5 comments about Creation in Death.

1. After reading one of Nora Roberts paranormal romances (Face the Fire) and being distinctly underwhelmed, I felt it was only fair to give her a chance to redeem herself with a crime story, which is more to my taste as reading matter.
   
   And I did enjoy this more, in that I was at least able to finish it. However, that said, the 'annoyances' factor was just as high for this effort as it was for her romance.
   
   A short list includes her decision to shorten words into some kind of b*stard amalgam of cop show and futurism. I had to struggle with wits, vics and transpo throughout, with wit, in particular, producing some very strange misunderstandings as in "Find me the wit who..." What? Told me that joke about the three Irishmen in a bar, perhaps?
   
   We also had to contend with the cast's constant drinking of "fizzies" and trips to "vending" and the "autochef". Quite why the world would have lost branding in the space of 50 years, when branding is paramount in our culture, I do not know. And, paradoxically, "autochef" sounds exactly like the brand name that would have been given to a food mixer in the fifties - a curiously dated anachronism. That said, other than some other uses of 'e', 'links' and 'comms', there was absolutely nothing that made this feel futuristic at all. I'm at a loss to understand why she bothered.
   
   All that under our belts, this was exactly like watching any American cop show on TV. We had all the cop stereotypes, constant barked demands of "With me" and "On it" and the obligatory moralising of The Great American Right meets carbon-copy evildoer.
   
   In this case, our evildoer was ringing as many bells as the cops. He liked opera, he listened to music while he tortured people, he stalked and killed women, he had a nasty relationship with his mother and a dodgy childhood, he was flabby, impotent and - unusually, for once - old.
   
   That 'old' was the sole point of originality in a story that was as turgid and clichéd as Nora's romance, if marginally less mawkish.
   
   It's apparent to me, after two books, that Nora's fans must enjoy the predictability of her work. There can be no other explanation for the popularity of such second-rate cookie-cutter writing. I am all for escapism and an 'easy read', but when the 'easy' becomes simple regurgitation of popular TV then I wonder Nora's readers don't just watch TV. At least TV pushes the envelope from time to time. All Nora does is run along behind it, licking up crumbs to spew out again in blander form.
   
   Sad and depressing, and only recommended if originality and talent makes you feel threatened.



2. I have no ability to read this book as the Kindle I bought did not work even a month and I have no way to read the book.



3. I've been reading J.D. Robb for years, well, from the inception of the Eve Dallas series. I've always liked this series a great deal, although I'm not a big fan of "Science Fiction", per se. However, this series is set in the immediate future of the 2050's initially, so it's not so far-flung that I'm not able to relate to the evolutions in the technology that runs throughout the stories. The advancements in the technology are definitely a part of the stories, but they are used with such surprising subtlety that they are barely there. The characters are very strong and the developement from book to book is apparent and, in many cases, captivating.
   On to this particular book. This is one of the Eve Dallas books that is devoted almost completely from start to finish in the actual crime drama that is going on with Eve and company, including yummy husband, Roarke, with little to no understory happening. Now, understand that part of the fun of these books IS the understory and the continuing lives of the characters that populate these books, so I'm not belittling that in any way. But, because this book is totally devoted to the crime and the solving of same, by the time I got to the end of the book and the resolution, I was actually in tears. We all know Eve comes through because there is a "next" book, so I'm not giving anything away when I say, when Eve came through and the crime was done, the condition she was in, as well as the comedic timing of the person for whom she came through lent a whole new aspect to who Eve is a person. Her heart and compassion was just dripping from her as well as her sense of ownership of the victims. Sometimes, Robb can make Eve just a tad too rough and tough and those final scenes, final chapters, were just the fix I needed to remember that Eve has a wonderful, soft, almost magical side to her and that that is much of what Roarke loves in her. Me, too! Enjoy!



4. It should first be said that this is part of a series about New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas, her friends and colleagues and her husband, multibillionaire Rourke. It makes sense on its own, but regarding the characters it's a lot better to have read the other titles in the series first. And they're definitely worth it.
   'Creation in death' is about a serial killer who kidnaps young women with a specific look and age and then slowly tortures them to death. He then cuts the time they lasted under his torture into their chests, washes the bodies, and leaves them where they can be found. The case is particularly important to Eve Dallas because the killer was in New York when she had just become a policewoman. She and her instructor Feeney couldn't catch the killer back then. And the killer already has his next victim. So the police know that while they're desperately trying to find this killer, the next woman is already being tortured. A race against time begins. As always, Rourke helps his wife, so do her colleagues. But it soon becomes clear that the killer will come after Eve herself as his final victim. And she is more than willing to let him catch her in the hope that she can save his present victim.
   This was one of the most intense books in the series when it comes to the crime story because it's not 'just' about catching a killer after the crime or before he / she can commit another, but about saving women who are being tortured to death as the police are investigating. I could imagine that this story may be hard to take for some readers, but I thought it was really well-done and gripping. As I like the characters and the series, it's always a pleasure to get another Eve Dallas novel. I would definitely recommend this book and the whole series if you like intelligent crime stories with well-developed characters.
   Naked in Death (In Death)



