My favorite type of books is fantasy all because of this book. Three years ago, when I was in sixth grade, a friend saw me reading "The Woman who Rides Like a Man" over his shoulder (that's the third book in this series), and the next day he brought this book in to school and told me to read it in study hall. I loved it, and borrowed it and took it home where I finished it that night. I then went out and bought the rest of the series. The book is great, with a little resemblence to "Twelfth Night" (no, if you haven't heard of it, it's not a fantasy book. It's a play by Shakespeare. Sorry.) Alanna and her brother switch places, forcing her to disguise herself as a boy (luckily, her brother, Thom, does not have to disguise himself as a girl.) During the beginning of the book, Alanna tries to reject her powerful magical ability. However, she is forced to use it twice, and realizes that her "Gift" is a blessing from the gods, not a curse from them. Meanwhile, Alanna has to train as a knight. She is shorter than the other boys, and has more trouble, at first. But she works hard to overcome her height disadvantage (not by using magic to make herself grow; she tried that once and got a bad headache), and, while beating all the other boys at knighthood, Alanna still has to deal with issues of womanhood. And what will happen when she becomes a knight? She can't be a "boy" forever!

Alanna and her brother Thom have grown up with a great deal of freedom while thier scholar father buries himself in his work. When they turn 11 they are due to be sent ofr training, but by swithing places Alanna is sent to become a Page (the first part of training to become a knight) and Thom goes to learn magic. That switch begins a life where Alanna must hide who she really is from her friends and work hard to become a knight. In this first book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet Alanna becomes friends with Prince Jonathan, makes enemies with his Uncle, and meets the thief that will become a very important part of her life.

I found this series of books when it first came out and I have been blown away every time I have picked them up to read. Alanna is one of my favourite characters of all time - she is strong, funny, and sticks to her guns. The other characters around her like Prince Jonathan and George are like old friends who share their lives with you. Tamora Pierce has an amazing knack of bringing the medieval world they live in to life without dragging you down with too many details.

If you enjoy a great book that will have you on the edge of your seat then this is the book to try. Ms. Pierce has combined action adventure, knights and battles, magic, and romance all into one seamless book that appeals to boys and girls AND children and adults. My copy of this book is very well loved and I have continued to devour every Tamora Pierce book that has been written since.

If you do enjoy this series then you should also try other books by Tamora Pierce and also try reading Mercedes Lackeys Valdemar books.

Arrrhhhhh!!! I really hate these books!! I stay up late in the wee hours of the night..... just so I can finish the next section! I'm crabby in the morning and all I want to do is read this dang book! I don't care about anything that's happening in the real world... I spend precious school hours pondering what happened in the book and whst will happen! I don't want a book to be more interesting than my life, but sadly.....I hate these books! By buying a copy of this book, you are commiting yourself to spend the rest of your free time reading about Alanna, the warrior woman and her life, and Tortall, and Jonathan, And George, and Myles, and Roger(grrr), and gary, and Theyet, and Burri, and George's mother and the king and and ...and... I can't beleive my life less interesting than a fantasy series! This is so pathetic...(me, not the novels)

That is the best way to convey the quality of this novel. McMurtry succeeds in writing a wonderfully descriptive novel of the only true American myth -- the cowboy. Americans have always been fascinated with the West. McMurtry realizes this and embraces the world of cattle drives, whores, indians, gunfights, and more. In doing so, he refuses toshow us the picture through rose-colored glasses. Instead he weaves a rich tale with wonderful characters -- who contain vivid human flaws. I can honestly say that this is the single greatest piece of contemporary fiction I have ever read because it captures the spirit of the old West without dilluting it with glorification. There are times when this book and its villains truly frighten you, times when you laugh along with the "good guys", and times when sadness shamelessly sweeps over you. Like all great novels, this books embraces the reader and makes you a part of its world. Even better, that world is the great American horizon -- the land west of the Mississippi. Truly, a great epic novel. If you want to read a tale of American history, full of wonderful characters, drama, comedy, and action, then this is the book for you.

