This book is deceptively small and simple, yet has a wealth of wisdom and practical ideas for everyone who wishes to grow as a human being living on this Planet Earth. Dr. Lee's vision for humanity is that all become enlightened because this is the solution to the current global problems of war, hunger, and Western society's poverty of the soul. Enlightenment is not an obscure, mystical path reachable only for those who sit for 20 years meditating on a mountaintop, but a choice we can make for ourselves today. Like most anything worthwhile, enlightenment is a process of spiritual maturing. Dr. Lee points out that healing our souls and coming closer to our own divine nature is the true purpose of our lives here on earth. How does one go about recovering our divine selves and awakening spiritually? There are as many paths as there are human souls in the world. As the founder of "Dahn Hak", a holistic method of exercise, breathing, and meditation, Dr. Lee has done our homework for us. In "Healing Society", he explains the fundamentals of "Dahn Hak", and how this practice initially benefits the individual. From my own practical experience, the practice of "Dahn Hak" has enabled me to step out of the confines of my small self, and create a life full of meaning and purpose for myself and my family. And, as Dr. Lee so concisely points out, the true purpose of enlightenment is the betterment of society. In order to experience the immediate benefits of "Dahn Hak", one must first understand simply what it is. The purpose of Dr. Lee's book is to invite us all to the feast, for that is what is within every one of us. Once we understand Who we truly are, how we treat each other and ourselves changes. And this knowledge is what will heal the world. Get this book, read it, and learn "to play well with each other."

In his new book "Healing Society", Dr.Lee seeks to illumunate the pathway to one's spiritual nature, thereby experiencing oneness with all of humanity and the great cosmic universe. His DahnHak program proposes that each individual is to first achieve physical and mental health and improve their energy balance. Dr.Lee explains these ideas in his book in a positive and encouraging manner that is direct, understandable and in an easy to read and enjoyable format. Instead of trying to solve problems only by war or violence, we must bring on a new wave of understaning, or mass enlightenment, and learn to love unconditionally to create a lasting world peace. Dr.Lee talks about losing touch with one's True Self, who is naturally divine and give us health, happiness, and joy, instead of hate, fear, anxiousness, struggle, and conflict. Listening to our heart and soul will lead to trust and harmony. Using the Ki-energy that surrounds and is available to us, and using Brain Respiration as a training tool, enlightenment can be achieved. An "Enlightenment Revolution" through a Spiritual-Cultural Movement is Dr. Lee's inspiring proposal to start up our collective human consciousness.

Dr. Seung Heun Lee wrote Healing Society: A Prescription for Global Enlightenment because he wanted "to call upon the world to embark on an Enlightenment Revolution" and "to let everyone know of their own right to enlightenment." Dr. Lee has written sixteen previous books and lectures extensively. He also founded "Dahn Hak Movement," which is designed to help in spiritual awakening, and helped establish the New Millennium Peace Foundation with Neale Donald Walsch. The United Nations has recognized Dr. Lee as a preeminent spiritual leader of the world.

He emphasizes throughout the book that enlightenment is not just for a select few, but available to everyone. He defines enlightenment as "a simple choice that you make to live your life for the betterment and benefit of all those around you." One needs only to make that choice, and then develop the discipline to live out that choice.

Part of becoming enlightened involves training your life energy, or Ki. Dr. Lee explains exactly how to do this. He has also developed a technique called "Brain Respiration" as a "realistic and everyday form of spiritual training" for all those people who don't have the time or inclination to go live on a mountain top or join a monastery.

Once people achieve personal enlightenment, the next step is global enlightenment. Dr. Lee says that we once all lived together as enlightened beings in harmony, and that we have deep spiritual longings to regain this world. In order to do that, "we need to recover the sense of Oneness and harmony that we have lost." That requires making both a personal and a collective choice to be enlightened. He wants at least one hundred million people to be spiritually enlightened by the end of this decade. "The healing vibration of their choices and determination will cure the Earth of the ills we have caused," he says.

Most people have forgotten that we are all part of One. Forgetting that has led to the state of affairs that exists today. If you'd like to meet your Creator Within and become a part of the solution rather than continue as part of the problem, then I highly recommend reading Healing Society.

