The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Amazon.com

Jeannette Walls's father always called her "Mountain Goat" and there's perhaps no more apt nickname for a girl who navigated a sheer and towering cliff of childhood both daily and stoically. In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father. To call the elder Walls's childrearing style laissez faire would be putting it mildly. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing (wearing shoes held together with safety pins; using markers to color her skin in an effort to camouflage holes in her pants) to the horrific (being told, after a creepy uncle pleasured himself in close proximity, that sexual assault is a crime of perception; and being pimped by her father at a bar). Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover. --Brangien Davis

Book Description

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

TO INQUIRE ABOUT SCHEDULING JEANNETTE WALLS FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS PLEASE CONTACT:

Keppler Speakers

Dustin L. Jones

Associate, College & University Division

703.516.4000 (P)

703.516.4819 (F)

Customer Reviews:

Dysfunction.......2007-10-15

I normally don't read memoirs, but a friend passed this book along and she said it was a good read...

The complete dysfunction of this family was described with such detail... It really makes you appreciate things like indoor plumbing, and mattresses.... Oh yes and the fact that we eat FOOD not only once a day but MANY times a day. I can't imagine allowing my children to suffer the way Jeannette's mother did. This book wasn't written way back when they did without, but rather a modern day current event taking place in the 70's to now.... I really had to just keep reading because I couldn't wait to see what this family would next...

One of the best!.......2007-10-14

This book is definitely one of THE best memoirs I've read. I had a hard time putting it down and the characters remained with me long after I finished reading. I don't want to give away too much but I will say I'm very glad I didn't have parents like Rex & Rose. At first I found their "adventures" endearing but later I found them extremely selfish and neglectful. It's a good thing Jeannette became a success despite her childhood. This book is one I'd HIGHLY recommend.

Courageous and haunting.......2007-10-14

This book was recommended by a friend, and I found I could not put it down. Jeanette Walls has become successful despite an early life filled with trauma and struggle. This memoir courageously tells a story of brutal survival, and Jeanette's ability to tell it without bitterness is impressive.

Emotionally and physically abandoned by selfish parents who were not fit to be raising them, these children relied on themselves for all the basic needs of life. This father is a raging alcoholic with no sense of responsiblity, and the mother is obviously metally disturbed. The children could not look to extended family for rescue either, as they were no better. I was horrified when Dad thought he would make Jeanette part of a "team" to hustle victims in a pool hall, and at what he thought was acceptable. With this kind of betrayal, it is amazing that Jeannette can reach back into her childhood and find touching memories, such as being given a planet as a gift.

I think of this story often, and will remember it forever.

compelling read.......2007-10-11

I sometimes found it hard to believe that this is entirely factual, but regardless it is an amazing story...so touching and well told. Fantastic and well written...another great page-turner

The Glass Castle.......2007-10-11

The Glass Castle was a very interesting book. The author kept you pinned to the story just in-case you might miss some of it.
You also has a hate/love relationship with her parents. They on the surface seemed very educated and spent endless time with the children and yet they could not look after their children correctly. They were selfish and sometimes very mean.
Jeannette is a loving warm person and did not display any bitterness towards her parents.
I met her in Richardson and her charming stage presentation left you liking her more and more.
I have recommended this book to everyone I meet.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

One of my favorites
Inspiring
Oh, wow...
almost the same...
Not The Same At The Movie Storyline, Characters, etc.

Howl's Moving Castle
Diana Wynne Jones
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Castle in the Air
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The Art of Howl's Moving Castle

ASIN: 006441034X
Release Date: 2001-08-07

Book Description

In the land of Ingary, such things as spells, invisible cloaks, and seven-league boots were everyday things. The Witch of the Waste was another matter.

After fifty years of quiet, it was rumored that the Witch was about to terrorize the country again. So when a moving black castle, blowing dark smoke from its four thin turrets, appeared on the horizon, everyone thought it was the Witch. The castle, however, belonged to Wizard Howl, who, it was said, liked to suck the souls of young girls.

The Hatter sisters--Sophie, Lettie, and Martha--and all the other girls were warned not to venture into the streets alone. But that was only the beginning.

In this giant jigsaw puzzle of a fantasy, people and things are never quite what they seem. Destinies are intertwined, identities exchanged, lovers confused. The Witch has placed a spell on Howl. Does the clue to breaking it lie in a famous poem? And what will happen to Sophie Hatter when she enters Howl's castle?

Diana Wynne Jones's entrancing fantasy is filled with surprises at every turn, but when the final stormy duel between the Witch and the Wizard is finished, all the pieces fall magically into place.

Customer Reviews:

One of my favorites.......2007-10-13

What a great book. I couldn't put it down. The movie follows it fairly close. It is funny, sad, happy, and has a happy ending for everyone. I just loved it.

Inspiring.......2007-09-29

Diana Wynne Jones is an amazing story teller. You will absolutely fall in love with her characters in this wonderful world of magic and wizards. If you saw Hayao Miyazaki's animated interpertation of this story, you will love the book just as much. Possibly more!

Oh, wow..........2007-09-17

I saw the movie and adored it. But then I read the book and realized just how much the movie left out....nuances, complexities of characters and emotion. The book is truly wondrous and tickles the imagination in ways you wouldn't believe. Not to be missed, especially if you enjoyed the movie. For all ages.

almost the same..........2007-09-16

I watched the movie first and was later prompted to read the novel since the movie had unanswered questions here and there. To my surprise, there are a lot of parts in the book that were not in the movie. The book did not mention a war and Sophie was more bitter. However, it did clear up any misunderstandinds from the movie which is why I bought the book in the first place.

Not The Same At The Movie Storyline, Characters, etc........2007-08-31

Good read by a good author of fantasy. BUT, this book's storyline, characters & plot is not the same as the famous animae movie "Howl's Castle." I bought the book thinking it was a novel version of the movie's story and I was disappointed. Jones has invented a new kind of Cindarella fantasy wizard-type story. Though the storyline meanders, a few of the characters, especially the secondary characters, are vague, the book was worth reading. Believe me, the settings, storyline, characters, plot, etc., are beautifully & fully fleshed out in the animae movie version. Hayao Miyazaki is a genius!

