Average customer rating:
- Informative and Educational
- WINDRUSH
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Windrush
Trevor M. Phillips
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0006530397 |
Customer Reviews:
Informative and Educational.......2002-01-30
This is one of the best books I have read in a long time. It is a must read for all, especially people of Caribbean extract.
I want to thank the Phillips brothers for putting into words a part of our history that I never knew.
I can relate to most of this, as I have three brothers who were a few years short of being a part of this important period.
I now know how we as a people were treated and is being treated. The struggles that they went through was almost lost, if it was not for this exceptional piece of literature, I would not have learned about this period.
Thanks to the writers and the publisher, I am now able to investigate and get more information on events prior to and after the "Windrush"
I am recommending this book to all my friends.
WINDRUSH.......2000-10-30
THIS BOOK MAKES ME WONDER WHAT MY GRANPARENTS WENT THROUGH IN THE 50'S.I AM INTRESTED IN BLACK HISTORY,WE DO THIS AT SCHOOL,ESPCIALLY BLACK SLAVERY.THIS BOOK IS MY BEST BOOK AND I HAVE SHARED IT WITH MY FAMILY.THANKS AMAZON FOR HELPING ME TO FIND SUCH A INSPERATIONAL BOOK
Book Description
Fiction lovers have come to expect much from Doris Elaine Fell: a compelling heroine, heady romance, and riveting intrigue, all set against the backdrop of a fabulous destination. In Willows on the Windrush, readers will experience the charm of England and the Cotswolds. This second installment of the Sagas of a Kindred Heart series unfurls a suspenseful story of one woman's encounter with the secrets and possibilities of her past.
At thirty, Sydney Barrington is a successful executive, the envy of some for her wealth and beauty, feared by others for her drive. When she learns she has inherited Broadshire Manor from a stranger, Sydney is only too glad to escape the entanglements of her latest romance. When she arrives in the Cotswolds, though, Sydney discovers a village untouched by the passage of time and villagers hesitant to welcome her. She also finds that mysteries abound at Broadshire Manor.
Book Description
In May of 1588, on the order of Spain's King Philip, 30,000 soldiers and sailors armed with arquebus and musket set out to sea. A larger fleet had never before been assembled. In the Voyage of the Armada, David Howarth brilliantly conveys the drama of the Spanish Armada's progress and brings to life the personalities of the men who influenced its course, from the dogmatic and irrational Philip II to Don Juan Martinez de Recalde to Don Pedro and Don Diego de Valdes, who were cousins but also bitter enemies, to the Spanish soldiers and sailors who unquestioningly ventured into unknown seas to confront their fates.
Basing his narrative on previously unexplored Spanish sources, David Howarth shows that there is always another side to every conflict. The Voyage of the Armada recounts the adventures of these brave men as they go from battles to storms to wrecks and then finally - for the lucky ones - return home.
Customer Reviews:
Good reading for an avid fantasy book reader.......2004-12-09
I picked up this book almost at random to write a book review for my Tudor-Stuart English class. The book is written in a narrative format that really helps you follow the story - for an avid fantasy book reader, it came across almost as a real book and not just a dry history text. The book has a real narrative feel that gives it a lot of strength. Recommended if you are interested in the Armada, or historical naval battles.
Covers All the Bases.......2003-05-09
Howarth, an English historian, takes a look at the Spanish Armada debacle from the Spanish point of view, using letters and documents culled from the Spanish national archives. He awards first prize for the disaster to King Philip, a first-rate numbskull whose foolhardy strategy and tactics doomed the fleet before it ever left port. Thanks to him, Spain has been a second-class power ever since. Duke Medina Sedonia, fleet commander, gets far more sympathetic treatment than his boss: despite having not a shred of military or nautical experience, he displays heroic courage and equanimity in the face of near hopeless odds. Besides these two, Horwath delves deep into the personalities of many other key participants on both sides, including Drake, Frobisher, the de Valdes cousins, Recalde, and the energetically inactive Duke of Parma. The narrative is compact yet sweeping: in a mere 250 pages, Horwath gives good account of the religious and political motives behind the mission, the military strengths and weaknesses of both sides, tactical and strategic developments in sixteenth century naval warfare, and the misery endured by the sailors and soldiers of the Armada. He describe of the various fates of the doomed Spaniards with heart-wrenching passion, but includes some rousing tales of survival and escape that truly lift the spirit. Well done!
