This book Anne of Green Gables was one of the best books i've read in a long time. it kept my attention very well. And for me that's hard to do. Their were some many great details described. Whenever Anne describes everywhere she goes I can just imagine it in my head. I can also relate to Anne because she goes to places she's never been before and has to meet new people. This book took so many diffrent aspects on life from death of Matthew to making new friends like Diana,and speaking your mind and having it get you into trouble.Which everyone has done before in their life at one point in time.I also took a like to this book because it talked about her realationship with boys. She isnt one for being nice to them but later on she gets to trusting them more.I didnt like everything about this book, i would have to say the down fall for me was that the book didnt spend to much time on the other characters.I would have liked to known a little bit more about them. I would have to say overall this book was very well written, i think it could be for all ages, speaking from Merillas point of view and of course Annes as well.Even though the book is written in the "olden" times almost everyone can relate to the book in one way or another.So i would definatly recommened it to everyone i know.

My mother first bought me Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea when I was 12. I fell immediately in love with the books, and begged her to buy me the rest. And slowly, bit by bit, my collection of books grew. The main character, Anne, though having lived in the late 19th century, is so wonderful, that I felt a kinship with her. I not only own the complete collection of books, but both of the movies too. Recently, they made a new movie, but I wasn't able to get into. It so varied from the origional books (Colleen Dewhurst is dead, and so they had to rearrange things), that I couldn't watch but 10 minutes of it without getting upset (I pointed out 15 different mistakes). But, I still love the original stories. My book collection of the Anne stories has made 5 moves with me (in 9 years) and are becomming so worn that soon, I will have to buy a new collection. I still read them, you see. I turn 22 soon and have a husband and toddler son. You just don't outgrow them. And they are perfect for any woman or girl, of any age.

Anne Of Green Gables is a really good book and i would love to read all of the other books that follow anne of greeen gables. It has a certian catch to it and you just know that your goin g to love the book. It is a bit sad at times but thats what gives the book its best features and the abbility to be interesting and everythign. Anne of green gables was verry intersesting and is a great book to read i think i might just go and read the other books out there that frollow anne of green gables, which is Anne of Avonlea, and , Anne of the island.i think that all of these books will be just as good as the first one and i think if anyone really wants to read a good book and have a good time reading it they should try reading anne of green gables.well i gave you my though about the book maybe you should check it and and see for yourself.Thankyou

Jane Stuart and her beautiful mother live under the thumb of her grandmother in Toronto. Jane feels she is not good at anything, especially school. Her grandmother and cousin Phyillis rub it in all the time. Jane's father doesn't reside at the house, and Jane believes that he's dead. But no, one day a girl from school tells her different. He's a poor writer living in a shack on Prince Edward Island. One rainy April day a letter arrives in the mail. Her father wants Jane to come spend the summer with him. Jane hates her father because he must have done something awful for her mother to have left him. But she goes to the island and finds a new life. Her father loves her, she finds she has talents, and she is not constantly under someone's thumb. And she wonders: why did her parents split up? I feel that this book is among L. M. Montgomery's best. It's a story of reconsiliation and a story where a trampled person can rise again. I really love it

When I first read this book, I had in fact never even heard of it before. On completing it I was surprised at this. Jane is probably one of Montgomery's most rounded characters, actually expressing the anguish that was only hinted at in other characters in other books.The tragedy of the lonely child trapped with her weak, unhappy mother and her bitter, dictatorial grandmother deals skilfully with the theme of divorce and seperation, and was probably considered revolutionary in its day.Jane's pain is very real as are the numerous lovable characters that populate this book.It might be considered dated and old fashioned today but a truly insightful and sensitive reader will sympathize with Jane and rejoice at her happiness.A beautiful and poignant book, that would set many readers thinking.

I have to say, I'm 25 years old and I still want to *be* Jane.

