Amazon.com
Few aristocratic English families of the 20th century have enjoyed quite the delicious notoriety that the Mitford sisters courted in the years bracketed by two world wars. For a start, two of the girls, Unity and Diana, were Fascists (the former was a friend of Hitler and Goebbels, and the latter married Sir Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Union of Fascists). Two others took the writing route: Jessica ran away from home and became a famous muckraking journalist, and Nancy composed maliciously witty--and transparently autobiographical--novels as well as several biographies. The Pursuit of Love (1945), her greatest fictional success, and its companion, Love in a Cold Climate (1949), keep closely to the spirit (and details) of their youthful amusements and more grown-up adventures.
Seen through the adoring eyes of Fanny Logan, the self-effacing cousin who records their shenanigans with a wicked sincerity, the Radletts of Alconleigh shine with Gloucestershire glamour: apoplectic Uncle Matthew; Lord Alconleigh (modeled to a fine nuance after Mitford's father, Lord Redesdale, who like Uncle Matthew used to hunt his children with bloodhounds); his kind, rather vague wife, Aunt Sadie; as well as Fanny's favorite cousin Linda and the other six Radlett children. The Radlett daughters and Fanny wait impatiently for life to become interesting. Because of their station, however, nothing but marriage is expected of them, so they hurl themselves at love like crusaders, with varied and always fascinating results. At one point Fanny recounts:
A few minutes only after Linda had left me to go back to London, Christian and the comrades, I had another caller. This time it was Lord Merlin...."This is a bad business," he said, abruptly, and without preamble, though I had not seen him for several years. "I'm just back from Rome, and what do I find--Linda and Christian Talbot. It's an extraordinary thing that I can't ever leave England without Linda getting herself mixed up with some thoroughly undesirable character. This is a disaster--how far has it gone? Can nothing be done?"
The Pursuit of Love follows the romantic fortunes of Linda Radlett, while Love in a Cold Climate ventures further afield with the story of Polly Hampton's shocking love affair and its unexpectedly funny aftermath. Fanny's inexhaustible narration is a pleasant buffer for Mitford's deft teasing, which dances along just this side of mockery. The author of U and Non-U, a famous tongue-in-cheek treatise on the shibboleths of upper-class mores, Mitford often leaves the reader wondering just where she stands in the class wars, and much of her humor arises in the fine distinctions of aristocratic manners and speech. Still, there's an inimitable tart sweetness to these stories of true love and its pallid imitators, making them perfect snapshots of a vanished world. --Barrie Trinkle
Book Description
Few aristocratic English families of the twentieth century enjoyed the glamorous notoriety of the infamous Mitford sisters. Nancy Mitford's most famous novels,
The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate, satirize British aristocracy in the twenties and thirties through the amorous adventures of the Radletts, an exuberantly unconventional family closely modelled on Mitford's own.
The Radletts of Alconleigh occupy the heights of genteel eccentricity, from terrifying Lord Alconleigh (who, like Mitford's father, used to hunt his children with bloodhounds when foxes were not available), to his gentle wife, Sadie, their wayward daughter Linda, and the other six lively Radlett children. Mitford's wickedly funny prose follows these characters through misguided marriages and dramatic love affairs, as the shadow of World War II begins to close in on their rapidly vanishing world.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Read........2007-06-17
I knew nothing of these two novels until just a few short days ago when I fell for the charms of Nancy Mitford. It was really interesting to learn that both The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate are semi-autobiographical.
Both novels were a classic read. Maybe they were a little boring in parts, but then so is life at times. Anyway, I am a huge sucker for love stories, and that's exactly what these were. I absolutely love how Ms. Mitford shows the two different sides of the narrator, Fanny in each novel. It definitely makes the entire book much more heart warming.
Overall, it was a challenging, and interesting read. (I even had to consult my dictionary several times for new and interesting words.)
funny, charming and touching.......2007-02-23
Mitford has a deft touch with comedy, romance and pathos. Her scenes of an eccentric upper-class British family are delightful (and she obviously knows this subject). Worth reading on its own, and especially if you are interested in the amazing Mitford sisters.
Love in an Ambivalent Climate.......2006-09-05
England between first and second world wars: few girls were as famous as the Mitfords, five beautiful daughters of a well-known upper class "county family" as the British would call them. Nancy, writer of the family, knew her debutante balls well. In fact, she later came up with a way to define English social class by defining speech as "U"for upper class; and "non-U" for those who weren't.
The Mitford girls were "brought up to marry,not fall in love,"Nancy once wrote. Unfortunately, of the actual Mitford girls, only one did as she was expected to do. Deborah (Debo) married the eleventh Duke of Devonsheer. Unity, however, hung around Germany, striking up warmer friendships with the Nazis, and expressing herself more forcefully in their support, than suited the British public. Diana went and married Sir Oswald Mosley, leader of the British fascists, who was "detained" for WWII. Jessica ran off to Hollywood, no less, took American citizenship, and wrote the whistle-blowing "The American Way of Death,"a very inflential indictment of the funeral business. Nancy did marry an "Honorable," but then she turned around and published "The Pursuit of Love," and "Love in a Cold Climate,"two novels that pretty well blew the whistle on society, and on the Mitfords.
For everyone agrees that the central family of these novels, the Radletts, are the Mitfords to the life. Eccentric, choleric father; vague amiable mother; clamorous, animal-loving, quicksilver charming children. The action is narrated by a cousin who seems to resemble Nancy Mitford, and she seems to get most of the action too. As heroine of "In Pursuit of Love" she seems to have pursued love in most of the same places her creator did, though she knew what was expected of her.
How could she not? At one point, a powerful peeress advises Fanny, the narrator,"'Don't you go marrying anybody, for love. Remember that love cannot last; it never, never does; but if you marry all this it's for your life. One day, don't forget,you'll be middle-aged and think what that must be like for a woman who can't have, say, a pair of diamond earrings. A woman of my age needs diamonds near her face, to give a sparkle. Then at mealtimes, sitting with all the unimportant people for ever and ever. And no car. Not a very nice prospect,you know.'"
But Fanny, our narrator, hardly seems to need warning. She remarks at one point,"'always be civil to the girls, you never know who they may marry,'" is an aphorism which has saved many an English spinster from being treated like an Indian widow.'"
On a deeper level, however, Fanny seems to reflect her creator's ambivalence on whether to marry for love, or "all this." But there's still substantial ambivalence on that question.
These novels are undeniably bright and charming, and they seem to pick up right where tv's "Upstairs Downstairs" left off. Not to mention Evelyn Waugh's "Bright Young Things,"and "Brideshead revisited". If you liked them, you'll love this.