The Spanish side of the battle in the English Channel........2003-02-08
Howarth is a great story teller for historians. In this book, he shows the Spanish side led by the Duke of Medina Sidonia. The Duke was a very courageous though inexperienced sailor. His commanders were also very able. The problem was the campaign as formated by Philip II. Philip micro managed but at the same time did not present what the ultimate objective was to be. Would he name himself King of England? One has to fill in the blanks, and Howarth does a good job of giving details of what Philip intended to do.
Unlike others, Howarth details why the Spaniards were the underdog in this campaign. The English ships were sleek and maneuverable, whereas the Spaniards were clumsy. The numbers were not as great as one supposed. All told, the Spanish were the underdogs since they were operating far from base. The result were running battles, with the English besting the Spaniards. On the trip around the isles, poor weather, lack of provisions, and unseaworthy vessels killed more than the battle itself. Howarth does a great job in describing this agony of sailors and soldiers seeking home, but ultimately killed in Ireland.
The only wish for this book is that Howarth could have expanded his study. This is an interesting subject, but the book was short.
Exciting Story of the "Enterprise against England".......2001-12-02
This wonderfully descriptive book by the English author, David Howarth, is well worth reading if you have a desire to learn about the Spanish Armada and the "Enterprise against England". Although this book, `The Voyage of the Armada' (1981) is not as detailed as `The Armada' (1959) by Garrett Mattingly, its still a great story and well worth the time to read.
By all accounts this story of the enterprise is told as it was seen through the eyes and experiences of the Spanish soldiers and sailors and is very well done in that regard. Using first hand accounts found in numerous Spanish letters and reports, many previously not utilised before, the story comes alive and gives you a real feeling and understanding of the participants, many who did not survive to tell their tale.
One aspect of the book that I found pleasing was that the author took the story past the battle with the English fleet. David Howarth provides the reader with an account of what happened to the ships and men who actually survived the "dash" up the Channel. Those who were shipwrecked along the Irish coast were subjected to even more terror than they had experienced so far and very few survived.
The real hero of this story is Medina Sidonia, the commander of the Spanish ships, and I found myself wondering could anyone have done any better under similar circumstances? This is a great story with an exciting narrative and although it only runs to 250 pages (hardback edition) I found I came away with a better understanding of what happened and why. This book would be a great companion volume to `The Armada' by Garrett Mattingly but can stand alone as a decent and well presented account of the "Armada".
An exciting story and a good study in management styles........2001-02-26
The story of the Spanish Armada, as told by David Howarth, is built from his research of original Spanish archives. Apparently, he may have been the first to do so. Other historians had relied on English sources. That principal fact makes the story more compelling than other histories of the event.
Secondarily, Howarth reports on innovations and errors. For example, the Spanish invented the "convoy" and convoy tactics. This prompted the English to invent the "wolfpack." Maritime historains will be interested in the accidental development of these strategies.
Business management students will get to study the consequences of central planning and micromanagement by the Spanish King. Howarth does a good job contrasting the Spanish model with the decentralized style of the English.
A good read on several levels.
Book Description
The Dark is rising in its last and greatest bid to control the world. And Will Stanton -- last-born of the immortal Old Ones, dedicated to keeping the world free -- must join forces with his ageless master Merriman and Bran, the Welsh boy whose destiny ties him to the Light. Drawn in with them are the three Drew children, who are mortal, but have their own vital part in the story. These six fight fear and death in the darkly brooding Welsh hills, in a quest through time and space that touches the most ancient myths of the British Isles, and that brings Susan Cooper's masterful sequence of novels to a satisfying close.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-07
The conclusion to the fabulous Dark is Rising sequence brings it all together. The Drew children, Will, Merriman Lyon, Bran, and their human relatives and acquaintances, one of whom will prove crucial, and a traitor will be revealed.
Will and Bran must undergo the most perilous quest, to the find the sword of power.
