On-the-tape

I'm not truly a wrestling fan, but my friends recommended this book to me, so I decided to give it a shot. Honestly, it was pretty darn good. Granted, it's not going to win the Pulitzer, but it's got to be one of the most original and well-written biographies I've ever read.

This book chronicles one of the most unique individuals in wrestling's history. He wasn't the best athlete and he wasn't the best looking guy either. He only had to things going for him - his persistence and his uncanny ability of take punishment.

Not only does it describe Foley's wrestling career, it delves deeply in his family and personal life, and describes the profession that is wrestling from a unique and accurate view. Often, the audience only sees wrestling as entertainment, but Foley exposes it as a full-fledged business, with employees and decisions, with economic implications for each show.

What is most memorable about this book is Foley's descriptions of some of his most gruesome matches. From getting slammed into razor wire and explosives, to tearing off half his ear, he captured my interest and instilled in me some respect for professional wrestlers.

The one complaint I have is that Foley kept describing match after match. This paperback is over 700 pages long, and it could have been cut somewhat. At about pages 300-500, the book becomes tedious and almost repetitve as he describes numerous wrestling contests that really didn't differ from other ones he describes.

Wrestling fans will love it to death, and non-wrestling will not be disappointed.

The World Wrestling Federation originally became an international phenomenon in the early to mid-eighties. Under the guidance of WWF owner Vincent K. McMahon, Jr., people like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant became household entities, and heroes for a generation. The success of the WWF, however, can be seen in all factions of entertainment and media, and this includes the literary world.

Mick Foley is a wrestling personality who earned a reputation for doing anything it takes to give the crowd a good show. He has wrestled for over 15 years, and is most known as either Mankind or Cactus Jack, though many fans will never forget his third in-ring persona, teenage heart-throb Dude Love. It is Foley's selflessness in the ring and his complete disregard for his body that has won the respect of fans and peers alike, and in his book, Mankind: Have A Nice Day - A Tale of Blood and Sweat-Socks, Foley reflects on his 15-year career, and the rest of his life as well. What surprises many, however, is how well he is able to recollect the happenings in his life, and produce work that is both funny and touching, painful and heart-wrenching. Foley makes you laugh as much as you cringe, and cry as much as you wince.

The book begins with Foley's most painful memory, when he had his ear torn off in a match in Germany, and then goes into the beginning of his life as a Long Island native who became infatuated with wrestling on television. Wrestling was not only a hobby, it was Foley's way of bridging the gap between he and his father, and for them it became a common interest that bonded them tightly as father and son.

He then discusses his college life at SUNY Cortland, where he traveled every weekend to Pittsburgh in order to train with old-time wrestler Domenic Denucci. Foley discusses Denucci's influence on his life, as well as his keen ability to live out of his car every weekend because of his undying passion. Mick Foley wanted to be the next Superfly Jimmy Snuka, but instead of being a high-flyer he became famous for having three different personalities who never ceased to stun or entertain his fans. The culmination of his career came when he won the most coveted prize in the business, the WWF Championship, against the self-proclaimed People's Champ, The Rock.

Aside from his in-ring adventures, Foley's book delves deep into his personal life, including his love-at-first-sight relationship with his wife Colette, and the life of a wrestler behind-the-scenes. He talks candidly about many of his colleagues, from the outrageous antics of Jake-the-Snake Roberts to the failures of Ric Flair as a wrestling booker. Most importantly, however, Foley discusses the impact of the death of fellow wrestler and family man Owen Hart's on his own life, and how it made him value his wife and children more than ever before.

All in all, Have A Nice Day is a touching tale that will leave you in stitches, and make you marvel at the amount of stitches used to patch up Mick Foley's battered body. Ultimately, he shows that a professional wrestler is not just an actor who follows a script, but rather an extremely tough competitor who takes pride in entertaining millions of fans every day, and being heroes to kids worldwide. His book is a winner, for all mankind.

