During summer vacation at NJ shore in a small corner bookstore, our 4 year old discovered this book! Great cover illustration. After finishing the book, he wanted more. Z is for Zombie- Danny Keegan and moster friends at PS 13 help to save favorite teacher, Ms. Cosgrove. Discover the secret of the Zombie Pizza Parlor! Watch out for Dr. Zoe!

Boy, I wanted to like this book because I'd heard so many great things about it. I will probably be flamed for the rest of my life, but I had to use superhuman willpower to get through this book. It's taken nearly six months to push through this long-winded tome. I read voraciously and I simply could not get interested in this book until, quite literally, the last 20 pages, with the last five being riveting. That's one heck of a price to pay for the first 600 pages.

To John Irving I respectfully award the "Get Over Yourself" award for his endless diatribes and digressions; to the character of Owen Meany I say, "All right already, we get the picture, just go and do something," and last but certainly not least to John Wheelwright, the narrator, "It's a great big world out there, even in Toronto. DO something! Get a life." And to Irving's editor, "You're paid to edit material, regardless of the author's name. So edit!"

Simply the best Irving story, a significant thing for the finest American novelist of the second half of the 20th century.

John Irving learned a very important lesson from that greatest of English language novelists, Charles Dickens: Literature serves only the ego of the author (and the self-congratulatory lit set) if it is unable to tell a compelling story and speak clearly and effectively to it's audience. That's not the same thing as saying you should check your brain at the door before opening an Irving book... his work is nothing if not consistently insightful and intelligent. What's missing from his work (and all too common among the works of modern lit novelists) is the pretentious use of overly descriptive prose so flowery and 'deep' that they lack all actual *meaning* and leave any honest reader asking themselves 'What the hell did that mean?'.

'Owen Meany' is a sheer delight from beginning to end, broad in scope while always close enough to home and the workings of the human heart and mind that even the most eccentric characters (an Irving staple!) and bizarre situations are painted clearly and believably in the mind's eye. This book stands out as both a fast and furious summertime 'fun' read as well as an enduring example of the finest American fiction ever written.

A Prayer For Owen Meany is one I will never forget and will always cherish. I have read it once a year now for the past seven years and each time I laugh and cry until I feel sick. Everytime I read it, the end always tears me apart. ... Irving perfectly captures the image--physical and spiritual, of Owen. I am able to visualize what he looks like and I can even "hear" his voice. Each time I read the book I learn something new about life and fate and how each of us has a purpose and a reason for being alive. This book has pulled me up several times and it will continue to do so until the day I die. It definitely makes me think long and hard about the life I lead. Bravo to Irving. I look forward to reading other books of his

I have always loved the style and social politics of the Regency period (the time of Jane Austen.) But when I read "Sense and Sensibility" in 7th grade I found the first few chapters lifeless, dull and hard to read. Two years later I was encouraged by a friend to give "Pride and Prejudice" a try. I did and have since become a complete Janeite. I am now able to peruse joyfully through "Sense and Sensibility" with a new understanding and appreciation of Jane Austen. The reason? "Pride and Prejudice" is fresh, witty and is a great introduction to Jane Austen's writing style without the formality of some of her other novels (unlike S&S and Persuasion Austen does not give us a 10 page history of each family and their fortune.) If you have never read Jane Austen or have read her other novels and found them boring, read Pride and Prejudice. The characters, and the situations Austen presents to them, are hysterical and reveal a lot about Regency society and morality. This book perfectly compliments a great writer like Jane Austen and is essential to every reader's library. The Penguin Edition of the book is stellar and I personally recommend it not only for the in-depth and indispensable footnotes, but also for the cover that is non-suggestive of any of the characters' appearances. In summary "Pride and Prejudice" is a great book for beginner Austen readers and seasoned fans, and Penguin Classics is a great edition for fully enjoying and understanding the book.

