5 comments about Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1).

1. This book stinks. The fact that people are happy that this book is encouraging young people to read, while it promotes an abusive relationship as "true love", is reprehensible.



2. I was very pleased with my purchase! Shipping was on time and I received the book very quickly. I bought it used, and it looked completely new, with no tears or any signs of it being used really. Thank you for your service :)



3. I brought this book for my 13 year old teenage daughter, she was totally involved with this book. She wouldn't put it down! She was excited by the book because it gave much more background and many more details than the movie. She loved it! She is currently on the second book of the series and enjoying every minute. It was well worth the money I spent for it.



4. I didn't want to read Twilight. I don't like Vampire stories and I don't like romance novels. I had no interest whatsoever, even though my family all loved it, in reading these books. But, I had to loan my kindle to my mother-in-law and found myself bookless for a couple weeks, so I relented and listened to the Twilight audiobook series during workouts. I'm ashamed to admit, I was hooked after the first workout (40 minutes). I ended up finishing the entire 4 books in 8 days. I enjoyed them so much I wasn't ready to be done, so I put them on my Kindle and read them this time.
   
   Much of what the one-star reviews say is true. There are cheesy aspects, Edward is too perfect, Bella is a martyr. The story is often predictable and at times lacks action. But I loved it. Something about the way she wrote it makes it so incredibly easy for me to overlook these nuances.
   
   A couple things to clarify regarding some complaints I've read...
   
   1. Bella is a bad heroine. I would disagree with this. Bella is selfless (unrealistically so, admittedly). The whole point of her character is that she is a very ordinary, unremarkable girl on the surface. She is destined to be a much better vampire than she is human. That's important to carry the story over so it isn't a sad thing for her to be converted.
   
   2. Edward is too perfect. I would argue that OF COURSE HE'S PERFECT - the story is written from Bella's perspective and she thinks he's perfect. When Stephanie Meyer finishes Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's perspective), we will truly get the more balanced view as we see that Edward thinks the same way about Bella.
   
   As I said, there are some parts that make me cringe from the romantic perspective (my idea of romance may be different than most -- I'd rather go camping for my anniversary than to a fancy restaurant). The sparkly vampire -- a little cheesy, but I could live with it. Some of the dialog is sappy. But the addictive storyline vastly overrode any awkward details.
   
   I am no literary analyst. I'm just a reader. But I am totally hooked (against my will I might add -- had ZERO desire to even read the books). Now, I am just dying to read Midnight Sun and will purchase it as soon as it hits the shelves. I enjoyed living in Bella's head so much that I think seeing Edward's thoughts and emotions during the same timeframe will be intriguing.
   
   My mother-in-law made a comment while reading one of the books that I thinks represents it well. She said, "There's almost no one in book except these two - you'd think I would be so bored and frustrated I'd want to throw the book across the room... but I don't -- I actually *like* it..."
   
   So... there you have it - addictive for most, repulsive to a few. A book whose appeal doesn't seem to be explainable by literary analysis. Its appeal isn't even based on genre. Whether you like it or hate it is beyond determination based on reviews, but is more about whether or not you connect with the emotional flavor of the book.



5. A friend of mine had to convince me to read the saga. It was so much better than i expected. I didnt have any issues with my order either and it came in very quickly.

5 comments about The Awakening (Darkest Powers, Book 2).

1. This book was even better than the first book. I felt like the first book mostly introduced the characters and some background information, while this one had some meat to it. Really enjoyed it and so did my 14 year-old. We enjoy reading some of the same books, its helps in bonding! Also nice to read a story that isn't veiled porn!!



2. I beginning to enjoy this series as much if not more than Armstrong's other series. Chloe is a very interesting character. She can't help but be protective and kind to everyone she meets. Even Tori, who was absolutely horrid to her in the last book, she shows concern and protection for. Derek is in her face all the time yelling at her for each and every one of her mistakes and she sits with him and encourages him through his Change. Yet, at the same time she is stabbing a man-hunting werewolf, raising the dead, dropping down from trees to attack, and reaching in her pocket to fondle a switchblade when she thinks there may be danger.
   
   I thought there was a lot of character growth with her, especially now that she is not willing to trust just anyone except herself and the brothers. There is still mystery in the story. Especially with the stone her mother gave her which has turn from red to blue in this one. Also Andrew (the brother's dad's friend) made several very suspecious comments about the foursome at the end of the book that were not elaborated on.
   