Again, the clues are poetic :-
I am the womb of every holt,
I am the blaze on every hill,
I am the queen of every hive,
I am the shield for every head,
I am the tomb of every hope --
I am Eirias
At the end, a decision must be made by those who are not mortal, about those who are mortal.
Changed My Life.......2007-07-19
Reading the last sentence of this book 24 years ago changed my life. BOYCOTT the travesty that is the Dark Is Rising film. Keep the pure elements of Cooper alive. The amazing tale she spun, weaving in elements of Celtic/Welsh mythology into a modern narrative leaves me shaking today. This book made me who I am today. I will not stand by and watch it raped and pillaged. READ the BOOK and BOYCOTT the film.
Peace.
silver on the tree.......2006-10-16
For the last time, the Dark will attempt to rise once again. But Will and his friends of the Light will be there to stop it. This book is the ending to an ancient rivalry between the Light and the Dark. For centuries the Old Ones, a group of magical beings, have been preventing the Dark from rising since the beginning of time. I suggest this to people who like books with mystery and magic and magic because this book is full of it. Susan Cooper's series are suspenseful and exciting; you'll always be back for more. When you read this book you'll find out how badly Will and the Light need to defeat the Dark and stop it from rising this one last time.
A wonderful slice of imagination........2006-07-31
This is the magical conclusion to an equally magical series of books. Susan Cooper's seamless mix of timeless legend, wonderful imagination and beautiful use of language, make it difficult to find many to equal her.
Silver On The Tree is a coming together of the prophecies that we've been hearing tantalising titbits from all through the series, and a culminating of the quest of Will Stanton, last of the old ones and his immortal master Meriman, Bran Davis, the welsh boy with an extraordinary destiny, and the three Drew Children, ordinary kids with a knack for being in the thick of things.
This story takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through time, space and other worlds, with a climax that has you quite literally on the edge of your seat.
There are some extremely moving scenes, and I for one was very sad at the end. What, I cry plaintively, will become of Will?
There now, I hope that wet your apatite.
Just to complete your satisfaction, I can confirm for fans of the audio books that Alex Jennings reads the last book in the series, as he did with nearly all the others, and his high quality narration makes for a delightful listening experience.
Silver on the Tree, ages 9-11 or 11-14?.......2006-05-01
Silver on the Tree, written by Susan Cooper, has a wonderful amount of description to it.
Although I enjoyed some of the books from the series, I must say that many others from the series seemed to have no value to read. My class of 21 students read this, and only about 2 people out of this class actually enjoyed this book. I myself can say I would not rate this book as 9-12, but 11-14 due to the way susan cooper will carry away from the excitement of the story with the description.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed these books, and hope to see more of the age group I think is appropriate will read it.
Average customer rating:
- Super Reader
- Greenwitch
- A great adventure/quest! Shared it with my grandson!
- Book One continued
- A bittersweet take on a folk tradition/mystery, within the Dark vs Light setting
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Greenwitch (Isis Large Print for Children Windrush)
Susan Cooper
Manufacturer: ABC-Clio Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Similar Items:
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Silver on the Tree (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
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The Grey King (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
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Over Sea, Under Stone (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
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The Dark Is Rising (The Dark Is Rising Sequence)
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The Book of Three (The Chronicles of Prydain)
ASIN: 1850899347 |
Book Description
Simon, Jane, and Barney, enlisted by their mysterious great-uncle, arrive in a small coastal town to recover a priceless golden grail stolen by the forces of evil -- Dark. They are not at first aware of the strange powers of another boy brought to help, Will Stanton -- nor of the sinister significance of the Greenwitch, an image of leaves and branches that for centuries has been cast into the sea for good luck in fishing and harvest.
Their search for the grail sets into motion a series of distubing, sometimes dangerous events that, at their climax, bring forth a gift that, for a time at least, will keep the Dark from rising.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-07
A very short section of the Dark is Rising sequence, and probably limited at that. The Drew children are reunited, and a bit older and more mature, having arrived from different places for a short break.
This book focuses on them, and in particular Jane, who becomes an important element in finding what the Old Ones, and their agents, the Drews, are after. Together, the warriors of Light must recover the Grail, or all is lost.
