A Far Country

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A fine story of a dangerous quest emerges, involving listeners in a delicate, finely honed drama.

I will buy his next book but...

The lyrical prose and powerful sense of place

As Publisher's Weekly said, "a snoozer."

Not the Piano Tuner

A Far Country
Daniel Mason
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375414665
Release Date: 2007-03-06

Book Description

From the best-selling author of The Piano Tuner, a stunning new novel about a young girl’s journey through a vast, unnamed country in search of her brother.

Raised in a remote village on the edge of a sugarcane plantation, fourteen-year-old Isabel was born with the gift and curse of “seeing farther.” When drought and war grip the backlands, her brother Isaias joins a great exodus to a teeming city in the south. Soon Isabel must follow, forsaking the only home she’s ever known, her sole consolation the thought of being with her brother again. But when she arrives, she discovers that Isaias has disappeared. Weeks and then months pass, until one day, armed only with her unshakable hope, she descends into the chaos of the city to find him.

Told with astonishing empathy, and strikingly visual, the story of Isabel’s quest—her dignity and determination, her deeply spiritual world—is a universal tale about the bonds of family and a sister’s love for her brother, about journeys and longing, survival and true heroism.

A tour de force of great emotional and narrative power.

Customer Reviews:

A fine story of a dangerous quest emerges, involving listeners in a delicate, finely honed drama........2007-09-08

Anne Twomey narrates this vivid story of a young girl's journey through an unnamed country in search of her brother. Isabel has the gift of second sight - when war changes her life and separates her from her brother, it may be the only thing that can help her locate him. A fine story of a dangerous quest emerges, involving listeners in a delicate, finely honed drama.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I will buy his next book but..........2007-09-07

I wanted to love this as much as I loved "The Piano Tuner"...but it just didn't grab me. I spent much of the time trying to figure out if we were in the present day or in the future when global warming has REALLY kicked in. (I kept getting a feeling like I was reading "Friend of the Earth" meets "The Running Man".)

I also thought maybe more would be made of the "sixth sense" of the main character. All of this second guessing means that I didn't appreciate the careful drawing of Isabel and her relationship with her brother. I liked it - but not in a way that will stay with me the way Mason's first book did.

The lyrical prose and powerful sense of place.......2007-05-30

Daniel Mason's haunting THE PIANO TUNER left an indelible imprint on my memory, which helped to launch a never-to-be forgotten visit to Southeast Asia in 2004. Such can be the power of a gifted writer --- that the potency of his words can open doors and windows of the mind to seek further information on the subject, learn more about the circumstances in the book, or even to book passage to lands far away. So it was with great hopes when Mason's newest, A FAR COUNTRY, became available, and I grabbed it without hesitation.

Isabel is the 14-year-old daughter of a farm laborer and his wife, living next to a sugar cane plantation in an unnamed equatorial America country, quite likely Brazil. Her older brother Isaias is a talented violinist who chafes at the idea of being forever tied to seasonal work cutting cane or loading river barges, the occupation of villagers for generations. Drought and the increasing attacks by raiders as poverty spreads among the displaced peasants drive Isais to join the growing Diaspora of young people who drift hopefully toward the city in the south. On his infrequent returns home, he talks glowingly of gaining fame as a musician, always going back to the city and sending small amounts of money to help out his impoverished family. His visits stop, replaced by occasional phone calls, and then he simply vanishes.

Isabel yearns for her brother, and when she is needed to babysit for a few weeks for her cousin in the same city that has swallowed Isaias, she is eager to follow him. With little more than a few dollars and a meager lunch, she embarks on a journey via "parrot perch" --- riding in an open flatbed truck on a four-day journey to the South. She arrives, after much travail, in The Settlements. She has directions to her cousin's apartment in a neighborhood called Eden, a name that turns out to be a cruel joke. Eden is nothing more than an endless sprawl of tin-roofed shanties, baking in the tropical heat, indistinguishable from hundreds of other neighborhoods housing millions of displaced camposinos in pursuit of work and shelter. When she finally locates the apartment, she is distraught to find that Isaias, whom she expected to be there to greet her, has not been seen for weeks.

And so begins Isabel's search through the teeming city for her brother, with baby Hugo, her cousin's son, on her hip. Isabel was born with a second sight, an ability that frightened her parents to the degree that they had her exorcized by a holy woman. But she still feels the uncanny, compelling presence of her brother, which drives her to find him. She enters the world of people looking for "the disappeared" --- the tens of thousands who come to the city and are never heard from again. Yet she feels that he is close at hand, watching over her, and cannot abandon her quest.

A FAR COUNTRY is a bittersweet journey of the heart; a story of family love yearning for security and survival. Mason's brilliant lyrical prose carries the reader along in a mixture of fantasy and reality. While the story verges on magical realism, it is not in the mystical realm of Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Isabel Allende. Yet the surreal location and Isabel's ability to find lost objects and people whom she loves lend itself to the genre.