Lonesome Dove is an amazing epic masterpiece. It transends genre or pop fiction status. Many people have criticized this book for being hackneyed and typical of all western fiction. The part that I think that most people don't understand is that this book isn't about the west. This book is about people. Lonesome Dove explores how people face hardship, brutatilty, illness, death, and even other's expectations. The author treats us to watching the bond formed between men through long comraderie (you will see the word 'companero' often in this book), mutual struggle, and loss of innocence. McMurtry does a stunning good job of exploring the hearts of the women in this book. They are drawn with not just beauty, but with brutal and shocking honesty. Women readers will be surprised at how a male author understands the psyche and coping mechanisms of females.

Aside from all of the amazing things about Lonesome Dove that won it the Pulitzer Prize, Lonesome Dove is a thoroughly enjoyable read. There was not one of the 945 pages that I didn't enjoy. The characters are well formed. You will love Gus and Newt, get frustrated with Call, and your heart will just break for Lorena. Their struggles and disappointments will reach you as little else in fiction does.

The setting(s) in this book are stunning. McMurtry draws amazing pictures of the the Rio Grande, the Texas panhandle, the American praire, old western saloons (and whorehouses), and many other places. While some readers will find the lack of dialogue in some places frustrating, I found the descriptions to be a treat. Having never been west to see any of these places, I felt truely transported.

Anyone who hasn't read this book and enjoys good fiction should read Lonesome Dove - now. Just commit yourself to reading the first 50 pages. After that, you won't be able to put it down. For myself, I stayed up past midnight with this book every night for a week. If I have any complaint about this book at all, it is that it was so good, I am afraid I will never be able to enjoy any other western fiction again.

How I envy those of you who haven't yet had the pleasure of reading this incredible story. I wish I could read it again for the first time, and experience again the absolute privilege of meeting two extraordinary characters. Reduced to its simplest plot, Lonesome Dove is about a cattle drive from southern Texas to Montana. But what it's really about is the adventure of a lifetime and an unconditional friendship, which at times is the same thing when it comes to Augustus MacRae and Woodrow F. Call. Gus' love for life is infectious, and it truly touched me from across the invisible boundaries of time and fiction. And I can only aspire to be as true as Capt. Woodrow F. Call. He and Gus will always be my heroes, and I am a better person for having met them. This masterpiece by Larry McMurtry stands alone, the prequels and sequel are unnecessary and pale dramatically in comparison. Read this book, read this book, read this book!

This is one of my favorite books, i first read it when i was in 5th grade(i think). i'm now in 10th grade and still read it ocassionally for a good read. This book takes place in a land of faires, ogres, centaurs and giants. The main character is Ella and when she was a baby, a foolish fairy gave her the "gift" of obedience. For instance, if someone said "Ella, run around the lawn 10 times" she would have to do it. In the begining of the story her mother dies and her father sends her off to finishing school. Ella goes to finishing school unwillingly with two girls who she dislikes. Eventually her father marries the two girl's mother and they become her step-sisters. Ella is about 15 and falls in love with the prince but her curse prevents her from telling him how she feels. This story is off of the fairy tale Cinderella but i didn't figure this out until near the end. the only thing that relates it to Cinderella is that Ella has two wicked step-sisters & a wicked step mother & she falls in love with the prince. It's a really good story and Ella gets into all sorts of messes like trying to escape from ogres who want to eat her. She's a witty, couragous, strong and funny character and i'm sure you'll love her as much as i do. Don't let the fact that it has some characteristics of Cinderella to stop you from reading this great book.

I love this book! Ella Enchanted is much better than the classic Cinderella, because Ella Enchanted has more challenges and adventures.

Ella is cursed to be obedient, having to obey all commands. Even when Ella is cursed, she still tries to disobey, but when she does, she gets dizzy and sick. In Ella Enchanted, there is a stepmother with her ugly daughters. The step-family tortures her and her father is no hope because he cares more about money.

Ella tries to break her spell with the help of her fairy Godmother, who is a superb cook. As she tries to break the spell, she meets ogres, elves, giants and exotic creatures. With each creature there is an adventure that follows. While all this is going on, she's falling in love with Prince Charmont.

I think this is really a wonderful book and that all fairy-tale lovers should read this book because this is really creative and good!