Ten years is too long to wait for a Liaden-universe fix. All of the wonderful plot lines (Val Con and Miri, Shan and Priscilla, Anthora and Jeeves, Edgar and Sheather, even the Xtrang) were picked up where they were left off after the trilogy of ten years ago. I have read and re-read those three books until they are in decrepit condition (and can't wait for the compliation of the three to be published). I lost sleep because I made the foolish mistake of starting to read it as soon as I received it in the mail. Couldn't put it down. It had me laughing out loud and grinning like an idiot for hours. I plan to start re-reading it immediately, ordering anything else I can get my hands on that takes place in Liaden space, watching for the projected magazine articles, and addicting my friends and family to the series. Please, please, write more Liaden-universe books and stories. I'd settle for an even hundred.

First full disclosure: I have fallen in love with the Liaden universe! All these wonderful stories have been a godsend and a comfort. Marvelous tales of adventure, romance and daring do! There isn't a bad one in the bunch.

Now specifically lets look at "Plan B," the third in the Agent of Change series. But maybe it would be better to look at them as two parts of one story separated into two sections each. "Agent of Change" is nothing without "Carpe Diem" and "Plan B" is nothing without going on to "I Dare." "Plan B" is the continuation of "Carpe Diem" so you know where it's been. By the way if you haven't read "Agent of Change/Carpe Diem" do it now! Don't wait. In fact you can buy both of them along with "Conflict of Honors" in one volume called "Partners in Necessity", without a doubt the best buy around. Anyway the whole cast is there as you follow them throughout their various exploits.

I will grant you that my two favorites are "Carpe Diem" and "I Dare" but you can't skip "Plan B." You just can't! You can't skip tot he middle of a book and that's what you would be doing!

Given the total Plan B/I Dare, they really should have been one novel, you just can't beat it. Not only do I recommend this book but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it.

For those who have stumbled on this book title from something else entirely, you should know that this is part of a series. You would be missing a great deal if you tried to read this first, without having read _Partners in Necessity_, the reprint of the first three books in the series.

This series falls into several subgenres of science fiction- partly good old space opera, partly romance, partly fantasy (I'm sorry, but anything which has wizards and goddesses in it is fantasy - not science fiction).

Perhaps the best thing in the book is the dry sense of humor. Miri has lots of wisecracks, Val Con is a master of irony, Shan has very sarcastically expressive eyebrows, and the Clutch Turtles are themselves. The interstellar crime cartel, the Juntavas, appear at times to be "the gang that couldn't shoot straight." Jeeves the robot makes an appearance with Anthora and the cat.

I don't think that the Yxtrang as they are developed in this book are the extrapolation I would have expected from the portrayal of them in the previous books. They are far too human. Frankly, the Department of the Interior seems more ruthless and warlike than the Yxtrang. Nonetheless, I like the character of Nelirikk Explorer. Not sure how the heck he learned to sew, though.

Toward the end of the book, several random things struck me together, to start the sort of train of thought that could be somebody's thesis in English or something- not me, gods forbid, but someone: the surname of dea'Judan; the resemblance of the name Daav to David... and I started wondering, is this Moses' flight out of Egypt? Are we going to have 40 years of wandering through space? Will we be finding more "lost tribes"? Somebody out there can take this and run with it- start doing an extended comparison of this book to Exodus. Maybe it's not really there. But it could be fun to look for it.

A handful of entertainment works (books, movies, music, TV shows) have connected with me in ways that I can barely describe. They move me emotionally, they provoke my imagination, and they make me want to experience them over and over again. They describe people and situations to which I can completely relate. Bruce Springsteen's music does that for me. Star Wars used to do that until the prequels came about. The TV show St. Elsewhere used to do it (haven't seen it in years, but I assume it holds up). And Lonesome Dove continues to do so. There are so many positive reviews here that it's hard not to be redunant. I agree with it all: believable characters that you feel like you know, not long enough even at 900 pages, brutal but realistic violence. This is simply the best book I have ever read, and the emotional impact still rings true after nearly 16 years. I haven't reread it in several years, but I'm certain that I remember nearly every scene and much of the dialogue.

