A helpful book to find one's own voice and style in writing based on personality preferences. It also has some practical suggestions for finding the right words regardless of the assignment and your workplace position.

It's easy to see why Middlemarch is a classic. The theme of reality not living up to one's ideals is a thread that runs through the lives of most of the major characters, and is instantly recognizable and relevant nearly a century and a half after the book was written.

Idealism is most evident in Dorothea Brooke. She wants to lead a learned life of service to others, but Casaubon is not interested in teaching her much, and the great work she initially believes he is writing is an irrelevant, disorganized bunch of notes. Tertius Lydate is also an idealist whose ambition is to make contributions to the medical field. Before he marries Rosamund Vincy, he sees her as the feminine ideal, a woman who will provide unquestioning support and an emotional haven. Instead, she turns out to be a self-centered spendthrift who ennervates him. He ends up with no money or energy for his research, and must concentrate on making enough money to support his wife's extravagance. Interestingly, the characters who end up the happiest, Mary Garth and Fred Vincy, lack such lofty ideals.

One of Eliot's strengths is her sympathy and compassion for her characters, despite their faults. However, she is no stylist, and I found her prose to be awkward and stilted. The reader needs to be patient with this book, because Eliot's style makes it somewhat difficult to get through.

I am in awe of George Eliot. She has constructed a narrative that is uncommonly perceptive and literate about both the subtle and quirky level of individual motivation and the larger forces of society which form the arena in which human lives play themselves out. Middlemarch is a provincial English town during Victorian times and Eliot selects a broad range of characters from every level of society to illustrate her themes. Prominent among these themes are the way in which the ambitions of potentially extraordinary achievers can be constrained by a poor choice of affiliation, most notably bad marraiges. She also addresses the role of women, the way that wealthy landowners determine the quality of life for the poor, and presents insightful portraits of a number of personality types. It is often a very funny book as well, as she exposes the foibles of the pompous and self-deluded which subtle and unerring accuracy.

This is not a light read. This is a long, dense novel, but I found something fascinating on nearly every page.

I was extremely hesitant about reviewing George Eliot'sMiddlemarch, as it's been ten years or so since I've read it, but inthe end I couldn't resist adding my comments to those of others. Quite simply, it is the greatest novel yet written by an English author: Middlemarch is the fullest realisation of George Eliot's ideas on social philosophy combined with her utterly convincing characterisation and remarkable moral insight.

The novel's 'heroine' is Dorothea Brooke, a young woman of excellent virtue who is passionately idealistic about the good that can be achieved in life. The provincial setting of Middlemarch is the environment in which Dorothea's struggle to fulfil her ideals takes place, and the novel's central theme is how the petty politics of provincial 19th century England are largely accountable for her failure. In parallel with Dorothea's story is the story of Lydgate, an intelligent and ambitious doctor who also runs up against the obstructive forces of provincial life and finds them severely restrictive of his goals.

Eliot is supremely compassionate, yet never blind to the faults of her characters. Dorothea's ideas of social reform are naive, while her high opinion of Casaubon's work proves to be a major mistake. But Eliot is never cynical when the motives of her characters are pure, and does not censure them for failure. What she is critical of is the narrow minded self-seeking attitude which forces Dorothea and Lydgate to come to terms with the fact that often good does not win out over circumstance. The subtext to this is the fact that the high ideals and sense of responsibility intrinsic in both Dorothea and Lydgate means that there is no question of them ever finding love together. In essence, Middlemarch is simply about life and how things don't always work out, despite our best intentions, but are often the product of negative forces. In other novels Eliot's didacticism can sometimes jar, but it is impossible to ignore the depth of her wisdom in Middlemarch.

Middlemarch is the best novel of our greatest novelist - of the major Victorian writers only Tolstoy can really compare with her - and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I knew next to nothing about the life of John D. Rockefeller before I picked up this book. This book gave me great insight into the life of an often-misunderstood man who became something of an enigma in his time. I found it fascinating that he was something of a contrarion compared to his rich and powerful counterparts of the day. Although he would be the first billionaire in history, he was frugal with his money. He shunned high society life and refused to attend pretentious gatherings. He also refrained from smoking and drinking, unlike many of his counterparts. Although I agree with Ron Chernow that Rockefeller was unfairly blamed and scrutinized, I still find it hard to believe that a man, who was obsessively controlling of his business and finances, could not know about the gray areas of Standard Oil's business practices. The book was a little lengthy and focused a lot upon his philanthropic endeavors, but I can't find many faults with that. Standard Oil's influence never struck me until I read that Exon, Arco, Mobil and Chevron all originated from Standard Oil: talk about a legacy.

