Delirium: A Novel

Book Description

Internationally acclaimed for the virtuosity and power of her fiction, Laura Restrepo has created in Delirium a passionate, lyrical, devastating tale of eros and insanity.

Aguilar, an unemployed literature professor who has resorted to selling dog food for a living, returns home from a short trip to discover that his wife, Agustina, has gone mad. He doesn’t know what has happened during his absence, and in his search for answers, he gradually unearths profound and shadowy secrets about her past.

On one level, Delirium reads like a detective story, as the reader pieces together information to discover the roots of Agustina’s madness. But it is also a remarkably nuanced novel whose currents run much deeper, delving into the minds of four characters: Aguilar, a husband passionately in love with his wife and determined to rescue her from insanity: Agustina, a beautiful woman from an upper-class Colombian family who is caught in the throes of madness; Midas, a drug-trafficker and money-launderer, who is Agustina’s former lover; and Nicolás, Agustina’s grandfather. Through the mixing of these distinct voices, Laura Restrepo creates a searing portrait of a society battered by war and corruption as well as an intimate look at the daily lives of people struggling to stay sane in an unstable country.

Delirium already has been awarded the 2004 Premio Alfaguara, the 2006 Grinzane Cavour Prize in Italy, and was shortlisted for the prestigious Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger in France for best translated fiction. It is an ambitious and deeply affecting masterwork by one of Latin America’s most important contemporary voices.

Translated from the Spanish by Natasha Wimmer.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful and Splendid.......2007-04-26

A great piece of literature. A master at her best. A female writer who understands not only human behavior but the effects of society on people and the power of memory. A great read for anyone looking for something different. This book is not only a representation of Colombia but a representation of Latin America.

The Night Before First Grade (Reading Railroad Books)

Average customer rating:

Great book
The Night Before First Grade
Cute Story
Great book to help with anxieties
A great introduction to the first grade world!

The Night Before First Grade (Reading Railroad Books)
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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First Day Jitters
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First Grade Stinks!

ASIN: 0448437473

Book Description

It's the night before the Big Day—first grade. Penny is excited to start the year with her best friend right beside her in the same classroom. This humorous take on Clement C. Moore's classic tale has a perfect twist ending that will surprise readers—as well as the "heroine" of the story—and help all about-to-be first-graders through their own backto- school jitters.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-09-29

I gave all of my kindergarten students this book on the last day of school. In September when they arrived as first graders, they were all telling me how much they loved the book over the summer. One parent e-mailed me and told me how helpful she found the book to be over the summer while they were preparing for first grade. I would recommend this book highly!

The Night Before First Grade.......2007-08-01

Excellent! I was a little skeptical at first, but this book is wonderful. My 6 year old has read the book on her own and the illustrations were very helpful to assist her in identifying some new words on the page.

She has enjoyed the book so much that she has decided to include the book in her summer book report reading list. It is just the correct length for a child entering first grade. My daughter's school only has 1 of each grade, but it has helped her realize to give things a chance. She realizes there will be new children and she may not be seated right next to her friends but there are many other things for her to explore.

First grade can be scary. It's entering what my daughter's school calls 'the upper grades'.

Overall, the book is one that both children and parents will enjoy with it's great ending.

Cute Story.......2006-11-03

Good story with plenty of play on words!
Kids will enjoy this, and makes for a goos converstaion starter about preparing for going back to school!

Great book to help with anxieties.......2006-11-02

This was funny and inspiring book to read the night before school. It helped my daughter get over her anxieties about a new teacher and a new grade.

A great introduction to the first grade world!.......2006-01-19

It's hard to write a book about first grade jitters. Many of the books out there make the first day seem just perfect, when it often isn't. What I like about The Night Before First Grade is the way in which the author recognizes the potentially frightening aspects of the first day of school and resolves them in a realistic manner.

For example, when the protagonist arrives at school, she learns that there are two sections of first grade and that her best friend will be in the other section. Bravely waving goodbye to her friend, she discovers new interests in her classroom. The lunchroom is busy and a bit scary, but she weathers it nicely.

The text is in a rhythmic prose style, patterned after "The Night Before Christmas." I was a bit skeptical at first, but it works, and young readers will appreciate the consistent beat of the narrative. Deborah Zemke's illustrations are upbeat and slightly funky - just like first grade!