While A FAR COUNTRY doesn't quite achieve the magic and panoramic exotica of Mason's first triumph, it still offers the lyrical prose and powerful sense of place, which is quite enough if armchair travel to other places through a good book is your goal.

--- Reviewed by Roz Shea

As Publisher's Weekly said, "a snoozer.".......2007-05-14

Reviews by Amazon readers were very encouraging but I should have read the Publisher's Weekly review at the top of the page. That review gets it exactly right; good descriptive writing, but a bit cliched, and ultimately a snoozer. If I had not been trapped on a 10-hour flight with nothing else to read, I would have put it down half way through when I realized there was very little story, just description.

Not the Piano Tuner.......2007-05-09

As stated in many of the reviews, Mason certainly has a talent for writing truly amazing descriptions of reality; however, that is basically all this novel is. I couldn't get into the story, what there was of it. Mason's earlier novel, Piano Tuner was phenomenal in that it was not only deliciously descriptive, but it also a great story. I just didn't enjoy this story. To be frank, I found it a bit boring. Having said that, I will eagerly await Mason's next novel.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations One School at a Time

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Nobel Quality
Excellent Read
Three Cups of Tea
Three Cups of Tea Review
READ THIS BOOK TODAY!

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Fight Terrorism and Build Nations One School at a Time

Manufacturer: Tantor Media
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1400102510

Book Description

RunTime: 14 hrs, 12 CDs. The inspiring account of one man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti- American reaches of Asia.

Customer Reviews:

Nobel Quality.......2007-10-22

Greg Mortensen represents my America and he does so in vivid contrast to the politician's America that tolerates the corruption and misuse of foreign aid. This story is a must read for anyone who will ever pretend to have an opinion about how the United States of America should use its resources to make the world a better place to live.

Excellent Read.......2007-10-21

OK, so I'm an ex-Peace Corps Volunteer from the sixties; and I could be a trifle prejudiced. Regardless, this is an engrossing book. Greg Mortensen is, in many respects, Everyman. If it CAN be screwed up, ... he screws it up; but he "hangs in there" in extraordinary fashion - and works miracles. I think the guy is a perfect candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - and was inspired enough to contribute to his foundation.

Three Cups of Tea.......2007-10-21

I haven't heard a story this inspiring--ever! I have found my Christmas present for everyone high school age or over.

Three Cups of Tea Review.......2007-10-20

The account described in "Three Cups of Tea" was very effectively presented. The reader truly experiences the passion Mr. Mortenson feels about educating young people in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The narrative is convincing in its argument that only through education will we have a true opportunity to experience peace.

READ THIS BOOK TODAY!.......2007-10-20

As a little girl, my dad used to tell me there were only two things that I needed to do in this world. I needed to save my soul and I needed to make the world a better place for others to live. To this date i've been struggling with what this means and how I am to go about applying these principles in my day to day life. After reading this book I have never felt more inspired to take action. Greg Mortenson's story shows us how with vision and perseverance one can make a difference. It has the power to encourage you to do more, to question how little you've done to date and urges you to think globally and act now. This book should be mandatory reading and I will go above and beyond in recommending it to every single person I know. Without a doubt, the key to peace is sound education, in providing the opportunity of knowledge and encouraging children to think for themselves. There couldn't be a better book on the shelf today. READ THIS.

Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 (Dear America)

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the golden country
Gabby
Life's Roads as a Jewish Girl
Dreams in the Golden Country, But is it really golden?
Molly's Review for Dreams in the Golden Country

Dreams in the Golden Country: The Diary of Zipporah Feldman, a Jewish Immigrant Girl, New York City, 1903 (Dear America)
Kathryn Lasky
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0590029738

Customer Reviews:

the golden country.......2007-03-06

I thought the book was awsome. I couldn't put it down there was no part that was boring. I recccomend this book to every one. i read it so fast and i want to read it again

Gabby.......2006-11-08

Have you ever wondered how long and painful a trip across the Atlantic, would be? Leaving your home, your customs, your whole life, all left in the waves. In the book, Dreams in a Golden Country by Kathryn Lasky, a girl named Zipporah Feldman, mostly known as Zippy struggles to adjust to the American way of life. Zippy would not even have had to come to America, but in her small town in Russia Jews were being persecuted. Zippy has a father who decided to come to America first, who is becoming more American everyday. Zippy has a mother who refuses to leave her old ways, and two sisters, one named Tovah who is obsessed with politics, and the other, Miriam who falls in love with a Catholic firefighter. Zippy has to start in 1st grade, since she had never gone to an American school before, but she eventually gets to the grade she should be in. Zippy is the only family member who was allowed to go to school. I like this book because you get to see the easy and difficult times in an immigrant girl's life during the 1800's. I recommend this book to someone who like stories in diary entry form.

