Katherine Martin has created a wonderful resource book for women. There is hardly a story in the bunch where I wasn't moved to tears, as an ordinary woman, faced with challenging circumstances, made a set of extraordinary decisions.

Facing fear head-on, so many of these women found a courage that is often undiscovered in most of us. It seemed to me that in many instances they were fulfilling some part of what their soul was sent here to do and learn. In some cases I think they would have preferred that it was someone else's destiny to make it happen, none of their stories are about easy painless solutions, but the choices they make in the face of their respective situations make them "poster women" for what courageous women look and act like in today's world. They take responsibility and ownership for issues/circumstances and most importantly for themselves in ways that remove them from victim status and put them in conscious leadership of their destiny. Because of these women, my daughters can think differently about how they can contribute to the world they walk through. A must read for women, their daughters and the men who love them.

I am a twenty-one year old who is emerging into the excitement, confussion, and power of womanhood. I was incredibly blessed in the sense that I was exposed to Katherine's book in its' early stages. "Women of Courage" moved and touched me in ways that nothing else has. I would finish a story and feel blessed as well as excited to be a woman. I also had the potent experience of hearing Katherine speak at my college last month. The event reinforced the power that this book holds between the beautifully written stories. I know that after the event my peers walked away feeling a little bit stronger, prouder, and more courageous. I truly encourage all women, especially women my age, who like my myself are beginning to shed the layers of the little girl, to read this book. I also encourage you to write her, e-mail her, invite her to speak at your school and share her book more intimatly with you and your peers. Most importantly, this book will teach you and inspire you to cross lines that you once believed to be boundries.

Katherine Martin has compiled a very diverse group of women's stories - most didnt set out on some courageous quest - but rather found themselves in circumstances where they could not take the easy road - either because they chose not to or there was no alternative - their courage sometimes shows up in how they decided to respond to their situation - they could have been victims and left it at that - instead they got proactive - even in the face of grave consequences for themselves - This book provides a model for women and should be required reading for Women's Studies across the country.

James Conroyd Martin has produced one of the best historical novels I have ever read. The life of Countess Anna Maria Berezowska is wonderfully detailed against the background of late eighteenth-century Poland. There is never a dull moment in this book and you will come to wish it had a sequel by the end. The characters and events are both colorful and fascinating. Anyone who likes history, romance, action or adventure should pick up this book today.

I went into this book a little blindly, not knowing quite what it was going to be about. What I found was a thoroughly impressive tail of romance, mystery, suspense and the incredible history of war-torn Poland during the 18th century. It is remarkable! When I finished, I found myself actually missing the characters, as I often do when I complete a book that has drawn me in so completely. All I can think of to say to the author is "thank you." I feel my life is just a little fuller, with the knowledge that Countess Anna existed, and what she and her people went through. I had no prior knowledge of Polish history, but now feel considerably better educated. Martin shows an impressive mastery of the written word, and an uncanny understanding of the female perspective. This book is a rare gem!

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL! I became interested in this book by one of the above reviews stating that "Push Not the River" is essential if you're working on your Polish genealogy--which I am. I was NOT disappointed. Piers Anthony describes this book best, "I am profoundly impressed. Based on fact, "Push Not the River" is a well-written historical romance with all the elements of love, scheming, violence, irony, and tragedy to provide impact, superimposed on the appalling destruction of a nation. The twists of the story and politics are interesting, and the finale is compelling. It left me aching to know more of the subsequent life of Anna--and the manner in which her diary reached the present day. An excellent work."

This book is also great for those interested in Poland and/or Polish ancestry. It really details the history of Poland 1772-1774. It also gives a lot of information about the customs, culture and traditions of both the rich and poor of Poland. I had read Michener's "Poland" and enjoyed it, but I got so much more about the people and culture from this book. Like most of the other reviewers, I'd love to know what happened to Anna and Jan after they returned to their estates!!

I was very happy to see on the website... that St. Martin's Press is going to publish this book in 5/3/03!! It will coincide with Poland's Third of May Constitution. It is currently published by a much smaller publisher, making the book more expensive. Hopefully, St. Martin's Press doesn't change the content.

I think it was a great book. Ann M. Martin did a wonderful job of showing emotions, especially when Abby's father died. I could really picture Abby sitting in the principals office, and inisant 4th grader and hearing the shoking news that her father was gone. You feel like you become the charachter, which shows Ann M. Martin's wonderful writing talent. One of the bad things though, is that it doesn't seem very realistic for a person to write a biography in one weekend. I know from experience that a teacher always catches glitches and you have to write it at least twice. Other than that, it was a good book.

