Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $2.16 Used From: $0.73 Average Rating:

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A fascinating and tragic story of a man obsessed with the idea of success in America. Gatsby's singularity of purpose makes him a caricature of many American ideologies, all told in a spectacular, artful narrative.

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• ISBN13: 9780764586019
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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Received quicker than expected. Quality was great, just as if I bought brand new from a bookstore. would definitly purchase thru them again.

Here is an honest review of the book for what it is, not the ethical and educational implications of reading this book. In terms of the educational value received from the book, it's not too bad. Although their vocabulary isn't as great as the vocabular sparknotes employs, their guides seem to colloquially explain the subject material, which is the purpose of the book. I bought the book because I was at Target and needed a guide for an upcomming test where I wouldn't have internet access the nights before (I usually use sparknotes because it's free), and I was surprised by the writing quality of the book. Granted, it's not as good as Fitzgeral's writing, however it does relate the story, which is the primary purpose for a history class. Concerning the people who have condemned this book, they need to understand the multiple approaches to learning subject areas. Currently I maintain a schedule where on good days I receive 6 hours of sleep and on bad a receive 3 to none because of my busy schedule and heavy extra-cirricular activity. Reading cliff-notes doesn't mean we as readers won't look in the book for quotes (for example - writing a paper) to support our ideas. Simply condemning them because they're not the real book is unfair to the book, the authors, and the people that use cliff notes for ligitimate purposes. Overall, it conveys the idea well, however sparknotes does an equally decent job.

I am embarrased that someone is looking at this page and considering reading the cliffnotes for one the the best (and not to mention shortest) pieces of american literature. Try to use your brains for something other than reality television and choosing a fast food joint. Its not all that hard to read this book and understand it. ENJOY!

Stop right now. Do NOT buy this. Buy the actual book instead! I know, I know, crazy idea in this day and age, but Cliffs Notes are exactly what is wrong with the world of literature these days: too many people reading the Reader's Digest version, and not enough actually reading great literature! I mean, come on people, the book is less than 200 pages long. You can read it in one sitting. And it's not even that difficult to understand--the prose is limpid and the plot engrossing. Don't cheat; don't take the easy way out. Do the right thing. Read the book, not the Cliffs Notes.

"Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (Cliffs Notes)" is a great way to help you understand what you're reading, if you're having difficulties. If you're not having a problem reading "The Great Gatsby," this will give you questions to test your knowledge of the book. Of course, you should read the Cliffs Notes AFTER you read "The Great Gatsby," not instead of. I recommend.

Spark Notes The Great Gatsby List Price: $5.95 Sale Price: $5.99 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

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Get your "A" in gear!They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes™ has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'™ motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because:They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts.\They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them.The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time.And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else!

Reviews

Very detailed. Seems to give you all that you need to know and less of what you don't need.

Full-Length

The Great Gatsby List Price: $14.00 Sale Price: $6.90 Used From: $3.96 Average Rating:

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Noted Fitzgerald biographer Matthew J. Bruccoli draws upon years of research to present the Fitzgerald's Jazz Age romance exactly as he intended according to the original manuscript, revisions, and corrections--with explanatory notes. Reprint.

In 1922, F. Scott Fitzgerald announced his decision to write "something new--something extraordinary and beautiful and simple + intricately patterned." That extraordinary, beautiful, intricately patterned, and above all, simple novel became The Great Gatsby, arguably Fitzgerald's finest work and certainly the book for which he is best known. A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, Gatsby captured the spirit of the author's generation and earned itself a permanent place in American mythology. Self-made, self-invented millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald's--and his country's--most abiding obsessions: money, ambition, greed, and the promise of new beginnings. "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning--" Gatsby's rise to glory and eventual fall from grace becomes a kind of cautionary tale about the American Dream. It's also a love story, of sorts, the narrative of Gatsby's quixotic passion for Daisy Buchanan. The pair meet five years before the novel begins, when Daisy is a legendary young Louisville beauty and Gatsby an impoverished officer. They fall in love, but while Gatsby serves overseas, Daisy marries the brutal, bullying, but extremely rich Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby devotes himself blindly to the pursuit of wealth by whatever means--and to the pursuit of Daisy, which amounts to the same thing. "Her voice is full of money," Gatsby says admiringly, in one of the novel's more famous descriptions. His millions made, Gatsby buys a mansion across Long Island Sound from Daisy's patrician East Egg address, throws lavish parties, and waits for her to appear. When she does, events unfold with all the tragic inevitability of a Greek drama, with detached, cynical neighbor Nick Carraway acting as chorus throughout. Spare, elegantly plotted, and written in crystalline prose, The Great Gatsby is as perfectly satisfying as the best kind of poem.

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• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

To understand the book, it's a good idea to understand the meaing behind colors and to identify the pages where the colors appear and how they correlate with the books content and overall message. This is not a novel that is simply an enjoable read. Constant analyzation and understanding is needed throughout the process of reading it. Only after understanding does the novel become a literary classic and icon.

Great book! I read it once and would love to read it again. I like Fitzgeralds style very much. I highly recommend it.

I always wanted to read The Great Gatsby but for some reason or another it always eluded me. Back in college, almost everyone had read this "great" masterpiece of literature. I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to sink my teeth into this novel and see once and for all what it was all about. The story was wonderful to read and its subject matter was appealing for the most part. The industrial age must of been a sight to behold. The author does an adequate job of detailing the age and the times of West Egg. Although the lavishness and splendor of the many parties that took place in West Egg were nicely detailed, I found the imagery somewhat sparse and lacking detail at times. The author does a great job of portraying his characters and their morals but for some reason I didn't find this in itself to capture my attention. The story line was so-so in my opinion and could of been better. But in the end, this novel was worth the read. I'm happy I had the opportunity to finally have read this book and eventhough slightly disappointed, say that I experienced what it must of been like living in West Egg during the Golden Age.

I'm not sure if it's possible to not like this book. It's eloquently written and interesting. A classic love story, that will remain timeless. If you were forced to read it in high school and didn't like it I suggest a quick revisit to the timeless tale. It was wonderful. I'd recommend it to anyone and since it's a short book it only takes a weekend to get through.

I remember reading The Great Gatsby in my high school English class and thinking it was boring. In retrospect, I think I was an idiot. Reading it ten years later was a truly amazing experience. Fitzgerald lays down some stunning prose and brings a lavish era of American history to life. I was struck with how that culture of excess in the 1920s seemed eerily similar to the mid 2000s. . . and right before another crash, nonetheless. Great book. If you tried to read it once and failed, try again. You won't regret it.

Video & Audio

The Great Gatsby List Price: $9.98 Sale Price: $15.94 Used From: $16.77 Average Rating:

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Adaptation of the Fitzgerald novel about a dashing enigmatic millionaire obsessed with an elusive, spoiled young woman.Genre: Feature Film-DramaRating: PG13Release Date: 8-AUG-2006Media Type: DVD

This adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, scripted by Francis Ford Coppola, puts costume design and art direction above the intricacies of character. It's certainly a handsome try, and perhaps no movie could capture The Great Gatsby in its entirety. Robert Redford is an interesting casting choice as Gatsby, the millionaire isolated in his mansion, still dreaming of the woman he lost. And Sam Waterston is perfect as the narrator, Nick, who brings the dream girl Daisy Buchanan back to Gatsby. No, the problem seems to be that director Jack Clayton fell in love with the flapper dresses and the party scenes and the Jazz Age tunes, ending up with a Classics Illustrated version of a great book rather than a fresh, organic take on the text. While Redford grows more quietly intriguing in the film, Mia Farrow's pallid performance as Daisy leaves you wondering why Gatsby, or anyone else, should care so much about his grand passion. The effective supporting cast includes Bruce Dern as Daisy's husband, and Scott Wilson and Karen Black as the low-rent couple whose destinies cross the sun-drenched protagonists. (That's future star Patsy Kensit as Daisy's little daughter.) The film won two Oscars--not surprisingly, for costumes and musical score. --Robert Horton

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio:
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: REDFORD,ROBERT
Manufacturer: Paramount Pictures
Original Release Date: 1974-01-01
Actors:

• Robert Redford
• Mia Farrow
• Bruce Dern
• Karen Black
• Scott Wilson

Reviews

1. I admit that I'm not sophisticated enough and "learned", but the truth must be said, this movie is just a complete bore. If you're interested in the "The Great Gatsby", please, do yourself a favor and just read the book.

A Classic F.Scott Fitzgerald Novel turned into a Good Movie but not great. It is worth viewing and for the Movie Collectors. ****

The Great Gatsby is a colorful, funny, panoramic book full of penetrating individual character studies and strong opinions about the lives of the wealthy. This movie version doesn't communicate any of the book's depth. The director focuses the movie on Gatsby's and Daisy's brief romance. It is the main focus of the movie. But in the book, their 'romance' is a minor point. It doesn't occupy many pages at all. In fact, one interpretation of the book is that Daisy doesn't truly love Gatsby. Rather, he's just another plaything for this bored rich woman, one that allows her to get even with her brutal husband's affair that he flaunts in front of her before Gatsby shows up. The actors in the movie don't fit the characterization of the book. Bruce Dern portrays Tom Buchanan as weak. Fitzgerald shows Buchanan as a physically imposing, 6'3", 220ib college football star, who turns every encounter into a contest, a contest he intends to win. Dern doesn't show Buchanan's sheer intimidation. Robert Redford is OK as Gatsby, but it's not a hard role, because there isn't much depth to Gatsby. The interesting characters in the book are Tom & Daisy Buchanan and Jordan. Mia Farrow portrays Daisy as weak, unstable and easily upset. Fitzgerald shows Daisy as uninterested, confident and manipulative of situations. This movie is a bust, but it's also 35yrs old. I hope a talented director and screenwriter see the opportunity for a new film interpretation about this magnificent book. - For film buffs, this movie is interesting in that it's a big money movie. Gatsby is released around the same time as Scorsese's & DeNiro's masterpieces of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull. Those two geniuses to take Jake LaMotta's autobiography, and turn it into a cinematic masterpiece, one that is the forerunner of how films were made for the next couple decades. At the same time, Jack Clayton takes a masterpiece of a novel about dreams and wealth and ambition, the Great Gatsby, and removes all the interesting aspects of the book, and hands us only a tepid love story. It's movies like Gatsby that show what a genius Scorsese is, because he takes everyday material and spins gold.

To see the extent to which the filmmakers misunderstood the novel, all you have to do is to view one brief scene. Recall this passage from the book: -- "About Gatsby! No, I haven't. I said I'd been making a small investigation of his past." "And you found he was an Oxford man," said Jordan helpfully. "An Oxford man!" He was incredulous. "Like hell he is! He wears a pink suit." "Nevertheless he's an Oxford man." "Oxford, New Mexico," snorted Tom contemptuously, "or something like that." -- Tom quips "Oxford, New Mexico" here to mock the notion that Gatsby could have possibly graduated from Oxford. While Oxford University represents the ultimate in upper class respectability to blue-blooded Easterners like himself, anything having to do with New Mexico is no doubt considered vulgar and hopelessly lower class. Tom "snorts" the words "Oxford, New Mexico" because it is literally laughable to him that a nobody like Gatsby would try to pass himself off as an upper class elite. But in the movie, Tom does not "snort" the words. He looks at Jordan with a serious expression and and says "Oxford, New Mexico" in a chiding tone, like a father reprimanding his misbehaving young daughter. In other words, the filmmakers completely miss the point of that little exchange. And if they don't grasp something so obvious, well, they really don't understand the character, Tom Buchanan, do they? And if they don't understand basic stuff like that, they don't understand the book at all, and it shows. Not all is lost. I'll give the movie three stars for all the visuals: the lavishly decorated mansions, Gatsby's huge parties, the chic 1920s attire of the moneyed class...it's all beautifully filmed, looking the way you imagine it does in the book.

An excellent movie I saw when it first came out and thought it was so good, I wanted it in my collection! Terrific acting!!

Cliffsnotes Mutiny on the Bounty (Cliffs Notes Series) List Price: $4.95 Sale Price: $3.90 Used From: $0.24

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The Bounty Mutiny (Penguin Classics) List Price: $16.00 Sale Price: $6.60 Used From: $4.50 Average Rating:

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The names William Bligh, Fletcher Christian, and the Bounty have excited the popular imagination for more than two hundred years. The story of this famous mutiny has many beginnings and many endings but they all intersect on an April morning in 1789 near the island known today as Tonga. That morning, William Bligh and eighteen surly seamen were expelled from the Bounty and began what would be the greatest open-boat voyage in history, sailing some 4,000 miles to safety in Timor. The mutineers led by Fletcher Christian sailed off into a mystery that has never been entirely resolved.While the full story of what drove the men to revolt or what really transpired during the struggle may never be known, Penguin Classics has brought together-for the first time in one volume-all the relevant texts and documents related to a drama that has fascinated generations. Here is the full text of Bligh's Narrative of the Mutiny, the minutes of the court proceedings gathered by Edward Christian in an effort to clear his brother's name, and the highly polemic correspondence between Bligh and Christian-all amplified by Robert Madison's illuminating Introduction and rich selection of subsequent Bounty narratives.

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• ISBN13: 9780140439168
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Depending on your mindset when you read this collection, this can be a great analytical read on the most infamous mutiny in western naval history. The most important point to understand about this collection is that it is meant to illustrate the power of language. The accounts in the book are from many of the people either directly involved in the Bounty mutiny or were closely affected by it. When reading the different accounts, the reader will see how each author utilizes rhetorical strategies to sway the reader to sympathize for their agenda. It is from this use of rhetoric that the reader can see the types of people these men truly were. Captain Bligh uses facts and exact and minute details to recall the events before and after the mutiny. It shows he is a very astute and analytical thinker who was perhaps out of touch with his crew. From Edward Christian we can see the type of fire and passion that he and his brother (Fletcher, the initiator of the mutiny) possessed. The develop of these people based on simply their own writing is quite astounding. In all, these primary writings are a good source for historical analysis and also important to document the use of rhetorical strategies in written language.

This is my first review. I feel that some of the 'rave reviews' I read for this volume did not adequately describe several flaws that I feel need mentioning. I bought this book because I wanted to read the contemporary accounts of the Bounty mutiny to gain an understand of both sides of the issues involved, and to make a personal decision on what happened and why. This edition was touted as allowing me to do just that. However I found that the editor, in his introduction, tries to do some of my thinking for me. I feel that, in a book of this sort, the editor should not be telling us his version of the story, particularly at the beginning of the book. Mr Madison may well believe that Captain Bligh was the villian in this tragedy with Mr Christian the poor sensitive victim, but I wish he would keep it to himself and limit himself to background and supplemental material. Another disappointment is that apparently, the chapter titled "Minutes of the Proceedings of the Court-Martial held at Portsmouth, August 12, 1792." is not the real minutes at all, but a partial transcript provided by Edward Christian (Fletcher's brother). I'm not sure I understand why the actual court transcript was not available and what is missing in the version we have. I do know we have to rely on a version published by the 'defendant's" brother. Is that really conducive to getting an objective picture? That said, the book is still interesting and does give the reader a fairly comprehensive picture of the events of that spring morning in 1789.

This book is a collection of early documents relating to Fletcher Christian's mutiny against William Bligh in 1789 on the HMS Bounty. The editor claims to have gathered together for the first time "the relevant texts and documents" related to this famous event that has intrigued readers for 200 years. In all, ten documents whose publication dates range from 1790 to 1870 are included. The first four documents make up the body of the book and consist of a series of published statements by William Blight and responses by Edward Christian, Fletcher's brother. Fletcher Christian died on Pitcairn Island and never put his story in print. These four sections are followed by six Appendixes. The first Appendix contains a transcript of Bligh's orders and a botanical description of the breadfruit that the Bounty went to Tahiti to obtain. The remaining five Appendixes are narratives of the lives of those who stayed on the Bounty after the mutiny.All of these early texts are preceded by a delightful and informative Introduction by the editor that relates the early lives of both Bligh and Christian and discusses their relationship leading up to the mutiny. It describes the mission of the Pandora to seek out the Bounty and bring back any mutineers they can find. Also covered is the trial and disposition of those sailors brought back from Tahiti. Lastly, the Introduction goes on to summarize the history of Bounty documentation and scholarship, from Bligh's first published account right on through the famous fictionalized Bounty trilogy by Nordhoff and Hall. The Introduction is followed by a one page listing of suggested further readings.The first section of the book is Bligh's 1790 account of the mutiny and subsequent voyage of he and 18 crew members in the ship's 23 foot boat. He quickly recounts the details of the mutiny on the first four pages and then spends the remaining 62 pages on his heroic and epic voyage across 3,600 miles of the South Pacific that took about a month and a half. Bligh depicts himself as a dedicated leader who saved the lives of all but one crew member in this fascinating and arduous journey. The second section of the book is the proceedings of the court martial of those brought back to face charges of mutiny, published in 1794 by Edward Christian in an attempt to exonerate his brother. This text consists of a written statement by Bligh, a series of interrogations of the Bounty crew regarding the events of the mutiny, and an Appendix by Edward. A picture of Bligh as a tyrant emerges from this testimony. It is 86 pages long and somewhat repetitive, but still an interesting document to read. The 20 page Appendix at the end of is Edward Christian's attempt to show that his brother had cause for his actions. Although he does not try to justify his brother's actions, he tries to show the state of desperation that his brother was driven to by Bligh's actions. Bligh was at sea when this was published and, when he returned home, he published in 1795 "An Answer..." to the statements of the Appendix which is included as the third section of this book. To this Edward Christian wrote and published a "Short Reply..." that is the fourth section of this book. This interchange in writing between Bligh and Edward Christian is wonderful to read because it presents both sides of the story in a very balanced and fair manner. Without having Fletcher Christian to defend his own actions, this set of documents is the next best thing we have to a fair presentation of both sides of the case.The above documents alone would have made a wonderful and enlightening book. The editor goes on to present in the Appendixes documents that tell the story of those men who followed Fletcher Christian to Tahiti or Pitcairn Island. The first Appendix is a copy of Bligh's orders to go to Tahiti and a description of the breadfruit he was to bring to Jamaica. The second Appendix is an 1870 retelling of a journal kept by one of the sailors who was taken by the Pandora from Tahiti as a mutineer. It tells of the harsh treatment these 14 received aboard this ship and how four died when the ship sank. The next two Appendixes are accounts written by crew members of a ship that visited Pitcairn Island 19 years after the mutiny in 1808. They tell the story of the crew that landed there with Fletcher Christian and their history and families. By this time only one of the nine members of the original Bounty crew that landed on the island remained alive. The last two Appendixes are the story of one of the Tahitian women who married a Bounty crew member and the story of the last surviving crew member himself. Altogether these various documents pieced together tell what we can know of the Bounty mutiny. They make fascinating reading, more interesting than the fictional accounts. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in tales of the sea.

