Question: What is the sentiment of the majority of the moments in the book?

There's a little of Bernadette in all of us - the ranger, the avoider, the snob, the artist.  The well-adjusted among us keep those things under control, and that's how Bernadette differs. She hardly ever tries -  and never very hard - to suppress her urges. Thank goodness, or we wouldn't have such a good time reading about her. You'll find something to laugh about no matter what your own beliefs and convictions happen to be. Read this!

Answer: adjusted among us keep those things under control

There's a little of Bernadette in all of us - the ranger, the avoider, the snob, the artist. <hl> The well- adjusted among us keep those things under control , and that's how Bernadette differs. <hl> She hardly ever tries - and never very hard - to suppress her urges. Thank goodness, or we wouldn't have such a good time reading about her. You'll find something to laugh about no matter what your own beliefs and convictions happen to be. Read this!

There's a little of Bernadette in all of us - the ranger, the avoider, the snob, the artist. The well-<hl> adjusted among us keep those things under control <hl>, and that's how Bernadette differs. She hardly ever tries - and never very hard - to suppress her urges. Thank goodness, or we wouldn't have such a good time reading about her. You'll find something to laugh about no matter what your own beliefs and convictions happen to be. Read this!

The well- <hl> adjusted among us keep those things under control <hl> , and that's how Bernadette differs.


Question: How is the writing style?

It's difficult to find the right words to even describe how good Hunger Games is.  I would definitely place it on my top 5 list of all times and I have read hundreds and hundreds of books.Katniss is such an engaging character.  The reader is drawn to her instantly, as we are plunged into a futuristic world of oppression, poverty and despair.  Katniss has taken on the responsibility of caring for her family after her father died in a mining explosion and her mother shut down.  Katniss is daring and ventures out into forbidden areas to hunt and gather food to sell to the people in her "district".  Her only goal in life seems to be keeping her little sister safe.The government has set up a lottery in each of the twelve "districts" in this futuristic country.  One boy and one girl are chosen to go fight to the death with the "tributes" from the other eleven districts.  When Prim, Katniss's little sister, is chosen for the Hunger Games as they are called Katniss steps forward and volunteers to go in her place.Katniss goes to the capitol with the other tribute from her district, a boy named Peeta, and there they must put on a good show before the game begins.  If they set up the right image they could get sponsors during the game, which means they will receive gifts and help once they enter the arena.  Sponsors are the difference between life and death for many tributes so it is important to give the people what they want.The game itself is brutal.  It reminded me a tiny bit of the show survivor, only in this game you have to kill off all the other players.  Katniss has a slight advantage from her hunting and gathering experience, but she must also use her wits and bravery to keep herself alive.  Foreign alliances with other players can be helpful, but true trust and friendship is practically impossible since there can only be one winner.The book drives its characters to the very edge of their abilities.  We see how people react in the most primal and brutal situations: forced to kill or be killed.  I loved seeing the tributes come up with different strategies for survival, and how the game makers who control everything in the arena throw the tributes at each other through force and bribery.I read this book yesterday, and had dreams and nightmares about it all night.  While this book is reminiscent of "The Giver", "1984", and "Brave New World" it has its own voice and its own story to tell. At the end of the book you will be left starving for more and I can't wait for the next book to come out.  I still can't quite capture the essence or brilliance of this book through the words in this review, so all I can say is go read it and you will understand.

Answer: world of oppression,

It's difficult to find the right words to even describe how good Hunger Games is. I would definitely place it on my top 5 list of all times and I have read hundreds and hundreds of books. Katniss is such an engaging character. <hl> The reader is drawn to her instantly, as we are plunged into a futuristic world of oppression, poverty and despair. <hl> Katniss has taken on the responsibility of caring for her family after her father died in a mining explosion and her mother shut down. Katniss is daring and ventures out into forbidden areas to hunt and gather food to sell to the people in her "district". Her only goal in life seems to be keeping her little sister safe. The government has set up a lottery in each of the twelve "districts" in this futuristic country. One boy and one girl are chosen to go fight to the death with the "tributes" from the other eleven districts. When Prim, Katniss's little sister, is chosen for the Hunger Games as they are called Katniss steps forward and volunteers to go in her place. Katniss goes to the capitol with the other tribute from her district, a boy named Peeta, and there they must put on a good show before the game begins. If they set up the right image they could get sponsors during the game, which means they will receive gifts and help once they enter the arena. Sponsors are the difference between life and death for many tributes so it is important to give the people what they want. The game itself is brutal. It reminded me a tiny bit of the show survivor, only in this game you have to kill off all the other players. Katniss has a slight advantage from her hunting and gathering experience, but she must also use her wits and bravery to keep herself alive. Foreign alliances with other players can be helpful, but true trust and friendship is practically impossible since there can only be one winner. The book drives its characters to the very edge of their abilities. We see how people react in the most primal and brutal situations: forced to kill or be killed. I loved seeing the tributes come up with different strategies for survival, and how the game makers who control everything in the arena throw the tributes at each other through force and bribery. I read this book yesterday, and had dreams and nightmares about it all night. While this book is reminiscent of "The Giver", "1984", and "Brave New World" it has its own voice and its own story to tell. At the end of the book you will be left starving for more and I can't wait for the next book to come out. I still can't quite capture the essence or brilliance of this book through the words in this review, so all I can say is go read it and you will understand.

It's difficult to find the right words to even describe how good Hunger Games is. I would definitely place it on my top 5 list of all times and I have read hundreds and hundreds of books.Katniss is such an engaging character. The reader is drawn to her instantly, as we are plunged into a futuristic <hl> world of oppression, <hl> poverty and despair. Katniss has taken on the responsibility of caring for her family after her father died in a mining explosion and her mother shut down. Katniss is daring and ventures out into forbidden areas to hunt and gather food to sell to the people in her "district". Her only goal in life seems to be keeping her little sister safe.The government has set up a lottery in each of the twelve "districts" in this futuristic country. One boy and one girl are chosen to go fight to the death with the "tributes" from the other eleven districts. When Prim, Katniss's little sister, is chosen for the Hunger Games as they are called Katniss steps forward and volunteers to go in her place.Katniss goes to the capitol with the other tribute from her district, a boy named Peeta, and there they must put on a good show before the game begins. If they set up the right image they could get sponsors during the game, which means they will receive gifts and help once they enter the arena. Sponsors are the difference between life and death for many tributes so it is important to give the people what they want.The game itself is brutal. It reminded me a tiny bit of the show survivor, only in this game you have to kill off all the other players. Katniss has a slight advantage from her hunting and gathering experience, but she must also use her wits and bravery to keep herself alive. Foreign alliances with other players can be helpful, but true trust and friendship is practically impossible since there can only be one winner.The book drives its characters to the very edge of their abilities. We see how people react in the most primal and brutal situations: forced to kill or be killed. I loved seeing the tributes come up with different strategies for survival, and how the game makers who control everything in the arena throw the tributes at each other through force and bribery.I read this book yesterday, and had dreams and nightmares about it all night. While this book is reminiscent of "The Giver", "1984", and "Brave New World" it has its own voice and its own story to tell. At the end of the book you will be left starving for more and I can't wait for the next book to come out. I still can't quite capture the essence or brilliance of this book through the words in this review, so all I can say is go read it and you will understand.


Question: What is your sentiment about this book?

I love this book! I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of Louise Penny's latest mystery novel "How the Light Gets In", the ninth in the series about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the Homicide Division of the Surete du Quebec. I had already reserved a hard copy for the book's August 2013 release date because this is one author  I buy in hardcover; the better to savor her writing.  This truly gifted author has the ability to make you FEEL - so much so, that this is almost more novel than mystery - although there are three compelling mysteries entwined in this latest book.In talking about this book, Ms. Penny says "My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us.  But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness.  And kindness.  About choices." I guarantee she will make you feel all this and so much more.  She will bring you to the edge of your seat, make your heart pound in anticipation and ache as you feel the suffering of her always well-constructed characters. Because she also lets you feel hope and joy, the struggle between the light and the dark is that much more vivid.This book opens as Christmas approaches and the author deftly portrays the joy and anticipation of the season played off against the sadness as Gamache's elite squad is dismantled and scattered while unscrupulous forces are at work in the Surete. Who will settle for nothing less than Gamache's destruction? and that of his next in charge Jean-Guy Belavoir? A terrible alliance that has been 30 years in the making will once again bring evil into the heart of the tiny village of Three Pines and threaten all that the inhabitants hold dear.To those who have read all the previous books in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, you will not be disappointed, as her writing somehow is brought to an even higher level, her plots are even more complex, her characters more finely drawn.  We know these people and we care about them; we feel with them.I highly recommend this book, but if you find yourself curled up in your chair, unable to stop reading far into the night, remember you were warned....