The first of the WWF (now WWE) autobiographies, and still the best. Foley, unsatisfied with the way his ghost writer scripted his book initially, decided to write it himself. Certainly, Foley should be credited with trying to write alone, rather than just let his ghostwriter do the work for him, but it is a testament to Foley the man that he wants anything with his name on it to be true to himself.
Foley proves himself quite literate, despite first impression from a guy who competes in matches with barbed wire and explosives, and taking over a dozen HARD chairshots to the head at the WWF's Royal Rumble 1999 Pay-Per-View. He also comes off as having quite a good sense of hunor, not only about himself, but about the wrestling business in general.
One might also think that due to his "King of the Death Match" label that Foley might be a little arrogant, as people might think all pro wrestlers are, but Foley again proves people wrong, as he is quite humble about not only his beginnings, but also his rise to the top, becoming a WWF World Heavyweight Champion. Sure, it's not real competition, but to get the title demonstrates the company's confidence in your ability as a performer to draw crowds. Certainly everyone strives to have the confidence of their company behind them.
As Foley has stated numerous times, both in his book, and in interviews, yes, he has sustained some bodily harm in his matches. Yes, he may never be able to walk straight, or stand tall again. However, he has lived his dream. How many people can say that? As Foley himself states, the damage that has been done to him physically is a small price to pay for living out his dream.
An excellent read, wrestling fan or no.

My favorite book is Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul because the book is interesting and has a lot of true stories based on teenagers. Being a teenager is hard because we have responsibilites and its so much drama we'll have to deal with. What I love about the book is that it breaks it down into sections based on Friendship, Love & Relationships, Family, etc. The section that I truly inspire is Love and Relationships because most teenagers make some disgraceful mistakes over stupid stuff. My best friend had recommend this book to me because she told that book made her feel like she doesnt want to make the same mistakes as teenagers did when some got pregnant or they leave their friends and family behind. They're many consequences we as teenagers have to handle. After reading the book made me feel that I want to be successsful from what I'm particularly good at. I would recommend this book to some teenagers who never read Chicken Soup.

I bought this book be4 i even heard of this website so it was totally coincidential. But i heard of it from a friend who recommended it. the book said that it would make U laugh cry and smile at first i was all like, "I doubt it!" But after reading it be$ going to bed I couldn't put the book down and be4 i knew it it was 4:35 am Today when i read the chapter on "Tough Stuff " the stories were absoulutely effective. And U guessed it I even cried! This book makes U more appreciative of life and it's affected me like no other book has or could. It's amazing since I hate reading. most of my guy friends hate reading but by forcing my best guy friend Brendan to read it he ended up buying it . My friends think i'm an advertiser for the book becuz i've gotten so many TEENAGERS to buy it. It's just something to relate to when there's nobody to listen. I've ended upbuying The Chicken Soup Diary I've got lotz to say so you're welcome to emailme! LPH @-->--

The Chicken Soup for the Teenagers soul books I think are the best book to tell teenagers how it really is, the peer pressure, love, loss, friendship, and family. If I didn't have this book or any of the others I don't think I would make it through my teenage years. This book has helped me with the loss of my grandpa, my family problems, and my relatonships with guys especially with the ones that didn't work out.

The Lost Boy is one of the best books I have read. This book tells an adventurous story of Dave Pelzer's struggle to get away from his abusive mother, his trip through several foster homes, being labeled as a foster child, and finally becoming a successful writer and father. The adversity that Dave Pelzer has to over come is amazing and inspiring. Dave Pelzer shows how strong the human sprit is. This book will leave many people feeling better about there own lives and inspire them to do more. After reading this book, a person should feel like he or she can overcome anything.

This book is very emotional. People that cry easy may want a box of tissues near by while reading. It is unbelievable what Dave Pelzer went through. The Lost Boy is a "roller coaster" ride through horrible times and positive highs. The lows will bring tears to the biggest man and the highs will leave a person feeling good about life. I recommend this book to be read as soon as possible.

The Lost Boy is the inspiring sequel to A Child Called "It". Although the books are a lot a like, The Lost Boy will make a person feel good about life and inspire him or her to do more. This may be one of those rare occasions when a sequel is better then the original.

After reading Dave Peltzer's "A Child Called It", I was drawn to read this sequel. His account of the emotional and physical abuse received at the hands of his mother and then his escape from his torture and his adaptation to foster home life is riveting. However, I wanted to know the answer to the following questions: 1) Why wasn't his mother arrested on criminal charges for the almost murderous abuse inflicted on this defenseless child (she should have been!), and 2) What had caused his mother to change from the loving parent she apparently was when Dave was very small to the evil person she became? Dave Pelzer, at the end of "The Lost Boy", hints that he returned with this question to his mother but never reveals the response he got from her. Perhaps this is what he intended since it really isn't any of our business. But it makes you wonder. Dave should be commended for making his life count for something despite the horrible past he has had to cope with. Most would not have done so well. I cannot understand the father's passivity in all of this as well. All in all, well written and quick reading!

