In this book, Dr. Wilk offers overwhelming evidence that the AMA sought to discredit and destroy chiropractic. Dr. Wilk tells his own story of discovering chiropractic, of building his practice, and of his constant struggle to clear the name of chiropractic, which has been under constant attack as quackery from others in the "healing" community.

Dr. Wilk eventually took the AMA to court, twice, and this book tells the story of those events in a way that should awaken the wary consumer. Perhaps the best thing in this book is the Appendix, in which Dr. Wilk cites numerous studies that have vindicated the use of chiropractic in spite of attacks from detractors.

If you are one of the growing number of people interested in natural healing techniques, or one of those with an inherent mistrust of MD's, read this book!

First of all, thank you Dr. Wilk for such a wonderful and amazing book. I purchased your book while visiting Chicago. I read it at my hotel, on the plane home and never put it down until I finished the book! I am a Chiropractic Assistant in Mt. Pleasant, SC at Dr. Marvin Arnsdorff's office and I thought I had learned a lot about chiropractic, but I didn't know anything until I finished your book. You have changed my life. After reading your book, I realized this is a field I will never leave. I have decided to further my education in Natural Health Care. I am looking into a variety of schools and am very excited! I am a single mom and pretty much have been since age 16. I am now 24. I shared your story with my 8 year old daughter. She has decided on her own to use only chiropractic and Natural "remedies" when she is feeling "yucky" and to keep her from feeling that way as well. If she feels bad, she immediately asks to go get adjusted! If an 8 year old child can get the "BIG IDEA" how come these so called intelligent adults can't? My daughter has her own chiropractic story as does my father, and many of my friends and family. I have shared this book with everyone! And will continue to share it with even more people. I would recommend this book to everyone. And I mean everyone! Thank you again Dr. Wilk! Katherine Donald

There have been segments in our society that have enormous power and will stop at nothing to gain control. This book is a chilling description of an out of control medical system that assumed that they had all knowledge concerning healthcare. The real fight was about nothing other than penetration into their sacred economic turf. Chiropractic was almost destroyed if it wasn't for the absolute courage of several dedicated chiropractic physicians and an attorney who fought against all odds to prove that organized medicine used a campaign of misinformation and slander to attempt to destroy the chiropractic profession. Fortunately, many today have accepted chiropractic based on merit and effectiveness as a healing art. Many medical doctors today have accepted chiropractic based on scientific evidence and studies published in many of their journals concerning chiropractic's efficacy. This is an absolute must read!!!!

This book is a must for anyone interested in the education movement. However, after such reports as "Why Johnny can't read" and a plethora of other well documented works, many have come to the conclusion that the public schools are not working and are beyond help; therefore, a work of this nature is wasted upon that system. This book's value lies in providing the objective research that supports a structured curriculum based educational system for those who have jetisoned the public schools as a failed and irrepairable system and now or in the future will home school thier children. However, within the home school movement there is a very small but vocal group that call themselves "unschoolers". They adhere to the philosophy that the child will learn whatever he needs just by allowing the child to select his own curriculum content. Bennett, in this work, lays the coup de grace at the root of that theory, and I hope for ever more settles the issue of whether the "unschooling" mindset is a viable alternative to a curriculum directed home school.

From Publisher's Weekly - Publishers Weekly Former U.S. Secretary of Education Bennett (The Book of Virtues) and his colleagues (Finn, author of We Must Take Charge; Cribb, formerly of the U.S. Department of Education) offer American parents an impassioned and straight-shooting reference for educating their children. In prose free of academic rhetoric, the authors state: "[I]f your school is inflicting a mediocre education on your child, the sooner you know about it the better." They then present a "yardstick" by which to judge the academic quality of any school (public or private). A model core curriculum organized by grade level--primary (K-3), intermediate (4-6), and junior high (7 and 8)--presents the material clearly and logically, and helps readers assess whether a child is getting a thorough dose of English, history and geography, the arts, math and science. While blunt in their criticism of decaying academic standards (evident in grade inflation, lowered expectations for students and terrible international rankings), the authors are unequivocal in their support of dedicated educators and all those willing to hold children to the highest possible standard. Parents may question some of the model curriculum's expectations (e.g., that second graders dramatize the death of Socrates), but the authors are quick to reassure readers that the book's purpose is not to serve as a list of must-haves but rather as "inspiration and general guidance" in gaining a sense of "the knowledge and skills that should lie at the heart of a solid elementary education." Bennett is a controversial figure because of his passionate cultural conservatism. But this book, despite a brief word in favor of school vouchers, is about padagogy, not politics. It's an ambitious and commonsensical guide that will inspire both parents and educators. 100,000 first printing; 25-city radio satellite tour. (Nov.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