Answer: I love this book!

<hl> I love this book! I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of Louise Penny's latest mystery novel "How the Light Gets In", the ninth in the series about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the Homicide Division of the Surete du Quebec. <hl> I had already reserved a hard copy for the book's August 2013 release date because this is one author I buy in hardcover; the better to savor her writing. This truly gifted author has the ability to make you FEEL - so much so, that this is almost more novel than mystery - although there are three compelling mysteries entwined in this latest book. In talking about this book, Ms. Penny says "My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us. But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness. And kindness. About choices." I guarantee she will make you feel all this and so much more. She will bring you to the edge of your seat, make your heart pound in anticipation and ache as you feel the suffering of her always well-constructed characters. Because she also lets you feel hope and joy, the struggle between the light and the dark is that much more vivid. This book opens as Christmas approaches and the author deftly portrays the joy and anticipation of the season played off against the sadness as Gamache's elite squad is dismantled and scattered while unscrupulous forces are at work in the Surete. Who will settle for nothing less than Gamache's destruction? and that of his next in charge Jean-Guy Belavoir? A terrible alliance that has been 30 years in the making will once again bring evil into the heart of the tiny village of Three Pines and threaten all that the inhabitants hold dear. To those who have read all the previous books in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, you will not be disappointed, as her writing somehow is brought to an even higher level, her plots are even more complex, her characters more finely drawn. We know these people and we care about them; we feel with them. I highly recommend this book, but if you find yourself curled up in your chair, unable to stop reading far into the night, remember you were warned....

<hl> I love this book! <hl> I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of Louise Penny's latest mystery novel "How the Light Gets In", the ninth in the series about Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and the Homicide Division of the Surete du Quebec. I had already reserved a hard copy for the book's August 2013 release date because this is one author I buy in hardcover; the better to savor her writing. This truly gifted author has the ability to make you FEEL - so much so, that this is almost more novel than mystery - although there are three compelling mysteries entwined in this latest book.In talking about this book, Ms. Penny says "My books are about terror. That brooding terror curled deep down inside us. But more than that, more than murder, more than all the rancid emotions and actions, my books are about goodness. And kindness. About choices." I guarantee she will make you feel all this and so much more. She will bring you to the edge of your seat, make your heart pound in anticipation and ache as you feel the suffering of her always well-constructed characters. Because she also lets you feel hope and joy, the struggle between the light and the dark is that much more vivid.This book opens as Christmas approaches and the author deftly portrays the joy and anticipation of the season played off against the sadness as Gamache's elite squad is dismantled and scattered while unscrupulous forces are at work in the Surete. Who will settle for nothing less than Gamache's destruction? and that of his next in charge Jean-Guy Belavoir? A terrible alliance that has been 30 years in the making will once again bring evil into the heart of the tiny village of Three Pines and threaten all that the inhabitants hold dear.To those who have read all the previous books in the Chief Inspector Gamache series, you will not be disappointed, as her writing somehow is brought to an even higher level, her plots are even more complex, her characters more finely drawn. We know these people and we care about them; we feel with them.I highly recommend this book, but if you find yourself curled up in your chair, unable to stop reading far into the night, remember you were warned....


Question: Was the tension thick?

This book is hilarious!! Laugh out loud, you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing so hard tears will be coming out of your eyes. And the banter…oh my…just fantastic.Simon & Caroline’s connection is fun and hot. Great anticipation. The story has the perfect mix of humor and romance leaving you wanting more.

Answer: This book is hilarious

This book is hilarious !!

<hl> This book is hilarious !! <hl> Laugh out loud, you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing so hard tears will be coming out of your eyes. And the banter…oh my…just fantastic. Simon & Caroline’s connection is fun and hot. Great anticipation. The story has the perfect mix of humor and romance leaving you wanting more.

<hl> This book is hilarious <hl>!! Laugh out loud, you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing so hard tears will be coming out of your eyes. And the banter…oh my…just fantastic.Simon & Caroline’s connection is fun and hot. Great anticipation. The story has the perfect mix of humor and romance leaving you wanting more.


Question: How do you rate the write?

This book is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I briefly had a problem adjusting to writing style but once lost in the story I was hooked. This author is exceptionally talented. Many other authors might fill several pages with description while this author paints extremely vivid pictures with only a few brush strokes. I also enjoyed the conversational tone of the narrative. As if, Katniss was telling her tale directly to me in my own home and if you know Katniss, she doesn't just trust anyone. So the illusion that I might just be a personal friend and confident to Katniss was truly impressive. And oh, did I feel her pain, her rage, her despair! Not very often there comes a story that is truly magic! I mean, Harry Potter, was a story about magic and has the place of highest honor on my bookshelves next to the Lord of the Rings books, but this one is entirely different. This book made me apart of the action. It made me feel like I know the characters on a personal level and once I was back in my own world I was left with a feeling like I'd just had a visit from an dear friend. I can't remember if I've ever read a book like it.

Answer: one of the best books

<hl> This book is by far one of the best books I have ever read. <hl> I briefly had a problem adjusting to writing style but once lost in the story I was hooked. This author is exceptionally talented. Many other authors might fill several pages with description while this author paints extremely vivid pictures with only a few brush strokes. I also enjoyed the conversational tone of the narrative. As if, Katniss was telling her tale directly to me in my own home and if you know Katniss, she doesn't just trust anyone. So the illusion that I might just be a personal friend and confident to Katniss was truly impressive. And oh, did I feel her pain, her rage, her despair! Not very often there comes a story that is truly magic! I mean, Harry Potter, was a story about magic and has the place of highest honor on my bookshelves next to the Lord of the Rings books, but this one is entirely different. This book made me apart of the action. It made me feel like I know the characters on a personal level and once I was back in my own world I was left with a feeling like I'd just had a visit from an dear friend. I can't remember if I've ever read a book like it.

This book is by far <hl> one of the best books <hl> I have ever read. I briefly had a problem adjusting to writing style but once lost in the story I was hooked. This author is exceptionally talented. Many other authors might fill several pages with description while this author paints extremely vivid pictures with only a few brush strokes. I also enjoyed the conversational tone of the narrative. As if, Katniss was telling her tale directly to me in my own home and if you know Katniss, she doesn't just trust anyone. So the illusion that I might just be a personal friend and confident to Katniss was truly impressive. And oh, did I feel her pain, her rage, her despair! Not very often there comes a story that is truly magic! I mean, Harry Potter, was a story about magic and has the place of highest honor on my bookshelves next to the Lord of the Rings books, but this one is entirely different. This book made me apart of the action. It made me feel like I know the characters on a personal level and once I was back in my own world I was left with a feeling like I'd just had a visit from an dear friend. I can't remember if I've ever read a book like it.


Question: What story do I tell you?

After Insurgent, the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city.  Soon, Tris, Four and some others choose to leave Chicago and pursue the meaning of the Edith Prior video.  Most of the remaining story takes place inside a special facility a short drive from Chicago, where we find out what the story is about Chicago and the factions, as well as what it really means to be divergent.  Three-quarters of the way into this story, I was very disappointed.  It felt like the author was just going through the motions, and frankly, the story was boring and dull--lots of talking and philosophical introspection, but not much plot movement.  The last quarter of the book salvaged things for me and raised the story from one star to 3.5.  No, like a thousand others, I didn't like the ending, and I didn't think the ending was necessitated in any way by the story arc.  It seemed almost as if the author realized the story about to crash and burn, so she tossed in this ending to slap us in the face.  HOWEVER, the ending was well done and beautifully written, and it was quite evocative.  I thought the writing went from passable and average to excellent and gripping.  BUT, I'm only at 3.5 stars because the ending doesn't really fit the overall trilogy IMO.  So, for those that want a 'they all lived happily ever after' ending, don't read this book.  Stop with Insurgent and think up your own ending.  For those of you, who--like Tris--aren't afraid to jump off the roof into the net below, you should read it and experience the pain.  I just wish the first part of the book was written nearly as well as the ending.  Yo, Tris, you...well, you know what i mean.