Light and entertaining read.......2006-06-05
I bought this book after I became acquainted with Mitford sisters through a biography I have read.
After reading the biography, the first novel, "Pursuit of Love" seemed very familiar to me because in some parts it is almost a narration of the Mitford history. Some characters are given a different history but it is easy to recognize Jessica or Nancy herself.
I wouldn't go so far as to call these novels masterpieces but they are very witty and enjoyable. Especially if you are an Anglophile like me, you will most certainly enjoy this humorous depiction of upper class society in England.
Both novels are narrated by Fanny, cousin/friend to the heroines of the novels. "Pursuit of Love" is about Linda's love affairs and "Love in a Cold Climate" is about Polly's scandalous marriage. Both novels contain very enjoyable side characters like the bellowing Uncle Matthew, the health-conscious Uncle Davey and the lovable sissy Cedric Hampton. In fact the leading ladies are not explored so well as these characters. In the case of Polly we know very little about what goes in her mind.
I must also note that these novels are more about characters than plots. Nancy Mitford writes along about the characters and when there is nothing more to say, she abruptly ends the novels. Besides if you haven't read them one after the other, some of the points Fanny makes will be quite irrelevant as in the case of Fanny's meeting Fabrice in "Love in a Cold Climate" and mentioning that she will be adopting his son years later. First novel's heroine Linda is just a distant character in the second novel but the other, funnier characters appear in both novels.
All in all an enjoyable read but do not expect a literary masterpiece.
Both are fantastic.......2006-04-18
I had read Love in a Cold Climate years ago, but hadn't read The Pursuit of Love. They are both hilarious.
The Pursuit of Love is the stronger book, but Love in a Cold Climate I found more amusing. I believe these were written in the 1930s, so the style and language can seem a little dated at times, but quaintly so. If you know anything about the British Upper Class, they are satirically hilarious.
Enjoy.
As other reviews more than adequately cover the two novels, my review gives you some background on the author and the circumstances that shaped her.
Love in a Cold Climate is loosely based on Mitford's own family. Famous or infamous depending on your point of view, their father did march them around the house. As a matter of interest two of the sisters were facists Unity shot herself, Diana married Oswald Moseley. Another Decca (Jessica) wrote for articles and books including "The American Way of Dying" and Nancy is the author of numerous books, including these. Sister Debo (Deborah) is the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire.
The Mitfords were a wonderfully eccentric minor aristocratic family. Nancy Mitford wrote the famous "Noblesse Oblige" about U and non-U in 1956. It is a glimpse into how the British could instantly tell if someone is truly an aristocratic/upper class or a pretender. Upper Classes would, and often still do, say lavatory and not toilet, rich and not wealthy, spectacles and not glasses, looking glass and not mirror, drawing room and not living room or lounge and so forth. Amazing, but true!
Understanding these codes, may help you understand the books and nuances a little better. Nancy Mitford has considerable insight and sends up her own class relentlessly.
If you want another great book with charming and hilarious antics of a young female relative forced to live with rustic eccentrics in 1930s England, read Stella Gibbons "Cold Comfort Farm". A true gem.
Book Description
In this moving, wry, and candid novel, widely acclaimed novelist Ayelet Waldman takes us through one woman’s passage through love, loss, and the strange absurdities of modern life.
Emilia Greenleaf believed that she had found her soulmate, the man she was meant to spend her life with. But life seems a lot less rosy when Emilia has to deal with the most neurotic and sheltered five-year-old in New York City: her new stepson William. Now Emilia finds herself trying to flag down taxis with a giant, industrial-strength car seat, looking for perfect, strawberry-flavored, lactose-free cupcakes, receiving corrections on her French pronunciation from her supercilious stepson – and attempting to find balance in a new family that’s both larger, and smaller, than she bargained for. In Love and Other Impossible Pursuits Ayelet Waldman has created a novel rich with humor and truth, perfectly characterizing one woman’s search for answers in a crazily uncertain world.
Customer Reviews:
A Wonderful Read.......2007-10-08
This was my first Ayelet Waldman book, and I absolutely loved it. The self discovery of the main character Emilia in regards to her relationships with her stepson, step-sisters, her parents, and the death of Isabel was truly eye opening. I think every women can relate to the overwhelming grief Emilia experiences over the death of her child. The author is able to show the growth in the main character by allowing us to see how her past actually impacted and influenced the life she chose for herself. The authors knowledge and use of Central Park as a key player in the lives of these character was really enjoyable. It was as if the reader was able to discover and learn about the park at the same time. Just from reading this book I can honestly say that I am looking forward to taking my own son to visit the park when he is a little older.
Talent is the other impossible pursuit!.......2007-08-31
Amid the glowing reviews, the only way to get an objective view of this book is to read the 1-star comments from other readers. It would save you from having to read the book and then write the negative comment yourself.
This is the first time I've read a novel by Ayelet Waldman and I didn't know that her husband is a famous author -- so I had to judge it by its own merit. And the verdict is that with or without help, the author is a terrible writer!
Thoughts from an infertile.......2007-08-15
I find that when I read books dealing with the topic of child or pregnancy loss I have a difficult time being objective. This piece was no different. As someone who as dealt with the struggles of infertility for may years, I felt consumed by the familiar feelings of loss that form the basis of the book's plot.
While I did not have a difficult time understanding the main character's feelings of isolation, I did have difficulty with her lack of strength. I wonder if there will ever be a book where the character dealing with such a struggle is not portayed as desperate, angry and self-absorbed. I can understand and appreciate the feelings of the main character, but am uncomfortable with the lack of personal integrity. I wish there was a better balance between the desire to continue living and the desire to make peace with the loss. Instead, the main character get wrapped up in subplots that seem to disrespect the nature of her experience.
I was a bit disappointed by the amount of gratuitous sex and swearing in a book that seemed to want to deal with loss. Yes, I realize this was the author's way of creating a realistic character and developing relationships, but it just didn't feel true to me. Had the plot stayed faithful to the progression of this woman's journey, and how that affected friendships and future plans, I would have felt more attached.
As a reader on the beach, this was a great book to pass the time, but as an infertile, and author of The Empty Picture Frame: An Inconceivable Journey Through Infertility who looks to the media to accurately portray this disease, I was a bit disappointed. I realize this is fiction, but even in fiction, things shouldn't always be tied up with a nice neat ribbon.
Love New York City!! A 2007 Favorite -- Must Read!!.......2007-05-29
A great read with terrific characterizations. I still miss the inhabitants of this almost too short [almost perfect] gem! I love New York, & the 92nd Street Y is one of my favorite places -- along with Central Park, etc. Emelia's depression is palpable, but don't be stopped from reading this triumph of a book. William is just terrific!! The dialogue sparkles & is realistic. Emelia's spouse is sexy & smart -- caught, at times between a rock and a hard space. I loved this book & I can't wait to read "Daughter's Keeper!"