Challenging, long, and inspiring, the biography of the richest man to ever live by Ron Chernow really holds up to the name given to the book, "Titan". Wonderfully written, the reader is allowed to trace Rockefeller's roots of his granparents to his parents all the way to his grandchildren.

The book also gives excellent details on the paths he chose to follow in business, where he received his "education", and the philanthropy that he was well known for.

Though the book is not short on length, if you have a good length of time, then I do recommend the book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the richest and most giving man of all time. By learning about Rockefeller, I was able to realize the magnitude of the impact he has had on American society. I can't imagine society if had not been so great!

Also, the book does a great job giving real insight into Rockefeller's true character. He was not such a ruthless businessman, but actually compassionate as he not only gave money to his charities but also to his poverty stricken church going brethren.

Rockefeller left very big shoes to fill, and the book even goes into how Jr. did his best to replace his father's momentous work.

Long, difficult, but VERY rewarding, I highly enjoyed and recommend reading "Titan". What a great name for a biography of such a character!

Succinctly put, I loved this book. Ron Chernow's "Titan" is more than a great business biography; it is one of the best biographies I've ever read. Although Standard Oil and the rise of big business in America clearly play a central role, this book is first and foremost about John D. Rockefeller: his convictions, his character, his relationship with family, friends and colleagues.

And what an interesting man he was. To put it mildly, Rockefeller was a contradiction in terms. On the one hand, he was a sincerely pious man, deeply committed to the Baptist church and a paragon of personal morality and virtue. Yet, on the other hand, he was as ruthless - and successful - a corporate executive as has ever been produced in American history, more than willing to personally ruin competitors with bankruptcy to further his personal aims. Chernow makes this contradiction the focal point of his biography, and succeeds brilliantly in capturing and analyzing how Rockefeller balanced his devout Christianity with his cutthroat business practices. He argues that Rockefeller was able to do this by ascribing his business success to the will of God, which later fueled his famous works of philanthropy in the early the 20th century.

After reading "Titan," one can't help but wonder if Rockefeller did, in fact, take advantage of some sort of divine intervention at various stages of his career. For instance, when the northwest Pennsylvania oil fields began to show signs of exhaustion, threatening the future of the domestic oil business, new deposits were discovered in Ohio that favored Rockefeller and his empire. And just as electricity began to show signs of popular adoption, threatening to ruin the kerosene illuminant market that Standard Oil had dominated, the automobile emerged on the scene, which used the theretofore noxious byproduct of kerosene production, gasoline, to operate and expanded the oil business beyond anyone's wildest dreams.

At each step of the way, from the early days as an inconspicuous refinery in Cleveland to the global leviathan battling government intervention, public animosity, and foreign competition, Rockefeller skillfully guided the corporation with the foresight and tenacity of a great statesman. Chernow brings his story to life with such vitality and honesty that both Rockefeller and his nemesis, Ida Tarbell, would likely endorse it.

This is the best spy novel - and one the best books - I have ever read. Le Carre gives a very real look at the world of espionage during the Cold War. A real novel of suspense, deceit, and intrigue. He holds you on the edge of your seat as Leamas tries, for one last time, to "come in from the cold". If you're looking for a fast-paced book, don't look here. You won't find it. And if you can't handle hard-to-follow plots, you won't like this one much either. Reading this novel makes me want to read even more of Le Carre. A must for a "real" spy enthusiast.

If one is to read only one spy story and certainly only one Cold War novel, that story is The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. LeCarre established himself with this one novel as not only a popular writer but also one of the best novelists of the second half of the 20th century.

In LeCarre's spy world, secret weapons and glamorous action are not present. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold is full of twists, turns and betrayal. It presents seamy people living seamy lives without ideals, just playing a deadly game to win at all costs. Spying is like a giant chess game in which the players can very quickly become the pieces and become discarded when they have lost their value.

