Amazon.com
Daniel Keyes wrote little SF but is highly regarded for one classic, Flowers for Algernon. As a 1959 novella it won a Hugo Award; the 1966 novel-length expansion won a Nebula. The Oscar-winning movie adaptation Charly (1968) also spawned a 1980 Broadway musical.
Following his doctor's instructions, engaging simpleton Charlie Gordon tells his own story in semi-literate "progris riports." He dimly wants to better himself, but with an IQ of 68 can't even beat the laboratory mouse Algernon at maze-solving:
I dint feel bad because I watched Algernon and I lernd how to finish the amaze even if it takes me along time.
I dint know mice were so smart.
Algernon is extra-clever thanks to an experimental brain operation so far tried only on animals. Charlie eagerly volunteers as the first human subject. After frustrating delays and agonies of concentration, the effects begin to show and the reports steadily improve: "Punctuation, is? fun!" But getting smarter brings cruel shocks, as Charlie realizes that his merry "friends" at the bakery where he sweeps the floor have all along been laughing at him, never with him. The IQ rise continues, taking him steadily past the human average to genius level and beyond, until he's as intellectually alone as the old, foolish Charlie ever was--and now painfully aware of it. Then, ominously, the smart mouse Algernon begins to deteriorate...
Flowers for Algernon is a timeless tear-jerker with a terrific emotional impact. --David Langford
Book Description
With more than five million copies sold, Flowers for Algernon is the beloved, classic story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In poignant diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?
An American classic that inspired the award-winning movie Charly.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful, heartbreaking novel!.......2007-10-04
I think this is one of the best books I have ever read! The story takes place mainly in New York City, USA. Charlie Gordon, 32, is mentally retarded, and is taught by Miss Alice Kinnian. The book is written in the form of chronological Progress Reports written by Charlie. (His early reports were filled with spelling mistakes.) He is given the opportunity to be the first to take part in a scientific procedure that can triple his intelligence. After the operation, he is timed in a maze race against a mouse, Algernon, who has had the same operation on his brain. He begins to beat Algernon after a few times.
Charlie's rapid increase in intelligence makes him eager to learn more and more. He recalls memories of his past life. Once Charlie has reached his peak in intelligence, he and Algernon are to be presented at a psychological convention. He realizes during the presentation that one of the doctors believes that Charlie was not yet 'created' before the operation. This infuriates Charlie. He travels back to New York City with Algernon. He notices that Algernon is becoming lethargic. Charlie begins to worry that this regression Algernon is experiencing may soon happen to him. Sure enough, he soon begins to notice some signs of deterioration. He visits his family for the last time. He sees that the masked, retarded Charlie, deep in him, is returning. Then, Algernon dies. Many of the people that were close to him get very sad for him. (During these last few pages, I almost began to cry!) His last request of all of his freinds is: "Please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard."
I believe this novel is a fascinating must-read for everyone. It teaches you that not everyone may have the talents you do, and that you should respect them. There are many other lessons nestled in this page-turner that you should definitely discover.
--Aidan Bevacqua
"Brilliant" And "Masterpiece" Are Not Hyperbole In This Case.......2007-09-24
If you are a true lover of literature, you probably have a handful of novels that will always be cherished for as long as you live. For me, "Flowers For Algernon" is such a book. (I have read both the original 'novella' as well as the expanded novel, and like the novella the best. Also, I eventually saw the movie "Charly", based on this story, and thought it was hugely inferior to the book).
I will never forget my beloved 7th grade ('76-'77) 'high-English' teacher, Mrs. Colette Heideman -- my favorite I ever had, I think. Among the many terrific things she did was to assign this story for us to read. It moved me deeply, and does to this day. The story shows so powerfully how profoundly wrong it is to equate a human being's true worth simply to their IQ, and such like. No, the essence of what makes a person worthy of dignity and decency is something much deeper. (I believe it is derived from their being created in the image of God Himself).
Spoiler Warning.
The hardest I've ever cried while reading a story happened with this one. At the end, as Charlie's intellect is deteriorating, he realizes what is happening. In his journal he writes something like (I'm going from memory), "i dont know why im dum agen. maybe I dint try hard enuff." When I read these words my insides collapsed in a gush of tears. Fortunately I was alone in my room.
