My husband read this when it first came out and didn’t think so highly of it. Me, I liked it pretty well. Lots of possibilities for that final year. The whole series has been a great hoot.

I’ve read this before. It is a well written story targeted for young audiences, a positive story of midwives and witches. You go girl.

Besides, I needed a break from books demanding a lot of the reader.

Perhaps it isn’t a good idea to read two Bobby Fischer books in a row, for a non-chess person like me. Ah, but this one was a colorfully written narrative with wonderful language like, “His chin covering the room like a pistol.” Although, from 30+ years later, the whole thing just looks like an exercise in craziness. Too bad we never really saw Bobby Fischer play chess.

Very good introduction to an episode in history and sport that I remember but didn’t know much about. Neither do I know much about chess, and this book told me enough about the game in general and the games of the championship match in particular to help me understand but not to overwhelm me. In fact, I think that was its strongsuit.

On the other hand, it was rather dry reading, and too often the details were not included in a narrative way. It definately could have been better written, but then, they are Limey writers and the English don’t have a good sense of plot (grin).

Well, it is a book filled with conceits. There are powerful ideas here, and a lone paragraph or two of powerful prose, but mostly it is a book amused with how hard it is trying to impress you.

And here is my truth: I’d rather a writer get lost in the story than try to elicit a certain measured response from me, the reader. Writer, say what you have to say and I, the reader, will take from it what I will. You (Ms. Morrison) trying to control the process, predetermine my response (which is basically what she says in the [wordy, bloated, pompous] afterward)—well, just write a better story.

this is ok, but not really compelling, even with my alternative sufficient lifestyle and interest in how (and why) things have been done in the past. It will stay on my windowsill for late night and bathtub reading when nothing else has engaged me.

Stephen King is one of the most engaging writers ever in that without effort on the reader’s part, the reader finds himself in the world of King’s making.

I enjoyed this one, and particularly because it wasn’t very scary.

we don’t see many movies at the moment, but picked this one up in the bargain bin for a birthday movie night recently. I understand it is a cult classic, etc. I thought so many things about it—Costner was cute and believable, premise was interesting to think about, effects and goodvsevil more than a bit cheesey, and where the heck is the weather? Anyway, worth seeing despite any shortcomings.

this book should be re-read at least yearly. Thanks to yet another Laura (out in the Dakotas somewhere now) for giving it to us!

because I’ve never really started it. This time. I have read it before. I’ve read more fiction lately than is usual for me and just don’t have time to let myself melt in to another one just yet.