Product Description
8 hours 31 minutes, 6 cassettes

Shiloh
Read by Peter MacNicol
Eleven-year-old Marty Preston loves to spend time up in the hills behind his home near Friendly, West Virginia.But one summer Sunday, Marty comes across something different on the road just past the old Shiloh schoolhouse-a young beagle-and that's when the trouble begins.

Saving Shiloh
Henry Leyva
Marty Preston wonders why it is that despite Judd Traver's attempts to redeem himself everyone is still so willing to think the worst of him.But Marty's parents and with some trepidation, Marty himself, persist in their attempts to be good neighbors and to give Judd a second chance.Now that Marty has Shiloh, maybe he can help Judd to take care of his other dogs.Then again, maybe folks are right—there's no way a Judd Travers can ever change for the good.

Shiloh Season
Read by Michael Moriarty
After Marty Preston worked so hard to earn the dog, Shiloh, he had hoped that his troubles with Judd Travers were over. He could not rescue all the dogs that Judd mistreated, but since Shiloh was the one who ran away and came with him, Shiloh was the one he loved.Judd, however, has other problems.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"The Moral Maturing of Marty Preston"
The children's novel Shiloh is about a young boy, Marty Preston, who encounters a stray dog on one of his summer adventures through the West Virginia countryside.Marty befriends the dog only to find out that he belongs to Judd Travers, a hunter who abuses his dogs. Knowing in his heartthat he cannot return the dog he has named Shiloh, Marty cares for the doghimself and eventually ends up working to buy Shiloh from Judd. Throughout this story, the character of eleven-year-old Marty goes througha metamorphosis as he develops from innocence to maturity with anunderstanding that life is not always just, and adult responsibility iscomplicated. At the beginning of the story, Marty is just an ordinary childenjoying a summer of frolicking in the hills of West Virginia with his .22rifle. His moral development begins when he sees Shiloh for the first timeand realizes he has been abused because of the dog's reluctant and almostfearful nature. After Marty decides to keep Shiloh, his internalconflicts begin when first he is forced to deal with the issue of legalityversus morality. He knows that Shiloh legally belongs to Judd; however,Marty knows that the dog will end up being starved or even killed if hereturns to his owner.Secondly, Marty feels anxious for deceiving hisfamily. He has kept Shiloh a secret, and he has used food to feed Shilohthat the family needs.Marty feels great remorse for the pitifulimpression he gives others of his family as he asks Mrs. Howard for extracookies and Mr. Howard for scraps of cheese; however, he feels Shiloh'swell-being is worth his family's reputation for being poor. The last"internal conflict" that Marty wrestles with is the issue ofwhether the dog is worth the hard labor Marty has to give to Judd in orderto keep Shiloh. Judd Travers makes him slave away, almost unfairly, to winthe legal rights of the dog. Throughout this novel, Marty learns the valueof responsibility and all that it entails along with the costs of doingwhat is morally right. Jeanne Harms and Lucille Lettow propose that,"By dialoguing with oneself the reader brings different inneraudiences into the reading experience, thus expanding the possibilities forcreating meaning" (Harms 210).By analyzing Marty's characterdevelopment, it is evident to the reader that these "internalvoices" cause the protagonist to become a strong and successfulcharacter, and therefore by reading this book, the reader deals with the"inner voices" along with Marty. This novel forces the reader,child or adult, to battle out similar situations and, in effect, gain farmore from the book than just a simple moral. This in turn, causes readersto grow personally by relating to the situations of conflict such as lyingto family or doing what is right versus what is legal. By dialoguing withoneself the reader brings different inner audiences into the readingexperience (Harms 210). Marty's "internal conflict" is thedriving force behind his character development ... Read more

Product Description
Cold Sassy Tree, Olive Ann  Burns unforgettable story of a Georgia town at the  turn of the century, has captivated millions of  readers with its tale of Grandpa Blakeslee, his young  bride Miss Love, and the irrepressible  fiteen-year-old Will Tweedy. Throughout her long battle with  cancer, Olive Ann Burns worked passionately on a  sequel to this magical book. Only during her final  days did she realize she wouldn't complete it,  dictating from her hospital bed her wishes that the  finished chapters be published.

The result  is Leaving Cold Sassy - a  portait of the grown-up Will Tweedy; of the feisty  young schoolteacher who captures his heart; of the  town that has claimed a place in the American  imagination; and, in a fascinating reminiscence by her  editor, of Olive Ann Burns, a writer who didn't get  a chance to finish her extraordinary tale.

  Complete with Olive Ann Burn's notes for later  scenes and chapters exactly as she wrote them,  Leaving Cold Sassy is a final, loving  goodbye to Cold Sassy, Georgia.