I use words like "brilliant" and "masterpiece" sparingly, but "Flowers for Algernon" truly merits such superlatives. BTW, adding to this story's poignancy for me, dear Mrs. Heideman was killed in a car accident three years after I had her as my teacher. I loved her and always remember her when I think of this story.
I love this story!.......2007-07-12
I read this book when I was in high school and it made me cry...twice! I cannot wait to finish it again and to see if it has the same effect.
Easily one of the best books I've read this year........2007-07-05
Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon (Bantam, 1966)
There are some people who simply deserve to be beaten with their own severed limbs for being such monumental genetic screwups. No, I'm not talking about Charlie Gordon, the protagonist of Daniel Keyes' wondrous little novel Flowers for Algernon; I'm talking about his mother Rose, a woman for whom getting stoned (in the Biblical sense) is not good enough.
Perhaps, though, I'm getting ahead of myself. The plot, in case you (like me) are one of the handful of people who never got the book assigned to them in school: Charlie Gordon is a mentally retarded adult who is chosen to undergo what is believed to be a breakthrough treatment. After the surgery, the treatment slowly beings to work, but then the changes pick up speed; soon Charlie is a supra-genius, far outstripping those who put him under the knife in the first place. Therefore, it's Charlie, with the help of Algernon, a mouse who has also had the surgery, who finds the devastating monkeywrench about to be thrown into the works. The book is narrated from Charlie's point of view, as well, which adds that little extra twist to the knife.
You get the feeling, though, that so many of the kid's problems (that come through with him to his adult life) could have been avoided had his mother not been a braindead Neanderthal who's so incapable of seeing what's right in front of her face that it causes her more pragmatic husband to flee the household. There is a method to Keyes' madness, and it is named Rose. It is a testament to both Keyes' ability to draw character (even minor characters; aside from in Charlie's memories, Rose only gets a few pages of screen time) and his ability to manipulate through perspective that make Rose the monster she is. That, of course, is secondary to the overall plot here, but it is synecdochic of the brilliance in this novel; I'm not pointing it out because it's the bright spot in an otherwise dull affair, but because it's one of the many highlights in a scintillating character study. Charlie himself is equally convincing as both a mentally challenged individual and a supra-genius. (And imagine the rage if this book, which uses such terms as "bright-moron" and "retardate", were released today; I'm honestly rather surprised I haven't stumbled across reports of its being challenged in schools, and I figure this has more to do with my not coming across the reports, rather than it simply not happening.) Just as important, if not more so, his perceptions of others, as they change, remain faithful.
While I'm spending a great deal of time rhapsodizing over the characterization, I'm neglecting the plot. Which I shouldn't do, because it's amazing. But--and this is a point I try to make repeatedly when I give bad reviews (maybe it'll come across better in a good one)--the plot is only as strong as its supporting acts. You can have the best plot in the world, but if you don't fit it with realistic characters, it's just not going to work. I'm going to start using Flowers for Algernon as a shining example of how the two, packaged together, make for a much stronger book than either piece standing on its own.
Add to this Keyes' eye for detail. He adds just enough extraneous detail to the book to add another thin veneer of plausibility to it; stuff that you might notice in passing and forget about. Charlie notices these things, and since he's (in the latter half of the book, anyway) dictating into a tape recorder, he notices them, talks about them, and then goes on his way. I mean, think about it. As a side note, given a performance worthy of the material, this would make an awe-inspiring audiobook.
Flowers for Algernon is beautiful, it's heartbreaking, it's funny and sweet and sexy and spiteful and nasty and hateful and just plain great. If you managed to avoid it during your school years, I cannot recommend highly enough going back and reading it as an adult. Put simply, it's genius. **** ½
Great on many levels.......2007-06-03
I really, really like this book, and one of the best things about it is that it's accessible and enjoyable on many levels.