Like all the other jane austen books i loved this one just as much. jane austen is famous for her characterisation and this book proves it to you even more.

elizabeth bennet and mr. darcy intertwined into their own fixed judgements and opinions make this book not just a must read for its witty satire and humour but for its indepth understanding of true love. eliza,prejudiced ....Darcy, too caught up with his high society unfold their true character gradually making you enthralled and wanting more.
mr. collins the cousin, catheran de bourgh his patron bring out the best in subtle humour.
mr. and mrs. bennet, both of them a class apart...their uniquely opposite personalities creating sparks. the four sisters: genuine, bingely:awesome...the story i leave for you to unravel. you'll love it to the best of your ability.

trust me; you're caught. you won't be able to get your hands off it. its the work of a great woman and a great writer, a true genius who to me is just as equivalent to shakespeare. but then thats just me.

a book that shows us how two minds can eventually meet and harbour friendship and love. YOU WON'T REGRET IT.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife". That's how my favourite book of all time begins, and it just keeps getting better.

This novel deals with the pride and prejudices of the main characters Miss Elizabeth Bennett, and Mr. Darcy, as they try to find true love in pre-Victorian England. Elizabeth is a gentleman's daughter and Mr. Darcy is a gentleman, but Elizabeth, along with the rest of her sisters, are not good catches because, their inheritance is being entailed away to their cousin Mr. Collins, leaving them with very miserable looking dowries. Along with poor family connections, they stand little chance of marrying well or at all; they only have their charms to help them.

That is until Mr. Bingley moves into the neighborhood along with his sisters, and accompanying them his close friend Mr. Darcy. Mr. Bingley becomes captivated with Jane Bennett, Elizabeth's eldest sister, and Mr. Darcy has an eye for Elizabeth herself, but can he see past her poor conditions, and can she see past his pride in order for them to get together? That's the question that keeps the audience captivated right up to the end.

I try and find time to read this book at least once a year, and I've been doing that for a few years, and yet, it's always fresh when a get around to reading it.

I've just started War and Peace.....and already it promises to be as satisfying as Anna Karenina, so I can't wait to really get 'stuck in'. It is incredibly readable, lovely to get lost in, time flies by while you're reading it. His characters are so richly drawn, his ancedotes about each one are filling and often funny. I only wish that a translation by Pevear and Volokhonsky were available as they bring a fresh modern voice to translation (I can't wait to read their translation of Anna K. and 'The Idiot' by Dostoevsky).

So why am I writing a review of W&P if I've just started it? Well, first to share the fun I'm having and encourage others to give this great book a try.....and to invite others who have read the book or are reading it to write to me and share your comments. One of the best things about writing reviews on Amazon.com is that I occasionally hear from other reviewers or readers with comments on my reviews or recommendations of their own.....and I love it.

And I love Tolstoy! I think he's the best writer in the world. Although....quite honestly, the most memorable literary passage I've ever read was found in Dostoevsky's "Crime and Punishment". But you'll have to write to me to find out which one I'm referring to!

Happy reading!

War and Peace had stared at me from my bookshelf for over a year before I had the courage to begin. A present from a friend, War and Peace seemed more like a challenge than a gift: a challenge that could develop into a war of attrition between my completism and my boredom.

Nevertheless, one chilly December day, I took the plunge into nineteenth century Russian life, into the lives of a circle of aristocrats, and into the Napoleonic wars. I was immediately struck by Tolstoy's flowing prose, his humour both gentle and ascerbic, and his skill in creating and developing characters of real depth. War and Peace was a suprisingly easy read. Each short chapter containing interesting incident. It is also a book of great variety. It vividly depicts the sufferings of war, the opulence of the Russian aristocracy, and the joys and woes of family life. It touches phychological, social, political, historical, and religious themes all intertwined in a charming story.

However, its outstanding feature is its characterisation. One cannot help but feel intimately connected to the Rostov family, the well-meaning but flawed Pierre, the self-sacrificing Princess Mary, and the tragically disillusioned Prince Andrew. As I became increasingly involved in the book I looked forward with real anticipation to reading my nightly chapter. I did not want the story to end.

The only disappointing feature was Tolstoy's insistence on including chapters devoted to elaborating his historical philosophy. To my mind, his philosophy simply marred the gently unfolding story, was repetitive and boring, and seemed irrelevant. Fortunately the strength of the rest of the novel outweighs this Achilles Heel.

