Let me begin by saying that the rating I have given is not comparing Kennedy's volume to other kinds of works, but rather to the half-dozen or so popular textbooks that are similar and that anthologize many of the same works. All have particular strengths and weaknesses; they are all worthy anthologies.

For several years, I have been using the Kennedy anthology to teach the introduction to literature class to university students. I am reasonably satisfied with the current text, although the price seems rather high. I have had some reservations about the selections in poetry because Mr. Kennedy has insisted upon calling popular songs "poetry" and implied that a few of the pop songs by Run D.M.C., Paul Simon, Bessie Smith and Clarence Williams, and the Beatles are the equivalent of real poems. Sometimes a student will become angry because I will not accept a paper on a pop song.

This 60's kind of nonsense (like "The Poetry of Rock") should have remained in the 60's. Shamelessly, however, Mr. Kennedy and his publisher seem to pander to what is perceived as students' tastes. I note that at the back of the volume is a form soliciting students' opinions of the selections. There is no similar form for teachers.

I am especially disturbed by this new edition because the claim to "international and multicultural coverage" has evidently meant the deletion of a great short story, Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilych." I guess, in the minds of the compiler and editors, the inclusion of additional "student essays" was more important than the inclusion of a great story. (Frankly,I--and I suspect many others--could do with fewer student essays and more essays by professionals.)

In a recent article in "The Chronicle of Higher Education" (Feb. 12, 1999), Professor James Shapiro (Columbia) laments, "When Brevity Rules the Syllabus, 'Ulysses' Is Lost." He goes on to say that because of the current demand for brevity, we can "forget about 'War and Peace'--'The Death of Ivan Ilyich' is fast becoming Tolstoy's representative work." If Kennedy's 7th edition of "Literature" is any indication, however, we can forget about Tolstoy altogether.

Maybe some caring people could get together and demand that Tolstoy be put back.

The Kennedy Anthology is a decent dependable sampler. I studied from it as an undergraduate and I now use it, as a grad student, to teach introductory lit classes (supplementing it, of course, with outside material)

I'm suprised, however, at the reviewer's comments above. Yes, Kennedy includes rock songs in the poetry section, but claims dismissing their inclusion are faulty for two reasons. 1)Rock lyrics, whether you're fond of them or not, do qualify as poetry (they are verse, after all and whether or not rock and roll lyrics stand as "good" poetry is a completely separate issue) and 2)Despite the fact that popular lyrics are included in the poetry section, the canonical giants are still well-represented (no need to fret, Whitman hasn't gone anywhere). In other words, if you dislike the rock lyrics, well, simply don't teach them.

More importantly, in a field as diverse and (usually) liberal as literature, I'm shocked that people still complain about multiculturalism and international literature "taking away" from established great texts. Isn't this PC debate over? Haven't we all now simply accepted the fact that including diverse texts isn't a PC issue but rather an issue of good old common sense? Does anyone really still question the validity of marginalized (yet talented) voices being heard? Hasn't liberal humanism (at least in its problematic manifestations) been successfully deconstructed? Frankly, I'm frightened to think how there are English instructors out there actually arguing AGAINST diversity. Then again, I'm also incredibly naive.

Lastly, I like lit textbooks that include examples of student essays. I employ a workshop method in my class and my students and I look at a variety of essays throughout the term--from established professionals, from students, and from me. Students are too often bombarded with "professional" examples of what they are expected to produce. Why not include examples of reasonable essays that are more or less within their rhetorical reach?

... First of all, it is massive and contains three books in one - fiction, poetry and drama. Each section includes a plethora of selections as well as longer works (like the full length plays of Hamlet and Macbeth). So one is really getting quite a library from this one book.

Even better, the sections are organized along themes in order to teach the student (or interested reader) how to appreciate the various forms. So the poetry section has sections on sound, figures of speech, rhythm, closed and open form, etc. I suppose this comes from it being a textbook for undergraduate courses - in any case, it pays off. I've learned a tremendous amount already. It's all in very easy to understand non-technical language, too.

At the end of the book, there is even a brief section on various forms of literary criticism. The book contains numerous student essays, brief author biographies, reflections by the authors on their own works (this is really great), and it reflects a really broad range of genres and time periods (unfortunately the section on haiku is plagued by bad translations, and there aren't enough examples of Chinese and other Japanese poetry... oh well!). There is also an emphasis on getting the reader to practice (and write for him or herself) what is being taught. So if you want to be a writer, this is great.

