I held on to this book for almost a month and a half so I could enjoy it on vacation, and boy am I glad. This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Great characters, great romance and witty dialogue that kept me turning pages. Sparks fly every time Delaney and Nick are in the same room. These two are H-O-T ! Their frolick in the snow had my blood pressure up,not to mention that little episode in the linen closet!Definately gotta grab a copy of "Simply Irresistable" too. If it's even half as good as "Truly Madly Yours" it's got to be great. I wish Rachel Gibson had more books in print, but rest assured I will be on the lookout from now on for new releases!!

Yep, this was definitely a good buy. This was the first Rachel Gibson book I ever read and it was wonderful. I had barely finished it when I wanted to start reading it all over again. There were times when I didn't want to like Nick, yet somehow he managed to intrigue me. I could identify with Delaney's do-I-love-him-or-hate-him emotions. But when you get down to it, he was really in love with her and she loved him. After reading so many romances where the couple only knew each other a few weeks before they're in love and getting married, I liked that these two had known and been drawn to each other for most of their lives. If the rest of Ms. Gibson's novels are like this one, she just acquired a new fan.

Rachel Gibson has an uncommon talent: she can actually write genuine, funny heart warming stories populated with REAL people. It is so refreshing to read about a contemporary heroine who doesn't wear slacks or blouses or worst of all pumps.Ms. Gibson seems to be the only contemporary author who realizes that no one under fifty wears that crap.

Delaney is a delightful young modern woman we can all relate to who happens to wear platforms instead of pumps and vinyl and spandex instead of cashmere. Nick is a gorgeous Levis wearing hunk who is head over heels in love with Delaney since they were kids but he believed Delaney was out of his reach because she was the mayor's stepdaughter and he was his illegitimate son. Delaney in turn thinks Nick hated her because she was raised in luxury by Nick's biological father who denied his real son everything she had.
Nick and Delaney are brought together after ten years apart by a bizarre stipulation in the late mayor's will. In such close proximity (Truly is a very small town) they are forced to face their feelings for each other and when they do the sparks will fly!

This is a well-written, funny, sometimes poignant love story that will leave a smile on your face. Highly recommended! :)

This is a beautiful and romantic novel not to be missed by any fan of classic literature. The thick volume (795 pages) may be an instant put-off for some readers and the story does take a little while to develop, but TRUST ME, once you get past the first 50 pages, you'll be HOOKED and finding it difficult to put down the book.

I love George Eliot's style of writing - beautifully and distinctively eloquent and expressive, and with such observance and skills in depicting the depths and complexities of human relations and the demands and passions of the heart. The book also explores the issues of "class" (e.g. in the courtship between gentleman Fred Vincy and working class Mary Garth), "money" (e.g. questions raised over Featherstone's will after the old miser's death), "politics" (on elections and the cause promoted by the 'liberal' Middlemarchers), "scandals" (especially concerning the dark secrets of the respected banker, Mr Bulstrode) and even "murder" - all portrayed brilliantly in high drama and with engrossing suspense.

My favourite character is the heroine, the virtuous Dorothea Brooke whose life is made miserable by her marriage to the old, dull, selfish academician, Casaubon. Her later acquaintance with young Will Ladislaw who is Casaubon's cousin ("cousin, not nephew", as the vain Casaubon always makes a point to clarify, due to the apparent age gap between them) provides Dorothea with the companionship of someone who listens to and respects her views and who brings a ray of sunshine and cheer into her otherwise lonely life. Love soon blossoms between Dorothea and Will but they're forbidden to court/marry even after Casaubon's death due to a nasty clause put in by Casaubon in his will. It was pure heartache to read of the feelings that these two have for each other but aren't able to express due to societal constraints. Will knows rather early on that he loves her; it takes Dorothea longer to realize her true feelings. I got all teary-eyed when I read the part where Dorothea, alone in her room and in a state of inescapable anguish, moans out "Oh, I did love him!" [And to quote]: "... But she lost energy at last even for her loud-whispered cries and moans: she subsided into helpless sobs, and on the cold floor she sobbed herself to sleep".

The other main characters are no less interesting and will easily capture the reader's heart and compassion. There's Dr Lydgate, an ambitious man whose marriage to the vain, beautiful but spoilt Rosamund Vincy turns out to be a most exasperating and expensive affair (you have to read the book to find out just how SO). There's also a love triangle involving Fred Vincy, Mary Garth and Farebrother (the vicar). The other smaller characters such as Bulstrode, his wife, Mr Garth (Mary's father), a blackmailer (Raffles) and others are all well-painted and believable, each with their own story to tell.

Unlike some classics, this one provides a most satisfying ending because it discloses in the 'Finale' what happens later to the main characters after the "main story" has ended - e.g. up to what age they live to, if the (new) marriages are successful, how many children each couple has, etc.

"Middlemarch" is a truly remarkable classic and a wonderful, wonderful read.