What an amazing book. Using the original source materials--Bligh's diary, the transcript of the Bounty Court Martial, Fletcher Christian's brother's defense of the mutineers, and other materials--the Editor R.D. Madison has put together a book which is impossible to put down. Indeed, the book leaves the reader wishing it were twice as long. Madison refuses to take sides in the Bligh v. Christian debate, and lets the record speak for itself. Since the record is contradictory and nobody is unbiased, the effect, in cinematic terms, is more like "Roshomon" than either of the two Bounty movies. William Bligh comes across as an incredibly brave man with an indomitable will--yet he has a tendency to whine, and worse, he stoops to securing affidavits which do not even pass the smell test. Fletcher Christian comes across as a 23-year old hothead who lets the men talk him into leading a mutiny--and can't control the situation after the mutiny. Christian petulantly refuses to have dinner with the Captain on the eve of the mutiny. Clark Gable, he clearly ain't. The moral world of the Bounty is painted entirely in shades of gray; the men of the Bounty are imperfect and all too human.Not only is the reader treated to a great detective story, but it is a story with an absorbing and instructive sequel. The book ends with a contemporary account, first published in the 1830's, of the subsequent history of Pitcairn's Island as told by the last survivor of the Bounty, "John Adams" (an alias). Adams described a harrowing descent into mayhem and murder by the mutineers who made it to Pitcairn's Island along with their native friends. The disputes began with a dispute over--you guessed it--who would possess a native woman. Except for Adams, Fletcher Christian his gang were all killed, along with the native men. In the end, John Adams sets up a harmonious society based on Biblical principles. I have been scratching my head for two whole weeks since finishing this book, pondering its meaning. And that is a high recommendation, indeed.

The Bounty: The True Story of the Mutiny on the Bounty List Price: $17.00 Sale Price: $2.92 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

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More than two centuries after Master’s Mate Fletcher Christian led a mutiny against Lieutenant William Bligh on a small, armed transport vessel called Bounty, the true story of this enthralling adventure has become obscured by the legend. Combining vivid characterization and deft storytelling, Caroline Alexander shatters the centuries-old myths surrounding this story. She brilliantly shows how, in a desperate attempt to save one man from the gallows and another from ignominy, two powerful families came together and began to create the version of history we know today. The true story of the mutiny on the Bounty is an epic of duty and heroism, pride and power, and the assassination of a brave man’s honor at the dawn of the Romantic age.

Surely this exhaustingly-researched, enthralling and enthusiastically-written tome is the last word on the most famous of all seafaring mutinies, that of shipmate Fletcher Christian and against Lieutenant Bligh on the Bounty. More than 200 years have gone by since the ship left England after dreadful weather kept it harbored for months, on its mission to transport breadfruit from Tahiti to the West Indies. The mutiny in Tahiti left the mutineers scattered about the paradisiacal islands and found Bligh and 18 of his loyal crew members set adrift in a 23-foot open boat. Bligh, who'd served as Capt. James Cook's sailing master, fantastically maneuvered the crew on a 48-day, 3,600-mile journey to safety. Caroline Alexander, author of The Endurance, is never in over her head even when weaving together densely twisting narratives, or explaining the unwritten rules of the Royal Navy, of the complexities of class and hierarchy that impelled much of what happened aboard the Bounty. The book centers far more on the effort to round up the mutineers than the actual mutiny itself. The book is enlivened by the colorful commentary of the crew members themselves, gleaned from letters and court documents. Alexander does us all the favor of presenting Bligh the way he was understood and received in his day--as a brilliant navigator who, when placed in context, was not a brutal task-master at all. She roots the tyrannical figure we know so well from the movies on the last-ditch efforts of one well-connected crew member to save his own hide from hanging. --Mike McGonigal

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• ISBN13: 9780142004692
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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Clear and concise. Great research but at times there is a too much detail and the story de-rails a little.

I would not recommend this book to those who have not already read Mutiny on the Bounty: A Novel and enjoyed it. The information is presented in a format that assumes some knowledge of the back story. There's enough information to help fill in any gaps caused by forgetfulness, but it's not set up for those who don't know anything other than "Bligh is a bad guy." I think very few people who pick up this book first are likely to appreciate it. The target audience is for those who have already read Mutiny on the Bounty (and possibly the rest of the trilogy) and are wanting to know how it meshes with reality. And the answer is that a lot doesn't mesh with reality. Two of the mutineers had influential families, and several years after the mutiny, they attempted to redeem their family names by making the mutineers look justified, and this was done by assassinating the character of their ship's captain, Lieutenant William Bligh. The romantic tale of a crew bravely standing up to a tyrant and going to live on a tropical island captured the imagination and became absorbed into the popular history and consciousness. However, if you go back to the courtmartial of the mutineers with their own testimony, to ship's logs, and other sources, it's quite clear that the mutiny was not the result of an unusually cruel captain. The popular story Mutiny on the Bounty portrays William Bligh as a man prone to frequent floggings for the least infraction, when in reality, he tried to avoid floggings and administered approximately seven in a seventeen month journey, a rate much lower than the majority of captains. Fletcher Christian's family also tried to make it sound as if William Bligh and the loyalists were set down close to land and had no need to fear for their life. However, at the court-martial even the mutineers testified that to get in the boat was to risk one's life, and that is what Bligh and his men did over a 3000+ mile open-boat journey on starvation rations. This book is full of much interesting information for those who enjoyed the Mutiny on the Bounty and are interested in the "real story." It's fascinating to learn how history was re-written. It's saddening to read how William Bligh is in the end denied the praise and acclamation that he deserves for his open-sea boat voyage and other accomplishments, as well as having his name wrongly made synonymous with cruel tyranny.

Nothing can replace the romantic idyll conjured up by Nordoff & Hall in their monumentally mesmerizing trilogy (remember, in your youth, reading about Byam swimming in the lagoon with the Tahitian princess?), but this is the FIRST book that seems to me to have given proper due to the fascinating genius of Bligh. This is a story that offers up the finest (most accurate?) view of life aboard the BOUNTY, and gives great credit to Bligh's accomplishments, and almost minimizes the romantic Fletcher Christian, who rebelled against his taskmaster. In fact, Christian comes off more as a whining brat besotted by his Tahitian mistress (really, wife, not a mistress) than anything else, and when confronted with the prospect of returning to dreary England, decided he didn't really have to. (Well, imagine yourself a virgin boy of 18, 19 or 20 coming from a cold and forbidding social order in England and arriving in Tahiti!) One can almost see Bligh as the MORE romantic figure, if it weren't for his off-putting attitude, but these were the mores of the times. And the author gives full credit to Bligh for maintaining order on a ship with no Marines, and no armed support for his Command. By any measure, Bligh was an outstanding hero, year after year of his career, but his sufferings and humiliations at the whim of an indifferent Admiralty are hideous to read and unbearable to absorb. (Read any Dickens and you'll see things haven't changed much.) What is striking is the hard life and constrained conventions of the times. What one reads in Jane Austen (who wrote only a few years after this period) indicates how limiting life was whether you were rich OR poor. The main thing was to be connected. Period. No Sir Joseph Banks? No future. In fact, the fascinating Banks must perforce take a back seat to this narrative (although he looms over it like a ghastly ghost), and there's a good book or two in this guy, but it's hard to rise above Bligh's physical triumphs over the adversities of life. The great strides made by people like Banks (who was responsible for the BOUNTY voyage to begin with) are now looked on an unimportant -- because any school child knows the things Banks was yearning to discover. Captain Cook? How quaint. When Cook was one of the greatest explorers in the history of the World. The trials related in the last third of the book are fascinating in the details offered up by this astute writer. Bravo!

Like many today, the only knowledge I had of the mutiny on the Bounty had come in bits and pieces from popular culture. I was well aware of the portrait of Bligh as a tyrannical madman forcing his subordinates to his will. However, is that characterization correct? If not, then why would his men mutiny? These and many other questions are answered in great detail in Caroline Alexander's book. I began reading with the expectation that the mutiny would take place with some swashbuckling battle for control of the ship, ultimately deposing Bligh and his allies. The mutiny actually took place fairly peacefully and is really a strange spectacle. The bulk of the book is not concerned directly with the mutiny itself but in the courts-martial drama that follows. The events that took place on the Bounty are told from multiple, often contradictory standpoints. It is hard to tell exactly who is innocent and who guilty. It amazes me that the mutiny seems to have been put together at the last minute. Christian Fletcher's motives remain shrouded in some mystery. Alexander asserts, with good evidence, that it was the lure of Tahiti that ultimately lit the fuse. This seems a partial explanation in my mind however, because Fletcher's reaction seems so abrupt and drastic. Perhaps this can be attributed to the excess of alcohol. I enjoyed being taken back to Tahiti, having read several books of Cook's voyages, and enjoyed reading of the mutiny, the sailors involved, and what eventually happened to the mutineers. I was, however, disappointed that I found myself in a book that reads more as a courtroom drama than adventure on the high seas. I wish Alexander had spent more time and detail on the open boat voyage and the mysterious malaise that eventually struck several who survived it. The scenes on the Pandora were interesting but I think I would have gotten more out of them if they had been placed after the mutiny and I knew the characters better. All in all the book is well researched, detailed, and does a good job of showing what eventually became of the major characters. The narrative does drag at times but there is always something interesting right around the next few pages. I really did like the suspense that was built up by not settling the fate of Fletcher until well into the book.

Peter Heywood was a sixteen-year-old midshipman on the Bounty - a very minor contributor when juxtaposed with the legendary Fletcher Christian and William Bligh. Nevertheless, Heywood and his family dominate this book. I grew more curious by the page as to why this was so. Heywood was brought to court martial with several others and is one of three released. What followed was an orchestrated family effort to clear his name of any taint. This is where Caroline Alexander takes us and retains us for much of the book. True, Heywood did go on to a distinguished career as a sea-going captain, but his actual participation in the mutiny was exceedingly modest. Thus, the subsequent success that attracts Alexander's attention is due to Heywood's lack of impact on the story. Mutineers don't become British sea captains. History, done correctly, can be as suspenseful as any fiction and the Mutiny on the Bounty would seem the perfect vessel for it. Perhaps I was wrong to expect South Pacific swashbuckling and island intrigue, for there was never much of it. The Bounty, by Caroline Alexander is well-researched, competently written, but compelling it is not. Given the continuous popularity of the story, Alexander had enough information to write a book less focused on Peter Heywood. I won't say this makes The Bounty boring, but it makes it less than it might have been. 4 stars.

Video & Audio

The Bounty List Price: $14.98 Sale Price: $6.91 Used From: $2.71 Average Rating:

Description

OscarÂ(r) winners* Anthony Hopkins and Mel Gibson lead a stellar cast that includes Sir Laurence Olivier, Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson in this action-packed adventure bursting with sensational battles, raging storms, and an intensity as powerful as the mighty sea itself! Bristling with commanding performances, blazing dialogue and "superb action scenes" (Los Angeles Times), this "spectacular movie" (New York) is "everything a high-adventure fan could want" (Variety)! Hopkins delivers "a brilliant portrayal" (Boxoffice) as William Bligh, a real-life sea captain who, in 1787, steered The Bounty on a 27,000-mile voyage into danger, chaos and madness. After 31 days of battling severe sea squalls and Bligh's ever-increasing cruelty, the weary crew is relieved to finally land on a remote island. But soon their tyrannical captain wants tosail again, and the desperate men turn to first mate Fletcher Christian (Gibson) to help them take the ship by force or die trying. *Hopkins: Actor, The Silence of the Lambs (1991); Gibson: Director, Producer, Braveheart (1995)

Director Roger Donaldson (Thirteen Days) has breathed vibrant new life into the classic story of the mutiny on the Bounty. With a dream cast--Mel Gibson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Laurence Olivier, Liam Neeson, and Daniel Day-Lewis--and a script by Robert Bolt (Doctor Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia), The Bounty takes a revisionist tack through the well-charted waters of an oft-told tale. Hopkins's Captain Bligh is no raving sadist in the Charles Laughton mode. (Laughton played Bligh in the first Mutiny on the Bounty, 1935.) Instead, Sir Anthony plays Bligh as a hard-nosed imperialist explorer simply trying to get the job done in the time-honored manner: on the backs of the poor gobs under his command. Still, when Bligh's suppressed powder keg of rage finally blows, Hopkins is formidable indeed. Mel Gibson gives one of the most soulful performances of his career as mutiny leader Fletcher Christian. He's also at the height of his blue-eyed, buff good looks, and his romance with Tahitian maiden Mauatua (lovely Tevaite Vernette) is decidedly erotic. Liam Neeson is a veritable force of nature as the scrappy seaman Charles Churchill, and Daniel Day-Lewis is sublimely hateful as Master John Fryer, a pompous toady. With special effects to rival those of The Perfect Storm, the alluring eye candy of a tall-masted schooner under full sail, lush tropical greenery, and bevies of bodacious South Sea Islands babes, plus a gripping story line, The Bounty deserves a rescue from undeserved obscurity. --Laura Mirsky

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: GIBSON,MEL
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Original Release Date: 1984-05-04
Actors:

• Mel Gibson
• Anthony Hopkins
• Laurence Olivier
• Edward Fox
• Daniel Day-Lewis

Reviews

This movie is now over 25 years old, but it still has all the elements of a quality movie. Thre's good action, good drama, good scenery to go along with good acting and casting. Mel Gibson was still a relative newcomer on the movie scene when this film was made. He had achieved some recognition from the "Mad Max" films but in this role he played a real life character, Fletcher Christian. Anthony Hopkins brought the experience to the cast that brought out the solid performances from those who made up the "Bounty's" crew. Straight-laced William Bligh commanded the "Bounty" on what was to be a circumnavigation of the globe to obtain breadfruit trees for Jamaica. Storms at Cape Horn forced the ship to divert to the south Pacific via the Indian Ocean. He alienated many of the crew with his discipline and insistence on order. Eventually the ship lands at Tahiti amid ceremony and native pageantry. The crew quickly begins to fraternize with native women which leads to further breakdowns in discipline. Fletcher Christian, as Bligh's right hand man, emerges as the leader of those who seek to take control of the ship. This is perhaps the film's defining scene as Christian refuses to harm Bligh, but stands his ground when challenged by Bligh. Once in control of a mutinous crew, Christian has his hands full in finding safe haven away from the shipping lanes. He retains order, but many are presumably ready to mutiny again if land isn't discovered soon. As fate would have it, Bligh and those cast off in the life boat with him, find land and return to England. Bligh is put on trial where he is exonerated of any wrongdoing. This movie gives a good account of the mutiny on the Bounty. With nothing but Bligh's log book as record it is difficult to recreate the events without some bias, but this film seems balanced in its approach. The mutineers eventually discover Pitcairn Island where their descendents live to this day. The film is well made with solid directing and acting. After 25 years, it remains the standard on this historical event.

As an avid sailor, I love most anything filmed with the high seas as the backdrop and especially the wooden frigate eras. I had not seen the Bounty for many years, remembered it was good, just purchased it and was glad that I did. I agree with most of the other positive posts here with some additional comments. The Vangelis soundtrack will take you aback for a while. Wasn't sure I liked it at first as it is all synthetic sounds / instrumentation. Initially, for a period piece, it seemed out of place. Over time, I can appreciate it but think that in the end, a really great score with organic orchestral / tribal soundtrack would be better. The Vangelis reminds me a bit to much of Escape From New York. One thing though, the soundtrack is very sparse as is. Secondly, the attention to detail regarding the Bounty from it's hull to standing rigging is really spectacular. Need a large TV to really appreciate the scenery. I give it 4.5

Was not expecting to receive item in time for holiday, and was pleasantly (and gratefully) surprised that it arrived in time. Product was in good condition. I am very satisfied with timeliness and service.