Answer: After Insurgent

<hl> After Insurgent , the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city. <hl> Soon, Tris, Four and some others choose to leave Chicago and pursue the meaning of the Edith Prior video. Most of the remaining story takes place inside a special facility a short drive from Chicago, where we find out what the story is about Chicago and the factions, as well as what it really means to be divergent. Three-quarters of the way into this story, I was very disappointed. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, and frankly, the story was boring and dull--lots of talking and philosophical introspection, but not much plot movement. The last quarter of the book salvaged things for me and raised the story from one star to 3.5. No, like a thousand others, I didn't like the ending, and I didn't think the ending was necessitated in any way by the story arc. It seemed almost as if the author realized the story about to crash and burn, so she tossed in this ending to slap us in the face. HOWEVER, the ending was well done and beautifully written, and it was quite evocative. I thought the writing went from passable and average to excellent and gripping. BUT, I'm only at 3.5 stars because the ending doesn't really fit the overall trilogy IMO. So, for those that want a 'they all lived happily ever after' ending, don't read this book. Stop with Insurgent and think up your own ending. For those of you, who--like Tris--aren't afraid to jump off the roof into the net below, you should read it and experience the pain. I just wish the first part of the book was written nearly as well as the ending. Yo, Tris, you...well, you know what i mean.

<hl> After Insurgent <hl>, the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city. Soon, Tris, Four and some others choose to leave Chicago and pursue the meaning of the Edith Prior video. Most of the remaining story takes place inside a special facility a short drive from Chicago, where we find out what the story is about Chicago and the factions, as well as what it really means to be divergent. Three-quarters of the way into this story, I was very disappointed. It felt like the author was just going through the motions, and frankly, the story was boring and dull--lots of talking and philosophical introspection, but not much plot movement. The last quarter of the book salvaged things for me and raised the story from one star to 3.5. No, like a thousand others, I didn't like the ending, and I didn't think the ending was necessitated in any way by the story arc. It seemed almost as if the author realized the story about to crash and burn, so she tossed in this ending to slap us in the face. HOWEVER, the ending was well done and beautifully written, and it was quite evocative. I thought the writing went from passable and average to excellent and gripping. BUT, I'm only at 3.5 stars because the ending doesn't really fit the overall trilogy IMO. So, for those that want a 'they all lived happily ever after' ending, don't read this book. Stop with Insurgent and think up your own ending. For those of you, who--like Tris--aren't afraid to jump off the roof into the net below, you should read it and experience the pain. I just wish the first part of the book was written nearly as well as the ending. Yo, Tris, you...well, you know what i mean.

<hl> After Insurgent <hl> , the story picks up with Tris in trouble and Evelyn in control of the city.


Question: How is story?

I am a big fan of Colleens' Slammed series and this book was just wow...amazing.  I couldn't put it down.  It kept me guessing and the story is just so emotional and touching.  This is that book...the one I would recommend to all my friends and will most likely find myself reading again because I just need to "feel" it again.  Thanks Colleen,  well done!!!  Keep them coming!

Answer: story is just so emotional and touching

I am a big fan of Colleens' Slammed series and this book was just wow...amazing. I couldn't put it down. <hl> It kept me guessing and the story is just so emotional and touching . <hl> This is that book...the one I would recommend to all my friends and will most likely find myself reading again because I just need to "feel" it again. Thanks Colleen, well done!!! Keep them coming!

I am a big fan of Colleens' Slammed series and this book was just wow...amazing. I couldn't put it down. It kept me guessing and the <hl> story is just so emotional and touching <hl>. This is that book...the one I would recommend to all my friends and will most likely find myself reading again because I just need to "feel" it again. Thanks Colleen, well done!!! Keep them coming!

It kept me guessing and the <hl> story is just so emotional and touching <hl> .


Question: How is the child?

The reviews of this book frequently use the word "delightful" and that's an apt word. The characters are charming, the period voice feels right, there are enough painful stories from the war to make it feel real without having so many as to make the book unpleasantly grim, and well, this is just a nicebook to read.I'd especially recommend it for fans of Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road; the tone and the literary references are so similar I'd be shocked if that book weren't one of the influence on this one.  (After all, even in England in 1946 were there all *that* many fans of Elia?)I'm subtracting one star for holes in the internal logic; I have some trouble believing that the island's inhabitants would be so happy to have a book written about them by someone they'd known for so short a time. People seem very quick to trust, in general, especially right after so many years of having to be so cautious of betrayal. I may be wrong, but I think the British reserve and the remnants of the class system would have played a greater role throughout than they do here; the language in the first part is perfect 1946 (I wasn't around; I'm using Hanff as a standard) but it's a bit less period-perfect toward the end of the book.It deserves four stars, though, because none of these things diminished my enjoyment of the book; they just left me thinking "But, wait-" afterward.

Answer: The characters are charming

The reviews of this book frequently use the word "delightful" and that's an apt word. <hl> The characters are charming , the period voice feels right, there are enough painful stories from the war to make it feel real without having so many as to make the book unpleasantly grim, and well, this is just a nicebook to read. <hl> I'd especially recommend it for fans of Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road; the tone and the literary references are so similar I'd be shocked if that book weren't one of the influence on this one. (After all, even in England in 1946 were there all *that* many fans of Elia?)I'm subtracting one star for holes in the internal logic; I have some trouble believing that the island's inhabitants would be so happy to have a book written about them by someone they'd known for so short a time. People seem very quick to trust, in general, especially right after so many years of having to be so cautious of betrayal. I may be wrong, but I think the British reserve and the remnants of the class system would have played a greater role throughout than they do here; the language in the first part is perfect 1946 (I wasn't around; I'm using Hanff as a standard) but it's a bit less period-perfect toward the end of the book. It deserves four stars, though, because none of these things diminished my enjoyment of the book; they just left me thinking "But, wait-" afterward.

The reviews of this book frequently use the word "delightful" and that's an apt word. <hl> The characters are charming <hl>, the period voice feels right, there are enough painful stories from the war to make it feel real without having so many as to make the book unpleasantly grim, and well, this is just a nicebook to read.I'd especially recommend it for fans of Helene Hanff's 84 Charing Cross Road; the tone and the literary references are so similar I'd be shocked if that book weren't one of the influence on this one. (After all, even in England in 1946 were there all *that* many fans of Elia?)I'm subtracting one star for holes in the internal logic; I have some trouble believing that the island's inhabitants would be so happy to have a book written about them by someone they'd known for so short a time. People seem very quick to trust, in general, especially right after so many years of having to be so cautious of betrayal. I may be wrong, but I think the British reserve and the remnants of the class system would have played a greater role throughout than they do here; the language in the first part is perfect 1946 (I wasn't around; I'm using Hanff as a standard) but it's a bit less period-perfect toward the end of the book.It deserves four stars, though, because none of these things diminished my enjoyment of the book; they just left me thinking "But, wait-" afterward.

<hl> The characters are charming <hl> , the period voice feels right, there are enough painful stories from the war to make it feel real without having so many as to make the book unpleasantly grim, and well, this is just a nicebook to read.


Question: Does this book have an educational purpose?

