literature

I give this book five stars in its genre. Salgari was one of the best writers of adventure in its purest form. His tens of books depict swashbuckling adventures all over the world: in Malaysia and Indonesia; in the Caribbean, in Canada and New England, in the Far West (cowboys vs. indians), etc. Of all his books, the Sandokan series is the most famous, justifiedly. Sandokan is the owner of an island, Mompracem, which serves as his base of operations against the evil european occupiers of the islands. Of course, Sandokan is not bad, he's social rebel. So what, the important thing about this book and the rest of the series is the fact that you get into a different world, rolling around the archipelago on pirate ships, attending exciting battles on the sea, rescuing beauties from the hands of bad guys, getting lost in enormous jungles, escaping from tigers, living to the top. I definitely don't understand why it is so difficult to find Salgari's works in English. Lucky I'm Mexican and it is pretty easy to find unexpensive editions of all his works. I grew up fighting my way around in every corner of the world, thanks to Verne, Salgari and others. It is wonderful to be a kid and have this kind of experiences, through reading. Absolutely recommended, as other reviewers have said, for kids of all ages.

With Salgari the reader gets a mix of Verne and Dumas together. It is a shame that his titles are so difficult to find in English. Maybe because the "bad" guys are the British! Common get over it! These are just adventures of the best kind.

Storms, battles and twisted plots in mysterious Malasian islands that open kids eyes to the world. All before Internet and Satellite TV. With Salgari you travel around the world with a book, find the Taymir submarine adventures, superb!

Some day I will get the books from the Sandokan series I have not read.

As all the reviewers, it is a real shame that the readers that not speak spanish can't get all this series. I read all Sandokan series when I was a child and I had 8 years old, and I liked it so much at the grade that I re-read all the series again. The Sandokan books that I know was written by Emilio Salgari are:

Sandokan
The pirate's woman
The malasian pirates
The stranglers
The two rivals
The malasian tigers
The king of the sea
The Mompracem's reconquer
The fake bracman
The fall of an empire
In the indian jungles
The vengeance of Yañez

It is important to mention that between The King of the Sea and the Mompracem's reconquer there are other two books that talk about the reconquer of the former Sandokan's kingdom. These tales are named Sandokan and The Vegeance of Sandokan.

That is the reason of when we read the Reconquer of Mompracem we read that Sandokan is now a king of a Bornean kingdom.

I recommend highly this series and it will be one of my favorites all time.

My seven year old daughter and I finished this book last night. She was very sad to have it end. What a wonderful account of the devastating storm that hit the islands of Assateague and Chincoteague and the relief efforts to rebuild the islands and the devastated wild pony population.

It was very heartwarming to read in the epilogue excerpts from actual letters of children that sent in their hard earned money to buy back the ponies sold at previous Pony Penning Days to replenish the wild herds of Assateugue. These children and others like them preserved a tradition that had been maintained for over 100 years and because of them continues on today. In fact, Marguerite Henry dedicated this book to those very children that made it all possible.

Marguerite Henry does an excellent job of using local dialect in the telling of the story, especially with Grandpa and Grandma. You can not help but become involved in the characters and their concerns become very real to you.

I read this book many many years ago and had forgotten a great deal of the story. One of the things I did remember was Misty being put in Grandma's kitchen to wait out the storm.

If you are like me and read this book many years ago I encourage to reread it. You will be glad you did.

This book is about a horse named Misty. She is going ot have a colt. The colt is a Mare and her name is Stormy. Stormy`s family tree is made up out of The Phantom and the pied piper had Misty, Misty and Wings had Sormy. But there was a flood and the flood killed Wings. He was a good horse untill he drounded in the flood. The reason Misty didn`t die was because she was put into a house. The house belonged to Mrs. and Mr. Bebbe. They had two grandchildren. Their names were Paul and Maureen. Paul and Maureen were very excited that Misty was going to have a colt. But Grandpa thought that Misty`s colt was dead inside of her. Grandma said that she was not even going to die when she was born.

If you like to read you will like this book as much as I did. The reason I liked this bookwas because it is a true story and it was written before it happened. This book was a little better than Misty of Chincoteague. I loved reading this book because it was interesting. It also was filled with action and excitment.