I've read this book countless times and as with all of Ms. Montgomery's work it grows with you. Far ahead of its contemporary novels in female characterization, Jane with her "can-do" attitude is a great role model for the girls of today. Not to mention the usual careful attention to detail this author is known for which makes her books enjoyable for all ages. As mysteries unfold and lives change you find yourself more and more ensconced in Jane's world. Jane is a very real character with her at times very adult and utterly disarming perceptions of her world and its inhabitants. Watch as a sullen, moody girl living under her grandmother's thumb becomes a bright and capable young woman fully realizing her potential due to new and unexpected influences in her life. Each step of Jane's personal transformation is fascinating and inspiring.

I do believe this was the final novel L. M. Montgomery wrote and the amazing talent inherent in all of her books combines with a lifetime of experience to make this an utterly enthralling read.

The only way I can convey how spellbinding this novel is to say: I don't recommend picking it up unless you have the time to read the entire book.

With its sparse prose style and often affecting knowingness, Alumit's first novel tells the story of Bob ("Bong Bong") Luwad, a young Filipino boy whose mother sends him to America after his father is arrested during the Marcos regime. Upon his arrival in the United States, the boy discovers the films of Montgomery Clift, whose movie persona provides much-needed emotional support that gradually becomes a psychological crutch.

Briskly told, the novel reads more like a play in parts. Many of the characters (especially Bob's foster parents and their daughter Amada) are aptly drawn, the descriptions of torture under the Marcos regime are harrowing, and the device of using Bob/Bong's letters to Montgomery Clift as chapter openings is artfully executed. Alumit is also adept at depicting the interplay between the various members of the foster family and the breakdown of their relations when Bob discovers a secret about Amada's parents.

I agree with others who've said that this is a promising first novel, but that statement alone sometimes damns a book with faint praise. The prose isn't just minimal; it's often skeletal, told with abbreviated sentences and fragments. In a mature hand, this barebones style might be effective for a purely psychological novel, but this novel aspires to be more than that. For example, Alumit fails to convey the culture shock that would have greeted a boy arriving in California from the Philippines or a young man returning to his homeland almost twenty years later. The scenes abroad could have taken place in just about any country; only the references to the Marcos regime are specific to the Philippines. Likewise, the only passages unique to life in Los Angeles is a scene at Grauman's Chinese Theater and an unnecessarily detailed paragraph describing a couple of rides at Disneyland.

The biggest disappointment, however, is the last section, which relies on a series of improbable coincidences that rapidly give way to melodrama and sentimentality. I won't give anything away except to say that this novel, in spite of its title, deserved more than a Hollywood ending.

Noel Alumit. Watch that name. LETTERS TO MONTGOMERY CLIFT is his first novel and a "wonder-full" debut it is. The story of a child (Bong/Bob) displaced from the horrors of Marcos' rule in the Philippines to Los Angeles and his subsequent journey through varying foster homes to recover his estranged parents is neatly and cleverly tied together with his self ruminations in the form of letters to his hero of movies, of heart and of love - Montgomery Clift. This technique could be banal in the hands of writers not as sensitive as Alumit, but in his hands these short notes serve as a means to delineate a child's fantasy world, a map of longing that accompanies his coming of age, a means to relate to a world gone mad and taking him with it.

Alumit wins us over by beginning this short, immensely readable novel in a light tone, creating the idea that we are embarkng on a comic, youthful fantasia. Once the characters are introduced in a way that they become photographically real, the book takes a turn toward the meat of the story. Characters enter (much as movie extras....), evolve, and find an indelible role in Bong/Bob's saga. Through these diverse people Bong begins to understand the world, to cope with his changing place, to discover his unique identity. What begins as a light tale becomes a discovery of the cruelty inherent in both the home and the world at war. Alumit succeeds to bringing his odyssey to a quasi-Hollywood finish which fits so well with the use of Montgomery Clift as his alter ego.

This is a first novel and shows passages and choices that will mature with further writing. But this is a superb little book that will hold you between its covers until you finish this profound and simple tale. Highly recommended.

