literature

"On Christmas Eve, many years ago, I lay quietly in my bed. I did not rustle the sheets. I breathed slowly and silently. I was listening for a sound -- a sound a friend had told me I'd never hear ...." And so begins one the of the most beautiful stories of all time. Although I am now a senior in college, The Polar Express has remained the most valued and cherished book in my ever-expanding library. A childhood Christmas gift, Chris Van Allsburg's timeless masterpiece has become a fixture at our family gatherings each and every holiday season. Every member of the family, from the youngest to the oldest, appreciates it's simple but elegant story-telling style illustrated by the soft and soothing silhouettes of Van Allsburg's full-color art. The Polar Express is the story of a young boy and his magical journey aboard a mythical train to the North Pole. The reader is taken along this incredible ride and rediscovers the true joy and pure spirit of a child at Christmas. Van Allsburg's beautiful illustrations become as important to the story as the words themselves. These life-like pictures encourage children of ALL ages to explore their own imaginations and to become active participants in the young boy's journey. In the end, the young boy has grown into an old man, but the spirit of Christmas still rings for him, "... as it does for all who truly believe." I hope you enjoy this book half as much as I do.

The Polar Express. By Chris Van Allsburg. Illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985. 32 pages. What could be more familiar to young listeners than the Christmas Eve ritual of anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival? Multiple Caldecott Medal Award recipient Chris Van Allsburg capitalizes on such shared experiences. His text invites readers to identify with the restless narrator "listening for a sound. . . the ringing of Santa's sleigh." Van Allsburg doesn't stop there, and neither does his Polar Express as the drama of turning the page intensifies with every passing wolf-infested forest and ice-filled desert. Van Allsburg temps taste buds with sensual similes like "candies with nougat centers as white as snow" and "hot cocoa as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars," while his surreal masterpieces break out their frames to extend text. Emotions implied through words become unmistakably explicit through full-colored illustrations. Why read between the lines to discover the feeling of shock that overcomes the young passengers (as a result of the narrator's loss) when one can experience first hand the children's horror-enveloped faces by glancing at the accompanying pastel drawing? Similarly, the narrator's wonder-filled features while receiving the first gift of Christmas juxtaposed with Van Allsburg's manipulation of shadow and light articulate the tales sense of awe perfectly. Van Allsburg's use of perspective takes the reader beyond the confines of the Polar Express as glittering specks of light from the North Pole are detected beneath the majestic arcs of a passing bridge. This spectacular tale can be enjoyed by anyone who still truly believes, but its sumptuous wording- "thundered through the quiet wilderness" and "hissing steam and squeaking metal," is most satisfying when read aloud by a fluent reader to younger listeners.

It must be nice to have written a real holiday classic. I imagine that author Chris Van Allsburg must be tickled pink by way his book, "The Polar Express" has slowly gained increasing attention and praise as the years have gone by. Though not my favorite Van Allsburg (a tip of the hat grants his miraculous "The Stranger" that honor) this book is perhaps more perfectly his style than any of his other texts. And in that way, it is truly wondrous.

In this story, a young boy travels at night by a train bearing the book's title to the North Pole with a host of other antsy children. This combines the dual pleasure kids would feel in getting to staying up late AND taking a train all by themselves. Once at the North Pole, our hero asks Santa only for a silver bell from his reindeer's sleigh. Santa complies and though the boy looses the bell on his way home, Santa returns it to him. For years afterwards, only those who truly believe can hear the bell's magical ring (which, actually, explains why adults cannot hear Santa fly overhead at night, I suppose).

It's a lovely story, complimented nicely with Van Allsburg's realistic (but not photo-realistic) illustrations. Particularly nice is how the story does not date. Though it clearly takes place at a time when children wore dressing gowns, it does not feel as if it is a period piece. The kids traveling on the train are slightly multi-cultural and the waiters on the train delightful in their white puffy hats.

This book is so well loved that it has actually inspired whole communities to create their own makeshift Polar Expresses. On these trains, kids are served hot cocoa "as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars" while grown-ups read them the book. They then meet Santa and go home contented and happy. Unfortunately, as charming as this may seem, it may be greatly exploited with the late 2004 release of the CGI film version of the book. My advice is to grab this book right now, regardless of whether it's Christmas or not, and read it to your kids thoroughly. Such nice stories as this deserve extensive attention. Let us all hope that this story sinks deeply into the canon of picture books beloved by millions of kids the wide world over. It's a class act through and through.

