This book is Terrific! It gets right to the point and doesn't waste time or words. It makes learning fun & easy. If you have never written a web page or are just beginning HTML, this book is JUST RIGHT for you.

Now I can't wait to get all of Ruth Maran's other books. School was never this fun. Thanks, Ruth for creating a book series that REALLY DOES THE JOB! A+++

This was an incredibly easy book to understand. Minimal words, lots of colorful pictures and fun graphics which show you (instead of describing to you) how to perform a function. I had another HTML book that I just got bored with after about 50 pages. This book was so engaging that I pretty much finished the book in a day and am able to start coding in HTML. This is a very good "how-to" book in the technical aspect of HTML. The only down side is that it promotes poor web page design (but this book is not about learning design so I'm still giving it 5 stars). For the design aspect of web pages, I would recommend picking up a copy of Robin William's "Design for Non-Designers" or "Web Design for Non-Designers."

A must for the beginner!

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn HTML... especially beginners. It's completely visual (GREAT for a visual learner like myself)... and in COLOR! Each description is well organized, and it's a very simple book to navigate around. They show the actual computer screen to explain what you will be doing. It makes it so easy! It covers everything from basic HTML tags, changing the appearance of your website and publishing a webpage. I would have loved to have this book a few years ago when I first started working with HTML! If you want to get into programming but have no experience, try HTML -- you might like it! :) This was the first book I bought in this "Teach Yourself Visually" series, but after reading and using this book all the time, I plan on buying one for ALL the different computer related topics. This book definitely deserves an A+.

I absolutely love this book. The gardening system is sound and organic, and it is presented in clear, simple language in a lovely, easy-to-grasp design. So often gardening books are long on written advice but short on visuals. Or they are ONLY visuals, with the text nothing more than captions. This book has it all.

This book answers, with outstanding instruction, pictures and humor, any and all of your questions on vegetable gardening. Had Ed Smith published it earlier we would have saved a ton of dirt along with a ton of money! We keep it in our little greenhouse alll during the growing season as we refer to it daily. And we are now buying it for gifts for both novice and experienced gardening friends.

The title says it all. This is my vegetable bible. Being a novice, I was looking for something as simple and informative as a "Dummies" book but without insulting my intelligence. Not only is all the information you need to start or continue a garden, the pictures fill in details that as a first time grower I might not quite understand in words. His explanations are simple, concise and extremely informative. Most of all, it's filled with little hints throughout the book so that you may have a successful garden. It was the best purchase I had made on a gardening book so far. Thank you Ed! Happy growing!

I have an original 1958 copy of the Weekly Reader hardcover by Ormandroyd,from my childhood.I recently began reading it to my youngest child,who has never shown much interest in chapter books.Now he is relentlessly begging for just "One more chapter please".I am enjoying rereading what was one of my very favorite childhood books and am delighted that my son can't wait for me to read him the next chapter.After the first 3 chapters my son noticed the "In which the ..." beginning of each chapter title, and we started joking about it with me saying to him "In which it was time to turn off the light and go to sleep" I am curious whether Ed Ormondroyd was an Ornithologist in real life.I wish he had continued the series,I did and do love the book.

this wonderful little book has been tugging at the back of my mind for weeks now. Over 15 years ago, probably 20, as always scouring tag sales for books that would fit my youthful budget, I picked up a copy of this, possibly the original weekly reader release. The cover alone intrigued me. When I sat down to read it I was captivated... this book (and maybe my dad's love of Star Trek) probably began my love of sci-fi and fantasy... I knew there was a reason I keep hearing the part about when the newly born Phoenix brushes David across the forehead, which he feels "burning cooly" afterwards, in my mind... to come here and find out how many other people adore this book! Parents, this book is a must for your childs' collection... I would recommend it for adults, too - if for nothing else than to escape for a while back to our childhoods... now you must excuse me while I frantically look for my copy!!

I can't believe this book is still talked about! Like so many others who have reviewed it, I got this book in the 1950s (from the Weekly Reader Book Club) and it was one of my favorites. "The Pink Motel" and "Follow My Leader" also were from that period and they too seem to be alive and well, but now in paperback. I still have these three books and several others from the WRBC and the Young America Book Club that I treasure to this day.