Ella Enchanted is probably one of the best books I have ever read! I don't even have to hesitate to give it 5 stars. Ella Enchanted deals with a young girl who was cursed at birth with complete obedience to anyone who gives her an order. Lucinda, the fairy was the one who cursed her. As she grows up she learns that her family's cook, Mandy, is her fairy godmother! Something that was very surprising to me when I was reading it. When her mother, Lady Eleanor dies from cold when Ella was 15 she meets the charming Prince Charmont (Char) and falls in love with him. Only her father could get in the way by sending Ella to Finishing School with her soon to be step sisters Olive and Hattie. Hattie learns of Ella's obedience and takes advantage of her. Making her do all of her dirty work. While at the finishing school Ella looses her clumsy ways and learns how to be a real lady. Finally Ella can't stand being under Hattie's rules when she decides to run away to find Lucinda, and try to get her to take back the curse. All of this was an exciting adventure for me. Ella's love for Char is one of the best love stories I have ever read. It really draws you into the book and you find it hard to put down!
All of the fantasy elements really added a little something to the book. Magic, hypnotizing ogres to save you life, faries and curses! I won't give away the books GREAT ending though. This is one of those books though that you'll want to read again and again!

"Chicken Soup for the Tenage Soul" by Wack Canifeld, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger is a great book that I highly recommend! It is a non-fiction poetry book. It is a bunch of short true stories or poems written by teenagers. There are also a few stories written by well-known people such as Bill Cosby, Jennie Garth, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and many more! I feel like it is very easy to relate to some stories and I am sure that other teenagers feel the same way. There are a variety of stories so it is kind of hard not to fing at least one that you can't relate to a little bit! The authors of "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul" have also written many other "Chicken Soup" books that have also been excellent. These authors are the number one New York Times best selling authors. I thought that this book was exceelent and a very good idea. I personally really enjoyed reading the stories about other people's worries, problems, and achievements. It made me realize that there are many other teens out there just like me. It really made me take a reality check! I dont think that this book had any negative points! I loved it and I bet you will too!!

This book made me laugh and cry. I enjoyed it to the fullest extent possible. It means a lot to me, and says so much about the difficult stage of teenage life. I think on my next trip to the bookstore I'll pick up another book in the series! It was just that good. Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul is a book I will always refer to and cherish. A precious keepsake to treasure forever. This is a definite recommendation to all my friends. This book has helped me through a difficult time in my life, the death of my Mom. Reading the chapter "Tough Stuff" helped me to deal with this and realize I wasn't alone. This is definitely a book you can relate too! I love to read books, especially fantasy - but these real life stories topped them all! I can't wait until " A Second Helping" comes out, I hope to be the first to buy it! The experience of Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul will stay with me all my life

Here is counsel, comfort, inspiration, and encouragement at it's best. This thoughtful collection of 101 stories of life, love, and learning will touch each reader and evoke a full range of emotion. There will be laughter at many of life's ironies and tears shed at the less fortunate. To help deal with doubt, grow through self-discipline and fully appreciate the joy of accomplishment. Filled with timeless wisdom, and practical counsel this is a book you will want to read and refer to again and again. If you're a teen who doesn't know where to turn, turn to the inspiration in these pages. Cook up a batch of Chicken Soup and it will offer warmth, comfort, and healing. Read Chicken Soup For The Soul and you'll get the same.

Every American should read this book.

Iwo Jima's flag raising is etched in the memory of war veterans as well as baby boomers, at least the staged version of the event. And the film version showed the story, even if it was the Hollywood version. "Flags" is a compelling story of one of the men who won the battle of Iowa Jima and then went home -- very quietly -- to live out his life. Only his death allowed his children to read and understand the magnitude of what he and other war veterans achieved, the many veterans who did their job against horrendous odds and then moved on with their lives, with only their nightmares and private, silent, secrets to haunt them for the rest of their lives. They would not, or could not, speak about their experiences. And for good reason.

James Bradley delves into the story his father never told while he was alive, the story of unimagined terror on a tiny island, fighting a most savage, unforgiving and unsurrendering enemy. His father saw atrocities no one deserves to see. And, after all this, he led a quiet, unassuming life in Wisconsin after the war, returning to his roots and putting the war behind him as best he could. The son's pursuit of the full story results in perhaps the greatest tribute a son can offer, a glowing, sobering, startling story honoring a deceased father and his comrades. James Bradley's dad was a hero who knew that the real heroes didn't come off Iwo alive. He honored the dead comrades with a deep, unspoken respect.

