Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (awesome.) 『i really appreciated how this novel developed the characters and really gave a great taste of the time period. phenominal book!』
(Pirate's Booty) 『This classic book should be a must read for anyone of any age. I read this book when I was a kid, all of 15 years ago, and got just as much enjoyment out of it now as I did then.』
(Glad I Finally Read It!) 『Summary
Treasure Island was Robert Louis Stevenson's first full-length, published novel, which began as a story for his stepson. The main character and the narrator is a boy named Jim Hawkins who lives and works in his parents' Admiral Benbow Inn. A drunken buccaneer has been living at the inn and causing quite a scene among the locals. After he receives a black spot (an item representing pirate judgment) from an old, blind pirate named Pew, the buccaneer dies, leaving behind an unpaid room and a seaman's chest. Jim and his mother open the chest and find a bag full of coins of all different nationalities and a document containing a map. They escape the inn just before a band of pirates begin to break in and search for the map, which leads to an island containing Captain Flint's buried treasure.
Jim takes the map to Doctor Livesey and Squire Trelawney, who then immediately embark on a voyage on the ship Hispaniola, hiring Captain Smollet and a crew recommended by Long John Silver. Silver and most of the crew he brings with him were part of Flint's voyage to Skeleton Island, unbeknownst to Livesey and Trelawney. At sea, Jim finds himself in a barrel of apples and accidentally overhears plans for mutiny from the pirates, which he soon relays to Livesey, Trelawney, and the Captain. Soon to land at the island, Jim Hawkins and the rest of the trustworthy crew plan a way to make it off the island with the treasure and their lives.
My Reaction Until I read this book, I did not realize how much I already knew about it simply from references in popular culture. International Talk Like a Pirate Day could very well have been originated from a group of readers fond of this classic tale of pirates, treasure, and island adventure. In fact, I found just about everything I think about when I imagine pirates in this book. (The only thing Stevenson left out was a few hundred uses of the now ubiquitous pirate word "Arr!" but that may be anachronistic.) This alone I think demonstrates the far-reaching influence of this book as it applies to the popular view of pirate caricatures.
Normally when one thinks of reading "classic literature" one expects a laborious trek through hundreds of pages of archaic phrases and unfamiliar circumstances. Treasure Island is a refreshing reminder of why there are "classics" and has encouraged me to seek out others to read. Despite being over one hundred years old, it is easy to immerse oneself in Jim Hawkins' place throughout the action.
It took me a few pages to get used to some of the nautical terminology and Stevenson's use of apostrophes and phonetic spelling to illustrate the way the pirates were talking. However once I figured out what he was doing, the characters' voices in my head were clear. The action and suspenseful moments kept me turning the pages. I even jumped a bit in the part when Jim accidentally ended up with the pirates in the middle of the night. Descriptions easily laid out the setting of Skeleton Island. In fact, some of the more bloody scenes were surprisingly descript considering this was a tale aimed at young boys, but nowadays the target audience has seen more than that in a single video game.
I was also impressed with the character development within the novel. This was truly a coming-of-age type of tale for Jim Hawkins, learning nobility and honor practically as he fought to keep his and his party's lives and dignity. Long John Silver was mostly the star throughout because of his interesting mannerisms ("and you can lay to that") and his manipulative character. Just when I thought I figured out Silver's motivation, he pulled out another trick. The rest of the characters were distinct and multi-dimensional, with only one or two archetypes (Pew being one of evil villain, though he doesn't last long in the book).
Overall, as many other reviewers have said, Stevenson did not waste any words in writing Treasure Island. Everything written had purpose and added to the story. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting a fun exciting page-turner, as well as to anyone wanting to get started reading the classics.』
(Fantastic novel) 『Treasure Island is the best pirate novel I've ever come across. Although I must also add this is the only pirate novel I've come across. That being my background, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it really is a wonderful story. Some of the technical jargon gets confusing, but with the dictionary function on the Kindle it is absolutely a breeze.』
(enjoyable and timeless but ultimately overhyped.) 『It my opinion that RLS excels in the short story/novella genres, and is somewhat lacking in momentum in longer stories and novels.』 『Comic book version of the classic story of an island aswarm with a crew of murderous pirates in greedy pursuit of buried riches.』 『Climb aboard for the swashbuckling adventure of a lifetime.Treasure Islandhas enthralled (and caused slight seasickness) for decades. The names Long John Silver and Jim Hawkins are destined to remain pieces of folklore for as long as children want to read Robert Louis Stevenson's most famous book. With it's dastardly plot and motley crew of rogues and villains, it seems unlikely that children will ever say no to this timeless classic.--Naomi Gesinger』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (great book / lousy ebook) 『downloaded the book and immediately started to suffer from kindle freeze. it completely locked up my kindle. took a lot of effort to get back in but as soon as i deleted the book kindle performance was back to normal. other reviews dont metion this problem so im mystified.
』
(Free kindle version is solid) 『While the story does drag from time to time, as you read paragraphs about the genus species etc of the plans and animals that the protagonist sees, this is still a totally awesome vivid romp. It feels right at home with its great-grand-children novels in the steam-punk genre. The free kindle version is GREAT because you can look up all the random mollusks and make sure that they are ... random mollusks and nothing more sinister. The conversion to kindle has nearly no problems. The only thing that is missing is the lb symbol (or $) for some of the discussions on the value of random things.