I re-read "David and the Phoenix" about 3 years ago when I found it in a box of books packed away for ... what, posterity? The story is just as powerful now as it was then--perhaps more so. David's love for this mythical creature come to life is so strong, so pure! I cried like I did 40 years ago when...well, that would be telling.

But you know what I liked best about that book? I remember dreaming of flying like David on the back of the mighty Phoenix. Sigh....

Inspired by The Greek Anthology, a collection of brief poems from the Hellenistic World including epitaphs written from the perspective of the deceased, Edgar Lee Masters wrote a series of monologues spoken by dead townspeople (some more fictional than others) who inhabited Spoon River, the area in Illinois where Abe Lincoln once lived. Real people include Anne Rutledge (Abe's first girlfriend) and Fiddler Jones, who worked in Lincoln's general store as a boy.

But this book isn't about Abraham Lincoln. It's about the trait that we will all, both saints and sinners, one day have in common: death. And it is about the small triumphs of life that the dead remember. Just as William Carlos Williams was a doctor, and his poetry was informed by his contact with everyday people, so too Masters. He was a lawyer and a keen observationist. He writes directly and frankly, especially about male-female relations, which earned this book a bit of a scandalous reputation in its time. Of course, it is mild enough today that the book is assigned reading in junior highs, even in the South.

I've read this book three times through, and often re-read individual favorites. And I have it in easy reach on my shelf because I plan to keep re-reading it. There is something about the people of Spoon River and their sentiments that keeps me coming back. As May Swenson says, in her introduction to this edition, Masters "bequeathed to us a world in microcosm." A world, in my opinion, worth exploring again and again.

There is no Spoon River, IL. Check your map. Several towns argue that they stake their claim in being what Masters asserted to be this mythical town. Petersburg and Lewistown, two towns of otherwise minor repute seem closest... but it is so much better we haven't an actual town... Spoon River's residents are our next door neighbors, whether we live in Central Illinois or Central Florida, or southern Alaska.

Masters has written not fables, but the essence of American life. He hasn't captured the life and times of 1915, but has instead recorded in 1915 the life and times of our present day America.

The same reason the paintings of Norman Rockwell makes sense is why Edgar Lee Masters poetry makes sense. To read the quick messages on the gravestone of one man, learning a little bit him, and something about a neighbor or two, we can learn a little about how we live in communities today.

Our lives, like Jimmy Stewart's character in "It's a Wonderful Life" found out, interact and impact everyone we meet. Who we love, who we should love and who we reject. And when we die, others feel the loss. Masters has aptly put this in a humorous, yet insightful way into short verses.

The poems don't rhyme. The meter is not solid, and the poetics aren't intricate. They aren't poems like Poe's or Dickinson, not in the way they wrote American poems. Don't expect iambic pentameter-based sonnets or villanelles. Expect a conversation, and listen in.

The poetry here is in the subtle use of social nuance. In the nuances are his insight and wit. Two readings will bring to light what you miss in the first.

Buy this book, read it slow. It reads faster than most poetry book, but don't get caught in the temptation to zoom through each poem just because you can.

After you read it, see the play if it happens to be performed in your town.

I fully recommend it.

Anthony Trendl

I was turned on to this book after hearing the latest Richard Buckner release "The Hill", in which the musician uses the Spoon River Anthology as the basis for his conceptual music. After listening to this wonderful disc, I was compelled to read the actual work by Edgar Lee Masters. What I found was a book that was written in 1915, but that brings to life the voices of humanity louder than anything I've read in recent years. This book is more poetry than literature, but the stories of the residents of Spoon River that are collected within the pages are stories that are not soon forgotten.

This book has moved me more than anything else I've read in recent years, and I highly recommend that othes read this outstanding work of art.

This is a book full of action, fantasy, and color. It is unique compared to any other book I have read. When you are reading the book, it is like you are being sucked into the magical world where the story takes place. The details help you to create images in your head, but also leave enough out so that you can form your own picture. This is a fantasizing page-turner for all ages from 7-11 years old.

