CENTER OF EVERYTHING, THE

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Worth reading

I couldn't put it down

Fresh

wow . . . . . .

Wonderful book

CENTER OF EVERYTHING, THE
Laura Moriarty
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0786888458

Amazon.com

Laura Moriarty's debut novel is a simple story, but effectively told. Ten-year-old Evelyn Bucknow lives with her not very responsible young mother, Tina, on the outskirts of a small Kansas town. The Center of Everything follows a clean arc: How Evelyn, a gifted but poor student, negotiates the pitfalls of her background to become a college student. The book shows the scary tenuousness of poverty. When Tina's car breaks down, their life falls apart like a flimsy cardboard edifice. Evelyn can't get to school, Tina can't get to work, and unseemly relationships with men who own cars develop. The novel's other theme is the importance of teaching; when one of her teachers tells her she's gifted, Evelyn's life is changed. "She takes off her glasses, still looking at me. I take off my glasses too, because for a moment I think she is going to place them on my eyes, the way you place a crown on someone's head when they become queen. Welcome to being smart." As she heads into adolescence, Evelyn sees her best friend fall in love and become pregnant, just as Tina did when she was a teenager. Evelyn resists these traps, not without some lovelorn, lonely moments. The Center of Everything careens dangerously near fingerwagging at times, but the book's salvation comes from unexpected quarters: Evelyn's mom Tina. At the outset, she seems beleaguered and lost, but as the book progresses she develops a wry resiliency. We get to watch Evelyn and Tina grow up together, and it's a rare sight. --Claire Dederer

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Worth reading .......2007-09-21

I picked up this book because of the Mockingbird comparison on the back of the book jacket. Although I don't consider it as good as Mockingbird, the narration is similar. I loved Evelyn from the start; her voice was fresh and most of all, honest. Her relationship with her struggling mother was sad, but so real. One thing I really liked about this novel was that it didn't end up 'happily ever after' for the characters...the ending was a bit abrupt and I was a little angry that it didn't tie up all loose ends, but that's life. Even though there wasn't a 'happily ever after' theme here, the reader gets the impression that Evelyn is going to choose a path completely different than her mother's. I found myself laughing at the references to the '80s and I could identify with a lot of Evelyn's viewpoints on the world around her (her internal conflict over the religion vs. evolution debate, for example). I did think that her voice matured throughout the novel, her growth apparent in the scene with her in Travis' car toward the end of the novel. This is a novel worth reading, appropriate for the teenager as well as the adult reader.

I couldn't put it down.......2007-09-07

If you like domestic fiction then you will probably like this. The author is not completely polished yet and sometimes the characters can seem too static but I still really enjoyed it.

Fresh.......2007-07-28

I stayed up all night reading this book. It was absorbing and unpredictabe. Flawed, interesting characters, wonderful writing with an ending that is neither dark, nor Happily Ever After, just real.
Recommended.

wow . . . . . . .......2007-07-20

i was going through my reading block . . . i could NOT get into anything. lo and behold, The Center of Everything is sitting on the coffee table. Anyways, i picked it up and mom basically ordered me to read it because she had heard really really good reviews and Oprah had just read it . . . . . . .
i've read this book maybe 4 times? 5, 6, 7 times?
it is moving, human, and beautifully written. i sighed when i got to the last page because i could relate and not only that . . . . it was over!
this is a book of to be reckoned with,
a book that shows all sides of life.
what we see is not always what we get. and maybe things are not as black and white as they seem.

Wonderful book.......2007-06-23

This is a great book for a reading group. There are a multitude of points for discussion, especially of the characters, who have many facets to their personalities (which make them so real). The author has the ability to describe things so perfectly, (use of metaphors, etc..) and at times I felt like she must have gone to the same high school as I did (she really captured the time period as well as the way teens talk).
I especially liked the scene when Evelyn found herself in a van with two boys smoking marijuana. It was so obvious to the reader that the tall boy (I forget his name) was such a space-cadet but poor Evelyn (being a young teen) believed his criticism of her "vibes" and her looks. Still, it was great to see how Evelyn did not succumb to peer pressure, which she had many opportunities to do throughout the book.
In my library, this book was catalogued as an Adult book. I'm wondering why it wasn't in the Young Adult section also. It would enlighten and inspire teens and really, it's not as graphic as many of the YA books are today. I can't wait to read Moriarty's new book which comes out in 8/07. FYI, I actually listened to the unabridged version of the book, on tape, which I highly recommend since the realistic voices are different for each character.

