Product Description
An immediate success when it was first published in 1874, Thomas Hardy's 'pastoral tale' of the wilful and capricious Bathsheba Everdene, her three suitors - the faithful shepherd Gabriel Oak, the lonely widower Farmer Boldwood, and the dashing but faithless Sergeant Troy - and the tragic consequence of her eventual choice remains one of the most enduring and popular English novels. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Horrible formatting for the Kindle edition - Oxford University Press Edition
This is a review of the Kindle version of the Oxford University Press edition of this book. Far from the Madding CrowdThe book itself is fine.However, the font style and formatting used by the Oxford press is really unattractive, and there is no way to change the font style.You can change the size of the font but not the actual font style itself.It is a very old style and looks like something from the 1800s.I'm sure this was fine for printed books in the 1800s, but it looks horrible on a Kindle 2 screen in the 2000s.Come on Oxford, when you convert your books to an e-reader format, you need to put some thought into how the work will be displayed on e-readers.When given a choice, I always use the Oxford edition of classics, but for this book I switched over to the Penguin edition just because of the way the work is displayed on the Kindle 2 screen.Horrible job Oxford!

a mediocre classic
As classics go, Thomas Hardy's "Far From the Madding Crowd" is mediocre.That is, it is better than some.But not nearly as good as others.As is often the case with classics, the motives and emotions of the main characters aren't fully developed in a way that makes their actions understandable to the reader.As a result, they tend to be a little flat.

In this book, for instance, both Boldwood and Gabriel Oak persist in loving Bathsheba over the years, despite how she has treated them and despite knowing how badly she has treated the other.Both of them wish to marry her for the duration of the book even though there are no redeeming qualities in her that would make a normal, healthy man want to marry her (except for being beautiful, of course).Their mindless devotion to her made no sense to me.

The strength of this novel is in its plot and in the conflicts between the various characters.The narrator, also, was excellent and added much to the story.

All in all, I enjoyed this story for the classic that it is, but it is not one I will ever listen to again.

Great copy of a good novel
The norton critical edition was very useful for this novel.Having all the background about the novel as well as all the footnotes throughout the novel really aided me in my understanding of the novel.Without the information in these footnotes, the book would not have had the same meaning for me.The book itself was also very good, although a bit difficult to read.It was very interesting and it led me to a better understanding of the Victorian era and trials ordinary men at that time had to go through.A good read.

Great book, awful editing...
This is a wonderful classic for many reasons.But, I urge you not to read this edition, because the notes are terrible!There are notes for things that are obvious, and a lack for those things which need them.The worst offense, however, is that one of the notes (which readers are likely to check, as it gives background on a forgotten song sung by one of the main characters) gives away not only the important action of that short chapter, but also gives away the main line of the story.Awful, awful editing...

Forget the infamous "love triangle"...
In Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy introduces us to the precarious "love square". At the core of all the turmoil is beautiful farm girl, Bathsheba Everdene - spirited, vain, intelligent and adept at toying with the hearts of men. Inevitably beguiled by her charms a humble and kind farmer, Gabriel Oak, fervently attempts to win Bathsheba's affections. Enter the competition: (suitor#2) Farmer Boldwood - a wealthy and temperate middle-aged man respected in the community, eventually plunges into maniacal obsession at the mere possibility of making the beloved Miss Everdene his wife; and (suitor#3) Sergeant Francis Troy - a dashing young philandering soldier, with his share of inner demons, ruthlessness and vanity, vies for Bathsheba's hand in marriage. Bathsheba's ultimate decision, and the cataclysm it evokes, lies at the epicenter of Hardy's unforgettable ambivalent story.

Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy's fourth novel, saw publication in 1874 and earned him widespread popularity as a writer. A delicately woven tale of unrequited love and regret, set in the mid-19th century, Far From the Madding Crowd is a masterpiece of pure story-telling. Hardy's classic style is a pleasure to read as he masterfully brings his characters and their dealings to life. I would not hesitate to say it definitely captured my heart as another favourite. ... Read more

Product Description
From the moment Karen Blixen arrived in Kenya in 1914 to manage a coffee plantation, her heart belonged to Africa. Drawn to the intense colours and ravishing landscapes, Karen Blixen spent her happiest years on the farm and her experiences and friendships with the people around her are vividly recalled in these memoirs. "Out of Africa" is the story of a remarkable and unconventional woman and of a way of life that has vanished for ever. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Third on the booklist
One of several books needed for the English class, and the school library needed to provide. I was very satisfied with the price and the condition of the book.

Out of Africa
I did not enjoy this book because I found that it was very long and did not "Catch" the reader. I kept reading only because I was doing a review on it and I had to keep reading. I saw the movie and it is muchbetter!

Wonderfull book that gives a picture of a strong woman
Karen Blixen (Isac Dinesen) is one of Denmarks best writers. Out of Africa is her main book that tells the story of her life in Africa. Read the book it is much more than the loveaffair with Dennys Finck-Hatton (Out of Africawith R. Redford and M. Streep)

The book gives a wonderfull picture ofBlixens relationship with the natives and have that ancient athmospherethat appears in all colonial litterature.

Read the book it gives apicture of a vere strong woman who knew what she wanted but again and againhad to compromise according to her life and the oppotunities it gave her.

