On-the-tape

Like many other reviewers, I read this book in a few sittings, staying up until the wee hours of the morning, and neglecting my husband and kids (except for reading parts to my 7-yr. old daughter), because I was so involved in Sarah's life. I read it on the treadmill, in the car, making dinner, at work...just couldn't put it down. I love how the story starts, with Sarah's "quaintly uneducated" narrative, watching her prose progress to the likes of a great teacher. I loved all the main characters, especially Jack, Sarah, and Savannah and feel as though I've learned much about life from them. Pioneer women are truly heroes, and I want to know more about them and their incredible experiences.

My eyes have red rings around them today as I totally lost it at the end. I had water coming from every hole in my head and snuck to the bathroom before my husband could see me and make fun of me. I've even begun to cry numerous times just reading these reviews. Jack wasn't perfect but his love and devotion to Sarah and the kids was amazing. I hated the irony of what finally happened to him and was hoping he would stay. The romantic parts of the book were tastefully done, yet I couldn't get enough of those either. I just didn't want it all to end and will reread it immediately, savoring it this time and picking up things I missed before.

Ms. Turner: Thank you for such a riveting work. Please do a sequel! I kept thinking and hoping that Sarah would end up a Professor of Latin at the new University in Tucson. (It was also baffling to me that Sarah didn't explode in anger that her husband opened her test grade, presenting the paper to her as a gift, for her birthday) She's only what, 38 when the story ends, so there's so much left for her to do and share about herself and family! Sam Elliott and Sissy Spacek would have been good for the movie 20 years ago. Now, it's questionable who could carry these characters, but please bring this story to life! Movies are NEVER as good as the books they portray, but bringing this beautiful story to the big screen, even if the movie's not altogether worthy, would be better than nothing at all!

I don't want to ramble on and on about how much I LOVED THIS BOOK, but I've got to say a few things at least. This book was sooo sweet, and was action packed, and made characters seem so real that they jumped out of the page when they spoke. In ways, I know that I can relate to Sarah. I love books with heroes or heroines you can relate to, because they can so easily put your feelings into words. The story is about Sarah Prine, an 18-yr-old Texas-girl who is "pioneering" to Arizona Territory. She suffers lots of hardships, like family memebers dying, friends dying, indian attacks, stuff like that. Well, guarding the wagon train is the handsome(yet one whom Sarah despises)cavalry officer named Captain Jack Elliot who has lost his heart to her. When they settle down in Arizona, Sarah marries an old family friend name Jimmy, entering into a loveless marraige. When Jimmy dies, Sarah is left with her baby named April, when Captain Elliot enters her life again. She finally falls in love with him, and the rest of the book is about their wonderful marraige. But, a word of warning, all you emmotional readers, beware. The ending of this book left me bawling like a baby. It was so heartbreakingly sad!That must mean that the story is really powerful, for I've read lots of saddish books, but this is the only one I ever cried for. I'm not kidding...I literally bawled. Also, I'm glad the book ended when it did, cause I don't think I could bear wondering how Sarah lived on after the tragedy that happens. Anyway, though the ending is really sad, that doesn't mean that this marvelous book isn't worth reading, so READ!

The immediacy of the first person narrative coupled with the author's use of understatement in Sarah Prine's journal thoughts and writings made this one of the best books of the year for this reader. From the first sentence, I was completely immersed in Sarah's world and felt priviledged to meet all the members of her family and to witness her relationship with Capt. Jack Elliot. There are unforgettable men that we as readers all carry in our hearts, and Capt. Jack Elliot certainly deserves to be included among them! These Is My Words is just one of those wonderful, sink-right-in-to-the-book stories...tailor made for a cozy winter weekend reading experience.

I must say that, even tho I didn't enjoy this as much as The Book of Atrus, I found it mighty cool. For anyone who is interested in the Myst story then this book is essential. It took quite a bit of time to get going at the start (about 100 pages are devoted to drilling holes) and Rand Miller uses the word 'great' to describe almost everything. It gets a bit annoying.

But soon enough the story picks up in pace and builds interesting and sympathetic characters, even making one of the bad guys seem justified in his actions. Some of it is superfluous but not so much that it's boring.

I found the end to be a bit fast and confusing. Not enough is described and one the last page is finished you might feel like things aren't tied up so well. Though there is another book after this one. I hope that the character of Saavedro from Myst III is mentioned somewhere, tho it is cool to have a young Gehn as a character is this one. If Saavedro doesn't show up then I know I am not alone in wishing for a fourth Myst novel.