Tom Brokaw's "Greatest Generation" is the more popular and publicized version of these war veterans and their unrewarded heroics but his casual treatment of these great men can't come anywhere close to "Flags". I read it, cried, and passed the book to others who would appreciate it. Read it. And do the same.

Seriously, five stars are just too few for a monumental book like this one. This book is an instant classic that should live for all time! If you are like me, you have a whole story built up in your mind around one of the most famous photographs in American history -- the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. If you are also like me, there is little reality behind that story in your mind.

Written by the son of one flag-raising Marine, this amazing story should be read by everyone. It tells a tale of heroism, horrible circumstances, and the lasting consequences of an unexpected event in a compelling, unforgettable way. This book rivals All Quiet on the Western Front for its revealing insights into the nature of war, comradeship, and courage.

To set the stage, Iwo Jima was the first Japanese soil the Marines invaded. The Emperor had issued orders that the ground was to be defended to the last man. Iwo Jima was filled with tunnels that harbored over 20,000 Japanese troops who could shoot from relative safety while Americans were out in the open. The tunnel system was so extensive that Marines would literally be kidnapped while standing next to their buddies, and no one would know where they had gone. Rocks would suddenly open up to reveal mortars.

Tough fighting went on for days. The Marines lost 7,000 dead and had another 15,000 or more wounded out of 70,000 men. Ironically, the worst of the fighting came after the flag photograph, and three of the six Marines in the photograph died in this later action.

As tough as Iwo Jima was, living with the aftermath of the photograph was even harder in many ways. Two of the three survivors had their lives deeply affected in negative ways. The story of all three riveted me more than anything I have read in years.

I read fairly few books about war, but I cannot recommend this book enough to you. As Americans we owe it to those who fought in this battle to remember what actually happened and what the repercussions are. You will be moved at a deeper level than you can possibly imagine by this outstanding book.

Remember Iwo Jima!

FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS is a brilliant work for so many reasons: it pays homage to the six men who raised the flag on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima during WWII; it is a tribute to a father who felt strongly that the real heroes at Iwo were the boys who didn't come back; it is a testimonial to the USMC and its fighting men; it portrays a graphic and at times unimaginable description of the horrors of war; and, it depicts not only the indignities that we humans can suffer upon one another, but also the moments when common men (indeed, boys) are moved to perform acts of uncommon valor and courage. When reading this book, you will feel pride, grief, anger, sadness, and dismay. Its words will make you laugh, cry, mourn, and think hard. FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS is a good book---no, a great book---about a moment in our history and the ordinary men who performed extraordinary deeds and left their mark upon the annals of war. Read it...for the sake of the six flagraisers, the families left behind in all wars, and the whole human race.

Fantasy, as a genre, is longer the most: multi volume epics filled with cataclysmic events spanning years.

And then, there's Sabriel. Size: one volume. Page count: just under 500 pages. I polished this off in a couple days.
But what a couple of days.

I like long things. If a book doesn't drag, then I don't care how long it lasts. Hell, I read all 1,400 pages of Les Miserables, unabridged, (took like six months) and it is quite a book. But that doesn't mean I dislike short books. Sabriel is a good read: a universe with simple rules that you are always on the verge of understanding, with inference instead of exposition. The opening is well written: it follows the tried-and-true method where you are given useful information that pertains to the plot, sucks you into the story, and allows the main part of the story to begin calmly all the same. The Fellowship of the Ring, film version, begins similarly.

The universe itself is impressive, avoiding the traditional swords, wizards, fireballs, and demons. The undead are familiar to any fantasy reader, but not these undead. Necromantic magic uses literal bells and whistles; death is a river leading from life to the beyond. Pure magic has its own set of rules, rules that are never explained so much as danced around. And modern technology exists, adding instead of taking away from the power of magic.

So, if you're looking for a quick read, without the length of the Lord of the Rings, much less the Wheel of Time or Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, then here's a treat for you: compact, but stirring for the time it lasts. One thing keeps you from begging for more: there's no need to say more.

