Product Description
High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Roy Dotrice OBE (born 26 May 1923) is a British actor known for his Tony Award-winning Broadway performance in the revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten. Dotrice was born in Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, the son of Neva (née Wilton) and Louis Dotrice. He served with the Royal Air Force from 1940 to 1945 during World War II, and was imprisoned in a German POW camp from 1942 to 1945. He was married to Kay Newman from 1947 until her death in 2007, and they had three children together: Michele, Yvette and Karen, all of whom acted at various points in their careers. He was also the father-in-law to the late Edward Woodward, a contemporary of his and husband to his daughter Michele. ... Read more

Product Description
Orphaned Benjamin Bartholomew Piff closed his eyes, blew out the candle, and wished with all his might. Soon after, sirens wailed all over the Wishworks Factory–Ben had followed every rule of birthday wishing to a T and had made the most dangerous wish of all…a wish for unlimited wishes
Ben is delighted with his clever wish, until he learns that he has disrupted the fragile balance in the magical realm of wishes and curses. Before long, Ben has been recruited by the Wishworks factory president himself to fight the evil henchmen of the Curseworks Factory–giving new credence to the old adage: “Be careful what you wish for…” ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

My son loved it!!!
My son is a reluctent reader and Ihave been encouraging my 12 yr old to read.To get him started I read the first few chapters to him and his brother.He took the book and hid in his room reading like crazy.It has enough action to keep my tweens interest.He now wants the whole set...Yeah a victory for both of us he is happily reading!!!!

AMAZING!
This book is amazing. The story, the characters, the action, and excitement. My two daughters, 12 and 7, both loved it(and so did I) I would truly recommend it to anybody, from 7-15!

Misadventures, definately!
Benjamin Bartholomew Piff is a very lonely boy. He lives at Pinch's Wayward Home for Boys. The place where Mr. Roach is the self-appointed punishment dealer--uh-oh. Almost daily he gets forced to clean Roach's greasy pots... with a toothbrush! Naturally, Ben gets even more determined every day to plan an escape. One problem: how?
On the morning of his bday Ben brushes out more big vats, Ben finishes with two minutes to spare and races outside to the oversize doghouse. There he dumps his contents out and tells Rags, the dog, that they have to leave for the bus and sneak away without Mrs. Pinch noticing. Then Ben hears Mrs. Pinch calling. He races outside and lies that he had been playing with a soccer ball.
Then Pinch introduces another person who tells Ben that he's a lucky boy this day. The person gave him a cake that said 'Happy Birthday, Ben!' Ben thought that this bday it might be better than other birthdays--until Rags barks. Then Pinch finds out that Ben is planning an escape, and e.t.c, e.t.c.
She sends him to his room and says that Roach will come down later and give him a punishment (Hint: something to do with toothbrushes and vats!). Ben cries and says, "why does my parents have to die?"

While that is happening, at the magical realm of Wishworks, Thomas Candlewick is leading a tour of the factory. A young leprechaun called Nora asked; once Thom explained the rules of wishing; what are the rules with curses? IF there is a place that produces curses?
THom says that there is a place called Curseworks. And, he explains, wishes are stronger than curses. IF someone 'wishes' that something bad might come to the person, a person with a good intention, a well wisher, can always cancel a curse.
Then a Jinn called Jeanie, (all girl Jinns are called Jeanie to other people except their family and best friends, and boys called Gene, they consider knowing their real names are to have power over the person) asked whatbday wishes does WIshworks except. Thom explains the rules. The wishes must be made with the eyes closed. The person has to blow out all the candles on the cake in one breath, and not never, not ever must the wish be spoken aloud. that will cancel it.
Thom finishes the tour, and goes to the Wishworks room where thom's stepfather, Leo Snifflewhiffle, is going to make either Thom or Simon SPinchley Snifflewhiffle the presisdent. Leo chooses Thom, and that gets the tar outa Simon. He's the badguy in the book.