   I'm definitely looking forward to the third. Unfortunately, there will be quite a wait. I would recommend reading the books in order for better understanding the characters and how they have changed and relate to each other.



3. Kelley Armstrong writes great supernatural characters. She's particularly good at revealing the character's power and having both the character and power grow, usually in action-packed scenes. And I like Chloe - while she makes mistakes, she doesn't make the same bone-headed, groan-out-loud mistakes throughout the novel. While she does get rescued in some cases, in other situations, she holds her own.
   
   But unlike Armstrong's adult-oriented novels, this series has a story that is creeping along at a snail's pace. In the first book, the characters managed to make it about 5 miles from their original location. In this book, the first half is spent in what seems like the same 2 locations. (If they make a movie, the set building will be very cheap.) The pace picks up in the second half of the novel but all-in-all, while the characters did a lot of running around, they didn't get very far with learning to control their powers. And Armstrong only introduces one major character and that at the end. So while I enjoy the series, I wish she'd pick up the pace.



4. I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I am so excited for the next one to come out. I really didn't think I would be interested in a book with spells and witch craft. it turned out that it was great. the first book was good and left me wanting more. So i had to get the second one and it was even better.



5. In Kelley Armstrong's second addition to her first young adult series, Darkest Powers, Chloe finds herself back in the cluches of the Edison Group. It turns out that this Edison Group experimented on them when they were childern in hopes of bettering life for supernaturals, but they had abnormal reaction to the treatment, making then more powerful and more dangerous. Due to their uncontrolable heightened ablilities, some of the subjects were terminated.
   
   After being betrayed by her Aunt Lauren and her friend Rae, Chloe manages to escape with the help of any unlikely ally and reunites with Simon and Derek. Life on the run is filled with more dangers than they can expect and with the Edison Group on their tail, they have to find help soon.
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel. Following from the atmosphere of the last book, you can really fall into this book. With Chloe's unstable powers escalating and the Edison Group hunting them down, this book has you on your toes for what's going to happen next.
   
   Both Derek's and Chloe's struggle with their ablities and their agruements makes for some interesting drama and draws the two closer, whether it be for their friendship or some other connection, it's hard to tell. I'm rooting for them to be together. ^-^
   
   Great book. Leaves you wanting more.

5 comments about Once Dead, Twice Shy (Madison Avery, Book 1).

1. Madison is the new girl in town, just trying to fit in. Doesn't matter that she just happens to be dead. Barnabas, a light reaper who is trying to teach Madison how to use her new amulet, does his best but something just isn't right. Not only can't she figure out how to use the amulet, but she also has to deal with all of the dramas of being a teenager as well.
   
   I don't like spoilers in reviews, so let's just say that Madison is caught in the middle of the classic struggle: Dark vs. Light, Fate vs. Choice, Hot Reaper vs. Hot Teenage Boy. Madison comes across as a believable teenager who is smart and resourceful, but still human enough to make mistakes. And I loved the guardian angel!
   
   These characters seemed oddly familiar and I finally figured out that I had met them before. Kim had originally introduced them in the anthology Prom Nights from Hell. It might help to read Madison Avery and the Dim Reaper first for the back story, but this book can certainly stand on it's own. All in all I think this is the start of another good series for Kim! Can't wait to see what happens next.



2. 
   My name is Madison Avery, and I'm here to tell you that there's more out there than you can see, hear, or touch. Because I'm there. Seeing it. Touching it. Living it.
   
   Madison's prom was killer--literally. For some reason she's been targeted by a dark reaper--yeah, that kind of reaper--intent on getting rid of her, body and soul. But before the reaper could finish the job, Madison was able to snag his strange, glowing amulet and get away.
   
   Now she's stuck on Earth--dead but not gone. Somehow the amulet gives her the illusion of a body, allowing her to toe the line between life and death. She still doesn't know why the dark reaper is after her, but she's not about to just sit around and let fate take its course.
   
   With a little ingenuity, some light-bending, and the help of a light reaper (one of the good guys! Maybe . . . ), her cute crush, and oh yeah, her guardian angel, Madison's ready to take control of her own destiny once and for all, before it takes control of her.
   
   Well, if she believed in that stuff.
   