A Strong Sense of Character.......2007-04-20
With each book, Ms. Waldman grows as an author capable of creating characters worth caring about and admiring. This could be considered a coming of age novel despite the protagonist's being a woman in her 30's. Also, by setting it in New York, Waldman actually makes Central Park a major character rather than just a location where key scenes play themselves out. The Park, in all its mercurial attitudes, plays its part in shaping the human's actions and setting their courses. Also, Waldman has a particular gift for dialogue. Her conversations ring true. I look forward to her next book.
Book Description
Summoned to the Admiralty by Sir Edward Pellew, Captain Adam Bolitho is ordered to sail his 46-gun frigate Unrivalled into African waters to aid His Majesty's campaign against slave-runners. Preoccupied with avenging his uncle Richard's death while confronting an entrenched adversary and the aggressive opposition of the Algerian overlord, he fears he may be setting his crew on a course of doom.
Customer Reviews:
Douglas Reeman writes another masterful yarn.......2007-05-10
Douglas Reeman under the pen name Alexander Kent has been writing Bolitho novels since the 1970s. I remember reading Sloop of War and liking the speed of the sloop plus its 16 18 pounders and two forward 24 pounders making it an 18 gun ship. There is a Science fiction story where a human encounters a Computer civilization and the Computer demands millions of books to read and then the Human promises to fill the order and runs away. I have been trying to fill that order ever since by encouraging good writers like Alexander Kent. Adam Bolitho used to be called Adam Pascoe in the series at one time and was the Favorite relative of Richard Bolitho, described as being like a son to Richard. It is difficult to believe that the Admiral Richard Bolitho was written out of the series. Tackling the African slave trade difficulties as Captain of a Frigate makes the Captain Adam Bolitho character worth checking out in this Suspenseful novel
Another Bolitho.......2003-08-19
Since Peace has broken out following the final defeat of Napoleon, the British Navy is on short rations. Nevertheless, Capt. Adam Bolitho is somehow kept on to continue his seaborne adventures begun in the previous volume, #24 Second to None. Before confronting the Dey again, he is assigned to the anti-slave patrols off Africa, and also encounters serious trouble while sailing as a courier for the Admiralty.
This is the second novel in this Napleonic Wars series to focus exclusively on Adam Bolitho, Adm. Richard's nephew. Adam is not a genius of tactics or leadership like his mentor. Actually, although Richard is gone, Adam and the other characters spend quite a bit fondly moping about him while they go sailing back and forth. Author Kent waxes nostalgic and layers this novel with extended sentimentality about Richard, We Happy Few, Catherine, Herrick, etc. etc. Naval action is relatively perfunctory relative either to the early books or the sentimental involvements here of Adam with his crew of faithfuls, and with another beautiful but troubled damsel. In other words, this book is strictly for people who've read all the others and are willing to reminisce about their leading characters, many of whom make cameo appearances here.
The Royal Navy and a Quasi Peace.......2002-02-27
Alexander Kent is now depicting the Royal Navy without a defined enemy and the impact this is having on it. Without a belligerent France across the Channel, the strength of the navy is slashed to the bone and beyond.
Adam Bolitho is still in command of the frigate Unrivalled only now is dealing with ships packed to overflowing with Africans en-route to slavery and with North African pirates. Neither of these opponents are giving much concern to politicians and merchant bankers of Great Britain, except in so far as they are accumulating wealth from the transport and auction of slaves. The man in the street knows little about this and cares less.
It is this apathy of the public that the Royal Navy in general and Adam in particular must battle. It might be easy to die for your country when the enemy is French or Spanish, but when it is a slave runner, the concept becomes a little vague. Fighting in the Bay of Biscay is one thing, fighting in the Bight of Benin is something else entirely.
Kent creates the atmosphere of these times with great care. You are faced with seamen, tossed onto the beach without thought, after being through tremendous hardship and danger. You are also faced with the families that they had left behind and now must support in some form or fashion. Also, there is the aristocracy, both of society and the Royal Navy that must be maintained. These features never go away. One would think that the needs of the Naval aristocracy would decrease as the Navy shrinks - far from it!
Adam Bolitho is a complex man and as I learn more about him, I can see this. From a bastard orphan to a successful naval officer, we have seem him evolve. Yet he is still dogged by his origins - he has never forgotten the days as a youngster fending for himself as his mother became unable to care and support him.
This is a book without the flash and thunder of a fleet action. Now it is a series of actions between schooners and sloops and oared launches. Adam's ship is too big and powerful to be of decisive value except as a resevoir from which to draw men to man the smaller ships. It is this type of action that is honing the skills of the men of Unrivalled and preparing them for the ultimate combat with African pirates.
Throughout the book, we are reintroduced to charecters of the past, Thomas Herrick, Daniel Yovel, Graeme Bethune and others. We see an appearance by Richard's daughter Elizabeth as she starts to connect to Adam for after all, in spite of birth situation, he is her closest surviving relative and vice versa.
This book is a continuation of the Bolitho family saga. It continues to add to what we know of the family, even if it is only in small details, such as the name of Adam's mother. I found it thoroughly enjoyable and a fine addition to my library. I would recommend it to anyone who has read even a few of the preceeding books on the Bolitho family.
Relentless Pursuit.......2002-01-05
Too many story lines and the ships jumping from the Med to Engalnd to Africa to the Med with people jumping in and out and and a new woman thrown in. Can't anyone in this series fall in love over a period greater than one day? THe action is limited and the book doesn't stand alone. Unless you have rtead the first 24, don't start here
Bring Richard back, Mr. Kent!.......2001-12-24
This novel is tagged as a Richard Bolitho novel. It's not. Mr. Kent chose to kill Richard Bolitho off two novels ago and left us with his whining nephew, Adam, who annoyed me from the very beginning. I'd been reading of Richard's many and varied adventures for 25 years and Mr. Kent kills him off in one paragraph!? How did faithful, loyal Allday feel? Who knows? Mr. Kent chose to totally disregard his friendship with Richard. I was so disgusted I donated the book to my local library. Adam is a whiner. The women in Kent's latest novels have the men wrapped around their little fingers. Geez! Where's the fabulous comraderie of the earlier novels, the triumphant battles and the agony of defeat? Also, he killed off most of the wonderful characters I so enjoyed (thank goodness dear Allday was spared, the *only* character left I can empathize with). So no. I will not read another Adam novel.
Average customer rating:
- If you're a mystery fan reading them in order, this is probably where you should stop.