Back to Benjamin. He pretends to be scrubbing pots while Roach locks the cake in a drawer and hides the key. Too bad, Mr. Ben saw Roach's reflection in a toaster (yes, the wayward home for boys has normal stuff) and unlocks the cake, takes a piece, lights a candle...and follows all the rules of wishing to make a wish of unlimited wishes.
Of course, the balance of power is violated, and that breaks up Wishworks, and Ben has to go to the Curse-proofed doors of Curseworks to get the wish globe back and unwish his wish. He doesn't want to face Adolfus Thornblood. But if he gets his globe, his parents might come back to life...

I got this book from my grandmother's friends who sent it. And I liked it so well, I decided to buy the rest in the series.

The Misadventures of Benjamin Bartholomew Piff, You Wish
I really enjoyed the book You Wish. It is about a kid named Benjamin Bartholomew Piff who lost his parents when he was a little boy. Ben lives in an orphanage and is not treated nicely. For example, Ben has to clean
out the cook's moldy pots with a toothbrush every day. The book is also about Ben's new friend, Thomas Candlewick, who works at a magical place called Wishworks.Wishworks is where wishes are granted. If you followall of the rules your wish will come true.The rules are: 1) your eyes must be shut, 2) all of the candles have to be blown out in one breath, and 3) you cannot tell anyone what you wished for.My favorite part
of this book was when Benjamin Piff has to go fight Curseworks
factory. That is why I think this book is a five star book and I think
that anyone who likes magic and adventure would love this book.

He is transported to the Wishworks world and is soon engaged in a battle against Curseworks
Everything is bright and normal in Benjamin Bartholomew Piff's life until that terrible day when his parents are killed in a plane crash. There are no other relatives for him to live with, so he is put into Pinch's Home for Wayward Boys, "a dilapidated orphanage converted from a windowless industrial building that once produced dental tools."

There are several things wrong with this setup for 11-year old Benjamin: 1) He is not "wayward"; 2) There is nothing home-like about the place; and 3) He hates it. In addition, the awful orphanage chef, Solomon Roach, always seems to be punishing Benjamin for something, and Eliza Pinch's "perfume smelled of an old cat box." Eliza is the head of the orphanage and an old spinster who doesn't like children and is bent on making his life miserable. The one very bright spot in Benjamin's sad life is a little stray terrier dog he call Rags. Of course pets are not allowed, so Benjamin is forced to sneak away for short times to feed small scraps to his little friend.

Benjamin also has a plan. The old gardener at the orphanage, Mr. Kunkel, has been giving Benjamin quarters for helping out with little things. It's Mr. Kunkel who has allowed Benjamin to keep his puppy in an old doghouse on the property. But the nice old man has been fired. Now Benjamin visits Rags and keeps his little bag of saved quarters hidden away. His plan is going fine until one evening when Ms. Pinch catches him sneaking out of the doghouse. That's the end of his money, and Benjamin is losing hope fast.

So who would have guessed that when the social worker drops off a birthday cake for Benjamin, who completely forgot about the big day, his life would completely change? And what kind of birthday wish does he make? Why, just what every kid would wish for in his situation --- that he would be granted all the wishes he could ever want! Suddenly everything is different: Mr. Roach is waiting on him, Ms. Pinch adores him, he's ordering big screen televisions, computer games, ice cream, candy and all sorts of goodies to make himself and the boys totally happy at the orphanage. WOW! This is the way life should always be!

But there's not much happiness in the world of Wishworks. Benjamin's wishes are throwing everything into chaos; if he doesn't stop, then something really terrible is going to happen. Thomas Candlewick, who is about to become the new leader of Wishworks, is on high alert when Benjamin's disastrous birthday wish becomes known. With the assistance of flying chairs, fairies, genies and an assortment of other strange little characters, Mr. Candlewick realizes that they must pay Benjamin a visit before greater disaster strikes.

This is where Benjamin's story gets even more fun, because he is transported to the Wishworks world and is soon engaged in a battle against Curseworks (a group determined to take over Wishworks and all the good things they do). Lots of action ensues, and Benjamin must overcome many fears and make some extremely difficult decisions.

