The Good Guy

Average customer rating:

The GOOD GUY

Very Good Koontz; I love Koontz

From a fan of Koontz, this is not 'Good' at all

Very good suspense Novel

Great Book (so-so ending)

The Good Guy
Dean Koontz
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0553804812
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Book Description

Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend’s tavern, enjoys drawing eccentric customers into amusing conversations. But the jittery man who sits next to him tonight has mistaken Tim for someone very different—and passes to him a manila envelope full of cash.

“Ten thousand now. You get the rest when she’s gone.”

The stranger walks out, leaving a photo of the pretty woman marked for death, and her address. But things are about to get worse. In minutes another stranger sits next to Tim. This one is a cold-blooded killer who believes Tim is the man who has hired him.

Thinking fast, Tim says, “I’ve had a change of heart. You get ten thousand—for doing nothing. Call it a no-kill fee.” He keeps the photo and gives the money to the hired killer. And when Tim secretly follows the man out of the tavern, he gets a further shock: the hired killer is a cop.

Suddenly, Tim Carrier, an ordinary guy, is at the center of a mystery of extraordinary proportions, the one man who can save an innocent life and stop a killer far more powerful than any cop…and as relentless as evil incarnate. But first Tim must discover within himself the capacity for selflessness, endurance, and courage that can turn even an ordinary man into a hero, inner resources that will transform his idea of who he is and what it takes to be The Good Guy.

Customer Reviews:

The GOOD GUY.......2007-10-08

Every time I read Dean Koontz, It is like, I think that 'this book here is his best'. But, I know that it just is not possible. Every book I have read of his, I just totally love. This novel is so believable. Well, he has a nak of making people believe that it is. He uses real every day people in his stories. And, it makes you think, 'what if?!' I mean, his characters are like so real. A masonry man is sitting in a bar. A guy comes in. Makes idle conversation. Then, hands him $10,000.00 cash in an envelope. With a picture of a woman. He says, something like, 'You will get the rest when she is gone.' Whoa! Can you just imagine if something like that really happened. I will not tell any more. I do not want to give anything away. I love the way he begins his novels. And this one is great. I am sure you will like it as much as I did!

Very Good Koontz; I love Koontz.......2007-10-08

I love Koontz, and have read everything that he has written (that has been available since the 70's). There are other earlier books, but they're not available. My favorite will always be "Shadowfires", an early book written under a pseudonym. His last book, "The Husband" was an excellent suspense book with a disappointing ending. "The Good Guy" is almost as good, loads of suspense, and another crazy bad guy (not as good as the bad guy in "The Face"; he was the best), but almost as delusional. I liked all the characters; Tim Carrier indeed had reasons for being a Good Guy, and the resolve was somewhat satisfying. I'm especially glad that Mr. Koontz isn't dragging his books out, ad nauseum, like "Corner of His Eye" or those others, because they could've been 200 pages shorter. "The Good Guy" was enjoyable. Koontz doesn't need supernatural stuff or government conspiricies to be interesting. When he has good and interesting characters, as he does here, he can hold interest. Indeed, I was held from the first page. I never understood "Cold Fire". Could someone explain to me why it's so great? I think it's his only bad book; well, "Dragon Fire" is a close second...

From a fan of Koontz, this is not 'Good' at all.......2007-10-06

Almost every Koontz book that you pick up will have a few saving graces. Primarily for myself, I enjoy the first half of just about every one of his books. I have been thinking for a while that it would be nice to take his stories, rip out the last half of all of them, and end up with a collection of entertaining 'Twilight Zone' style stories. The reason I say this is because Koontz really knows how to start a story in a manner that grabs the reader and brings them into a world that is startlingly fresh and interesting concept wise. However he always, and I mean always wraps his stories up in exactly the same fashion. His bad guy is foiled by the good guy who gets the girl that he probably has found during whatever book it is you picked up.

With that aside, the reason 'The Good Guy' rates a whole lot lower on my Koontz scale than most of his stories is that this time he pretty much races into what is normally the middle of most of his novels. The plot races towards Koontz usual cat and mouse play within the first twenty or so pages and you miss out on the enjoyable build up. So what you are left with is a long drawn out chase scene and a mushy ending.

I suppose that most of you will not agree with me. Alas, I wish that this were a better book. The writing is at times perhaps the very most contrived that I have ever come across in Koontz's books. for example...

"Is there something I should know? Have you been in trouble sometime?"

She blinked "Not me. Im as straight as a new nail that never met a hammer."

"Why does that sound to me like there was a hammer, maybe a lot of hammers, but you didn't bend?"

"I dont know. I dont know why it sounds that way to you. Maybe you're always inferring hidden meaning when none is implied."

"Im just a bricklayer."

Ah... at times it is painfully bad. I wish Koontz would write a true 'horror' book and not have the quality of his writing end up creating most of the terror.

Very good suspense Novel.......2007-10-02

Koontz has been on a roll lately with suspense novels. They have all been good and not involved anything supernatural. This book does not change that pattern.