(Historical Drama/Adventure) Based upon the true life story of the British ship, the HMS Bounty, this movie adaptation is accurate and balanced. The film shows how a captain, Lt. William Bligh (Anthony Hopkins), comes to lose his ship by his own men after they become too comfortable on the island of Tahiti. The score is done by Vangelis (Chariots of Fire) and is very 80sh but somehow seems to fit the mood of the movie perfectly. Anthony Hopkins & Mel Gibson outperform themselves as they partake in the rich & intelligent dialogue that occurs between Mr. Fletcher Christian and Lt. William Bligh. Starring Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, Daniel Day-Lewis, Liam Neeson and a few other famous actors. Discretion: Non-sexual nudity

This is one of my favorite films, ever since I first saw it in the 1980's on video not long after it was released. But it does have its faults. For starters, Gibson really doesn't get a chance to shine in this movie, Anthony Hopkins more or less has the larger role and handles it well, but even he seems subdued at times. There was considerable more interaction between Gable and Laughton in the original. The person I had the most sympathy for was Greek composer Vangelis. I've been a fan of this guy's music even before "Chariots of Fire", but here, he too seems restrained. Much of the score fits nicely with the visuals, nearly etheral and dream-like at times, but occasionally you get the feeling he really wanted to cut loose with something a little more sweeping and dramatic, ala "Blade Runner", but it would have been out of context with the core of the movie. Even after all these years, Tevaite Vernette is still a sight to behold. It's a shame this Tahitian-born beauty was a one-hit wonder, only doing this single film before returing to a normal life. I can certainly understand any man's fascination with her, as well as other topless island lovelies, but it would have been nice if the director had shown us more of the incrdeible beauty of Tahiti. As another reviewer said, this is a lush and well-photographed film, albeit with some faults. It's still better than the majority of what Hollywood is turning out now and well worth a look.

Mutiny on the Bounty (Two-Disc Special Edition) List Price: $26.98 Sale Price: $13.93 Used From: $10.94 Average Rating:

Description

Based on true events, tells the story of the 1789 mutiny aboard the British naval ship Bounty in the South Pacific.

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip.... Based on the classic novel by Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall, this magnificently-photographed three-hour tour charts the tortuous and tragic course of the Bounty, which, in 1787, sailed from England to Tahiti on a "grocer's errand" to transplant breadfruit plants in Jamaica. As the voyage progresses, tensions mount between the heartless disciplinarian Captain Bligh (a commanding Trevor Howard) and his chief officer, Fletcher Christian (Marlon Brando), who does not subscribe to Bligh's philosophy that cruelty with cause is not cruelty. Richard Harris costars as John Mills, an abused crewmember who plants the seeds of treason against Bligh. Mutiny on the Bounty is a see-worthy saga that boasts a provocative Brando performance (his Christian is initially so foppish he makes Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow look like Errol Flynn in The Sea Hawk) and great action set pieces (a raging storm as the Bounty attempts to navigate Cape Horn). And in how many did this film inspire dreams of sailing away to Tahiti? Brando was among them. He married his ravishing costar Tarita, and later bought himself a French Polynesian island. This "Special Edition" replicates the film's original prestigious road show presentation, complete with Overture, Intermission, Entr'acte, and Exit music. --Donald Liebenson

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.55:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: Warner Brothers
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Original Release Date: 1962-11-08
Actors:

• Marlon Brando

Reviews

This new version showed Brando in a very demanding role who deserved him a nomination as Best Actor facing the merciless authority of a serious superior officer, the capatain Bligh (Trevor Howard) The confrontation between him and his superior lost a good part of its dramatic punch due the excessively long sequence when the men arrive to the Island. Respect the first version in 1935, the film captures just a part of its sparkling success. The excessive details and its overlong timing weakened the expected punch. Brando exceeds to Bogart but nobody could blurry the superb acting of Charles Laughton in the original version of 1935. Nevertheless this is a recommendable film for Brando's fans.

Some spectacular sailing vistas and South Pacific scenes. Brando is completely miscast in the movie, Trevor Howard is an excellent Capt Bligh and Limerick born Richard Harris is featured in a realtively small role in the early days of his Hollywood career. All in all enjoyable entertainment, but also a bit too long. DVD conversion/quality is very good. Quite a few Irish character actors appear in small roles---- could Harris have influenced that?

As I was viewing this movie (on my HD DVD player) it became obvious that video and audio were out of sync. I checked on other (HD)DVD's and everything was perfect, wich made me to believe that the problem was related to this particular DVD. I brought this to the attention of Amazon and they immediately corrected the situation by sending me another DVD. However, this one also exhibited the same lack of synchronisation between video and audio. What a shame, cause this movie belongs to my alltime favorites. So, two stars for the video part, wich was excellent, but minus three for the audio that was not able to keep up with the action.

As many times as I have watched this movie, it never fails to entertain. Trevor Howard is perfect as Blight, and never has Fletcher Christian, been better portrayed, as by Brando. Really beautiful cine-photography. I should mention that the "shorts" enclosed with this movie, are very informative and interesting also!

The movie was top-notch. A great story, and beautifully filmed on location in Tahiti. Definitely one of Marlon Brando's best films. Picture and sound quality are excellent. There is a second disc of interesting "extras". If you prefer real story, real acting, and real photography over today's computerized techno-garbage, then I highly recommend this movie.

Mutiny on the Bounty List Price: $19.97 Sale Price: $5.49 Used From: $2.84 Average Rating:

Description

First officer Clark Gable and tyrannical captain Charles Laughton powerfully clash in this vigorous retelling of a true historic incident about a British ship commandeered from its brutal master. Franchot Tone also stars in 1935's Best Picture Academy Award(R) Choice.

The highlight of Mutiny on the Bounty is undoubtedly Charles Laughton's bracingly evil performance as Captain Bligh, a man so mean that he insists on having a dead sailor flogged. Bligh pushes his men beyond physical endurance, slashes their rations for his own profit, and drastically cuts down their frolicking time with scantily clad Tahitians. Finally, the moment everyone has been waiting for arrives: first mate Fletcher Christian (Clark Gable) hits his limit and all hell breaks loose. Gable holds doggedly onto his American accent through the entire movie, but in a way it makes Christian come off as a Regular Guy in opposition to Bligh's institutionalized cruelty. Once you get past the hurdle of his diphthongs, Gable makes an excellent Fletcher Christian--strong, fair, and noble, and he effectively conveys the struggle of a man who loathes the idea of mutiny but can't stand see his men mistreated. And Charles Laughton is just superb. His Bligh is thoroughly appalling, yes, but it's far from a one-note performance--when he is cast adrift on the open sea in a lifeboat and tries to make an impossible journey to land, you can't help but root for him. Mutiny on the Bounty won the 1935 Academy Award for Best Picture and picked up a Leading Actor nomination for each of its male leads. Check it out or be tied to the mizzenmast. --Ali Davis

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: Warner Brothers
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Charles Laughton
• Clark Gable
• Franchot Tone
• Carey Wilson
• Edward Christian

Reviews

A real classic could sometime be somewhat boring to watch...in spite of being "interesting" in many ways. This academy award winner of best picture of 1935 is interesting for all the right reasons, but you will also enjoy watching it! A great piece of Film history...

Without going into too much detail, this has always been a favorite of mine. The best way to watch this film is to pretend you've never seen this movie before and let the story unfold. That should be quite easy for anyone who has never seen this movie!

This movie was a delight to watch and will be a part of our permanent collection.

This is by far the best version of this great classic movie. The acting is great, the cinematography is good, and even the island scenes look good. If you are interested in viewing a great old movie, go no further than this!!

The product was wrapped and the box was very secure. There wasn't any rattle or anything wrong with the box. The video's are both in good condition and play on my dvd with no problems. Would recommend to anybody you wants an unusual dvd.

To Kill a Mockingbird (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $2.20 Used From: $1.12 Average Rating:

Description

A coming-of-age story set in the South, this novel is rich with subjects for conversation. Narrated by Scout, a young girl on the brink of a life-changing event, To Kill a Mockingbird was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1960.

Features

• ISBN13: 9780764586002
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

Most helpful in understanding each chapter of the book. The critical essays at the back of Cliffs Notes and Cliffsnotes Review makes reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" more interesting and challenges one to think about events of that time.

I am taking a criminal justice course and was assigned to review the movie "To Kill a Mocking Bird" from a legal perspective. While this study guide is for a literary purpose, it was most helpful in understanding the concepts and characters in the movie. The book was in great condition.

Read the book and this helped me ace my exam. Great for people who dont like reading or people who have read the book and want to cover or further understand important points in the story.

Unless there are obvious problems with reading, why would a person need Cliff's Notes for this book? It is an incredibly simple, straight forward novel. I am not being offensive, but I am slightly stunned...

This book made my life in English class so much easier! I bought a new version of the book and the detailed summaries and character analysis helped me very much. The booklet is concise but full of information. Thank God for Cliffsnotes!

To Kill A Mockingbird (Barron's Book Notes) List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $2.64 Used From: $1.38 Average Rating:

Description

A guide to reading "To Kill A Mockingbird" with a critical and appreciative mind. Includes background on the author's life and times, sample tests, term paper suggestions, and a reading list.

Features

• ISBN13: 9780812034462
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

The book is about a killer and a man who was accused of raping a woman, The part I didn't like was where the dog was shot, and I like when that little girl who talks like an adult was wearing the ham costume, and the part when she tries to bite Boo. I recommend this book because I think that it was a good story, but if you dont want to read you should just watch the movie. The movie is the same as the book.

I rated To Kill a Mockingbird 5 stars. This book is the "handbook" on racism, sexism, and descrimination against social classes. I enjoyed this book due to the understanding level it was on. I think because it was though the eyes of a young child they made it very plain and comprehendable but because Scout was smart and intelligent, Harper Lee could still use knowledge about a second grader's. I think this book helps teenagers especially deal with the idea that racism and sexism will never completely go away but that they can still deal with it to the best of their ability. I think the author definatly intended this book for young adults. If a young child read this book, it would fly over their heads and leave them with more questions than answers. The language is inappropriate for most children but yet is understood by young adults. This book helps teenagers in many ways.

To Kill A Mockingbird is filled with moral lessons, adventure and humor. The children's growth and maturity thoughout this story is true to life. Their relationships with each other, their father, neighbors and other relatives engage the reader and keep you wanting more whether those relationships are positive or negative. The characters and the descriptions of the neighborhood and town are vivid. When reading this book, one becomes linked with the characters as if those townfolk were one's own. It can't be put down until it is finished. And the finish is worth the wait.

I've just begun to read this book. I was assigned it for English class. Usually, the books we are assigned are old and boring, and we have to analize them until we hate the book with vengence. This book is surrounded in mystery and it acctually helps to analize it. I suggest this book for grades 6-10 as an introduction to a high school English class. I enjoyed it greatly and think anyone who reads it, young or old will enjoy it :)

I am currently reading "To Kill aMockingbird". At first I didn't like it but now I love it! We have to read it for my English class. When we are done we have to make a map of Maycomb. So if any teacher need suggestions ths book gives great detail on where everyone lives and things like that. I love the way Harper Lee expresses herself in her character's. I Love the way she writes! Thanks for your time!

A Guide for Using To Kill a Mockingbird in the Classroom (Literature Unit (Teacher Created Materials)) List Price: $8.99 Sale Price: $4.72 Used From: $4.77 Average Rating:

Description

This resource is directly related to its literature equivalent and filled with a variety of cross-curricular lessons to do before, during, and after reading the book. This reproducible book presents an exciting approach to teaching well-known literature! It includes sample plans, author information, vocabulary building ideas, cross-curriculum activities, sectional activities and quizzes, unit tests, and many ideas for culminating and extending the novel.

Features

• ISBN13: 9781576906262
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

Over the years I have used teacher created resources for teaching different books. I have to admit this one is not one of the better ones on the market. What was this author thinking? I have taught `Mockingbird" to numerous students over the last 20 years and even used it as one of the books for my masters in reading. In all the years I have never found the connection of "Bloody Mary" as well as other terms on pg. 26 in the book. Also pg.13 is still having me shake my head. There are much better books out there for teaching this WONDERFUL book.

This year, I taught To Kill a Mockingbird to my freshman students for the first time. I purchased this literature unit to help me plan. While it has several activities that touch on basic literary terms, I used most of the activities as "fillers" for time. I think it will be more helpful with lower level students and not honors classes. Still worth purchasing; I'm always happy to have too many resources.

Excellent product, easy to use, ready for immediate classroom use! Well organized by chapter and provides short quizzes for groups of chapters in the novel to ensure kids are reading. Excellent connections, journal activities that go well beyond the literal comprehension of the novel. A must have!

This book is my everyday tool in class and at home. I used it to help my nephew in book report and for me to teach it to my students. Great help.

There are several reading strategies and activities to motivate your readers in this guide book. I think it is very useful for those who may be teaching this novel for the first time and a new tool to get a new perspective on the novel for seasoned educators. I found that it had some great ideas, Anticipation Guides, project ideas, and research topics.

Full-Length

To Kill a Mockingbird List Price: $12.99 Sale Price: $5.00 Used From: $1.60 Average Rating:

Description

One of the best-loved stories of all time, To Kill a Mockingbird has earned many distinctions since its original publication in 1960. It won the Pulitzer Prize, has been translated into more than forty languages, sold more than thirty million copies worldwide, and been made into an enormously popular movie. Most recently, librarians across the country gave the book the highest of honors by voting it the best novel of the twentieth century.

"When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow.... When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident. I maintain that the Ewells started it all, but Jem, who was four years my senior, said it started long before that. He said it began the summer Dill came to us, when Dill first gave us the idea of making Boo Radley come out." Set in the small Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Depression, To Kill a Mockingbird follows three years in the life of 8-year-old Scout Finch, her brother, Jem, and their father, Atticus--three years punctuated by the arrest and eventual trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. Though her story explores big themes, Harper Lee chooses to tell it through the eyes of a child. The result is a tough and tender novel of race, class, justice, and the pain of growing up. Like the slow-moving occupants of her fictional town, Lee takes her time getting to the heart of her tale; we first meet the Finches the summer before Scout's first year at school. She, her brother, and Dill Harris, a boy who spends the summers with his aunt in Maycomb, while away the hours reenacting scenes from Dracula and plotting ways to get a peek at the town bogeyman, Boo Radley. At first the circumstances surrounding the alleged rape of Mayella Ewell, the daughter of a drunk and violent white farmer, barely penetrate the children's consciousness. Then Atticus is called on to defend the accused, Tom Robinson, and soon Scout and Jem find themselves caught up in events beyond their understanding. During the trial, the town exhibits its ugly side, but Lee offers plenty of counterbalance as well--in the struggle of an elderly woman to overcome her morphine habit before she dies; in the heroism of Atticus Finch, standing up for what he knows is right; and finally in Scout's hard-won understanding that most people are essentially kind "when you really see them." By turns funny, wise, and heartbreaking, To Kill a Mockingbird is one classic that continues to speak to new generations, and deserves to be reread often. --Alix Wilber

Features

• ISBN13: 9780060935467
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

My daughter needed to read this book for school as a summer project. It was convenient and quick to order it from Amazon.

To Kill a Mockingbird is one of those books that almost every single student was assigned to read in high school whether it be a real high school or one of those fictional high schools we all see in movies and television. Woefully, I was not one of those students. And since I was (and still am) a proud nerd and bookworm, I was really looking forward to reading this as soon as I entered high school. I was so disheartened when I wasn't assigned this book or Shakespeare or Catcher in the Rye; you know, all of those books that are supposed to be a staple of your academic high school life. So, I have tried to rectify that and thought To Kill a Mockingbird would be a great way to do so. And I was not disappointed. I'm also weary of reading classics because I always think that they'll be difficult to read and I won't get through it (like Pride and Prejudice and Rebecca. Seriously, I've tried three times to read these two and can never get past a certain point every time). Or worse I'll get through it and realize that I loathed it. Which would then lead to all of those inevitable looks my fellow readers would give me when I say I HATED To Kill a Mockinbird. It just wouldn't be pretty. So, I put this book off for years. There was no reason for me to worry because To Kill a Mockinbird was surprisingly readable. I thought that it would take me like fifty pages to get into it, but from the first page, I was already entranced in Scout's world like it was my own. Getting into a book so deeply is what I love most about the magic of reading and that was really emphasized in this book. The characters were all extremely real and I loved Scout, Jem, Dill, Atticus, Calpurnia, etc. Even the Ewells, who you aren't really supposed to like, were all layered and just leapt off the page. The whole situation: the race tensions, Tom Robinson's trial, Atticus' struggle to remain noble, were all the things that contributed to make this book not only amazing, but page-turning. So much that I literally had to force myself to stop a couple of times and savor the beautiful writing. While many say it's a shame that Harper Lee never published anything again, I personally think that there was no way she would've ever topped the success that To Kill a Mockingbird garnered. Maybe to Lee, it seemed like this was the only story she needed to tell and she told it beautifully. To Kill a Mockingbird has become my favorite read of the year so far (tied with I Capture the Castle) and I know that this is a story that I'm going to re-read over and over again and pick up something new every time. This was definitely an amazing and enchanting novel.

Harper Lee's book is perhaphs one of the most moving, touching nd genuinley charming tales in literature. The central themes, prejudice, honor and bravery, could come off as moralistic or dry in the hands of someless skilled, but Lee delivers with pure warmth. The grave trial of Tom Robinson (falsely charged with rape by the a family that is the epitome of 'white trash') is balanced with the voice and humorous insights of Scout, the novel's nine-year-old narrator: for all of the import of the trial and the town's divisveness on the race issue, we have Scout's insights, when watching Calpurnia cook, that "there may be some skill in being a girl after all." Each character is brilliantly brought to life, from the graceful Miss Maudie to the enigmatic Boo Radley, but perhapps none more than Atticus Finch. Perhaps the most honorable character in literature, Atticus (an attorney) takes the unwinnable task of defending Tom Robinson because if he did not, "he would not able to look his children in the eye." Atticus does what is right regardless of personal sacrrifice. This wisdom and heart is immedialtey evident in Jem and Scout, who, almost insincitvely carry themselves with the same honor and sense of right. But what makes this book great is not just the bravery in the face of hate or the dignity of the Finchs. What makes the book memorable is the charm and humor: the games the children played to coax Boo Radley out of his home; the children's keen observations of the adults around them; and the puppy love tale of Scout and Dill. With each page the characters and the setting come alive and cannot help but evoke a smile. This is a book to read again and again, revisiting just how wonderful it is.