On the most basic, it offers a fascinating premise with memorable characters that behave and change in believeable ways. It's well written -- extremely well written -- in a journal style that eloquently captures the changes the main character undergoes as he gains (and loses) over 100 IQ points. This sort of style is difficult for an author to pull off because not only does the voice have to be believeable, but it has to be evident to the audience what's REALLY going on even when the narrator himself doesn't "get it." Keyes accomplishes this, masterfully, and the result is a riveting read.
That said, I really mainly enjoyed the novel for the themes it struggles with. There's the obvious one, the one about the loneliness that comes from being "abnormal" (in either direction - super smart or super stupid) in our society ... it's a good theme, and very well explored by the novel -- neither tendentious nor overly schmaltzy, and always honest. But it's also a bit of an overused, feel-good theme, and if that were all this novel was about I would like it less than I do.
The book is actually a meditation on knowledge, and an honest, piercing exploration of the dual questions, "Is ignorance bliss?" and, "If so, should we then choose it?" (The book doesn't give easy or clear answers, either, which is one of its great strengths). The obvious instance of this in the character of Charlie himself, as he first chooses to become smarter without ever really understanding what it will mean, then wrestles with the consequences and implications of this choice, and finally he deals with the shattering loss of his intelligence. Some of the most amazing parts of the book are when new knowledge causes great pain: as when, for instance, he realizes that the people he once saw as his friends were making fun of him; or when he returns to his original IQ level but can no longer be as happy as he once was because he now knows what he is missing. The same theme is explored in the scientists themselves: you can't read the book without wondering if their work is moral, if it's really "right" in a deep sense to manipulate IQ this way. And would the answer to that question change if their experiment had worked?
It's just a very good book. The writing is accessible even to young teenagers, but the theme and ideas make it worth anyone's time.
Average customer rating:
- What it takes . . .
- Secret of "Flowers for Algernon"
- Read this book, you will leave with a greater appreciation.
- A "must" for all Daniel Keys fans.
- After Read This Book
|
Algernon, Charlie, and I: A Writer's Journey
Daniel Keyes
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Authors
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| Biographies
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Classics
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Criticism
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
20th Century
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Flowers for Algernon
-
Charly
-
Flowers for Algernon : A Unit Plan (Litplans on CD)
-
The Minds of Billy Milligan
-
The Touch
ASIN: 0156029995 |
Book Description
In Flowers for Algernon, Daniel Keyes created an unlikely duo-a laboratory mouse and a man-who captured the hearts of millions of readers around the world. Now, in Algernon, Charlie, and I, Keyes reveals his methods of creating fiction as well as the heartbreaks and joys of being published. With admirable insight he shares with readers, writers, teachers, and students the creative life behind his classic novel, included here in its original short-story form.
All those who love stories, storytelling, and the remarkable characters of Charlie and Algernon will delight in accompanying their creator on this inspirational voyage of discovery.
Customer Reviews:
What it takes . . . .......2007-03-01
What it takes to write one great book is a lifetime of preparation. It seems that every element of Daniel Keyes' life, up to the writing of Flowers for Algernon, was gearing toward that one great book. Every piece of Charlie's life, and every phrase spoken by his coworkers and the scientists who changed him came from Keyes' experience.
Half of this autobiography is the set-up to his great novel, the one work that would define his life. The other half is the aftermath. Thrust into fame and the machine that profits off other's works, Keyes' found himself tossed to and fro.
A writer wants to write, not to examine contracts and make decisions about rights. A writer wants to create and then to own his creations, not to see what came from his mind as property to be arbitrated. Daniel Keyes' found himself in the fortunate position of creating a work of beauty and then wrestling with ownership of that beauty for many years afterward.
What I loved about this autobiography is the journey which prepared him to write a great novel - showing the work and creativity and effort that goes into an instance of genius. What I also loved was the life's lessons learned that he put down on paper so that another person might have an easier journey.
- CV Rick
Secret of "Flowers for Algernon".......2003-05-23
The main charm of "Algernon, Charlie and I" is the revealed episodes behind "Flowers for Algernon", which make you understand (at least partly) why "Flowers's for Algernon", the author's acclaimed novel, is so increadibly compelling and moving.
