The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern abridged by William Goldman

I was excited about this book. I've loved the movie since I was a child, love to watch it still with my daughters. But I was dissappointed. Not disappointed enough to close it and put it away. I loved the story enough that I was determined to get through all of William Goldman's excerpts to get back to the story. I think, it must be the format he wrote it in. He just threw in his own paragraphs, stopping the story and explaining about this or about that. I was very interested in what he had to say but I didn't want to necessarily stop the story to read it, sometimes for 5 pages or so. I would have enjoyed reading it at the end of the book. And in the last excerpt I have to agree with Stephen King, Goldman did botch it up. I didn't want to read Goldman's thoughts every few pages, I wanted to read a crisply edited Morgenstern story. I wanted to be enchanted in the tale of true love and high adventure. Not stop every heartbeat to learn about Goldman's battle getting this published. I'm just...disappointed. It makes me want to edit it myself. But Morgenstern is priceless and I did enjoy his story, ever so much more than the movie. My advice is, if you read this book ignore the italicized Goldman, ignore it until the very end. Then go back and read what Goldman had to say once you've enjoyed your adventure. I still give it three stars because in this book is my only access to the original Morgenstern tale. And I'm assuming because of the Morgenstern Estate's dissapointment in William Goldman we will never see Buttercup's Baby, at least not any time soon.

J.L.Wills

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore Illustrated by Douglas Gorsline

This is a sacred treasure for me. I had the same print of this story when I was a child and the illlustrations are nostalgic. In fact I kept this book all these years, it's nearly as old as I am...but certainly I don't smell of attic and cardboard boxes. Some of you may know how my little sweet dog, Trixy, loves books as much as I do. Oh yes, especially the old smelly ones. She has devoured many of my sacred texts. Last year she got my copy of The Night Before Christmas, not just a little bit, it was torn and chewed every page. And I was devastated. No doubt I am fanatic over my books, I wasn't surprised at my easy tears and neither was my husband. That was a quiet day, every one gave me my space. So you can only imagine my delight at finding this in print again! I swear an opera singer was holding out a high F when my eyes laid on this little book. It took all I had not to shed a tear right there in the book store.

I gave it as a gift to my eldest daughter, she remembered my grief over losing my copy, and when she opened it she smiled the most beautiful smile and held it to her heart like it was the best thing I had ever given her.

This little $3.99 book is our best treasure of this Christmas 2008.

J.L.Wills

The Painted Veil by W. Somerset Maugham

I love a good tragedy. And though this story is tragic, it is so real, so palpable that you are immediately drawn in. The verse is exquisite, sometimes unbearably so and you seem to choke on your heartbeat. The movie gave quite a different version, it appealed more to the popular romance. But Maugham didn't write this as a romance, it was a brave thing to write a novel like this, it debunks the popular romance. And that is exactly why it is a masterpiece in my eyes.

A truly lovely read; majestic, poignant, and eternal.

J.L.Wills

Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi

Yes, it was fabulous. Tony DiTerlizzi is the owner of the fascinating imagination that brought us the Spiderwick Chronicles co-authored with Holly Black. Here he goes solo, and what a beautiful melody it is. I just love this little story and I know my dragon-loving daughter will find it perfect. A good moral story for kids, a brave story for kids and such a reminder for adults about how important it is to be open-minded, to listen to our children's tender hearts once in a while, to let go of "grown-up" reality and just maybe, step out on a thin wavering limb to reach that moist juicy apple...the sweetnes of life.

I recommend this to all ages, all genders. I truly enjoyed it. DiTerlizzi has scripted his name onto my all-time fav' authors list.

J.L.Wills

Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer

A great book. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The characters and the plot really smoothed out in this last book of the series. The descriptions of Bella's life "after" were the best descriptions Meyer has put into the series. And the "change" redeemed some of those weak qualities in Bella that, in the previous two books, were grating on my nerves. Bella suddenly had more resolve, more direction, more intention, she finally gives up hanging onto Jacob! I truly enjoyed this book as well as the first. Meyer wrapped it all up very cleverly. You end it with satisfaction, and almost...just nearly, feeling more powerful yourself, a bit magical. Though Meyer was not consistent through this series in putting out great literature, I do agree with the critics: she has a lot of potental.

J.L.Wills

Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

This is a masterpiece. Tragically enchanting, Frank writes this from the viewpoint of himself as a child growing up into young adulthood. The poverty is wrenching, it took me a while to read this book because the sadness can become so intense that you just must turn away from it for some lighter reading every now and then. It is eye opening, and it is painful to open pampered eyes. Even poverty in America in the 21st century is pampered. But how could we ever see, or know that, if we don't stretch open those slitted, peaceful eyes. When you are finished with the book you are flooded with guilt, seeing that Frank McCourt did not suffer because of poverty, that starvation was commonplace and it never crossed his mind that this poverty would prevent him from success. You will struggle with him through hunger and disease and when he makes it back to America you will simply be as happy as he is, anticipating a whole new world.

Five stars.

J.L.Wills