Best Highsmith, Patricia
Therese, a struggling young sales clerk, and Carol, a homemaker in the midst of a bitter divorce, abandon their oppressive daily routines for the freedom of the open road, where their love can blossom. ''A document of persecuted love -- perfect.''. very recognizably Highsmith, full of tremor and of threat and of her peculiar genius for anxiety.''. very recognizably Highsmith, full of tremor and of threat and of her peculiar genius for anxiety.''.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I hadn't heard about the original story until the film came out, but after reading the book, and several articles about the history of the story, I was quite impressed."
"This is a must read book for those who have denied themselves all encompassing love because they were worried about how others would think about them if they knew who they truly loved."
"The author captures the tedious obession that love can conjure, hence why the main narrator can invoke irritation and a tiny bit of fear from the reader."
"I admit that she comes off as a bit naive and infantile now and again, but one of the points of this novel is to show Therese's coming of age without making it a cliche. In the book, she grows from an insecure and naive girl into a woman who knows what she wants and embraces who she is."
"All, this is to say, I love them both, but the book is definitely one that I've not been able to put down and I'm not an actual book reader, unless for school."
"I was pleasantly surprised by its lack of sentimentality; it feels real and raw."
"The book is entirely from one character's perspective; so it is fascinating to hear Therese attribute intentions to the words and actions of the other actors."
"This strong love has finally brought them together in an era when this love was considered abnormal and it is exactly the happy ending that breaks through the worldly obstructions that enables us to see the silver lining of a happy world."
Throughout her career, Patricia Highsmith brought a keen literary eye and a genius for plumbing the psychopathic mind to more than thirty works of fiction, unparalleled in their placid deviousness and sardonic humor. In A Suspension of Mercy, American freelance writer Sydney becomes obsessed with the putative murder of his English wife, Alicia; in Strangers on a Train, the source for Hitchcock's 1953 classic, one man's guilty conscience disrupts two men's criminal plans.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Highsmith's novels are nothing but totally engaging, I have read all of them more than once."
"Thank goodness the Damon and Malkovitch Ripley films have brought this remarkable author's work back to publisher's lists."
"My first experience wit Highsmith, but it won't be my last."
"If you are already a Highsmith fan, but have missed this one."
"I enjoyed the characters and their needs and the neighbor and the cop and the intrigue and the glimpse of life..and death."
"This is another swell story from Patricia Highsmith."
"A dated story with the flavor of role playing."
Strangers on a Train launched Highsmith's prolific career of noir fiction and proved her mastery of depicting the unsettling forces that tremble beneath the surface of everyday contemporary life. Patricia Highsmith (1921-1995) was the author of more than twenty novels, including Strangers on a Train, The Price of Salt , and The Talented Mr. Ripley , as well as numerous short stories.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In this story there are two murders, liked the suspense, didn't like the level of detail taken by the author to bring about the conclusion."
"Gripping tale that keeps you on the end of you seat."
"This is a great introduction to Patricia Highsmith's work."
"However, if it's a slowly unfolding psychological study that reader seek, they should read the novel first and then watch the film."
"When I started reading this book, I didn't realize it had been made into a Hitchkock movie in 1951."
"The discerning eye and lacerating portrayals of societal malaise that PH would later develop to devastating effect are all here, if somewhat less exquisitely honed."
"it was having to stop at smaller and more frequent stations, where it would wait impatiently for a moment, then attack the prairie again. The actual eBook of Strangers on a Train is published by W. W. Norton & Company. This reads more like an unauthorized, bootleg version that would be better titled STRANGERS ON A TRAIN FOR DUMMIES."
"This particular edition is not the complete novel, but a very abridged version."
Best Harris, Thomas
Exploring both the nature of human evil and the nerve-racking anatomy of a forensic investigation, Harris unleashes a frightening vision of the dark side of our well-lighted world. Graham, in turn, enlists the aid of his old adversary, Hannibal Lecter, to find the killer, who poses family members on film after murdering them.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've always loved the movie but I'm glad to finally be able to say I've read the book."
"You get just enough of a taste of Hannibal to make you remember how thrilling Anthony Hopkins was in the role (for those of us who saw and loved the movie) and you see each scene with stunning visuals."
"Mostly wanted to read the books that inspired the movies."
"This was a great story that could have been greater with some additional research and fact checking to ensure improved authenticity."