One of the great charms found in Jason Lethcoe's book is the addition of many delightful, informative footnotes from the world of Wishworks. Explanations are given for word definitions, histories and characters. For instance, what exactly is a Thaumaturgic Cardioscope, or when and where did Wishworks originate? Characters are given creative names like Wolfgang Warblegrunt (the founder of Wishworks historical library) and Leonardo Snifflewiffle (past president of Wishworks). A wonderful map is provided, an appendix of past presidents of Wishworks is attached and lighthearted illustrations by the author himself are scattered throughout.

Benjamin's misadventures are just beginning, so readers can look forward to more stories in future installments. Younger fans of Harry Potter-like fantasies will be sure to want this book on their shelves.

--- Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Disney's the Little Mermaid (Original Movie Story; Walt Disney's Book with 45 Record Series)
ASIN B000LKZ3GU - Finding these books without the records or tapes that belong with them might be the thing that finally drives me insane. If you buy this used, it comes with a record or it's incomplete!

Ariel, daughter of Triton, the great Sea King, has a fascination with all things human. Her father forbids contact with them, but she watches from afar and, during one of those times, sees and falls in love with Eric, a human prince. When she saves his life, Eric believes she's the right girl for him - but she's disappeared! Ariel makes a deal with Ursula, the wicked Sea Witch. Ariel will have 3 days as a human to be with Eric; if he doesn't kiss her by sundown of the third day, or Ariel will be Ursula's, and Ursula will use her as bait to trap Triton! As payment, Ursula takes Ariel's voice, the one thing that Eric would have recognized. With the help of her friends, Ariel just might stand a chance.

The audio with this book isn't entirely necessary to enjoy the story, but it does belong with the book. The book is standard Disney, full of colorful, bright illustrations. This adaptation, by Jim Fanning, is a good one, managing to pack a lot of detail into few pages. The story is cute, of course, although I have to admit that, as a kid, love stories didn't really interest me. Still, it's a Disney favorite and worth a read!

- AnnaLovesBooks ... Read more

Product Description
Love, lies, and dysfunctional families. Sound like your last family gathering? Try this one on for laughs. Two randy young gents, Charles and George, set out to woo the alluring and upper-crust Kate and Constance. But inexperienced Charles is shy and clumsy around upper-class ladies, so it s the barmaid who catches his eye. But is she really who she seems? Bawdy high-jinx, popped pretensions, and good dirty fun are the hallmarks of this romping frolic that s kept audiences laughing for over two centuries. ... Read more

Product Description
Martin resumes his Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. Kings, queens, knights, and ladies carry the principal roles, with a smattering of whores and other unsavory characters adding spice to the story as members of House Stark and House Lannister struggle over the seven kingdoms of Westeros, while an even greater supernatural threat gathers on the horizon. Roy Dotrice rises to the challenge, providing each character with his or her own unique voice. Dotrice's range of vocal tones, from gravelly and commanding to silkenly dangerous, creates a mood of insistence that holds the listener captive throughout the epic story. S.D. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Roy Dotrice does not do the book justice.
Every character sounds the game, and they all sound like they're straight out of Treasure Island.I wish for another audiobook option, as the terrible voicework absolutely ruins it.

The Gleeman at Work
Ever read Robert Jordan and wondered what it would be like to listen to a gleeman?
Well, Roy Dotrice certainly earns this title. The narrator is even better than the author and together they combine an iresistable combination that got me hooked on audio books. ... Read more

Product Description
Recommended for listeners ages 8 to 12.4 compact discs. ... Read more

Product Description
Coleridge’s masterpiece about a sailor who offends nature by killing a seabird takes the listener on a macabre odyssey that includes brushes with sea monsters, a ship manned by zombies, and a game of dice with Death. The poem has retained its hypnotic power and beauty for over two centuries. This is the definitive reading of the classic 19th-century narrative poem by James Mason, whose “voice will be remembered by millions” (Bill Fairchild). Also included is a bonus piece, Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark, read by Roy Dotrice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Rime of the Ancient Mariner
This poem has been my favorate since i was young, and my grandfather would recite it to me. so much that i have a tattoo of a verse, and plan on getting the accompanying verse on the other side. heres a link to a pic :)
[...].