By reading this book, you will find that the "Flowers for Algernon" is not a product of pure fantasy, but is based on so actual facts, emotions and feelings, that the author had been observing and experiencing himself. Charlie's desire to become smart comes from the author's experience while working with mentally retarded children, who wanted to become smart. Charlie's feeling toward the professor, while becoming smarter than the professor who created him, comes from the author's experience of suddently over-growing his parents, immigrants who did not speak English fluently.
After reading this book, you will realise that it is the author's sensitivity, warmness toward other people and his candidness about his own feeling what make his extraordinary novel so warm and moving. In the end, "Flowers for Algernon" is not about this poor guy who has gone through extraordinary experience, but about all of us.
Read this book, you will leave with a greater appreciation........2002-01-04
Mr. Keyes exposes himself personally in this intimate autobiography. I was captured by his honesty, his sensitivity and his fluid writing style. I felt, as though I was a familiar friend and I gained and enormous appreciation for his dedication in writing "Flowers for Algernon". I look forward to more books by this gifted author. I hear his next will be science fiction / mystery.
A "must" for all Daniel Keys fans........2000-08-04
In Algernon, Charlie And I: A Writer's Journey, Daniel Keys reveals the life experiences behind his creation of the character Charlie Gordon, a young man whose quest for intelligence and knowledge parallels that of the mouse, Algernon, in his acclaimed novelette "Flowers for Algernon" (which has been optioned and is in production for a CBS made-for-tv movie. Both the novelette version, and the novel that followed, have been widely translated and remain part of many school and college literature course curriculums. Algernon, Charlie And I includes the author's original short novelette version and is a "must" for all Keys fans.
After Read This Book.......2000-05-31
This book is about one retarded guy named Charlie Gordon. Thisbook is very interesting because this book is written as a real diaryof Charlie. Very first part of book... Charlie's grammars and spellings are all wrong. After Charlie gets operation, Charlie is getting smarter and his writing skills are getting better. End of this book, Charlie is turn into retarded man again. This book shows Charlie's efforts to get smarter, Charlie's lonesome life, and his emotional changes. I felt sorry about Charlie when I read last part of the book. This book is extraordinary and very cool.
Customer Reviews:
A good read.......2007-07-02
I remembered seeing this movie as a kid with Cliff Robertson who plays a retarded man named Charly who works in a bakery and is shunned by his mom after his sister is born and his sister. He has an operation and becomes smart for a short period of time. After reading this book, I felt sorry for him because when he was retarded he was treated shabbily and when he was really smart people wouldn't leave him alone. I liked both the boook and the movie a lot. A good story telling of Charlys progress reports, a mouse named Algernon and his story on how his life changed. 4.5 stars
Average customer rating:
- Super Reader
- Flowers for Algernon book review
- Heart-wrenchingly perfect
- A Masterpiece!!!
|
Flowers for Algernon (Millennium SF Masterworks S)
Daniel Keyes
Manufacturer: Gollancz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Adventure
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| General
| Graphic Novels
| High Tech
| History & Criticism
| Series
| Short Stories
| Space Opera
ASIN: 1857989384 |
Book Description
Charlie Gordon, IQ 68, is a floor sweeper, and the gentle butt of everyone's jokes, until an experiment in the enhancement of human intelligence turns him into a genius. But then Algernon, the mouse whose triumphal experimental tranformation preceded his, fades and dies, and Charlie has to face the possibility that his salvation was only temporary.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-27
A scientist is experimenting on raising the intelligence of animals, in this case, mice. When the same technique is tried on a man who is intellectually disabled, it succeeds beyond the scientist's wildest dreams. He has actually produced a superintelligent man from his initial subject.
However, the mouse Algernon is starting to exhibit problems because of this treatment.
Flowers for Algernon book review.......2006-03-14
Flowers for Algernon is a great story written by Daniel Keyes about a mentally retarded man, Charlie, who is selected to try an operation to help him learn a lot. As the story continues on, Charlie learns not only facts, but also new emotions that he has never experienced.
This book has a really powerful message in it about intelligence. It says that the importance of life is not measured by how smart you are, but by your relationships and how you treat others. If only people in the real world could understand that; that being the best isn't everything. That just being who you are and being the best you can be, makes all the difference in the world.
