2010-05-10
By William T. Kinkead (Arlington, VA USA)
A free translation of the Iliad. Sometimes the wording is a bit tricky( I have read other versions, mind you), however, this version is free so there can be no complaining.
2009-12-30
By Phil
I have no idea what the previous reviewer means by "...the cursor is uncontrollable!" The cursor works just as well in this book as it does in every other Kindle book I've read. I love how Twain writes, so I can do nothing but rave about how wonderful it is to have so much of his work in one book.
2009-11-22
By D. Smith (AZ)
Well, I got this pack of classic movies for my mom (in her 70's). I asked her to rate them and she gave it a four star rating as far as the movies themselves go. Well, as far as the quality of the video goes, I'd have to say it is pretty good. Since the movies are from so long ago, the quality isn't going to be high def. or anything....haha Another thing that's pretty cool is the fact that they got all those movies on 12 DVDs (2 movies per side). Only thing I see wrong with this pack is, the list of the movies on the package says that "THE JUNGLE BOOK" is in there(It's not). There is another movie(not listed on box)in it's place called "THE GENERAL". If you're are into old movies or know somebody old....You'll enjoy this pack of movies. And, for the price it is a good deal(about $0.50 per movie) MY MOM LOVES THEM TOO!!!!
2009-12-26
By D. Varney (Torrey, UT)
My 6- and 8-year-old grandchildren, both avid readers of classic books, were not interested in this one. It's sitting on the shelf.
2010-05-18
By E. A Solinas (MD USA)
Everybody knows him -- the pipe-smoking detective on Baker Street (with or without the movie-added deerstalker), who is able to deduce all sorts of things just by glancing at a person. "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" shows off Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's first collection of short stories involving Holmes, mingling human psychology with sometimes bizarre mysteries.
Holmes is visited by the masked King of Bohemia, who has a slight problem: he's engaged to a princess, but his former lover Irene Adler has a compromising letter that could jeopardize his future marriage. But Adler has a formidable brain of her own. Then Holmes is hired by a man who was hired by the mysterious Red-Headed League, and given a strange job... which is somehow connected to a criminal undertaking.
Among the other strange cases that Holmes and Watson undertake -- a missing fiance, a strange murder in Boscombe Valley, a dead man who was sent five orange seeds, a woman whose husband has utterly vanished, a blue jewel hidden in a Christmas turkey, a dead woman whose last words were "it was the band, the speckled band!", a young engineer given a dream job, an American heiress who vanishes directly after her wedding, a broken beryl coronet, and a young woman given a surreally weird job.
Sherlock Holmes mysteries come in two types:
1. The case is completely baffling, and Holmes is needed to unravel the knot of obscure clues.
2. The case seems straightforward, but Holmes is needed to connect seemingly unrelated clues to the crime in order to find the REAL perpetrator.
There are plenty of both kinds in "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes," with a dozen cases that require Holmes' unique detecting skills -- it can be something as simple as locating a letter, or something as complex as foiling a robbery or counterfeiting ring. Doyle's stately, dignified prose is heightened by moments of excitement or horror (" It swelled up louder and louder, a hoarse yell of pain and fear and anger all mingled in the one dreadful shriek"), and he wove in a lot of human psychology into Holmes' cases.
Holmes himself... is Holmes. Doyle didn't like his detective much, but Sherlock's knife-edged intellect and fascination with puzzles are strangely hypnotic -- even if you wouldn't like to be roomies with the guy, it would be amazing just to sit and watch him work. Watson is the perfect counterpoint for Holmes: he's not a genius but is definitely intelligent, warm-hearted and capable.
"The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" is a magnificent collection of Holmes' first twelve short cases, filled with murder, intrigue and all sorts of weird crimes. An absolute must-read.
2010-01-30
By Jackson K. Eskew (USA)
Are you yet another shameless philistine? Most likely not, since you're considering reading this book. You're here, thus this book is for you! A strange conclusion, I know. Let it stand.
Avoiding every brand of fashionable nonsense that's infected today's literary criticism, editors Louise Cowan and Os Guinness here offer an excellent guide to the foundational works of Western Civilization. They've assembled, in addition to themselves, a worthy team of writers who approach each work or movement not as museum pieces, but as rooted in the permanent things and hence eternally alive. Its first three prefatory chapters alone are worth its price. Read this book. Become a custodian. Let today's catastrophic decay compel you to do so.
Also see:
The Great Tradition: Classic Readings on What It Means to Be an Educated Human Being
&
The Politically Incorrect Guide(tm) to English and American Literature (Politically Incorrect Guides)
Finally, see my various lists and guides here, accessible via my profile, for more.
2010-04-15
By Dawn Walters (Tooele, UT USA)
Unfortunately I didn't realize this is a "child's version" of the story...I thought it was the "real deal." It's a cute book for younger kids.