In 1933, the newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed William Dodd to be the first United States Ambassador to Germany, under Hitler. Dodd, at the age of 64, would have preferred to retire from his job as a professor of the history department at the University of Chicago, and complete his memoir "Old South." Out of respect for the President and duty to his country Dodd reluctantly accepted the appointment.  With his wife, Martha, an adult son and daughter, set sail for Berlin, on July 5, 1933 shortly after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.Though appalled by Nazi persecution of Jews, Roosevelt refrained from issuing any direct statement of condemnation.  He expected from Dodd to see to it that Germany pays her debts to the American creditors. Some of State Department's most senior officers harbored an outright dislike of Jews. William J Carr, an assistant Secretary of State called the Jews "kikes"; Russian and polish immigrants are filthy, un-American and often dangerous in their habits (P.30). It is very disturbing to read in the book the anti-Semitism that prevailed in 1930's among many Americans. Dodd complained that there were too many Jews on his own staff. The indifference and anti-Semitism in the U.S. obviously couldn't hinder Hitler's ascent and march of conquest with tragic consequences. Dodd was one of the few voices in U.S. government to warn of the true ambitions of Hitler and the dangers of American isolationists' stance. Most Americans wanted to stay out of Europe's squabbles. In June 1938, Dodd talked of Hitler's hatred of Jews and warned that his true intent was "to kill them all." (p.351)As a captive in Nazi concentration camp, I had been wondering; why the United States, a nation founded and populated by many oppressed immigrants, of different faiths, from many lands did not stop Hitler's genocide? Where were the good Samaritans among the American Christians?  They were expected to have compassionate regard for all people, not just some people! Where were the fighters for human rights? How could their humanitarian reputation be maintained when our suffering became unbearable? Why civilized nation did shirk their responsibilities to show pity for us. I doubted if the faithful, of religious denominations, said a prayer for our deliverance! Was it not a betrayal of basic human solidarity? Was it not a failure of the entire moral fabric of society? Even mass demonstrations, in the democratic countries around the world would have forced the German to stop or at least moderate their policy of Ausrottung (the extermination) of European Jewry. If President Roosevelt had been more vociferous in expressing his and the American people's indignation, the nonchalant world would have been awakened and protested the slaughter innocent people.. The indifference enabled the Nazis to victimize every Jew; subsequently not every victim was a Jew. Winston Churchill said: the Holocaust was not just a Jewish tragedy; it was the world's tragedy, because the world did let it happen.THE GARDEN OF BEASTS is compelling and horrifying. Larson is a masterful storyteller. Although much given detail does not pertain to the core story, the book based on Dodd's diary and the ancillary writings of others, is extensively researched, and very well written. The book makes history come alive.

Answer: the book based on Dodd's diary and the ancillary writings of others, is extensively researched

In 1933, the newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed William Dodd to be the first United States Ambassador to Germany, under Hitler. Dodd, at the age of 64, would have preferred to retire from his job as a professor of the history department at the University of Chicago, and complete his memoir "Old South." Out of respect for the President and duty to his country Dodd reluctantly accepted the appointment. With his wife, Martha, an adult son and daughter, set sail for Berlin, on July 5, 1933 shortly after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany. Though appalled by Nazi persecution of Jews, Roosevelt refrained from issuing any direct statement of condemnation. He expected from Dodd to see to it that Germany pays her debts to the American creditors. Some of State Department's most senior officers harbored an outright dislike of Jews. William J Carr, an assistant Secretary of State called the Jews "kikes"; Russian and polish immigrants are filthy, un-American and often dangerous in their habits (P.30). It is very disturbing to read in the book the anti-Semitism that prevailed in 1930's among many Americans. Dodd complained that there were too many Jews on his own staff. The indifference and anti-Semitism in the U.S. obviously couldn't hinder Hitler's ascent and march of conquest with tragic consequences. Dodd was one of the few voices in U.S. government to warn of the true ambitions of Hitler and the dangers of American isolationists' stance. Most Americans wanted to stay out of Europe's squabbles. In June 1938, Dodd talked of Hitler's hatred of Jews and warned that his true intent was "to kill them all." (p.351)As a captive in Nazi concentration camp, I had been wondering; why the United States, a nation founded and populated by many oppressed immigrants, of different faiths, from many lands did not stop Hitler's genocide? Where were the good Samaritans among the American Christians? They were expected to have compassionate regard for all people, not just some people! Where were the fighters for human rights? How could their humanitarian reputation be maintained when our suffering became unbearable? Why civilized nation did shirk their responsibilities to show pity for us. I doubted if the faithful, of religious denominations, said a prayer for our deliverance! Was it not a betrayal of basic human solidarity? Was it not a failure of the entire moral fabric of society? Even mass demonstrations, in the democratic countries around the world would have forced the German to stop or at least moderate their policy of Ausrottung (the extermination) of European Jewry. If President Roosevelt had been more vociferous in expressing his and the American people's indignation, the nonchalant world would have been awakened and protested the slaughter innocent people.. The indifference enabled the Nazis to victimize every Jew; subsequently not every victim was a Jew. Winston Churchill said: the Holocaust was not just a Jewish tragedy; it was the world's tragedy, because the world did let it happen. THE GARDEN OF BEASTS is compelling and horrifying. Larson is a masterful storyteller. <hl> Although much given detail does not pertain to the core story, the book based on Dodd's diary and the ancillary writings of others, is extensively researched , and very well written. <hl> The book makes history come alive.

In 1933, the newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed William Dodd to be the first United States Ambassador to Germany, under Hitler. Dodd, at the age of 64, would have preferred to retire from his job as a professor of the history department at the University of Chicago, and complete his memoir "Old South." Out of respect for the President and duty to his country Dodd reluctantly accepted the appointment. With his wife, Martha, an adult son and daughter, set sail for Berlin, on July 5, 1933 shortly after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany.Though appalled by Nazi persecution of Jews, Roosevelt refrained from issuing any direct statement of condemnation. He expected from Dodd to see to it that Germany pays her debts to the American creditors. Some of State Department's most senior officers harbored an outright dislike of Jews. William J Carr, an assistant Secretary of State called the Jews "kikes"; Russian and polish immigrants are filthy, un-American and often dangerous in their habits (P.30). It is very disturbing to read in the book the anti-Semitism that prevailed in 1930's among many Americans. Dodd complained that there were too many Jews on his own staff. The indifference and anti-Semitism in the U.S. obviously couldn't hinder Hitler's ascent and march of conquest with tragic consequences. Dodd was one of the few voices in U.S. government to warn of the true ambitions of Hitler and the dangers of American isolationists' stance. Most Americans wanted to stay out of Europe's squabbles. In June 1938, Dodd talked of Hitler's hatred of Jews and warned that his true intent was "to kill them all." (p.351)As a captive in Nazi concentration camp, I had been wondering; why the United States, a nation founded and populated by many oppressed immigrants, of different faiths, from many lands did not stop Hitler's genocide? Where were the good Samaritans among the American Christians? They were expected to have compassionate regard for all people, not just some people! Where were the fighters for human rights? How could their humanitarian reputation be maintained when our suffering became unbearable? Why civilized nation did shirk their responsibilities to show pity for us. I doubted if the faithful, of religious denominations, said a prayer for our deliverance! Was it not a betrayal of basic human solidarity? Was it not a failure of the entire moral fabric of society? Even mass demonstrations, in the democratic countries around the world would have forced the German to stop or at least moderate their policy of Ausrottung (the extermination) of European Jewry. If President Roosevelt had been more vociferous in expressing his and the American people's indignation, the nonchalant world would have been awakened and protested the slaughter innocent people.. The indifference enabled the Nazis to victimize every Jew; subsequently not every victim was a Jew. Winston Churchill said: the Holocaust was not just a Jewish tragedy; it was the world's tragedy, because the world did let it happen.THE GARDEN OF BEASTS is compelling and horrifying. Larson is a masterful storyteller. Although much given detail does not pertain to the core story, <hl> the book based on Dodd's diary and the ancillary writings of others, is extensively researched <hl>, and very well written. The book makes history come alive.

Although much given detail does not pertain to the core story, <hl> the book based on Dodd's diary and the ancillary writings of others, is extensively researched <hl> , and very well written.


Question: How was story line of these book?

This was a book I didn't know what to expect at each corner.  You get settled down with a cup of tea and right away the author draws you into the mystery of what happened to the main character.  You get yourself captivated at each situation wondering if you would handle it the same way.  I like the main character was strong And didn't just fall into the typical extremely handsome, rich, Moody male lead.  The story line was good at keeping the reader encased but some parts of the final product fell flat.

