John Steinbeck hated critics. More precisely he had a fierce resentment toward the indivduals who wanted to tear apart his life. As with most successful writers, their work is their life, and in my opinion no one described the lives and ways of the American people better than Steinbeck. Writing is ultimately about the chosen word, and for him ideas often become deep, describing a story within a story. Steinbeck won the Nobel prize for literature in 1962 along with James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins for their work on DNA. He won the award "for his realistic and imaginative writings, combining as they do sympathetic humor and keen social perception." This particular volume contains his strongest work. I think that critics of his work were envious of Steinbeck's ability to entrance his readers, as only master storytellers are capable of. The Library of America bindings are wonderful and are the perfect size for a hardback of fiction. The best thing about LOA editions is that they hold up. The pages do not seem to yellow and the binding is strong. I have 10 copies and they are my favoite books. To me, reading Steinbeck is reading the best of American literature, and the LOA editions are great little books you can enjoy for years.

grapes of wrath is a great book. it is about a family that goes through ups and downs every chapter. and a man who wats to get his family back on track, cause his father lost his farm land in Oklahoma. So they head to California to find new jobs but there new jobs arn't the same as having there own land, cause when they had there own land they had no boss but when they head to Cali. they are not happy cause they are bossed around.

It is surely a shame that Mr. Steinbeck forever will be confined to the archipelago of socio-economico-political literature. Too often a smug reviewer writes of Steinbeck's "moving" portrayal of the Joad family and their struggle against a growing America. "Oh, how I can 'identify' with the Preacher!" HUMBUG. Mr. Steinbeck wrote words, not ideas. His art is exquisite and melodious and stock-full of imagery. His structure, even in the volumunious Grapes, is compact and economical. His style, even in the scientific Log, is artistic and exact. And his ideas, even in the idea-ed Harvest, are irrelevant. Buy this book. But don't buy it because the blurb on the back says something about the Joads being an American archetype of the twentieth century; instead, buy it because it is literature - American literature - at its finest. Every sentence. Every word.

I logged on to see if there's an excerpt of this wonderful book, so I could send it to all my family and friends online. I am only 60 pages into it - because the copy I bought for my husband has been out of loan constantly! We love Westport so I thought my husband was biased in saying this was a great book as he laughed out loud, but once again, he is SO right! Read this book if you love to see the humor in family relationships!

When Aunt K forgets that there's not a horse in front of the car and drives off the road, I laughed out loud. This special look into Janet Gillespie's time spent at her grandmother's home in Westport Point, MA is delightful. Stories of sailing to the mudflats to hunt for clams, unforgettable special breakfasts and funny visitors from the city are told so you see clearly an era gone by - a time when summers - and bare feet - went on forever. What a happy childhood!

My family and I discovered this book on a summer vacation in Cape Cod. Ever since, whenever we've found it at used book sales we've snapped it up to give to friends. Warm, hilarious, endearing, inspiring (to parents hoping to create the same quality of memories for their own children), this book, though set in the 1920s and very much a part of that era, is in its depiction of family relationships, timeless.

One of my favorite memories is of my father, a dignified man, now deceased, attempting to read aloud to me a section dealing with Pop and the Reader's Digest... he was chuckling so hard he was hoarse and had to stop and wipe tears from his eyes. (Twelve years later I can still see him.)

Buy this book and dive in for a wonderful read.

These books are great! My Mom bought me #10 thinking it would be a good book for me to read, but little did she know that these books are the most addictive things I have ever read. If you haven't read them, read them!!! They are truly worth it.

Just let me begin by saying that you should definitely read these books. I am a satirical writer and originally picked one of them ("Skin Deep") up thinking that it might be something I would be able to lampoon, but instead I found myself incredibly interested in the lives of each character - in particular, Nicole Brewster and Melanie Andrews. Since then I have read every single book in the series and am currently enduring a practically unbearable wait for #20. In a word - these books are great! Oh, wait, that's four words. Oh, well.

I have read all of the series so far, and this book reminded me of why I liked them to begin with. If you have read all of the CC books, then you'll love this one. I was dissappointed with the last couple of books because it seemed like everything was going down-hill. We hardly ever heard Miguel's, Ben's, or Jesse's perspective and it seemed like all of the characters were becoming depressed or dull. But it seems like things are finally starting to look up. But we all know that won't last too long.

The thing I like best about this book and series is that it has Christian values at its core without being preachy or unbelievable. You can relate to the characters because they go through confusing times and REAL issues just like teens today. It's so refreashing to read about things other than "boy loves girl, boy and girl break up, boy and girl get back together."

BEWARE: The only bad thing about the series is that the books are highly addictive. They end in suspenseful cliff-hangers making it almost impossible to wait for the next book to come out. I just hope the series continues a bit longer despite a couple of the characters heading off to college.

I absolutely loved any part with Vilmos and Emel. The battles are AWESOME! I like Adrina, but I'm a bit frustrated with her. And I am intrigued by Xith, the Watcher. He is so fascinating but in truth, I'm not sure whether to like him or not. He is definitely clever and manipulative. A master of intrigue. But the character I'm cheering for is Myrial. I want to read more about her story.

