Marian Leighton

This selection is a good choice for the Great Illustrated Classics series, as it recounts an engaging story in a form appropriate for pre-teen readers. The excellent illustrations enhance the tale, as does a two-page map that illustrates the course of Phileas Fogg's journey. I found it amusing that he arrived a day earlier than he'd calculated, having passed over the International Date Line. No doubt this feature has amused and perplexed countless other readers, as it's a bit hard to grasp. show more This book is a good introduction to a work that is said to be the most popular of Jules Verne's novels.

PS. The adapter of this work made a mistake on p. 180, as sharp eyes will notice. It's a game of cards, where Phileas Fogg plays a spade, and a rude bystander (Col. Proctor) insists that he should play a diamond instead. In the small argument that follows, the adapter has Phileas assert that Proctor wanted him to play a "spade". The line should read that Proctor wanted him "not to play a spade." The conflict leads the two men to fight a duel with pistols, which is halted by the attack of a band of Sioux Indians. show less

Pollyanna is all alone in the world, except for her cold and demanding aunt. And life in the small New England town is very different than in the West where Pollyanna grew up. Aunt Polly isn't used to children. . .or slammed doors or missed meals or any of the troublesome adventures that Pollyanna gets into. Will she ever accept this unexpected niece of hers, everyone wonders. But Pollyanna has a secret weapon, almost the only thing her father has left her. Soon the whole town will be show more playing the game that Pollyanna lives by. But will it help Pollyanna herself when her very life hangs in the balance? show less

It has been ages since I have watched any one of the numerous "Peter Pan" variations and what seems like years to have read the actual book. What has piked my interest on this besides the Classics challenge that I have set myself is the fact I am reading a book that is meant to be a spin-off of it thus I want to refresh myself.

What always irritated me with "Peter Pan was it was so outdated while showing the Indians in such a bad light. There was never an explanation for them while in both show more the Disney version and J.M. Barrie's original there were so many wrong stereotypes. Maybe since of the political correctness farce I am getting to be soft and more lenient while accepting that back in 1911 that was the way things were seen by the "civilized" people.

Maybe I am more forgiving since of the fact that I am going through a phase where I can read a good book and enjoy the adventure that it gives. Or maybe it is the excitement that shows for a life we all dream of while at the same time comparing it with the one that we wish we actually had instead.

This particular version is missing the majority of what makes Barrie's "Pan" Pan but it does cover the basic. In this particular site there is more adventure and violence highlighted so it is best to avoid for smaller children but older children should enjoy it.... show less

Pollyanna is all alone in the world, except for her cold and demanding aunt. And life in the small New England town is very different than in the West where Pollyanna grew up. Aunt Polly isn't used to children. . .or slammed doors or missed meals or any of the troublesome adventures that Pollyanna gets into. Will she ever accept this unexpected niece of hers, everyone wonders. But Pollyanna has a secret weapon, almost the only thing her father has left her. Soon the whole town will be show more playing the game that Pollyanna lives by. But will it help Pollyanna herself when her very life hangs in the balance? show less