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores and Garden Centers

Average customer rating:

Yes, there is a way to fix almost anything if you have the right tool!
Two books in 1 cover
Nothing is COMPLETE
Excellent place to start when you don't know what to ask for
didn't like it

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores and Garden Centers
Steve Ettlinger
Manufacturer: Courage Bks.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Hand Tools | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Home Repair | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Household Hints | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reference | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

Home Improvement | Home & Garden | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0762414936
Release Date: 2003-04-01

Book Description

How many types of screwdrivers are there? What's the most useful pair of pliers to own? Here's a comprehensive, portable reference containing virtually every tool and product sold in hardware and garden supply stores (except plants!). It's an essential manual and guidebook for any aspiring do-it-yourselfer undertaking a home repair or garden project. The straightforward design makes it easy to find information quickly. Detailed line drawings and diagrams help identify the tool or material, and show how it's used. Includes practical tips on usage, cost, and other considerations. An incomparable resource for the homeowner!

Customer Reviews:

Yes, there is a way to fix almost anything if you have the right tool!.......2006-03-18

This is a great reference book. Before I had it a week, I had solved some mysteries about pieces and parts of stuff...and where to buy them, and what they looked like! Of course, sometimes it's fun to just graze through the book and find all sorts of items you didn't know existed. If you're into home repair, or home improvement, this gem is a great addition to your how-to collection.

Two books in 1 cover.......2003-12-29

The _"Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores and Garden Centers"_ (published by Running Press/Courage Books imprint, 2002) has two parts: 1: "Complete Guide to Everything Sold in Hardware Stores" (729 pages, originally published by Macmillan in 1998) and 2: "Complete Guide to Everything Sold in Garden Centers" (368 pages, originally published by Macmillan in 1990). Because they were originally published as separate books, the two sections of this book each have their own introductions, tables-of-contents, indexes, and pagination. If you see this 2002 title/edition listed as only 368 pages, do not despair - it actually has 1,097 pages. So far, all the reviews I've seen have only reviewed the _Hardware Stores_ section.

1:
I would like to add a couple of comments to colobbfan's May 22, 2003, nice review of that section. In the introduction, the author specifies that this buying guide is meant to assist your average/traditional do-it-yourself, renovation or restoration projects. He states that in this book "[y]ou will not find heavy construction materials, or professional tools, or esoteric cabinetmaking tools, or hobby materials." He also says he purposely did not include automotive, boating, electronics, home security or house-wares even though those items may appear in some hardware stores. Appendix A, "Metals and Finishes", is a glossary of 20 terms related to describing metals from "blued" to "zinc-plated". Appendix B, "Basic Tools and Materials Every Homeowner Should Have", is divided into three parts: Hand Tools, Power Tools, and Materials. Stars (*) next to some items on the list denote absolute basics one should have. The starred items would make an excellent gift to college students moving to their first apartment or home. (Don't forget that us ladies need to be self-sufficient, also! Often then index (or lack thereof) makes or breaks a reference book. This one has an excellent, easy-to-read, well-organized index with numerous cross-references. Part of the _Hardware_ section's 37-page index is included in Amazon's "Browse Sample Pages" area, so go take a look at it. The typeface of the hardware section is easy to read and the format is suitable for quick browsing.

2:
I venture to say that despite the difference in page length, the _Garden Center_ section has just as much information as the _Hardware_ section - the difference lies in smaller type with less space between lines, and fewer illustrations (they aren't needed when you are talking about different types of fertilizers, pesticides, and mulches). The Table-of-Contents is separated into three areas (Supplies; Tools Equipment & Accessories; Appendixes) with detailed headings, subheadings, and sub-subheadings (see Amazon's sample pages - since that is available I won't talk much about the different types of garden center items included). The introduction of the _Garden Center_ section states you will not find "pet supplies or farming equipment or landscaping materials [in this section]... Regular home gardening, with a slight nod to decoration is the limit." While the title states that plants are not included in this guide, Appendix A is a 7-page "General Buying Guide for Bulbs, Seeds, Plants, Shrubs and Trees." The main area of the book is chock-full of general buying tips in broad categories as well as for specific products, use tips, and descriptions of specific products. Sometimes popular brand names are listed (not as endorsement but as an aid) and where applicable other terms that may be used to describe a specific item are included. The _Garden Center_ index has much smaller type than the Hardware Store index, so you may want a magnifying glass for it. Overall, I would say that that the format of the _Garden Center_ section is less suited to browsing and more suitable for reading full sections because it includes more discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of particular products.

The arrangement of both the _Hardware Stores_ section and the _Garden Centers_ section is to group the contents as they are usually grouped in those respective stores, which makes the guide very user-friendly. My one complaint is that thumb-tabs or coloration on the page edges would have been useful to distinguish the two indexes from the rest of the book (especially since the index to the _Hardware_ section is in the middle of the book). This book is one of the best gifts I have ever received, though I wish I had discovered it 10 years ago when I first moved out on my own. I expect it to be useful in all my new home repair and gardening projects and it has already earned a prime spot on my closest bookshelf.

