House

I love the Little House Books. I have read every one of them at least 5 times. They never get boring. The Litttle House Books are Non-Fiction- They are the best history books about the pioneer days. I am currently reading Farmer Boy, which is about Almanzo- Laura's future hustband. I just finished reading Little House on the Prairie to my kids- they loved it. They are asking questions about the pioneer days. If you want to get someone intrested in history start them on the little house books. Little House books are worth so much. I also like them because it is easier for children to understand history from another child's point of view. I hope every one reads the Little House books and learn about pioneer days in a fun and exciting way.

One of the biggest fallacies about the Little House books is that they are "girls' books." It was that perception of the books, as well as the sappy, smaltzy "Little House on the Prairie" TV show, that kept me from reading these books until I was in my early teens. One day just out of sheer boredom, I read my sister's worn copy of "Little House in the Big Woods." What a great book! A story of a family's survival in the wilderness with tales of bears, panthers, wolves, hunting, and all sorts of neat information on how pioneer people lived. "Little House in the Big Woods" erased my conception of the Little House books as "girlie stuff" and I promptly read the rest of the series.

Yes, some elements will appeal more to girls especially Mrs. Wilder's very detailed descriptions of women's clothing. (I generally just read what color the dress was and then skip over the rest of the description.) However, her stories about Indians, wild animals, blizzards, grasshopper storms, bandits, bullies threatening to beat up teachers, unruly students, unhinged farmwives, bossy older sisters, and a whole host of other great stuff will make these books fascinating to anyone interested in pioneer life regardless of gender.

Despite my age I still consider these among my favorite books. They are truly heartwarming classics with the magnificent illustrations of Garth Williams. Laura, the main character, will appeal to almost anyone- honest, principled, courageous, industrious, but with very human elements- including envy of her older sister and holding grudges, especially against snooty Nellie Oleson and her teacher (and future sister-in-law) Eliza Jane Wilder. The books are also a tribute to her father, Charles Ingalls, who emerges as a truly great man and father. A hard-working man upon whom fortune did not always smile, but always was able to remain unbowed regardless of misfortune. He was also a strict disciplinarian, who did not believe in sparing the rod, but also a truly loving father, who would do anything for his girls. Charles Ingalls, as seen through the eyes of his daughter, is a man worthy of any reader's respect.

For those who see images of Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert when they hear the words, "Little House," please give the books a chance. They are really nothing like the TV series. Although Laura Ingalls Wilder infused her books with a great deal of sentimentality- they never descend into the maudlin syrup that was the hallmark of the TV series. One example of how different they truly are would be how they represented how Mary, Laura's older sister, lost her eyesight. In "On the Shores of Silver Lake" Laura describes how scarlet fever robbed her sister of her sight, but also proudly describes how that tragedy never brought Mary to tears. Mary always remained "patient and brave." In contrast, the TV show has Mary wailing, moaning, and carrying on until her family ships her off to a school for the blind. (In the books, Mary does eventually go to a college for the blind, but only after years of being an important and valuable member of the family despite her disability.) Once again, the Little House series is a perfect example of the books being vastly superior to any TV or film conversion.

Heroines: varied

Travel westward in a covered wagon with the Ingalls family and experience the joys of family reunions, the daily drudgery of feeding chickens and milking cows, and the terror of tornadoes, sudden blizzards which dump yards of snow around you, and "wild" Indians who appear at your doorstep.

What worked for me:

These books just thrilled me as a child and they thrill me still as I read them aloud to my own children now. I love watching their fascination at what a struggle it was to survive in the rugged American wilderness, and can't help but smile as they absorb their first history lesson in such a painless fashion.

Size-wise Laura Ingalls was described as being round like a French pony, but she really longed to be willowy with golden curls like her older sister Mary. From the very first book we hear how five year old Laura was so disappointed with her appearance and see how she always measured herself against her sister's paler beauty.

What didn't work for me:

The only disappointment I have had with this series is that the final book is so short and lacks the warmth of the earlier novels, probably because Mrs. Wilder passed away before it was rewritten.