Life's Roads as a Jewish Girl.......2006-03-08

Life's Roads as a Jewish Girl

Zipporah Feldman (Zippy) comes to America with her Jewish family. They came from Zarichka. This book was the diary of Zipporah. After coming to America they all have found some sort of dream in this new country. What was it about America that makes you like this, having big hopes and dreams. Her beloved sister has gone away with the guy she loves, who is not a Jewish boy. Mama gets mad ands pretends top mourn over her daughter like she is dead. The family has fallen apart. Zippy is sad. Something happened to one of her friends. She wants to fly an airplane like the first two brothers did. Or be an actress. She had dreams to look up to.

I really liked this book. Because it was a diary. It was interesting and I liked it a lot. Because she wrote in it almost all the time, it was like a story of her life. Another good diary book that I enjoyed was The Diary of Patrick Seamus Flaherty. I like diary books because they are like a life story and very interesting. These books are different diary's and people. But both are excellent books to read!

Dreams in the Golden Country, But is it really golden?.......2006-03-08

Zippoah is a jewish girl coming to America to meet her Father in New York City. They come to New York City from A small village in Russia. They come for a new life away from all the attacks that are going on in Russia. Zipporah starts a diary of what is going on in the new country she is in. SHe Starts school, Makes firends, and new ideas come to her family that they would have never dreamed of thinking about in Russia. Some thoughts are good & some are bad & some frighten her mother. Her mother is a person who likes to stick to old customs but she starts to add some new ones once she is more comfortable with the New country she is in.
Her father is a very nice man who played the violin very well and was a photographer. Zipporah has two sisters Meriam & Tovah. Tovah is a more seriouse and political person she is also the oldest of the three. Mariam is a very romantic girl, she is the middle child. Mariam ends up falling in love with a cathlic boy and her mother is furious when she finds out that they got secretly married.In Zipporah, or Zippy as her firends call her, has to learn how to read & write in english. At School Zipporah recites poems and learns many new things at school. Zippora's life gets better at some points and bad at some points. But let me ask you how would you feel in her shoes?

Molly's Review for Dreams in the Golden Country.......2005-05-10

Dreams of the Golden Country
By Kathryn Lasky

(Publication: 1998 by Scholastic Inc.) (188 pages) (Genre: Historical fiction)

In summary the book Dreams in the Golden Country was an extremely good book. The book takes place in New York City, 1903. In the book there is a Yetish Jewish family and they live in Russia. The dad of the Feldman family immigrated into the United to States to earn money and buy a place for the family when they came. He worked in a sweatshop factory and had bought an apartment that was shared with an elderly border. When the family immigrated over months later they found that the "papa" they knew and loved had changed. He had cut off this side locks, stopped playing the violin, and did not celebrate any Jewish holidays anymore. Sara, the mom was very upset along with the three children, Zipporah, the youngest, Miriam, the middle child and Tovah the oldest. They were not all impressed with the small unlit apartment either but they had to deal with. As the book went on Zipporah who is keeping the journal is going through school and working hard to learn English along with the rest of the family. The times are pretty smooth until they start to fall apart when Miriam runs away and gets married to a non Jew and the family pretends she's dead. Then more problems come as mama is pregnant and a close friend dies. Times eventually get smooth again and the family resolves their problems and starts their "real" life in America.
I was attracted to this book by the part of the title "Golden Country" it made me wonder what the author was talking about, also the fact that is was a diary.
The main character of the book is Zipporah who is the writer of the journal. Her two friends Blu and Yitzy are immigrant also that have been in America longer than Zippy and her family. The Feldman family, papa, mama, Tovah, and Miriam. The conflict in the book is how the family has to manage being in a new country and not knowing the language there.
My opinion about this book is that the author made a real situation interesting. She made it seem like you were in the book. Very descriptive and hard to put down. I believe the author achieved the purpose of writing this book. The book was powerful, strong, and good and I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a truly amazing story. I would rate this book as a pretty easy read.
The lesson that is taught in this book is that even though life's journey is the most difficult ride you'll ever be on you have to be yourself and stay true to your friends, family and the true you. You also need to appreciate what you have and not take anything for granted.

Strawberry Girl 60th Anniversary Edition (Trophy Newbery)

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Strawberry Girl
Srawberrygirl
Strawberry girl
Berries for Birdie
NeShonda Strawberry sweetness

Strawberry Girl 60th Anniversary Edition (Trophy Newbery)

Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064405850
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Book Description

The land was theirs, but so were its hardships

Strawberries -- big, ripe, and juicy. Ten-year-old Birdie Boyer can hardly wait to start picking them. But her family has just moved to the Florida backwoods, and they haven't even begun their planting. “Don't count your biddies 'fore they're hatched, gal young un!” her father tells her.

Making the new farm prosper is not easy. There is heat to suffer through, and droughts, and cold snaps. And, perhaps most worrisome of all for the Boyers, there are rowdy neighbors, just itching to start a feud.

