Best American Dramas & Plays
Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages--"since before this was even a show," according to Miranda--traces its development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. This glorious, oversize testament to the multiple Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton is a joy to anyone who loves the sound track or who has been lucky enough to score tickets to the show.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've read the Chernow biography, listened to the cast recording non-stop (ha) since September, and been an avid follower of Lin's tweets, Facebook posts, interviews, #Ham4Ham shows, and Genius annotations. Among other delights, it includes: the full libretto of this sung-through (and rapped-through) show, with extensive annotations from LMM that give new insights, meaning, and historical context to the words that you might already know by heart; more than 30 essays about the cast members, the production team, the creative process, and the facts of Hamilton's life; copies of relevant historical documents referenced in the show; pages from LMM's notebooks with early drafts and outlines; and a stunningly beautiful array of production photographs, cast portraits, and backstage candids. There is the American Revolution that is brought to life in this show, and there is the revolution of the show itself - "a musical that changes the way that Broadway sounds, that alters who gets to tell the story of our founding, that lets us glimpse the new, more diverse America rushing our way.""
"Giddy with excitement, I pulled back the packaging tab and inside was this glorious tome. Looking forward to enveloping myself in this Hamilton word and pictures story, that is until I actually get to see the show... A girl can dream :-). Edited to add: and the dream is almost a reality... Used this gorgeous book to deliver surprise tickets to my niece who turned 18 today."
"It's not a love that's died down over the past few weeks - indeed, it's only continued to grow - so it's no surprise that I picked up Hamilton: A Revolution, which tells the story of the writing of the musical, as well as providing Miranda's annotations for all of the show's songs and lyrics. The fact that the book alternates between short essays and songs from the show allows the pictures to nicely complement the text at all times, giving the reader a sense of how the show might play out, and giving us the chance to pair images with the songs that so many of us already know by heart. More than that, though, they give you a sense of the care that went into the staging of the show; from the set to the costuming, from the insanely detailed props to the intricate stage layout, the book conveys the fact that the show is every bit as carefully crafted and intricately constructed as the album and the songs. Even with all the time I've spent on Genius reading the show's annotations can't replace the glee of reading the lyrics in a beautifully made book, and getting to savor all of Miranda's wonderful prose - the wordplay, the historical allusions, the shout-outs to old school rap and Broadway staples, all of it."
"It is not in Kindle format; it's just photocopies of double columned pages that doesn't fit the screen and is very hard to read."
Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages--"since before this was even a show," according to Miranda--traces its development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. Lin-Manuel Miranda (Book, Music, and Lyrics/Alexander Hamilton) is the Tony and Grammy award-winning composer-lyricist-star of Broadway's In the Heights --winner of four 2008 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Orchestrations, and Best Choreography with Miranda receiving the award for Best Score.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've read the Chernow biography, listened to the cast recording non-stop (ha) since September, and been an avid follower of Lin's tweets, Facebook posts, interviews, #Ham4Ham shows, and Genius annotations. Among other delights, it includes: the full libretto of this sung-through (and rapped-through) show, with extensive annotations from LMM that give new insights, meaning, and historical context to the words that you might already know by heart; more than 30 essays about the cast members, the production team, the creative process, and the facts of Hamilton's life; copies of relevant historical documents referenced in the show; pages from LMM's notebooks with early drafts and outlines; and a stunningly beautiful array of production photographs, cast portraits, and backstage candids. There is the American Revolution that is brought to life in this show, and there is the revolution of the show itself - "a musical that changes the way that Broadway sounds, that alters who gets to tell the story of our founding, that lets us glimpse the new, more diverse America rushing our way.""
"Giddy with excitement, I pulled back the packaging tab and inside was this glorious tome. Looking forward to enveloping myself in this Hamilton word and pictures story, that is until I actually get to see the show... A girl can dream :-). Edited to add: and the dream is almost a reality... Used this gorgeous book to deliver surprise tickets to my niece who turned 18 today."
"It's not a love that's died down over the past few weeks - indeed, it's only continued to grow - so it's no surprise that I picked up Hamilton: A Revolution, which tells the story of the writing of the musical, as well as providing Miranda's annotations for all of the show's songs and lyrics. The fact that the book alternates between short essays and songs from the show allows the pictures to nicely complement the text at all times, giving the reader a sense of how the show might play out, and giving us the chance to pair images with the songs that so many of us already know by heart. More than that, though, they give you a sense of the care that went into the staging of the show; from the set to the costuming, from the insanely detailed props to the intricate stage layout, the book conveys the fact that the show is every bit as carefully crafted and intricately constructed as the album and the songs. Even with all the time I've spent on Genius reading the show's annotations can't replace the glee of reading the lyrics in a beautifully made book, and getting to savor all of Miranda's wonderful prose - the wordplay, the historical allusions, the shout-outs to old school rap and Broadway staples, all of it."