From the Trade Paperback edition. ... Read more

Product Description
Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: L. Brent Bozell Iii, Susan Orr, Peter Macnicol, Katherine, Crown Princess of Yugoslavia, Larry Arnhart, Ernie Hawkins, Trish Murphy, Shachelle Devlin Manning, Jason Henderson, Carl E. Olson, Patrick Madrid, Mackubin Thomas Owens, Tan Parker, Gary Schmitt, James R. Webb, Joseph Patrick Kelly, John Mccaa, John C. Eastman. Excerpt:Carl E. Olson (born April 17, 1969) is an American , non-fiction author. Olson was born in Hot Springs, Montana , and raised in Plains, Montana . After graduating from high school in 1987, he studied graphic design and fine art for two years at Phoenix Institute of Technology and Northwest Nazarene College . He then attended Briercrest Bible College in Saskatchewan, Canada from 1989-91, graduating with an associate's degree. In the fall of 1991 he moved to Portland, Oregon, where he worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. After marrying in 1994, he converted to the Catholic Church in 1997, from what he describes as a Protestant fundamentalist organisation. In 2000, he graduated from the University of Dallas with a master's degree in theological studies. His first book was Will Catholics Be "Left Behind"? A Catholic Critique of the Rapture and Today s Prophecy Preachers (Ignatius Press, 2003). Olson's second book The Da Vinci Hoax: Exposing the Errors in The Da Vinci Code was co-authored with medievalist Sandra Miesel and was published in June 2004. He also wrote the Introduction to Pied Piper of Atheism: Philip Pullman and Children's Fantasy (Ignatius Press, 2008), which was co-authored by Miesel and Pete Vere. Olson is the editor of Ignatius Insight, the online magazine of Ignatius Press and moderator of Insight Scoop, the Ignatius Press weblog. He is a frequent contributor to the Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor , for which he writes a week... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (52)

What One Might Expect From America's Greatest Science Fiction Writer
Issac Asimov's Nemesis follows the same archetype of much of his work. His writing has a distinct and definite, style and form. It's science fiction, yes, but science fiction centered around two things; people and situations. Asimov will introduce a problem, and have his characters try to solve the problem, so often what your left with in an Asimov novel is not the drama of petty, interpersonal affairs (although there is some of that to round out the characters) but the drama which arises when different people argue different views on the best way to solve problems of macro proportions. Asimov was not a great writer of prose; his aim was to write as clearly and concisely as possible, and therefore, reading an Asimov novel is often an easy, enjoyable read, this one being no exception. If your a fan of Asimov's fiction, you'll definitely enjoy this one, but if you've never read any Asimov, I'd suggest starting with something like the Foundation series, to get you "hooked" - although this is a fine standalone novel.

And of course, there is a subtle bit of philosophy in there - always a plus when reading Asimov.

Imaginative scientific speculation about space travel; weak characterization.
Many or most Asimov fans consider "Nemesis" to be one of Asimov's weaker efforts, and I am very much inclined to agree with this assessment.The characters in this novel have a peculiar one-dimensional feel to them, even for Asimov characters (which are rarely particularly memorable, albeit he has produced an Elijah Bailey).Marlene, Fisher, Wendel are all eminently forgettable, and as always, even Asimov's villains are not particularly villainous in this novel.For all that, this one is at least readable--as always Asimov's prose is pretty good and he does weave a story that captures the reader's interest.

Asimov's speculations about Marlene's perceptiveness and the nature of the organism on the Planet Erythro are remarkably unconvincing, and in the end, irritatingly implausible.Similarly, the notion that the most progressive elements of mankind would be the inhabitants of space stations struck me as farfetched, albeit interesting.

What almost redeems this one is Asimov's speculation about faster-than-light space travel, and the other scientific controversies contained in this novel.Asimov is at his best when speculating about future scientific discoveries, and that is the best part of this novel.

I bought this novel in Kindle format.Don't ask me why I could not find it on Amazon when it was time to review it.Anyway, the Kindle formatting is good, with only the occasional misspelled word.

Asimov fans (I am an enthusiastic fan myself) will enjoy this flawed but readable novel.RJB.

Man never learns ...
Nemesis. Interesting name for this book and for the star which is given that name. Not knowledgeable about Greek mythology (or any other kind), I resorted to Wikipedia:

"The word Nemesis originally meant the distributor of fortune, neither good nor bad, simply in due proportion to each according to his deserts; then, nemesis came to suggest the resentment caused by any disturbance of this right proportion, the sense of justice which could not allow it to pass unpunished."

In this story of how an accidental discovery of another possibly life-giving star led a small group of Settlers - Earth near-space colony residents - to use a technology they had developed to allow close to faster-than-light speed to leave the solar system. This particular Settlement named Rotor did this stealthily because they wanted to escape the horrible existence that Earth had come to represent. It would take them a few years to reach this newly discovered star - a Red Dwarf - that was half the distance to Alpha Centauri which, at that time, was considered the next closet star. They knew that Earth would eventually extend its tendrils but hoped by the time that Earth had also discovered Nemesis and developed the technology to travel as fast, that they would be prepared to deflect any onslaught.

They were correct. However, the only planet supported by Nemesis, named Mega, is actually a gas-giant, but it's moon, Erythro, looks habitable.The book is about the way man decides to handle overcrowding. The result of space colonization is entrenched discrimination usually associated with race and/or other genetic characteristics. Each colony becomes very closed both as a society and in physical reality as the colonies are actually man-made stations. Settlers learn to live within walls - both mental and physical. In addition, because the settlements are safe and free of poverty and crime, they also have all the brain power. Earth is becoming the slums of humanity.Although these issues are never directly faced much less solved in the book, they do form the entire basis for why this movement out of the solar system was begun.

Unfortunately, along the way to Nemesis, the astronomer who discovered it, also discovered that it was moving. Nemesis was on a collision course with Earth's own sun - or at least would pass so closely that the resulting disturbances would, literally, kill the planet. Rotor's chief executive, Janus Pitt, doesn't care. He isn't going to warn Earth because Rotor would be far away and safe. In fact, it is then that the name Nemesis starts to earn its reputation - it will be the avenger for the depravity of man.Pitt just wants a place where Rotarians can be isolated and can develop the perfect society.