Overall:

Fans of historical and juvenile literature should enjoy these books. (And fans of romance should enjoy the later books when Laura meets her husband.)

Note: The series was the basis of the popular television show, "Little House on the Prairie".

Warning: The story is sweet and easygoing, but also deals with the harsh realities of life in that era. It is less than "PC" at times because it accurately depicts the general attitude towards native Americans in those days. If you are planning to read this to a youngster, be prepared for possible questions on these matters.

If you liked the "Little House" series you might also enjoy the "Anne of Green Gables" series.

If you thought a rabbit could never make an intelligent and rewarding house pet, think again! Absolutely the best book on rabbits ever written. Highly readable and entertaining, it packs a wealth of knowledge and experience into every page. It covers behavior, human interaction, interaction with other pets, diet and exercise, illness, and even individual personality quirks. The experience and wisdom of many different rabbit owners is available to you in this one little book -- No one who owns or wants a rabbit should be without it!

I recently got a Mini Holland Lop and didn't know very much about rabbits, until I read this book. Not only is it filled with information about rabbits, but it also tells that it is possible to make your rabbit a house rabbit. This book has 7 chapters:

1. Customs and Characteristics- the rabbit's mental make-up, what your rabbit's gestures mean, and personalities.

2. What to do before you get your rabbit- what should your rabbit's personality be? and preparing your rabbit's hutch.

3. Training- how to litter train, simple, yet clever "bunny-proofing" tecniques for your house, and toys that your rabbit will enjoy.

4. Interacting with humans- bitting isn't just a sign of aggression, and handling your rabbit properly.

5. How rabbits interact with other animals- how to introduce rabbits to other animals such as dogs, cats, other rabbits, and gluinea pigs.

6. Meeting your rabbits physical needs- what your rabbit's diet should consist of, exercise, grooming, and keeping your rabbit's environment clean.

7. Medical Care- Taking your rabbit to the vet, to fix or not to fix?, the digestive process, common illnesses, and the care of young rabbits.

Since reading this book I've found myself able to better understand my rabbit, and I have also been able to better care for her. Also, following this book's instructions, I have sucessfully litter trained my rabbit!

If you have a rabbit, are planning on getting one, or just are interested in learning about rabbits, make sure to read this book!

The House Rabbit Handbook is packed full of basic information one needs to properly care for a House Rabbit. Every person who cares for a Rabbit should have this book!

There seems to be a wonderful standard for so-called "y/a" fiction that is slipping in adult fiction.

This book is a great example. Beautifully written with rich, complex characters, THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION deserves many awards, in addition to the Newberry Award it has.

The lead character is a child named Matt, who is treated like a pet. Some pets are pampered, some are abused and neglected, and Matt endures all this and everything in between. He is loved, but most people hate him because he is a clone. The hatred is expressed in shockingly virulent ways. There are heartbreaking passages describing how this bright, talented child survives incredible abuse and neglect. Matt's resilience and spirit are so inspiring, you will be moved, but not be depressed by these scenes.

There is a wonderful sense of immediacy in the descriptions of the huge estate where Matt lives--the center of a drug lord's empire.

Matt has people who care for him: a cook with other "special" talents, a bodyguard with a dark past, and a sweet-hearted little girl. They serve as a surrogate family for Matt in the drug lord's wealthy household. The most compelling character is the ancient drug-lord himself; Matt is his clone, and loves him, even though the old man is corrupt and evil.

The engaging and complex characters alone would make this novel stand out, but there is also an excellent plot and story. A bildungsroman perfect for any bright young person, or any adult who craves good fiction.