   
   Well written, enjoyable characters kept me interested until the very end. I am excited to see where Madison ends up next. I have been a fan of Kim Harrison's Hollows series for a while which made this story an auto buy for me. I am not disappointed in the least. Ms. Harrison has a talent for storytelling that shows in everything she does so I suppose it was only a matter of time before she gave us a YA series. I am confident that I will enjoy Madison Avery for many books to come just as I have enjoyed Rachel Morgan. Highly recommend this book for any fans of The Hollows series.



3. Normally I don't read YA, but I do read Kim Harrison. Love her Hollows series.
   
   Barely made it past the first four chapters, especially because the story starts in media res (in the middle of things). Madison spends the first few chapters more worried about what people think of her and her social status than focusing on the weird yet important stuff. I really hate dumb and shallow heroines, but Madison finally realizes she might die again if she doesn't figure out something with the supernatural stuff she's got.
   
   The last half of the book is good Harrison without too much teenage baggage.
   
   What really drops the book down to three stars is authority issues. Madison is 17. At that age you're more worried about birth control, as opposed to being grounded because your Dad comes home at 6pm and you have a boy over un-supervised. At 17 you don't have a 10pm curfew, and you are allowed to date. This makes sense only if the target audience is younger than 17, and you are writing for them.
   
   So might be great book for young adults, but as an adult who likes Kim Harrison, I wish she'd written a more interesting, more wise heroine.



4. A big fan of Harrison's Hollows series, I was so excited when I saw that she was starting a new series that I apparently failed to see that it was aimed at the young adult audience. I think that's because I put the book on my wishlist before they released any back cover blurbs for it.Anyway, when I opened the book to find everyone was 17 years old I was a little disappointed. Sure, at that age there's lots of drama, but it's not generally the most emotionally deep of time periods in out lives.
   
   Still I persevered for entertaining stories sake...but sadly, once you got the hang of a convoluted version of the world where angels interfere by slaying teens who show signs that their fated to do bad things in the world, well the plot didn't really have any surprises. It was a quick read with a nice ending which sets it up for a series but the crazy , exciting story Harrison usually delivers just wasn't there. Nice but nothing to interest me in reading it again or reading more of the characters lives.



5. Kim Harrison's new young adult novel "Once Dead Twice Shy" has an interesting take on life and death. Two sides-- the dark life reapers and the light life reapers are competing against each other for souls. But not who takes more souls or who saves more souls. One side believes in choice and saves them the other believes in fate and destroys the bad souls before they can do much damage. Madison who is dead but has gained the chance to stay alive by the help of an amulet she snagged of the Dark timekeeper after he tried to kill her and did. Somewhat. Now, Madison finds herself being hunted by dark wings, or dark timekeepers..... really, I don't know to tell you.
   
   The story unfolds and unfolds and the world builds but really in the end I am a bit lost as to how we got there. The premise is interesting; the characters are different and exciting. There's drama and action and fighting and running and death....*takes a deep breath* but no real story plot arc. What I mean by that is there's plot I just got lost in the sequence of things. I feel like I hopped from one minor plot line to the next and there was little explanation to tie them all together.
   
   Now I will give Kim Harrison this much: it's an exciting book (the parts that I understood, which basically, was the end) I am much more interested now in the book that it's over hoping to see how Madison's life, or lack thereof, unfolds in the next book.

5 comments about A Certain Slant of Light.

1. This is a page turner. A well crafted story with interesting characters. I am giving it 4 stars because it's not the best story ever and I don't know that it would be a book I would read several times, but I did enjoy it and feel it's worth a look.
   
   Many other reviewers had mentioned they thought there were too many sex scenes in the story. I was quite surprised when I read it because I thought the sex was pretty subtle. If you are concerned about a teen reading it, please read it and then decide for yourself.



2. The beauty with which this book is written is amazing Laura is a great writer and i can't believe i haven't heard of this book sooner. This one has been in my must read list for a while but never got around to it. Now that i have it is definitely one of my new favorites.



3. I just finished this book and loved it. Like others that have read this book, i found it every easy to fall i love with the writing style of Laura Whitcomb. It a beautiful story that kept me gasping for more from start to finish. I have two words for those looking into this book "Buy it!!!" It was well worth the money i spend on it!



4. I was immediately hooked on the 1st page and could not put the book down for more than 15 minutes to tend to my kids needs and feeding LOL! I finished this in one night, not something that I usually do, I try to prolong books but this one, I could not put down, I had to find out what would happen to their seemingly doomed fate of love, brilliant writing!!!! Love it! Look forward to reading more stories from this author!! Not something I would recommend for teenagers, but definitely something for adults to read! :)



5. This book was incredibly interesting. A new take on the interaction between the dead and the living. I got sucked into the story almost immediately and thought the story was very powerful. I liked the contrast between the more mundane day-to-day of Helen's existence and the more dramatic, compelling events. From beginning to end, I was interested in Helen's "life" and how she comes to terms with her past life. A great read.