Will Stanton and Merriman Lyon are also here, and Will befriends the Drew kids, but again, they are there in a guardian role and for Will's training. They are also not the only Old Ones around at the time, waiting for the Greenwitch ceremony.
Greenwitch.......2006-07-31
Greenwitch is the third in the superb Dark Is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper.
Shorter than the others in the series, it brings together the Drew Children, Simon, Jane and Barney, encountered in Over Sea Under Stone. And Will Stanton from The Dark Is Rising.
We're back in Cornwall for this particular adventure, and as always, Susan Cooper portrays her setting with her usual attention to detail.
Greenwitch is somewhat darker than Over Sea Under Stone, the only other book in the series to be set in Cornwall. But like the other books, it makes for compulsive reading.
My only little gripe is that I would have liked to see the friendship between Will and the Drews develop more. The Drews are hostile towards Will to begin with, yet Jane at least has warmed to him by the end with no real progression from one state of mind to the next. But its only a little moan. Greenwitch is a worthy addition to the series and not to be missed.
Alex Jennings takes the helm for the reading of this book, as he does for all except book four, and he does a splendid job.
A great adventure/quest! Shared it with my grandson!.......2006-05-02
Greenwitch is a wonderful book. I bought it at a garage sale for my grandson. He's twelve and thinks he's too big for me to read it to him, so let me borrow it when he was through.
We discussed it afterward and agreed that it was an exciting "witch" adventure/quest. It's an older book, but I'm going to try to find the rest of this series.
Ms. Cooper has incorporated all the elements that should make this book a classic to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Great job; highly recommended for boys and girls. Grandparents, too. LOL
Book One continued.......2006-01-26
The third continues from Book one
Along the Cornish shore
With Simon, Jane and Barney Drew
And Merriman once more
Someone's made off with the Grail
It's got to be the Dark
This time Will Stanton's in the mix
And Barney makes his mark
The Grail requires a secret code
To understand the writing
This fell into the deep blue sea
while Light and Dark were fighting
The Greenwitch claims a soggy prize
They need to get it back
While Jane tries her best to be nice
The Dark starts to attack
A lone dark minion on a quest
Gets greedy with his role
He stirs up all the Wild Magic
Before losing control
Will they locate the precious Grail
And break its ancient code?
And will the Greenwitch be appeased
Surrendering her load
For younger fans of fantasy
This series is a must
So go tell your Librarian
"Susan Cooper - or bust!"
Amanda Richards, January 26, 2006
A bittersweet take on a folk tradition/mystery, within the Dark vs Light setting.......2006-01-25
I think this is one of her most magical and enchanting stories. A shining gem in the Dark Is Rising series - not that the others aren't marvelous too, in their own way. The idea of the sad, melancholy elemental, and the child who is the only one to perceive the sadness, and whose sympathy is rewarded - beautiful. And the Cornish setting is drawn with just the right number of deft touches.
Amazon.com
"When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back,
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone."
With these mysterious words, Will Stanton discovers on his 11th birthday that he is no mere boy. He is the Sign-Seeker, last of the immortal Old Ones, destined to battle the powers of evil that trouble the land. His task is monumental: he must find and guard the six great Signs of the Light, which, when joined, will create a force strong enough to match and perhaps overcome that of the Dark. Embarking on this endeavor is dangerous as well as deeply rewarding; Will must work within a continuum of time and space much broader than he ever imagined.
Susan Cooper, in her five-title Dark Is Rising sequence, creates a world where the conflict between good and evil reaches epic proportions. She ranks with C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien in her ability to deliver a moral vision in the context of breathtaking adventure. No one can stop at just one of her thrilling fantasy novels. Among many other prestigious awards, The Dark Is Rising is a Newbery Honor Book and a Carnegie Medal Honor Book. (Ages 8 and older) --Emilie Coulter
Book Description
On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift -- that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight.
Download Description
On the Midwinter Day that is his eleventh birthday, Will Stanton discovers a special gift-- that he is the last of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to keeping the world from domination by the forces of evil, the Dark. At once, he is plunged into a quest for the six magical Signs that will one day aid the Old Ones in the final battle between the Dark and the Light. And for the twelve days of Christmas, while the Dark is rising, life for Will is full of wonder, terror, and delight.