Several warnings:

1) Nothing you read afterwards, for years to come, will compare. Lonesome Dove will spoil you and diminish everything else you read, no matter how good it may be.

2) It really is not long enough even at it's sizable bulk. You will not want this to end. It starts slowly, but like the cattle drive it depicts, it builds momentum.

3) You will have a difficult time convincing anyone else to read this fine book. You'll hear several standard excuses, especially "I don't like Westerns" and "It's too long" (refer people who say this to my #2 warning above). I know few people who have ever read the book, but those of us who have share the same feelings. It's frustrating to read something so wonderful yet have so few people with whom to share it.

4) McMurtry's sequel and prequels are inferior. You will want more after reading this book, but his other works in the series do not live up to the standards set here. They are good works by themselves, but are inconsistent with the facts and spirit established in the original book. I've heard him speak at several book signings, and for reasons unknown he seems to hold Lonesome Dove in contempt. It has always struck me that he must have intentionally sabotaged the other books as a way of "sticking it" to the fans who inundate him with their love for this book. Don't let that diminish your enjoyment of Lonesome Dove.

5) It is emotionally devastating. This is a sad, brutal, tragic book (bet that really sells you on it, doesn't it? well, sad and brutal have never been done so well). You will experience the characters' joys, but you will also share their considerable pain. Do not let anyone tell you how this book ends. I was not expecting the outcome, but it flowed naturally with the story. Given its realism and insight into life and human nature, the book ended in the only way it could if it were to remain true to itself. Life doesn't end happily, and neither does Lonesome Dove. These characters, their stories and their fates, will haunt you until the end of your days.

When you're finished with the book, watch the movie- looking forward to seeing it should be some consolation after the letdown of finishing the book. Don't fall into the mentality that "the movie is never as good as the book". In this case it is, and they offer a wonderful complement to one another.

That is the best way to convey the quality of this novel. McMurtry succeeds in writing a wonderfully descriptive novel of the only true American myth -- the cowboy. Americans have always been fascinated with the West. McMurtry realizes this and embraces the world of cattle drives, whores, indians, gunfights, and more. In doing so, he refuses toshow us the picture through rose-colored glasses. Instead he weaves a rich tale with wonderful characters -- who contain vivid human flaws. I can honestly say that this is the single greatest piece of contemporary fiction I have ever read because it captures the spirit of the old West without dilluting it with glorification. There are times when this book and its villains truly frighten you, times when you laugh along with the "good guys", and times when sadness shamelessly sweeps over you. Like all great novels, this books embraces the reader and makes you a part of its world. Even better, that world is the great American horizon -- the land west of the Mississippi. Truly, a great epic novel. If you want to read a tale of American history, full of wonderful characters, drama, comedy, and action, then this is the book for you.

My love of westerns prompted me to read this novel. I generally stay away from "Made for TV movie" novels, but I had heard from many of my friends that this was a novel that couldn't be passed up. I am very glad I took the time to get into the novel. It is a fabulous epic that I will read again and again. Not only that, but I have gone and purchased the other three books of the series, and am anxious to begin reading them.
"Lonesome Dove" starts out kind of slow. You are introduced to the main characters early on, but the story line doesn't really pick up until the journey to Montana begins. Lorena's capture was the clincher of the novel. From that point on I was hooked. I could not put the book down until I finished it. I liked the development of Lorena's character, but unfortunately McMurtry puts it to an abrupt ending as soon as they reach Nebraska. She immediately went from a major character to a background character.
I am also wondering a bit why McMurtry decided to leave Woodrow Call's character such a secret until the very end of the novel. Like Clara, I don't particularly like Call, and wonder why McMurtry made him the character who rides into the sunset. I guess I will have to read "Streets of Laredo" to find out.
Augustus McCrae is by far my favorite character of the novel. His character is so well developed that you feel like you know him personally. He is fun, playful, sensitive, caring, skilled, and opinionated. What a great guy! What a hero.
My second favorite character of the novel is Newt. You can see him mature before your eyes. I hope that some day a novel is written about him.
Using myth, mystery and superstition, I believe that Blue Duck is an awesome character. He is crude and devilish, and his ending is so grand. McMurtry gave us just enough information to keep us in suspense, but not enough to form the whole picture of who this villan was.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is in for a great epic tale of the American west. I think McMurtry is one of the best American authors we have ever had. I cannot wait to pick up his other novels.

