Nearly as interesting as Kidnapped, but with quite a bit more romance

This sequel to _Kidnapped_ does not start out as well as _Kidnapped_; however it soon makes up for it. _Catriona_ takes up the story of David Balfour only one or two days after _Kidnapped_. He must now try to clear his name and the name of James Stewart of the Appin murder. This will not be easy because the Campells want James Stewart to hang.

Having two teen sons leads my nose of curiosty to all sorts of helpul books. No one source is a panacea. However, I am happy to know I am not alone in this wonderous yet sometimes bothersome Generation X. Baggy pants, booming music, wild hair colors, peculiar body piercings all are cries for individuality. But is there any sort of ambition under those generational masks? Yes--boundless ambition, in need of direction.

This book by David Stevenson and Barbra Schneider comes in hardback and paperback. I suggest the paperback. You are going to want to refer to it time and again. One theme I have noticed in many books including "The Devoicing Of America", is that of isolation. Teens today are wrapped into computers & video games so much, they have gotten away from a guiding hand. They are alone and lost.

Surprisingly, compared with the 1950's generation, today's teens have fewer long-lasting relationships and spend much more time alone. Many stay in college longer in lieu of leaping into marriage. They need more guidance than ever before. Would we expect a lone traveler to be told you must reach point A and not give them any map, or ideas or support? No, everyone needs some direction.

The study these adolescence experts did of over 7,000 teens shows this generation to be the most ambitious of them all. These teens expect to go to college, graduate and find high paying jobs. On the other hand, when asked how, few had answers. They just expect it. And some of the blame rests on we parents and teachers. Teens take the wrong courses, choose the wrong colleges and then enter college with unrealistic expectations.

Through this book, we can find helpful ways of directing teens and even pre-teens of today without adding pressures. I found the following of several students ( Grace, Elizabeth, and Jake) throughout their high school years and then re-visiting them in college interesting case studies of comparison of tools which can be implemented by any care giver.

Again, getting back to basics is a central theme. Of course it does not solve everything. It is a first step. It is a way of beginning a successful trip through adolesence to positive adulthood. A way to make dreams come true. Be there for your teen. Communicate. Listen.

Of course, you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink--leave the book out, you'll see, the ponies of today will also quench themselves and find help in becoming strong stallions of tomorrow.

--CDS--

This is the best modern introduction to those kooky early Covenanters. The book goes through a pretty detailed political history, and allows you to get a narrative and a view of all the personalities involved. There is unfortunately no bibliography, but the footnotes are detailed. Stevenson's thesis is that the Scots rebelled against K. Charles because they were interested in defending themselves and securing liberty from English domination. I personally don't care much for the thesis, but it is more or less the orthodoxy on the Covenanters.

But let's be clear right up front. My 5-star rating of this book applies only to the original unabridged version in Johann Wyss' own words. The modernized versions are watered down, time-wasters for word wusses.

When I was nine years old I spent months struggling through this book for the first time. The old style language made for rough going, but I persevered. In the end I was rewarded with more than a classic tale marvelously told; I discovered a love of books and earned self-respect for tackling a tough read.

If I was a teacher whose task it was to introduce students to classic literature, I would skip Dickens and use this book. Kids love adventure, animals, and action. Swiss Family Robinson has it all. It's really a thriller disguised as a literary classic. All book lovers should read this one at least once.

And please don't watch the Disney movie and claim you've "been there, did that" on this story. The movie is totally different and in no way compares.

Never mind the film versions; the original unabridged Swiss Family Robinson is an exciting epic with a lot in it for the whole family.

Our third grade teacher read to us from this book every day and I could hardly wait for the next installment. Finally I got my own copy for a birthday gift, sat on the couch and read it cover to cover in one go. I still have this book, decades later.

From the opening, thrilling tempest scene to the very end and the "rescue", this book has plenty of action as well as creative solutions to problems. There is a lot of material for discussion, how the family solved problems, how they handled disagreements, adversity, disappointment, building of character.