Customer Reviews:
DaRk Is RiSinG~ KCS.......2007-10-04
When Will Stanton turns 11, he experiences a birthday different than most and learns that he is the last of the old ones. The old ones were put on earth to protect the world from being over taken by an evil power, the Dark. He has to find six signs that will be of key importance in the battle between Dark and Light. Will the Dark take over the world? or will he be able to prevent it?
I didn't really care for this book because I lost interest in certain parts. I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy books and although I got bored the writers craft is pretty good.
Disappointing Indeed.......2007-10-02
Normally I like these sorts of children's series; however, this is quite poorly done. I was disappointed not only with the stylistic elements of this book, but with the story itself. Perhaps it's just the way Susan Cooper tells a story, but the action sequences are rather dull; after they're over you're rather unsure of what happened. Also, nothing difficult is ever required of the main character; things, it seems, just happen to or for him.
I hate to compare this book with the genius of J.K. Rowling, but, in Harry Potter, we are always told what is happening during action sequences. Harry casts such-and-such a spell, Volde-pardon me-he who must not be named casts such-and-such back etc. Whereas in Susan Cooper's book there's always some kind of unexplained grandios event, a blinding light, and then the fight with the abstract entity is over.
Maybe it's just me; the book almost won the Newberry Prize for children's literature.
I, however, recommend staying away from this book and this series -especially if you're suffering from Harry Potter withdrawal and looking for a replacement.
Uneven.......2007-09-21
After seeing the trailer of the upcoming movie, I decided to read this book. However I decided to read the first in the series `Over Sea, Under Stone' first, and I enjoyed it. `The Dark is Rising' is a much different book, in style, in tone and with new characters (with one exception). It is a fantasy story, whereas `Over Sea, Under Stone' was more of an adventure story. Many of the reviews I read of the first book complained it wasn't as good as The Dark is Rising because of the lack of magical elements. But frankly the magic in the Dark is rising is a bit of a mess.
First of all it is unclear what the signs are for, or what exactly their power is. It is mentioned that when all six signs are joined then the Dark will be defeated, but by the time the signs have been joined, the Dark has already been defeated.
Secondly the use of time travel is really problematic here. I will just give one example; the Book of Gramarye has to be destroyed after Will has read it, so that it won't be in danger of being stolen by the dark. Will travels back to the 1800's to read it, it is then destroyed- but what's to stop the Dark from traveling further back in time and stealing it then? The whole exercise seems pointless. There are many other plot points like that.
Also the story lacks tension, the Dark Rider is not really menacing, and Will being immortal is never in any danger. He is `The Sign Seeker' but he doesn't do much seeking, he basically goes somewhere and someone gives him a sign- because it is the anointed time.
Having said all that it is enjoyable in parts, and I will probably continue the series, but I must say if cold weather is a sign of the Dark, then the Dark must really be powerful here in Alberta!
Super Reader.......2007-08-07
Will Stanton's 11th birthday is different. He learns that he is one of the Old Ones, the newst, and is now a warrior for the Light, and things will never be the same again, as he is drawn into the battle.
Supernatural happenings begin to occur, but he does have a mentor, and a prediction to live by.
When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back;
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.
Iron for the birthday, bronze carried long;
Wood from the burning, stone out of song;
Fire in the candle-ring, water from the thaw;
Six signs the circle, and the grail gone before
Fire on the mountain shall find the harp of gold
Played to wake the Sleepers, oldest of the old;
Power from the green witch, lost beneath the sea;
All shall find the light at last, silver on the tree.
It will be Will's task to find the Six Signs of Power, needed by the Light to turn back the Dark. The forces of Light are week, so Will, barely a boy becomes a necessary soldier, despite the risks.