Right now I am doing a review on the book called The Lost Boy. It is the sequel to A Child Called It. I feel like it is a very good book. It is a very sad book. It lets you know how parents can be so cruel to their children. It really makes you think. Also the book is based on a true story. I find it hard to believe that he survived through all that. Thank God his teachers noticed something was wrong and called the police because if they didn't he probably woudn't have had a chance to right the book. I feel so sorry for hime. What makes it so bad was that she had two other kids and she didn't treat them like that. She coudn't even call him by his name she called him The Boy.

In his autobiography, October Sky, Homer H. Hickam, Jr. uses a wide variety of literary elements to describe the forces that have shaped his identity. The surrounding environment, people he was around, and events of his life were three main forces that developed the fourteen-year-old Rocket Boy into a 38-year-old NASA engineer. Hickam's development of the setting, characters, conflicts, and resolution exposes worlds of detail about the extensive process in which his identity was carefully molded together.
Hickam was born and raised in Coalwood, West Virginia in the mid-1900s, used as the setting and the first identity-shaping force for the novel. Coalwood, home to over two thousand residents, was built for the sole purpose of extracting the millions of tons of rich bituminous coal that lay beneath it. Similar to the town's mineworkers, the white houses of Coalwood, owned by the coal company, constantly get tinted gray from blowing coal dust. While the town plunges further into the darkness of disappearance, the village parents strive to make sure that their children get out of Coalwood forever. And as the age of space exploration continues, Hickam quickly becomes intrigued by the news of both successes and failures of satellite launches. With the Russian Sputnik satellite already in space and the American scientists at Cape Canaveral struggling to have a successful satellite launch, Hickam dreamed of journeying to the moon. With the inspiration of Dr. Wernher von Braun and the help of the town citizens, Hickam and his team of Rocket Boys prepare to launch themselves out of the dying town of Coalwood through their success of rocketry.
Hickam used characterization to illustrate several significant people who greatly influenced his character including Elsie Hickam, Miss Riley, and the Rocket Boys. Elsie, his mother, a strong supporter of Sonny from the start, was determined to send him out of Coalwood and away from the dangers of mining. As the Rocket Boys continued their research, Elsie provided equipment such as pots, spoons, and even a water heater. Miss Riley, the 11th grade chemistry teacher at Big Creek High School, encouraged Hickam to continue his work with rocket science, providing him with knowledge of how different substances react with one another. She and Miss Bryson, the school librarian, ordered Principles of Guided Missile Design just for Sonny. The Rocket Boys, consisting of Billy, O'Dell, Quentin, Roy Lee, Sherman, and Sonny each had their own job as a member of the BCMA, or Big Creek Missile Agency. Billy, the runner, kept his eye out for the location of the rocket and went chasing in pursuit of it once the rocket landed. O'Dell and Roy Lee, the transporters, provided transportation to and from Cape Coalwood, the Rocket Boys' launch site. Quentin, the scientist, decided how to calculate the height of the rocket and eventually used a formula to do so. Sherman, the writer, scribbled down notes about the flight of each rocket. Sonny, the launcher and man in charge, ignited the rocket and took care of rocket production. With the encouragement and aid of the people near him, Hickam became a strong-minded individual capable of achieving anything.
Hickam's uniqueness wasn't displayed by the conflicts or events that he faced, but by the way he resolved them. Three major situations that changed Sonny forever were criticism and embarrassment, Mr. Bykovski's death, and learning algebra. At first when the BCMA started to launch rockets up on mountains near the mine, the rockets only flew up several feet. After consideration, they moved their launching to an abandoned slack dump far away from Coalwood. While embarrassed by how high their rockets could fly, the Rocket Boys kept on working harder and harder to accomplish their goal of a missile soaring miles high. Mr. Bykovski, a machinist-welder, built the actual rockets for the boys until he was fired and transferred to coal loading for doing so. The night that the mine ventilation fans were struck by lightning and a bump occurred near the face of the mine, Mr. Bykovski died in the mine. This was not uncommon, for men died in the mine quite frequently, forcing their families to leave their lives in Coalwood behind. Although Sonny felt terrible for the death of Mr. Bykovski, he knew that he had to keep moving on for Mr. Bykovski if not for everyone else cheering him on. Sonny continued with his love for rocket building and to make the missiles even better, he wanted to learn algebra. After persistently begging Mr. Turner, the school principal, for an algebra class and finally getting the chance to learn algebra, he was just as quickly shut out of the class when there was 1 extra student who signed up for the course and he turned out to be the one with the lowest grades. However, Sonny accepted it and he decided to learn algebra on his own by reading his father's algebra book. The steps Sonny has taken to resolve the conflicts in his life prove him to be a relentless, strong, and responsible person.
October Sky is a worthwhile read that spreads hope and inspiration to everyone. While it takes place in a town of decease and demise, it shows that anyone can do anything they set their mind to. Hickam wonderfully uses literary elements to express multiple events that happened in a historical town with a variety of citizens all trying to successfully get their children out of Coalwood. He combines all of these influences to display how his own identity has been patiently formed into the man he is today. At last, Hickam has found his true identity as a NASA engineer where he can continue to journey into the mysteries lying in outer space.