Yes, that is a strong statement, but I believe Middlemarch to be the best novel written in English. And English is a rich language, overflowing with worthy works from both sides of the Atlantic, India and beyond. The only novel as a close contender on my list is Jane Eyre, with its fearsome symmetry and romantic passion.
George Eliot has been the bane of students everywhere who suffer reading Silas Marner in high school. But later on, you, like me, may develop a taste for the classics and this book will reward you richly.
The story is about Dorothea, a young, idealist woman, born to a good family with a modest fortune of her own. She is a prime catch on the wife market--money, family name, good looks. Her parents are deceased and her friends and uncle seek to pair her up with a local baron as the ideal mate. But Dorothea, bookish, religious and dreamy, has other ideas. She chooses, instead, a superannuated cleric who finally decides to marry as he feels mortality and ill health upon him. Casaubon, the vicar of a nearby rural church is a good match except....he's old, ugly and what the heck is he doing marrying such a young beauty. But Dorothea, who's imagining a sort of superior father figure who could "teach you even Hebrew, if you wished it" wakes up to far less than a reality of marital bliss. And there's an added complication created by her unworthy husband that has dire consequences for the young Dorothea.
The subsequent examination of marriage as a partnership in hell is written with stunning modernity. Eliot not only creates the disastrous marriage of Dorothea to Casaubon, but also pairs, as a comparison, Lydgate, a doctor and his frivolous, vain, uncaring wife. The relationship of marriage to society is never more well drawn, but the internal suffering of people trapped in loveless marriage is written with sympathy and cunning insight. Eliot herself had a live-in relationship with Henry Lewes, who could not divorce his wife. She undoubtedly wrote from personal experience. The insight into human nature, such as jealousy, disappointment, recrimination, loss of trust and a feeling of desperation are themes that anyone who has ever been in a relationship will recognize as truth. If you find classic literature hard going, watch the mini-series created based on the book. Then, knowing the general plot, you might enjoy the structure and language of the novel more.

George Eliot's colossal novel "Middlemarch" is a literary White Pages of a rural town in pre-Victorian England, portraying several of its citizens in all the glories and disgraces (mostly disgraces) regarding their lives, marriages, and personal and professional ambitions, while using the historical and political events of the time as a backdrop. This is one of the finest examples of a character-driven novel, where the plot is customized to the characters, rather than the other way around.

A major theme in this novel is marrying wrong. Dorothea Brooke, a girl with ideas of social reform -- one of her occupations is designing cottages for poor villagers -- marries the scholarly but stodgy Edward Casaubon, who is old enough to be her father, because she is attracted to his disciplined, erudite mind. However, Casaubon employs her as a sort of secretary and assistant and becomes increasingly demanding of her. Then there is the seemingly fairy-tale marriage of Tertius Lydgate, a brilliant and promising young physician, to Rosamond Vincy, spoiled daughter of the mayor of Middlemarch, a wealthy manufacturer. Rosamond's expensive tastes endanger their marriage financially and romantically. On the other hand, the marriage of Dorothea's younger sister Celia to the dapper Sir James Chettam is nothing but bubble-headed bliss because they both are too superficial to care for anything deeper than peerage and pulchritude.

The novel ties its characters together with a few interrelated plot threads, the most important of which concerns Casaubon's young second cousin, Will Ladislaw. Will and Casaubon have little respect for each other, and when Casaubon suspects that Will and Dorothea are attracted to each other, he places a stipulation in his will denying Dorothea his fortune upon his death if she marries Will. Moreover, Will has been cheated out of his own fortune by Middlemarch banker Nicholas Bulstrode, who finances the hospital that employs Lydgate. Lydgate's association with the dishonest Bulstrode threatens to cause him further disgrace and ostracize him from the town.

Meanwhile, Rosamond's brother Fred typifies the irresponsible young man with money problems who manages to reform himself and win the respect of the girl he loves. The irony is that Fred expected a great inheritance from a rich uncle who instead, on his deathbed, offered the money to his servant Mary Garth, who happens to be Fred's beloved. Now, Fred's only options are to join the clergy, which Mary would not approve of, or get a job -- with Mary's father.

More serious and intellectual than the works of her immediate forebear Dickens, Eliot's novel seems to strike out bold new territory for British fiction of the time, especially considering the progressive mindsets of characters like Dorothea and Lydgate who act in contrast to tradition-bound grunts like Casaubon and the other town doctors. Her sophisticated prose style of intricately structured sentences and deep psychological penetration appears to have been a huge influence on Henry James. Much more than the sum of its parts, though, "Middlemarch" leaves its reader with a distinct impression of a time and place and, on reflection, the rewarding feeling of having accepted the challenge of reading it.