The House of The Scorpion, written by a Newberry Honor book author, Nancy Farmer, is an amazing novel I couldn't put down. It is filled with excellent examples of literacy merit throughout its pages and it is what I would call a good book. The House of The Scorpion draws you into a unique but futuristic setting of Mexico and the Untied Sates and displays the main character Matt as a believable character. He may be a clone in this book but you can feel his pains, fears, lost ness, and longings throughout this novel. From the room filled with chicken liter in which he was kept to the longing to find out why exactly he is here in this world in the first place, you follow in Matt's eyes to find his freedom. The dialogue used in the House of The Scorpion provides much insight into the many characters and their feelings. A great example is taken right from the book jacket, where Matt is still trying to find why exactly he is here. Matt asks El Patron's bodyguard at his coming of age party. "How old am I?...I know I don't have a birthday like humans, but I was born." "You were harvested." Tam Lin reminds him. "You were grown in that poor cow for nine months and then you were cut out of her." The author uses many understatements to provide clues to the reader and Matt, what is exactly Matt's purpose in life, which in turn creates many dramatic questions that keeps the reader hooked. Why had Tam Lin given him a chest full of supplies and maps? Why had Maria run from him when they found MacGregor's clone in the hospital? Because they all knew what was to become of Matt, except Matt himself. All the twist, turns and surprises in this book make it so hard to put down. Every time you think you can take a break from reading, something unexpected happens and you have to keep on reading.
Any science fiction fan will love reading this book. I also feel this book would appeal to readers who enjoy suspense and mystery books. For all those Harry Potter readers, here is a new one for you. Take away the magic and put in futuristic science you get the House of The Scorpion. Within a classroom, this book could be used to stimulate discussions or activities on present day cloning or stem cell research. It is also a great book to discuss nature vs. nurture, since Matt and El Patron had the same DNA but however turned out to be very different people.

If you were looking for a morbid book this may not be it. It is a little on the weird side but it's not really sci-fi either. I'd say it's more like an adventure. Although it looks like it's leaning towards the mens side, I think that a well read girl could read it and enjoy it.

This is one of the most wonderful books ever written. James Allen explains in his "easy to read" way, how we are the ones responsible for the present state of our own lives (not someone else or some circumstance in our life). As he says, "Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself". That's why two different people can see the same event and view it in a totally different way. He also stresses that fighting the outer circumstance or "effect", will not help, since the real "cause" is in our hearts. He makes it very clear that if we wish to change the world, we will have to start with ourselves. And a big part of the work, will be to realize that we aren't usually even aware of our thoughts (which means we don't know what we're asking for). If you truly want to change your life, for the better - this book is a good place to start. James Allen wrote several other books, that are sometimes difficult to find, but well worth looking for. "Out From the Heart" is one of my favorites, as it gives "more basic" instuctions for those of us who have a lot to learn about ourselves. If you like James Allen's books you may also like books written by Vernon Howard, Guy Finley, Maurice Nicoll (who studied with P.D. Ouspensky and G.I. Gurdjieff), and J. Krishnamurti.

This book is one of its kind, and one of the best! EVen Anthony Robbins takes quotes from this book and recommends it to his listeners. It's amazing, such a tiny little book, yet it contains the most important believe that each of us must have in order to succeed. "Success is caused by successful thoughts!" Bad thoughts can never produce right results. I have already seen how this works in my life. Years ago I was sick with negative self sabotage and thinking. Then I came upon some books especially Harold SHerman's "TNT-The Power Within You", Joseph Murphy's "The Power Of Your Subconscious Mind", etc and this one. Read this one and you'll be convinced why you can't wish things to go right when your thinking is wrong. Like the ignorant saying "Hoping for the best but expecting the worst".... break out of that my friend. Stop poisoning your mind... learn why and how with this book! You'll soon see that this world is but a mirror, reflecting to you what you think and do.

The greatest invention of all time - started in someone's brain. The visionary.

What is amazing is that we are all visionaries. However because a negative visionary is not called a visionary, we don't perceive ourselves to be visionaries. This book shows you that you too are a visionary. You do create your own future. That said, what type of future do you want in your life?

Zev Saftlas, Author of Motivation That Works: How to Get Motivated and Stay Motivated

Anne Shirley rocks. I don't know what else to say. I received the series as a gift when I was 11, and after I read one chapter I devoured all 8 books. I've now read Anne of Green Gables so often that I can practically quote the whole thing - I still read it whenever I need an escape from the real world.

