I've been catching up on Wells' work lately, and up to this point, I've been fairly impressed. His best work, written at the turn of the century, holds up fairly well: it's entertaining and thought-provoking (The Time Machine, War of the Worlds).

I wasn't very impressed with this book, however. It doesn't read like his other works. The story probably could have been told in 20 or so pages, definitely a short-story candidate. I was amazed that Wells stretched this out to its present length, as the middle 40-odd pages were quite dull and really didn't go anywhere.

The science behind the story (while iffy, of course), is fascinating. Griffin is a great character, but more could have been done with him, besides his spending so much time having to convince people that he IS, in fact, invisible ("I am invisible. I really am an invisible man", etc, etc). It gets mind-numbing after a while. I guess the biggest let-down of the book is the fact that the title gives everything away. Once you've seen the cover, you pretty much have it; no real surprises. Yep, he's invisible, and there ya go.

What a great idea to assemble scifi icons from Star Trek to perform various H.G. Wells's classics! Of the works they've performed are: The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, The First Men in the Moon, and Journey to the Center of the Earth.

This audio recording of The Invisible Man was easy listening, and fun too. It's definitely worth a listen. I'm going to have to check out the others!

One side note, obviously the original work was abridged and adapted for audio drama. You'll still want to read the classic.

Okay, so Wells didn't load the book with the violence seen in the recent movie Hollow Man. Consider when the book was written, and what was comparable at the time. I, for one, was engrossed in the book and read it in about three sittings.

Wells excellently portrayed Griffin (Invisible Man) as a man crossing back and forth from sanity to madness. You may catch yourself considering how you would overcome his difficulties, or how you might abuse his power.

What really stood out for me was the tongue-in-cheek undertones Wells incorporated into the story, such as the cockney dialect and rustic behavior of the people of Iping. Also, consider Wells' narration during intense moments, such as the fight between Griffin and the people of Iping...
"...[Huxter's] shin was caught in some mysterious fashion, and he was no longer running, but flying with inconceivable rapidity through the air. He saw the ground suddenly close to his face. The world seemed to splash into a million whirling specks of light, and subsequent proceedings interested him no more."
Later elaboration of the events included the terrifying realization that Griffin was "smiting and overthrowing, for the mere satisfaction of hurting."

If you find the book difficult to follow, try the version adapted by Malvina Vogel, complete with illustrations by Pablo Marcos. It's not as powerful, but easier to understand.

I enjoyed The Boy in the Lake and found Swanson's writing both hunorous and powerful. I liked how he melded the past and present events and explained his relationships with family members and friends in great detail. We learned so much about Christian's past, that we know why he must return to his past and "settle affairs." Swanson handles the homosexuality theme artfully, focusing attention on the characters' emotional struggles both as boys and as men. I guess my one disappointment with the book was at the end. After searching the entire novel for Reis, Christian's only scene in the novel with him, as an adult, is too short. We don't fully see how the impact of that meeting will alter Christian's present situation or feelings. Overall, though, I liked the novel a lot and would recommend it.

Mr. Swanson's novel is full of vivid characters and emotions...I felt myself being entangled in both the plot and the characters...unable to put the book down. Mr. Swanson captured the area that the novel is set in beautifully. I happened to grow up there, and I could almost smell the landscape while reading this wonderful story of friendship, betrayal, family and loss.

Try as I did, I couldn't help zooming through this book. Mr. Swanson's simple, engaging style made the actual reading easy, and the need to find out what is going on in Christian's life was so great, I could only zip through the story without the brakes. The present tense/past tense alternating flashbacks and present narrative has been done quite enough, IMHO, but it certainly didn't detract anything from this novel. I went through it a 2nd time just to pick up some of the details I whizzed by the first time and that was definitely worth the effort. Although this is a short book, it isn't too short or lacking structure, development, or detail. Mr. Swanson has told a complete story in just the right amount of time and space.