The novel features Alec Leamus, a middle aged spy who wants to come in from the cold. That is to say he wants to stop spying. He is persuaded to accept one more mission to discredit the East German who has been catching all his agents.. He must pretend to sink into alcoholism and eventually defect. What follows are the twists, turns and betrayal that are stock LeCarre.

The presence of George Smiley is felt throughout much of the novel. The protagonist of Call for the Dead and A Murder of Quality is present in very few scenes although his spectre follows the action. However, he is a Kafkaesque figure. What is Smiley doing? Why is it important? All is ultimately revealed or is it? In subsequent Smiley novels, the reader gets to see Smiley the player. In The Spy Who Came in From the Cold we get to see Smiley from the viewpoint of one of the pieces.

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold works on one level as a straight spy story, perhaps the best ever written and there is more depth. The "cold" referred to is not only a metaphor for the discomfort one feels when one is isolated from home and security it is also a metaphor for the Cold War. Leamus is involved in a nasty, dirty business from which he cannot easily withdraw. Essentially he represents the west, not wanting to engage in the business, not sure why it is involved and who benefits but unable to withdraw.

Ultimately, The Spy Who Came in From the Cold answers all the questions but in doing so creates far more unanswered questions. It is a thought-provoking masterpiece and one of the great novels of the 20th century.

I picked up this book after seeing a copy of The Constant Gardener, simply because it is supposed to be Le Carre's greatest work. Having read my fair share of Clancy, I started reading expecting gunfights, chases, and high level assassinations. What I discovered was a book that relies on much more subtle tactics for its suspence. But that is what makes it such a masterpiece. Le Carre expertly demonstrates how betrayal and deception can entangle a person's emotions and destroy who they are. He depicts the world in a harsh light, where there is no moral certainty, only a vast array of pieces on a fog covered chess board.

Professional Active Server Pages 3.0, by Alex Homer, is a book on developing web applications using Active Server Pages 3.0. This book goes in depth into developing web applications with discussions and examples on advanced topics such as, CDO/Microsoft Exchange Server, ADO/Microsoft SQL Server, and ADSI/Active Directory. Homer presents the reader with a wealth of information on advanced enterprise level topics based on Microsoft technologies. This book is excellent for intermediate/advanced users who wish to learn about Active Server Pages using Microsoft technologies, however due to the fact Homer does not goes in depth with fundamentals of programming Visual Basic Script, this book should not be recommended to novice developers.

Throughout the book, Homer discusses the importance of COM/COM+ and what that technology can do for your web application. He writes examples of a COM+ component in Visual Basic and shows the user how to register/load the component into memory along with utilizing the functionality of them in an Active Server Page. Homer further explores the features of Windows 2000 by introducing the features of Active Directory and explaining/demonstrating how ADSI can connect an Active Server Page to the Active Directory. The book goes into further detail on enterprise level topics by discussing how CDO interfaces with Microsoft Exchange Server. Using CDO, a developer can access all of users Exchange account information including mail, contacts, calendar, etc. The book ends with performance and security issues for web applications running on a Windows 2000 Server and how an administrator should configure a Windows 2000 Server for maximum performance and security.

The software/technologies the book uses are based on products/technologies developed by Microsoft. Since Active Server Pages is a Microsoft technology, it would be reasonable to use only Microsoft products/technologies. However, in the real world, many businesses have heterogeneous environments with Oracle database servers and JavaScript web developers. The fact that this book only exposes the reader to vendor-specific technologies could be a down fall, however creates a centralized focus for the reader.

This book covers a wide spectrum of advanced knowledge with Active Server Pages, however is completely based around Microsoft technologies. Several other authors composed this book, which helps the reader get a dynamic flavor of knowledge from chapter to chapter. Any intermediate/advanced web developer, interested in enterprise web application development, should purchase a copy of this book for reference purposes.

Being an enterprise web developer, I found this book to be the absolute best in its field. It covers a very wide spectrum of fields any web developer working with Microsoft web technology should know, including ADO, ADSI, ASP, CDO, COM+, error handling, MSMQ, Windows DNA, XML, and a whole lot more (note that this book is primarily oriented at web developers who's target platform is Windows 2000 and IIS 5.0, but I also found it to be extremely useful for use on Windows NT 4.0 and IIS 4.0, since the authors clearly indicate features that are new to Windows 2000 and IIS 5.0). The writing style is absolutely excellent and gives clear tips on code optimization and performance. I have read literally dozens of different books on these subjects, and none has come close to this one. Although this book is not for beginners, it is, in my opinion, good for anyone who wants to advance their career on the web or become an web developer. This is definitely a book you will want to read from cover to cover, and use as a reference. At just about any price, it's a steal.