I am very much looking forward to reading 'The Book of D'Ni' and I hope it lives up to this and the first. For anyone who is interested The Sci-Fi channel are making a 240 minute mini-series of Myst set for airing sometime this year. I don't know what the story is yet but I believe that either Rand or Robin Miller are executive producing.

The book has only six chapters averaging about 100 pages each and has random black and white drawings sporadically scattered through-out.

This is a wonder of a book! My mom is a big MYST fan. I was at first, but it slowly died away on me. But when Riven cam out, and I began to not want to leave the computer playing it with my mom, I decided I'd try The Book of Ti'Ana. Anyone who is a MYST fan must read this book. It is beautifully crafted together in a wonderful way, Rand Miller is a masterful writer and writes and intricatelly done, compelling story of friend vs. friend. Of truth and betrayal. If I gave away any of the plot, it wouldn't be fair, you'll just have to read it for yourself. So just, check it our(or buy it), sit back and prepare to emmerse yourself in a wonderful read!

This book is as addictive as the games are!! I just couldn't put it down! It is very believable and engrossing. You can REALLY identify with Ti'Ana and Telanis and the problems they go through.

Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is a wonderful short book coauthored by Pastor Jim Cymbala and Dean Merrill. Pastor Cymbala describes how God has blessed him and his wife Carol in their ministries with the famous Brooklyn Tabernacle in the last thirty years. The title "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" draws parallel of this church to the first century church in Acts 2:1-4. This book is a remarkable testimony of the awesome work of the Holy Spirit in how He could do great and mighty things through His people when they humble themselves in prayers. The increase in number for the Brooklyn Tabernacle is spectacular, but it turns pale when comparing to the increase in Pastor Cymbala's faith and dependency in God. God simply turned him from an amateur into warrior. It is a short book, but it is an important book for every serious Christian.

This book is divided into three sections, namely (1) Waking Up to a Powerful Promise, (2) Diversions from God's Best, and (3) The Road Ahead. Section 1 centers on the promise God revealed to Pastor Cymbala in Florida, that if he and his wife will lead his people to pray and call upon His name, He will provide everything they need: sermon, money, church building, and people (p. 25). Once he realized that prayer meeting is the engine of the church, and serious about it, Lord never stopped blessing them. Section 2 underscores that our lukewarm churches nowadays are in trouble by the lure of novelty, marketing, pleasing people, and dead doctrine without passions and actions for the Lord. Section 3 warns us not to be proud of ourselves and take credits from God. He challenges us to "look at the scoreboard" and be brave for God. At the end, he encourages us that the never changing power of the Holy Spirit is all-sufficient as He has never changed since the day of Pentecost.

This book is full of powerful true stories with drug addict, male prostitute, demon-processed person, homeless, all for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom. Besides touching stories, this book refers to scriptures in the Bible just as well - an important attribute for any Christian writing. Pastor Cymbala quotes Acts a lot, and is a doer of God's words when he follows the model of first century church in Acts.

This book emphasizes the sufficiency of the power of Holy Spirit. As a church to proclaim God's message in this evil generation, nothing will work better than the Holy Spirit Himself working through his humble and broken people. This is nicely summarized in his comments after the biblical example of Asa, that "such [whatever works is the way to go] thinking is due for a rude awakening when we stand before the Lord." (p. 164).

This inspiring book has made me think a lot. As a choir member, I was touched that even the Tabernacle choir would devoted at least half an hour to pray before the practice. Why can their music be so touching? The answer is in prayer. Life in the music comes from prayer (p. 49). I was so moved when I read the determination of that prayer band member to pray for her pastor before the Jewish man disturbed the worship service with a gun. I was equally touched by Pastor Cymbala's story on his rebellious daughter after the prayer meeting. Why can they do those great and mighty things through prayers but we can't? Why is our prayer meeting so poorly attended? The book provides an answer: prayer has to be born out of a whole environment of felt need. We cannot just say "we ought to pray", but " we have to be driven to pray" (p. 49). I am a firm believer in prayer and the promise in John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." How encouraging it is to see prayer and faith in full action in The Brooklyn Tabernacle! This book rekindled my faith in the Lord. Nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17). Brethren, I encourage you to read this book, and get serious on the prayer ministry. When we work, we work. When we pray, God works! Amen.

