4 stars (Great for my Literature Class. . . BUT) - I bought this book for my college Literature class, overpaid as usual too. After a semester of use, the cover is falling apart, the pages are thin and rip easily and all of the paper is of a material that is hard to clean pencil marks from. However, it is a great book. It contains a wealth of poems, stories and advice between the poorly-made pages. And, since the pages are thin, it wasn't as heavy to lug around campus. Very good content though, as I said. The stories are multi-national, there is abstract and realistic, old-fashioned and very modern, some ancient and even the lyrics to 1960's folk songs! One of my favorite lines in the book is "Margaret are you weeping over golden grove unleafing?" I also like the old sailors poem Western Wind "Western wind when wilt though blow? The small rain down can rain. Christ that my love were in my arms and I in my bed again." Perhaps it helps that my literature professor is top notch and a noted author as well (Kent Meyers "The Work of Wolves") but he really made me love this book! There is gold within these pages, a very good choice for teaching college students to truly appreciate the many genres of literature from around the world and through the ages. 1 stars (Misleading) - I ordered the 13th edition and received the 5th edition. The order was clearly placed for the 13th edition; it had the caption, picture and everything, when I ordered. Then When I received the wrong book I e-mailed back to see what happened and they replied that I didn't see their small caption at the bottom that read 5th edition. This captioned was not available when I purchased the book. 2 stars (Helpful for my Lit class. Book VERY POORLY MADE!!!) - This book was very useful for my Introduction to Literature class. (Naturally) Contains works from many of the great authors. I am VERY,VERY disapointed in the overall quality of the book. DON'T BUY THE PAPER BACK EDITION. Get it in hard back if you c... Longman :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Rhetoric :: Literature :: Literary Criticism :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Compos :: An Introduction to Literature- 13th Edition
5 stars (Outstanding) - Currently I am studying for the LSAT (Law School Aptitude Test) The major section on the test is logical reasoning. I have read many books from LSAT books to books on critical reasoning. This book has finally made everything clear to me. It presents topics in understandable language, with excellent questions to ask as you read or hear an argument. If you are preparing for any test such as LSAT or GMAT or just want to be able to understand arguments that you hear on TV or editorials in newspapers or political speaches, get this book. 5 stars (If I could get this book long before...) - I bought a lot of books in amazon. In the beginning, I just was a sponge, the worse way this book pointed out. After reading this, I was happy and sad. The happy one is this book exactly addresses what I need in my career including self study and work. The sad is I need to re-read all the books I've read, which may take me about 1 to 2 years. It's the most important book I've bought until now. Thank you. 5 stars (foundation for critical thinking) - Although this book will probably tell you that personal testimony is not very effective as an evidence since you do not know me, I still want to contribute here to say that this book is terrific. Throughout the book, the author guides you what questions to ask when you look at an argument. This book provides me with insights to how to approach arguments and opinions. More importantly, it helps me understand how to revisit my own opinions and positions and how to contruct my argument more effectively. ... Prentice Hall :: Language Arts & Disciplines & Composition & Creative Writing :: Rhetoric :: Literary Criticism :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: Language Arts & Di :: Asking the Right Questions- A Guide to Critical Thinking- Seventh Edition
3 stars (Literature for Dummies) - This is by all means a decent anthology of literature for an introductory course, and a fairly respectable stab at a guide to good university writing. The selections are for the most part diverse, encompassing Native-American, African-American, Canadian, and English writers. Short fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction and, to a more limited degree, film get a fairly decent treatment here, too, encompassing chronolical - literature from the classical to the contemporary period is treated - and thematic terrain, making this a worthwhile text for students who simply want a brief introduction to all aspects of English. Still, it is a bit unwieldly, and too often feels less like a solid anthology, and more like an 'English-for-beginners' type deal. You get what you pay for, I guess. ... Longman Publishing Group :: Rhetoric :: Problems :: exercises :: etc :: Literary Criticism :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: General :: English language :: Criticism :: College readers :: :: Literature for Composition- Essays- Fiction- Poetry- and Drama (6th Edition)
5 stars (Review?) - This is not a review - but I have a question. DOESN'T ANYBODY WHO REVIEWS AT AMAZON KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A REVIEW AND AN OPINION????? I get utterly frustrated at all of your opinions and I still don't know what's IN the book most of the time. Go read up on how to REVIEW a book before you enter stuff here and waste our time! 2 stars (Are YOU ready to write mediocre *blah* fiction?) - First let me say that I am not a mean person. I am sure Ms. Burroway is doing her best to teach people how to write here. And look, the book is popular, and it's sold a lot of copies so that's something, right? Well, popularity is not enough for me. And I would hope it's not enough for other smart consumers too -- professors and students alike. This book shares a virtue in common with many other fine American textbooks these days -- it takes up a lot of space to say disappointingly little. It's structured thusly: The author covers all the elements of fiction, one after the other, in a very cursory manner, interspersing between her thoughts a few mildly inspiring, mildly relevant quotes from a few "Important Writers." Now the author's commentary on the elements of fiction is why I bought the book. I wanted to know about the elements of fiction and how I can use and fuse them to help me build legendary, immaculate fiction. Some of the commentary here, though not so original, is helpful. The author has clearly read up on the topic, and she doesn't do a terrible job distilling the basics. But each chapter left me wanting. These mini-essays are sparse, folks, sparse, and they won't get you past Fiction Writing 101. After each fiction element is discussed, the author then presents a selection of short stories which feature the techniques discussed. Theory in practice. Not such a bad idea -- in theory. But in practice, this idea doesn't work so well, because the author's taste for fiction is generally (excuse me) mundane, to put it kindly. ... Longman :: Literary Criticism & Collections & General :: Technique :: Narration (Rhetoric) :: Literary Criticism :: Language Arts & Linguistics & Literacy :: General :: Fict :: Writing Fiction (6th Edition)
5 stars (One of the best English textbooks) - I am currently using this textbook in my AP English Literature class and this is one of the best English text books that I have used so far. It really provides numerous poetry (famous and not-famous) with in-depth questions that I find very helpful for me to study 4 stars (Perrine's Literature : Structure, Sound, and Sense) - Read this book for Freshman English in high school. nice alternative to a textbook. Wouldn't really want to read this outside of class. 5 stars (Excellent) - I have this book for a college level English class, and I absolutely love it! The best part about it is the depth and quality of its selection of poems and stories. I found it to be a comprehensive collection of the best that literature has to offer. ... Heinle :: Language Arts & Disciplines & General :: Literature - Classics & Criticism :: Literature :: Literary Criticism :: General :: Collections :: Greg Johnson :: Thomas R :: Perrine-s Literature- Structure- Sound and Sense