Those are the first things that come to my mind when I think about this book. But as great as the overall story was, I was dissapointed with the ending. It also in a way had a deeper meaning then what was originally thought. As all of Christopher Pike's books do, this had a mystifying storyline with "real" characters, ones that everyone can relate to. I suggest all Christopher Pike fans read it.

I've read everything by Christopher Pike I've ever been able to get my hands on. If you've never read anything by him, try this one first. The characters are very real. I compared myself to all of them at different times. I've read Wisper of Death twice, like most of his books, but I could read it over and over again and understand it a little more each time. It gets very deep and it has some hidden morals that you might not see on the surface. You won't be able to put it down until you're done. Then you'll want to pick it up again. A message to people who haven't read any of Pike's books: Read all the old stuff first. Books like Remember Me (my favorite), Witch, Wisper of Death, and Scavenger Hunt show Pike at his absolute best.

whisper of death was the first christopher pike book i read. (in 4th grade; i snuck it past my parents. :)) it was the book that got me hooked on christopher pike's stuff. i'm now a soph. in high school ans still reading pike. this book is definitely great, and it's one of those books that you think about days after you've read it. it's been 6 years since i've read it, but i still remember everything. you love roxanne and hate betty sue. you want to kill pepper in the end when he picks up his "hitch hiker". that's all. read it, it's great. (oh yeah, it's spooky too!)

This book is basically 2 books in 1. A great deal if you ask me.

This book (Volume I) contains the first two stories in the Chrestomanci series. What's Chrestomanci? Well, he is the most powerful enchanter in the world who has a very important position. You see, in a world where magic is commonplace, there has to be someone to control it. Otherwise, people with magic would easily take advantage of people who don't have magic. It's the job of the Chrestomanci to make sure magic is not abused.

These stories are just as magical, humurous, and fun to read as the Harry Potter books. Each story unfolds like a mystery, and you just can't put the book down until you finish the book. But unlike the Harry Potter books (which are somewhat formulaic: same characters, same setting, same structure, etc.), each Chrestomanci story is very different. They just all share the same world.

The first story "Charmed Life" is about an orphan boy named Cat. Him and his sister are called to live in the Chrestomanci Castle. Cat cannot do magic, but his ambitious sister is extremely powerful. What's going on?

The second story "The Lives of Christopher Chant" (my favorite) is about a boy who can travel between parallel worlds. I can't say more without spoiling the plot. It's just a brilliant story that builds up to a wonderfully climatic end.

If you like the stories in this book, be sure to check out Volume II, which contains "The Magicians of Caprona" and "Witch Week." There is also a collection of Chrestomanic short stories called "Mixed Magics."

This book is wonderful! It is basically two books in one, which is great because the two stories go very well together and right after you finish the first, you'll want to start the second.

"Charmed Life" is about a boy called Cat, or more formally Eric, who becomes an orphan when his parents drown in a boat accident. His older sister, Gwendolen, is a witch, and when the two move in with their neighbor, Gwendolen begins to take magic lessons. Cat has no magic at all, and is often pushed out of the spotlight by Gwendolen. Then they go to live at Chrestomanci Castle, home to the great enchanter Chrestomanci. After waging a private war on Chrestomanci, Gwendolen jumps into another world and leaves a double with Cat. Cat and Gwendolen's double have to figure out how to save Chrestomanci and the magical community when Gwendolen and her friends on Coven Street try to take over.

"The Lives of Christopher Chant" is about the present Chrestomanci in Cat's time 25 years earlier. This gives you some background on Chrestomanci and is even better than the first book. Christopher Chant is a spirit traveler who can bring things back from his travels and is quite solid on his travels, and this has never happened before. Christopher's Uncle Ralph sees a neat way to exploit him and has him carry back tremendously expensive and rare items such as dragon's blood back from other worlds. It all ends up great.

I would recommend both of these books very highly.

These are two of my favorite books under one cover. I have read them several times--these are very re-readable stories. While these often get recommended to people who are looking for more Harry Potter, these books predate that phenomenon and are great books in their own right.

The books have complex stories and characters. They are funny and great page turners. People, including kids and grown-ups, are not either all good or all bad. But it isn't all fun and games. There's death and danger as well. It's the mix of everything that makes these two stories so memorable.