Glued binding
Though the poem and artwork are great, I am disappointed with this edition. This is not "A Dover edition designed for years of use." I am disappointed to find that this book does not have a sewn binding that opens flat. Apparently, Dover is not making them like that anymore.

Another good edition is also available
I own this edition and all the previous positive reviews are right on target. This is a masterpiece and the publisher has done an excellent job.

My only disappointment was that it is not a hardcover. There are hardcovers available for reasonable prices in used condition, but new copies get expensive.

Fortunately there is another hardcover edition available. Please see The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. I have a review there describing the differences between the two editions.

Very Nice.
This is a great version of this classic poem at a reasonable price. Very lovely illustrations and just the right amount of annotation of antiquated phrases.A great book for adults who have not read the story, or to get children interested in poetry.

Relic113

Cheap and well done
Dover puts out quite the book.This edition being in the $5 range is no exception.It's the size of a large coloring book with the writing on the left and the pictures on the right.Printed well and bound to last a great number of years with plenty of space to write commentary of your own if you are a student.

There is added text, printed very small, to the left of the actual poem.Some of it is interesting and some of it is superfluous.Very easy to ignore if you're not a 'footnote' reading person.

The plates run to the full edge of the paper and there is no white border if you are the 'cut it our of the book and hand it on my wall type'.No bashing here this book is cheap enough to buy one to read and one to be artistic with. ... Read more

Product Description
Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

A Game of Thrones

Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.


From the Paperback edition.Amazon.com Review
Readers of epic fantasy series are: (1) patient--they are leftin suspense between each volume, (2) persistent--they reread or atleast review the previous book(s) when a new installment comes out,(3) strong--these 700-page doorstoppers are heavy, and (4)mentally agile--they follow a host of characters through a myriad ofsubplots. In A Game of Thrones, the first book of a projectedsix, George R.R. Martin rewards readers with a vividly real world,well-drawn characters, complex but coherent plotting, and beautifullyconstructed prose, which Locus called "well above the norms ofthe genre."

Martin's Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses,with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks andLancasters.The story of these two families and their struggle tocontrol the Iron Throne dominates the foreground; in the background isa huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond whichbarbarians, ice vampires, and direwolves menace the south asyears-long winter advances.Abroad, a dragon princess lives amonghorse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest.

There is much bloodshed, cruelty, and death, but A Game ofThrones is nevertheless compelling; it garnered a Nebulanomination and won the 1996 Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. So, onto A Clash ofKings!--Nona Vero ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1687)

Loved it but flawed
A Game of Thrones

I just finished the Kindle version of Game of Thrones.The story is epic and I loved it.There isa problem though, it was full of all types of typos, grammatical errors, and spelling errors.

Normally I don't notice stuff like this much.For me to comment on it means it's pretty bad.Someone like my friend Raven would implode trying to read it.

Here are a couple of examples; There is a character called Dany for short.In on sentence she is Daily. In one section,'if' was 'jf'. There were many many moreI'm about to start Clash of Kings.I hope it has better editing. I wonder if this was just a Kindle thing?

V^^^^V

Dark Matter
I finished reading this book several weeks ago but thought I would let some time go by before writing about it.Perhaps that was a mistake in that already I can no longer recall a lot of details with which to defend my rating.But perhaps also the fact that I was not sufficiently motivated to write about it right away or can remember overmuch speaks to the book's limitations.

Mr. Martin writes well in that, particularly at the outset, I was strongly motivated to read on.The world he creates is palpable, even "atmospheric," and the characters have enough complexity that they seem real, at least at first.But as I read on, a kind of gloom settled over me.There is so little to like here!There is so much gratuitous cruelty!The characters are entirely absorbed by the diminished content of their own thoughts, world-views, or appetites!Divinity could be moving in their very midst and they would never perceive it!