Customer Reviews:

Strawberry Girl.......2005-07-15

Today I just finished reading a book called Strawberry Girl. It is a very good book. It is a John Newbery Medal book by Lois Lenski. Birdie Boyer is ten years old when she moves to Florida with her family. It is not easy to start a new farm especially when they have troubles like hard snow storms, terrible fires, and especially their horrid neighbors. I can't name a specific part that is my favorite because I really enjoyed it all.

Srawberrygirl.......2005-01-27

It was a very good book! It got exciting sometimes and sad other times. That is why Iliked this book.

Strawberry girl.......2005-01-11

Book Review of Strawberry Girl

The title of my book is strawberry girl. My book is fiction and I don't know if she wrote any other novels. I thought this book was kind of weird because it had an accent to it like (howdy yawl) so I was thinking of dropping it but I didn't so it was ok I guess. Oh and the author is Lois Lenski.
This book is about a girl and a boy. That like each other but their parent doesn't let them be together because of their differences. But they really like each other and they see each other by secret. And their parents don't find out until a while
The characters are very believable because of how the characters act and reflect their feelings because of how they react to things and their feelings to the problems!
I really do not know the author of my book. All I know is that she writes books. And one of them is Strawberry Girl the story was sort of easy. And kind of hard at the same time but the story in general was ok! I say this because that is what the book says.
I thought this book was good because of the wording source and how the character s act I think people that are from the west would love this book and specially people that have that sort of accent.

Berries for Birdie.......2004-11-04

I hereby nominate Lois Lenski's 1946 Newbery Award winning book, "Strawberry Girl" for the Most-Misleading-Cover-Art-And-Title Award of the 20th century. Picking up this story, I was fairly certain that this tale would be a cutesy little number about a girl who picks strawberries for fun. On the cover, after all, you see a little blond barefooted child clutching a cache of yummy red fruit as she walks along in her sunbonnet. I was anticipating Strawberry Shortcake. What I got was "Tobacco Road" for kids. An oddly shocking delight.

Lenski prefaces this book with an explanation of Florida "Crackers". Personally, I've never heard this term used as anything but a base insult. Lenski, however, seems to think that the phrase is deserving of pride. Concentrating on the hardworking rural natives of Florida, she gives a little background on the history of these people in an effort to, "present vivid, sympathetic pictures of the real life of different Americans, against authentic backgrounds of diverse localities". In this case, Lenski interviewed "Crackers" on her own time and used their stories (watered down, as was appropriate) to write this book. The result is a seething concoction of barely contained violence and danger, centered on the lives of two very different Florida Cracker families.

The Boyers have just moved into the old Roddenberry house, and they've got big plans. Originally from Marion County, Carolina, the family attempts to settle into their new life and make friends with their neighbors. Unfortunately, those neighbors include Sam Slater. A nasty man with a penchant for drunkenness, Sam's just the kind of guy who doesn't mind causing his fellow man a bit of trouble once in a while. When the wild hogs and cows of the Slaters start eating the Boyer family's crops, tensions begin to rise between the two households. The Boyers are good hardworking people with pride and bright ideas. The Slaters could be categorized as white trash, never lifting a finger to feed their own animals and jealously coveting those nice things their neighbors have. Our hero of the story, Birdie Boyer, has her own problems dealing with Shoestring Slater, a boy roughly her age who's just as likely to brag or throw a snake on a girl's hat as he is help keep his father's pigs out of trouble or lament his own lack of education.

Lenski does an interesting thing with the beginning of this book. She begins it through the point of view of seven-year-old Essie Slater, leading you to believe that she herself will be the heroine of this tale. As you slowly come to the realization that her father is not the usual wise/good/loving pop found in most 1945 children's books, the text suddenly switches to the point of view of Birdie Boyer and Essie is never heard from again. Lenski's characters aren't as cardboard cut-outish as they first appear either. At the start, the Boyers seem good and the Slaters bad. Then odd occurrences make you begin to doubt this assumption. Mr. Boyer, in an attempt to teach Shoestring Slater a lesson, whips the boy harshly in front of his mother and sisters (who, understandably, are frightened and furious by this violence). Mr. Boyer is also prone to killing his neighbor's pigs if they get in his way, even sometimes cutting off their ears as a sign. He won't even create a path for Slater's cattle herd to reach the nearest water source, instead fencing up the area and getting mad when it's cut down. The Slaters also win your affection at odd moments. Birdie is quick to blame Shoestring for anything he does wrong, but the boy is a good egg in a bad situation. He has to juggle his family's expectations while figuring out for himself what the right and wrong actions he should take really are.