I definitely recommend this book to all kids who love plays and musicals. This book is very well written but may have some words that younger children may not understand. One of the things I didn't like about the book was that the story line went to slow. By that I mean the plot was dragged out when it didn't have to be. This book is about an opera house that is said to be haunted by a phantom. But the owners do not believe this story and disregard it. But then strange things start to happen. They start getting letters from the phantom that threaten the lives of people in the opera. He does this because he only wants Christine (one of the main characters) to sing the solo parts of the opera. He wants Christine all for himself so he starts giving her singing lessons. The another man comes into Christine's life and everything is turned upside down. I'll be polite not to give you the end to this book but it is a very exciting book that will always keep you on the edge of your seat.

Take one beautiful, mysterious and talented soprano opera singer, add two bold opera house owners, a dashing, confused, in-love young man in searh for the opera singer's heart, and one tortured, genius, masked man, and you've got one great book. This book is not merely a book, but a haunting story of horror and love. The noted opera singer, Christine, has been taking secret opera lessons from her adoring Angel of Music, who loves her enough to kill an opera and its audience. Christine also has another admirer, Raoul, who would do anything for her, including save her from the dread Opera Ghost who kills everyone who stands in his way, with the help of the Persian who is owed a favor by the Phantom. As we read on, we find that Erik, The Phantom of the Opera, the Angel of Music, and the Opera Ghost (a.k.a. O.G.) are one, and indeed a terrifying collaboration. Christine refuses to marry Erik, so she, the persian and Raoul are in fatal danger. For years upon reading the haunting story, I can't get it out of my head. I love it. The opera is one to see also. This book will enthral a captivated audience, I quite assure you.

The discriptive language pulls you into the book, into the Paris Opera House, into the backstage shadows. It forces images upon you of the churchyard, of the spectacular opera performances, of the cellars, of Christine and of the Phantom... Never a dull moment. Suspenceful nights in box 5 and throughout the opera house. Read this and just try not to fall madly in love with the Angel of Music and his dark allure.
Get the cover of the blue staircase without the illustrations. The illustrations aren't as good as you own imagination.

Rachel Gibson has an excellent ability: she can write funny, witty, romantic stories that leave the reader wanting more. This book is an excellent example of that, she combines all of those elements to create a side-splittingly funny, romantic, and touching story.

Hope Spencer is a woman on the run. She's running from herself, her writer's block,and a certain midget wrestler who won't stop harrasing her. She ends up in Gospel, Idaho a small town populated with very unique (read weird) individuals. Hope is hoping to get inspired and find ideas for her articles. She writes very creative stories( alien abductions, leprechauns etc) for a tabloid and she has recently suffered from a bad case of writer's block. Gospel proves to be very inspirational not only for Hope the writer but also for Hope the woman.
The town's sheriff is Dylan Taber a handsome cowboy and single father of a seven year old boy.He's immediately attracted to Hope and lets her know it . She, on the other hand, in totally unable to resist him and is hurt when Dylan refuses to take things further after one hot, scorching kiss. Dylan is crazy about Hope and can't think of anything else but for this ... single father his son comes first. The sheriff is hiding a big secret and he's afraid of the way it will affect his son if it's discovered. He feels that the fact that Hope is a writer makes her enemy number one. Dylan, however, isn't the only one with a secret. Hope has one as well and if it's discovered it could tear them apart.

This book is a fun read and I loved Hope and Dylan's characters. However, I had two small quibbles with the book. I felt Adam's character was not fully developed and his relationship with Hope left largely unexplored. Gibson had shown a special talent in writing children and adult-child relationships in Simply Irresistible and I was hoping to see more of that. Also there's a story line about the old sheriff and the way he died that felt as if it was going somewhere and then suddenly flatlined. These like I said are very small issues and in no way affected my enjoyment of this book. Recommended. :)

Rachel Gibson is now pretty much an auto-buy for me. I've enjoyed the three books I've read so far and look forward to "Truly, Madly Yours" and "It Must be Love". Heck I'll probably even read "Lola Carlyle" though it doesn't look as good and hasn't gotten as positive reviews as her other books.

Single dad, town sheriff and sought after hunk Dylan Taber figures trouble has arrived in tiny Gospel, Idaho when a gorgeous woman driving a porsche with "MZBHAVN" California vanity plates pulls into town. What's a sophisticated city girl like her doing out here in the wilderness? Though suspicious of her, he's also intrigued and attracted. But he's got his son to consider and seriously guards his privacy. But is it because news travels so fast in a small town or is there something more to it?

Hope Spencer writes (i.e., makes up) stories of alien abductions and bigfoot sightings for a tabloid. After some unpleasantness with one of the few subjects she based on a real person results in stalking and a restraining order, her boss sends her to the boonies to lay low for six months. She's not really interested in mixing with the locals (and keeps her occupation to herself), but several encounters with the sexy sheriff Taber bring her out of her self-imposed exile.