If I live another 20 years or so, I will beat the actuaries.With so little time and so much possible enjoyment to be had from a good book, I find no movitation to read anything further in this series despite Mr. Martin's talent for writing.

this will stick with you
I'm going to review the series instead of the book, because it's likely that if you read the first book, you'll continue.This story is like no other.It could be read for its richness of characterization, where you will come to know and love dozens of men, women, and children - high born and low, royal and peasant.It could be read for its clarity of vision - several thousand pages of full-tilt action, with relatively few slow bits.It could be read for its insight and universal themes - there are enough quotable moments and slices of wisdom to make the story memorable and personal to any reader.In the end, it should be read because it's a damn fine ripping yarn, the likes of which you're not likely to best during your personal reading lifetime.

There are faults to this series.It is bloody violent.Prepare yourself for chopping and slicing and burning and stabbing, mostly of human flesh.Primary characters die, and they die slowly and with great narrative detail.You will cry.Also, as of book 4 where most of us are stuck (because book 5 hasn't been published in a decade of waiting), absolutely nothing is resolved and very few of the secrets have been revealed.Also treatment of women seems to be worse than it should be, even given the time and place of the setting.It would seem the author takes perverse joy in human, especially female human, suffering.

Yet I recommend this wholeheartedly and without reservation to all fans of the fantasy genre.This is the series that will satisfy you, where no pale Tolkien-imitators could.There's just the right combination of court life, magic, war, quest, wit, romance, comedy, and dragons.You will read it, then share it with your spouse.Then you'll have a bevy of household phrases, all borrowed from this book, to last you a lifetime of geeky reference.Give it 100 pages and it'll swipe 6 months of your life.

excellent book, HORRIBLY digitized for Kindle
Ill tell you &his is how this Kimdle book reads.

Apparently, scanned in a hurry and then no editing.Shockingly bad, the worst I have ever seen.

Great book, but you may want a paper copy.

You're cheating yourself if you don't pick this up
I've read a number of different fantasy series.Many borrow heavily from each other and only insert a small degree of distinguishing characteristics in their narratives.When a friend of mine urged me to read A Game of Thrones by Martin, I brushed him off at first.After continued pestering, I relented and picked up a paperback copy.

And I'm glad I did.Martin is a master of narrative, character development and suspense.Once you actually start to want to learn more about any character or event, he has you hooked.His simple language and excellent pacing allow you to fly through books that are +600 pages long.The only downside I can recognize is that there are a lot of names to keep track of.This is largely remedied by Martin's excellent index of important families and their followers at the back of each book.The detailed map also helps the reader keep track of the story's progression and the decisions of the protagonists.

Forget the book is about fantasy.If you want a deep, mature story with rich detail and intricate plot development, you owe it to yourself to give A Game of Thrones a try.You won't be sorry. ... Read more

Product Description
A return to the form that launched Iain Pears onto bestseller lists around the world: a vast historical mystery, marvelous in its ambition and ingenius in its complexity.

In his most dazzling novel since the groundbreaking New York Times bestseller An Instance of the Fingerpost, Iain Pears tells the story of John Stone, financier and arms dealer, a man so wealthy that in the years before World War One he was able to manipulate markets, industries, and indeed entire countries and continents.

A panoramic novel with a riveting mystery at its heart, Stone’s Fall is a quest to discover how and why John Stone dies, falling out of a window at his London home.

Chronologically, it moves backwards–from London in 1909 to Paris in 1890, and finally to Venice in 1867– and in the process the quest to uncover the truth plays out against the backdrop of the evolution of high-stakes international finance, Europe’s first great age of espionage, and the start of the twentieth century’s arms race.

