Of Mice and Men (Penguin Great Books of the 20th Century)

Book Description

MAXnotes offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature, presented in a lively and interesting fashion. Written by literary experts who currently teach the subject, MAXnotes will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the work. MAXnotes are designed to stimulate independ ent thought about the literary work by raising various issues and thought-provoking ideas and questions. MAXnotes cover the essentials of what one should know about each work, including an overall summary, character lists, an explanation and discussion of the plot, the work's historical context, illustrations to convey the mood of the work, and a biography of the author. Each chapter is individually summarized and analyzed, and has study questions and answers.

Customer Reviews:

A discussion of the ending *Spoilers below*.......2007-10-02

*WARNING: Don't read this review if you haven't read the book and don't want to know the ending

The book has three surprise events in the ending. The first is Lennie's killing of Curley's wife. This is shocking because Curley's father owns the farm, so Lennie could get into serious trouble. The second is when Lennie is hiding in the brush waiting for George, and he sees and hears Aunt Clara's ghost talking and later a rabbit talking. The third is not when George shoots Lennie, but when George walks away with Slim, as if the two are best pals now. This makes it seem that George did not take his friendship with Lennie very seriously, because instead of mourning his death alone, he hangs on to Slim, as if Lennie is easily replaceable and that Slim has taken Lennie's place now. I thought the ending makes George seem like a shady character, not bad enough to be called the villain, but still not good enough to be called hero of the book.

Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, because someone is advocating for their death.......2007-09-24

You won't get any complaint from me that this book is skillfully written, in it's vivid descriptions of settings, detailed descriptions of characters, and realistic dialogue.

However, I believe this book has a bad message, and the bad message is about how it's ok to put the weak, infirm and dependent to death. It started with the discussion of Candy's aged dog. The book gave the impression that the dog's age made him no good to even himself, the "quality of life" argument that has been advanced to support euthanizing the elderly, weak and infirm.

After discussing Candy's dog, the argument proceded to Candy himself, where he longs to be euthanized when he can no longer work.

Finally, we come to George's murder of the retarded Lennie, which is completely justified by Slim, the voice of the one sympathetic character in the book. I believe that George was looking for an opportunity to divest himself of Lennie, and that opportunity presented itself when Lennie killed Curley's wife. It was also mentioned that if Lennie was institutionalized, it would be worse than death. I realized there are conflicting opinions about the moral nature of George, but I don't believe he was a good character.

As I was writing this review, I recalled Proverbs 31:8-9 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Of Mice And Men describes a world where the advocates for euthanizing the weak and infirm prevail.

Tragedies.......2007-09-16

This is a well-constructed, tightly-crafted novella by Steinbeck telling the story of George and his simple-minded companion Lennie, who arrive at a farm looking for work so they can save enough money to achieve their dream of buying their own property. You know something is bound to go wrong.

Although much of the plot might be well-signalled before it occurs, I thought that it did not detract from the quality of the work. As a short piece of fiction should, it holds the reader's attention throughout. It also seemed to me that by this time, Steinbeck seemed to be producing high-quality work. "The Grapes of Wrath" were just around the corner.

G Rodgers

Steinbeck does wonders with so few pages. This is a great touching story.......2007-09-10

Steinbeck writes beautiful prose in this very short book. The story unravels rather quickly and the strong connection one feels with the characters is created from the very first pages. The story is about two friends that travel together looking for work on farms in California. Lennie is a very large man with a feeble mind and George is Lennie's keeper who dreams with Lennie about eventually having a small piece of land where they can have animals and live from it. The book is written using the slang of the 20's and Steinbeck uses incredible imagery throughout the book. The quick story is bound to touch your heart and linger in your mind days after the last page has been read. Enjoy!

Big.......2007-09-01

What makes a big book? Not physical length. Knowing this novel's reputation as one of Steinbeck's masterpieces, I was astounded to lay hands on its mere hundred pages. Not scale of setting, either. The entire novella takes place in and around the bunkhouse of a California farm, and contains fewer than a dozen characters; it is so compact that it might almost have been made for film, television, or the stage (and it did in fact succeed in all these media). The people, furthermore, are by no means important or powerful; Steinbeck tells of ordinary itinerant laborers, bindle stiffs, living precariously from job to job. In this, the book is similar to THE GRAPES OF WRATH, but deliberately avoids its epic scope, preferring to show a few characters in intimate detail rather than to suggest the displacement of multitudes.