Average customer rating:

Surprisingly Engaging
We
Mixed Feelings about this Classic
The original dystopian novel
Dystopia at its worst.

We (Modern Library Classics)
Yevgeny Zamyatin
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 081297462X
Release Date: 2006-07-11

Book Description

“[Zamyatin’s] intuitive grasp of the irrational side of totalitarianism– human sacrifice, cruelty as an end in itself–makes [We] superior to Huxley’s [Brave New World].”
–George Orwell

An inspiration for George Orwell’s 1984 and a precursor to the work of Philip K. Dick and Stanislaw Lem, We is a classic of dystopian science fiction ripe for rediscovery. Written in 1921 by the Russian revolutionary Yevgeny Zamyatin, this story of the thirtieth century is set in the One State, a society where all live for the collective good and individual freedom does not exist. The novel takes the form of the diary of state mathematician D-503, who, to his shock, experiences the most disruptive emotion imaginable: love for another human being.
At once satirical and sobering–and now available in a powerful new modern translation–We speaks to all who have suffered under repression of their personal and artistic freedom.

“One of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.”
–Irving Howe

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly Engaging.......2007-10-15

Having been a Science Fiction fan for most of my life, and possessing the ability to absorb three books per week, I was pleasantly surprised by the tact and tenacity of "We". Any fan of the Negative Utopia Genre should definitely look this one up; being the great-granddaddy of every Utopian story in existence (minus, of course, the little-known but highly engaging "The Iron Heel" by Jack London, of all people), WE combines the harsh social rigidity of 1984 with a bit of the technical know-how of "Brave New World". No opening date is given, though by the tone of the story, I was able to work out that it would be the 31st Century, according to our calendar; what remains of humanity exists inside the rigid walls of a grand city. Every second of their lives, the Ciphers (as humans now refer to themselves) have activity to keep them forever grinding forward. The wall is composed of a transparent alloy, keeping the Ciphers seperated from the rest of the world outside, but allowing them occasional glimpses of new and exotic things; there is one Chapter where our protagonist, on his way from one tedious chore to another, catches a glimpse and locks eyes with what sounds like a Bison or Wildebeast. For minutes, he and this strange, curious animal stare at one another, and he has an epiphany--he is as curious about the world outside as it seems to be about him. He begins to daydream about what lies beyond his sterile existence, and suddenly declares himself sick with the illness of Imagination--but despite this, he keeps finding excuses not to seek treatment, and keeps swaying more and more from his daily activity of dictated duties. His trouble intensifies when he notices a woman and wants her desperately, but he cannot fathom why. Aside from her eyes, he finds her rather unremarkable, and even though he and everyone else BELONGS to everyone else, he can't seem to purge her from his mind. He could have her any time he'd like, but he seems to crave something more from her that he can't quite put his finger on...and it's not too long until she notices him, too. She also has the sickness of Imagination, but hers dwarfs his; she begins to demand his time, not for sex, but for discussions. She muses on things that he finds ridiculous, such as "knowing your mother and father", "forms of governance other than the One State", and something he finds repugnant, child-rearing. He realizes that he hates her guts almost at the same time that he realizes he loves her-and from that moment their fates are inexorably linked. Their world is ruled by the Benefactor, a being with near-omnipotent power and technological wonders that would make George Lucas crap himself; while not a totalitarian system completely in deed, the One State uses laser brain surgery to correct any "sickness" within it's Ciphers, and as the Imagination begins to encompass others, our hero, who is a very important man in the State (he designs and engineers interplanteary vehicles), decides to rebel the only way he can...to take the others with Imaginations off-planet, so that they can find a new one for their own. Written from the early to mid-1920's, in the Soviet Union, "WE" makes up for its relative lack of prose with not only a tantalizing yarn, but one that shows remarkable foresight, and a keen understanding of Science Fiction long before it even existed; for a final thought, and on that subject, there is one chapter that really struck me--the author describes what could only be a modern laptop computer...pretty good imagination for the 1920's.

We.......2007-09-09

The label "forgotten classic" is overused, but it definitely applies to We, a dystopian novel written in 1921 by Yevgeny Zamyatin, a Russian author who would soon disappear into exile and obscurity as a result of his work. We is a precursor to Brave New World and Nineteen Eighty-four, but in my opinion it is the most powerful and most perfect of the three.