Will must travel in time, master the Gramarye and powers of the Old Ones, find the Signs, encounter mythological figures, and weather a supernaturally harsh winter, all while staying alive and fitting into his normal, large, mortal family.
good story, poor writing.......2007-07-26
The story in this book is pretty good and interesting, but the characters annoy me. Maybe I was expecting them to be as good as Harry Potter, where, unlike this book, the main character can solve his own problems and is courageous. I know this book was written before Harry Potter, but JK Rowling had Harry Potter in her head long before. her story is more interesting and has more subplots and a unique style of writing. this book is sort of unique, but I have read ones quite like it. If you want a good book, read the Harry Potter series. Oh, contrary to other comments, Harry does not just revolve around quiddich, in the last book, he doesn't even play it.
Book Description
There is a Welsh legend about a harp of gold, hidden within a certain hill, that will be found by a boy and a white dog with silver eyes -- a dog that can see the wind. Will Stanton knew nothing of this when he came to Wales to recover from a severe illness. But when he met Bran, the strange boy who owned a white dog, he began to remember. For Will is the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to saving the world from the forces of evil, the Dark. And it is Will's task to wake -- with the golden harp -- the six who must be roused from their long slumber in the Welsh hills to prepare for the last battle between the Dark and the Light.
Download Description
There is a Welsh legend about a harp of gold, hidden within a certain hill, that will be found by a boy and a white dog with silver eyes -- a dog that can see the wind. Will Stanton knew nothing of this when he came to Wales to recover from a severe illness. But when he met Bran, the strange boy who owned a white dog, he began to remember. For Will is the last-born of the Old Ones, immortals dedicated to saving the world from the forces of evil, the Dark. And it is Will's task to wake -- with the golden harp -- the six who must be roused from their long slumber in the Welsh hills to prepare for the last battle between the Dark and the Light.
Customer Reviews:
A Book Read in Childhood Still As Good As Ever.......2007-08-25
I read this book when it was first published - I was 7 years old. Now, at the age of 39, it's still just as magical as it was then. After I finish re-reading it after 33 years, I am hoping to share it with my 11 year old son. Hopefully, he will find it as wonderful as I did and STILL DO!
Super Reader.......2007-08-07
The Light again have a prophecy they must try and understand, to again find another of the items of power they need to defeat the Dark.
On the day of the dead, when the year too dies,
Must the youngest open the oldest hills
Through the door of the birds, where the breeze breaks.
There fire shall fly from the raven boy,
And the silver eyes that see the wind,
And the Light shall have the harp of gold.
By the pleasant lake the Sleepers lie,
On Cadfan's Way where the kestrels call;
Though grim from the Grey King shadows fall,
Yet singing the golden harp shall guide
To break their sleep and bid them ride.
When light from the lost land shall return,
Six Sleepers shall ride, six Signs shall burn,
And where the midsummer tree grows tall
By Pendragon's sword the Dark shall fall.
They have a problem, in that Will Stanton has fallen prey to illness, and a very serious one. He has been months recuperating, and sent to stay with acquaintances in Wales.
Making friends with a strange boy named Bran, the two, and the dog Cadval must wend their way through the mysterious misty hills of Wales, past monsters, human agents of the Dark and the Brenin Llwyd to complete their quest.
As a side note, this book will teach you some basic Welsh pronunciation tips.
It was o.k........2007-03-16
The book starts out where Will, an average person, becomes a warrior. The grey King is when something bad happens and he starts a fire preventing them from getting the golden harp. The fire gets closer so they run up some stairs into Bird Rock and all this weird stuff happens. Then Will wishes that he was out of Bird Rock and they appear at the bottom of the steps. The fire is gone so they get the harp and a vortex appears underneath them and Bran, Will's friend plays the harp and it goes away. I did not really get the book after that but at the end this black smoke surrounds everybody.
I gave the book 3 stars. It is the fourth book in a series so if you read the first 3 books first it will make more sense.
4th volume of THE DARK IS RISING Sequence.......2006-06-09
"...Those men who know anything at all about the Light also know that there is a fierceness to its power, like the bare sword of the law, or the white burning of the sun...at the very heart, that is. Other things, like humanity, and mercy, and charity, that most good men hold more precious than all else, they do not come first for the Light. Oh, sometimes they are there; often indeed. But in the very long run the concern of you people is with the absolute good, ahead of all else...At the centre of the Light there is a cold white flame, just as at the centre of the Dark there is a great black pit bottomless as the Universe."