A lot of this book is enjoyable partly because it goes the "Little House On the Prairie" route and explains the day-to-day goings on of the Boyers' lives in interesting ways. In what other children's book will you learn exactly how to grind sugar cane and pull it for fun afterwards? Or the ins and outs of raising strawberries in naturally sandy soil? What other book explains the intricacies of Florida weather in the spring and summer? Or tells you how to create roses out of paraffin? Part of the charm of "Strawberry Girl" is in describing how the old Florida pioneers did it. Less impressive are Lenski's pictures. It was with a heavy heart that I discovered that Lenski considered herself an artist first and a novelist second. That's too bad because the illustrations in this tale are particularly poor. I just couldn't like 'em and I suspect they'll easily deter many a prospective boy reader with their girlyness.

For a surprisingly dour and sharpely written novel about roughing it, definitely try "Strawberry Girl". You might find that the ending suffers from being a little too pat (there's a happy finish there that jars with the realism of the rest of the text) but all in all it's still a very interesting read. For a good Florida based kid's book, both this and Carl Hiaasen's, "Hoot" are excellent choices. A sobering but enjoyable tale.

NeShonda Strawberry sweetness.......2004-05-06

Strawberry Girl is a good book. I enjoyed it because of all the characters and excitment. The characters gave me a good idea of life a long time ago. I don't think I would have liked to lived in those times. Birdie Boyer worked very hard trying to be a strawberry girl. She had lots of chores to do each day plus go to school. The family worked hard too, things changed for the family when the Slaters came to visit. Birdie knew the Slaters would cause trouble for her family. The family pulled together and things turned out fine.

The Prince and the Yankee: The Tale of a Country Girl Who Became a Princess

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A larger than life tale from the young American Republic

The Prince and the Yankee: The Tale of a Country Girl Who Became a Princess
Robert N. White
Manufacturer: I. B. Tauris
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1860648975

Book Description

Beautiful, vivacious, and fearless, Agnes Leclerc was twenty-one years old when she met Prince Felix Salm, a Prussian officer in the Union Army at the outbreak of the U.S. Civil War. Their marriage took Agnes from smalltown America to battlegrounds around the world and finally to the royal palaces of Europe. The Prince and the Yankee is a Cinderella story that goes beyond happily ever after to show how strong Cinderella actually became.

Customer Reviews:

A larger than life tale from the young American Republic.......2004-06-29

This gem of a book deserves to be read by more people. Ostensibly this book is the story of a woman born in New England who goes on to become a princess in Germany and along the way play an important role in both the US Civil War and Mexican Civil War.

But this book is more than just a simple biography of a remarkable woman. It gives the reader a very good sense of the US as a young Republic and the type of society it was then.

It is interesting to read, for example, that on the eve of Civil War, the US, a Republic which was suspicious of a large standing army, had an army of only 50,000 men and had to depend partly on imported professional soldiers from Europe to sustain its war effort.

Or that The White House was not an imperial place in those days and had open house parties for its citizens, some of whom were in the habit of snipping off bits of curtains as souvenirs.

Robert White has done his research well, telling the story of a girl who from humble beginnings makes it to the top by sheer force of personality and a bit of luck, and doing it all in a racy, page turning, style. The story is well anchored in the social and political currents of the times, which were very much in turmoil.

The book describes in detail a cast of colorful characters ranging from a pretender to the throne of Mexico to an assortment noble and evil people from the military and the aristocracy of both Europe and the US.

The author, who hails from New England himself and who has travelled to the far corners of the world, writes with a keen eye for details of the locations and characters. One can discern in the book a sense of regret at the passing of an age, which for whatever its faults, was a more gracious era than the one we live and where people took their duties and responsibilities seriously, instead looking for reasons to evade them.

The maxim for a good story teller has always been that he should "show and not tell". This book, by weaving the story of a real woman, educates us in conditions of nineteenth century Europe, America, and Mexico more than any history book that I have read.

Readers who are interested in the formative years of the American republic, as well as those who are looking for a good story are well advised to go out and buy this book.

Amazon.com

Ian McEwan's Booker Prize-nominated Atonement is his first novel since Amsterdam took home the prize in 1998. But while Amsterdam was a slim, sleek piece, Atonement is a more sturdy, more ambitious work, allowing McEwan more room to play, think, and experiment.

We meet 13-year-old Briony Tallis in the summer of 1935, as she attempts to stage a production of her new drama "The Trials of Arabella" to welcome home her older, idolized brother Leon. But she soon discovers that her cousins, the glamorous Lola and the twin boys Jackson and Pierrot, aren't up to the task, and directorial ambitions are abandoned as more interesting prospects of preoccupation come onto the scene. The charlady's son, Robbie Turner, appears to be forcing Briony's sister Cecilia to strip in the fountain and sends her obscene letters; Leon has brought home a dim chocolate magnate keen for a war to promote his new "Army Ammo" chocolate bar; and upstairs, Briony's migraine-stricken mother Emily keeps tabs on the house from her bed. Soon, secrets emerge that change the lives of everyone present....