Yet I have no hesitation in calling the book big. Without any effort or overt symbolism, Steinbeck shows something simultaneously particular and vast. His characters are individuals, very real yet bound to one another and to us through their common humanity. The novel speaks to a particular time -- the American West in the late thirties -- and yet seems timeless. It takes a specific corner of California ("A few miles south of Soledad, the Salinas River drops in close to the hillside bank and runs deep and green") and makes it a kind of oasis of simplicity, as in the marvelous opening scene where the principal characters choose to spend a night sleeping under the stars rather than arriving too soon at the farm.

And nothing could be bigger than the heart of Lennie, the simple-minded giant who comes to the farm with his friend and protector George, but whose confused feelings and ignorance of his own strength get him into trouble. The bond between him and George is not fully explained, but it is palpably filled with a kind of love. Lennie's inability to articulate his feelings is shared by all the other characters to some extent; this is a world in which men keep themselves to themselves and move on alone. But their very inarticulateness gives their underlying emotions an almost primal power. Truly, this is a big book.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (If You Give...)

Average customer rating:

A Weak Version of "If You Give A Pig..."
We loved it
If You Give a Child a Good Book...
Very enjoyable story
a grat book

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (If You Give...)
Laura Joffe Numeroff
Manufacturer: Laura Geringer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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If You Give a Moose a Muffin (If You Give...)
If You Give a Pig a Pancake Big Book (If You Give...)
If You Take a Mouse to School (If You Give...)
If You Take a Mouse to the Movies
If You Give a Pig a Party (If You Give...)

ASIN: 0060245867

Product Description

This is a best selling book by Felicia Bond and Laura Numeroff. This is the story of the consequences of giving a cookie to an energetic mouse that runs the host ragged, but young readers will come away smiling at the antics that tumble like dominoes through the pages of this delightful picture book.

Amazon.com

Who would ever suspect that a tiny little mouse could wear out an energetic young boy? Well, if you're going to go around giving an exuberantly bossy rodent a cookie, you'd best be prepared to do one or two more favors for it before your day is through. For example, he'll certainly need a glass of milk to wash down that cookie, won't he? And you can't expect him to drink the milk without a straw, can you? By the time our hero is finished granting all the mouse's very urgent requests--and cleaning up after him--it's no wonder his head is becoming a bit heavy. Laura Joffe Numeroff's tale of warped logic is a sure-fire winner in the giggle-generator category. But concerned parents can rest assured, there's even a little education thrown in for good measure: underneath the folly rest valuable lessons about cause and effect. Felicia Bond's hilarious pictures are full of subtle, fun details. Fans will be happy to know that this dynamic author-illustrator pair teamed up again for If You Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake. (Great read aloud, ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

Customer Reviews:

A Weak Version of "If You Give A Pig...".......2007-08-06

We purchased this book because of the otherwise excellent works of the author. Unfortunately, this is a weak story with strained narration. Stick with the Pig version, the Mouse will only let you down.

We loved it.......2007-07-08

This short book was such a favorite in our house when the kids were small, it fell apart. It was a read-aloud for the most part, but also helped the children recognize words.

They memorized the wonderful story, and could then recognize the words as we read together.

It's a repetitive tale, but cute in the same way as Seuss stories, and my kids loved it just as much.

I'm at long last trying to trim the picture book collection down from several hundred volumes, and this one is not going anywhere, I'm afraid. The children, even in their teens, can't part with it.

A real classic.

If You Give a Child a Good Book..........2007-05-24

...he/she will enjoy it for years. I purchased this book after a co-worker highly recommended it. My child was an infant at the time, and although the book has a recommended age range of 4 to 8, I read it to her anyway. It was of course over her head, but I highly enjoyed the story myself - which is almost as important as the child enjoying the book, right? My girl is now approaching three years old and she enjoys the book as much as I do. It's fun to follow the story as the simple act of giving a mouse a cookie escalates into an endless cycle of giving the mouse other things he requires as a result of the cookie gift. It's a silly, lighthearted tale and the illustrations are fun. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie will surely be a family favorite for years to come, and I'm glad I purchased the hardcover version since it's likely to be passed down to the next generation.

Very enjoyable story.......2007-05-15

I bought this for my 2 1/2 yr. old grandson and was immediately his favorite book to read at bedtime. My daughter is now having to read it to him 2-3 times before it is lights out. In fact, even yesterday during the day, he wanted it read to him. It is a great book.

a grat book.......2007-04-11

IF You Give A Mouse A Cookie is wonderful book. It talks about what the mouse like to do in the story. what he likes to do is ask for cookies and milke , and he likes to keep on asking for things. I like this book so much and I hope you too.