Hi, I found Active Server Pages to be a pivotal book. The book was comprehensive and well written. The authors know their subject material. I write responses to question and answers for numerous questions on relating to active server pages and found topics in the book to informational; especially the chapters on com+. The book explained how com+ work, why it is the next evolutionary step in object oriented websites, and how to create your first com+ component. The introduction to Window Scripting Components was excellent. I found the information easy to understand, testable, and empowering. Also, if you new to Collaboration Data Object CDO (email messaging) this book is worth the money. In the past I've used simple mapi to do all my email which is actual fairly easy to implement and use. With CDO one can learn how to access/transmit email through an exchange server or smtp server. The CDO section was really cool, filled with numerous examples and easy to understand instructions. The whole book seems dedicated to show how microsoft technology can be used to build scalable web sites. There are a few thought provoking discussions on the current technology used to build scalable site, such as load balancing, windows 2000 dna, and com+. The only downside to the book was the sparse discussions and examples of how xml and ado and server side asp could be used to build a website. I'm not critical, this is a very complex area of discussion and instruction. I hope to hear from you.

The book Animal Farm is a fantastic illustration of communism in the world today. Fiurst, an old pig on an English farm has a dream about the animals rebelling against the humans. The old pig dies, but his dream still lives on with the animals. Then, the animals rebellion happens unexpectedly because the farmer has not fed them. The humans were run off the farm. Also, there is a rivalry on the farm between two pigs. One is named Napoleon, and one is named Snowball. The rivalry ends when Snowball gets forced off the farm by Napoleon's guards. Then Napoleon is in total control of the farm. He alters the commmandments that Snowball had written. Next, the pigs on the farm have broken all of their animal traits. The animals on the farm are unable to tell teh difference between the pigs and the humans. It's like the pigs are a reflection of the humans. Due to the reason above this book reflects how communism occurs in countries. I would definitely recommend people read Animal Farm. First, this book shows a reflection of human nature in a communist environment. It shows the pigs on the farm taking what they need to get a task done. Napoleon eleminates anybody that gets in his way of ruling the farm. Also, the book shows a great deal of teamwork between the animals. The animals on the farm built a windmill and a storm destroyed it, and they just worked harder and faster to build another windmill. Finally, it shows a good relationship amongst the animals on the farm. Boxer, a work horse, was a role model for everybody on the farm besides the pigs. He would never give up on anything. He always would work harder and faster to get things done. He would make certain sacrifices to help the farm. Overall, I think people should read Animal Farm.

George Orwell's Animal Farm is a superb animation of the Russian Revolutioon. The book is amusing and interesting; it includes a comic element as it synonymously demonstrates the evolution from the proletariat revolution to a totalitarian government led by the swine of the society. Orwell successfully simplified the not-so-simple theory of class stratification and Karl Marx's proposed solution of communism. Orwell's method of conveyance is incredibly inventive. He uses satire in the form of a fairy tale to share his indignation for ideological doctrines that would, if allowed, lead to the eventual destruction of a society. Each character in the story is representative of someone who was involved in the Russian Revolution. Old Major is Marx, and inspires the proletariat revolution by motivating the over-worked animals and educating them on the ways of the human beings, who represent the bourgeoisie. Orwell's creativity convinces the reader that the animals on the farm are intellectual beings, revolting against the tyranny of the humans. Animal Farm offers itself as an example of a responsible criticism of Marxism. The story gives us a peek at the Utopian vision, and then offers a long look at what results from using a Marxist approach at achieving it. I strongly reccomend this book, as it is entertaining and educational. Orwell succeeded in creating a fairy tale that evokes both sadness and laughter, while causing us to feel sympathy and even empathy for the working class animals. The book escapes complexity, but its message does not.