What I find especially interesting about Lives of Christopher Chant is that it's a prequel to Charmed Life, but was written about twenty years later. In spite of that, it fits seamlessly together and adds so much more to the original book.

The endings to both stories are great--they wrap up many story threads and do it without being either too messy or too simple. The stories and characters are memorable and stayed with me long after I put down the book.

The Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh...in his 100 Acre Wood Eden...are celebrations of friendship and loyalty. Maurice Sendak's WHERE the WILD THINGS Are, startlingly glimpses into fun; adventure and beckoning unknown dangers inhabiting the seemingly guileless imagination of children. THE VELVETEEN RABBIT might be thought to complement these major modern works of CHILDREN MYTHOLOGY. "How Toys become Real..." is subtitle and theme of this superbly crafted fable about LOVE: its promise; pain and overwhemling power to miraculously transform. Like all great fairy-tales, cuentoes and parables, the story is Once-upon-a-Time simple. It can be read to any child over three, and read by any child eight or older(3.5 g/e). It is told from point of view of a "really splendid, fat and bunchy Velveteen Rabbit...with coat spotted brown and white...real thread whiskers...and ears lined with pink sateen." The toy rabbit "quests" the love of his playmate master(BOY)that can...according to Mentor and friend THE SKIN HORSE...grant REALITY.
"When a child loves you for a long, long time...not just to play with...but REALLY loves you, then you become REAL."

Adorning this story is the wonderous art of illustrator Donna Green. In this 1995/98 edition, the "picture book" is illuminated with beautiful oil, acrylic, and lush pastel paintings that glow, and shimmer Life-like and LOVE-like. It is beautiful art work intrinsically conveying Margery Williams' mythical message to the young and young-at heart. (10 Stars)

Daughter Anna (now 19 years old) loved this book. It was her favorite above all others. As we sorted through some old kid things for give-away purposes, we stumbled upon this old, well worn copy of "The Velveteen Rabbit." She insisted we keep the book for HER children.

This was her book that Mama (me!) had to read to her again and again and again. As soon as the last word was read on the last page, it was "Mama, please read it again!"

(how I miss those days, by the way!)

The book also has a powerful message about Love that children understand and cherish.

This is a wonderful book. No child should be without their own copy of "The Velveteen Rabbit."

This is a heartwarming story about a toy rabbit filled with sawdust that wants to be real. He realizes what the meaning of "real" is when his owner, a young boy, gives him the answer for which he searches. My wife bought this book for me last month. I missed it as a child. I've learned the lesson in this book in traditional ways, by trial and error. I would have loved to have this treasure as a child and thank my beautiful wife, Lori, for giving it to me, now. Only real love has any meaning or longevity, at all. I ask you readers to not pass up this gem of a book. It is a must for children and adults alike.

This was definitely the best Christopher Pike book I have ever read. The story is suspensful and the story is amazing!! The ending shocked me too. I recommend this book to everyone! It is not science fiction, like a lot of Pike's other books, but a good, old fashioned mystery

This was the best Christopher Pike book I ever read. It has everything... mystery, suspense, horror, blood... I LOVED IT! One thing is weird though... I read the first edition of the book, it belonged to my teacher... in the first edition, the main character's name is Ann Rice, not Ann McFarland! I read the synopsis, and I was like, what's up with that? Oh well. I read the first edition of the book and I didn't even know it was a movie! I must see the movie! Fall Into Darkness was great! You have to read it it will leave you tingling!

"Fall into Darkness" begins in a courtroom. Sharon McKay has been accused of killing her best friend, Ann Rice, but Sharon knows she's innocent. Ann had apparently died from a fall from a cliff, but there's no real proof of this because her body was never found. So, it's up to Sharon's attorney, Johnny Richmond, to prove that she didn't push Ann off the cliff, rather Ann jumped to her death.

The book switches between the present (the trial) and the past (just before, and up to, Ann's death). The reader soon learns Ann harbored a strong hatred for her best friend Sharon. She blamed Sharon for breaking her brother's (Jerry Rice) heart, which ultimately lead to his suicide one year ago. However, nobody knows about Ann's pent-up anger--least of all Sharon--, except for Ann's boyfriend, Paul Lear. He's the only one Ann confides in about her need for revenge.