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College: Book and CD

Average customer rating:

Perfect for a graduate -- preschool through Ph.D.
Mahalia Mouse Goes to College
Illistrations
MAHALIA MOUSE GOES TO COLLEGE
Excellent book!

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College: Book and CD
John Lithgow
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Marsupial Sue Presents "The Runaway Pancake": Book and CD
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The Remarkable Farkle McBride
Carnival of the Animals

ASIN: 1416927158

Book Description

Mahalia Mouse and her family live underneath Dunster House, an old Harvard dormitory. Foraging for food for her younger brothers and sisters, Mahalia gets trapped in a backpack and then finds herself inside a classroom far from home. Mahalia, intrigued by the lecture, starts attending classes and soon becomes a full-time student -- all the while wondering about the fate of her family. But when graduation day finally arrives, Mahalia has a wonderful surprise waiting for her.

Written as part of his keynote address at Harvard's commencement, this latest book from John Lithgow (class of '67) incorporates his trademark witty rhymes and includes a CD of him reading the text at the commencement. Mahalia's story has an inspiring message for graduates or anyone whose success is worthy of celebration.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for a graduate -- preschool through Ph.D........2007-09-13

Today I found a rare thing -- a book that would be an excellent graduation gift whether the grad in question is departing preschool or university. It's "Mahalia Mouse Goes to College," by John Lithgow (Harvard Class of `67), illustrated by Igor Oleynikov.
When I taught juniors at Penn State this spring, I discovered they believe children do not like books that contain vocabulary beyond their ken. I argued that encountering new words might increase children's vocabulary and thus be a good thing, and they agreed but claimed that kids often don't like what's good for them. True enough, and if you share my students' conviction, then John Lithgow's books -- which include "The Remarkable Farkle McBride," and "Marsupial Sue" -- are not for you.
If, on the other hand, you think kids get a kick out of mastering words like wisteria (rhymes with cafeteria), allayed (rhymes with paid), and zoology (rhymes with psychology), then Lithgow's rollicking texts will appeal to you. In this case, it's not only the wordplay that is fun. Lithgow has written a parable about the ruthlessness involved in leaving home in order to achieve greater things.
Lithgow's opening lines, coupled with Oleynikov's grim, rain-soaked illustration, evoke an almost Dickensian mood. Or maybe they were shooting for Lemony Snicket? Anyway, the story begins:
"The skies of September were bursting with rain
Pelting the old dormitory
It filled every gutter and choked every drain
Chapter 1 of Mahalia's story."
As if the rain weren't bad enough, Mahalia's mother, consumed by sorrow, sends her daughter out foraging, warning that things are so dire "the babies may die." Dutifully, Mahalia departs, is attracted by the smell of cheese in a college student's backpack, finds herself zipped inside, and next thing you know is entranced by a lecture that "concerns the behavior of atoms in space/Their collisions and fissions, their motion and pace."
The dying babies are forgotten, and Mahalia enrolls in college where she excels not only academically but at extracurriculars like squash and, briefly, square dancing.
The story ends in a hail of confetti and sunshine on graduation day with Mahalia and her family reunited -- the babies, apparently, having survived. It's a great story with just the edge of poignance that accompanies one generation's outstripping its predecessor.

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College.......2007-08-01

Mahalia Mouse Goes to College is a wonderful book, written by John Lithgow. It comes with a cd of the author narrating the story which is great. The illustrations are vivid and bring the story to life. The story is about a mouse that goes to college. This book is a dedication to the Harvard graduating class of 2005. John Lithgow was the guest speaker at that commencement and having had a son in that class of 2005, this was a must have book for my Harvard graduate as a keepsake which he can share with his children some day.

Illistrations.......2007-05-25

I wish the illistrations were a little brighter. They seemed a bit dark & scary.

MAHALIA MOUSE GOES TO COLLEGE.......2007-05-13

This is the cutest book to read to children of all ages. It is a great read for an adult. If you went to a college class you will certainly appreciate how this little mouse attends the college classes. It also comes with a CD.You will love this book. I highly recommed it.

Excellent book!.......2007-05-12

The book arrived in perfect timing and is just what we wanted to give to our grandson who graduates from high school on the 20th and to enter college in the fall.