If you have a kindle grab it.』
(Revisiting my youth) 『Like most of us, I read '20,000 Leagues' as a young man. Reading it again refreshed not only my memory of the book, but also revived my memory of adventure, challenge, excitement, and the wonder and possibilities of the unknown. Verne hit the mark with just the right blend of science and mystery. Kept me as enthralled the second time around as it did those many years ago when as a young man I couldn't put it down.』
(wonderful amazing awsome) 『This book might have been the best book I have ever read.Very adventerous.BEST BOOK EVER!』
(Shows the beauty and danger of the ocean.) 『an AMAZING book! I read this in 5th grade (not recomended for students that age, voc. difficult) and scince that age, I have wanted to become an oceanographer scince. You will NEVER look at the ocean the same again!』
price：$10.99
Yen Press
Not yet published 『When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret...
Beautifully rendered, this first installment ofTwilight: The Graphic Novelis a must-have for any collector’s library.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (1978 Illustrated Edition of the Hobbit) 『I got this book for my father for Christmas. He had the same one when we were kids and had always wanted another copy after losing the first one. I found it here and ordered it through one of the marketplace sellers. It was the exact same edition from my childhood. The illustrations are beautiful and match the cartoon movie version that came out at the same time. The book was in fair condion. No dust jacket, loose binding and a little yellow but, because it was so hard to find I found it to be worth it. Other copies of the book were selling for several hundred dollars. My father was very pleased.』
(An 11 year old's review) 『I LOVED this book. It was exciting and adventuresome. I am not thrilled by many books, but I enjoyed this one. 』
(An unlikely person goes on a great adventure) 『The novel, "The Hobbit", by J.R.R. Tolkien is a great story of a small individual from a small human like people called the hobbits. He is taken on a great adventure with dwarfs. He encounters a creature called Gollum and finds a ring that makes the wearer invisible. He goes through caves, meets humans and has a close call with a dragon called Smaug.
The book is a fun fantasy adventure story with a great deal of depth to the world it takes place in. This is the first novel that was more than 150 pages that I read when I was a kid and I remember reading it fondly. I recently reread it and it was better reading the second time around.』
(a classic) 『My father brought me and my siblings up on Tolkien. This illustrated version stays true to the original "Hobbit" and has been a great way for me to get my kids interested in reading Tolkien's works for themselves.』
(Whens the movie!!!!) 『I bought this to replace my wel worm and loved paperback from 1975. The old copy will go onthe shelf. I read this within 1 week of getting it. It's still a great read, even 35 years later.』 『The popular paperback edition of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic masterpiece, illustrated for the first time with Tolkien's own painting originally created by him for the first edition, and featuring brand new reproductions of all his drawings and maps. The Hobbit is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves in search of dragon-guarded gold. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving unambitious hobbit, who surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and skill as a burglar. Encounters with trolls, goblins, dwarves, elves and giant spiders, conversations with the dragon, Smaug, and a rather unwilling presence at the Battle of Five Armies are just some of the adventures that befall Bilbo. Bilbo Baggins has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals of children's fiction. Written by Professor Tolkien for his own children, The Hobbit met with instant critical acclaim when published.』 『"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort."
The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure.
The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork,The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. ThoughThe Hobbitis lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader.--Alix Wilber』
price：$5.76
HarperCollins
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The Graveyard Book) 『I think I am one of the very few people who truly disliked this book. It has a slow start, keeps going slowly, coming to a very anticlimactic and predictable ending. Not only that, but it is extraordinarily difficult to understand with the vocabulary used. The target audience is 6th-8th graders. They are not going to understand what is going on. I'm sure it's Newbery material because of this fact, because the award committees want the best written book, but I can't see kids actually picking this up and reading it and liking it. It's not written for kids, in a kid friendly way. If I was a kid, the language in this book would drive me up the wall in confusion, rendering me incapable of focusing on the plot at all. I really feel like this was written for an awards committee rather than the readers themselves. It's a very chaotically unclear and unnecessarily wordy book. The premise is fascinating, but it's not written in a way that takes it to its full potential. It's so overhyped to be this fantastic, amazing book...when it's really quite a bore. The characters are flat, there's no action, it's poorly constructed. All of the action takes place at the very end, with no build up. I honestly think it would have been a better book with just the first and last few chapters. It's just...lame. Not done well. It could just be me, but I don't think Neil Gaiman is as great a writer for this particular audience as he is hyped up to be.
