Tiger On The Road: The Story Of Vardis Fisher is the biography of 1930s American author Vardis Fisher -- an erudite, accomplished, and today largely unknown contributor to great American literature. Once known as the "dean of Western novelists", Fisher is a superb novelist whose works have unfortunately been neglected too much and for too long. Illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs, Tiger On The Road is an excellent look into fascinating life and literature. The author of thirty six published works, it can confidently be expected that this outstanding biography of a Rocky Mountain regional author will inspire a resurgence of interest in his timeless, extraordinary, iconoclastic work. His life was as vivid and as dramatic as the plots of his novels. Tiger On The Road is a superbly presented literary biography.

Wonderful novel! Exciting, sexy, adventurous, and the relationship between the protagonists, Chandra and Blade, keeps you reading and sighing well into the night. A simply delightful historical novel! Bravo, Suzie Morris!

My parents bought this picture book for me when I was very very young, and I still treasure it. "Very Special Baby" is a beautiful story about the long, hard journey of Mary and Joseph and the remarkable birth of Jesus. This simple, yet wonderful Christmas story is one everyone should have. If I had to pick my favorite Christmas book as a child, this would be the one. The pictures are superb and the words repetitive, and extremely easy for young ones to understand. Please buy this book to teach your children about that very special night!

This is one of the better Victorian pattern books reprinted by Dover. It consists of 100 plates covering designs from small homes to a large brick mansion, and several auxilliary building designs. The book also includes several example contracts for finishing some of the homes; with carpenters', masons', and plumbers' specifications.

The designs themselves are fairly detailed; with cross sections, interior, and exterior details. One of the best features is the superimposed cross sections on fretwork details; showing how many of these complicated peices are constructed from simple boards.

If you are intrested in Victorian buildings, for whatever reason, I suggest buying this book. Although not exstensive the the number of designs covered, only twenty, it offers one a good source of information. This book is far more detailed than the later Woodward's also reissued by Dover, and most later pattern books. If you enjoy the books by Vaux or Downing you should find this a nice addition to your library.

I wish all history books were this enjoyable. It's a superb read, and ought to be brough back into print. This is not a history of wars and dates and politics, but describes the actual lives of people.

Each chapter is devoted to a location and a time period, introduces a few fictional characters, and gives a sketch of a segment of their daily lives.

From the back cover:
"_The Way our People Lived_ recreates scenes of American history in stories full of romance and adventure. Highlighting distinctive moments in the development of American society, it documents the habits and interests, the fashions and fancies of the everyday men and women who helped to build our nation."

My favorite chapter is about a woman who travels to Cincinnati in the 1830s. Lots of perspective on the rapid growth of midwestern cities as well as the status of women.

A similar chapter is set in young Chicago in the 1870s, about the time of the Great Chicago Fire.

Another favorite chapter is devoted to the Gold Rush, and the dreams and realities that fueled this mad westward escape.

Sure, this book has its shortcomings, in the sense that it is a product of the prejudices of its own time (1940s, republished in 1965). Some of the comments about the status of women are made in error, although the author's intentions were good. Plus, the native American experience was totally omitted.

However, I highly recommend this book for a readable version of U.S. history which goes beyond dull political figures, and details the ordinary experiences of real people. You can really get a sense of what it might have been like to live back then.

This book was an absorbing, informative read. Woodward has painstakingly researched the history of werewolves and explained the common themes that bind it all together. He includes fascinating reports from the days of the werewolf trials along with modern medical theories on the cause of this phenomenon. I definitely reccomend this to anyone with an interest in lycanthropic legends.

Ken Follett's novels are particularly well suited to reading on trains and aeroplanes. They are short, easy reads which easily survive the interruptions inherent in those surroundings.

This novel fits the mold perfectly - the characters are more or less drawn from the stock characters of action/adventure/intrigue stories - the icy cold and thoroughly competent enemy spy, the intellectual, professorial good guy who somehow manages to stay one step behind the spy throughout the story, and the beautiful and thoroughly unqualified female who implausibly saves the day at the last minute.

The general plot is that a German spy has discovered the disinformation campaign that the Allies are using to divert attention from the preparation for D-Day. There is a race to capture or kill him before he can communicate the information to his masters in Berlin.

The book is the literary equivalent of a candy bar. It's not intellectually nourishing or nutritious, but it's a great way to kill some time.

Well, what can I say!? I mean, all those other reviews down there really tell what this book is like. Ken Follett at his best. And THAT is something, huh? "The Needle" Faber is the only german spy in english soil that can turn the war back for the Nazis, as he learned the secret that Churchill was hiding so well with the help of the americans. The book tells his adventures up the Brittany Island in order to contact a U-boat. The final sequency on Storm Island is something of a genious. Follett has written some very good thrillers about WWII, like this one and "Night over water". But his best still is "The key to Rebecca". Anyway, "Eye of the needle" is a page turner like Grisham in his early years, a book one with interests in spies and the War won't regret reading.