Ultimately those on Earth do discover both Nemesis and their impending doom. They develop true faster than light speed and a small ship takes off after Rotor. The reason, by the time this technology was developed, that they headed that way was to force proof to humanity that it was possible for such travel. Evacuating the billions on Earth to avoid disaster would require that those billions know that space had a place waiting for them. There were also retribution intentions but, as this story takes place over a time span of 15 year, that purpose died with those who held it.

Then there is Erythro itself. Barren except for microorganisms and unwelcoming due to the pink light so different and more diffuse than Earth's sun, the Rotarians built only one observation and drilling site fully enclosed in a Dome. All this is discovered by the reader via the trials and tribulations of a 15 year old girl named Marlene.

She has never "belonged' on Rotor even though she was born there. She has an almost mystical ability to read people via their expressions and mannerisms. She is not empathic - just extremely observant. Her own mother is uncomfortable around her. However, Marlene is drawn compulsively to get to Erythro. Political machinations and personal disgust by Pitt for Marlene, ultimately makes that happen. Marlene is the only human who has been able to handle the planet - others, when exposed outside the Dome, fell victim to a "plague." Come to find out this was just the result of the microorganisms' attempt to read the brains of these intruders to Erythro's domain. An accident. However, Marlene has a perfect 'brain" and can handle the communication.

When the Earthlings, including Marlene's father, finally get to Erythro, this communication method enables Erythro's 'people' to explain how Earth can avoid disaster. A happy ending... right? Well...

I really enjoyed this read. The summary and review was difficult to write because, frankly, bless her heart, Marlene was never the focus of the story - she was just a tool used to reveal the various anxieties and issues Pitt was managing.The "love stories" are only to make more readable the scenarios of possible elimination of mankind. Earth is saved from destruction by Nemesis but, as Pitt fears, that just means that Earth will spread its degeneration even further outside its own celestial borders.

Not such a happy ending after all

If it's called Nemesis, it better well be that!
This is the very first Asimov book I have ever read and perhaps it was not the greatest choice out of the hundreds he has written in his lifetime. Although it was a fairly decent story the ending was a bit too neat and tidy to live up to its name. With a title like 'Nemesis' it better be that. Unfortunately for me, I felt like the entire book was a build-up of nothing and quite a slow progression of effects. Although it was written well I found myself thinking if 'he did this...' or if 'he did that...' it would be a better tale. Also, I was strikingly surprised by the amount of detail left out with...well...everything. It was like reading a script for a film where all you need to pay attention to is the dialogue. Regardless, I liked the writing and the concept even if the ending fell back into a neat little description of just who and what is a Nemesis. I'm sure I will pick up another Asimov book eventually, just not anytime soon.

One of Asimov's best
In the 23rd century pioneers have escaped over crowded Earth. One of the colonies, Rotor, has broken away from the solar system to create its own renegade utopia orbiting an unknown red star.

15 year old Marlene is drawn to the planet orbiting the red star - and the incredible secret the planet holds.

I won't reveal too much of its content. I loved the discoveries Marlene made, regarding herself, the conspiracy and most of all the alien planet. An unforgettable book.
... Read more

Product Description
Dangerous Skies is the story of a friendship that takes root among the grasses and mud flats of the back creeks of the Chesapeake Bay. Buck Smith is descended from the settlers who came from England in the 1700s to farm Virginia's Eastern Shore, Tunes Smith from the slaves who were brought from Africa to work the Smiths' farm. They were raised together from infancy; their friendship is as true and constant as the tides. But as they have grown older, the adults around them have become more watchful, and even though Buck resists the inevitable tug of change in their lives, some changes, like the seasons, cannot be stopped. Then the sudden and horrifying events of a spring afternoon change their world forever.

Told with unsparing honesty and affection, this gripping tale of betrayal will break the listener's heart as it confronts issues of racism and hypocrisy that have plagued our country throughout its history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Dangerous Skies
It was an outstanding book that opened my eyes to things I had no idea where still happening.

Absolutely Stunning!
This book catches you from the very beginning with superior writing and a touching story.It deals with some heavy things in a powerful way.Although a bit sad, it speaks with truth and will forever be among my absolute favorite books of all time.I would highly recommend reading Dangerous Skies.

Racism
Buck and Tunes have always been best friends, even though Buck is white and Tunes is black.When Tunes' mom died when she was a baby, Buck's mom treated Tunes like her own little girl.It helps that Tunes' father works on the farm of Buck's parents.All that Buck and Tunes want is to be left alone to fish and find crabs near the water.Up until the summer they turn thirteen, that has been the case.

One day while out in Buck's boat, they find a body in the water.A friend of theirs, an older man with a family who works as a laborer on the farms nearby, is dead with his skull smashed and a bullet hole in his forehead.Tunes immediately jumps out of the boat and walks away; she doesn't want to have anything to do with this dead body.Buck tows it back to shore and tells the story of finding it, saying that Tunes was not with him at the time.He isn't sure why she doesn't want to be involved, but he will do his best to protect her.

Soon a horrible rumor is spread about Tunes, possibly in an attempt to divert attention away from their friend's killer.As things get more and more dangerous for Tunes, Buck's family backs farther and farther away from her.Buck is horrified.Could they really be so blind to the truth?