"It is not in Kindle format; it's just photocopies of double columned pages that doesn't fit the screen and is very hard to read."
Pudge becomes encircled by friends whose lives are everything but safe and boring. "What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green’s mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge’s voice. "Miles’s narration is alive with sweet, self-deprecating humor, and his obvious struggle to tell the story truthfully adds to his believability. Like Phineas in John Knowles’s A Separate Peace, Green draws Alaska so lovingly, in self-loathing darkness as well as energetic light, that readers mourn her loss along with her friends." "...Miles is a witty narrator who manages to be credible as the overlooked kid, but he's also an articulate spokesperson for the legions of teen searching for life meaning (his taste for famous last words is a believable and entertaining quirk), and the Colonel's smarts, clannish loyalties, and relentlessly methodological approach to problems make him a true original....There's a certain recursive fitness here, since this is exactly the kind of book that makes kids like Miles certain that boarding school will bring them their destiny, but perceptive readers may also realize that their own lives await the discovery of meaning even as they vicariously experience Miles' quest." “John Green has written a powerful novel—one that plunges headlong into the labyrinth of life, love, and the mysteries of being human.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you’re reading reviews instead of reading the book then stop being lame and go read it."
"I didn't enjoy this as much, probably because it was most about the "why" the event happened, and I had already figured it out."
"I loved the way it was set up, starting with “one hundred thirty-six days before…” and continued moving closer to whatever was going to happen. The story evoked a wide range of emotions, from laughing hysterically at some of the kids’ pranks to deep sadness at the consequences of some of the same. It covered sensitive topics, such as substance abuse, sex and death, directly and with honesty."
"In the book it sets up the book as a predictable love story or falling for the girl story but has many changes in the plot that may catch you off guard but overall thrill and excite you."
"His books go so into detail and can reach out to young teens with his words through the story."
"I highly recommend this book as it allows you to read and think about what is happening."
"Although this is not my favorite John Green book by any means, it held true to form with his amazing character development and writing techniques. I'd definitely recommend this book as well as Paper towns, the abundance of Katherine and the lastest hit The Fault in our Stars."
"I wanted to give this book less stars, but I realized it was for a personal reason."
Best Regional & Cultural Dramas & Plays
Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages--"since before this was even a show," according to Miranda--traces its development from an improbable performance at the White House to its landmark opening night on Broadway six years later. This glorious, oversize testament to the multiple Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton is a joy to anyone who loves the sound track or who has been lucky enough to score tickets to the show.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've read the Chernow biography, listened to the cast recording non-stop (ha) since September, and been an avid follower of Lin's tweets, Facebook posts, interviews, #Ham4Ham shows, and Genius annotations. Among other delights, it includes: the full libretto of this sung-through (and rapped-through) show, with extensive annotations from LMM that give new insights, meaning, and historical context to the words that you might already know by heart; more than 30 essays about the cast members, the production team, the creative process, and the facts of Hamilton's life; copies of relevant historical documents referenced in the show; pages from LMM's notebooks with early drafts and outlines; and a stunningly beautiful array of production photographs, cast portraits, and backstage candids. There is the American Revolution that is brought to life in this show, and there is the revolution of the show itself - "a musical that changes the way that Broadway sounds, that alters who gets to tell the story of our founding, that lets us glimpse the new, more diverse America rushing our way.""
"Giddy with excitement, I pulled back the packaging tab and inside was this glorious tome. Looking forward to enveloping myself in this Hamilton word and pictures story, that is until I actually get to see the show... A girl can dream :-). Edited to add: and the dream is almost a reality... Used this gorgeous book to deliver surprise tickets to my niece who turned 18 today."
"It's not a love that's died down over the past few weeks - indeed, it's only continued to grow - so it's no surprise that I picked up Hamilton: A Revolution, which tells the story of the writing of the musical, as well as providing Miranda's annotations for all of the show's songs and lyrics. The fact that the book alternates between short essays and songs from the show allows the pictures to nicely complement the text at all times, giving the reader a sense of how the show might play out, and giving us the chance to pair images with the songs that so many of us already know by heart. More than that, though, they give you a sense of the care that went into the staging of the show; from the set to the costuming, from the insanely detailed props to the intricate stage layout, the book conveys the fact that the show is every bit as carefully crafted and intricately constructed as the album and the songs. Even with all the time I've spent on Genius reading the show's annotations can't replace the glee of reading the lyrics in a beautifully made book, and getting to savor all of Miranda's wonderful prose - the wordplay, the historical allusions, the shout-outs to old school rap and Broadway staples, all of it."
"It is not in Kindle format; it's just photocopies of double columned pages that doesn't fit the screen and is very hard to read."
