallen in love in Bobby. Bobby Tom knows he himself has also fallen in love with her but he just does not want to admit it and refuses to believe such a gorgeous man he is, can fall in love with a simple lady like Gracie. The peak of the story comes at the end when Gracie feels so disappointed in Bobby that she decides to go back to her hometown to lead a simple life. Bobby Tom at this time, knowing he is going to lose her, has suddenly come to the realization how much he loves her. The ending of the story is EXTREMELY GOOD ! (Want to know how this marvellous story ends? Go to read it! and you'll know for yourself and wishing you are Gracie)

A true love story! Once you start reading this book, you never want to put it down. It's about a girl named Lauren and a guy named Spencer. Lauren and Spencer date during Junior High and all is going well. When High School rolls around Spencer starts to change and hang out with the popular gang. He leaves Lauren behind and pretends like she isn't even there. Spencer has dark secrets from the past that he hasn't told anyone. It's making him have mood changes and it's driving him crazy. When he shares them with Lauren, she becomes worried about him. Spencer becomes part of Lauren's life again because she is the only one he can trust. Lauren thinks all is going well until something happens to Spencer! Read this book to find out exactly what happens to Spencer and how Lauren learns to deal with everything.

The Wind Blows Backwards is one of the most powerful and influencial books that I have ever read. Though at first glance it might be confused with a pathetic teen romance, the book is the home to many deep, raw truths to which countless teens will relate. I found this book as a freshman in high school, and I have faithfully read it at least once a year since then. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who appreciates love and a terrific read!

Some teen love stories are sappy and full of fluff, but this one was as realistic as anything I've ever read. These characters are deep, they have problems, they aren't perfect. It's a true slice of life. Lauren and Spencer's love is so real, you can feel it as you read. In the end, it is clear how much they truly love each other. Read this book if you're sick of dumbed-down, shallow books about teenagers.

Along with the first book, I think this is my favorite! Lynn and Gilbert really outdid themselves this time. The dialogue is great (they crack me up sometimes) and the book is filled with suspense. About halfway through the book I got so engrossed I could barely put the book down to eat and sleep!!!! I immediately started reading book #8. Cheney and Shiloh are so sweet and funny together. I also liked learning some information about Hawaii. Great book! You will love it. I really enjoy the fact that Lynn and Gilbert create their characters to be very human. We see their faults, but it is pretty easy to love them anyway. If you have not read any books from this series... I highly recommend them... but start from the beginning!!!! (and when you get to this book you will be thrilled!)

I have read all the Cheney Duvall books. Although I have been frustrated with how the series has gone along with Cheney's and Shiloh's relationship this book finally put an end to the question of how Cheney actually felt about Shiloh. This book takes place on an Hawaiin Island where Shiloh's family was supposed to have come from. He goes there to find out more. Cheney finds out some disturbing news about Bain Winslow the man who brought Shiloh to the Island. She goes trying to convince him to come back when a volcano thought to be dead errupts. They are caught on the Island trying to find a way off. At the end, Cheney finally decides that she really cares for Shiloh. I am looking forward to book eight coming out. I wrote Gilbert Morris when the series came out he said that there would be eight books in this particular series. I'm curious to see how they wrap this series up.

Wow! What can I say? Island of the Innocent was totally awesome. I can't wait for the sequel. Let me tell you, when Shiloh came back to save Cheney, I was thrilled and scared to death. Wouldn't it be just like an author to make something horrible happen right when the good parts are beginning? Thankfully, nothing horrible happened to Shiloh and the book continued. This book was slightly different from all the other Cheney Duvall books ( I own them all). The writing style was slightly different. That makes me wonder, did Lynn Morris write more of this book than the others or did Gilbert Morris just change his style a little? Not that I mind, I still think the book is excellent. I thought it was totally completely awesome when I saw how the authors had tied in the Winslow series written by Gilbert Morris into this series. I'm guessing that with a couple more Cheney Duvall books, they can make it fit right into the Winslow series. Anyways, my biggest question is WHEN IS SHILOH GOING TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN AND MARRY CHENEY? I mean, by now, we know that they love each other and should be together. I don't want the series to end but I feel as if I have been waiting a long time for those two to speak their hearts to eachother. Well, that's pretty much all I have to say, so I'll end it with a couple words. If you haven't read this book and the others in the series, READ THEM!

A Brief History of Time is a mind blowing insight to the advanced theories of the universe. Stephen Hawking is a modern expert of space theory and all science in general. He takes complicated ideas and puts them into a book that the general public can read and understand. He explains everything from black holes to the fate og the universe. This is a facsinating book.

It is a cliche to say that the reader will not want to put this book down once she/he starts reading it, but in the case of Stephen Hawking's, "Brief History of Time the cliche entirely fits.

Stephen Hawking has a way of making an incredibly difficult subject-matter relatively easy to comprehend. A whole new world is opened up to the reader who may not have any background in either the study of the very small--quantum mechanics--or the very large--the history of the universe. It is simply a marvelous book.

Professor Stephen H. Hawking has done an excellent job in describing in a very basic way potentially complex scientific theories. He takes us to the beginning of time-just after the big bang- and expertly leads us through singularities, string theory to an expanding (and infinite?) universe. That and more! His ability to explain complex theory is dazzling. I was a student of physics up to university entrance level, but reading this book was not a journey down memory lane, it gave me another wonderful perspective to a lot of the physics concepts therein. Professor Hawking neatly documents the evolution of time from a fraction of a second after the Big Bang. He very neatly demystifies the idea that time continues backward forever. he demonstrates that time is a property of the universe that it did not exist before the universe came into existence. Finally, it was a wonderful relief to learn that the Big Bang theory is not inconsistent with the existence of God. I also found string theory very cogent, and I did not get enough of it!. Thank you, Prof. Hawking!