This book definitely teaches values along with the adventure and the values are linked in such a way as to be an integral part of the story.

And Swiss Family Robinson is never boring. There is always an exciting new beast to be discovered, a new plant to use for food or clothing, a new machine or tool to be built, a new part of the island to explore. This is a wonderful book to read out loud to kids until they are old enough to enjoy reading it themselves. If you are bored with re-runs on TV, turn off the box and spend a half-hour or hour every evening reading this aloud. Everyone will have a great time, and kids who are read to, become readers themselves.

There's not many classic books that are more well known than "The Swiss Family Robinson." A Swiss family is stranded on an uninhabited island and there doesn't seem to be any rescues that are lingering around the corner for many years. Soon the family is taming tons of new pets, fighting off animals such as anacondas and lions, and learning how to basically survive off the land the best they can. The Robinson family must keep an eye out for danger while also starting a whole new way of life for themselves.

I thought "The Swiss Family Robinson" was a spectacular adventure/survival book. You can say that the book is pretty much a long diary that is kept by the father of the family of everything that happens to them on the island. The book I read did have many references to God unlike some of the abridged editions. The only thing I didn't like about "The Swiss Family Robinson" is that when the family starts collecting and taming many animals that they find on the island, it gets a little tough to keep up with all the animals' names, but that wasn't bad enough to take anything away from the book for me.

I recommend anybody who likes survival or adventure books, especially if you like reading the classics, to get "The Swiss Family Robinson." I would recommend getting an unabridged version of the book if you can so you won't miss a word.

Those who have read only Kidnapped might agree with me in saying the ending is rather abrupt. This is because Stevenson intended to write a sequel, and did 6 years after writing Kidnapped.
David Balfour has two parts-
The plot of the first part of this book centers on David's efforts to free the innocent James Stewart from being hanged, the second on David's romance with a highland girl named Catriona.
The first part is pretty good, although stale in some parts. The second is different from anything in Kidnapped or in the first part. Stevenson targeted the kidnapped books to boys, but in this part it's so romantically inclined that as a girl I cannot imagine a boy enjoying most of it.
I'd say the romanic part of this book is pretty bad and cliche, but the book is worth reading for the parts with Black Andy and Alan Breck(my favorite character). I only wish Stevenson had included more of these characters and less of such 2D ones such a Prestongrange(the king's advocate), Catriona and yes, David whom in some parts I tired of. I'd recommend reading this book if you liked Kidnapped and are a good enough reader to understand some of the somewhat difficult Scotch dialect.

Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson, was (and still is) one of my favorite reads. The tale of the young David Balfour who, at the hands of his scheming uncle Ebenezer, is kidnapped and shipwrecked in the wild Scottish Highlands of the mid-seventeenth century. Along with that, he is caught at the wrong place at the wrong time-speaking with Colin Campbell when he is shot at the notorious murder of Glencoe. His only hope of survival is to escape south across the highlands with Alan Breck Stewart, the lovably roguish cousin of James of the Glens. From ducking through the heather to hiking across wooded mountains to hiding from soldiers and far beyond, the pair's adventures make for one of the best books I've had the fortune to read (and between you and me, that's saying something).
Sadly, the tale's sequel, David Balfour, does not quite live up to the standards set by its predecessor. Although a very enjoyable read, David Balfour's focuses are mainly the legal struggle to exonerate James of the Glens and David's romance with Catriona Drummond. The almost complete absence of everybody's favorite Scotsman, Alan Breck, is the book's greatest blow. Without him, the better part of the book is much less fun to read than the original. He does make some appearances though, mainly at the very beginning and very end of the story, and those are (in my opinion) the very best sections of the book.
That is not to say the tale is bad. Quite the contrary, in fact. It is very enjoyable to read, particularly David's narration of his stay on the Bass with Black Andie and the highlanders. Even though it is not as engrossing as Kidnapped, David Balfour should please anybody who enjoyed the original, even though the book's lack of adventure and heavy use of the Scots tongue may turn some wanting another Kidnapped away from reading it all the way through.