I have read "War & Peace" twice. I was thirteen the first time I read it, sixteen the second time. I don't say this to brag; rather, I want to encourage more people to read this astounding book. I think people are afraid of it because of its size. But if I can read it, you can! Russia comes alive through Tolstoy's pen in the most amazing way. He paints the vast landscapes, the passionate Russian people, the historical events of the times (the early 1800s) like a master painter. "War & Peace" is, in effect, art, a massive collage of images, textures, and colors. It is soap operatic in that it has several threads woven together within the narrative. Occasionally, it is difficult to keep them apart, but does get better if you just stick with it. I understand that there are some parts many people find boring, such as Tolstoy's philosophizing and his lengthy descriptions. Yet those, to me, make this novel even more vivid, the characters and Tolstoy himself more alive. Tolstoy has a gift with characters; you feel transported back to the nineteenth century drawing rooms of wealthy Russia, with the silken swish of ladies' skirts and the haze of cigar smoke. "War & Peace" is not for everyone. Yet those who make their way through it will be rewarded many times over.

Stargirl first came to school when she was a sophomore. She had been home schooled before that and no one knew what to think of her. She was very well like until she started cheering the other teams and basketball games. What really through everyone off the edge was when she comforted the star player on the opposing team. After this she was not popular anymore and her only friend was Leo Borlock, her boyfriend. Stargirl did not realize people were shunning her and went on with her regular life. She went to her enchanted place and helped others. Stargirl had many adventures and it was a fantastic book! I definitely recommend the book Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli to everyone young and old. The story teaches a good lesson on being yourself and not what others want you to be. It showed me that I should have self-confidence to do and wear what I want. Stargirl is definitely unique in her own way. I greatly respect her and hope everyone else will read this book and respect her as well. My favorite quote from the book was the one that really described her. " She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to the corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew." Star girl was amazing; she wore peasant dresses and played a ukulele during the day. She had a pet rat named Cinnamon that went everywhere with her. Stargirl truly did not care what others thought of her. Stargirl seemed to be in touch with something that everyone else is not in touch with.

Originally I borrowed this from the library. Halfway through it I bought my own copy, and one for my niece.

This is a story about a girl called Stargirl. She has been home tutored for most of her life and has no idea of conformity. She is herself, through and through. She wears pioneer type dresses, no make up, meditates, knows peoples birthdays, makes people feel good about themselves.

At the start the majority of the school applauds her individuality and even flatters her when they copy her odd ways. But slowly they see her individuality as a hindrance and begin to turn on her. Leo, the 16 year old narrator of the book finds himself as her boyfriend, and as such is completely alienated from the rest of the school. It dawns on him that he has to choose, Stargirl or his friends and respect.

This is probably one of the best books I have read for an awful long time, and I read a lot of books! I am keeping my copy on my bookshelf for my children to read, to teach them to applaud individuality, not discourage.

Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli, is truly the most unique book I've ever read. It's narrated by Leo Borlock, a junior at Mica Area High School. Unfortunately for Stargirl Caraway, at Mica nonconformity is not celebrated but condemned. She is anything but the carbon copy of the average tenth grade girl.
Despite her quirks, Stargirl quickly becomes the most popular girl in school and even joins the cheerleading squad. But everyone begins to get irked when Stargirl not only cheers for Mica, but for the other teams as well! As rapidly as she'd become popular, Stargirl is once again shunned by every student. Everyone that is, except for Leo.
He resents having to choice between Stargirl, and his peers and friends. In a final attempt to set things straight, Leo persuades Stargirl to try to act "normal" and he's shocked by the resulting girl. She's no longer Stargirl, but Susan. As the days turn to weeks and no one seems to know that Susan exists, she slowly morphs back into Stargirl.
Leo is furious with himself for trying to change the very thing that he loved most. This realization comes too late, for when he goes to Stargirl's house to apologize, he doesn't find anyone there, but instead a large For Sale sign looming over the empty house. This time, Leo has lost his soul mate for good.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, especially between the ages of 12 and 15. It's a fairly easy read, but the message is definitely suited for this age group. Stargirl is an amazing story that anyone can relate to because it deals with peer pressure, friendship and love, difficult choices, and many realities of life. Stargirl is one of the best books I've ever read.