If you're a beginner interested in getting into literature, this is really a great way to do it. Don't be put off by the massiveness of this book - it's really a resource. Just start in one small place (I started in 'poetry') and work your way around. It will definitely increase your appreciation for literature.

This is a very narrow topic. By definition these are gardens that are very limited in size and scope. Having said that, i was still very disappointed in this book. It doesn't take much shopping around, thumbing through other books and checking the Internet to find dozens of good ideas for tabletop gardens. And any garden writer worth her (or his) salt can come up with "how to do it" and "plants to choose" text to make the ideas a practicality. So why the paucity of ideas? Why are we treated, on pages 52 and 53, to a two-page close-up of gravel?

Don't waste any time on this very ordinary book about ordinary plants in ordinary containers.

Received this as a gift and found it so well written and photographed that I ended up buying a few as gifts for others. Fabulous book design and layout. Beautiful pictures. Great container ideas and very clear information for ongoing care. The grass garden section was especially neat. The author suggests new takes on indoor gardens such as using mini primroses in a flat basket. I've always planted them outdoors but never imagined how nice they would look inside the house.

Tabletop Gardens: Create 40 Intimate Gardens For The Home, No Matter What The Season by gardening expert Rosemary McCreary offers a wealth of imaginative approaches to miniature indoor gardening. Included are ideas for deploying and displaying plants under glass, in bowls and trays, and even in water environments. The uncomplicated advise and easy-to-follow instructions will allow for any aspiring gardener to create harmonious combinations of plants in perfect containers. Whether working with herbs, grasses, bulbs, water plants, vines, or miniature shrubs, Tabletop Gardens is wonderfully illustrated, thoroughly "user friendly", and very highly recommended.

It would be fair to mention that the book was first published more than forty years ago, and that the most recent reference still dates back to the mid-fifties..

Aeroelasticity is one of those classic aeronautical references that presents material that is found nowhere else. It is the definitive work on scaling as applied to aircraft structures under aerodynamic loading. If you are serious about understanding the elastic behavior of an airplane's structure, you owe it to yourself to get this book and STUDY IT!

While dated, this third issue is still unmatched in breadth and depth of scholarship on this rather obscure topic. The legacy of Alexander of Macedon in Central Asia will certainly grow as more digging occurs in the region, and this book will be a valuable reference. One quibble is the lack of a complete and thorough update of the references, including footnoting the latest archaeological finds. Regardless, this text is essential for anyone interested in the ancient history of India, Central Asia, and the Hellenstic world.

This is one of very few studies available on the Greek kingdoms in Bactria (Modern Afghanistan.), and western India (Modern Pakistan.). W. W. Tarn treats the history of these Indo-Greeks as part of the general history of Hellenism. The only other major study, V.K. Narin's "The Indo-Greeks", treats the subject from a more Indian perspective. None of this should be important to the person who loves to read history-- the subject matter of a nearly legendary lost kingdom on the edge of the world, is fascinating in and of itself. This is a scholarly book, but it reads much better than the title would lead you to think

To me, what makes this book so appealing is the variety of familiar and more unexpected creatures that are to be found "in the tall, tall grass," and what makes it remarkable is the perspective from daylight to dark. The text bites and Eric Carle style illustrations do not seem particularly original or unique to me beyond that (though others might disagree: its was an American Library Association Notable Book and a Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Book in 1992), but it its still an enjoyable, good quality read for budding naturalists and youngsters who are curious about the world around them.

This is my son's favorite book. The age range for this book says 4 & up, but my 2 year old just loves it. The illustrations are magnificent. My son & his day care class love to get involved and make the sounds that are in the tall, tall grass. Highly recommend!

The story of Caroline of Brunswick, the injured Queen of England, is a fascinating and worthwhile read. According to Jane Austen, "She was bad, but she would not have become as bad as she was if he (Britain's George IV) had not been infinitely worse."

Jean Plaidy, a good story-teller, does an admirable job of matching history as it was to the story she writes. Still, she gets a few things wrong but this is due more to lack of access to key historical documents than to sloppy research.