- In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner
- For me, the end of Elizabeth George
- George at her best!
- Too dark and too long
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In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner : A Novel (Random House Large Print)
Elizabeth George
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ASIN: 0375408460
Release Date: 1999-09-07 |
Amazon.com
Award-winning novelist Elizabeth George (A Great Deliverance, Well-Schooled in Murder) returns with In Pursuit of a Proper Sinner, her 10th installment in the Lynley-Havers series. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley has his work cut out for him: two mutilated corpses are found in a prehistoric stone circle in Derbyshire. One is the daughter of Lynley's former mentor, Andy Maiden.
What's more, the inspector's partner, Barbara Havers, has been suspended and is facing criminal charges of assault and attempted murder. Was Havers really saving a drowning child or was she disobeying orders? Why, then, did she fire a rifle at the detective chief inspector, and how could Lynley ethically justify it? As he grapples with the ramifications of his partner's radical insubordination, the case in Derbyshire grows in daunting complexity.
Once again, Elizabeth George delivers an intricately woven plot, which efficiently navigates the reader through nearly 600 pages. Along the way, readers will be introduced to a delightful cast of supporting characters from the dowdy Phoebe who finds the first gory cadaver to the stately Andy Maiden: "His face was drawn with exhaustion, and his growth of peppery whiskers fanned out from his moustache and shadowed his cheeks." And, of course, fans will get an eyeful of George's trademark, her vivid descriptions of death: "At her feet, a young man lay curled like a foetus, dressed head-to-toe in nothing but black, with that same colour puckering burnt flesh from eye to jaw on one side of his face." --Rebekah Warren
Amazon.com Audiobook Review
The narrative talents of English stage actor Derek Jacobi are put to excellent use in this intriguing mystery of a double murder most foul. Author Elizabeth George presents her popular detectives Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers with one of their most grisly and difficult cases ever as they search for clues to a bloody crime while struggling to repair their own strained partnership. George's mystery bobs, weaves, twists, and turns from a packed West End theater through the sumptuous halls of a country manor and into the desolate reaches of the high country moors before revealing its delightfully wicked and suspenseful conclusion. Jacobi tackles the complex plot and diverse cast of characters with relish, working his theatrical skills into an outstanding performance. (Running time: 6 hours, 4 cassettes) --George Laney
Book Description
Calder Moor is a wild and deadly place: many have been trapped in the myriad limestone caves, lost in collapsed copper mines, injured on perilous gritstone ridges. But this time, when two bodies are discovered in the shadow of the ancient circle of stones known as Nine Sisters Henge, it is clearly not a case for Mountain Rescue. The corpses are those of a young man and woman. Each met death in a different fashion. Each died violently.
To Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, brought in to investigate by special request, this grisly crime promises to be one of the toughest assignments of his career. For the unfortunate Nicola Maiden was the daughter of a former officer in an elite undercover unit, a man Lynley once regarded as a mentor. Now, as Lynley struggles to find out if Nicola's killer was an enemy of her father's or one she earned herself, a disgraced Barbara Havers, determined to redeem herself in the eyes of her longtime partner, crisscrosses London seeking information on the second murder victim.
Yet the more dark secrets Lynley and Havers uncover, the more they learn that neither the victims nor the suspects are who they appear to be. And once again they come up against the icy realization that human relationships are often murderous...and that the blood that binds can also kill.
Customer Reviews:
If you're a mystery fan reading them in order, this is probably where you should stop........2007-07-26
I have been an Elizabeth George fan for years, mostly because she has had nice tight plots and Havers has been a very real character, touching and exasperating at the same time.
I wish somebody had been around to tell me when to quit, so that I did not go on to read the later books where the series went downhill so badly.
You can see the signs in this book, which is too long, includes some very unrealistic and unlikely situations, and has the characters behaving in the stupidest possible manner in order to move the story along.
Still, it's readable; it does tell a story. It's not as excellent as the early Lynley-Havers books were, but it's passable. The next one she wrote, A Traitor to Memory, really isn't. That one is over 200 pages too long, wallows around taking forever to tell a simple and rather dull story, and it shows all too clearly that Ms George has lost interest in her characters. From there she goes on to write one without Lynley and Havers, A Place of Hiding, in which Simon and Deborah fail to carry the weak plot and you have to listen to Deborah whine about her own shortcomings for hundreds of pages; then she writes one, With No One as Witness, that takes the regular characters and centers the story on them to the point where the angst overwhelms the thin story at tedious length. As I write this, the most recent book, What Came Before He Shot Her, isn't really a mystery at all, but what passes for a psychological study of a young murderer who apparently has troubles of his own that explain his murdering.
Please don't get me wrong; the first books are still very good, and I don't want to deny her any praise for them; she's earned her right to go off in a different direction and try not using a proper editor if she wishes to, and good luck to her. But if you are a reader who likes a good mystery story with all sorts of twists and red herrings and a process of solving the mystery to observe, enjoy, and try to anticipate--well, stop here, say thanks to the lady, and move on to some other series. If you've never read P.D. James, her writing is always restrained and elegant, the mystery element is always honest, and she has never written a book without having a story to carry it along; she never tears up her characters as a substitute for a good plot.
In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner.......2007-05-12
If you have read any of Elizabeth George's mystery's before, then you will not be surprise by this one. It's fun, easy reading. I've been reading her books for awhile now and enjoy the characters she writes about.
For me, the end of Elizabeth George.......2007-05-11
I have long been a fan of Elizabeth George, and have been especially impressed with her development of Barbara Havers' character; however, I found this book to be depressing and repellent, relying on gratuitous descriptions of kinky sex as a plot device. These are mental pictures I do NOT want to see. . .and are NOT what I read for. I was SO disappointed. . .and in fact, have hoped that this was just the result of an editor standing over Ms. George's shoulder pointing out that sex is what sells books. I fear that Ms. George is only too willing to buy into that, and I'm sorry to see it happen. It's a waste of a fine talent.
George at her best!.......2006-07-05
By far, one of George's best. Excellent character development and plotline. FYI, there are references to S&M that some readers might find disturbing.
Too dark and too long.......2006-03-14
I remember reading "Playing for the Ashes" and "For the Sake of Elena" many years ago and really enjoying them. I hadn't read any of EG in a few years and decided to check her out again a few months ago by reading this book and "In the Presence of the Enemy" which I read just prior to this one. I was disappointed with this one.
What struck me most negatively in both these books after reflecting on how much I enjoyed her previous novels were the creepy and obsessive references to sex. Both these books overdid it. In this one, I didn't need to know so much about the S&M scene - it seemed almost gratuitious. The result is a dark, ominious feeling throughout which made it a downer of a read during our rainy winter. I was surprised to find how much I came to dislike Lynley - he seemed so inflexible. Barbara seemed like everso the doormat, though Nkata was likeable. The book was way too long, and I found myself close to not finishing it - I ended up caring so little for the characters in the end.