Bought this book sight unseen from QPB a few years ago and was absolutely amazed, as was the professor quoted in the foreword, at its high quality. As the first person to publish Emily Dickinson's poems must have felt, surely no writer this good could possibly have gone unpublished! I have read thousands of novels over the years and maintained my own personal reviews and ratings. My highest rating, five stars, is reserved for true classics that reward unlimited re-readings. Very few books receive that accolade. This is one. "Dunces" is one of the funniest books ever published in the English language, tragicomic in the Rabelaisan, Cervantes sense of the word, but also falling-down-on-the-floor hilarious. Laughed 'til the tears came, and then I couldn't stop weeping. Couldn't stop turning pages, just to see what could possibly happen next. It is tempting to regret Toole's death, and to wonder if perhaps he would have produced more works of this caliber. In great art, though, quantity seldom equals quality. Toole was a shooting star who captured in "Dunces" his bittersweet understanding of the human condition for the edification of all future generations.

I absolutely loved and completely enjoyed this book. If you've heard that this book is funny, it isn't one of those laugh-a-minute books peppered with lame jokes that we've read a dozen times over in other books or heard on televisions' saddest sitcoms. In fact, its a completely different brand of humour. 'This book sure can make me laugh.' For instance, one particular description of our unlikely hero sitting on a stool and looking like a brinjal balanced on a thumbtack made me burst out laughing whilst lining up for the bus. But one cannot attribute all the laughs to Ignatius, but share it amongst every single one of the supporting cast. Not a single word written by John Kennedy Toole was out of place. His juxtaposing of choice words describing the plights in which Ignatius got himself into were works of brilliance. It really is a pity that we will never be able to indulge ourselves in similarly wonderful books again. We have lost a literary genius who managed to convey not just humour, but a deeper meaning concerning human behaviour and thought in his writing. And to think I just picked this book randomly off a shelf.

Every once in a while you happen upon a book by chance, only to discover later that here, in your hands, is a work worth more than you paid. A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES is such a work.

Through A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES, John Kennedy Toole has created one of the greatest tragic anti-heroes of our time. Ignatious J. Reilly is a character among characters, a beomouth of a man, a wit and a fibber beyond all, the original slacker - one whose curious logic and outlook on the world can only be compared to Don Quiote. Having graduated from college, Ignatious' main goal is to live out his life in his tiny bedroom, away from society, writing passage after passage of brilliant verse for the very audience whose company he rejects. Ignatious despises all things, believing that the American Culture is thoroughly lacking in "theology and geometry" and that nothing short of a good lashing will save many a soul.

A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES takes place a short time ago in the outskirts of New Orleans, where the city's true character is hidden from our tourist eyes, and yet the New Orleans of Toole could easily be Brooklyn or Los Angeles or Boston. In fact Toole's world is an utterly American experience, with accents and characters that spring to life and echo in your mind as the words flow beneath your eyes. Here we are presented with a literary "Green Acres." And though the book introduces you to an assortment of individuals, Toole's mastery of dialogue keeps each one fresh in your mind, without the confusion or blandishment that other authors might show. Each character is just that, and no two could ever be confused. Along with Ignatious J. Reilly, we are presented with

- Mrs. Reilly, a souse of a mother whose voice and patter will resonate in your mind

- Officer Mancuso, a patrolman who is the embodiment of the Sad-Sackian cop

- Jones, a self made victim of sorts whose wit and comebacks kept me laughing out loud

- Myrna Minkoff, Ignatious' pseudo-ex-girlfriend and an activist who believes that through sex all problems can be solved

And yet with these and many more characters, it is the voice and the soul of Igatious who dominates this work. Reading it is to join him and his cast in one ill-begotten adventure after another.

The novel begins with Igatious waiting for the return of his mother, who has set off to buy the very item which he needs the least of - cake. Officer Mancuso happens upon Igatious, and based on Igatious' sloven, beomouth appearance, he decides to question Ignatious, with the possible intent of arresting him, for officer Mancuso has been assigned the very demanding task of arresting any suspicious "characters" he might find. It is with this pretext that we begin a journey into what I can only describe as an immensely enjoyable read.

I read the novel Of Mice and Men, which was recommended to me by my cousin. He told me the book wasn't that long and the story was really nice. So I went to the library and checked it out. When I first started to read the book it seemed kind of boring because the two main characters where just talking back and forth, but after the first two chapters I couldn't put the book down. It was a wonderful book and I had a great time reading it. While I was reading this book it made me think about me and my friends and what friendship really is.