We in America, have forgotten the art of prayer. We live in a land that is rich and everything is at our fingertips, and we have failed to remember where our blessings come from. Pastor Jim Cymbala reminds us that prayer has power, that prayer is the way we communicate with God, and that God is worthy of all praise. God is bigger than all of our problems or conditions. He is the answer to every situation. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire breathes new life into the sometimes stagnant walk of faith. Pastor Cymbala uses his own life as an example for those who read this book. Fresh Wind, Fresh Faith will move you and inspire you to worship, praise, and thank the Lord as well as deepen your personal relationship with Him. This book will capture your heart and mind, all for His glory. Reading Fresh Wind, Fresh Faith was time well spent for me so I read it again. I thank God for using Pastor Cymbala in such a mighty way. So will you.

Twenty-five years ago, the Brooklyn Tabernacle was a church that could barely draw 20 people to a Sunday service. It was a church that lacks of spirit and love. But after Jim Cymbala, the pastor of the Brooklyn, and his wife Carol Cymbala brought Christian faith into the church, everything changed. Although Jim wasn¡¦t a pastor when he first arrived to Brooklyn, but his faith in God led him through the difficulties that he faced during the lives in Brooklyn. The church population went from 10-15 to more than 6,000 people! And among these people includes converted prostitutes, pimps, drug addicts, and homeless people, as well as yuppies and wholesome families¡Ketc. Helping these kinds of people takes a lot of encouragement and faith. It was a big success.
As a Christian, I really really like this book. Not only that this book gives great stories about the Brooklyn church, but also taught me a lot and let me understand the meaning of God. Not a God who¡¦s carved out of a wood, but a God who really exist. God can solve any problems that no one else can. For example, in the book, God changed the population of the people attending the Brooklyn church from almost no one to a church over flowed with more than 6,000 people!! Nothing¡¦s impossible in the hands of God, as long as you ask for it, he¡¦ll give. Carol Cymbala encouraged me by not giving up on my dream. Maybe I don¡¦t have enough skills to be a designer, but as long as I work hard, I believe I can do it just like Carol being so successful in music. Not talented on something doesn¡¦t mean anything, it only means you have to work harder to be successful. Not by yourself, but in Gods hands.

I am a student in high school, and this book was the most wonderful book I've ever read. I read it in eighth grade, and ever since then I've been trying to find it in hardcover. I found the book to be deeply touching, and while reading it, I actually cried. This book is a must-read for everyone, especially those who are fans of skating. You won't be able to put it down, and once you finish you'll never want to let it go. You'll want to read it over and over again. The story is very touching, about Ekaterina Gordeeva, and her passed husband, Sergei. She starts telling the story from when she was four and continues through until the death of Sergei by a sudden heart-attack, and her struggle to move on in life. It is a beautifully written biography of Sergei and Katia and there never-ending love. It will bring a tear to your eye, and you will never forget it.

This is one of the most wonderful, most touching, most compeling books that I have ever read. It just pulls you in. Once you start reading it, you just can't stop. It's a wonderful explanation of love and life. Ekaterina expresses herself so well in this novel. She tells how she led a fairytale life with Sergei. How he took care of her and sheltered her from the harsh and bitter world. Then when he died, she tells of the extreme loss of herself that she felt, the lonliness, and how she basically had to learn to live again . . . alone. It's like she is right there in the room with you, telling you her deepest, most heartfelt feelings. When you finish reading this book, you, yourself feel a deep sense of loss, because you can tell that the story is not over. No matter how much loss Ekaterina suffered, her life went on. No matter how hard it was, she went on to skate again . . . with Sergei right beside her.

I recommend this book to anyone, young or old. Especially to teenagers like myself, because it teaches so many life lessons that are so hard to explain. It's astonishing how well Ekaterina was able to distinguish her feelings and put them in words in this book to share with all of us. I plan on reading it several times more. I suggest that you do too!