Best Drama & Play Anthologies
Duke Frederick, younger brother to Duke Senior, has overthrown his brother and forced him to live homeless in the forest with his courtiers, including the cynical Jaques. These include primogeniture, passing property from a father to his oldest son. As You Like It depicts intense conflict between brothers, exposing the human suffering that primogeniture entails. Most of Orlando’s courtship of Rosalind takes place while Rosalind is disguised as a man, “Ganymede.” At her urging, Orlando pretends that Ganymede is his beloved Rosalind. The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world’s largest collection of Shakespeare’s printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. Although some think that sometime between 1610 and 1613 Shakespeare retired from the theater and returned home to Stratford, where he died in 1616, others believe that he may have continued to work in London until close to his death.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I was recently offered a role in a local community theater production of William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” The play’s director encouraged all actors to gain a deeper understanding of Shakespeare’s words, to better perform each part. While I was memorizing my lines from the left-hand pages, I quickly discovered I could learn my character’s deeper motivations for what he was saying by referring to the modern English paraphrase."
"I have read the Masters of Rome series since the beginning but I failed to notice that this one came out in 2007 so I was very excited to buy it and start reading it. I have enjoyed the series and found it insightful about the internal and external forces that destroyed the Roman Republic and birthed the Roman Empire."
"The book sets up and amazing plot of romance, jealousy and betrayal in which satisfaction is met in such a way at the end of the book that the reader is left with mixed emotions this is truly a great book to read and to talk about."
"Nor does she forget the rest of the vivid cast that populate the story, from Octavian -- now calling himself Caesar -- and his sister, Octavia, and Mark Antony, Julius Caesar's former friend and now determined to make himself just as great as slain dictator. McCullough creates some of the most unusual characters that I've come across in a long time, and ones that forced me to fling aside all of my preconcieved notions of this often told story. It's subtle, engaging and while she's not adverse about putting a bit of creativity in the story, she also knows her facts. It's here that makes her storytelling so good -- she creates characters that the reader can feel deeply about, and while you might not like them personally, they are compelling. Along the way, there's plenty of details about daily life, the way that the ancients looked at the world around them, and some deeply moving prose."
Best Gay & Lesbian Drama
A monumental, subversive, altogether remarkable masterwork Details of specific catastrophes may have changed since this Reagan-era AIDS epic won the Pulitzer and the Tony, but the real cosmic and human obsessionspower, religion, sex, responsibility, the future of the worldare as perilous, yet as falling-down funny, as ever.” Linda Winer, Newsday. It ranks as nothing less than one of the greatest plays of the twentieth century." One of the most honored American plays in history, Angels in America was awarded two Tony Awards for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. ; A Bright Room Called Day ; Homebody/Kabul ; Caroline, or Change , a musical with composer Jeanine Tesori; and The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures . His books include The Art of Maurice Sendak: 1980 to the Present; Brundibar , with illustrations by Maurice Sendak; and Wrestling with Zion: Progressive Jewish-American Responses to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict , co-edited with Alisa Solomon. The most ambitious America play of our time: an epic that ranges from earth to heaven; focuses on politics, sex, and religion; transports us to Washington, the Kremlin, the South Bronx, Salt Lake City and Antarctica; deals with Jews, Mormons, WASPs, blacks; switches between realism and fantasy, from the tragedy of AIDS to the camp comedy of drag queens to the death or at least absconding of God Angels in America is the broadest, deepest, most searching American play of our time." But in fact he has been there so often that he seems to have passed right through it Angels , so much a cry in the dark about AIDS when it was written, seems now to be as much about the Earth’s potentially fatal illness as gay men’s.” Jesse Green, New York.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"One of the best things I've ever read."
"Kushner's masterpiece is still very relevant to all aspects of American culture."
"It's character-driven, it's funny despite its heartbreaking subject matter, it handles an historical figure in such a way as to make him larger than life. I've been seeing this more and more recently; authors trying to insert message drama (or fiction or poetry or...) by making the characters who have to put up with it slap the speaker into senselessness. Now that I've spent three hundred words on Louis and Belize's painful, conversation in Act Three, I'll say that the rest of the play is just plain awesome. The characters jump off the page, the pace is fast (despite there being almost no action), the dialogue is, in the main, witty and interesting."
"A wonderful and epic story."
"A modern classic."
"But Tony Kushner did an excellent job with this masterpiece."
"An absolute classic for anyone interested in American theater, gender studies, or just a spectacular play to read."