Of Mice and Men is a story about a relationship between two friends who travel around California, working on farms. Lennie is a big, giant, strong man with the mind of a small child traveling with George, a short, smart guy who not only looks after himself but also has to look after his job and take care of his mentally retarded friend, Lennie. George is like Lennie's older brother who watches out for him all the time. Lennie does unintelligent things like carry around dead mouse in this pocket and George always yells at Lennie and gets mad at him yet, George can't go on with his life without Lennie. They travel together working hard on farms and saving up money so their dream can come true. All they want is a place of their own with chicken, rabbits, horses, and other farm animals. On their way to their dream they stop at a farm to make some money where things go wrong because Lennie likes to touch, pet, and hold on to soft things. Their dream is ruined because of Lennie's habit. Lennie likes to touch all things that are soft, and I mean all things that are soft, even a woman's soft pretty dress, or her soft silky hair, which gets Lennie killed by his best friend. George decides that he can no longer protect Lennie from the horrible things that he hadn't intended to do. This was a really hard decision for George but he knew the outcome was going to be the best for both him and Lennie.

Of Mice and Men takes you through life changing events, problems, and dreams of two poor laborers who just want a place of their own, which is just like many people in the world. Many families and friends work together so their dreams can come true. This book also made think of friendship and how we treat our friends and others in the world who are different, and less intelligent then us. People treat others bad, and put them down just because they are different. Even though the ending of this novel seems sad, and heart breaking, I think George did the right thing; he didn't want his friend to live the hard harsh life, in this unkind world. After reading this book, it made me realize that John Steinbeck is a wonderful author and I loved his writing style. It simple, easy to understand, relates to life, teaches you something and leaves you with something to think about. I am a person who doesn't like to read much but when I am assigned to read for a class I tend to find books that interest me. In the future I plan to read this book again and I also want read more of John Steinbeck's novels.

My name is Kelly, and I am a junior in high school and I was recently assigned to read John Stienbeck's novel OF MICE AND MEN. I thouroughly enjoyed reading this book, for many different reasons. For instance, Steinbeck uses a storyline that grabs the attention of all ages, young or old. In the begining, we are introduced to George and Lennie the novel's two main characters. They are fleeing from their former hometown in search of a new job opportunity on a ranch located in the Salinas Valley. The two fathem a dream of owning their own ranch one day with lots of acres and rabbits. They work out a plan to earn money so this dream can be fulfilled. While on the ranch the young childish Lennie is objected to numerous situations, in which they put George in akward posiitions. George's loyalty is constantly tested throughout the novel. With a surprise ending their dream seems to fade away. This book is one everyone should read, because it teaches the meaning of friendship and the "American Dream".

I am a tenth grade student and I recently read "Of Mice and Men" for a school project. I thought it was an excellent book. I felt that the author, John Steinbeck, did a first class job with this novel. It portrayed the relationship between George and Lennie in a way that made you become very attached to the characters. You wanted to read more to find out if they ever accomplished their goals and to see if their dreams became a reality. George and Lennie are complete opposites; George is a small, quick intelligent man, while Lennie is a man of huge dimensions but has the brain of a child. Throughout the story Lennie acts in ways that infuriate George, but George will always be there for his friend because he knows Lennie needs him to survive. Lennie can buck barley like no one else because of his pure strength, but would probably starve to death if he didn't have George to provide his daily meals. I think that has to do with why this book has been banned in the past by schools across the country. Some people may be offended by how the mentally challenged person is shown in this story. It seems as though the view being expressed is that people with mental problems can't do anything for themselves. They are also a constant threat to others because they cannot control themselves. Lennie didn't realize what he was doing was wrong until it had gone too far. These are stereotypes of mentally retarded people that some people may believe are reinforced by this novel. They are lead to believe that this book is discriminatory towards the mentally challenged. Parents whom believed this did not want their children reading this book because they did not want them to be exposed to these types of ideas. Also, Curly's wife does not fit the traditional mould. She is unhappy with her marriage and is not completely loyal to her husband like a conventional wife should be. She is always flirting with the men that work on the farm. Some adults believed that this was unacceptable behavior to expose to children. I don't think that a school today would even consider banning this book because cultural standards have changed greatly from when this book was first published in 1937. I also don't believe that this book should have ever been banned. It is a great book that takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Once you get started it is almost impossible to put down. The ending is also written to perfection. It is unpredictable and is incredibly moving. I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it anyone.