If you've read the plot description-- which is something like "Sabriel travels to the Old Kingdom to rescue her necromancer father from the Land of the Dead"-- you might think that this is a pretty junky horror-fantasy novel. Trust me, it's not! Yes, it's got un-dead monsters and things like that, but when you're into the story you're totally believing it and you don't stop for even one moment and say, "Wow, this is so trashy." Instead, the story is very beautiful and believable. Unlike many books, I could really feel the danger of the situations and I even felt afraid for the characters. This book looks long, but it moves very quickly. The unusual mix of technology and magic reminds me of Philip Pullman's "The Golden Compass", but other than that I don't see why everyone compares these two books. They're not similar in any other ways I can think of, but I would say that if you liked The Golden Compass, read Sabriel, and vice versa. I thought TGC was much better in fact, but Sabriel was still great. I really liked Sabriel as a character, and I loved the idea of the necromancer's bells-- brilliant! The cover art by Leo and Diane Dillon is beautiful. I hope Garth Nix is planning to write a sequel, or at least another book set in this world-- something like Tamora Pierce's Wild Magic series, which are a different story but let you know what happened to Alanna. It could be Sabriel's daughter, a future Abhorsen? It seems like some things were left undone. They never went back and saved those children, or helped the fishing village. Did they? Recommended for ages 13- up, especially girls. I am 15. PS. No, my e-mail address is not varied from Sabriel's name. I chose it before I read this book.

I took an extended leave from the fantasy genre; yesterday afternoon, I decided to come back to the world of witchcraft and sorcery. Highly recommended by fellow peers, I chose Garth Nix's well-known 'Sabriel'. Frankly, I was so impressed and drawn into the story that I finished it in two days and rushed to write an amazingly complementary review. So - I won't waste any time with summeries and the like, since I believe that has already been covered by other reviewers and the helpful staff of amazon.com.

The plot was fantastic and fast-paced; there wasn't a moment I wasn't on the edge of my seat. Exhausting chapters of worthless garble is a common trait in many 'classic' fantasies. Nix has created an extremely believable and well-versed world, without the fluff. Poetic, dark, and forbidding, the heroine and companions are worthy of the world they are placed in. I could simply close my eyes and fly across the borders of what is called the Old Kingdom, in all its dangerous beauty. We are foreign visitors, as is the daring Sabriel. The plot was clear, consise, yet not overly simplictic. It begins as a search and rescue mission, and ends in a rich battle to save both the old and new aspects of this odd world.

Characters - wonderful. As rich as the world they reside in, Sabriel, Touchstone, and Mogget fully impressed me. They all read amazingly like living people, rather than a work of fantasy. Mogget, especially - his duel personalities clash wickedly, and he is not always what he appears to be; a cat? free magic?

To end this tiring review of a not-so-tiring story, I will add that this work is new, creative, and bold. There is a striking combination of modern technology and medieval swords and bows; a wall devides the two areas of the world. Many embrace magic, and others fear it - rightly so, for the wall does little to hold back the Greater Dead, a fearful object of the Old Kingdom.

Following in her father's footsteps, Sabriel will not fail the reader in a quest for a good read. SABRIEL is a tale of necromancy, fantastical lands, Death, and much more. I have not read a good book in a long time, yet this has broken my stream of bad luck.

And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie is a mind bending, and thought provoking murder mystery. Eight guests are invited by seperate but mysterious invitations to spend their holiday together on Indian Island. While each guest is different in many ways all have one thing in common, which you will find out as you read. An old nursery rhyme of Ten Little Indian Boys leads a scandalous curiosity throughout the book. I've never read a book like this, it's almost like playing the board game Clue. You must play close to every chapter and detail if your ultimate goal is to solve the mystery before you're done with the book. Agatha Christie did an excellent job creating different characters all playing key roles to the mystery of Indian Island. This book his different because it is written with thoughts coming straight from the characters rather then just telling the events. The reactions of the characters help develope a good flow and clear up any confusion you might have while reading. "It is lovely here. The hills and the red earth and everything so green and luscious looking."-pg18 said by Vera Claythorne You wouldn't have guessed that this novel was going to be any kind of mystery. Agatha Christie leaves no description out, at the beggining of the novel. Although the title may sway your oppinions, her description of a what seems to be vacation island is the last thing Indian Island is. Many of the guest who would be staying on Indian Island first viewed it as a welcoming of oppurtunities, that was also assured in their invitations to the island. What the guest do not know is their beautiful beach resort island is going to be the setting of a huge murder scene. The vocabulary that arises in this novel is not too difficult but does take some time to analyze as you read. This book is for anybody who wants a good suspensful mystery. And Then There Were None has many main characters and is often hard to follow. If you have trouble with this, I do not reccomend this book for your choice.