When Benjamin, Melinda, and Thomas Potter meet Professor Savant at the zoo and he tells them about a strange and mysterious creature called the whangdoodle, the adventure begins. After they convince the professor that they are worthy of seeing the whangdoodle in Whangdoodleland, they start long, hard training sessions of imagination and awareness. When a creature called the prok (Prime Minister of the Whangdoodle) finds out that the children and the professor are going to Whangdoodleland, he does everything he can to stop them, and eventually goes to last resort -- kidnap!

I first read "Whangdoodles" in 1977 when I received it as an eleventh birthday gift from my sister. Since then, it has become one of my favorite children's books which I have revisited countless times and shared with my nieces and nephews. "Whangdoodles" is a whimsical, fantastic adventure which underscores how a well-developed imagination can be a tool for discovering the important lessons of life: goal-setting, training, trust, teamwork, creativity, open-mindedness and determination.

Lindy, Thomas and Benjamin are three ordinary children who meet and are taken under the wing of the extraordinary Professor Savant. Together they discover a unique land filled with rare and wonderful creatures like the Slippery Prock, the High-Behind Splinter Cat, Tree Squeaks and Flutterbies. They take a ride on the Jolly Boat, cross trecherous terrain and face many challenges on their way to meet the reclusive Whangdoodle.

With the Professor's guidance, the children prove that preconceived notions can be a handicap, and that faith and perserverance can help one achieve nearly anything.

This book is right up there with "Edward Eager's "Half Magic" and E. Nesbitt's "Five Children & It."

I read this book at least a dozen times growing up...checking it out from the library each time. It is truly the most imaginative and wonderful book possibly EVER for children. I only found out once I grew up that the author is Julie Andrews (her name listed as Julie Edwards in the book itself). That just endeared it to me even more. The characters are so distinct, especially the professor. The premise may seem off-the-wall...going to another world using the power of your mind...but the way it is written, it seems plausible. And the world they travel to is so magical and special. You feel as if you are along for the ride. I am so grateful I was introduced to this book at an early age, because it fosters in children a creativity and an idea that anything is possible. However, I think anyone of any age would get something out of the book. You have to be willing to open yourself up to something completely unrealistic, but it is worth it.

This story is about a young girl named Mandy who lived in an orphanage. She lived there as long as she could remember and had lots of friends who supported her. There was a wall behind the orphanage where no one has ever climbed over and no one knows what it's like behind it. One day, Mandy started getting curious if there was a whole new different world behind it so she climbed over the wall when no one was looking. When she got over, she found a small cottage that was deserted. Everyday she climbed over the fence and she would clean the cottage with tools that she borrowed from the orphanage. Then there was a stormy night and she fell ill and couldn't even move, but then a mysterious person rescues her and she returns back to her cottage.
I read this book because I read the summary behind the book and thought it was a good story because I like adventorous stories. This book was also recommended to me by my cousin. This was one of her favorite books and told me to read it becuase it was written by the famous Julie Edwards.
My favorite part in this story was when Mandy finds the deserted cottage and cleans it all by herself. She plants flowers and she decortates the house will shells and other things that she found in the forest, next to the cottage. Also when she gets saved by poeple who were vistiting and they care for her. The part when I didn't like was when she got very ill and no one was there to help her and no one could hear her because the storm was so loud.

Mandy

Mandy, by Julie Andrews Edwards, is a very well written and eventful book. It starts when Mandy, a young girl living in a nice orphanage, is satisfied with her life, but longs for a place of her own. One day, she goes venturing behind the orphanage wall and discovers a little, abandoned cottage. She decides to make it her own place and with a few "borrowed" things, she manages to turn it into a nice playhouse without anyone knowing what she was up to. However, one day, Mandy disobeys the orphanage owner and sneaks off to the cottage when she is very sick. In the cottage, she falls unconscious, and no one has a clue where she is.

In her story, Mandy is very nice, but when she starts spending much of her time at the cottage, she starts to ignore her friends. She is disobedient at some times, but she is still kind and good-hearted deep down. Her friend, Sue, really wants Mandy to be safe and is always very curious. From reading this book, I learned that you should never lie, you should never disobey your parents, and that your parents usually know what is best for you. The best part of the book was when Mandy discovers the cottage. The scene when Mandy falls unconscious was very detailed and suspenseful. There was not much that I didn't like, except that Mandy was not always nice to her friends. The ending is very satisfying and is a good conclusion to the story.