For those of you you haven't read any of Robert Stanek's work before, STOP NOW! Get a hold of his previous two books in the series, Keeper Martin's Tale, and Elf Queen's Quest. Read them in that order before settling down with Kingdom Alliance...and enjoy!!

Kingdom Alliance continues plot and character developments from the previous novels and not being aware of these points will certainly reduce the reader's enjoyment of Stanek's newest fantasy.

Commited fans of the series will be aware that this novel does for Myrial what Elf Queen's Quest did for Midori - namely provide us with more of her background: her childhood, her life story. After reading this you'll be a big fan of Myrial I'm sure. We get to witness the events that really mould her and make her into the character that she is. Add her to an already great cast, which includes Adrina, Seth, Emel, Vilmos, Valam and Xith, and you know why this series is so great.

The story kicks off several weeks after Keeper Martin's Tale. The ever likeable Emel is making his way back to Imtal, Adrina is off, Vilmos reaches the Mouth of the World. All points in the story that make for facinating reading when we see Emel doubting his abilities and learning something about his deepest, darkest self. Matters are further complicated when the kingdomers come under attack and those they are protecting are gravely wounded.

After a friend told me this is one of the best books he'd ever read I had high hopes and fortunatelly, it holds true. I have read many other fantasy books/series from many different authors, but none have yet to touch me like Robert Stanek has. There's truely something special about the world he has richly created, and something truely original with the way in which he feeds different information and details to us throughout the book.

It is amazing how this book gives you a personal feel for the animals and their environment. The wildlife is perfectly comfortable and nature performs for Kennan Ward. He has the connection and a gift for capturing nature in its most potent moments. This book is a work of love and pristine beauty! If this land is allowed to be exploited for oil, this could be the last record of this incredible wilderness.

Kennan Ward's book contains stunning photographs of the land, plants, and animals of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Ward writes from his personal experiences as a photographer and naturalist. Kennan published this book to help keep this pristine wilderness area a place of incredible beauty and wildlife diversity. His book makes a strong visual argument for the case of preserving this wildlife area from oil drilling. He does this by showing photographs of the significant environmental impact of oil companies in Alaska. I hope this book will not be a reminder of what the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was like, but instead, what it will continue to be for future generations of people and wildlife that come to this "last wilderness." I would highly recommend this book to any person who would like to learn more about the wildlife and environmental issues pertaining to the Refuge.

Beautiful photo essay on the Alaska Wilderness with a hopeful bequest to future generations of animals and all who love America's wild places.

R.H. Benson wrote two mystical visions of the future. _The Dawn of All_ is an extremely romantic and improbable 1911 parable of a 1971 world mostly Catholic and at peace, ready for the Second Coming. _The Lord of the World_ came first, in 1907, and was a darker vision. A world of flying craft, major scientific advances, and comfort has become a place of materialist despair. Euthanasia is routine, for the desperately ill and the terminally bored. Oliver and Mabel Brand, a rising young couple, are the golden ones -- Oliver becomes a major political figure, but Mabel chooses the cool despairing end of legal euthanasia. Father Percy Franklin is one of the last Catholic priests in a world hostile to freedom, church, university, and history. Eventually elected the last Pope, he is restricted to the dusty forgotten village of Nazareth. Julian Felsenburgh is a charismatic American adventurer who means to and does become Lord of the World, anti-Christ. Details are less important than the very modern mood. Believing in progress as the only good, people are swept into any movement that promises it. The past is ruthlessly exterminated. The quest for one world government that begins with Esperanto ends with one world dictatorship.

This is an excellent edition of Benson's classic work. Unlike many other recent editions of Benson's books (Come Rack Come Rope, Oddsfish, etc.), this edition has not been abridged.
It is the story of the future world from a turn of the century vantage point. Protestantism has fizzled, the Mason's have triumphed, and Catholicism is on the defensive. The world has divided into three parties, and a silver tongued savior comes to save the day. Benson believed that armageddon would more likely result from smooth talking and twisted ideologies than from naked evil.
Although Benson may have over estimated the Masons and underestimated Protestants, he makes many surprisingly accurate predictions. The rhetoric used by the Bolshevists in Russia, the Nazi's in Germany, and the parties of the Spanish civil war was foreseen by Benson. The great white line Hitler painted around the Vatican and the Atomic bomb were also not beyond Benson's imagination.
Unfortunately, only a small audience will appreciate this book, but that audience should include all Catholics who take ideas and the modern threat seriously. This book helps explain the beauty of pre-Vatican II ceremonies without siding against the changes of Vatican II.

As an evangelical with strong Catholic sympathies, I was excited to discover "Lord of the World" for another twist on the "Left Behind" scenario. The author writes at the dawn of the twentieth century and hits a few predictions about our world dead-on. But better yet is the sense of gravity Benson conveys in the novel. You really feel the earth coming to a conclusion, the ultimate clash of faith in God versus faith in Man.