Average customer rating:

Yawn.
Overall very nice for a first-time Munro reader
Independent Stories that Fit Together
She is a master!.
I usually love Munro

The View from Castle Rock: Stories
Alice Munro
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Carried Away: A Selection of Stories (Everyman's Library)
Moral Disorder: and Other Stories
After This
The Lay of the Land (Vintage Contemporaries)
Suite Francaise

ASIN: 1400042828
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Book Description

A powerful new collection from one of our most beloved, admired, and honored writers.

In stories that are more personal than any that she’s written before, Alice Munro pieces her family’s history into gloriously imagined fiction. A young boy is taken to Edinburgh’s Castle Rock, where his father assures him that on a clear day he can see America, and he catches a glimpse of his father’s dream. In stories that follow, as the dream becomes a reality, two sisters-in-law experience very different kinds of passion on the long voyage to the New World; a baby is lost and magically reappears on a journey from an Illinois homestead to the Canadian border.

Other stories take place in more familiar Munro territory, the towns and countryside around Lake Huron, where the past shows through the present like the traces of a glacier on the landscape and strong emotions stir just beneath the surface of ordinary comings and goings. First love flowers under the apple tree, while a stronger emotion presents itself in the barn. A girl hired as summer help, and uneasy about her “place” in the fancy resort world she’s come to, is transformed by her employer’s perceptive parting gift. A father whose early expectations of success at fox farming have been dashed finds strange comfort in a routine night job at an iron foundry. A clever girl escapes to college and marriage.

Evocative, gripping, sexy, unexpected—these stories reflect a depth and richness of experience. The View from Castle Rock is a brilliant achievement from one of the finest writers of our time.

Customer Reviews:

Yawn........2007-09-10

Very disappointing and tedious! The only person THIS interested in Alice Munro's ancestors is...Alice Munro.

Overall very nice for a first-time Munro reader.......2007-03-17

I cannot compare "The View from Castle Rock" to other works by Alice Munro. This is my first. The quality is excellent. There is not a weak entry among the stories. However, one must assume that this is not one of her elite collections, as the stories don't leap out as something that would qualify her as one of the very best writers. Perhaps it is the family history and autobiographical nature of the collection, as they don't provide an opportunity for fresh, creative ideas or inventive characterizations. With the background a relative given, Ms. Munro still writes beautifully and the stories flow so easily, much as if she were telling you them personally.

"Working for a Living" is exceptional, with its insight into her parents and a look at the spartan existence and struggle to get by that dominated the lives of her family and the rural poor and near-poor. Once the stories moved to Canada and more recent generations, the window into the daily grind and the ambition to rise above it may actually be considered the main theme. The window was both direct, as in her parents' jobs, or indirect, as in the fine segment where teenaged Alice worked for the summer as a maid for a wealthy family. The author moves easily between detached observation of the world around her and deep emotional attachment to the very same people and society.

Even though to a wealthy family or one more middle class, the characters in the second section may appear relatively homogeneous, one can see the class distinctions, at least as envisioned by the Laidlaws. Some people seemed content with their "place", whereas others, such as her family, wanted more, tried for more, and showed intellectual spark. Alice's summer as a maid naturally showed that the distinctions at home were relatively modest, when compared to the wealthy. Even so, it's not surprising that young Alice rose to a higher level as an adult, beyond just the much-risen tide of post-war Canadian life.

This collection is probably not the best primer for Alice Munro. The second part of the book reads more like excerpts from a memoir than her traditional "short stories". My interest has been piqued by these fine stories, and I will seek out another of her works.

Independent Stories that Fit Together.......2007-02-22

The art of short story writing is by no means dead. Looking at the stacks of new books and best sellers in a book store today would give you the impression that everything belongs to the full length novel. Alice Munro has created almost a new form of writing. She specializes in short stories that kind of fit together to tell a more complete story of her life.

The stories in this book definitely fall into that category. They are individual stories, complete and independent, but taken together seem to represent what has happened to a person going through life and growing up.

In the second part of this book, called 'Home' Ms. Munro has said that they had not been published before because they were too personal. This book, along with her other ten collections of short stories and one novel represent a body of work that isn't exactly autobiographical but which seem to represent her life.

She is a master!........2007-02-11

Alice Munro is a master, and The View from Castle Rock contains some of her weakest writing as well as some of her strongest. The section "Home" is brilliant, and makes you feel this chill of Canada via Scotland, via Munro's tightly wound characters. the character Irmla may be my favorite fictional character of the last decade. I recommend this book for completists, but may not be the best introduction to Munro, "The Beggar Maid" is a better place to start. This book is still eminently worthwhile--the lady can't write a bad sentence.

I usually love Munro.......2007-02-02

But I could barely get through thirty pages of The View from Castle Rock. It is achingly slow, confusing, and loaded with dry, historical details. I couldn't tell what was real family history and what Munro had imagined, and I didn't much care. There was too much rambling, boring narrative here for me -- a real disappointment.

Average customer rating:

Sequel Success
Not quite as strong as Howl's Moving Castle but a worthy sequel!
A perfectly delightful "sequel" to Howl's
Half sequel, half spin-off
Lovely book! Great fun!

Castle in the Air
Diana Wynne Jones
Manufacturer: Eos
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064473457
Release Date: 2001-08-07

Book Description

Abdullah was a young and not very prosperous carpet dealer. His father, who had been disappointed in him, had left him only enough money to open a modest booth in the Bazaar. When he was not selling carpets, Abdullah spent his time daydreaming. In his dreams he was not the son of his father, but the long-lost son of a prince. There was also a princess who had been betrothed to him at birth. He was content with his life and his daydreams until, one day, a stranger sold him a magic carpet.

In this stunning sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones has again created a large-scale, fast-paced fantasy in which people and things are never quite what they seem. There are good and bad djinns, a genie in a bottle, wizards, witches, cats and dogs (but are they cats and dogs?), and a mysterious floating castle filled with kidnapped princesses, as well as two puzzling prophecies. The story speeds along with tantalizing twists and turns until the prophecies are fulfilled, true identities are revealed, and all is resolved in a totally satisfying, breathtaking, surprise-filled ending.

Customer Reviews:

Sequel Success.......2007-09-29

The sequel to Howl's Moving Castle, takes you to another part of the world. South of Ingary is the country known as Zanzib where a humble carpet merchant name Abdullah daydreams of amazing gardens and a beautiful princess. When the purchase of a flying carpet makes his dreams come true, Abdullah finds himself far above the safety of Earth in a castle in the sky, to steal back his beloved from a frightening djinn!
Miss Jones also brings back a few characters from her previous story to help the new characters in their journey. Highly recommended!