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread

Average customer rating:

Totally Enchanting!
Loved the mouse, not the story
A Kid's Review
Well written, but not light hearted
Beautiful Tale of Strength

The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread
Kate Dicamillo
Manufacturer: Candlewick
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Because of Winn-Dixie
The Tiger Rising
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Kira-Kira

ASIN: 0763625299
Release Date: 2006-04-11

Amazon.com

Kate DiCamillo, author of the Newbery Honor book Because of Winn-Dixie, spins a tidy tale of mice and men where she explores the "powerful, wonderful, and ridiculous" nature of love, hope, and forgiveness. Her old-fashioned, somewhat dark story, narrated "Dear Reader"-style, begins "within the walls of a castle, with the birth of a mouse." Despereaux Tilling, the new baby mouse, is different from all other mice. Sadly, the romantic, unmouselike spirit that leads the unusually tiny, large-eared mouse to the foot of the human king and the beautiful Princess Pea ultimately causes him to be banished by his own father to the foul, rat-filled dungeon.

The first book of four tells Despereaux's sad story, where he falls deeply in love with Princess Pea and meets his cruel fate. The second book introduces another creature who differs from his peers--Chiaroscuro, a rat who instead of loving the darkness of his home in the dungeon, loves the light so much he ends up in the castle& in the queen's soup. The third book describes young Miggery Sow, a girl who has been "clouted" so many times that she has cauliflower ears. Still, all the slow-witted, hard-of-hearing Mig dreams of is wearing the crown of Princess Pea. The fourth book returns to the dungeon-bound Despereaux and connects the lives of mouse, rat, girl, and princess in a dramatic denouement.

Children whose hopes and dreams burn secretly within their hearts will relate to this cast of outsiders who desire what is said to be out of their reach and dare to break "never-to-be-broken rules of conduct." Timothy Basil Ering's pencil illustrations are stunning, reflecting DiCamillo's extensive light and darkness imagery as well as the sweet, fragile nature of the tiny mouse hero who lives happily ever after. (Ages 9 and older) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

"Forgiveness, light, love, and soup. These essential ingredients combine into a tale that is as soul-stirring as it is delicious." — BOOKLIST (starred review)

Welcome to the story of Despereaux Tilling, a mouse who is in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of a rat called Roscuro, who lives in the darkness and covets a world filled with light. And it is the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who harbors a simple, impossible wish. These three characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and, ultimately, into each other's lives. What happens then? As Kate DiCamillo would say: Reader, it is your destiny to find out.

From the master storyteller who brought us BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE comes another classic, a fairy tale full of quirky, unforgettable characters, with twenty-four stunning black-and-white illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering. This paperback edition pays tribute to the book's classicdesign, featuring a rough front and elegant gold stamping.

Customer Reviews:

Totally Enchanting!.......2007-09-17

This is an enchanting story full of magic intertwined with real world truths, evil step "uncles", hardened rats, and uncaring employers as well as a heroic mouse, and a charming princess. I think it would be an enjoyable read aloud for younger students and a fine diversion for adults and everyone in between. You can take what you want from this book, a simple light fairy tale or as a journey into a philosophy of light and dark. I disagree with the reviewers who felt that the princess was portrayed as good only because of her beauty. The author clearly lets the readers know that the princess possesses far greater attributes, such as kindness and empathy, which give her an inner light that far outshines any physical beauty she possesses. In the end, light prevails because the main characters, Princess Pea and Despereaux have exhibited both hope and love. But, as I mentioned before, you can make what you will from this captivating tale. I found it very enjoyable and hope to read more by this talented author.

Loved the mouse, not the story.......2007-09-11

Despereaux is an endearing character and the story starts out excitedly with his adventures. It goes downhill from there. There is little to endear all the other characters (besides Despereaux) in the book to anyone. They're all terribly stupid, cruel, lemmings, or simple. And there is no sympathy for anybody. I was not at all enchanted with the plotline, nor how their stories came together.

I really wanted to love this book, I savored reading it and put it off for years looking forward to it. But after reading it, I was unfortunately disappointed in the tale. I would have to alternatively recommend highly, as another reader did, the REDWALL series, and POPPY. And STUART LITTLE or CHARLOTTE'S WEB.

A Kid's Review.......2007-07-30

I really did not like this book very much because I don't like to read about people dying. It was also hard to tell sometime what was a dream in the book and what was really a part of the story. I think it was confusing to read sometimes. I liked the characters of Despereaux and Princess Pea. I also like reading about Miggery Sow when she was little, but I didn't like her when she got older.