Rating: 1.5/5』
(Slow start, but becomes a great book) 『For me, this book had a slow start, but somewhere around the middle it turned into a truly great book. At first, I found the writing slow and uneven. I had a hard time getting into it. The events are written in a rather flat, emotionless manner, so there wasn't much tension. The plot didn't seem to be going anywhere, it was more slice-of-life in a graveyard. But the story was unique enough to intrigue me, so I kept reading, and I'm so glad I did. By the end, I really loved this book and would definitely recommend it to children ages 10 and older, and most adults would enjoy this book as well. Somewhere around the middle of the book, I became swept up in these bizarre characters lives and couldn't stop turning pages. (That's about the point where the plot takes a turn and things finally start to happen.) The writing remained oddly flat and matter of fact, but it suddenly seemed the perfect voice for the story, the perfect counter balance to the macabre setting and characters. The unique writing voice adds a lot of charm to the book -- a fun mix of dark situations written with a light attitude. There are some very touching moments between Bod and Silas. I adored them both. I thought the concluding action scene was only moderately successful, due to that odd lack of tension, but the final emotional scene captured my heart and kept me thinking about this book long after I'd turned the last page. Definitely worth reading.』
(A Little Dark For a Children's Book, But a Really Good Read!) 『I somehow was locked in a closet and had never even heard of this book before it won the Newbery. So yes, I hopped on the Newbery Band-wagon and checked it out from the library.
I was going to read it with my 7 year-old originally, but when I skimmed the first chapter and we open with the murder of an entire family, excluding a toddler who wanders into a graveyard, I decided this one would be a solo read. The grade level is list as 5th and up. I think that is pretty appropriate, not based on reading level, but subject matter. I was thinking about what genre this would fall into and decided the it needs to be something like "children's horror". I wasn't aware that "paranormal romance" was a genre, so children's horror, or thriller would be where this fits in.
I'm split on this book. There were parts I REALLY liked and parts that were....lackluster. I can't think of a better word. I'm glad my husband was here, I knew quickly the author was british by some of the words in the book, i.e., anarak, oh and some cockney rhyming slang, but I can't remember what it was, it was something like "up the apples and pears" (stairs) or "the trouble and strife" (wife). I'd love to go back and find it, but I am getting sleepy and my book is due back tomorrow.
I did have to look up a word, which seems uncommon when reading a children's book that was written in 2008. I did not know what apoplexy (the cause of the demise of Thackeray Porringer in 1734) was, until I looked it up. My husband didn't know what it meant until we looked it up either, which made me feel less dumb!
I wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations either. I did notice however, if you look at the cover, the negative image of the headstone, in the blue is a boy's face. I would be interested to see what the inside illustrations by Chris Riddell look like in the UK version as Gaiman himself states in his authors note that they, "both drew wonderfully and differently." I've seen the cover, but not inside the book.
I didn't think of the comparison to Kipling's The Jungle Book until I read the authors note. The Jungle Book wasn't quite as dark as this. After all, fuzzy animals vs. ghosts and spirits....a bit different.
I would recommend this 2009 Newberry Medal winner, with caution. Some children may not be ready for the dark and sometimes quite scary themes. I ended up with the 4/5 rating because I felt the good outweighed the bad.
Main Characters: Nobody (Bod) Owens, Mr. Owens, Mrs. Owens, Silas, Mrs. Lupescu, Scarlett, The Jacks of All Trades
Setting: a graveyard in modern day England
Theme: After the murder of his parents and sister by the man Jack, a toddler escapes to a graveyard where he is adopted by ghost parents and given the name Nobody Owens. Bod stuggles to find out where he fits in, in the spirit world or in the human world. With the man Jack still on the loose, Silas, his guardian, and his group of ghostly friends do everything they can to protect him. 』
(I'm Torn! Loved the book, hated the last chapter.) 『"Torn. That's probably the best way to sum up how I feel about this book. After reading multiple reviews, primarily positive, I felt I had to give it a shot. Also, with the added benefit of being able to add it to my reviews for the 'A World of Awards' feature for the Newbery Award, I thought why not? But now I'm not so sure. Let me just say this, if I could leave out the last chapter there wouldn't be a question, it was great! But there it is, the LAST CHAPTER. It had me balling through every last page and wishing beyond hope that it wasn't so. I won't say more about it than that, because I won't spoil it, but I'm almost wishing there was a next book.
"Sticking with the first seven chapters of the book I'll give some honest thoughts. In the first chapter Gaiman grabs your attention right away and it's almost hard to believe a story could begin in such a way, but it's so original. To even imagine that a small child would survive an attack from someone I initially considered to possibly be Jack the Ripper, crazy. Your heart breaks in almost the very first two or three pages, but quickly is healed by some very incredible moments ahead. I also held my breathe a lot during those first few pages, just hoping that things would go well and they do. Really, they have to or there wouldn't be much of a story.
"Every person involved in the undertaking of raising a mortal child in the graveyard is unique and has a history that spans not only decades but centuries. There are ghosts, ghouls, werewolves, vampires, witches, plain old every day human beings, and of course The Jacks. My favorite character by far would have to be Silas, Nobody's guardian and maybe that's because (as it's been hinted by Neil himself) he's a vampire. I love a good vampire character, always have (long before the sparkly versions in today's books came to be). It's the mystery and elusiveness that he brings to the scenes. Always just enough, but not too much. But truly all of the characters are wonderful and it's neat to see how Bod interacts with each of them.