For the record, I am writing this September 15, the first day Rocket Boys is available from Amazon or any bookstore. At this moment, the book's "Amazon.com Sales Rank" is 45,793. Just wait.

I was heading out of town last week for two long business travel days when a bookseller friend handed me an advance reading copy of Rocket Boys and said, "Read this and tell me what you think."

I was so moved by the book, I could not put it down. It is a classic coming-of-age tale. A sweet, poignant, inspirational tale that is good on so many, many levels. Don't get me wrong: this is no gooey memoir. It is a gritty, obviously honest and emotional story with complex characters. It is at times gripping, sad and outrageously funny. It is one of those rare books that can be read by parents and their high school-aged children with deep relevance - and inspiration - for both.

And while I could go on and on about the many facets of the book I enjoyed, I found myself most impressed by the author's ability to engage me in a story in which high school math and science play pivotal roles. While Sonny is no math genius like, say, Will Hunting, he is passionate about his quest for the mathematical knowledge that will help him break free of his coal mining hometown's gravitational pull.

This book will be required reading one day in high schools everywhere. Not only for its literary quality, but for the way in which it will surely inspire future generations of Sonny Hickams to realize winning can be found other places than on the football field; that even if your background and family seems to be overbearing burdens, you can still aim high...and soar.

One day my class teacher told us we would all be picking a book, reading it, and writing a critique for it. Then she told us we would be placing it on the internet. I wasn't too thrilled about any of this. This book turned out to be a lot better than I thought it would be. Rocket Boys, by Homer H. Hickam was written beautifly, tellling the story of a few young boys trying to reach a common goal. Homer "Sonny" Hickam Jr. starts out as a freshman in highschool trying to find a way with the ladies, especially Dorthy, and battling the jocks, one being his brother, for popularity. Sonny takes a sudden intrust in Sputnik. This is what gets him started on his incredibly passoinate love for rockets. His father is a miner and is always gone, as where his mother is incredibly supporting to whatever he does as long as he "doesn't blow himself up." Miss Rilly was another very supporting person in Sonny's life. She is the one that provides the "fuel" for Sonny's dream when she gives him a book on rocketry and encourages him to enter the science fair. I loved how the story is so vivid and colorful, how you can see the excitement, anger, fear, and love that the character expresses. This story also shows you that you have to keep trying to get what you want, and that not everything comes easily, but if you work hard for it, it can be very rewarding. Sonny learns this when he decides to enter the county science fair. It ends up being incredibly rewarding, and surprising to him. He ends up in the national science fair and returns home with a medal. Sonny eventually ends up working for NASA and accomplishing his dream. I loved this book because it was what really happened to him and it shows. He made a lot of really great frinds along the way, whether in the mine workshop or just some "different" people at school. I give this book five stars and would read it again anyday!

They say the school children aren't taught much about Pearl Harbor and the great battles of World War II anymore and I wonder why. The generation of Americans that fought for all Americans is fast disappearing. Beore that happens books like Flags of our Fathers should be required reading for one of the high school history courses to educate the kids about the sacrifices made by 17-20 yr old boys in 1945. I was16 at the time yet I did not understand how vital the battle of Iwo Jima was to the victory over Japan; of how determined the Niponese soldiers were to fight to the death for the glory of their emperor; how brave our boys were to face the onslaught of all the guns and bullets thrown at them even as they stepped off the landing ships thru the ocean water turned red by the Marines blood. No wonder the few survivors did not want to talk about the night mares they endured for years after returning home. This book along with other stories of WW II should be read by all of us in memory of each man and woman who answered their country's call to defend our lives and the way we chose to live it. Otherwise we might be speaking Japanese or German today.