Not quite as strong as Howl's Moving Castle but a worthy sequel!.......2007-08-07

Shortly in to reading The Castle in the Air you will see that it has taken a few pages from One Thousand and One Nights, also know as One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. Who is this guy? Aladdin? No, but interestingly similar!

We are introduced to a cast of new characters in a country quite distant from the home of Howl and Sophie. However, the new cast is charming and easy to like and the familiarity of the story is quite enjoyable, especially when Jones throws in a few twists and the tale we thought we could predict spins out of control.

And what of Howl and Sophie? I'm sure potential readers are dieing to know. Yes, they're still here and show up in some unexpected places. Wizard Suliman and Lette show up and work some interesting magic as well!

The ending feels a little rushed, not unlike Howl's Moving Castle. The details are also more loose in this book and it lacks some of the complicated pieces that made Howl's Moving Castle so wonderful. But the story was wonderful and whimsical and a very enjoyable read. If you enjoyed the first book you will also fall for the sequel.

A perfectly delightful "sequel" to Howl's.......2007-03-21

Don't you just love it when you start reading a book and can't put it down? The pages fly by as you get sucked into it. Happens to me whenever I pick up one of Jones' books. I've never read any fantasy that is so deliciously clever and truly imaginative, really full of surprises and twists and turns in every chapter. This book is the "sequel" to the beloved Howl's Moving Castle, but with all the characters' identities hidden. More than that, it plays as a nice opposite to the themes of the first. While HMC dealt with Sophie gaining an attitude and strength of will, the male hero here (Abdullah) is mostly successful because he doesn't have an attitude; instead he is overly polite and complimentary. Abdullah is a carpet salesman who spends his days imagining a more exciting life of riches and a beautiful princess (get the title?). One day, his dreams start to become true with the purchase of a magic flying carpet and meeting the princess of his dreams, who is then stolen from him. Abdullah has to chase down the djinn who--by order of his evil, but not very smart brother--has stolen her and all the princesses of the world. Abdullah is "joined" by an irritable genie who curses all his wishes, a cat-obsessed wily old soldier, and a magical black cat and her kitten. Just a great, wonderfully told, absolutely clever and unpredictable fairy tale. Grade: A+

Half sequel, half spin-off.......2007-02-09

Castle in the Air is the story of Abdullah, a well off carpet dealer who loves to dream about better times, who ends up getting a flying carpet. The flying carpet gives him the girl of his dreams, which gets him into trouble, which he escapes from. But by escaping one danger he jumps into another greater one. And so on.
The book is a sequel in that Howl and the rest of the characters from Howl's Moving Castle do show up. In fact they are in the background, sometimes right in front of us, part of the cause and effect of much of the story. But the focus is kept on Abdullah, Flower-in-the-Night and main characters of this story.
One of the major points of Howl's Moving Castle was the great interaction between the characters which seemed to me to be missing in this book. Maybe because everybody is always on the move or what little interaction there was seemed weak.

Lovely book! Great fun!.......2007-01-06

This book is the sequal to "Howl's Moving Castle," which has fast become one of my favorite books. "Castle in the Air" is different from the original book in several ways, but it is every bit as good. The main character and the setting are completely different: rather than the European-like Ingary you find yourself in a land that resembles old Arabia. Be assured that you will meet Howl and Sophie again, but much later in the book. It is filled with little phrase-gems (my term for singular and whimsical ways of expressing ideas) such as Lettie's "interesting condition." All in all, it is like a combination of "Arabian Nights," "The Scarlet Pimpernel," (one of my favorite books ever) and "The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha" (another of my favorite books). Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

excellant combination
Another World
Harmony
Not a reprint of Amaryllis or Zinnia
An excellent read!

Harmony (Ghost Hunters)
Jayne Castle
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

Gothic | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Amaryllis
Orchid

ASIN: 0425184773
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Book Description

Harmony is a planet in the far future, aglow with an amber light and the psychic energy of its inhabitants. It is here that Jayne Castle casts her spell-over the men and women brave enough to love in a world unlike any we have ever seen before. In this unforgettable volume are two very enchanting tales set on Harmony...

After Dark...The New York Times bestselling novel of romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. A para-archaeologist and one of the most dangerous men on the planet heat up a murder investigation with a passion that cannot be extinguished-or denied...

Bridal Jitters...From the national bestselling anthology, Charmed. An official marriage-of-convenience between paranormal business partners is almost called off-because of love.

"Jayne Castle, one of the pioneers of the futuristic sub-genre, continues to set the standard against which all other such books are judged." (Affaire de Coeur)

"Writing under Jayne Castle, Jayne Ann Krentz takes her trademark combination of witty, upbeat action, lively sensuality, and appealing characters to [a] unique, synergistic world." (Library Journal)

Customer Reviews:

excellant combination.......2007-09-04

This is actually the novel "After Dark" with the novella "Bridal Jitters" included. Great stories set on Harmony but not new. "After Glow", "Ghost Hunter", and now "Silver Master" are also set on this world and are all some of her very best writing.

Another World.......2007-02-17

A life in a different world. Mysterious and intreging along with a romantic twist. I was kept wpondering what would happen all through the book. Looking forward to reading other books in in same group.

Harmony.......2006-07-03

Is a reprint of two previous novels, "After Dark" and "Bridal Jitters."

Both were cute. I liked After Dark with Lydia and Emmett although I was disappointed that it followed basically the same premiss as some of ther other Harmony novels in that the two characters end up living together in a small apartment.

Not a reprint of Amaryllis or Zinnia.......2004-03-03

While this book is a reprint of two former excellent works by Jayne Ann Krentz (writing as Jayne Castle) it is NOT Amaryllis or Zinnia. Those two books are set on the fictional planet of St. Helens in the city-state of New Seattle and are part of a trilogy ending with Orchid.

After Dark, the first in the Harmony duo, is the first story in a new series about para-archaeologist Lydia Smith and her mate Emmett London. The second in this series is the newly printed After Glow another excellent futuristic by Castle.
These stories are set on another planet named Harmony.
I recommend these stories highly... if nothing else, read the stories to meet Fuzz :o)

Bridal Jitters is from the former Charmed Anthology... it is also based on Harmony Planet, but is not part of the Lydia Smith series.