I really liked this book, however I have to admit that I had a hard time when I first started reading. When you read the first sentence, you become annoyed, because there are all these spelling mistakes, and there is no punctuation: "I tryed hard but I still couldnt find the picturs I only saw the ink. I tolled Burt mabey I need new glassis,"(page 3). At first I was so annoyed with this, but then as I read on, I realized that not only does it help the reader understand the level of comprehension of a mentally retarded adult, but it also gave me a new respect for those who use their time to help teach others who are mentally retarded.
This book has another message in it about how you view life; people who have less in the eyes of a `normal' person, really have more than most ever take time to recognize. "What an incredible thing! How much less they had than other human beings. Mentally retarded, deaf, mute - and still eagerly sanding benches"(page 228); even though Charlie has gained intelligence, he is still unaware of the intellectual state that he was once in.
The story of Charlie's experience gave me a new understanding of both really smart people, and those who may have problems with learning. In the middle of the story, Charlie has been to both extremes of intelligence -- mentally retarded and genius; and because he is the only person to have experienced both, no one seems to understand him. This made me feel sad, because I realized that people that are mentally retarded or a genius are often misunderstood and labeled as being abnormal; "It had been all right as long as they could laugh at me and appear clever at my expense, but now they were feeling inferior to the moron,"(page 106).
I would really recommend reading this book. Not only does it contain many of life's lessons, but it also has a great story that anyone can enjoy.
Heart-wrenchingly perfect.......2005-11-03
"Flowers for Algernon" tells the tale of Charly Gordon, a man with an IQ of 68 who works at a research laboratory. The laboratory is working on surgical methods to enhance cognitive abilities and, when the surgery works on Algernon, a mouse in the laboratory whom Charly has befriended, Charly volunteers to become the first human to undergo the surgery. The post-surgery change is slow, but it becomes clear that the procedure worked. What also becomes clear, to Charly, is that his life had not been as good as he had thought it was. And, then, the story takes a heart-wrenching turn, that I will not divulge as a spoiler.
Daniel Keyes did not write much science fiction, and this is the only novel of his I've read, but it's brilliant. The portrayal of Charly's gradually-growing understanding of the world, with the resulting triumphs and heart-breaks, was gripping. The writing was flawless, especially as much of it was in the form of Charly's journal, with it's varying degrees of sophistication. This is not a novel for the light-hearted though, as it is genuine tragedy, done perfectly.
A Masterpiece!!!.......2005-09-02
I read the book for the first time in High School and I have continued to read it at least once a year ever since. I am not normally much of a science fiction fan but this book really makes you think. What if it were true?! Once you get into it, I'd be willing to bet you cannot put it down!
Book Description
Complete lesson plans for teaching Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. Includes introduction to the unit, unit objectives, reading assignments, unit outline, study questions (short answer), study/quiz questions (multiple choice), vocabulary worksheets, daily lessons planned, related nonfiction reading assignment, oral reading evaluation, biographical info about the author, three detailed writing assignments (inform, persuade, personal opinion), vocabulary review games & activities, unit review games & activities, at least one group activity assignment, discussion questions on all levels (factual, critical, interpretive, personal response), 2 short answer unit tests, 2 multiple choice unit tests, 1 advanced short answer unit test, unit and vocabulary crossword puzzles, unit and vocabulary extra worksheets & games, bulletin board ideas, ready-to-copy student materials, answer keys, and more!
Average customer rating:
- MOVING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING...
|
Flowers For Algernon
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000H0FEVI |
Customer Reviews:
MOVING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING..........2006-12-05
This is a wonderful and highly original novel about a mentally challenged man named Charlie who wanted to be smart. One day, his wish was granted. A group of scientists selected him for an experimental operation that raised his intelligence to genius level. Suddenly, Charlie found himself transformed, and life, as he knew it, changed.
His story is told entirely through Charlie's eyes and perceptions in the form of progress reports. The reader actually sees the change in Charlie take place, as his progress reports become more complex, well written, and filled with the angst of personal discovery and growth, as well as with his gradual awareness of his amazing and accelerated intellectual development.