The story is basically a traditional good against evil type of story. As with all Koontz novels, this book takes off fairly quickly and does not let up until the end. The story is fairly strong through out and the characters are very likable. The villain, though not as good as some of his villains of the past, is interesting and keeps your attention.

If you are a fan of Dean Koontz and or suspense novels in general I would most definitely recommend this book.

Great Book (so-so ending).......2007-09-25

Quick review. Great book .. had me up several nights. If you like unpretentious thrillers, go for it.

However, the ending was lousy. Without giving anything away, the final explanation of the "why's" is just so completely unbelievable (not to worry, it is still a good read ... but Koontz could have spent some more time on a more plausible ending).

The Husband is as good and just more solid.

Twelfth Night (Folger Shakespeare Library)

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Twelfth Night : An amazing book
great play
Great Comedy

Twelfth Night (Folger Shakespeare Library)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743482778

Book Description

Each edition includes:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

• Scene-by-scene plot summaries

• A key to famous lines and phrases

• An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language

• An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books

Essay by Catherine Belsey

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit www.folger.edu.

Customer Reviews:

Twelfth Night : An amazing book.......2007-08-17

Twelfth Night is a very amazing book full of true love, confusion, and adventure. It starts out with a shipwreck on a fictious island of Illyria where Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are staying and neither of them thinks the other is alive. So therefore, they both go into Illyira and Viola posing as a man who is a messenger for Duke Orisno. Results in big trouble for all of them in Illyria. This is only some events that happen in the book. Other things are Duke Orsino is madly in love with Olivia who does not love him. Malvolio thinking Olivia loves him when she doesn't. Things just aren't going so well in Illyria for all the characters. But overall this is an excellent book and I truly enjoyed reading it.

great play.......2007-01-01

I saw she's the man in theaters, then I went on the internet and read about it. Then I found out it is based on twelfth night. So I read the play and I like it. I've also read A midsummer night's dream. I like twelfth night more. It's a great play.

Great Comedy.......2005-12-16

This play is about a girl who goes under cover as a man to try to find her twin brother who was lost in a shipwreck. she goes to work for the self indulgent Duke Orsino. the play is filled with comedic events such as the Duchess Olivia falls love with the main character, Viola, because Olivia thinks Viola is a man, as well as the drunken antics of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. overall it was a very funny play and I enjoyed reading it and I would reccoment it to anyone who likes Shakespeare.

The wording, the same as with any shakespeare play, was a little hard to get used to. When reading it I would get a vague understanding what the character was saying but then I would chekc the definition of specific words that are on the the opposite page. It would then become clear to me what was happening in the play. I enjoyed the comedic flow of the story. the series of different converging plots made for a little difficult comprehension but it all came together at the end of the play. This was definitely a funny play, and it was even better when I saw it on stage. There seems to be so much one misses when just reading a play, but when one sees it on stage the overall understanding of what is happening and why is greater. I thouroughly enjoyed reading the play as well as seeing it on stage and it was overall a solid comedy by William Shakespeare.

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I read this every year to my fourth graders!
History and gender roles as a great story
Riding Freedom
Riding Freedom
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!

Riding Freedom
Pam Munoz Ryan
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439087961

Customer Reviews:

I read this every year to my fourth graders!.......2007-06-11

This book will capture the attention of boys and girls. It is a wonderful story about a young girl fighting to be herself despite the gender roles of her era. Lots of adventure and history are included in this captivating story. A must!

History and gender roles as a great story.......2007-05-02

It would have been easy, I suppose, for this to be a "preachy" book about women's role in history: Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst is believed to be the first woman to vote in an American presidential election (albeit illegally, as a man). She chose to live her whole life as a man -- the "Mountain Charley" of California lore -- which either speaks to her inner strength or to the contortions she had to endure to survive in late-1800's America. Whichever it is, Pam Munoz Ryan doesn't "take sides", but weaves an engaging story of a girl who loves horses, the people who befriended and helped her, the difficulties she faced, and the amazing events of her life.

My 10-year-old son got this book at an event where he met illustrator Brian Selznick, but hadn't read it until he picked it for a book report this week. What a fine choice it turned out to be. After he read it (much of it aloud to his mom), we all became interested in the true history of Charlotte "Charley" Darkey Parkhurst. It turns out that he spent the last days of his life not too far from us on what is now Freedom Boulevard in Santa Cruz County, CA. I wonder if the Boulevard is named after the horse of the book's title?

Riding Freedom.......2007-03-07

I thought that this was a good book that gave a lot of perspective to what life might have been like for a woman in the 1800's. It had a interesting plot and many challenges for the characters. I was not bored reading this book. I was shocked when she cut off all her hair. Charlotte was a real person who lived in the 1800's. Reading a story that had real people made the story more captivating. It made me feel like the events of the past came to life. I liked it because it was not too long and I could finish it within a week. I thought that the author created lots of different scenerio's for the characters. It really kept my interest. I liked this book and would recommend it for any young teenager to read.