5 comments about Unwind.

1. My 15-year-old daughter read "Unwind" and then begged me to read it immediately so that we could talk about it! She is an avid reader and often recommends books to me, but never has she been so insistent that I read a book "Now!". It was chilling, fast-paced, thought-provoking to the extreme, and a little too believable to be comfortable. My daughter and I are religious and often discuss spiritual growth and the effects of modern society on our lives - "Unwind" brought our discussions to new heights! I avidly recommend this book to all thinking teens and their parents. It's the first non-fiction book I've ever read that makes thoughtful points on beliefs held by both sides of the anti-abortion/pro-choice arguments.



2. I can always judge a book by the "3 in the morning test." If I can't stop reading it even to sleep, because I know I have to get to the end-- that's a good book. Unwind was one of those books.
   
   Most of the book, I was bugged by the premise. It just seemed too outlandish for a near-future setting. But heaven knows human beings are capable of shocking, horrifying, seemingly unthinkinkable things. And the premise is just a tool for the exploration of the three main characters, their actions, and the actions of those around them.
   
   The audience for this book is a tough call. I spent most of the book thinking it'd be a good read for my 7th grade students-- and then got to what I think is the most disturbing scene I've ever read in a piece of fiction. I wondered throughout the book if we'd see an actual "Unwinding," and yes, we did. Definitely, more sensitive young teens would struggle with it. I struggled with it.
   
   However, by showing us the ultimate impact of the system on a single individual, Shusterman doesn't let us look away from the effects of society's choices. Human beings show an astonishing capacity to ignore injustices that are hidden behind closed doors.
   
   Unwind is a tough journey to take, but I'm glad I read it. It's got its style issues, as other reviewers have commented, but the plot and characters more than make that up to me. I'd recommend it to adults and high school students (it would be a great book for a high school philosophy class), and very mature middle schoolers. Some books are worth a sleepless night or two.



3. A true masterpiece. Susterman has done it again. Taking on the debated issue of abortion with fluency, this work will make questions arise in your mind you never thought you would have. A suprise after every turn of a page.



4. this book was interesting, thoughtful and provocative -- but also profoundly creepy. The premise is that "it's not really abortion" if you let the child be born, but then you have the option of donating his parts to science if he doesn't work out as a human being. The whole novel plays with the themes of what does it mean to be alive? What makes someone alive? and what makes someone human? The authors clearly wanted to get teens thinking about difficult issues like genetic engineering, adoption and abortion -- and even body image. THe anti-utopia they describe is a world where people are 'harvested' and many of the needs which those donated fulfill are actually consumerist -- people who want to replace bodies which are aging and old. In some instances, children are "tithed" -- which forces the reader to think about religion, how one interprets one's religious teachings, and how dissent is handled.
   
   Despite the heavy, weight issues discussed in this book, it's also one heck of a story -- suspenseful, taut and gracefully resolved. The three main characters -- Lev, Connor and Risa -- are engaging and well-drawn. THe book is deeply nuanced and layered, with a haunting character who one assumes is only mythical, but who then comes to life at the conclusion of the book.
   
   However, although this is considered teen fiction, some of the themes would probably be too adult for young teens.



5. This book is not only great for sci fi fans but also for those who typically enjoy realistic fiction. This is because a real life problem, our planet's gigantic organ shortage, is "solved" in a hypothetical situation. You see, 17 people die each day while waiting for an organ transplant and the organ wait list is over 90,000 people long. We already kill for organ parts... except we are killing pigs, not teens. Now I, as well as many others, am in favor of xenotransplantation, but of course not in favor of stealing the lives of young people. However, if the concept of "reusing" the parts of kids labeled a waste of life was explained skillfully enough, couldn't I be lured into accepting it at some level? Especially if it didn't seem to affect me in any negative way. This book shows us how easily our beliefs could be stretched.
   Don't worry realistic fiction fans... there is more to this book than that. Most notably, heart-stopping romance. The two main characters, Connor and Risa, slowly fall in love after brought together in a nearly tragic accident. Bonding over an abandoned baby Connor foolishly rescues, they beat all odds for a while. Even though it is harder to remain uncaught if you are with someone else, never less a often crying baby, they manage to stay free and unharvested. And through the sacrifices they make for each other, you can really see their love.
   Will Connor and Risa be unwound or separated? Will society change or will teens remain to be an organ crop? You will just have to read the book to find out!