5. Quite frankly, I'm embarrassed for JD Robb/Nora Roberts. This is quite possibly the most ridiculously written book posing as a suspense novel that I have ever read. Robb's "grasp" of the world in 2060 is laughable, and is limited to overuse of the word "e-(fill in the blank)", a 'link (which is basically a Blackberry, available in the early 2000s), running probabilities (haven't we been able to do this since statistics was discovered?), TUBES of soft drinks rather than cans/bottles, and an AutoChef. Oh, and a droid butler here and there.
   
   Her dialogue is ludicrous. Roarke is presented as this silly fawning co-dependent relationship and Eve wears the pants.
   
   I didn't care about any of the people because I couldn't get past the irritating and lame plot.
   
   I will never read another one of her books. Do NOT waste your time on this series.

5 comments about Point Blank (Alex Rider Adventures).

1. Alex Rider has again been sent out by M16 for a new mission. When the mysterious deaths two of the rich and important occur this follows up to a school in the Swiss Alps called Point Blank. Disguised as a son of a billioniar, Alex is sent to Point Blank to discover what's wrong. While there the other kids that were said to be bad turned suddenly into well-behaved children. Knowing this, Alex begins to become mysterious and starts searching everywhere and finds the exact same people, rooms, and things on the upper floors. What should Alex do to save himself and the others?



2. Take an oddly structured mansion. Add a crazed genius. Add a freakish, muscle-enhanced woman. Put in some juvenile deliquents. Wait, make them the sons of very wealthy men. What do they have in common? Why, Alex Rider, of course, of England's M16 spy agency.
   
   A 14-year-old spy? Yes, that would be Alex. Did he ask to be a spy? No, he did not, but he rose to the occasion when it was demanded of him. The remarkable aspect of "Point Blank" and "Stormbreaker" before it is that writer Anthony Horowitz makes the whole thing so believable. When Alex does the most extraordinary things, I found myself thinking, Not beyond the realm of possible (in other words--doable).
   
   How does Alex find himself in the dilemma of juvie thrust into a highly disciplined all-boys school? His outrageous behavior, of course. What he tries to do with a houseboat is possibly not beyond possible and he is put into jail, later rescued by M16 and pretty much forced into involuntary service once again. This time his job is to learn what is going on in this special school for unmanageable boys of rich men. Two of their fathers were killed in "accidents" in a fairly short period.
   
   What Alex learns becomes more and more bizarre (but believable). The ultimate occurs, however, when his true identity is learned. The reader can trust that wherever Alex Rider is will be mayhem and maybe a murder or two. "Point Blank" is no exception.
   
   Book 3 in the series is Skeleton Key (Alex Rider). I am waiting for it to come in. If you are interested in a graphic novel in this series, try Point Blank: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider (Graphic Novels)). But do start with the first book in the series, Alex Rider: Stormbreaker tie-in novel (Alex Rider Movie) or Stormbreaker: The Graphic Novel (Alex Rider (Graphic Novels)). A definitely exciting young adult series!



3. Book 2 of the Alex Rider series. Maybe not as good as STORMBREAKER but still a cool book. The academy seems real, Alex Rider starts to become a character, It was written 10 years ago, Anthony Horowitz has improved since then, his latest books Necropolis and Fledgling Jason Steed are more real.



4. Stormbreaker is the best Alex Rider book the film is awesome. I would like to know how he became a black belt at karate so quick, but its only fiction, I guess u just have 2 believe it.



5. Its good but not as good as Stormbreaker, its slower and repeats itself a little from book one.
   However that said its still a great book , plenty of action and drama.

5 comments about Kingdom Keepers, The: Disney After Dark.

1. I've wanted to read THE KINGDOM KEEPERS for some time. I'd had it on my bookshelf -- waiting patiently to be read -- for about a year, and finally I picked it up and polished it off. I must say that I think I was a bit disappointed after I was finished. The story is interesting, and the characters aren't exactly boring, but it seems like Ridley Pearson missed out on an incredible opportunity to write something truly amazing and yes, magic.
   