The progress reports are a wonderful contrivance for facilitating the story, and the reader is one with Charlie on his voyage of self-discovery. What happens to Charlie in the long run is profoundly moving and thought provoking. It is no wonder that this author was the recipient of the Nebula Award which is given by the Science Fiction Writers of America for having written the Best Novel of the Year. This is definitely a book well worth reading.
Average customer rating:
|
Flowers for Algernon (New Windmill)
Daniel Keyes
Manufacturer: Heinemann Educational Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
| Action & Adventure
| Children's Literature Guides
| Classics by Age
| Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
| General
| Humorous
| Literary Criticism & Collections
| Poetry
| Popular Culture
| Read-Aloud
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Short Story Collections
General
| Education
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Children's Books
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Nonfiction
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Lord of the Flies (50th Anniversary Edition)
-
Charly
-
Flowers for Algernon
-
Animal Farm and 1984
-
A Separate Peace
ASIN: 0435123432 |
Customer Reviews:
Febolos (Fabulous).......2006-12-31
Since this novel was written decades ago - I would say that "At First Sight" (starring Val kilmer) is a rip off of this novel. Except that in this novel the main character is mentally retarded instead of blind.
The novel is in the form of a diary written by the main character. As the character's IQ improves and he becomes smarter the diary's contents become profound.
When I read the main story line on the cover - I expected an emotion filled mushy and cheesy novel. Since this novel was given to me as a gift I started reading it anyways. The first few pages did validate my initial impression - but soon enough I realized the novel is anything but mushy and cheesy. Of course it is an emotional roller coaster - but the author has done such an amazing job in narrating the story that you never feel any mushiness. Instead you would relate to the emotions that the main character goes through. Additionally you would also be able to relate to several other characters in the novel.
Simply put this is an awesome cathartic novel - the ups and downs of the mentally challenged main character are just a metaphor to the readers' individual trials and tribulations.
Warning to the weak hearted - do keep a box of tissues handy !
Average customer rating:
|
FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GZV3JQ |
Average customer rating:
|
Puzzle Pack: Flowers For Algernon
William T. Collins
Manufacturer: Teacher's Pet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: CD-ROM
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
ASIN: 1583379452 |
Product Description
Here's a whole manual full of puzzles, games, and worksheets related to Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. It includes: 1 unit word list & clues, 4 unit fill in the blank worksheets, 4 unit multiple choice worksheets, 4 unit magic squares, 4 unit word searches, 4 unit crosswords, 32 unit bingo cards, 1 vocabulary word list & definitions, 4 vocabulary fill in the blank worksheets, 4 vocabulary matching worksheets, 4 vocabulary magic squares worksheets, 4 vocabulary word searches, 4 vocabulary crosswords, 4 vocabulary juggle letter review worksheets, 1 master set of vocabulary flash cards, 32 vocabulary bingo cards, answer keys to all worksheets & puzzles. Unit words are character names, symbols, places, etc. Vocabulary words are chosen from the book and are the same words used in the LitPlan Teacher Pack. Uses: Great to refresh your LitPlan Teacher Pack, for review, extra credit, or reinforcement work, substitute teacher days, work for students who finish in-class assignments early, and more!
Book Description
Antiques dealer Abby Timberlake Washburn is thrilled when the Mrs. Amelia Shadbark—doyenne of Charleston society—invites her to broker a pricey collection of Lalique glass sculpture. These treasures will certainly boost business at the Den of Antiquity, and maybe hoist Abby into the upper crust—which would please her class-conscious mom, Mozella, no end. Alas, Abby's fragile dream is soon shattered when Mrs. Shadbark meets a foul, untimely end. And as the last known visitor to the victim's palatial abode, Abby's being pegged by the local law as suspect Numero Uno. Of course there are other possible killers—including several dysfunctional offspring and a handyman who may have been doing more for the late Mrs. S than fixing her leaky faucets. But Abby's the one who'll have to piece the shards of this deadly puzzle together—or else face a fate far worse than a mere seven years of bad luck!