Like Fingerpost, Stone’s Fall is an intricately plotted and richly satisfying puzzle–an erudite work of history and fiction that feels utterly true and oddly timely–and marks the triumphant return of one of the world’s great storytellers.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (68)

Disappointing
This book has a lot of promise.The structure of the book--three stories going back in time dealing with the same characters--is a novel idea.The subject matter is interesting.There are lots of interesting, Dickensian characters.Unfortunately, none of it is executed well.The three stories are supposed to be told by three very different people--however, you would never know it from the writing;the style, the pace, the vocabulary are all exactly the same.The characters never come to life--they are all pawns serving the author's purpose with no feeling that they have a life of their own.The book is overly long (there were lots of places where I wished it would just wrap up), and a bit too complex.

On the positive side, I will say that the ending caused me to raise my rating from 2 stars to 3--it is somewhat surprising and a good way to wrap up the overall story.

This book drove me MAD!!!
This is the first book I almost didn't finish, in ten years. I really tried, I really did. Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all scared of long books, it's sometimes requirement in my choice of books, so I was really looking forward to it. The rave reviews, the promise of money, sex and madness, what more could a girl want???

Turns out, more is not always better. This book goes on and on for no reason. It's characters are shallow and unloveable. The storyline is convoluted and ridiculous. The writing is average at best.

I think it's one of those "and then this happened, and then this, and this" no real internal thoughts, feelings or dialogs. Very action and "mystery" orientated.

Worst of all. BORING!

A Man & a Woman
Pears story starts at the end, and tracks back in three parts to explain why the characters end as they do. The reader is treated to flowing and detailed descriptions of the players in the mystery/drama, and of the locations - from London, to Paris, to Venice. Most of the action occurs in the time before WW I, an era when anything was possible.

Stone is an industrialist who builds a powerful arms empire, initially based on one new invention. The other, and arguably the main, character is a woman; or is it a series of women. Each of the main players meetby chance but become intertwined in the lives of the others. The final twist at the end is unexpected, but not totally unrealistic given the times.

The Victorian and Edwardian eras are rich grounds for a story-teller and Pears mines it well.
In addition to considering the foundations of the modern espionage departments, how it all began, he very effectively weaves in details of the evolving banking system and stock markets as we know them today.

My only criticism, and it is a very minor one, is that the book is a trifle long. Some of the descriptions could have been detailed. However, many will revel in the language. One word of warning - this is a complex story and it needs to be read without an extended interruption.

Geoffrey Lambert - author of THE MOROZOV INHERITANCE: A Compelling Story of Murder, Love and Money.

Overrated
Six hundred pages of plot machinations with every device used in popular fiction--mistaken identity, disguises, overnight romance, fascination with wealth and money asinherently good, plot misdirection, cliche characters like the prostitute of great substance , dabbling in the occult, sexual abuse, fashionable clothes, blackmail, ghosts, insanity, exotic locations, love at first sight, justifiable murder, secrets in diaries--for me do not add up to very much except absurdity. Yes, the author is intelligent, but I want something more like historical insight, or a literate theme. Now some who have read this work compliment the author's discussion of the Panic of 1890, but just telling what happened (although it may evoke comparisons with our recent Panic of 2008) doesn't go much beyond what a person could learn from an encyclopedia article.I am shocked at the positive reviews for what is essentially a soap opera minus most of the emotion.It's hard to care about any of the characters--most are just in it for the money (which I worry is a statement that could apply equally as well to the author.)The book is coldly told and coldly received by this reader.

I LOVED THIS BOOK
Reading this book was like peeling an onion, with each layer filling in the story, adding new meaning and depth to what came before. The story incorporates high finance and makes it understandable. It seems market manipulators are nothing new. If you like puzzles or mysteries, you'll love this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (799)

Done with Georgeo
George, I'm sorry, but you're cut off.

I read this book 9 years ago, and I still don't have a completed sequel. I recall liking it immensely, but my memory of it is fading into the mists of time and turning sour. Now that I'm no longer young and full of a young man's angst, now that I'm successful and comfortable in life and not predisposed to dark-natured tales filled with gray or thoroughly black-hearted characters whose only ambition is to gain political power, I have to sit back and question my affinity for your tales.

So, I'm done. I won't be buying A Feast for Crows or A Dance with Dragons (God help us if it is ever released). I won't be watching the new HBO series.