My Sergei, which is a love story written by Ekateria Gordeeva, can be a very powerful book if the message sinks in. I love books that have some type of drama, as well as a twist of love and total romance. My Sergei are Ekaterinas or Katia's words and story of how her skating at age four escalated to pairs at eleven and falling in love with her one true soul mate and partner Sergei. All the trials and happy times are put together to create their love story. When tragedy strikes Katia's dear Sergei on November 20, 1995 her whole world changes. Katia's words are so strong that it is hard to not get sucked into the adventure of their skating life as well as their love story.
My Sergei is a book that shows love for many different things. Any woman who would characterize herself as a hopeless romantic would fall in love with this novel. Anyone who has some sort of passion for something, whether it is a person of for an activity, knows how pushing yourself can change your love forever. The reader has to have an open mind and have a soft attitude about love and romance. In reading this novel, you can even find lessons that you yourself want to apply to your own life. Tears should not be an issue for those reading this novel though. Readers will definitely find him or herself feeling different emotions for a novel they never though they had.

I'm a Senior in college and I still tell everyone that this is the best book that I have ever read. I remember the first time that I found out about this book. I was in fourth grade and my reading teacher, Ms. Reed, read this story to the whole class. I got lost in the book and couldn't wait until the next day for reading class to find out what happened to Mandy next. I told my mom about the book and she went out and bought it for me. I had finished the book before Ms. Reed finished reading it to us, but I still enjoyed listening to the story. I know that this book sparked my desire to learn and read and to this day I remember that teacher and wish I could thank her for choosing such a wonderful story to get us involved in literature. I love this book!!

As a child, this was a book that I read over and over again. Now that I have a daughter of my own, I want to share this with her. Julie Edwards ( Andrews) is not only a fabulous actress and singer, she is also a terrific author. This is a story about a young orphan girl trying desperately to find her place in the world. She lives in a large girls school but she is very lonely and wants more than anything to have a family of her own. In her daily wanderings, she discovers a little cottage that she decides to make her own. This story is charming and heartwarming in every respect as we travel with Mandy on heradventure to find a place, and a family of her own

From the minute I picked Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards I kew it would be a great book! How many times did I read it, 5 times. This is my favorite book of all times!
I would definatly recomed this book to everyone I know!

Stephen Hunter must have been a gun in a previous life. He knows shooting. I was hooked after the first couple of pages, and couldn't put this one down. I have since read the book 3 times. If you like guns in any small way, or just plain like a good thriller, it doesn't get any better than this. Hunter builds the main character in a way that you can see every hard line of his face, the way he walks, and the sound of his voice. If I were casting a movie of this book, I'd put Ed Harris in the role. The story is full of interesting and unpredictable plot twists, gun lore, action and revenge. It won't let you down. Hunter's sequels to this book don't hold up as well; Dirty White Boys is a bit too harsh, and Black Light moves too slowly. But Point of Impact is a stroke of genius.

Wow, this book is amazing! Well written and technically pretty good. Bob "the Nailer" is not one of those annoyingly perfect good guys that don't really exist. He has his share of problems, which are explained in the book but not dwelled on for long.

There are some pretty good reviews here that sum up the story pretty well, so I'm going to skip that. I will say that I normally read only sci-fi/fantasy and had long ago grown weary of these type of books. But the way Hunter combines the convoluted plot twists that Ludlum loves so much with the attention to detail that Clancy is so known for and then adds his own ability to tell a story in an interesting way really hooked me.

You just may find yourself shopping for a Winchester mdl 70 or a Remington 700 (in .308, of course) before the end of this one!

"One shot, one kill"

Mr. Hunter, I was looking for something to read and looked through your books. They didn't have your latest novel so I bought Point of Impact, even though I had listened to it on audiotape a few years ago. When I opened the book to the dedication page it brought me to tears. I couldn't believe you had dedicated the book to my cousin John Burke. Thank you. The words in your acknowledgment are gracious and mean so much coming from such an accomplished writer.

I've often wondered how John would have ever come back to the "world" after being a sniper in Vietnam. I imagine it would be difficult, the way you portray it in your books, especially here. And that realism is one reason I would recommend this book.

The other is that it is just a really great book to read.

... I started out with thte harperhall trilogy and i found that AMAZING! Her style is just so good, she keeps the chapters flowing nicely into each other. And romance laced with the excitement! I spent the whole day reading Dragonsong! Well, I got hooked!

I had final exams and couldn't read as much but I finished the rest of the HarperHall trilogy right after. I started the dragonriders of pern series and Dragonflight was just plain good!

The book is about Lessa who had to hide and pretend to be a drudge when her family was murdered by Fax, a ambitious man who controlled seven holds. She came out of hiding to announce her birthright to Ruatha Hold. But she met F'lar who told her she could be a dragonrider. Thus begins a plot of romance (with F'lar of course!) and saving all of Pern. Yes, I love romance!