Best Arts & Photography
Relive the extraordinary Presidency of Barack Obama through White House photographer Pete Souza's behind-the-scenes images and stories in this #1 New York Times bestseller--with a foreword from the President himself. During Barack Obama's two terms, Pete Souza was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else--and he photographed them all. "The book, which distills the 1.9 million photographs that Souza took of Obama's eight years in the White House down to about 300 images, it as once warm and nostalgic, worshipful and respectful, sad and wistful-in a sense, not so different from the framed JFK portraits that everyday Americans hung in living rooms, right through the Nixon administration. "Here are the qualities that radiate from these photos of the former President and his family, all taken by Souza during his eight years as official White House photographer: intelligence, kindness, warmth, integrity. "Souza, chief official White House photographer for Obama's two terms, was on hand for history--documenting our first black president, and a pretty photogenic one at that. Souza's book, an instant best seller, includes many iconic images we've seen before, but its most poignant moments are the least public--like one of the president and his daughters frolicking in the snow at the White House. "The 300 photographs in the book are a remarkable account of President Obama's eight years in the White House, from events of historic significance to quiet moments with his wife and daughters and the family dogs.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'd like to say up front here that this is one of those reviews where I am struggling so hard to put thoughts into words, because of how many thoughts I have, and how difficult it is for me to express them. He was funny and personable, and every time I heard him speak I felt suddenly prouder and more patriotic. Because all the rest of that time I wasted being blind and hateful. I'm not really the kind that normally runs off to scrounge around for books they can't afford, but this is the second photography book of the Obamas I've done so for, and it captured my heart as much the second time, as it did the first. UPDATE: Thanks to so many of the kind, heartwarming offers, I have received a copy of this book."
"Well, I guess it is the idea of the unconditional love that I have personally felt by dogs.....and the fact that it least in my mind that is what our former President and First Lady gave us for 8 years. I pray that someday Obama haters or hopefully their children will view the pictures in this “must have” Obama memorabilia and appreciate not only the historical significance of this man to US and world history but also feel his unconditional love of America ; its history, culture and people in every page."
"Obama wasn't perfect, but seeing his two-term administration, not riddled by scandal or buffoonery, captured in this historic volume brought tears to my eyes."
"As I thumb through the pages, I realize how much of my vision of President Obama was formed by the photographs of special moments captured by Souza."
"In capturing the defining moments of the Obama presidency, Mr. Souza has given the common citizen a personal, vulnerable look into the remarkable 8-year tenure of the 44th president."
Best Drama Literary Criticism
It often begins in childhood in a darkened theater, grows into something more serious for high school actors, and reaches its passionate zenith when it comes time for love, marriage, and children, who will start the cycle all over again. The Secret Life of the American Musical makes you feel as though you’ve been there in the rehearsal room, in the front row of the theater, and in the working offices of theater owners and producers as they pursue their own love affair with that rare and elusive beast―the Broadway hit. Viertel combines a scholarly approach with a light touch that enables us to see anew familiar songs and musical theater moments we'd long taken for granted." "Viertel’s knowledgeable, engaging blueprint of [the] Broadway musical framework is instructive fun for cognoscenti and general readers alike." The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows Are Built is a delightful, accessible guide to why your favorite productions work. "Viertel articulates his rules of commercial success so lucidly that even seasoned hands will come away with a clearer understanding of why some shows work while others flop." "Viertel has written what will become a classic textbook on the architecture and construction of the American musical . What Harold Bloom did for Shakespearean exegesis and Peter Drucker for management, Viertel has done for theater: written a definitive work by raising the curtain and laying bare the work of playwrights, composers, librettists, choreographers, and directors." “Jack Viertel writes about the master craftsmen of the American musical, past and present, and reveals his own mastery on every page―his knowledge of the Broadway musical and of the intricate formula in the making of a show (or the breaking of it), and his passion for Broadway and the citizens who make the street come alive. “In The Secret Life of the American Musical , Jack Viertel, a Broadway producer and dramaturgical swami, has broken down Broadway’s greatest musicals into their constituent storytelling parts (a sort of anatomy of joy) and delivered a showstopper: one of the best-written, most illuminating, and most infectiously entertaining books on the genre I know. ‘It’s boffo!’ as they say on the Rialto.” ―John Lahr, author of Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh. By simultaneously (and brilliantly) embracing and deconstructing a beloved American art form, he brings us back to our most innocent selves, and all we can do is be grateful to him for reminding us of who we used to be.” ―Scott Rudin.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Jack Viertel's new book, "The Secret Life of the American Musical" is a stunningly informative book about the structure and success (or lack thereof) of modern day musicals. I must admit that my own experience of musicals is much more confined to those of the fifties, sixties and seventies, so when Viertel launches into musicals beginning thirty years ago to the present...well, those were quicker reads for me."
"Excellent book, a really nice companion piece to Razzle Dazzle: The Battle for Broadway that I finished last week."
"The author has a deep familiarity with musicals and provides excellent information along with his unique viewpoint."
"This is a great read for anyone who wants to open the machine and see how the gears fit together inside--enriched (to mix metaphors) by great Broadway stories and vivid portraits of Broadway personalities."
"Brilliant analysis of the musical."
"Highly advised to anyone considering writing musicals but also fun for just theater fans."