Born in 1974, I can hardly claim to have experienced the terror and patriotism that surrounded WWII. By all accounts, the picture of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi has always existed for me. In ever history book through school, the six men hoisting the American flag on a makeshift pole atop this sawed-off "mountain" was printed as the epitome of American valor. Little was mentioned about the people or the event that surrounded this monumental photograph. Now, thankfully, we know.

This book is an absolute must-read. At once a biography of each of these six brave men, a history book, a war novel, and a tale of struggle, this book should find its way onto the bookshelf of every American. The lives of these men before, during, and after the battle of Iwo Jima is enough to fill you with great sadness and immense patriotic pride simultaneously.

This book is as relevant today as it could have been had it been published 55 years ago. While it is quite usual to hear words like honor, courage, and commitment strewn about by talking heads that pervade our society and media, it is rare to see these demonstrated by actual human beings. The stories of these men will show that that even under great strain the human spirit can thrive, and that occaisionally our heroes can be taken at face value.

However, as Bradley points out, these men were not heroes for raising that flag on Mount Suribachi. They, like every other American boy who set foot on foreign soil for God and country half a century ago, were heroes for the simple act of being there and doing the best they could.

Buy this book.

My father ran away from home when he was 17, lied about his age, and joined the Marines. He was standing guard duty on the Panama Canal when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He shipped out almost immediately for the South Pacific as part of the First Marine Division. He served on Guadalcanal and Bougainville. That is almost the entire extent of my knowledge of my father's World War II experiences. Although I lived with him until I went away to college, he just didn't talk about it. Reading this book by James Bradley helped me to understand that I am not alone in this experience.

Our fathers' generation fought a war without daily body counts on the evening news, without "embedded" journalists, and without carping from the home front about why they shouldn't be there. They fought it quietly and stoically. They won their war, and the survivors came home to get back to the business of being human. This is a great book with many lessons for a country facing a war against terrorism. May God grant that we fight it as effectively, successfully, and heroically as our fathers' generation fought their war.

Universal Pictures will open its "Seabiscuit" movie, based on Hillenbrand's book, on July 25, two days from this writing. If the movie captures the book's drama, excitement, detail, pace, and above all, its heart, then it will triumph.

Hillenbrand sets the tone of Depression-ravaged 1930's America perfectly: a nation struggling to regain a lost hope and eager for a hero. That the hero happened to be an undersized horse with outsized knees and crooked legs makes the story unusual, but all the more interesting for its improbability.

Seabiscuit was the force around which a trio of unusual figures came together with a common, almost mystical purpose. Seabiscuit owner Charles Howard, automobile seller extraordinaire who developed a passion for horse racing, brought together Tom Smith, an empathic mustang breaker from the Old West who makes Robert Redford's "Horse Whisperer" seem mute by comparison, with jockey Red Pollard, a half-blind, half-crippled ex-prize fighter whose career was going nowhere. This ragtag group took an underperforming, physically underwhelming thoroughbred, the unlikely scion of the great Man O'War, and through years of training, disappointments and failures, drew out the unconquerable heart of a champion, fulfilling the promise which Smith had originally sensed in Seabiscuit. The public response overwhelmed all the news of the day, and a legend was born out of the most unlikely of beginnings.

Hillenbrand writes with clarity and purpose, imbuing all her figures with an immediate presence which transcends history. She has been justly praised from not only the sports and racing worlds, but also by such standards as The New York Times and Washington Post. After reading her book and leaving it feeling ennobled, edified, and entertained, I can only add to the chorus of praise and give my strongest recommendation to all readers who appreciate a compelling story well told.

Let me say a few things up front: I have never set foot on a racetrack, I have watched the Kentucky Derby maybe twice on TV and I have little interest in jockeys, horse trainers or horses in general. For those who think this is a book about a racehorse, think again. It is a wonderful, descriptive work about the underdog, about triumph over adversity, about personality in animals and, most importantly, about a rarely discussed slice of America.

With a keen sportswriters eye toward detail as well as broader context, Ms. Hillenbrand has written a vivid description of an amazing animal, the three men around him and an era in American sports and history. Seabiscuit was a fascinating creature, not only for his deceptive power but for his playful, competitive nature. Ms. Hillenbrand helps us understand this horse as a person - a person you instinctively root for. His owner, a self-made success in the automobile industry, displays concern for the horse as if it were a child. Seabiscuit's trainer embodied the western spirit and had an uncanny bond with the horse - he was a real-life horse whisperer. Finally, the harrowing, rough and tumble life of a jockey during the 1930's is painted here with unsympathetic accuracy, as we learn about the trials of Red Pollard. Seabiscuit was the hub of these three lives and their extraordinary accomplishment on the racetrack.