A good read and a controversial look at Vermont politics, which could likely be applied more generally to politics in general. Also a thriller, with a believable "everyman" at the center of the mystery. A little ways in the author finds his voice and runs with it, and the story takes over. I look forward to the further adventures of this Parker character....A little bit more going on here than a lot of the "page-turners" that glut the market nowadays.

My favorite kind of book -- a good mystery surrounded by real situations. Politics in Vermont have amazed me for some time and this author may have explained the agenda being acted out in that lovely New England state. Weaving murder and politics together, Pittman wrote a book that is interesting, intriguing and a bit frightening. If you like a good mystery, read it -- and think about it!

Anyone with the least interest in Vermont politics, or murder mysteries, will really get a charge out of reading "The Legislative Body." Written by a former member of the Vermont General Assembly under the pseudonym Robert A. Pittman, the book has at least three things going for it:

First, it's a real edge-of-your-seat page-turner. A visibly shaken old-style Democrat (as opposed to a Progressive calling himself a Democrat) thrusts two pages of information into the hands of Representative "William Parker," an Independent with Republican-Libertarian values. He begs Parker to send the information to his wife. That night as Parker walks past the House Chamber, he hears a "thud," discovers the body of the same man, and is confronted with startling evidence of a deep-seated far-left conspiracy in Vermont...

Second, one gets the sense that the book was in part an expression of frustration with the average Vermont voter. It's nice to see this familiar sense of frustration put into words. After all, as the book describes and as is really true, the state has taken control of our education system and property tax rates; the state is imposing government health care and shifting the costs onto private insurers; with Act 250 the state dictates what can be built or modified, stifling our economy. Vermont is being driven to the brink. So why does the Vermont voter go along?

A "conspirator" tells Parker to look at the last gubernatorial race; "...the media reporters and their columnists acted together brilliantly to destroy the opposition candidate;" and our education system "...producing a majority of students who ...don't think too independently;" and the voters "...can be convinced of anything, and they'll vote for any candidate that the media and the front line troops of the ProgDems tell them to support." One sometimes forgets the book is fiction.

Third, although all the names are changed, it's fun to figure out who the players really are, especially when the dialogue heats up. "Walt Fleming," the large-nosed senate president is told, "...there are many people in this building who know you for what you are -a scheming, malicious liar who wants Vermont to become his own private domain." One finds a great description of the "talking heads" on Vermont Public Television "in their cocoon of arrogance sprinkled with a healthy dollop of ignorance." On the show, reporter "Dieter Paine," who writes a "sorry column in that crummy little weekly," belittles Parker while "John Duff" nods solemnly and comments "in what he hoped would be seen as Lincolnesque tones." This book is good fun!

Another pretty cool Two of a Kind novelette.Mary-Kate and Ashley are planning a party each,for the same night.Now the competition is on as to who will recieve the most guests!

Mary-Kate plans a suprise party for her best friend Amanda on the same night Ashley plans a suprise party for her best friend Jennifer. Even though Mary-Kate and Ashley are twin sisters, they have totally different personalities so major arguments arise, not only with each other but with their best friends. I'd have to say this is the best book in the whole series that I've read so far because these kinds of problems are what everyday kids would probably have.

Mary-Kate and Ashley are in big trouble. Mary-Kate planned a surprise party for her friend which is great, but unfortunately Ashley planned a surprise party for her best friend the same night at their house. They came for the biggest surprise. A great book!

I first read lives of the musicians when I was about 7 yearsold or so. Then, I thought it was terrific. I still do. However, I amnow 12 years old, and now that I have paid more attention to it, I see several faults, but overall it is still a very good book. First of all, their choice of musicians is not the best. I would have recommended Debussy and Schubert, like the Kirkus Reviewer. Some of the composers I have hardly ever heard of, like Igor Stravinsky or Nadia Boulanger. And while Clara Schumann was a great pianist, I think they should have focused more on her husband, Robert, a prolific composer, whose works are among the very best. Also, some of the parts of the biographies are questionable. Frederic Chopin may not have actually been romantically involved with Aurore Dudevant (George Sand), but in love with the Countess Delphine Potocka. The book states that the Waltz in D-Flat, or Minute Waltz, was written for George Sand's dog, when in fact it was probably written for Potocka. However, the book was still very well written, and I enjoyed it, despite the possible mistakes. I recommend this book to anyone who likes music, classical or not. So sit back and enjoy!

I loved this book because it made those musicians seem like real people instead of great-all-star-super-geniuses. It is full of strange little facts about all the famous musicians like Bach,Gershwin,Beethoven and Schmann.

---Megan W.

This book provides interesting insight into the lives of composers. I teach music to elementary and high school students and I read this book to all of my students. They all enjoy learning the details of the composers lives. The book presents the composers in such a way that the students remember the information about the composers. The book does not provide information about what the composers' music sounds like, and that is something I also like to teach. A great book to gain kids'interest in famous composers.