The interwar, upper-middle-class setting of the book's long, masterfully sustained opening section might recall Virginia Woolf or Henry Green, but as we move forward--eventually to the turn of the 21st century--the novel's central concerns emerge, and McEwan's voice becomes clear, even personal. For at heart, Atonement is about the pleasures, pains, and dangers of writing, and perhaps even more, about the challenge of controlling what readers make of your writing. McEwan shouldn't have any doubts about readers of Atonement: this is a thoughtful, provocative, and at times moving book that will have readers applauding. --Alan Stewart, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

On the hottest day of the summer of 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis sees her older sister Cecilia strip off her clothes and plunge into the fountain in the garden of their country house. Watching Cecilia is their housekeeper’s son Robbie Turner, a childhood friend who, along with Briony’s sister, has recently graduated from Cambridge.

By the end of that day the lives of all three will have been changed forever. Robbie and Cecilia will have crossed a boundary they had never before dared to approach and will have become victims of the younger girl’s scheming imagination. And Briony will have committed a dreadful crime, the guilt for which will color her entire life.

In each of his novels Ian McEwan has brilliantly drawn his reader into the intimate lives and situations of his characters. But never before has he worked with so large a canvas: In Atonement he takes the reader from a manor house in England in 1935 to the retreat from Dunkirk in 1941; from the London’s World War II military hospitals to a reunion of the Tallis clan in 1999.

Atonement is Ian McEwan’s finest achievement. Brilliant and utterly enthralling in its depiction of childhood, love and war, England and class, the novel is at its center a profound–and profoundly moving–exploration of shame and forgiveness and the difficulty of absolution.

Customer Reviews:

Action packed Saturday.......2007-10-21

Read this just before a trip to London. Amazing what happened in a 24 hour period. I enjoyed all his medical knowledge. A good read!
RJR

"For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo".......2007-10-19

Stupendously beautiful novel. I almost literally could not put this book down (an affliction caused by all magnificent stories). I became completely invested in the characters. A marvelous & gripping drama.

A Great Read!.......2007-10-19

Atonement: A NovelBeautifully written.I love a writer that so vividly brings a story to life for me.If your looking for heavy plot it wont be there.Its a story of irreversable consequences.This one will be with you for a long time.

Wonderful!.......2007-10-15

A wonderful story told by a master storyteller. I hope the movie lives up to its inspiration! I must admit, however, that I was a bit puzzled by the ending McEwan opted to take. But wonderful nonetheless.

Astounding.......2007-10-05

Many reviews of praise have previously been entered for this book. I agree with them. Quite simply, this book may be one of the best I've ever read. And what makes it even better is that it's great literature that is also very, very readable.

McEwan devotes about the first 100 pages to character development. Conceivably, that might become quite mundane to read, but I found myself drawn in, interested enough to keep reading, wanting to know more. I was richly rewarded by a wonderful, astounding story. The characters became so real to me I genuinely cared about them. I found myself relating to them personally, feeling their frustrations and anguish as events spiraled out of control. As 13 year old Briony's crime was beginning to develop, caused by youthful naievete, ignorance, and immaturity, I found myself wanting to just reach into the pages and strangle the girl to stop her from carrying out a great, irreparable injustice against innocence.

The stories within the story are told largely through the presentation of the psychology of the characters, through introspection and self reflection, presentation of their thoughts, hopes, dreams and despair. Anyone expecting to find large amounts of dialogue between the characters will be disappointed. It's simply amazing how McEwan's writing was able to absorb me into the mind of each character and how he presented the reality of their worlds and environments so eloquently. There is an incredible depth to it all.

In the end there is a twist of irony, somewhat shocking to me when I read it, even disappointing; however, upon reflection it all made sense and was quite appropriate.

I give Atonement my highest recommendations.

Average customer rating:

OK I guess...
Don't pass this one by!
Some people apparently don't get it. . .
In Country
Keep away from this book!!!

In Country (P.S.)
Bobbie Ann Mason
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060835176
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Book Description

In the summer of 1984, the war in Vietnam came home to Sam Hughes, whose father was killed there before she was born. The soldier-boy in the picture never changed. In a way that made him dependable. But he seemed so innocent. "Astronauts have been to the moon," she blurted out to the picture. "You missed Watergate. I was in the second grade."

She stared at the picture, squinting her eyes, as if she expected it to come to life. But Dwayne had died with his secrets. Emmett was walking around with his. Anyone who survived Vietnam seemed to regard it as something personal and embarrassing. Granddad had said they were embarrassed that they were still alive. "I guess you're not embarrassed," she said to the picture.

This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Customer Reviews:

OK I guess..........2007-05-18

There are some parts that make sence, but other times it seems as if you were reading a story about a teenage girl going through normal teenage stuff. Not really a great book for young kids. High school only. Mentions drugs, drinking and a unusual sexual encounter. I don't recomend it, but read it if you must.