Raymond Chandler's The Lady in the Lake was a great book. I liked it a lot because of the mystery it had in it. Marlowe was my favorite character because he was a rough private eye.In this book I never knew what was comming.This book was one of the best I have read in awhile because of the murder,mystery,and back stabbing. I recomend this book for anyone who loves a good mystery.

From the first page to the last, The Lady In The Lake is a masterwork of American literature. Some may think that's impossible, seeing as how it'a a *gasp* detective novel! Well, I'm here to tell you otherwise. Like another great that transcended the genre, Dashiell Hammett, Chandler hooks the reader with stunning dialogue, amazing plot twists, and unforgettable characters. The book is clever and works on many levels; as a mystery and also as a complexity of many symbolisms.

Anyone who hasn't read this book, for the love of Steve, don't read the reviews on the next page! Another reviewer gave away the ending. It's been mentioned by someone else already, but just to be on the safe side, I'm mentioning it again. I know that it would've tempted me to drown them in Raymond Chandler's lake if I'd read that person's review before buying the book.

I recommend this book highly, not just as a detective novel, but as an example of the possibilities which the English language holds.

Another noir classic by the master, in this episode detective Philip Marlowe finds crime as deadly in a lakeside resort as it is on the mean streets of the city of angels, and the body count mounts as the suspense builds and the plot twists. The character development is impeccable, the dialogue lively and bright and suitably sarcastic, and the plotting as convoluted as any Chandler classic would be likely to be.

The mountaintop setting for much of the story lends itself to some poetic prose from the sensitive tough-guy with an eye for beauty and an ear for simile. The narrative flows easily as Marlowe unwinds the mystery to it's inevitable conclusion, observing, lamenting, and condemning the corruption and injustice of the American social structure while withholding judgement from even the most vicious and violent, in his typically refreshing blend of cynicism and naivete.

The writing is spare and straightforward, but it's an illusion, an act of synergy, for the totality of effect is magnified beyond the sum total of the parts, proving that in literature as in art, less is more.

George Forrester, et al, have created a straightforward and earnest look at Emerson, Lake, and Palmer, a band incorrectly reviled for their musical excellence, showmanship, and pretentions. In the early 1970's, few events were more exiting than hearing a new ELP release, and then seeing them perform live. In an era plagued with boogie rock, nascent glam, and the brewing punk, ELP plunged ahead towards a modernist reading of music. Combining their classical chops, jazz free-styling, and heavy-metal sound, they created not just a sound, but a world around their music.

George Forrester's book explains the history of the band, their musical steps, and mis-steps in clear, straightforward prose. While other works such as Paul Stump's The Music All's That Matter seems written with a distain for Prog and ELP, ELP: The Show Never Ends is an unabashed love letter for the devoted fan.

The books concludes with a musical exegesis of Keith Emerson's work, and to anyone who understands music, these analyses are enlightening, and thought-provoking.

If you want to learn about ELP, this is the place. If you want to relive the salad days, this is the place. If you want a picture of the rollercoaster ride of 1970's rock, this book will show you how a band was greeted with great hope and then dismissed into oblivion mostly because they knew how to play their instruments well.

Once I began reading this book it was hard to put down. This is the definitive, end-all story, from beginning to end, of ELP. Its all here: the early days of E, L, and P, the formation of the "Show That Never Ends", the hits, the misses, the fights, the breakups, the reconciliations, more fights, more reconciliations and tours, etc. etc. Also, there is plenty of trivia, behind the scenes information, and analysis of the music, instruments and people connected with the band. This book is laid out very logically, in a chronological order and represents the first time a publication has been available which tells the entire story, in a professional manner, from beginning to end. George Forrester and company are to be commended on being factual without being opinionated or judgmental. ELP had plenty of "wrong turns" and less than successful changes in musical direction through the years, but those events are all reported in a factual manner rather than a condescending one. One of the hidden gems of this book is the information provided in the back. George Forrester gives us a piece by piece analysis of all the major album tracks. Even more valuable is a chronological listing of EVERY concert ever played by the guys, from the beginning all the way through recent years, along with radio broadcasts and interviews. There's even internet sources listed for staying current on the band's activities. This is one of those must-own items if you are, or ever were a fan of the greatest band in rock n roll.