Well written, but not light hearted.......2007-07-03

This is a well written story and very quick to read. Each chapter isonly a few pages long. Making it ideal for kids or are just graduating from their first chapter books into longer books. Desperaux is a mouse with a dream, he is in love with the Princess Pea and due to his innate ability to read and appreaciate a story about a knight, he envisions himself as Pea's knight in shining armor.

Which by the end of the book is ends up b eing, in his own mouse way.

The characters have a sweetness to them, but they all have a great sadness to them as well, it is a darker story than I was originally anticipating from just the story synopsis. While things all get resolved in the end it still isn't exactly a happily ever after.

Beautiful Tale of Strength.......2007-06-30

Every now and then I come across a story that just brings a smile across my face, a story that is heart warming and classic. Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux is one of these stories. The complete title is The Tale of Despereaux: Being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread. It's perfectly illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering.

DiCamillo opens her story with the following beautiful passage:

"The world is dark, and light is precious.
Come closer dear reader.
You must trust me.
I am telling you a story."

And she proceeds to do so. Despereaux Tilling is the only surving member of his mothers litter. His ears are too big, his body is too small, and he is very un-mouselike. Instead of munching on books, Despereaux would rather read them. He reads a fantasy tale of a night in shining armor who rescues a princess and falls in love and then meets his own princess...and he falls in love with her. But he socializes with her when he is not supposed to and is rejected by the other mice. Meanwhile, we meet a rat who loves the light when he should only love the dark of the dungeons, and we meet a young girl named Miggery Sow who has never been asked what she wants and has been rejected and abused by everyone she has known.

What DiCamillo has given to children and adults alike is a story of overcoming boundaries. This is a powerful book. It is a book of finding strength in times of hopelessness, of finding light when there is only darkness. She doesn't sugar coat the world for her young readers. She admits that there is evil in the world and she acknowledges that open faced. But she offers a beacon of hope to youth who can relate to those characters. She teaches us what empathy is in this book, and paints that picture of seeing a situation from a certain person's viewpoint well.

This was a beautiful book and highly entertaining. I was so happy to read a book that faced issues full force and handled them appropriately. As a counselor, I can see this book being used in a therapeutic way as well, and I'm sure it has been. I look forward to reading more of DiCamillo's work. There was an excerpt from The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane at the end of this book, and I think that may be the next book I read of hers.

Average customer rating:

Thriller--not a mystery or detective novel
Mystery
Good but not great: An audiobook review
Good, but with some inconsistencies
Quantity has seriously eclipsed quality

Four Blind Mice
James Patterson
Manufacturer: Vision
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446613266
Release Date: 2003-09-29

Amazon.com

In this latest thriller from perennial bestselling author James Patterson, Washington cop Alex Cross gets involved in his partner's effort to save the life of an old Army buddy who's facing execution for a horrendous and inexplicable murder spree in North Carolina. The Army's evidence against Sergeant Ellis Cooper, a decorated Vietnam vet, is overwhelming, which isn't surprising since it's all been planted by a quartet of killers whose reason for framing the erstwhile hero isn't revealed until long after they are. The big secret is who set the murderers loose, and in true cliffhanger fashion, Patterson keeps it under wraps until the very end. Meanwhile, his usual blend of action, violence, fast pacing and uninspired-though-serviceable prose prevail, and will probably do so all the way to the top of the bestseller lists. --Jane Adams

Book Description

In this latest thriller from perennial bestselling author JamesPatterson, Washington cop Alex Cross gets involved in his partner's effort to save the lifeof an old Army buddy who's facing execution for a horrendous and inexplicablemurder spree in North Carolina. The Army's evidence against Sergeant EllisCooper, a decorated Vietnam vet, is overwhelming, which isn't surprising sinceit's all been planted by a quartet of killers whose reason for framing theerstwhile hero isn't revealed until long after they are. The big secret is whoset the murderers loose, and in true cliffhanger fashion, Patterson keeps itunder wraps until the very end. Meanwhile, his usual blend of action, violence,fast pacing and uninspired-though-serviceable prose prevail, and will probablydo so all the way to the top of the bestseller lists. --Jane Adams

Customer Reviews:

Thriller--not a mystery or detective novel.......2007-07-14

The mystery/detective novel was a rather pure form in its earlier days. The focus was not on the murder itself and the detailed agony of the victim. In fact, the crime was disposed of rather quickly. The story was how the detective, through investigation and logic, revealed the murderer. There was no sex, no outright violence and certainly no sadism.