Growing up, I never read Agatha Christie because I had been led to believe that her mysteries were merely popular thrillers without much depth. I was therefore extremely surprised to discover just how intriguing and well-constructed her writing was when I was asked to teach "And Then There Were None" as one of the required novels for my 7th grade classes. I took the book home to prepare lesson plans one night and read it through from cover to cover in a single sitting! There are so many interesting twists and details in the plot that I simply could not put the novel down. My kids loved it, too!!! It was difficult to get them to do anything else in class besides read, especially since they weren't allowed to bring the book home with them. This book has been the catalyst for my new interest in mystery novels; I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a compelling adventure. The best part of any great mystery work is when you can't guess "whodunit! ", and unless you glance through the end of the book, you won't see this one coming! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did . . .

I've always been a huge Agatha Christie fan, but I'd only read her Poirot novels. Hercule Poirot is the greatest fictional detective ever. But this book does not feature Poirot, which is why I wasn't too enthusiastic when I first picked up this book a few years ago. As it turned out, this book is now my all-time favourite mystery!

I suppose the plot is what draws most people to this book. There never has been a more elaborate mystery in the annals of fiction. Ten people gather on an island, supposedly invited by a host who isn't present. We learn quite quickly that all the people are murderers -- murderers that the law can't touch. And the mysterious host who calls himself U. N. Owen ('unknown') plans to execute his guests.

The murders take place in accordance with a little nursery rhyme that is framed in each guest's room. And as people begin to die one by one, and an extensive search reveals that there's no one else on the island, it soon becomes clear that U. N. Owen is someone among the original party. The book soon turns into a psychological thriller as each guest becomes paranoid and suspicious of the others.

The last few chapters are nerve-wrecking and the Epilogue is shocking. Some of the last lines on the book will haunt me forever. "Definitely worth reading" is a huge understatement. Go read it!

"When the sea goes down, there will come from the mainland boats and men. And they will find ten dead bodies and an unsolved problem on Indian Island."

The second book of the Harry Potter series does an excellent job of living up to the expectations set by the first book. The story in which the 12-year-old wizard, Harry Potter, faces trials and tribulations testing his supernatural abilities will undoubtedly keep you on the edge of your seat and always wondering what will happen next.

The novel begins at the Dursley's house where Harry lives with his "muggle" (non magic) aunt and uncle. Due to the differences between the two types, Harry is treated horribly by his family and looked upon with disgust. Things begin to spiral further downward when a creature named Doby shows up to warn Harry that he should not attend Hogwarts school for witchcraft and wizardy this year because "bad things are supposed to happen". However, Harry insists on going since it is the only excuse he has to leave the Dursley's home. Doby then decides to mingle with things in order to prevent Harry from going and in turn gets him into quite a bit of trouble. A few weeks later while at school, terrible accidents begin to happen to the mudbloods, the witches and wizards that come from non-wizard families. Then, a disturbing message appears on the wall stating that the chamber has been opened once again. This message provokes Harry and his two closest friends Ron and Hermione to investigate the confusing situation, providing for an interesting mystery full of twists and turns.

The theme of this book teaches a moral by denouncing the act of discriminating a group of people. By targeting the mudbloods, Rowling is showing how wrong it is to treat someone differently for an unavoidable reason. ... I think that she is teaching us all a lesson through her writing, and we should take the time to listen to the message she wishes to convey.