Answer: story line was good at keeping the reader encased

This was a book I didn't know what to expect at each corner. You get settled down with a cup of tea and right away the author draws you into the mystery of what happened to the main character. You get yourself captivated at each situation wondering if you would handle it the same way. I like the main character was strong And didn't just fall into the typical extremely handsome, rich, Moody male lead. <hl> The story line was good at keeping the reader encased but some parts of the final product fell flat. <hl>

This was a book I didn't know what to expect at each corner. You get settled down with a cup of tea and right away the author draws you into the mystery of what happened to the main character. You get yourself captivated at each situation wondering if you would handle it the same way. I like the main character was strong And didn't just fall into the typical extremely handsome, rich, Moody male lead. The <hl> story line was good at keeping the reader encased <hl> but some parts of the final product fell flat.


Question: How is the relationship?

Pushing the Limits is a brilliant addition to the burgeoning mature YA genre that has recently become one of my favorites to dabble in.  This book takes two emotionally screwed up characters and tells the story about how they find salvation in one another.  This is not a typical YA novel.  Yes, main character Noah is self-confident, brash and tattooed, and main character Echo is beautiful, smart and funny, but that is where the  similarities to normal YA-type teenagers end.  This book contains copious amounts of swearing, drugs, sexual situations and heavily damaged people.  This is not your run-of-the-mill light and happy read about teenaged angst.This book changes point of view quite frequently, telling the story from both Echo's and Noah's perspective. Echo and Noah are both assigned a therapist at their Kentucky high school for vastly different reasons.  Echo has suffered an unthinkable crime against her, that her mind cannot bring itself to remember.  She has been left scarred, both emotionally and physically from this crime.  On top of this tragedy, she is dealing with normal high school angst - her social situation, her parents' divorce and her father's subsequent remarriage to her former baby sitter, her mother's disappearance, and her extremely strained relationship with her father and stepmother.  Noah is a foster child that has been moved between families several times in the previous two years.  Where he was once an all-star athlete from a Rockwellian American family, he is now considered a stoner and a punk.  He's very intelligent, yet refuses to take school seriously.  He hangs out with the "wrong" crowd and is best known for being gorgeous, yet a player.  He is only into one-night stands and smoking pot.Noah needs help, though.  He has two younger brothers in the foster system that he wants to gain custody of, and in order to do that, he needs to pass drug tests, pull his GPA up and find a job.  Echo is in need of extra money.  Although her father has money, he won't lend her any to finish fixing up the car that her deceased brother was working on before his death.  Echo is asked to tutor Noah, therefore earning extra money.Soon after Echo was attacked, she came back to school as a social introvert.  She was known formerly as the popular, beautiful girl who dated the captain of the basketball team.  When she returned to school after the episode, she had broken up with her boyfriend and was seen as a social outcast.  Her friends have been trying very hard to get her back into school society, and having any contact with Noah the stoner is a social faux pas.  The relationship between Noah and Echo gets off to a rocky start.  He sees her scars, which she usually keeps hidden.  Echo is afraid that Noah will tell the entire school about them.Noah has a chip on his shoulder, too, although he does not care about what his classmates think about him.  Noah came from an idyllic family.  He had loving parents, a home, a place in his school's society before tragedy struck him.  He is used to keeping his guard up, because  the state foster system has not been a good experience for him.  Noah, though, is ready for a girl like Echo, and he's been waiting for her.Noah and Echo travel a path of lows and highs in their relationship, each one trying to hash out their personal lives without hurting the other.  They fall hard for one another, but sometimes love just isn't enough.  Noah is still attempting to reunite his family, and Echo is still trying to reconcile what tragedy happened to her and who's fault it was.  Echo is struggling with her desire to be loved by those that matter most to her, while Noah is struggling with a never ending loneliness, a hole in his heart that he can't seem to fill.I have to mention that both of Echo's parents are not model parents.  We do meet Echo's mom and although she has issues that are out of her control, she is one of the worst mothers I have come across in literature.  She is selfish and unrelenting.  Where once Echo holds her mom in high regard, we learn how truly wrong Echo was.  While Echo is only looking for acceptance and love from her father, we learn about some terribly bad decisions he made that will affect Echo for the rest of her life.The ending of this book is action packed and emotional.  The two things that these characters are fighting for, Noah for his brothers and Echo for her memories and sanity, come quickly to a head.  We learn a lot about the pasts of these characters, and we see how they grow up and change through this novel.  Although both Noah and Echo have less than desirable pasts, they find refuge in one another and it's a beautiful thing.  This book is an excellent study in character development and I urge you to run to the nearest book store and pick up a copy.

Answer: relationship

Pushing the Limits is a brilliant addition to the burgeoning mature YA genre that has recently become one of my favorites to dabble in. This book takes two emotionally screwed up characters and tells the story about how they find salvation in one another. This is not a typical YA novel. Yes, main character Noah is self-confident, brash and tattooed, and main character Echo is beautiful, smart and funny, but that is where the similarities to normal YA-type teenagers end. This book contains copious amounts of swearing, drugs, sexual situations and heavily damaged people. This is not your run-of-the-mill light and happy read about teenaged angst. This book changes point of view quite frequently, telling the story from both Echo's and Noah's perspective. Echo and Noah are both assigned a therapist at their Kentucky high school for vastly different reasons. Echo has suffered an unthinkable crime against her, that her mind cannot bring itself to remember. She has been left scarred, both emotionally and physically from this crime. <hl> On top of this tragedy, she is dealing with normal high school angst - her social situation, her parents' divorce and her father's subsequent remarriage to her former baby sitter, her mother's disappearance, and her extremely strained relationship with her father and stepmother. <hl> Noah is a foster child that has been moved between families several times in the previous two years. Where he was once an all-star athlete from a Rockwellian American family, he is now considered a stoner and a punk. He's very intelligent, yet refuses to take school seriously. He hangs out with the "wrong" crowd and is best known for being gorgeous, yet a player. He is only into one-night stands and smoking pot. Noah needs help, though. He has two younger brothers in the foster system that he wants to gain custody of, and in order to do that, he needs to pass drug tests, pull his GPA up and find a job. Echo is in need of extra money. Although her father has money, he won't lend her any to finish fixing up the car that her deceased brother was working on before his death. Echo is asked to tutor Noah, therefore earning extra money. Soon after Echo was attacked, she came back to school as a social introvert. She was known formerly as the popular, beautiful girl who dated the captain of the basketball team. When she returned to school after the episode, she had broken up with her boyfriend and was seen as a social outcast. Her friends have been trying very hard to get her back into school society, and having any contact with Noah the stoner is a social faux pas. The relationship between Noah and Echo gets off to a rocky start. He sees her scars, which she usually keeps hidden. Echo is afraid that Noah will tell the entire school about them. Noah has a chip on his shoulder, too, although he does not care about what his classmates think about him. Noah came from an idyllic family. He had loving parents, a home, a place in his school's society before tragedy struck him. He is used to keeping his guard up, because the state foster system has not been a good experience for him. Noah, though, is ready for a girl like Echo, and he's been waiting for her. Noah and Echo travel a path of lows and highs in their relationship, each one trying to hash out their personal lives without hurting the other. They fall hard for one another, but sometimes love just isn't enough. Noah is still attempting to reunite his family, and Echo is still trying to reconcile what tragedy happened to her and who's fault it was. Echo is struggling with her desire to be loved by those that matter most to her, while Noah is struggling with a never ending loneliness, a hole in his heart that he can't seem to fill. I have to mention that both of Echo's parents are not model parents. We do meet Echo's mom and although she has issues that are out of her control, she is one of the worst mothers I have come across in literature. She is selfish and unrelenting. Where once Echo holds her mom in high regard, we learn how truly wrong Echo was. While Echo is only looking for acceptance and love from her father, we learn about some terribly bad decisions he made that will affect Echo for the rest of her life. The ending of this book is action packed and emotional. The two things that these characters are fighting for, Noah for his brothers and Echo for her memories and sanity, come quickly to a head. We learn a lot about the pasts of these characters, and we see how they grow up and change through this novel. Although both Noah and Echo have less than desirable pasts, they find refuge in one another and it's a beautiful thing. This book is an excellent study in character development and I urge you to run to the nearest book store and pick up a copy.

