IRISH GIRLS ABOUT TOWN, contains 16 short stories, all written by Irish female writers, including Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes. The stories range from light and funny to dark and poignant. As with most story collections, there are some real gems and there are also a couple of stories that were ok, bordering on boring. But that doesn't detract from the overall enjoyability of the book.

IRISH GIRLS ABOUT TOWN starts out with "Soulmates" by Marian Keyes. I'm a huge fan of Keyes, and she doesn't disappoint here. "Soulmates" features Georgia and Joel, a couple so perfect that their friends alternate between jealousy, bitterness and awe of them. Next is "De-Stress" by Joan O'Neill, a story about Alex, a girl recently dumped by her boyfriend. After moping about her friend's house she goes out, gets her life together and meets a new man. I loved the fascinating "Twenty-Eighth Day" by Catherine Barry. This is a story about a woman who suffers from PMT. I also enjoyed "Thelma, Louise, and the Lurve Gods" by Cathy Kelly. It's about two girls who go on a holiday and unexpectedly are forced to share a car and hotel with two hunky guys. "About That Night" by Sarah Webb features Shona and Kate, two friends of completely different temperaments who fly out to a friend's wedding in a small village. Shona is completely awful to Kate and her friends, going so far as to divulge a personal and shameful secret of Kate's in front of a guy that Kate likes. "The Cup Runneth Over" by Julie Parsons is about a woman who falls in love with her married professor and becomes totally fascinated with both him and his wife. This story has an interesting twist to it, and Julie Parsons is a fantastic storyteller who will keep your interest gripped. "Moving" by Collette Caddle is a touching story about Sara, a woman who settles down with a guy who is "nice" (but someone she isn't in love with) because her heart had been broken by another man who had turned out to be married.

The sixteen authors in this book offer their own unique perspective of womanhood, friendship, relationships and families through their stories. You'll find all types of Chick-Lit in this book - some a little light, some deep and dark, some engrossing and satisfying. Highly recommended!

I am a fan of short stories and IRISH GIRLS ABOUT TOWN was certainly not a disappointment. This book is a collection of sixteen short stories of the newest and best Irish women writers of pop fiction. Each story is focused on some aspect of a woman's love or involvement with a man. Many are written with smart insights and witty humor which I enjoyed much. Among them there are several that resonated with me after I put the book down including "Soulmates" by Marian Keyes (envy is a negative human quality); "The Twenty-Eighth Day" by Catherine Barry (a very funny take on PMS); "The Cup Runneth Over" by Julie Parsons (marital affairs can burn both conspiring partners); "The Ring Cycle" by Martina Devlin (a wedding ring just won't go away); and "The Unlovable Woman" by Annie Sparrow (sometimes the best things are right before our eyes).

IRISH GIRLS ABOUT TOWN is an excellent means to get acquainted with Irish women authors who you may have previously been unfamiliar with. At the end of each story there is a short bio which makes it easy to pursue other works by authors that you enjoyed. In addition, there are also authors that are already well known such as Maeve Binchy. Another good quality of IRISH GIRLS ABOUT TOWN is that all benefits goes towards charity. As explained in the book's forward, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Barnardo's are two organizations that brings great benefits to the people of Ireland, Britian and the world. Read this book, and you may just be as entertained as I was. Enjoy!

What brilliant idea to have Ireland's most gifted female writers put together in a gem of a book! Irish Girls About Town is every chick lit enthusiast's dream come true. My favorite stories are the ones from Marian Keyes, Maeve Binchy and Cathy Kelly. However, newcomer Marisa Mackle's "Girls' Weekend" is the best one out of the bunch. I was so impressed with her sharp wit that I purchased her debut novel, Mr. Right for the Night. This book is a true gem and I couldn't recommend it enough!

I can understand that a book written in 1962 would quote the Bible from the King James Version. And it's ironic that I'm reading this book to my own children who are about the same age I was when the book was first written.

But I'm disappointed that the publisher didn't update the quotes and hymns to reflect where children are today, perhaps a more "sprightly, conversational"* translation and choruses the kids might hear most Sunday Schools? (* a quote from back cover describing this book)

I'm sure we'll still be able to reap much of what was sown by the author for our children, by paraphrasing the KJV verses and singing simple choruses.