I have finished the next two books, Dragonquest and The White Dragon. They too are marvelous books and I plan to get those three for Christmas. They too are great with of romance (F'nor and Brekke, Jaxom and Sharra) and excitement.I have a goal to finish the rest of the Dragonriders trilogy.

I never really had a favorite author but now I can for certain say that Anne McCaffery is my favorite author! But I still don't have a favorite book yet because..... There's too many Dragonrider of Pern books to pick from!

I really hope more people will read this book...

I only got acquainted with Anne McCaffrey this year, I am affraid. My first book by this author wasn't even related in any way with the Chronicles of Pern but it introduced me to an author who has now become one of my favorites. I had heard of these series of books and heard people talking of them. Living in Portugal as I do, you cannot find books as well as you can in the United States or in England, for example, and I had to read this series in English, which I did not mind at all. But it took a lot of searching...

The fact is, it was worth it. In no time I had become an addict to this author's works and when I first read Dragonflight, I was hooked on the marvellous world Pern was and the amazing relationship between man and dragon, a relationship based on love and trust... and necessity. This is an amazing introduction to a world and a society brought to us by the imaginative mind of Anne McCaffrey.

Lessa is of the Ruatha Blood and when her Hold is conquered by the greedy High Reaches Holder Fax, she sweares vengeance. Working as a drudge, plotting the death of Fax, with a watch wher as her only friend, she grows up for ten Turns with the thought of regaining her Hold from Fax's hands. During the Dragonriders of Pern Search, she sees the opportunity to get rid, once and for all, of Fax. But instead of becoming Holder of Ruatha, she is given the choice of becoming Weyrwoman in the only Weyr left. The Dragonmen of Pern are sworn to fight Thread, the threat which plagues the wonderful world of Pern, a threat long forgotten as it has not returned. But the pass of the Red Star promises the return of the Thread, even if only F'lar, rider of Bronze Mnementh, believes the time has come. In the Weyr a last Golden Egg of a Queen lies, awaiting hatching, when Impression will be made (the total empathic connection between man and dragon), awaiting a Weyrwoman to take the place of the old and a new Queen to reborn the Dragonrider's of Pern who will need all their courage and strength to fight for the future of their world. Will Lessa and F'lar succeed when the Dragonriders have fallen into disgrace to the eyes of the Holders? When a threat is no longer perceived as existent, how can one hope to protect themselves? When hope is lost... there is a spark that will brighten and bring hope back... a spark in the hands of the Dragonriders of Pern...

I highly recommend this book, the first of a worldwilde cult of the amazing chronicles of the Dragonriders of Pern.

Elves shooting bows, dwarves built like solid stone, and wizards enchanting little creatures with magical spells. Doesn't all that fantasy stuff get kind of boring after awhile? Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, Sword of Shannarah, and many others are all the same, just with different names in different places doing different things. For the first time, I have finally read a fantasy novel that is different. With unimaginable imagination, author Anne McCaffrey creates a whole world of fantasy very different from the traditional styles. With realistic descriptions, complicated twists in plots, and a great, drawing style of writing, the author takes you on a journey you'd never thought existed. With the idea of dragons and humans as the main figment of fantasy in this novel, Anne McCaffrey combines just enough modern day sci-fi with medieval fantasy to create one great novel. Combining the ideas of dragons with a modern world where planets orbiting each other cause dangers, the author creates a magical world you would've thought had never existed. Not giving too much at a time, the author slowly draws you in and slowly, things become more and more clear as you near the end of the book. Many a time I have had to slap my head and say, "Geez! How come I never thought of that?" The complicated plot makes it hard for readers to guess the story and not get any delight out of reading it and being surprised by the answers they find to the plots. Though the book has a rather weak introduction and takes a while for the reader to get completely drawn into the world of Pern and it's dragons, it doesn't take long before you are unable to put the book down again. The suspense that the author creates at the climax of this book is amazing. I read for 5 straight hours through the climax because it was simply too fantastic to put down. I just HAD to know what happened next. Like an addiction, the book just draws you back and back like a magical spell was cast on you. Anne McCaffrey makes it seem so realistic that it's as if I was there throughout this whole adventure! After reading this book, I can't stop daydreaming day after day what a life on Pern with dragons would be like!