- a mortal speaking as a free agent to an Old One of the Light, herein
And of all the books in the series, THE GREY KING perhaps illustrates that detatchment of the Light from mortal charity more clearly than any book before it since THE DARK IS RISING, with the hard choices it presented to the Old Ones between their duty to the Light and their private obligations to those they loved. Here, however, the choices made are by mortals, from a man who traded away his allegiance in the hope of becoming a great poet to a woman who left her only child among strangers, one of them a man forever marked in turn by her choices.
In each book of this series, either a previously unknown quantity among the major protagonists of the overall story is introduced to the reader, or familiar protagonists from different volumes work together for the first time. In each case, this serves not only to help join together the mundane waking world with the deeper reality of the battleground between the Light and the Dark, but to re-ground readers in the story so far, thus allowing each volume to function as an independent story as well as part of the greater whole.
In THE GREY KING, the Drews do not appear, and an even greater absence casts a shadow on the story - only the youngest of the Old Ones is an active participant, facing the Brenin Llwyd, the Grey King, the greatest Lord of the Dark whose reasons for binding himself to one small part of Wales are beginning to become horribly apparent. And Will Stanton must achieve this quest independently, having only the clues provided by the outcome of an earlier quest and such mortals as he can trust, who live on or near the farm in Wales where Will has been sent to recover from a serious illness. Several of these mortals are unusually perceptive and have their own roles to play in the quest, which this time is not to gain a tool of power for its own sake as a weapon or a defence, but as a stepping stone to more mysterious ends.
At first I was disappointed to find that Alex Jennings (who narrates the other four volumes' unabridged audio editions) wasn't the reader for THE GREY KING, but I decided to take a chance and get Richard Mitchley's recording of this book, trusting that there was a reason for the change, especially when Jennings was tapped for the next (and final) book in sequence.
I now understand the publishers' decision; THE GREY KING needed a narrator who could speak Welsh (not one of Jennings' strengths). I like Mitchley (particularly as Bran Davies) while still enjoying Jennings on the pre-existing characters. Sigh - if only they'd jointly narrated the last two books so I could've had it both ways...
Myth, magic, and mystery!.......2006-05-28
This is the fourth book in Susan Cooper's wonderfully written Dark Is Rising series. Once read, it is a book not easily forgotten. Unlike other authors writing at the same time, Cooper writes with a mature but lyrical prose which in no way talks down to younger readers and consequently can be read and enjoyed by anyone no matter their age.
The story continues to follow the life of Will Stanton, this time convalescing at his aunt's house in Wales. During his stay, he befriends Bran, a boy with an amazing destiny.
The story is powerful and moving and full of legend and magic.
Susan Cooper paints her setting beautifully.
Will has developed more over the series in to a deep and memorable character.
The book is the only one in the series not read by Alex Jennings, but Richard Michly is an excellent narrator, and I'd be happy for either actor to read any audio book of mine. At least I know they'd be read well. I do feel though that you should stick with the same reader through a series, as it helps lend that extra familiarity to the story and the characters.
All in all an excellent book, can't wait to read the last one.
Average customer rating:
- Happily Surprised!!
- Still screaming!
- Exciting
- Model of Hollywood Formula
- Keeps you reading until the end!
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After the First Death (Isis Large Print for Children Windrush)
Robert Cormier
Manufacturer: ABC-Clio Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1850899053 |
Book Description
Cambridge Literature is a series of literary texts edited for study by students aged 14–18 in English-speaking classrooms. It will include novels, poetry, short stories, essays, travel-writing and other non-fiction. The series will be extensive and open-ended and will provide school students with a range of edited texts taken from a wide geographical spread. It will feature writing in English from various genres and differing times. After the First Death by Robert Cormier is edited by John Lancaster, Head of English at the Ken Simpton Community School in Peterborough.
Customer Reviews:
Happily Surprised!!.......2007-08-12
My son had to read this book for his summer reading assigment. I also read this book so I could quiz him on it later. I actually enjoyed reading it. It was in the young adult section of the library and I thought that I would get bored with it. I was surprised. Mr. Cormier knows how to pull his readers in his story, young and not so young. This book was very thought provoking and my 15 year old enjoyed it too. He actually liked dicussing it with me afterwards, which was very surprising.