It's true that this sequel to "Kidnapped" takes a very different direction from the original story. In fact, Alan Breck Stewart (everyone's favorite character) makes only a few (albeit quite entertaining) appearances, and most of the story focuses on David Balfour's lone adventures and, in the second half of the book, his rather botched wooing of Catriona, a lovely Scottish lass (to say more would give away the story).

I must admit that "Kidnapped" is my favorite book of all time, so I am somewhat prejudiced toward liking "David Balfour" no matter what its faults. However, the truth of the matter is that this is really quite a good book in its own right. It would not have been disappointing to anyone except for the fact that it happens to be a sequel to "Kidnapped," and people (fairly enough, I suppose) expect another rousing adventure story, which "David Balfour" is not.

Some aspects of the two books are very similar. Stevenson used quite a bit of dialect in the "Kidnapped," so it should come as a surprise to no one that he does the same in "David Balfour" (although there may be a little more broad Scotch). Also, David's and Alan's characters are quite true to the original characterizations, I think.

The part of the story that people seem to object to most is the love story between David and Catriona. I admit it, the main problem is that Catriona is a rather flat character, and as such does not keep the reader's interest (or sympathy) very well. That being said, most of the book (and especially the last 20 pages, which I liked very much) is quite entertaining. I have read better love stories and better adventure stories, but "David Balfour" isn't bad for a love story sequel to an adventure story.

Finally, a word about the illustrations in this edition. They are by N.C. Wyeth, who was one of the best illustrators of the early to mid 20th century. This edition is a copy of the original 1913 Wyeth edition, and has all the wonderful illustrations and the neat old-fashioned size and typeface.

Many adults seem to enjoy the book. Well, why not?? it resembles a soap opera. Being a high school student, i'm not very interested in that type of literature. However i must agree, it does contain ideas that will last centuries. Basic human flaws and sins (like pride and revenge) are represented in the novel. Overall, its a decent book, but specially for a mature audience.

To say Wuthering Heights is dull and boring, is to deplete your own humanity. Bronte's novel is an incredible depiction of life and the relationships in it. Love is a contradiction; Love is difficult and Love is kind. Each of these characteristics jump out of the text with the turn of each page. Heathcliff and Catherine are either in denial of their love or overtly showing it. I would highly reccomend the book to anyone who wants to further their education with a worthwhile experience.

Readers: I feel Wuthering Heights related to my life and easily to many others. Thr characterization between Catherine and Heathcliff was most interesting to me. I loved the finesse between the two of them. Their love was eternal because "whatever their souls were made of, his and hers were the same..."(73). When I read the each chapter it seemed a mystery because you never knew if the two would show their love or hide it. Another element of the book that made it interesting was Heathcliff's revenge against Edgar Linton and or actually the entire Linton family. The hatred he felt was produced by Hindley his father. In return, Heathcliff treated his own family meaness of a bear for his sufferings from the past. Heathcliff displays a tendency of resentment sympathising "with all his feelings, having felt them myself"(201). Emily Bronte showcases relationship Hareton and Heathcliff to Hindley and Heathcliff to show the viscous circle through generations. Emily Bronte perceives the minds of her readers and reveals how life can go in circles unless someone breaks the chains. To anyone who receives Wuthering Heights, I really do think the novl is worth reading. I, myself am not big reader but this book can catch your attention and keep you on your toes because there is a mystery in every chapter. Nicole

Well, I was looking for something with advanced tips on LotusScript, merge, etc. This was not what I found. However, I did find a lot of basic information and I learned a few things about the applications that I don't use very often. This book has saved me quite a bit of time and taught me a few interesting things. It is no reference manual however.

this is a book which makes you want to sleep due to being so increbily poor in content and in action and excitement.