A
I didn't know this was a prequel until I have finished reading it. I found it rather interesting. The beginning of the book is a bit confusing and Ii thought this would be another one of those books filled with hundreds of characters (I don't mind that of J.R.R. Tolkien stories) and it would be harder to keep up. That was not the case. I cannot wait to read the rest of them.
I have expected so much more from this book. I am sad to say it was quite a disappointment to read. I wish I could say something positive. Characters were bland - Prince Otto, one might say was too self centered; his wife ... I do not know what to say about her. Apparently all is well that ends well? Not in this book.
I learned from this book...
that goodness prevails against all odds.
Growing up in a family that loved to read I was blessed to have access to a fairly large home library. I have picked up this book as a 7 year old. “David Copperfield”, I glanced at the green hardcover dust jacket. “I wonder what this book is about,” I smiled and opened up the first page. At that earlier point in my life I was not able to fully understand the content of this novel. I am glad to have re-read it because it is a true gem. I believe this was Charles Dickens at his best.
I loved all of the characters in this book, especially David. He'd endured so much in his life. I wish I could give him a hug even though, at the end of the day, he is just a person who lives within the pages of Dickens' novel. To me, he was real.
From this book I have learned...
that sometimes we do not get the things we expect from life. Our destiny is of our own choosing, and we should not wait around for others to push us in the right direction. Charles Dickens had a smart way of letting the reader know what he was thinking. Pip, a hero of this story, did not want to be an apprentice to his brother-in-law's business. Pip had much bigger dreams. Pip was too trusting of strangers. In a way he was naive. He did not know that people can be cruel and have hidden agendas (just like Miss Havisham).
I found an old summary/review of this book when I read it as a school assignment:
After Le Ly Hayslip's brother Bon went North she began to pay more attention to her father, and they became closer and closer. She found out about new, loving side of him, and very protective and strong person. Because of his honesty, his empathy, and his openness to people, he understood life deeply. He was the more understanding parent.
“... even as a parent, my father was more lenient than our mother, and we sometimes ran to him for help when she was angry...“
He was telling her the stories from their people's history.
“... he plunked me down under a tree and told me some stories...”
She was amazed and impressed by her father's pride about accomplishments of people from history. There were few secrets they shared.
“... we won't tell your mother about the duck, okay? I giggled and swore myself to secrecy...”
Her father felt it was time to tell her about hard times their family survived, about things she couldn't understand before. And he told her how she is important and that her job in life is to stay alive, and tell somebody else about her family and her people. She understood him in one way.
One of the best inspirational books I have ever read. Joel Osteen speaks to all people. His words are kind and true. If only people would take the time to listen.
I loved watching ‘MacGyver' as a kid and when I got this book I wanted to see what creative ideas people could come up with. The book starts out good, but some of the later stories should not have been included because they are just nonsense... I think some people have never even watched the show to actually come up with a bright idea that could “save the day”.
Inspirational. Mysterious and insightful. Relatable to life depending to how you interpret it. This is one of those books you can read and re-read all the time. There are some religious aspects I am not really agreeing with; but overall it is a good book.
Another interesting ‘who dun-it' book by Mary Higgins Clark. I like the fact that she wrote this from two people's point of view.
The book starts off with Carley, the main character, a journalist working on a story for Wall Street Weekly about a man named Nicholas Spencer. Nicholas Spencer was the founder of a company that dealt primarily with research for the anti-cancer vaccine. Many people believing in potential for this wonder drug invested their life savings into the company; and after Nicholas Spencer tragic piloting accident it surfaces that somebody within the company was stealing millions of dollars, the blame immediately shifts to Nicholas Spencer. Was this a case of a staged death because the vaccine proved to be a bust or something more?
This is a book about current state of energy crisis just as the title suggests.
Historical background into the industrial revolution is mentioned. The author explains why “the party's over”. He gives various suggestions as to how the world nations are going about to fixing the problem. Then he points out why pursuit of those would be unlikely and that it is clearly a waste of time. Should we just give up?
Other than being very informative this book leaves me - the regular consumer of energy - at worry about the big problems I cannot solve.
This book is poorly edited (distraction to read). The characters are dry and naive. The plot-line is rather stupid: an arranged marriage, a run away bride, a two week “adventure” that leads to whatever after. Skip this book (unless you really, really want to read it for yourself).
An interesting story. Nothing much to review about it. Characters were Ok.
*(if you like reading books about Old England and “Robin Hood” you will enjoy this one as well)