5 comments about City of Bones (Mortal Instruments).

1. This book was something I picked up because I had a lot of free time. I liked it for the most part. There are some really cheesy parts in this book and the author's style is not amazing. She is not very grammatically correct. I loved that it was action packed. It went action to action with no fluff at all. It pulls in so many fantasy creatures and you can just get lost in the story. The story doesn't end until the end of the third book... so, if you want to know what happens get all 3. Also, if you are a religious person you may find it somewhat offensive in parts that you may or may not want to just overlook and enjoy the rest of the story.



2. Negatives: 1)Too many details. I found myself skimming the two page descriptions of the surroundings because it was boring to read that much about how a room looked. 2)The sibling issue made the second book not very enjoyable to read. You're cheering for the same people that gross you out together. It just wasn't right for her to do that to us!
   
   Positive: The story was pretty amazing, as were the characters. The world, the beings, the plot, the romance and friendship were all fantastic; you really grow to love the characters and their relationships. It makes up for the negatives that I came up with. I tore through the Mortal Instrument books and found myself daydreaming about the book throughout the day. Loved it!



3. I think I should start this review by saying that I am a little older than the intended audience of this book. I'm 22. I'm not sure if the fact I'm older that has made me dislike this book or the fact that the book just isn't that good.
   
   Pros:
   - The world and concept are interesting.
   - I really liked Simon's character. There was something endearing about him.
   
   Cons:
   - I don't know jack about the author, but I can tell she's a fanfiction fangirl. She has so many references to Japanese animation, fanfic-esque motifs, online jokes that it stands out like an eyesore. This isn't necessarily bad, but it's painfully lame at times.
   - The book is a hodge-podge of adjectives. This author uses so many that it reminds me of Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight" series. It's annoying, honestly.
   - The main characters are cliched and stereotypical. There's nothing about them that made them memorable for me. Halfway through the book I was still having trouble remembering who some of them were.
   - Too much too soon. I feel as though such huge portions of the storyline were all revealed in the first book too fast. It leaves little to the imagination in terms of what will happen in future installments of the series.
   
   Honestly, if I put myself back in my 16 year old body and mindset, I still wouldn't like this book particularly much. I think the Twilight series was a great deal better (and I'm not too huge a fan of even that) and there's no way this compares to the Harry Potter series in terms of storytelling, writing style, and imagination. I tried coming at this book with an open mind, but wasn't too impressed.



4. Twilight fans if you're reading this review I almost gurantee you will love this book! I noticed in some reviews that said this book is like any other supernatural teen book, and that might be true but if you like books like that i definitely would recommend this one! I absolutely loved this book just as much as i loved the twilight saga.



5. This series was amazing, You are drawn into the world of Clary, her friends and family and you can't help but adore it. I'm so happy i purchased this series.

5 comments about Frankenstein (Dover Thrift Editions).

1. Great Book. A classic that everyone should read at least one time. Reaally makes us think.



2. I just finished reading Frankenstein (first time I've read it). I was surprised that I actually liked it! I imagined it would be dull. The story moved along at a good pace. I especially liked how much emotion was expressed by the characters, and the parallels that can be drawn from Frankenstein's creation that haunts him and things we create in our own lives that may do the same.