The copy I received was filled with hand written notes throughout the text. I was very disappointed in this purchase.

I read this in high school, it was the best book I had ever read. I read it again to my daughter when she was 11 and once again loved it. There was so much more to it than I remembered. It is such a stunning masterpiece on so many levels, this is one book worth reading again and again. My daughter and I have put it on our "books you must read in your lifetime" list (just four books long at this point). This is a powerful book and one that will stay with you a good long time.

Video & Audio

To Kill a Mockingbird (Collector's Edition) List Price: $19.98 Sale Price: $11.81 Used From: $12.20 Average Rating:

Description

When a Southern white woman accuses a black man of rape, the outcome of the trial is a foregone conclusion and no lawyer except Atticus Finch will def

Ranked 34 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 Greatest American Films, To Kill a Mockingbird is quite simply one of the finest family-oriented dramas ever made. A beautiful and deeply affecting adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, the film retains a timeless quality that transcends its historically dated subject matter (racism in the Depression-era South) and remains powerfully resonant in present-day America with its advocacy of tolerance, justice, integrity, and loving, responsible parenthood. It's tempting to call this an important "message" movie that should be required viewing for children and adults alike, but this riveting courtroom drama is anything but stodgy or pedantic. As Atticus Finch, the small-town Alabama lawyer and widower father of two, Gregory Peck gives one of his finest performances with his impassioned defense of a black man (Brock Peters) wrongfully accused of the rape and assault of a young white woman. While his children, Scout (Mary Badham) and Jem (Philip Alford), learn the realities of racial prejudice and irrational hatred, they also learn to overcome their fear of the unknown as personified by their mysterious, mostly unseen neighbor Boo Radley (Robert Duvall, in his brilliant, almost completely nonverbal screen debut). What emerges from this evocative, exquisitely filmed drama is a pure distillation of the themes of Harper Lee's enduring novel, a showcase for some of the finest American acting ever assembled in one film, and a rare quality of humanitarian artistry (including Horton Foote's splendid screenplay and Elmer Bernstein's outstanding score) that seems all but lost in the chaotic morass of modern cinema. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: Universal Studios
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
Original Release Date: 1962-12-25
Actors:

• Gregory Peck
• John Megna
• Frank Overton
• Rosemary Murphy
• Ruth White

Reviews

Just a wonderful movie that was bought at Amazon and arrived quickly and in fine shape.

I had seen this movie many years ago and was happy to find it for an affordable price on Amazon. This is an excellent movie, thought-provoking and addresses prejudice--whether against the color of our skin or believing the rumors about others. I would recommend this to anyone.

Althought the book by Harper Lee gives more detail, this is one of the greatest Gregory Peck movies of all time. A very well done piece of cinematic tribute to an awesome story.

What can you say about this movie that hasn't already been said? Gregory Peck offers what may be his definitive role (he won the Best-Actor Oscar for it after four fruitless nominations) and, perhaps, the most famous dad in film; as various critics have said, not even Peck himself was as good a father as Atticus Finch, but Atticus is probably what every dad wants to be. Though slow in pace, the movie is never boring, and the picture it presents of the Deep South (Maycomb Co., Ala.) in the days before Martin Luther King is both fascinating and disturbing. If, like me, you find yourself puzzled over why the Ewells faked a rape and accused Tom Robinson (Brock Peters) of the crime, your best bet is to read the book To Kill a Mockingbird, which also provides a lot of background about the Finches and their neighbors. Robert Duvall, today one of our most respected actors, makes his first credited big-screen appearance (with never a word of dialogue) as "Boo" Radley, the mysterious and believed-insane neighbor of the Finches. This is a movie every child should see and every adult should know.

Even though our children all had to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" and write a review on it, we did not read the book nor see the movie until the 50th anniversary of the book. We enjoyed the book and have watched the movie several times. The variance between the book and the movie is insignificant. Excellent on both!

Gone with the Wind (SparkNotes Literature Guide) List Price: $4.95 Sale Price: $7.88 Used From: $1.72

Description

Get your "A" in gear!They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes™ has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'™ motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because:· They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts.· They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them.· The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time.And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else!

Gone with the Wind (MAXNotes Literature Guides) List Price: $3.95 Sale Price: $2.10 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Description

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

Reviews

it can help you undeerstanding the American modern culture and their mind of life and living style.

Red it, read it, read it! So realistic! It is a must. Loved the book. Felt with the charicters. "Frankly my dear I don't give a damn." Best line ever written!

It is a really good help to review for the test, you can't just read the whole book over, so these notes really helped me study!!! I don't know what I would have done without them!!

Full-Length

Gone With the Wind List Price: $28.00 Sale Price: $16.65 Used From: $4.92 Average Rating:

Description

A monumental classic considered by many to be not only the greatest love story ever written, but also the greatest Civil War saga.

Features

• ISBN13: 9780684830681
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

This is a classic-- wonderful on so many levels and if you haven't read it then you owe yourself this treat. As a teen I was engrossed and ended up reading it several times over the years. ** small spoiler** As a younger person I always knew that Rhett came back to Scarlett. Later, when I got older, I was less certain that there was a happy ending for the pair and haven't read it since. But I still give it 5 stars because it is brilliant and beautiful and moving.

after my dog ate my moms copy I never thought I'd get another one just like it! Thanks!

It started very slow for me, with Scarlett's fleeting thoughts about her dresses and balls. Then every time it became intriguing the conflict resolved itself, except for the conflict between Scarlett and Rhett which only gradually compounded. The dénouement was poignant and well conceived-- perhaps it's just the romantic in me but I choose to see the end as just the beginning.

I have read Gone with the Wind at least 10 times. Every time it is read, I find something missed previously. And every time I read it, it means something different to me. It has motivated me to read other books about that era of time and so I have learned a lot about the Civil War era and how important and significant it was for our country's history. I don't feel that the main thrust of the book was romance, but as in most lives, romance occurs some time, and the people of this novel also find some romance. Scarlett moves from one phase of life to the next with a realists mind except when it comes to Ashley Wilkes. All in all, it is a long book, but one that you won't forget.

This book is a classic. One that I believe all southern women should read and pass down to their daughters. It is a story of love, loss, and an age in which we could never fully understand. That being said, this version's printing is not the best. On nearly every page, there are words or letters that are not fully printed. The hardcover, binding, and dust cover are in wonderful shape. The packaging and delivery, too, were outstanding. The only drawback I see is the printing not being 100% clear on each page. I think if you are interesting in purchasing a hardcover copy, you may wish to try a different version. I hope this is helpful.

Gone with the Wind List Price: $18.00 Sale Price: $7.95 Used From: $4.95 Average Rating:

Description

Margaret Mitchell's epic novel of love and war won the Pulitzer Prize and went on to give rise to two authorized sequels and one of the most popular and celebrated movies of all time. Many novels have been written about the Civil War and its aftermath. None take us into the burning fields and cities of the American South as Gone With the Wind does, creating haunting scenes and thrilling portraits of characters so vivid that we remember their words and feel their fear and hunger for the rest of our lives. In the two main characters, the white-shouldered, irresistible Scarlett and the flashy, contemptuous Rhett, Margaret Mitchell not only conveyed a timeless story of survival under the harshest of circumstances, she also created two of the most famous lovers in the English-speaking world since Romeo and Juliet.

Features

• ISBN13: 9781416548898
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

I not only have one dog earred copy of this book, I have two dog earred copies of this book on my nightstand. What a great book! Inspiring, thoughtful and interesting all at that same time. Yes, there are racist elements and sterotypical themes (the use of the "n" word is discusting and offensive and the view that the slaves were "Happy" was absolutely discusting). The issue of slavery was sugar-coated - the slaves were never depicted as being human beings with thoughts and feelings - they were just charactures meant to serve their Caucasian "masters". I enjoyed reading about the historical aspect of the Civil War. The characters of Scarlett and Rhett do not pretend to be something they are not - both are shrewd, focused, fiesty. Is Scarlett a spoiled little brat? Yes, of course she is, but somehow the author makes you want to root for her in the end because Scarlett fights for what she wants and never gives up. I think those are admirable qualities for any person to have. I agree with other posts that there was no reason for a sequel(s). The sequel really served no purpose other than to confirm what (most) of us already knew or hoped - that Scarlett and Rhett would end up together anyway.

This book was virtually transferring me back into time like a time machine..you live the book, you feel the book, you "see" the book..you are there..with Scarlett, Rhett, Mammy, Melanie, and Ashley..unbelievably emotional at all extremes..I love it and will be glad to re-read it.

Nice story, feels a little like a soap opera at times, but the civil war part of the story is excellent. Could have and should have been shorter...lots of filler. Overall it is pretty good read.

(that is if it takes 6 weeks to read... so you better start reading!!!) In a word... you will RELIVE Scarlett's experience and she will become a person to you :) If you are a person who likes drama and human emotion, then this is the book for you! The fact that it is set against the chaotic background of the American Civil War is just an added bonus since the real storyline of the book is the tale of a woman's struggle against time and change when her world is falling apart.

This is one of those books where you find a little bit of yourself in each character, rather than finding one you can entirely associate with. It's imposible to completely like or completely hate any of the characters. There are many reasons I can't bring myself to read any of the liscenced or unofficial sequels to this book: 1)This book was written about 73 years after the time setting of the book itself, & when the author was born in 1700, Having read books from that time, like Baum's Oz series, culture of the late 19tch century & early 20th century were more similar than the 1900s are from now, so she wouldn't have had to do nearly as much research on life in the Confederate South as a sequel writer would, & a sequal writer younger than herself would have their cultural views skewed by the changes of modern times. 2)It doesn't really need a sequel. If you think about what direction the story might have gone in if Rhett didn't leave Scarlet; They were incapable of being happy together it might have had the same kind of tragic ending as Warren Adler's "War of the Roses." Or since Scarlet is such a proud woman who has been married to many men she didn't love, she might return from Tara & decide to divorce Rhett upon his promised occasional returns & marry the childish Ashley just to kick Rhett in the side for abandoning her. Or she could have gone another 5 or 10 years persuing Rhett only to loose interest in him when she finally won him back; like she looses interest in anything else when the hunt is over. I recommend "War of the Roses," as well as Jane Austin's "Pride & Prejudice," as I find similarity in their rough relationship as well.

Video & Audio

Gone with the Wind (Two-Disc 70th Anniversary Edition) List Price: $24.98 Sale Price: $11.69 Used From: $14.99 Average Rating:

Description

Period romance. War epic. Family saga. Popular fiction adapted with crowd-pleasing brilliance. Star acting aglow with charisma and passion. Moviemaking craft at its height. These are sublimely joined in the words Gone with the Wind. This dynamic and durable screen entertainment of the Civil War-era South comes home with the renewed splendor of a New 70th-Anniversary Digital Transfer capturing a higher-resolution image from Restored Picture Elements than ever before possible. David O. Selznick’s monumental production of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book can now enthrall new generations of home viewers with a majestic vibrance that befits one of Hollywood’s greatest achievements.

David O. Selznick wanted Gone with the Wind to be somehow more than a movie, a film that would broaden the very idea of what a film could be and do and look like. In many respects he got what he worked so hard to achieve in this 1939 epic (and all-time box-office champ in terms of tickets sold), and in some respects he fell far short of the goal. While the first half of this Civil War drama is taut and suspenseful and nostalgic, the second is ramshackle and arbitrary. But there's no question that the film is an enormous achievement in terms of its every resource--art direction, color, sound, cinematography--being pushed to new limits for the greater glory of telling an American story as fully as possible. Vivien Leigh is still magnificently narcissistic, Olivia de Havilland angelic and lovely, Leslie Howard reckless and aristocratic. As for Clark Gable: we're talking one of the most vital, masculine performances ever committed to film. --Tom Keogh

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: Warner Brothers
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Original Release Date: 1939-01-01
Actors:

• Clark Gable
• Vivien Leigh
• Thomas Mitchell
• Barbara O'Neil
• Evelyn Keyes

Reviews

Gone with the Wind is my all time favorite movie. I was thrilled to receive it exactly as described. It arrived before the given date and was in perfect condition.

One of the most important movies it's now a very huge and georgeus prsentation on DVD. I'm from Perú and this DVD has Spanish lenaguage and subtitles, including some extras contents. I hope this kind of edition go on production including a lot of extras, and spanish lenguage and subtitles for latin american people.

I bought this for a Mother's Day gift--TWICE. My mom reported that most of the discs didn't work, so I returned it for a new set. Amazingly, the new replacement set didn't work either! I felt bad enough for Mom that I had to write this review and warn others. I finally learned my lesson: Take Mom out for dinner and a play instead of wasting time and money on this piece of....er, junk.

Gone with the Wind was as good as I remember it from my youth. The color was beautiful, film clear, and of course, the story memorable. Thank you for making this wonderful product into a Blu-ray movie. My adult daughter saw it for the first time with my husband and myself and she was mesmerized. Thanks again, for a great product.

I enyoyed the DVD as much as I did when I saw it in a Theater in the spring of 1970. Wonderful movie.

The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $7.49 Sale Price: $1.39 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Description

These two epic fantasies take place in Middle-earth, suggestive of life in medieval days. The characters are many, fantastic, and all necessary for the evolution of this great vision of the classical battle between good and evil and the quest for a magical ring.

Reviews

Absolute waste of money. The description of the Cliff Notes title did not descibe the contents of the book. It turns out to be Cliff notes for Lord of The Rings but almost nothing on The Hobbitt

I certainly wouldn't suggest reading the Notes instead of reading what is arguably the greatest book(s)ever written. But the Notes do have their uses. I chose to use Tolkien's books as an example in my final project for a high school writing course. I had read the entire series twice, but that had been three years earlier. I found the Notes useful for jogging my memory on some of the scenes, and for picking out examples to use in my project. I would never recommend reading Notes instead of the actual book in ANY case - that is such a waste - but especially not for Tolkien. If you are reading Tolkien for a class, consider yourself lucky, and take the opportunity to read this amazing set of books in its entirety. Use the Notes just to jog your memory and better understand these classic books.

These oversimplified notes are truly abhorrent and inaccurate. Why not relax with a paperback edition of the true Lord of the Rings?

The whole concept is disgusting! The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings are books meant to be read with love, joy and wonderment, NOT turned into texts to be read as exercises in drudgery and compulsion. It makes me furious that idiots and barbarians should so turn these books into texts and so kill children's love for them. It does not matter if they are accurate or not, they are WRONG!

Yuck yuck yuck! I only read the sample they have here but it's horrible! They have next to no detail, they even leave out characters, (any one remember Fatty Boldger?) it's wayyy to simplified.. and so on.. how someone could make a clifts notes of 4 books, (all of which are ~ 300 pages long) is not right in the head.

The Hobbit: A Teaching Guide List Price: $10.95 Sale Price: $6.47 Used From: $4.00 Average Rating:

Description

Teaching Guide designed to develop an appreciation for literature and to improve reading skills, exploring critique and literature elements.

Reviews

This is a great product and very helpful in my classroom. There are many higher level and challenging activities.

Excellent resource to use when reading The Hobbit. I would not recommend it to teachers to use in any grade below fifth. This resource is at the advanced level.

I purchased this product along with The Hobbit: A Unit Plan by Mary B. Collins and A Guide for Using The Hobbit in the Classroom by John Carratello. I like this product very much for the higher level thinking activities, lessons, and strategies. For my purposes at this time (I am not currently teaching gifted classes), the Collins unit is better, but there are several activities I especially like from this book. The Runes translation activity my students enjoyed. The Carratello book is much simpler and the activities are more tangential, although I found the riddle activity useful in that book as well. The advantage of the Collins product is that it is a PDF file on CD and can be word processed for different purposes. The advantage of this product is that the format is already fine for photocopying and student use.

I've been teaching for 8 years. I teach 7th grade literature both gifted and talented as well as resource students. This study guide is excellent if you are looking for an in-depth study of The Hobbit. It is set up in an easy-to-use format with higher level chapter questions, vocab with definitions and page numbers, chapter summaries, writing activities, and "strategies" on literary terms. Some parts are difficult for my resource students, but it is easy to tailor the curriculum to meet the needs of all of your students. The students especially enjoy the "strategy" in which they translate the runes and the one about the maps. I highly recommend this resource!

Full-Length

The Hobbit: 70th Anniversary Edition List Price: $25.00 Sale Price: $14.58 Used From: $14.37 Average Rating:

Description

A new edition of The Hobbit with a short introduction by Christopher Tolkien, a reset text incorporating the most up-to-date corrections, and all of Tolkien’s own drawings and color illustrations, including the rare “Mirkwood” piece.