The book is one of my favourits because it has got everything. Love,death, hope, history, feminism, nature, africa. ... Read more

Product Description
First published in 1911, The Secret Garden remains a timeless classic about two children who learn about compassion and generosity within the walls of an abandoned magical garden. 4 cassettes.Amazon.com Review
Mistress Mary is quite contrary until she helps her gardengrow. Along the way, she manages to cure her sickly cousin Colin, whois every bit as imperious as she. These two are sullen little peas ina pod, closed up in a gloomy old manor on the Yorkshire moors ofEngland, until a locked-up garden captures their imaginations and putsthe blush of a wild rose in their cheeks; "It was the sweetest,most mysterious-looking place any one could imagine. The high wallswhich shut it in were covered with the leafless stems of roses whichwere so thick, that they matted together.... 'No wonder it is still,'Mary whispered. 'I am the first person who has spoken here for tenyears.'" As new life sprouts from the earth, Mary and Colin'ssour natures begin to sweeten. For anyone who has ever felt afraid tolive and love, The Secret Garden's portrayal of reawakeningspirits will thrill and rejuvenate. Frances Hodgson Burnett createscharacters so strong and distinct, young readers continue to identifywith them even 85 years after they were conceived. (Ages 9 to12) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (274)

Delightful fiction for the family
This classic engages and captivates the reader from the beginning. Everyone loves to uncover hidden secrets. The main character is an orphan girl called Mary whose curiosity, intelligence and unpretentious character not only win the hearts of all around, buthelp her to solve the mystery of the Secret Garden.

Under cover in a bygone England.
Normally, I don't delve into juvenile literature that often, but the 1948 movie was so indelible for me that I went to Ms. Burnett's sourcework to find what treasures could be found within. Like a good yarn, it captivated me until I finished it 3 days later. There were more characters than the film (expected)and there were shifting alliances and sub-plots as you went along. Still, the suspense and mystery builds to a wonderful conclusion. Despite, subtle racial and class allusions within that may trouble politically-correct devotees, the psychological and moral lessons within for the reader outweigh any censorship as far as I am concerned knowing its historicity. The very fable itself serves notice as to the benefits of solitary improvement. What "Treasure Island" did for this man, "The Secret Garden" would surely do for any girl. A Charmingly told yarn.

Hleping Gardens Bloom
Set in Victorian England a century ago this endearing children's classic remains as refreshing in our modern age as when it was first published--literary dew on the roses.True, it lacks the swashbuckling adventure and terrifying physical dangers which typically appeal to boys, but it does transport readers back into a simper era, when people felt closer to the land and all living things--attributes which we are starting to rediscover.

Orphaned by the death of her socialite parents in India, where she was accustomed to being catered to by her Ayah, Mary Lennox arrives in Yorkshire, England with a chip on her shoulder and an ache in her abandoned heart. Spoiled, selfish, arrogant and disdaining common folk she quickly is ignored by most of the overburdened staff at Craven Hall and left to her own devices to while away empty time.Worst of all, even her taciturn uncle takes no interest in her; in fact he seems to shun his own home. The only servant who is kind and friendly to the sullen arrival is a sweet Yorkshire maid.

Bored yet curious about the strange cries and groans she overhears Mary starts to explore her new surroundings' exterior and interior.Outside, she discovers a secret garden, hidden away and unloved behind ivy-covered walls, with only one entrance door which is mysteriously locked. Inside the manor house she stumbles upon a hidden room in which lies a wretched, bedridden boy--her ten-year-old cousin, Collin--who thinks he is developing a hunch back and will soon die. Spoiled, selfish and denied parental love as well, the boy alternates between moments of pique and a natural, juvenile interest in someone his own age. Despite the clash of wills the rejected children gradually come to understand each other; she
encourages Collin to combat his gloomy prognosis and try to walk.Is there a conspiracy between doctor and housekeeper to prevent the boy from getting well and growing up?

But the Garden Cure is close at hand, for Mary meets Dickon, the country lad who lives nearby--a fellow who has a sunny presence and a way with all living things. Animals trust him; even the wild ones are tamed in his presence.After assuring Mary that the secret garden is still "wick" (alive) they undertake to restore it to life. But why did her uncle lock it up long years ago, abandoning a place so much beauty and healing for the soul?What will lead Mary to rise above her self-centered existence in order to help Collin break his pessimism and her uncle reject his despair?A timeless treasure which reminds us that even seemingly dead gardens can bloom again--even in human hearts.

NB:the excellent PBS version includes surrealistic scenes bordering on Black Magic as in JANE EYRE--making the story darker than the author intended. Still an excellent film.

If you must get this book, get the one with the Tasha Tudor illustrations
I tried to attach this review to an edition of this book with Tasha Tudor's illustrations, but unfortunately my review somehow ended up in a group of reviews of the DVD of one of the movie adaptations through some glitch. Therefore, I'm reposting my review here so it will actually attach to the book it is meant for.

First, let me say that I am a huge fan of Tasha Tudor's lovely illustrations for both "The Secret Garden" and "A Little Princess". To me, the Tudor editions are really the classic evocations of these books, and it's even a bit irksome to see editions with other illustrations when there are so many other wonderful stories for those talented folks to work on. Therefore, if you're going to buy an edition of "The Secret Garden," I'd say the Tudor-illustrated edition, preferably in hardback with the lovely dust jacket, is the one to get.

Having said that, I'll admit I have had mixed feelings about this story both as a child and as an adult. In a nutshell, it's the story of a spoiled, ill-mannered little British girl named Mary who is being raised in India in late Victorian times. After her entire family dies in an epidemic, Mary is shipped off to live in a remote castle-mansion in the English countryside, where the climate (cold) and the accents (such as that of the Scottish maid) are foreign to her, and no one pays any attention to her. Exploring on her own, Mary discovers a "secret" walled garden and works to restore it with the help of a gardener and a local country boy named Dickon, who tames animals as well as being a whiz with growing things. Mary also discovers she has an "invalid" cousin, Colin, around her own age, who sequesters himself in his bedroom. Colin and Mary both have disagreeable personalities at the beginning because they've been ignored and neglected by the adults in their lives, but as time goes by and they spend more time outdoors in the garden, playing with animals and the like, they help each other develop into nicer and more physically healthy children.