   The story centers around a boy named Finn, who after being filmed as a holographic guide for Walt Disney World, finds that when he sleeps, he crosses over to Disney World in the form of his holographic self. While there, he and four other guides find out that the park is in danger from the evil Overtakers, who are plotting to take over Disney World. What ensues is a wild romp throughout the many rides and hidden places of the theme park, with the kids battling it out with evil along the way.
   
   I think where Pearson missed the boat is in the action sequences. His dialogue is pretty spot-on with the writing technique, but when it comes to those action scenes, he really gets confusing. Random tidbits of information are thrown in around an exciting chase. Or suddenly, we have to find out about some girl's outfit as she's fighting evil in terror. I found myself having a hard time following what exactly was happening, and wishing that it could have been a little clearer or more concise maybe.
   
   It also seems like a lot of time is spent outside Disney World in the story, when the theme park is where I wanted to see more action happen. Of course, the kids have to go home at some point, but it still would have been more interesting to read about them in other places of the Magic Kingdom.
   
   After all's said and done though, it wasn't a terrible book -- and it didn't take too long to read either. Younger kids will have a lot of fun with it, but for me, it just didn't quite cut it. Here's hoping that book two steps it up a notch.



2. Five kids auditioned to be DHI's in Walt Disney World. DHI stands for Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging. The kid's record sayings and then holograms are made of them. The Hologram's job is to go around the park and help guests.
   Everything is going okay until the kids start waking up in Disney World. At first the think they are just dreaming, but when one of them gets burned by a laser in a pirate attak at night, he has a scar in the morning in the same exact place. They find out that they are to solve a fable and stop the overtakers. Overtakers are Mechanical robots from the rides that want to take over Disney world. They found out that Maleficent, from Sleeping Beauty, is their leader.
   This book was great. I give it a 8.5 out of 10 stars. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger which made me want to read more. The fable that the kids were solving had to do with Walt Disney. He told a story to one of his worker's, and the worker told the kids. Walt Disney changed the name of the fable and the kids were supposed to find out why. I liked this part best, because there was a story inside of a story. I would suggest this book to anyone.



3. Five kids auditioned to be DHI's in Walt Disney World. DHI stands for Disney Host Interactive and Daylight Hologram Imaging. The kid's record sayings and then holograms are made of them. The Hologram's job is to go around the park and help guests.
   Everything is going okay until the kids start waking up in Disney World. At first the think they are just dreaming, but when one of them gets burned by a laser at night he has a mark in the morning in the same place. They find out that they are to solve a fable and stop the overtakers. Overtakers are Mechanical robots from the rides that want to take over Disney world. They found out that Maleficent, from Sleeping Beauty, is their leader.
   This book was great. I give it a 8.5 out of 10 stars. Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger which made me want to read more. The fable that the kids were solving had to do with Walt Disney. He told a story to one of his worker's, and the worker told the kids. Walt Disney changed the name of the fable, and the kids were supposed to find out why. I liked this part best, because there was a story inside of a story. I would suggest this book to anyone.



4. Finn is having strange dreams. They started when the thirteen year old became a "Disney Host Interactive," a fancy term for a hologram that guides guests around Disney World's Magic Kingdom. But now, every night, he finds himself wandering around the deserted theme park.
   
   Things only get weirder when he finds out the other four DHI's are experiencing the same thing. Then they learn from Imagineer Wayne that this was their real purpose. Seems that the forces of evil are trying to rebel and take over the park. And it is up to Finn and his new friends to figure out a way to stop them from succeeding. Can they do it?
   
   For a Disney fan like me, this book has an irresistible premise. When I learned about it, I couldn't pass it up. And I mostly enjoyed it. In fact, every time I picked it up, it was a fight to set it back down again. The story moved quickly and I especially enjoyed the setting since I just made my first trip to Disney World. Several scenes were very exciting, and I may never look at some of my favorite attractions the same way again.
   
   However, the book did have some problems. The only character I felt I really got to know where Finn and Amanda, a new student at his school. The other four DHI's were a bit interchangeable to me. Additionally, there is a major plot hole in the story. Finally, the climax was a bit weak.
   
   I know these complaints sound rather major, but they weren't. The fantasy and fun of the story made it easy to overlook them and enjoy the story. I'm sure anyone in the targeted 10 and up age range, but especially Disney fans, will find this book thrilling.



5. My 4th daughter was going to read this - she got lost over the first chapter, so I started reading it to her. Before I knew it, I was as into the book as she. The first chapters are spent with a lot of background information, building the basis for this thriller. By the end, she was very insistent that we have our reading time and had me carrying the book into restaurants to read. I thoroughly recommend!