"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort." The hobbit-hole in question belongs to one Bilbo Baggins, an upstanding member of a "little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves." He is, like most of his kind, well off, well fed, and best pleased when sitting by his own fire with a pipe, a glass of good beer, and a meal to look forward to. Certainly this particular hobbit is the last person one would expect to see set off on a hazardous journey; indeed, when Gandalf the Grey stops by one morning, "looking for someone to share in an adventure," Baggins fervently wishes the wizard elsewhere. No such luck, however; soon 13 fortune-seeking dwarves have arrived on the hobbit's doorstep in search of a burglar, and before he can even grab his hat or an umbrella, Bilbo Baggins is swept out his door and into a dangerous adventure. The dwarves' goal is to return to their ancestral home in the Lonely Mountains and reclaim a stolen fortune from the dragon Smaug. Along the way, they and their reluctant companion meet giant spiders, hostile elves, ravening wolves--and, most perilous of all, a subterranean creature named Gollum from whom Bilbo wins a magical ring in a riddling contest. It is from this life-or-death game in the dark that J.R.R. Tolkien's masterwork, The Lord of the Rings, would eventually spring. Though The Hobbit is lighter in tone than the trilogy that follows, it has, like Bilbo Baggins himself, unexpected iron at its core. Don't be fooled by its fairy-tale demeanor; this is very much a story for adults, though older children will enjoy it, too. By the time Bilbo returns to his comfortable hobbit-hole, he is a different person altogether, well primed for the bigger adventures to come--and so is the reader. --Alix Wilber

Features

• ISBN13: 9780618968633
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

I can't believe at my age I had never read this book. I would recommend this book to readers of any age and genres. My only reference to these amazing characters was through film. The films don't do justice to Tolkien's mastery. Due to this book I have now purchased The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Silmarillion. This book will be an added classic to your bookshelf!

In the fantasy novel The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien, a small mythical creature called a "hobbit" leaves his home on an adventure to help dwarves reclaim their stolen treasure. This happens after the hobbit was chosen as a burglar. The story's setting is long ago in Wilderland, a fantasy place. The main conflict is that long before, a dragon had raided a dwarvish town and stolen all of the treasures. The company of dwarves were eager for revenge on the dragon, "Smaug the Magnificent". Smaug was, unfortunately, a fearless and dangerous "worm" who lived in the faraway ruins of the town under the Lonely Mountain on the heap of treasures. Eventually, a team of 13 dwarves, a wizard, and a hobbit set off on a long journey. Along the way, there are many dangers. First, there are trolls who are hungry and would love to eat the dwarves. Luckily, they are all saved by the wizard. Next, over the goblin-infested Misty Mountains they were caught and taken into the heart of the goblin town, where they would have been slaves for the rest of their life. Then, in the dark, deep forest Mirkwood, they are captured by giant spiders who would eat them like flies. Only for Bilbo's quick thinking do they survive. And after surviving all of these ordeals, only to find a dragon at the end... Main Character: Bilbo Baggins the hobbit is the main character. He starts out with two sides of personality. One side is a respectable, jolly fellow who enjoys a comfortable life with two breakfasts a day if possible. The other side of him urges him to go on an adventure to faraway lands. The book tells of how his second side wins and he becomes a hero and burglar. Character Traits: The hobbit is jolly, excitable, and clever. Most of the time he is happy, and is not ever too grumpy. He sometimes has fits where he yells out strange things if he is scared. He is clever when the time comes. When the dwarves have all been captured by spiders, the hobbit came up with a plan on the spot! The hobbit is also stubborn and proud. He is looks down on the dwarves. Once, he sniffs, "all this dwarvish racket!" although " You or I wouldn't have noticed is the whole cavalcade passed within two feet of us!" Theme: The main theme of this book is the conflict between the good and the evil. The evil is always trying to thwart the good from doing what they have the right to do. Recommendation: I strongly recommend this book to children in 4th to 6th grade. The book is full of adventure and the outcome is often unexpected. Throughout the book, the language is engaging and playful which lessens the often scary scenes. I read it when I was 8, and now I am 9, I love it even more as I understand the story better!

I was a little concerned about getting this book, since there are a couple of reviews that nitpick about the binding, the black & white illustration, etc, and argue that this edition is inferior. (I have worked in a printing studio, and can be pretty picky about my editions.) But I am happy I went ahead and ordered it, because going back and rereading the Hobbit in this edition has been a great experience. The dust jacket is printed on nice matte paper, and it feels like a new version of one of the old editions. The black and white illustrations are crisp, and are incorporated into the text at the right spots, and the color plates are bright and very clearly printed. I have not looked at the annotated version, and I am sure it is a great book if you are reading the Hobbit with a mind toward understanding the minutia of Tolkien's work. But if you want to read The Hobbit the way it was intended to be read, you can't go wrong with this edition.

"In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit" Bilbo Baggins was a respectable hobbit living in his hobbit-hole at Bag End. But things change when Gandalf the Wizard drops by--along with thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield. Suddenly, Bilbo finds himself on a pony heading away from the Shire and into the great unknown, to defeat a dragon and score treasure. I Liked: WOW! This was such a beautiful, enjoyable book! The Hobbit has never been my favorite Tolkien novel, mostly because it seems so childish (of course, it was written for kids). But the audiobook (and listening to Eldest prior to this) gave me a new appreciation for this joy. Firstly, there are the characters, primarily Bilbo. Bilbo really strikes me as a relatable guy. He's comfortable, content to live at home, and uninterested in adventures. He has to be pushed out of his home by Gandalf in order to get in on the fun. It reminds me so much of how I can be: content to go along, not trying new things until my sister forces me on a new path. My favorite character, though, is Gandalf. I like how quirky he is, how smart and even caring he is to Bilbo. Gandalf knew that Bilbo was perfect for the job and wouldn't let Bilbo back out no matter what. Plus, it's awesome to see recurring characters from the Lord of the Rings. The story itself is so wonderful! Tolkien writes in a third person omniscient, which allows him to employ a great sense of humor. I love how he often directs comments to the audience (explaining hobbits, trolls, and the like) and how light-hearted the tone is. As for the story proper: a pleasure! There is so much adventure, excitement, intrigue...I've read this before, but I still learned new things or was wowed all over again. I loved the tale of how Bilbo and the dwarves evaded the trolls (so simple, yet showcases how brilliant Gandalf was), how Bilbo got the ring from Gollum, and the trek through the Forest (so scary!). And I love how this story fits into Tolkien's vision for Middle Earth. Elrond, Wood Elves, Mirkwood (Thranduil!), Gollum, the White Council...all these and more make appearances. And lastly, the narrator...ah, he was such a pleasure to listen to! I loved his voice, and I adored how he sung the songs and poems in the book! Not many could pull it off so convincingly! I Didn't Like: I don't have a lot of complaints, but there are a few. Firstly, there are thirteen dwarves, and most of them have little to no character. Fili and Kili were young, Bombur fat, Balin I believe had the best eyesight. Only Thorin had any development. One thing I've never liked about the Lord of the Rings or much of Tolkien's works was all the poetry. The Hobbit was no different; a few poems were great, but after a while, I grew tired of the lapsing into a poem. Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence: None. None. While not graphic, there are some intense battles between goblins and the troop in the Misty Mountains and in the final battle. Overall: I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I've never been a Hobbit fan, but this time around, I might be converted. It's fun, it's enjoyable, it's a piece of your childhood in novel form. Highly recommended for those who want to be kids again. Brought to you by: *C.S. Light*

A great story for all ages. No wonder they plan to make 2 movies out of this book.

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GradeSaver (TM) ClassicNotes The Chocolate War: Study Guide List Price: $7.99 Sale Price: $7.99

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GradeSaver(TM) ClassicNotes are the most comprehensive study guides on the market, written by Harvard students for students! Longer, with more detailed summary and analysis sections and sample essays, ClassicNotes are the best choice for advanced students and educators. The Chocolate War note includes: * A biography of Robert Cormier * An in-depth chapter-by-chapter summary * A short summary * A character list and related descriptions * A list of themes * A glossary * Historical context * Two academic essays * 100 quiz questions to improve test taking skills!

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The Chocolate War (Readers Circle) List Price: $8.95 Sale Price: $4.64 Used From: $3.95 Average Rating:

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IN 1974, AFTER SUFFERING rejections from seven major publishers, The Chocolate War made its debut. An uncompromising portrait of conformity and corruption, it quickly became a bestselling—and provocative—classic for young adults.“Masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful.”—The New York Times Book Review“The characterizations of all the boys are superb.”—School Library Journal, Starred“Compellingly immediate. . . . Readers will respect the uncompromising ending.”—Kirkus Reviews, StarredAn ALA Best Books for Young AdultsA School Library Journal Best Books of the YearA Kirkus Reviews ChoiceA New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year

Does Jerry Renault dare to disturb the universe? You wouldn't think that his refusal to sell chocolates during his school's fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it's as if the whole school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a scapegoat--a target for their pent-up hatred. And Jerry? He's just trying to stand up for what he believes, but perhaps there is no way for him to escape becoming a pawn in this game of control; students are pitted against other students, fighting for honor--or are they fighting for their lives? In 1974, author Robert Cormier dared to disturb our universe when this book was first published. And now, with a new introduction by the celebrated author, The Chocolate War stands ready to shock a new group of teen readers.

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• ISBN13: 9780375829871
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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The enjoyment of fiction usually requires the suspension of disbelief. To enjoy this novel as portrayal of something that could happen in a 1970s parochial school requires that you do more than suspend your disbelief. Take your disbelief, bind it, gag it, blindfold it, stuff cotton into its ears and lock it in the trunk of your car. Then and only then can you read this novel as a slice of life. However, you can accept a secret (not so secret) society (the Vigils) in a Catholic school having power out of proportion to their numbers; the teachers having full knowledge of their existence and activities; along with a headmaster want-to-be with the ambition of a third-world dictator, if you view this novel as a dark fable. One that would be more at home in a Brothers Grimm setting. The influence of the powerful is then magnified and unquestioned as in the olden times, not the rebellious 70's. Motivations become a little clearer when you realize the understory. Those with ambition that are in power wish to remain in power. Those with ambition that are out of power wish to gain power. Both will do anything, even work with each other, for that power and to destroy anyone who threatens that power. Enter Jerry Renault, someone with no ambition caught between the striving factions. When he defies one, he defies the other and neither can tolerate his defiance. Working together they make his life miserable and then destroy it, almost costing him his life. One review stated the moral was to "give up". Another, might be that "one person can begin to change the system, but one person alone cannot. If you choose to fight the established power structure, be prepared to lose. Not just the battle, but everything you hold dear". A good read, but only three stars.

The Chocolate War: The Refused Chocolate Do you love to read unpredictable books that always want you to turn to the next page? If you do, then The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier is book you would love to read. This story is good overall, but the plot or the storyline could have been better. The Chocolate War is a story about this new high school student at Trinity high school. He wants to be apart of the football team but that is it. Jerry Renault is in a situation here. The school is having a chocolate sale, in which he wants no part in. The other students start to make fun of him and beat him up in order to make him sell the chocolates, because it is said to be a Trinity tradition. He wants to play football but everyone, even his teammates, try to murder him so he will start selling the chocolates. They keep beating him up, because to sell the chocolates is part of school spirit and Trinity tradition. So, because he is the only different one, they want to pretty much beat him up. The Vigils is a school group That the teachers find it better to deal with if ignored. The gave an assignment to Jerry saying to sell the most chocolates in the whole school. He said no. No one has ever said no to the Vigils. On top of that the whole school hates him for it too All else I can tell you about the book is that Robert Cormier maybe much of a curser, but he can make a decent book. Not saying I did not like it, but the ending left you hanging and it was missing a few things in the book. Cormier puts the storyline in a way that you just want to keep reading even though it is not that good of a book. I like Robert Cormier, because it looks look that he loves to make unexpected twists. For example, he writes down that they just beat him up in every way possible. Then the next day the teacher, Brother Leon, asked him if he wanted the chocolates to sell them. I do not know how he still said no. Will Jerry still stand up? Or will he finally give in to the chocolates? Will he get sent to the hospital? Or will he get transferred to another school? If you do not mind any curse words or inappropriate statements every once in a while then I recommend you read The Chocolate War and see what happens. I honestly do not recommend it for the curse words and inappropriate statements.

Poor Jerry Renault. He's a teenager--his mom has died, his father and him have no connection and he's trying to fit in at a new school. There's a chocolate sale at the school where students are forced to sell chocolates. A group of school thugs who call themselves the Vigils tell Jerry NOT to sell chocolates. He doesn't...but then they tell him to sell them and he refuses. Jerry's life quickly becomes a living hell and it leads up to a revoltingly violent and sick ending. I had to read Cormier when I was in college. I read "I Am the Cheese" (which I thought was pretty good) and I read this on my own. This book depressed me to an incredible degree. For days afterwards I was like a zombie--I couldn't get the finmal sequence out of my mind. Even now over 20 years later it STILL bothers me. Seriously--what is the point of this book? The message for teenagers seems to be--conform. Don't fight back cause it could get you killed. Jerry ISN'T killed, as the sequel tells us, but he's beaten to a point where he's near death and Cormier describes it in loving detail. It's actually suggested that Jerry has an eye crushed when he's hit and his face is covered with blood. Seriously--WHY??? Sick and pointless. One of my friends read it and said it could never happen so it didn't bother him--but that's not how I felt. I would never allow a kid to read this book. Avoid. The sequel "Beyond the Chocolate War" is more of the same. And Jerry is beaten up AGAIN!

I was made to read The Chocolate War back in my early teens. I remember someone telling me that it had loosely been based on actual events. I think that added to the bitter taste it left in my mouth. The Chocolate war, as I recall it, tells the story of a boy in a very posh school some thirty or forty years ago. I remember the film 'updated it' by having it set in the eighties and where he once ran into a hippie one one scene he now runs into a punk. But I digress. The protagonist is pressured into selling / buying chocolates for the school. The school's head master (or dean) pretty much recruits the school's thugs to enforce the forced 'volunteer' work. The details of this are blurry to me now all these years later but the ending is still vividly clear in my mind. Our hero tries very hard to be an individual, to do this own thing and be independent, trying to stand up for his own rights out of principle but then... Well, at the end of the book the protagonist gets severely beaten and it ends on the note 'It's okay to do your own thing so long as it's everyone else's thing too.' I understand what this book tried to do but all it seemed to do was frighten my fellow classmates of the time into conformity. This is the sort of book that actually discourages free thought and individuality. It's stark, bleak and hopeless. For a fourteen-year-old reading it the only message they get is 'If you try to be yourself around other kids you'll get your ass kicked.' What sort of lesson is that? I'm all for reading the classics with social commentaries but I don't think this should be required reading for early teens. I think, instead, a more hopeful one taking pride in being an individual should be read instead. The adventures of Robin Hood would be a good example. Children in their early teens are already confused and dealing with peer pressure. And being told 'Be yourself.' can't work if your required reading shows a child being pummeled for just that. So it's not so much that I think The Chocolate Wars are a bad book but looking back on it now at age twenty-eight I don't think it should be the required reading of teenagers. By the way, I am a book lover, but you're going to find most of my negative reviews here are going to be toward books I was required to read growing up and how my teacher / fellow students responded to them such as The Old Man and the Sea and Lord of the Flies. Though there were some required readings I did like a lot such as Farenheit 451 and Escape to White Mountains.

Frank Muller did a great job performing this audiobook. Unfortunately, the story is filled with stereotyped caricatures. Most of the characters appear nothing more than one-dimensional, with the attempts to 'broaden' them oten falling flat. The end also seems somewhat forced on the story.

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The Chocolate War List Price: $3.98 Sale Price: $2.48 Used From: $2.47 Average Rating:

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Jerry did the one thing no one expected. He stood up for himself. The new boy at strict Catholic High School, Jerry Renault, is bullied into selling boxes of chocolates for the school's annual fund-raising event. The sadistic headmaster, Brother Leon, and 'The Vigils', a vicious gang of school thugs, make Jerry's life hell when he decides he won't be pushed around anymore.

After acting in literary adaptations like Christine, Keith Gordon returned to the well for his directorial debut. His smart and stylish adaptation of Robert Cormier's controversial youth novel marks him as a natural. Based in a frequently overcast Pacific Northwest, Jerry Renault (Ilan Mitchell-Smith, Weird Science) enters a Catholic boys' school in the wake of his mother's passing. The freshman already has enough worries, but then Brother Leon (a ferocious John Glover) instructs each student to sell 50 boxes of chocolates during Trinity's annual fundraiser. Jerry refuses. Leon is taken aback, but then he finds that Jerry's refusal--his assignment--was handed down by Machiavellian upperclassman Archie (CSI's Wallace Langham, then known as Wally Ward), head of the Vigils. The secret society also instructs Jerry to recant, but he sticks to his guns. At first, a few kids congratulate him on his stand, but then Leon and Archie, threatened by the iconoclast, turn the school against him. The climactic showdown between Jerry and Archie deviates from the book, but retains its cynical spirit. As Gordon explains in his DVD interview, "They both threaten the system, and in the end, the system is a much bigger problem than any one individual." Like his mentor Brian DePalma, Gordon aims more for emotional than visual truth, which translates into dramatic lighting and fantasy sequences (which are, at first, more confusing than illuminating), but the performances remain grounded in reality. Interestingly, Mitchell-Smith, who never overplays his hand, abandoned acting in the 1990s--for teaching. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Brand: GLOVER,JOHN
Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Original Release Date: 1988-11-18
Actors:

• John Glover
• Ilan Mitchell-Smith
• Wallace Langham
• Doug Hutchison
• Corey Gunnestad

Reviews

Rarely, if ever, does one see a movie about high school that has artistic merit. This one does! Lots of POV shots and sequences that illustrate a state of mind. Captures the stupidity, cruelty, and quiet despair of those awkward years. Not "Citizen Kane," or anything, but almost poetic.

The movie is HORRIBLE! The book was a excellent but the movie just didn't cut it and not just because it didn't follow the plot of the book but just because it followed no plot at all and was bland old and yuk.