3. Mary Shelley was the daughter of the famous feminist and author, Mary Wollstonecraft, who is best known for her work The Vindication of the Rights of Women. In Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a young university student, Victor Frankenstein, obsesses with wanting to know the secret to life. He studies chemistry and natural philosophy with the goal of being able to create a human out of spare body parts. After months of constant work in his laboratory, Frankenstein attains his goal and brings his creation to life. Frankenstein is immediately overwrought by fear and remorse at the sight of his creation, a "monster." The next morning, he decides to destroy his creation but finds that the monster has escaped. The monster, unlike other humans, has no social preparation or education; thus, it is unequipped to take care of itself either physically or emotionally. The monster lives in the forest like an animal without knowledge of "self" or understanding of its surroundings. The monster happens upon a hut inhabited by a poor family and is able to find shelter in a shed adjacent to the hut. For several months, the monster starts to gain knowledge of human life by observing the daily life of the hut's inhabitants through a crack in the wall. The monster's education of language and letters begins when he listens to one of them learning the French language. During this period, the monster also learns of human society and comes to the realization that he is grotesque and alone in the world. Armed with his newfound ability to read, he reads three books that he found in a leather satchel in the woods. Goethe's Sorrows of Young Werther, Milton's Paradise Lost, and a volume of Plutarch's Lives. The monster, not knowing any better, read these books thinking them to be facts about human history. From Plutarch's works, he learns of humankind's virtues. However, it is Paradise Lost that has a most interesting effect on the monster's understanding of self. The monster at first identifies with Adam, "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." The monster, armed only with his limited education, thought that he would introduce himself to the cottagers and depend on their virtue and benevolence; traits he believed from his readings that all humans possessed. However, soon after his first encounter with the cottagers, he is beaten and chased off because his ugliness frightens people. The monster is overwrought by a feeling of perplexity by this reaction, since he thought he would gain their trust and love, which he observed them generously give to each other on so many occasions. He receives further confirmation of how his ugliness repels people when, sometime later, he saves a young girl from drowning and the girl's father shoots at him because he is frightful to look at. The monster quickly realizes that the books really lied to him. He found no benevolence or virtue among humans, even from his creator. At every turn in his life, humans are judging him solely based on his looks. The monster soon realizes that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he is most alike. Instead, he comes to realize that he most represents Satan. The monster is jealous of the happiness he sees humans enjoy that he has never attained for himself. The monster tells Frankenstein that he found his lab journal in his coat pocket and read it with increasing hate and despair as he came to understand what Frankenstein's intent was in creating him. The monster curses Frankenstein for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust.
   
   Shelley's intent here is plain to see. "The fate of the monster suggests that proficiency in `the art of language' as he calls it, may not ensure one's position as a member of the `human kingdom." In a sense, she is showing that both her parents were mistaken when they advocated greater education reform for people. They thought education would make people better, which in turn would improve society for all. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein contradicts this belief.
   
   Starting with the full title of Mary Shelley's book, Frankenstein: or The Modern Prometheus one can instantly see that mythology was integral to her book. Lord Byron, poet and friend of the Shelley's was writing a poem entitled Prometheus, and Mary was reading the Prometheus legend in Aeschylus' works when she had a dream, which was the impetus for her book. The Greek god Prometheus, is known for two important tasks that he performed, he created man from clay, and he stole fire from the gods and gave it to man. The stealing of fire really angered Zeus because the giving of fire began an era of enlightenment for humankind. Zeus punished Prometheus by having him carried to a mountain, where an eagle would pick at his liver; it would grow back each day and the eagle would eat it again.
   
   The presence of fire and light in this gothic story helps to point to the similarities to Prometheus and Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in Shelley's book. The book uses light as a symbol of discovery, knowledge, and enlightenment. The natural world is full of hidden passages, and dark unknown scientific secrets; Victor's goal as a scientist is to grasp towards the light. Light is a by-product of fire that the monster learned quickly when he is living on his own. The monster experienced fires' duality when he first encountered it in an unattended fire in the woods. He is mesmerized by the fact that fire produces light in the darkness in the woods, but is shocked at the sensation of pain it gives him when he touches it. Victor is defiant of god in the same way that Prometheus was defiant of Zeus. Victor steals the secret of life from god and creates a human out of spare body parts. He does this out of an altruistic wish to spare humankind from the pain and suffering of death. Thus, Victor Frankenstein embodies both aspects of the Promethean myth creation and fire. Victor in a sense has the same experience with the fire of enlightenment similar to his monster; he is "burned" by the fire of enlightenment. Victor also suffers from the classic Greek tragic condition of hubris for his transgression against god and nature.
   
   The book also adopts two other great mythic legends. One is Adam from the Bible. Victor Frankenstein bears striking resemblance to Adam and his fall from grace for eating the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. The other is Satan, a mythic figure that Shelley admired from her readings in Milton's book Paradise Lost. In an interesting juxtaposition of booth myths, she expands on the motif of the fall from grace in her book when she portrays the monster comparing himself to Adam; after he read, Milton's book Paradise Lost. The monster tells Victor, that he at first identifies with Adam God's first creation. "I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence." However, after several incidents of mistreatment that he suffered from the humans he encountered in his travels; the monster soon realized that it is not Adam, the perfect being enjoying the world, which he was most alike. Instead, he came to realize that he most represented Satan. The monster's feelings of hatred and despair stem from the fact that humans found him grotesque to look at and would not accept him as a member of human society. The monster cursed Victor for making a creature so hideous that even his creator turned from him in disgust. Thus, it is obvious for all to see that Shelley's Frankenstein is replete with mythological references and they are central to the plot.
   