Whither thou goest, let thy buyer bewareth.

I am so impressed with this children's devotional! The language is written to capture a child's attention and hold it. The power and wonder of God is displayed and portrayed throughout the entire book, in every lesson. It is easy for a young child to understand, and deep and meaningful enough to inspire thought in an older child. We are halfway through and will be repeating it again after we are finished.

It begins with Part One: Looking for God, and Part Two: God is Very Great. Each "part" consists of about 5-8 individual lessons on the subject, using people from the Bible to learn from, in how God uses them. Then we are taken through the introduction of sin, God's law, what Jesus did for us, prayer, and several others, ending with Part Fourteen: Things That Are to Happen. Each lesson includes "something to talk about" (questions for the children to answer about the lesson), a related Scripture from the Bible, suggested Bible reading, a hymn to sing that relates to the lesson, and a prayer to say, asking the Lord to help us with those things we learned that day in our lesson.

Needless to point out here, I can't say enough about this devotional. It is a wonderful way to teach your children about God in a thorough and consistant way, and help them to love learning about the Lord and his nature, and what he does for his children. You'll love going through it with your little ones and watching their love and understanding for God grow.

My boys, ages 5, 7 and 9, and I went through this book over the last year, with each son taking turns reading the associated scripture, reading or singing the hymn (we knew about 1/3 of them) or praying through the closing prayer. It really did cover the basics of the Christian faith and life in more depth than we would normally discuss. I consider this a classic and highly recommend it.

This book *is* written for "A Witch Alone". It presents a different view of Witchcraft for solitary practitioners.

Many Americans won't care for her style of writing, and those who live in places that are environmentally different from England might find some of her 'simple cost-effective supplies' a bit daunting (many of the trees and herbs she lists in her book do not grow in southern Arizona, for instance. And here it is quite illegal to go out and cut a staff from a tree (at least not without paying for a permit, if the state even decides to issue one for that purpose in the first place) unless it is on your property and is not a 'protected species') she is a strong proponent of not paying for magickal supplies, which makes sense, but it doesn't make sense if you can't get something she suggests getting yourself in the woods, if you don't have woods (or if it takes 2 hours of driving time at least to reach 'woods'. Most wild areas in this state are state parks, and there are rules regarding cutting of trees).

Her suggestions are wonderful for those in England or places with four definable seasons, and for those who don't live in cities. (I don't have a garden. I wish I did. Gardens are hard to maintain in the desert - I know folks who do, but they have their own houses, and can afford the water bills.)

There *is* a lot of useful information in here. The section explaining the tools makes a lot of sense. She's not a proponent of lots of fancy Ceremonial magick tools (neither am I), and suggests a staff, cup and serviceable knife (like a Swiss Army knife). No pentacles, athames, swords, altars, or anything else.

Note that she does tend to criticize the modern Craft movement, esp. that in the US, but it may be deserved, and she doesn't 'bash' anyone.

Her history is a bit skewed, but a lot of Witch/Wiccan authors have their own version of Witchcraft history. (History, cultural or otherwise should be gleaned from history books and scholars, not from religious authors IMHO)

*I* can't use the book (There isn't much in here I haven't already been doing by myself, so I don't have much use for it, and at $16, it's too expensive to sit on my shelf gathering dust), so I'm reselling it.

That doesn't mean you might not be able to. ;)

Blessings

There are so many beginners' books on Wicca that many Wiccans refer to them as "Wicca 101" books. The information in them is usually very basic, and the ease of reading and how interesting they are depend on the author's personality. But they all say pretty much the same thing. "A Witch Alone" stands out from the others for two reasons. Firstly, it is written in thirteen chapters, each a lesson. At the end of each Ms. Greene gives you a project and a reading list. These have specific goals that open the student up to the mysteries of this ancient religion in an easy, gentle way. While guidance is always preferable, if you have no teacher near you, this is nearly a substitute. Secondly, there is a flexibility about each chapter/lesson that teaches something else -- the ability to use your own intuition, a very important resource to any Wiccan. It helps the person develop a sense of spiritual self, and does so in the most effective way.