I would have liked to have seem Havers' relationship with Azhar developed more.
If you are a EG fan, you'll probably enjoy it - it was well written. But not that satisfying for me. I think I'll head back to Tony Hillerman and the Southwest!
Book Description
The unforgettable Margaret of Ashbury returns in the second book of the trilogy that began with A Vision of Light.
Margaret, a resourceful midwife, is living with the insufferable relatives of her third husband, Gilbert de Vilers, known as Gregory. She is carving out a life for herself and her daughters despite the hostility and greed of her in-laws. But when Gregory is captured in France and held for ransom, Margaret knows she must take action—her in-laws are too tight with money to be of any use—so she teams up with her old friends Mother Hilde, the herbalist, and Brother Malachi, an alchemist on a quest for the secret of changing base metals into gold. Together, the trio plan to rescue Gregory and bring him back to London, where he and Margaret can start a new life away from his meddling family. And thus begins a wild romp across fourteenth-century Europe. Murderous noblemen, scheming ladies, truculent ghosts, and a steady stream of challenges plague the journey. Margaret will need not only her special gift of healing, her quick mind, and her independent spirit but the loyalty of her friends and the love of her new husband to carry them all safely home.
Customer Reviews:
Good vs. Evil, with a little love, in the Middle Ages .......2007-07-15
Really - 3.5 stars...
I am a big fan of Judith Merkle Riley, but I believe she has honed her skills on each novel... I have found her later publications far more enjoyable than the early books in the Margaret of Ashbury series. Her books all have the same ingredients: a smart woman whose brains are overlooked on account of her sex, self discovery through late blooming love, a peppering of sassy humor, and a bit of supernatural goings-on to mix things up. The recipe, in my opinion, works far better in sixteenth century Paris (The Oracle Glass & Master of All Desires) than in fourteenth century England.
The roots of the humor and sass that make her later her characters so much fun are found here with Margaret of Ashbury. Margaret is a young woman - quite beautiful, of course - who has supernatural healing powers and who has recently been widowed by her wealthy merchant husband. The corrupt family of Brother Gregory (introduced in A Vision of Light) have their eyes on her gold and thus kidnap her and force her to marry Gregory, who turns out to really be Gilbert. Though the sexual tension between the two was more than palpable in the previous book, the sudden forced nuptials cool things right off. Margaret and her impish girls are unhappy and stuck in the country with Gregory's ogre brother and father. Just as love simmers back to the surface (and into the womb), Gregory/Gilbert goes off to France to chronicle the events for his overlord and his captured by a demented, torturous evil horrible man. Pregnant Margaret must rely on her wiles and those of her old rag-tag friends to find him, save him, defeat evil and restore love.
The story is light and entertaining for the most part, but I found the middle section - the "journey" with her old wily pals - a bit boring. I enjoyed this book more so than "Vision of Light" and hope that "The Water Devil" will improve as well.
In Pursuit of Finishing the Book!!!!.......2007-06-25
I was sorely disappointed with this book. Loved Vision of Light. Was looking forward to more of the same. In this Green Lion, Margaret didn't seem to be the star. She didn't talk to God but once, which is something which I liked in the first one. The whole ghost thing and the whole gang trapsing off to France . . . I couldn't stand it. Finishing this book was very painful. I finished it because I typically finish what I start, not because I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I would not recommend this book at all; I have serious doubts as to whether I should read Water Devil. If it's better than Green Lion, please let me know, because I do not want to waste anymore time.
In Pursuit of the Green Lion review.......2007-03-27
I was absolutely entranced with all three books in this series, and am sorry that this was the last. Great story line, and I beame engrossed in the historical perspective of the setting.
Good but..........2007-02-28
there were some parts of this book I found lacking. I enjoyed the return of the characters from the first book. The ghosts were entirely entertaining! But, after nearly 1,000 pages with these characters I still cannot see any charm in Gilbert/Gregory. The author has left me unable to see what Magaret can see in him. I think she did a better job making readers like the unfortunate Hugo more in this story. I also found the jumping from first person to third person distracting. I will still read the third book in the trilogy because, aside from a basic dislike of the hero, I really like the other characters.
Better than part one.......2007-01-10
I read the first part of this series and loved it, but this one was better! It felt more relaxed. The story was less tear-jerking than the first, but Margaret was just as powerful and emotional as ever. I enjoyed seeing the characters from the first story return to continue with Margaret. I would highly recommend this second novel.
Average customer rating:
- Just what I wanted.
- Great Read...for Two Thirds of the Story
- Both the good guys and the bad guys were a bit too boring for my tastes
- I Agree with JD Schaefer (above)
- Amazing
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Pursuit: A Novel
Thomas Perry
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0812971388
Release Date: 2006-02-14 |
Amazon.com
Thomas Perry's Pursuit is a dark tale of two killers, one a cold- blooded hit man and the other, the hero, something much murkier. When 13 people are mowed down in a restaurant, a police consultant realizes that it's the work of a professional who's tried to make a contract hit look like a random mass killing. Enter Roy Prescott, an expert in hunting down criminals using methods generally frowned on by law enforcement. Prescott uses the national media and the unknown killer's ego to draw his attention, then plays a game of cat-and- mouse with him in which the stakes quickly grow higher. Perry, best-known for his fine Jane Whitefield series, has a precise feel for characters who work for vengeance and justice outside the law, and Prescott easily gains the reader's sympathy while maintaining his bad-guy, good-guy mystique.
Pursuit may draw some comparisons with Lawrence Block's wry Hit Man and Hit List, but while Block is always excellent, it's Perry's work that'll have you waking up in a cold sweat. --Barrie Trinkle
Book Description
“Perry is the best suspense writer in the business. . . . Pursuit is relentless, filled with twists and turns, that rare page-turner that keeps one reading late into the night to finish.”
–The Boston Globe
Thirteen bodies are found in a Louisville restaurant. When the police can find no suspect or motive, a victim’s family seeks the services of the enigmatic and solitary specialist Roy Prescott, known for his ability to find people who don’t want to be found. Working outside the law and willing to do what the police can’t, Prescott hunts the killer, an elusive adversary who is as smart, as methodical, as deadly as he is. The only way to conduct this pursuit is to goad the killer into believing that he must kill Roy Prescott. It is a contest fought from one end of the country to the other, and both men understand that when it’s over, only one of them will be alive.
From the Paperback edition.