As Hope and Dylan flirt, she also opens up enough to befriend her neighbor Shelly - her first female friend in a long time. And Dylan's son Adam is also surprisingly enjoyable to be around. As things heat up between them, Hope wonders if she could ever make a life here in a town with no movie theater or even a 7-11. But it also seems like Dylan is ashamed of their relationship, not wanting anyone to find out about them. Hope's not going to be anyone's dirty little secret, but when a famous TV actress Hope once crossed paths with in LA also seems to be mixed up in Dylan's life, both will have a lot of 'splaining to do!

Hope and Dylan are a fun and sexy couple with lots of chemistry. Dylan is especially appealing if you like the confident, sexy cowboy type. A recommended read!

I've been a big fan of Rachel Gibson's books for the past few years, and I must say that with True Confessions she's done it again. It's a terrific book, and I completely recommend that you buy it. (In fact, buy all of her books-- money well spent.) Several of my favorite authors have churned out some disappointing reads lately, but not Ms. Gibson!
In this novel, Gibson once again takes us back to small town Idaho (see Truly, Madly, Yours). Hometown boy Dylan Tabor is now back in town after experiencing life in the big city. Hope Spencer is a big city girl experiencing small town life for the first time, but she likes what she sees-- especially in Dylan. Their love story is definitely fun, populated with lots of what my Southern mother would call "characters." I couldn't put it down! As soon as I recover from my sleep deprivation, I think I'll read it again.

The version of this classic I read was a translation into modern English by Nevill Coghill. As you can see above, I awarded Chaucer (and the translation) five stars; but I do have a criticism. This translation (and many other publications of Chaucer) do not contain the two prose tales ("The Tale of Melibee" and "The Parson's Tale"). These are rarely read and I understand the publisher's and the translator's desire to keep the book to a managable size. Still, that should be the readers decision and no one else's. I had to go to the University library and get a complete copy in order to read those sections. As I mentioned, this copy is a translation into modern English. However, I do recommend that readers take a look at the Middle English version, at least of the Prologue. Many years ago, when I was in high school, my teacher had the entire class memorize the first part of the Prologue in the original Middle English. Almost forty years later, I still know it. I am always stunned at how beautiful, fluid, and melodic the poetry is, even if you don't understand the words. Twenty-nine pilgrims meet in the Tabard Inn in Southwark on their way to Canterbury. The host suggests that the pilgrims tell four stories each in order to shorten the trip (the work is incomplete in that only twenty-four stories are told). The tales are linked by narrative exchanges and each tale is presented in the manner and style of the character providing the story. This book was a major influence on literature. In fact, the development of the "short story" format owes much to these tales. All of the elements needed in a successful short story are present: flow of diction and freedom from artifice, faultless technical details and lightness of touch, and a graphic style which propels the story. In poetry, Chaucer introduced into English what will become known as rime royal (seven-line stanza riming ababbcc), the eight-line stanza (riming ababbcbc), and the heroic couplet. His poetry is noted for being melodious and fluid and has influenced a great many later poets. He has a remarkable talent for imagery and description. With respect to humor, which often receives the most negative responses from a certain group of readers (as witnessed by some of the comments below), there are at least three types: good humor which produces a laugh and is unexpected and unpredictable (for example, the description of the Prioress in the Prologue), satire (for example, the Wife of Bath's confession in the Prologue to her tale), and course humor, which is always meant to keep with the salty character of the teller of the tale or with the gross character of the tale itself. I am really stunned at the comments of the reviewer from London (of June 21, 1999). He/she clearly has no idea of the influence of the work nor on the reasons why Chaucer chose to present the humor the way he has. T. Keene of May 17 gave the work only three stars, presumably because it was once banned in Lake City, Florida. (Does that mean it would get fewer stars if it hadn't been banned?) Perhaps our London reviewer will be more comfortable moving to Lake City! Another reviewer suggested that "The Canterbury Tales" was only a classic because it had been around a long time. No! Chaucer's own contemporaries (for example, Gower, Lydgate, and Hoccleve) acknowledged his genius. My goodness, even science fiction books acknowledge the Tales (for example, Dan Simmons' "Hyperion," which won the 1990 Hugo Award for best science fiction novel of the year, is based on the Tales). These brief entries are too short to review all of the tales. Let me just descibe the first two. Other readers might consider reviewing the other tales in later responses. In "The Knight's Tale," the Theban cousins Palamon and Arcite, while prisoners of the King of Athens (Theseus), fall in love with Emelyn, sister of Hippolyta and sister-in-law to Theseus. Their rivalry for Emelyn destroys their friendship. They compete for her in a tournament with different Greek gods supporting the two combatants. Arcite, supported by Mars, wins but soon dies from a fall from his horse (due to the intervention of Venus and Saturn). Both Palamon and Emelyn mourn Arcite, after which they are united. It is the basis of "The Two Noble Kinsmen" by Fletcher and Shakespeare. "The Miller's Tale" is a ribald tale about a husband, the carpenter John, who is deceived by the scholar Nicholas and the carpenter's wife Alison that a second flood is due. In this tale, a prospective lover is deceived into kissing a lady in an unusual location. And, recalling the response from our reviewer from London, apparently this Tale should not be read by people from London (or Lake City)!