The plan is simple: invite a group of unsuspecting friends on a camping trip as witnesses, get Sharon alone with Ann, then when the opportunity is right, fake her own death by dropping over the side of the cliff with a safety harness on. (All the equipment had been strategically placed beforehand.) She would then maneuver down the side of the rock and run away to safety. Sharon would obviously be the number one suspect since she was the last person with Ann, and, more than likely, Sharon would be found guilty and put behind bars. It seemed perfect enough--until Ann discovered the real cause of her brother's death. But by then it's too late.

"Fall into Darkness" has a great twist in the end. This is one of Christopher Pike's better books. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes teen suspense and/or Christopher Pike books.

"Fall into Darkness" was later made into a TV movie in 1996, starring Tatyana Ali, Jonathan Brandis, Charlotte Ross, and Paul Scherrer. Christopher Pike was one the producers of the film. .... Unfortunately, I never saw it, but I'm hoping it was as good as the book.

I started reading The Last Vampire series when it first came out, and I remember checking the bookstore everytime the next installment was going to be available! Although I'm an adult now (although I was wee a preteen when the series started), I've still reread most of the installments. It's truly amazing how Pike manages to flesh out such a complete characterization. Talk about exposition.

Another amazing thing is how each installment ties in so fluidly with each other and yet they stand alone with their own plot, be it her story with Ray or Joel, or her daughter. I do have to say my preference is with the first three, although all were wonderful. I'm just a sucker for the love stories, and the tragedy that comes with it, of course.

I haven't reread this one, Creatures of Forever, in awhile, but I was a bit disappointed at the end. Although it was a very well-written book (although completely obscure at this point unless you've read the entire series, which you should anyway...) I wished it wouldn't have ended the way it did. I don't want to give it away, but I did get the feeling of "she went through all of this then for what?" I wish the last paragraph was left out, basically. Pike probably ended it the way he did because it was the only way *to* end the series without being tempted to continue on. Still, it's great escapism. If you're a young woman, you will identify with Sita, and it's incredibly easy to imagine yourself in her situation.

I love the wit and humor Pike uses. It's very unlike a "YA novel" since most, like R.L. Stine, seem completely ludicrous (dialogue, especially) when you read them over the age of 15. Pike, on the other hand, doesn't pander to the lowest (or youngest) common denominator; the writing is every bit as good as any "adult" novel I've read.

You might be disappointed after reading this, if only because you'll wish there were more to the series. I can't believe they haven't adapted this to a movie or tv series, especially with the success of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (which I highly recommend if you enjoy this genre).

I've read the whole series. It was soooooooo good. I felt like I'm so close to God. I felt like Sita is someone so close. It just made me my fantasy more wild. It made me realized positive things aren't always right, but that's no the point. Not only Sita is my favorte person, I don't want to say charecter because to me they're not charecters. Yaksha, Krishina and Seymore are also too. Although Seymore is more like a nerd. To me He's not a nerd from my point of view. The way how Sita had suffer. Her blood, her loves, her joy means a great deal but it's like you can't have all things at once. Pike is my favorite author. And you just can't miss any of his books. If you got his email adress please tell me. Oh and one more thing. I love the ending but it's killing me!

Out of all of Pike's books, this one is the best one I've read. I love the whole vampire series and found all of them enjoyable, but this is the BEST. I won't give away the ending, but I'll say it is a surprise you wouldn't suspect Sita to have up her sleeve. It is very well written and although sometimes it's a bit mind boggling, it's worth it. It is definately his most thought provoking book. PS If you liked Krishna's role in the books, you'll like this.

Do take the time to peruse all reader reviews. This is a valuable book.

It is a bit enormous, though, and there is no index. This means that if the reader has to hunt for some little reference or fact, he or she is in for a long trek through these pages. Although it is designed with many short chapters, each devoted to a design element, the sheer amount of data is somewhat daunting. Alexander does write clearly, and in an informal, second or first-person manner. But there is little summarizing. Probably an excellent book to read cover-to-cover as part of a large study project. So read this book and know it well BEFORE you talk to your architect, contractor, designer... don't do as I did and start speed reading it when the architect hands over the blue prints.

Note: Whereas feng shui is a little more mystical, Alexander's suggested design tactics make practical sense. (I gently encourage any reader trying to choose between feng shui and this book to go with the latter). Very useful concepts for anyone who wants to make the most of their living space.

One can find the answers to most of life's little (and big) problems in this classic work. It does everything from helping one determine why the backyard just doesn't feel right to describing the problems with sprawl. I hesitate to label it as an architectural work because it can be so much more. Certainly, it illustrates how architecture can play a much larger role in shaping our lives than it has during the past fifty years.