The story is told by D-503, a male mathematician in a society organized on the principles of mathematics. The setting is centuries in our future, long after a war has reduced the human population to a few millions and led to the formation of One State, a single enclosed city-state. The guiding principle of One State is that freedom is unhappiness. To ensure uniformity, all buildings, including private dwellings, are made of glass so there is no privacy. The people (called "ciphers") all rise at the same moment, eat together, and take exercise by marching in formation.

The true nightmare of We is not its grim picture of society, but the fact that so many of the ciphers, D-503 included, find it a delightful way to live. There are exceptions, however, including the seductive and mysterious I-330 with whom D-503 falls in love. Such attachments are, of course, forbidden, and D-503 is in anguish over his inability to control his feelings.

The style in which We is written is unique and adds substantially to its appeal. D-503, as noted, is a mathematician, and his memoirs rely heavily on the language and metaphors of mathematics. At times, however, it is an outpouring of emotion from someone utterly unused even to the concept of emotions, much less the experience.

We, as one might expect, is a satire against the totalitarian excesses of the new Soviet regime. Both a Communist and a Russian patriot, Zamyatin was astute enough even as early as 1921 to see that the revolution was leading in a direction away from the desires of many of its proponents. But the novel is also a powerful, even shocking statement about out concepts of happiness and freedom.

Mixed Feelings about this Classic.......2007-09-07

I was very excited about reading this book. The premise sounded engaging. This book is remarkable for the time period in which this was written, and that it clearly formed the foundation and inspiration for many dystopian writers to come. The story seems visionary and predictive of many social trends that would follow. For these things, I loved the book.

However, my interest for the story and the writing style waned in the first 100 pages. It started to feel a little slow, and the cryptic style became a little repetitive after awhile. After a fast start, I found my reading pace slowing down to a crawl, and I reluctantly stopped reading. I wanted to enjoy this book much more than I did. Even though I stopped reading, I gave it 4 stars because of the groundbreaking premise and inspiration it provided. The interest clearly hasn't waned for many.

This classic is definitely worth a try - it may well catch fire for you as it has for so many others.

The original dystopian novel.......2007-07-27

Zamyatin wrote the novel in 1921, a few years after the Russian Revolution. It is set in the distant future where people work towards the collective good and have given up their individual freedom. Zamyatin is obviously critical of his current and the potential future USSR, yet does not use God or capitalism as the reasons for his critique.

I made a list of over two dozen similarities that both 1984 and Brave New World share with We. I have only listed a couple here. Like Orwell's Smith, Zamyatin's D-503 rebels by keeping a journal. The novel is just D-503's journal. Huxley wrote his dystopian novel in 1932 and Orwell's was published in 1949. All three novels feature patriotic music. Both Zamyatin and Huxley's novels have set days and times where the inhabitants of their worlds may have sex, and breeding has been fully controlled in each world. Like Orwell's novel, Zamyatin's characters all begin work, eat and end work at the same time. Everything is regimented and controlled.

The main character, D-503, is a 32 year old male. He engages the Benefactor, the supreme ruler of the One-State, in a fascinating conversation in chapter 36. An enterprising student or scholar would do well to examine why humans wrote utopian novels from 1516 to 1888, and then started writing dystopian novels in 1921. With the advancement of learning, travel, science and civil rights, why have our elite authors focused on the possible negative outcomes for civilization rather than the positive ones?

Like Twain's Huckleberry Finn, the answer may lie in the struggle between the advancements granted by civilization versus the individual freedom that can be found in the wilderness.

Dystopia at its worst........2006-11-10

This book is clearly ancestral to Brave New World and 1984. A really interesting read.

Average customer rating:

My son's (and my) favorite Halloween book!
This is a great to read to your children
Great Story!
Fun Book
FUN HALLOWEEN BOOKS

The Night Before Halloween
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Night Before Thanksgiving (Reading Railroad Books)
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ASIN: 0448419653

Book Description

"'Twas the night before Halloween, and all through the house,
All the creatures were stirring, except for the mouse.
The monsters had gathered to plan and prepare,
For the trick-or-treaters who soon would be there...."

Little monsters and goofy goblins take center stage in this silly, spooky spin on Clement C. Moore's beloved poem. But what will happen on Halloween when the monsters come face to face with human trick-or-treaters in this fun-filled book by the author of The Night Before Easter?