Nothing is COMPLETE.......2003-05-23

Steve Ettlinger writes books that are basic lists of explanations on various subjects. Such as:
*Beer For Dummies®
*The Hardware Cyclopedia (not published yet)
*The Kitchenware Book
*The Restaurant Lover's Companion:
*A Handbook for Deciphering the
Mysteries of Ethnic Menus
*The Complete Illustrated Guide to
Everything Sold in Marine Supply Stores

Like his previous books, there is just enough detail of all the gadgets, tools, and other "stuff" that you find in (duh) Hardware and Garden Centers. He doesn't spend pages on a particular item, just a simple explanation and description of it's use. Like walking through a large home center's departments, the book is broken down into ELEVEN Parts:
Part I: Common Hand Tools
Part II: Power Tools
Part III: General Hardware
Part IV: General Materials
Part V: Paints, Stains, Finishes, Wall Coverings, and Related Products and Tools
Part VI: Wood and Wood Products
Part VII: Wall, Floor, and Ceiling Materials and Tools; Doors
Part VIII: Plumbing Hardware, Materials and Tools
Part IX: Electrical Products and Tools
Part X: Masonry Materials, Products and tools
Part XI: Safety Equipment

This format with the line drawings of the items remind me of the home medical books all American homes had during the 1950's & 1960's. This is a fun book to peruse through when you can't get to your home center and I can't compare it to any other book out to inform you on tools. It isn't COMPLETE though (and never could be with as quickly as items appear in home remodeling, etc.)
...Overall a fun purchase with lots of information in a familiar format.
John Row

Excellent place to start when you don't know what to ask for.......2000-08-18

If what we've lost in the move from small neighborhood hardware stores to "big box" home centers is help and advice, this book is a wonderful substitute. Describes in just enough detail all the gadgets, tools, and other "stuff" that one needs in completing home fix-up projects.

No, it won't tell you how to build a deck. This book will, though, be thoroughly helpful in explaining everything that you'll use to do it.

didn't like it.......2000-02-08

I bought this as a gift for my husband but he didn't like it

Teaching Young Children, Preschool-K: A Guide to Planning Your Curriculum, Teaching Through Learning Centers, and Just About Everything Else

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Teaching Young Children, Preschool-K: A Guide to Planning Your Curriculum, Teaching Through Learning Centers, and Just About Everything Else
Dianne Miller Nielsen
Manufacturer: Corwin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Preschool & Kindergarten | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Pedagogy | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Lesson Planning | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1412926726

Book Description

"This indispensable new edition is a must-have for every early childhood teacher. Explaining how to manage a classroom while encouraging children to make good choices and assume greater responsibility for managing their own behavior (among many other things!), the book will help new teachers get started and veteran teachers improve what they're already doing."
-Sharon MacDonald, Education Consultant

Create an inviting, high-quality early childhood classroom!

Many excellent teachers find themselves bewildered when teaching three- to six-year-olds, especially if their professional preparation was focused on the elementary grades. While they may recognize children’s unique learning styles and special needs, they may not know how to handle noise, activity, and even messes in classrooms that revolve around hands-on learning centers.

In this updated edition of a classic, teacher trainer Dianne Miller Nielsen guides teachers through the basics, from lesson planning and developing daily schedules to arranging furniture and managing classroom activities. The book also offers suggestions to enhance learning through modeling, purposeful interactions, and conversations.

The variety of updated topics in Teaching Young Children, Second Edition include:

Setting up and managing an ABC center to develop children’s understanding of the alphabetic principle
Setting up and managing a computer center to bring new technology into the classroom and extend literacy skills
Involving parents and families inside and outside the classroom
Sidebar teacher tips peppered throughout, from activities and ideas ("Try This") to important concepts to remember ("Keep in Mind")

This comprehensive handbook provides absolutely everything that preschool and kindergarten teachers need to create a high-quality, child-centered classroom!

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Center of Everything

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0965810194

The Caring Parent's Guide to Child Care : Everything You Need to Know About Making Child Care Centers Work for You and Your Child

Average customer rating:

Very useful information in easy to follow format.
Excellent help!

The Caring Parent's Guide to Child Care : Everything You Need to Know About Making Child Care Centers Work for You and Your Child
Elissa Tabak-Lombardo
Manufacturer: Prima Lifestyles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Child Care | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0761517103
Release Date: 1999-04-07

Book Description

Finding child care that is just right for you and your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make as a parent. This thoughtful, insider's view of child care centers helps you make this emotional decision with understanding and confidence. Inside, a national expert provides you with all the tools you'll need to make your child care center work for you—including knowing the right questions to ask, such as:

• Will the center provide a learning environment for my child?
• How does the staff handle children when they cry?
• Will I be able to drop in and visit my child during the day?
• Are babies confined to cribs and playpens during working hours?
• And much, much more!