I just finished reading Letters to Montgomery Clift, and I'm glad that I was alone for the last 40 pages, as I was crying almost nonstop and would have created a scene if I'd been in a public place.
I read a lot of fictioned... so it is with a certain authority that I can say that this beautiful, sensitive, original, thought-provoking, moving book is one of the very best you will ever read.
Letters to Montgomery Clift is a story of coming out, it is a story of finding love, it is a story of family and loss and discovery.
In addition, reading this book gave me insight into Filipino culture and recent history, and the tragic repercusions of political repression/imprisonment/torture on not only its immediate victims but on their family as well. Noel Alumit's perceptive novel, like A Beautiful Mind, shows how mental illness can affect "good" people, and how those who suffer from it can eventually triumph.
Take a journey into another man's soul, into another man's heart, into another man's life...and read this brilliant and unforgettable novel!

I love this book! I love all of montgomery's books and this is one of the best! After this review i'm going to read "The Golden Road" the sequel to "the Story Girl" and i just can't wait! I just wonder what going ot happen to fat Felix, timid Cecily, Snobby Felicity, Skeptical Dan, nice Sara Ray, Beverly, and The Wonderful Story Girl!

The Story Girl is a delightful hodgepodge of stories. The friendships and unique personalities make this a must-read for all young adults and adults. The spirit of long-ago days when life was much simpler is very appealing for today's reader. I enjoyed the characters and the settings of this book and would like to read the sequel, The Golden Road. Has anyone seen the PBS series that was based on The Story Girl and The Golden Road? I heard that The Road to Avonlea was based loosely on some of the characters from these two books. Sara, Felix, etc.

I discovered Montogomery seen years ago, when I was nine, when I begged my mother to buy me the entire "Anne" series. I own every one of Montgomery's books (except for "Pat of Silver Bush", lost at my friend's house); they occupy a special shelf. While I love all of them, a few I have read again and again. Almost every year I find my way "The Story Girl" and "The Golden Road", getting a prickly, wistful feeling that tells me to read them. I could identify with the characters because they were my age, and although I am a bit older now I don't think that I will stop reading them. Sarah Stanley and Bev were always my favorites, but I loved Cecily because she was so sweet, and Peter because he tried so hard. The few "Avolea" shows that I have seen were good, but changed too much from what Montgomery wrote. Other good books from P.E.I.: "The Blue Castle": I love this story because Valancy defies all conventions and creates a wonderful life for herself. I love the descriptions of the Canadian forests and lakes and the evolution of her relationship with Barney. "Jane of Lantern Hill": Also a good movie, this story is very modern in that it deals with separated parents. It is filled with the sweetness that pervades all of her books. "Emily of New Moon": I like her better than Anne, she's quiet and mysterious, feline and shadowy. The triad of books evolves her character realisticly, especially her friendships with Perry and Ilse and Teddy.

When I need to be cheered up, I re-read the first two chapters of this book and end up reading the whole book over, enthralled by one or another of the stories. The web may be tangled, but who cares when it's so fun? Montgomery's trademark moments - the ones you keep reading the Anne or Emily series for - pop up all the time, and as usual you keep kicking yourself for forgetting that her characters aren't real. Poignant, mysterious, romantic, Avonleaish, and VERY funny - watch out for the Sams, Uncle Pippen, Peter P., and of course Drowned John (I'd buy the book just to read the explanation of that name!)

She has a way with words! Not only are you captivated with the scenes within your mind, you are entertained by the stories. It is almost as if these people come to life for you! L.M. Montgomery is a true artist with writing!!

LMM's gift for portraying people's hopes and dreams and shortcomings in a sympathetic fashion shines in this novel. Among her most unique stories in format, it chooses to follow the fates of an entire clan for a year, alternately "peeping in" on the thoughts of first one person and then another. In most of her novels we see everyone through the lens of the main character: here we see each of them as they see themselves.

The characters' actions and decisions are shadowed by either their own, or their loved ones' desire to win possession of a coveted family jug. And although there is only one jug, the impetus to change and improve their lives results in nearly everyone being happy at the end of the story. LMM is as usual able to evoke both the comical and the noble side of her characters, all the while telling a good story.

In feel and in setting this novel is very typical of LMM's work; the delightful characters and small-town politics will be familiar to anybody who loves her writing. It stands out from her other works because of the multiplicity of characters and storylines.

Over the years this has become one of my favourite LMM novels. I would especially recommend it to any adults reading her books for the first time.