I liked that this story was truthful about racism.Bad and unfair things happened to Tunes because of her skin color, and this book didn't sugarcoat that fact.I liked that Buck continued to stand up for his friend, though, despite what others said about her.I was disappointed by the ending of the book.

Dangerous Skies
The story "Dangerous Skies" is a story based on the importance of trust and thruth in a friendship, and also in a community. Buck Smith and Tunes Smith are best friends, who have known eachother since they were born because Tunes is a decendent of slaves that worked for Buck's ancestors. There has been a serious crime commited in their town, and the sherrif is forced to believe it was Tunes who did it. Buck does all he can to help Tunes show the truth to everyone, he even goes against his parents who don't believe him.
My favorite part of the book was when Buck finds Tunes' hiding place, and she rveals to him her deepest secret. This perticular part of the book interested me because it led to many key events in the book. When Buck finds where tunes is hiding, many unknown things are revealed about the story. After this part of the book, the book gets better and better.
I would reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys reading stories that could actually happen. This book also has a mystery tied into it. If you like reading books that are hard to put down, this is a good one to choose. After reading this book, I've learned a lot about prestent day racism, and the importance of good friendships. I would not reccomend this book to someone who only likes scifi or fantasy because the two are the only genres this book does not have.

Dangerous Skies
I enjoyed reading this book.It was somewhat like a mystery and the characters were interesting.The book deals with the subject of prejudice which is something I don't agree with.I think Tunes and Kneebone were treated very unfairly and Tunes is never fully believed.Jumbo represents evil in the story while Buck and Tunes represent goodness.I was very surprised by the ending. I would recommend this book for readers between the ages of 11-14. ... Read more

Product Description
In this bestselling TSR fantasy series, the War of the Lance ends, but peace settles uneasily over the land. If Raistlin becomes a god, Crysania and her twin brother Caramon are the only ones who can save their world. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (95)

Laying the Foundations.
The Dragonlance Legends Trilogy should be considered one of the greatest if not the greatest Dungeons and Dragons based stories ever to be written in novel form.

Time of the Twins is the introductory novel to the trilogy, and was considered a renown piece of fiction from the mid-80s to the late 90s.The story is a multi-dimensional ride which builds from the original Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy.

As numerous reviews have pointed out, Time of the Twins takes two years after the events of Dragons of Spring Dawning and it chronicles the height and full of ambition of the former red-robed wizard Raistlin Majere.It is the pinnacle of this man's life, both magically, psychologically, socially, and intellectually.There have been great heroes in the Dragonlance mythos, but none were as ambitious and driven as Raistlin.The hour-glass eyed magic user now adorns the black robes, and is the most powerful man in Krynn.The world fears him, others loathe him, many respect him.At the tip of Raistlin's fingertips is a ambitious plan to challenge one of the gods of the world to take her place as a deity.In order to fullfill this plan, he must have two things.He must journey back in time where he can learn the full extent of magic and the willing help of a holy cleric of Paladine.

He finds the Cleric in the form of a women named Crysania.Crysania herself is a very religious women who see's the world in black and white.Yet, her faith is imperfect, and her views on life contradict the teachings of her religion.In the beginning of this novel she is a cold and judgemental character and throughout the trilogy her character is transformed and humbled.

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman are two of the greatest storytellers of the Dungeons and Dragons culture.They created the world of Dragonlance, a world full of adventure, romance, drama, emotion, heroes, and moments of pure brilliance.Their writing is top notch in this novel and displays the ability of writers to truely be able to flex their creative muscle.The analogies they use are picturesque and the emotions of the characters are touching.

Time of the Twins is a fantastic novel.

My only fault with the trilogy is that, in order to fully live the experience of the story one must read the Chronicles trilogy first.

New Kind of Heroes
This book starts off with Crysania (a Revered Daughter of Paladine) talking to Raistlin (a black robed wizard)trying to turn Raistlin's path and soul to one following the light. Raistlin meanwhile has plans of his own. Caramon (Raistlin's twin) once a hero of the War of the Lance has also taken a different path. Raistlin travels back in time to learn from the greatest black robed wizard to ever live Fistanditulus. Caramon and his kender friend Tasslehoff also travel to back to save Raistlin from the darkness that tries to consume his soul. Crysania follows and is determined that there is good in Raistlin's soul. Crysania wants his soul to be as pure as her own but is her soul pure? And is her faith in Paladine as strong as she wants it to be?
A thrilling novel of ups and downs for all of the characters as Caramon struggles with his past, Crysania with her faith, and Raistlin stuggles with his emotions. A twisted love story that shows the darkness and the weaknesses in every hero. This story I like especially because it shows that every hero has a weakness or a dark side. We all have a little Raistlin, Caramon, Tasslehoff, and Crysania in our hearts.

Raistlin
Raistlin's attempt at godhood and his ultimate doom in trying to alter his destiny. Everyone knows it, everyone has heard of it, and it is a must for any Dragonlance fan.

Raistlin is Evil
This book is in a trilogy depicting foul play in the brother relationship of Rastlin and Caramon. Raist by now has the black robes, of Paladine perhaps?

One of the best in the Dragnlance series
I've all the Dragonlance books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.I don't like changing authors in a series.I believe this is one of their best.It really tells a lot about Raistlin and Caramon's affection for his brother.Have fun with this read. ... Read more

Product Description
"Take up the pipe, Claudius," a voice growled near Jessie's bound head. "He's worth nothing without his pipe!"