5 comments about A Northern Light.

1. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donelly is a novel of true perserverence and determination. Country girl, Mattie Gokey faces many challenges or hardships in order to get what she wants to fulfill her dreams. Along with her best friend, Weaver, they travel on a journey filled with many obstacles. Mattie will never let anything get in her way. Even though her father is completely against Mattie following her dream and being the first Gokey to go to college, she still tries her best to convince her because she knows exactly what she wants, and she won't stop until she gets it. Alongside all of this, a mystery unravels itself regarding the sudden drowning of one Grace Brown. As Mattie gets caught up in the middle of all of this, she can't help but wonder what kind of person Grace was and why Grace gave her a stack of letters to burn right before she died.
   Mattie's character in the novel is very interesting because of course, she is very smart, but also because she is unusual. The reason she is unusual is because everyday she picks a random word out of her mother's old dictionary, learns the meaning of it, and tries to use it during that day. This may seem pointless to other people, but it is very important to Mattie because she finds deeper meaning in the words than just what is written in the dictionary.
   Overall, A Northern Light is a fast, easy-read and I recommend it to mainly the teen age group. Jennifer Donelly has a light, old fashioned writing style; however, it is still very easy to understand and get the message that the author is trying to send to the reader.



2. I loved this book. Although found the character to be a little stereo typical, you can't beat the concept of the plot. This was one of those books I couldn't put down, literally. I read this books for a few days non-stop and finished it within a less than a week, which is extremely rare for me in a book. And even when the plot is a little over-done, Donnelley writes in a way that makes you still want to keep reading. I love that she took a time and place in history that very few people know much about. I mean, you have your French Revolution books, you have your American Revolution books, and you have books based in England from all over history , but the Adirondacks during the Progressive Era? Who knew that someone could write such a good book about the people living there?! Donnelley is obviously a brilliant author who knows exactly how to grab a reader's attention and make plot twists that make the book exciting but don't go over-board. Now, the reason why I gave it four starts was because I found the part about the letters very confusing. To this day I still don't completely understand that. But other than that, Donnelley painted a wonderful portrait of a young woman who is finally making decisions which will impact her for the rest of her life.



3. At 16, Mattie Gokey is already shouldering the burdens of an adult woman's life. Her widowed father needs her to help care for her three younger sisters, as well as help him run the farm so the family doesn't starve. Some days, it seems as if Mattie can't find a minute to herself -- and the work is never completed anyways.
   
   But Mattie has a secret ambition. Thanks to her teacher and her best friend, she has long dreamt of being a writer. She keeps a journal, writing stories and observations, and has actually won a scholarship to college in New York City.
   
   Like countless other girls before and after, Mattie is torn. She feels responsible toward her family, especially in light of her mother's death; but also yearns toward personal freedom. At the same time, Mattie is being courted by Royal Loomis, a neighbor whose ambitions aren't anywhere near her own -- but who is, nonetheless, interested in her. She's also witnessing her best friend Minnie's marriage and subsequent motherhood of twins, the good and bad that comes with being a wife and mother.
   
   Which will win?
   
   As Mattie prepares to make the most important decision of her life, she spends a summer working at an Adirondack hotel catering to wealthy vacationers -- among them Grace Brown, a young woman who is mysteriously found drowned.
   
   Donnelly skillfully weaves the story of the fictitious Mattie with the real-life Brown, making it seem believable that the two young women could have crossed paths, even briefly -- and that their lives could have impacted one another's irrevocably.



4. This is an excellent book. Very easy to read. It made me laugh and cry.



5. Lovely, lovely, lovely. Mattie's intelligence and innate good sense, her curiosity for life and learning and her compassion shine through. Odd to say "lovely" about a book that grows around a murder, but it's true. And that this is a "first novel" is even better, because it means I can hope for more from this author.
   
   Passages such as:
   
   They leave things behind sometimes, the guests. A bottle of scent. A crumpled handkerchief. A pearl button that fell off a dress and rolled under a bed. And sometimes they leave other sorts of things. Things you can't see. A sigh trapped in a corner. Memories tangled in the curtains. A sob fluttering against the windowpane like a bird that flew in and can't get back out. I can feel these things. The dart and crouch and whisper.
   
   I love Mattie's words, her love of reading and her questioning why life can't always have happy endings like books do.

5 comments about Ninth Key (The Mediator, Book 2).