The Firm is a book built up with suspense; you never know what will happen next to the story. It starts with Mitch McDeere (main character) surprises everyone by joining in a small, private, very rich tax firm. McDeere and his wife Abby quickly settle in Memphis and start a new life, where they are young and happy. This is just like a normal lawyer where they hit big, and have a prosperous life. But as the story goes on things did not go as smoothly as McDeere thought. Two of the partners in the firm died in a suspicious diving accident in Grand Cayman, the firm are also overly proud about how no one has ever resigned. Afterwards, a FBI agent by the name of Tarrance suddenly appears in front of McDeere's life, and tells him that a mafia family in Chicago controls the firm. Everything properties that McDeere owned are all being bugged and are listened by the security in the firm twenty-four hours. Now McDeere has to make a decision, ignore the FBI agent, and get busted in to jail later on in his life, or cooperate with the FBI and taking the risk of getting killed by the mafia. I would often question myself, "If I was McDeere, what would I do?" The situation that McDeere's having is a life-death situation.
Personally, I would give two thumbs up for this book. It isn't like other books where the settings are based in somewhere familiar to the reader, and plot is about top lawyers competing with each other. Instead, the setting is in Memphis, Tennessee, a city down south of America, where people pay no attention. Imagine yourself as McDeere, and you will feel the tense dangers around him

This inticing thriller will have you on the edge of your seats, while your eyes are glued to this book. Ladies and Gentlemen John Grism has done it again. This book is a story about Mitch McDeere, a Harvard law student who has just graduated at the top of his class. All he has now is his degree, his sharp mind and his loving wife. With no money in the bank, he takes an offer from an affluent law firm. After this firm buys him a new house and car, and goes out of thier way to make everything look picturesque, he realizes that something is not right. He understands that his clients rather pay the a lawyer instead of the FBI, its the American way. What this young bright attourney does not yet realize is whats going on behind the scenes at this firm. After uncovering the wrong information, Mitch has the FBI and the MOB watching every move he makes, making this unstopable reading so unpredictable and exciting. Grism keeps the wandering weather each move will be his last. This was one of the most exciting books Ive ever read! I literally couldn't put it down until I finished it!

This was the first Grisham book i ever read, and it got me hooked. I had seen some of the film before without really knowing who wrote it, so i decided to buy the book and read it. The hero of the story is a young man named Mitch McDeere who is fresh out of law school at Harvard. He graduated third in his class and job offers are pouring in from all over the country. Huge firms in Washington and New York will pay him handsomely, but one small firm in Memphis caught his attention with a new BMW, $80,000 a year and hundreads of other perks he had only dreampt about. After a while, the funerals, the FBI agents and the sinister happenings of the firm in the Cayman islands catch up with him. The story, after numerous twists and turn reaches a climax in Florida, when it comes to the crunch, who is cleverer, the FBI, State police and Mob put together, or Mitch McDeere a 24 year old lawyer. Have a guess.

The book certainly is very gripping and there is always a sense and indication of worse things to come. For example, on Mitch's first day with the firm, he attends the funeral of two men who tried what he is about to try. At first Grisham give us the impression that the firm is warm and friendly but he cleverly changes this perception as the book continues by having them lie and blackmail Mitch. I think this book is simply perfect for a sequel and i think that Grisham has already given us it with THE PARTNER. The firm is an excellent book that i would recommend to anyone. I hope my review was interesting.

Cider House Rules ranks as one of Irving's best novels. It is the story of an orphan, his search for love and "usefulness". He grows up in an orphanage with the usual eccentric mix of Irving characters. Despite attempts towards adoption, Homer keeps returning to the orphanage; the place in which he feels useful. Dr. Larch, the ether addict founder of the orphanage, enlists Homer in his personal crusade against unwanted babies; training him as an obsetrician to perform both the "Lord's work and the Devil's work". The story explores the love between Homer and Dr. Larch, unrealized by them both for many years. It also explores the love of a fellow orphan, Melanie, in love with Homer and obsessively hatefiul of his girlfriend, she tails Homer throughout the state; finding love of her own along the way. The story is set against a stark backdrop of rural Maine and spans the first half of the century. A must read, especially for fans of Owen Meany

