10-20-07 Tales from the Teacher's Lounge by Robert Wilder - Non-fiction

4 - This is the perfect gift for any teacher you know, especially English teachers. Wilder spills about teaching from elementary students to high school and gives insight into what really goes on in a teacher's day. Anyone with children in school should consider reading this as well and then should be nicer to their child's teacher. When Wilder started teaching in the 70's/80's, there were no such things as ADD, terroristic threats, and teaching to the test. The way he and his fellow teachers handled these occurrences then is told with a lot of humor and will make you laugh out loud. Once he reaches current day, he is teaching high school and one of his worst problems are the "helicopter parents," parents who hover (you know who you are).You have sympathy for teachers and get an inside look at what may be running through the mind of your child's glaze-eyed English teacher when you see him/her outside the school at the end of the day. And, honestly, can you blame him?

10-13-07 The Second Demon Wars Saga by R.A. Salvatore - Fiction

4 - The first book of Salvatore's Second saga, "Ascendance", is pretty slow and is the reason for the lower rating. It does provide a lot of information about the major players in this set, but you struggle through it instead of enjoy it. "Transcendance", the second book, is much more engaging, telling the story of Brynn, the elven-trained ranger of To-Gai. The final book of this septet, "Immortalis", ties To-Gai, Behren, Honce-the-Bear, and Andur'Blough Inninness together in an engaging fashion. It also gives a definitive end to the sagas. In my opinion, you can just read the First saga and be content but if you must continue the story you will enjoy the full set if you can get through "Mortalis" and "Ascendance".

9-23-07 Mortalis by R.A. Salvatore - Fiction

4 - This book is a bridge between Salvatore's First and Second Demon Wars Sagas. It's a good story that keeps the timeline going and sets up where the characters are at the beginning of the Second saga. I won't go into too much detail because a/some major character(s) are lost in the First saga, but the elves and monks are players in the story. Salvatore also pulls more of the kingdom's politics into the story. This book isn't as good or gripping as the First saga, but it is an enjoyable read.

9-18-07 The First DemonWars Saga by R.A. Salvatore - Fiction

5 - This is a fabulous fantasy trilogy. Salvatore focuses on a different character in each chapter, expanding your understanding of the situations occurring in the land of Corona. The main story is of Elbryan, rescued by the elves when only a boy and raised to become a ranger, a protector of the land. He is reunited with his love Jilseponie who, unbeknownst to him, also survived the tragedy of their childhood. Salvatore does not skimp on her storyline; it is as rich and full as Elbryan's. Together, and with help from others, they face the demon dactyl who has risen again to conquer the land. The three books in this trilogy are "The Demon Awakens," "The Demon Spirit," and "The Demon Apostle."