Riding Freedom.......2006-11-17

Riding Freedom takes place in a town in the south eastern part of the United States. The book is about a girl's life as she becomes a young woman in the 1800's. Charlotte (the girl) was in the orphanage when she was a kid, because her parents died when she was only two years old. Charlotte's favorite horse, Freedom, died after a race that the two won. Then, Charlotte got banned from the stables and lost her best friend, Hayward. Since she was so miserable, she ran away diguised as a boy (named Charley) with the help of an elderly man named Vern, who worked at the stables in the orphanage. Charlotte then begins to work for a man named Embeezer. She cleaned the stalls and was a stage coach when she was only twelve. She had to work hard for food and shelter. Then, Embeezer, Charlotte, the other workers and horses moved to Rhode Island. Years later, she travelled to California to train horses as a stage coach. But when she was cleaning the hoof of a wild horse, he kicked her in the eye. Then someone took Charlotte to the hospital. She had lost all control of motion in her left eye (that the horse kicked), so she wore an eye patch. Since she had one good eye, all she was able to do was clean the stalls and feed the horses. She no was longer able to work with the wild horses or remain as a stage coach. But Charlotte had not lost hope. She started training two horses by herself, and then started training six horses. She wanted to prove to James (a stage coach at the stables) that she could train six horses, even with one good eye. And she did. So now, Charlotte was riding horses again. Then, one day, it was so stormy out, you couldn't even see the roads. However, she needed to take a group of people to another town. The other workers told it was too dangerous, but she promised that she would get them there safely. So Charlotte started off and came across a bridge. When she reached the bridge, Charlotte tested it to see how sturdy it was (not very). So, she escorted each person once at a time over the bridge until one stubborn man refused budge. Then, Charlotte said, "If you don't want to move, I'll just have to help you move, Sir." Still grumbling, the man to the other side of the bridge. A few minutes later, Charlotte tried to ride the horses over the bridge, but right slab-dab in the middle of the bridge, Charlotte had a flashback of her mother and father dying, as well as the words they said before they died. Moments later, Charlotte zoned back to what was happening, trying not to fall off the bridge, into the rushing water. As soon at the back wheels touched the ground, the bridge collapsed. Everyone cheered and yelled, and the stubborn man said, "You saved my life." After this, everyone heard about what Charlotte had done. They threw coins at her, in hopes that she would run over them. If she did, the thrower of the coin would have good luck. Later on, Charlotte was going to have a passenger who she despised, named Mr. Millshark. She hated him because he was the mean owner at the orphanage. He was the one who had banned her from the stables back at the orphanage. Then, Charlotte felt a "kiddish revenge" going through her body. Charlotte got the wagon stuck in a massive mud pit on purpose. And she then asked him if he would go in the mud and lift up part of the wagon so she could drive the horses to pull it out. But after he was done, she took his boots and hide them from him in order to give them to Embeezer. After she got the people to the stop, she went to look for private property and stables where she could live with Embeezer and her best friend Hayward. One night after she bought the property and house, she saw a sign that said PRIVATE PROPERTY. Then, she turned around and saw a young man petting Charlotte's kittens. She finally noticed, it was Hayward! Hayward stayed at the house for a couple of hours and then he left for a year. But he came back. Months later, Embeezer came to the house. Then, one of Charlotte's horses was going to have a baby. So Embeezer and Charlotte helped the horse give birth to the baby, but there wasn't just one. There were two! After giving birth to the babies, Charlotte and Embeezer found out that one was a girl (filly) and the other was a boy (colt). Finally, Charlotte decided on names for the two foals. The colt was named Vern's Pride and the filly was named Freedom.

YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!.......2006-09-04

This book is my absolute favorite. I first read it in 4th grade. then i read it again, then i read it in 5th grade 2 more times, then i read it in 6th one more time. It really captured my attention, I remeber that i could never stop reading it. It may have been a little difficult for me in 4th grade but as i read it again and agian it made much more sense, and it really made my day. i recommended it to all my friends...well just one, but she said she loved it. If you don't read this book your seriously missing out.

The Prince and the Pauper (Puffin Classics)

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Inspirational classic
Fun, simple tale with a moral and some humor
Gripping & narrative
Prince and the Pauper
A classic story of mistaken identities

The Prince and the Pauper (Puffin Classics)
Mark Twain
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140367497

Book Description

Twain's historical tale about Edward VI and a pauper who exchange places by accident just days before Henry VIII's death.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational classic.......2007-03-18

One of the most persistent themes in American pop and literary culture is the switched identity plot. Movies like Garfield 2, Face-Off, Big Business and Double Dragon have been based on this trick. Where did it all start? Probably with this children's classic by Mark Twain. Set in Renaissance England, it tells the story of two boys who look exactly alike, except one is a prince and the other is a poor boy. The two meet each other, exchange places, and have loads of fun. All ends well as they each regain their proper places with more wisdom and friends than before.

The text of the book is readable by most elementary school kids, though the length is quite long for a children's work. The dialogue is English, and might make hard reading the first time around, and the comedy might be dry for those not used to it. But the book is enjoyable and totally appropriate. I highly recommend it.