I loved this book for the simple fact that I felt able to escape from my world and enter the magical and enchanting Hogwarts school. While reading J.K. Rowling's novel, my imagination is given the option to run wild and I feel once again like a little child. I sincerely recommend that everyone read this book if given the opportunity. I believe that people of all ages would thoroughly enjoy reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Some say Chamber of Secrets is the weakest of the four Potter books.

Yes, the incident in it is "minor" compared to other Potter books, than say, the third or fourth. But the plot is tightly woven up. It doesn't ramble, like the third or fourth. And the first time you read it, face it, it's a lot scarier than the others. Why? Because students are being stunned --frozen in time-- left and right. Roosters are dying, GHOSTS are practically dying.

Meanwhile, excellent points are being brought up.

In the second (might have some spoilers here), Harry finds out that Voldemort transferred some his own powers when he gave Harry the scar. That means that besides speaking Parseltongue, Harry probably has some of Voldemort's strenth and "brilliancy."

Notice, too, that this is the first book where Harry truly realizes Professor Dumbledore's store of knowledge and how much Dumbledore believes in him when no one else will. Only after this book does Harry start asking for Dumbledore's help. I'd also like to note that Dumbledore was transfiguration teacher before principal, and when Dumbledore was gone, McGonagall, the current transfiguration teacher, became principal. Transfiguration teacher must be pretty powerful and high up on the hierchical ladder.

From this book on, Voldemort knows Harry's own past --his performance in school, his personality, his attitude. From this book on, Voldemort has a decided advantage over Harry.

Chamber of Secrets reveals the past --Hagrid's, Tom Riddle's, even Dumbledore's. Many people don't like this book as much because there's not as much "ambiguity" as some of the others. But I don't think it's meant to be that. I think it's meant to be a sort-of-background of the past.

In the second book of what is bound to become a world-renowned fantasy series, J.K. Rowling documents Harry Potter's return to Hogwarts school.A wide array of new characters includes Gilderoy Lockhart, the new defense against the dark arts teacher; Dobby, an adorable little house elf. Tom Riddle, the mysterious Hogwarts alumni who provides Harry with clues; not to mention the whole Weasley family, and their flying car! A new mystery awaits Harry upon his return to school, and it is up to Harry, Ron and Hermione to save the school once again, this time from the evil Heir of Slytherin, who has opened the Chamber of Secrets and unleashed a monster on the school. Only in the amazing, spine-tingling climactic scene is his/her identity revealed, and you won't believe who it is. If you liked Harry Potter and the sorceror's stone, this book is a must-read.

This book is the first volume in a long series of books which I consider to be the best series I've ever read. It centers around the adventures of a clumsy, unsure young mouse called Matthias. He is forced to grow up abruptly with the arrival of Cluny the Scourge, a rat warlord who commands vast armies of murderous rats, ferrets, stoats, and weasels. Cluny's aim is to conquer the immense Redwall Abbey, which is Matthias's home. However, the Abbey's inhabitants are peaceful creatures, most of whom have never handled a weapon in their lives. The Abbey dwellers manage to keep Cluny at bay, but their skills are too poor to ward him off for too long. Meanwhile, Matthias has gone in search of a legendary sword that once belonged to the famous mouse warrior, Martin. He hopes to use the weapon to defeat Cluny's infamous army and save Redwall. Helped by different friends along the way, he finally discovers the sword's location, but is unprepared for the grave danger he stumbles across while searching for the sword... This book introduces the reader to Redwall, one of the best children's book series ever written. I recommend the book (and the rest of the series) strongly if one is looking for a creative plot with many twists.

Redwall is an excellent book for anyone who is looking for just an good and exciting book to read. I would place it as my third most favourite book in the Redwall series(Next to The Pearls Of Lutra and Salamandastron). Redwall is about a evil one eyed rat warlord named Cluny the Scourge who id determined to take over Redwall Abbey, a large red sanstone building set in Mossflower Woods, and a young mouse who lives at the Abbey named Matthias, who's hands hold the fate of Redwall Abbey and all of Mossflower from Cluny... Rewall is sad, funny, and has lots of action(Note to parents:This book has a few minor swears(Hell)and has slaying, blood and gore, and some violence so I would recommend childern under 6 should not read this book). This is a great book and should be read by any action lovers, so go to your local bookstore or library and pick a copy up.