1. i love this whole series. i am a 16 year@old girl and i absolutely love them. it is a bit of romance that meets action that meets mystery. they are fun to read and you wont be able to put them down. i hope you have as much fun reading them as i did. they are worth the money.



2. High school cali girl/ 10th grader Suze Simon wakes up in her bed with a blood curdleing scream. Its a ghost, screaming and sobbing uncontrolably. "You have to tell Red he didn't kill me." Suze trys to put two and two together and looks up Red and finds Red Beaumount. When Suze schedules a meeting with Red Beaumount, she meets Marcus, Red's brother. Red thinks, well Red B. thinks he's a.... but he's not. But Red really is... And Marcus really tries to... and Jesse saves... and [blank] killed others too.
   
   So as you see its really a good mystery, and trust I revealed nothing to you, so you have to read it to answer these blanks!



3. I really like Susannah's character because she kind of sassy and a "kick butt" kind of girl. She's got a really strong personality but it has many of the issues that a teen girl faces...being embarrassed...wanting a boyfriend, and all that.
   
   All in all, this is turning out to be a solid series in the genre of urban fantasy and I highly recommend.



4. The novel starts off with Suze being at a pool party. While Suze is at this pool party, she meets an attractive guy named Tad Beaumount. After the party, Suze wakes up in the middle of the night to a screaming ghost of a woman. The woman tells Suze to tell someone named 'Red' that he didn't kill her.
   
   With the help of her friends CeeCee and Adam, Suze tracks down a multi-millionaire businessman with the nickname of Red. Suze also finds out that Tad Beaumount is the son of this multi-millionaire. Jesse warns Suze not to get in contact with Red and that it would only cause trouble. Suze ignores Jesse's warnings and gets in contact with Red. Soon Suze finds out that Jesse's warnings were right and that things are not as they seem.
   
   'The Ninth Key' Was a really interesting book but I just don't think it was as great as 'Shadowland'.
   Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed this book but it could have been improved a bit.
   There were events that were very suspenseful and had me on the edge of my seat but most of these events were kind of un-necessary (You'll have to read the book to find out because it would spoil the book if I said why they were unneccessary).
   I also agree with another reviewer that said that this book would have been better if it had been a short story or if it had been a part in the first book.



5. Book #2 in the Mediator series by Meg Cabot opens about a week after the first book ended. Suze, mediator at large, is suddenly visited in the middle of the night by a screaming ghost begging her to tell "Red" that she knows he didn't kill her. With a cryptic message like that, Suze checks around to find out who might be called Red, leading her to a prominent businessman and his hunky son, Tad. Delivering her message is easier said than done, and Suze becomes uneasy when she's rushed out of the strange home of Red Beaumont (even though she's definitely attracted to Tad). Imagine her surprise when the ghost reappears, accusing her of not delivering the message at all, and she runs into a second ghost who tells her Beaumont is responsible for HER death. What's going on? Does Suze have the right person? Is Red Beaumont a cold-blooded murderer? Is he a vampire? What about Jesse, the hot ghost living in her bedroom? Will Tad ask her out?
   
   This is a very good sequel to the first book in this series. Suze is finding an ally in Father Dominic, a fellow mediator, and her circle of friends is growing in her new home. We also meet her father, a ghost who has traveled across the country to give his daughter advice. This story, while of course focusing on the mediator aspect, also brings Suze into a more complex mystery and shows us her survival skills outside of her ghostly talents. There's a pretty good twist towards the end, and the tension between Suze and Jesse is intensifying. This is a fun series, not meant to be taken too seriously, and I look forward to reading more. Surprisingly well done, if you enjoy paranormal romance and suspense, you'll definitely like this one.

5 comments about Silver is for Secrets.

1. "Silver is for Secrets" is the best book I have ever read. I read this book in only a few days, which normally, a book would take me weeks to read. But this book just kept me so involved, like I was actually part of the story myself. It was so suspenseful, and once you actually think you know what's going to happen next, the opposite thing ends up happening.I loved everything about this story.
   
   Unfortunately I didn't read the two books before this one, because I didn't even realize that this book was in a series at first. You really don't need read the other two to understand what's going on in this one though, because it mentions the most important parts in this book.
   
   The ending to this story just left me in shock. I definately was not expecting it to happen, but I REALLY reccomend it to readers who like mysteries and suspense



2. I gave my daughter these books for Christmas '06. By January 10, 07 the title has worn off of this book. I asked her if she wanted me to return it for a replacement and she doesn't want to be without the text for that long. I am very disappointed that the artwork isn't remaining on the cover.



3. this is one of my favorites outta the whole series. A real page turner!! THe saddest part was when the story ended.