I ask my students to use "A Witch Alone" along with with Scott Cunningham's "Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, and Laurie Cabot's "Power of a Witch". The late Mr. Cunningham's book has a wonderfully clear way of organizing the practical things of this religion and some lovely and clear explanations of Wiccan beliefs. Ms. Cabot's book is not only a journey of what it is to be a Wiccan, it is also the only book that talks about the science behind what we call magic.

"A Witch Alone" is a beautiful gift from Marian Greene to those seeking to walk the path of the Wicca.

Marian Green's language is straightforward, practical and wise. In A Witch Alone, Marian has created a grounded, clear approach to learning the Old Ways. Her structure of thirteen lessons for thirteen moons takes the reader on a journey of self discovery. As one works through the lessons offered, there is an awakening sense of reconnection to our natural world; a sense of belonging and rediscovering the lost parts of self. The sensation is akin to coming home, that brightening moment of: "I knew this!" Her lessons ring true. Not everyone has the inclination or opportunity to join a circle or learn from a Wisewoman; many readers are solitaries, edging out their own path. For solitaries and anyone interested in true craft (not Hollywood's version) this book is a welcome treat, even a treasure.

Being in the Last Chance Saloon scares the characters in this novel by Marian Keyes.

There's Katherine who is responsible, beautiful and tidy but endures relationship after relationship of failure and decides to take on an "ice queen" air about her. Katherine's friends joke with her that she has fabulous matching bra and panty sets but nobody to see her in them.
There's also Tara who is battling a slight weight problem and is in a dead-end relationship with Thomas who constantly monitors her eating and criticizes her weight. Once, Tara ate a whole loaf of bread and rushed out to buy another loaf before Thomas realized her binge. Tara, afraid of ending up in the Last Chance Saloon, refuses to leave Thomas and keeps making excuses for why he is the way he is.
Then there's fashion-conscious Fintan who has been in a serious and happy relationship with his "Italian pony" boyfriend, Sandro. But Fintan fears he is also in the Last Chance Saloon when he is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

Over a course of a year the three friends must pull together and lend advice to face their fears of ending up alone or in Fintan's case, dead.

The author created a couple of sub-plots throughout the novel which had me wondering about their importance to the story, but in the end the sub-plots all tied together to the story's climax and twistful ending.

This was my first Marian Keyes novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were funny, real and likeable. While reading this novel I was so enthralled to learn what would happen to the three friends and how their dilemma would all work out. I was sad to see the novel end but the author does an excellent job of wrapping it up.

After reading Last Chance Saloon, I will definitely be putting more Marian Keyes novels on my to-be-read list.

Being in the Last Chance Saloon scares the characters in this novel by Marian Keyes.

There's beautiful, responsible, tidy Katherine who endures relationship after relationship of failure and decides to take on an "ice queen" air about her. Katherine's friends joke with her that she has fabulous matching bra and panty sets but nobody to see her in them.

There's also Tara who is battling a slight weight problem and in a dead-end relationship with Thomas who constantly monitors her eating and criticizes her weight. Once, Tara ate a whole loaf of bread and rushed out to buy another loaf before Thomas realized her binge. Tara, afraid of ending up in the Last Chance Saloon, refuses to leave Thomas and keeps making excuses for the way he is.

Then there's fashion-conscious Fintan who has been in a serious and happy relationship with his "Italian pony" boyfriend, Sandro. But Fintan fears he is also in the Last Chance Saloon when he is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

Over a course of a year the three friends must pull together and lend advice to face their fears of ending up alone or in Fintan's case, dead.

The author created a couple of sub-plots throughout the novel which had me wondering about their importance to the story, but in the end the sub-plots all tied together to the story's climax and twistful ending.

This was my first Marian Keyes novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were funny, real and likeable. While reading this novel I was so enthralled to learn what would happen to the three friends and how their dilemma would all work out. I was sad to see the novel end but the author does an excellent job of wrapping it up.

