Sheila added a quote:
""In January 2006, Phantom of The Opera broke the record for the longest-running show in Broadway history, overtaking Cats and reminding us what real entertainment is about: candles, dry ice, big hair, and the sort of synthesized chord progressions only achieved by a collapse at the keyboard." — Emma Brockes

Sheila added a quote:
""Really, dear," Brian's mother reassured him, as they lined up for tickets. "It's about war."" — Emma Brockes

Sheila read and liked Clare's review of Quicker than the Eye:

"Bradbury continues to be one of my favorite writers. His concepts are elegant and his word choice is magical.

My favorite stories in this collection are: Last Rites, Zaharoff/Richter Mark V and Exchange.

Many readers skip the "...more Bradbury continues to be one of my favorite writers. His concepts are elegant and his word choice is magical.

My favorite stories in this collection are: Last Rites, Zaharoff/Richter Mark V and Exchange.

Many readers skip the "afterwords" of a book - this one is worth reading. I found myself wondering, "where does Bradbury conjure up these themes & characters?" The "afterwords" will shed insight and will inspire you as both a reader & a writer.

Although Bradbury says he is not a magician, these stories all evoke such magic...as Bradbury says about this collection, "I pretend to do one thing, cause you to blink, and in the instant seize 20 bright silks out of a bottomless hat." (p.287)(less) "

Sheila read and liked Jen's review of Mrs. Lincoln: A Life:

"I did learn a great deal from this book, but overall the writing is less then compelling. The author constantly explains and excuses Mary Lincoln's every action, so much so that the tone comes off as preemptively defensive. After a while I got the im...more I did learn a great deal from this book, but overall the writing is less then compelling. The author constantly explains and excuses Mary Lincoln's every action, so much so that the tone comes off as preemptively defensive. After a while I got the impression the author was so biased in her favor that I was getting a skewed perspective on Mary Lincoln. I understand the author did this to combat all the other, more negative biographies out there, but having never read any of those I felt like I was caught in the middle of an argument between two authors - only without hearing the opposing side's case.

Still, this book details a fascinating history, and certainly gave me a much greater appreciation for both of the Lincolns and what they faced during the Civil War. I would recommend it to fellow history buffs looking for more and varied angles on Lincoln himself, since Mary was such a major part of his life.(less) "