Don't pass this one by!.......2006-11-26

This is a beautifully written book. Some may argue that it does not have a point, yet consider--did Vietnam have a point? Did teens Sam's age have a point in the mid-80's on their lazy summer vacations? Did Sam have any real point in mind in finding out more about her late father? No. The beauty of this book lies in discovery--of the past, of the present, and the future. Mason's characters are rich with personality, humor, and emotion as they each journey to discover something more than what today holds. A must read for anyone interested reading the best of American literature.

Some people apparently don't get it. . . .......2006-05-19

After reading numerous reviews that refer to this book as "boring," I felt I needed to speak up against some of the semi-literate reviewers.

"In Country" is not an action novel. It's not meant to be a moral guide to living as a teenager. It's more than that, a complex, beautiful novel with multiple threads: about growing up, idenitity, place, war, and legacy. Mason is excellent at capturing the time and place of Western Kentucky; even though the town is never named, I'm certain she's writing about Mayfield, near where my husband grew up.

If you can't pass high school English, you probably won't enjoy "In Country." If you can appreciate a complex, emotional novel, one that makes you think, then this book is a modern classic.

In Country.......2005-08-19

In Country, how can I describe this book? In four words crappy piece of garbage; am so unfortunably forced to read this literature for school, and i've got too say, to give it two thumbs up you'll have to read it 8 times. I agree this book could be a very good book if they stood with the plot in part 1, but Tom,Sam, and Lonnies life story just isn't interesting. Look at their names, there too basic. Too tell you the truth Kentucky is boring, the books boring, and the author is boring. You have to drink coffee to read this book; the real downside is that the coffee will end up costing more than the book. My advise to all you readers is to jack the book from Barnes and Noble,Borders or photo copy it, save the money for the coffee because your gonna need it.

Keep away from this book!!!.......2005-08-14

If I could I would have given this book zero stars. It was a terrible burden put upon me to finish this book which truly has no point. Most of it is just mindless rambling and the rest was the idiotic main character worrying about Agent Orange in every other sentence. I had to read this book for school and my advice to anyone that has to do the same is to just take a zero on the assignment because it is not worth reading this book. Its basically about this hippie girl who gets drunk and stoned and tries to seduce someone who is at least 14 years older than her. The guy was at war before she was even born. The plot in this book is terrible if there even was one. I realize not every book has a plot it might just have a point to get across but this book had neither. It was a waste of paper for anyone to write this book. I wouldn't be surprised if this book made someone kill themself. Trust me it's worth a zero on the assignment to not read this book.

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The Song of Mu Lan
My favorite version of the Mu Lan legend
Mulan , beautiful warrior princess
Amazing-this tale shows what the human spirit can do!

Song of Mu Lan
Jeanne M. Lee
Manufacturer: Hand Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1886910006

Customer Reviews:

The Song of Mu Lan.......2000-07-25

In the US, most people came to the legend of Mu Lan via or following the Disney version, which was, for a change, amazingly close to the source material. In China, this story is as well known as George Washington and his cherry tree is in America. I was quite taken with the Disney movie, and went looking for books of the story. Many books later, in both English and Chinese, I have come to regard this version as the best of all. The translation is excellent, the drawings nothing short of captivating. My children, now four to fourteen, all enjoy hearing me read this book aloud, and I have not grown tired of reading it. There are many small true things in this book which may not be readily striking to the casual Western reader, but to those who have studied or lived in China, the story makes a great deal of sense, both in the details and in the broad message of the story.. I can't heap enough praise on this book. It is perfect in every way, all the details are just right.

My favorite version of the Mu Lan legend.......1998-07-11

The illustrations are beautiful! This is an authentic presentation of the ancient folk ballad of Mu Lan. The translation adheres closely to the original Chinese text. This is simultaneously the great merit and the great fault of this translation, since the original text is allusive and elliptical in its phrasing. For example, the ancient text appears to have several speakers, but it is not always clear who is speaking at any moment. Because of this, the English translation is at times unclear. The imagery of Jeanne Lim's lean interpretation of this poem is nevertheless powerful and rich, comparable to Han Frankel's translation of this poem, and quite a relief from the excesses of Arthur Waley. I recommend it highly.

Mulan , beautiful warrior princess.......1998-04-20

The story of Mu Lan is the chinese woman warrier fairy tale that describes a young girl that is capable and courageous. Her father has no elder son, so she disguises herself as a boy and joins up when they call her father's name. The original fairy tale poem is reproduced in poetry, both in chinese and english. The calligraphy is artfully done and the story rings genuine. The words are faithfully reproduced to convey the original meaning. It is a book you can display on your coffee table or read over and over to your children. The beautiful illustrations are done in watercolor on silk and are lush and expressive. Because of her service to the emperor, she is rewarded. But she only asked to go home after 10 years of valor. They welcome her like a lost child and hold a feast in her honor where she surprises family and comrades alike with her real identity. This is a wonderful book to teach girls that they can be anything they want and not lose their identity. And it is humerous when she reveals herself. The chinese proverb at the end states that when two rabbits run together, no one can tell which is male or female. The original text was written in AD 420-589, and it can be considered one of the first statements of female independence in a society that is proud of sons over daughters. I know it gave me and my daughters pride to be Chinese women and the sense that we can be both beautiful and strong. The book is a good teaching tool but it can also be enjoyed purely for the artwork and calligraphy. I would recommend this book highly to all girls everywhere and the action and surprise will surely delight young boys as well. It is no wonder that Disney chose this book.