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.

Encountering Anne and her magical world at the age of 11, I have never quite escaped Avonlea and the wonderful characters concocted by L.M. Montgomery. Montgomery takes to heart the advice given to Anne in Anne of the Island to write about the simple things in life, and she does so beautifully. Reading one of the'Anne' book is like coming home - no matter where you're from.

Being an Atheist, it may seem strange to some people that this book holds any meaning for me, but I think that, despite the religious references, people from all walks of life will relate to the poetic prose of The Prophet.

Kahlil Gibran has been greatly celebrated in several countries for the book's simple yet biting phrases. Any two sentences in this legacy of living can be made into a thought-altering quote.

Gibran uses a prose style throughout. Short lines of words written as freestyle poetry create a rich medium to deliver his words.

Each section has something poweful to say, but some of my favorites were those on Work, Giving, Children, Crime and Punishment, Freinds, Time, and of course Love.

As oppposed to most books containing the word "Prophet" anywhere in the title, Gibran expresses life as something to be enjoyed and soaked in as many ways as possible. The book does not stress the punishment of sins, but to bask in pleasure and not look back. Decadence is not suggested, but the basic purpose of Gibran's legacy is to tell us that life is short and must be lived without regrets.

It is a book that includes such beautiful metaphors and velvetty language that you are always sucked into reading "just one more section." What makes the book work is not just the simple genius of the author's statements, but also the beauty of his words, the flow of his language.

I hate to be like everyone else (in more instances than just this), but it does change you. It states what any prophecy should, and allows the religious aspects of the beliefs to take the backseat to the love of life and aspirations.

Buy, read, and live by The Prophet's words.

My late father gave me a pocket sized hardcover edition of this book when I was a teenager. I've had it ever since and still read it from time to time.

Gibran's words are refreshingly nonsectarian yet feel none the less profound, timeless, universal and relevant to all cultures, peoples and times. Some have attributed an alternative spirituality to this work either as praise or as criticism.

I personally don't view the Prophet as a book that advocates any particular spiritual or religious path whatsoever. Regardless of whatever else this book may be may be, I've found the Prophet to be restful and quite enjoyable from time to time. I don't worry about the potential hermeneutic interpretations (that I seriously doubt exist) that might exist therein.

Thus, if it's a spiritual and/or religious text you seek I wouldn't recommend the Prophet. But I don't mean that as a criticism of the Prophet.

I simply view the Prophet as a text on the nonreligious, nonsectarian and universal ideas, ideals, feelings and qualities of what it is and means to be and feel human as viewed from the perspective of another fellow human being who had the same limited perspectives that we all share by virtue of being human beings. Gibran never claimed any differently.

If you only buy one book of prose then this is the one I'd recommend.

To me, there is simplicity in this person's words that I understand clearly.
There are good things this book construes, but I can see other misinterpreting it, and its value that it has to many people. You will need to read this for yourself to find out if it's significance to your life. Worse case, it can be just a good read.

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!

The silly label next to John D'Agata's name on the cover is dead wrong. There's not a lick of "essay" in here!

But you'll be relieved to read in his biography that this extremely young author was trained as a poet at the Iowa Writers Workshop, because no average writer of "creative nonfiction" could manage what D'Agata does with subjects that range from a story about the brightest light in the world to a sperm bank (where he apparently worked as a donor) to a luscious history of how lists of the wonders of the world are made. His appetite for "stuff" seems unquenchable, and his love of language is obvious.

Really this is a 250 page book of poetry. Read it and you'll change your mind about that old fart genre called the essay. Read it aloud and you'll set the next few days of your life to music!

In the ranks of those young writers who altering the form of other genres--Ben Marcus in fiction, Doug Powell in poetry, Jonathan Safran Foer in the novel, etc.--John D'Agata's HALLS OF FAME has not only altered the way contemporary essays are viewed, but based on a brief review of what's being published today in small literary journals, he's effected the very stuff being written in the genre. Long before most writers are usually said to have a tangible effect on their forms, D'Agata seems to have done it with his first book. It basically changed my life when I first read it, luring me out of a PhD in English, into a writing program where finally, thanks soley to this writer, I have realized that both the artful and the intelectual can sit side by side in essay writing. He does it better than anybody else. Not only better than any other young writer; better than ANYBODY. The first five pages of this first startling book will show you why. The rest of the book, I suspect, will change your life.