"Excellent look into the nuts-and-bolts of how musicals are built and how the art form has evolved over the years."
"The nuts and bolts of the American Musical but also filled with great stories."
Best Teen & Young Adult Drugs & Alcohol Abuse Fiction
A gorgeous collector's edition of the critically acclaimed debut novel by John Green, #1 bestselling author of Turtles All the Way Down and The Fault in Our Stars A perfect gift for any fan, this deluxe hardcover features a stunning special edition jacket and 50 pages of all-new exclusive content, including: Girls will cry and boys will find love, lust, loss and longing in Alaska’s vanilla-and-cigarette’s scent.” –Kirkus Reviews , starred review. “Alive with sweet, self-deprecating humor.…like Phineas in John Knowles’s A Separate Peace , Green draws Alaska so lovingly, in self-loathing darkness as energetic light.” –School Library Journal , starred review. · A 2005 Teens’ Top Ten Selection. · An ALA Best Book for Young Adults Top 10. · An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers. · A Booklist Editors’ Choice. · A Kirkus Best Book of 2005. · A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. · A New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"His books go so into detail and can reach out to young teens with his words through the story."
"I wanted to give this book less stars, but I realized it was for a personal reason."
"Vast, beautiful, full of discovery and awe inspiring."
"I LOVE John Green's writing. This story was very different from what I usually read."
"You are a potential buyer of said book I am reviewing. Because I see no other fit way for the review of this book. You see, by the end of this book, Miles is a changed person."
"A quote Alaska contemplates throughout this book is “how will I ever get out of the labyrinth of misery?” I believe Alaska didn't think she deserved to escape the labyrinth and that’s why she rebelled so much and she wanted Miles to rebel with her because she was so lonely."
"LOOKING FOR ALASKA, had excellent characterizations of the title character (Alaska Young), the protagonist (Miles "Pudge" Halter), the protagonist's clever roommate (Chip "Colonel" Martin), and their Asian sidekick (Takumi)."
"The merits of John Green's novel stand in the way it starts conversations about big issues in the small universe of a campus."
Best African Dramas & Plays
Set on Chicago's South Side, the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee, his wife Ruth, his sister Beneatha, his son Travis and matriarch Lena, called Mama. Sacrifice, trust and love among the Younger family and their heroic struggle to retain dignity in a harsh and changing world is a searing and timeless document of hope and inspiration.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"James Baldwin proclaimed, "never before in the entire history of the American theater had so much of the truth of black people's lives been seen on stage." They are so rich and powerful that over the years they have been portrayed only by some of the biggest names in the African-American theatrical community: Sidney Poiter, Ruby Dee, Esther Rolle, Ossie Davis, Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald."
"The way that Lorraine Hansberry is able to capture the essence of the black struggle during this time is indescribable."
"Re read - and still relevant today --- for many families in lower economic struggles."
"This classic play from the 1950's really isn't a window into the past so much as a rather startling realization that those times and the current times in many ways have not changed much for many people in the black communities."
"Very good as a period piece, though it is developed to be used effectively at any period of time."
"Because a retired professor at church offered several weeks discussing the play before a Play Makers Production in Chapel Hill, NC, I put the play on my Kindle."
"Purchased for my granddaughter."
"A classic that Every person of Beautiful Color should have in their library."
Best Asian Dramas & Plays
As she follows the red thread back through her motherland, she is enamored by the history and culture of her heritage, strengthening her resolve to find the truth of her beginnings, even as Chinese officials struggle to keep it buried. Kay Bratt's haunting tale of agirl coming of age and new found discoveries is a book that will forever remainwith me. Chasing China is the beautiful, romantic, and exciting story ofa woman whose search for the truth about her past leads her on an adventure ofself-discovery. Through these pages you will see what I saw, hear what I heard and hopefully feel what I felt on my frequent walks through the halls of the building that housed children yearning for a family to call their own.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It was about Mia, a young college student who had been adopted from China. She always wanted to know about her birth family, and her adoptive family loved her enough to let her travel to China to try to find her parents."
"This is a story of a young woman who was adopted from China."
"This touching and uplifting novel is largely based on truth itself, the result of author Kay Bratt’s recent four years in China, where she became deeply involved in trying to improve the conditions of the children in an orphanage in a city not far from Shanghai, children whose stories form a somber backdrop to this story of love. The book’s heroine, Mia, was adopted from a Chinese orphanage by a fine middle-class American family, becoming the little sister for three older brothers, a little girl eagerly sought."
"In addition to many readers having strong feelings about a country that will poison the milk/formula they give their own children, and that will ship poisoned pet food to other countries causing beloved pets to die painfully, I realize this paints people with a broad brush, so apologies for feeling so strongly about poisoned infants/children, and poisoned pets, as I know not everyone in China had a part in this. There were rays of hope as people tried to help in any little way they could, and the workers who had contact with the children did the best they could, under the restrictions they had and the too-watchful eyes of people in positions of power."