4. Over the summer I read all of the books in the series by Laurie faria Stolarz. That included Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, and Red is for Remembrance. My favorite one was Silver is for Secrets and that is the one I am writing about today. Laurie faria Stolarz put so much great detail into the whole series. I loved all of the books!
   In Silver is for Secrets, Stacey Brown is the main character yet again. She has a gift. Stacey has dreams about people she knows and people she doesn't know that are going to be murdered. Stacey and her best of friends and her boyfriend Jacob go on a summer vacation trip to a cottage on the beach. Stacey's dreams had stopped until she arrived at the beach. She had a dream that a girl she did not know was going to get murdered. She found out it was a girl in a neighboring cabin. However, in the past whenever Stacey had a nightmare she usually had some source of bodily movements that end up helping her to find out how people will die (she wet the bed when the person ended up being found in a port-a-potty). So the constant nosebleeds she receives must be a clue into what will happen to Clara, the girl that her dreams are about now. Stacey is still trying to have a good time with her boyfriend Jacob who came into the picture when he had dreams about Stacey's death and transphered schools in order to find and save her. Once they met they knew they were soul mates. Stacey tries so hard to tell Clara about her visions but she does not really care. She doesn't take it seriously until she finds the words "I'll make you pay" written in red paint on a mirror at the cottage. Clara is by herself at her cottage because here parents went out to see relatives so she spends the night in Stacey and her friends cabin which sparks up problems between Drea (Stacey's best friend) and Chad (Stacey's ex and Drea's new boyfriend) when Clara is caught kissing Chad. This book is filled with twists and turns and an ending that you'll never forget. My advice is read the end of the book with a box of tissues at your side.
   Absolutely read all of the books in the series. I read one a day because I could just not put them down! A page turning mystery that I would recommend to anyone! I give Silver is for Secrets by Laurie faria Stolarz two thumbs way up!



5. This book was the best. I read it in 2 days, I couldnt put it down. You have to read it, but I made the mistake by reading this book befor I read White is for Magic or Blue is for Nightmares. So if I could go back Id read those first. And Im not going to spoil the ending for you, but its very surprising and made me cry for a LONG time. You HAVE to read it!!

5 comments about The Mysteries of Harris Burdick.

1. When I was in 6th grade a brilliant teacher who loved to write would occassionally pull out these gorgeously detailed black and white photos depicting the most bizzare scenes with a line or two about the picture. From that picture and the line we would write a story. Everyone's stories ended up being so different.
   
   I searched high and low to find out what these pictures were and where they were from. They were from the Mysteries of Harris Burdick. They still intrigue and inspire me the way they did when I was a kid. Although now that I have the portfolio I see that there is a story about the mysteries of Harris Burdick, who he was and how he came to draw these pictures. This just added to the fun.
   
   I love these illustrations, I plan to have them all framed and put in my writing room. But if you are perhaps a teacher or parent or mentor who encourages others to write these are extremely inspiring photographs they are approximately 16 inches X 12 inches. These are the original 14 illustrations with a "newly discovered" 15th, They are inside of a large papery-cardboard portfolio.
   
   This was my first introduction to Chris Van Allsburg, and it wasn't until I saw (as an adult) the Polar Express sitting on a bookshelf in a library that I discovered this was the same author and illustrator. Since then I have purchased all have Mr. Van Allsburg's books. This series of illustrations was so meaningful to me I can not begin to describe it.



2. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris van Allsburg goes beyond the traditional children's tale in its ability to spark inspiration and creativity within every reader, young and old. The book begins with a fictitious introduction, informing the reader of the literary legacy, or lack thereof, of a Mr. Harris Burdick. After showing samples of his work to a children's book publisher, Burdick has been hired. However, before Burdick is able to bring the complete copies of his fourteen stories and related pictures, he goes missing. What the publisher is left with are single titles, captions, and images from Burdick's stories, or what also becomes known as the mysteries of Harris Burdick. The real story ensues as each following page presents the reader with a challenge: to create their own story based on Burdick's suggestions. The simple, albeit convincing, black and white illustrations depict such original and distinctive events such as a woman taking a knife to a gleaming pumpkin and a house lifting off into outer space. The thought-provoking captions in this book will invoke realms of imagination readers may never have known existed and encourage children to express their own artistic vision.