Download Description
Thirteen bodies are discovered inside a small Louisville restaurant just after closing time. The ferocity and apparent randomness of the crime prompt the police to call in criminology professor Daniel Millikan. They want a profile of the murderer.
Millikan determines that the crime was committed not by a psychopath but by a professional killer of consummate skill and total lack of feeling: "I think that the one who did it is one of the special cases. He's somebody we can't afford to have walking down a street where our families walk."
When Millikan learns that the investigation has come to a complete standstill, he commits himself to an unorthodox decision. The only hope of stopping this killer and ending the bloodshed is to employ Roy Prescott, an expert in the narrow specialty of hunting down murderers through methods the police can't -- and wouldn't -- use.
And so begins a stunning novel by Thomas Perry, "one of the most thoroughly satisfying writers around" (Lawrence Block), a death match fought from one end of the country to the other by two enemies who both understand that only one of them will be alive at the end.
Customer Reviews:
Just what I wanted........2007-09-18
This book was mailed promptly and received very quickly. It was exactly as specified and I am completely satisfied.
Great Read...for Two Thirds of the Story .......2007-07-16
Pursuit started off great. Great characters. Great pace. Good amount of action. Unlike another reviewer, I thought the background information included greatly enhanced the characters. Also, unlike another reviewer, I felt the capture/getaways were completely plausible given the characters.
Unfortunately, about 2/3 of the way through, the story slows down to a near snail's pace, for an implausible plot twist. I understand what the author was going for, but frankly he didn't sell it that well. Not given the personalities he had so carefully built up in the earlier part of the novel.
Both the hunter and the prey take time out and spend months in one place. Varney knowingly being ripped off by cohorts. His inertia I would probably buy if he didn't spend so much time extolling his hate. Yet, he does nothing about it. Not a good sell given the Varney portrayed until that point.
And why Prescott spends weeks in one place cultivating a false identity and life on what *may* be a lead is plain inexlicable.
As another reviewer said, at this point I was ready for the novel to just be over.
Too bad. It *was* going really well.
Both the good guys and the bad guys were a bit too boring for my tastes.......2007-03-27
This is the first novel I have read by Mr. Perry and I doubt I will be reading a second. For me, the main problem is that neither the good guy or the bad guy are painted as characters I can latch onto or care about.
The novel starts with the discovery of thirteen people found murdered in a restaurant. When clues point to the idea one victim may have been the reason for the entire slaughter, a modern day bounty hunter, Roy Prescott, is hired by the victim's father and the hunt begins. The story is told from both the "good guy's" and "bad guy's" point of view. Unfortunately, instead of the cat and mouse game picking up steam, the story almost fizzles out. The novel gets somewhat caught up in simply repeating scenes where the two almost meet face to face followed by Prescott attempting to unravel the real story behind the killings. By about halfway thru the novel, I simply didn't care about either of them.
I guess I just never got caught up in what the author was attemting to create; a protaganist who can work outside the law to get his man yet we still cheer for him and a bad guy who is evil personified. I did not find much intrigue and suspense here and wonder if you will find the same.
I Agree with JD Schaefer (above).......2007-03-27
I came on here to write a review. I just finished this book. I read JD Schaiefers review and had nothing more to add. Yes, it was a good set up. It hooked me and I actually read the entire thing to find out what happens but it wasn't a joyful journey to the end rather it was a plodding ponderous - "when will it finally end?" kind of trip.
I may try one of his earlier novels like another reviewer suggested.
They can't all be winners I guess!
Amazing .......2006-05-29
One of the best books I've read in the past few years. Others include Lee Child's Killing Floor, John Katzenbach's The Analyst and William Lashner's Hostile Witness.
Pursuit blows the doors off most anything out there.
Book Description
Dan Savage is irreverent, irrepressible, and opinionated. He's held his own on Politically Incorrect, told tales on This American Life, continues to write a beloved nationally syndicated column-and he's had it up to here (my hand is higher than my head) with the moral, conservative scolds who proclaim America is slouching towards Gomorrah (to use Robert Bork's phrase). Are we really that bad?
Yes, we are! And in Skipping Towards Gomorrah, Dan Savage eviscerates those cynics as he commits each of the Seven Deadly Sins himself (or tries to) and finds those everyday Americans who take particular delight in their sinful pursuits. Among them:
Greed: Gamblers reveal secrets behind outrageous fortune.
Lust: "We're swingers!"-you won't believe who's doing it.
Gluttony: Dan meets gluttons with attitude at a pro-fat conference.
Sloth: Leave it to Dan to find a way to celebrate this sin that will get him in trouble with his mother.
Anger: Texans shoot off some rounds and then listen to Dan fire off on his own about guns, control, and the Second Amendment.
Envy: Meet the rich-then be glad you're not one of them.
Pride: You'll never look at a gay pride parade the same way again.
Couple all this sinning with a unique history of the Seven Deadly Sins, a new interpretation of the biblical stories of Sodom and Gomorrah, and enough Bork, Bennett, Buchanan, et al, bashing to more than make up for their incessant carping, and you've got the most provocative book of the fall.
Customer Reviews:
Telling it like it is.......2007-06-09
I would give the book four stars, but I LOVE Dan Savage...so five it is. If you enjoy Dan's witty and urbane brand of humor then I recommend this book!
A very thought provoking book.......2007-05-10
I bought this book back in the spring of 2004 after seeing it on the shelves at the local bookstore off and on for months and I'm glad I did as I'm first well familiar with his columns [...] I was familiar with his writing style and his refreshingly honest replies and he certainly doesn't dissapoint here despite his toning down some.
That toning down in many ways keeps the book from being too much of a soap box for his views and thusly less strident to boot, which is a good thing as while it still gets strident at times, it's not objectionable.
And having just read all 56 reviews (as of this review), one that is virtually missed by all of them is that some king actually came up with the seven deadly sins, I think loosely based on the 10 commandments. For starters, sloth (sleep) is something we all need to do, but too much of it is not always good for us. A fellow at my church who teaches theology at a local college said that the 7 deadly sins really should be a take it or leave thing, that is, you can believe in them or not since they do not really follow the teachings of the Bible and it's 10 commandments all that closely.
What I found as I read this book is how Fundamentalist thinking has permeated much of our society and that's sad and on the chapter of gluttony and Dan's trip to San Franciso for a fat acceptance conference revealed just that very well. Example, a nurse seems to be contradictory in her views when she says we've all exercised by moving our arms 3 times that morning! Also, how so many of the fat chicks who were supposidly accepting of their fatness could barely get around and many were wheelchair bound as a result and one group admitted they come for the socializing and nothing more and really do not eat much of the food that is there. "It's the old do as I say, not as I do" mentality that I saw through much of this book as Dan takes us on a journey to discover these so called deadly sins for himself.