Whether you are one of the millions of parents with children in child care or are considering placing your child in a center, The Caring Parent's Guide to Child Care is the one book no working parent should be without.

"The most comprehensive tool on the market today to help parents find a center that is consistent with their needs and philosophy."— Barbara Taylor, Associate Director for Child Care, YMCA of the USA

"Will save parents hours of heartache and uncertainty in their struggle to find the 'right fit' for their child. Every caring parent needs this book for peace of mind."— Holly Elissa Bruno, M.A., J.D., Wheelock College

"A valuable resource for today's working parents."— Hank O'Karma, producer, What Every Baby Knows with T. Berry Brazelton

Customer Reviews:

Very useful information in easy to follow format........2001-08-07

I bought this book when I was doing research for my new child care center. I loved it! It is easy to read and entertaining. At the same time it provides valuable information from an experienced profesional. I loan my copy to parents who are looking to enroll their child in my program. As a parent I could relate to the stories and information.

Excellent help!.......2000-01-04

This book is a goldmine. I never thought I would have to worry about choosing a daycare center, but after I decided (with much agony) to move my child into a center, a friend suggested I read it. I am so glad I did. I realize some of the mistakes I made in my first-choice of daycare, and feel much more confident this time around. I can't think of a single question she did not address in this book, and can't recommend it highly enough.

This book helped give me much more peace of mind than I would have thought possible. My only disappointment is that I don't live close enough to put my child in her center -- the author sounds wonderful!

Average customer rating:
The Center Of Everything
Laura Moriarty
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RIYDJY

Average customer rating:
Center of Everything

Manufacturer: Recorded Books, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: 1402557442

Average customer rating:
The Center of Everything

Manufacturer: Recorded Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 1402548168

Product Description

A remarkable debut that has been called a hybrid of Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird and Myla Goldbergs Bee Season, The Center of Everything is the fictional story of 10-year-old math prodigy Evelyn Bucknow. Living in Kansas with her single mother and deeply religious grandmother, Evelyn believes she is destined to marry Travis, the boy next door. But as she grows up, she experiences the heartbreak of a love not meant to be. Author Laura Moriarty was a recipient of the George Bennet Fellowship for Creative Writing at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Commodifying Everything: Relationships of the Market (Hagley Center Studies in the History of Business and Technology)

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Commodifying Everything: Relationships of the Market (Hagley Center Studies in the History of Business and Technology)
Susan Strasser
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Economic History | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Macroeconomics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Consumer Guides | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0415935911

Book Description

"Commodification" refers most explicitly to the activities of turning things into commodities and of commercializing that which is not commercial in essence. The mass marketing of pets, the rise of the coffin industry, the conversion of preacher into salesmen, and the globalization of Taleggio cheese are some of the exciting but surprising topics in this volume that show how friendship, death, spirituality, and artisanship all have a price after being commodified.
This unique collection of essays is a fascinating take on creating consumer products and consumer identities when what's for sale goes well beyond the thing itself. It will be a course-in-a-box for instructors who want to teach their students about commodification.

The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Garden Centers (Except Plants)

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The Complete Illustrated Guide to Everything Sold in Garden Centers (Except Plants)
Robert S. Coleman
Manufacturer: Macmillan Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

They vowed to remain the bitterest of enemies, even as their love ignited in a frenzy of desire and surrender....Only Fern Michaels could tell this rapturous tale of love among the lush plantations of exotic Brazil....

Customer Reviews:

Easy Reading.......2005-08-03

The book is fairly easy reading and entertaining. You want to hate the Baron and wish you had someone like Senor Rivera. I have been to Manaus, Brazil and it's like the book describes. It's a nice book to read.

Captive Innocence.......2005-06-20

I began reading this thinking it was part of the Captive Series. It has completely different characters, so I checked Fern Michaels' website; it is not.

About four paragraphs into the first chapter, I thought, "This is familiar. I know I read this book." When I finished the first chapter, I checked out "Pride and Passion." Sure enough, it is the same story!!! The main character, Royall Banner's name is changed and she is a widow instead of an innocent teenager, but other than that it is exactly the same story.

I did read the book through. It is a good read, great story, kept me interested, not too much boring detail.

"Captive Innocence" gives more background info on the characters than "Pride and Passion." I'd definitely recommend either of these books. I'd probably recommend "Captive Innocence" over "Pride and Passion."

Wonderful book, One you just have to have........1998-07-02

Captive Innocense is really wonderful. It is one you will read in one day. You just can't put it down. Loved it.

Great book, recommend to everyone........1998-07-01

This is a great book as are all the Captive books. You will read them one after the other & not be able to put them down. Great one!