If this sounds like a very old-fashioned Victorian story, it more or less is. Each time I've tried to read it (several times from about age 12, when a popular movie version was out, up through adulthood) I find the beginning pretty exciting, what with Mary suddenly losing her family and being shipped off to a strange place, but then it bogs down in the middle. The kids never do much except mess around in the countryside and think introspective thoughts; there are no big "adventures" to speak of. Unlike "A Little Princess," you don't have the hero/ heroine vs. evil villains plot aspect; it's basically a book about some children fighting the demons in themselves. The neglectful adults, such as Mary's uncle, are not particularly demonized nor are they abusive; one gets the impression that they just don't quite know how to handle raising the kids, which again is very Victorian given that the raising of children was often handed off to nannies or servants.

I am sure there are children and adults who would just love this book, especially all the descriptions of cute animal tricks and flowers coming to life, as well as the whole "children thoughtfully overcoming the mistakes of adults in their lives" theme, but I am equally sure there are folks who, like me, would prefer a story with a little more going on in it, such as "A Little Princess" (or even something wackier like "Alice in Wonderland"). The idea that kids who are physically or perhaps mentally/spiritually ill to some degree just need to run around in the sunshine and have pleasant manners and it all goes away is also a bit disturbing. Despite the nice illustrations (in the Tudor edition) and the charming animal antics, it's just not my type of book.

Great book for all ages!
Even though this book was supposedly written "for children", I ENJOYED reading it VERY much! I love happy endings, and the book provided that. ... Read more

Product Description
Capricious and handsome Bathsheba Everdene, the new young mistress of the Upper Farm, is a disquieting presence in the village of Weatherbury. Through her relationships with three suitors--the shepherd Gabriel Oak, the yeoman farmer Boldwood, and dashing Sergeant Troy--she discovers the difference between seduction and courtship; between infatuation and romance carved from "hard prosaic reality." 4 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Entertaining- a relatively quick and satisfying read.
Far from the Madding Crowd is a complicated love story that demonstrates how small actions can have huge consequences, and that "time and chance happen to us all."I am glad I read it, and did enjoy the story and the ultimately happy ending.I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because it is not nearly the masterpiece that Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urberville's is.His look into the psyche of a woman at that time period cannot compare to the literature written by his female contemporaries, however, this book is worth the time.

excellent reading
The lady who's reading this is super-competent and reads well, imitating voices and varying her pace.

Her default voice, if you will, has a bit of a strong northern accent for my taste, though.

It is the original text, but it is abridged.

The five stars are for the reading; the novel itself I'd give only three.

One of the All-Time Greats of English Lit
A new bride, a screwdriver and the coffin in the sitting room -- if for no other reason, this book is a MUST for that scene.

I take issue with the reviewer who described Bathsheba as "not an evil person," but rather "a force of nature."In fact, she's the protagonist of the story.Like any tragic hero, she's flawed, and by her own unique brand of hubris.With her spunkiness, grit, beauty and abject stupidity about men, she's more of a thinking person's Scarlett O'Hara, if you ask me.

My first Hardy novel, and will not be the last
It took me a while to get into the author's style of writing, along with the dialect of the country folk, but once into it and the story it was very enjoyable. There are times where the author goes on with descriptions of the countryside, farming life, etc. and the story lulls a bit at those times, but then picks up again.

All in all well told and I am looking forward to more from this author.

Forces of Nature
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD, the first of Thomas Hardy's 'Wessex' novels, tells the story of a small troupe of farmers and their workers in a sheep-farming community in the fictitious county of 'Wessex'.

Gabriel Oak has been a shepherd since his teenage years, as his father was before him, but he's moved up and purchased, on credit, his own farm. The work is hard, but he is confident that he will succeed, and takes pride in being his own man. Then one day, a new woman arrives in town. Bathsheeba Everdene is beautiful, headstrong, intelligent, but incurably vain; Farmer Oak falls in love with her immediately. A few months later, he proposes, and is utterly rejected. Bathsheeba moves on to care for her dying uncle, and take over his farm. Gabriel continues farming - until tragedy strikes.

He and Bathsheeba will cross paths again, this time not as lovers, but as mistress and servant. Bathsheeba's beauty, vanity and impetuousness leave a trail of carnage in her wake, and Gabriel can only watch on as lives are destroyed, farms are ruined, and his own heart is crushed repeatedly.

Hardy is famous for his fatalism, and this is displayed no more than in the character of Bathsheba Everdene. She is not an evil person, as the above summary would suggest - but her stunning beauty and fierce intelligence combine with her vanity and impulsivity to create something like a force of nature, and though she means only good she seems to be able to do nothing but wrong by those who care for her. She has no more control over her nature than she does over the weather. One of the most interesting aspects of this character is that her vices - vanity, impulsivity, which Hardy attributes to her being young and beautiful - lead to the downfall of others, but she is continuously saved from downfall by her own intelligence and inner personal strength.

REal tragedy finally does strike Bathsheba, but rather than let it destroy her as retribution for her wicked ways, she grows from it. We may not be able to escape the hardship of life, Hardy seems to be saying, but we can grow and prosper by learning from it.