In 1946 when Animal Farm was first published it was obvious to is readers that former Eton boy Eric Blair, or George Orwell had written a pretty savage critique of the Bolshevik revolution in Russia. But more than a decade after the final collapse of the Soviet Union, is this story still relevant? Well if it was just confined to the events of the Russian revolution, then perhaps this work could fade in to the fog of obscurity with it's purpose completed, but "Animal Farm" is about so much more, that as long as people walk on their hind legs and live together in any type of society, it's content will be of the gravest importance.

Beginning with the dream of Old Major that there will come a day when animals will throw off the yoke of their oppressors and share the fruits of their labours fairly among themselves, Animal Farm follows that dream to its eventual reality, it's betrayal and it's ultimate corruption in to something darker, more cynical and even farther from Old Major's noble dream than what had been before.

Although Animal Farm has implications for all past and future revolutions its meaning goes much deeper than just a blue print for what can go wrong. This novel challenges us to look around us and to see the ongoing exploitation of our neighbours, our brother man and perhaps even ourselves, to recognise the truly bewildering amount spin and slant presented to us as pure facts for what it is and to "cast a cold eye" on the society we live in and the way it treats its citizens.

In his excellent teachers notes on the novel Jerome Burg stated, "The essential question raised by Animal Farm is NOT "Could it happen again?" The essential question is "Do I realize that it IS happening everyday all around me?" and "What are MY responsibilities to do something about it?" I couldn't have put it any better myself.

This book is one of a number of Professor Challenger adventures of Sir A. C. Doyle. A noted zoologist (Challenger) has come across evidence that there is a plateau in South America that can be reached from deep in the Amazon rain forest in which prehistoric animals still exist. An expedition of four (Challenger, a sceptical zoologist named Summerlee, a noted hunter (Lord John Roxton), and Edward Malone, a journalist) sets out to verify this report. The arguing and interactions between the academics is interesting in that little seems to have changed in the last 87 years! It should be noted that Doyle isolates the plateau so that there is minimal interaction with the rest of the rain forest (thus, the dinosaurs can't escape). But, why couldn't the ptereodactyls spread out? This story was one of the earliest "Lost World" tales and has been made into a film a number of times. Other stories in this sub-genre owe much to Doyle and Challenger.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created a classic dinosaur adventure story when he wrote The Lost World in 1912. The tale's narrator, Ned Malone is a newspaper reporter who joins an expedition to the wilds of the Amazon to impress his girlfriend. However, he scarcely anticipates the dangers he will confront when the expedition's leader, zoology professor George Challenger takes them to a plateau filled with dinosaurs and ape men.
Doyle's human characters are described much more richly than Michael Crichton's minimally interesting protagonists in Jurassic Park (1990), so the story hinges as much on Challenger's eccentricities as it does on dinosaur attacks or Ned Malone's quest for validation of his masculine bravado. A weakness is the lack of female characters worthy of more than passing note. Ned's fickle and heartless girlfriend makes only brief and displeasing appearances at the beginning and end of the tale. Crichton does no better with females.
Hopp's Dinosaur Wars, published in 2000, does a much better take on genders, giving equal weight to a young male/female pair who brave the dangers of dinosaurs loose in modern-day Montana. It seems that even dinosaur fiction has evolved over the years.

Professor George E. Challenger, noted scientist, says dinosaurs are still alive, and he knows where to find them. The scientific community says he's a madman or a fraud, or both. Challenger's only evidence is a bunch of blurry photographs. Fellow scientists say the photos are obviously doctored and the newspapers call it a fantasy. Boiling with rage, Challenger goes into seclusion. Anyone foolish enough to bring up the tender subject around him is liable to end up in the gutter outside his house, with a few extra lumps for the gutter press.

The only reporter brave, or stupid, enough to face the professor's wrath and get the story is Edward Malone, young, intrepid journalist for the Daily Gazette. At a boisterous scientific meeting, Professor Summerlee, a rival scientist, calls Challenger's bluff. Summerlee will return to South America and prove Challenger wrong. The young journalist volunteers to go along. Lord John Roxton, the famous hunter, can't miss an opportunity to return to the jungle and adds his name to expedition. Professor Challenger is happy they are taking him seriously, even if they don't all believe him. But what will they find in South America? A strange, living time capsule from the Jurassic period filled with pterodactyls and stegosaurs? Or will they only find vast tracks of endless jungles and Challenger's daydreams? Either way there will be danger and adventure for all.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote "The Lost World" in 1912 for the Strand magazine, the same magazine that published his Sherlock Holmes stories. It's a great Edwardian science-fiction adventure, although some may not like the British Imperialism and Darwinian racism. Still, in "The Lost World" Conan Doyle lets his hair down a little. Changing narrators from the earnest Doctor John Watson to the rash reporter Edward Malone makes for a big change. There is a good deal more humor. The students in the scientific meetings are forever yelling out jokes at the expense of nutty Professor Challenger. Affairs of the heart play a big role in Malone's life. He matures from a young swain out to impress his girlfriend to more of a wistful man-of-the-world by the end. It is a very different Conan Doyle than some are used to reading. Different, but just as good, maybe, dare I say it, even better.