An excellent read!.......2003-01-01

Both stories in this book are two of my favorites. After Dark made me fall in love with futuristic romances. I've read it twice and can't get enough!!!

Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z, volume 2

Average customer rating:

Sexy spanking stories selected by Rachel Kramer Bussel for you!
naughty spanking a-z v2 hits the spot
Naughty and Nice - oh My!

Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z, volume 2

Manufacturer: Pretty Things Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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Spanking Tails Vol 2 - A Gallery Girls Book

ASIN: 1576122700
Release Date: 2006-10-19

Book Description

Calling all spanking lovers! Get your hands on the latest, hottest, and sexiest book of spanking erotica around! That's right, Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z is back with a second volume that's even bigger, bolder and full of more intense, heated, no-holds-barred spanking!

Edited by renowned erotic writer Rachel Kramer Bussel, with a racy foreword by Marketplace series author and BDSM speaker Laura Antoniou, Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z Volume 2 will turn you on from the very first page. Starting with Marilyn Jaye Lewis's daring couple who spy on a spanking in "After Hours," through to Radclyffe's "Zocalo Dare," in which another very public spanking leaves a woman whimpering for more, these stories take you on a blistering ride through every permutation of bare-bottomed spanking fun you can have. Spankings with hands, paddles, whips and even shoes! Spankings by strippers, husbands, wives, lovers, strangers, teachers, exes, and bosses. Spanking in public, private, underground, at work, at school and in places you can't even imagine. Spanking as sex, love, punishment, communication, celebration. Spankings that leave the spankee with much more than a sore, tender bottom, giving them new relationships, feelings and discoveries about their deepest desires.

Featuring 30 stories (all of the letters of the alphabet with 4 bonus stories) by such talented authors as Thomas Roche, Simon Sheppard, Kate Dominic, Michele Zipp, Sacchi Green, Tsaurah Litzky, Stan Kent, Brooke Stern, Ashley Lister, Debra Hyde, Gwen Masters, L. Elise Bland, Shanna Germain, Greta Christina and more, Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z Volume 2 is a masterpiece of modern erotic fiction with a special kinky twist.

Customer Reviews:

Sexy spanking stories selected by Rachel Kramer Bussel for you!.......2007-05-11

Ahh... spanking! Who doesn't love spanking? I loved the first book in the series, and was astonished that Rachel Kramer Bussel could top "Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z, Volume 1." I suggest buying them both and keeping them on your nightstand for easy reach and reference. *grin* One story sexier and more erotic than the other. Each a winner, and a very enjoyable and sensual read. RKB has carefully selected authors guaranteed to titillate. There's something in "Naughty Spanking Stories from A to Z, Volume 2" for everyone!

naughty spanking a-z v2 hits the spot.......2007-03-08

Is it possible? Can it be that Naughty Spanking V2 be hotter than V1? You bet your sore red spanked butt it is.

After reading such stories like Chippendale Library Chair I feel as though I need to go and find one to use on my next spanking partner. Then there is After Hours...sizzling made me want to become a voyuer something I've never tried before BUT now I feel as though I must!

There is not one story that will not make your butt or hand envious because you are not a participant. I guarantee Naughty Spanking Stories A-Z V2 will NOT DISAPPOINT.

Naughty and Nice - oh My!.......2007-01-04

I picked this up after seeing that Radclyffe is one of the authors, loved her story and ended up enjoying the others as well.

30 super stories and something for every imagination.

Contributors include -
Jen Cross
Tara Alton
Kate Dominic
Brooke Stern
Radclyffe
Tsaurah Litsky
L. Elise Bland
Shanna Germain
Michele Zipp
Bette Taylor
Gret Christina
Stan Kent
Lisabet Sarai
Rachel Kramer Bussel
Kristina Wright
Ann Blakely
Simon Shepard
Marina Saint
Gwen Masters
Catherine Lundoff
Michelle Houston
Saskia Walker
Nichelle
Sacchi Green
Christpher Pierce
Debra Hyde
Thomas S. Roche
Ashley Lister
Cheryl B.
Marilyn Jaye Lewis

With a foreword from Laura Antoniou, a delightful and entertaining introduction by Rachel Kramer Bussel and biographies of the contributors.

Average customer rating:

Satisfaction plus
3 out of 4 Are Good!
Wonderful collection
Sigh....
Enchanting

Once upon a Castle
Marianne Willman , Ruth Ryan Langan , and Jill Gregory
Manufacturer: Jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0515122416

Book Description

Four enchanting, new tales of castles, spells, and happily-ever-afters... "Spellbound" by Nora Roberts

A bewitchingly beautiful lady casts a thousand-year love spell on the man of her dreams--and unleashes a nightmare that only true love can conquer. "Castle Doom" by Jill Gregory

A Gypsy's prophecy spells love when an unlikely pair join to fight the unltimate evil--and find themselves in their own battle of hearts. "Falcon's Lair" by Ruth Ryan Langan

A young American travels to England to free her father's friend from a fatal curse...and discovers a helping hand from a charming, handsome spirit. "Dragonspell" by Marianne Willman

With the help of a meddling sorceress, a brave young princess sets out to save her kingdom--and wins the heart of a dashing warrior along the way.

Customer Reviews:

Satisfaction plus.......2005-07-05

This book came in a very timely manner and in excellent condition. No complaints...

3 out of 4 Are Good!.......2005-03-25

Once Upon a Castle is a compilation of four stories by four different authors. All have mystical magic included and are set in times of knights, sorceresses, and royal families. Being a Noraholic (die-hard fan of Nora Roberts) I picked up a copy with the purpose of reading her portion of the book and tossing it into the library bin for others to read. Once I started, I decided to read the entire book and not just Nora's story. So here's what I think on each of the tales:

Spellbound by Nora Roberts

A delightful tale that actually is set in modern times with "memories" set back in ancient times of knights and witches. Brynna is an Irish witch. Calin is an American photographer. When Calin was young, he had an active imagination; at least that's what they termed it since he had a friend that no one else saw, and he knew things that he couldn't possibly have experienced (or could he).

Calin once again starts dreaming the dreams of the past and wonders if he's having a nervous breakdown. His parents convince him that he needs a vacation and suggest he go with them to Montana. Before he thinks, he blurts out that he's going to Ireland. He seems to have an agenda that he doesn't even know - he rents a car and drives to an enchanted castle and sees the woman from his dreams. She's gorgeous, she's everything he remembers, and she's Brynna, a witch.