This was a fantastically entertaining book. The only warning that I could give with it is that it is slow-moving. The action comes in fits and spurts, and Hardy has a penchant for elaborate descriptions of the countryside, for farmhouses, churches and festivals. They are beautifully written, but take time to digest fully. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The sad tale of Quasimodo's love for Esmeralda unfolds in the great Cathedral of Notre Dame. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (83)

Just what I needed
The book was in good shape and delivered quickly.Just want I needed.Thanks.

Great.
Can tell it's the work of a young author with a withering view of society. Hugo deserves more credit as a forerunner in the literary naturalism and realism that later authors get all the credit for. Important to the theme is that nobody's perfect; not even Esmerelda.

Earthenware and Crystal
Just a friendly warning: this book does not have a happy ending. It's a heartbreaking, frustrating, deeply upsetting book that will leave you feeling dazed and overwhelmed long after you've finished it.

So why read it? Because it's amazing, that's why.

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame", also known as "Notre Dame de Paris" in the original French edition, is a story of contrasts. On the one hand, it describes the beauty and majesty of medieval Paris, while at the same time it exposes the ignorance and cruelty of its people. It shows that those in power are sometimes the ones who are the least qualified to possess authority. And it introduces characters who, while sometimes exaggerated, are incredibly well-developed, and what's more, are never really what they seem.

Archdeacon Claude Frollo, for example, is made up of contradictions: he is quiet, cold, and serious, and yet he is deeply attached to his little brother Jehan and feels pity for the orphaned Quasimodo. He is devoted to God and to the church, but is obsessed with science and with accumulating knowledge. He shuns the society of women, but is secretly consumed with passion for Esmeralda. He is respected for his piety and his great learning, but he has a dark side that frightens even himself.

Quasimodo, on the other hand, is so feared and hated because of his appearance that he has turned his back on humanity, until an act of pity bestowed on him by Esmeralda softens his heart. After that moment, ugly and deformed as he is on the outside, he proves to be a tender-hearted, tormented, and deeply sympathetic character. The chapter "The Bells" was one of my favorites, which showed the degree of his affection toward the bells which had made him deaf. Though he is viewed by society as a monster, in reality he is the only person in the story who seems capable of real self-sacrificing love.

Esmeralda, the beautiful gypsy girl, is not what she seems, either. Sweet, innocent, and chaste in the beginning, she soon shows her true colors when she becomes infatuated with the young, empty-headed, licentious Captain Phoebus, and is willing to give up her chastity and (so she believes) any chance of finding her parents, simply to be loved by him. In the chapter entitled "Earthenware and Crystal", in which Quasimodo presents her with two vases - one a beautiful crystal vessel containing dry, withered flowers, and a crude earthenware vase full of fresh blossoms - Esmeralda chooses the crystal vase with its faded flowers, proving how shallow and superficial she is by showing she is only capable of appreciating outer beauty.

There are a few chapters which diverge from the plot and can get a little tedious - namely, "Notre-Dame", "A Bird's-Eye View of Paris", and "This Will Kill That" - but oddly enough, the author's intimate, conversational narrative style keeps them from becoming boring(at least to me). Walter Cobb, who was responsible for translating the story so brilliantly into English, certainly deserves some of the credit for this.

All in all, as depressing, infuriating, and heart-wrenching as this book is, it's also impossible to forget. And it's the only book I've ever begun re-reading immediately after finishing it the first time.

A tragedy for the ages.An emotionally powerful story!
This was my first Hugo, and I must admit to having mixed feelings. On the plus side, the plot of this book grabs your attention and never lets go, and through its development, Hugo proves why he is considered a master of his craft.The story of La Esmeralda, Quasimodo, and Dom Claude Frollo is absolutely excellent, and as these tragic characters go through their intensely-painful experiences the reader is treated to a unique look at raw human emotion of all sorts.The frightening obsession of Dom Claude, the frustrating naivety of Esmeralda, and the pitiful depression of Quasimodo are the primary focuses of this book, and succeed in making it very powerful.The addition of Jehan, Phoebus, Gringoire, and Djali give spice to the story, but don't distract from the principle protagonists/antagonists mentioned above.And of course the ever-present Notre Dame itself, under whose immense and almost-menacing shadow all of those characters live out their lives, helps shape the story too.In all, because of the unique characters and their powerful emotional trials, this is one of the most enjoyable and memorable I've ever read.

That being said, there are a couple of aspects of this book that I found less-than-pleasing, almost irritating.Primarily, like most other reviewers have said, the long-winded tangents describing mundane-seeming topics from archaeology to philosophy draw out parts of this book way too long, both distracting from the story and challenging readers not to start skimming.It is possible that Hugo had citizens of Paris in mind when writing this, and they might find the detailed street and building layout interesting, but I can't believe most readers now don't have a similar reaction to mine. I'm not sure if Hugo was getting paid by the word here, but it certainly seems like he went out of his way to demonstrate his disregard for pacing.

Also, and this is a minor complaint, I found myself becoming annoyed with the forgetfulness or seeming idiocy of ALL of the characters.There is not a single character in this book that consistently behaves in an intelligent way.Especially the otherwise extremely likable Esmeralda, who somehow fails to see the truth time and again when it seems to be staring her right in the face.It may be a fault of mine, but I can't help feeling frustrated by characters I like behaving foolishly.But I guess this was partly Hugo's point with this book.He certainly seems to be a cynic when it comes to the human condition.

One thing I was surprised to learn, was that "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" wasn't the original title of this work, and that Quasimodo himself didn't occupy the spotlight nearly as much as that title would imply."Notre Dame de Paris" seems like a better title considering the book's content, but "C'est la vie."