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Captive Innocence
Fern Michaels
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KNOY54

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Captive Innocence
Fern Michaels
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000JHWUSO

Book Description

Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title-offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.This edition of Journey to the Center of the Earth includes a Foreword, Biographical Note, and Afterword by Andre Norton.It was a secret message by an ancient alchemist, found on a crumbling scrap of parchment. And if Saknussemm was right, then every theory about the molten core of the earth is wrong. Prof. Otto Lidenbrock has to learn the truth. So Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel, and the Icelandic hunter Hans climb down the cone of an arctic volcano and into....A realm of awesome mystery, weird beauty--and deadly peril. Where vast caverns and endless mazes lead to an underground ocean, living fire, and prehistoric monsters. But where any wrong turn, any misstep, can leave the explorers forever trapped in the eternal darkness of a planet-sized tomb....Buried alive at the heart of the world......

Download Description

The "Voyages Extraordinaires" of M. Jules Verne deserve to be made widely known in English-speaking countries by means of carefully prepared translations. Witty and ingenious adaptations of the researches and discoveries of modern science to the popular taste, which demands that these should be presented to ordinary readers in the lighter form of cleverly mingled truth and fiction, these books will assuredly be read with profit and delight, especially by English youth.

Customer Reviews:

Verne Goes Below the Surface of the World.......2007-09-15

For those interested in the history of science fiction, it can be debated as to who wrote the first science fiction story. My personal choice has always been Mary Shelley who wrote Frankenstein, but others have argued for Poe or others. Then there are Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, who were more-or-less the first true science fiction authors, that is, authors who really wrote in that genre.

Verne predates Wells, but I still can see argument for Wells being given priority. Wells seems to have done more to give the genre definition; Wells is more interested in using the fiction to speculate about the future and the nature of man. Verne, on the other hand, uses science more for a plot device to tell adventure stories. Probably it's impossible to ever settle the matter, but the way I see it, Wells was the deeper thinker, but Verne was the more entertaining writer.

Journey to the Center of the Earth is a typical Verne story. In it, the narrator Axel relates the story of an adventure with his uncle and guardian, the esteemed Professor Otto Lidenbrock. Lidenbrock has stumbled upon an old parchment, which when translated, tells of a passage to the center of the Earth through a volcano in Iceland. Axel, well-educated himself, is more skeptical than his obsessed uncle, but is compelled to go along (it doesn't help when Axel's fiancee thinks the journey is a good idea.

The bulk of the novel deals with the trip to Iceland (where they pick up an assistant, Hans), then to the extinct volcano, and finally into the bowels of the Earth. What they find there defies their expectations, and I won't spoil any of the fun by revealing it.

Like other Verne tales I have read, this one is written with a light touch and is an easy read (Wells is a bit more inconsistent in this regard). Compared with today's works, this is pretty tame and simple, but for its time, it must have been a lot of fun. In fact, it's still pretty entertaining, and if you're a science fiction fan, this is a good look at one of the early works in the field.

Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Lost races, dinosaurs, volcanoes, what more could a kid want? A scientist discovers some writing by an old explorer that greatly excites him. He puts together a cosmopolitan expedition of adventurers to go and check it out for himself. The expedition includes his young nephew, presumably so younger readers have someone to relate to.

Not quite what I was expecting.......2006-11-21

A Journey to the Center of the Earth did not turn out to be quite what I was expecting; I can't say quite why, however, because I'm not entirely certain what those expectations were. I hadn't read the novel previously, but I thought I knew what it was about. As a result, I think I was expecting more drama than Verne delivers, or perhaps I simply wanted the book to be more than it is. Most likely I was conflating Verne's novel with other texts: movie adaptations of the novel itself, for instance, in which considerably more in the way of actual antagonism--as opposed to the perils of nature itself--occurs; or hollow world stories, in which entire societies thrive on the inside of the earth's crust beneath the rays of a sun that lies at the planet's center. A Journey to the Center of the Earth is neither of these things, of course, and if I underwent any disillusionment, it was purely of my own making.

Understood on its own terms, the novel is, at the very least, interesting, but, truthfully, not much happens. The narrator's speculations (as well as his fevered dreams during times of travail) suggest a much wilder adventure than actually takes place. Much of the action involves the trio of explorers stumbling around in caverns and tunnels, and much of the impediment takes the form of hunger, dehydration, or equipment loss. In fact, as best I can judge, they really don't approach anywhere near the center of the earth, although they do travel quite a distance laterally before resurfacing.