Cheaper by the Dozen is a well written biography on the Gilbreth family and all the craziness they go through every day with such a big family. This large family consists of 12 children and a set of parents. All 12 kids-Fred, Dan, Anne, Bob, Bill, Frank, Martha, Lil, Ernestine, Jack, Jane and Mary-all have red or blonde hair and lots of freckles. My favorite character was Mr. Gilbreth. This story took place in Mont Clair, New Jersey and i think that was a very appropriate setting. My favorite part in the book was when Mr. Gilbreth would not let Anne and Ernestine wear make-up, high heels or short skirts. I also liked when the Gilbreths went to California to visit Mrs. Gilbreth's family. There are many more good parts, but you will need to read the book or listen to it on tape to find out about them. What i liked best about the story is that it was pretty funny. I would reccomend it to any one who likes books written with a sense of humor. There isn't any real plot or climax to this story, but that may be one of the reasons I liked it so much. It flows very well and the only confusing part is all of the characters. Overall, it was a pretty good book.

CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN

Format: Paperback,1st ed., 180 pages ISBN: 0553272500 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Younger Readers Pub. Date: February 1981 Other Formats: Hardback Recommended Age:Third grade and up

Wonderful...Once you start to read the first page you wont be able to put the book down. This perfect way to spend a rainy day. You will be very amused when you read about the hilarious events of the Gilbreth family. The family of twelve children have many adventures you will enjoy reading. The father is almost crazy and a very successful business man. He is very strict and overprotective. He won't let his daughters wear make up or dress the way they like to. They slowly change his mind and begin to dress their way. He thinks his children can do anything and is also believed he could do anything. He loved jokes and laughing and you will love the practical jokes they play on each other. The rich family loves to go to movies then out for ice cream. They also spend their summers at the beach, where their Dad forces them to learn to swim. He wants them to learn as much as possible about everything so he always finds a way to teach them new things. As an efficiency expert he made sure that everything was done in a time efficient way. It was a sin to waste time in the Gilbreth house and he was constantly coming up with new ways to save time. The Dad in the story liked to parade around and show off his kids. Although this was embarassing to some of the kids as they got older Dad found it hilarious. The mother also was sometimes embarrassed or insulted by the attention they got or the comments other people made. This book will keep you laughing right up to the last chapter when Dad dies. The book is a mixture of humor and then sadness at the ending. This is an excellent book that everybody should read. I recommend this book for anyone that knows how to read no matter how old or young!

Dina Bastianini, Pine-Richland High School

First of all, this book--the true, original story--has nothing to do with the recent Steve Martin movie.

This book is set in the 1920s in Montclair, NJ mainly and the father of the 12 children (11 lived, but the death of one is not mentioned in this book) is a big, jolly, eccentric and a fascinating possible-genius who works as a consultant making businesses more efficient through his motion studies.

The book is a series of reminiscences as told by two of the older Gilbreth children. They recreate many episodes with full dialogue (which of course couldn't possibly be completely accurate historically) making for easy and humorous reading.

I read this book for the first time when I was a young teenager. I loved it then, and it was perfectly appropriate. I re-read it 20 years later and was surprized at how many of the scenes I'd remembered from my first reading. (If only I could recall much of my schooling as well!) As an adult and now a parent (of a scant 3 offspring), I had a new appreciation for the story this time around. The Gilbreth children are tutored constantly in all manner of subjects by their talented parents, using many novel approaches. This is fascinating to me, as a parent: the teaching meathods, the team-spirit instillation, the overall vibe in a household as complex and successful as this one (the family is rich and all the children seem to have gone on to further success).

This book has been translated into something like 50+ languages and its obvious why if you read it. It is everything an enjoyable book should be. The warmth, intelligence, pro-family team attitude, and wonderful humor would cheer anyone's spirit.