* Ages 4-8

Customer Reviews:

My son's (and my) favorite Halloween book!.......2007-10-19

My 3 year old son and I absolutely love this book. It is our favorite Halloween book (and we have quite a few). It has the essence of Halloween from the monster perspective as well as a child's trick-or-treating perspective down pat.

This is a great to read to your children.......2006-11-10

My 5-year old twins loved this book, and wanted to read it for weeks before Halloween. It is very easy to read, since it follows the format of "The Night Before Christmas." That familiarity also made it fun for the kids. They are now looking forward to starting "The Night Before Thanksgiving," though I am trying to wait until it gets a little closer to the actual day.

Great Story!.......2006-11-06

I love Natasha Wing. She is a wonderful author and this story is really cute. I teach and I enjoy reading it to my kids at school.

Fun Book.......2005-10-07

My 5 year old son loves holloween books. This one is up there with one of his favorites! Great illustrations and story.

FUN HALLOWEEN BOOKS.......2005-02-08

My 2 1/2 year old just loves Halloween. He was born Oct. 28th so he's definitely a Halloween baby and he loves everything to do with the holiday including seeing pumpkins, bats and spiders. This delightful book by Natasha Wing is a Halloween takeoff on "Twas the Night Before Christmas" following the same pattern except that in this book various ghouls and goblins are preparing for Halloween and for the children who will soon be knocking at their front door. The Illustrations by Cynthia Fisher perfectly fit the fun tone and pace of the book and my little loves reading this one over and over...

Average customer rating:

Awesome

The BFG CD
Roald Dahl
Manufacturer: HarperChildrensAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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The Witches

ASIN: 0060852739
Release Date: 2006-02-07

Book Description

"Well, first of all, " said the BFG, "human beans is not really believing in giants, is they? Human beans is not thinking we exist."

Sophie discovers that giants not only exist, but that there are a great many of them who like to guzzle and swallomp nice little chiddlers. But not the Big Friendly Giant. He and Sophie cook up an ingenious plot to free the world of troggle-humping -- forever.

Performed by Natasha Richardson

Customer Reviews:

Awesome.......2007-05-16

This CD is great! The reader does an awesome job with the voices of different characters. The book is wonderful. The two are combined, here, for great entertainment.

The Night Before Thanksgiving (Reading Railroad Books)

Average customer rating:

Thanksgiving bliss.
Thanksgiving fun
Merry Thanksgiving
Just Picked This One Up
Can't stop reading it

The Night Before Thanksgiving (Reading Railroad Books)
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0448425297

Book Description

A creative spin on the Clement C. Moore classic, The Night Before Thanksgiving is a warm, whimsical celebration of everyone's favorite fun-filled, family-filled, food-filled holiday! Follow along as the feast is prepared, cousins are greeted, and thanks are given, all with an extra helping of holiday fun.

Customer Reviews:

Thanksgiving bliss........2007-01-25

It's along the lines of A Night Before Christmas. It's family harmony at T-giving.

Thanksgiving fun.......2007-01-09

Our whole family enjoys this book, which makes us giggle and feel the warmth and love of sharing a holiday with family.

Merry Thanksgiving.......2005-11-20

I love this book. My 2.5 year old daughter also loves this book. It brings about the festiveness you usually feel at Christmastime but for Thanksgiving. Told in the classic 'Twas the Night before Christmas' style, it has laughs, tradition and warmth all wrapped up in a book that is perfect to curl up with some hot apple cider and share with the whole family.

Just Picked This One Up.......2005-11-16

i was at Walden Books Yesterday and my wife called and asked me to pickup a Thanksgiving book for our three year old son. There were Biscuit and Clifford Thanksgiving books but I settled on this one. Told in the same manner as The Night Before Christmas, it follows really a traditional American Family Thanksgiving celebration including all the activities and preparation that goes into this great holiday. Actually its not so much about the night before as it is the day of, but that's ok. What appealed to me was how much it had in common with my own family's Thanksgiving from waking up in the morning and watching the parades, to family coming over for dinner. My three year old really enjoyed it!

Can't stop reading it.......2005-11-03

My one and three year old love this book as much as I do. Great pictures and fun to read.