And that's just what makes this book so well written is his individual look at each and every one of those 7 sins and reveals them for what they are, hypocritical in many ways, especially in how they are persued by many.
In the chapter on lust where he meets the swingers group, the parents do out and "wife" swap at these events and one thing that I noticed is how they do not discuss this around their children but gladly persue these activities themselves and at these events, I found a discrepency in and of itself. The men are told to dress appropriately, that is, shirt and shorts while the women can be as provocative as they want and in the minds of the organizers, to make women feel as safe as possible. I saw that as hypocritical and it's no wonder that many straight men feel hamstrung, it's this kind of attitude that seems to permeate society in many areas and that's the point Dan ended up uncovering in his quest and in the end, takes a sharp aim squarely in the space between the eyes of the "virtuecrats" as he calls them, the Borks, Buchannans, the Slesengers etc who want us to not have any fun, even if it's not harming others and in the end, exposes the hypocrasy of these activities at the same time.
I will contend some of the chapters could've been a little stronger in his conclusions but in the end, he's very honest about what he saw and experienced and that in and of itself makes it a good read. Definatly not for the faint of heart however.
It's best to err on the side of avoiding incestuous handjobs.......2006-01-23
Best quote, among thousands of jewels, from Dan Savage.
A couple of years ago, I went on vacation with a bunch of friends to a beach resort town in South Africa. Clear blue water, white sand, skimpy bathing suits on lovely people of both sexes. Should have been a wild time, right? Well, it wasn't, at least for the first few days, because I brought along Skipping Towards Gomorrah for my beach-book. I already knew I loved Dan, and thought I could just dip into Skipping whenever I felt like a rest. Ha! Once I started, I was way too into it to stop for much of anything. And, of course, all my friends were constantly running back from the ocean to see what the hell I was laughing at. The elevator scene in the Gluttony chapter can still send me into fits. I had to buy a new copy once I got back to the States, as mine "mysteriously" disappeared. I know whoever stole it from me enjoyed it as much as I did, and hope they're passing it round to everyone they know, and even some strangers.
Wildy funny, wildy intelligent, wildy inappropriate, wildy shocking, wildly fun.......2005-11-17
There's a certain audience for Dan Savage's tough brand of over-the-edge liberal humor, and if you are in that group, then this book is a delicious treat. If you wouldn't normally read his advice column, then avoid this book. Fortunately, I fall in the former category, and I adored his book!
Savage's opening chapter is a scathing and very intelligent attack on the morality of the right wing. It was so brilliant, I found myself wanting to underline every other paragraph as a memorable quote. It definitely had me pumped up for the rest of the book.
As for the rest...Savage's plan is to experience and explore every one of the seven deadly sins. Some chapters come off stronger than others. The gambling and lust chapters are absolutely brilliant. Savage plan to explore anger by shooting a gun was a little weak to me--not everyone who shoots a gun is angry. But the gun experience was so eye-opening for both Savage
and the reader that it was worth it.
One of the real winners is Savage's exploration of gay pride, why it exists, what it means for the participants and for the audience, and more. In his columns, Savage has repeatedly railed against rainbow-flag wavers, so his insights on the topic are fasnicating. He points out that St. Patrick's day parades are the original minority group pride event, an assertion of identity by a group everyone else wanted to be quiet. Is that so different from a gay pride parade? "Who knows? Maybe one day everyone will be gay on gay pride day, just as we're all Irish on Saint Patrick's Day."
Savage goes to some extremes to prove his point, but overall, this is an intelligent, funny, offbeat look at the topic of morality in America.
A grave threat to constitutional democracy.......2005-05-24
When Al Franken promotes Dan Savage, does he have any idea how much support this builds for putting Michael Savage in the White House? To encourage citizens to abandon virtue in time of war is an act of treason. The ultranationalist backlash fostered by such outrages may soon destroy our constitutional democracy.
Average customer rating:
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Hemingway and Spain: A Pursuit
Edward F. Stanton
Manufacturer: Univ of Washington Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0295967102 |
Average customer rating:
- Not for the neatnik or perfectionist
- Lovely book!!!!
- Happy ending but tedious and too tidy
- WILD DESIGNS
- Quick and Delightful to Read
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Wild Designs: A Novel By The Author of Stately Pursuits
Katie Fforde
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0312190328 |
Book Description
Althea Farraday is a thirty-eight-year-old divorced mother of three who's got a teenage son who's a Buddhist, a hypercritical sister who knows how to push all her buttons, a job on the endangered species list, and a love life to match. Just as she's settling in to a comfortable level of chaos, a near-perfect man enters her life. Equipped to steal her heart and help turn her passion for designing gardens into a new career, Patrick Donahugh may be too good to be true. Amid wild roses, California poppies, scarlet flax, sweet rocket, love-in-mist, and, of course, plenty of dirt, Wild Designs is a refreshingly honest and funny read that celebrates the almost-ready-to-bloom aspect of all our lives.
Customer Reviews:
Not for the neatnik or perfectionist.......2007-09-12
I really like Katie Fforde. I think her writing style is great, but this book just did not capture me as far as some of the characters. Althea was not the type of character that would endear me to her because I found her very as one reviewer on Amazon has said "frumpy." This is probably because I am a perfectionist somewhat like Althea's sister. I do realize that people are like Althea in real life, and I have good friends that are somewhat like Althea. Althea just never endeared me to her because of her some what no care attitude toward her apperance and her house. I could not understand why Patrick was attracted to her. I thought she had no redeeming qualities to draw her to the reader. She seemed like a good mother and obviously a great gardner, but somehow these two things in my mind could not make up for her being so "frumpy." I could not recommend this book to readers who tend to be neatniks or perfectionist. Althea might make these type of readers want to go and dust her house or perform a maker over. LOL!
Books set in England are a very enjoyable read for me, especially the area Althea lived. So I could definitely recommend this to any Anglophile.
Having said all of this, if you have read this book, and do not find it enjoyable do not give up on Katie Fforde. She has written several books, and I am sure you will find more that you will like.
Lovely book!!!!.......2004-05-16
excellent holiday read, it can be read in a single day! I've read it three times so far, it's one of those books that you don't want to end! If you're a woman; read this book!
Happy ending but tedious and too tidy.......2002-07-15
It started off interesting enough - but it seemed a bit unrealistic: Althena pushing off an attractive and honest suitor for the upteenth time, Althena being such a matron/martyr that she comes off frumpy but has extremely attractive men pursue her, Althena's kids that seem so good-natured about everything, and finally Althena getting the guy (as you know she would from the beginning) and it all being much too pat and perfect. I lost patience with it mid-way, and then I realized that I would have preferred a re-read of Pride and Prejudice instead.