John Dunning makes the combo work for a fun read on two levels. His tough-guy protagonist can hold his own with the best of them, doggedly pursuing his brand of maverick justice, meeting and beating the low-lifes on their own level. At the same time he's a smart man whose passion for book collecting provides lots of insights bound to intrigue the avid reader.

I recently read Julie Kaewert's "Un" series, which also involves the acquisition of rare books but with an emphasis on secret societies and arcane messages that give it an "Indiana Jonesish" quality. Dunning's tidbits about what makes a book valuable are more accessible and interesting, and his hero's brushes with violence arise logically from who he is. Kaewert's Alex Plumtree is beaten, stabbed, shot and otherwise assualted with a regularity that seems a tad excessive in the publishing industry. Besides, you've got to love a mystery that reveals one of its secrets in the very last line of the book.

There is a lot of talk among bibliophiles about this book and its subject matter. Rare books and their values are instrumental in its plot. What they leave out, however, is that this is a cracker of a good mystery.

Cliff Janeway is a cop with a problem. He knows who is pulling a string of derelict murders--his old nemesis Jackie Newton--but he can't pin the crimes on him. Up comes a new victim, a local bookscout that Janeway recognized from the street, and Janeway thinks he has Newton cold--except that Newton has an alibi in one Barbara Crowell, who was with him from 3:00 the previous afternoon.

To say much more would give too much away. But this is definitely a mystery worth reading. All the information on the book world is simply a bonus for bibliophiles.

Janeway is a very interesting character--a cop, and a book lover. The author also owned a book shop for ten years and still runs a first-edition-only business from his home.

I would recommend this book to people interested in books, but also to anyone who likes a good mystery. For once, I was satisfied with an ending.

What could make a small-time bookscout a murder target? Cliff Janeway is a Denver supercop who loves rare books like Lt. Morse loves opera. As mysterious deaths haunt the Denver rare book trade Janeway makes the unlikely transition from burnt-out detective to bookshop owner. A gripping plot, believable characters and plenty of rare book lore will have you racing to the conclusion of this mystery and, inevitably, on to the sequel, The Bookman's Wake. Janeway's passion for collectible books will inspire many readers to daydream about opening a bookstore of their own and will likely lead others to seek out Nicholas Basbanes' 1995 comprehensive history of book collecting, A Gentle Madness.

In John Steinbeck's fictional classic, The Grapes of Wrath, readers get aboard the Joad family's jalopy and venture through the southwestern part of America during the 1930s Dust Bowl. Through Steinbeck's intense descriptions and meticulous detail, his characters pop out of the book, and become alive in the reader's imagination. Due to these dynamic figures, readers begin to feel their emotions, experience their struggles, and share in their happiness. Although the tone underlines a grueling expedition, one filled with hardships, losses, and failures, readers still recognize that tremendous bond and overwhelming love within a family can prevail over all. Steinbeck's use of setting is critical in the book. The setting adds to the impact of suffering experienced by the characters and sets the dismal tone for the novel.
The characters are so extensively described that a perfect portrait of each member of the journey is painted into the readers mind. Physically and emotionally we know who they are: laugh when they laugh, cry when they cry. The book sends a powerful message of everlasting love which is identified with all readers. The dry, dusty, hot, and painstaking setting is influential in the family's drive. The luscious, green, moist land of California lures the readers in for an unreachable dream, and symbolizes a life that the Joad's can never have.

Truthfully the only reason I read this novel is because it was part of my summer reading assignment this year for highschool. Somehow being told you HAVE to read a book rather than wanting to on your own makes the reading experience something to dread. Well all I can say is I am SO GLAD I HAD TO READ THIS!!!