As for recommending this book, I heartily do so, but caution readers to expect some hard slogging at certain points, as Hugo lives up to his reputation of being long-winded.Still, this is a wonderful and powerful story that should be experienced by all!

Hugo Mistake
While Victor Hugo's genius is obvious as one progresses through The Hunchback of Notre Dame, I nevertheless finished with the impression that he was overwhelmed with this piece.What starts very promisingly is concluded awkwardly.The climax hinges on a foolish miscommunication between liberating vagabonds and the heroic Quasimodo, both of whom are working to save unfortunate Esmeralda.Opposing forces share the same benevolent intentions, depriving readers of a dramatic contest between good and evil.It is unclear what Hugo intends to achieve with Esmerlada's estrangement from and epic reunion with her mother, given their ensuing fates.That said, the story's moral is communicated forcefully. ... Read more

Product Description
As different as night and day, sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the former practical and prudent, the latter carefree and impulsive, set their sights on men who will perfectly match their personalities, with unexpected results. Movie tie-in. Read by Julie Christie. Book available.Amazon.com Review
Though not the first novel she wrote, Sense and Sensibility wasthe first Jane Austen published. Though she initially called itElinor and Marianne, Austen jettisoned both the title and theepistolary mode in which it was originally written, but kept theessential theme: the necessity of finding a workable middle groundbetween passion and reason. The story revolves around the Dashwoodsisters, Elinor and Marianne. Whereas the former is a sensible, rationalcreature, her younger sister is wildly romantic--a characteristic thatoffers Austen plenty of scope for both satire and compassion. Commentingon Edward Ferrars, a potential suitor for Elinor's hand, Marianne admitsthat while she "loves him tenderly," she finds him disappointing as apossible lover for her sister:

Oh! Mama, how spiritless, how tame was Edward's manner in reading to uslast night! I felt for my sister most severely. Yet she bore it with somuch composure, she seemed scarcely to notice it. I could hardly keep myseat. To hear those beautiful lines which have frequently almost drivenme wild, pronounced with such impenetrable calmness, such dreadfulindifference!

Customer Reviews (198)

bratty girl
I've been a fan of Austen for 20 years and this is one of my favorites. It can appear to be a little stilted due to the time period it was written in, but the story is timeless and that's why movies keep getting made with it as a base story. I do have to admit that I think Marienne is a spoiled brat who doesn't know a good man when she sees him. Always go for substance over lipstick!

A Tale of Two Sisters
Sense & Sensibility tells the story of the Dashwood sisters: Elinor-the level headed elder sister and Marianne the impulsive, emotional sister. When the girls' father dies unexpectedly, they and their mother are obliged to move out of their house now occupied by their half brother John and his self centered wife Fanny. They are offered a cottage at Barton by a distant relative which while cozy, suits the Dashwood women well.

Elinor wonders if she saw more into the attachment she formed with Fanny's brother Edward before they departed their old home. Marianne meets the dashing Willoughby and soon falls in love with him but suffers great heartache when he abandons her unexpectedly. The Dashwood sisters spend the next three months at numerous social engagements. Elinor discovers that Edward had a courtship with another woman while Marianne finds that Willoughby was not who she thought. She is so distraught at the turn of events that she rebuffs the affections of the kind Colonel Brandon.

Growing tired of the social scene in London , Elinor and Marianne agree to leave for Cleveland , the estate of one of their acquaintances. On the way Marianne falls gravely ill. Colonel Brandon confesses his true feeling for her but it remains to be seen if the girls will find a true happy ending or not.

Jane Austen can always be relied on for a good romance story with subtle nuances. I really enjoyed the characters of Elinor and Marianne as their personalities reminded me a lot of me and my older sister. The cast of characters are what you would expect for the time period and for a Jane Austen novel-the deserving girls who fall on multiple misfortunes in their lives, the snooty society people who refuse to accept them, the silly society girls, the handsome gentleman who is secretly a rogue and the dashing gentleman (or men) who come in at the end to sweep the much loved heroines off their feet.

I find the whole courtship rituals of this time period fascinating. This book also provided a few twists to keep it interesting. Even minor misunderstandings (such as Mrs. Jennings, the older woman the girls are travelling with mistaking some good news delivered to Elinor by Colonel Brandon as a marriage proposal) are well played. I don't think this one was quite as good as Pride and Prejudice as that book and its irreplaceable Mr. Darcy will always hold a special place in my heart and on my bookshelf but I really enjoyed this one.

What a book!
"Sense and Sensibility" is a book about two girls who are looking for someone to love. I believe that this can relate to a lot of girls in today's culture. All of the girls in today's culture are always looking for love. They are always seeking for a boyfriend. This book is about two older women who are searching for the love of someone. This book can also relate to the lives of people today because it is about broken hearts and finding the right person. A lot of people today think that the first boy that they date, they are going to marry. That is not true in a lot of cases and that is a lesson that can be learned from this book.
This book is about two sisters. Marianne and Elinor are both looking for someone to marry. They are at the age when it is time for them to be married and that is what they want. In the beginning of the book, Elinor has fallen for a man named Edward Ferrars. He is a respectable gentlemen who Elinor falls on love with at first site. When Elinor and her family move away, he promises to come and see them soon. He never comes and only sends a letter. This makes Elinor very upset. While all of this is happening, Marianne meets a man. His name is John Willoughby. He is also very respectable and helps Marianne when she falls down. He carries her home because she cannot walk. This is when it happens. When John meets her family, they instantly like him. He hangs around and is then called out of town. Then, before they know it, Willoughby is called out of town.