Still screaming!.......2005-08-21
I don't know how anybody could bear to write this book. It was so creepy! I guess there are a few good parts, but not many. I had to use the book for a book report and it was really freaky. I can't believe I chose it for free choice! Children twelve and under, I don't recommend this book! Please consider this review before purchasing this book for your child or yourself! Consider yourself warned!
Exciting.......2005-03-18
The novel, After the First Death by Robert Comier, is an exciting thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. This book gives you three different perspectives of what is going on in the book. Comier allows you to enter the minds of three main characters named: Kate, Miro, and Ben. Kate is the innocent bus driver which has no control of the terrorists that entered the bus, Miro is one of the terrorists that take over the bus, and Ben is a son of a General who is part of a top secret agency in the military. I came across this book when I was assigned to read it for English class in school. This book is so exciting that I read past the number of assigned pages for the night just to find out what would happen next. The way Comier decides to narrate the book captures you into reading more of the book.
The book first starts you out with Ben's perspective of what had happened the day on the bridge. What he thinks of happened ruined `Inner Delta' which is a top secret military agency which his dad is apart of. And then you witness your first perspective change in the book when the point of view switches to Miro who is one of the terrorists assigned to hijack a school bus full of kids. This shift tells you the plan of what is going to happen and when it will happen. It also gives you a background of Miro where we learn that Miro calls his team of terrorists `Freedom Fighters' who are trying to win back their precious `Homeland', and we also discover he is a regular teenager with likes/ dislikes. After we learn what the terrorists plans are we then witness the hijacking of the bus, how it was exacuted, and where they are taking the bus. And then finally we get the perspective of the bus driver whose name is Kate. Cormier allows us to enter the mind of Kate and find out what weaknesses and strengths Kate has. People who enjoy exciting thrillers will enjoy this book. This book has left me on the edge of my seat and I'm sure it will to you to.
I highly recommend this book to teens who don't normally read books. This book may change the teenagers opinion on books. When you start reading this you will not be able to put the book down. Go and pick up a copy of this exciting thriller today!
Model of Hollywood Formula.......2005-03-17
Cormier's book is written for young adults, but in many ways, this writing is insulting to the reader. There is a distinct level of the Hollywood formula that this book models. In other words, you have the introduction, you have the climax, you have the descent. Ok, all plots follow this, but in Cormier's book it is so much a part of the text that it takes away from the story. Additionally, in this book, the climax is so brief that it really is almost an irrelevant part of the story other than a climax is necessary.
As I read this book, what I pictured in my mind was the book cover being turned into a movie poster. This shouldn't have been written as a novel, instead it should have been written as a screenplay. However, in terms of screenplays, I think Battlefield Earth would be better than this.
The basis of the story ties into the modern day issue of terrorists infiltrating the United States and then taking hostages so that certain demands can be met. As a story idea, it's great, it's the execution of the story that is so disappointing. The overall dialogue is poor and as you read it, it seems forced. The use of imagery is ok, but all in all even this is short changed in the book, finally the plot development is less than desirable. Cormier does try to experiment a little in his writing by bouncing between first and third person and back and forth in time, which is the only thing that kept me reading the story. All in all, even for young adults that are looking for action, there are much better choices out there.
Keeps you reading until the end!.......2004-05-28
Robert Cormier's Thriller "After the first death" is dealing with a problem that is even more topical today as in the days Cormier wrote it 1979: terrorism.
He writes about the hijacking of a bus full of children on an old railway-bridge and the consequences for all people who were involved in it. The plot is described out of different perspectives in different times which could be a little bit confusing at the beginnig, but this style of writing later makes it easier for the reader to understand the actions of both sides, on the one hand the actions of the terrorists and on the other hand the reactions of the victims, esspecially Mark and Ben, a General and his son, whose relationship is very problematic, and Kate, the driver of the bus, who tries to fight against the threat of the terrorists.
All in all, Robert Cormier's style of writing and the detailed description of the inner selves of the characters who all undergo a certain development keeps you reading to an Hollywood unlike ending.
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