The real joy is the interactions between the characters, primarily the trio of protagonists: the young narrator, his scientist uncle, and their silent, idiosyncratic guide. The expedition leader is an archetypal nutty professor, whose words and actions seem nonsensical to those not privy to his thought processes; his nephew, the narrator, alternates between sheer wonder at his surroundings, and sheer terror at the likelihood of spending the rest of his short life surrounded by them; Hans, the guide, says almost nothing but performs his duties in an exemplary manner, and insists on being paid weekly rather than all at once, even while under the earth (a square deal, in his eyes). Their interactions with each other, and with the variety of Icelandic folk they encounter on their way to the volcano which is their means of ingress, are wittily and cleverly depicted. These character moments are the high point of the novel; one wonders how much of their clever interplay originates with Verne and how much is an invention of the translator (who, in this edition, remains sadly anonymous). Whether the novel's tone in its English version is added or simply preserved in translation, full marks to whomever this perceptive soul is.

Though one reflexively considers Jules Verne a "science fiction" writer of a primitive sort, this is really more of an adventure tale and, taken as such, it is generally successful. The adventurers don't explore a strange new world so much as become more intimately acquainted with the world they already know, but if the reader doesn't go in expecting flights of pure fancy, the novel is rather satisfying.

Postscript: I should point out that this review refers to the Signet Classic mass market paperback edition of the novel, which features an afterword by Michael Dirda. Knowing Amazon, it's possible that this review will surface under several different versions, and without clarity, we have nothing.

Better than all the movie versions.......2006-11-09

This short book is one of the founding classics of science fiction literature. It details the story of a German scientist who comes across a map to a place that leads inside the Earth. He puts together a crew, and of they go to Iceland to find the volcano that serves as the entrance. From there, he and his crew journey into the Earth and encounter environments with their own plants, animals, geography and weather. They collect samples, evade dangers, and have hair-raising adventures. The group travels back to the Earth's surface, but lose much of the samples to prove their trip.

The book moves along quite quickly, and has fewer dinosaurs and other animals than seen in the various movie versions. Instead, the book focuses more on the internal dynamics of the group, and how they react to their discoveries, and to each other. All in all, a book that is easily read in a couple of hours, and more worth the time than watching any of the movies.

An Enjoyable and Charming Read that has Earned its Place Among the Classics.......2006-10-16

When Professor von Hardwigg discovers an ancient parchment suggesting a journey to the center of the Earth is possible, he wastes no time dragooning his dubious nephew and ward, Harry, into an expedition, first to Iceland, and then into the Earth. Harry, a young man, sees no good that can come of this expedition, but dutifully agrees.

So begins one of the most beloved classics of science fiction ever published, Jules Verne's "A Journey to the Center of the Earth". I'm hardly a Verne expert, but I've read many of his other classics. "Journey" is unique among his work. It's one of the few books to feature a first person narrator in the form of Harry. Moreover, unlike his other books, "Journey" is less grounded in science and more interested in the fantastic. Verne, through his various characters, slyly implores his readers' indulgence, reminding us that there is plenty about the center of the world we don't know.

Verne was an author who dealt in archetypal characters. From "20,000 Leagues Under the Seas" on, Verne generally concentrated on three types of characters as his protagonists: the brilliant and calm professor; the professor's loyal apprentice, and; the non-scientific, cantankerous, pragmatic, but steadfast man of action. Here, Verne mixes and matches these traits, making for a more interesting cast. Hardwigg is a brilliant scientist, but he's also a ball of barely restrained emotion and energy, demanding his fellow travelers press on, perhaps beyond all reason. The man of action, the Icelandic Hans, is loyal, but by no means cantankerous. He simply does what must be done, and is steadfastly loyalt. Finally, Harry, rather than the unquestioning apprentice, is quite skeptical of this expedition. Hardly steadfast, he proves to be quite cowardly and panics at inopportune times. Thus, with these interesting characters in the mix, the plot of the novel proves frequently unpredictable.

While the premise is fantastic, the action of the novel is far less concerned with monsters that might be found at the center of the earth than the more realistic, albeit more mundane, threats of natural disaster. Rather than being chased by dinosaurs or hidden cave-men, our heroes must deal with being lost, the threat of starvation, underground lakes, exhaustion, and exposure. Naturally, just as all hope seems lost for our heroes, fortune takes a hand. Obviously, if Harry is narrating, they probably get out okay. Still, there are some moments of true white knuckle tension, as Harry is lost in the caverns, or the trio finds itself on a raft with only a piece of jerky as their food-supply.

Wisely, Verne lets the scientific explanations he used as the basis of his other novels go here. He's less interested in giving his reader an education in the latest discovery, and concentrates instead on a great rip-roaring read. Admittedly, the conventions of Victorian-era fiction don't always allow the book to rip or roar. The first third of the book is actually dedicated to getting Harry and the Professor to Iceland and recruiting an expedition. It's more of a travelogue than an adventure tale, which makes the book more realistic, although not consistently exciting. Once our heroes are underground, however, the book takes off.