The book builds toward two climaxes - the match race against War Admiral (which Ms. Hillenbrand desribes in such wonderful detail) and the ever elusive Santa Anita Handicap. Although historical, the book has a novel-like suspense that keeps the uninformed reader rapt and engrossed. This book, which describes the regional split between east and west coast race horses, really describes the potential and scrappy nature of the American west. Thank you, Ms. Hillenbrand, for such a terrific read.

Author Laura Hillenbrand really captures an amazing story in Seabiscuit. I think like the horse itself, the story would not have been destined for greatness without the right handling. Seabiscuit the horse succeeded because of a unique owner, down-and-out trainer, and second-rate jockey who each had nothing to
live for and everything to prove. Without them, the horse would have never become what it did: a champion. The story isn't one that tells itself though. Hillenbrand brings it to life with an amazing spirit and vitality. Thanks to her, it makes a wonderful book. It is in the same league as "Da Vinci Code" and "My Fractured Life." Hillenbrand has taken a basic premise, a basic story, and breathed an emotional life into it the same way Dan Brown and Rikki Lee Travolta did. The result is stunning.

Unfortunately, the only copy of The Count of Monte Cristo I could find was the unabridged version in my school library. At the time I was glad I was reading the short version, 1,500 pages seemed a little too overwhelming at the time. But after reading the short version, I found myself wanting more. I could tell when they cut stuff out and it drove me crazy, I kept wondering what I was missing.

I found myself wanting to read this book in the first place because I saw the commercials for the movie on t.v. (Which I know I'm not going to watch because they changed everything.) My mom told me it was a really good book so I checked it out. It took me a little bit to read because of school and chores. But once I picked it up I read 20 or 30 pages at a time. Sometimes more. Alexandre Dumas is a genius. His writing style is so unique. He draws a beautiful picture inside the readers head. All the characters in this book were multidimensional. I'm not used to seeing characters like that.

At the beginning of the book Edmond Dantes was leading a happy, perfect life. He was engaged to the woman he loved, Mercedes. He was going to become a captain. And he had wonderful friends. But before he knows it his wonderful life becomes nothing but misery and pain. Two of his so-called friends, blackmails him and he's thrown into a dank prison for being a Bonapartist. Over the long harsh years ahead of him he plots his revenge on the people who sent him there. . .

I'd love to tell you more, but there aren't enough words in the world to describe the impact this story had on me. I'll just give you a quick overview: This story is mostly about a man who gets revenge on those who made his happy life miserable. He slowly ruins their lives and they don't even realize it's him. No one recognizes him, except Mercedes, but she doesn't let him know for a long time. She becomes a very weak woman, who lives only for her son. But she still loves Edmond and I believe in some ways he still loves her. But he's a completely different person, then. He knows their time has passed.

This book is very well written and has all the elements of a good story. Romance, adventure, revenge, mystery...And anything else you can think of. I'm going to have a hard time reading a book after this one. Other books will pale in comparison, I'm sure. Someday, I'll read the abridged version, but not today. . . Maybe when I'm older and have enough patience and time to read the whole thing. This story will stay with me forever, even if I never read it again.

"The Count of Monte Cristo" is an intriguing tale of retribution. The complex and rivetting plot revolves around Edmond Dantes, a idealistic and principled young man who is unwittingly framed for a serious crime, and sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison. There he meets a man who will change his life...and point him towards freedom and his means of vengeance on those who have wronged him. Without a doubt, this novel is a masterpiece, attaining the balance of true symphony between justice and revenge. The characterization and atmosphere portrayed is rich enough to evoke anyone's imagination. Dumas' attention to detail adds to the ambiance and vivacity of the tale. As a fitting testament to it's nearly be rushed, rather savored. The unabridged version (875 pages) is a must, with its banquet of flavorful scenes - it is a full course meal for any hungry bookworm - the abridged version is merely a buttered cracker. "The Count of Monte Cristo" is one of my most treasured novel and, without hesitation, by far the best book I have ever read! I stand by this opinion so ardently, that I always keep extra copies of it in my bookshelf, in case I meet with someone who will really appreciate it. Avid readers, enjoy!