The theme of this story was to save Misty from the flood. If they didn`t save Misty her foal won't be able to talk Misty's place as the wild mare.

This is the true story of Misty, a famous horse who gave birth to a foal named Stormy during a raging, devastating storm. The book then presents an accurately detailed account of rebuilding the island of Chincoteauge after the storm.
The plot of this is exciting and suspenseful book twists just to the reader's liking, and has times of slow sadness. The odd regional colloquial speech of the characters may sometimes confuses the reader, but it is so well written you it presents a mental picture better than a movie.
This is a very interesting book to me. Its many scenes convey many different emotions: some humor, some happiness, and some intense sorrow. I am also extremely inspired by Paul Beebe, who shows courage and self-control as I would like to. It is a favorite of mine, and a worthy addition to any bookshelf.

Previous: Thank You, Jeeves

One of the most popular of the Jeeves novels, Right Ho, Jeeves brings us to Brinkley Court, the lair of Bertie's Aunt Dahlia, who is by far my favorite secondary character in all the books. This book is overshadowed by a decidedly antagonistic relationship between Jeeves and Bertie over a certain white jacket with brass buttons, and one can practically see Jeeves snickering in the background when his brilliant solution to the problems at hand is accomplished at Bertie's expense. Nevertheless, he does "rally round" when needed, and saves Bertie from a fate more hideous than death, viz. marriage to the loony Madeline Bassett. There are moments of laugh-out-loud hilarity in this book, notably Gussie Fink-Nottle's prize-giving at the local grammar school after drinking a jug of spiked orange juice, Bertie's very ill-timed question about haggis (a personal favorite of mine-the line, not haggis), and Aunt Dahlia's calm suggestion that Bertie go out to the garden pool and drown himself. This is comedy at its brilliant best. A wonderful beginning to a chain of events and characters that will follow in many books to come.

Next: The Code of the Woosters

Wodehouse is a legendary figure in British writing. I still find it amazing that many book-lovers in the US have yet to read him. All I can say is that a whole world, the world of Bertie Wooster, Lord Emsworth, Psmith, can open up for their enjoyment. Right-Ho Jeeves (originally called Brinkley Manor) was my very first book written by Wodehouse. I consider it his best work. It combines two elements that are hard to do - humor and language. No word is out of place, every word, every phrase carefully chosen, and the end of every chapter delivers a new twist to an ever-growing complicated, but airtight, plot. I've read this book a few dozen times, and it still seems fresh and funny and downright farcical at times. In terms of style, the closest American author I've read is Carl Hiaasen. The concept of a burglar-turned-environmentalist (as in Hiaasen's Native Tongue) is very Wodehouse-ian. Needless to say, I rate this book in my top 5 of all time.

You know things are going bad for Gussie (Agustus Fink-Nottle) when Bertie steps in to lend a able hand in his affairs..
The premise of this ridiculously funny book is simple, Gussie has fallen in love with Madeline Basset, friend of Bertie's cousin Angela, who (Angela) has quarelled with her lover and Bertie's longtime friend (the episode at the Drones notwithstanding) Tuppy Glossop over the matter of the latter not acknowledging the former's tryst with a shark at Cannes. Simple enough right? Take all these people and confine them in a country house, add a liberal dashing of Aunt Dahlia and that man of intellect Jeeves, not to mention a few assorted cooks and uncles, and you have a tale of horror (for Bertie) or a tale of absolute joy for the rest of us.
When helping convey Gussie's love to Madeline, Bertie convices Madeline that he loves her too. So when Madeline falls out with Gussie, she comes running to Bertie, who would rather she not. Tuppy, is also convinced that some low-lying snake has stolen Angela from him, and thinking that this l.l.s is Gussie. Gussie, meanwhile, to brace himself for the gruelling task of presenting the prizes in the Market Snodsbury school (for which he is down at Brinkley Court) tanks up on alchohol, and threatens to sully the Wooster name in a gathering of Market Snodsbury's finest. When the going gets tough, the tough ring for Jeeves. Can the man save the hour and untangle this absolute mess?
This is one of Wodehouses's finest Jeeves books. I say that in a different way in every review of mine, but I cant help it. The man is so good! If you cannot read this book in its entirety (shame on you!) just read the description of Gussie presenting the prizes. That one chapter will brighten your day, suffuse you in a radiant light of good cheer and make you feel that life is one great glad song.
Don't miss this book. It's an absolute ringer!