This book is a very good book and I encourage others to read it. I myself must admit that I am not a very big book fan, in fact I totally dislike them. It was first recommended to me by one of my cousins and then after that a whole bunch of other people. My first reaction was "THIRTY PAGES! I'D RATHER EAT A BUG!" But I read it anyway because it was on my reading list and I loved it! It all started out with a little mouse named Matthias who lived in Redwall Abbey. Striving to be a great, famous, hero like his ancestor Martin the Warrior, Matthias sets out on a journey to find Martin's lost sword. Mean while an evil rat named Cluny the Scourge and his gang of rats and weasels plans the death of Matthias and the entire Abbey. Matthias battles animals from crows and foxes to even the evil Cluny. While Matthias is away on his journey, Cluny and his horde of rats and weasels attack Redwall. Will Matthias be able to come back and save his Abbey in time and relive as Martin the Warrior, his life long dream? Find out by reading the Redwall series! If you like adventure, fighting, action, and gory books this is the book for you! It has very, awesome, descriptive, deaths and injuries in it like a bunch get poisoned and eaten by a snake, some get burned to death and boiled to death, others fall from great heights to their death or get crushed under giant weights or are stabbed to death. Dozens are shot down with arrows, and one was even knocked off a wagon and crushed under the wheel! Cluny the scourge was missing an eye due to a fight with an unfortunate ferret whose skull is now carried a round on Cluny's staff. I would recommend reading this book because it is the best (and one of the only) books that I have ever read! I might even read the sequels (no...I am not feeling ill, Mrs. Wylie) So I think we all get the point READ IT!

Cheaters is one of the best novels that I have read recently. It focuses on today's dating game and the twists and turns as it relates to relationships - be it one on one or more than one. The content of this novel deals with the aspects that many other writers opt not to deal with. It explores love, truth, honesty, sex, sexuality, pain, suffering and emotional turmoil. It really opens up an avenue that shows the side of African American males that they want to keep hidden. It addresses the sensitive side that men try to hide and opens a woman's eye to that side of men. It's a great book and I have recommended it to all of my friends and fellow readers. If you're just beginning to read or if you're a member of a book club I highly recommend Cheaters for your enjoyment. I've have enjoyed all of his novels to this date and I can't wait for his new novel.

Coming from a person that reads a lot of novels, I feel that I am in a position to rate EJD's lastest novel five stars plus. The thought, and effort entered into the writing of this book, comes through loud and clear. Others should keep in mind, it's only a novel to be enjoyed, and not taken seriously,or equated with anyone's personal situation. The love for another's talent should be met with gratitude. It's stated in other reviews that the author belittles black women. It's just a story born in the author's head, and not necessarily his personal views. How about for entertainment purposes only? That's is why we have choices in what we choose to read. I appreciate good literature, and an author with an imagination. One that can make the reader laugh, cry and feel all of the emotions that are written within the pages. An author that allows his characters to have an imaginable life, would prove to be, in my opinion, talented.

By now, I've read all of EDJ's books and am a hugh fan. Cheater's however, was the ultimate, my favorite, and absolutely off the hook. The story was completely engrossing from the first through the last sentence. I hated for the story to end, algthough he brought it to a very satisfying conclusion. As the book cover synoposis explains, the story revolves around the African-American dating scene in L.A., and the trials and tribulations associated with loving them and leaving them on the one hand and finding someone for a one-on-one relationship on the other. It also deals with personal growth and the consequences associated with two people who are either on the same page in terms of their goals and/or are growing together or growing apart (with respect to dreams, plans, aspirations). Lastly, it deals with stunted emotional growth and the personal hell people put themselves and others through as they struggle to deal with their inner pain and/or short-comings. Dickey's treatment of all of the scenerios he creates was truly gifted. The book is funny, serious, poignant, sexy, hot and irresistably engrossing. Dickey should no longer be compared to Terry McMillian (Exhale). He has raised the bar and created the NEW standard in depicting meaningful Africian-American relationships, and penning stories that help us see ourselves, enjoy ourselves and perhaps learn something about ourselves along the way. I'm looking forward to the movie, too! Thanks again, EDJ. I'm eagerly awaiting your next book!