Somewhere along the line the detective novel evolved into the "thriller," in which the theme ranged far and wide. In most novels by James Patterson there is a pervasive vein of sadism, as there is in "Four Blind Mice." Ex-rangers from the U.S. Army, men who had fought in Viet Nam, continue their killing for hire and for pleasure in America. The sadism is very detailed and has nothing to do with the plot itself. For example, there is a lengthy and gruesome description of how the rangers tortured and killed a woman suspected of being Viet Cong. Perhaps it is to show that the men were not nice fellows, but the fact that they murdered people at all should establish that.

The detectives who trail the killers are bedroom hoppers, narrated with rather specific detail. Again, the sex has nothing to do with the plot, with tracking down the killers. One has to suspect that the sex is to titilate the sort of reader who can be titilated or manipulated by this.

The actual plot is not of much interest, nor is how the criminals were caught. What sells the Patterson books is the violence, the sadism, the sex--and short chapters for those with short attention spans. And because of this, I suspect the Patterson books will not be long remembered. Readers still read Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Philo Vance, etc., and they will be doing so when the Cross books are in the dustbin.

Mystery .......2007-07-03

Alex Cross the mystery solver. Great read. Fast moving and exciting. Never go wrong with James Patterson reading

Good but not great: An audiobook review.......2007-05-04

After reading a few reviews, it sounds like the audio version actually helps the story a bit. The two narrators are both quite good, with the exception that some of the bad guys sound too much like one another.

I am glad to get back to the world of Alex Cross. I have read or heard 3 other Patterson books this year and have been sorely disappointed with two. I only liked one (Jester) and I was looking forward to getting back to comfortable ground with Alex Cross.

The strength of Patterson's Cross books is the realistic conversations - the rhythms, cadences, colloquialisms and vocabulary sound right. They sound so right that I am reminded of a personal story. Way back before Patterson's picture was plastered all over the back of every one of his books, I used to work in a used book store. The Alex Cross books started filtering in and Mrs. Rivers, the assistant manager and an elderly African-American woman (also an avid mystery/thriller reader) placed Patterson's books in the African-American authors section. She was shocked when a book came in with his face on the back. She commented that she never would have believed that a white man could have pulled that off so well. He still pulls it off.

However, the story flows in a herky-jerky manner. Sampson and Cross gleen clues from things that should not provide clues. For example, while in Raleigh, NC investigating an old ritualistic multiple murder, they hear that a single prostitute was killed. No details are provided of the prostitute's murder, but still they know it is connected. How?

Patterson is intent on moving the personal lives of Cross and Sampson forward. That is appropriate. At times, though, it felt as if that was the only part of the story he really put a lot of thought into. The rest seemed to be rather sloppily tossed in there - the connections were loose, characters are introduced than dropped.

So, my grade: B-

Good conversation. Like the characters. My suggestion: Slow down "James Patterson, Inc." and take the time to work out some of the kinks and make these books better.

Good, but with some inconsistencies.......2007-04-07

I picked this up at an airport before an international flight. I've read a few Patterson books recently. This was not quite as good as some of the others. Part of the problem might have been me reading them out of chronological order (this is another Alex Cross book). I didn't really care for the ending. There also seemed to be some technical and story inconsistencies.

Quantity has seriously eclipsed quality.......2007-01-23

While I have read numerous books by James Patterson, only a few have been part of his "Alex Cross" series. The Cross books have a mechanical, mass-produced feel to them. However, with Patterson churning out something like 5-6 books a year, that's hardly a surprise. I don't mind someone being prolific, but it's almost gotten to where he should open up a chain of drive-through windows and donate a portion of his profits to re-seeding forests. We're getting true pulp fiction of the distinctly hastily-written-and-not-well-researched variety. There isn't nearly the attention to detail in these novels as in, say, a Michael Connelly crime thriller. There were also way too many implausibilities in this book for me to take it very seriously - even as fanciful entertainment.

The "four blind mice" in this book are three Army Rangers who served together in Vietnam (and a fourth 'mouse' that is revealed at the end of the book). Upon their return, the 3 continue to kill for both profit - as contract hit men - and fun (they're deranged "good 'ol boys" who truly get their kicks from killing even when no money is involved). But the amount of killing they do - and their complete lack of caution to keep from being caught - simply defies reason. These guys would have been caught within a week by even the most dysfunctional police force in the country. And they're supposed to be "professionals"? Uh, right.