I think that this is one of the best Baby-sitters Club books.Abby has been through a rough time and it's really sad. I liked when Abby and her twin sister, Anna, were first graders, and they had to dress in certain colors so their teacher could tell them apart. I also liked when they were in Sanibel, but I won't spoil the book by telling you the whole story so, bye.

This book is the best, since Abby's the best baby-sitter! I really miss her in the new series, Friends Forever! I wish that there was a real person like Abby, so I could meet her! Please write some more regular BSC books, Ann, I really miss Abby!

This book is a must for any history buff or anyone interested in what the "other side" of World War II was like. This work chronicles the career of Saburo Sakai and his many air battles throughout World War II. His words debunk many myths about Japanese pilots (he even admits to turning back from a suicide mission) and gives one a personal feel to the historical events that unfolded around him. One can also plot the technological climb of aircraft as Sakai describes how adversaries steadily got better and better. This book would even be good reading for "peaceniks" who think development of new aircraft and weapons are a waste of money. They will see through Sakai's work how one superior fighter plane (the Zero) was able to command the skies in the Pacific war for several years until better aircraft were turned out by the U.S. In the future, the U.S. may not be so lucky. This is a superior book and is one of the best written about World War II.

Saburo Sakai was a national hero in Japan as its greatest surviving air ace of world war two. This book is his story. It is a fascinating and honest look at the air war in the Pacific from the Japanese perspective. Sakai is shown to have been a patriotic and heroic fighter, who, like most soldiers, gave little thought to the politics of the war. Like young men in many lands in many times, when his country called, he answered.

Sakai gives us an honest assessment of both sides as regards the Pacific air war. There is little or no jingoism here. He highlights some of the critical mistakes that the Japanese navy made in the war--one of which was that before the war the Navy only turned out about 100 pilots a year--not remotely enough for the total war Japan was about to wage against the world's greatest industrial power. The standards for entering and graduating from the Naval air training course in Japan were unreasonably high, and simply prevented the country from producing the number of pilots it would come to need. When the Americans eliminated over 300 Japanese pilots in 3 days at the Battle of Midway, Japan never recovered the loss of these trained men. On the other hand, Sakai reminds the American reader that in the Japanese America faced a motivated, intelligent, and very brave foe deriving from a violent military tradition.

The book also includes some very interesting glimpses at the Japanese home front during the war. Life in prewar Japan was hard for the lower classes--sufficiently hard that even the savage discipline (which Sakai describes at length) of the Japanese Navy appeared to be a reasonable alternative to the grinding poverty he otherwise faced.

Overall, a wonderful look at "the other side of the hill" and into the mind of one of World War Two's greatest air combat pilots.

I first read this book in in the eighth grade. It was so good in fact, that I literally did not put it down. I have read it three times since, and it has not lost its freshness nor its impact.

The highest scoring Japanese ace to survive World War II, Sakai's book was the first of its kind--a first hand account from the "enemy's" persepective. It was astoundingly popular and Sakai became somewhat of a hero in the United States (to this day he receives countless letters, all of which he answers). [Note: Sakai died of a heart attack in October of 2000.]

His story chronicles the rise and fall of not only the Japanese Naval Air Forces, but Japan itself. The thrill of victory and the bitterness of defeat are crystal clear. It is amazing that a story translated from one language to another can be so vivid and engrossing.

For a brilliant history lesson about the Pacific War during World War II that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this is the one. Through it all, you are there with Sakai be it in the cockpit or on the operating table. The "Classics of Naval Literature Series" version is superior to all others (for reasons explained in its FOREWORD). Highly recommended.

I am not a native English speaker, so my vocabulary consists of what I learned in school (a long time ago), what I hear on movies/TV, and what I read. Books and films most often these days come from America, of course, so that is the version of English that I speak (albeit with an accent). Reading P.G. Wodehouse, this or any other book, shows that the English language is not confined to the transatlantic variant; it can be so much richer! Add to that the wonderful, sarcastic sense of humour the man had and you end up with a truly sensational reading experience. Of course, you do need to know a bit of the society of which he writes. It makes me wonder what youths in e.g. the U.S. today would think if they read this book.