This is such a fabulous book. I have four children (ages 3-9) and I have found more valuable information, guidance, and great ideas in this book than in all the other education related books I have read -- combined. I particularly liked the grade specific study topics (core curriculum), reading lists, helpful tips to improve reading and other ways to help your child succeed in school, questions to ask the teacher, info. on gifted and special needs children, and kindergarten readiness list. Even though I consider myself somewhat experienced in the first three to four years of school (due to the volume of children I have), I found that this book provided me with new insight and reinforced my desire to help my children develop a love for learning. I know I will use this as a reference for many years to come. My only regret is that I did not have this book when my oldest child started preschool! Well worth the price!

The trilogy makes for a nice week of reading and is quite well written. Unfortunately, it does have a couple flaws, which are neglectable if one seeks only entertainment (see below).

Chester's Sword/Ring/Chalice-Series is one story told in three books, this is the third. Book 3 continues the storyline the day it ends in the second book, so, this is not a "20 years later our hero goes off to a new adventure"&"I want to write a sequel and make more money"-story. You'll have to buy/read all three books if you want to know the end (comparable to Tolkien's three books, even if on a different level).

Conclusion:
I usually turn off my brain and simply enjoy a story when reading fantasy. For me, a story needs to be gripping, seem real and make me want to not put the book down. Chester delivers those things for sure. The main characters are well developed, the side characters neglected and killed quickly. Sometimes, unimportant things are described in great detail just to never surface again. A love story between the two main characters is somewhat crammed into the last pages: The heroine's affections for the good guy are mentioned and well developed throughout the series, but he's going for some other girl all the time. His sudden decision to dump the other girl and take the heroine instead is unprepared, unexplained, seems unlikely and leaves a sour aftertaste which spoils the closing chapter. It's not exactly an unforgettable series; one can read the books again in a couple of years and pretend it was the first time. I enjoyed the series and - within the frame of the restrictions mentioned before - I do recommend it.

The flaws:
Flaw No. 1: The first 100 pages of the first book drag on and do not really have relevance, it's just an extended prelude about how the father of our hero screws up big time. The triology is actually more thrilling (I'd imagine) if one simply skips the beginning and reads this "prelude" afterwards.
Flaw No. 2: The author obviously does not know or not care about the historically correct meaning and status of aristocratic titels. There's a bunch a princes running around who are neither heir to the throne nor related to any king. That bugged me a little, as it is somewhat confusing.
Flaw No. 3: Our hero rises to high status in various steps. Each step he makes by saving the life of his respective superior: A huntsman to begin with, then a lord, then a prince, then the king. When there's no one else to save, cause there's no one above the king, it turns out our hero's of royal blood himself (which the reader assumed all along but that's a different story). It's somewhat too simple cause one quickly figures out that soon the next situation in which he'll save a life will come up in order to push the story along. Most of these live-saving-situations are quite unlikely, so if one prefers stuff that is thought through, logically sound and "thick" story-telling (like Tolkien), this is not your series. It's comparable to Goodkind's books: Extremely grave danger and a way too simple solution.

Jordan who? Deborah Chester has succeeded in demonstrating that a gripping, enjoyable fantasy story does not require ten volumes and ten thousand pages. Throughout The Sword, The Ring, and The Chalice, Chester brings a whole world to life with settings and people that seem sometimes all too real, and with a pacing that never slacked. Reading Chester has finally turned me off from Robert Jordan; I no longer see the point of investing three weeks in the next Wheel of Time book when I can have much more enjoyable fantasy at less than a third of the time cost.