This is probably one of the best books I have ever read. I have added it to my list of favorites way up there with Animal Farm (people think 'cause they read it in junior high it's for kids, WHATEVER!!)and Wuthering Heights. Every chapter is a feast for the mind. You can picture ever bead of sweat, every loss and tear as if it were right there in front of you. The story goes from humorous, to serious, to hopeful, to emotional so quickly you almost don't realize it's there till it hits you.

The story takes place in the 30's based on real events, following the fictional accounts of the Joad family. Apparently back then, there was a crisis where farmers had overworked their land to the point where the soil had been reduced to worthless dust annd could no longer grow crops. The bank then had to take it from them because, well, god forbid they lose any money. Thousands, maybe millions of people were kicked out from their homes, the homes that their grandfathers had built, where children had been born and lives been lived. They were forced to all move west to California, selling what little they had for cash, dreaming of a new life. Flyers promised work and good pay, but when only 10,000 workers are needed, and 100,000 see the flyers and come looking for work, what happens then?

This is a story of survival. Not like in that movie Cast Away where he's stranded on a deserted island with no food or anything, but a time not unlike today. A place filled with stores and restaurants and yet a man still can't feed his children and they are dying from malnutrition. How can you buy food if you don't have any money? and how can you make money if there aren't any jobs? "water water everywhere and not a drop to drink". And hungry men become desperate, which turns into fear, which becomes anger, and this makes teh Californians afraid. So wages drop to pay for security, to pay for more sheriffs and police and spies, and all the while this anger grows...

Like I said this is a wonderful book. I'm so glad I read it.
Some parts were so touching I actually cried a little. They weren't even necessarily sad but very moving. Anyway, I recommend this book to everyone as a great read. Yeah and to the person who said teenagers can't appreciate a book like this, I guess I just proved you wrong.

The Grapes of Wrath is one of the greatest novels of this century, and there's one simple reason for it. When you read this novel you feel like you are living it; the images it brings forth are so vivid. John Steinbeck's style of writing is not one that you can learn, it is more a feeling than an art. He puts you in the shoes of the Joad family, and also paints vivid pictures of how the depression affects others: the used car salesman, the land turtle, and many others. You cannot help but feel the emotions of the characters, and feel the tone of a conversation.

The Grapes of Wrath is about a family that gets kicked off their land in Oklahoma during the depression. The Joads borrowed too much money while it was dry, and the bank took possession of their land. Their only hope: a handbill stating that there was lots of work in California. So they, along with thousands of other families, sell off what the have left, and set off to the land where everyone lives in white houses and fruit trees are growing everywhere.

The book follows their arduous trip across the desert and over the mountains, and what they encounter when they get to California. In their ancient Hudson, with the rear cut off to make it look like a truck, loaded with 12 people and all their belongings, they set out on the journey of their lives. One gets the sense, however, that this book isn't about one family's journey but man's struggle throughout history. Steinbeck's imagery captures our emotions, and we often think of times when we are helpless, lost in our misery. People sold their whole lives to try and get to California: " 'It ain't the people's fault' [Casy] said 'How would you like to sell the bed you sleep on for a tankful of gas?' "(p. 137). It makes us think of times when joy comes from unexpected places, a joy that brings tears to our eyes. Ma Joad said "I'm learnin' one thing good...if you're in trouble or hurt or need - go to poor people. They're the only ones that'll help"(p. 415).

Steinbeck's analysis of the human spirit leaves one looking in. While talking about the greedy landowners in California, he says "The great companies did not know that the line between hunger and anger is a thin line."(p. 313) Seemingly simple statements like these are scattered throughout the novel, and are explanations of many of the problems in the world today. To be this descriptive and dead on, it would be hard to write about something you were not part of. Steinbeck experienced much of what the Joads experienced, another asset for him.

The lessons learned by the Joads are ones that we need to learn as well; lessons about compassion, perseverance, and the human spirit. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, but most of all it will make you think. It will make you analyze the world around you, and yourself. That's what makes The Grapes of Wrath one of the greatest novels of our time.