At long last a book on the greatest band ever to ever exist.This book will not be a disappointment for ELP fans.It digs deep into the band's creativity and what drove them to make the best music possible.It also delves into the personal histories of the band;upbringing,musical influences, earlier bands and musical projects outside of ELP.The book also includes an excellent analysis of their music album by album.This section alone is worth the price of admission.It explains in great detail how ideas for songs came about and how they developed as well as paying great attention to technical detail.Also included are tour dates and a discography unlike any other seen before.Make no mistake,this band produced the most creative music ever heard.They defied traditional rock music by combining it with elements of folk,jazz and of course the classics.As individuals they excelled: Keith Emerson,who single-handedly brought keyboards to the forefront and is a master composer.Then there's Greg Lake,whose voice and lyrics-some written with King Crimson bandmate Pete Sinfield-were the perfect compliment for Emerson's adventurous music.Also notwithstanding are his skills as a bassist,guitarist and producer.Last but by no means least is Carl Palmer,quite simply the greatest drummer in rock history.This is a book that belongs on every fan's bookshelf.It is a complete and thorough history and it will not disappoint.As a longtime fan,I thank the authors for a job well done and highly recommend this book

Have you ever been treated like dirt, because you were different, because of your nationality? If so, then you can relate to a young Japanese-American child, from the book, The Journal of Ben Uchida, by Barry Denenberg.
Ben Uchida didn't see himself different from anyone else. He was treated just as an American would be. Until the fateful day, when a bomb was dropped and Ben was considered the enemy.
This adventurous book about the pain and struggle of Japanese-Americans trying to survive the concentration camps, in California, is trying to send the message of being prejudice.
During the time span of the concentration camps, the organization put together a baseball team for the kids. Ben's team makes it all the way to the championship game, but one of his best friends blows the game, because he was getting paid. After that moment, Ben feels as though he can not trust anyone anymore.
If you decide to read this book, you will encounter the adventures of Ben and the rest of the Japanese-Americans during the time period of World War Two.
This book is one of my favorite historical-fictions. I think everyone should read this book just to get the perspective of what the Japanese had to go through. So sit down, take a couple of hours, and read the Journal of Ben Uchida.

The Journal of Ben Uchida,a historical fiction novel by Barry Denenberg, is a very descriptive book about prejiduce against Japanese-Americans. The book takes place in an internment camp in the 1940's. There are four main charecters: Ben,Robbie,Ben's best friend,Naomi,Ben's sister, and Momma.
Ben Uchida is a 12 year-old Japanese-American. After the attacks on Pearl Harbor,Hawaii the American goverment thought that all people with Japanese or Japanese-American acestry were going to spy for the Japanese goverment. So Ben and his family were sent to an internment camp in Mirror Lake,and he explains how terrible it was. Anyone who reads this book will think it is very interesting because it explains what happened in a very descriptive way.The reader will like it because it is filled with many facts and details describing what life was like.Anyone who is willing to read a somewhat sad story will very much enjoy this book.

Twelve-year-old Ben, his family, and thousand of others are sent to internment camps during Word War II because they are Japanese Americans. Ben's family is sent to the Mirror Lake Internment Camp, a desolate, barren place. There, Ben records his thoughts in a journal. This was an interesting book in the My Name is America series

I feel like I was set up after the ending of the last book when the rendezvous between Nina Reilly, lawyer extraordinaire and Paul von Wagonner, private investigator and white knight, was cut short by the new case in Writ of Execution. After keeping these two apart for so long and then finally having them see into each others hearts, I was looking forward to at least one night of no bickering. Unfortunately, that was never the intent of the Shaugnessy sisters. Even worse, the background characters, especially Sandy, Nina's secretary, were hardly in the story line at all. We were exposed to more of Reisner's dirty dealings, but what else is new. I will definitely wait for the next book to come out in paperback to see what happens to Paul and Nina in the next installment. I will never again waste that much money for that kind of disappointment.