"There is a scene where Silas and Bod are talking about the unconsecrated section of the graveyard, where the 'bad' people are buried. At the time Bod is only eight years old, but asks a question about people who commit suicide: 'Does it work? Are they happier?' "And Silas responds by saying something so poignant that it affects me even now: 'Sometimes. Mostly, no. It's like the people who believe they'll be happy if they go and live somewhere else, but who learn it doesn't work that way. Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. If you see what I mean.' p.104 "In these simple sentences something that I have struggled with for some time was worked out and I have an even deeper peace about something I could do nothing to prevent. It seems silly to me that a simple middle grade fiction book could do this for me, but it did.
"This is a story for someone looking for a little mystery, a bit of adventure and even (believe it or not) some romance. There are silly parts and deep parts depending on what you chose to get out of it. What I liked best about it is that I could really see a young boy getting into it. I'm positive that it's because of The Turkeybird, I'm always on the lookout for books I want him to try out when he's a bit older and this is definitely one of them. Even with the ending how it is, I look forward to talking with him about the results and how it affects his own life and relationships.
"There are a few slow parts, but for the most part it's a quick read that will entertain many. I'm still torn about it, but I'm still recommending it. It's a book that with time will grow on me I'm sure, but for now has me thinking."
The1stdaughter Recommends: Age 10 and up, especially for boys, but not only.』
(The Graveyard Book) 『The Graveyard Book By Neil Galman
Publisher:HarperCollins # of Pages:307 Age Rating:+12 My Rating: 4 Stars
Synopsis: Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.
He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.
There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer.
But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack--who has already killed Bod's family...
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced his New York Times bestselling modern classic Coraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, the graveyard book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
Review: The first Neil Galman's books that I read was Coraline and I LOVE it so much that when I saw that Neil Galman had more books, I just had to get one to see if it was good as Coraline. Coraline is still my top favorite Neil Galman's books but I really,really like The Graveyard Book. People who like their stores to be neat and in order will not like this book as much because this book is kind of loose and easy, fun and random, what ever you want to call it. I really like Bod, he was the kind of boy that makes you want to help him and cheer him on even when he makes mistakes, you still want to help him and not yell at him so something. The plot was a very fun idea, being raised by the ghosts in the graveyard (most of them are nice) but I wish that author had more of the "Jacks" in the book, it would have been nice to know more about them. This book is amazing, it's a easy read, I give it 4 stars.
Enjoy! :D:D:D』 『
Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.
He would be completely normal if he didn't live in a sprawling graveyard, being raised and educated by ghosts, with a solitary guardian who belongs to neither the world of the living nor of the dead.
There are dangers and adventures in the graveyard for a boy-an ancient Indigo Man beneath the hill, a gateway to a desert leading to an abandoned city of ghouls, the strange and terrible menace of the Sleer.
But if Bod leaves the graveyard, then he will come under attack from the man Jack—who has already killed Bod's family. . . .
Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman returns with a luminous new novel for the audience that embraced hisNew York Timesbestselling modern classicCoraline. Magical, terrifying, and filled with breathtaking adventures, the graveyard book is sure to enthrall readers of all ages.
』 『InThe Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman has created a charming allegory of childhood. Although the book opens with a scary scene--a family is stabbed to death by "a man named Jack” --the story quickly moves into more child-friendly storytelling. The sole survivor of the attack--an 18-month-old baby--escapes his crib and his house, and toddles to a nearby graveyard. Quickly recognizing that the baby is orphaned, the graveyard's ghostly residents adopt him, name him Nobody("Bod"), and allow him to live in their tomb. Taking inspiration from Kipling’sThe Jungle Book, Gaiman describes how the toddler navigates among the headstones, asking a lot of questions and picking up the tricks of the living and the dead. In serial-like episodes, the story follows Bod's progress as he grows from baby to teen, learning life’s lessons amid a cadre of the long-dead, ghouls, witches, intermittent human interlopers. A pallid, nocturnal guardian named Silas ensures that Bod receives food, books, and anything else he might need from the human world. Whenever the boy strays from his usual play among the headstones, he finds new dangers, learns his limitations and strengths, and acquires the skills he needs to survive within the confines of the graveyard and in wider world beyond. (ages 10 and up) -–Heidi Broadhead』
price：$4.98
Amulet Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Fun Read) 『This book and the whole series is a blast to read. I takes me back to my youth and experiences in school. I think it is a blast to read.』
(Another winner from Jeff Kinney) 『Awkward adolescent Greg Heffley stumbles into more trouble in this, the fourth book in the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series.
I didn't get quite as many outright laughs out of this one as I did the first two, but "Dog Days" is still quite entertaining, with funny and clever twists on Greg's summer-gone-wrong. Worth a read.』
(good book) 『Great book for 2-4 graders, they find it very funny. Perfect to encourage reading for fun!!!』
(Kids loved!) 『I wish they had more books just like this one, because nothing gets my 2 sons (age 9 and 11) reading more than Wimpy Kid books. They LOVE them! My 11 year old who normally hates to read, read the whole book in one sitting. My dyslexic 9 year old read it in 2 day and scored perfectly on the comprehension test at school. They adore Wimpy Kid, and I adore it when they are reading.』
(Wimpy Kid a hit!) 『This book is a hit with my 14 year old middle schooler who happens to have Down Syndrome. It is written in an appealing and non-threatening diary format with lots of illustrations. (Rare at this reading level!) I'm glad I got all three books in the series.