   This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy, and literature.



4. Like Poe, strong roots in its Gothic horror era make this story too wordy to be read as a contemporary classic (contradiction in terms, I suppose), but the basic storyline does stand up over time.
   
   A basic story, by the way, which no movie version has yet successfully captured, not even Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. That overwrought hyper-surrealistic version by Kenneth Brannagh captures the framework of the book in neat prologue/epilogue bookends, and Robert De Niro captures the menace and humanity of the creature, but Brannagh makes some boneheaded plot changes (particularly the handling of Henry and Elizabeth) that clank off the rim.
   
   That said, though, it would be hard for any movie maker to capture this story which is told strictly in first person narrative, even when told through another's eyes or voice or pen. At one point, the narrative is retold with four layers between the reader and the actor. Good luck turning that into a movie.
   
   And the basic conflict of the story still rings true, and is really what the book is about; unlike Brannagh, who dwells lovingly on the process, Shelley barely describes the creation of the creature, and wisely so. The focus is on the creature and its creator, not on the creative process. And as De Niro the creature says in the movie at a very dramatic turn, "I keep my promises". Frankenstein, the man and the creator, does not.



5. i read this book right after dracula and well, it's definitely a good read and an edge of your seat thriller. it has stood the test of time in terms of it's theme and lesson.

5 comments about Don't Look Behind You.

1. this book is terrible. i was forced to read it for my freshman english class. it has a slow plotline, poor character development, and just terribly written overall. the ending is stupid and pointless and completely unrealistic. do not put yourself through the aaonizing experience of reading this book. i had never not finished a book, but i was really close to just saying "screw this" and throwing the book in the trash. just go read harry potter instead, or if you want a book with suspence or mystery, read anything by dean koontz like The Taking. just not this.



2. To me the overall book when I look back on it was pretty good while when I was reading it at first I HATED it! I mean I had to read it and it wasn't HORRIBLE or anything I just didn't enjoy it but the ending was so thrilling and not one ounce predictable (okay maybe a little) and I was so excited my heart was pounding and I was really into the book. So it was worth reading because now I know what a real good book can do to you.



3. Dont look Behind you
   By: lois duncan
   ISBN 0-440-20729-0
   
   once you give your life up you cant get it back.
   
   April Corrigan lives in norwood virgina and has the perfect life. She has a handsom boyfriend and is the star player on the tennis team. She is living the life anyone would ever want. until, one day she is called down to the office to find that her grandma is waiting for her, she has no ideal what is going on. her grandma says that she has to leave. april as a teen thinks that everything is going to be okay and she will ba back at school tomorrow. but that is a whole different story.
   the genre of this book is suspense. It is a page turner and one of those books where you cant put it down. I think that this book was a really good book to read and it wasnt one of those that was just an OKAY kinda book. I think that anyone who likes suspense books would enjoy reading it.Also dont be afraid of the title.
   



4. Don't Look Behind You by Lois Duncan is a very good book. It is about a teenage girl and her family struggling in life because someone wants to kill her father, so she has to go into hiding with her family. The main characters in this story would be April Corrigan and her family. This story takes place on any other day in Norwood, Virginia. This book was a very good example of a scary story. It really will send shivers up your spine! If you like scary books then you should definitely read Don't Look Behind You by Lois Duncan.



5. The first time I read this book I was not only tense; I was angry and a little disappointed. I wanted to shake people like George Corrigan, April's weak father and Max, his childhood friend, the FBI agent who talks George into working for him. His comment "I can usually talk George into anything" and George's explanation to April for his actions illustrate the control that a stronger person has over a weaker one. I understand George's actions after his character is revealed, but I still couldn't help saying to myself "What a stupid man!" It is obvious where April gets her naive streak from! As for Max, you would think he'd treat his childhood friend better. I wondered if his attitude is typical of FBI agents.
   