This is a mediocre legal thriller, and my first introduction to this author. While moderately entertaining, I probably will not seek anymore novels by this author, as the writing tends to be pedestrian and formulaic. I also found the character of the attorney, Nina Reilly, to be uninteresting and an embarrassment to women in the legal profession. Perhaps, this was in part due to the fact that I listened to the unabridged audio book, where the reader infused Ms. Reilly's character with a breathy, little girl voice, that made her sound just this side of stupid.

Still, the book had its interesting moments. The plot revolves around a young woman, purportedly of Washoe Indian descent, who calls herself Jessie Potter and has just won a seven million dollar plus jackpot at a Nevada casino. She wishes to maintain a low profile, as she has a deep, dark secret, so she retains Ms. Reilly as her attorney, seeking to collect the jackpot, while maintaining her privacy. Unbeknownst to Ms. Reilly and her client, someone else feels entitled to that jackpot and will stop at nothing, not even murder, to get it.

In constructing the plot, the author, through one of the secondary characters, gives an interesting account of how these jackpots are designed to work, as well as a bird's-eye view of the gaming industry. Moreover, the courtroom scenes are of some interest. Still, this is not enough to make this a top notch legal thriller, as the writing never rises beyond hack status. The plot was too pat and contrived, at times, and the characters remain two dimensional throughout. I found myself neither caring for nor very much liking any of the characters. This over rated book remains simply a quick, throwaway read.

Attorney Nina Reilly has made a living by taking the underdog cases, and her latest is no exception. Called away in the middle of the night by her friend and investigator Paul Wagoner, Nina meets her new client, a young woman going by the name Jessie Potter. Jesse explains she has just hit a huge slot machine jackpot, but the casino's management will not pay the winnings until she gives them her real name.

Desperate to keep her identity hidden, but wanting her winnings, Jesse will need the help of Nina.

Nina has come up with a brilliant plan, one that will enable her client to collect the winnings and keep her identity a secret. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned...

The gaming commission thinks the jackpot was rigged, and the man who was sitting in the slot machine' s seat prior to Jesse, feels the winnings are his, and will stop at nothing to get them.

What ensues is a legal battle, with something very dangerous at the core. Nina's client Jesse, harbors a dark secret, and needs the money for a good reason. The deeper Nina probes into her client's past she realizes she is withholding vital information, and time is running out for Nina because as the clock ticks a killer roams the night...a killer willing to do anything to get the jackpot.

'Writ Of Execution' is another fast-paced page-turner, in the long line of excellent Nina Reilly novels. The plot is well developed, and utterly engrossing. Page by page, the reader is sucked into the suspenseful, intricate web being spun, and when the court room scenes comes into play, it's as if, we the reader, are actually there in the jury box.

Perri O'Shaughnessy burst on to the literary scene several years ago, and since then they have been consistent with creating suspenseful, masterful legal thrillers, full of crisp dialogue, complex plots, and real characters all driven at an extremely fast pace.

A MUST read!

Nick Gonnella

Having just read "Motion to Suppress", the first in a series of legal thrillers featuring main character Nina Reilly, I've got the other succeeding books already on my reading list. What I like about this book, aside from it's fast-pace and intriguing plot, is that Nina is depicted as an independent woman with smart business savy, yet one with shortcomings and insecurities. In other words, she's human.

Having just left her husband and a prestigious corporate law firm in San Francisco, Nina relocates to Lake Tahoe where she sets up a private practice. There, she takes her first criminal case, Misty Patterson, accused of murdering her abusive husband. In the meantime, Nina has her own personal issues to resolve, including a pending divorce, and warding off intimidation from a another defense attorney, drivin by male ego, who's use to having the run of the town's clientele.

Other bright and colorful characters include Nina's private investigator friend who has hinted at being more than just colleagues, a sassy and witty secretary who has friends and relatives in high places as well as referrals, and a supportive family with whom she takes temporary residence.