Well, the book was wonderful really dark and the movie was not, I dont think it captured the characters in the book very well and the book is definetly more exciting, I mean I had to watch the movie in halves because the first time I ended up falling asleep. If you have read the book its nice to watch it but it will make you very angry at the end. They completely change the ending and in turn, I think, change the message and darkness of Robert Cormier's book. I really think that they traded in the moral of the story to please a crowd that likes happier endings.

There are many coming of age movies but this one is definitely unique. Story is about all boys private school where many come from well off families and others are scholarship kids. No matter which social background they come from, they all try to blend in and feel accepted by their peers. It seems that most boys that crave popularity and accepatnace are members of the group called "Vigils". Their leader is cunning and handsome young man, yet mean. In a new year as freshman arrive, Vigils target most vulnerable one of the freshman for the membership where the acceptance is earned by rites of passage - surviving bulling by the other Vigils members. In order to get accepted in this fraternity type of (false) brothehood, our main character pledges not to sell any of the 50 boxes of chocolates intended for a school fundraiser for 10 days. When the pledge's 10 days elapse, everyone is stunned to learn that boxes continue not to sell by our young man who stubornly refuses to particiapte int he fundraiser sale. His seeming vulnerability (his mother died) is turning into rebellion that is admirable by other boys who realize that conformity is not always path to acceptance, respect and admiration. It is heartening to see how boys can be so hurtful to each other, but also wonderful to see that our hero does not waiver under pressure. He stands his grounds and becomes moral winner. They say that film was made from the book that was both controversional and banned. Now I really want to read that book! I have never heard about books banned in US - land of free speech.

As a freshman English teacher I was very disappointed that the ending of The Chocolate War story was completely changed in the film. By allowing Jerry Renault to gain justice over Archie,The Vigils, and Brother Leon, the entire theme of the book was changed. I showed the movie to my class after we had read the book and we talked about how some writers and producers in the American entertainment industry cannot bear an unhappy or unjust ending of a story although we see this all around us in everyday life. The changed ending also takes away the powerful message in the book against the bullies of this world. Why would someone do this to a fantastic book? B. Elliott

Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $2.71 Used From: $0.73 Average Rating:

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Steinbeck wrote this book to bring into the spotlight the plight of migrant workers. In The Grapes of Wrath a migrant family travels from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl to California only to be exploited by the agricultural system. The ferocity of resulting attacks on Steinbeck and his politics point to the truth and power of the stories told in this novel.

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• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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worth the money. it helped the girls with a book they didn't want to read cover-to-cover.

The Cliffs Notes for The Grapes of Wrath is an extremely helpful little book when you have an obscenely short period of time to read Steinbeck's excessively long The Grapes of Wrath. I had about a week to read and write an essay on The Grapes of Wrath. I then managed to read the Cliffs Notes in a few hours. Luckily I still got 100% on my essay even though I never did read the real book. Also, the Cliffs Notes are meant to assist you in reading, not for doing what I did, but I would recommend it for either.

Some books are hard to follow. "The Grapes of Wrath" is long, but entrancing. Finishing it more a matter of time than struggle.Granted, Steinbeck's description of the immense dust overtaking Oklahoma might seem overdone, but it sets the environment from which Tom Joad is leaving. It puts the grape fields in perspective.Read "Cliff Notes" if you're in a jam, and need to get the gist of the real book in your system. However, if you have the time, read all 600+ pages of Steinbeck's magnificent story. Be engaged by Joad and his tender family as they plod across America and into dire and complex California grape fields.I recommend Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath (Cliffs Notes) as an addition to the full book, not as a replacement.Anthony Trendl

Along with reading this very tedious but thrilling novel, Cliffs Notes help the experience greatly by offering insight and added understanding into The Grapes of Wrath. With a complete character list and Chapter reviews, the reading becomes even more exciting with Cliffs Notes at your side!! Cliffs also explains the confusing and foreshadowing intercalary chapters in full, vivid detail. Cliffs also gives the background of Steinbeck himself, so the reader knows the reasons for Steinbeck writing in the style that he does. I suggest to read the Cliffs Notes to gain FULL AND COMPLETE understanding of this famous and thrilling work of literature!

The Grapes of Wrath (SparkNotes Literature Guide) List Price: $5.95 Sale Price: $3.68 Used From: $0.25

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Get your "A" in gear!They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes™ has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'™ motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because:· They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts.· They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them.· The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time.And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else!

Steinbeck's the Grapes of Wrath (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $4.95 Sale Price: $0.01 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

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Of Mice and Men Is one of the worst books I have ever read. Let me count the ways: 1) It has immeasuably two dimensional chacters. Steinbeck stays so close to the archetypal "strong man" "seedy guy" "angry little guy" "seductive wife" its disgusting. he even has a token black guy! Absurd. 2) An equally two-dimensional plot. Steinbeck's unbearable heavy handedness in getting his all important "moral" across completely crushes out any vestige of meaningful charcterization or subtext. 3) The ending. No, I'm not about to say "ew!" What i will say is that thats what he WANTS you to think. He wants you to put down this book and "realzie the impossibility the america dream, and the cutthroat nature of humans in general." The problem with this conclusion is the entire book is completely contrived! The most absurd confluence of cicumstances that could possible occur come togethr in this book.

This book helped me save time and still gave all the information I needed for my paper! I love this book!

I loved this book, and although it was difficult to read, I think that that was where a lot of the value in it came from. If any of you have a history of sympathizing with the underdog, read this book. And the ending, although startling, is by no means disgusting -- in fact, anything less would have done an injustice to the theme of Steinbeck's story.

I wrote this review because I was severly angered by the reviews that were previously written. This book may have been boring to those who are un-compassionate or ignorant. This is a brilliant portrayl of life when the deppression hit, John Steinbeck knows people, he knows how they think. The ending made me cry because it was so desperate and deep. For those who didn't understand it, I suggest an "I-can-read" book.Those "Children" have no idea what they are talking about. I am a teenager myself and am sad to see that these ignorant fools are our future. The Grapes of Wrath is about a family and it's struggles to survive. This book is about compassion, racism, and the troubles that can bring people together or shove them apart.

Steinbeck has a fantastic command of our language and uses thisskill to weave a story of great interest but also in doing so, conveysa much deeper philosophy and view of life. Maybe when some of your other reviewers GROW UP, they will realize the treasure we have in Steinbeck and read some of his other great works.

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The Grapes of Wrath (Penguin Classics) List Price: $16.00 Sale Price: $8.00 Used From: $5.77 Average Rating:

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Today, nearly forty years after his death, Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck remains one of America’s greatest writers and cultural figures. Over the next year, his many works published as black-spine Penguin Classics for the first time and will feature eye-catching, newly commissioned art. Of this initial group of six titles, The Grapes of Wrath is in a new edition with a completely revised introduction and, for the first time, detailed notes by leading Steinbeck scholar Robert DeMott. Penguin Classics is proud to present these seminal works to a new generation of readers—and to the many who revisit them again and again.

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• ISBN13: 9780143039433
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

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I firstly started this novel as a schoolwork, but when I finished it, I knew that I was living with the Joad family with my heart. The Grapes of Wrath by Steinback depicts the life of Joad family as a microcosm of the immigrant workers during the Depression era, and Steinback ingeniously describes the workers' plights and ensuing 'wraths'. The novel was so impressive toward the end; Steinback imbues great metaphors such as the baby, rising rain, vineyard, and so forth, and he powerfully portrays the scenes, especially the final one. I, as a student fond of reading, have to say that the novel was one of the few living novels that I have read.

The book I received was in good condition, just as promised and was delivered three days after I ordered it. I was happy with the timely delivery and would buy from this seller again.

I bought this book expecting it to be the novel, but it is a play adaptation.

Everything was great with the ordering process; however, there was an awful lot of notes and underlining from the previous owner in the first couple of chapters. This, to me, disqualifies it from being 'like new' by any stretch of the imagination. Then again, what did I really expect for under $.50? I would recommend being a little more honest about the range of conditions that can be expected.

This was an excellent book. However, it was the most depressing book I have ever read. I was always waiting for something good to happen. Duh!!! I guess that's why it is set during the "Great Depression".

The Grapes of Wrath (Centennial Edition) List Price: $17.00 Sale Price: $7.64 Used From: $2.00 Average Rating:

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Forced from their home, the Joad family is lured to California to find work; instead they find disillusionment, exploitation, and hunger.

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• ISBN13: 9780142000663
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

I firstly started this novel as a schoolwork, but when I finished it, I knew that I was living with the Joad family with my heart. The Grapes of Wrath by Steinback depicts the life of Joad family as a microcosm of the immigrant workers during the Depression era, and Steinback ingeniously describes the workers' plights and ensuing 'wraths'. The novel was so impressive toward the end; Steinback imbues great metaphors such as the baby, rising rain, vineyard, and so forth, and he powerfully portrays the scenes, especially the final one. I, as a student fond of reading, have to say that the novel was one of the few living novels that I have read.

The book I received was in good condition, just as promised and was delivered three days after I ordered it. I was happy with the timely delivery and would buy from this seller again.

I bought this book expecting it to be the novel, but it is a play adaptation.

Everything was great with the ordering process; however, there was an awful lot of notes and underlining from the previous owner in the first couple of chapters. This, to me, disqualifies it from being 'like new' by any stretch of the imagination. Then again, what did I really expect for under $.50? I would recommend being a little more honest about the range of conditions that can be expected.

This was an excellent book. However, it was the most depressing book I have ever read. I was always waiting for something good to happen. Duh!!! I guess that's why it is set during the "Great Depression".

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The Grapes of Wrath List Price: $14.98 Sale Price: $6.91 Used From: $3.90 Average Rating:

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This remarkable film version of Steinbeck?s novel was nominated for seven Academy Awards®, including for Best Picture, Actor (Henry Fonda), Film Editing, Sound and Writing. John Ford won the Best Director Oscar® and actress Jane Darwell won Best Actress for her portrayal of Ma Joad, the matriarch of the struggling migrant farmer family. Following a prison term he served for manslaughter, Tom Joad returns to find his family homestead overwhelmed by weather and the greed of the banking industry. With little work potential on the horizon of the Oklahoma dust bowls, the entire family packs up and heads for the promised land ? California. But the arduous trip and harsh living conditions they encounter offer little hope, and family unity proves as daunting a challenge as any other they face.

Ranking No. 21 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest American films, this 1940 classic is a bit dated in its noble sentimentality, but it remains a luminous example of Hollywood classicism from the peerless director of mythic Americana, John Ford. Adapted by Nunnally Johnson from John Steinbeck's classic novel, the film tells a simple story about Oklahoma farmers leaving the depression-era dustbowl for the promised land of California, but it's the story's emotional resonance and theme of human perseverance that makes the movie so richly and timelessly rewarding. It's all about the humble Joad family's cross-country trek to escape the economic devastation of their ruined farmland, beginning when Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) returns from a four-year prison term to discover that his family home is empty. He's reunited with his family just as they're setting out for the westbound journey, and thus begins an odyssey of saddening losses and strengthening hopes. As Ma Joad, Oscar-winner Jane Darwell is the embodiment of one of America's greatest social tragedies and the "Okie" spirit of pressing forward against all odds (as she says, "because we're the people"). A documentary-styled production for which Ford and cinematographer Gregg Toland demanded painstaking authenticity, The Grapes of Wrath is much more than a classy, old-fashioned history lesson. With dialogue and scenes that rank among the most moving and memorable ever filmed, it's a classic among classics--simply put, one of the finest films ever made. --Jeff Shannon

Ranking No. 21 on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest American films, this 1940 classic is a bit dated in its noble sentimentality, but it remains a luminous example of Hollywood classicism from the peerless director of mythic Americana, John Ford. Adapted by Nunnally Johnson from John Steinbeck's classic novel, the film tells a simple story about Oklahoma farmers leaving the depression-era dustbowl for the promised land of California, but it's the story's emotional resonance and theme of human perseverance that makes the movie so richly and timelessly rewarding. It's all about the humble Joad family's cross-country trek to escape the economic devastation of their ruined farmland, beginning when Tom Joad (Henry Fonda) returns from a four-year prison term to discover that his family home is empty. He's reunited with his family just as they're setting out for the westbound journey, and thus begins an odyssey of saddening losses and strengthening hopes. As Ma Joad, Oscar-winner Jane Darwell is the embodiment of one of America's greatest social tragedies and the "Okie" spirit of pressing forward against all odds (as she says, "because we're the people"). A documentary-styled production for which Ford and cinematographer Gregg Toland demanded painstaking authenticity, The Grapes of Wrath is much more than a classy, old-fashioned history lesson. With dialogue and scenes that rank among the most moving and memorable ever filmed, it's a classic among classics--simply put, one of the finest films ever made. --Jeff Shannon

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: Fox
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Original Release Date: 1940-03-15
Actors:

• Henry Fonda
• Jane Darwell
• John Carradine
• Charley Grapewin
• Dorris Bowdon

Reviews

I have watched many different classics and The Grapes of Wrath is one of the best. I would highly reccomend it to any one who likes history and some of our migrations in the United States

This is a classic. What more needs to be said? It makes you feel better about today's economy....

I caught this film on an HD channel a while back and it has been on my DVR for months. I can't say that I remembered much if any of this film, so I'm pretty sure I never sat down to watch this film before now. Like a lot of John Ford films no one seem to capture Americana better and 'The Grapes of Wrath' is certainly one of his best film. The film follows a family during the great depression, from losing their land to going across country to California to try to cut out a sustaining life for themselves. The film seems dated in a good way now because so many of these values and this type of determination are rarely seen now a days. Henry Fonda and John Carradine are so young they looked like they are fresh out of the turnip patch! I had heard of this film and the book for years(I probably read the book in school?)and now I can finally say that I have seen this classic film.....a great film by any standards with an inspiring story and some wonderful performances from a time long gone.

I was not able to view the DVD, as it is region specific and I live in Europe. It would be nice if Amazon explained that it is no use ordering DVD's, if one lives in a differnt region!

Just wanted to say that this is one of my all time favorites,good cast and story Thanks

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $2.07 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Description

This very funny novel about a mischievous orphan boy deals with the escapades of youth, yet its underlying moral element gives it the frame and distinction of "art." Hemingway said that this book marked the beginning of American literature.

Features

• ISBN13: 9780764586040
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

i felt that the scarlet letters' cliff notes provided more info than this for this commentary had not a sinlg elick of extraneous info in the back of the book.

The writing style of Mark Twain is hard to understand - especially for a German student in the US. so this book was a very good help!

Cliff Notes are always worth buying for literary pieces, especially for classes where you are studying the book.

I think this is probably best for people that need basic info. For the person that needs to write an indepth paper or do indepth research this is probably not the choice for you. It's a good basic tool for the beginner though.

JWD at RMUThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn "Critique"Huckleberry Finn introduces himself as someone who appeared in an earlier book reminding us of what happened towards the end of that story. Though he won't mention it until later in the story, when his irresponsible father has left him by his self. Huck has been living with Ms. Douglas a widow, a kind woman who wants to teach him all the things his father has neglected, the things all normal kids would usually learn.He tells us about Miss Watson, the widow's sister, who is strict on teaching Huck good manners and religion, and about Tom Sawyer and his stories, a boy like Huck looks up to because of his wide reading and imagination ability. He is also friendly with Jim, the black slave. Huck's father returns and takes him away from the widow. A pig has murdered when his father begins beating him, Huck runs away and makes it look as though Huck. He hides out on a nearby island, intending to take off after his neighbors stop searching for his assumed dead body. Jim the black slave of Miss. Watson is also hiding on the island, since he has run away from Miss Watson, who was about to sell him and separate him from his wife and his deaf little girl. They decide to escape together, and when they find a large raft, their journey on the Mississippi River begins. After a couple of adventures on the Mississippi River, a steamboat hits their raft, and Huck and Jim are separated. Huck goes ashore and finds himself at the home of the Grangerfords, which allow him to come and live with them. At first Huck admires these people for what he thinks is their class and good taste. But when he learns about the deaths caused by a feud with another family, he becomes disgusted with the Grangerfords. By this time Jim had time to repair the raft, and Huck rejoins him. Two men who are escaping the law and who claim to be a duke and the son of the king of France soon join them. Huck knows they are actually small-time crooks, but he pretends to believe their stories.After watching these frauds bilk people of their money in two towns, Huck is forced to help them try to swindle an inheritance out of three young girls who were recently orphaned. He goes along at first because he doesn't want them to turn Jim in, but eventually he decides that the thieves have gone too far. He invents a complicated plan to escape and to have them arrested. The plan almost works, but at the last minute the two crooks show up and continue to travel with Huck and Jim. When all their moneymaking schemes begin to fail, they sell Jim to a farmer in one of the towns they're visiting. Huck learns about this and decides to free Jim. The farmer turns out to be Tom Sawyer's uncle, and through a misunderstanding he and his wife think Huck is Tom. When Tom himself arrives, Huck brings him up to date on what's happening. Tom pretends to be his own brother Sid, and the two boys set about to rescue Jim.The true to his imaginative style, Tom devises a plan that is more complicated than it has to be. Eventually they actually pull it off and reach the raft without being caught. Tom, however, has been shot in the leg, and Jim refuses to leave until the wound has been looked at. The result is that Jim is recaptured and Tom and Huck have to explain what they have done. Tom, it turns out, knew all along that Miss Watson had set Jim free in her will, so everyone can now return home together. Huck, however, thinks he's had enough of civilization, and hints that he might take off for the Indian Territory instead of going back to his home.

