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Loading... The Arm of the Starfish (1965)by Madeleine L'Engle
This story illustrates quite well the power that the first impression has. Adam is put in the terrible position of trying to figure out who is telling the truth - something that I never had any problem with in the story because the bad guys are just obviously bad. But because the bad guys approached him first with a plausible story, he was never quite certain where the truth lay - and pretty girls always confuse the picture, it seems. But I suppose for a 16 or 17 year old boy whose life has been pretty straightforward, the intrigues that occur in this novel would definitely make him a pawn in a larger game. The emotions Ms. L'Engle described regarding loss were very real and evocative. Excellent book! For the first almost-quarter of the book, I thought the story was hackneyed and unimaginative, but as I discovered later, the way-too-coincidental "accidents" that occur early on weren't at all coincidental, and the seemingly-improbable were provided truly plausible and satisfying explanations that managed to resolve conclusively all my uncertainties about the ability of the author. The story progressed with rapidity through a number of unexpected turns. It was pleasingly full of intrigue, action, and questions about morality and common love. It's a good book, worth reading. If you find a copy, read it. This series is one of my favorites. I loved the previous books a lot more then this one, though. I really miss Charles Wallis, because he was probably my favorite character. I also missed the time travel that the rest of the books had. Other then that all, I really liked it. One of my favorite books for young adults - engages with mature themes and characters that capture the imagination. L'Engle almost never fails, and this is one of her best! After I read it as a child, it was on my mind for 10 years before I finally bought my copy. no reviews | add a review
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(retrieved from Amazon Thu, 14 Feb 2013 13:44:13 -0500)
A marine biology student reporting to his summer job on an island off Portugal finds himself at the center of a power struggle between his boss and another group of Americans.
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Is it a wonderful book that transcends all the limitations? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
Again, it's the joy L'Engle evokes that hooks me. Her world, at base, makes sense and is full of strong, moral, and unabashedly joyful characters. (