The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is one of the first great works of literature in the English language and are good reading for a number of reasons. They are written in "old English", however, and read like a foreign language for most of us. Barbara Cohen's adapted translation gives us four of the tales in contemporary English and therefore provides an excellent introduction to Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Cohen's tales retain Chaucer's colorful insight into fourteenth century England including life as a knight, the horror of the plague, and the religous hypocrisy of the age. The illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman are vivid and tell a story all by themselves. I use Cohen's book as a supplement to teaching medieval history and literature to 7th and 8th graders.

The biggest hurdle in reading Chaucer is the language. Trying to read his work in Middle English is impossible without really good footnotes, and some of the "translations" are even worse--they're written in a high-blown, pompous style that takes all the fun out of the stories.

All this being so, I was delighted to find the Puffin Classics version retold by Geraldine McCaughrean! The tales are told in an easy-to-read, flowing style that captures the bawdy humor of the originals, without being over-crass (this is a children's book, after all.) I found myself often laughing out loud, and wishing I'd found this version much sooner, because it makes Chaucer fun to read! I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to try Chaucer but feels intimidated by the scholarly-looking versions available in the "Literature and Classics" sections. You won't become expert in reading Middle English, but you WILL see why The Canterbury Tales has such a wonderful reputation!

It is difficult to write about a book that holds one's interest throughout but which so thoroughly disappoints in the end. THE MAN WHO WAS THURSDAY begins like a mystery, but it increasingly becomes apocalyptic as its religious message comes to the forefront, and I believe will appeal to few modern readers. As the religious symbolism begins to dominate, the mystery that drew the reader in begins to fade, and one continues reading simply to see how Chesterton is going to manage to finish the thing. And this is where it is most disappointing. There is no ending which follows from its premise AS A MYSTERY. By that time, most of what happened in the beginning is no longer relevant.

Chesterton subtitled the book A NIGHTMARE, and this is more revealing than it appears at first. In one sense, this book can fit into a long tradition of the religious vision genre, which is more common in Medieval and Renaissance literature. This is not something that evokes much for a modern reader, though, so what we really get here is an inexcusable case of "And then he woke up." At least the writers of the Middle Ages had the guts to tell you upfront at the beginning that the character had fallen asleep.

By the time I got to the end of the book I felt that I had been cheated. I had been given a fascinating story, one in which Chesterton seemed to be setting up for himself insurmountable difficulties and obstacles in terms of plot, but it felt as if all that had been a device to get my attention, to get me to listen to his religious message, which, it turned out in the end, was not that interesting anyway.

This book seems to defy description. Some say metaphysical thriller, others say philosophy lightly diguised as a spy novel. Chesterton himself said it was best called a nightmare; as in the ones we wake up from. I can only call it a parable.
The first ten chapters certainly feel like a spy novel; you spend them wondering how the hero, Gabriel Syme, will prevent himself from being unmasked amongst an anarchist conspiracy while in turn unmasking the conspirators themselves. But after Syme finds himself chasing one of the conspirators,(don't worry, I'm not giving anything away)the book quickly becomes very philosophical and you begin to feel that every single character in it represents something or someone in real life. One also sees paralels to the book of Job in the last chapter.
So what is it? I really can't say. One thing is apparent, however; Chesterton is telling us something very important in the form of a story like every other parable or fable. Most certainly one of Chesterton's greatest books.

I have just finished this book and have to say, I concur with Kingsley Amis (writer of the introduction) who said that it was the "most thrilling book he has ever read." Chesterton weaves together a combination detective story, wierd dream ("Nightmare" as he says on his cover page), and social commentary. It's certainly not an apologetic book (as C.S. Lewis said, one can't always be defending the faith, sometimes one has to encourage those already converted), but elements of Christianity do come through (especially Chesterton's sensible view that your faith should affect every area of your life and outlook to the world).

The hero, Symes (who is called Thursday) is a detective and a Christian who provokes an anarchist and infiltrates a world-wide underground anarchist society. From there, I won't spoil the story but there are many adventures, twists, and turns. This part I thought very well written. Every new discovery Symes makes literally had me on the edge of my seat. Things become more and more bizarre (right in line with Chesterton's own description of his book as a "Nightmare") until a very bizarre ending that I confess I have still not fully absorbed.

There is a great deal of symbolism and allegory in the book, which is not clear until at least a third of the way through the book. In this way, the book is similar to C.S. Lewis's book "That Hideous Strength" (the third book in his space trilogy that includes "Perelandra"). Like Lewis's book, "Thursday" starts off very realistic (although with some hints of the bizarre twists to come) and gets more and more strange as the book goes on.