When the two sisters go into town for a few months, they hear some devastating news. They hear that Willoughby is marrying another woman and so is Edward. This devastates both of the girls and they are in a wreck. In the end, They both ended up getting married. You will have to read the book to see how the end turns out because I don't want to give away the ending for those of you who have not read it yet.

In the end, The book was good and I would recommend it to some people. I would not recommend it to all people because as I would put it: "The book is a chick flick". I would recommend this book to people who like romance and fiction. This book I think would best fit teenage girls. This is what I feel about the book.

Kindle edition--easy (and free) to read
The Kindle edition was well-formatted with only two recurring issues:(1) every 4-5 pages or so, some sentences or phrases were repeated on separate lines near (but not perfectly next to) where they first appeared or were about to appear, but they were easy to spot and ignore; and (2) bracketed numbers appeared occasionally within the text, but it was unclear what they referred to. Content includes table of contents with chapter titles and a somewhat antiquated preface (not by Austen, of course) from the out-of-copyright text.

With respect to the content itself, Austen's story and story-telling is amusing and witty, her language is ornate and sometimes a bit tedious, and most (though not all) of the characters are sketched vividly. This was the first Austen book I've read (and the first she published), but I rather doubt it would have remained so popular without the success of her other books; I would recommend Pride and Prejudice or another of her books as a first read. Nevertheless, though I'm primarily a non-fiction reader and a reader of science fiction and adventure otherwise, I found the book to be enjoyable and very satisfying.

A great and easy read
I've read only Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen before, and I am a huge lover of that novel. As such I've been somewhat (stupidly) hesitant to read other Austen novels - for surely nothing could live up to that book!

I finally have read Sense and Sensibility and I am sorry that I did not read it earlier. I must say that S&S was a very easy and accessible book to read. The plot wasn't overly complex and it did not feel bogged down and dense like some old classic novels can. I think this would be a great book for someone who wants to read classics but who is worried or scared to.

The two main characters are easy to love and I was wondering what would happen the whole way through. Without saying anything specific, Austen kept me on my toes and I was very satisfied with the ending.

Now I'm off to read more of Austen's books! ... Read more

Product Description
Specially selected by Maura Healy, this series aims to offer an innovative and adventurous collection of texts that demonstrates the best of women's writing, both black and white. Complete texts reflecting a range of genres as well as different cultures and experiences are offered and the volumes contain study material and assignments at a range of levels to deepen pupils' enjoyment and understanding of literature. A reading log is also included with ideas for group and individual assignments to help pupils find their way around the texts. This story is about Olivia who, beloved by her dull husband and bored with her lifestyle in the small Indian town of Satipur, embarks on an affair with the glamorous but dangerous local prince. Many years later her step-granddaughter goes back to Satipur to find out the truth about the scandalous events which put Olivia outside the bands of conventional society. The series is intended for 14-16 year olds sitting GCSE English and English Literature and adults taking English examinations and overseas students. It is suitable for those taking GCSE-LEAG, NEA, SEG and MEG examinations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

Typical Period Fiction (2.5 Stars)
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala is better know for her Merchant Ivory screenplays.She won two Academy Awards for A Room With A View and Howard's End.For the record, I enjoy Merchant Ivory films especially A Room With A View.


Heat and Dust is fairly run of the mill period romance.I recently reviewed a novel called Mistress of Nothing.Heat and Dust certainly had a similar feel to me though it was written 35 years earlier.

Perhaps the book can be summed up best by saying it's about forbidden love in an exotic place and set in the early 20th century with very proper British subjects.There is a lot more to the book than that but I was somewhat bored by the novel.A few people noted that this was their favorite book set in India.It's a bit like A Passage to India though not nearly as good.For books set in India, I would certainly point people to Midnight's Children or A Fine Balance.

The structure of the book is a woman going to India in the 1970s and revisiting the places where her grandfather's first wife lived her life in thr 1920s.She has the papers of the grandfather's first wife and their stories, one in the 70s and one in the 20s are told in parallel.They do follow similar arcs and the structure is effective.

The writing is clear and Prawer Jhabvala shows a steady hand in guiding us through the story.

Ultimately, I just didn't find the content of the book to be compelling and I neither liked nor disliked it.It is an average piece of romantic period fiction.

A flatly written English novel that did not merit the accolades that it received.
After finishing Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's 1975 Booker-Prize winning novel set in India during the British Raj, I will admit, I was puzzled at the degree of kudos that this most mediocre novel received. To say that the book was lackluster in its conveyance of colonialism in India is barely hitting the mark in its accuracy. And to put it on the same shelf as A Passage to India is completely laughable, thus illustrating once again that overzealous literary critics are only too eager to press forth onto the public reading material that would not warrant their time nor their effort. If one is inspired by literary prizes, like the BookerPrize that this novel received, I would caution readers to check it out from the library rather than buying the book; you can be your own critic and do yourself a minor economic service.