Amazing-this tale shows what the human spirit can do!.......1998-04-12

Mu Lan, will intrigue boys and girls alike. Her mission to provide safety and refuge for others, does not come without a price. She faces alot of misundersood culture barriers-what one expects from a daughter or a son! This book has some thing for everyone, with a powerful message to all, about what the human spirit can accomplish. Disney is making this story into a movie in June of this year! It's message will effect all!

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A Mexican Fairytale
Great cultural twist to Cinderella!
A Mexican Cinderella Story.....

Adelita

Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142401870

Book Description

Hace mucho tiempo—a long time ago—there lived a beautiful young woman named Adelita. So begins the age-old tale of a kind-hearted young woman, her jealous stepmother, two hateful stepsisters, and a young man in search of a wife. The young man, Javier, falls madly in love with beautiful Adelita, but she disappears from his fiesta at midnight, leaving him with only one clue to her hidden identity—a beautiful rebozo— shawl. With the rebozo in place of a glass slipper, this favorite fairy tale takes a delightful twist. Tomie dePaola's exquisite paintings, filled with the folk art of Mexico, make this a Cinderella story like no other.

Customer Reviews:

A Mexican Fairytale.......2007-05-29

Adelita is a Mexican Cinderella at the mercy of her cruel stepmothers and stepsisters. You know the story. The difference is that Mr. de Paola uses Mexican culture to breathe new life into a often tired old story. The result is a beautifully witten and illustrated adaptation rich with language and culture that makes it a true joy to read to my little ones.

My four year old daughter loves this story and has me check it out from the library over and over again. (I think it's time to buy her her own copy.) I especially love reading the Spanish phrases which not only educates, but makes the story even more authentic. You will enjoy this tremendously.

Great cultural twist to Cinderella!.......2005-10-27

This is a wonderful book for teaching the familiar unit of "Cinderella Around the World." I read it to my class and they loved it. This book also provides wondeful cultural references about Latin American culture, especially Mexican culture. I am Mexican and I felt that it was authentic. Additionally it has some Spanish phrases you can teach children or at least introduce the concept. The illustrations are also beautiful.

A Mexican Cinderella Story............2002-11-08

Poor Adelita. Her mother died in childbirth, her adoring father soon remarried a mean and jealous woman with two awful daughters, and then he unfortunately die, too. Adelita was now all alone in the world, living with an unloving, cruel family. Soon, she was relegated to the position of servant and sent to live in the kitchen, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of her stepmother's and stepsisters' every want, wish, and need. One day an invitation arrived for a fiesta at Senor Gordillo's hacienda to celebrate the homecoming of his son, Javier..... Tomie dePaola takes the old and familiar Cinderella story, and gives it a clever and humorous, south of the border twist. This is a much more realistic retelling. There's no pumpkin coach, fairy godmother, or glass slipper, but the magic of the Cinderella theme shines through with charm and wit. Mr dePaola's lively text is heartwarming and engaging, and sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases. But it's his vibrant and expressive artwork that really make this picture book stand out and sparkle. Each page is a feast for the eyes, filled with warm colors, dazzling Mexican folk art designs, and marvelous eye-catching detail. Young and old alike, will want to linger and explore each illustration before turning the page. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Adelita is a wonderful addition to the collection of Cinderella stories. This is Tomie dePaola at his very best, and a must-have for all home libraries.

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story of an elderly woman leading a full and happy life

The Old Woman Who Loved to Read
John Winch
Manufacturer: Holiday house
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0823412814

Customer Reviews:

story of an elderly woman leading a full and happy life.......2000-12-31

Based in Australia, an old woman moves to the country, alone, in search of a quiet, calm life and hopes for more time to read. She has lots of chores, gardening, harvesting, canning, etc. and she is so busy that she only has time to read in the winter months. Sharing the house are farm animals and wild animals indigenous to Australia: koala, platypus, etc. We see the change of seasons from cold to blazing hot summer to the autumn rainy season and flooding. Happy tale of a busy woman. It is a bit strange that the wild animals are hanging around insider her house. If you are looking to expose your child to Australian animals this will be a fun read for you.

This story does show that an elderly gray-haired woman can find happiness and lead a full life, being both mentally active and physically active, and can live what is sometimes a physically challenging life in the country. Portrays a self-sustaining woman in a positive light. There are not many images of elderly women leading such a life available in children's books--this is a rare subject.

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