The story gets a bit slow when Brynna is trying to let Calin remember their "past" on his own, all the while battling a wicked witch. The battling of Alasdair is not slow, but the bouncing from past to present is a bit tedious. It seems a legend has it that if Calin doesn't pledge his true love to Brynna within 24 hours (which is exactly 1,000 years since the curse has been enacted), then she must become Alasdair's mate.

The story ends with a clash, lots of magic, and tons of undying love. Ah, yes, a pure romantic, 'happily ever after' type tale.

It's interesting, but not as well developed as I've come to expect from Nora Roberts. It could very well have something to do with the short length of the story (each of these tales runs just under 100 pages). I wish she'd do a rewrite and fully develop the characters and plot - it would make a very interesting full-length book!

Castle Doom by Jill Gregory

This is the first literary work I've read of Jill Gregory and if this story is any indication of her talents, I'll definitely be reading more of her work in the future.

Castle Doom throws us into the middle of a battle over a kingdom. When Marcus, count of a neighboring land, went to talk with Archduke Julian about his reign of terrorism, he was thrown in the dungeon and is now about to be hanged. His sister, Arianne, vows to free him and sends word to Marcus' childhood friend, Nicolas that his life is in jeopardy. Nicolas arrives to rescue his pal and must match wits with his half-brother Julian in order to keep Arianne safe and free Marcus.

This story shows lots of various emotions, ranging from friendship to love to hatred to conceit; it definitely runs the gamut of feelings. It is also filled with humor and you'll find yourself chuckling several times in the short life span of this story.

Again, I wish it could have been lengthened a bit, but it was a quick and very enjoyable reading adventure!

Falcon's Lair by Ruth Ryan Langan

Of the four stories, this is the only one that I really didn't like at all. Felicity, a young American woman, travels to England when she receives a message that her father's old friend needs him. Since her father has recently passed away, she takes it upon herself to go even though she's never met this man, nor does she know what assistance he needs.

Felicity finds herself at the home of Lord Falcon and is thrown into a plot for murder. It is believed that a curse follows the Lords of Falcon's Lair and all of the men are doomed to an early demise. The oldest son of Lord Falcon, Chandler, has been missing in the Amazon jungles; the youngest son, William, was injured in a riding accident and is bedridden and slowing dying; while Lord Falcon shows signs of quickly failing health and his death seems eminent.

Felicity begins to uncover mysteries that surround these events and her life is then in danger. But when someone tries to push her down a staircase, her friendly ghost catches her just in time to save her life. This ghost is Gareth, the first Lord of Falcon's Lair and he appears to Felicity to point her in the right directions to help her solve the crimes. Not only is he a ghost, but he shape changes into a Falcon and flies off frequently.

The part that I don't like, or understand, is how a woman can fall in love with and have a romantic interlude with a ghost. Yes, it happened and I'm still shaking my head and wondering how and why. The story line is weak and contrived. The characters are well described and you can see the mental pictures clearly. Even with that clarity, I shook my head and wondered. This was a stretch for even my imagination!

Then there's the ending. You can see this one coming for miles and when it does finally get there, it's boring and anti-climatic. There's little imagination as to the plot and I would definitely recommend that you skip this short story altogether!

Dragonspell by Marianne Willman

This story showed a lot of humor along with the romance, which kept it from being predictable and made it highly enjoyable.

Princess Tressalara found her kingdom under attack and her father murdered by his top knight, Lector. She fled before she was forced to marry Lector and as she was planning her overthrow, she ran into Cador of Kildore, the most feared knight in the land. Since Tressalara is dressed as a young lad, Kildore at first believes the ruse and takes her to the camp as another sworn to help overthrow the villain Lector. Once he realizes exactly who Tressalara is, it's too late to keep from losing his heart to her.

Princess Tressalara is the ultimate in the fairy tale princesses - she's beautiful, kind hearted, and devoted to her subjects. Cador of Kildore, is the ultimate in knights - he's gorgeous, proud and brave. Yes, it was truly a perfect match.

The humor comes in with a subplot of two sorcerers and their ineptness. One is assigned to Cador and the other to Tressalara. In their attempts to help their humans remain safe, they have a series of mishaps that are hilarious. They turn themselves into frogs, into swans, and into mice. They spit at each other, and snipe at each other, but they always try to do what's best for their humans. It was a truly fun way to keep the reader glued to her chair and turning those pages as fast as she could read! This was a fun sideline.

If this humor and excellent weaving of a story line is any indication of Marianne Willman's writing abilities, then I'll definitely find more of her work.

My Conclusion

Three of the four stories were very good which makes the book definitely worth reading. I'd suggest skipping over Falcon's Lair but read and enjoy the others. The best part of anthologies such as this is when you get the book because of an author you really like and then you're introduced to new authors that you enjoy. Because of Once Upon a Castle I now have two more writers to read!

Wonderful collection.......2005-03-10

I had already read the Nora Roberts Spellbound in another book, but the additional stories were absolutely wonderful. I am glad I bought the book. Now I want all of the Once Upon books!

Sigh...........2003-10-15

I have to admit, this is my favorite of the series. So far I've read all but the newest one (i'm working on it). I feel that the writing in this one is a little more interesting and thought out than the other books, but I would recommend it. All four authors have really pulled together a book where romance is just sweet enough (with some passion in the mix). Take it from me, I'm 19 and I love these books, so anyone should enjoy them.

Enchanting.......2003-08-11

I admit, I like this better than Once Upon a Rose. These four stories are very well-written.

Roberts' Spellbound was...nice. But I would have to say that it was the worst story in the lot. Calin travels to Ireland to meet Bryna, who he'd been seeing in his dreams since he was born. They were lovers, or they were the reincarnations of lovers, a thousand years ago and he must go back in order to save her and their love. I'm just a bit surprised that they would find that they love each other in a day.

Gregory's Castle Doom was nice. Arianne's brother was kidnapped and his castle sieged. It turn's out that their distant cousin Julian is planning to spread his rule. Arianne knows that the only one who could help her is the exiled Nicholas, Julian's older half-brother. I liked the ending because everything is solved. And Nicholas gains back the kingdom he was born to rule. I'd say this was my favorite of the four.