I enjoyed Julie Andrews' writing style in Mandy. I never got bored while I was reading and the beginning really grabbed my attention. Mandy had a good amount of details and descriptions: not too many that I got bored, but not too little that I couldn't imagine what was happening. The vocabulary was rather easy and simple because the book was written for and is appropriate for children ages eight or nine to age twelve or thirteen. I really enjoyed the way Mandy was written. I would recommend it to girls who like adventure and enjoy good books. I would give Mandy three to four stars out of four (*** to ****). It is just an all-around great book!

-KES

Julie Andrews' name is next to the word *TALENT* in the dictionary. She can sing better than *anyone* in the world, she is an absolutely pheunomenal, versatile actress (she won an Academy Award for Best Actress to prove it), an absobloominlutely AMAZING writer and has a personality to die for. Let me ask you, how is it possible to be all these things and then be EXTREMELY Beautiful???
I don't know how she does it! But I'm postively mesmerized by everything she's done.
Anyhoo, onto the book. Mandy is VERY VERY VERY well-written and as I've said previoulsly, its hard to believe that someone who cna sing and act as perfectly as Julie can write to wonderfull as well! Julie adds so much detail so you know every little thing thats going on in the story. You can almost SMELL the flowers and see the garden and feel the love! It's tremondous. I could read this book OVER and OVER until someone finally whacks me over the head and slaps me back into reality. If you love this book (I can't imagine anyone NOT loving this book) I HIGHLY recommened Julie Andrews Edwards' other children's novel "The Last Of The Really Great WHangdoodles", kinda sounds like something from the woman who put Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious into our vocabulary, doesn't it? 'Whandoodles' is so creative and so wonderful!!!
Bravo, Dame Julie!
BY THE WAY- further back in the comments someone said that Julie wrote this because she lost a bet to her daughter Emma Kate, she ACTUALLY lost a bet with her daughter *Jennifer*. The bet was that if Julie didn't stop swearing (or cursing) Jen would make her right a book....looks like Julie couldn't stop. :-)

GREAT BOOK, GREAT AUTHOR, GREAT FUN!

Louis Barnavelt, recently orphaned, goes to live with his UncleJonathan, whom he's never met. When his arrives in New Zebedee, UncleJonathan picks him up at the airport and takes him to his home--a huge, spooky mansion with secret passages and mysterious rooms.

Uncle Jonathan's best friend, Mrs. Zimmerman, is in the house, and as Louis walks in, he finds her listening to the walls. To his astonishment and delight, Louis discovers that Uncle Jonathan is a wizard, Mrs. Zimmerman is a witch, and they both love poker and chocolate chip cookies.

Louis also discovers that Uncle Jonathan's house was once owned by an evil wizard--a Mr. Izzard who has hidden a magic clock somewhere in the walls of the house--a clock that will bring about the end of the world if it's not found and silenced.

To make matters worse, Louis tries to impress his new friend Tarby by stealing a spell from one of Uncle Jonathan's magic books. They perform the ceremony in the graveyard Halloween night, and succeed in resurrecting the truly evil Mrs. Izzard from the dead.

Can they stop the clock in time, or will Mrs. Izzard succeed in resurrecting her husband and bringing about the end of the world?

I was afraid to read this book as a child--the cover looks really scary, and I was a nightmare-prone child who avoided scary books like the plague. Most kids like scary books though, and this one is perfect for your 5th grade fright fan. Louis is a wonderful character, who goes from being a timid outcast, worried about impressing the kids at school, to a brave young man who summons up courage when he needs to act to save the people he loves. The friendship between Uncle Jonathan and Mrs. Zimmerman is funny, and they are both eccentric enough to be interesting, but not so eccentric as to become annoying.