The novel is essentially a portrait of a sweet, lovable, imaginative child growing up in Prince Edward Island in the late 19th century. An orphan since infancy, Anne is tossed around by people who don't want her until she is accidentally adopted by the Cuthberts, who wanted a boy. With the Cuthberts, Anne at last finds the home she has so long desired - and her adopted family (aging siblings Matthew and Marilla) rediscover the beauty of the world through the bright little girl.

Montgomery fills this book with glorious descriptions of the PEI landscape she knew so well, and with simple, touching stories of growing up. It is so easy to relate to Anne as she deals with her innumerable "scrapes," from accidentally setting her best friend drunk to dyeing her hair green to being made to sit with a boy in school. You will love Anne the minute you meet her, and you will laugh and cry with her through the entire series.

first of all, let me begin with I LOVE THIS BOOK! I have read this book more times than I can remember...easily more than a dozen...thus, I am going to set my mind to write a glowing review of it.

This book portrays a stunning sketch of Canadian History and Culture in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The character personalities are so real and so amazingly "human" that one cannot help but fall in love with them. You really get a taste of PEI in its glory.

This story is set in Avonlea, Prince Edward Island (Canada), a fictional settlement which is really Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, the place where Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author grew up.

The main character is Anne Shirley...and eleven year old, enigmatic, imaginative, sparkling, highly intelligent orphan who is sent to Green Gables, a farmhouse in Avonlea, under the impression that she was to be adopted by a pair of elderly siblings, Matthew and Marilla Cuthburt. But, apon arrival to Green Gables, Anne discovers that there had been a horrible mistake...the Cuthburts never wanted a girl...they wanted a boy who could do the chores and help Matthew with the farm. Anne was was in the "depths of dispair". Matthew, on the drive home from the train station had taken a great shine to Anne and had his heart set on keeping her, regardless of any mistake. Marilla, however, was not so easily enchanted. She agreed to let Anne stay at Green Gables on trial, to see if she would behave herself and lend a helpful hand to Marilla. After the trial, Anne is welcomed to Green Gables and flourishes under the love of the Cuthburts and all Avonlea folk. Anne, however, has one big problem. Her Hair. It is a hopeless shade of carrotty red and Anne felt that it was the ugliest hair anyone could imagine. She was extremely sensitive about it and she was horribly embarrassed about it. On her first day of school, Anne's hair was made fun of by Gilbert Blythe, the smartest and handsomest boy in school. "Carrots! Carrots!" he said. Anne's temper got the better of her and she was so angry she broke a slate over his head. After that, for many years, she snubbed Gilbert every time he spoke to her and he developed a boyhood crush on her.

Ah, but to keep this review interesting and the book mysterious, I will stop telling you the story and begin reviewing. The characters in the book are so well-defined that it seems to you that you know every character personally, like an old friend or neighbour.

And by all means, don't let the age recommendation fool you either...this book can be read by all ages alike...and I have no doubt that this book will still be my avid favorite at the age of 85.

The book is not boring, contrary to many opinions of those who read the first chapter of small print and historical settings. The discriptions will place you right into the heart of the story and you find you will laugh and cry while reading this story. Every time I read it I cry at a certain part which I'm not sure if I should reveal to you for fear of spoiling the good parts in the story, but it is dreadfully sad. If you read the book, then you will know what part I am talking about. The one saddest part in the whole story.

Although this book has some old ideas and ways of expressing them, you will learn a great deal of Canadian history through them and there's no doubt in my mind that this book will still be popular decades and most likely even centuries to come.

My 13 year old daughter is in 8th grade, and although this book's level of reading difficulty is beneath her reading ability she still couldn't put it down. With all of the pressures of school these days it is wonderful that this classic children's novel can still be a source of relaxation and entertainment for our children.

This book is clearly a labor of love. I know it's changing my life, slowly but surely -- I can look around my home now and feel hopeful and happy, instead of depressed and despairing. But that's not the only reason you should buy this book.

You should buy this book because you don't have to.