After reading Last Chance Saloon, I will definitely be putting more Marian Keyes novels on my to-be-read list.

The sand is still in my copy! Marian Keyes is definitely one of my favorite authors! She's so good at writing an engaging story.
We meet three best friends, Tara, Katherine, and Fintan. They each have their own battles to face. Tara is living with her verbally abusive boyfriend and is afraid to leave him. Katherine is terrified of needing and depending on someone. Fintan is lucky in love, but he is now faced with a life altering situation that will affect all three of them. The trio has to pull together and in doing so, they realize how lucky they are to have each other.
This is a lovely book! Keyes has a talent for blending touching drama with hilarious, but very realistic moments. It was a change for this book to be written in third person, but I didn't care about the characters any less. This book is everything I've come to expect from this incredible author. I look forward to her next one!

This book is wonderful is you wish to disparage and ridicule marian apparitions; indeed, Mr. Garvey takes you on a tour of all the bogus, sad, uninspired and demented "appartion" sites in America. What he fails to do is show Church-approved, or even Church-approvable apparition sites, such as Medjugorje in the former Yugoslavia. True, he is working in the American apparition milieu where Church-approved apparition sites are few and far between; but reading this book, one might come away with the impression that Marian Apparitions are laughable, at best. For a more counterbalanced look at the phenomena, I recommend "The Day Will Come" by Michael H. Brown. For the truly skeptical, I recommend "Encountering Mary" by Sandra L. Zimdars-Swartz, a remarkable book which both believers and skeptics can appreciate. However, the book in question delivers nothing but snide commentary at a phenomena which has brought countless millions to a life of greater holiness.

Garvey's book was very enjoyable and provided a vivid glimpse of a very interesting religious subculture. For the most part, I got a kick out of Garvey's humorous observations regarding his interactions with the individuals who flock to these apparition sites; however, sometimes his comments were inappropriately demeaning in my opinion. Nonetheless, I gained much from reading this book and would recommend it to others.

I recommend this book to everyone interested in Marian apparitions (not only apparitions in the US but Marian apparitions in general). The end of the book is dark but powerful. This book is one of a kind. No one has ever attempted a book of this sort. The author tries to be humorous throughout the book (some of his jokes might slightly offence people that believe in those alleged apparitions). He attempts to be impartial but by the end of the book, Garvey clearly becomes skeptical. This book illustrates what might have happened in previous Marian apparitions (Lourdes, Fatima, Garabandal, etc), i.e., the general setting of those events, as well as the mental approach of the people that came to witness those alleged apparitions. It should also be noted that this is book is not as skeptical as, say, "Looking for a miracle", by Joe Nickell, so believers should also be able to enjoy reading this book. But for people looking for a truly scholarly book on Marian apparitions, "Encountering Mary" by Sandra L. Zimdars-Swartz is the book I would read.

I have read all of Keyes' books, and this is my favorite. Maybe just because it is closer to my own experience, but I really enjoyed the characters being women whose work was a part of their life, and whose lives didn't seem to begin every day after work with hours in a pub. (Personally, I don't know anyone who drinks as much as the women in all the Brit Chicks books -- it seems like their primary activity). anyway, I loved this book; you can read the synopsis in the canned review.

Having read Marian Keyes's previous books, I knew I had to get my hands on this one. I was not disappointed. Once again, Keyes writes a wonderful novel that mixes a dark plot with sharp and witty situations.

Sushi for Beginners, like Last Chance Saloon, focuses on various characters in third person narrative. Set in Dublin, Lisa, an ambitious Londoner, has been given the task of launching a new fashion magazine for Irish women. After she somewhat recuperates from the initial culture shock, she meets some rather eccentric characters at work. She decides she dislikes Ashling, the sweet deputy editor, and develops a crush on Jack Devine, the Managing Director and notorious maverick. What develops is a tale of betrayal, deceit and heartbreak. One of these people is on the verge of a nervous breakdown... Who will it be?