This one is actually the best work of Hunter. His first novel(?) The Master Sniper turned out to be flawed with unripened scenario and writing tech. But not this one as well as its two sequels, DIRTY WHITE BOYS and BLACK LIGHT. All three had proved that the real mature Hunter is finally arrived! Readers who could enjoy this book greatly should also check out and purchase from Amazon.com several other books fromin the same genre: WHITE STAR by James Thayer--like Bob Lee Swagger's nickname, the hero in W/S was named WHITE STAR by his deadly enemy; SHADOW OVER BABYLON by David Mason(an English weapry expert), there is a great sniper in this book too; SNIPER'S MOON by Carson Stroud, a V/N veteran sniper turned N.Y. cop; POINT OF IMPACT, by Jack Curtis. Plus the old THE MASTER SNIPER, I think the readers would feel quite satsified.

Stephen Hunter has become one of my favorite fictional authors. While there may be a few technical shortsights, he convinces me that he likes the subject matter and enjoys what he is writing. THIS IS THE BEST NOVEL OF ITS KIND I HAVE EVER READ. I read it over three years ago, then again last year, and I may read it again. Bob Lee Swagger is an interesting character and is actually believable. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys really good action-adventure novels with some real meat in them. I sincerely hope Mr. Hunter turns out some more like this trilogy. This is definitely, "the right stuff".

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.

I bought this book for my 9 (soon to be 10) year old and was impressed by the head-to-toe body care topics it covered. It touches on everything from hair care, to face cleansing, to washing your hands, to exercising and nutrition. I was wondering how I was going to broach the topic of starting her period with my daughter and this sure helped relieve my anxiety. It covered it honestly, straightforward and not intimidating at all. I think it helped because it was only a minor focus of the entire body-care book. (A brief introduction to what a period is and how to handle it and the fact that it is completely NORMAL and all girls go through it). I told my daughter that she was now in the "girls club" and could talk to me anytime about any of these topics she had questions about...she carried the book around for hours and immediately started cleaning her face, brushing her hair and being more conscious of her overall body care.
I highly recommend this book for preteens and am happy I bought it.

Okay, since I was growing up pretty fast, I was looking for a book that would give me advice and information about the changes I was going through. My mom kept on buying and suggesting book after book, but I just couldn't find the right one. Then she brings me "The Care & Keeping of You; The Body Book For Girls." Alright, i have to admit that at first I was a little hessitant about reading the book cuz I thought it would be just like the other book I had read in the past. Boy was I wrong! Once I started, I couldn't put it down! It has absolutely everything! From tips on facial care to braces. It still is helping me a lot! I reccommend this to any girl who's undergoing puberty and can't just find the right book to help her. Congratulations to AMERICAN GIRL! :)

i ordered this book for my 9 1/2 year old daughter as a beginning tool to discuss the changes that would be taking place...she absolutely loved it....upon receiving the book i was impressed by the easy to read fomat and fun pictures...my daughter read alomost 1/4 of the book the first day and we discussed any questions she had...i would absolutley recommend this to any mom that wants a book that is informative yet not too complicated ( as many books go into much more detail and sex talk which I do not think a 9 year old needs)...an absolute winner in my book as well as in my daughter's!!!

Anne of Green Gables is about a skinny red haired girl who has both a short temper and a very colorful imagination. She really loves the little farmhouse but the Cuthberts might send her back to the orphanage because Matthew needed a boy about 11 or 12 to help him on the farm.

Sometimes her imagination gets her in trouble. For instance when Marilla asks her to get a pattern from Mrs. Barry she doesn't want to because she imagined the woods between the houses were haunted! The book tells about her life growing up in the 1930's. As she grows, she learns many lessons and meets many friends who help her to become Anne of Green Gables.

This book is wonderful. It is a great book for girls to read. I loved it because the character was funny, spunky, and could talk forever. She reminded me of my sister. Anne never gave up trying to reach her goals. She will keep you interested throughout the whole book!