WILD DESIGNS.......2001-12-15
INSPIRING. I LOOKED FORWARD TO DRIVING IN MY CAR SO THAT I COULD LISTEN TO THIS AWESOME STORY. IT MADE ME SAD AND HAPPY AT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE THAT IS ABLE TO SPEND SOME TIME LISTENING TO THEIR AUDIOBOOKS BECAUSE YOU WON'T WANT TO STOP LISTENING.
Quick and Delightful to Read.......2001-08-30
I finished this book in a day. It was entertaining and amusing, not requiring a lot of deep thought. I thought Fforde did a fairly good job of character development even if the plot was a tad predictable
I liked the way the family was presented with all of its faults: the disagreements, the messiness, the lack of planned meals. This was very realistic. I also liked the way Althea met her financial problems head-on and made the best of things.
The only false note was the way Althea treated Patrick....there were too many times when she decided to let him go and pushed him out of her life.
But overall, this was an enjoyable way to spend a day of reading.
Average customer rating:
- move early adventures in timeline years 1 to 4.
- THe Force Is Irresistable!
- Nice to have classic stories, but writing weak
- One of the best
- Great Star Wars spinoff material
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In Deadly Pursuit (Classic Star Wars, Volume One)
Archie Goodwin ,
Al Williamson , and
Variou
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1569711097 |
Amazon.com
If you're like me, you know that all of the Star Wars stuff that keeps coming out cannot possibly measure up to the original movies. However,
Classic Star Wars from Goodwin and Williamson recaptures the joy of seeing Star Wars for the first time. The book reproduces the newspaper strips published between 1981 and 1984, but instead of merely reprinting the strips, the images are arranged to be more suitable for the comic book page. The result is sometimes slow and repetitive, though that's easy to forget with the gorgeous art and fun story.
Book Description
From 1981 to 1984, comic-book greats Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson turned out a popular series of Star Wars newspaper strips. Featuring the adventures of Luke, Leia, and Han in the time between the first and second movies, these strips were science-fiction adventure at its best.
Dark Horse reformatted those strips to make them work as a continuous story in a series of comic books, with Al Williamson himself redrawing and extending many panels for the new format. This book collects the first seven issues of the popular Dark Horse comic, with a new introduction from Archie Goodwin, new cover art, and never-before-seen art from the sketchbooks of Al Williamson.
Customer Reviews:
move early adventures in timeline years 1 to 4........2003-07-23
is a review of the dark horse TPB comic ISBN 1569711097 which collects Classic star Wars issues 1 -7 that were based on the newspaper strips. The second edition was printed July, 1996 and printed in Canada.
This is supposed to be the adventures of our heroes that picks up after ESB. Except that han solo is in the stories, so lets just say that these stories take place during Episodes 4 thru 6. What is fun is that the stories continue and almost flow into Splinter of a Minds Eye. I agree with most that the 3 volumes done by Goodwin and Williamson are superior to Volume 4, which is based on Marvel work.
The drawings in this comic are a step up from what we typically get in newspaper strip artwork. Dark horse has done a great job producing beautifully inked pages. I can't give 5 stars here, because I am comparing this to the comics that DH is producing now. This is a 3 star work when compared to future works.
The stories here are fun to read. Remember that this was once all we had for a SW Expanded Universe. The creators here did a good job being faithful to the characters that Lucas created.
THe Force Is Irresistable!.......2002-12-20
Curious as to what happened between the destruction of the first Death Star and when the Galactic Empire struck back?This book is the first in a series showing asventures had by Luke,Hand and the others during that time.Based on the "Star Wars"comics that appeared after the first movie,it brings the characters to life with realistic coloring and settings all "Star Wars" fans know well!It was a trip down memory lane for me:I grew up loving this comic book series.Whether you saw "Star Wars" when it first came out or you're new to the galaxy,you'll lowe it too.
Nice to have classic stories, but writing weak.......2001-09-13
I'm glad Dark Horse chose to reprint all the classic Archi Goodwin comics. It gives us Star Wars completists the opportunity to finish off out collections. On that merit, In Deadly Pursuit is excellent. As far as the stories and art are concerned, well, I think they serve as nothing more than history lessons. Compared to today, they just don't match up. For Star Wars, these tales are a little too ridiculous in some instances, and do not match the work that is being done today by the likes of Zahn and Stackpole. Good for fans, but hardly important for story continuity.
One of the best.......2000-04-26
It's strange, but Dark Horse Comics' Star Wars line seems to be degrading in quality over time. These early Classic Star Wars graphic novels, reprinting the comic series of the same name, which in return are reprinting in revised format the Star Wars comic strips of the early 80s, are among the very best Star Wars comics available. Although sometimes a little awkward because they were adapted from hundreds of individual 2-3 panel comic strips, the art is wonderful and all the characters and ships look right, like they do in the films. The coloring is for the most part very good, and the characters' dialogue also sounds right. These comics are action packed, but they don't go over the line into stupidity as the Marvel series tended to.
Also, these comics have a lot of the little touches...the Luke/Han/Leia bickering that would carry on into Splinter of the Mind's Eye and Empire Strikes Back, Luke reminiscing about Obi-Wan, and little stuff like that. As I've stated, but it's worth reiterating, the art is absolutely fantastic.
If you're going to buy any star wars comics, buy this one and its two sequels. They are fun entertaining classics.
Great Star Wars spinoff material.......2000-04-19
A long time ago,in a galaxy far,far away, I was a huge fan of the Star Wars comic strips in the early 1980's. I was such a fan that I actually cut each one out and made an album.Unfortunately, I never had the chance to get the complete set. The only thing I wished for was that someday, someone would compile these great comics into a book or album. When I caught word that they were being published I immediately rushed to purchase them. This part in the classic Star Wars series is my favorite. If you're like me and love to read the adventures that took place between the films, this is the book for you. It has great plots, and suprising twists everywhere. It also contains great artwork, and the only negative comment I have to say about the book is it gets a litte wacky at some parts. But, its all in the name of Star Wars. It is completely deserving of a four star rating. I definetely would recomend this book to any avid Star Wars fan.
Books:
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- The Seven Silly Eaters
- The Shallow Graves of Rwanda
- The Sight (Warriors: Power of Three, Book 1)
- The Solomon Sisters Wise Up (Red Dress Ink)
- The Successor: A Novel
- The Well: A Story of Love, Death & Real Life in the Seminal Online Community
- Three Blind Mice: How the TV Networks Lost Their Way
- Ties That Bind (Bound Hearts, Book 1)
- Train Wreck: The Life and Death of Anna Nicole Smith
Books Index
Books Home
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