The novel is about how social constraints can lead people to actions that are less than desirable, and the main character, Olivia, makes many undesirable choices, the paramount one of them being that she aborts the baby of the Nawab, a minor Indian prince (in the territory) whom she has befriended and unexpectedly fallen in love with, despite the fact that she is happily married to Douglas, a junior British officer and bureaucrat. In the novel, there is really no inking that the marriage is cracking up and splitting Douglas and Olivia away from each other, and it is that deliberate ambiguity that makes the work not fully fleshed out and believable. The only hint that the marriage is not as solid as it appears is that Olivia wants a baby and Douglas holds off. But that is speculation, at best. And if that is indeed the case and thus the causal effect for Olivia's later actions, it puts an extreme negative spotlight on her. Understanding the social constraints of a specific milieu or period is one thing but compounding that with a British aristocratic sauce is just highly not credible, no matter what literary devices and creative liberty are executed upon the story as a whole. It does not make the plot a success. In fact, it barely rises to that bar. The reasoning given for Olivia's predicament almost borders as an experience on the Magic Carpet Ride after an LSD trip, for being in love with India is a dangerous thing for the European mindset. People let their cares down and in one fell swoop nonstop unwanted pregnancies occur, for it correlates to the woman's desire to experience love, lust and motherhood. But, naturally, due to socioeconomic constraints, the latter is never followed through with. Heat and Dust is extremely one-sided, and a worldview of options is not available, much less pondered.

Heat and Dust is primarily two stories that are interwoven to create one novel. The first story, as indicated, revolves around Olivia, a bored British officer's wife who longs for motherhood and is somewhat coming to grips with the exotic locations of her husband's assigned posts, for where ever he is assigned, she too is there. She has a conventional view of herself, and in turn, expects a kind of orthodoxy for the whole of her life. Considering the times that she is living in, that is a facet of her life that is truthful. Unfortunately, it is the only truthful element to the whole book. Olivia is not a particularly bright woman with any sense of foresight and intuitiveness. She is absolutely a stunted character, who, like her dim-witted husband, can not see the forest through the trees. Their limitations and or flaws just do not seem credible.Or perhaps it is the fault of the magic of India? Give me a break! The second part of the novel, though minor, deals with a female relation of Douglas's who also visits India and in turn winds up in a similar position that Olivia was herself once in. There is an emotional connection that the relation feels for Olivia, especially when she reads old letters and journals belonging to the Scarlet Lettered mythical woman. The letters and journals are used almost as survival how-to guides for getting along in India - definitely a warped view of things. Yet, they are somehow sisters or feminists-in-arms. Though the relation is more emancipated than Olivia ever was, she too is a flat and distantly written character; she almost gets her rocks off by Olivia's experience, which (I am only assuming) she deems as compelling and empowering. Yet, there no true elaboration as to why she feels the way that she does. I can only surmise that she is viewing Olivia and her actions from a historical context, that women like Olivia just don't do what she did. In the whole picture, it really was not all that great and admirable. Religiously, Olivia could be compared to the Eve of the Old Testament and the cousin who keeps her baby could be considered Mary in the New Testament. But that would be a huge stretch based solely upon interpretation.

For me, what I did not like overall about Heat and Dust is that women often have to be placed in the worst case scenarios and have to make truly horrific actions against themselves in order to be deemed heroines for future generations. It is such a predictable and overused plot in fiction nowadays. The work was just bland and the plot was ridiculous. While the writing was technically good, the book overall belonged in the bucket of Booker-Prize bummers.

A thin year for the Booker
Don't read the following if plot spoilers bother you.

The one won the Booker Prize in 1975. Must have been a thin year. Fascinating step-grandmother goes to colonial India in the 20s with her husband, meets charming yet mysterious prince, gets knocked up, has an abortion, runs off with him. Not-so-fascinating step-granddaughter goes to independent India in the 70s alone, meets not charming and unmysterious clerk, gets knocked up, doesn't have an abortion, runs off alone. Told in parallel plot lines because, well, I'm not sure. The writing is unexceptional, the characterization even less so. Pat. Very pat.

Why sacrifice all drama, suspense, and interest in the plot? To seem more "literary"? To illustrate how deep the feeling and dilemmas of their characters are? Why characters of such thin merit, so thinly explored? Who knows.

Recommended
The narrator is a young woman travelling to India to research and reconnect with a long lost member of her family, Olivia, who lived there during the 1920's. This is a well written and compelling story, where the lives of the two women come together and their experiences of and in India mirror each other to a certain extent. Recommended.

One star for finishing
I only finished this dreadful book because I had to read it for a book club. What does it tell you when the person who suggested the book does not show up for the discussion???

No one in the group liked it. We all agreed that the characters were poorly developed and the main characters were stereotypes. The plot was thin at best, based on a frail premise which was of little interest.

My advice: skip this one! ... Read more

Product Description
SIGNED BY JULIE CHRISTIE. Very nice 8" x 10" close-up color portrait of the legendary British Actress Julie Christie as she appeared in Doctor Zhivago. 1965 was of course a banner year for the actress who also made a big splash and won an Oscar for her performance in "Darling." Can it be that Ms. Christie is 66 years old. Seems like yesterday. Fine. ... Read more

Product Description
Far from the Madding Crowd is perhaps the best known of Hardy's works. This is the Audiobook-CD read by actrress Julie Christie. Contains 3 CD's;published by Hodder, 1997. ... Read more

Product Description
Abridged, Private Collection, NOT an ex-library copy, "Sense And Sensibility," (Classic) by Jane Austen, read by Julie Christie, Penguin Audiobooks, 4 cassettes, 6 hours of listening, cassettes are in like new condition, box has minimal wear, shrink wrapped, USPS delivery confirmation included. ... Read more

Product Description
Near the end of the 20th century, birth control and the effects of nuclear fallout have caused fewer births, so the Biblical story of Rachel is invoked to handle the declining birth rate. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (635)

Amazing read.
The Handsmaid's tale takes on what could happen to women is a dystopian society.

Without giving it all away, it's a story told from Offred, a "handmaid" whose only role is to bear children for Fred and his wife.
It's written in a very matter of fact way with hardly any emotion.
Her acceptance of her position gives the reader, or at least me, a terrifying view of what losing hope is all about.
The moments where she remembers the time before reveals her pain and explains how this new society evolved.