As for The Chalice itself, the conclusion to the series was not as pat as I had feared, although complaints that it was too pat are not without merit. While some of the other criticisms are also understandable, one of the most frustrating aspects of The Chalice is arguably one of its strengths - it is impossible to completely like either of the two main characters because they each keep engaging in self-destructive behavior. When Dain and Alexeika were each young and new to their situations (i.e., in the first two books), it was easier to forgive their faults. By The Chalice, one simply wanted to slap each of them a half dozen times, which speaks highly of Chester's ability to get the reader involved. No flat, one-dimensional "hero is always good" here.

One could also complain about the sometimes too-clever prose, and a mildly annoying attempt to create a medieval-type dialogue (I hate it when characters say "nay" as if they were horses), but the complaints are minor in comparison with a story that keeps the reader turning pages, and often has the heart racing. This is a series that is well worth the read, and one that is worth revisiting from time to time.

Before I buy a book, I usually come to Amazon.com to check the reviews. Unfortunately, there are so few reviews here for this wonderful book that I decided to write a review. The complete story of the Sword, Ring, and Chalice was one of the best fantasy series I have ever read. While most fantasies follow the simple pattern of -- boy goes on adventure --> meets beautiful girl --> falls instantly in love with her --> defeats anatagonist -- this series was very unpredictable. The cast of characters only enhanced the quality of the book. The way they are presented leaves the reader with an unsettling doubt of who is good or bad, at least, until the end of the story! Finally, I would just like to say that I REALLY hope that Deborah Chester continues writing about Nether and the neighboring countries!

Having never read anything by Ms. Chester, I was a bit hesitant to pick up this book. The back cover review was quite intruiging, therefore I chose to try it out. Let us just say that I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of "The Ring". Although it took quite some time to actually meet the main characters of the series, the background information you are given leading up to your first meeting with an "adult" Dain, gives you a much greater understanding of what he is to face in the future. It also explains, quite engagingly, why he has no clue as to his true identity and role in the future politics of his homeland. In meeting Alex, I (especially as I am female) found myself being completely drawn into her struggle to keep her father's dream alive of defeating the evil Nobility against the resignation and depression of the "army" she has grown up and fought with. I look forward to the plot's twists and turns within which Dain and Alex will come together to defeat what is thought to be undefeatable.

"The Sword" is a wonderful start to an awesome trilogy! Debroah Chester brings her fantasy world alive, with lovable character, magic, and well developed plot. Characters are well-devloped, and you feel everything they do, and sometimes want to yell at them for making the wrong decision or being too naive.

The Sword starts out tell you the story of King Tobeszijian of Nether, and how, after his wife Queen Nariesse dies, is forced to abandon his two children, Princess Thia (4 years old)and Prince Faldain (2 years old), to live with the dwarves after his 1/2 brother Muncel takes Tobeszijian's throne. 15 years later, you meet you with a teenage boy named Dain, and learn all the things he has to go through being 3/4 eld (like an elf). He must face a lot of prejudice, and prove that eld are the same as any other human. Along the way he makes friends and enemies, and learns to weild a sword, and to become a knight.

The book will then change to a different character named Alexieka. You are told the story of how her father dies in a battle against the King Muncel, trying to take the throne form him so he will stop decimating the land of Nether, and until the lost Prince Faldian of Nether can be found.

As the book continues you learn of the terrifying creatures called Nonkind, and the Believers who control them in the city of Gant. You learn abou the history of this fasinating land, and how religion controls a lot of what people do. This is not, by any means, a religious book, the people's religion is totally made up, but it is interesting to see how their religion affects the people. Example: People don't like eld because they have a pagan regligion, and are cabable of performing magic, both of which are against the Writ of the Circle.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, or just a good story. The two sequels are just as good, if not better than the first, and the end of The Sword will leave you wanting to know what happens to Dain, and all the other characters.

I am a fan of description, and this book filled my need for it. If I closed my eyes after reading a passage, I could easily picture the scene before me.

I happened on this book by chance. I was reading a magazine with different book reviews, and I saw The Sword listed, along with a small picture of the cover art. It looked intriguing, and sounded interesting, so the next time I was in a bookstore, I picked it up, and was promptly captivated.