Twain's Huckleberry Finn (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $4.95 Sale Price: $0.01 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Reviews

Does the work: I passed the class w/o ever opening the book. :)

I just finished reading this book. At first I thought it was really good, but I found it harder to get into towards the end. It seemed to drag on awhile, but overall it was good and had a lot of good stuff on themes. If you have to do a book report, this would be a good book to do it on.

I loved this book. At the start of my junior year in college, I was forced to read this book by my English teacher. At first I did not want to read it, but after I started, I just could not put it down. I loved it. Twain used satire as he usually did, and it could not have been written better!

A Mark Twain classic that I couldn't put down

A Mark Twain classic that I couldn't put down

Spark Notes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn List Price: $5.95 Sale Price: $3.95 Used From: $0.01

Description

Get your "A" in gear!They're today's most popular study guides-with everything you need to succeed in school. Written by Harvard students for students, since its inception SparkNotes™ has developed a loyal community of dedicated users and become a major education brand. Consumer demand has been so strong that the guides have expanded to over 150 titles. SparkNotes'™ motto is Smarter, Better, Faster because:· They feature the most current ideas and themes, written by experts.· They're easier to understand, because the same people who use them have also written them.· The clear writing style and edited content enables students to read through the material quickly, saving valuable time.And with everything covered--context; plot overview; character lists; themes, motifs, and symbols; summary and analysis, key facts; study questions and essay topics; and reviews and resources--you don't have to go anywhere else!

Huckleberry Finn (Barron's Book Notes) List Price: $3.95 Sale Price: $1.33 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Description

A guide to reading "Huckleberry Finn" with a critical and appreciative mind encouraging analysis of plot, style, form, and structure. Also includes background on the author's life and times, sample tests, term paper suggestions, and a reading list.

Reviews

Huckelburry, Duckelburry, Suckelburrry, Muckelburry, Cruckelburry, Truckleburry, Mooseburry, FINN!

Full-Length

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Bantam Classics) List Price: $5.95 Sale Price: $2.54 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Description

The adventures of a boy and a runaway slave as they travel down the Mississippi River on a raft.

Mark Twain's classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, tells the story of a teenaged misfit who finds himself floating on a raft down the Mississippi River with an escaping slave, Jim. In the course of their perilous journey, Huck and Jim meet adventure, danger, and a cast of characters who are sometimes menacing and often hilarious. Though some of the situations in Huckleberry Finn are funny in themselves (the cockeyed Shakespeare production in Chapter 21 leaps instantly to mind), this book's humor is found mostly in Huck's unique worldview and his way of expressing himself. Describing his brief sojourn with the Widow Douglas after she adopts him, Huck says: "After supper she got out her book and learned me about Moses and the Bulrushers, and I was in a sweat to find out all about him; but by and by she let it out that Moses had been dead a considerable long time; so then I didn't care no more about him, because I don't take no stock in dead people." Underlying Twain's good humor is a dark subcurrent of Antebellum cruelty and injustice that makes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn a frequently funny book with a serious message.

Features

• ISBN13: 9780553210798
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

Beware this edition - at least until the printing problems are resolved. I bought two copies and each copy duplicated pages 85-116 and did not include pages 117-148. Amazon has not yet provided replacements so I wonder if all its print run of this edition is affected in the same way.

Great to get a book my grandson needed for AP English quickly and economically. Glad you are there.

This is an excellent edition of a controversial novel that has been both reviled and praised. As for me, I am of the opinion that the book depicts life as it was in the period "Huckleberry Finn" was set in, and the colloquialisms and vocabulary used may not be politically correct in contemporary times, but it is a historically authentic representation of the language as it was used then. The author/editor of this book, Michael Patrick Hearn, has drawn on myriad primary sources and other materials in coming up with the annotations. In addition, Hearn provides a detailed introduction dealing with Twain, his work, and background information on the novel Huckleberry Finn. This particular edition is also a gem because of the inclusion of all of the original illustrations by E.W. Kemble. The book is also filled with other drawings, photographs, cartoons, etc. that make this book a delight to peruse and read. There is also a detailed bibliography which lists works by Mark Twain, notable editions of Huckleberry Finn, titles on Mark Twain, books about Huckleberry Finn, and books about E.W. Kemble. Love it or hate it, I think author Toni Morrison best sums it up with these words, "...It is classic literature, which is to say, it heaves, manifests, and lasts."

Received the book in the right time and also it was in better shape than promoted on the website. I would definitely recommend this vendor.

There is nothing like a great narator, and Tom Parker is one, to tell this great tale. Mr. Parker's voice sounds just the way I believe Mark Twain would have told it.

Video & Audio

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn List Price: $24.95 Sale Price: $14.42 Used From: $21.97 Average Rating:

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand: Monterey Home Video
Manufacturer: Monterey Video
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Jim Dale
• Patrick Day
• Frederic Forrest
• Lillian Gish
• David Barry Gray

Reviews

There are many spectacular and exciting scenes on the Mississippi River in the old time.

I got this movie as I saw the program originally on PBS. Love it! It came so quickly too. Great service and am very pleased here.

When this ran on PBS in 1985, I video taped the entire broadcast over four nights. Essentially, the only differences between the 240 minute version and the 213 minute version, are station breaks with members of the cast making appearances asking for financial support for local PBS stations, and beginning and ending credits. The 213 minutes on this DVD is the full dramatic performance. I suspect it would, if rated, probably be PG . No, it is not suitable as entertainment for preteens, but then neither is Twain's novel. What it is, however, is a magnificent piece of cinematic art, which, coincidentally, happens to follow Twain's story quite faithfully.

This version follows the book most closely, though it does leave out a major section toward the end of the book, and the pacing toward the end seems a bit truncated making the end when it comes more abrupt than one would wish. Nevertheless it's the best video version of Twain's great novel available.

When I purchased this dvd I had read a review saying that this version was the closest to the book version out there. I guess my mistake was that I hadn't actually read the book in it's entirety, which I intend to do now. When my husband and I finished the movie we decided not to keep it. It is not the wholesome movie we thought it might be. Of course we realize... how wholesome is a life like Huck Finn's to start with anyway? We aren't blind to that fact. We just know that if we had children of impressionable ages around wanting to watch movies and they said, "Hey... The adventures of Huckleberry Finn... can we watch that one?"..... that we'd say... "NO!!!" Anyone considering getting this movie should really think about what values you personally are trying to instill within your family, and hold to them. This movie certainly does not do that for you.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn List Price: $12.98 Sale Price: $6.14 Used From: $4.95 Average Rating:

Description

Huckleberry Finn, a rambuctious boy adventurer chafing under the bonds of civilization, escapes his humdrum world and his selfish, plotting father by sailing a raft down the Mississippi River. Accompanying him is Jim, a slave running away from being sold. Together the two strike a bond of friendship that takes them through harrowing events and thrilling adventures.

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Brand: Warner Brothers
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
Original Release Date: 1960-08-03
Actors:

• Tony Randall
• Eddie Hodges
• Archie Moore
• Patty McCormack
• Neville Brand

Reviews

Definitely the best movie version of the Mark Twain classic and there have been many of them over the years. Full of many interesting characters.

Can anyone verify if this is the 1939 movie with Mickey Rooney? The reviews and details here are sending a message that the cover is misleading and the actors as described for this dvd is not the 1939 movie. Amazon was not able to verify which version of the movie is offered. Thanks to anyone who can answer my inquiry.

This no doubt is a good movie,after all anything Tony Randall plays in is good.For he was a great actor. My question is, Why do they keep putting Mickey Roony's picture on the cover? I have Mickey's "The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn" It was made between 1938- 1940.At least put Tony Randall's picture on the cover.I was fooled once when I purchased the tv movie by mistake because it had Mickeys Picture on the cover.This was sold by the Sinergy Corp. The label even pealed off and almost ruined my DVD player. So be carefull, don't go by the pictures.Read the movie information before you buy.

When it's in that Aspect Ratio I'll buy it Till then KEEP IT

Recently I had the pleasure of reading "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." I agreed with so many others that it was indeed apart of classic American literature. The movie however, is not. The movie does not even go in the same order as the novel. It jumps around and adds completely new scenes that were not apart of the novel. Plus the extra scenes were completely unnecessary. Some of the important scenes not only were out of place, but they were boring and unlike the novel. The character Jim in the novel is not very witty but he is still a good man. He continues to be a good man in the film, but he tricks Huck which is completely un-Jim like. But i must say the young fellow that plays Huck is very convincing. I had pictured Huck much younger in my mind but I feel that the actor did Huck justice in a movie where so much had gone wrong. I understand that movies are hard to base off of a novel and still keep it accurate, but this movie is just so much more far fetched then the novel is. The novel is exciting and keeps you on your toes, while the film is dull and it is if it;ll never end. I feel that the film is a disappointment and in a way it insults Mark Twain wonderful novel of "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn".

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Unabridged Classics in Audio) List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $15.42 Used From: $16.22 Average Rating:

Reviews

This is a really fun audio reading of Huckleberry Finn. Dufris does all the voices excellently -- you wouldn't know it is only one person reading. You get the flavor of the book and understand the satire and jokes because of the dramatic reading. Tracks are about 3 minutes each -- I had to go through & write down which tracks belong to which chapter, but at least chapters begin at the beginning of tracks, not in the middle.

Great Expectations (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $5.99 Sale Price: $1.96 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Description

This novel, the journey of Pip from boyhood to young manhood, has become Dickens' greatest novel. The many tests of character that Pip confronts, as well as Dickens' characters, remain in the mind a long time after the book is read.

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• ISBN13: 9780764585982
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

This was my summer reading. Never once touched the actual book... read about the characters and the main plot and some important details in about 20 mins. When school started, we had a test on the book, results: A! I totally would suggest this book!

These Cliffsnotes have definitely helped me as a student to understand the book. It can get hard to read if you're a younger person who doesn't know much about the language Charles Dickens used.

These Cliffsnotes have definitely helped me as a student to understand the book. It can get hard to read if you're a younger person who doesn't know much about the language Charles Dickens used.

I thought this was a great book. It was a really good summery on great expectations. I know how some people get really confused when reading books like this because it is sometimes hard to understand the language. So I highy reccomend this book.

Dickens' Great Expectations (Cliffs Notes) List Price: $4.95 Sale Price: $0.01 Used From: $0.01 Average Rating:

Reviews

wemmick paid pip his money after he had put all the buscuit into the post what does that mean

This small Cliff Notes book reviewing Great Expectations is so useful. It helps you understand the Novel better. With this book you can really go in depth with the novel and find the real meaning and message Dickens was trying to express. The book has great character analizations and much more. I would recomend this book to anyone. It is the best source of help for Great Expectations.

This is a great book to have while reading Great Expectations. It helps break down the writing that Dickens' uses to help you understand the book better. I would recommend this book to anyone reading Great Expectations.

there is this kid and he went to the grave yard to see his parents and this guy came

loved it, thought it had good examples of stuff, hope i can read more of his books, real soon.

Great Expectations (SparkNotes Literature Guide Series) Sale Price: $5.00 Used From: $0.01

Description

Synopsis What do you get when a group of Harvard Students creates study guides for the 21st century? Better grades. Not long ago our writers were acing their classes. Now they're loading SparkNotes with concise critical analysis that won't yellow with age. With SparkNotes you'll have an easier time understanding and enjoying great works of literature. SparkNotes -- the smarter, better, faster way to an "A." More Reviews and Recommendations Biography Charles Dickens is probably the greatest novelist England ever produced. His innate comic genius and shrewd depictions of Victorian life -- along with his memorable characters -- have made him beloved by readers the world over. In Dickens' books live some of the most repugnant villains in literature, as well as some of the most likeable (and unlikely) heroes.

Full-Length

Great Expectations (Penguin Classics) List Price: $8.00 Sale Price: $4.22 Used From: $0.99 Average Rating:

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A terrifying encounter with an escaped convict in a graveyard on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the bitter, decaying Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward Estella; the sudden generosity of a mysterious benefactor - these form a series of events that change the orphaned Pip's life forever, and he eagerly abandons his humble origins to begin a new life as a gentleman. Dickens' haunting late novel depicts Pip's education and development through adversity as he discovers thetrue nature of his 'great expectations'.

Dickens considered Great Expectations one of his "little pieces," and indeed, it is slim compared to such weighty novels as David Copperfield or Nicholas Nickleby. But what this cautionary tale of a young man raised high above his station by a mysterious benefactor lacks in length, it more than makes up for in its remarkable characters and compelling story. The novel begins with young orphaned Philip Pirrip--Pip--running afoul of an escaped convict in a cemetery. This terrifying personage bullies Pip into stealing food and a file for him, threatening that if he tells a soul "your heart and your liver shall be tore out, roasted and ate." The boy does as he's asked, but the convict is captured anyway, and transported to the penal colonies in Australia. Having started his novel in a cemetery, Dickens then ups the stakes and introduces his hero into the decaying household of Miss Havisham, a wealthy, half-mad woman who was jilted on her wedding day many years before and has never recovered. Pip is brought there to play with Miss Havisham's ward, Estella, a little girl who delights in tormenting Pip about his rough hands and future as a blacksmith's apprentice. I had never thought of being ashamed of my hands before; but I began to consider them a very indifferent pair. Her contempt for me was so strong, that it became infectious, and I caught it. It is an infection that Pip never quite recovers from; as he spends more time with Miss Havisham and the tantalizing Estella, he becomes more and more discontented with his guardian, the kindhearted blacksmith, Joe, and his childhood friend Biddy. When, after several years, Pip becomes the heir of an unknown benefactor, he leaps at the chance to leave his home and friends behind to go to London and become a gentleman. But having expectations, as Pip soon learns, is a two-edged sword, and nothing is as he thought it would be. Like that other "little piece," A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations is different from the usual Dickensian fare: the story is dark, almost surreal at times, and you'll find few of the author's patented comic characters and no comic set pieces. And yet this is arguably the most compelling of Dickens's novels for, unlike David Copperfield or Martin Chuzzlewit, the reader can never be sure that things will work out for Pip. Even Dickens apparently had his doubts--he wrote two endings for this novel. --Alix Wilber

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• ISBN13: 9780141439563
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Reviews

I forced my fugitive eyes onto this book for the duration, just on the strength of 'David Copperfield', but it didn't repay the effort. You have to ask yourself: what possessed Dickens to write such a hack-job, which even shows some contempt for the reader. The answer is: the usual suspect -- the writer in the semi-autobiographical 'Copperfield' says: 'approbation' (fame). The more you look into Dickens, the more you realize -- the world's just not quite as rich as you thought it was.

Witty, clever, and full of great characters and images. Laughed out loud a number of times. The plot was compelling and kept my interest, though at some point things began to bog down a bit. The chatty, meandering prose put me off at times. I thought I read Dickens was paid by the word for some novels, and I did get the sense that GE would have worked better as a shorter novel. Still, an enjoyable read. Keep a dictionary handy to deal with some of the antiquated and/or vernacular language.

The package arrived on time and was what was expected. The package did ship from Britain which caught my grandma's fancy.