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

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

A few weeks ago, I got really sick of today's children's literature. I had read enough mysteries and trashy books about romance to last me a lifetime. So I wanted something else to read, something well-written with a good plot and lifelike characters. I had to look no further than the first book I picked up- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery.

Anne of Green Gables is the first book in the Anne of Green Gables series. It takes place, as most of L. M. Montgomery's books do, on Prince Edward Island in Canada. This particular story takes place in the town of Avonlea. It follows young Anne Shirley, an orphan brought to Green Gables to help Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert on their farm. Much to Anne's dismay, Marilla tells her that they wanted a boy to help around the farm, not a girl. However, Marilla changes her mind and decides to keep the dynamic young girl who would become Anne of Green Gables.

This novel is incredibly written, with well-developed characters and an intricate plot. I absolutely loved it. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great example of children's literature at its height.

This is a typical coming-of-age SF/fantasy story, where the protaganist must overcome overwhelming odds to triumph over the forces of evil. It's main selling point is that it's a hybrid, giving us dragons and romance in an SF setting (altho the reader isn't necessarily aware that it's SF at first).

Lessa is the Cinderella of the story, working as hard in her hold as the lowliest peasant despite being the heir. The arrival of dragonriders to the hold upsets all of her long-range plans and she eventually ends up 'impressed' to a dragon queen. This opens the way for romance and more adventures as 'thread' (a burning, sometimes fatal thing that falls from the sky like rain) suddenly returns to bedevil the lives of people on Pern.

The story of Lessa is perfectly aimed at the Young Adult audience, with lots of adventure and many chances for the reader to try to figure out what 'thread' is and where the people of Pern are from. I first read it in my 20s and have reread it and the next 3 books in the series many times since (altho after that the series goes down the tubes).

I consider it on the same par as the Foundation series - light SF/fantasy entertainment. It's nowhere near as difficult to read as Tolkien or Cherryh but you don't get the same payoff either.

I first discoverd the world of Pern in sixth grade, having to go it the comuter lab and read excerpts(?) from the book Dragonsong. I loved Dragonsong when i read it in the computer lab, however I was extremely dissapointed until about 100 pages and I loved the book. I expecially fell in love with Dragonfilght, I couldn't put it down! It's been my favorite book since. Lessa is such a great character, the story of dragons and firelizards builds up and makes sense. i love F'lar and F'nor, and Jaxom. Ramoth and Lessa love eact other so muchis so beautiful. Its like it could really happen. Dragons being of only certain colors, how the where breed it amazing. I highley reccommed this book and the series(I finshed All the Weyrs of Pern a couple days ago). Anne McCaffery has a style of writing that makes you love the characters.

I must say that this book is one of my ABSOLUTE favorites! I have read it so many times that I almost know it all by heart! This book tells the story of Lessa, (my fav. character) who Impresses the last golden-queen dragon of Pern, Ramoth and how, basically, they defy all and, against all the odds against them, the save the world. This was the 1st Pern book I have ever read, and I say you should definetly read this one first. It makes understanding the different ranks and colors of the dragons easier...it makes you understand the real, emotional bond that the dragons and their riders have...how their minds are linked and how they understand everything about the other... This world is so believable that it makes me want to go to Pern and Impress a dragon! (lol) One of my favorite parts would have to be when Ramoth rose in flight to be caught by Mnementh, whose rider is F'lar, who was the only bronzerider who believed that the ancient menace of Thread would fall once again in the skies of Pern. And lo, was he ever correct! He and Lessa and Ramoth and Mnementh make the BEST couple, and their fierce wit and sense of knowing make the story fast-paced and wonderful! You get to really know all the characters like you are actually standing there, with them...its great! This is a TOTAL read for dragon fans and even sci/fi and fantasy fans! Its great for all ages, though I do warn against the 10 and under year olds-they might not get the concept. PLEASE READ! ITS SO WORTH A HARBACK VERSION! (I have all these books, so trust me!) :OD

Jane is a rich young woman living on an Earth remade by natural disasters. She falls in love for the first time with a robot called Silver, and feels like her life has been thrown into disarray. One of her friends, Clovis (a gay man), helps her to be with Silver, and Jane runs away from home to live with Silver in one of the worse-off areas of the city. Silver and Jane live happily for some time, with each teaching the other what it means to be human, to be living, until the company which created Silver seeks to reclaim him due to his "flaws". Tanith Lee's fascinating novel is the story of growing up, of becoming one's own self apart from family and friends, of developing one's own beliefs and persona. This is the type of book which gets better the longer one digests it. It's a celebration of first love, even one that ends sadly.