As someone who loves US history, politics, and psychology, I've always been fascinated by books which try to "psychoanalyze" Presidents and historical figures. Two books which have done this are Dr. James David Barber's "Presidential Character" and William Strauss and Neil Howe's "Generations", which looks at US history throught the prism of four generational types, which repeat themselves in cycles (they argue that the Baby Boomers are the descendants of the Puritans!). And this book, "Presidential Temperament", uses a system which should be familiar to many readers. The book's authors use the well-known Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to "type" each of our Presidents. Many businesses and schools use the Myers-Briggs test, but for those who are not familiar with the system, it tests people on four different sets of preferences (Extrovert-Introvert, Sensing-Intuition, Thinking-Feeling, and Judging-Perceiving). Thus, there is an "ISTJ" type (quiet, reserved, methodical, thorough, practical, etc.); an "ESFP" type (outgoing, "touchy-feely", compassionate, idealistic, spontaneous, etc.), and so on. The test is not supposed to be used to judge or rate other people, as every type is useful and necessary to make our society function. In "Presidential Temperament" the Myers-Briggs test is applied to all of our Presidents since Washington. The authors use biography and history books to examine the childhoods, personalities, leadership styles, successes and failures of the Presidents to place them into one of three Myers-Briggs types: Artisans, Guardians, and Rationals (a fourth type, the Idealists, have never had a US President, according to the authors. Instead, leaders such as Gandhi and Eleanor Roosevelt fall into this category). The Artisans are the "SP" types - fun-loving, optimistic, tough-minded, and above all, action-oriented. They love the "action" part of politics - they live in the "here-and-now" and are great at dealing with crises. Among the Presidents in this category are both Roosevelts, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. The "Guardian" types are the "SJ"s - they are tradition-oriented, generally honest and reliable, addicted to duty and "law-and-order". They are the good managers and administrators who keep things running smoothly, but they dislike change. According to the authors, George Washington, Woodrow Wilson, Harry Truman, and the first George Bush all fall into this category. The final category are the "Rationals" - they are "NT"s on the Myers-Briggs scale. They are the visionaries and strategists - they can marshall great forces to accomplish great things, but can be undermined by their distaste for showing emotion and "people skills" in public. They are extremely intelligent, but can come across as arrogant or aloof. Thomas Jefferson, both Adamses, Abraham Lincoln, and Dwight Eisenhower are all Rationals, according to the book. After "typing" each President, the authors then show how their temperament type affected their Presidency - Jefferson the Rationalist designing the University of Virginia and envisioning a continent-size United States, hence the Lousiana Purchase; Franklin Roosevelt the Artisan "Performer" dealing with the twin crises of the Great Depression and World War Two, etc. This is all truly fascinating, even if you don't always agree with the author's claims. However, the book is severely hampered by the numerous factual errors that I found. For example, in the chapter on Bill Clinton they listed his birthday as August 19, 1947 (it is actually August 19, 1946), and then later in the same chapter gave his birthdate as August 14, 1946. John Quincy Adams' birthday is given as July 11, 1967 (he was born in 1767), and Eisenhower's birthday is listed as October 14, 1880 (he was born in 1890). Woodrow Wilson is listed as having lived in Atlanta during the Civil War, but he actually lived in Augusta, not Atlanta. The chapter on William Henry Harrison even has an incorrect photograph - it has a large photo of James Buchanan labeled as Harrison! While these errors may seem insignificant by themselves, taken together (and there are numerous other inaccuracies, from presidential birthdays to biographical information) they cast some real doubt on the author's credibility and research. In short, while "Presidential Temperament" is a fascinating "psychological" look at our Chief Executives, the many historical errors left me wondering just how much "research" and editing the authors put into their arguments - and that overall makes the book something of a disappointment.

Profound understanding of what makes Presidents tick. This book answers nagging questions about our current and past Presidents. Most importantly, it provides in-depth understanding of what we voters should be considering when we evaluate the presidential choices before us. For example, how would McCain's personality contrast with Bush's? If our relationship with Russia heats up, would it be better to have McCain, Bush, or Gore in the White House? A must read for any thoughtful voter.