Fun, simple tale with a moral and some humor .......2007-02-19

The Prince and the Pauper is a classic tale of switched and mistaken identities when two young boys who are similar looking in appearance happen to meet each other and decide to change appearances. Despite the fact that the two look similar, the two boys have led quite different lives--one boy living a poor, destitute life with an abusive father, and the other, living a life of luxury. Once the two boys decide to switch to see how each other looks, they seemingly do not know that it will be hard to switch back. Mark Twain's ability to establish a children's story with a sense of royalty and fantasy intermixed is clearly attributed to his forte as a great versatile writer, both of satire and comedy, as well as fantasy. While the story has a simple idea and basis for its course--the idea that two boys must learn how to live in the "others" shoes for awhile--the greater strength and stability is to depict a strong moral in the story, which is that we often do not know or appreciate how hard things can be for someone else in life.

Another fun aspect of this work is simply the trademark satire from Twain. He has a way of making fun of the idea of royalty in a dignified and subtle way, and has fun once the two boys are in the "others" world. Not only this, but he has fun "overdoing" some of the scenes for both boys. Tom Canty is distressed at the process of how much trouble it is to do anything without the "Royal Court" helping him with an everyday task, from taxing to simple. The king is ashamed at the ill treatment he receives from mean citizens of the town, and despite his protests of being a king, no one listens.

Each child gets himself in unwittingly bad circumstances that he wishes himself out of, and each must find ways at adapting to their new life. For instance, Tom Canty cannot believe the power that his words has in the court of law, and he is both shocked, and impressed, by his ability to literally change the course of those condemned to death. Although frightened at first, he learns to manage his new station in life. Meanwhile, the poor king has to life an unaccustomed life of poverty, and must deal with all the malevolent allies of poor Tom's father, despicable individuals who rob, cuss, steal, and are vulgar. Generally, he struggles, but is aided by a generous man named Miles Hendon, who helps him through all the difficulties.

Perhaps another moral evoked from Twain's tale is that of not thinking yourself better than another person, despite your or their station in life. The boys seem to have to deal with this by the book's end, and learn their ways, having a greater and deeper appreciation of the opposite point of view.

There is plenty of adventure, imagination, and humor to keep you entertained in this book. At times, several scenes do get a little confusing, but overall it is a rather quick and simple read. The Bantam Classic edition also has footnotes to explain terms in the index, and fairly big print easy for reading.

Gripping & narrative.......2006-10-21

Mark Twain classic "The Prince and the Pauper" has ever been so excitedly ever told tale of two look-alike boys; a tale of the rich and the poor. No wonder, this has ever been the best educational pick in the classroom as kids would love to dive into imagination and get the moral of the story. Two different worlds and Tom Canty and Edward Tudor shared the same birth date and same features. Fate brings them and they decide to change clothes for few minutes. This leads to the adventures beyond wildest dreams. He pokes fun at the old upper class in England and showed how wrong it was to judge people by outward appearances. Born in November, the author's other famous Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer were my fav too. A good Pick for all ages.

- ilaxi

Prince and the Pauper.......2006-07-17

Wow! What a story this was. Twain was a great story-teller in his own right with the ability to inject his own feelings into the book. This book is very much a satire attacking the life under a tyrant. And although the book was written in a good-humored state, one can see the sourness behind it all.

The book started out with a prince and a poor lad, who really looked alike, switching clothes. They soon found themselves into very uncomfortable positions as the two had to step into the life of the other. The pauper was very much uncomfortable with all the regal etiquettes imposed and followed in the royal court. And the Prince flowed into the streets, still believing and telling everyone that he was the Prince of England. This only made himself look like a clown, soon the Prince found himself in the company with a bunch of thieves, gangs, and pickpockets. He even drew a spanking from the pauper's vogabond father, who believed the Prince was his son Tom Canty. The two's lives would soon come to at a criss-cross at the coronation of the Prince, and many interesting things ensued.

Overall, this book was well-written, well-told, and well-described. I give it a four stars instead of a five because there are small segments in the book that are quite boring, but nothing major that lasts more than 5 pages at a time. This book is definitely a classic that is worth reading.

A classic story of mistaken identities.......2006-06-05

In Mark Twain's classic historical novel, Tom Canty, a poor boy from the London slums, and Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, unwittingly swap places. Because they bear an uncanny resemblance to each other, no one believes them when they announce who they really are. So their adventures begin ...

I recommend this book to just about anyone, especially historical-fiction fans. I adored it. The novel is humorous, witty, adventurous and has a lot to say about the human folly of judging people by outward appearances. Plus, it's a classic that's actually a quick read!