Before I started reading this book, I expected it to be an amusing and maybe kinky sci-fi romance. The more I read, the more I was impressed not only with the well-written love story, but also with the heart-warmingly poetic writing, and most of all with the thought-provoking philosophical themes that lie just beneath the surface.

This book raises ideas about what the personality of a perfect human might be like. Silver is programmed to act human, but he is not programmed for negative emotions such as pain, fear, or anger. His kindness and eternal patience help Jane, the highly sensitive and sometimes paranoid protagonist, to come to grips with her life and her attitudes. Tanith Lee blurs the line between humans and robots, giving insight by comparison on what makes humans tick and what potential we have to better ourselves.

Though this book is not as well-known as many fantasy classics, I consider it right up there with the best. If you enjoy fantasy or science fiction that has an interesting storyline *and* some deep meaning, do yourself a favor and read this book.

Tanith Lee really, really shines in this novel. I don't think her writing was ever so good as in this book. Her character, Jane (Jain) is exceptionally written, superbly realistic, heartbreakingly wise. Her lover, Silver, at first infuriated me with his cold, non-human perfection -how can a robot love you, and does he really love you if he is programmed to love everyone else just as much?- but as the story grows, Silver skyrockets into a real, true character, as human as they come.

This is a beautiful love story, and it's definitely withstood one test; it's being reprinted!!!! Most books, once out of print, stay that way, sadly (the book Fire and Hemlock by D.W.Jones comes quickly to mind). Also, I must say The Silver Metal Lover passed another test; so far, all (twenty-five) reviews already up here are five-stars. Does this ever happen?

To anyone who hasn't read the book; Go directly to your nearest bookstore and buy a copy! Then, sit down somewhere comfortable and with access to lots of food and tissues, because you won't be getting back up for a long time, and when you do, you'll be drenched in tears. When I read it the first time, I could NOT put it down, and I had classes the next day (I ended up reading till dawn)!

This book truly is timeless, beautiful, heartbreaking. Highest recommendation!

The mighty fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings comes to it's final conclusion in The Return of the King, a once-again stroll through brilliance and imaginative flair. Author J.R.R. Tolkien has definitely created something genuine. Though it's a little saddening that the last part of this fantastic story is once again diseased by it's predecessor's problems.

The Return of the King starts out with the wizard Gandalf as he rides to Minas Tirith, captital of Gondor (with Pippin in hand), to seek it's leader. Meanwhile, Aragorn and King Theoden march triumphantly into battle against the forces of Mordor along with Legolas, Gimli and Merry. The reunited six members of the Fellowship, joined by Eoywn, Eomer and Faramir, face off in a final war against the Dark Lord Sauron's forces.

In the dark depths of the tower of Cirith Ungol, Frodo has been captured by Orcs after the climactic battle against the spider Shelob, leaving Sam with the Ring. Gollum has slinked away, and Sam must brave through Mordor to fulfil his master's duties. But when Frodo escapes, both of the hobbits enter Mordor to finally finish the dreadful deed of having the evil One Ring destroyed.

Plot-wise, The Return of the King beats out both first and second parts of the story. Battles and fights in the final installment just steal your heart away, one coming from Merry defeating a deadly foe. However, the first part of the book easily suffers from the problems of The Two Towers and Fellowship of the Ring: Tolkien constantly tells of nothing that is crucial to the story, and unessessary dialogue. Indeed it doesn't hurt the book's main story, but it doesn't add to it either.

The characters, however, save this novel a great deal. One thing Tolkien succeeds mostly is his character creations. They are all likable and completely entertaining in originality and depth. With new characters and of course, Middle-Earth's wonderful landscapes, this is a triumphant end to the story. The Lord of the Rings is one of the greatest novels ever created, and The Return of the King fits with it perfectly.