Snatched from the docks of New Orleans, thirteen-year-old Jessie is thrown aboard a slave ship where he must play his fife so that captured slaves will "dance," to keep their muscles strong and their bodies profitable for their owners' use.

Jessie is sickened as he witnesses the horrible practices of the slave trade. But even those horrors can't compare to the one final event awaiting Jessie's witness. Can the cruelty to his fellow human beings be stopped? And will it be too late when it finally does stop?

In a stunning performance by Peter MacNicol, Paula Fox's enduring classic comes magnificently alive, with the seating truth about a period of American history we would otherwise most likely wish to forget.

"Fox has woven a spellbinding tale of suspense and survival that will horrify as well as fascinate..."

-- Library Journal (starred review)

"A story that movingly and realistically presents one of the most gruesome chapters of history, with all the violence, inhuman conditions, and bestial aspects of human nature -- exposed but never exploited in Fox's graphic, documentary prose."

-- Booklist (starred review) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (132)

Please Do Not Read This Book Lightly
First of all, from reading some of the other reviews, I have to say PEOPLE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY ARE READING! So many people seem to have missed what a gem this book is. Yes, the plot could have been a little more developed, and at times the author seemed unsure if certain characters were to be thought of as friend or foe, but it is possible that was her point. This is not a book to be read lightly if you want to fully appreciate all it has to offer.
For someone who reads well above her level, it is rare that I find a book that challenges me but The Slave Dancer did, it made me pay attention and I found it to be a nice challenge.

P.S., If you people don't like historical fiction books, as you have said in your reviews, why do you even bother to read this?!

The Slave Dancer
Very good book!This is a Newbery Award winner.I'm a retired 7th grade reading teacher.I required my students to write their book reports on Newbery winners, only.Many of my classes thoroughly enjoyed, and recommended this book.

To Dance With Slaves....
The title sais it all. The slave dancer by paula Fox is a great short for experienced readers. The andventure of the plot will catch your Attention faster than Jessie can play his pipe. The only downfall of this plot is the... Well, we will let the discovering part of the adventure to you. Even After reading this book, You will wish you could dance with slaves in and on the mnoonlight as much as i wish i could do.

The slave dancer
What I think about the book is that it great and exicting story line and my favorite part is when they get the horrible diease. The reason I like the part about the disease is because it everyone gets the horrible diease beside the captain. The second part that I like was when they got kidnapping and became slaves and they got more and more people to become slaves. The third part that I like was when they saw a cockfight. Then they notice that the coast of Africa is now coming to and end. the cool thing that I notice was when the sun had set the sky will remain the of the rope. In the beginning of the book it was talking about his mothers childhood. She remember that there was always people smoking somewhere in Massachusetts. I also read about the same author.At the end of the book when Jesse played a note on his fife he could remember the black men and women and children dancing around him. It is adventurous and very good and I hope that I can read it again. That is what I think about the book.

Excellent, thought provoking story
I teach reading to both Junior and Senior high school students so I am always looking for superior adolescent literature.The Slave Dancer, by Paula Fox, winner of the Newbery Medal for most distinguished contribution to American literature for children in 1974, is a good choice.

The novel, set in 1840, revolves around Jesse Boller, a teenage boy from New Orleans.Because Jessie enjoys playing the fife, he is kidnapped and forced to work on The Moonlight, a slave ship.His job is to play the fife while the slaves are forced to dance.I have read elsewhere that dancing the slaves supposedly kept some muscle tone during the long voyage.

We see the voyage through the eyes of young Jesse, a boy who had never thought much about slavery.Men who have compromised with evil and greed surround him and, in a way, he too has been enslaved.During the voyage, he learns about the flawed men who now control his life and the lives of the 98 slaves locked in the hold.
The novel could certainly be used in middle or high school literature, English or even history classes.It is fiction but it depicts historical events well.In my high school reading class we completed the novel in just over six weeks.The book is written for adolescent readers.Sex and violence is told of but not described in lurid detail.However, the `N' word is used to describe the slaves on multiple occasions.Because slavers, not Jesse, use the term, I feel it adds to the brutal picture of the time.A vocabulary list of nautical and archaic terms might be helpful for class reading.

This is not the kind of book you enjoy, this is the kind of book you think about.I recommend it for adolescent or young adult readers.

Kyle Pratt ... Read more

Product Description
Lucy Bondurant Chastain Venable and her now reclusive cousin Sheppard Gibbs Bondurant III, have been confidants ever since Lucy came to live with Shep's family. These two and their town has been through much over the years, and whether they can survive it together still remains to be seen....


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (43)

Wonderfully Tragic
Peachtree Road is a sweeping Southern magnum opus, centering around Old Atlanta and Buckhead. It follows the lives of Lucy and Shep Bondurant, first cousins with an incredibly close bond. The synopsis on the back may lead you to believe that it's about Lucy (even though the narration is done entirely by Shep), but in a sense it is really about neither; it's about a time and place and a generation disintegrated by its own weight and glittering "perfection." Ms. Siddons' prose is rambling and excessive and heady, much like the unconquerable honeysuckle vine whose scent seems to drift directly out of the pages. The ultimate plot may remind you of V.C. Andrew's books, but done with style, grace, and almost a little bit of wry humor. If Peachtree Road is anything, it is extremely well written.