The focal point of this novel is depression. Ashling suffers a bout of the aforementioned mental illness when Clodagh, her best friend, shows her true colors. Ashling's world captivated and spoke to me. What I love about Marian Keyes is that she mixes tender romance with a serious subject matter that readers could relate to. I love the wit in this novel -- much more subtle than her previous efforts. I also love all of the secondary characters -- namely Trix, Dylan and Jack Devine. As mentioned, Sushi for Beginners is my favorite Keyes novel. Highly recommended...

Marian Keyes does it again with "Sushi For Beginners". This talented Irish author tackles the world of fashion magazines with her new tale, and does it with her usual charm and humor.

The backdrop of "Colleen" magazine is the perfect place to set up the main characters. First you have Londonite and fashionably dressed Lisa Edwards, who thinks that her life is over when she is shipped off to the great north to be the editor of this new magazine with a the smallest staff known to man, no perks, and well ---- it's in Ireland (which she thinks is a fate worse than death.)

The bright spot is the really sweet (sometimes overly sweet) Ashling Kennedy. Ashling is everything that Lisa is not. She's not fashionable, she's not worldly, she's not --- well, posh. But, she's the foundation of this book and really the driving force behind this great tale of work, love and friendships.

I don't think there is a better author out there than Marian Keyes and she didn't let me down with this one. I love "Sushi for Beginners" and would suggest it to any lover of this genre or great fiction in general.

Cheers!!!!!!

I am Russian and my family background is not peasant at all, so I have been always interested in Romanov's history and sympathized with Tsar before I had red the book. The book has only strengthened the feelings of sympathy and sorrow I feel for the last Russian Tsar.

The reviews I have red above are obviously written by Western readers, who have studied the Russian history but don't possess the Russian mentality, so doesn't see the role of personalities in Russian politics, the place of religion the same way Russians do. Perhaps, because of that, in my opinion, they are missing the main point. It is not a political pamphlet or historical textbook. It is an account of one family's life. In the book by Radzinsky Tsar is shown as a person - a boy, a young men in love, a father, a husband, a prisoner, and only lastly - a ruler & politician. When Radzinsky looks at the Romanovs he looks at them as a family - that's my understanding. So in brief I would describe this book as "A story of a family".

Probably as a Russian (and I hope not Soviet) I can feel some things about the book as an insider and will try to express it. It is very important to understand how religious were both Nicolay and Alexandra and how it all fits in the scheme of his somewhat fatalistic approach to his rule, to Rasputin, to war and revolutions. I can see how shy, naïve and kind young men has to take over a rule in one-sixth of the Globe and it is no easy task, never has been. Radzinsky shows clearly that Nicolas was kept ill-informed and hence some of the worst mistakes he made in politics. He was always torn between his Father's will to keep country under authoritarian rule of Tsars and desire to improve the life of his people, between desire to make his rule entirely peaceful and having to start war in Japan, between his Mother and his wife, between Vitte and Stolipin.

From Radzinsky's account many events which we knew from Soviet text books look entirely different. Khodynka, after which Tsar went to dance at French embassador's party and didn't punish Moscow Governer Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Bloody Sunday, Revolution of 1905 - it all seems like huge misfortunes of thorn, indecisive, and yet kind, smart and decent Nicolas. And then after 1905 we see how he changes, "getting used to blood and becoming more rigid in his politics". The almost military regimen with field courts and "Stolipin's ties". But it all seems understandable if one imagines his family threatened. Again, it is if the reader is willing to see Nicolay - the father, not just a Tsar.

Even the understanding of all the dreadful mistakes Nicolay probably had made as a ruler doesn't diminish the anger against the murderers of his family, the sadness of the loss of such a colorful and charming part of Russian history and culture. From my family accounts - Russian people - either peasants or not - never lived worse then when ruled by Commies and during Perestroika. Ultimately, since Alexander II, Russia was heading towards the Constitutional monarchy and would get there under Nicolas if different political forces - both leftwing and rightwing wouldn't provoke the catastrophe which has happened - the Revolution, the Red Terror and the murder of Tsar's family.

I strongly recommend the book for those readers who look for memoir and biography type pf reading on Russian history and doubt that those scholars who look for dry facts will enjoy it.