A few examples:

1. They abduct a prostitute, let her out in the woods, and then "hunt her down" for sport before killing her. Just as they are about to start their hunt after releasing her, a police cruiser stops to ask the 3 men what they are doing on the side of the road with their lights off. They give an answer that satisfies the cop and he drives off. There is NO WAY that when the prostitute's body was later found, the cop wouldn't have tied it to the 3 guys on the side of the road and launched a major manhunt.

2. Another cop later pulls them over and they shoot him. Then, one of them gets in the car and simply drives it into the bushes on the side of the road to hide it. No attempt to even wear gloves before touching the inside of the cop car or the steering wheel.

3. The men go to a house full of call-girls and kill everyone inside. Again, no attempt to conceal fingerprints on doorknobs, clothes, furniture, etc.

Professional killers are simply not this cavalier when it comes to covering their tracks. With such huge deficiencies in the details, it was awfully hard to take Mr. Patterson's fiction seriously in this book. It was like these characters had been on one continuous joy ride / killing spree for the last 20 years without getting caught. With guys this back-slapping careless? I'm sorry, it just ain't gonna happen.

To be honest, there wasn't much here in the way of either mystery or thrill. In fact, the only real mystery is where Cross's long-distance romance with Jamilla is going to eventually end up.

Will I continue to read books by this author? Yes, but I won't generally expect too much from them - especially the crime thrillers. I enjoyed his recent books more in the genre of Nicholas Sparks better. One was called "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and the other "Sam's Letters to Jennifer." Because they didn't rely on much of anything requiring research or technical detail - just books about human relationships - they were far better and far more plausible reads.

Patterson has the imagination to tell some very good stories. The problem is usually in the execution, not the story itself. I'm afraid quantity is definitely eclipsing quality as he attempts to churn out a book every few months. I'm not sure what's driving him to produce books like a machine gun - he's certainly made his millions with so many bestsellers and several movies. In fact, his books have grossed over $1 billion - so you do the math. It's astronomical even if he gets only 10% of that. One would think that as he near retirement age and with all his success, he'd take the advice that Nana constantly gives to Alex Cross in this book: slow down, don't work so much, and don't be so driven. I'd certainly like him to slow down enough to write better books.

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Atlas of Mouse Development
Matthew H. Kaufman
Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

The Anatomical Basis of Mouse Development
Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual
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ASIN: 0124020356

Book Description

Not since the early 1970s has there been an attempt to describe and illustrate the anatomy of the developing mouse embryo. More than ever such material is needed by biologists as they begin to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying development and differentiation. After more than ten years of painstaking work, Matt Kaufman has completed The Atlas of Mouse Development--the definitive account of mouse embryology and development.
For all those researching or studying mammalian development, The Atlas of Mouse Development will be the standard reference work for many years to come.

Key Features
* Provides a comprehensive sequential account of the development of the mouse from pre-implantation to term
* Contains clear and concise descriptions of the anatomical features relevant to each stage of development
* Large format for easy use
* Contains explanatory notes and legends, and more than 180 meticulously labeled plates, 1,300 photographs of individual histological sections, and 200 electron micrographs, illustrating:
* Intermittent serial histological sections through embryos throughout embryogenesis and organogenesis
* Differentiation of specific organs and organ systems, including the spinal cord, eyes, gonads, kidneys, lungs and skeletal system
* External appearance of intact embryos throughout development

Average customer rating:

LOVE THIS BOOK!
Henkes has done it again!
A wonderful book
Lily's purple purse is wonderful
Lilly`s Purple Plastic Purse

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Manufacturer: Greenwillow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Chrysanthemum
Lilly's Big Day
Fancy Nancy
Owen (Caldecott Honor Book)
Julius, the Baby of the World

ASIN: 0688128971

Product Description

Lilly, the star of Chester's Way and Julius, the Baby of the World, is back. This time she has her name in the title which is something she's wanted all along. If you thought Lilly was funny before, you are in for a treat. Lilly can't wait for you to find out more about her. Lilly loves school. One Monday she came to school especially happy because she had a brand new purple plastic purse.

Amazon.com

The irrepressible mouse heroine of Chester's Way and Julius, the Baby of the World returns for another true-to-life and very funny episode. Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger--until he takes away her musical purse because she can't stop playing with it in class. Lilly decides to get revenge with a nasty drawing of "Big Fat Mean Mr. Stealing Teacher!" but when she finds the kind note he put in her purse, she's filled with remorse and has to find a way to make things right again. Children will sympathize with Lilly's impulsive mistake and laugh uproariously at the witty and expressive pictures of the very human mice. In a starred review, Publisher's Weekly called this book "sympathetic and wise." (Ages 4 to 8)

Customer Reviews:

LOVE THIS BOOK!.......2007-08-23

This is an awesome book! I use it every year in my 2nd grade class!