Customer Reviews:
Unspeakably Awful.......2006-03-08
The author has managed to imitate Susan Wittig Albert and her China Bayles series in every detail, with one notable exception. It's bad. Very, very bad. The storytelling is on an amateur level, the characters are simplistic, and the style is almost unbearable. I simply couldn't push on beyond the repetitive and obvious misbehavior of the main character's twit friend, who appears to be more of a tedious bad joke than a sidekick. The heroine might loudly declare that she loves Charleston, but I wasn't made to fall instantly in love with it. It takes a pretty substandard read to make me stop and wish that trees hadn't died for the book, but this one managed it in record time.
Art Appreciation, Mozella Style.......2005-08-11
Abigail Timberlake has gotten married to Greg Washburn who quit his job as a policeman in Charlotte to become a shrimp fisherman. Since there aren't a lot of shrimp in Charlotte that haven't already been breaded and fried the newlyweds move to Charleston. Abby has always wanted to be a South of Broad resident and she buys a house that does indeed make her a SOB (South of Broad). The people who live there always refer to themselves this way, and very proudly I might add. She leaves her Charlotte antique shop in the capable hands of her assistant and opens her second shop in the Holy City. No, not Rome, Charleston has so many churches that it has gained that nickname. The Rob-Bobs soon make the move themselves and Abby's mother has moved in with Abby and Greg so most of her old crew is still around for Abby's adventures. To make it all the more cozy, CJ is in Charleston for a visit.
Of course to have any social standing at all in Charleston one not only has to live South of Broad but also has to have had three hundred years worth of Charleston ancestors. Abby, like the other newcomers is referred to as being from "off" but at least she's not a Yankee. They are referred to a s being from "way off." That being the case, Abby is thrilled when she is invited to have tea with the grand matron of Charleston society. She's even more thrilled when she finds that the lady in question has a priceless glass collection that she wants Abby to sell for her, but the thrill dies quickly because the owner of the collection is poisoned shortly after Abby's visit. The death of any little old lady that Abby visits seems to be a recurring theme in this series. This is of course the key to the whole plot for if Abby weren't a suspect in these murders she would have no reason to poke around in an attempt to clear herself.
As usual, Abby's investigation almost gets her killed and she fingers the killer almost by accident, but the mystery in this book is a much better one than in some of the previous books. As is also normal for these books there are laughs a plenty; most of which come from CJ and Abby's mother Mozella. One never knows from book to book just what Mozella will come up with next and in this book she becomes an art aficionado. At least she becomes an aficionado of velvet art and has her eye on a new painting for Abby's living room. It is a velvet depiction of Jesus and Elvis riding a horse and is entitled, "Two Kings." Chasing the horse on foot are the Three Stooges with Marilyn Monroe bringing up the rear waving a Confederate flag.
Mrs. Myers has a wonderful sense of humor and these books are a great deal of fun. The characters are always one of a kind and the endings are often a great surprise. This entry in the series is no exception. On the other hand, this author was able to lend a deep sense of atmosphere to the previous books but fell a little short with this one. Charleston has so much atmosphere though that I'm sure that this will improve in the next book. I do wish that Abby would stop wailing so much but in this book almost every sentence out of her mouth was wailed. I also wish that Mrs. Myers would stop advertising her "Magdalena Yoder" series within the text of this series. This has happened before but was particularly a problem with this book. We all know about Magdalena Mrs. Myers, there is no need to wave her in front of our face like a giant red flag. That is unless you are planning on chasing after Elvis and the Three Stooges.
The Den of Antiquity in Charleston.......2004-05-14
In this book, Abby and her husband Greg have moved to Charleston. She has opened up another Den of Antiquity shop there. Abby's mother Mozelle is also living with them. And CJ, her friend from Charlotte is visiting when the first murder occurs. This is a humourous book, and I actually enjoyed it. I've found that the later Den of Antiquity mysteries seem to be getting a little better. The plots are tighter and the humour is less forced. The book opens with Abby trying to muscle her way into the top echelon of Charleston society. When she receives a request to have tea with the leading society lady she accepts, and takes CJ with her. But no sooner do they leave after having tea with her, than the lady turns up dead - poisoned. Abby needs to find the killer before the rest of society believe she is the murderer. Throw in some antique glass and a new shop assistant that can sell ice to Eskimos, and you have the story. Abby almost gets killed, but is saved just in time - just like usual. In all honesty, I read these books for CJ. She is THE best character in the stories, and she has a big part in this one.