Pip, the main character in Charles Dickens's Great Expectations, writes the story in first person as a middle aged man looking back on his life. Pip's parents die when he is young making him an orphan. Pip is "brought up by hand" by his sister, who treats him with scorn. His sister's lack of love, however, is tempered by her husband Joe, a blacksmith. Joe is a simple, uneducated man and Pip's only "friend" during childhood. Pip commiserates with Joe about his sister's verbal thrashings, trying to make the best of his unhappy upbringing. Early in the story, Pip has an encounter with a convict in the cemetery among the marshes near his home. Unbeknownst to him, this man would be the source for his "Great Expectations" later in life. One day Pip is invited to the home of Ms. Havisham. Ms. Havisham is a single, eccentric, old woman who stopped living in the real world many years earlier when she was spurned by her lover on her wedding day. Ms. Havisham has adopted the beautiful Estella, and from the moment Pip meets her, he is infatuated with her beauty. Estella represents wealth, education, success, and opportunity--things Pip values but thinks he will never have. Dissatisfaction within himself grows as he wants to be more in life than a partner with Joe in the forge. Pip becomes unhappy not only with himself, but also with Joe, who represents what he does not want to be--uneducated and simple. Failing to appreciate Joe's moral character, Pip's world view begins to change as he sees education as something to be attained--the sure way out of his wretched life and the means by which he could woo the object of his unmerited affections, Estella. Pip's life changes dramatically when he is visited by a well respected and fiercely admired lawyer, Mr. Jaggers, who brings him an unusual message. Mr. Jaggers tells Pip he is to receive "Great Expectations," but the benefactor is to remain anonymous until and only if they choose to reveal their identity. Pip mistakenly assumes the benefactor is Ms. Havisham, and the manipulating, self serving woman does nothing to dissuade him from his incorrect assumptions. The story takes Pip to London where he lives a life of excess and discards many virtues from his childhood. He no longer wants anything to do with Joe and believes his future course has been immutably set--that he is to marry the beautiful Estella. He shares his indulgences with his new friend, Herbert, whose acquaintance he had made years earlier at Ms. Havisham's place. The two of them rack up excessive debt as Pip sees himself as "a man in waiting" for all his fortunes to come to pass. Things are not what they seem, however. It is eventually revealed that the benefactor is not Ms. Havisham but the convict, Mr. Magwitch, whom Pip had met in the cemetery many years earlier when he was a young, impressionable boy. Pip is confronted face to face with the despised convict, hounded by the remembrances of him torturing him in the cemetery, dreams that lingered, causing him much consternation. But now he has to accept the undeniable truth that his turn of fortune is not because of Ms. Havisham's provision, but the despicable convict's desire to make him a gentleman. The convict wants his life to be redeemed for something good and chooses Pip to be that vehicle. Through a series of events, Pip acknowledges the inexcusable way he has treated Joe and wants to make amends. Before he can accomplish this, however, other happenings complicate his life. The convict, now in England, needs Pip's protection. Pip must make a way for Magwitch to leave England without being discovered. While Pip hides him with a trusted friend, Pip comes to realize that the convict he had earlier despised has more redemptive qualities than Pip has within himself. As he makes provision for the convict's escape, Pip sees Magwitch change for the better, and in so doing, Pip also changes. Instead of hating the convict, Pip grows to love him. The self centeredness of Pip's indulgences is replaced with care, not only for the convict, but in growing degrees, for others. In the process of trying to escape, the convict is attacked by his long-time archrival and enemy. As a result, Magwitch is severely injured, discovered by the authorities, put on trial and convicted, but dies from his injuries before his death sentence can be carried out. Magwitch's estate is turned over to the authorities to make restitution for past wrongs. Pip is left penniless and obligingly accepts that his Great Expectations and source of income have dissipated into nothing. Meanwhile, Estella marries someone else--a man whom Pip despises. A few years earlier, Pip had secretly made arrangements for his friend Herbert to have a small expectation out of his "Great Expectations," amounting to a sizable sum of money. When it becomes known to Pip that he will lose his "Great Expectations" to the authorities, his only thought is for his friend. Pip returns to visit Ms. Havisham and requests, in a show of repentance for the wrongs she had done to him, a sum of money that Pip could again secretly provide to Herbert. Herbert wisely uses this money to successfully buy into a business venture. He later marries and moves overseas in his business pursuits--none of which would have been possible without Pip's anonymous provision to Herbert. Pip credits this as the only redeeming thing he has accomplished, reflecting on all the other things he did or didn't do that could have been used for good. Pip falls ill following the death of his convict friend, Magwitch, and Joe comes to England to care for him until he is well. Joe surreptitiously leaves early one morning when Pip is sufficiently recovered, and when Pip wakes up, he discovers Joe has paid off all his creditors. Pip immediately returns home in penitence to confess to Joe all his past wrongs, realizing that Joe is a better man than he. He recognizes in his now humble state that his "Great Expectations" deceived him into using it as a source of pride against Joe. Upon arriving home, Pip's expectations are not what he envisioned. His sister who raised him by hand has long since died as a result of an attack on her by the evil Orlick. His childhood friend and confidant, Biddy, has just married Joe. In the end, redemption works its way for good. Joe and Biddy are happily married and the sore memories of Pip's sister are forgotten. Pip returns to London and within a month, leaves England and joins Herbert's firm, Clarriker and Company, overseas. Pip lives abroad with Herbert and his wife, and after successfully making partner, eleven years later, returns to his boyhood home in England. He discovers Joe and Biddy now have a son who reminds him of himself. Before bidding Joe and Biddy a final farewell, Pip makes one last trip to the Havisham place, the old woman having died many years earlier. Pip discovers Estella in the garden, a chance meeting since she no longer lives there. The old house and brewery have been torn down and sold off except for the garden enclosed by the ivy covered wall. Years of a stormy, failed marriage have softened Estella's vindictive, prideful nature, and she confesses that "suffering has been stronger than all other teaching and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be." The reader is left to ponder whether Pip and Estella ever marry because Pip says, "I saw no parting from her." In the end, Pip learns much about what matters--wisdom he would not have possessed if he had stayed working at Joe's forge. As a middle aged narrator looking back, there is sadness but sweetness about what he has lost because of what he has gained. Perhaps the reader is the real winner, having seen redemption on so many levels within each character. In the end, if we are honest, we can identify these shortcomings in ourselves. If Pip can work out his "Great Expectations" to bring redemption, perhaps we can, also--that is, again, if we are honest. Our sinful nature will always be there, but if we look for good, God will not disappoint us. Maybe "Great Expectations" will not only find us, but redemption will be there, too, just as it was in Pip. Lorilyn Roberts Children of Dreams andThe Donkey and the King

I read Great Expectations back in high school, but had forgotten most of it. It was the selection for our book club, so I bought it to read again. Although it's very long, it's a wonderful book, rich with detail and timeless for it's social issues and examination of interpersonal relationships. I had forgotten (or perhaps didn't appreciate in high school) how funny Dickens is. His sense of humor, and ability to convey emotion and atmosphere are extraordinary. I got it too late to finish for the book club and had to consult Spark notes (which are great for summary), but I hope to finish it soon. Fabulous read.

Video & Audio

Great Expectations (1998) List Price: $9.98 Sale Price: $10.00 Used From: $1.76 Average Rating:

Description

The moment young Finn sets eyes on Estella, she becomes his inspiration and his obsession. Despite being warned, "she'll only break your heart," he vowed to win her love. Years later, thanks to a mysterious benefactor, aspiring artist Finn is off to New York, where he is reunited with the icy and beautiful Estella. When she agrees to model for him, Finn's dearest hopes may at last be realized-along with his darkest fears!

The key ingredient in this modern-day version of Charles Dickens's classic is director Alfonso Cuarón, who made the glowing, estimable A Little Princess. If you saw that (and you should), understand that Expectations has those ingredients (great sense of time, place, and timing) but adds modern music and sex appeal; the latter personified by the long-legged Gwyneth Paltrow. Finnegan Bell (Ethan Hawke as an adult, Jeremy James Kissner at age 10) is the new version of Dickens's Pip. He's a child wise beyond his years, befriending an escaped convict (Robert De Niro) in the warm waters of Florida's Gulf Coast. Finn is also the plaything for Estella (Paltrow as an adult, Raquel Beaudene at age 10), the niece of the coast's richest and most eccentric lady, Ms. Dinsmoor (a fun and flamboyant Anne Bancroft). The prudish Estella likes Finn (catch the best first kiss scene in many a moon) but has been brought up to disdain men; she'll break hearts. As the object of Finn's desires, Estella unfortunately is a one-dimensional character, yet what a dimension! Clad in Donna Karan dresses and her long, sun-kissed hair, Paltrow is luminous. She and Hawke make a very sexy couple. Mitch Glazer's script does better by Finn. He's a blue-collar worker with a gift for drawing (artwork by Francesco Clemente). Following his Uncle Joe's (Chris Cooper) honest ways, Finn grows up as a fisherman, thoughts of Estella and art drifting away in the hard work. When a mysterious benefactor allows him to follow his dream, Finn finds himself in New York, preparing for a once-in-a-lifetime art exhibit--and in the arms of the engaged Estella. Filled with cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki's golden-drenched light, the film has an irresistible, wildly romantic look. Dinsmoor's place is certainly gothic, Estella and Finn's longing encounters glamorous. Cuarón uses an MTV-friendly soundtrack with a confident touch. Songs by Tori Amos and the band Pulp--along with Patrick Doyle's silky score--create passionate scenes. It all ends far too swiftly with a seemingly tacked-on ending (reflecting the book, as it happens) but the film is splendid storytelling. It's a stylish, sweet valentine. --Doug Thomas

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Brand: PALTROW,GWYNETH
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Original Release Date: 1998-01-30
Actors:

• Ethan Hawke
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Hank Azaria
• Chris Cooper
• Anne Bancroft

Reviews

Ever seen the John Ringling house in Sarasota Ca d'Zan? This is filmed on the property BEFORE it was restored! What an amazing job FSU and the benefactors did! Movie itself is not bad either. Truly an interesting piece of history in several ways!

Forget everything you know about the usual portrayal of the Dickens' masterpiece and enjoy this movie as a wonderful story in a modern setting. The plot translates perfectly to today's world. The casting is magnificent, directing very good and acting is wonderful. Gwyneth Paltrow is stunning, Ethan Hawke is very believable, Anne Bancroft absolutely became the mentally deranged aunt who teaches her niece from an early age to hate men and break their hearts. At first I was afraid I wouldn't like a modern version of the masterpiece, but it captures your attention immediately and is definitely a keeper. I recommend it.

I Love this movie so much I had to get it on DVD. Ever since I saw it back in 1998 I was impressed by the quality of the script, the photography... Breathtaking masterpiece.

the dvd i received was in excellent condition! arrived in timely fashion and i was very happy with this purchase!

Arrived quickly and in good condition. As for the movie, I love it that's why I ordered it :)

Great Expectations (1974) List Price: $5.98 Sale Price: $6.90 Used From: $5.85 Average Rating:

Description

Studio: Platinum Disc Llc Release Date: 09/19/2006 Starring: Michael York James Mason Run time: 124 minutes Rating: G

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Brand:
Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
Original Release Date:
Actors:

• Michael York
• James Mason

Reviews

This is the worst dramatization of a masterpiece I have ever seen - and I have watched a great many, some of them, such as the BBC's OUR MUTUAL FRIEND and the Disney GREAT EXPECTATIONS, numerous times. When one considers how full of detail the novel is, it is amazing to find sequence after sequence having no equivalent in Dickens - scenes full of absurd details that make no sense - invented dialogue often ludicrous - the whole thing an appalling travesty. Worse still, fine actors are turned into amateurs, presumably as a result of terrible direction: I have never seen Anthony Quayle, Joss Ackland, Sarah Miles, Peter Bull, Margaret Leighton - indeed almost the entire cast - more wooden, less natural. How I would have loved to have seen Michael York and James Mason with any of the other scripts and other directors - their talents are the only ones not horribly misused. I entreat you not to waste your time with this horror. If zero stars had been an option I would have used it. One star is one too many - 20% of "excellent" is way too much. Ghastly!

I liked this film. I thought the casting was appropriate and I think the story moved along well. For some reason, a lot of cinematic attempts at classic books seem to suffer in the editing department. This one did not, although I would actually like to see the progression developed in a more engaging way. I was interested enough in the adaptation, but I just didn't connect with the characters as I wanted to, thus the four-star rating. Still, a nice story to watch.

Well done dvd given the story material. Best to view after reading the book.Great Expectations (1974)

I am a high school English teacher and showed the DVD after reading the novel. It was great!!! Many lines were the same and the story plot was the same (pretty much). Awesome novel. Awesome DVD. Thanks

This production was originally filmed as a musical for theatrical release. The songs were edited out and this version of "Great Expectations" was released to television instead. Michael York does a credible job as Pip, and Sarah Miles is excellent as the snobby Estella.

GradeSaver (TM) ClassicNotes The Kite Runner: Study Guide List Price: $7.99 Sale Price: $7.98 Used From: $8.00 Average Rating:

Description

GradeSaver(TM) ClassicNotes are the most comprehensive study guides on the market, written by Harvard students for students! Longer, with more detailed summary and analysis sections and sample essays, ClassicNotes are the best choice for advanced students and educators. Each note includes: * An author biography * An in-depth chapter-by-chapter summary * A short summary * A character list and related descriptions * A list of themes * A glossary * Historical context * Two academic essays * 100 quiz questions to improve test taking skills!

Reviews

This may have been good or even wonderful if my son had used it. Unfortunately, he didn't utilize it at all. That was a disappointment. But it probably would be helpful to some!

Book has general outline of entire novel with detailed chapter summaries as well, author bio, era & geographical information (pertinent to the story), character list, and a brief overview of the main themes. The only thing I would have liked is page numbers (corresponding to the novel) by quotes. There are quizzes for each chapter at the end, and I scored higher than my husband who had recently read the novel! I would definitely purchase more in this series if I needed to. Also I read the whole thing in well under an hour. If you're thinking of getting it, its totally worth it.

Full-Length

The Kite Runner Sale Price: $3.00 Average Rating:

The timely and critically acclaimed debut novel that's becoming a word-of-mouth phenomenon... In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country's political turmoil--in this case, Afghanistan--while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And he does this on his first try. The Kite Runner follows the story of Amir, the privileged son of a wealthy businessman in Kabul, and Hassan, the son of Amir's father's servant. As children in the relatively stable Afghanistan of the early 1970s, the boys are inseparable. They spend idyllic days running kites and telling stories of mystical places and powerful warriors until an unspeakable event changes the nature of their relationship forever, and eventually cements their bond in ways neither boy could have ever predicted. Even after Amir and his father flee to America, Amir remains haunted by his cowardly actions and disloyalty. In part, it is these demons and the sometimes impossible quest for forgiveness that bring him back to his war-torn native land after it comes under Taliban rule. ("...I wondered if that was how forgiveness budded, not with the fanfare of epiphany, but with pain gathering its things, packing up, and slipping away unannounced in the middle of the night.") Some of the plot's turns and twists may be somewhat implausible, but Hosseini has created characters that seem so real that one almost forgets that The Kite Runner is a novel and not a memoir. At a time when Afghanistan has been thrust into the forefront of America's collective consciousness ("people sipping lattes at Starbucks were talking about the battle for Kunduz"), Hosseini offers an honest, sometimes tragic, sometimes funny, but always heartfelt view of a fascinating land. Perhaps the only true flaw in this extraordinary novel is that it ends all too soon. --Gisele Toueg

Video & Audio

The Kite Runner List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $2.68 Used From: $1.59 Average Rating:

Description

Amir is a young Afghani from a well-to-do Kabul family; his best friend Hassan is the son of a family servant. Together the two boys form a bond of friendship that breaks tragically on one fateful day, when Amir fails to save his friend from brutal neighborhood bullies. Amir and Hassan become separated, and as first the Soviets and then the Taliban seize control of Afghanistan, Amir and his father escape to the United States to pursue a new life. Years later, Amir – now an accomplished author living in San Francisco – is called back to Kabul to right the wrongs he and his father committed years ago.

Like the bestselling book upon which it's based, The Kite Runner will haunt the viewer long after the film is over. A tale of childhood betrayal, innocence and harsh reality, and dreamy memory, The Kite Runner faces good and evil--and the path between them, though often blurry and sorrowfully relative. Director Marc Forster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland) presents a painterly vision of Afghanistan before the Soviet tanks, before the Taliban--lush, verdant, fertile--in its landscape and in its people and their history and hopes. The story follows two young boys' friendship, tested beyond endurance, and the haunting of their adult selves by what happened in their youth--and what horrors befall their country in the meantime. The performances of the two boys--Zekeria Ebrahimi (Amir) and Ahmad Khan Mahmidzada (Hassan)--are the film's strongest, unforced and gently evocative. The penance paid by their adult selves is foreshadowed, but never predictable--and the metaphor of innocence lost, a common theme in Forster's work, keeps the film, like the title kites, truly aloft.--A.T. Hurley

DVD Information

Binding: DVD
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Brand: Paramount
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
Original Release Date: 2007-01-01
Actors:

• Khalid Abdalla
• Atossa Leoni
• Shaun Toub
• Sayed Jafar Masihullah Gharibzada
• Igbal Theba

Reviews

"i love this movie and it tore me up",it is a very beautiful haunting movie and it will stick to me.... now,i want to read the book......

I rate this DVD as one of the very best. It is very well produced and true to life. I would highly recommend this DVD to anyone who enjoys drama, suspense and just having fun with family anf friends. This DVD has it all. Enjoy !!

It was an excellent book; and a very good movie - but nothing could compare with the book.

I heard the book was incredible so I checked out the movie and it did not disappoint. It was interesting, suspenseful and emotional. Truly a great movie that will touch you.

What I loved: Great acting (brilliant, in fact), an incredible entrance to a world I know little about (Afghanistan in the 1970s), often excellent storytelling, and an overall sense of trying to grow up and right past wrongs. What I hated (strap yourself in): 1) The son--Amir, the main character--never blames his father for being a rejecting brute, because Amir doesn't ever allow himself to explore his father's brutality. The writers/directors also fail to explore this to any sufficient degree. As the result, Amir comes across as a weak, intrinsically flawed coward, selling out and rejecting his loyal best friend of childhood--Hassan. There was nothing but the barest acknowledgement that Amir was entirely set up to behave this way by his father. In many ways his father loved and admired Hassan more, and emotionally rejected and shamed Amir because of it. Amir was desperate for his father's love, and had no emotional choice but to brutally reject Hassan for it. 2) The father had so many powerful opportunities to get closer to Amir, and to explore Amir's pain, and yet utterly failed to do so, and instead just drove his own wedge of rejection in deeper--all the while blaming Amir for his cowardice. The director and writer failed miserably to elucidate this in a way that accomplishes anything other than laying most of the blame at Amir's feet--blaming the child and exonerating the parent. Same old ugly lie that society's thrives on. 3) The father is presented as a brave hero. Yet what is really brave about rejecting your own son? The father takes a bold move by standing up to a brutal Russian soldier who wants to rape a young Afghan woman, and the father is nearly killed for it. But is this true heroism? What about his obligation to protect his son, and be a real father to him? Had the soldier killed the father (which nearly happened), Amir, who was motherless, would have had no parent, and would likely have died--if only emotionally. Had the father really been brave he would have fought for his son fully, and fought the demons within himself that prevented him from being a more nurturing, respectful parent. 4) Instead of confronting his brutal father, Amir (and the director) confronts the Taliban--making them the ultimate bad-guy. Yeah, they're horrible--but it's always easier to blame an evil regime than a lousy parent. 5) Many of the scenes of Afghanistan in the year 2000 were CHEESY. I'm no expert on the Taliban, but this film struck me as over-the-top. Okay, we all know the Taliban can be brutal and primitive and anti-women, but it felt unnecessary to present their leaders as pedophiles as well. And the movie totally lost me when the main character and the boy take on the Taliban with simply a slingshot and "courage." It went from being a deep movie that strived for something real into something more befitting Harrison Ford. (And don't get me wrong--Harrison Ford can be great, but when I want to watch Harrison Ford I watch "Indiana Jones" or "Star Wars.")