I've lost both patience and interest, and that's mostly because its taken you too long to produce a *completed* sequel. Yes, I know, you're under no contract to provide us with a sequel. Yes, I know, we're just impatient children of the lightning-fast technology generation who are used to a quick pace of life and expect far too much from people that work at about half the speed of a retarded snail. (We children of the megabyte sure are impetuous and full of unrealistic expectations...)

MAAAAYBE I'll return to your series when you've drawn the curtains and put it to bed, (I'm beginning to suspect that Brandon Sanderson will also have to finish this series), but for now, no more of my gold will go to fill your coffers.

It's a 3-star book filled with complicated, but ultimately ignoble characters (hint: it's difficult not to be complicated when you're out to screw everyone around you for your own personal gain). But it gets 1 star because there is no completed sequel, and I'm tired of waiting for one.

One final word before parting: "Go, Giants!" *rolls eyes*

So disappointed
I loved the first two books of the series, but just can't get myself to finish this one (about 600 pages into it). Why? Because the characters are constantly doing stupid things. Anything to get into more trouble.

In the first two books, the characters always felt honest. Their choices made sense to me even when the paths they picked were the dangerous ones. But in this book, the characters simply seem reckless -- especially King Rob and his mother. They just seem to do whatever it takes to get into deeper trouble, even when that course is obviously pointless.The series started to be a problem for me with Theon. Why does he do anything? As far as I can tell, he's there to make sure some characters make stupid choices later on. When that's finished, so is Theon. Just pointless.

At any rate, the first book is simply great. But I'm deeply disappointed with this one.

Robert Jordan deja vu
I loved the first two books.Book three was obviously thrown together in order to get a product to market.Unfortunately, Martin is doing his best Robert Jordan impersonation.I'm not picking up another book until this season is finished - which I seriously doubt will ever happen.

Look at the time that has passed between books - Robert Jordan all over again.

Wonderfull
This is one off the best books I ever read.
If you like fantasy histories with intelligent twists you should read the series!

Stopped Reading
I loved the first 2 1/2 books of the series.Character development is an important part of the book to me.I tore through the first 2 books and thought I had found another wheel of time type of series.Now it seems, anyone I was "rooting" for in the series is dead.I honestly stopped reading it.Have no intention of going back.This may be what other reviewers are calling not the usual fantasy.I personally like the standard fare it would seem.You know, where there are people in the story you have read about for a thousand or so pages actually live and overcome the obstacles put in their path.
The world and politics were well played through the first 2+ books.That earned an additional star.
One thing this does seem to have in common with the wheel of time is an excellent story could have been told in 3 books.This series (I understand) is supposed to be 7 in length.
... Read more

Product Description
Roy Dotrice's now legendary portrayal of the seventeenth-century English diarist John Aubrey ran for 213 performances at London's May Fair Theatre, creating a world record for a one-man show.In this astonishing tour-de-force, he vividly recreates a day in the life of the seventy-year-old Aubrey in his chaotic London lodgings, surrounded by a confusion of books, curios and stuffed animals.Through his reminiscences we are introduced to a colourful succession of former friends, both famous and obscure. His stories are by turns touching, bawdy and scurrilous, though always tempered by a rich humanity and unfailing sense of humour, painting an unforgettable portrait of England during the seventeenth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

History lessons were never as enjoyable!
I first came across this play when I heard it on the radio (BBC) in England in 1974. I enjoyed it so much I went and saw Roy Dotrice perform it on stage, at around the time this recording was made. An astounding performance which vividly portrays life in 17th Century England. Abounds with remarkably funny anecdotes on people, both famous and unknown, of his (John Aubrey's) time.

A continuing theme is one of "'Twas not so in Queen Elizabeth's time", the complaints of the older generation about the youth of today - whenever today happens to be.

A failing of the recording is that, from time to time, as Roy Dotrice moves about the stage his voice can get quite muffled and faint, due to a shortage of microphones, maybe. Don't make the mistake of thinking this is a dry and boring monologue, it's anything but that. ... Read more