If "Motion to Suppress" is an indication of what's to come, I look forward to more of Perri O'Shaughnessy's books.

Sister-writing team, Pam and Mary O'Shaughnessy, team up in this first installment of the Nina Reilly series. The series must be a hit with readers and their publisher as the ninth book is set to be released later this year. In "Motion To Suppress," we are introduced to Nina as her career as a San Francisco attorney and her marriage to a fellow lawyer hit the skids. With her young son in tow, Nina packs up and heads to Lake Tahoe to visit her brother. She soon sets up shop and lands her first client -- a troubled woman seeking a restraining order from her abusive husband. When the husband is found at the bottom of Lake Tahoe and Nina's client accused of murder the fun really begins.

O'Shaughnessy is (are?!) proficient at piecing together a mystery, although it does get a bit bogged down in the middle. However, this lasts only for a short time as crackling courtroom scenes with a fair share of twists and turns keep readers quickly flipping the final pages. Character-wise, I never quite warmed up to our protagonist Nina. She does not seem to be the most fun person to be around but I certainly would not mind having her as my lawyer if I ever needed one! Despite all the unsavory folks lurking about, "Motion To Suppress" certainly made me want to visit this picturesque town on the California/Nevada border. Overall, the novel is an entertaining who-done-it. It is not likely to win any writing awards, but certainly worth a recommendation for a summer-time read. I am sure I will read more of O'Shaughnessy's novels in the future.

I am just curious to know why I haven't heard of Perri O'Shaughnessy before now. The first book (as I understand this is a continuing series), Motion to Suppress, is a thrilling book with the plot thickening each chapter, and definetley plenty of twists.I just can't believe this book has been out since 1995, and I haven't heard the name before now!! I am so disappointed to have not found the authors (Perri O'Shaughnessy is the pen name for two sisters writing together) earlier! In Motion To Suppress, Nina Reilly is a lawyer who has just opened her own practice in Lake Tahoe. She takes on her first case, which is a wife, named Misty Patterson, who is accussed of killing her husband. The kicker is that Misty remembers hitting him while they were arguing, but doesn't remember anything thereafter. Of course when her husband turns of dead, Misty is to blame. Nina is in a race to find the truth about the murder, and finds lots of "interesting" facts along the way. I overly enjoyed the whole book, right to the very end. The only reason I gave Motion To Suppress one star short of perfect is because the writing is hard to understand and wordy in places, which can be expected since this is the debut novel, and will get better with each novel. Other than that Motion To Supress is a great mystery/thriller that will leave you guessing throughout the whole book, not to mention changing your mind on "who do it" with each passing chapter. Perri O'Shaughnessy is a winner!

As a first time reader of Nina O'Reilly, I had a hard time putting this book down. Also, as a former resident and casino worker in Lake Tahoe I enjoyed the references to real places. I found her characters to be well-written and while I didn't like them all, I felt that I knew them personally. The story and plot lines were interesting, and I didn't figure out whodunit until the end. I intend to go back and read the previous Nina O'Reilly books now!

When intrepid Tahoe lawyer Nina Reilly takes on a palimony suit, even she cannot imagine the twists and turns that may well determine both her own Fate and that of her client, Lindy Markov. With the prospect of netting huge profits warring against her fierce sense of morality, Nina faces an uphill battle against her arch-rival - defense attorney, Jeffrey Riesner - in a case that could literally make or break her.

A page-turner from start to finish, BREACH OF PROMISE shines as O'Shaughnessy's best mystery to date. As in the three earlier novels, O'Shaughnessy skillfully weaves together a fast-paced, multi-layered plot that never feels forced or contrived. With enough intrigue and surprise to keep any reader guessing, BREACH OF PROMISE cuts to the heart of the basic dichotomy between men and women without bogging down in sentiment or cliché.

Surrounded by a fascinating cast of characters, all wonderfully distinctive and deftly drawn, Nina Reilly remains refreshingly appealing and real. Both tough and vulnerable, she soldiers on through triumph and adversity alike without ever surrendering her values to expedience. And her droll self-deprecations, her wariness of commitment, and her insecurities about parenthood only render her all the more endearing.