The format of the book is effective in that it allows one to follow the connections between various design rules/patterns that might otherwise not be obvious. The use of these "links" within the book could have been a source of inspiration for web designers. This book will appeal just as much to the lay person as it does to the legions of architectural professionals who use it as a guide on a frequent basis.

Part 2 of 3 part series.

This book is the dictionary for A Timeless Way of Building. The Oregon Experiment is a case study of the use of these ideas to plan a college campus.

This book is about functional design for humans rather than design for design's sake. It directly refutes the real estate industry's insistence on neutral design for quick sale (which is the industry's goal - not the goal of a homeowner!) It promotes design which fits the needs and desires of the user, not the developer or architect. The philosophy involves the users heavily in the process of design, permitting integrated design without requiring comprehensive knowledge of all interacting factors on the part of the designers, it is a way of modularizing the design process into smaller, comprehensible units which can be understood and discussed in a useful way.

You will not be disappointed in reading these books.

Yes, it's dated a bit, especially in it's language approach to social issues.

Yes, it's Utopian, but not impractical.

No, all of the patterns do not apply to all people in all places, but then, they are not intended to.

What is important is the basic premise: That physical environment design can either promote community or divide people. That there exist basic patterns of interaction between people, buildings, roads and environment.

No, you cannot just change your entire community overnight into a utopia (mores the shame) however, these books can help to redefine how your community grows and develops to improve the quality of life for everyone in the community.

All of the research is fairly old, but it is research into basic human actions and reactions to their surroundings - not something which is subject to a great deal of change - examples cover several thousand years.

If you're tired of strip malls, rampant development for development's sake, neighborhoods without character or community, irritating traffic patterns, multiple hour commutes, buildings which are uncomfortable to live and work in or just interested in improving your corner of the world, read these books and apply some of the principles wherever you feel they will fit your life.

I own multiple copies and recommend it highly.

Let's clear the air: I am a huge Tolkien fan and I have loved this book for years. But this edition (Houghton Mifflin hardcover) is just a jewel. Nansmith's cover art of Túrin and Mîm the Dwarf is stunning.

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are famous, and justly so, for they are the only novels that Tolkien ever completed. He was a real perfectionist. So if you really want to witness the full genius of Tolkien you have to tap into a vast series of works, each individually "unfinished" but altogether forming a very satisfying completeness. The Silmarillion is a key and a summary of the vasy mythology--it really is required reading--but once that is behind you Unfinished Tales is your first stop to experience the greatness that is Middle-earth. And, despite its name, the writings collected in this volume are for the most part fairly complete.

The highlight of Unfinished Tales is the Tale of the Children of Húrin (Narn i Hîn Húrin), itself a short novel over 100 pages in length--thirteen chapters plus Appendix. This is an incredible epic story set in the First Age, written in full narrative form. The great human hero Húrin of the North is captured alive after slaying seventy trolls in the great War of the Jewels, and brought before the throne of Morgoth, god of evil (Sauron's ancient master). When Húrin refuses to serve him, he casts a great curse on all his kin. We then follow the fate of Húrin's son Túrin--his fostering by the Elvenking Thingol; his adventures as an outlaw; his friendship with Beleg the Bowman and Mîm the Dwarf; of the nation they founded and their war with the Orcs; of Túrin's capture ... and most importantly of his feud and battles with Glaurung, Father of Dragons. This is one of my favorite stories of all time, and I highly recommend it. The sequel is The Wanderings of Húrin, published in The War of the Jewels--which follows the father Húrin's actions after he is finally released from prison. Also an intriguing read.

Unfinished Tales also includes a ton of short works dealing with the First Age, the Second Age, and the Third Age--there are fourteen pieces together. Many of these are tales directly relating to The Lord of the Rings--the tale of Isildur, for example; The Hobbit told from Gandalf's point of view; and The Fellowship of the Ring told from the point of view of the Ringwraiths. But my favorite is a section called 'The Istari'.

'The Istari' (the order of Wizards) is extremely important. It includes several essays on the Five Wizards: their names, their nature, their origin, their powers, and their mission. This is the central, underlying subtext of The Lord of the Rings which is never really explained until you read this. Learn of the mission of Radagast the Brown. Learn of the ancient rivalry between Saruman the White and Gandalf the Grey. Learn the names and the fate of the two remaining wizards, the Blue Wizards.