FLYlady has made all of the information available on her website, and through her mailing list. It's free. It's there to help people in CHAOS crisis, even the ones who can't afford to buy the book and are getting their information on the computer at the public library. And it's changing their lives for the better just like it changed mine.

The world gets changed like that, one life at a time. Women (and men, too, I suppose) don't just clean up their houses with the ideas and advice given in this book, they clean up their acts. They start taking pride in themselves. They start getting out of situations where they and their children are endangered because they realize that they deserve better. They begin to FLY!

So I bought this book because I know that those little royalty payments help keep that free outreach going (not to mention that it's great having the whole program laid out in one place). And the world needs places like flylady.net.

I bought this book as a "gratitude" purchase, but am finding it valuable to have all the information in book form. Flylady's website and emails have already started to change my life - and my house - even though years of trying other systems had not.

I'm very educated and can pull off grand projects at work, but my house has never been neat for more than one day, and that after mad panic cleaning due to guests being scheduled. No matter how much I resolved to not let it get bad again, I just couldn't seem to keep it together. My shame, and sense of failure, were unspeakable. And I thought, permanent. But I just needed to learn from someone who conquered lifelong chaos. This system works, and it is EASY! I simply cannot believe how much less time and stress this system takes, and how much better life is becoming. Oh, Thank God!

Now that flylady's book is in print, more people will be able to start living in peace rather than chaos. What a relief! Thank you Flylady, from the bottom of my heart. And my husband thanks you, too!

This is great book for people who are clueless about cleaning or would rather pay someone else to do it. I am kindof both, but after someone that I paid to clean my house decided to do my laundry and ruined one of my husband's suit jackets, I decided I needed to be the one cleaning. At least that way I would feel less guilty if I ruined something in the wash. Marla wrote an excellent book on how to go from clueless to clean in just a month. But this book goes beyond cleaning. It also helps you learn to declutter and focus on what is important in your life. And I have learned that there are truely other women out there who suffer from CHAOS(Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). I have been thinking for five years I was the only one in the world with this problem. Thank you for releasing me from all that guilt. I am a happier, cleaner, more organized mother. Plus check out her great website at flylady.net while you wait for the book to get to you. It is great!

I totally LOVE this book! This is one of my favorite books in the whole world by my absolute FAVORITE author, L.M. Montgomery. Anne Shirley, the delightful, talkative orphan that Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert adopt, is an extraordinary character. She's so full of life that you just can't help loving her. L.M. Montgomery paints a wonderful picture of the small town of Avonlea, in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where the story is set. As Anne gets older and more mature, she also gets wiser and more loving - and lovable. I've read this book at least three times, and it is still one of my absolute favorites. Even though this is classified as a "children's book," adults will love it too, I know. I read it first when I was 9 or 10 years old, then again when I was about 12, and again, just recently (I'm only 14 now). I also think that it would be a wonderful book for moms and dads to read to their children, no matter how old or young they were.

This is one of the best books ever written and the credit goes to spirited Anne (make sure it's spelled with an "e"!) Shirley. It's not often you find such a charming heroine as Anne. ANNE OF GREEN GABLES is the first of a series on this lovable orphan, and it begins with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, a respectable brother and sister, living at Green Gables. They are both growing old and need a boy to help out on the farm. But they got a talkative redhead girl instead. Before they can send her back to the orphanage, Anne has managed to win the hearts of Prince Edward Island with her wit and imagination. She seems to affect everyone around her - from busybody Mrs. Rachel Lynde to handsome Gilbert Blythe. And now, Green Gables will never be the same! . . .

It's not often you find such a spirited and lovable heroine as Anne. Captivating and captivatED, Anne is full of enthusiasm and fun, which gets her into all sorts of scrapes. This book is one that you are guaranteed to laugh over, cry over, and never want to put down! It is an ideal novel that you won't want to pass up! (Even if you don't read the rest of the Anne books, read this!)

'People who haven't red hair don't know what trouble is. Mrs. Thomas told me that God made my hair red on purpose, and I've never cared about Him since.'