The Count of Monte Cristo is an amazing story filled with action, betrayal, romance, and vengeance. Edmond Dantes is a young sailor who has everything he needs in life. He has a wife and a large amount of money to start a family. He is betrayed by his friends and sent to the dreaded Chateau d'If, and is imprisoned for life. Edmond thinks his life is over, so he swears vengeance to all who betrayed him. Edmond makes a miraculous escape and puts his plans into motion. He is determined to gain vengeance and nothing thrown in his way will stop him. He adopts the name Count of Monte Cristo and becomes friends with the ones who betrayed him. He gains his vengeance slowly by revealing little secrets about each of them, while revealing nothing at all about him. This is a story of a man who was wrongfully accused, and was able to escape and return the favor to his friends. The Count of Monte Cristo is an amazing book by Alexandre Dumas, and it is also one of his best.

In 1915, Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance and left on his attempt to cross Antartica, a feat that had not yet been accomplished. Somewhere in the Weddell Sea, Endurance was caught in the ice. The floes of ice kept the Endurance for nearly a year, during which time, Shackleton kept his men together and alive. Finally, Endurance was crushed by the ice, and the real adventure began. Shackleton and his men, using the lifeboats from the Endurance traveled to Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton and 5 crew members embarked on an 850 mile open sea voyage in one of the lifeboats to bring back a rescue party for the remaining 22 men. The voyage is considered one of the most remarkable voyages in seafaring history.

This is a good book. I really enjoyed reading it. It doesn't flounder about with long-winded descriptions of everyday life, but you get a real sense of what these men went through. This was definitely a more rugged era! Mr. Lansing brings this entire adventure to life and once the final voyage begins in the book, it was extremely hard to put it down!

Whew!! That's the first word that comes to my mind. It surfaced in my thoughts numerous times as I was reading this tale. This book is overwhelming. I had always heard tales about Shackleton and this was a most compelling read. I found myself unable to put it down. It just grabs a hold of you and won't let go. Alfred Lansing did a superb job of storytelling here. It is one of the most amazing tales of human courage and endurance ever written. This is a fabulous story. Sir Ernest Shackleton truly displayed extraordinary mettle in spite failing to achieve the initial objective. His leadership is undeniable. He held a crew together to endure the harshest climate on the planet. That the entire crew survived the venture is testament to the power of the human spirit. The will to survive can attain soaring heights as this tale suggests. Lansing attempts to get into the nature of the different men but he allows their diaries to dictate the writing. This is great because supposition by authors of nonfiction can be fatuous. Drawing excerpts from the diaries of the men is a way to draw upon the incredible human drama and psychology that must have unfolded in this venture. The obstacles encountered by the crew are staggering. The wind, the dampness, the bitter cold and the long months of darkness in the winter seem like more than any man should be able to stand. They slept in wet sleeping bags in sub-freezing temperature; ate unappetizing foods; and still managed to keep their hopes alive. These were not accommodations up to Hyatt standards. One wonders how many people today would be tough enough to triumph over these hardships. The pain, ennui and discomfort must have been staggering. I found myself just shaking my head with awe at numerous passages in the book. These are men who went to Hell and came back alive. That is remarkable in and of itself. This book is a classic account of one of man's most remarkable journeys. Read it and discover for yourself.

I saw a documentary on the Shackleton Voyage on PBS and decided to read the book. It was without a doubt one of the best books I've ever read.

It comprehensively tells the story of the Endurance in such a way that my attention was riveted from the first page until the last.

I would recommend this book to anyone.

The Book that I read, by force, actually turned out being a very good book. There are many reasons why this Agatha Christie novel was so great. Perhaps the most significant reason is the desire to know what is going to happen next. The book is about ten people who are invited to a weekend of fun by an anonymous guest. One by on they are eliminated until there becomes no guests left and a note from the mad host. This novel was actually HARD to stop reading. All the clues intrigued me to read on. For example, when the characters arrived to an unoccupied mansion you had to figure that something was going on. And as the amount of people on the island decreased the suspicion increased. This book was great from the start to finish -- from the invitation letters signed, "UNKNOWN" to the final intrigue of the last few deaths of the last remaining guests. If you can get your hands on it definitely read this book. It is great for those who like suspense. Agatha Christie is a great author who does a great job with mystery novels and this is perhaps her best work

Agatha Christie's AND THEN THERE WERE NONE should be very close to the top of any mystery fan's "must read list." The novel concerns a group of ten previously unacquainted people who are lured via various pretexts to Indian Island, a resort home off the coast of Devon--and are promptly accused by their unseen host of having escaped punishment for past crimes. Cut off from the world and fighting rising panic, they scramble to unmask the killer even as their number is reduced in macabre accordance with the "Ten Little Indians" nursey rhyme displayed in rooms throughout the house.