I am still looking forward to many hours of delightful reading, as I have only read a few books yet. My own introduction to Bertie, Jeeves, and the others in fact came from the excellent British TV series starring Hugh Laurie (as Bertie) and Stephen Fry (as Jeeves). If you get the chance to see it, do so.

It's almost impossible to write funny about humor, and anyone who writes seriously about it is doomed to come off as a fuddy duddy. E.B. White, a funny writer himself, once said that analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog, in that the thing tends to die in the process and the results will be interesting only to the purely scientific mind. -Andrew Ferguson, Divine Comedy : P.G. Wodehouse's perfect pitch

Two things the critics generally agree on are that : (1) P. G. Wodehouse is one of the funniest writers in the English language; and, (2) it's almost impossible to explain why. Among the various authorities cited for the difficulty in analyzing humor are Evelyn Waugh and Sigmund Freud, themselves authors of hilarious fictions. Suffice it to say, and I mean this in the very best sense, the enjoyments of the Jeeves and Wooster stories are much the same as those of the great TV sitcoms. Wodehouse created these two great comic characters, surrounded them in each story with oddballs, plunked them all down in trying situations, and then had the inimitable Jeeves extract Bertie and his upper-class nitwit friends from their difficulties through various stratagems and diversions. Though Andrew Ferguson and others deny that there is any deeper meaning or political content to the stories, it is at least notable that the finest young gentlemen in all of England are hopelessly overmatched by life unless Jeeves steps in to save them. The resulting stories have a certain sameness to them--of course, just try watching ten episodes of Cheers in a row and see if it's still fresh and amusing in hour five--but read in moderation they are immensely enjoyable and their very familiarity becomes quite comforting.

GRADE : A+

Martin Jarvis' reading of Carry On, Jeeves runs circles around Jonathan Cecil's reading of anything (for more on Cecil, see Psmith: Journalist). He simply embodies the characters of Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, Biffy, Corky, and all the cast (albeit with the same typical attempt at an American accent).

Carry On, Jeeves contains eight of the ten stories available in the print version (the remaining two stories appear on My Man Jeeves), so completists will want that, but for pure enjoyment, you can't go wrong with this. Even the titles Wodehouse writes are funny, my favorite being "The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy." They simply roll off the tongue.

The stories here include "Jeeves Takes Charge" (chronologically the first as it tells the story of Jeeves' entry into Bertie's life). The others, namely "The Artistic Career of Corky," "Clustering Round Young Bingo," "Jeeves and the Unbidden Guest" (about a young cousin of Bertie's who goes wild under his wing), and "Jeeves and the Hard-Boiled Egg" are all classics of the Wodehousian genre and show Jeeves at his problem-solving best.

This would easily appeal to the casual Wodehouse fan, and is perfect for long road trips or any other situation where a laugh is needed. Wodehouse exceeds all others in humor and, one assumes, will remain that way for centuries to come.

hello all your BSC fans. I think the babysitters club is an excellent book for anyone. I'm a guy (please stop laughing) and I read the books. I'm 20 years old and I still read them. I think its a fantastic series. It teaches you about friendships, dealing with problems, and responsibility. its the coolest. My favorite babysitter is Mary Anne. I'm a lot like her because I'm shy and timid too. Well. I think I talked your ear off so I'm going to go. Please email me if you wanna be bsc friends. I'd love that. thanks. My email address is KatSanders@aol.com email me anytime you want. thanks. goodbye and have a very nice week

My mother wanted to make sure I could read before I started school, in hopes that I would achive a better education. I was reading picture books when I was 2-3 and began reading BSC books when I turned 4. Now I am 13, and in my free time the only place I'd want to be is reading. I love Kristy because of her great ideas, Mary Anne for her patience, Claudia and Mallory for their tallents in art and writing, Dawn for her individual character, Jessi for her devoted passion to ballet, Stacey for her maturity in caring for her diabetes,Logan for not letting the boys push him around, Shannon for her brain, and Abby for coping with her fathers death. I can relate to these girls in so many different ways, I feel as if I belong to the club!!!!!! I live in Australia, so I don't get the books as soon as they come out, but when they do, you can be sure I've got them. I have over 150...and nothing's gonna stop me from getting the rest

The series are based around a group of friends who love babysitting and kids. Each character has a totally different personality, so every reader can relate to at least one of them. Each book deals with a different part of growing up. Boyfriends and best friends, moving away, school, family troubles -- it's all there. After reading a Babysitters book, I am left with a warm feeling inside. I feel as if I know each person - organized Kristy, shy Mary Anne, artistic Claudia, sophisticated Stacey, indivisualistic Dawn, down to earth Mallory, Talented Jessi and sporty Abby. Well done to Ann M Martin, the author. She has created a series of books that al pre-teen girls should read. I think they are absolutely superbly fantabulous!!