C.S. Lewis' book Till we Have Faces is a fantastic literary achievement that shows how important point of view actually is. We are all familiar, I'm sure, of the Greek myth of Psyche and Cupid. The myth in a nutshell says that Psyche was married to Cupid, but she could never know to who it was she was married. Psyche was extremely happy, although she never saw her husbands' face. She lived in a big palace, and was pretty much set for life. Psyche's sisters, however, came to visit her one day and saw her big home and her happiness, and they became extremely jealous. They decided to ruin Psyche because that is what all good sisters do. They convince Psyche to turn on the lights that night to see who her husband is. She does and becomes doomed to wander the Earth aimlessly. She later is forced to do impossible labors for Cupid's mother, who is jealous of her beauty. Eventually Psyche becomes reconciled with Cupid and she becomes deified. Then they live happily ever after. C.S. Lewis version of this story casts a very different light on the story when it told from Orual's, one of Psyche's sisters, perspective. This is why this book is so interesting. In C.S. Lewis version we learn that Orual's intentions are really quite pure, and that she inadvertently brings about Psyche's downfall. She then blames herself for years for bringing such misery upon the sister she loved so dearly. So by simply changing the point of view of the story, Lewis creates a character who is sympathetic rather than spiteful. It is this message of looking at things from different perspectives that is one of the main themes in this story.

The other theme of this story is that beauty, true beauty, is found on the inside. I have wondered why Lewis chose to name this book Till we Have Faces, and I am still not sure of the significance of it. It is possible that the whole theme of beauty is what this title suggests. When we are beautiful on the inside, then it shows in our countenance and our faces. Our faces then reflect what we are, and people see us in that way. It is interesting that until Orual veils her face, she is considered ugly, but once she does veil it, she is considered to be very beautiful because she then allows her true, beautiful self to take over. In this way, people really don't see her true face until she veils her ugly one.

This book is a great read. It is full of symbolic elements that are interesting to try and interpret. Lewis is a great author, and this book lived up to all of my expectations for it. If you do plan on reading it, plan a huge block of time when you can read the entire thing, because once you start it, you won't want to put it down. I really enjoyed it because it made me think. C.S. Lewis is a terrific author, and he does not disappoint with this book.

I loved this book, and believe it should truly be on English syllabi everywhere. C.S. Lewis has woven another wonderful tale in the tradition of the Chronicles of Narnia, but for a much more sophisticated audience. This was a book I could not put down until I had finished so that my essays went unfinished, and I hardly slept while I was reading it. 313 pages after I began, I realized that my time had flown by and I was finished. This is truly delightful to read, and it also raises many literary and philosophical questions. Lewis retells the myth of Psyche and Cupid, but changes the perspective to that of Cupid, whom he names Oural, and so changes the story. Told constantly of her ugliness, Oural lives a life of loneliness. Without comfort from her golden-haired sister, she turns to her Greek tutor for intellectual discussion and fatherly love that she does not receive from her true father the King. Later in life, Psyche is born to the step-mother. An almost overly-perfect child, Psyche is raised mostly by Oural. During this raising, Oural comes to have a deep love for Psyche. Changing her very core of being to a love for her sister, she then faces only bitter pain when Psyche is torn from her grasp forever. Her bereavement sets up a questioning of the implications of true love. Oural's motive's seem almost selfish at times as she tries to do what is best for the Psyche that she becomes fated never to see again. The direct empathy for Oural's vicarious suffering is masterfully portrayed so that I could not help but feel pangs of sympathy for Oural's plight. Her love raised Psyche, and then that love led to her losing the near goddess and destroying both of their happiness. Besides questioning the interplay between love, happiness, and the trials of life, there are more issues brought up. For one, Lewis tells the story from a woman's perspective. Oural is a very real, complex character, and it is interesting that Lewis could have done such a good job imitating a woman's voice. One of the ways he does this is to make Oural fairly masculine. Ugly as a brick, she eventually learns to fence, and subsequently becomes queen. However, as a queen, she remains man-like, leading her armies to war and through various journeys. Gender and love were intriguing facets of the book, but perhaps the main focus is on Oural's relationship with the Gods. She finds a basic conflict that enumerates the problems that religious men and philosophers have debated throughout the millennia. Her native traditions and upbringing teach her that there are many gods, animistic in nature. Unhappy gods, they demand appeasement through sacrifices and daily rituals. However, these views conflict with the teachings of her much-trusted tutor and friend. He refutes the myths and legends about the gods as uncultured fancies, and turns her thoughts to the logic of Greek learning. Layered upon this dual mesh of beliefs are the approaches that are taken to religion by the characters around her. Some choose to ignore the gods, others are dedicated to serving them, while still others believe strongly in them, but choose to seek as little interference as possible. Another conflict comes with the god who interferes with Psyche, who seems to be viewed as the all-high god, someone above even the many gods who reside in the land and provide fertility or omens. Thus, a sort of monotheism is acknowledged that continues to clash with the other ideas, providing much material for debate. Unable to reach any definitive conclusion about the nature of the gods, but providing good insights, Oural begins a letter of complaint to the Gods. Unsure of why she has not been told exactly how she should have acted to prevent the constant pain that she eventually comes to live with, Oural bitterly recounts her tale and her suffering woe. Despising the gods for their distance, and for having taken Psyche from her, she writes until the end of her life. However, before she dies, she sees a vision, wherein she presents her arguments to the gods, and receives her answer. She becomes another beautiful Psyche in the process, after finally having found the face that she has sought for so long. The ending must be read, so I will not even attempt to explain the rich complexities that Lewis has woven into the triumphant and mesmerizing conclusion. Although I am in the habit of finding new books to read, this is one of the few books that I will read again, and I am sure to find even more subtle insights into the human condition and the manner of our lives.