Anastasia and Alexei lived! Now why is that so hard to believe?Read this book with an open mind and sift thru other books onAnastasia and you would become a true believer, too. Perhaps Tsar AlexanderII helping President Lincoln save the Union from Rothschilds' controlled France and England who supported the Confederacy had something to do with it. You know, split America and those two still stay dominant in world affairs. Since the Bank of England got to keep the Romanovs' fortune after the fall of Russia to the Bolsheviks, why would anyone give credence to Anatasia with so much money at stake? Let them fight over pennies. END

Although I've studied Russian history, I have never been that fascinated by Nicholas II. However, I got this book as a gift and found it quite interesting.

What makes this book special is not so much Radzinsky's account of Nicholas' last days but his access to Communist archives that let him reconstruct how and why the Bolshevik leadership decided on killing Nicholas as they did. (Apparently this was done to thwart Trotsky, who wanted a public trial of Nicholas with himself as prosecutor.)

Also fascinating is Radzinsky's account of the subsequent careers of Nicholas' murderers, how they became minor league Communist celebrities, telling Komsomol (youth group) assemblies how they had shot the Tsar. This went on until Stalin decided they had become drunken embarassments and kept them out of the public eye.

So I would say if you want a book that looks at the last days of Nicholas from a broader perspective, this is the book to get.

This is the first book I've read by this author and it won't be the last. Marian Edwards brings to life two wonderful characters. She doesn't pull any punches about how life could be harsh in 1067 in Wales but still she shows that love can conquer all.

This story actually begins in modern day with Regan, a handicapped woman and Drew her polital opponent die tragically in a plane crash. They die before thier time so they are put into the first two bodies that become available. that of Bronwyn, a beautiful Welsh rebel who has just murdered her new Norman husband Christophe. Christophe makes Bronwyn drink the same poisen and they both die only to be made whole again by the souls of Drew and Regan. Both remeber their former lives but don't realize who the other really is. They now must adjust to this harsh life and find what happiness they can. Everytime they seem to be getting closer to love something always drives them apart.

I was on the edge of my seat with this book wondering what was going to happen next. There is some humor and a lot of tenderness in this book. I enjoyed the secondary characters for they made the story whole. I can't wait to read the sequel. Heaven's Return.

Bronwyn of Lllangandfan is about to be married to the enemy, the Norman Lord Christophe Montgomery. Her father and brother convinces her to go through the ceremony, and after, to put poison in the wedding wine. They will provide her will an antedote to drink before hand. So terrified of this Norman and frightened by her abusive father and brother, she makes a mistake in the dosages and ends up killing the Norman as well as herself.

Regan Carmicheal and Drew Daniels, are political opponets. But that doesn't stop them from remaining friends. On a flight to the next campaign stop, they both think to themselves that they are attracted to each other, respect each other, but have never found the time to really explore anything past their friendship. Suddenly their plane drops and crashes. Drew is able to get to his free, but Regan is held secure by her seat belt. No matter what they do, they cannot free her as the flames begins to engulf the plane. Regan pleads with Drew to leave her, thinking she would die at least know he lived on. Drew, regretting all their missed past chances, stays with her. He is not going to let this valiant woman die alone.

After the plane explodes, Regan later awakes to find she is in strange place and dressed in a strange medieval costume. Worse, she is wife to a man who thinks she tried to poison him. What Regan does not know is as the life force of Bronwyn and Christophe blinked out, the Fates so touched by Regan's and Drew's self sacrifice, took pity on them and gave them another chance at finding love - as Bronwyn and Christopher!!!!

WISE Writers and Readers TIME TRAVEL Book of the Year 2000

After reading Heaven Sent , I could hardly wait for Heavens Reward. Both books kept me reading until the late hours of the night after work. I was not disappointed and I have sense read more books by Marian Edwards. All I can say is Marian keep it up.