I feel I share a miniscule slice of Klemperer's heroism by reading every word of his (as translated) diaries. I wish his LTI was translated in English and widely(and affordably) available. If you consider human nature an important matter, or remember your sixth-grade introduction on "man's inhumanity to man" (excuse the gender mess there)and wonder why that was worth reading about, you must read this book. So many insightful philosophical, theological and sociological wrtings came from the WWII era because the essential truths of humanity's condition were laid bare for many of the observer-participants in the horrible conflict. Klemperer precisely and heroically relates what amounts to some of that exposed raw data, from a perspective that is tragically and wildly underrepresented--that of a German civilian Jew, alive and in Germany throughout the war, but in at least occasional contact with others: Jew, gentile and monstrosity.

Depending on your understanding of God and God's intervention in human affairs, this book may have much more (and very complex)to say about God's place in Klemperer's life and Klemperer's in God's universe.

Of the other comments, I find only one impression that strikes me as troubling. I think that neither Klemperer' personal, astounding ability to adapt to misery and maintain self-truth nor the occasional pleasant human interactions nor Nazi Germany's eventual military defeat nor the failure of the "final solution" to eliminate all of the Jews of Nazi-occupied territory signify an ultimate victory for good over evil, etc. If you imagine all the books that all those Klemperer describes being abused,lied to, humiliated, injured, herded, deloused, robbed and murdered(etc.) would write, and the sad and disgusting track record of humanity since...including the commonplace manipulations of language and atrocious applications of perverted science by so many subsequent evil rulers, there is precious little over which to organize a victory dance for humanity's use of language, technology or other human beings.

I wish more people were buying it.

Victor Klemperer is a spokesman. With characteristic German precision, he articulates the daily victimization and humiliation of the Jews by the Third Reich as it removes the privileges of citizenship one by one, from tram tickets to life itself. Each day becomes a surreal ritual of survival, finding food bereft of rations, hiding anything that might offend an uninvited Gestapo searching his home, speaking softly to discern the fate of those shipped to labor camps, trying to divine the future and to understand the past while utterly damning the present. Klemperer's testimony alone is worth our time, so that we may better understand how far we can stray from civilization.

But then Victor Klemperer is also a hero. As I read his diaries, I began to realize the bravery of his writing and of those who hid the pages for him. Klemperer's opinions of the Third Reich are explicit. Exposure would have ended his life immediately. I kept wondering whether I could ever do that, say, if the mayor declared Italians to be the Master Race and blue-eyed blonds were systematically searched, deported and killed. Would I care so much for posterity, and for the future of humanity, that I would dare to write what is right no matter the consequence, to expose evil in the midst of it, and perhaps to die for it? Victor did. Reading his diary is to honor that heroism.

But then Victor Klemperer is also a human being. He wrestles mightily with his German heritage, with his privileges by marriage to an Aryan, with his being alive while others disappeared. Through all the terror, he is still willing to seek out trust when mistrust is the word to live by. He is saddened by the devastating bombing of Dresden, not vengeful. When I expect his words to be filled with hatred, I am struck by their frequent ambivalence and even passion. Klemperer is a complex person, like most human beings, like you and me. This is a diary that confirms that, when ordinary people are put into extraordinary circumstances, they become extraordinary. As is this book.

Is 'extraordinary' a powerful enough word for this book?

On reading it, I almost couldn't believe that it was genuine...but no writer of fiction could have created something as extraordinary,(I've used the word again,) as this.

Klemperer was a Jew, who managed to survive the war living within Nazi Germany because he was married to a Christian woman & 'luckily' for us, he wrote EVERYTHING down. Every. Tiny. Detail.

A superbly intelligent & witty man. Sometimes these kinds of books are just fascinating as eye-witness accounts, but what's unusual about this, is the fact that this man could actually write AND SO well.

SO sad & frustrating that it wasn't published within his lifetime.

I can't say any more. I'll never be able to say enough.

Probably the most extraordinary eye-witness account about life in Nazi Germany available...NO!...that will EVER be available.

Definetely the most extraordinary, (yes, it IS the right word,) book I've personally EVER read.

I'm honoured in being able to recommend this to you.