3. From the author and illustrator of Jumanji and The Polar Express, comes an innovative new way to read children's books. Chris Van Allsburg introduces Harris Burdick, in The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1984), an artist who disappeared shortly after successful meeting with a children's book publisher. The fictional Burdick is said to have left behind his sketches, accompanying titles, and first lines of his future stories. The realistic illustrations are done beautifully in black and white. One page depicts a huge steamship squeezing between buildings through the canals of Venice. Each turn of the page brings a new illustration and text, but there is plenty of white space on the page for readers to write their own story. Allsburg fills his book with magical elements, like literate caterpillars, first lines that read, "He was warned her about the book. Now it was too late," and titles such as, "A Strange Day in July." Readers searching for a complete work may be disappointed, as Allsburg expects his readers to have great imaginations. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick may be best utilized as a creative writing tool in classrooms, but the book will also fit neatly into a house with a daydreaming child.



4. As a teacher, so many possibilities, as a mother, aunt, grandma, lots of great conversation. This has been done masterfully.



5. When I bought this book I thought how great it would be to write a story to go with each picture. Obviously, I'm not the only one to have this idea, as the other reviews here show. And Steven King has written a great story based on the "House on Maple Street" picture. A great book that has inspired, I hope, many future writers.

5 comments about Blue is for Nightmares.

1. I bought the book for my 14-year-old daughter for her book report at her request and she said she liked reading the book. :)



2. I absolutely loved this book...could NOT put it down, that's how interesting and involved I was in the plot of this book. This novel takes you through the life is Stacie. Stacie has been having nightmares about her best friend, Drea that she is going to die...she has these explicit nightmares, and tries to piece them together to find out who it is that is responsible for freaking the girls out. Then there's this mystery guy that is after Drea, but then the novel takes a twist and he starts calling Stacie.. I thoroughly enjoyed this book...read it in ONE night, that's how engrossed in this novel I became. Would definently recommend this novel to anyone who wants a great mystery read!!!!!! Excellent!



3. At first I was a little put off by the Wicca content in this book, but I quickly got past it and saw what lay beneath: a young woman who relies on friends, faith, and intelligence to solve a mystery.
   The characters, while sometimes a bit over-the-top, are fun, colorful, interesting people, and they behave like high school teenagers do, for the most part.
   The mystery at the heart of the plot is a bit easy to predict, but the author puts in enough red herrings and twists to keep you second-guessing your predictions until the end.
   Overall an entertaining read that is worth your while.



4. BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES (DELUXE SPELLBOOK EDITION)
   LAURIE FARIA STOLARZ
   
   Rating: 4 Enchantments
   
   Stacey Brown's determined to do everything in her power to protect her best friend Drea from what she sees happens to her in her nightmares; nightmares that have always seemed to have come true in the past. And if saving Drea from a crazed stalker means that the secrets about the spells she casts have to come out, then that's the sacrifice Stacey's willing to make to keep her best friend safe.
   
   
   I was drawn into this story from almost the very first page. A combination paranormal, murder-mystery and even thriller, this book defined page turner. Stacey's a strong character who doesn't want to see her recent nightmares come true, so she begins to light candles and cast spells to protect her roommate and best friend Drea. But when a fellow student is found murdered, Stacey grows increasingly worried the stalker is getting closer to his intended target of Drea.
   
   My only fault with the book is that it took me awhile to get used to is the fact it's told in first person, present tense but after a chapter or so, it really wasn't a factor.
   
   Fans of a good paranormal mystery would enjoy this first book in Ms. Stolarz's series.
   
   Lisa
   YA Director
   Enchanting Reviews
   January 2008



5. Stacey has been having nightmares. But these aren't your everyday monster-under-the-bed dreams; these are premonitions. She's had these before, and the result was the death of a girl named Maura. Now, she's trying everything she can because the next victim could be her best friend Drea.
   
   What is very helpful is that Stacey is a witch. She performs a wide variety of spells in order to make her nightmares clearer and to find out who is after Drea. She, Drea, and their friend Amber form a pact to make sure they're safe. But nothing seems to be safe anymore.
   
   It's very hard to guess who's after Drea. Stacey has many suspicions, but they keep on shifting as she learns new information. What's most frustrating to Stacey, though, is that she's dreamt all of it. She just can't remember.
   
   I really enjoyed reading this novel. The magic involved was unique in that it wasn't just "Harry Potter" magic. Stacey isn't a witch like Hermione; she performs spells using candles, herbs, and oils, not magic wands. I found this refreshing and unique. I also enjoyed the suspense throughout the entire novel. The twists and turns always kept me guessing. I recommend this to all magic book lovers, because I loved it myself.
   
   reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com

5 comments about Red Is for Remembrance.