Bellairs wrote other books about these characters, and they are worth reading, but are not as good as this book. ( )

In reading the tributes to Bellairs by his fans, I thought it was interesting that several people mentioned that they hated reading, and were not good readers until they discovered one of Bellairs' books, and that experience turned them into avid readers. END

Poor Lewis...He's recently lost both parents, he's fat, and he's going to live with Uncle Jonathan, a relative he's never met. Lewis discovers that Uncle Jonathan is basically a nice guy, but a little weird. And something about his house is weird too. It's full of clocks, but one of them in particular keeps ticking...and ticking...and ticking...and no one knows where it is.

'The House with a Clock in its Walls' is a genuinely creepy story with strange, likable characters. Several humorous, light touches run throughout the book, but the scary scenes really deliver. Any kid (or adult) who enjoys the Harry Potter books will find this book a welcome addition to their reading while they wait for the next J.K. Rowling outing. Although the book is for both boys and girls, the book will especially attract boys who may not be interested in sports. Highly recommended.

179 pages with great illustrations by Edward Gorey

I suppose I am going to spend a long time looking for another book as suspenseful, well-written, and atmospheric as John Bellair's House With a Clock in Its Walls. I first read this novel at the age of ten and I was immediately captivated by the author's use of setting and character to transport me to a small town in the 1940s where magic is present around every corner. Bellairs' take on the gothic genre is masterful; through wit and economy of words he is able to conjure up everything from a vast Victorian mansion with secret rooms, to a mysterious, kind, and magical uncle, and to an evil witch brought back from the dead. This book is responsible for starting me on an obsessive search for any literature or film related to the "gothic house" story--and only a few works, such as Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House or Angela Carter's short story "The Bloody Chamber," come close to capturing the same sense of magic, dark foreboding, and hous! ! es that are truly living characters. I have often wished that this book were turned into a film; I can seen every frame of it in my head. I think it is marvellously visual and would be highly effective on the screen. If you haven't read this story, you are in for a real treat. It's smart, funny, scary, well-written, and genuine--qualities that are unfortunately hard to find in most adult novels. Likewise, if you enjoy this book, you have the opportunity to delve into the many other Bellairs books which are generally of the same quality of this story. (Besides, the terrific Edward Gorey pictures alone make this book a great read!)

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.

A review by Shannon
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four children. Unfortunally, one is ill with a serious case of pneumonia. The family lives beneath a garden that is soon to be harvested and must be moved immediately or will face death. Timothy, the child with pneumonia and must not be moved. As time goes on she hears about the rats of Nimh. These weren't any ordinary rats but ones with an extraordinary breed of high indigents. Soon she finds herself flying on the back of a crow and placing sleeping powder into a cat's dinner dish.

This was and exceptional book for all ages. This book is full of adventure and amusing humor. If you enjoy animal characters, this is a great book for you. I am now in High School and I think that this book is very exciting and will kept you motivated to read more. I really enjoyed the part where Mrs. Frisby slips a sleeping powder into the cats' dinner plate because you never know what is going to happen until it does. The part that really caught me off guard was when the author brought to conclusion what every thing looked like. He was very descriptive, for example" he was stocky, square and muscular, with bright, hard eyes. He looked efficient." This story is told in a third person perspective. I like it.
I would strongly recommend this to any reader that enjoys adventure and relationships that grow between the characters. This book has many positive out comes on life.

Mrs. Frisby, a widowed field mouse, is forced to take on a big adventure when her youngest son Timothy gets ill. Timothy's illness comes just before spring, and with spring comes moving day. Mrs. Frisby is forced to seek help, leading her to the all but ordinary Rats of NIMH. This fictional adventure is perfect for capturing the attention of any reader nine years of age or older. Although the story is written from the view of fictional farm animals the reader is pulled into the suspenseful plot and is easily drawn into the emotions of each character. Not only is the book enjoyable to read, it is good for the classroom teacher. It conveys lessons on qualities like friendship, bravery, and teamwork. These qualities let the book easily be integrated into the classroom. I recommend "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" to anyone who would enjoy a fun and rewarding text.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is one of the best books that I have ever read. It has now sold over 1 million copies as well as being extremley well regared by the critics. Why is this book so good? Well for starters, it has a perfect no holes plot with intelligent writing and believable characters. The book is also very imaginitive and suspensful. When I first read it in grade 3 I thought it was a great story and that was it. However now that I am older (17) I can tell it has much more depth. The author had a view that we should respect the environment and be hardworking, so he gave the Rats that quality. He also believed in interdependance; helping one another. For example, Mrs. Frisby helps the crow and then he helps her in return. Without the aid of several characters in this novel, Mrs. Frisby would never have been able to solve her dilema. And of course I love that line from Jenner, "people are our cows." I highly reccomend this Newbery Medal award winning book