The story takes the battle between good and evil and works it masterfully into the plot. The characters are three-dimensional and very human (even those who are not *quite* human). I was drawn into the world and spent many enjoyable hours there. Hours that ended all to soon with the conclusion of the book, leaving me waiting somewhat impatiently for its sequel, The Ring, to come out.

A definite must-read for fantasy lovers out there. Especially if you love description and well written characters.

Unfortunately the so-called Krause & Mishler's "Bible" or "Telephone Book" hasn't changed that much after so many years of publications ! It is NOT COMPLETE (many new coins missing but also some older !), collectors should be extremely prudent with given quotations ... look at the FRANCE 10 Francs 1989 "Montesquieu" and you will have an excellent example on how "stupid" some quotations could be ... In this 2001 edition there are pages mixed (Iran / Indonesia) ... wrong pictures and catalog numbers, etc. YET, it remains at this moment the best illustrated catalogue for World Coins ... so collectors and dealers should use it as a "general reference" but not consider it as a "Bible" and certainly review quotations according to the reality of the International Markets ! Kindly understand that we are a Group of International Dealers and respect Krause & Mishler's nice job but unfortunately too many people consider it as a 200% reality of the International Market ...

I found this book not only helpful for pricing my coins but to identify some that had been given to me to start my collection. This is an excellent book, and a must for beginners to find what coins came from where.

I colect coins for 15 years and I have never seen a book like this before. There you can find praticaly every coin in the world of this century. I realy recomend this book if you want to know the price and other features of coins in the aroud the world. Sorry for the english(I speak portuguese); but the book is real good!

Although this book was interesting enough for me to read until the end and kept me up at night to finish, it wasn't as entirely absorbing or heartfelt as some of her other books, such as Knight in Shining Armor.

The characters were colorful and interesting, although at times I found myself to be annoyed with Claire for being so closed minded about Nyssa's religion, and also for thinking she "should" love Harry when in fact its quite obvious she had a better and more open relationship with Trevelyan. I don't know, Claire wasn't the best character to me.. I didn't tend to Trevelyan was the typical male romantic hero: tall, dark, mysterious, a man who "gets all the ladies" but then gives them all up for his one "true love."

For the most part, the plot was interesting enough, it was entertaining, however, it wasn't as funny, and the chemistry between them wasn't as passionate as it could have been. Deveraux has the potential to do so much better, but its obvious this isn't her best work.

The ending was an utter disappointment. I was hoping for some closure, and I expected some kinda "thing" to happen to the old bag duchess. Instead, I get stuck with a hastily put together reunion and an even hastier epilogue. It left a lot of questions unanswered.

I would reccommend this book if you're bored... it's not a boring book, its just a bit more bland than other books I've read. The plot kind of keeps you going, but you end up waiting for some big, emotional scene where you cry your eyes out... and it never happens. For books like those, i definitely and highly reccomend McNaught. But this isn't a review about her, is it? Oh well, this book has its good and bad points... take it or leave it, I guess.

'the duchess' is alright, i think, for jude's standard. i mean, she writes all these books about diff kind of ppl in different timelines and you wonder how she doesn't get mixed up.

claire is you typical dumb heiress, with the spendrift, rather [stupid] parents and a bratty sister. she thought she fell in love with harry, and if you knock her head with a box of romance books she coudn't see his obvious flaws. then she goes to that god forsaken house full of cold family members, and ends up spending her time with trevalyan. they suit each other. the dumb heiress and the even dumber duke/traveller/spy/writer/soldier/wanderer/whatever else. by the time they realized their feelings for each other the readers will be groaning "about time!" and flip to the next page.

and for a well-read lil miss, claire is quite closed up about everything else isnt she? she insists that christianity is the true religion, and doesnt respect other people's beliefs. i find it real irritating. she should read more books, i say, and stop reading them frank bakers. she's getting mentally unwell reading them all.

conclusion, in most parts the characters are unlikable, but the storyline's okay. i'd read it if only for the story. an okay read overall.

I have not yet read this book for I am trying to find out in which order does this book come in the Montgomery series order. I can't seem to find an e-mail for Jude Deveraux to ask her so I'm asking anyone if they can help. I have acouple books from her and I have found that they all are part of a series. The book that I have are. (BLACK LYON, HIGH TIDE, THE TEMPTRESS, AND THE VELVET PROMISE.) I don't know about any of you all but I hate reading a book and finding out that it was part of a series.