The Needle
Ken Follet

Henry Faber alias, The Needle, is a German spy who works for Germany during World War II. He is tall, handsome, intelligent, well built, German aristocrat who works fast, in a shrewd manner, cleanly, and without leaving a trace. He is very close to Hitler. When a person becomes a danger to his identity or whereabouts, he uses an "stilletto" to utterly kill without almost any evidence.

The Needle or Die Nadle, discovers a British military secret that if given to the Germans on time would, no question about it, make the Germans win the war. Then the British find out about it, then starts the run, hide and go of The needle. All the Allied and British military intelligence are looking for him with no results But nobody but a woman, Lucy Rose, who lives in a stormy and far away island , can get to him...

The novel is excellently written and keeps the reader interested until the end. It also depicts all the knowledge about military intelligence, spies and world War II that the author masters.

I strongly recommend this book as a novel to entertain, and "A Place Called Freedom", also written by Ken Follet

The book Little Women is truley a literature classic. This book reflects on the lives of the fictional March family as Yankees during the Civil War. While Mr. March is away fighting in the war, Mrs. March and her four daughters Margaret, 16, Josephine, 15, Elizabeth, 13, and Amy, 12 (Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy)must learn to cope while their nation is at war. The four girls must learn many lessons in life and grow up to be fine women even during hard times. The girls have many adventures and meet Laurie, a true friend for life,and share many good times together. The girls begin to marry when they face the loss of one of their sisters and their aunt. However, in true March fashion, they get through the difficult times and focus on the successes in life. This book is truley inspirational and makes you think about how you can become a better person through sharing the experiences of these girls. At times this book could run on, so that is why i rated it 4 stars, not 5. However, this book still is great and a timeless classic and Louisa May Alcott did a fine job with the book. I enjoyed the book alot.

Little Women, being one of the classics of American literature, is not surprising to be said one of the best books I have ever read. The story revolves around the home life of four close sisters and two strong, moral parents. As Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy grow up, their adventures and mishaps provide examples for any reader of all ages. As they grow up, they struggle with many ideas. First, they are constantly troubled by the necessity of being good, even when they want to be bad. Second, as they grow up, they confront different types of relationships with boys. Friendship turns into love and vice versa, making a strong theme of gender relations. The girls also struggle with the ideas of motherhood, sisterhood, pride, education, and marraige. Finally, two of the most important ideas in the novel are dreams and work. The girls spend their childhoods and adult lives trying to balance the two and fulfill both necessities. Also, throughout the book, society is explained, the harsh winters are described, and the profound work ethic of the people is portrayed to give the reader a strong sense of what it was like to be living during the 19th century. The book gives the reader some mportant guidance to people in similar circumstances in their adolescent years. The novel motivates positive decision making, looks past materialism, teaches morales, and shows us the importance of real happiness.

A timeless tale of four sisters struggling their way through life during the Civil War. I have read this book more times than I can count, and I still love it. Once I pick it up I can't put it down, lost in this seemingly fantasy world, which was actually quite true more than 100 years ago.

My favorite thing about Little Women has to be the characters. Jo, the day-dreaming tomboy, Meg, pretty and proper, Beth, the quiet sweetheart, and little Amy, our artist, who always tried to grow up too fast. Then of course there's Laurie, the tall fun-loving boy-next-door, and so many other fabulous personalities (Aunt March, Fredrick Bauer, Hannah, Marmie, etc.) that I couldn't possibly name them all.

This book is one that I think everyone absolutely MUST read some time in their life, for it teaches moral values that should be used by people of all ages. I also reccommend Little Men and Jo's Boys to follow it up.

I was introduced to Dracula as a child watching Bela Lugosi portray the Count on the late night horror show "Shock Theater". This began a semi-fascination with vampire movies which continues to this day. I've not seen all the Dracula movies, but I'd seen dozens before I read the novel after graduating college. Nothing I've ever seen on the screen compares to Bram Stoker's original story. The story, which is told in the format of journal entries, letters, and newspaper clippings, engrossed me and carried me headlong to the final chapter.

The power of Stoker's written masterpiece exceeds the power of any screen production by a power of 10. Film isn't even the second most powerful medium for Dracula. The Naxos Audiobooks production of Dracula features a full cast but retains the format of the book. Different actors speak the journal entries of the various parties, with dialog and action being dramatized. Audio plays have been called "the theater of the mind", and that description well suits the Naxos production of Dracula. All in all, the audio play gives a satisfying way to experience the legend of Dracula.

Dracula is a masterpiece of Horror fiction, undoubtedly a classic and a necessary read for anyone who would consider him/herself a Horror fan. The title character has been forever imprinted on the minds of the world as the true name of the Vampire, and almost anyone who you could possibly ask could give you a pretty good description of the framework of the story.

A rich, reclusive count from the dark land of Transylvania tires of his homeland and searches for a home abroad to quench his thirst. Not for riches, not for glory, but for blood. For this count is a member of the damned breed, the Nosferatu, the Vampire. A demon condemned to live off of the blood of the living, while being neither alive, nor dead. It is a sad and frightening tale, filled with action and suspense.