This novel is a retelling of Beowulf from the monster Grendel's point of view. In the epic poem Beowulf, Grendel is seen only as the evil monster and not the feeling and sensitive individual that he really is. We learn from John Gardner's novel that Grendel starts out as a relatively innocent being who just wants to fit in with the humans. He makes many attempts to do this, but he gets rejected every time. The humans do not even think of allowing Grendel a chance to explain himself. Grendel starts to become depressed by all these fruitless efforts and begins to believe life is pointless. Grendel doesn't want to be the monster and doesn't understand why the humans are afraid of him. He wants meaning and purpose to his life. However, he begins to feel hatred towards the humans because of all these negative emotions they are causing him to feel. This is when Grendel takes a trip to the evil dragon's lair where he receives some advice that sends him even farther in the wrong direction. The dragon tells Grendel that he should be the humans' representative of evil because he says if Grendel wasn't, then someone else would be. At this point, Grendel is very vulnerable and therefore believes the dragon's wayward advice. The dragon also puts a charm on Grendel, without Grendels knowing, that protects him from weapons. Grendel begins attacking the humans' mead halls more frequently and soon discovers the charm. He begins to feel invincible and powerful, which in turn cause his death. Gredel begins to feel as though he is better than the humans and is not afraid to take on any of them in battle. So when the legendary Beowulf crosses the sea to help defend the Danes, Grendel thinks nothing of fighting him...However, Grendel then discovers a flaw in the dragon's charm, which is that he is only invincible against weapons and not in hand to hand combat. Grendel discovers this flaw too late and is completely overpowered by the potent soldier. Grendel's death is a sad and gruesome one, and it seems as though Grendel too has mixed feelings on his departure from the world. This last scene of the book also sums up the whole novel, which is full of uncertainties on Grendel's behalf. He is never quite sure of his role or what he wants his role to be.

The main reason I liked this novel is because of the way the character Grendel relates to people in today's society. He is very life-like and because of his compassionate views, he is easy to relate to. There is a well-developed theme that is implied to show us how powerful human emotions can be and what they can cause individuals to do. Grendel is a very original novel, and I highly recommend it.

Marvelous. Written almost 30 years ago, Grendel by John Gardner has lost none of its nihilistic punch. Exposed to the novel half of those 30 years ago I had to experience it again after reading the critically lauded Seamus Heaney version of Beowulf. Greeting me once more were meditations on the dark existential void, religion, politics, and science by a creature, not too unlike us in our fears and hopes, who continued to strive to make sense of the universe and his place in it. Alternating between the sublime Orwellian double-talk of the minstrel Shaper and the cold, condescendingly bleak philosophy of the Dragon, Grendel struggles for meaning. Told that his life and energies exist only for man to define himself against, he finds small consolation. Still, Grendel throws himself on the mercy of the men in a Frankenstein's monster effort to be accepted... to no avail, deciding after that 'why should I not' destroy them . At times darkly humourous, and touching, the creature muses on the beauty of Hrothgar's placid, sacrificing wife before attempting to kill her, and plays with the fallen hero Unferth before Beowulf's arrival. As those familiar with the epic know, Beowulf in the original poem arrives from across the sea to save Hrothgar's hall by doing battle with Grendel, his mother, and eventually the Dragon. Grendel senses Beowulf's arrival and marvels at the concept of fear. Familiarity with the story makes the inevitability of the conflict all the more delicious when Grendel finally realizes his purpose and observes 'I cannot believe such monstrous energy of grief would lead to nothing' the reader is left to answer that it did not lead to nothing, it was a necessary component in an incredible story, told from the historical antagonist's point of view. Highly recommended to be read along with Beowulf.

There is little to say about this book (my second reading), which hasn't been said, except that its author's tracing of a philosophical development runs the gamut from Kant to Augustine (in the book's chronology, that is). It concerns human beings, and is based upon the Promethian premise, but at a meaningful reduction: Prometheus suffers because the gods have rejected him; Grendel suffers because humans have rejected him. The premise necessarily suggests hope for the human race, whilst the monster's nihilism protests too much. I especially loved the description of Beowulf, and that hero's visual hypnotic effect upon the monster. And the fight scene wherein Beowulf demands that the monster sing of walls. Chaos being bent to order. This is great stuff. In its own way, this is a better book than many of the other greats published in this century: it can be read at so many levels. I first read it in junior high school, and loved the story of the monster and his mother and the enigmatic hero Beowulf with shoulders rippling with horse-like muscles.