Langan's Falcon's Lair...was ok, but a bit weird in the end. It started out fair enough and the rest of the story was well-written. Felicity travels to England in order to help his father's old friend, who is under a "curse". When she arrived, she met a spirit...that of the first lord of Falcon's Lair. They fall in love...even though they know there is no hope. He dies (I don't know how because he's already dead) while protecting her. And she finds "him" again in the current lord's oldest son, Chandler. Which is why I'm iffy about this story...I personally think she's transferring her love from Gareth (the first lord and spirit) to Chandler...and is that real love? But then none of the stories are based in reality, so I accept it.

Willman's Dragonspell is somewhat like Castle Doom in that both involve princesses trying to gain back their castle and kingdom. Except in this one, Tressalara teams up with a rebel. She is headstrong and feels that she doesn't need a man to rule her kingdom wisely. One of her late father's advisors overthrows and rules...killing her father himself. Tressalara disguises as a boy to find Cador, the rebel. Together with the power of the Andun Stone, they try to overthrow the evil advisor and his wizard.

Goblins in the Castle (Minstrel Book)
Average customer rating:

14 Year Later, Still A Great Tale

Fantastic Story!

Goblins in the Castle

The Goblins in the Castle

Goblins in the Castle

Goblins in the Castle (Minstrel Book)
Bruce Coville
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Skull of Truth: A Magic Shop Book

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ASIN: 0671727117

Book Description

What moans at midnight in Toad-in-a-Cage Castle?

Toad-in-a-Cage Castle was filled with secrets -- secrets such as the hidden passages that led to every room, the long stairway that wound down to the dungeon, and the weird creature named Igor who lived there. But it was the mysterious night noises that bothered William the most -- the strange moans that drifted through the halls of the castle where he was raised.

He wanted to know what caused them.

Then one night he found out....

Customer Reviews:

14 Year Later, Still A Great Tale.......2007-01-31

I first purchased this book when I was seven years old at a school book fair because I was raised by my father on The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings and the cover, title and description looked cool.

I remember vividly being in second grade and being absolutely tantalized by the day or two it took for me to finish it. It was just a wonderful tale of charming adventure that immediately struck the right chord with me. I'm 21 years old now and I still find myself taking time every year or so to pick up the very copy of the book I purchased when I was 7 to re-aquaint myself with the characters and the adventure and the feeling of being so completely absorbed with a story that can't really be captured beyond grammar school levels that the rest of the world doesn't matter.

This book has stood the test of time for me. It served as a fantastical escape when I was a wee lad and can still provide that exact same charm now as I finish college that I don't believe I'll ever be able to find anywhere else.

Stellar book that will do nothing but encourage young people to read; it's something that's really needed today.

Fantastic Story!.......2007-01-10

I read this book to my fourth grade students every year. The storyline is exciting and enjoyable for students of all backgrounds. Bruce Coville writes this novel in a way that keeps the children engaged and always wanting more. Each chapter ends with a "cliffhanger", leading to choruses of "Read more! Read more!" The characters in this story are well-loved by myself, and my current and former students. They are all able to sing Igor's bear bopping song long after the last word is read. This is an absolutely fantastic book~one of Bruce Coville's best!

Goblins in the Castle.......2006-12-20

Goblins In the Castle

What would you do if you found a secret passage in your room that led down to a dungeon filled with evil marauding goblins?

Goblins in the Castle is about a boy who does just that. He opens a door he shouldn't, letting out the spirits of a Goblin army. Now he needs to leave the castle and take down the goblins for good. During his adventure he meets people and asks if they will join in his great adventure to defeat the goblins. Oh, did I mention his best friend is a hunchback who whacks people with his teddy bear?

Goblins in the Castle was written by Bruce Coville and illustrated by Katherine Coville. Bruce has written many books you might know like: "Space Brat" and "My Teacher is An Alien."

The Goblins in the Castle.......2004-11-22

THE GOBLINS IN THE CASTLE

By: Bruce Coville
The book I'm doing this report on is The Goblins in the Castle. It's about a boy named William, a girl named Fuana, and a thing named Igor. In the book William lived in a castle and finds a hidden passage and meets Igor. On Halloween he accidentally let the goblins out of the north tower. Igor said they needed to see Granny Pinch Bottoms. They go and on the way Igor was stolen by goblins and William falls in a pit and meets Fuana, then goes to Granny Pinch Bottom, she gives him items to save the goblin's land. He went and did what she told him and saves goblin land.
I think William is the kind of kid that just wants some attention. He is brave to do what he's told. He's friendly to his friends. He's kind of crazy.
The problem was William opened the north tower door and let the goblins out. Another one is that he doesn't know what to do. The most important one is trying to find the courage to save the goblins.
The solution was the goblins roamed free because William made them good. He finds out what to do from Granny Pinch Bottom. He finds the courage by figuring out what at stake.
I would recommend this book to people that likes a good mystery. I would rate it at a five star book and because it's cool.

Goblins in the Castle.......2004-01-08

This is a great book. I have read it to my 4th and 5th grade students and to my own children and they have all loved it. It has just the right mix of "scary" and funny to keep the reader's (or listener's!) interest. This book is not one of Bruce Coville's best known stories, but once you read it, it WILL be one of your favorites!

When the Dancing Stopped: The Real Story of the Morro Castle Disaster and Its Deadly Wake

Average customer rating:

Riveting Retelling of a Classic American Mystery
Mystery solved?
Newly declassified files help to shed light on a 70 year old mystery
A great read! Highly recommended!
No new info

When the Dancing Stopped: The Real Story of the Morro Castle Disaster and Its Deadly Wake
Brian Hicks
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Espionage | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0743280083

Book Description

During the dark days of the Great Depression, thousands of weary souls escaped their bleak lives for a week of paradise aboard the Ward Line's glamorous cruise ship, the Morro Castle. It was the most famous passenger liner of its day, lightning fast, elegantly appointed. It was also a ticking time bomb.

It was the summer of 1934. Two sailors joined the Morro Castle crew, one a teenager on his first job away from home, the other a dangerous psychopath. Within two months, they would witness the end of the party in a single night of death, killer storms, and catastrophic fire. And that was only the beginning of a twenty-year-long story.