After reading Flora Fraser's more recent, scholarly biography, The Unruly Queen : The Life of Queen Caroline, I found Plaidy errs in identifying the little Italian girl, Vittoria, as the daughter of Pergami when she was his niece. She also errs in calling Pergami, "Baron Pergami," at the time he first meets Caroline. He doesn't become a Baron until after Caroline visits Malta and buys an estate and the title of Baron for him. Still, Jean Plaidy takes the clay of scholarly biography and moulds a living, breathing character for the reader.

Caroline of Brunswick was, at turns, warm-hearted and maternal, and defiant and unconventional. Rejected by her husband as unfit, unkempt and embarrassingly gauche, she became even more so as a means of getting back at him. In the end, she only harmed herself.

Surprisingly, the sad story of this unloved bride and wife is almost the same of Princess Diana. And she was also loved by the British people. I strongly recommend the book.

Less information than the bodice and corset workbooks, for those who are familiar with the author. This book focuses on turn-of-the-century women's hat shapes: wide brim and shaped sweetheart brim. Author lists fabric/notion requirements and provides numerous b/w illustrations to walk you through basic hat-building technique. Geared to very basic hats, which you can put together with a home sewing machine and glue. Maybe even too basic - info hardly fills one side of each page. Trim instructions cover gathered tulle ruffles and bows, fabric roses, big bows, and ostrich plumes. I would like to see expanded trim info, principally more complex ribbon decorations, other feather types, maybe even stuffed birds and veiling. Since hats of this time period were such a huge fashion statement, I don't feel the book adequately covers the construction possibilities. But if you need to build a basic hat and don't want to take a class or buy a wood block, this is your best option. Would be perfect for the school drama department that needs to produce dozens of hats for a period production. If you're entering a costume masquerade or have ambitions toward serious millinery, you really should look for Albrizio's Classic Millinery Techniques instead.

There's lots of info in this little book! From patterns and how-to-dos to designing ideas. A must for costume and doll clothing designers!

This book chronicles the strivings of blacks from Reconstruction to present day. It breaks up the chapters into the different time periods in American history. Each chapter is filled with essay and documents that futher explain black life. The many articles are insightful and allow one to jump back to the time period. It also deals with many of the black leaders ideologies. This book is for any person who enjoys history and is interested in the long and obstacle-filled past of black Americans.

Thorough, detailed, and not monotonous, this is a book that I would recommend for anyone who wants to learn about African-American history, not hust through the eyes of scholars and professors, but through those who had had direct contact with the changes in African-American society. I would strongly urge those who want to learn more about African-American history to begin right here.

I find myself agreeing completely with Amanda Miller's review; this was an intriguing book. I also did not want to put it down! From the time the story opened, narrated by 13 year old runaway Harriette Delvaney, to the time of its conclusion, the author sweeps the reader into another time & place, with a sparkling visual of the Cornish coast, the sounds of everyday living in a time removed from our own. The author allows the characters, in their own words & dialect, eloquently explain their Cornish culture & history. There is an awareness of the small details of everyday life that contribute to the atmosphere of the book. There is suspense & intrigue; the reader is not ever sure (at least this reader was not) who to trust. The exploration of the Menfreya mansion, the history & lore of the Menfrey family, the wonderful sense of time and place, and the honesty and growth of the characters add up to an enchanting read. I particularly like the devise the author uses to let the reader see the characters through other characters eyes. The way the author uses this technique definetely contributes the the reader's understanding of the narrator's character.

I loved the entire book from the setting to the plot. Once I started reading this novel I literally could not put it down. The book had very interesting and developed characters. It is a romance and me, being a hopless romantic, found this book utterly satisfying. It also kept me in suspense. Was Bevil faithful of not? I would reccomend this book to any one who needs a little romance in their life or anyone who needs to hear a good story.

The book has some errors in it and is hard to read. Most science textbooks do not read like best-sellers, but this one tends to have some awkward phrasings that should have been adjusted to provide students an easier time of reading the passages. My favorite general biology textbook is still Raven and Johnson's "Biology."

This book is amazing. You will know all you need to know of life and beyond with this amazing book. It goes through cells, to genetics, to anatomy, animals, bacteria, disections, maps of organisms such as the human body, animals bodies and etc. This book is top of the line and couldn't get any better. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know anything about biology, or "the study of life". Ha, see what I already learned.