At certain times it's almost too much: too much description, too much tragedy, too many characters and themes, too many pages left towards the inevitable conclusion that you only begin to accept around the same time Shep Bondurant does. It's almost as exhausting just to read as it is for Shep (and others) to be bathed in "Lucy-ness," but in the end I would say its worth it. The last two paragraphs may leave you scratching your head, but for myself, I've come to the conclusion that only good things followed, even if they weren't talked about (and after 800 pages, I don't think I could have mustered the energy anyway). While it's true that the book could have been honed down and chrystallized with some good editing, I would almost say that doing so would have diminished it in some way. That having been said, at least one part could have been cut out cleanly due to the impact it should have had but didn't.

My final verdict is this: I will read this book many times in the coming years, and learn something new from it each time, until it has been absorbed into my brain in all its Southern glory and tragedy and abundant summer. My review may seem like a complaint, but Peachtree Road is as vivid, alive and deliciously exhausting as Lucy Bondurant herself

A Veteran of Siddons' Novels
Apparently I am one of the unwashed minority, but I think this book is horrendously tedious and mind-numblingly boring.I've read quite a few other Siddons' novels and loved all of them, and I had greatly anticipated reading this one, but I'm now on my third try and yet I continue to find myself irritated, fidgety, and lost in a vast black hole of unnecessary verbage.I've read a bit further this third time, making it to the beginning of chapter six, but I'm greatly in need of any medication that will cure Reader's Restless Leg Syndrome.

I am a minor scholar of various types of literature, and I've taught a number of academic courses on the advanced high school level.It's not that I'm not used to reading complicated stories and/or deciphering intricate deliveries; it's just that this book is BORING.Most disappointing for me is the fact that I've quickly found myself involved with her other characters and enmeshed in her other plots.

At this point I don't want to give up and probably will try to tough it out, especially since I've read positive reviews of the book online, but, to be honest, I can't say I'd recommend this one.

memorable characters!
Although this is a book of fiction, there are important characters and events in Peachtree Road that resonateBuckhead history. I have read the book several times imbibing Siddons' lyrical and impactual prose. Her characters are so memorable and artistically drawn that when I go to Atlanta and am in the heart of Buckhead and such places referenced in the book,I think of Shep,Lucy,or Aunt Willa with astounding presents! Several of my friends read this book and countless times our conversation turns to our dear friends from Peachtree Road.

too much drama!
This was my first (and maybe last) Siddons book.Let me say that her writing is excellent, and her descriptions really put you in the story, but this was much too wordy.I sometimes thought she used unfamiliar words (my friends agreed) in order to "show off" her vocabulary -- in other words, some of her word choices were not necessary to make her point.The characters were well portrayed, but often were nearly unbelievable, over-the-top.In spite of all of this, I think I could have liked the book if it had not had so many disasters.It was a real downer for me, and for others in my book club.It was 800 pages of too much drama!However, the ending is interesting. Our book club was divided about what actually happened.Some of us thought one thing, and the rest of us thought the exact opposite. If you have the time for 800 pages, and you don't mind reading about a lot of misery, read it for the ending itself.

Epic
Love Anne Rivers Siddon stories, can't believe I missed this one written in 1988, could not put it down. ... Read more

Product Description
One hundred years have passed since the fiery Cataclysm that changed the face of Krynn forever. For one hundred years, the people of Krynn have struggled to survive. But for some, those one hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Catapulted forward in time by Raistlin’s powerful magic, Caramon and Crysania find themselves aiding the mage’s unholy quest to master the Queen of Darkness. To his dismay, Raistlin discovers along the way that the annals of Time are not so easily bent to his will. Neither are the longings of his heart.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (54)

This is my favorite book
I'm 34 and by now I've read a lot of books, classics, genre fiction, etc. - and this still is my favorite book of all time. The plot is magnificent, the characters are carefully drawn, the pace is gripping. And between all that there are some really thought provoking ideas about fate, the conflict between love and ambition, filial love, and just about every human emotion is crammed in there somewhere. I found it worlds better than the chronicles. Don't hesitate to buy this one.

Raistlin
Raistlin's attempt at godhood and his ultimate doom in trying to alter his destiny. Everyone knows it, everyone has heard of it, and it is a must for any Dragonlance fan.

great series
An excellent book and a great series quickly sent by seller very happy

One of the best books in the Dragonlance saga
War of the Twins is one of my absolute favorite books to come out of the Weis-Hickman machine.Mind-bending concepts of time travel and of the future locked in place combined with world-altering events makes for a dramatic and intense read that will keep you up late at night.It is also perhaps the most emotionally tense book in all of Dragonlance.The interactions between Raistlin and Caramon and Crysiana and Tas are fantastic. The strange love triangle between the brothers and Crysiana makes for interesting reading and also helps the reader really appreciate the emotions of the characters. Of all the characters, Raistlin in particularly really starts to reveal his true self: merciless and determined.While at times you feel like Raist must be starting to actually feel for the people that love him, it is quickly revealed that he only cares about his ultimate goal.Caramon comes into his own in this book, leading an army and realizing that he doesn't need his brother in order to live his own life.Crysiana doesn't evolve too much in this one but does grow in her sense of purpose and in her faith.Tas kind of gets left by the wayside for much of this novel, but comes back for dramatic impact on the overall story.

The only complaint I can think of is that the Dwarfgate wars were sort of skimmed over, not revealing too much detail as far as the actual battles are concerned.The leaders of the various armies and factions could have been better fleshed out, especially Kharas and the leaders of the plainsmen and hill dwarves.These are minor regrets thought and Weis and Hickman leave much to the reader's imagination which probably enhances the overall effect of the story.They focus on the main characters and the emotional battles they are going through, and that would have been taken away from some if they had included too much detail about the side stories and characters.