In When the Dancing Stopped, we too walk up the gangplank to that art-deco liner and, at first, enjoy the glamour and the sultry Havana nights. With mounting suspense, we also witness the launch of a mystery that mesmerized the nation and then, in the midst of troubled times, faded away. Award-winning author Brian Hicks, using newly declassified FBI files, thousands of pages of investigation notes, testimony, and new interviews, takes the reader on a mid-century cruise through history, revealing a cold-case file that had been, until now, left unsolved for history. And, as he relates in this work of masterful storytelling, it all began with the last cruise of the Morro Castle.

One of those two men, Thomas Torresson Jr., first sailed on the cruise ship as a high school senior recovering from serious illness and soon found a love that would endure his entire life. Within months, he would join the crew. For George Rogers, a gifted radio operator with a secret past, the ship was merely the latest in a long line of jobs. Their paths would cross several times on the way to their destiny, and the disaster would affect the two in very different ways: one would become famous, the other scarred forever.

In the grand tradition of The Devil in the White City, Hicks details a desperate investigation and the search for what may be the modern era's first serial killer through the tragic backdrop of a country suffering through depression and a buildup to war. With cameos by J. Edgar Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Ernest Hemingway, When the Dancing Stopped is the captivating true story of two men irrevocably bound by history -- a true American hero and a dangerous killer masquerading as one. More than that, there is the larger cast of characters: crew members and passengers, investigators, scoundrels, and, yes, additional victims. For the story that began on that storm-tossed night off the coast of New Jersey continued, as we now learn, for decades to come.

Customer Reviews:

Riveting Retelling of a Classic American Mystery.......2007-08-30

The strange story of the cruise liner S.S. Morro Castle is truly one of history's most intriguing "stranger than fiction" mysteries. The Depression-era Morro Castle sailed regularly between New York and a then pre-Communist Cuba. But even though old Havana was a prized tourist destination in those days, the political turmoil of the island in and of itself infected the Morro Castle with intrigues. The Morro Castle's cargo business involved it in what can only be called gun running, and the repressive "banana republic" governance found in Cuba lead to political agitation amongst her crew. Labor unrest in general seemed to be a constant since the liner's owners seemed a bit too ready to take advantage of the desperation of the crew for jobs while the Depression raged. And as the troubled liner plied her trade, her captain, Robert Willmott, himself became more and more troubled. Mysterious fires broke out on the ship during her runs. Stories reached the captain about explosives and toxic chemicals being smuggled aboard to either sabotage the ship or injure him personally. On the Morro Castle's last voyage, Willmott had become so paranoid that he had nearly cutoff all contact with passengers and crew.

On that last voyage on the last night of the cruise, the beleaguered captain dropped dead under circumstances that can only be called mysterious in the light of subsequent events. The exhausted up-since-dawn first mate, William Warms, has to take charge only to find himself piloting the ship through the most bizarre weather imaginable. A hurricane is traveling up the East Coast from the south while simultaneously a Nor'easter is traveling south - trapping the Morro Castle between the two and leaving her no escape from gale force winds. Three A.M. sees the ultimate horror when a fire breaks out amidships in one of the few rooms aboard that is not fitted with smoke detectors or sprinklers. In minutes the fire burns out of control and cuts nearly everyone off from lifeboats. Most of the passengers and crew find themselves forced to decide whether to burn to death or jump into storm tossed seas. Over a hundred die from the fire or in the water off of the New Jersey coast and in an eerie coda, the burned out liner herself drifts ashore at Asbury Park and draws gawkers to watch her smolder for weeks on end. The sequence of events that night was so bizarre that speculation began immediately that the suspicious fire wasn't accidental but was purposely set.

The story didn't end there, however. It became even more disturbing. One of the ship's officers - one of the few that ended that night being lauded for his heroism - proved in subsequent years to be a homicidal sociopath. It was discovered that he had a criminal history prior to his time aboard the Morro Castle. Not only was he convicted for robbery, but he was strongly suspected of having committed arson to hide his burglaries. After his time on the Morro Castle, he attempted to murder a co-worker with a homemade bomb, was suspected of poisoning a water cooler at his place of work, and finally was sent to prison for life for the gruesome murder of his elderly neighbors. Although this proves nothing about the events of that awful September morning, the path of devastation this man wrought in his life can't help but fuel speculation as to whether he had a role in the death and destruction that took place on Morro Castle's last voyage.

I have the distinction of having read every book written about that terrible fire at sea, although that's not that impressive an accomplishment given the fact that Hicks' is only the fourth. Since I read the other three so long ago, however, I don't feel it fair to compare this newer book too directly to those others. There is admittedly not too much new here to those who also may have read a prior book about the Morro Castle. What Hicks' narrative has, however, is a tremendous driving energy that pulls you as deeply into the events of that night as possible. Even though I knew exactly what was due to come next, I still found myself seized with a tremendous foreboding with the recounting of each new ominous turn in the story. In fact, I think that this masterful narrative drive is actually Hicks' biggest contribution to the historical record as well. As well acquainted as I was with the story, I still never realized just how bad the hand William Warms was dealt that night. Up since dawn, finding a respected friend dead in the middle of the night, and having to assume command in the middle of not one but two tropical storms, he must have been a nervous wreck well before the fire started. One can always argue that a different man might have better risen to the occasion that morning, but past accounts of this tragedy have tended to paint the poor man as an incompetent bungler - a portrait that seems grossly unfair in light of the mounting series of problems he faced.

What also becomes clear from Hicks' account is how thin the line was between nuisance and outright disaster. In fact, it's not even clear that the fire wasn't already out of control the moment it was discovered. When one thinks of maritime disasters, one inevitably recalls the Titanic. But the Titanic sank over the course of four hours, giving plenty of time for all aboard to react in the best manner possible. The Morro Castle fire was more in the nature of an engine falling off an airplane wing - the pilot has one split-second decision to make that determines whether the plane crashes or lands safely. In some ways the situation aboard the Morro Castle was even worse in that successfully fighting the fire or saving as many people as possible would have entailed a series of split-second decisions by scores of crew members located all over the ship. Once the fire had spread out of control, the lifeboats were already essentially inaccessible by the passengers. This left the crew with little they could do to save lives. The fire also quickly spread to the engine room and knocked out the ship's engines. This left no way for the bridge to control the ship and left the ship's acting captain helpless to do much to save passengers. Crew incompetence is a big part of earlier recitations of this story but even though there were some incidents of undeniable cowardice on the part of the crew, it's not easy to see how the crew could have lessened the disaster in a substantial way once the fire spread out of control.