』 『
It’s summer vacation, the weather’s great, and all the kids are having fun outside. So where’s Greg Heffley? Inside his house, playing video games with the shades drawn.
Greg, a self-confessed“indoor person,” is living out his ultimate summer fantasy: no responsibilities and no rules. But Greg’s mom has a different vision for an ideal summer . . . one packed with outdoor activities and “family togetherness.”
Whose vision will win out? Or will a new addition to the Heffley family change everything?
price：$8.48
Pantheon
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (First time with a graphic novel- Don't regret it) 『This book was assigned to me and I gotta say, it's one of those you don't regret reading while you have numerous jobs at hand. It truly made me love graphic novels; a must have.』
(powerful and moving) 『The Complete Persepolis contains Persepolis and Persepolis 2 in one volume. Although there is no indication where the second volume begins, there is a shift in the story. Persepolis is an autobiography in graphic novel. Marjane Satrapi grew up in Iran, and the book is as much a story of the Persian people and Iran's history as it is her own. It's a fascinating look at a country and its history, but it's most remarkable seen through the eyes of a child. It's incredibly moving to think and see how much geography plays into our own sense of self and autobiography.
From a visual standpoint, Persepolis is simple and beautiful. There are frames so packed with meaning, I would stare at them for a few minutes. I would gladly hand several on my wall. It's an incredibly accessible graphic novel, as it's rather verbose, but Satrapi's drawings are powerful.
Persepolis is clearly a powerful book, and I do believe it's an important book, particularly for Westerners. I think it's wonderful and smart, but I didn't quite love it. It moved me deeply, but there was some unknown element inhibiting my full personal enjoyment.』
(The struggle goes on.) 『"Persepolis" is a graphic novel, originally published in four parts in France. It formed the basis for an animated film that was first released in 2007. It won the Jury Prize at that year's Cannes Film Festival and was also nominated at the Oscars for Best Animated Feature. Rather unusually for a graphic novel, it tells the story of Satrapi's own life.
Marji was an ordinary 10-year old when the Revolution took place in 1979. She was very religious, and desperately wanted to be the last prophet...but she also idolized Bruce Lee and occasionally pretended to be Che Guevara. Naturally, she understood little of the "adult world" - Marji liked the Shah, and believed her teachers when they said he'd been appointed by God. Her parents, with good reason, detested the Shah and soon explained the truth to her. The current Shah inherited his position from his father - who, in turn, had been appointed by the British, rather than God. Furthermore, her Grandfather (a prince, no less) and her Uncle Anoosh had been imprisoned by one Shah or another and both had been devoted Communists - viewed by both Shahs as something evil. Both Marji's parents had been involved in protests against the Shah's regime, though they'd managed to stay out of prison.
With the fall of the Shah, life is - for a short spell - like a dream. Old family friends - like Moshen and Siamak, who had been routinely tortured - and Marji's Uncle Anoosh are released from prison. Like Marji's parents, both are hopeful of a better society. Marji had known nothing of her Uncle before his release from prison but, before long, the pair are devoted to each other. Unfortunately, their hopes prove unfounded. Islamic Fundamentalists win the following elections, and society becomes even more oppressive. Many of the Shah's former enemies - including Anoosh - are hunted down and returned to prison. Moshen, meanwhile, is found dead in his bath...though since only his head was underwater, it was obvious he was murdered. Although some (like Siamak) flee, Marji and her family stay put. War with Iraq sees the authorities calling for martyrs, with our young heroine becoming increasingly disillusioned. As time goes on, though, it becomes increasingly obvious that Marji won't be able to say nothing and keep her head down. As a result, her parents decide to send her to Austria to continue her education. While the move solves some problems, it opens the door to many more...and for many years, leaves Marji trapped between two worlds and unsure where she belongs.
Being a graphic novel, it's not your typical autobiography. There is a brief introduction - using standard prose rather than pictures - where Satrapi tries to explain her reasons for writing this book. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, she says, Iran "has been discussed mostly connection with fundamentalism, fanaticism and terrorism. As an Iranian who has lived more than half my life in Iran I know that this image is far from the truth." Marji proved to be a very likeable character, someone you wanted to see things go right for...though somehow you knew things wouldn't be easy. She and her family did have a tricky life in Iran. Her difficulties with social classes, religious regimes, wars and rivalries set her apart- and the suffering of her family, friends and neighbours under two repressive regimes shouldn't be glossed over. (These regimes weren't entirely "their" fault either - there was a certain amount of sneaky Western interference). Her life in Austria - a democratic, western country - wasn't pleasant either. There, she was always the outsider, someone set apart - with things sometimes descending to blatant racism. Nevertheless, it's a book that's definitely recommended.』
(Very powerful, engaging read) 『I had heard SO many good things about both Persepolis I and II, and for some reason I kept putting off reading them, so when I found this book at my library I finally just bit the bullet and took it home. I was definitely nervous about reading it - first of all, I have very little experience with graphic novels, and secondly, I was very aware of my high expectations for the book based on all the positive reviews it's garnered recently. I shouldn't have worried, though, because The Complete Persepolis was overall very enjoyable for me.