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Upon arriving at the Cuthbert's home on Prince Edward Island, Anne Shirley, a vivacious and imaginative young orphan girl, was devastated to hear that she was a mistake. The Cuthbert's had wanted a boy. Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, an elderly brother and sister, decide to keep her, and from that moment nothing is the same.
Cracking a slate across a boy's head, getting her best friend drunk (accidentally of course), saving a baby's life, and nearly drowning herself are all part of Anne's daily life. Marilla and the neighbors couldn't help but express their disappointment with the little newcomer'at first. To most she knows, Anne becomes an irreplaceable addition to sleepy Avonlea. Anne is changing too. Gradually she becomes more mature and learns to control her sometimes fiery temper.
Anne of Green Gables is unpredictable and hilarious; you can never tell what Anne will do next! I loved her endless questions about the world, and her passionate love of life. Anne Shirley is one of the most enjoyable characters I have ever read about, therefore, I would recommend this book to anyone.

"Get Fuzzy" chronicles the day to day life of Rob and his "friends" (pets) Bucky, the psychotic (is there any other kind?) cat and his hapless, loveable shar-pei Satchel. This comic is the most precise, dead on accurate portrayals of pet life ever written. Artistically, "Get Fuzzy" is one of the most detailed comics out there (artists and other funky people will love Conley's attention to detail - like lamps that are plugged in, slogans on shirts) and really well drawn (check out Bucky's little belly and alarmingly astute facial expressions). Sometimes he doesn't even need words and you will be rolling on the floor laughing. But he uses words well, too. My favorite aspect of the comic is that the character development is extremely advanced. Satchel, Rob and Bucky (and even Rob's dad and my favorite character, Joe Doman)have distinct, hysterically funny and spot-on personalities. Almost every strip of "Get Fuzzy" gets a laugh ... but funny though it is, it is also poignant. Satchel, an innocent in a mad, mad world, offers moments of "Oh, Satchel!" when you remember that pets aren't just for entertainment, they're part of a symbiotic relationship - we need them, and they need us. In short, I LOVE GET FUZZY. I am the proud owner of a Satchel and a female-Bucky (I know, you pity me yet you are strangely drawn to my world) and I discovered "Get Fuzzy" last year. Any pet owner should read this comic - not only are you not alone, you are in great company!

Darby Conley and "Get Fuzzy" have found a lifelong fan in me. I haven't felt this way about a comic strip since Calvin and Hobbs. Both strips share the same kind of laugh-out-loud humor about things that everyone can indentify with - ESPECIALLY pet owners and PARTICULARLY cat owners (or is it, humans who belong to cats?).

GF and C&H also share the ability to make you laugh in almost any frame of the strip. In other words, it's not your standard and very tired "set up, set up, set up, punchline." Sometimes the funniest part might occur in the first frame or in the middle frame. Occasionally it might just be a word, like "Smacky," the name of Bucky's doll (the line, "I'm packin' Smacky" still makes me laugh to think about it, though regrettably that particular strip is not in the book).

Conley also brings Bucky and Satchel alive as it seems very reasonable and natural to have a cat and dog interacting and speaking with people (none of the "thought bubbles" you associate with pet strips like Garfield). And though both animals act very human, Conley still manages to capture and nail the essence of feline and canine behavior.

There are very few books that I find myself revisiting once I've read them. This is one of them. Mr. Conley, if you're reading this, I offer my heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your work. When can we expect the next book?!?! How about a stuffed Bucky or Satchel?

In the meantime, I'll content myself with starting each morning with the daily strip at comicsdotcom and perusing "This Dog is Not a Toy" whenever I need a good laugh.