Not as Splendid as others..........2003-07-28
In the 9th book in the Abigail Timberlake mystery series by Tamar Myers, we find Abigail has moved to Charleston to be closer to her shrimp boating husband, Greg. She sets up another antique store, and with help from CJ, she begins to settle in nicely. However, she wants desperately to fit into Charleston society, and she gets invited to tea by one of society's grand dame's, Mrs. Amelia Shadbark. Mrs. Shadbark asks Abigail to broker the sale of her priceless Lalique glass collection, but after she is found dead Abigail realizes that the collection was not everything that it seemed. When Abigail finds herself as the prime suspect (having been the last one to see the victim) she sets out to prove that she may be short on height, but not on innocence.
Tamar Myers writes both the Abigail Timberlake mystery series and the Pennsylvania Dutch mystery series with recipes. She tends toward witty humor and uses quite a few puns in her writing, many of which she repeats in each book. I have enjoyed many of the previous books, but am a bit tired of some of the "stale" puns that she overuses in each book (the jokes about CJ are reused too much for example). However, I enjoy cozy mysteries (mysteries with little "on-stage" violence, no overt savy, and little gore) and I enjoy those with a bit of humor. These are excellent examples of the genre and probably would be a bit too silly or trite for those that enjoy police procedurals or intense mysteries (i.e. Patricia Cornwell). If you like cozy mysteries and want a bit of a change, I would recommend giving Tamar Myers a try.
The first book in this series is "Larceny and Old Lace". Enjoy!
A Cozy Lover
Splendor is Splendid.......2003-05-08
This is one of the best books in Ms. Myers' "Den of Antiquity" series. When a pillar of Charleston's society invites Abby to tea and then dies, Abby tries to save her rep by finding the killer. This is the first book that shows Abby in her new home, Charleston, and as a new bride. Mom lives right in with Abby (how could we not have Mozella around?). Friends CJ and the Rob-Bobs visit. The plot is excellent and full of surprises. Additional characters are kept few, interesting and uncomplicated. Ms. Myers' humor does not seem to kick in until the last parts of the book. Again she relies on past phrases that have gotten her laughs in prior books but are now old to us. The paint shaker at the Home Depot & a sandwich short of a picnic were worn and tired phrases several books ago. Her repeated use of "wailed" can get irritating, and I don't know why she brings up "my good friend, Madgalena Yoder" (her main character from her other, Penn-Dutch, mystery series) so often. Once would have been fun. I may sound like an ungrateful reader, and I am not. She continues to be a top favorite. In spite of these flaws that keep me from giving it 5 stars, this is still one of her best. Don't miss it.
Product Description
5 Titles By Tamar Myers Den of Antiquity Series : Larceny and Old Lace Nightmare in Shining Armor Splendor in the Glass Tiles and Tribulations The Cane Mutiny. five mmpb books.
Books:
- Forrest Gump
- From Russia with Tough Love: Pavel's Kettlebell Workout for a Femme Fatale
- God Save the Child
- Good-bye Round Robin: 25 Effective Oral Reading Strategies
- Heaven's Prisoners
- Hex and the Single Girl
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- July's People
- Killer Dreams
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Butt Book: Best Of The First 5 Years Of Butt Magazine
- The Titan's Curse
- Numerik linearer Gleichungssysteme: Direkte und iterative Verfahren
- The Four Loves
- Rendering Fashion, Fabric and Prints with Adobe Illustrator
- The Search for Life in the Universe
- Taking Charge Of Asthma: A Lifetime Strategy
- Valentine Treasury: A Century of Valentine Cards
- Ruthless Compassion: Wrathful Deities in Early Indo-Tibetan Esoteric Buddhist Art
- Southern Africa Wildflowers
Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck Centennial Edition)
To Kill a Mockingbird
Animal Farm (Signet Classics)
Fahrenheit 451