I say overall because I have to admit that there was one thing about the book that bugged me - the writing was SO tiny! I'm glad that this wasn't my first graphic novel, because I think I would have become frustrated with the genre if it was. I had a difficult time sometimes reading everything that was written, and I think the black and white pictures also worked against my eyes - they were trying to take in so much, and some of it was really hard to see! Besides that minor complaint, I thought the book was pretty awesome. It was a highly educational experience for me - I really have no knowledge of this period of Iran's history (well, I don't have much knowledge of Iran, period), and to see these events through Marjane's eyes (with her explaining the history all along) was captivating. I also was interested in the history for a personal reason - one of my uncles (by marriage) was born in Iran and didn't come to the U.S. until he was twenty-two. In fact, I don't know his exact age but I think he came here at about the same time The Complete Persepolis takes place (late 1970's, early 1980's). My uncle has a lot to say about his dissatisfaction with his native country's history, but I never truly knew the facts of that history. Reading the book made me realize how ignorant I am about the history and culture of one person in my life who is very important to me. It also made me want to learn even more about Iran's history.
While I found Satrapi's story to be a great learning experience, I also found the book highly entertaining and very accessible. Satrapi writes so candidly, so casually and at times hysterically that the reader can't help but understand her and sympathize with everything she's been through. Also, she wrote the book in such a way that really made me want to be friends with her - she was seriously hilarious at so many points throughout the book, yet still so dead serious about the events that took place. Really, the way she crafted her story was just lovely, and I pretty much loved every minute of reading it.
I definitely recommend this one. Even though I had a rough time with the physical act of reading the book, The Complete Persepolis was more than worth the strain it put on my eyes. If you enjoy or want to try graphic novels, or like history, or like memoirs, read this book!』
(A glimpse into a very different culture) 『I teach this graphic novel in a university course in young adult literature. It is one of the students' favorites, and it provides valuable insights into a culture and a history that most of us Americans don't really understand, despite our heavy involvement in the Middle East.』 『Here, in one volume: Marjane Satrapi's best-selling, internationally acclaimed memoir-in-comic-strips.
Persepolisis the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private life and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna facing the trails of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up.
Edgy, searingly observant, and candid, often heartbreaking but threaded throughout with raw humor and hard-earned wisdom--Persepolisis a stunning work from one of the most highly regarded, singularly talented graphic artists at work today.』
price：$5.48
Amulet Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Fun Read) 『I love this book series. It really takes you back to the "fun" or lack there of your youth.』
(Good, just not as good as first two) 『This third book in the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series had a lot to live up to, since the first two were so clever and funny. And in truth, this one isn't quite as good. It's just a little less funny, and the main character, Greg Heffley, shows some flashes of cockiness that make him a bit less likeable ("I'm pretty much one of the best people I know").
Having said that, it's still worth reading, and you'll definitely get some laughs out of it. It got better in the second half, as Greg's clumsy infatuation with Holly Hills produces multiple embarrassing moments.
』
(A Book Review) 『Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is a book about a wimpy kid named Greg Heffly. He sits in his house all day. He tries to get stronger to play sports, but it doesn't work out to well.
My book starts in Greg Heffly's house and he is trying to teach his mom to chew her chips quieter. His dad is on a diet. Greg camps in the laundry room, and he finds his dad eating brownies from the garbage.
My favorite character is Manny, Greg's little brother. He is funny and small. He is crazy and he picks on Greg sometimes.
My favorite part is when Greg buries a time capsule in the ground. He wrote on it that you can only open it when time travel is invented. Then they can go back in time and thank him for the money he put in it because money these days he thought would be a lot of money in the future so they could give him money.
I would recommend this book to fifth grade boys. I think this would be good for fifth graders because it is their grade level and it is a good book. They would like this book because i think it is funny. 』
(A Book Review) 『Diary of a Wimpy Kid The Last Straw by Jeff kinney is a story about a boy named Greg Heffley who faces the unwants, dislikes, and troubles of everyday life. Along with the bullies, nerds and people who are just weird, Greg makes his way through a very difficult summer. Although his dad, two brothers, and his friend Rowley are strange, Greg makes it through the summer.
This story begins in Greg's house in a typical city in the United States. Frank Heffley thinks he can toughen up his son by introducing him to manlier accomplishments, but Greg easily avoids it with distractions like school, friends, and blowing it off. He keeps this up for most of the summer, but can Greg show his manliest before his dad threatens to send him to military school?
This story tells me that Greg lives a wimpy life throughout his teens. His brothers Manny and Rodrick, make his life very hard. At this time their is a girl named Holly Hills that Greg likes. There is a very strange kid named Fregley who does some really weird things in the story.
My favorite part of this story is when Greg sits on a chocolate bunny in the car on the way to Easter Mass. I liked this story because of the comedy and drawings that caught my interest. Another reason I liked this story because the story was inviting and the title was catchy.