Average customer rating:

Myself: A Case of Mistaken Identity
Alan Watts
Manufacturer: Sounds True
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1591793777

Book Description

"If we're honest with ourselves," asserts Alan Watts, "the most fascinating question in the world is clearly 'Who am I?'" In Myself: A Case of Mistaken Identity, you will join one of the West's most celebrated teachers of Eastern thought in pursuit of this eternal riddle of the self. In four archival recordings - captured here at the height of his career as a lecturer and author - Alan Watts explodes some of our most deeply held beliefs about our sense of self and how we perceive the world around us. With striking and often hilarious examples, he demonstrates the profound effect of words and symbols on these so-called "common sense" perceptions. The Wisdom of Alan Watts series offers Watts at his best, bringing one of the century's most lucid and entertaining teachers of Asian philosophy to a new generation of listeners. Talks include: "Myth of Myself," "Man in Nature," "Symbols and Meaning," and "Limits of Language."

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helpful
The thrust of greatness
This is the best fooling, when all is done...
Some Plays Achieve Greatness!
What language!

Twelfth Night (Shakespeare Made Easy)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0812036042

Book Description

Here are the books that help teach Shakespeare plays without the teacher constantly needing to explain and define Elizabethan terms, slang, and other ways of expression that are different from our own. Each play is presented with Shakespeare's original lines on each left-hand page, and a modern, easy-to-understand "translation" on the facing right-hand page. All dramas are complete, with every original Shakespearian line, and a full-length modern rendition of the text.

Customer Reviews:

helpful.......2007-01-15

I have my degree in English... I like reading and teaching with this version as "help" not as a substitution. It gives a clearer understanding to Shakespeare for people who have difficulty with it.

The thrust of greatness.......2005-05-11

"Twelfth Night" is built upon the reliable comedic premise of mistaken identity. We begin with a shipwreck and a twin brother and sister, Sebastian and Viola, each of whom believes that the other has died at sea. Viola disguises herself as a boy and, assuming the name of Cesario, gets a job as a page for Orsino, the duke of Illyria, with whom she is in love. Orsino, however, is in love with a lofty young countess named Olivia, who has no interest in him and furthermore is mourning her own brother's recent death. Orsino dispatches Cesario/Viola to relay his amorous entreaties to Olivia, hoping that Cesario's youth may make him a more appealing messenger and soften her heart; but, wouldn't you know, Olivia becomes attracted to Cesario instead.

Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch, a knavish and idle aristocrat, is distressed by his niece's apparent desire to remain unmarried and tries to prepare his protege, the dimwitted but affable Sir Andrew Aguecheek, as a suitor. As part of a secondary plot, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew cooperate with Olivia's maid, Maria, to play a practical joke on Olivia's steward Malvolio, a humorless stuffed shirt whose conceit has finally piqued them all, by forging a letter that leads him to believe that his beautiful employer is in love with him. The ruse pays off, and Malvolio is imprisoned for madness after satisfactorily making a spectacle of himself in front of Olivia. Rounding out this retinue of clowns is Olivia's jester, named Feste, who, like King Lear's fool, seems to know more about the people around him than they know about themselves.

"Twelfth Night" is not just a comedy but, as the title indicates, a festive play in which songs and holiday spirit figure into the mood, providing a relaxed and joyous atmosphere in which the audience may feel privy to an elaborate jest. Certainly the plot is predictable, but its predictability is part of what makes it truly funny. We all (Shakespeare not the least of us) know how absurd it is that Viola disguised as a boy would look and sound so exactly like her twin brother as to make the two indistinguishable to the other characters in the play, but this is the indispensible device that holds the comedy together. Pretending to be someone or something you are not is the essence of the act, the idea encapsulated in "Twelfth Night" and expressed by Feste's sarcastic riposte to Sebastian, "Nothing that is so, is so."

This is the best fooling, when all is done..........2005-05-05

After reading Twelfth Night, I realized that I have never read a better Shakespearean work. Not only does this have signs of comical mischef, but it has so many deeper meanings as well. The first deep message that I uncovered was the fact of gender confusion. Viola, using the power of a man to her advantage, begs the question to whether or not she is struggling with issues of gender identity. Her conversation even begs the question much futher, and by the end of the play leaves the reader with so many questions....This was a wonderful read, and quite possibly one of Shakespeare's best works.

Some Plays Achieve Greatness!.......2003-08-24

Of all Shakespheare's plays I've read so far, I like Twelfth Night the best. I read it so many times I even lost my dependence on the modern language translation and I could read the Elizabethan language with the right conversational rhythm, losing all the awkwardness. I particularly liked the role of the snobby servant Malvolio, who tries to move up to the level of his Countess Olivia and leave his other "inferiors" behind. There is a couple of elaborate pranks being played upon characters in the play, in which Malvolio becomes one of the victims. Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria are the comic "team" that set these pranks in motion, all with amusing results. I just like the playfulness of these characters and their continual search for fun.

The main plot of the play is little less interesting involving the old disguised, mistaken, or confused identity ploy that Shakespheare uses from time to time. This time out a woman named Viola is a character pretending to be a man who is sent to woo Countess Olivia for Duke Orsino. She has a brother that looks just like her, especially now since she is dressed like a man. Identity confusion ensues. Also the pranks of the subplot mesh with the main plot for an amusing end.