Pushing the Limits is a brilliant addition to the burgeoning mature YA genre that has recently become one of my favorites to dabble in. This book takes two emotionally screwed up characters and tells the story about how they find salvation in one another. This is not a typical YA novel. Yes, main character Noah is self-confident, brash and tattooed, and main character Echo is beautiful, smart and funny, but that is where the similarities to normal YA-type teenagers end. This book contains copious amounts of swearing, drugs, sexual situations and heavily damaged people. This is not your run-of-the-mill light and happy read about teenaged angst.This book changes point of view quite frequently, telling the story from both Echo's and Noah's perspective. Echo and Noah are both assigned a therapist at their Kentucky high school for vastly different reasons. Echo has suffered an unthinkable crime against her, that her mind cannot bring itself to remember. She has been left scarred, both emotionally and physically from this crime. On top of this tragedy, she is dealing with normal high school angst - her social situation, her parents' divorce and her father's subsequent remarriage to her former baby sitter, her mother's disappearance, and her extremely strained <hl> relationship <hl> with her father and stepmother. Noah is a foster child that has been moved between families several times in the previous two years. Where he was once an all-star athlete from a Rockwellian American family, he is now considered a stoner and a punk. He's very intelligent, yet refuses to take school seriously. He hangs out with the "wrong" crowd and is best known for being gorgeous, yet a player. He is only into one-night stands and smoking pot.Noah needs help, though. He has two younger brothers in the foster system that he wants to gain custody of, and in order to do that, he needs to pass drug tests, pull his GPA up and find a job. Echo is in need of extra money. Although her father has money, he won't lend her any to finish fixing up the car that her deceased brother was working on before his death. Echo is asked to tutor Noah, therefore earning extra money.Soon after Echo was attacked, she came back to school as a social introvert. She was known formerly as the popular, beautiful girl who dated the captain of the basketball team. When she returned to school after the episode, she had broken up with her boyfriend and was seen as a social outcast. Her friends have been trying very hard to get her back into school society, and having any contact with Noah the stoner is a social faux pas. The relationship between Noah and Echo gets off to a rocky start. He sees her scars, which she usually keeps hidden. Echo is afraid that Noah will tell the entire school about them.Noah has a chip on his shoulder, too, although he does not care about what his classmates think about him. Noah came from an idyllic family. He had loving parents, a home, a place in his school's society before tragedy struck him. He is used to keeping his guard up, because the state foster system has not been a good experience for him. Noah, though, is ready for a girl like Echo, and he's been waiting for her.Noah and Echo travel a path of lows and highs in their relationship, each one trying to hash out their personal lives without hurting the other. They fall hard for one another, but sometimes love just isn't enough. Noah is still attempting to reunite his family, and Echo is still trying to reconcile what tragedy happened to her and who's fault it was. Echo is struggling with her desire to be loved by those that matter most to her, while Noah is struggling with a never ending loneliness, a hole in his heart that he can't seem to fill.I have to mention that both of Echo's parents are not model parents. We do meet Echo's mom and although she has issues that are out of her control, she is one of the worst mothers I have come across in literature. She is selfish and unrelenting. Where once Echo holds her mom in high regard, we learn how truly wrong Echo was. While Echo is only looking for acceptance and love from her father, we learn about some terribly bad decisions he made that will affect Echo for the rest of her life.The ending of this book is action packed and emotional. The two things that these characters are fighting for, Noah for his brothers and Echo for her memories and sanity, come quickly to a head. We learn a lot about the pasts of these characters, and we see how they grow up and change through this novel. Although both Noah and Echo have less than desirable pasts, they find refuge in one another and it's a beautiful thing. This book is an excellent study in character development and I urge you to run to the nearest book store and pick up a copy.


Question: How is the book?

The Book Thief (New York: Albert A. Knopf, 2007), a novel by Australian writer Markus Zusak, accomplished a rare feat for Holocaust literature: the novel won numerous literary awards and became a long-standing international best seller, including being on the New York Times best seller list for a record of 230 weeks. What’s even more surprising about the novel’s success is not only its somber theme, but also the fact it’s a work of literary fiction (as opposed to genre fiction), a style of writing that rarely becomes a mainstream hit. Although the distinction between literary fiction and genre fiction is not cut-and-dry—for instance, Elizabeth Kostova’s novel, The Historian, fits both genres--I’d say that genre fiction places emphasis upon a fast-moving, interesting plot, while literary fiction privileges psychologically nuanced characterizations and a unique narrative style.Death characterized the Holocaust, and Death is the real narrator of the novel, which begins with the heroine’s end: Liesel Meminger’s death, many years after WWII, after she’s lived a full life and had children and grandchildren of her own. As Death carries the elderly woman’s soul to the other side, it also takes and narrates her childhood diary.In the late 1930’s and early 40’s, Liesel is a young adopted girl living in Germany. She has her first encounter with Death when her brother, Werner Meminger, who is also given up for adoption along with her, dies on the train to Molching. He’s buried by the railway station. That day, Liesel’s obsession with books—and death--begins. She picks up The Grave Digger’s Handbook, a book dropped by the funeral director at her brother’s funeral.Shortly thereafter, the distraught girl joins what might be seen as a typical German family, with whom she bonds quickly. Liesel’s adoptive father, Hans Hubermann, is a loyal German, who served during WWI, but is not sympathetic to the Nazi regime. Despite his reservations, Hans is enlisted in the German army during WWII. Artistic and sensitive—a painter and accordion player--Hans probably characterizes the attitude of a vast majority of Germans who were not anti-Semitic yet were forced to participate in the Nazi regime. His wife, Rosa, is a no-nonsense woman with a sharp tongue and a loving heart. She washes people’s clothes to supplement their income but gradually, one by one, her customers fire her.Liesel also meets Max Vandenburg, a Jew hidden by the Hubermann family from the Nazis, whose father fought during WWI alongside Hans Hubermann. Liesel befriends him. When Hans becomes ill, she reads to him. He eventually recovers, in part, the novel suggests, because of the power of friendship transmitted through the act of reading. Liesel and her family have a close call with the Gestapo, as soldiers search their house to see if they can use their basement as a shelter. Fortunately, they deem it too shallow and they leave.In all respects, Liesel blends in with her adoptive family. Their hardships and struggles become hers as well. She becomes especially close friends with Rudy Steiner, a blond “Aryan” boy a few months older than her, who develops a crush on her. Although the girl refuses to kiss him, together they embark on many adventures, which bond them to one another. Together, they become book thieves when the Mayor and his wife also fire Rosa. Their love of books and of the forbidden, representing a kind of protest against the Nazi regime and against injustice in life in general, binds the two children even more.Perhaps the strongest character of the novel is Death itself, its main narrator. Death may be brought about by war and by the savage murders perpetrated by the Nazis, but it is not sympathetic to them. Rather, Zusak depicts Death as a kind of Humanist, philosophical character: humane and disapproving of senseless violence, hatred and destruction. In parts, Death touches upon the comic and the absurd, needing “a vacation” from its job during the war.I think the strength of this novel lies in its complex characterizations: the German characters in particular are nuanced and multifaceted, not stereotyped in any way. They too struggle with the evils perpetrated by the Nazi regime and try to help victims, as much as they can. In the end, however, they too become victims of Hitler’s war, as Rosa, Hans and Rudy all die when the Hubermann house is bombed. Rudy doesn’t even get to experience Liesel’s first kiss, dying seconds before she finally declares her love for him and kisses him. Only Liesel survives and gets the chance to have a full life.If I were to identify any weakness in the novel it would be in the narrative style. Since style functions as a kind of author’s unique fingerprint in literary fiction, it’s largely dependent upon each reader’s subjective taste. The choppy, short sentences and disjointed, subjective structure of the novel weren’t to my personal taste, particularly since I usually look for a dense, sweeping and well-informed description of lived history in Holocaust literature. This novel, however, is impressionistic in both style and structure. But these stylistic features also made The Book Thief popular with readers of all ages, particularly with young readers, who could identify with the characters and appreciate its accessible form. Due to its literary success, The Book Thief was recently made into a movie directed by Brian Percival, released in November 2013. The movie, however, unlike the book, received mixed reviews.Claudia Moscovici, Literature Salon