I enjoyed the first book in this series. The primary characters were young and energetic, irresponsible, but maturing. This book (The Ring), though, and the final book (The Chalice) were a dissapointment to me. The leading character, a maturing king, never seem to mature at all except in size, and I was confused to why others in the story would support his rise to power. Many of the emotions were lost to me as I watched powerful leaders of armys follow, what I considered to be, a relatively shallow and petty "would be king" with powerful weapons.
I do believe the author is a gifted writer. In many ways, though, this series gave me the same feeling as the Clan of the Cave Bears series, where I lost touch with the rational of the characters after the first book and started skipping pages just to get through.

The Ring, the second book of Deborah Chester's The Sword, the Ring and the Chalice trilogy is an excelent book, expecially considering that is a middle book. The development of (Fal)Dain as he grows is excelent, and you really care about what happens to him. Gavril and the cardinal Noncire make excellent villains. The girls in the story however are not as fully drawn as the boys. Alexeika is still a sketch of a character, although a very cool one, and Princess Pheresa comes across as a spoiled, power hungry brat, except for the scene with her mother. You aren't sure whether you should like her or not, with me leaning toward not, especially after her ambitions are so clearly outlined in book one. Still, she doesn't deserve Prince Gavril. King Varence is another of those either or characters. Obviously, he has done a miserable job with his son, and I just can't like someone who lets their child get away with murder. Especailly when said child will one day be king.

The two protaganists, Dain and Alexeika, lead pretty miserable lives in their various places, and you want to cheer them on, even when they make poor decisions. - Dain makes more than his fair share. - By the end of book one, you really care about these two, and by the end of this book, you want them to finally meet, and why does it have to take so long? Alexeika is a much more likable character than Pheresa. Unfortunately, Dain hasn't met her yet, and he had the misfortune to fall in lust at first sight with Pheresa, which you know will cause yet more problems in book three.

I recomend this book, but read book one (The Sword) first.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first book in this trilogy (The Sword), so I had high hopes for the second. Unfortunately, it was a bit of a let-down. This isn't to say that it wasn't a good book--which it was--but I didn't think it was up to the same standards as The Sword.

The Ring is a good follow-up to its predecessor in that it expands on many of the characters, Gavril & Pheresa in particular. Chester creates very vivid characters, and succeeds in forcing the reader to re-think their initial reactions. A good example of this is Pheresa, whom you may not like as much by the end (of course, that's assuming you liked her to begin with!). I still wanted to smack Gavril, but even with him there are times when I was undecided about his motives and real feelings. Dain & Alexeika continue to be likeable heroes, though I thought Dain seemed a little overly naive at times. Besides the characters, Ms Chester's action scenes continue to be excellent in pace and description.

So what exactly made me rate this book four stars? Well, partly because the story just wasn't long enough. The amount of character development and action just doesn't quite fit into the narrow span of time the story actually covers. Sometimes the characters' changes of feeling seemed a bit rushed, as if the author was trying to cram it all in an allowed word count. I wish that Ms Chester had written a longer book and extended the amount of time within the novel's world.

It's the subtle, almost intangible things in the book which made me rate it lower than The Sword, but still I lost myself in the world of Mandria and Nether. This is an enjoyable book, and I recommend it to anyone who likes fast-paced action fantasy.

When I purchased this book I was searching for a comprehensive, though not intensively detail, account of the war in Europe (1939-1945). This book was not it. I did enjoy reading the book but it continually showed its age while I was making my way through it. As some reviewers have noted, it has many gaps. Particularly, the early German biltzkrieg in Poland and the low countries, as well as Norway. The North Africa campaign, Italy, as well as the Russian front were only intermittently discussed. A more appropriate title for the book would be the war on the western front (1941-1945).
The another obvious point that came to mind while reading the book was that it definitely was dated. No discussions regarding Allied and German intelligence breakthroughs were mentioned. Some of the Allied deceptions to pin the 15th Army in the Pas de Calais was mentioned and how it help the Allies during the first month of the D day invasion.
Overall, some interesting reading about the western Allies and a good account of the Allied war in the west from 1944-1945. If one is interested in a more completed look, and more modern account, of the european war, this is not it.