I would recommend this story to anyone who has a sense of humor and likes to laugh. Anyone who hasn't read this book yet will think it is as awesome as I thought it was. 』
(A Book Review) 『 Diary of a Wimpy Kid/ The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney is about a kid named Greg Heffley that loves to be funny. He loves to play video games in the dark instead of playing outside in the sun. He thinks his friend ,Rowley, is kind of strange, but they always play together.
The story begins in Greg's house on New Year's Day. They are trying to think of resolutions to try to make him and his parents better people.
One day, on New Year's Day they were trying to solve problems on how to make their family better. Greg thought his mom should eat chips more quietly, and his dad should not stuff himself.
Greg Heffley is the main character. He thinks he is cool, but he is like a nerd. He likes to be funny and tell jokes. Greg had an older brother named ,Rodrick, and a younger brother named ,Manny.
I think the author wrote the story to entertain. I have read all of the series and his life gets better in each story. I think he wrote these stories to teach a lesson.
』 『
The highly anticipated third book in the critically acclaimed and bestselling series takes the art of being wimpy to a whole new level.
Let’s face it: Greg Heffley will never change his wimpy ways. Somebody just needs to explain that to Greg’s father. You see, Frank Heffley actually thinks he can get his son to toughen up, and he enlists Greg in organized sports and other “manly” endeavors. Of course, Greg is able to easily sidestep his father’s efforts to change him. But when Greg’s dad threatens to send him to military academy, Greg realizes he has to shape up . . . or get shipped out.
Greg and his family and friends, who make theDiary of a Wimpy Kidbooks a must-read for middle school readers, are back and at their best in this hilarious new installment of the series, which is sure to please current fans while attracting new ones.
Publishers Weekly-1/19/2009:
The third book in this genre-busting series is certain to enlarge Kinney’s presence on the bestseller lists, where the previous titles have taken up residence for the past two years. Kinney’s spot-on humor and winning formula of deadpan text set against cartoons are back in full force. This time, Greg starts off on New Year’s Day (he resolves to “helpotherpeople improve,” telling his mother, “I think you should work on chewing your potato chips more quietly”) and ends with summer vacation. As he fends off his father’s attempts to make him more of a man (the threat of military school looms), Greg’s hapless adventures include handing out anonymous valentines expressing his true feelings (“Dear James, You smell”), attempting to impress his classmate Holly and single-handedly wrecking his soccer team’s perfect season. Kinney allows himself some insider humor as well, with Greg noting the “racket” children’s book authors have going. “All you have to do is make up a character with a snappy name, and then make sure the character learns a lesson at the end of the book.” Greg, self-centered as ever, may be the exception proving that rule. Ages 8–12.(Jan.)
price：$5.81
Amulet Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (good little addition to the collection) 『Great little books for young boys. Explains in a comical way situations that young boys go through on a daily basis. From dealing with an older brother to embarassing ordeals at school. Helps boys realize that they aren't the only ones that these things happen to. The author does a great job of expressing the realistic dealings of a day to day life. Reads just like a journal of a boy who goes through one life journey after another. Is a great addition to the other books from this series.』
(A Book Review) 『 The Diary of a Wimpy Kid- Rodrick Rules is mainly about a big brother named Rodrick, the main character is Greg, a little brother named Manny, Mom, Dad, and a friend named Rowley. It is about Greg trying deal with his older brother, Rodrick.
They live in a modern American city. It is always bright outside, but they rather stay inside playing video games. Rodrick finds out about Greg's and Rodrick keeps bugging Greg about it. Starting the new school year, there is more of a chance of secrets coming out with the diary around.
Greg is always getting into trouble with his parents. Manny is always getting trouble with his parents but he always gets out of trouble. Greg is getting pretty sick of it. Rodrick is a mean big brother. He is always finding out about secrets and then telling people. He is mean because he took his van to pick up Greg after swimming lessons and he made Greg sit in the back where there are no seats and is almost crushed by Rodrick's drums.
My favorite part is when Greg is at swimming lessons and he tells the coach he need to use the bathroom because he doesn't like the lessons. It is cold in the bathroom, so he wraps himself in toilet paper. It makes me laugh so hard.
I loved the book. It was one of my favorite books. It was so funny. The author wrote it to entertain the reader. I recommend it for fourth and fifth graders. 』
(Clever from start to finish) 『I loved the first "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" book, and it would seem impossible that Jeff Kinney could match it with the sequel. But he did!
"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules" is every bit as good, clever and funny as the first one. Kinney has a wonderful sense for the insecurities and problems of adolescence, and he comes up with one funny chapter after another. I read it all in one day.』
(Very funny!) 『(Written by Emily's little brother William)
"Rodrick Rules" is very funny. It's my favorite book ever! I'm not kidding, it is! I just think it's too bad that Rodrick is so mean to Greg.』
(8 year old son loves these books!) 『My eight year old son, who does NOT consider reading fun, LOVES these books! He read the first one and requested the rest of the series.』 『
The highly anticipated sequel to the #1NEW YORK TIMESbestselling book!
Secrets have a way of getting out, especially when a diary is involved.
Whatever you do, don’t ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn’t want to talk about it.
As Greg enters the new school year, he’s eager to put the past three months behind him . . . and one event in particular.
Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. But secrets have a way of getting out . . . especially when a diary is involved.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: RodrickRules chronicles Greg’s attempts to navigate the hazards of middle school, impress the girls, steer clear of the school talent show, and most important, keep his secret safe.
price：$8.48
Company
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Book Review) 『This was an unusual book. I had seen a copy earlier and decided I wanted to buy one. It is amazingly faithful to the original copy and very well illustrated.』
(This was a great book) 『I loved this book more than I thought I would. I must say that though I've seemingly read Genesis a million times I actually learned even more. When you have pictures to go with the events it just paints a much fuller picture in your mind and gels the events together that much more. The only really glaring problem I found was that Crumb wrote and drew the story of Joseph being sold into slavery as one tribe pulling him from the hole and then selling him to a different tribe. The reality is that the one tribe goes by two different interchangable names in the Bible. Other than that it was a totally awesome book and I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.』
(The Book of Genesis Illustrated...R Crumb) 『I enjoyed it immensely. It was well done and easy to follow. The illustrations were realistic without being offensive. The Illustration of "God" was not too favorable or enjoyable as it made "God" seem forever angry. Being all knowing I felt that He could have prevented the evils by not allowing them to happen in the first place.
When I finished the book, I was hoping there would follow several other books from the Bible, Because of Crumb's age I didn't think it might be possible as it took five years for him to finish the first one.
I passed my issue on to my daughter and hoped she would follow suit. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and hope that others have the opportunity to do so. I would certainly welcome any additional books of this nature for future reading.』
(A Interpretive Theological Masterpiece) 『This is a masterpiece on multiple levels. As a Graphic Book, it is unsurpassed in its intricacy and attention to detail. Crumb's cross-hatching style of cartooning has reached its pinnacle with this work.With it, he illustrates a lush and visually descriptive interpretation of the first book of Torah. As purely art, this work was obviously painstakingly undertaken. The love and possibly hate of the work shines through in beautiful and sometimes more grotesque imaging. As a Book of the Bible, it true to the English translation in common use today.Without changing a word of the Bible,Crumb has opened up all sorts of new thinking on the subject. The twist is that instead of reading the Bible Tales of our youth, the reader is presented with picture that leaves room for personal questions that may be different than the explanations given us by our childhood teachers.』
(Not Your Youthful R. Crumb) 『Robert Crumb has aged and finally stopped doing what society wants him to do, tittilating our misspent youth with graphic gross-out cartoons. He should be thanked heartily for that. This is a master work of a master illustrator, and with Genesis we see the potential for illustrated story telling (graphic novel) by probably one of the greatest generational interpretors of the 20th century, at least the greatest since John Held Jr. With Genesis, all the levity is in the past. While his unmistakable style is the same, his subject here is grand and Biblical in scope. He delivers the entire Book of Genesis with a straight face, or as he sells it himself on the cover, "nothing held back." And through his pen, we understand so much more than through mere words. Crumb's God is an impressive image, forget Mr. Natural. I recommend this book. It's the real deal. All 50 chapters, one by one. It might be a bit strong for pre-teens, but your children won't lose their religion over it. They'll actually wait to see if Crumb draws a sequel.』 『From Creation to the death of Joseph, here are all 50 chapters of the Book of Genesis, revealingly illustrated as never before.Envisioning the first book of the bible like no one before him, R. Crumb, the legendary illustrator, reveals here the story of Genesis in a profoundly honest and deeply moving way. Originally thinking that we would do a take off of Adam and Eve, Crumb became so fascinated by the Bible’s language, “a text so great and so strange that it lends itself readily to graphic depictions,” that he decided instead to do a literal interpretation using the text word for word in a version primarily assembled from the translations of Robert Alter and the King James bible.
Now, readers of every persuasion—Crumb fans, comic book lovers, and believers—can gain astonishing new insights from these harrowing, tragic, and even juicy stories. Crumb’sBook of Genesisreintroduces us to the bountiful tree lined garden of Adam and Eve, the massive ark of Noah with beasts of every kind, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by brimstone and fire that rained from the heavens, and the Egypt of the Pharaoh, where Joseph’s embalmed body is carried in a coffin, in a scene as elegiac as any in Genesis. Using clues from the text and peeling away the theological and scholarly interpretation that have often obscured the Bible’s most dramatic stories, Crumb fleshes out a parade of Biblical originals: from the serpent in Eden, the humanoid reptile appearing like an alien out of a science fiction movie, to Jacob, a “kind’ve depressed guy who doesn’t strike you as physically courageous,” and his bother, Esau, “a rough and kick ass guy,” to Abraham’s wife Sarah, more fetching than most woman at 90, to God himself, “a standard Charlton Heston-like figure with long white hair and a flowing beard.”
As Crumb writes in his introduction,“the stories of these people, the Hebrews, were something more than just stories. They were the foundation, the source, in writing of religious and political power, handed down by God himself.” Crumb’sBook of Genesis, the culmination of 5 years of painstaking work, is a tapestry of masterly detail and storytelling which celebrates the astonishing diversity of the one of our greatest artistic geniuses. .』
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