Two things that will be helpful to understanding much of the symbolism:

(1) Read the afterword at the end of the book by Chesterton. Unlike Amis's introduction, I wouldn't read it before you start reading the book. I'd recommend reading it after about a third of the book, perhaps right around the time the Pole is "unmasked" (that is, around chapter 6).

(2) Also helpful is Martin Gardner's commentary on the book. There is another edition of the book that has Gardner's comments, but the most important parts of his commentary are available on the Internet (just search ye shall find them). This lays out the symbolism in more detail than the former, so if you want to figure it out for yourself don't read this until the end of the book.

Finally, after you read through the book once, think about it and read comments such as Gardner's, then go back and read it again. As Amis says in his introduction, you can read this book many times and get new things out of it every time.

Winesburg, Ohio is a story based on real characters in the early 1900's in a small northern Ohio town. If you enjoy in depth detail on characters you would enjoy this story. Every chapter is based on a new person which can get boring and confusing for some people seeking adventure. I read this book because I live close to where the story took place and thought it would be interesting to learn more about my area's history. I could relate with some of the places described in the story, which made me more interested and kept me reading. The characters described in the story are easy to relate people of my own acquaintance with; each character has their own unique story. The way that Sherwood Anderson writes makes you almost get inside of the characters' head to make you think like that character had thought. It took me a while to get the drift of the story but it seems most people will eventually get hooked on a certain character. I would not recommend this story for a person interested in reading more about action and adventure. Winesburg, Ohio is a great story for someone that would like to know how people in history had thought and that would like to experience Ohio in the early 1900's.

A book of stories that give glimpses into the secret lives of men and women in small town Ohio. The characters in this book could be characters anyplace in the world though. Each has a story, each has secrets, each has passions, disappointments, desires, longing. I personally think that each of the characters in Winesburg are reaching out for connection to other people. They long to have even a moment of understanding, sympathy, companionship in the midst of a life that is big and unclear, a universe that expands above them nightly to remind them of their infinite smallness. This book is as meaningful today as it was when it was written--maybe even more so. As our world becomes more and more faceless with telephones and emails and air-conditioning, wouldn't it be nice to connect to a person instead of a remote computer? Wouldn't it be nice to know that there are others with thwarted desires, stinging disappointments, undying hope, just like us? Take a read through Winesburg and meet some of them.

Sherwood Anderson published this collection of short stories in 1919 all set in fictional town of Winesburg, Ohio. Even though it's written in the third person, it's told through the narrative voice of George Willard, the town reporter, who shows up in most of the stories, sometimes taking an active role and at other times just telling a story.

It is obvious that the writer loves these people, and is frustrated at the isolation and unhappiness of their lives, even though he makes it clear that they hold within themselves everything needed to make them happy. The character in the first story is a dying old writer who is attempting to write about all the people he has known as a "book of grotesques". What follows is the collection of stories, which each character fulfilling that expectation.

There are the young lovers who don't quite connect; there is a old man so obsessed with religious fervor that he attempts to sacrifice his grandson; there is a married man who regrets it all and tries to warn a younger man of future unhappiness; there's a doctor and a sick woman who try to connect. The book is full of people who toil all their lives and never achieve happiness. As I made my way through the book I kept hoping that even one of the characters would rise above the morass. It didn't happen.

The writer has a wonderful sense of place and the town of Winesburg in the early part of the 20th Century is very real. These people were not poor or disadvantaged in the usual sense of the word; they didn't suffer fire, floods or famine. Instead, they trapped themselves in their own psychological webs that made it impossible for them to lead anything but sad unfulfilled lives. This is a fine book and stands alone as a clear voice of its time.

It's possible that I'm the only person out there who _didn't_ like this book, but I do have my reasons! I started out really enjoying the book; the opening scenes showing Georgeanne's background were realistic and emotional. And I started out liking John, as well. Yes, he was easily identifiable as a Susan Elizabeth Phillips style hero, which I have absolutely no problem with! I love SEP-style heroes, but just as I was settling in for a good read, John and Georgeanne started to bother me. I felt the story was getting into a cycle of ''I hate you, I think you could be okay, let's jump into bed--oh, wait, yes, I hate you'. That is, of course, simplifying the plot, but I felt like I was on a roundabout and I didn't know why Georgeanna and John liked each other or what they had to give each other. I _loved_ the character of the daughter, I thought she was extremely realistic and sympathetic without being too cute. But a cute kid can't carry a book. I got the feeling that the author knew all the 'elements' for a successful romance but she didn't mix them properly. I was too aware of a 'now plug in Element K' feeling to get wrapped up in the book. And perhaps it's a cultural thing but I _hated_ the ending! I found it embarrassing and far too showy. It was more like a 'watch me profess my love in front of 20,000 people' than 2 people who truly loved one another. And again, I didn't get the feeling of why they _should_ love on another, and I didn't see any character growth. But I _will_ check out Rachel Gibson's new releases--I think her writing has loads of potential, even if I didn't think she carried it off in this book.