It must be pretty clear that I wholeheartedly recommend this book, but that I only recommend it after The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion. But if you qualify, you are in for a treat, my friend.

With Unfinished Tales (UT) we begin our long and exciting journey into the History of Middle Earth (HoME) series (actually UT is technically not part of HoME and was published before BoLT1, the first in the series, but I generally think of HoME as everything but The Hobbit, LoTR and the Silmarillion). Posthumously published by his son Christopher, these books contain JRR's lifelong writings about the imaginary world he created as a home for his invented languages. There are 13 books including UT.

Not surprisingly, the stories found in UT are, well, unfinished. The two major pieces in this book deal with recurring stories from the Silmarillion: "Of Tuor and His Coming To Gondolin" and "Narn I Hin Hurin," or "The Tale of the Children of Hurin." These are by far the best stories in the book. The "Narn", as it comes to be commonly called, is as close as we get to a finished tale and is a sort of cut-and-paste effort by Christopher in his attempt to fill in the gaps left by his father. The account of Tuor and Gondolin is slightly shorter and (I think) more cohesive and entertaining as a whole. I suppose that is why I was severely disappointed when it ended so abruptly (and just when it was getting good!). There were two parts wherein I found myself absolutely enthralled: Tuor's encounter with Ulmo and the account of the Seven Gates of Gondolin. The descriptions and dialogue found in the former scene are (in my opinion) some of the greatest I've read (so far) of Tolkien. Okay, I just can't help myself...here is a (rather long) excerpt:

'And thereupon Ulmo lifted up a mighty horn, and blew upon it a single great note, to which the roaring of the storm was but a wind-flaw upon a lake. And as he heard that note, and was encompassed by it, and filled with it, it seemed to Tuor that the coasts of Middle-earth vanished, and he surveyed all the waters of the world in a great vision: from the veins of the lands to the mouths of the rivers, and from the strands and estuaries out into the deep. The Great Sea he saw through its unquiet regions teeming with strange forms, even to its lightless depths, in which amid the everlasting darkness there echoed voices terrible to mortal ears. Its measureless plains he surveyed with the swift sight of the Valar, lying windless under the eye of Anar, or glittering under the horned Moon, or lifted in hills of wrath that broke upon the Shadowy Isles, until remote upon the edge of sight, and beyond the count of leagues, he glimpsed a mountain, rising beyond his mind's reach into a shining cloud, and at its feet a long surf glimmering. And even as he strained to hear the sound of those far waves, and to see clearer that distant light, the note ended, and he stood beneath the thunder of the storm, and lightning many branched rent asunder the heavens above him. And Ulmo was gone, and sea was in tumult, as the wild waves of Osse rode against the walls of Nevrast.' (pg. 33, Ballantine)

Well, if that's not the most breathtaking description I've ever heard then...[your favorite cliché here].

The remainder of the book (about 2/3) is a collection of stories from the second and third ages of Middle Earth. The most notable include a tale about a king of Numenor and his constant sea voyages to Middle Earth at the expense of his marriage (see! even the great kings of old had imperfect domestic relationships). Also noteworthy is "Cirion and Eorl and the Friendship of Gondor and Rohan," which sheds much light on the history of Rohan and its relationship to Gondor. There are also a few chapters at the end explaining some gaps in LoTR.

Overall this is a great collection and has some critical pieces of information for Tolkienites (The Narn, the lines of Numenor, etc.). I would say that it is (except for the Silmarillion) the most successful book at clearing up some of the historical confusion and filling in much needed gaps between the various ages of Middle Earth. A must read for anyone hungry for more after the Silmarillion.

This collection of stories is just what the name implies--unfinished tales from both the continent of Middle-Earth and the island of Numenor. These tales are great and rich in detail, but one should be warned that they are not your everyday fantasy story. Both The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion are complicated and not casually understood, but this book tops both of them in terms of complexity.

The story of the compilation of the book is this: Tolkien's son Christopher collected a mass of writings of his father--notes scrawled on scraps of paper, unpublished essays, even letters dealing with Middle-Earth. He edited and organized them, and prepared them for publication, and the result is this book. Because of this, many of the stories are missing detail and have some speculation, and all of them relate to other events related in Tolkien's other works.