"Compelling story, excellent book, totally absorbing tale, with interesting believable characters and a wonderful description of China and it's way of life."
"I can not imagine how hard can it be to wonder about your birth parents and trying to find out why they gave you away."
Best Russian Dramas & Plays
Search a title: enter Forward2. forward2.wordpress.com. The Best Russian Novel by Leo Tolstoy. Table of Contents. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. BOOK FIVE: 1806 - 07. FIRST EPILOGUE: 1813 - 20. British scholar Briggs unveils his lucid new translation of Tolstoy's masterpiece-the first in almost 40 years-to a slightly anxious audience, from first-timers who, balking at the amount of time required by this massive yet startlingly intricate work, want to ensure they are reading the best translation available, to purists who worry that clunky modern prose will replace the cadences of earlier translations. 's" than the Garnett, Maude, or Edmonds translations, leaving readers free to enjoy the rich and complex plot, vivid characters and profound insights into war and the nature of power. Briggs will face competition next year when Pevear and Volokhonsky release their new translation, but for now, this is the most readable translation on the market.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I have, at various times, tried to read four different editions of War & Peace (Penguin, Signet, Barnes & Noble, and now this) and by far, this is the best edition I've seen. This edition is everything I was looking for in a copy of War & Peace and I cannot recommend it highly enough. When reading the Signet edition, I found myself using google translate to understand sentences or phrases left in the book in French. Other editions translated most of the French but left phrases here and there untranslated and in the text, without footnotes. Cons: Compared to editions that translate all the French, reading in the footnotes can be burdensome."
"Approaching War and Peace feels like a monumental task. Set against the backdrop of Napoleonic Europe, the story follows three main Russian families as they navigate the early years of the nineteenth century. Our main protagonist is Pierre Bezukhov, a mirror for Tolstoy himself. The Bolkonskys are right and proper with an autocratic father from one of the lower levels of Hell. But honestly the main characters that the book follows number about 5 to 10. Aside from Pierre Bezukhov, there is Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, Princess Marya Bolkonskaya, Countess Natalya Rostova, Count Nicholas Rostov, and Helene Kuragina. Perhaps the German word, 'Gesamtkunstwerk' - total work of art - should be applied to literature. The notes and translations of the French were all hyperlinked which made things easy enough to read and follow."
"I most definitely recommend this book for readers who enjoy classic works."
Best European Dramas & Plays
The playscript for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was originally released as a 'special rehearsal edition' alongside the opening of Jack Thorne's play in London's West End in summer 2016. When Albus hatches a plot to go back in time to save the life of Cedric Diggory—what Albus views as the biggest mistake his father made—time becomes distorted and Harry is left to examine his own life, his relationship with his son, and how love can sometimes be much more complicated than it seems. This is an interesting extension of the "Harry Potter" universe, but readers should go into it knowing that it's its own beast. Rowling didn't write it (much to the fury and vitriol of many fans), and it is in script form, so it loses some of the magic that won over millions of readers back when it all began.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I read the books 2-3 times per year since I was a child. These books are a part of me, I've named my children after characters in these books. I have waited for this book like the rest of you. I get more of a harry potter vibe from the fantastic beasts trailer than this entire book. I think the best way to go into reading this and saving yourself from despair is to read it as a fanfic and not the true works of rowling."
"I keep wondering if there's a therapy group where all the disgruntled fans can congragate and weep together. The entire 7 book series was about friendship, love and loyalty, and Harry knew that; and most importantly, knew that's what made him different from V. You're telling me, he, Ron and Herm didn't continue to live and instil those values in their children? Harry wouldn't have choosen work over time with his family, which after all he'd been through WAS ALL HE EVER WANTED. This new book is the worst kind of trash, the one that destroys the soul of our hero. Also, what they did to calm, measured, quirky, wise Dumbledore, making him a weepy, rude mess, who spoke in cliches, issuing a completely unnecessary "apology" to why Harry was at the Dursleys, when Dumbledore had already apologized profusely for that in HP5 AND severely told off the Dursleys in HP6 for their abusive behavior! And what a weak, floppy mess Harry was during the fight scene?!"
"I am horrifically obsessed with these books, for the past 19 years (tattoos, pet names, my adult apartment covered in maps and memorabilia - you get the point). I sighed, scowled, and groaned mercilessly while reading, and eventually completely gave up trying to understand even a semblance of what was going on in this story.This is NOT cannon, nor something I can physically or mentally endure sitting on my bookshelves next to what was the light of my childhood (and early adulthood if I'm honest). **SPOILER WARNING**. So many issues: the timeturner now apparently having the ability to go back decades, and create butterfly effect implications; Hermione's visage as a cold, cruel, DADA professor; Harry's Hermione-like myopic focus on his work, above his family; Ron - as a whole; too many others to list without losing my cool once again."