Sixtyish Virgil Duffy, one of Seattle's richest shipping moguls, is marrying twenty-two year old Georgeanne Howard, trained to be the ultimate southern belle. Attending the nuptials is a mixed crowd with some from high society and others from Virgil's National Hockey League team, the Chinooks. One of the Chinooks reluctantly in attendance is lover boy John Kowasky, who decides to leave before the ceremony. Hopping into his car is Georgeanne, who has jilted the multimillionaire. Once John realizes who he is giving a ride to, he tries to get rid of her, but not before a night of passion occurs.

Seven years later, Georgeanne is raising a child (from that one night of glorious love making) and managing a successful catering business. John and Georgeanne meet at a charity event and both are attracted to each other. John is also amazed to learn that he is a father. He wants to be a part of both Georgeanne and their child's lives, but he must first convince her that she can trust him to stay for the duration this time.

After reading this novel, readers will be stunned to learn that this book is Rachel Gibson's debut tale because it is so well written. The often told story line is surprisingly refreshing, jocular, and torrid as the charming lead protagonists struggle to find love. Fans will find the novel to be SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE and will want more romantic stories from Ms. Gibson.

Harriet Klausner

It's my first book I read by Rachel Gibson and it took me only a couple of pages to figure out, that there's another author I have to put on my list of "Favorite Romantic Writers". Right next to Susan Elisabeth Philipps, Judith McNaught, Julia Quinn and Susan Andersen.

At first I thought, if one of the characters has kids, the book can't be that romantic, but I was terribly wrong. Lexie, the seven-year-old daughter of beautiful Georganne and "Mr. Masculino " John is so sweet and funny (no wonder by having those parents !!) that I just couldn't imagine, why I've thought, she would disturb the romantic touch of the book. She makes the book special, especially when she shows her tough-hockey-playing daddy how to play barbie. I think Rachel Gibson did a great job involving a kid but keeping the romantic up on the highest level.

It was also great to read, that these characters weren't as perfect as they are in most books. Georganne has a little learning disability, which makes her just more adorable. But see for yourself. Just don't let the opportunity of a great romantic, funny, loveable novel pass...

In Mrs. Croft's statement "we women don't want to be in calm waters all our lives" Jane Austen and her heroine, Anne Elliott, move beyond the domestic, from the bracing sea air of Lyme, to glimpses into the seafaring adventures of the Navy brethren. This to me is the predominate appeal of Persuasion - Anne, in her approaching maturity, is reunited with her former suitor in what we may expect is a deeper, more heartfelt love, having endured separation for so many years and she has the prospect of joining him at sea. My heart leaps to see her escaping domesticity and the dull social duties as exemplified by Sir Walter and her sister Elizabeth. Of course, Austen's use of language is perfect. My favourite Austen novel. The film adaptation with Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds exquisitely captures the mood and characters of this book.

This book is one of my favorites of all time. Many people dislike it or don't like it as much when compared to Pride and Prejudice or Emma, but there are many reasons why Persuasion should not be compared to Austen's other novels. This novel was the last one that Austen wrote before she died. It is a more mature novel, dealing with many issues not found in Austen's previous novels. One reason why people find faults with the book is that Anne Elliot, the heroine, is not as spunky or witty as an Elizabeth Bennett or an Emma Woodhouse. There is not so much wit flowing in the dialogue between characters, or even dialogue in general. But these differences between the novels make this one so unique.

It is a novel of second chances. Anne Elliot, no longer in the bloom of youth, is a grown woman of 27 or 28 years. Eight years ago she had been happily in love with a handsome man named Frederick Wentworth. But, unfortunately, due to his financial status, and Anne under the influence of her family and close friend, was forced to reject his marriage proposal and they parted ways. But now, he is within her closest circle once again. Circumstances led to Anne staying with her married sister, Mrs. Muskgrove, while her own house was being let to Wentworth's sister and husband. Wentworth visits his sister and on calling on the Muskgroves finds Anne among them. Anne finds Wentworth, not only looking as good as he ever did, but is now Captain Wentworth, who has made his fortune. Wentworth, still angry with Anne over being rejected, causes him to treat Anne very cooly. But over many weeks of contact here and there, you catch on that Captain Wentworth isn't all that oblivious to Anne anymore, because of all the little 'glimpses' he throws at Anne. The tension between the two is amazing. You can sense a connection between the two, even though they are on opposite ends of the room. In Bath, the tension builds and builds until it culminates into one of the most moving and romantic reunions ever. The letter that Wentworth writes to Anne declaring his love is bound to bring a tear to your eye and a pang in your heart. Happily, all ends well, but throughout the novel you can easily sympathize with Anne. No longer youthful and no longer as pretty as she used to be, she is full of self-consciousness and confusion. She still loves him after all those years, but she cannot act upon her desires.