What language!.......2003-01-09

I liked the play. It was pretty interesting. Shakespeare writes in the most beautiful language I know. Even though I did not understand everything, I really enjoyed reading it.
However I think the end is a little bit too facile. I do not like love stories with such easy happy endings. I suppose the play should have been a little bit longer so that Orsino could have had enough time to fall in love with Viola. This just went on too fast. Maybe it is the way men are. But well, such is life...

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I loved this book!!
similar to others, but still a fun read
Fun, Light Read
Great Book
Sophie Kinsella is a comedic genius

The Undomestic Goddess
Sophie Kinsella
Manufacturer: The Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385338686
Release Date: 2005-07-19

Book Description

Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She’s made a mistake so huge, it’ll wreck any chance of a partnership.

Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she’s mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they’ve hired a lawyer–and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can’t sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and begins to cope–and finds love–is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake.

But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does…will she want it back?

Download Description

Sophie Kinsella is a former financial journalist and the author of the bestselling novels Confessions of a Shopaholic, Shopaholic Takes Manhattan, Shopaholic Ties the Knot, Shopaholic & Sister and Can You Keep a Secret? She lives in England, where she is at work on her next book.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

I loved this book!!.......2007-09-09

I love all Sophie Kinsella's books!!
This was a great one, I read it in 3 days, I couldn't stop. It was a lot ot fun and has a great message..a complete rollercoaster ride..Great new character, you HAVE to read it!! You will love it too!

similar to others, but still a fun read.......2007-09-08

Sophie Kinsella's novel, The Undomestic Goddess, is a formulaic but fun-filled twist on Kinsella's previous stories. Firmly in the chick lit genre but possessing more wit and laugh-out-loud humor than most others in that category, The Undomestic Goddess can most closely be compared to Kinsella's other books, including her first and most well-known novel, Confessions of a Shopaholic.

The story revolves around Samantha Sweeting, a highly driven attorney living the legal dream at one of Britain's most prestigious law firms. In line to become the firm's youngest-ever partner, Samantha is rudely booted from the company when a small filing error costs a client millions of pounds. In a panic-stricken daze, Samantha flees London to get away from the repercussions of her mistake and knocks on the door of a spacious mansion when she gets off the train several cities later.

The couple who lives there believes Samantha is an applicant for a full-time housekeeping position and employ her on the spot before she can protest. Unfortunately, Samantha knows nothing about cooking or cleaning after years of slaving to climb the ladder of corporate success. How Samantha finds happiness, love, and the domestic skills to pull off such an undertaking is a hilarious mess of misunderstandings.

A former financial journalist, Kinsella is famous for her Shopaholic series and known for her endearing portrayals of clever yet slightly neurotic women. She also wrote the novel Can You Keep a Secret?, currently her only other non-Shopaholic work.

As always, Kinsella's skill with the written word is unparalleled in her genre. Although, like her other novels, The Undomestic Goddess follows the mishaps of a quirky young woman who digs herself deeper into her lies and cover stories before pulling through in the end, it is no less of a gem to read. Kinsella's ability to convey common thoughts that every woman has in a way that makes the reader laugh out loud never gets old.

While some of Samantha's ploys over the course of the novel are rather ludicrous and nearly cross the line of believability, the funny and touching writing makes up for them. Samantha is lovable as a heroine, and the supporting characters are often humorously endearing. The love plot is subdued but sweet, and Kinsella does an excellent job of weaving humor and romance together for a believable relationship.

Kinsella delivers another winner with The Undomestic Goddess, a predictable but never boring piece of chick lit. Sweet as cotton candy but with enough bite to hook the reader until the very end, The Undomestic Goddess is perfect for anyone who wants to put away the heavy reading and have a purely fun fiction experience.

Fun, Light Read.......2007-08-31

I read this book for a light read and was not disappointed. Had a few chuckles along the way which I appreciated.

Great Book.......2007-08-22

I love this book. I could not put it down. This is a PLEASE READ!! :)

Sophie Kinsella is a comedic genius.......2007-08-03

I can not say enough about this author. It doesn't matter if the plot is inplausible. She is genius and hysterical! All of her books are wonderful. They take you away and are quick reads. I would love to see them in movies. The characters are rich and complicated. Must reads!

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Great trilogy
Not just for young adults

Dream-maker's Magic
Sharon Shinn
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670060704

Book Description

Kellen's mother has always insisted that her only child was born male, not female—so Kellen has been raised as a boy. Then she is forced to go to school, where she meets Gryffin, whose mind is as strong as his legs are damaged, and the two become friends and allies. A few years later, the two get jobs working at a nearby inn, the Parmer Arms. When it is discovered that Gryffin is the kingdom's new Dream-Maker—someone whose mere presence can help dreams come true—he is whisked away to the castle, leaving Kellen behind. By now, their friendship is shading into something more.Will it endure?