"Luckily, the book also contained a lot of the gruesome and twisted elements that makes the show so interesting. Talking about some of the things the killer does would spoil the surprise and suspense of the book, but suffice to say, there were some cringe-worthy moments that literally had me squirming as I read them."
"He knew about the case the whole time and only provided the pieces the FBI needed at the time - like a cat playing with a mouse."
"The book has much more detail, of course, than the movie, and gave me many new insights about Hannibal Lecter and the other characters in the story. There are some significant changes from the book to the movie, which add to the suspense and terror of both Hannibal Lecter and the character of Buffalo Bill. It's hard to write a review of this book without giving away details that the reader needs to discover for her or himself, so I'll just say that I did not "know" any of the characters from the movie on the level that I did after reading the book."
"I was required to read this book for a class and the fastest way to get it to me was through Kindle."
Best Hemingway, Ernest
Told in language of great simplicity and power, it is the story of an old Cuban fisherman, down on his luck, and his supreme ordeal -- a relentless, agonizing battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream. Written in 1952, this hugely successful novella confirmed his power and presence in the literary world and played a large part in his winning the 1954 Nobel Prize for literature. The tale concerns an old fisherman in a Cuban village who, after an especially bad fishing season, sets out in his skiff, determined to bring in a big fish.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We live our lives in comfort never expecting to be faced with an adversary as to demand the very most that we can give."
"This is a book I read every three to four years."
"I did not find it hard to understand all the fishing concepts like some other readers."
"I bought this as a gift for my dad who remembers skipping school as a young boy and going to watch the movie in the theater."
"Hemingway is lionized in literature."
"This book was definitely a classic that will live on forevermore."
"This is a book that you can read in a single sitting, and still get a lot out of it."
"Purchased for my daughter as part of a school assignment."
Best Howard, Linda
As the part-time police chief of a small West Virginian mountain town, Isabeau “Bo” Maran doesn’t need a mysterious man in her life—especially a troublemaker as enticing and secretive as Morgan. Linda Howard is the award-winning author of many New York Times bestsellers, including Up Close and Dangerous, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Cover of Night, Killing Time, To Die For, Kiss Me While I Sleep, Cry No More, and Dying to Please .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Although her novels have varying ratios of page time spent on character development, relationship, suspense, romantic tension, sex, mystery, etc., despite my preferences for more of less of each area of focus, I have enjoyed each of her books tremendously. Tricks does the same thing the next morning, muzzle on bed, “staring accusingly at them.” Conversation on “the morning after” begins not about their relationship, but about getting caught by “the kid(s).” At other times, the feelings assigned to the dog and Bo are so entwined that the reader struggles to identify if the pronoun “she” is referring to the dog or to Bo. The most interesting segments of the book, few and far between, happen far away from Bo and Tricks, such as the opening scenes when we get to know Morgan and witness his attack, and at the end of the story when we again hear from Morgan’s perspective, in which the absence of the dog in Morgan’s activities is a relief to the reader. Many reviewers called this story a tale of small-town life rather than romantic suspense, but I don’t believe we got enough development there either, just snapshots of stereotypical small-town caricatures…although all of the characters were interesting and I would have greatly enjoyed true development of their personalities and actions. I can live with the ratio of dozens : one for Linda Howard books which I’ve enjoyed, and I’ll happily await her next novel, hoping that it will be the balanced story I’ve come to expect and appreciate from her, and that publicity will describe it accurately as it is written…whether it be with human or animal protagonists."
"To give you an idea, there are 27 chapters in the book - the first 2 concern Morgan and the attack and the last 3 wind up that part of the story. Just be aware that this is a visit to a small town in West Virginia with a little suspense thrown in - not a real suspense story."
"In my opinion this book started great and the whole middle was lacking and at times bordered on boring."
"The relationship finally kicked in and there was at least something interesting to read while we waited for Mac's story to play out.Then, it did seem like vintage Linda."
"I would read another story by this author."
"This book is 3/4 about throwing a ball to a dog and the dogs eating schedule!"
"After reading this book, I had to go back and make sure it really was written by Ms. Howard."
"It took me a really long time to get into this book."