Answer: novel won numerous literary awards

<hl> The Book Thief (New York: Albert A. Knopf, 2007), a novel by Australian writer Markus Zusak, accomplished a rare feat for Holocaust literature: the novel won numerous literary awards and became a long-standing international best seller, including being on the New York Times best seller list for a record of 230 weeks. <hl> What’s even more surprising about the novel’s success is not only its somber theme, but also the fact it’s a work of literary fiction (as opposed to genre fiction), a style of writing that rarely becomes a mainstream hit. Although the distinction between literary fiction and genre fiction is not cut-and-dry—for instance, Elizabeth Kostova’s novel, The Historian, fits both genres--I’d say that genre fiction places emphasis upon a fast-moving, interesting plot, while literary fiction privileges psychologically nuanced characterizations and a unique narrative style. Death characterized the Holocaust, and Death is the real narrator of the novel, which begins with the heroine’s end: Liesel Meminger’s death, many years after WWII, after she’s lived a full life and had children and grandchildren of her own. As Death carries the elderly woman’s soul to the other side, it also takes and narrates her childhood diary. In the late 1930’s and early 40’s, Liesel is a young adopted girl living in Germany. She has her first encounter with Death when her brother, Werner Meminger, who is also given up for adoption along with her, dies on the train to Molching. He’s buried by the railway station. That day, Liesel’s obsession with books—and death--begins. She picks up The Grave Digger’s Handbook, a book dropped by the funeral director at her brother’s funeral. Shortly thereafter, the distraught girl joins what might be seen as a typical German family, with whom she bonds quickly. Liesel’s adoptive father, Hans Hubermann, is a loyal German, who served during WWI, but is not sympathetic to the Nazi regime. Despite his reservations, Hans is enlisted in the German army during WWII. Artistic and sensitive—a painter and accordion player--Hans probably characterizes the attitude of a vast majority of Germans who were not anti-Semitic yet were forced to participate in the Nazi regime. His wife, Rosa, is a no-nonsense woman with a sharp tongue and a loving heart. She washes people’s clothes to supplement their income but gradually, one by one, her customers fire her. Liesel also meets Max Vandenburg, a Jew hidden by the Hubermann family from the Nazis, whose father fought during WWI alongside Hans Hubermann. Liesel befriends him. When Hans becomes ill, she reads to him. He eventually recovers, in part, the novel suggests, because of the power of friendship transmitted through the act of reading. Liesel and her family have a close call with the Gestapo, as soldiers search their house to see if they can use their basement as a shelter. Fortunately, they deem it too shallow and they leave. In all respects, Liesel blends in with her adoptive family. Their hardships and struggles become hers as well. She becomes especially close friends with Rudy Steiner, a blond “Aryan” boy a few months older than her, who develops a crush on her. Although the girl refuses to kiss him, together they embark on many adventures, which bond them to one another. Together, they become book thieves when the Mayor and his wife also fire Rosa. Their love of books and of the forbidden, representing a kind of protest against the Nazi regime and against injustice in life in general, binds the two children even more. Perhaps the strongest character of the novel is Death itself, its main narrator. Death may be brought about by war and by the savage murders perpetrated by the Nazis, but it is not sympathetic to them. Rather, Zusak depicts Death as a kind of Humanist, philosophical character: humane and disapproving of senseless violence, hatred and destruction. In parts, Death touches upon the comic and the absurd, needing “a vacation” from its job during the war. I think the strength of this novel lies in its complex characterizations: the German characters in particular are nuanced and multifaceted, not stereotyped in any way. They too struggle with the evils perpetrated by the Nazi regime and try to help victims, as much as they can. In the end, however, they too become victims of Hitler’s war, as Rosa, Hans and Rudy all die when the Hubermann house is bombed. Rudy doesn’t even get to experience Liesel’s first kiss, dying seconds before she finally declares her love for him and kisses him. Only Liesel survives and gets the chance to have a full life. If I were to identify any weakness in the novel it would be in the narrative style. Since style functions as a kind of author’s unique fingerprint in literary fiction, it’s largely dependent upon each reader’s subjective taste. The choppy, short sentences and disjointed, subjective structure of the novel weren’t to my personal taste, particularly since I usually look for a dense, sweeping and well-informed description of lived history in Holocaust literature. This novel, however, is impressionistic in both style and structure. But these stylistic features also made The Book Thief popular with readers of all ages, particularly with young readers, who could identify with the characters and appreciate its accessible form. Due to its literary success, The Book Thief was recently made into a movie directed by Brian Percival, released in November 2013. The movie, however, unlike the book, received mixed reviews. Claudia Moscovici, Literature Salon

The Book Thief (New York: Albert A. Knopf, 2007), a novel by Australian writer Markus Zusak, accomplished a rare feat for Holocaust literature: the <hl> novel won numerous literary awards <hl> and became a long-standing international best seller, including being on the New York Times best seller list for a record of 230 weeks. What’s even more surprising about the novel’s success is not only its somber theme, but also the fact it’s a work of literary fiction (as opposed to genre fiction), a style of writing that rarely becomes a mainstream hit. Although the distinction between literary fiction and genre fiction is not cut-and-dry—for instance, Elizabeth Kostova’s novel, The Historian, fits both genres--I’d say that genre fiction places emphasis upon a fast-moving, interesting plot, while literary fiction privileges psychologically nuanced characterizations and a unique narrative style.Death characterized the Holocaust, and Death is the real narrator of the novel, which begins with the heroine’s end: Liesel Meminger’s death, many years after WWII, after she’s lived a full life and had children and grandchildren of her own. As Death carries the elderly woman’s soul to the other side, it also takes and narrates her childhood diary.In the late 1930’s and early 40’s, Liesel is a young adopted girl living in Germany. She has her first encounter with Death when her brother, Werner Meminger, who is also given up for adoption along with her, dies on the train to Molching. He’s buried by the railway station. That day, Liesel’s obsession with books—and death--begins. She picks up The Grave Digger’s Handbook, a book dropped by the funeral director at her brother’s funeral.Shortly thereafter, the distraught girl joins what might be seen as a typical German family, with whom she bonds quickly. Liesel’s adoptive father, Hans Hubermann, is a loyal German, who served during WWI, but is not sympathetic to the Nazi regime. Despite his reservations, Hans is enlisted in the German army during WWII. Artistic and sensitive—a painter and accordion player--Hans probably characterizes the attitude of a vast majority of Germans who were not anti-Semitic yet were forced to participate in the Nazi regime. His wife, Rosa, is a no-nonsense woman with a sharp tongue and a loving heart. She washes people’s clothes to supplement their income but gradually, one by one, her customers fire her.Liesel also meets Max Vandenburg, a Jew hidden by the Hubermann family from the Nazis, whose father fought during WWI alongside Hans Hubermann. Liesel befriends him. When Hans becomes ill, she reads to him. He eventually recovers, in part, the novel suggests, because of the power of friendship transmitted through the act of reading. Liesel and her family have a close call with the Gestapo, as soldiers search their house to see if they can use their basement as a shelter. Fortunately, they deem it too shallow and they leave.In all respects, Liesel blends in with her adoptive family. Their hardships and struggles become hers as well. She becomes especially close friends with Rudy Steiner, a blond “Aryan” boy a few months older than her, who develops a crush on her. Although the girl refuses to kiss him, together they embark on many adventures, which bond them to one another. Together, they become book thieves when the Mayor and his wife also fire Rosa. Their love of books and of the forbidden, representing a kind of protest against the Nazi regime and against injustice in life in general, binds the two children even more.Perhaps the strongest character of the novel is Death itself, its main narrator. Death may be brought about by war and by the savage murders perpetrated by the Nazis, but it is not sympathetic to them. Rather, Zusak depicts Death as a kind of Humanist, philosophical character: humane and disapproving of senseless violence, hatred and destruction. In parts, Death touches upon the comic and the absurd, needing “a vacation” from its job during the war.I think the strength of this novel lies in its complex characterizations: the German characters in particular are nuanced and multifaceted, not stereotyped in any way. They too struggle with the evils perpetrated by the Nazi regime and try to help victims, as much as they can. In the end, however, they too become victims of Hitler’s war, as Rosa, Hans and Rudy all die when the Hubermann house is bombed. Rudy doesn’t even get to experience Liesel’s first kiss, dying seconds before she finally declares her love for him and kisses him. Only Liesel survives and gets the chance to have a full life.If I were to identify any weakness in the novel it would be in the narrative style. Since style functions as a kind of author’s unique fingerprint in literary fiction, it’s largely dependent upon each reader’s subjective taste. The choppy, short sentences and disjointed, subjective structure of the novel weren’t to my personal taste, particularly since I usually look for a dense, sweeping and well-informed description of lived history in Holocaust literature. This novel, however, is impressionistic in both style and structure. But these stylistic features also made The Book Thief popular with readers of all ages, particularly with young readers, who could identify with the characters and appreciate its accessible form. Due to its literary success, The Book Thief was recently made into a movie directed by Brian Percival, released in November 2013. The movie, however, unlike the book, received mixed reviews.Claudia Moscovici, Literature Salon


Question: How good it's the write?