Let me preface this by saying I was a classmate of John's at the Iowa Writers' Workshop in the mid-90's. I remember discussing several of the essays included in this collection, and being incredibly impressed with both the work and the author. The time, imagination, detail, obsession, intelligence, honesty and humble nature of both the essays and the essayist should at the very least inspire a more attentive read than several of the other negative reviewers chose to give.

It's time to give the Iowa Workshop a break. Just let it go. I mean, really, whether it's jealousy, or a rejected application, or just some strange anti-MFA vendetta, there seems to be a pervasive, generic attack on all who spent time at the school. People, it's just a school, good or bad. It's not some factory that automatically frankensteins each poetry student into some Jorie Graham/Michael Palmer avant-guardian. We actually have our own minds, styles, and ideas, and some of us even hold onto them well after we graduate. Imagine that.

I can assure you, there are few labels that would accurately portray all Iowa workshop students across the board, especially in the poetry program. You have no idea what it was like there unless you were there, and it varies from year to year. I would be uncomfortable judging people who've just graduated the program on the same standards, attitudes and practices I found during my '95-'97 term.

I'm not saying you have to like it, but review the work itself as it is given to you, not the Workshop or the writer's personal life. Why do people have to dismiss or attack writers and their works simply because they come out of a specific school, or because they are popular, or because the author has some success at an early age? Good writing has come out of Iowa, bad writing has come out of Iowa, just like every other MFA program, publishing house, school of thought, or geographical area.

This is an incredible work. Truly dazzling.

And to the reviewer who slams John for "plagiarizing" Dave Eggers, I can tell you that John had already written several of these essays, and published at least one of them in a journal (the Martha Graham piece)years before "A Heartbreaking Work..." was even published.

John is an exceptionally gifted writer and person, but even with all of his talent and imagination, I don't think he has the ability to steal work that didn't even exist at the time. To that reviewer, do your homework before you use serious words like "plagiarism" - John has clearly done his.

_The High King_ brings to a rousing conclusion Lloyd Alexander's magnificent blending of Welsh mythology and Tolkienesque heroic fantasy. This is definitely the most reminiscent of _The Lord of the Rings_ of all the Prydain books, but that isn't a bad thing. Tolkien had the right formula, and there's nothing wrong with using it, as long as you use it well--which Alexander certainly does. In this novel Taran finally becomes a full-fledged hero, following the quests and disappointments of the preceding novel. If _Taran Wanderer_ was the quietest of the series, this more than makes up for it, with treacherous lords, deathless Cauldron-Born, and relentless Huntsmen aplenty. Alexander weaves together all the threads he has spun in the previous novels, but without appearing to force anything. I read this novel first in the series, which definitely wasn't a good idea. But even without the others, it was excellent. As the capstone of an excellent series, it is superb.

I've loved Lloyd Alexander's classic series ever since I read "The Book of Three" in elemantary school. A well-chosen Christmas gift from my parents ensured that I got my hands on the next four books, concluding with "The High King".

One of the strengths of this series is that the characters learn and grow from one book to the next; it's great to see Taran from "The Book of Three", who reminds me rather of myself at that age (*grin*) grow up to take the responsibilities he has earned by the end of "The High King".

Alexander's use of Welsh mythology is excellent and for the most part right on target, though Arawn isn't quite as malevolent a figure in myth as he is in the Chronicles of Prydain, and the Gwydion of the Mabinogion is as much a trickster as he is a hero. (This isn't really a criticism; these are books for children, and I know that making Arawn and Gwydion more ambiguous characters would have confused me when I was younger.) The Triple Goddess, the people of Twylyth Teg, the people of Llyr--they're all here, forming a seamless and very real-feeling backdrop to the main characters' adventures.

Older readers may be interested in checking out the Mabinogion, the main body of Welsh myth that has survived the ages, after finishing this series. Gwyn Thomas and Kevin Crossley-Holland's "Tales from the Mabinogion" is an excellent edition to try, with beautiful illustrations.

Overall, the Chronicles of Prydain remain among my favorite stories, with "The High King" the best of the lot. I highly recommend them.