Austen, yet again, excels in portraying her characters. Anne and Captain Wentworth are full and delightful characters that one must love. Her descriptions of Anne's vain father and snobbish older sister, Elizabeth, hit the mark on satirizing the members of society during that time. She wittingly describes how everyone tolerates Mrs. Muskgrove's hypochondriatic self and how everyone deals with her in their own way. There is not so much dialogue between characters in this book, compared to Austen's other novels. Most of the book is in observation of Anne's character and feelings, which makes it so much easier to relate to everything that Anne feels and you understand her situation all the more. This is a wonderful novel, with many qualities, differing from those of Austen's previous novels, to enjoy and admire.

Having read all of Jane Austen's books, I've been very impressed with her style. Reading Persuasion, I immediately noticed the difference between shy Anne Elliot and Jane Austen's other characters: Emma, Elinor and Marianne, Elizabeth Bennet, Fannie Price, and Catherine Morland. Anne is not the most beautiful, the cleverest, or the most-spirited. She is shy, quiet, thoughtful, somewhat plain, and honest. She reacts to emergency situations calmly and clearly, proving that she does have a backbone. I think the fact that she is older and more mature than Austen's other characters shows a maturity in Austen's writing. I highly recommend this book to those who love Jane Austen and can understand being shy and strong.

This is Verne's classic story of the trip of Phileas Fogg (who is obsessed with time), Passeportout, Aouda, and Detective Fix around the world on a wager. The book is filled with beautiful time and space imagery throughout (I would bet that one could write an entire thesis on all the time and space references in the novel). Thirty-three years after its publication, the world first learns of the space/time continuum (although I'm certain Verne was not anticipating Einstein). Fogg bets his fellow club members that he can circumnavigate the globe in a mere eighty days. He leaves immediately with his valet Passeportout and is pursued by Detective Fix, who thinks he is a bank robber. Through many adventures, including the rescue of Aouda from immolation, they all return to London. Interestingly, a few years later, after a number of improvements had been made in railways and roads, a U.S. journalist named Nellie Bly (the pseudonym of Elizabeth Cochrane) decided to attempt to break Fogg's "record." Leaving New York on November 14, 1889, she was able to circumnavigate the globe in 72 days, 6 hours, 11 minutes, and 14 seconds. But, she didn't rescue a Hindu princess! It should be noted, however, that one has to be very careful concerning the translations of this novel. There are some terrible ones being sold. Perhaps that's the reason for the few poor comments by earlier reviewers. There is an excellent translation by William Butcher that appeared in 1995.

Before there was any kind of high-speed travel an English gentleman named Phileas Fogg betted 20,000 pounds that he can travel around the world in 80 or less days. He starts his journey in London. On his way he meets a beautiful Indian Princess. Fogg also gets mistaken for a criminal. During his whole journey he has a detective following him trying to arrest him when the warrant arrives. In the book you follow Fogg's adventures through four continents when he is racing against time. The book is fast-paced, action-packed adventure with both romance and danger.

The characters in the story were introduced very well, especially Phileas Fogg. In the beginning of the book you get to know that Fogg is a very private gentleman. He never goes to any social places except the Reform Club. A remarkable thing about Fogg is that his life is centered around the clock. He is very precise and always on time. Every day he follows the exact same schedule. Phileas Fogg does not have a wife or any kids.

The setting of the book was very jumpy. Since Fogg travels through many continents and countries the setting changes all the time. You still feel you know a little bit about every place that he comes to, even if he only stays there for a couple of hours.

When I started reading the book I thought it would be a really good book and it really did meet my standards. I would recommend it to any one who likes adventure and action. Since it is written in so many different versions a person almost any age can read it.

I think this book is a superior book because it is full of action. This book is about a man named Mr. Phileas Fogg, and his faithful servant, Passepartout, that wager a bet that They can travel the whole world in eighty days stopping at Suez via Mont Cenis and Brindisi, then to Bombay, then Calcutta, Hong Kong, Japan (Yokohama), San Francisco, New York, back to London, all within eighty days, and by steamboats, and trains. However, a nosy detective, Detective Fix, tracks them down, and tries to arrest Mr. Fogg because he believes that Fogg stole fifty-five thousand pounds. As one may guess, this greatly detains Mr. Fogg, and it seems like he may not make the trip around the world after all. However, the Fix never seems to catch up with Fogg, and Fogg triumphs over most of the obstacles that come his way, like missing boats, missing trains, missing people, and Fogg even meets and rescues a beautiful Indian Princess called Aouda. However, Fix finally catches up to the detective, and everything seems lost for Fogg until Fix discovers that Fogg was not the robber, and Fogg is released. Even so, Fogg is one day late, and in doing so, misses the train that would have taken him to London precisely to win the bet. He ordered a special train, but even in doing so, still misses the bet...or so he thinks. The ending of the book is a very unexpected one. Read this book and find out!