Bucky and Satchel perfected it! As the Garfield comic strip has gotten older, we've seen Jim Davis struggle to keep it fresh. Don't get me wrong, I own every single garfield book out there, but Get Fuzzy has definitely come into it's own as a successor to the throne. The adventures of Rob, with Bucky and Satchel are even funnier then Garfield, because in contrast to Garfield, Bucky and Satchel actually can talk and interact to humans. They are very up to date with the times, and will talk about issues that happen in real life in the strip quite often. One of my favorite strips is the one where Rob won't give up his Red Sox hat to Bucky, so Bucky goes out into the world and finds a Yankees hat much to Rob's mismay. As a Red Sox fan, I love how Conley is a huge Red Sox fan and portrays that in his work. As I've grown up, Garfield has grown with me, but now I feel I've grown out of that and into Get Fuzzy. Highly recommended for a good laugh!

THE hOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS.THE SETTING TAKES PLACE IN nEWNEBEE. THE MAJOR CHARACTERS ARE LOUIS, UNCLE JONATHAN, MRS. ZIMMERMAN,TARBY AND MR. AND MRS.IZARD. THE FASCINATING EVENT OF AN MAGICAL ECLIPS OF THE MOON AND THE RISE OF THE DEAD. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANY ONE THAT LIKE WISARDS, MAGIC AND MYSTERY. THIS BOOK A BOOK THAT YOU PICK UP A WON'T PUT DOWN BOOK.
ASHLEY

..Lewis, the main character in the book, is FAT....just like me bhwahahhahaha. Seriously, i adore this book ever since i read it awhile back ago. It scare me alot like no other book ever did. I had nightmare where a clock is ticking inside the house and i was chubby Lewis, trying to find a way to save the world from destruction. I think i hid under the bed in my nightmares but that is another story. I saw the made for saturday movie based on the book but it was nowhere as scary. Read the book and be forewarn... it will scare you senseless. I am scared just by thinking about it.

John Bellairs knows how to write a good scarefest with exact detail and heartfelt suspense. I have read his other books on the Lewis saga and enjoy every one but this one started it all. Check out Edward Gorey's illustration...this guy is good!

Well that's enough...now give it a read....and be terrified!!!

Poor Lewis...He's recently lost both parents, he's fat, and he's going to live with Uncle Jonathan, a relative he's never met. Lewis discovers that Uncle Jonathan is basically a nice guy, but a little weird. And something about his house is weird too. It's full of clocks, but one of them in particular keeps ticking...and ticking...and ticking...and no one knows where it is.

'The House with a Clock in its Walls' is a genuinely creepy story with strange, likable characters. Several humorous, light touches run throughout the book, but the scary scenes really deliver. Any kid (or adult) who enjoys the Harry Potter books will find this book a welcome addition to their reading while they wait for the next J.K. Rowling outing. Although the book is for both boys and girls, the book will especially attract boys who may not be interested in sports. Highly recommended.

179 pages with great illustrations by Edward Gorey

Ann Rinaldi puts forth nothing but her best in all her books, especially In My Father's House. Rinaldi's main character is Oscie. She is young, free-spirited and interesting. Oscie is trapped between her world of luxury down South and the war taking place on her front lawn. This book is full of excitement, danger and sadness. Evertything from sisters drowning, war happening and Oscie's tutor causing a riot because she was from the North is right in the pages of this wonderful book. I loved it! It was suspenceful, sad , happy,and interesting all at the same time. It tells a lot of truth about the Civil War. If you are a big fan of Gone With The Wind it is inevitable that you will enjoy In My Fathers House by Ann Rinaldi.

In My Father's House was the first book I read by Ann Rinaldi. It got me started on a long string of her books. This book is about a strong-willed young girl named Oscie Mason who happens to be the only one in her family who has the guts to stand up to her strict step-father. And yet, even though they have their fights, it seems that there is a mutual respect that they gain for each other in the end. There is a strong flow of romance throughout the book, (which is ALWAYS good) and I enjoyed the Civil war setting. It depicts the tragedy of the deaths of the war well and throughout the story, the war seems to follow Oscie wherever she goes. So between the war going on outside, there is a war going on in her household and it becomes Oscie's job to hold everyone together. I loved this book, I definitely believe that you will too!

I am a female... and I wanted to say that this book showed me the civil war from a perspective I'd never seen before. It wasn't all history like a school book or something; most of it was plot, but it was educational and a lot of fun to read!