It was about time I read "Tom Jones." Fielding's 1749 novel gives us a panoramic view of 18th century British life. Its titular hero journeys among the low- and high-born trying to find his way in a world in which he occupies a precarious position. Fielding uses the sprawl of 800 pages to explore a multitude of social, political, and literary issues, gluing them together with an exquisitely outlandish, fully embodied sense of humour.

The action of the novel begins with a view of the Allworthy family, a landed gentleman, Thomas Allworthy and his sister, Bridget. Into this family is dropped an orphan, a foundling - a child, if you will, of questionable parentage. This child, Tom Jones, is raised alongside Bridget's child, Blifil, as relative equals. Both are tutored by two ideologues, the philosopher Square and the theologian Thwackum. Jones is a precocious, free-spirited youngster, spoiled by Allworthy while Blifil, the heir apparent to the estate, becomes the favourite pupil and spoiled accordingly by his mother. As the two youths age, Tom develops a fondness for the neighbour's daughter, Sophia Western.

Tom's sexual development begins to get him in trouble, as it tends to throughout the novel, and as a result of one such incident, coupled with the goading jealousy of Blifil, Tom is driven out of the Allworthy home, left to seek his fortunes in the world. Meeting his supposed father, Partridge, on the road, the two begin a quixotic ramble across England. Sophia, meanwhile, pressured into marrying Blifil, runs away from home, beginning her own voyage of discovery.

"Tom Jones" begins with the narrator likening literature to a meal, in which the paying customer comes expecting to be entertained and satisfied. All 18 books of "Tom Jones" start out with such authorial intrusions, each cluing us into the writer's craft, his interactions with his public, and various other topics. This voice is actually sustained throughout the novel, providing a supposedly impartial centre of moral value judgments - each of which seems to tend toward enforce Fielding's project of a realistic, and yet, didactic portrayal of a world full of flawed characters.

Some of the issues the novel deals most extensively with are modes of exchange, anxieties over female agency, and the power of rumour and reputation. Exchange and the ways in which value is figured include a wide range of goods - money, bodies, food, and stories - and are integral to the story. The treatment of women is a great concern in "Tom Jones": from Partridge's perpetual fear of witchcraft to the raging arguments between Squire Western and his sister over how Sophia should be treated, to general concerns about sexuality and virtue. A novel that can be in turns hilarious, disturbing, and provoking, "Tom Jones" is never dull. Despite its size, the pace of the novel is extremely fast and lively. So, get thee to a superstore and obtain thyself a copy of this excellent and highly entertaining novel.

Journey with a guy with much testosterone, but a HUGE heart. I was not looking forward to reading this book for my 18th Century British novel class, but upon starting to read I found it to be a pleasurable story. This piqaresque novel has a humor that I have seldom encountered in other narratives. What is ironic is that Fielding wrote this piece during one of the most traumatic periods of his life. His wife just passed away, his daughter was dying, and he was inflicted with the gout. One would never think it from the clever way the book is written. The point of view gives us an in so that we feel as if we ourselves have roles in the storyline. Rooting all the way for Tom despite his flaws, we find out more about human nature along the way. A good read, light a candle and sit down with some wine like they would've and enjoy this classic comical delight.

Tom Jones is probably one of the greatest novels in all of English literature. I imagine some might be put off by the length and by its designation as a classic (something which Mark Twain said was frequently praised and rarely read). Tom Jones does not deserve to be ignored since it is a riotous rollercoster of a book filled with comic vignettes and blows against the self-satisfied and pompous. It is a book that not only is instructional, but is considerate enough to give the reader a good time while doing so.

Though frequently termed an immoral book, Tom Jones holds up rather well in the early 21st century. Even Fielding's comic characters seem to have a dimension often lacking in 18th and 19th century novels. Fielding is a genius.