   This book provokes many emotions besides tension and anger, however. There is excitement when a hitman tries to get at them in their hotel room and then later at the house in Florida. And there is sorrow when April reflects on her past life in Norwood with Steve, longing to go back, hence the book's title. The entire family, except for Bram, suffers from what I call Lot's Wife Syndrome. They are constantly "looking behind them" at what they had and becoming pillars of salt. It is only when this stops that they move forward to a somewhat satisfactory conclusion. A great effort by Lois Duncan, it made me sympathize with people who are in this situation.

5 comments about Midnighters #2: Touching Darkness.

1. Touching Darkness significantly advances the plot from where The Secret Hour left off. All of the characters' stories are told in much more depth, and they are all developed as characters, particularly Melissa, Rex, and Dess, where we mostly only got Jessica in the first book. There is, amidst all the character development, plenty of significant plot development going on, although as a bridge between the first and the last, it does get a little dull sometimes. The dullness, however, is necessary to build up to the stunning conclusion delivered in Blue Noon. I really noticed in reading this particular one the differences between other book series and the Midnighters series. It's not very clear cut at all, it's not one good guy vs. one bad guy. The books introduce a whole new dynamic of a group of kids battling not only their inner demons, but a TIME, an hour, making for a fantastic story. Touching Darkness continues with the series stupendous suspensefulness and plenty of plot-twists everywhere.
   
   Rating: 5/5



2. This book was a good follow-up...it kept me reading straight through till the end. I read the whole series in 3 days. A very easy read and entertaining. This series was recommended to me as a substitution for the Twilight series. Even though this is not about vampires/werewolves, I still found myself caught up in this fantasy world.



3. I adored this book. The climax is terrific! When you reach the end of the book you cannot wait to read the third book because you are wanting to know if Rex will be normal again.



4. Touching Darkness was my favorite of the series.
   I love reading about these characters, especially about Dess, Rex and Melissa.
   This was even better than The Secret hour and it's my favorite Scott W. book.



5. Probably my favorite of the series. While the first book really introduces the characters and blue hour, this book really introduces the plot of the darklings. It is a much darker read than the latter, and will have you drooling for the last in the series!

5 comments about Mediator #1: Shadowland, The.

1. This book was wonderful. I often find I progressively like the books in a series more and more as the series goes on, and I definitely felt that way about this book. You should read this whole series, its fantastic!!



2. I love Suze, she is a tough, flawed heroine who is courageous as well as sarcastic and smart. Being a mediator doesn't sound like much fun and she deals with it as best she can. Her interactions with Jesse are fun and watching as she develops relationship with her now family and school friends make an entertaining read. I like that she's not trying to be part of the in-crowd nor is she bothered that she isn't. She isn't all about her looks or clothes although like most teeange girls they do matter to her. Can't wait to read her next adventure.



3. I think I read the entire series in about 4 days. I could not put the books down!
   
   If you love Meg Cabot and her writing style, you'll definitely love this series.



4. So, pretend you are a girl named Suze (short for Susannah) and ever since you have been a little girl, you were a Mediator. (That means that you can talk to ghosts.)
   You have lived your whole life (up until 15) knowing this, and you are starting to get sick of ghosts asking you to do favors for them, people thinking that you are crazy, talking to people who aren't there, and getting caught by the police for breaking and entering because "you were trying to stop a ghost murder." And to make it even weirder, your dead dad, who has been dead for quite some time now, pops up at random times to try and scare you. That is Susannah Simon's life. Enter a move to Florida, a new family, (new stepbrothers and a step dad,) and a new room that comes with (what else!) a male ghost named Jessie!!
   
   At her new school, she is becoming more popular then she ever dreamed. But there are still dangers around the corner. Never knowing when she will see another ghost, she tries to get used to the fact that this "gift" is never going away. Read about how Suze does find another enemy ghost, more dangerous than anything before. You will be rooting Suze and her "untraditional" method of battling ghosts on through all the chapters. And you will be shocked at some of the interesting surprises along the way. I loved this book and this series because Suze has such a spunky personality without even trying. Meg Cabot has created something wonderful by writing these books. And I plan to read all of them.
   
   Nora S.
   Grade 6
   Ms. Kawatachi



5. I am a book lover, and I'll read almost anything. This Book (series really) is one of my favorites. The writing isn't brillant, but sometimes the storyline counts more. Its about a girl who moves from New York to California. All she wants is to start over, but wait... there's a ghost of a 150 year old cowboy in her bedroom. It's funny, but serouse at the same time, sort of like reading a book by Fred and George Weasly. Well that was how the language was anyway.