In the grand scheme of things, "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" is probably not my favorite Verne book. It lacks a remarkable character, like Captain Nemo. It also lacks some of the sharper satire Verne brought to his other books, like "From the Earth to the Moon." It doesn't quite have the pacing of "Around the World in 80 Days." Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable and charming read, and certainly has earned its place among the classics.

Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth/2 Audio Cassettes

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Jules Verne's Journey to the Center of the Earth/2 Audio Cassettes
Jules Verne , and Tom Baker
Manufacturer: Newman Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 0886909872

Jules Verne Collection: Around the World in 80 Days/Journey to the Center of the Earth/20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

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Suggested REading

Jules Verne Collection: Around the World in 80 Days/Journey to the Center of the Earth/20 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
Jules Verne
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 069451537X

Customer Reviews:

Suggested REading.......2001-12-12

( 80 Days Around the World)...... I completely suggest reading this book! It is a thriller of all classics. At school, I have been trying to get a lot of my friends to read it and only one has-- she LOVED it. She loved the misfortunes, the mix-ups, the trials, and ingenuity of the characters, and characters, the romance, the race against the clock, the sheer suspense of it all. If you ever want a book that once you get into to you'll never put it down-- READ THIS BOOK!!!! I promise it to be a good read by an excellent author.

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Journey to the Center of the Earth
Jules Verne
Manufacturer: THE DANBURY PRESS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HHNNRS

Product Description

Harry watches in terror as the giant prechistoric monsters come closer and closer.. In an incredible world hundreds of miles beneath the earth

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Journey to the Center of the Earth
Jules Verne
Manufacturer: Ace Books Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Journey to Center of the Earth

ASIN: 0441041558

Product Description

The first of MANY Ace printings of this Bradley translation. It follows, more-or-less, the script of the James Mason - Pat Boone movie.

Journey to the Center of the Earth (Illustrated Classics)

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Journey to the Center of the Earth (Illustrated Classics)

Manufacturer: Saddleback Educational Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Illustrated Classics)

ASIN: 1562549154

Product Description

This series features classic tales retold with attractive color illustrations. Educatiors using the Dale-Chall vocabulary system adapted each title. Each 70 page, softcover book retains key phrases and quotations from the original classics. Introduce literature to reluctant readers and motivate struggling readers. Students build confidence through reading practice. Motivation makes all the difference. What's more motivation then the expectation of success? FEATURES: Four-color dramatic covers Author biography Character map Literary masterpieces made easy and interesting Teaches and reviews literary and language skills ACTIVITY BOOKS: A separate 16 page activity book for each title tests reading comprehension, vocabulary, and thinking skills exercises FEATURES: Pre reading activities Post reading activities Story symopsis Key vocabulary Answer key READ-ALONGS: Word for word audiocassettes feature professional actors and sound effects, not just momotonous monologue. FEATURES: Page turn "beeps" Page number prompts Background music Multiple cast voices

Journey to the Center of the Earth (Unabridged Classics)

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Journey to the Center of the Earth (Unabridged Classics)
Jules Verne
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Unabridged Classics)

ASIN: 1402743378

Book Description

What a stunning discovery: an old, coded note that actually contains directions for reaching the Earth’s very core! And once he finds it, renowned geologist Professor Liedenbrock can’t resist setting out with his 16-year-old nephew to go where only one man has gone before. Jules Verne takes young readers on one of the most incredible journeys ever imagined, from Iceland’s frozen tundra far down into fantastic underground prehistoric worlds and back up again through the fires of an erupting volcano.

Great Illustrated Classics (A Journey to the Center of the Earth)

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Great Illustrated Classics (A Journey to the Center of the Earth)

Manufacturer: Baronet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

ASIN: B000ETC9YW

Sir Francis Drake and the Famous Voyage, 1577-1580: Essays Commemorating the Quadricentennial of Drakes Circumnavigation of the Earth (Contributions of ... for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 11)

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Sir Francis Drake and the Famous Voyage, 1577-1580: Essays Commemorating the Quadricentennial of Drakes Circumnavigation of the Earth (Contributions of ... for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 11)

Manufacturer: Univ of California Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Mother Teresa shares her profound insights on the power and the way of prayer. EVERYTHING STARTS FROM PRAYER is the first book of its kind, simultaneously offering Mother Teresas spiritual guidance and providing a step-by-step introduction to prayer. The book organizes Mother Teresas inspirational teachings into six distinct meditations on the spiritual life integrating prayer, love, faith, and service:

1. The Need to Pray / 2. Starting with Silence / 3. Like a Little Child

4. Opening Your Heart / 5. Ending with Silence / 6. The Fruit of Prayer Each meditation presents a building block to further understanding of Mother Teresas approach to the art of prayer. Everything Starts from Prayer is the only book that provides the reader both an inspirational introduction to prayer and new insights into the teachings of this universally loved spiritual teacher.