Best Herbert, Frank
Only one link survives with those tumultuous times: the grotesque figure of Leto Atreides, son of the prophet Paul Muad'Dib, and now the virtually immortal God Emperor of Dune. He worked a wide variety of jobs--including TV cameraman, radio commentator, oyster diver, jungle survival instructor, lay analyst, creative writing teacher, reporter and editor of several West Coast newspapers--before becoming a full-time writer. Brick has narrated for many popular authors, including Michael Pollan, Joseph Finder, Tom Clancy, and Ayn Rand. He was the winner of the 2012 Audie Award for Best Male Narrator, and was named the 2011 Best Voice in Biography and History and the 2010 Best Voice in fiction by AudioFile magazine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"My first read as a young teen in the '70s was overwhelming with words and scenes I'd never experienced before."
"SF at the time emphasized what some would call soft science fiction, a genre dealing with psychology, sociology, and sociopolitical commentary, with the bonus of one or more unique original ideas and a Sense of Wonder. Its complex, logical worldbuilding is presented in what was the then-prominent Science Fiction protocol of revealing the world little by little through contextual clues rather than inserting infodumps of description. The genre was about ideas, not literary modernism, so you will not find the book filled with metaphors and literary allusions such as one might find in a Creative Writing MFA's workshopped short story, although Paul's story is clearly the Hero's Journey and he is obviously a Messiah figure as well as a military/political leader. For those expecting a Hollywood superhero comic-book style movie with action scenes and high-definition special effects, there is some of that in here too, but that is not the main point."
"Far-reaching and mind-expanding, when I first read Dune in the '60s I had my mouth open most of the time, and could only read half a page or so at a time before looking off into space for a few moments in awe, thinking about what I had just read."
"**** This is a quick note about the Kindle edition of Dune called "Dune (40th Anniversary Edition)". I have no idea what Kindle edition this person was comparing to what print edition, but I am here to tell you that this is NOT the case with this Kindle edition. The misspellings in this Kindle edition are NUMEROUS, GROSS in their error, and DO NOT match the paperback book I own of the same title (I have Dune, 40th Anniversary Edition in paperback - the multitude of errors I checked are not found in this print edition)."
"It was OK reading the book without and reading the appendices at the end, but it would have been better to be able to go back and forth between the two."
Best Henkes, Kevin
As the year goes by, though, Billy figures out how to navigate elementary school, appreciate his little sister, and be a more grown up and responsible member of the family and a help to his busy working mom and stay-at-home dad. Billy Miller is starting second grade, and though his teacher, Mrs. Silver, tells the class it is the Year of the Rabbit, Billy’s father tells him it will be the Year of Billy Miller. There are some wonderful moments here: when Billy brings his teacher silver items—coins, a paper clip, a little rabbit—to show her he’s a nice boy; when he agonizes over how to tell his father that Papa is a babyish name; and a triumphant ending when poetry and self-confidence intertwine.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The book is divided into four sections, each section about as long as a typical book from one of the churn-and-burn series (looking at you Junie B.). Section One "Teacher" is about how Billy deals with starting second grade and the natural feelings of insecurity that many students go through when starting a new grade."
"This is one of the best books ever! My son and I read this book together when he was in 5th grade, and he did his back-to-school book report on The Year of Billy Miller."
"My son and I enjoyed this as a read-aloud, but I may have expected too much due to its Newbery Honor."
"This is a funny book with warm, loving characters, and of course the know-it-all character that every child always encounters at every grade in school."
"Daughter requested this book after reading it at school."
"Billy Miller is starting the second grade and he was worried. that he wouldn't be smart enough for school this year."
"I think the students will enjoy."
Best Heinlein, Robert A.
In one of Heinlein's most controversial best-sellers, a recruit in a future world is sent through the toughest boot camp in the Universe to join the Terran Mobile Infantry in battle against mankind's most alarming enemy. ''Lloyd James is terrific as the narrator, able to infuse his voice with the wide-eyed innocence of Rico and the gruffness of Sgt. Zim.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Starship Troopers is the novel that started everything that has to be with supersoldiers, aliens, power suites and heroism."
"He is heavy into the philosophy of killing vs murder and of the necessity for war and military men and women."
"I was drawn to Heinlein's classic after reading an article claiming that top business men and women were more commonly noting Starship Troopers as influential over Sun Tsu's Art of War."
"After reading a long string of sci-fi "classics" that had interesting premises but sub par writing at best, Starship Troopers was a solid relief."
"The tale of Johnnie Rico a civilian turned Federal Service Mobile Infantry soldier."
"There is little or nothing negative to say about this Heinlein story."
"This is one of the all time best sci fi books you will read."
"Heinlein did a masterful job of of creating a society and government structure as a backdrop for a futuristic military."