Best Canadian Dramas & Plays
An unexpected romance sprouts when Eden, a human scientist who is first sent to study an alien species, finds herself hopelessly attracted to Pyra, a male figure that initially inspires her disdain, but who ultimately awakens a mix of passion and desire in Eden’s heart, who is surprised by feelings that she couldn’t anticipate – or keep from growing – for the one who will end up saving her life. Read the entire Bestselling Series in order - Now conveniently available in Box Sets!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The Denynso of Uoria are being attacked by the Klimnu and with each book you find out what the Klimnu are all about."
"An fun and exciting alien romance series. The series is about an alien race that is allowing some humans to visit and study on their planet."
"So I bought Alien Romance Box Set: Uoria Mates 1. Loved how these domineering aggressive males turn to mush over the love of their mates."
"This is the stories of the Uorian Alien Species ."
"This series really is a fast paste love ztory of the women and the men that are tbeir mates."
"I can't think of the right words to describe this bundle. I guess you can't just use a couple words to describe this bundle."
"I would recommend this book to anyone who loves alien romances."
"The series was enjoyable and had really good sex scenes."
Best Caribbean & Latin American Dramas & Plays
As in Patchett’s other novels, including Truth & Beauty and The Magician’s Assistant , the author’s lyrical prose and lucid imagination make Bel Canto a captivating story of strength and frailty, love and imprisonment, and an inspiring tale of transcendent romance. But what begins as a panicked, life-threatening scenario slowly evolves into something quite different, a moment of great beauty, as terrorists and hostages forge unexpected bonds, and people from different continents become compatriots.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I loved so many things about Bel Canto, but my favorites were the many different ways Roxane's unique voice and its effect on people are described."
"Great book!"
"Delicious, voluptuous, with a deep understanding of humanity."
"I love this book so much - I actually bought this one for a friend."
"This book is set in a South American country and is about a failed kidnapping of the president of that country at a reception given in his honor (which he does not attend). Overall, I can recommend this book, but there are other books I like much better."
"Roxanne is the greatest soprano of all times, Carmen is incredibly smart and picks up writing like a sponge, Gen knows dozens of languages, Ishmael learns to play chess at a high level just by watching two people play, Cesar can sing perhaps better even than Roxanne."
"The characters are well drawn and believable and act in ways that."
"I tried to like this book, it was so slow moving and BORING..........The Pro and the Con was the characters."
Best Australian & Oceanian Dramas & Plays
From bestselling author Eve Rabi comes "A riveting crime and suspense thriller that will keep you turning pages." If you enjoy crime fiction thrillers with jaw-dropping twists and turns, you won't want to miss this explosive, drama-filled, crime and suspense tale from Eve Rabi, which will leave you sleep-deprived, and investing in a knife. This is a stand-alone book. Some of the characters in this book appear in other books, prior to this book and are avail for purchase. Categories: Crime thrillers with a twist, crime fiction books, crime fiction murder, contemporary romance kindle books, suspense romance, suspense thrillers romance, mystery and suspense, mystery murder thrillers psychological, romantic suspense, romance suspense, crime fiction, fiction crime, action crime, noir romance contemporary, romance suspense, romantic mystery thrillers, romance mystery and crime, free books in kindle, romance with strong alpha males, romantic comedy, romance humor, humour, free interracial romance, romance, free multiracial and interracial, kindle books romance, free fiction free books, top 100 selling romance, free paranormal romance, major crimes, free Romantic crime novels, romantic suspense kindle books, suspense thrillers and mysteries, free psychological thrillers, romantic suspense series, Romantic comedy kindle books, Contemporary Fiction > Romance Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction > Romance, Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction > Romance Romance > Contemporary Prime Reading > Romance > Contemporary Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction >Contemporary Women Kindle Store eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction Literature & Fiction Contemporary Fiction Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction > Romance Contemporary Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Literature & Fiction > Contemporary Fiction > Romance Books Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Family Life Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Detective Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Psychological Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Contemporary Women Books Literature & Fiction > Women's Fiction > Domestic Life Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers & Suspense > Spies & Politics > Conspiracies Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers > Conspiracies Kindle eBooks > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Crime Fiction > Murder New adult romance in books, jealousy, love triangles, crime fiction, bad boy, alpha males, heartbreak, cheating, obsession, books, kindle, girl, novels, free books, gripping, adventure, crime fiction, bestselling author, bestsellers. Have you got Eve's Rabi's free books?If you haven't, pop over to amazon.com and download four free books!Yes, that's right, four free fiction ebooks!Romantic Crime andSuspense Thrillers by Eve RabiPAYBACK(Free book) (Book 1 in the Girl on Fire Series)amzn.to/15c3KljONE WAY ORANOTHER (Book 2 in the Girl on Fire Series)amzn.to/18vTfx9MY WIFE'sLI'L SECRET - An errant wife, a husband determined to find answers and a web oflies and deceit. (Book 6 in theGirl on Fire Series) amzn.eu/18jJhFsTEMPTATION'S GRIP - Aromantic crime & suspense novel about lust, infidelity and murder (Book 7 in the Girl on Fire Series) amzn.eu/18jJhFsTHEWHISPER OF TEMPTATION - The power of Love (Book 8 in the Girl on Fire Series)a.co/5evCgEbTHE GOLD DIGGERS's GUIDE TO SEDUCTION (Volume 1) - Unfair, Underhanded andDownright Deceitful Seduction Tips (Penned by Scarlett Smyth-Murdoch-Callan) amazon.com/GOLD-DIGGERS-GUIDE-SEDUCTION-underhanded-ebook/dp/B0743G9WNWTHE BEAST OF MEXICO (GRINGA - book 1 free for alimited time)amzn.to/16tRxXJTHE TAMING OF THE BEAST (Book 2 (Gringa - freefor a limited time)amzn.to/18aqZPtUNCONDITIONALLY (GRINGA - Books 3 and 4 combined,the final part of the Gringa series.). Once you've read UNCONDITIONALLY, you will know how to obtain itfree of charge) DECEPTION - A Palace Full of Liars - Book 1 amzn.to/1sHcMnYMORE THAN DECEPTION - A Palace Full of Liars -Book 2amazon.com/More-Than-Deception-staggering-betrayal-ebook/dp/B00BKLL9M6BURN'S WORLD- Part One - Free book (comprises books one and two)amzn.to/1mYTiV1BURNS'S WORLD - Part Two (comprises books three and four) amzn.to/1oq7OF3CAPTURED -My Sworn Enemy, My Secret Lover (book 1) amzn.to/134MiALCAPTURED: MySworn Enemy, My Secret Lover (original book two, no longer in publication) CAPTURED FOREVER - My Sworn Enemy, My Secret Lover (book 2). amzn.to/1CPth3MTHE CHEAT -A Tale of Lies and Infidelity - Book 1 in a Tale of Lies and Infidelity Seriesamzn.to/Io2eEaTHE AFTERMATH OF CHEATING - A Tale of Lies andInfidelity - Book 2 in the Tale of Lies and Infidelity Seriesamzn.to/ZgmWPtOBSESSEDWITH ME -Book 1amzn.to/134MgJkSTILLOBSESSED WITH ME -Book 2 in the Obsessed seriesamzn.to/10fshUmBETRAYED -He'd get his Girl at Any Costamzn.to/1a6Lr48MY BROTHER,MY RIVAL - All out of loveamzn.to/ImrIBSMY BROTHER,MY RIVAL- How can I not love you?amzn.to/Yvqai0Tags: Romance contemporary, romance suspense, romantic thrillers, romance mystery, books in kindle, romance with strong alpha males, romantic comedy, romance humor, romance humour, interracial romance, romance, multiracial and interracial, kindle books romance, books for sale, fiction free books.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Did I say I love Ritchie.😚."
"Another awesome read by Eve Rabi."
"Sexy, funny good writing."
"A mixture of crime, romance, and frustration."
"I picked up this book at 11am and didn't stop till 3pm when i finish....i laughed, i cried and i was on pins and needles with the suspense....i can't wait for book 2.........to see what happens .........the book was well written with lots and lots of twists and turns you never see coming....if you like a little of everythng this is a book for you!"
"This was great long time coming out ."
"What a good book.all the mystery..thrills..Suspense in this book."
"I really enjoyed reading My Wife's li'l Secret by Eve Rabi."
Best Middle Eastern Dramas & Plays
Janice, the spoiled American that he wed to fill a void, who would keep a secret from him that would one day shatter him. “To Be An Israeli” spans from the beginning of the Six-Day War in 1967 through 1986 when a group of American tourists are on their way to visit their Jewish homeland. This book is a saga of a people who to this day live under the constant threat of war and terrorism.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I love the first of the series, the second was very good and the third was good."
"I absolutely think this is great book."
"As a person of Jewish origin I found this book extremely interesting, though I think anyone wanting to understand the Jewish people would find this book well worth reading."
"It has helped me to understand what these people had to go thru after the war."
"Several Muslim countries are poised to attack Israel and the need to defend there right to life."
"'To be an Israeli' is great, it can be read on it's own because there is a short history of the previous book."
"Roberta Kagan is a great story teller, and To Be an Israeli is another story that captivates the reader in wanting more now."
"I stuck with it hoping that it would become a story that built into a story that built on the strength of the characters who overcame the sadness that the book portrayed at the start.I cannot recommend this book."