Selected and arranged by Dr. Anthony Stern, the book includes a Foreword by Dr. Larry Dossey, author of Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine.

This unique collection of spiritual wisdom has been praises by spiritual leaders worldwide, including President Jimmy Carter, Bernie Siegel, Marianne Williamson, Rabbi Arthur Green, Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, Swami Chetanananda, Tibetan Buddhist master Lama Surya Das, among others.

For readersof any faith or none--who are interested in exploring universal themes of faith, hope, love and service to the world, Mother Teresas EVERYTHING STARTS FROM PRAYER provides a wealth of profound inspiration.

Customer Reviews:

You'll almost feel as if Mother Teresa is speaking to you directly!.......2006-03-21

I've long known that a book's length doesn't guarantee
that it will be worth reading . . . such is the case
with EVERYTHING STARTS FROM PRAYER: MOTHER
TERESA'S MEDITATIONS ON SPIRITUAL LIFE FOR PEOPLE
OF ALL FAITHS by Anthony Stern.

It is short, but oh so powerful . . . and as the subtitle implies, it
is applicable for people of any faith.

As I was reading it, I kept having to pause to think about
Mother Teresa was saying . . . it was almost as if she were
talking to me directly!

For example, when I'm in a lazy mood, these words always
inspire me:

Yesterday is gone.
Tomorrow has not yet come.
We have only today.
Let us begin.

Almost every page contained some other tidbit that I'll want to refer
to again--and again . . . to cite just a few others:

* There is much suffering in the world-
very much. And this material suffering
is suffering from hunger, suffering from
homelessness, from all kinds of diseases, but
I still think the greatest suffering is being
lonely, feeling unloved, just having no one.

* Examine your heart first, though,
to see if there is any lack of forgiveness
of others still inside, because how can we ask
God for forgiveness if we cannot forgive
others?

* It is so easy to be proud, harsh, moody
and selfish, but we have been created for
greater things; why stoop down to things
that will spoil the beauty of our hearts?

And, lastly, there's this one which is one of
my all-time favorites:

* We can do no great things-only small things with great love.

Simple yet deep.......2006-02-10

Everything starts with prayer means everything we do should begin with a prayer: an interview, house hunting, the day, a quick drive to the store, an exam. Such a deceptively simple title yet so profound. To start every 'thing' we do with a prayer - of help, thanks, or guidance - surely can only be wonderful for us and Him.

POWERFUL.......2005-04-16

Everything Starts from Prayer has been added to the books I use regularly. This book refreshes my spirit. If you have any value for prayer this book will pump it up (Maybe I should send a copy to Governor Schwarzenegger)! With Mother Teresa's ecumenical reach, no walls excluding anyone from prayer, I have gifted this book many times to people I know benefit. "Everything Starts from Prayer" is inspirational and one of my absolute favorites.

Transcendance Through Giving.......2004-03-30

There is nothing more needed than this kind of spirit and approach ... Dr. Stern has gloriously translated and amplified the work of another who is deserving of translation and amplification

Enlightened People Have a Bright Flame.......2003-12-20

Enlightened people dispel the darkness around them. They live more prosperously, with less stress, consider every difficulty an opportunity, and are open to new learning. This time of year is the perfect time to look over the past year and ask yourself the important questions: "Did I take time to grow spiritually, bettering myself with reading and stimulating conversations? Am I continuing to answer the questions that really matter? Did I share whatever good things I found with others, to encourage them in their quest?" We are all candles, and sometimes I have felt my flame only softly glowing, instead of brightly radiant.
I am now house-bound and not able to get around. If it wasn't for reading and personal growth, and the ability to share and participate with others through the phone and internet about the things I am learning, I would go nuts! For me, books are a key to happiness. There are many people in my situation who feel life is not worth living anymore. I have seen that spiritual health, and being in service to others in some way (even if just by sharing good information) is the key to balancing whatever else is happening in your life. That's why I am sharing some of my personal favorites with you (I'll try to keep you updated as I read new ones), words that helped me heal and fan my flame bright again! I also placed this particular review under one of the books I have read and appreciated.
1. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (how even the little things we do can affect changes in people's lives, and by doing them, affects ours too)
2. Psychic Gifts in the Christian Life by Tiffany Snow (tools and training to access our God-Spots for supernatural gifts, has great stories about healing, afterlife, NDEs, helping FBI on 9-11, etc)
3. The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp (helps to ease the fears of facing a blank beginning and opening the mind to new possibilities)
4. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle (accessing the deepest self by living in the present time)
5. 500 Low-Carb Recipes by Dana Carpender (actually good tasting recipes that will help you keep your physical balance, at least after the holidays!)

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