Lloyd Alexander's The High King is a good book. Taran Wanderer gets word from Kaw (his pet crow) that Princess Eilonwy has come back to Caer Dallben. She is accompanied by an old friend Prince Runn. Actually he's King Runn, because of the fact that Runn's father, King Ruddlum, had died. Be prepared reader. In this book people die. For example King Runn dies. Another character close to Taran dies. Parts of the book are very sad but the whole book is very good. Old friend reunite. Doli and Fflewdur Ffam join up with Taran and Eilonwy. Prince Gwydion, Taran, and the Sons of Don are on a journey to recover the sword Dyrnwyn and to destroy Arawn, the lord of death. Why don't you try fighting against vast armies of deathless warriors and you tell me if you think it would be fun to be a war leader. Taran does and he actually wins. Taran uses his brain and not any magic. In the end the overall quest may or may not succeed. To find out if the group succeeds, you will have to read the book yourself.

I liked this book because it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Some parts of the book are really funny, like when Gurgi and Eilonwy are captured by bandits and Gurgi is saying "No crackings and smackings on poor tender head!" And the bandits are just about to kill them when they are rescued by a pack of wolves. The wolves are a pack of Medwyn's. Two of the wolves Gurgi and Eilonwy already knew. Another reason why I like this book is because there are a lot of war scenes. There are some warriors called the cauldron warriors also known as the cauldron born. These warriors are deathless warriors who, when they are far from their master and Annuvin they get weaker and slower. This book is part of a great series of books called The Chronicles of Prydain. If you plan to read this novel you should plan on reading the series. Start with The Book of Three and finish with The High King.

Like dog owners that buy food for dogs that is more appealing from a human perspective, many of these reviewers liked this because it touches them from an adult perspective. Not only is this not that great for children, it's not even the good Dr.'s best work. If you don't believe me, buy it for you kid and see how they like it compared to other books. Not very engaging for kids...Try one fish, two fish instead.

Many of us grew up with Dr. Seuss,but did any of us ever think of how much his stories could help us relate to the real world? Oh, The Places You'll Go!, does exactly that. It is an inspirational book for all ages from a child beginning his or her first day of school to the college graduate. Dr. Seuss's whimsical book takes an optimistic look at life and its ups and downs or as he puts it, "Bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you." In this book, his lovable and memorable rhymes are encouraging as well as entertaining and tongue twisting. In the end, he makes us all believe that we will succeed and yes, "Kid, you'll move mountains!"

Dr. Seuss isn't just for the pre-school set, but you probably already knew that. This book of brightly colored illustrations and whimsical rhymes makes the perfect gift for anyone setting out on a new adventure, so buy copies for every high school and college graduate on your list. As Seuss tells us "There is fun to be done!" and this joyous ode to personal fulfillment tells you how to meet up with it while combating fear, loneliness, and confusion. After all, what better advice could anyone give a new grad than to say "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." This is inspired good fun, sure to please everyone.

I Have Lived a Thousand Years by Livia Bitton-Jackson retraces the steps of a girl, Elli, and her family during the Holocaust. The family is forced to endure extreme humiliation. They are then herded into the cramped Ghetto's. Living conditions are unbearable and there food is unsanitary. The next hurdle is concentration camps were families and friends are separated. You are now no longer an individual only a number with no possessions. Elli learns to go on even if you have no reason. Through all this Elli has been able to shed some light on a bad situation and make it worth living. She, along with her mom and brother, are able to make it against all odds.
I Have Lived a Thousand Years is a good book to read or buy. You are really taken into the time and you feel as though you are there with her. Although you may stumble on some of the words it is worth the trouble. The story is one a tragedy and of hope.

I Have Lived a Thousand Years
By: Livia Bitton-Jackson

I Have Lived a Thousand Years was the tragic, sad, and well-written book about a thirteen year old girl and her family that gets taken away by the Nazi's to go to a ghetto and then to a concentration camp.
In this story, the main character Elli Friedmann, goes from having everything to family, food, and clothes to nothing but a gray prison dress and shoes two sizes too small. Elli's family is broken up and separated from her and is later found out that some of her family was gassed in a gas chamber. Her dad was one of the family members.
Elli and her mother are forced to be left by themselves in a cold barrack. They are starving and the only thing to eat is a bowl of soup with worms in it. They are alone because everyone else in their barrack has families of their own to take care of. Each day in their concentration camp, Elli and her mother struggle to survive and take care of each other.
In this story, Elli's mother becomes very ill and almost dies but Elli saves her from being sent to the gas chambers. She was being sent to the gas chambers because, after a terrible accident she was hospitalized, and then she didn't recover so the Nazi's were going to kill her.
The way each individual was treated in the book was cruel and they were tortured beyond belief. The horrors of living perfectly and safe to terrible in the matter of a day was the idea mentioned in this book. It gave me sense of what must not happen in the future of the world.
I really liked this book because of its specific detail and emotions that Elli mentioned in this tragic story. I couldn't believe the horrible things Elli and her family were put through and also the people that were alive when this time in history occurred. The worst part was that no one spoke up for the Jewish people. Out of so many people, no one spoke up. At times, this book made me sad and other times, it made me want to be happy because something good happened to Elli's family.
This is a great read so check this book out!