Before long, John Irving will be read widely at schools and colleges; his books are great and have been compared to the masters of literature. The Cider house rules is a fun and easy novel to read. But what some readers missed out on was the central meaning, the message from the book. Such great writers like John Irving write books for more reasons than just to entertain, but they write books to teach the world something. Some readers have placed John Irving in the group of, "senseless" writers. But reader please be aware that John Irving's books do have themes and messages, I have only read this one and I can see how easily some readers can get lost in the story and miss out on the idea behind the story. What I thought Irving was trying to say is that someone's father does not necessarily have to be biological. Your father doesn't have to be the person that made your mother pregnant. Homer Wells, and Dr. Larsh have some father-son qualities that pointed this out to me, but we must always look beyond the characters problems and think of the UNIVERSAL meaning of the book, and I believe what Irving was trying to say is that things can always be replaced by other things, it is an excellent story and meaning, good and thought provoking, an all around FIVE star book!

Last night I stayed up until 4:30 finishing the epic John Irving novel, "The Cider House Rules." When you read a John Irving novel, you hold life in your hands. When I finished the book, last night, I held something dead---the story was over, and the characters that I had gone through so much with, would no longer experience something new. I would contend that John Irving creates more realistic characters than any other novelist I've read; so much so, that I will remember these characters (and the characters from "Garp") as if I were remembering real people.

Often, when I finish a book, I question what it has done for me. The problem I had with Thomas Harris' "Red Dragon" (which I read before this), is that although the storytelling was brilliant, it left me feeling cold and disturbed. "Cider House" and "Garp" left me feeling full, and excited about life, and aware of the framework that exists in the world. John Irving so often pulls back from his characters, telling you how they die or how they were born, that you often feel the impulse to view your own life that way. You too will have an ending. But before you do, I strongly suggest that you read a John Irving novel. Either "The World According to Garp," "The Cider House Rules," or (the Irving book I will read next) "A Prayer For Owen Meany" (which many contend is his best).

I loved "The Cider House Rules," and I'm sad that it's over. I might even say that "Cider House" will stay with me for a long time, to which Homer Wells might reply: "right."

Native Son is an excellent book that is quite deep on many levels. Richard Wright does an incredibly nice job of developing his main character, Bigger Thomas.

Bigger is a twenty year-old poor black man hired by a wealthy white family, and then accidentally kills the prominent young daughter out of fear. In covering up her death, he allows his emotions to get the better of him, and he rapes and kills another girl.

The first two sections of the book are loaded with intrigue, suspense, and drama, as the reader is right there with Bigger as he tries to mislead the murder investigation, and then runs from the large angry masses once his cover-up is foiled. The third section allows you to get into Bigger's mind and feel his confused emotions. Here, the reader is treated to Wright's views on society mainly through the voice of Bigger's trial attorney.

The language in the book is easy-flowing, and not terribly descriptive, which was done intentionally, so the reader could read between the lines and make clear assumptions. All in all, the novel was quite entertaining and rather eye-opening.

It`s my personal opinion that Richard Wright`s Native Son is one of the best books ever written by an African-American writer. In his book he desribes the pains of ghetto life for the negroes in Chicago`s black belt, cira 1920. Never has an author ever caught the thoughts and feelings of a single person as Wright did with the main character Bigger. Bigger`s life is portrayed as bleak and dark but, things start to look up when he accepts a job as a driver for the millionaire Dalton`s. He is getting paid well with extra spending money and the opportunity to get an education. His first job is to take the Dalton`s daughter to a university function but, there is a change of plans, a change that turns out to be fatal. I don`t want to give the whole book away so I highly suggest read and find out what happens to Bigger. So if you enjoy reading classic American books you will enjoy Richard Wright`s Native Son.

The novel, Native Son, is a great story that illustrates racism in America. The main character, Bigger Thomas is continually treated unfairly because he is black. When he gets a job with a wealthy white family he accidently murders their daughter out of fear. He tries to cover up the murder and burns her body. He continues to try to escape because he is afraid that he is going to get arrested. He continues to run and gets into more trouble trying to escape. All of Bigger's acts of violence were done out of fear. Bigger is arrested and treated as a violent criminal. This novel illustrates that people can be mischaracterized by their actions when people don't actually know the person. In this novel, the reader gets to know Bigger's innocent, fearful character. This makes the reader feel sorry for Bigger and allows the reader to understand the effects of racism. The novel is filled with action and suspense that keeps the reader interested.