Dracula is not only famous for its introduction of the mythology of Vlad the Impaler (in somewhat diluted form) to Western culture, but also for its formula. The inescapable evil (Dracula) to be confronted by a small, yet wary band of people lead by one who knows all of the creature's secrets and weaknesses (Van Helsing) has become a Horror staple. And folks never seem to get tired of it. The subject of Van Helsing, a character who almost, but not quite, overshadows Dracula in popularity is long overdue for a novelization of his own. Van Helsing's encounters with the supernatural would most definitely draw a fanbase.

If you're a Horror fan, or just like good old storytelling, Dracula is a book not to be missed. In fact, this novel should be required reading. It just might help increase the literacy rate!

Note: this edition has an awesome cover drawn by Boris Vallejo and it claims to be unabridged (abridging this story ought to be illegal!)

Bram Stoker's tale of terror, 'Dracula,' is just as chilling today as it must have been to readers a hundred years ago. Stoker's original story, which has been told many times since in film and book, is the tale of Johnathen Harker, his love, and his friends, and their horrific experiences at the hands of Count Dracula. The book begins with Harker traveling to Transylvania to meet with the mysterious Dracula. Aquainting him with English customs and traditions when the Count buys land all over London from his firm, Harker soons learns of Dracula's true nature- that of an unnatural fiend who causes destruction wherever he goes. When Dracula travels to England Harker's friends enlist the aide of Dr. Van Helsing, the only man who understands just what evil the Count is capable of. The story that follows is one of love, hate, maddness, and adventure as Dracula seeks to destroy Harker and his friends. As well as being a great work of literature, 'Dracula' is a wonderful tale of horror that modern readers are sure to enjoy!

This is a stunning masterpiece of American literature. Wharton reaches the heights achieved by England's George Eliot in Middlemarch. Age of Innnocence is considered one of the top 100 novels in the English language and I heartily agree. The novel is set in the Golden Age of New York high society in the 1870's. Like Middlemarch, manners and rigid conformity assure success. Love is an anomaly.

Newland Archer, rich and well-connected, is poised to marry May Welland. She is beautiful, suitable and pure. In fact she is compared to a Diana, goddess of the hunt. This is the virgin archetype, untouchable, pure and only desirable from a distance. Archer meets her scandalous cousin, the Countess Olenska. Olenska has committed the unforgivable and left her husband for another man. She is taboo. She is also older, wiser and sexual (more taboos.) Archer is irrestibly drawn to her and thus forms the conflict for the rest of the novel.

No one of her era writes of toxic marriages better than Wharton; she had her own tragic marriage to a man who used her fortune to set up a house for his mistress. And don't forget Wharton's equally famous novel Ethan Frome, about another toxic marriage that ends in grief.

Good news,by the way; Wharton's home in Lennox, MA, the Mount, is being restored. It's home to a resident theater that does some brilliant Shakespeare. If you have a chance to go, do so. It's a wonderful experience.

Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence takes the reader into the fantastic world of New York in the late 1800s. Wharton shows an adept handling of her figurative language as she tells of the elite society in that great city. But more importantly, she draws the reader into the burning love triangle between Newland Archer, his fiancee, May Welland and her cousin, Countess Olenska. These characters each display a certain piece of society; with beautiful, innocent May the ideal society-girl, following all the conventions she had been moulded to follow; with Countess Olenska, the foreign, freedom loving, and sensuous member of one of the highest-ranking families of New York, who broke all the rules and never noticed they had been broken; with Newland Archer, the man who had been raised under the strict hand of society, yet longed to break free, torn between his fiancee and the woman he loved. This novel seduces the reader with its tale of betrayal and forbidden love, and astounds them with the outright hypocrisy that this old New York society displays. If you are someone who loves literary structure, hidden symbolism, and outstanding use of figurative language, this is a must-read novel.

This beautifully written book is definitely one of the best books of twentieth century as well as Edith Wharton's masterpiece. It is engrossing and exciting. The story is in Old New York, where life is so much different from our present life. The main charachter, Newland Archer, is engaged to marry his beautiful cousin May Welland. Then ,Countess Olenska , May's Europeanized cousin, steps into their life and stirs the educated sensivity of Newland Archer. Newland finds out his passion for the Countess, however it is too late now : the wedding is only a month off. The charachters are very interesting just like the plot!. May is identified with "Lilies -of -the-valley" , whereas Ellen Olenska is identified with more exotic flowers:Yellow Roses. Lilies of the valley symbolize May's innocence and purity while yellow roses symbolize Ellen's infidelity. As you travel through the pages of the book ,you'll visit another world: A world where women are wearing corsets, order their dresses from Paris and live in a world of velvet ,silk ,satin and finest cashmere. Where people go to Operas in carriages and watch them with their jewelled opera glasses.A world filled with balls and dinner parties.A world where people are unbelievably afraid of the smallest disgrace... Where society has rules as rigid as womens' corsets... The age of innocence will teach you that there is no age of innoscence.