Customer Reviews:

Great trilogy.......2006-10-02

The final installment of Shinn's trilogy which began with The Safe-Keeper's Secret (2004) and The Truth-Teller's Tale (2005) features a young girl Kellen whose mother is convinced that she is a boy, and treats her as thus. When Kellen begins school at age 11, she meets Gryffin, a young man who needs assistance walking because of a birth defect, but whose mind soaks up information like a sponge. Kellen and Gryffin become inseparable throughout their school years, supporting one another in their difficult situations. When Gryffin needs shelter from his uncle's abuse, Kellen helps him and they become friends with many of the new travelers who visit their small town's new stagecoach stop. When it is discovered that Gryffin has taken on the magic of the Dream-Maker, Kellen has to let him go discover his powers on his own, until she follows, once again in the guise of a young man, to find that wishes do come true no matter who you are.

Not just for young adults.......2006-07-10

This short novel is the third in Shinn's series involving young people in a semimagical realm. In this tale, we learn the story of Kellen and Gryffin. Both characters have a harsh live. Kellen's mother refuses to acknowledge that she is a girl. Gryffin is crippled and abused by his uncle. Together, they gain the strength to grow beyond their situation and find love along the way. While this is set as a young adult book, don't let that scare you away. It's enjoyable by all.

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What Happened to DiNunzio?
One of Scottoline's best
A Wild, Unpredictable Ride.
An emotional twister and legal thriller in one
TOO MANY LOOSE ENDS

Mistaken Identity
Lisa Scottoline
Manufacturer: HarperTorch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0061096113

Amazon.com

When confronted with the most challenging and the most personal case of her legal career, Bennie Rosato--an expert on police corruption--questions everything she has learned as a criminal attorney, and everyone she considers to be family. During a visit behind the bars of Philadelphia's Central Corrections facility, Bennie is shocked to discover that an inmate bears a striking physical resemblance to herself. The prisoner, Alice Connolly, stands accused of murdering her cop boyfriend Anthony Della Porta, and the case reeks of a police conspiracy. Connolly convinces Bennie to defend her in court. Bennie feels confused, intrigued, and even somewhat elated by this clone of herself, and dives head first into a bubbling cauldron of corruption, drugs, murder, and assault--mixed in with a thought-provoking subplot that questions the intricacies of legal ethics.

Mistaken Identity is Lisa Scottoline's sixth and tastiest dish yet. The book is gripping and smart, and it brings into bloom the highly likable character of Bennie Rosato, who made her debut appearance in Legal Tender. Bennie has her vulnerable moments--we witness this when, in some emotional scenes, she doubts the authenticity of her twin. Still, Ms. Rosato is no shrinking violet, especially when it comes to exposing the questionable goings-on of Philadelphia's Eleventh Precinct.

Scottoline keeps us in a bubble of suspense--is Connolly really Bennie's twin? Did she murder Della Porta? If not, who did and why? The author neatly ties all our unanswered questions together into a perfectly formed bow, and keeps us frantically turning pages until the very end. --Naomi Gesinger

Book Description

Nothing can prepare criminal attorney Bennie Rosato for her new client, Alice Connolly, who bears an uncanny physical resemblance to her and tells her, "Pleased to meet you. I'm your twin." But Bennie grew up an only child. She doesn't have a twin. Or does she? Bennie takes on the woman's defense in a murder case and plunges into the mystery of the murder—as well as the secret of her own identity. Not until the verdict is in will she finally learn the truth.

Download Description

Nothing can prepare criminal attorney Bennie Rosato for her new client, Alice Connolly, accused of murdering her lover, a highly decorated police detective. Connolly, who bears an uncanny physical resemblance to Bennie, tells the astonished lawyer, "Pleased to meet you. I'm your twin." But Bennie grew up an only child. She doesn't have a twin. Or does she? Bennie takes the case and plunges into the mystery of the murder, as well as the secret of her own identity. Not until the verdict is in will she finally learn the truth. "A superior piece of writing. A gripping, multileveled story peopled by compelling characters" (Philadelphia Inquirer). "Scottoline has been called 'the female John Grisham,' but she's a better storyteller" (Cleveland Plain Dealer).

Customer Reviews:

What Happened to DiNunzio? .......2007-04-11

This book was alright, but at 561 pages, it should've tied up every loose end. I was completely blindsighted by the ending and it left me feeling extremely frustrated. I found the whole boxing story line unnecessary and boring. I don't think it connected smoothly to the plot or added to it. In fact, it opened up more questions concerning the boxing wives and their roles.

The story itself wasn't too believable, but it did keep my interest and I found the trial portion to be a real page turner. Bennie's character is not very likeable, in my opinion, but my main complaint about this book is the DiNunzio character. What happened to her? I've only read a couple of Scottoline's books, including her first novel, Everywhere That Mary Went, and in the first book DiNunzio was a confident, bright attorney who, along with Carrier, made partner at their firm, but planned to open their own firm. Granted, I didn't read any of the books between Everywhere That Mary Went and Mistaken Identity, but how could Mary DiNunzio have gone from being so strong, to being such a wimp? Her character in this book was so mousey, and every other line was "Catholics don't do this," and "Catholics don't do that." It was totally annoying. Her character in this book did a complete 180, which was very disappointing, because I was expecting Rosato and Associates to be a big powerhouse firm.