Choiniere and Keirsey provide portraits of each president, linking them to the four temperaments outlined in Please Understand Me. In the section on Leaders, Please Understand Me II refers to some of what they found, but in "Presidential Temperament", a complete picture emerges of the kind of man behind the public persona, with information on their wives that illuminates as well, a demonstration of relationships betwen real people of varying styles--such as Eleanor Roosevelt and FDR--an Idealist (NF) and an Artisan (SP). As an aid to learning to see temperament patterns in others, this book is an invaluable guide--each man held the same job, which provides a frame of reference in seeing how they differ. For those fascinated by looking at others, or for politically inclined types, this is a must read.

First of all, I must confess I'm not a huge Anne fan. I don't read this book so much for Anne and Gilbert as for Leslie and Owen. Their story is so romantic, so dramatic, fairy tale like, and sort of sappy. It's not the sort of book you are always in the mood for, but when you are it definitely 'hits the spot' as they say.
Picture a beautiful, love starved, miserable girl suffering silently on a gorgeous harbor in a gloomy house. Watch as she is transformed and comes to live happily ever after. Definitely all- girl and definitely fun.
The way Lucy Maud Montgomery describes the scenery, the ocean and all at Anne's new home is beautiful. Leslie's story is beautiful. If you want something sweet, fanciful while not fantasy, and just. . . lovely read this book.
Only thing I don't like is Captain Jim. He is boring and sort of drives me crazy, but he is in the book a ton. I often just skim the parts he's in.
Miss Cornelia is another new character, and she is sometimes annoying but on the whole is amusing.
I guess that's it. I also like all the Biblical references in the conversations. A lot of them are somewhat obscure, so they're probably some I'm not even picking up on, but they're good.

I have all of the Anne of Green Gable series and continue to read them over again, delighting in each new discovery that I missed when reading it before.

Anne's House of Dreams starts when Gilbert Blythe, who has loved Anne ever since they were children, becomes the doctor he has set his ambitions for. Anne had discovered that she was in love with Gilbert and so they are happily married and off to Four Winds Harbor where they start their new life, together.

Finding beauty and adventure wherever Anne turns she is forever making friends and finding new discoveries. Miss Cornelia becomes a friend as does the forever-interesting Captain Jim.

A mysterious young woman capitivates Anne's curious attention however and she finds that the young woman's name is Leslie. She cannot forget the beautiful but sad creature who seems to be hiding something. Enters Owen Ford and by chance mystery starts to be slowly revealed ...

This book was (and still is!) a fantasic read and I recommend it to anyone! As well as any other "Anne" books!

1,000 words can't describe how much I love this book. This book is where after agonizing along with Anne she finally gets married to Gilbert. They settle into a place called Four Winds. Through the story of there first years of marriage they experience their joy over Jem their first born and the pain of losing a child. They make life long friends that are as pleasant as Diana Barry and Rachel Lynde. L.M. Montgomery makes the charecters come alive. They go through things that we can relate to today. Her excellant writing makes this easy to read whether you are 10 or 100. I highly recommend that if you enjoy this book you need to read the first four books. Then there is three more books. If that isn't enough there are two movies. I hope that you enjoy this series as much as I have.

In contrast to some of the other editions of the complete works of Shakespeare, this book really is value for money. All plays (and poems, etcetera) are printed in a lavishly, pleasing way, very easy to the eye (one of the biggest drawbacks of some editions is that they use a very small font to keep the number of pages to a minimum). As others have commented, not much can and should be commented on the works themselves, they have stood the test of time, and the (normal) spelling that is used in this edition makes each reading an enjoyable experience. All the plays are given a brief (and somewhat succinct) introduction, which is, at best, okay. The strange things, in this book, are, for example, the order of the plays, the way King Lear is printed in two versions (that differ only in small details), and the inclusion of fragments that are attributed to Shakespeare (a bit controversial to say the least). Still, if you want to buy a good, thorough, and well-researched edition of the complete works of Shakespeare, you will not go far wrong with this book.

Pretty much any edition of Shakespeare deserves 5 stars for content. I think the question most people must have is "Which edition?"