It is a good story. And it has some elements and insight into Christianity that will enrich one's understanding. As a historical novel, it falls short of authenticty, and often the author interjects notions such as nationalism, social responsibility, and the like, which were forrign to the denizens of the first century. This book sometimes reminds me of the renaissance illustrations of the Illiad, where Agamemnon is wearing a garment that was very fashionable--for the renaissance!

I also have to wonder about the author's vast vocabulary. I love reading Charles Lamb, and O'Henry who are well known for being verbose, but they also manage to poke fun at themselves at the same time. In "The Robe," however, I got the feeling that the author likes seeing himself use big words, rather than having an explicit use for them. His prosaic style is simple, easy to read, and contrast sharply with the word choices he makes from time to time.

I found his theology to be dated, and sometimes a bit off the mark (I am an Orthodox Christian). But oftentimes, I gained insight into scriptural passages and settings from the point of view in the story. It is interesting to watch Demetrios and Marcellus learn about Christianity from the Pagan points of view.

This is a good, interesting novel. But it is not a history or a theology lesson, and I do not think it intends to be. The only reason I write this is to pare down some of the reviews I have seen to date, and to give people a more realistic expectation of what they are getting when they buy this book.

I happen to love Jesus and I am enthralled with history and reading classics. All three of these fit "The Robe". This book was a bit long to get through, but the story was beautifully written and adds a dimension to the life of Christ that we do not read about in the Bible. I found it to be a wonderful companion to the Truth and highly recommend it to anyone looking for more depth and rounding out of their understanding of Who Jesus is. I also really liked the fact that what the protagonist goes through in the story, around 2000 years ago, can be applied to how we respond to Christ yet today. Searching? Take a bit more time than you usually spend on a book and find "The Robe".

OK, this is a historical fiction book--I know that:) But the picture it paints of initial reactions to the life of Christ and Christianity are, I believe, valid.

The Robe is the story of the Jesus' death and the beginning of the Early Church as seen through the eyes of the Roman soldier who presided over the Crucifixion. As Marcellus struggles to find Truth and then deal with the Truth he has found, the reader begins to understand just how radical the claims of Christianity are.

Picture yourself the wealthy, educated son of a Roman Senator. Now imagine trying to explain to your Senator father that: 1)the man whose crucifixion you oversaw came back to life, 2)you believe this though you never saw him post-humously for yourself, and 3)you are willing to give up your political ambitions to embrace his teachings and his followers!

I found this book to be touching, inspiring, and something worthy of reflection. If you are skittish about books on religious topics, PLEASE do not let the subject of this work scare you. It is not preachy in the least, and in addition to being inspirational, it is a well-constructed story.

Lucy and Edmund return to Narnia and find themselves on the Dawn Treader, a true sailing vessel for a magical children's story, traveling with Prince Caspian on a quest to find the end of the world. However, when the children are returned to their favorite land, they bring along their cousin, the sour and demanding Eustace Scrubb.

Through many adventures at sea and during ports of call, Eustace makes the rather predictable transformation into an alright chap, but don't mistake the predictability of this end for cheap or sloppy story telling on Lewis's part. Eustace's transformation can be interpreted as the transformation of the unbeliever to a Christian, and the symbolism of his physical change is rich and compelling for adults and engaging and magical for children.

Our dear, brave friend Reepacheep is back, too, and shows his continuing bravery in a heartwarming ending that causes readers to feel great admiration for the little mouse with big courage.

The richest part of the novel is the well described climax in which the story takes on a mythical nature and our friends come close to the line between heaven and earth.

It's a lovely book, and as usual for the series, can be enjoyed on theological levels, but it loses nothing if the reader picks it up as pure fantasy for someone looking for a great tale!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sail to the end of the world? Well in the Voyage of the Dawn Treader, you can! In this book the legendary King Caspian of Narnia who is on a quest to find the seven lords, seven Narnian lords cast away in the time of his evil uncle Miraz. Edmund, Lucy and their annoying cousin Eustace journey with the king on the legendary ship the Dawn Treader in search of Aslan's country in the Far East. This book is the sequel to The Magician's Nephew, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Horse and his Boy, Prince Caspian, The Silver Chair, and the Last Battle. To anybody that hasn't read this book and its sequels, I recommend that they read them now!

Three years after Prince Caspian (of the 4th Narnia Chronicle 'Prince Caspian') was crowned King of Narnia he set out on a voyage to discover and if possible, recover, the seven missing Lords who left Narnia years earlier by order of his wicked Uncle Miraz. The only thing that is lacking though, it the presences of their royal majesties, Queen Lucy and King Edmund. However, that will soon change.
In England, Edmund and Lucy are unavoidably forced to visit their Aunt, Uncle and cousin Eustace Clarence Scrubb for the duration of 16 weeks. In a reverie of Narnia they happen to enter into the magical world as they had previously done severaly times, and Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace were thrust into one of the most amazing adventures ever. The journey on board the majestic Dawn Treader takes them to the Eastern Islands, to the Silver Sea, and then further than any Narnian (or human) had ever been, toward the End of the World where Aslan's country lies.
There are so many more wonderful experiences and descriptions in this book that are possible to name. Yet, for example there are the hilarious Dufflepuds and their absurd antics, the valiant Reepicheep, the mysterious Ramandu and his daughter, and of course, the beautiful green and gold Dawn Treader. :)
The Dawn Treader is so full of adventure that you will long to read it again and again.