Agatha Christie was already famous when AND THEN THERE WERE NONE (also known under the title TEN LITTLE INDIANS) was published--but this book put her career well over the top: nothing like it had seen before, it proved a sensation, and writers and film-makers continue to use Christie's basic idea to this very day. Some critics argue the novel is mechanical rather than organic, but I say if this is mechanical, let's have more of it! It is truly a can't-put-it-down, non-stop read, a spectacular turn by the genre's single most celebrated author.

The success of the novel inspired Christie to adapt it for the stage, where it was a tremendous success, and there have been several film versions (most notably the 1940s Rene Clair-directed AND THEN THERE WERE NONE) over the years. If you know the story only from stage and film versions, however, you are in for a surprise. Christie felt the novel's conclusion did not translate well to the stage, so she re-wrote it--and most film versions follow the stage script, not the novel. But whether you've seen the play and films or not, get ready for a shock!

This was a good book I read the whole thing in about two days! It was really interesting. And every page requires u to think. But the ending of it was not really what i expected. And the person who did the murders just ruined everything. It would have been better if it was all supernatural. Not just a parson of a block. His proffession and all didn't really go to the thigs he did. But aside from the ending which surprised me a lot, it was a good book and I would reccomend any1 that would enjoy a good game of Clue.

u have to say that this is a very fantastic book... it all began when nic came to the 21st century when he heard doug's calling.... they fall in love and he went back but to see him once again doug went to the 16th century.... after that she came back and was sad and met a man liek nic....... i suppose i must be those who liek happy....well really really happy ending and her meeting another guy instead with no further development just seem to incomplete to me.... but overall this is a great book... definately one to keep and spend the afternoon with

Although this book has been out for 5 years I just learned about it and picked it up in my local book store. It is one of the best books I've read in a long time.

Dougless Montgomery comes from the famous Montgomery family. She met a successful doctor, Robert, who doesn't want a commitment, however, Dougless and Robert decide to plan a trip to England a year from the day the move in together. Then, they will decide if they want to marry.

On their way to the airport for their long awaited trip to England, Robert says he has a surprise for Dougless. At the airport, her dreams are squashed when Robert's daughter Gloria shows up and she turns out to be a most obnoxious child that Robert indulges sinfully.

While the three of them are visiting a church, Dougless and Gloria get into an argument. Robert, of course, sides with his daughter and they leave Dougless stranded at the church in the country without her money or passport. Douglass goes into the church and cries on the tomb of Nicholas Stafford, the Earl of Thornwyck. Suddenly he appears out of sixteenth century England. At first Douglass doesn't believe that he's from the sixteenth century. She finds his way of dress strange, his talk ridiculous and the fact that he doesn't know what a car is or how to use the bathroom is strange as well. Eventually Nicholas convinces Douglass and the two set to finding out who set Nicholas up for treason in Elizabethan times.

Finding no answers, Nicholas resigns himself to stay in the 20th century and acknowledges that Douglass is the love of his life. Suddenly Nicholas is taken back in time. Douglass is at a loss, but she is determined to find the answers to clear his name. Then Douglass is taken back in time to 1560 and finds herself at Nicholas's home, although Nicholas does not remember her.

Douglass must win over Nicholas's trust to change history again, knowing that once it is changed she will be dragged back to the twentieth century.

Knight in Shining Armor is without any doubt the best romance I have ever read, time travel not whithstanding. I could totally relate to this modern day heroine's difficulty in dealing with dating a man with a spoiled child (my husband had three). She smolders while he puts said child's wishes first (hmmmmm, so true and familiar lol). Then the book really takes off as she is basically abandoned by her boyfriend and is weeping in an ancient church. Here comes the knight, Nicholas. From that page on the book is often side-clutchingly laugh-out-loud as Dougless the heroine tries to help her bewildered time traveler make his way through the modern world to try to return to his own and redress some family wrongs that were part of history. The ending is very surprising, and I was more than satisfied with it. So laugh, cry, (well, Dougless does that rather a lot and it IS said to rid the body of toxins) and just don't plan anything for a while if you are a slow reader. :)