This romance book is tastefully presented. I truly enjoyed the many themes around FAMILY relationships - Eve & her deceased husband, Eve and her prospective lover, Eve and her best friend Ebony, Eve and her mother, Eve and her son, Eve and her co-worker - it was great! It also portrayed Black Men in a positive light - as caring, responsible, professional, family men with values.

The anticipation of the lovemaking made the book exciting - I didn't want to put it down - and when they FINALLY had "relations" - it was - oh well - passionate from start to finish. (smile)

Thanks Edwina for putting Black Love on the market in a way we can all be proud!

Four years ago, somehow her spouse lost control and drove their car into the river. Todd managed to get Eve Garrett to safe ground, but failed to make it. Stunned by what happened, Eve became a widow raising a ten-year-old boy by herself.

For the past two years, her neighbor Ebony has tried to find a man for Eve with no success. At their weekly domino game, Ebony introduces Eve to a new partner, fire fighter Noah Russell. To her shock, Eve reacts to a male for the first time since Todd died, but she knows that Noah is wrong for her as he is younger and the stud of the moment that every woman in town wants. Noah knows that he feels good whenever he is with Eve and her son, but he has his work cut out if he is to overcome her reluctance to have a man in their lives even if love cements the relationships.

EVE'S PRESCRIPTION is an entertaining second chance at love ethnic romance. The story line is interesting because the secondary cast lightens the tale even though they are quite serious when it comes to caring for Eve. Noah may be a pinup in the women's locker room, but his compassionate side makes him more than a hunk of beef. Eve is complex as she struggles between guilt and her first reaction to a man since the death of Todd. Edwina Martin-Arnold makes a strong debut with a wonderful drama.

Harriet Klausner

Eve's Prescription is a well-written and entertaining romance debut novel from Edwina Martin Arnold.

On their way to a romanctic rendezvous, Eve and her husband, Todd, have a tragic car accident. Todd is successful in saving Eve; however, he succumbs and loses his own life. Since that tragic incidence, 4 years ago, Eve has closed off all sexual, intimate, and sensuous feelings for another man. Instead she spends her time practicing law during the day as a Prosecuting Attorney and the evenings are spent with her elderly, live-in mom, Beulah and her 14-year old son, Sean.

Her friends, Ebony and Yoshi, worry about her and they are forever playing matchmaker but to no avail because Eve is simply not interested in another man. After all she has the memories of 14 years to a wonderful man. But, Ebony still tries and one evening at their weekly domino game, Ebony introduces Eve to Noah... the passionate, sensual, attractive, red, hot, firefighter. Sparks fly when Eve meets Noah but she's not ready to give in to her physical nature, after all, she was in a loving marriage for 14 years and Noah is several years her junior and has a reputation of being a lady's man. Noah has had more than his share of women but none of them have touched the essence of his soul like the attractive and intelligent Eve. Noah is on a mission to get to know Eve better, however, his reputation has preceded him and Eve doesn't desire to be another notch on his belt buckle.

But unbeknownst to Eve is the real Noah. The Noah that few women ever really get a chance to see primarily because they don't seek him for those qualities-he's strong, intelligent, supportive, gentle, decisive and a positive role model that other brothas could take some pointers from. Will Eve let down her guard and open up her heart to Noah? But, oh, while, Eve is debating and being difficult, will another woman primarily in the form of another woman/hoochie mama named Ms. Regina just waltz in and waltz off on a white horse with Noah?

Eve's Prescriptions combines sexual tension, rich character and relationship development to make for a very good romantic genre storyline. This is a book that romance and non-romance readers alike can enjoy. Edwina Martin Arnold has a strong debut and a promising career as a romance writer.

Victorian-era readers of Lewis Carroll's delightful fantasies knew the poetry and song and public figures referred to; we moderns need to have the jokes explained to us, and Martin Gardner does a masterful job of it. We're fortunately past the more bizarre Freudian and Marxist interpretations of Alice that Gardner takes to task in his preface, but Gardner's annotations survive, as they should. The White Knight's encounter with Alice is heartbreaking when you know the background information, the lyric the White Knight's doggerel alludes to. By all means, give this to children at risk of being pithed by exposure to a certain indigo reptile; as children, they'll appreciate the story, and as they mature, they'll appreciate the commentary, and you'll have saved a budding intellect.