Nice bright pictures, cute poems....my daughter loves it!!

"Wumble Jungle" as my two-year-old calls it, is a day-long safari that introduces young children to different wild animals. It features catchy rhymes that may or may not make sense (but this doesn't bother my two children, 5 and 2), and bright cheerful pictures. It's become part of our stable of bedtime story reading material. Keep an eye out for Andreae's other book, "Giraffes Can't Dance". I read it in my son's class and got applause from enraptured children at the end of the tale.

I read Rumble in the Jungle to a 3rd grade class for "Read Across America Day." I figured it might be a little below their reading ability but the humor and pictures made it all worthwhile! They loved the goofy rhymes (one is about an animal "being cool.") I'll be buying it for my own kids, ages 2 and 6!

as i read this book, i now know henry rollins as being truly genuine in all of his feelings. it was a real book about his real life. the rawness of his emotion of the things he had gone through makes this one of the best books. i relate to a lot of the feelings he spoke of and i know that that very fact made this book very special to me. henry rollins is one the most genuine and true poets and writers of our time. although i'm not so sure if i'd want to ever tell him this.

Following the tragic and seemingly misunderstood death of his best friend, Henry Rollins bears his understandaby bitter and tortured soul unabashedly in this collection of his writings. If you've read any of his previous works you may have an idea of what to expect, but if you haven't then you are in for the literary ride of your life. How might one begin to describe Rollins' writings? Poetry seems too cut and dried a definition, as there is no true "poetic style" in the traditional sense. Rather, Rollins has created his own unique style which is both raw and forceful. The reader is left with no doubt as to the message and feelings that are being conveyed and Rollins' personal pains seap out of the page. It is Rollins' unique and refreshing view-points that affect the reader, in addition to his trials in all walks of life, that leave one with a feeling of empathy for much of what he has to say. I would whole-heartedly encourage anyone, whether a veteran of the works of Henry Rollins, both literary and aurally, or a stranger to emerse themselves in the life of a truly talented and strong artist that is Rollins. I would also encourage one to do so with an open-mind and a strong constitution

There is so much farcity in the world today that it's so good to come across a writer like Henry who's willing to show everyone what he thinks, how he feels, what his life is like and how he perceives the world around him.

This book is very brutal and honest, which I think always makes for good writing. He has a very clear perception of the people around him and how they think, which lets him view the world from all sides including his own. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to open their eyes to someone else's reality.

Miller outdoes any other Christian author with these books. The language flows beautifully, keeping the pages turning. They are easy to read, but the slower one reads them, the more insight and discovery is found. Each word is full of depth and feeling. It is almost possible to hear The Song as The Singer shares it with the world. The sorrow and feeling expressed by The Singer's followers is echoed in the heart of the reader. The fantasy style in which it is written opens the imagination and lets creative thought flow. If you buy this set, make sure you have at least three hours to spare--you won't be able to put it down.

Well done Miller!

I first read "The Singer" in 1974 on a trip from New Mexico to Memphis, and was profoundly moved by its writing style and its content. Since then I have read it many more times, have purchased many of Calvin Miller's other books, and have given them as gifts to people whom I know and love. Dr. Miller is a poet, a philosopher, and a deeply committed Christian who sees Christ as the God-Man and whose concepts encompass the divinity and the humanity of the One about Whom he writes. I can recommend this book wholeheartedly.

Miller's trilogy sits towards the top of the list of epic poetry. Written in a lyric style, with clarity and excitement, these lines cannot fail to move anyone. Miller has also done an excellent job of telling an allegorical tale without sounding unoriginal or uninspired. The Singer Trilogy ranks among the great achievements of twentieth-century verse.