I think Hicks has also improved on earlier accounts in his handling of the testimony of the enormously unlucky radio operator George Alagna. Past accounts of the Morro Castle's last days have tended to treat Alagna's tale as gospel. Frankly, I think this is because his testimony casts everyone aboard in the worst light possible. Hicks, however, demonstrates that Alagna was a bit of a hothead and troublemaker. This doesn't totally discredit his account by any means, but does imply that one should subject it to the same skepticism accorded to the testimony of any of the other officers onboard. Keeping Alagna's testimony at arm's length actually makes the story of that morning richer and more human. I'm sure that the Morro Castle's officers where good men who, had things not progressed to disaster so quickly, might have pulled together to salvage what they could of the situation. The fire, however, left them all in a hopeless situation. And what can be expected from men in a hopeless situation? Ego-clashes. Finger-pointing. Self-pity. None of these are pretty, but they are completely understandable. Hicks has done a great service here I think by humanizing these poor men while other books have tended to paint them to a man as hapless failures.

As I grow older I find myself less and less inclined to believe the sensational. It's entirely possible that the sequence of disasters that overtook the Morro Castle that night were nothing but bad luck. On that awful night in September in 1934, the fates may just have collided over the waters of New Jersey to make the Morro Castle the worst possible place on the planet to be. Certainly, no human agency is to blame for the freakish weather which in and of itself claimed the most lives that morning. Willmott's death - while suspicious - was not unambiguously murder. The man wasn't found stabbed or shot, and he had earlier complained of things like chest pains that point to the very real possibility of a heart attack. And just because there was a wicked man aboard that night capable of committing arson, it doesn't mean that the fire was definitely set. The biggest criticism I have of Hicks' account is his failure to mention a very real possibility as to the cause of the blaze. The writing room locker in which the fire was initially discovered was backed by the ship's funnel. It's certainly possible that this funnel was malfunctioning and running hot - not only sparking a fire in the writing room locker but also super-heating its surrounding walls on several decks. This would also explain why the fire so quickly spread as deck after deck could have been heated to ignition temperatures over the course of the evening by the hot stack. And yet, while I think a lack of discussion of this possibility is a real problem with Hicks' telling, I still absolutely loved this book and strongly recommend it. The strange tale of the Morro Castle is a fascinating part of American history, and I devoutly wish that Hicks' wonderful telling acquaints or reacquaints as many people as possible with it.

Mystery solved?.......2007-03-19

Having grown up only minutes from Asbury Park I have seen the many photos of the Morro Castle beached in front of Convention Hall for years, but never knew the details of the fateful voyage until reading this excellent book. Unfortunately too much remians unknown about the ships true fate, and many years have passed. The author does an excellent job of trying to solve the mystery, but the ultimate explanation will never be known. Nonetheless "When the Dancing Stopped" is a well written, suspenseful book; a worthy read for anyone interested in maritime history or the history of New Jersey.

Newly declassified files help to shed light on a 70 year old mystery.......2006-11-23

Every so often I come across a book that grabs my attention in the opening pages and keeps me fixated right until the very end. "When The Dancing Stopped" is just such a book. Author Brian Hicks relates the incredible tale of the cruise ship Morro Castle and fantastic events that led to its untimely demise in September 1934 off the New Jersey Coast. The Morro Castle, flagship of the steamship company known as the Ward Line, carried all of the mail between New York and Cuba. It was a lucrative government contract worth more than $750,000 per year. The ship was also outfitted to carry hundreds of passengers on its weekly jaunts to Havana.
None of the passengers or crew members of the Morro Castle could possibly have anticipated the bizarre and deadly events would unfold on that fateful evening of September 8, 1934. Within just a few short hours the ships captain Robert Willmott would be found dead in his quarters and a deadly fire would break out on board the Morro Castle. To make matters worse a tropical storm was rapidly approaching the disabled vessel from the South while a massive Nor'easter was bearing down from the North. All the ingredients were in place for a major catastrophe!
What makes all of this so disturbing is that there was ample evidence to suggest that Captain Willmotte just might have been murdered and that the fire was indeed no accident. What could possibly motivate an individual or group of people to perpertate such dastardly deeds? This is what "When The Dancing Stopped" is all about. You will meet the members of the crew and learn how they reacted during this tragedy. You will be appalled to learn why so many of the lifeboats on board were never even used. You will also learn the identity of the individual who many suspect may have been motivated to set these horrible events in motion. Brian Hicks does a splendid job in researching this book. Hicks also makes use of recently declassified government documents that shed new light on this 70 year old mystery. But the story does not end with the Morro Castle. The individual suspected of planning and executing the events on that fateful night would continue to wreak havoc for another 20 years. It turns out that this portion of the book is every bit as compelling as the story of the disaster itself. Whether you are a fan of disaster books like I am or enjoy murder mysteries I suspect that "When The Dancing Stopped" is a book you will certainly enjoy. Highly recommended!

A great read! Highly recommended! .......2006-11-06

I highly recommend this book. It gives a poignant overview of the tragedy and a compelling overview of the man behind it. The author has gone to great lengths to research the disaster and it shows-- in a very readable way. An enjoyable read!

No new info .......2006-10-27

The book, When the Dancing Stopped, purports to put a new spin the story of the mysterious Morro Castle of 1934. The author reaches startlingly unoriginal conclusions about the fires origin- basically the same as found in the book, Morro Castle by Hal Burton.

Some of the FBI files that the author used were actually blocked for many years until authors Bob McDonnell and Fred Rasmussen fought to get them. Yet, the files that appear to be used only seem to pertain to George Rogers. Many FBI files (and important testimony) exist that do not pertain to George Rogers, but these were not used. There is nothing said about the empty B Deck suites that were soaked with gasoline, causing the fire to accelerate; Nothing about the ship's unlucky history regarding the potential to be destroyed by revolutionaries; and not much about the Ward Line's unlucky history and their history of suspicious ship fires.

The author also claims that he wanted to write this for Tom Torresson, and to try and set the record straight about the crew. This thread seems to be dropped in the book and not much is said in defense of the crew or to condemn the crew. The two stories Hicks uses (Doris Wacker and Tom Torresson) have been used before, so again, not much new info.

I cannot really think of anything exceptional about the book and unfortunately, cannot recommend it.

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