Henkes has done it again!.......2007-07-21

Lily will grab your student's attention, or capture your grandchild's heart! Be prepared to search to locate red cowboy boots and a purple plastic purse for those who are deeply attached to this character. (I found both on e-bay!)

A wonderful book.......2007-07-03

By Ellie

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is good for all ages. Lilly, a cute little mouse, loves her new teacher, Mr. Slinger. She goes shopping and gets a new purse. She can't wait to show Mr. Slinger her new gifts. She is a little too excited and gets in trouble. In this book Kevin Henkes is very descriptive and creative in the writing and the pictures. It pulls you in and you can't wait to find out what's going to happen next. The problem of the story and how it resolves itself is very interesting. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is a wonderful book.

Lily's purple purse is wonderful.......2007-05-18

My daughter really enjoyed this book. We purchased this and Chrysanthemum and she loves both. I have read these over and over again. This is a cute tail about Lily and her new toy and how she gets in trouble trying to show off her toys in class. It has wonderful detailed artwork and the storyline is very enjoyable.

Lilly`s Purple Plastic Purse.......2007-05-08

Mae White

I read the book Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. The reason I would recommend this book is so people could decide if they like it even though I didn't. I didn't like this book because Lilly was mean. In the book I read that Lilly was writing mean stuff to her teacher just because the teacher took her stuff away when she wasn't supposed to have it in school. This convinced me that it was not a good book.

Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual

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The New Testament?

Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual

Manufacturer: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0879695919

Book Description

Regarded as the "Bible" of mammalian embryo manipulation techniques since the 1986 publication of the first edition of Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual, the third edition of this essential laboratory resource has now been completely reorganized, rewritten, and updated by a new cast of authors. The result is a compilation of new, cutting-edge protocols that include embryonic stem cell production and genetic manipulation, mouse chimeras, mouse cloning, assisted reproduction strategies (including intracytoplasmic sperm injection and in vitro fertilization), whole embryo culture systems, electroporation, embryo and gamete cryopreservation and rederivation, and gene expression, as well as more extensive background information on the use of these techniques. The "gold standard" techniques for applying recombinant DNA technology to investigations of mammalian embryonic development included in the first two editions of this book are also updated and recast, as is the summary of the current state of understanding of mouse development at the molecular level. This book is the premier authoritative and comprehensive source of technical and theoretical guidance for mouse developmental biologists and geneticists and is an essential resource for newcomers to these fields.

Customer Reviews:

The New Testament?.......2004-01-20

A definitive summary of mouse development and simple, concise proven protocols. This is the best publication there is for this kind of work. It's much better than the 2nd, ed. I wish it had more of a troubleshooting focus, but I guess if you are in this line of work, you should be able to figure out problems yourself, or query the tg list.... I like how there are alternative strategies mentioned depending on how your lab is equiped (or not).

International Classification of Rodent Tumours. The Mouse

Average customer rating:

Excellent Resource

International Classification of Rodent Tumours. The Mouse

Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Histopathology of Preclinical Toxicity Studies, Third Edition: Interpretation and Relevance in Drug Safety Evaluation
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Cytokines in the Genesis and Treatment of Cancer (Cancer Drug Discovery and Development)
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Molecular Genetics, Mouse Models and Targeted Therapy (Current Topics in Microbiology and Immunology)
Regional Cancer Therapy (Cancer Drug Discovery and Development)

ASIN: 3540645780

Book Description

Regulatory authorities worldwide still depend greatly upon and require long-term animal test results. To improve the reliability of interpretation of such results, a standardized nomenclature for the lesions observed in the tests is essential. Scientists from both academia and industry in many countries have closely cooperated to arrive at a consensus on the descriptions of all the types of tumour and pre-neoplastic lesions encountered in laboratory mice. The series of fascicles should provide information and guidelines especially adapted for international use in practical toxicologic pathology. Images showing the typical appearance of the discussed lesions and references to the most recently published papers complete the presented information.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2001-09-04

This is one of the best books in the field that I have seen. It is a comprehensive classification of tumors in mice. Figures are excellent. The international authors are the leading authorities. It is well worth the price!

Laboratory Hamsters (American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine)

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Laboratory Hamsters (American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine)

Manufacturer: Academic Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0127141650

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