1. This series is amazing. The first three books were all page turners. I couldn't put them down until I was finished. However, this book is sadly lacking the caliber the other books in the series possessed. The ending was predictable from the beginning, and the outcome was bittersweet.
   
   Some people believe that after Silver is for Secrets, the series should have been over. However, the author didn't really finish the series there. An ending to Stacey Brown's story was required. The attempt to close all the doors left open, though, was unenjoyable. I give the series, overall, a 4 star rating, but this last book is definately not on the same level as the rest.



2. My teen aged daughter enjoys this book. I bought her the entire series for Christmas 06. She has enjoyed reading this book over and over. Apparently, these are the type of books that young teens are unable to put down until they complete the entire text. I find it inspiring that she has found a series that entices her to read that often. I was also impressed at the length of time it took to receive the product. The only drawback is that it had the title on the exterior of the envelop. Difficult for gift giving if she gets the mail.



3. hi I am 12 yrs. old, i have read the three books before this one. and i love them all. i think that silver is for secrets was so sad i have read them all 3 time each. i kinda wish theree was a 5th one even thouhg i noe there wont be



4. These books are amazing.... All of them. Red is for Remembrance left me happy, sad, thankful... What an amazing author. She brought me into Stacey Brown's life and now I feel like I have to continue living it. I hope one day I'll be as good of an author as she is. This series left me speechless.



5. Okay so Stacy is dreaming again, only this time no bodily fluids (anyone else disappointed?). In her dream a girl is telling her to help or "he will die." Convinced this will bring her to Jacob, she agrees to help the president at her school whose daughter is having nightmares and is on the brink of being institutionalized.
   At the same time a guy named Shell is at a campground in the middle of nowhere with no memory of his past or anything other than the camp. The camp works much like a cult, the leader is all powerful, they are shut out of the outside world and forced to "love" other members. He knows there's something else out there, or should I say someONE else, but he just cant remember.
   All of our favorite charactors are back: Amber, Drea, PJ, and Chad, along with some fun new charactors, my favorite being Janie the Christian roomate who is against witchcraft but not sex outside of marriage.

5 comments about The Opal Deception (Artemis Fowl, Book 4).

1. Artemis Fowl and his great adventures, I won't spoil the plot, this review is about the CD's. They are packaged in a cardboard slip folder. No plastic jewel case here so treat with care. The book is very well written and narrated by Nathanial Parker who really puts you in the story with his different voices. Simply brilliant. Unavailable anywhere in the UK so had to purchase from the USA. Well worth the effort.



2. Artemis Fowl, fourteen year old criminal mastermind, and his burly bodyguard, Butler, have forgotten all about their adventures with their underground friends and the existence of the fairy People, and Artemis is up to his old tricks again. This time, he's set his sights on The Fairy Thief, a famous painting which has passed from owner to owner, thief to thief, through the years by only not-so-noble means. Now however, something's different--Artemis has suddenly, for no apparent reason, developed a conscience. But even as he swallows his doubts and begins working on his latest criminal enterprise, his old enemy, Opal Koboi, is again ready to take down the fairy People's relatively peaceful society--but first, she intends to take revenge. Opal, having lain in a self-induced coma since her last attempt on the People, has replaced her body with a clone, an almost exact copy of herself, and is back in business. Haven City is still trying to clean up from the last Artemis Fowl Incident, and is caught unawares. In one fell swoop Opal makes Artemis' old friend, Captain Holly Short, into a known fugitive and kills someone close to her, then goes after Artemis. The two are reunited, but Artemis' memories of Holly are still locked away, and he has no time to go looking for them.
   
   This volume in the Artemis Fowl series will not leave readers disappointed--the fast-paced action and formidable humor are just as entertaining as it has been previously. The Opal Deception even reveals some unique dimensions to characters that have been around since the start of the series, and brings on a wave of nostalgia at seeing Artemis as a money-hungry evil kid genius again. And yes, Mulch is just as flatulent and more as when compared to previous volumes. The ending leaves the reader hungry for more and is open to new possibilities, perhaps even a touch of romance? Maybe not, but one can hope.



3. My teen kids love this series. They want all the five or six available
   They read them very fast and can not wait for each one to arrive.
   I will read them myself soon



4. Purchased the Audio CDs for travel, and just like the other 3 books, Nathaniel Parker does an excellent job in narrating. If you enjoy Jim Dale (Harry Potter Series), you'll enjoy Nathaniel Park too.
   
   Book 4 offers a ton of adventure and suspense, but also contains highs and lows in the story line. Like every Artemis Book, it leaves you wanting more.



5. This is the fourth installment of the Artemis Fowl series and is an excellent addition