A joke is always funnier if you understand it, and the Alice tales are so full of inside jokes that you need someone to explain them. The Annotated Alice does just that. Carroll's tales are here, complete and unabridged, and the editors have painstakingly provided every piece of explanation and commentary you could ever wish for. Complete with Tenniell's original illustrations (although, alas, not colorized), this is a book any girl, little or big, can cherish.

Alice in Wonderland is an extraordinarily fascinating and delightful story, replete with jokes, puzzles, and nonsense of the highest order. But in order to appreciate it fully, the modern, non-Victorian reader requires some guidance, as well as an adequate background on the man and the times that produced Alice. Martin Gardner, the greatest figure ever in recreational mathematics, provides readers with all the information they need to appreciate this story at its various levels. This book occupies a place of privilege in the library of every serious Alice fan.

It was about time I read "Tom Jones." Fielding's 1749 novel gives us a panoramic view of 18th century British life. Its titular hero journeys among the low- and high-born trying to find his way in a world in which he occupies a precarious position. Fielding uses the sprawl of 800 pages to explore a multitude of social, political, and literary issues, gluing them together with an exquisitely outlandish, fully embodied sense of humour.

The action of the novel begins with a view of the Allworthy family, a landed gentleman, Thomas Allworthy and his sister, Bridget. Into this family is dropped an orphan, a foundling - a child, if you will, of questionable parentage. This child, Tom Jones, is raised alongside Bridget's child, Blifil, as relative equals. Both are tutored by two ideologues, the philosopher Square and the theologian Thwackum. Jones is a precocious, free-spirited youngster, spoiled by Allworthy while Blifil, the heir apparent to the estate, becomes the favourite pupil and spoiled accordingly by his mother. As the two youths age, Tom develops a fondness for the neighbour's daughter, Sophia Western.

Tom's sexual development begins to get him in trouble, as it tends to throughout the novel, and as a result of one such incident, coupled with the goading jealousy of Blifil, Tom is driven out of the Allworthy home, left to seek his fortunes in the world. Meeting his supposed father, Partridge, on the road, the two begin a quixotic ramble across England. Sophia, meanwhile, pressured into marrying Blifil, runs away from home, beginning her own voyage of discovery.

"Tom Jones" begins with the narrator likening literature to a meal, in which the paying customer comes expecting to be entertained and satisfied. All 18 books of "Tom Jones" start out with such authorial intrusions, each cluing us into the writer's craft, his interactions with his public, and various other topics. This voice is actually sustained throughout the novel, providing a supposedly impartial centre of moral value judgments - each of which seems to tend toward enforce Fielding's project of a realistic, and yet, didactic portrayal of a world full of flawed characters.

Some of the issues the novel deals most extensively with are modes of exchange, anxieties over female agency, and the power of rumour and reputation. Exchange and the ways in which value is figured include a wide range of goods - money, bodies, food, and stories - and are integral to the story. The treatment of women is a great concern in "Tom Jones": from Partridge's perpetual fear of witchcraft to the raging arguments between Squire Western and his sister over how Sophia should be treated, to general concerns about sexuality and virtue. A novel that can be in turns hilarious, disturbing, and provoking, "Tom Jones" is never dull. Despite its size, the pace of the novel is extremely fast and lively. So, get thee to a superstore and obtain thyself a copy of this excellent and highly entertaining novel.

Journey with a guy with much testosterone, but a HUGE heart. I was not looking forward to reading this book for my 18th Century British novel class, but upon starting to read I found it to be a pleasurable story. This piqaresque novel has a humor that I have seldom encountered in other narratives. What is ironic is that Fielding wrote this piece during one of the most traumatic periods of his life. His wife just passed away, his daughter was dying, and he was inflicted with the gout. One would never think it from the clever way the book is written. The point of view gives us an in so that we feel as if we ourselves have roles in the storyline. Rooting all the way for Tom despite his flaws, we find out more about human nature along the way. A good read, light a candle and sit down with some wine like they would've and enjoy this classic comical delight.

Tom Jones is probably one of the greatest novels in all of English literature. I imagine some might be put off by the length and by its designation as a classic (something which Mark Twain said was frequently praised and rarely read). Tom Jones does not deserve to be ignored since it is a riotous rollercoster of a book filled with comic vignettes and blows against the self-satisfied and pompous. It is a book that not only is instructional, but is considerate enough to give the reader a good time while doing so.

Though frequently termed an immoral book, Tom Jones holds up rather well in the early 21st century. Even Fielding's comic characters seem to have a dimension often lacking in 18th and 19th century novels. Fielding is a genius.