Another one of Lewis' great explorations. I am continuously drawn to the creative way Lewis explores mythologies/literary traditions with a Christian twist. His subtle way of extrapolating truth from the often pegged "irredeemable" narratives of the non-Christian (a.k.a. pagan) world is quite refreshing. His thought processes are beautifully un-cluttered by "Churchianity." I was especially pleased with the intimate detail of the relationship between Psyche and her "god" and found the whole concept of the invisible palace a very clever twist on the original. I also thought it was a very interesting parallel with the modern church which seems to present itself as more of an Orual than a Psyche in its self-proclaimed "duty" and pursuits (although I doubt Lewis intended the likeness). Lewis had the audacity to present implications that would make some folks squeal with discomfort...especially in his era. He does a magnificent job of revealing the true face and frailty of the human condition with his descriptions of the frequent and subtle "revelations" of beauty Orual grasps, fleetingly, through her veil but quickly dismisses as "irrelevant' in light of the "true nature" of the gods. Orual exists in fear and antagonism with the gods, a stark contrast (also seen in the physical differences between the sisters) to Psyche's childlike embrace. Beyond all things, this book reveals the most important aspect of the nature of our being in relation to our duty. If we believe we are "ugly" and without intrinsic worth, we see the gods as demanding and punative. If, however, we see ourselves as having been made for a tanscendent, "romantic" existence (as Psyche so wonderfully describes on the eve of her sacrifice), our god becomes intimate and loving, meeting our every expectation and desire, minimizing the pain of our journey until we reach the pinnacle of our existence ("god"hood--the transmutation into ultimate being).

Once more, his fiction world explores a reality previously outlined in one of his non-fiction pieces: "The Four Loves."

Only C.S. Lewis can write a story like this. A man takes a bus ride through Hell, then Heaven and witnesses the choices made by others in their lives.

The vivid stories within the story show that indecision is still a decision... it underscores the petty things in our lives that we allow to dominate us, things that will still plague us in Hell for eternity if we don't abandon them.

Lewis' concepts (fantasized, of course) of the substance of spirit versus the substance of flesh and blood are incredibly thought provoking. There are mental images I got from reading this book that I will never forget.

It is basic truth - you choose life, you choose death, or you choose not to choose. You will either give up the things that are holding you down (whether they be bitter resentments, anger, material gain, control, etc.) or you will cling to them until they become your master and you their slave.

The book presents these concepts in such a non-threatening way that you've gotten a life lesson that you don't realize until you've finished this short, yet vibrant book.

C.S. Lewis' "The Great Divorce" may be the most unusual book you will ever read. Beyond allegory, beyond fantasy, this look at the nature of Heaven, Hell, and the denizens of both has radically altered the view of what happens after we die in the lives of more people than any book you will encounter.

Lewis provides an utterly original view of the afterlife through the mechanism of a bus trip from Hell to Heaven. The portrayals of the vast, nearly-empty city in Hell and a Heaven more real and solid than our reality are so profound that many will find their thoughts on the two places forever altered.

Also included is an examination of the question that has haunted many: "How can a loving God send people to Hell?" Lewis brilliantly answers this in a way that is completely satisfying to even the most demanding inquirer. You'll have to read the book to see.

There are so many gems in "The Great Divorce" that any further discussion would spoil the book. But suffice it to say, this work of fiction may be the greatest ever written for provoking long and enjoyable discussions with others. As a worthy diversion from more heady small group studies, it is without peer.

Great book...It is fiction but written like nonfiction in the sense that you will still learn from it a great deal...will give you a new perspective of heaven and of God. I loved it and would definitely recommend it!