Because of the relation to Tolkien's other work, this book should be read AFTER The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Silmarillion, and should only be approached by those who want to seriously study and learn all there is to know of the world Tolkien created. For the casual reader this compilation may be somewhat tedious, for there is much detail lacking and it is assumed that you already have a knowledge of the history of Middle-Earth as outlined in Tolkien's other books.

For those who are serious about study, though, this book is a great addition to the already extensive world of JRR Tolkien. Ever wonder where Gandalf and the other wizards came from? Why Bilbo was chosen to accompany the Dwarves in The Hobbit? What the palantiri stones do, and where they came from? If so, then this is the book for you. You will find a collection of stories that will greatly enrich the lore of Middle-Earth (and Numenor).

For serious readers of Tolkien, this book is highly recommended. No one does fantasy like he does, and even these scattered fragments of narrative are enough to leave you begging for more.

As stated--"The Green" is very fun and entertaining. Being a golfer and an avid Ryder Cup fan I did find myself a bit bored by the explanations of the event and the game, however I'm certain this quality will help the non-golf or Ryder fan to understand it a bit better. Following the 24 or so characters in the book can be confusing. Except of course for the players who seem to be derived straight from the PGA Tour (the Tiger Woods and John Daly facsimiles hit you right in the face). I also found it hard to believe that professional golfers would know so little about the rules of the game. Saying all of this, I couldn't put it down! It is a very quick read and a page turner. I found myself laughing and guessing what will happen next the entire way through. With Ryder Cup a few weeks away this is the perfect way for longtime fans to occupy their time and new or non- fans to have a batter understanding of this great event.

The Green is extremely entertaining on a number of levels. It gives the reader the vicarious pleasure of believing that many of those guys out on the tour have 'feet of clay' with their own foibles. Even though they get to play and get paid 5 or 6 days a week, the author would have you believe that most have some personality defect that the common guy doesn't.

On another level, Eddie, the lead character, is everything we wish we could be, in or out of golf. A hustler yes, but dig below the crust, a complex, honest, and talented person, unwilling to put up with the BS of the profession. He's an iconoclast, supremely confident of his own abilities, ready to thumb his nose at traditional concepts.

If you don't love this book and this guy, you don't like good fiction and the game of golf.

I had thought Dan Jenkin's book, Dead Solid Perfect, was probably the most realistic and believeable novel about the professional game. That was until I read Troon McAllister's book,The Green. Even non-golfers would probably enjoy it as it is about more than golf. Great characters in believeable situations all handled superbly by the author. Eddie Caminetti is much more than a golf hustler with the game of a tour veteran. He has a mind like a steel trap and the nerves of a tight rope walker. How he becomes a Captain's pick for the US Ryder Cup team and how he handles the assignment are a treat. There is much to learn from this immensely entertaining book...about golf...it's rules...human nature and life itself. You will not want to put this book down. It is that good!!

Dead souls is a book which starts of amusing you and leads you to believe that it must have an intricate plot and Chichikov, the protagonist, leaves you wondering about his devilish motives. Chichikov is here in this town to purchase serfs who have died since the last government census. The landowners therefore, must still pay taxes on these 'dead souls' until the next census. Chichikov, in possession of these cheaply purchased dead souls would appear to be a rich and prosperous landowner to those ignorant of his scheme.

Gogol describes how Chichikov ingratiates himself with the town's most powerful and respected officials. There are vivid descriptions of his various excursions to meet different landowners. The first meeting between Chichikov and landowner Manilov was absolutely hilarious in its description of how two absolutely disparate and removed people can feign such affection and friendliness, one out of greed, and the other simply from a naïve sense of propriety. As the story progresses, you tend to realize that the book doesn't really attempt to maintain a plot, but Gogol's criticism of the depicted Russian society is much more apparent and seems much sharper and more incisive. The story unfolds in such as a way so as to create the most opportunity for observation and comment on all the characters and situations rather than a story that drives itself towards a particular climax. Gogol's style of writing soon pulls you out of the main story- the reader first being an observer of the general happenings around the various characters is soon put into a different position from where he witnesses how Gogol's subtle humour and sharp criticism blend to create a clear picture of Russian society. Gogol's masterly creation of humor in this book is the essence of its brilliance. Through certain generalizations and allusions made throughout the book, his subsequent observations on each character are much more amusing.