I will probably read more of Scottoline's books, but I hope that she allows Mary to have a personality in future books.

One of Scottoline's best.......2006-11-19

This courtroom drama features Bennie Rosato, the head of an all-female law firm. Bennie agrees to take on a murder case for a woman named Alice Connolly who is accused of killing her detective boyfriend, but who claims that she's been framed by the police. The most interesting part of the book centers around Alice's startling resemblance to Bennie and her assertion that she is Bennie's twin. Author Scottoline spins out the suspense throughout the book. Is Bennie truly Alice's twin or is Alice merely using a ploy to get Bennie to defend her? In this book the reader meets Bennie's ill mother and her absentee father, and Bennie examines what family really means. This is a fascinating story with lots of twists and turns which kept me guessing up to the last page.

A Wild, Unpredictable Ride........2006-11-02

This is not my favorite mystery/thriller, but it's a very good read with lots of unexpected bends in the road and enough to keep the reader glued to the very end. Mistaken Identity questions the ethics of both lawyers and police with the intensity only a former lawyer like author Scottoline can really delve into, and the results are sometimes overly analyzed but never boring--except for some of the courtroom scenes that occasionally drag on into infinity.

Imagine your surprise to discover a client who looks way too much like you to be coincidence and raises questions about your entire existence that make it hard for you to concentrate on getting your alleged twin off death row. Now imagine that same twin is guilty of everything else under the sun except for the murder she's serving time for and is insisting that the cops set her up. This story has so many wild twists and turns, plus an ending I never saw coming, that I couldn't leave it alone until I was done, but I must admit not knowing what all the coverup was about when the murderer was revealed.

All the way, Bennie Rosato's alleged twin Alice Connolly is an unlikable manipulator and liar, but she defends her with integrity and passion nobody else can quite understand except for Mary, a co-worker who also has a twin. The supporting characters that surround Bennie are what really make this book a pleasure to read, and the outcome will most likely leave you wide-eyed as it did me. You may come away at the end with a lot of questions about some of the loose ends, but I guarantee you a fast paced, exciting ride into the world of criminal defense and crooked cops. Check out Mistaken Identity for an unmistakably good, if at times uneven, read.

An emotional twister and legal thriller in one.......2006-10-24

Interesting premise...a lawyer is confronted with a convict who asks her to represent her, and informs her that she is really her long-lost twin. Question is, would you take the case?

Scottoline does an admirable job in keeping the emotional questions interesting, while developing an excellent legal thriller. The questions surrounding the case concerning police corruption and the guilt of the defendant continue to pile up as you progress. Keeping you wondering until the end where the truth really lies.

While I truly enjoyed the book, and found it generally well written, I did find certain decisions and motivations lacking in believability, hence 4 stars instead of 5. It is definitely worth a read though.

TOO MANY LOOSE ENDS.......2006-05-08

I have read many of Lisa's books and I loved them. This one I DID not like. It took about 200 pages to even GET interesting. I will admit that the last half of the book kept me very engrossed, but when the book ended I was left with that feeling of... WHAT????
The ending was a twist and very shocking, but too many loose ends were not cleared up.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS*****
what happened to connoly at the end? there was never a mention of if she was alive or not?
how did the plastic bag end up in the dumpster?
why did lenihan try and kill bennie? citrone? what was his deal?if the cops had nothing to do with the murder what was the problem?
what happened to the judge? i mean i know he sailed off in the end but why did he get involved in the first place?
some of these questions may have answers I am missing but I wish I knew the answers. in fact if anyone does please contact me here!

Twelfth Night (New Folger Library Shakespeare)

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Twelfth Night (New Folger Library Shakespeare)
William Shakespeare , and Paul Werstine
Manufacturer: Washington Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Hamlet (Signet Classics)

ASIN: 0743452968

Book Description

In Twelfth Night, one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, love, ambition, mistaken identity, and a confusing shipwreck toss a motley crew of characters into a tangle of relationships that becomes hilariously complicated before it finally and wonderfully unfurls by the end of the play. The actual "Twelfth Night" is a night of festivity -- the final night of what used to be the extended period of celebration of the Christmas season -- and a night that marks the boundary between the time for games and the business of the everyday world. As the characters seek to right the wrongs of others and find true love, the play shows us a world that we would all choose to enjoy, if we only could, while illustrating Shakespeare's belief that love can be as delightfully confusing as any illusion, and as full of folly as it is of fun.

THE NEW FOLGER
LIBRARY SHAKESPEARE

Designed to make Shakespeare's great plays available to all readers, the New Folger Library edition of Shakespeare's plays provides accurate texts in modern spelling and punctuation, as well as scene-by-scene action summaries, full explanatory notes, many pictures clarifying Shakespeare's language, and notes recording all significant departures from the early printed versions. Each play is prefaced by a brief introduction, by a guide to reading Shakespeare's language, and by accounts of his life and theater. Each play is followed by an annotated list of further readings and by a "Modern Perspective" written by an expert on that particular play.

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