Chester Wilmot was uniquely qualified to write this exhaustive history. He was a war correspondent who made the jump on June 6, so in some ways his narrative of D-Day's opening is a memoir, a trained historian and an exhaustive researcher. This book occupied him for six years and even though it was published in 1952, it was and still is, a remarkably objective history of the war in Europe.

First, the flaws. It's not complete. There's no account on the fall of France or Poland or Norway for that matter. It opens when the Germans have the BEF trapped in the channel ports in May 1940. But this is understandable. Wilmot's assertion that Hitler's letting the BEF get away sowed the the seeds for it's eventual return to the continent. Second, the Russian Front (which actually WON the war in Europe by the way) is dealt with only summarily and the Pacific is only discussed in terms of overall Grand Strategy. He also only mentions the war in the Mediterranean in passing. His Cold War conclusions were off as well, but this is said of course with hindsight. But considering when this was published (1952 originally), it's understandable for Wilmot for feeling that way.

The strengths of this book is that if you want a first rate narrative of the whats, the hows and the whys on how the War in Western Europe was fought, then this is the book.

Wilmot covers every possible aspect of the Western European campaign. From grand strategy, to desperate battles to blunders committed on both sides.

American readers might be peeved the way Wilmot praises Montgomery and not enough flattering comments are given Eisenhower and Patton (though both do receive their share). Frankly, I think it's high time Monty gets some good recognition over here. You don't become a Field Marshal in any Army by being incompetent. He was a good general, maybe even a great one. He gave the British Army its first real victory over the Germans, something no other British general had yet to do.

Wilmot also discusses the political machinations of both sides. The Allies were far superior to Hitler when it came to this. Also he discusses the economics of the war; something few if any military historians did at the time. Today, it's a common practice, but in 1952, it was a radical new approach.

John Keegan's recommendation of this in his history of the Second World War got me to purchasing a copy. He still believes it's unsurpassed in many ways. I have to agree.

I don't agree with everything Wilmot said, but I think that's what makes a good history book. You have points to debate and discuss. After all, history is always interpretive.

If you really want know about the conquest of Western Europe from D-Day onwards, go no further than reading this book.

A Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man is not an easy read by any means, but it is a worthwhile read by all means. The plot focuses on the growth and development of Stephen Dedalus, an intelligent Irish boy born into a poor family. One of the most interesting features of the book is that it is considered to be a "self-portrait of the artist" by most experts. The events of author James Joyce's life mirror those of young Dedalus well. This makes for a fascinating read considering Joyce's prominent position in the writing world.
The writing styles and techniques Joyce uses are expert. The writing level begins at a level that a small child would use, and increases in sophistication through the book as Dedalus grows older and becomes more educated. The pinnacle of the writing is Dedalus' narration about his theories of art and beauty near the end of the book, about the time he is to leave the university and Ireland altogether. The beautiful language of the narration is a work art by its own merit, and I highly recommend reading it whether or not you read The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man in its entirety.
Among the various things to look for while reading "Portrait" are the reoccurring images of water, birds, and the colors white and red. Specifically, pay attention to Dedalus' perceptions of these things, and how his perceptions change as the book moves forward. Two other common topics surfacing throughout the novel are politics and religion. Ever since a bitter argument about politics and religion broke out among his family at Christmas dinner, Dedalus has been wary of the subjects. This makes for conflict because the church and politics are at the forefront of the educated minds he is associating with.
Lastly, when reading this book, consider how it relates Irish nationalism and Ireland's struggle to find its place in the world of art and culture. Although this is not such an obvious theme, it is interesting to note how many of the characters are concerned with what Ireland is, where it is going, and how best to improve it.
Because the reading can be so heavy in The Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man, I recommend referring to some sort of an explanatory or summary essay to supplement your reading...