This book is absolutely wonderful in that Gogol, sharply criticizing the kind of culture depicted in this book, earnestly regards these people as in fact, very Russian. The consummate Russian society would have to include besides great writers, thinkers and scholars, those such as Chichikov, Nozdrev and Manilov. Gogol sharply criticizes them but acknowledges their existence as very much a part of Russian Society.

As much as you would scorn the fatuous lives of the landowners and senior officials portrayed in this book, you would fall in love with the image of that perennially drunk Russian serf who's likely to be a swindler or that sincere, unlauded worker ...who might even be dead and purchased by our Chichikov!

Nikolai Gogol has a very creative mind as well as a unique style of writing. While reading Dead Souls, one is more likely to view the world from Gogol's point of view than his own. His writing contradicts everything Americans think they know about Russian literature. This book is a discussion of a world whose values are radically flexible. Though the concept can be frightening to those who do not take time to ask questions about their lives, Gogol has used crazy comic genius to exhibit an honest and impartial view on what is known today as "The Human Race." His book shows that humans' actions are motivated by greed and that the idea of money does not have any real significance because the value of everything that is sold is created by the human who is selling it. Gogol has also written the book in such a way that every single sentence is a universe of its own.

Dead Souls takes place in the Russia of the late 1800s, where, unlike in America, one must be born into a prosperous family in order to have opportunities. The main character, Chichikov, is clever enough to develop a scheme in which he can rise from being a petty clerk to a respected landowner. In order to do this, Chichikov moves into a new town, pretending to already be a landowner, and begins a quest to buy the names of dead serfs who have not yet been officially reported dead. Each person that Chichkov presents this offer to has a different reaction, starting with the shy and introverted Manilov. Though he does not understand Chichikov's need for the names of these dead serfs, Manilov is a character that is so desperate for company that it does not take any effort to trick him into selling his dead souls cheaply. However, as Chichikov continues his journey, he starts to deal with more clever landowners who become suspicious of his scheme.

Chichikov finds that the townsmen known as Sobakevich and Nozdrev are much harder to negotiate with. This is because they are more and attempt to trick Chichikov even though in truth, Chichikov is the one who is playing the trick on them. Nozdrev agrees to sell Chichikov his serfs under the condition that he can sell him something else along with the serfs, such as a horse or a pair of hunting dogs. Chichikov, of course, refuses the offer because he owns no land and has nowhere to keep any horses or dogs. Because of this, Nozdrev curses Chichikov and orders two of his guards to beat him up. However, by sheer luck, the police show up at that exact time to arrest Nozdrev because of crimes he committed in the past. Seeing this, Chichikov runs away and immediately sets off to visit Sobakevich. In his encounter with Sobakevich, Chichikov offers him less than one hundredth of what Sobakevich claims is the rightful price. However, the reason for Sobakevich's logic is that he claims the serfs have just as much value now that they are dead as they did when they were alive. In the end, however, Chichikov's stubbornness surmounts Sobakevich's absurd logic and Chichikov ends up buying the souls for the price he offered.

Unfortunately, as they say, "there is no such thing as a perfect crime." In the end of Dead Souls, Chichikov is stabbed in the back by the people he does business with, and does not get away with his ingenious plan. The main thing that Gogol is proving in his novel is that the entire human race is very similar to Chichikov; their interest lies in money and in prosperity. So if human beings are constantly trying to outsmart each other, a perfect society will never be obtained.

The plot is simple: Pavel Chichikov arrives to a provincial capital of Russia, impresses everyone with his social skills, gets adopted by the "high society" of the town, and then sets out to business: trying to persuade landowners (who are also lifeowners) to give or sell to him all the peasants who have died since the last census. These people, although dead, still generate taxes for the owner, so in principle it is convenient for them. But, of course, everyone asks themselves: "Why would anyone want to buy dead people who cause taxes?". I won't spoil the plot by giving the answer. The important thing is that Gogol uses this plot to paint an exhilarating (but in fact sad) portrait of the Russian society of his time, and of human nature in any time and place, which gives this novel its status as a classic work of art. Corruption, stupidity, naiveté, extreme individualism instead of a spirit of community, and other social vices, present in any society, are represented here by the very funny characters created by the author. Every landowner is a particular form of strange person, procuring Chichikov with crazy adventures. Gogol's writing intersperses the narrative with social reflection and thoughts on human nature, never boring or pretentious, but always funny and satirical. In fact, Gogol's irony and cynicism are probably the most valuable assets of this novel. It belongs to that literary family of books which portray heroes or anti-heores, wandering around, pursuing a fixed, idealized goal. Sometimes this goal is foolish but noble (like Don Quixote), sometimes it is narrow or despicable. These characters illustrate the virtues and vices of us humans, and that makes them live through the centuries. "Dead souls" is undoubtedly a dignifed member of that family, a book which will make you laugh, think and laugh again. By the way, another valuable thing is the way in which Gogol depicts the Russian countryside.