This book was interesting and I couldn't put it down. Of course, this was written by Jules Verne and was filled with exciting moments. Philleas Fogg, an Englishman, bets 20,000 pounds that he can travel around the world in 80 days with his companion and sevant named Jean Passepartout. After betting this money at the reform club, he departs soon from London and travels all the way around the world. After arriving in many different countries by many different means of transportation, he lands in India and runs into a enchanting young princess who is about to be killed. Fogg and Passepartout come to the rescue and keep moving right along. And soon, they fell in love. But this whole time, there was trouble right behind him. Detective Fix thinks Fogg was a bank robber and this detective is following him everywhere so he can arrest him in London. Passepartout ends up thinking this man is a member of the reform club, and thinks he's trying to stop them from getting there. After many close calls through transportation and an arrest, Fogg arrives. But you'll have to read it yourself to find out what happens. It's a wonderful book and if you haven't read it, it's a good book to read.

Before there was any kind of high-speed travel an English gentleman named Phileas Fogg betted 20,000 pounds that he can travel around the world in 80 or less days. He starts his journey in London. On his way he meets a beautiful Indian Princess. Fogg also gets mistaken for a criminal. During his whole journey he has a detective following him trying to arrest him when the warrant arrives. In the book you follow Fogg's adventures through four continents when he is racing against time. The book is fast-paced, action-packed adventure with both romance and danger.

The characters in the story were introduced very well, especially Phileas Fogg. In the beginning of the book you get to know that Fogg is a very private gentleman. He never goes to any social places except the Reform Club. A remarkable thing about Fogg is that his life is centered around the clock. He is very precise and always on time. Every day he follows the exact same schedule. Phileas Fogg does not have a wife or any kids.

The setting of the book was very jumpy. Since Fogg travels through many continents and countries the setting changes all the time. You still feel you know a little bit about every place that he comes to, even if he only stays there for a couple of hours.

When I started reading the book I thought it would be a really good book and it really did meet my standards. I would recommend it to any one who likes adventure and action. Since it is written in so many different versions a person almost any age can read it.

This is Verne's classic story of the trip of Phileas Fogg (who is obsessed with time), Passeportout, Aouda, and Detective Fix around the world on a wager. The book is filled with beautiful time and space imagery throughout (I would bet that one could write an entire thesis on all the time and space references in the novel). Thirty-three years after its publication, the world first learns of the space/time continuum (although I'm certain Verne was not anticipating Einstein). Fogg bets his fellow club members that he can circumnavigate the globe in a mere eighty days. He leaves immediately with his valet Passeportout and is pursued by Detective Fix, who thinks he is a bank robber. Through many adventures, including the rescue of Aouda from immolation, they all return to London. Interestingly, a few years later, after a number of improvements had been made in railways and roads, a U.S. journalist named Nellie Bly (the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane) decided to attempt to break Fogg's "record." Leaving New York on November 14, 1889, she was able to circumnavigate the globe in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds. But, she didn't rescue a Hindu princess! It should be noted, however, that one has to be very careful concerning the translations of this novel. There are some terrible ones being sold. Perhaps that's the reason for the few poor comments by earlier reviewers. There is an excellent translation by William Butcher that appeared in 1995.

This book speaks to the real world of sex scandals in the Roman Catholic Church and the humor of that life also. As a former nun myself, I can relate to her candor. She does not sugar coat the truth. You go girl!

I met this author at a booksigning in N.Y. I told her that she needed to write a followup book about the rest of her story. She met this priest at retreats and college and they married, adopted stray animals on their farm and adopted a third world child. I'd like to know more. The book ended too soon, but I loved it. I give her credit for having the courage to discuss what happened to her and her priest husband while they were in the religious life, i.e. sex scandals. I forgive the few typos her publisher allowed because this book is exciting and timely too. It is not for the narrowminded cradle type religious who cannot accept the truth, graphic as it gets sometimes in this book. It was an eyeopener for me and my family.

I met this author at a book signing and told her to write a sequel because the book ended too soon. She married the priest she met at retreats and college classes; they adopted stray dogs and a baby from another country. It was a courageous book of her own first hand knowledge and involvement in sex scandals in the church. What she and others like her endured made her stronger she told me. I give her a lot of credit for telling the truth and for the humerous side of her life as well. I forgive the few typos in the book and found it a really interesting book and unique in its format. It is graphic and could offend anyone who is narrowminded and afraid of the truth in living color.