I think I'm about the last person on the planet earth to read this book, and also about the first person not to absolutely adore these books. I had been told to read them for ages, particularly from Gail. The last 100 pages or so is really what redeemed it for me.My big issue with this book was the writing. It seriously almost made me put it down, but every time I was about to do that, the book would redeem itself slightly. The first third to half of the book was awfully slow. It was slow reading, but at the same time intriguing. I didn't really understand all of what was going on, so I wanted to know everything.I loved the characters. Most of them all had such depth and were wonderful. Rue was absolutely my favorite character of the book. I adored her. Peeta was a character I liked right off the bat. Katniss was an interesting character, but I found her a bit annoying. I just didn't like her thoughts. I found her flat and I didn't like her at all.Another thing about The Hunger Games I really did like was the world. I thought it was simply fascinating and I loved how Collins set it up.This was overall a good read, but it just didn't live up to what I thought it would be. I have heard nothing but glowing things for it, and while I loved all the character (minus Katniss some of the time) and thouht the plot was original and intriguing, the plot was slower and I really wasn't a fan of the writing. The ending though, was ace, and has me extremely excited for Catching Fire.

Answer: I adored her

I adored her .

I think I'm about the last person on the planet earth to read this book, and also about the first person not to absolutely adore these books. I had been told to read them for ages, particularly from Gail. The last 100 pages or so is really what redeemed it for me. My big issue with this book was the writing. It seriously almost made me put it down, but every time I was about to do that, the book would redeem itself slightly. The first third to half of the book was awfully slow. It was slow reading, but at the same time intriguing. I didn't really understand all of what was going on, so I wanted to know everything. I loved the characters. Most of them all had such depth and were wonderful. Rue was absolutely my favorite character of the book. <hl> I adored her . <hl> Peeta was a character I liked right off the bat. Katniss was an interesting character, but I found her a bit annoying. I just didn't like her thoughts. I found her flat and I didn't like her at all. Another thing about The Hunger Games I really did like was the world. I thought it was simply fascinating and I loved how Collins set it up. This was overall a good read, but it just didn't live up to what I thought it would be. I have heard nothing but glowing things for it, and while I loved all the character (minus Katniss some of the time) and thouht the plot was original and intriguing, the plot was slower and I really wasn't a fan of the writing. The ending though, was ace, and has me extremely excited for Catching Fire.

I think I'm about the last person on the planet earth to read this book, and also about the first person not to absolutely adore these books. I had been told to read them for ages, particularly from Gail. The last 100 pages or so is really what redeemed it for me.My big issue with this book was the writing. It seriously almost made me put it down, but every time I was about to do that, the book would redeem itself slightly. The first third to half of the book was awfully slow. It was slow reading, but at the same time intriguing. I didn't really understand all of what was going on, so I wanted to know everything.I loved the characters. Most of them all had such depth and were wonderful. Rue was absolutely my favorite character of the book. <hl> I adored her <hl>. Peeta was a character I liked right off the bat. Katniss was an interesting character, but I found her a bit annoying. I just didn't like her thoughts. I found her flat and I didn't like her at all.Another thing about The Hunger Games I really did like was the world. I thought it was simply fascinating and I loved how Collins set it up.This was overall a good read, but it just didn't live up to what I thought it would be. I have heard nothing but glowing things for it, and while I loved all the character (minus Katniss some of the time) and thouht the plot was original and intriguing, the plot was slower and I really wasn't a fan of the writing. The ending though, was ace, and has me extremely excited for Catching Fire.


Question: How is the book?

As I was reading the publishing page in the front of the book in preparation for this review, I noticed that the hardbound copy is printed on acid free paper.  I know why the publisher went to extra effort and expense in printing this book- it simply is a modern masterpiece of devotional literature that you will keep for a lifetime.My first copy of The Purpose Driven Life, was audio.  Each morning as I walked my dog along the river, I would listen to another chapter.  Almost immediately I realized that the audio book was the wrong format for me.  Rick's insights into scripture are so good that I wanted to read them again and again.  Three weeks later, I bought a hardbound copy.For pastors, this book is a must.  To be sure, it is pretty basic stuff; but Rick's genius is to communicate the basics in a very delightful and insightful way.  As I listened on my MP3 player, I kept trying to make mental notes, saying to myself, That stuff will really preach.  For a pastor, there is a years worth of sermon ideas and outlines you will be able to expound on.Most devotional books I find to be disappointing, so much so, I gave up reading them.  I am sure glad that I gave Rick a chance.  Every Sunday I beg my congregation to purchase this book, telling them that it will give them a foundation to build their Christian life.By the way, I was especially appreciative of Ricks use of multiple translations in his quoting of Scripture.  It gives the reader (or hearer) a fresh perspective on already familiar passages.  Good job, Rick, you done good!

Answer: the book in preparation for this review

<hl> As I was reading the publishing page in the front of the book in preparation for this review , I noticed that the hardbound copy is printed on acid free paper. <hl> I know why the publisher went to extra effort and expense in printing this book- it simply is a modern masterpiece of devotional literature that you will keep for a lifetime. My first copy of The Purpose Driven Life, was audio. Each morning as I walked my dog along the river, I would listen to another chapter. Almost immediately I realized that the audio book was the wrong format for me. Rick's insights into scripture are so good that I wanted to read them again and again. Three weeks later, I bought a hardbound copy. For pastors, this book is a must. To be sure, it is pretty basic stuff; but Rick's genius is to communicate the basics in a very delightful and insightful way. As I listened on my MP3 player, I kept trying to make mental notes, saying to myself, That stuff will really preach. For a pastor, there is a years worth of sermon ideas and outlines you will be able to expound on. Most devotional books I find to be disappointing, so much so, I gave up reading them. I am sure glad that I gave Rick a chance. Every Sunday I beg my congregation to purchase this book, telling them that it will give them a foundation to build their Christian life. By the way, I was especially appreciative of Ricks use of multiple translations in his quoting of Scripture. It gives the reader (or hearer) a fresh perspective on already familiar passages. Good job, Rick, you done good!

As I was reading the publishing page in the front of <hl> the book in preparation for this review <hl>, I noticed that the hardbound copy is printed on acid free paper. I know why the publisher went to extra effort and expense in printing this book- it simply is a modern masterpiece of devotional literature that you will keep for a lifetime.My first copy of The Purpose Driven Life, was audio. Each morning as I walked my dog along the river, I would listen to another chapter. Almost immediately I realized that the audio book was the wrong format for me. Rick's insights into scripture are so good that I wanted to read them again and again. Three weeks later, I bought a hardbound copy.For pastors, this book is a must. To be sure, it is pretty basic stuff; but Rick's genius is to communicate the basics in a very delightful and insightful way. As I listened on my MP3 player, I kept trying to make mental notes, saying to myself, That stuff will really preach. For a pastor, there is a years worth of sermon ideas and outlines you will be able to expound on.Most devotional books I find to be disappointing, so much so, I gave up reading them. I am sure glad that I gave Rick a chance. Every Sunday I beg my congregation to purchase this book, telling them that it will give them a foundation to build their Christian life.By the way, I was especially appreciative of Ricks use of multiple translations in his quoting of Scripture. It gives the reader (or hearer) a fresh perspective on already familiar passages. Good job, Rick, you done good!

As I was reading the publishing page in the front of <hl> the book in preparation for this review <hl> , I noticed that the hardbound copy is printed on acid free paper.