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, by James Joyce is the story of a young man struggling to grow up and rise above the political, religious, and patriotic cords that bind him down. The book begins with Stephen reflecting on his childhood until he grows up to be a man with his own views. The story takes place in Ireland when there was much confusion in religion and politics. Stephen Dedalus was raised in a very patriotic home, which was also devoutly Catholic. Stephen, however, struggles with the strong views of his family and church. He doesn't quite know if he agrees with everyone around him. Throughout his life Stephen and his family have to move to different houses because of financial problems. This also causes Stephen to have to change schools, and become involved with different types of people. While he is changing schools externally, internally he is also changing; he is becoming a young man with ideas uniquely his own. Growing up is a great challenge for Stephen, he is thrown into many different situations and has people all around him trying to tell him what to think, and what to do with his life. He goes from having his first unexpected sexual relationship to feeling the awful guilt of his sins. Then he goes from wanting to become a priest to realizing that all he wants to do is get out of Ireland, and become his own expressive, unique self through art. He is not close minded to what people tell him, but he doesn't agree with what they tell him and he doesn't feel that it is for him. There is great symbolism and imagery in this book. There is a current theme of water and of birds. It is as if Stephan admires the birds, but they are also those in which "pull out his eyes ". They pull out his eyes because he wants so badly to be a bird and fly away, but can't because too many things are preventing him from flying away. Stephen wants to rise above the water and the filth of his life, this water and filth can be considered the church and political issues that occupy his and his family's lives. He wants to become like Dedalus and build himself wings to fly away; in the end of the book he does fly away, and a new life awaits him.

The strikingly beautiful language of James Joyce provides readers with page after page of scrumptious poetic prose describing more of thoughts and reactions to implied situations within the novel. Portrait of an Artist is not so much the story of young Stephen Daedalus as it is an expression of the feelings of a young man facing an internal struggle between religion and aesthetics. As the prose of the novel grow along with its young protagonist readers are able to see the progression of a small child into a strong young man. Joyce instead of telling readers the story provides them with the sensations and feelings of Stephen as he grows allowing the story to be merely implied and absorbed by the reader. Although many parts of the novel may be difficult to understand, as readers are not always sure exactly what is happening because of Joyce's style, the beauty of the prose itself is a major part of what makes Portrait of an Artist such a fantastic piece of literature.
The struggle of young Stephen between his creative side and the rough political and religious expectations of his family and nation can also be seen by Joyce's choice in the name of his character. The relation of Stephen Daedalus to the mythical Daedalus who created wings to escape the Leviathan is weaved throughout the novel through Joyce's use of bird imagery. The reader can see the progression of the young hero as he strives to create his own wings to escape the oppression he comes to feel from religion and even patriotic devotion. One of the most beautiful passages of the entire book is the epiphanatic moment when Stephen sits on the beach and notices a beautiful young woman standing in the surf. Joyce describes this exquisite young girl by using language one might use when describing a beautiful bird. She represents the beauty and creativity Stephen has felt guilty for desiring all his life because of the strong influence his religion has had on him. Stephen's realization at seeing this girl is one of the major steps in his attempt to create his own wings and fly away.
This masterpiece of James Joyce's, although fictional, draws heavily on experiences from the author's life. It touches on many meaningful themes all mainly related to coming of age as Joyce takes readers through many of his own youth experiences. The real genius of the novel is a technique called stream-of-consciousness that Joyce was one of the pioneering developers of during his time. From the baby talk and infantile perception Joyce presents at the beginning of his novel to the elevated and intellectual ideals Stephen presents during his time at the university, this style of writing enhances the experience for the reader as they are literally inside the main character's thoughts although the narration is not in the first person. This adds to the experience, as the reader is able to struggle along with Stephen as he attempts to rise above the imposition of family, peers, religion and politics. The journey throughout the novel is a story of a young man who comes of age and eventually finds his directions in life as he strive to become an artist in a world dominated by rigid things.

I have to say, the whole book led me to suspect a lot of different endings and I was very pleased with the ending indeed! I have read all Fear Street Books with an exception of The Seniors. This doesn't make the excellent list but it makes the "okay" list. The ending helped to make my grade of 3 stars!

This book that I read is Missing. It contains mystery, thrill, and suspense. It is written by a famous author, who is R. L. Stine. This book is detailed and you won't regret your choice.

this was such a good book. i had to read it over spring break for school but it was definately worth it. i finished it in like 2 days neway. not that its short, its just addicting and u always wanna see wats gonna happen next.......anyway, i give this 5 stars, easily, because it is such a great book!!!!!