Author: Lloyd Alexander
Title: The Castle of Llyr
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Rating: 5
Summary: In the third book of the Prydain series, Taran and his friends set out for Mona where Princess Eilonwy was to live. But when she is kidnapped by Achren, Taran and his companions must save her.
Summary: Stephanie plum is in trouble again. This time she has four men after her and Morelli for money they believe is buried in Morelli’s basement.
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Title: The Black Cauldron
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Rating: 5
Summary: In the second book of the Prydain series, Taran and his companions set out to help Prince Gwydion destroy the Crochan, maker of cauldron-born. Though there is much loss in this book, much is learned as well.
Author: Lloyd Alexander
Title: The Book of Three
LSU
Rating: 5
Summary: The first book in the Prydain Chronicles, The Book of Three follows Taran the Assistant Pig Keeper. His adventure begins when Hen Wen, the oracle pig foresees the Horned King coming for her and runs away. While hunting for Hen Wen, Taran’s journey becomes much bigger, he must warn the Sons of Don that the Horned King is going to attack. It is a journey that is full of dangerous obstacles, but one that Taran knows he must succeed in if his world is to stay safe.
Throughout this journey Taran makes some great friends as well: Princess Eilonwy Daughter of Angharad, Fflewddur Fflam the Bard, Doli of the Fair Folk, and the faithful Gurdi. These four friends become his travel companions, and follow him into the second book of the series.
Author: Herman Melville
Title: Pierre
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Rating: 4
Summary: One of Pierre's greatest dreams is to have a sister to protect and look after. When he finds out that he does have a sister he drops everything, including his wedding plans. Pretending that his sister is his wife he brings her home to his mother, and all hell breaks loose.
Author: Rachel Vincent
Title: The Portable Edgar Allen Poe
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Rating: 4
Summary: This book holds many of Poe's most famous essays and poetry, as well as journal entries and observations he made in life. In putting this edition together, Penguin also added a chronology of Poe's life as well as notes within the text. It is a great read for any Poe fan.
Author: J. K. Rowling
Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
LSU
Rating: 5
Summary: In the third book of the Harry Potter series, Serius Black has escaped Azkaban and is believed to be after Harry. While darker than the first two books, this one is still full of fun and mischief thanks to our main characters. A great read for any age.
Author: Ralph Waldo Emerson
Title: Selected Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Rating: 3
Summary: This book has a mixture of Emerson's journal entries, essays, and poetry. Among these writing are some of his famous essays and speeches, including "Nature," "Divinity School Address," and "Self Reliance."
Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
Title: The Blithedale Romance
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Rating: 4
Summary: Based on Hawthorne's time at the Brook Farm Commune, this novel takes a critical look at the Transcendental movement. Miles Coverdale ventures to Blithedale in search of a better, more idealistic life. While there he meets Zenobia, Mr. Hollingsworth, and Priscilla; all of whom have different reasons or secrets that keep them there.
Author: Walt Whitman
Title: The Portable Walt Whitman
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Rating: 2
Summary: This book contains a collection of Walt Whitman's writings. Some of these writings include "Specimen Days," and poetry like "Song of Myself" and "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry." Though he uses too many lists within his poetry, many of his entries within "Specimen Days" are interesting and enlightening to the history of the time.
Author: Henry David Thoreau
Title: The Portable Thoreau
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Rating: 2
Summary: This is a collection of Thoreau's poetry, essays, journal entries, etc. One of the more famous Transcendentalist writers, Thoreau uses many themes like nature and politics.