It's an incredible reminder of the precious freedoms we have in the west, and an all to real image, of how quick we can lose them.

An important political statement...
Especially with what's going on with the Taliban. Reading it will ensure that you never take your freedom lightly again.

The Handmaid's Tale
I bought the audio book for my wife since she loved the book. She was very disappointed in this abridged edition. It is mainly sound effects and dramatization, not what was expected.

I Really Wanted To Like This Novel...
It really pains me when I read a book that is hailed as a classic many times over but for some reason or another it just doesn't click at all with me. This is the case with The Handmaid's Tale, which is unfortunate because I was very much looking forward to reading this book. I really really wanted to like this book but I can't force what isn't there for me.

The Handmaid's Tale is a dystopian novel set in Gilead, which is formally part of the USA. Most of this book is told in the first person perspective by a character named Offred. Offred is a handmaid, which means her sole purpose in this society is to produce children for her commander (whose name is Fred, Of Fred, you see). Because of the fallout from a nuclear war most women are unable to have children, but Offred is thought to be fertile so during times when she is most fertile she is more or less forced to have passionate-free sex with the commander for the sole purpose of having babies(since his wife is unable to do such). Other women play their role as well. "Aunts" keep watch on the Handmaids and are allowed to read and write (unlike the Handmaids), "Wives" are the highest level caste, whom are married to high ranked men. "Marthas" are older, infertile women and "Econowives" are women who are married to lower ranked men. For men there are commanders, who are high ranking men, "Eyes" who are like the police and "Angels" who fight the wars. Only babies who are deemed as "keepers" are kept, "unbabies" vanish to somewhere unknown. There are other elements such as the Wall where people are hung-up dead for all to see, if they violate the laws of Gilead.

What we have is an excellent setup for a good novel but unfortunately there are some serious issues with this book.

First, this novel is really disjointed. The novel often bounces between present-time and Offreds past, but the transitions aren't smooth. This novel is written in a stream of concious style and it just doesn't work for me. Because it bounces around all over the place it can be a bit confusing at times which draws me away from the story.

Next, the prose is just bad. I understand what Attwood was trying to do here, she's trying to make the character sound more real, but it often feels boring and the areas that are supposed to feel emotional just fall flat. It doesn't have that organic feel to it like, say, 'We' by Yevgenny Zamyatin, which is also written in the POV of the protagonist. Attwood often times tries to sound poetic but to me it comes off as just plain cheesy. She'll often write a cheesy poetic line, followed by a word or two which is supposed to feel impactful but it just doesn't to me. Or she'll write repetitive lines to try and build on the impact, but again it falls flat for me, for example -

"The Commander is the head of the household. The house is what he holds. To have and told hold, till death do us part. The hold of a ship. Hollow."

Or

"What I feel towards them is blankess. What I feel is that I must not feel. What I feel is partly relief, because none of these men is Luke. Luke wasn't a doctor. Isn't."

Or lines like -

"Moira had power now, she'd been set loose, she'd set herself loose. She was now a loose woman."

This type of prose is strung throughout the book (in fact I just fumbled through a few random pages to find these for this review, there are way worse). I was constantly drawn out of the story because of the cringe-inducing prose.

The characters are also a bit flat. Offred is *slightly* three dimensional but most other characters are stuck in two dimensions. A good dystopia needs characters that really pop out of the page to succeed in pulling at my heart-strings.

Finally, the ending fell flat. There is virtually no resolution. It seems like Attwood was going for an ending which would spark conversation (and for many people I'm sure it does) but I really don't like books where there is no resolution, you have no idea what happens to the protagonist.

So, unfortunately this book just didn't work for me. It's hard for me to say I don't recommend reading it. Perhaps it's me and I'm just missing something. So, even though I give it a pessimistic 2.5 (rounded down to 2) I'd still say to check it out because so many people love this book.

Review of The Handmaid's Tale
The place is Gilead.Religious fundamentalists are now in charge, but no fundamentalists like I've grown up knowing.Gone are the freedoms that women take for granted; their way of dress, owning a checking account and property, having a say over how their body is treated.Instead they are now placed into roles, the wives, the Marthas, the Handmaids.

This story revolves around Rachel, Jacob and Bilhah from Genesis.The use of Bilhah by Rachel and Jacob to give them children.But instead of being in ancient times it is now the future.

So many reviewers have pointed out that this is very similar to the treatment of women in other countries.It's a true observation and this book does a chilling job of putting the reader in one of those womens shoes.

As I read I could hear the voice of Offred in my mind.I could hear resignation, sorrow and a lack of hope.I could hear disbelief as she spoke of memories that were so distant from what she is living now that they seem unreal.I could hear frustration as she struggled to understand why rules and traditions were being changed.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up this book.I thought it might be too graphic, that I wouldn't be able to handle it.Atwood deals with the subject, as I'm learning she always does, with a respectful hand, laying the facts out without making them personal.It's that sense of detachment that struck home for me the most.I felt angry and scared while reading, my emotions making up for the seeming lack of emotion shown by Offred.

This is my second Margaret Atwood book.I'm hooked.Both this and The Robber's Bride have shown incredible character development and eye-opening scenarios to me.

What a disturbing, fascinating book this is. ... Read more

Product Description
This issue features Julie Christie, Philip Seymour Hoffman, space movie memorabilila collector Bob Burns, Paul Haggis, the Oscars, L.A.'s new movie museum, and much more! ... Read more