While in the midst of a flight in the far east, the four passengers suddenly come to the realization that their small craft has veered off course, and that they are essentially being kidnapped. The flight eventually culminates in a landing in a desolate location high in the Himalayas and the pilot’s death. The four are met by residents of a nearby lamasery, Shanri-La, and are hospitably invited to stay until another means of returning home presents itself. The lamasery offers delicious food, comfortable living, a vast library, natural beauty and stimulating conversation. The only thing it doesn’t seem to offer is a way to leave.

I enjoyed this quasi-adventure story and appreciated some of the philosophical questions it provokes. Like others, I felt the last few chapters were somewhat weak, but they were marginally redeemed after I reread the first chapter over again when finished. The novel holds up fairly well for its time, and is the origin of the mystical place name Shangri-La.
posted by Ryner on Jul 1, 2009 at 6:09PM

This book is awesome! So’s her other book ’Confessions of a Teenage Amnesiac.’
posted by Jude_Rosenberg on Jul 1, 2009 at 5:30PM

This book was very slow in the beginning, but I got into it as I went along. Everyone should give this book a chance. It’s not totally boring like a few other people have portreyed.
posted by Jude_Rosenberg on Jul 1, 2009 at 5:18PM

you like hairy potter
posted by fairy on Jul 1, 2009 at 12:46PM

YES!!! TOTLLY!!!!
posted by sunny526 on Jul 1, 2009 at 12:25PM

I like this book! it ws pretty good!
posted by amallama18 on Jul 1, 2009 at 11:12AM

The excitement begins in 1845 with Felix, a ten-year-old German immigrant. Felix is the fastest kid in New York and dreams of playing baseball for the New York Knickerbockers. His hopes are dashed when an act of heroism during a devastating fire leaves him paralyzed. Felix vows that he will play baseball again someday, “Even if it takes him a lifetime… Even if it takes him nine lifetimes.” This book hits a grand slam of sports, history, danger, and adventure! Follow the history of America’s favorite pastime with the Brooklyn Dodgers and one family over nine generations.
posted by KidLinks librarians on Jul 1, 2009 at 10:40AM

Molly played catch with her dad every night in their backyard since she was a toddler. Molly’s dad was always real with her. He didn’t give her false hope when she asked if she could ever make it to the Big Leagues. He knew her only chance would be as a pitcher, and she would need a trick pitch. So they worked on her pitching, “You don’t aim a butterfly,” her father used to say. “You release it.” Molly’s knuckleball was magic; she was on the way to being a Big League pitcher until her dad died. After that Molly’s mom thinks she should play softball. Molly is caught between doing the expected to appease her mom and following her heart. She knows the only way she will ever get into the Big Leagues is if she makes the boys baseball team. Does she dare try out?
posted by KidLinks librarians on Jul 1, 2009 at 10:39AM

A good film, very much in the tone of earlier Woody Allen movies. The main character, Max Kohn, is a writer in his eighties and the plot moves from reality to dreams to episodes based on the short stories he writes. An endearing story that touches issues of love, romance and aging. Be warned: there are neither car chases nor fights to be seen in this movie :-)
posted by Lorenzo T. on Jul 1, 2009 at 7:24AM

I love you, Stephen / but this is an unpleasant / cocktail to swallow
posted by senryu review on Jul 1, 2009 at 7:03AM

This trite political yarn is NOT Suart Woods at his best and reads like a poor soap opera. 2 of 10 stars
posted by nitetrain on Jun 30, 2009 at 10:17PM

the outsiders is really good. I had to read it for lit. class this year and I loved it. S.E. Hinton wrote this book when she was a teen, and since all the characters are teens, the way they think and talk is really accurate. The story is narrated by Ponyboy, the youngest of three boys and also the youngest in a gang. Throughout the book Ponyboy loses his innocence, which is kind of the theme of the book. I would recommend this to teens mostly because younger kids might not get it. It is a great book.
posted by epirkl on Jun 30, 2009 at 9:25PM

I love this book!!!!!
posted by mamcy101 on Jun 30, 2009 at 12:30PM

Fantastic novel, I read incessantly but this book was able to bring me back to what it is like the first time one falls in love with a book. A must read. Memorable and poignant.
posted by mardazur on Jun 30, 2009 at 11:24AM

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve read the previous books by Perry. This one was spot on to a former farm kid who has raised poultry and baled hay.
posted by soapdish on Jun 30, 2009 at 12:29AM

This adult novel features a person who helps runners excape their tormentors. While there is some good writing, the story is longer than necessary, causing some interest to wane. This rating would have been higher with better editing. 7 of 10 stars
posted by nitetrain on Jun 29, 2009 at 11:22PM

I struggle with age appropriate material for my "advanced" 8 year old reader. Therefore, I read any books I’m unsure of prior to letting her read them. I couldn’t put this book down! It’s a great story and one that reminds us to embrace our individual talents. I highly recommend it!
posted by jetcarr on Jun 29, 2009 at 11:06PM

I think librarylover wrote an excellent review of this book. I wholeheartedly agree! A very moving book from which one can learn much.
posted by The Blonde Bookworm on Jun 29, 2009 at 7:46PM

LOVED this book! Carly is such a strong, smart woman. I appreciated how she opened the book on her career -- the various steps she took along the way and how she climbed the corporate ladder and was able to compete with the big boys. Her downfall was instructive as well, showing that not all hurdles can be overcome. It shed light on some of the struggles I had at work a few years ago and helped me realize that even the best can lose the battle. (But life goes on!)
posted by The Blonde Bookworm on Jun 29, 2009 at 7:43PM

This was the 3rd book I’ve read by this author. I’m not a big author follower because I don’t like books that follow a formula. Lionel Shriver’s books are anything but formulaic. This particular book was hard to get into. I couldn’t figure out why this woman would be writing letters to her husband about their son who had murdered his classmates. The story eventually hooked me, though, and I found myself wanting to find this woman guilty of raising a murderer but being unable to judge her. What does a mother do when her son seems to be born with murderous genes? I didn’t see the ending coming, but it became clear why the letters were being written. And even though the picture painted was relentlessly dark, I have to say I was pleased with the ending for the small ray of hope it offered. I would highly recommend this book.
posted by The Blonde Bookworm on Jun 29, 2009 at 7:34PM