Overall I'd say this is one of the more mature and grim of the Dragonlance novels, without very much humor at all and a lot of tense and dark moments.The vivid characterizations of the book sold me.I'd recommend this entire trilogy to anyone in for a good emotional story.

the review
This book was great. It was a little difficalt because it went back and fourth between the characters and things that went on in the past. This book is a gory one so it would be good for 7th grade and up. It tells the tall of the twins very good. but only read it if you read the first one time of the twins. ... Read more

Product Description
There's nothing eleven-year-old Marty Preston enjoys more than spending time up in the hills behind his home near Friendly, West Virginia.

But this time is different. This time Marty sees a young beagle on the road past the old Shiloh school-house.

Marty feels sure the dog is being abused by his owner. When the dog runs away to Marty's house, his parents say he must bring him back. But it hurts Marty to return the runaway dog to his cruel master.

That's when Marty secretly decides he'll do anything to save the dog he names Shiloh.


From the Trade Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
When 11-year-old Marty Preston chances upon a mistreated beagle pupin his hometown of Friendly, West Virginia, he is not prepared for theethical questions he has to face. Should he return the dog to its owner, onlyto have the animal abused again? Should he tell his parents? Should he stealfood to help the poor creature? Marty's efforts to cope with these questionsprovides the moral backbone for this story, which is presented in a languageand manner that will be understood by third- and fourth-grade readers. Theheart and beauty of this 1992 Newbery Medal winner lies in lessons childrenwill take away with them. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (323)

My Kids Begged Me to Continue Reading...
What can I say. SHILOH is the book that had my children begging me to continue reading (boy and girl; 8 and 10). 'We don't need TV', they said, 'just don't stop reading, mommy'.

And I think they liked it because unlike many of the books we read this one had REAL tension emanating from the pages, and not just 'pretend' drama. The story is about Marty Preston, a 10 year-old living in rural West Virginia. I'm not sure of the timeframe, but Marty's family has a television and a fridge, but not a phone.

Marty's a boy, very much like my children, in that he REALLY wants a dog. Unfortunately, his family isn't in a position to afford one. BUT THEN one day he happens upon a lost beagle. The dog is skittish but eventually the two come together and it's more or less love at first sight. Only problem is that the dog belongs to another. A man name Judd, who it turns out abuses his hunting dogs -- much as he himself was abused as a child.

Judd takes 'Shiloh' back and Marty is disgusted. But then Shiloh escapes again and this time Marty resolves that he won't give him up, no matter what.

TALKING POINTS:::
SHILOH might sound like a typical boy-and-dog book, but it's not. And what sets it apart in my view is that in keeping his promise to the dog, Marty crosses all sorts of barriers of right-and-wrong. He lies, for example, even to his family and best friend, and even resorts to blackmail at one point. Something I don't think you see in most of your standard kid books. And it's these decisions, and the threat of being caught, that created the drama that hooked my children. And which served as the basis of more than one serious conversation as we discussed what Marty did that was questionable and what we would do.

Recommend this one as a good read.

Pam T~
(booksforkids-reviews)

shiloh review
I thought the book was pretty good and because the book was about a dog named Shiloh and a kid named Marty and he saved Shiloh from a guy that abuses Shiloh and his other dogs.

A Great Story of Growth and Tough Choices
This was my daughters next pick off of the Newberry Awards list.Unfortunately, I am finding that some of the content of some of the books on the Newberry list are not quite appropriate for my daughter yet.I would never censor what she reads, but the subject matter is not appropriate for a seven-year old.

Fortunately, this was not one of those books.There were things we had to talk about such as the difference between the south during that era and now.Some of the language I had to explain.Not inappropriate, just not used anymore.As a seven-year old, she would have had trouble reading this book, even though she is an advanced reader.The dialect was best read aloud by an adult or older reader.

This is the story of a boy and his dog, or rather a boy and someone elses dog.Marty is an eleven-year old boy that enjoys wandering the wilderness around his family home.One day he finds a small beagle following him around.The beagle is obviously shy, but continues to follow Marty home.Marty gains his trust and they instantly form a bond.Unfortunately when Marty's Father gets home, he insists that they must return the dog to his owner.He suspects the dog belongs to Judd Travers, a local hunter.

They drive the dog to Judd Travers' house and he confirms the dog is his and gives him a great big kick for running off.Marty is horrified.He can't understand how anyone could treat a dog that way.His mind will not let him rest.He is continuously thinking of the dog he calls Shiloh.

Shiloh runs off again, and Marty finds him.This time he is determined to save him from Judd.He knows it is wrong to lie to his parents and keep the dog even though he belongs to someone else, but he can't let Shiloh go back.The lies eat at him daily.He hates lying.

The rest of the story is about the struggle Marty fights within himself.He knows there are wrongs on both sides...but how can he choose?I will leave the ending of the book out so as to not spoil it for you.I would highly recommend this book.It won the Newberry Award in 1992.