I purchased "The Complete Pelican Shakespeare" because I wanted a relatively portable, high-quality book featuring text that benefits from modern scholarship (including brief notes and glossary). I wanted an edition to read and to treasure.

I should say that I didn't need extensive commentary with the text (as in the Arden paperbacks). That bulks it up considerably, can be had in other places, and can be left behind once one has read a play once or twice.

While I'm no Shakespearean scholar myself, this edition seems to meet the editorial criteria quite well. The text appears to benefit from modern, authoritative editorship, the introductions are brief but useful, and archaic terms and phrases are defined on the page where they occur.

The binding is high quality, as is the paper.

This is the most portable of the modern hard-cover editions I've found, with the possible exception of the Oxford edition, which is thicker, but smaller in the other two dimensions. I decided against the Oxford because the binding is of lesser quality and Oxford has a relatively idiosyncratic editorial policy with which I don't entirely agree.

Sadly, this is still a pretty big book, just small enough for a good-sized person to hold up and read in bed, and too much for an airplane or trip to the park. I wish someone would make a truly portable version! There is no reason that the entire thing couldn't be compressed into the space of a smallish bible (for those with the eyes for it!).

This weighty tome brings together authoritative versions of the complete works of Shakespeare. The excellent and informative introduction provides the historical context for the plays, the author and the folios. It also explains well how the plays tended to evolve with re-writes and performances. I have not read all of the plays and sonnets, but of the Shakespeare works Henry V and Hamlet, for example, provide high drama with stories that are compelling and language that is unique, beautiful and powerful. While the Taming of the Shrew and a Midsummers Night Dream provide humor, and other plays provide tragedy and pathos. A thousand phrases from these great plays and sonnets have probably carried into modern usuage. Shakespeare is best enjoyed first as a play by fine actors, such as those of the Royal Shakespeare company, that can give life to the often archaic and unfamiliar words, phrases and language constructs that come late 1500s. Once you have been captivated by a good live performance, reading the text becomes a joy and the strange language an exquisit pleasure. Some movies based on Shakespeare are more interesting than others (Kenneth Branagh has been quite successful, while Mel Gibson and Sir Lawrence Olivier were less so to my mind) but a live theater performance is far better and the written word is probably a close second. If you are interested in Shakespeare then this is a wonderful book - the only one you need really. If you have children then you really should get this and encourage them to read it. I have started reading selected passages with my 5 year old son and he loves it, he is absolutely enthralled with the language -- be bold, try it.

This is certainly one of Shakespeare's greatest works. Every individual character has been perfectly planned before the play was written, and each has his/her own unique characteristics. The plot is well-known, but Shakespeare adds the themes of betrayal, love, and distrust into the mix, making it a nonforgetable story. This is definately a masterpiece to be reread over and over again. LONG LIVE JULIUS CAESAR! GO SM!! WE ARE HIS #1 FANS!!!

"Cowards die many times before their deaths. The valiant never taste of death but once." - Caesar

Just one of the many brilliant quotes from this powerful and enduring tragedy, which happens to be amongst my very favorite Shakespeare. How could anyone not enjoy Marc Antony swaying the weak-minded and feeble-minded plebians with his vibrant and rousing speech? Julius Caesar is unquestionably quintessential Shakespeare, a monumental work that perhaps is surpassed only by Hamlet and rivaled by Othello, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, & King Lear.

Julius Caesar teaches us about the dangers and pitfalls of ambition, jealousy, power, as well as the sacrifice for the greater good - even if it is another's life. Amongst the bood-thirsty traiotors, only Brutus genuinely believes in the assassination of Caesar for the greater good of the Republic. Julius Caesar galvanizes the brain and awakens the spirit from within with scenes such as when Marc Antony proclaims, "Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war."
Countless amounts of quotes and passages throughout the play rank among my favorite Shakespeare. Needless to say, this book should be on the bookshelf of any and all with any semblance of intellect and enough cultivation to appreciate such superb literature.

The modern perspective following the text enlightens and should be read by anyone seeking more knowledge about this amazing tragedy and time in history. An irrepressible 5 stars.