Lord of the Rings reads like one very long book that the reader finds themselves unable to put down. It goes without saying that you must read "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Two Towers" before you read this one. This, the third segment, is the climax to what the other two stories built up. This was astonishingly real for a book about wizards, hobbits and elves and I loved it. It is the only book that I have ever found myself crying when it was over. It was a sad sort of ending, (I won't spoil it), but it wasn't because of that. These vivid characters whom I had come to know and love for the months that it took me to go through "The Hobbit" and the other Lord of the Rings books were abandoning me. They would go on with their lives and have glorious new adventures of which I could not be a part of...I miss Sam most of all. The afterward of this book is a gem as well, since you can learn to read and write in Elvish and in runes, and find out histories and afterwards behind the epic. This is a must read for anybody. You are missing out if you do not read this. (And I might add that if you haven't, you are among a shrinking number of people, since the series continues only to grow in popularity.)

The Return of the King is one of the best novels I have ever read. This novel is so intense I could feel heart pounding. At the end of book five, where Tolkien returns to Sam and Frodo's journey, I could not put the book down. I read the remainder of the novel that day. Suspense keeps building and building until the very end. I actually find the ending to be sad. The final pages and parts and appendix seem very sad to me. I think the appedix is well worth reading.

The story of Gandalf and Pippen sets the stage for the battle before Minas Tirith. The Witch King of Angmar leads his forces to destroy the White City while the men of Umbar sail against the Pelagir. When all seems hopeless, the Riders of Rohan arrive, and Aragorn walks the Path of the Dead. Sam and Frodo travel through Mordor even as the last battle is nearing its beginning. The Nazgul fly from battle as the ring nears its destruction. Will Frodo and Sam finish their quest? The suspense is staggering.

The Return of the King is amazing, but if you wish to learn more of Middle Earth, of Beren and Luthien, and of Feanor, read not only the Return of the King, but the Silmarillion as well.

This book is a delightful story about a young girl and the many different emotions she is feeling. Curtis does an excellent job of portraying a wide array of emotions, from jolly to confused to frustrated, making this a book that almost any child can relate to. The best part about thsi book is that Curtis not only lists different moods felt by the little girl in the story, but she also explains what causes those moods, which provides young children with a better understanding of their own emotions. For example, Curtis writes "Today I'm excited there's so much to do. I'm going to sell cookies and lemonade too. I'm starting a club to go clean up the park. And I've got a big crush on my teacher named Mark." Another strength of this book is the way Cornell uses the illustrations to enhance the written text. She does an excellent job of creating pictures that conv ey the emotions Curtis is writing about. On each page, you'll find a jpicture which shows actions or facial expressions related to the mood being described. Her vivid illustrations are not only present thoughout the story, but actually go from end paper to end paper, even on the title and publishing page. Finally, the only downfall of this book is the inconsistency in text layout. On each page, the text is placed in a different location and in a different pattern. This can make the story difficult for young children to read themselves, which makes this book more ideal as a read-aloud for young children.

This is a beautiful book to share with young children who have difficulty to identify or recognize their own feelings and moods. I happen to live in the country where one's emotions and feelings are seldom addressed directly. This book helps me to show my daughter that it is ok to feel what she feels inside. My daughter wants me to read this book to her every night before bedtime. After reading it , she would tell me if today is a good day for her and why. The illustrations are beautiful and humorous. It really teaches the children that no matter what the mood is, life can still be fun and full of surprises.

This is a book about feelings and emotions. The main character is a little girl. The book follows her daily experiences, along with charting how she feels throughout these events. Feelings such as silly, angry, sad, confused, and excited are mentioned, along with events which trigger these emotions. At the end of the book, there is a page which says, "How do you feel today?" On the page opposite this, you will find an interactive page, in which the child can change the eyes and mouth of the picture to depict his/her feelings at that moment. It is an absolutely wonderful book. The illustrations are OUTSTANDING! They really bring the book to life! You will find yourself reading this book over and over again. It discusses family life and everyday events, which happen on a daily basis. Children can relate to this book because of this. They can use their background knowledge to relate the events in the book to the events in their lives. They can also compare her feelings to their own, and realize that everyone has feelings. This is a wonderful book to share with children and adults of all ages. I would definetely recommend this book to anyone.