~Jenn

CGE Student Review
My favorite book is called Shiloh. The author of this book is Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Other books by this author are Shiloh's Season and Shiloh Runs. The genre of this book is fiction. The book theme is about a boy and a dog that fallowed the boy home one day.
The authors writing style is slow and calm. The main characters in Shiloh are Marty, Shiloh, Becky, Daralyn, Ma, and Dad. My favorite character in this book is Shiloh because Shiloh is a dog and I love animals.
The background information about Shiloh is that Shiloh has been abused by Judd Travers. That is why Shiloh ran away. The exciting and important scene in the beginning of this book is that Shiloh fallows Marty home.
A summary of the book Shiloh is one day Marty was walking in the woods and suddenly a dog was fallowing him home. Marty found out that the dog belongs to Judd Travers. So Marty and his dad took him back to Judd Travers. Marty learns that Shiloh has been abused by Judd. To find out how the book ends you are going to have to read it.
I recommend this book to people who like to read sad books with a happy ending. I like to read this book because it is fun and exciting just like when you get a new puppy. That is why Shiloh is my favorite book.

CGE Student Review
Shiloh
The author who wrote this book was Phyllis Naylor. The other book that he wrote was King of the Playground, Roxy and the hooligans, a spy Among the Girls, Saving Shiloh. The genre was non fiction and the book theme is kind of said. The main characters are Marty, Becky, Shiloh, Ma, Dad, and Judd Travers and my favorite character is Marty because he cares for a dog that has came to him and that Marty thinks that Judd should not treat his doges bad because Marty thinks that is wrong and that he should name his dogs like a real name like Shiloh and other names of his dogs.
Marty wants to keep Shiloh but he didn't want Judd to keep him or he would beat the daylights out of Shiloh and that was not what Marty to happen to him and when mart first saw him Judd he did not feed him and Judd put him right in front of the other dogs so that will teach him not to run away from him again but Shiloh did and Judd did not find him for a while until the German Sheppard bit him in his leg and part of Shiloh's ear was hanging offof his body and when one of Judd friends found him on the back porch of doc Murphy's porch and then he told Judd and he went over to Marty's house and found him hurt. You would have to read the book to find out the end.
I would to like to recommend this book this book to people that like dogs and care for dogs and that does not that like to abuse dogs than this is what the should read.
That this book is all about a dog that Marty found at the Shiloh school house and that Marty had fell in love with this dog and he didn't want Judd to have because he always treat his dog wrongand that felt wrong to Marty and that he didn't want Judd to beat him so he Keptit from and made sure that no one found out about him.
... Read more

Product Description
Pat Conroy is without doubt America's favorite storyteller, a writer who portrays the anguished truth of the human heart and the painful secrets of families in richly lyrical prose and unforgettable narratives. Now, in Beach Music, he tells of the dark memories that haunt generations, in a story that spans South Carolina and Rome and reaches back into the unutterable terrors of the Holocaust.

Beach Music is about Jack McCall, an American living in Rome with his young daughter, trying to find peace after the recent trauma of his wife's suicide. But his solitude is disturbed by the appearance of his sister-in-law, who begs him to return home, and of two school friends asking for his help in tracking down another classmate who went underground as a Vietnam protester and never resurfaced. These requests launch Jack on a journey that encompasses the past and the present in both Europe and the American South, and that leads him to shocking--and ultimately liberating--truths.

Told with deep feeling and trademark Conroy humor, Beach Music is powerful and compulsively readable. It is another masterpiece in the legendary list of classics that his body of work has already become.

PAT CONROY is the author of five previous books: The Boo, The Water Is Wide, The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, and The Prince of Tides, the last four of which were made into feature films. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (314)

Absolutely Loved This Book
Pat Conroy is one of the all time bests at conversations and interactions between people in the written word.The interactions between the brothers, the friends and family is amazing.I laughed, I cried and just plain old loved Beach Music.It is one of the best I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

Best of Conryo
This is by far my favorite out of the books I've read written by Conroy.

Heartfelt story, beautiful writing
Pat Conroy became one of my FAVORITE authors when I first read BEACH MUSIC several years ago.His writing appeals to both men and women.Mr. Conroy has the ability to use words to describe life events in such vivid detail that you place yourself in the event, you 'feel' the feelings.I felt the childhood emotions, family bonds, teen and young adult traumas and loving relationships as if they were my own.As lives unfold in this novel, a beautiful mosaic of relationships is unveiled, laced with love, survival, accomplishment, tragedy and more love.Straight from the heart -- that is how I would describe Mr. Conroy's novels.And, if you enjoy BEACH MUSIC, do not miss SOUTH OF BROAD!

Beach Music: A Novel
South of Broad: A Novel

AChirevas
"Beach Music" is a story riddled with pain, loss, confusion, cruelty and, strangely, even humor.It spans three generations and is told through the characters who survived dysfunctional families, abuse, strong friendships severely tested, the horrors of the Holocaust and the divisiveness of the Vietnam war.In the end, there is not only resolution, foregiveness and a sense of acceptance, but the promise of life made whole again.

If you can get through the final chapters without having to read through tear- filled eyes, you're a stronger person than I.But it's well worth the journey.

Gifed writer but...
Pat Conroy is a gifted writer.He has the ability to weave full length stories on each of his characters in a single novel.While the central character is Jack, the plot involves many of his family and his friends in detailed recounting.
Conroy's books would not only make for a mini series but for a weekly drama.
Despite his talent, so much of this story, with its varying scenarios, is difficult to fathom.I tried and was not totally satisfied.Many vignettes were overdone, painful to plod through and difficult to accept.
I believe that Conroy purposely creates his stories this way.I believe it is his way to present his personal writing ability and intent. ... Read more