This book is very inspirational because it talks about the life of a thirteen year old girl and her inspirational story about how she survived the Holocaust. I recommend this book to anyone who ever wanted to know the truth about the Holocaust and hear about a brave little girl who survived and also helped other to never give up hope. This story will bring a tear to your eye. I learned a lot about the Holocaust by reading this story. I recommend it to anyone and everyone. I just started reading this book for a report for school, but once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I got a new outlook on life once reading this.

... 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!

When ever I go looking for a new manga series to start reading, I like to read Amazon.com's reader reviews to help me decide if they're worth buying. In the case of Fushigi Yugi, that back fired. Most of the reviews say something along the lines of 'if you liked Sailor Moon, you'll love Fushigi Yugi!' Well, since I really don't like Sailor Moon, it really turned me off. I am glad to say, though, that Fushigi Yugi is really much better than SM. Number one, the characters are more realistic. Even though we are dealing with that old chesnut of 'magical fourteen year old girls,' Watase sensei manages to pull it off better than most (it's no Inu-Yasha, but few authors/artists compare to my idol, Rumiko Takahashi). Also, I the plot was very engaging; rather like a fairy tale. The artwork was pretty good, too. My only complaint would be that the boys seem too pretty at times(it's time for androgeny, here comes Hotori!), but other than that I liked it.

My final analysis, is that it's worth the money. That may sound like sparse praise, but I'm a big cheapskate, so the fact that I have ordered Fushigi Yugi vol 1 & 2 says a lot.

This is an awesome book! It has beautiful art and a wonderful and hilarious story line. Not only is it comical but full of action and romance. The main characters Miaka and Tamahome have there flakey moments but I love when they show how much they feel towards each other. The most gorgeous character has to be Hotohori even thought Tamahome is very cute as well. Nuriko is well..mean and a little...in this comic but maybe his/her whatever attitude will change throughout the series. Well, I totally recommend getting the Vol 1 Priestess let alone the whole series. I have defiantly added this manga series to my collection. It is worth every penny! Make sure you don't buy them one by one because once you finsh reading the book then you will be dying do get the next one because they always stop at a very dramatic part. Believe Me!!

This story is one of the best vols I have read, in the begining miaka and her friend yui are like sucked into this book that they find in the library at the restricted area,there they land in this mysterious world and there they meet some bandits that want some trouble and this vewry tall handsome man shows just in time to rescue miaka and yui, very very cute guy!! and there they are transported back to their world where they have ot face entrance exams, later on miaka has a fight with her mother and goes to the library and gets sucked again and there she goes searching for that handsome man (that's what I like to call him for now).while she is searching she meets up with a trader and asks her if she needs a ride?and of course she agrees,meanwhile that cute guy is eating when he hears two people talking about this girl, and he thinks hey lets go,meanwhile it was a trick and miaka gets stuck in acorner where there are men surrounding her when she uses her arm to knock out the guys but then one trys to..and hero comes to the rescue!!she thanks hime but does not want ot leave him and he asks her if she can get 2gems from the box by the emperor, well one of the guard try to kill her and the hero again comes to rescue her, well he says his name is tamahome and her name is is miaka, there they are captured and then they escape and this cute man who miaka thinks is a woman, asks her who she is and she says she is from another world and he says in shock could that be!! soon enough they hear some guards with tamahome and they are intending to capture her when the man says you are not allowed to touch her or him well they get invited,he tells his name which is hotohori, he explains for her suzuka and all how he is the second celestial warrior and tamahome which is obviously the first,and later on they meet the third celestial warrior,which is nuriko who develops a crush on tamahome,later hothori tries to kiss miaka but does not suceed, and there miaka confesses that she is falling in live with tamahome and tamahome says that...he is sorry but he doesn't have the same feelings for her!!i ccan't believe he would say that!! but I recommend this book for every one!!