A wonderful story and a compelling mystery, BREACH OF PROMISE should be on everyone's summer reading list.

Going through a mid-life crisis, Mike Markov decides to leave his spouse for a younger woman, who happens to work in their company, which happens to be thebiggest employer in the Reno area. When Mike tells his wife Linda that he is filing for divorce, she hires Tahoe attorney Nina O'Reilly to insure she gets half of their multi-million dollar business empire. Mike, in turn, brings in his own top gun, slick lawyer Jeffrey Riesner.

Feeling as if she is not ready for the big leagues that Jeffrey swims in, Nina asks Winston Reynolds to assist her. Ultimately, the case goes to court where Nina and her cohorts find twists and turns, some caused by her own client. Still, the intrepid Nina and her crack staff give their client the best representation an attorney can provide.

BREACH OF PROMISE is a fabulous legal thriller because of the adept writing of Perri O'Shaughnessy to microscopically look at a male's mid-life crisis from various perspectives without placing blame. Though the story line bogs down a bit during the jury deliberations, the overall plot is action-packed and fast-paced with numerous twists. Still, this series is made great by the eccentric characters (Nina, her assistant Sandy, and her lover Paul) who bring real personalities to a sub-genre normally populated by Herculean individuals. This gripping novel and Ms. O'Shaughnessy's previous tales (see OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE, etc.) are all fun to read because the morality is not so clear cut.

Harriet Klausner

I know something about Lake Superior, and I respect anyone who manages to paddle a kayak all the way around the lake. That aspect of the book is very entertaining and at times compelling. For anyone interested in reading about sea kayaking, I recommend the book.

I thought much less of the author's 'spiritual' journey, and felt that the author was less than honest in describing her situation, or her reason for taking the trip. The author presents the trip as a journey to unknown ends, but I think the author knew very well the decision she was facing and even had a pretty good idea of where she'd end up. If she truly didn't have a clue, I do not think she could have possessed the ability to write the story of the physical journey nearly so well.

For the story of the physical journey, A+; for the story of the 'spiritual' journey, C-.

Ann Linnea writes about many issues that women face as they grapple with motherhood, careers, love, relationships, and sense of self. Her harrowing kayak trip around Lake Superior is the back drop for her journey toward self realization. Her struggles with the elements, as she paddles, mirror her struggles toward self understanding. This is a wonderful book about courage, and an eloquent statement about what it means to be a woman. It is a good read for kayakers as well as non-kayakers, women, as well as men.

A luminous book, filled with adventure, discovery and emotional truths. Since I live in Michigan, I'm very familiar with Lake Superior, and the images that Linnea evokes are wonderful: she made me feel the storms, the magic, and the fury that the Lake can unleash.

The emotional part of the story is a somewhat familiar one, but it is beautifully told. Any woman who has taken the track that society told her to take--at her own expense (and many, like me, who actually had a mother who told them to question it)--can relate to this story. In taking this journey Linnea found the rest of her life. We are fortunate to be able to take both journeys with her: the inward and the outward. I am filled with pride that this strong woman had the courage to take both leaps: the one that took her around the big lake, and the one that took her away from a man who had no egregious flaws, but who wasn't meeting her needs in any way except financially. Sadly, societal pressures still tell women that any "decent" man is better than being alone, and if you find one, your happiness is less important than that of your family. Of course, "decent" is open to discussion: a man who won't even adjust his university schedule to spend time with his children doesn't seem like a particulary stunning father to me. For too long a woman's happiness has been subjugated to that of her husband and children. Linnea reclaimed her joy: I'm sure her children feel and appreciate that joy.

My only gentle criticism of this book is that Linnea at times waxes a little too New Age for me, but the quest for traditions that speak to women in a way that our patriarchal choices do not is a very valid one.

This is a wonderful book to give as a gift: It's an adventure story, an introspective memoir, and a delightful travelogue. Give it in good health!