As a reader with a lifelong interest in the Civil War, I was absolutely knocked out by this incomparable novel. I have never found the atmosphere and character of the Civil War era so accurately portrayed--beyond which, the writing itself is superb. Mr. Parry has a flawless ear for dialects--yet he never overdoes it. The book reads very quickly, and leaves the reader hungry for more--as all the best books do. From the portrayal of wartime Washington to the joys and sorrows of a soldier's life, this book rings truer than any other I've read. And Abel Jones is one of the most interesting characters I've encountered in a lifetime of reading. This book is also a mystery, of course, but I valued it just as a terrific story and a wonderful portrait of our past. I do, however, have to take issue with one of the other reviewers who criticized Mr. Parry for mentioning the Thanksgiving holiday a year before it became an official national holiday. In fact, it's Mr. Parry, the author, who's correct. Parry never said Thanksgiving was a national holiday at that point in 1861, only that it was widely celebrated, which was absolutely true. As a former history teacher myself, I can assure all readers that Thanksgiving was very widely celebrated prior to the Civil War, especially in the North. Parry's portrayal of the unofficial celebrations in the Army of the Potomac in 1861 are completely accurate, and the historical records support it. In New England, it was already an established family holiday, with reverential tones. In the Union Army, it was a great excuse for getting drunk. When Lincoln made Thanksgiving a national holiday later in the war, he was simply formalizing a celebration that already had a long tradition. Overall, Mr. Parry's book is incredibly accurate--the details are marvelous and telling--and I personally could not find a single error in this very-well-researched novel. But, ultimately, what matters is just that this is a great read. Were I still teaching, I would use it to lure my students into the realms of history. Bravo!

Owen Parry is a new historical novelist to watch. In "Faded Coat of Blue", Parry (pseudonym of an established writer of both thought-provoking non-fiction and modern thrillers) has produced a moving and evocative protrait of Civil War-era Washington. The murder mystery carries the story along, but the book is really the chronicle of the love affair of a Welsh immigrant Indian Army veteran for his new country. Accurate in portraying time and place, the prose often becomes lyrical, conveying the touch, feel and smell of the era. As Owen Parry, the writer has achieved a new "voice", displaying a storytelling skill rarely matched. Students of American history will gain new insights into our past through the eyes of the protagonist, Abel Jones. Owen Parry and Abel Jones will be names to watch as this continuing Civil War saga unfolds in the coming years.

"Faded Coat of Blue" is masterful. It's a historical mystery that grabs you from the first sentence ("A sentry with troubled bowels discovered the body.") But it's much, much more than that. Owen Parry has painted an exquisite portrait of America--especially Washington and Phildelphia--at the start of the Civil War. He tells the story through the eyes of one of the best protagonists I can remember in fiction--the wounded but irrepressible Captain Abel Jones--and he describes setting, character, and dialogue with a richness of language I haven't read since "Cold Mountain." It's like watching a movie with a really great director and cinematographer. Nevertheless, despite the depth and quality of the narrative, the pace of the story never flags--it is a page-turner, complete with chapter-ending cliffhangers. Parry intersperses real-life characters--from George McClellan to Allen Pinkerton to others I shouldn't reveal--that give the story both period authenticity and the delight of hearing historical characters brought to life with thought, action, emotion and voice. You do not have to be a Civil War "buff" or mystery fan to enjoy this novel--it deserves broader and more serious consideration than that. Also, take note that the rich characters and dialects in the novel--Irish, German and Asian immigrants, for example--and Parry's ability at setting scene and narrating dialogue and action make this a particularly good book to try on audio. I listened to it in my car over a one-week period, and upon finishing, I almost inserted the first tape and started over again. I can't think of a work of fiction in the past several years that I enjoyed more than this one.