Dear Mr. McAfee,

I read your book. I have sent copies to friends. I never understood why it did not become an American classic. Finally, I saw your on-line comments and I understood.

You have done a marvellous thing for veterans and civilians alike. You have captured the essence of the Vietnam conflict. You "Get" it. You also made me weep for the first time in thirty years.

Thank you

I was given this book by a friend who raved about it. I expected yet another terrible "Vietnam was hell-don't you feel sorry for me" books. Instead I got to read a book that transcends that conflict and all others. The story and mood could easily be transplanted to any other conflict in history and thats what makes this book so compelling. As a former enlisted infantryman, I rarely read any accounts that accurately portray the bizzare and often irrational logic that one has to adopt to deal with the situations faced by a soldier. Most stories and recollections make soldiers clear-thinking and rational and are usually from the perspective of an officer or high ranking NCO who seem almost to enjoy the experience. Any bad decisions are made "out-of scene" by politcally motivated officers or out-of-touch politicians. They imply that things would be fine without these busybodies. McAfee throws away these stereotypical conventions and gives us the hazy and almost absurdist reasoning that governs a man in times of unrelenting stress and deprevation. Each character in this story clings to each other, and in one case a mortar, to try and ground themselves in an environment of chaos and incoherence. This book should be a classic and the fact that it is out-of-print is a disgrace considering how much junk out there should never have been printed in the first place. However you can swing it, get this book. You will not be disapointed.

This is one of the finest novels written about modern warfare. Please give us more work Mr. MaCafee.

This book is a fun book to read because of the way it rhymes. It introduces basic spanish words that are understood by using the sentance and illustrations as clues. It is a good length and provides a pronouciation guide in the back of the book.

This is the cutest book ever! In my high school Spanish class our teacher read it to us, and we all loved it so much that a few of us went out and bought it ourselves. It is my new favorite children's book. It has bright pictures that are really cute. They have their own style. There are cacti with hats, and ufos, in random places, it's so adorable. It also has a very catchy rhyme pattern, and it is a great way to introduce children to Spanish. I give this book my highest praise!

Really fun rhymes to teach some Spanish vocabulary terms (book "flow" though is in English).

Any Beatles fan would enjoy this book - both the writings and the drawings. The edition I have had for MANY years is Simon and Schuster hardcover, copyright 1965 by John Lennon. Only wish it was autographed

I just think that any person, Beatles fan or not, would enjoy reading this book. It shows the fact that John Lennon was a man with many talents, not just musical talents. He was and will always be a wonderful man.

I read this book and thought it was one of the funniest things ever composed. I highly suggest the pieces: 'The Fat Budgie', 'The Wumberlog' ,'Mr. Borris Morris' and 'The National Health Cow'. It can be a bit controversial, shocking even in places, but why should that stop you? But if you like things (or indeed 'pidgers and writty' as Mr. Lennon said)about people's uncles eating budgies, or 13 year old girls waiting outside in boxes until they were 21 (as stated in thier uncle's will) and wondering if they were going to get the key of the door, but then realising they were getting the whole house, or indeed milking a cow who's milk comes out in bottles, then this is the book for you.

I have known the story and read it since I was a boy. This is story has had a profound influence on my life, and can be one on others' lives too. It is beautifully written and represents the highest ideals of what Christmas and Easter are all about. Even today it brings tears to my eyes when I reread the familiar haunting passages. I think it especially poignant and appropriate this year, and I thought of it as I read of the everyday heroes of 9/11. I wish all children and adults had an opportunity to read it.

It is the dream of every believer-to meet Jesus. To bow at his feet, to offer all you are to him, and hear him say "Well done my good and faithful servant." So it was for the other wise man. He, however, gives it up to help a dying man. He then, in turn, forfits his place with the other Magi at the birth of Jesus. This is the story of a man who spends his life hunting the dream of every christian on Earth. It is the single most touching story I have ever read. God was truly at work in Mr. Van Dyke.

Van Dyke is truly a great writer. Every word is carefully chosen. I will read this book every Christmas. His message is inspiring. I would like to recommend another holiday book I equally enjoyed: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices, by John Allen. (Read my Amazon.com review.)