The Night Before the 100th Day of School (Reading Railroad Books)

Average customer rating:

The Night Before the 100th Day of School (Reading Railroad Books)
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0448439239

Book Description

The 100th day of school is almost here and one student is desperate to find 100 of anything to bring to class. Then all of sudden inspiration strikes, and he comes up with a surprise that makes the 100th day celebration one to remember! This hilarious story of a popular school tradition offers a perfect modern twist on Clement C. Moore's classic poem.

The Night Before Summer Vacation (Reading Railroad Books)

Average customer rating:

The Night Before Summer Vacation (Reading Railroad Books)
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 044842830X

Book Description

A little girl and her family are getting ready to go on vacation . . . or at least they are trying to. In the effort to pack everything that will be needed, there's bound to be something overlooked, and what that is provides a funny ending to this meter-perfect "twist" on Clement Moore's classic.

Customer Reviews:

fun.......2004-05-12

What a fun book to read. Silly story about the night before summer vacation (poem format the same as the night before christmas). It will get your children all excited about heading out the door. Really enjoyed it.

The Night Before The Tooth Fairy (Reading Railroad)

Average customer rating:

Colorful and Funny

The Night Before The Tooth Fairy (Reading Railroad)
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0448432528

Book Description

It wiggles, and waggles, and wiggles some more, but this little boy's stubborn tooth just won't come out! He hopes it will fall out soon, because he can't wait to meet the Tooth Fairy! This humorous tale based on Clement C. Moore's classic poem is a perfect addition to the best-selling series.

Illustrated by Johansen Newman.

Customer Reviews:

Colorful and Funny.......2007-01-04

I purchased this book to read to my 5 year old after learning that her bottom tooth was loose. I wanted to find a book that would prepare her for the Tooth Fairy. This book was a big hit and perfect choice for my daughter! She, and even my 3 year old, loved the rhyming and funny story lines, as well as the bright colors. I think this book should be a classic for welcoming the Tooth Fairy!

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas (Reading Railroad Books)

Average customer rating:

Two out of two munchins agree...
Cute and Clever
Spirit of the Holidays
Love this book!
Love it!!

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas (Reading Railroad Books)
Natasha Wing
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0448428725

Book Description

It's December 23, and Christmas is just around the corner. But one family is having trouble getting its act together. Once again, Natasha Wing follows the rhythms and meter of Clement Moore's classic Christmas poem, yet gives it her own entirely original twist.

Customer Reviews:

Two out of two munchins agree..........2007-02-04

...this is their favorite Christmas story.

As a housewarming gift, I picked up a pair of Christmas books for my friends' children last year. This year, their mother again thanked me for "The Night Before the Night Before Christmas." It had become her kindergartener's and pre-schooler's favorite. In fact, it was the only story the pre-schooler wanted to hear.

For fun, I ordered myself a copy. It is now my favorite too. Following the cadences of "The Night Before Christmas," readers are invited along to witness a typical, loving family's Christmas challenges. Page after page of endearing illustrations will enchant readers of all ages. Not even the most dedicated Grinch can resist.

Don't wait another year to pick up this great story.

Cute and Clever.......2005-01-05

This twist on Clement C. Moore's Christmas poem is one that parents can really identify with! It's about all the things that can and will go wrong during Christmas preparations, like burnt cookies. Yet the spirit of the holiday wins out. My daughter really likes this book and I think it is a pleasure to read to her. I don't agree with the editorial review that it, "...scans awkwardly and does not easily lend itself to sharing aloud." I love the illustrator's style too. It's a very cute and clever book that is worth having in your Christmas library.

Spirit of the Holidays.......2003-12-14

We love this book. My three year old daughter loves the story and illustrations as do I. It also hits home as a parent during this frantic time of seeming unbridled avarice. Love is the best gift of all. Buy this book today and snuggle up with the ones you love for a hilarious spin on the classic poem. Happy Holidays!

Love this book!.......2003-12-05

I am an English teacher and a new mother and I love this book. The way it plays on the Clement Moore poem is so clever and well done. I also love the way it is humorous and fun, and yet has a sentimental and sweet ending and ties back to the original Christmas poem. I would recommend this book to all mothers and children who like to read together!

Love it!!.......2002-12-03

This is both my daughter's and my favorite Christmas book. We read it every night. It rhymes, is funny and has beautiful illustrations.

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