This superb play by Shakespeare somehow reminded me of Antigona, the first play which directly examined the always complex interplay and usual confrontation between political reason and moral reason. This play is an excellent account of the immediately previous and subsequent days of Julius Caesar's assasination by Brutus, his best friend, and other conspirators. Brutus is persuaded by the resentful Cassius that Caesar has betrayed Rome by abandoning the Republic and turning to Dictatorship. Brutus gets to be convinced that, in order to save the Republic, Caesar must be killed. This puts him in a great dilemma, for he loves Caesar and he's his closest friend. Here we see in an acute form the way in which political power gets in conflict with morality and feelings. Friendship, power and betrayal are the basic subjects of this excellent piece of work.

Montgomery Clift. It evokes such powerful images and connotations. The name itself sounds like royalty. The man it belonged to in many ways lived up to such regal ideals. Part of a midwestern family like so many famous actors, his childhood was quite exotic; traveling abroad and learning the ways of the world. The rest of his life only got more exciting. Up to the very minute of his death, Monty was a source of intrigue and respect. Paving the way bravely for Brando and Dean, Clift came first with an honesty that riveted onlookers of all kinds. His strength and helplessness, rebelious yet ingratiating, awoke the world around him to a new kind of man, and a new way of life. Patricia Bosworth does a splendid job in making every moment of Clift's life easily accesible to the reader. The book begins with a hearty(but pleasant) family history going back two generations. For those who've found other star bios uneventful and boring during the "growing up" chapters (namely because the actor was an ordinary kid), here you will find the opposite. Almost from birth Monty's days were unpredictable and full of travel and minor adventure. His acting ability was recognized early and a career followed quickly. The book itself is large indeed-some might find it excessive. But considering this will be most readers first look into Monty's life (their first bio on him), it comes across moreso as just very thorough. Ms. Bosworth's literary craft is quite exquisite, thus making the already fascinating story a joy to read. Following his every triumph and failure with equal attention, one gets a sense of who the man was-not just the celebrity. In fact his personal life makes up 85-90% of the book; as it should! Of course there is more than enough time devoted to the events during his Plays and Films-but it's not simply a shooting schedule pasted into the book. The process of Monty's growth personally and professionaly-and the connection between both-is painted beautifully in the words. One sees also the source and always present fuel of his trademark "turmoil"-that wounded sense that drew audiences and still does. There are no cliche`s to find-no tabloid generated fallacies in the telling of this life. Only a full circle understanding of not only the subject's life, but how to tell it rightly. There are always those readers wanting little more than a brief overview of someone-'was he gay, was he strait, how much money, who'd he know,when'd he die'. But even those readers should surrender some time for this book and let it engulf you. Naturally all those highlighted points are covered-but in a surprisingly respectful and yet also brutally honest portrayal. This book is a quinessential addition to any personal library-especially one containing biographies-and is a masterful collection of one man's life's events. Truly a great book.

Montgomery Clift is unfortunately one of those stars that not many people remember or know about nowadays. In fact, before reading Montgomery Clift : Beautiful Loser by Barney Hoskyns I did not know whom he was at all. This book sparked a keen interest in me and I therfore also read the following title: Montgomery Clift : A Biography by Patricia Bosworth. The biography is very moving and does describe a moving scene in which MArlon Brando tries to get Clift to stop drinking; but Clift denies that he actually has a problem and keeps on drinking his double vodkas. Mr. Clifts life is very tragic, sad and part of this was because of his sexual deviance and his fear that people and Hollywood would shun him if they knew the truth. Highly Recommended.

when i purchased this book i was beyond excited, already being a fan of clift's, but after reading it the way i look at Montgomery Clift will never be the same. this book was insightful, truthful and most of all SAD. i have never cried after reading a book but i did after reading this one. he lived such a tragic life and this book in no way hides or covers that up. i always saw clift as an attractive and extremely well-gifted actor and he is all of those things but i also see him as as a man who hid and faught with a lot of pain and heartache(drugs, homosexuality, his looks, women, and his career). patricia bosworth has done an excellent job telling the story of his life and she also did a great job touching mine.