A book to read and reread
930472
I hated to close this book after the final page was read.  Both novellas are populated by characters who live, breathe, laugh and ponder. I liked living with Phoebe and Dessa and loved the depth and turns and trueness of their friendship.  I inhabited these two perfectly described settings-- both Californias--one a real/past and one a predicted/future.  The prose is often  musical and the metaphors apt  as poetry; the dialogue snaps and crackles.  A book to read and reread.
2164464
This is one of those books that I seem to come back to every three or four years.  The story stays fresh, it means something, it has character.

I can only say that the life lessons contained in this book, while fiction, come from composites of real tennis professionals that the Boyar's traveled with and observed.  You see Laver, Rosewall, Newcombe, Ashe, et al. ingrained in the characters. It is a plesure to read again and again.  It would make a wonderful mini-series, for a movie would not capture the full flavor of this novel.

I cannot praise this book more, it has touched me in a way that few books have.  This along with Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying", and Steinbeck's "Cannery Row" & "Sweet Thursday", are books that I return to over and over.  All three either teach me something new in the re-reading or remind me of something forgotten through the troubles of the world.

I thank the Boyar's for a truely remarkable book, and for being such a wonderful part of my life.
3911555
This is one of those books you can read more than once. Myself, I've read this several times over my life and it always fascinates. Imagine a time when the 19th century is coming to a close, and then try to imagine what it would have been like to read something like this during that time. I know that many people like to point out the political subtexts included within the book's plot, but I never cared too much about that. I was always interested solely in the fantastic story. It never gets old.
4596955
This was the second time I read the book and enjoyed it again!
3581353
A book to be read and reread. Every page has a wise tone and each letter/essay addresses a specific challenge that people must face in every age. So much of Seneca's ideas have been referenced and incorporated into subsequent works through the ages that the original has a familiar and accessable quality. Excellent bedside or airplane reading.
278168
I've read these stories several times. And it was worth rereading.
4721504
An excellent book to read and enjoy. I used it to explain a wide variety of bits of history to my son. It reads as a series of shorts which also makes it a great commuter book. The last chapter is particularly good as the man reflects on the history that he has seen. Very poignant. Buy it for yourself or as a gift. Any history lover or simply someone who loves to read will adore this book.
747668
I really enjoyed reading this book, there were stories/messages that I could relate to.

I liked it that much that I bought 2 extra copies, one for my son and one for my daughter. It is a book that you read now and pick up again later in life, and read and it will make sense...lots to take in, but totally loved it.
3288473
great book, much to think about, will be reading again (and again)
4041572
I first read this book in high school.  I thought it was a great book because it uses very intense and personal description to share the lives of two Orthodox Jewish boys.  It was interesting to read about a life which was foreign to me, yet to find parts that I could identify with.
I just read this book again, because it had themes that I remembered and wanted to explore again, even though it's been over a decade since the first reading.
Recently, as I've been pondering my relationship to my own father, both as a boy and as a man, I've thought of this book again and again.  What especially touches me, is that the boys are far more like me than not, and the constrasts in their relationships with their own fathers, can be read as two perspectives:  One, Warm and Communicative, the Second, Cold and Intentioned.
I don't know if my own father has ever read this book, but I'd like him to, because it would help create a common language to compare from.
An interesting detail about this book, is that it set at the same time as the creation of Israel.  That's note worthy, because it mentions the Jewish terrorism against the British.
I rated this book five stars, because it is definitely a great book, but for a second reading, it was a bit dry somehow.  I don't know why, perhaps it's because I rememebered it as such a great book, but I think it's something else.
The Chosen tells the story of two boys becoming men.  I read this first as a boy, and now as a man.  There is a very simple change that occurs (at least with these boys) in that transformation.  They go from products of their values, to masters of their values.  As intellectuals, they are learning how to publically defend their viewpoint, and to understand the context of the views of others.  This is a form of maturity, that comes at the expense of youth.
A wonderful book.
1682834
I've only read this book, one of my favorites, twice. I'm 25. That number will rise considerably. Read, re-read, repeat.
1093310
And now I have again. I don't remember the first time, really. I have brain damage now, but bits and pieces resonated, came back almost. But I have the book and it was read according to my kindle. A kind of memory in itself I suppose.
Enough of that. A good book, worth reading.

Read it if you wish, I doubt you will be disappointed.
3812483
This is one of the books that you need to read over and over again. There is so much packed in to one book.
373924
Some novels you can read once, enjoy them thoroughly, but never feel the need to read them again. Not so with this book. I originally read it when it first came out, loved it, and have read it again many times since, enjoying it anew every time. In fact, I just finished reading it for the umpteenth time, prompting this review.

It is definitely among my handful of favorite novels of all time, from any genre. It's absolutely worth seeking out in hard-copy, and if they ever release it on Kindle, grab a copy. I certainly will.
3646124
The once and future King is a classic, and should be read by everyone, even if you think you may not like it. This book has so much to offer, to any reader. It has romance, battle, adventure, and it is thought provoking. (E.g. Might and Right, the story of how all the animals of the earth were created, the Wart's animal experiences, and the relationships between the four brothers Agravaine, Garavaine etc... all make us think about social and political issues, and some make us question our ideals and the ideals of the society we live in today.
This book is well written and entwines so much history, fantasy, mythology, adventure, and romance that it is hard not to enjoy reading it.
The first book in which the Wart is a young boy and is learning from Merlyn is my favorite part, mostly because of the experiences the Wart has as animals.  (He becomes an ant, a bird, an owl, a fish, and others.) In this first book the descriptions of Merlyn's cabin, and the Castle of the Forest Savauge are some of the best writing in the book because of the vividness of these descriptions.
At first when I finished reading the book, I was disappointed at how it ended, but after thinking about it I realized that the way the book ended left room for the imagination to imagine what happens, with some factors already pre-determined.
I must say once again, that this book is wonderful, and has much to offer any reader, so stop reading my review and read the book (if you haven't already.)
4867459
This book will stay with you for a long time.
2949428
This is a book that I not only enjoyed immensely, but one that demands to be re-read at least once. James Blanchard Cisneros has an engaging writing style that kept me interested all the way through to the end of the book. You Have Been Chose to Remember is sure to be somewhat controversial, particularly if the reader does not share the authors Christian beliefs, as I do not; Cisneross recommendation of picturing fellow drivers on the road as being Jesus certainly won't resonate with everybody, nor his claimed interactions with saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary.  While this wasn't my thing, I still found a lot of spiritual content in the book that made me stop, think, and ponder. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the book was its focus on the illusory nature of what we perceive to be reality, and the techniques the author offers for dispelling that illusion. This is really a manifesto calling the reader to a more enlightened and compassionate way of living, and as such almost anybody can find value within it, if they approach the book with an open mind and an enquiring nature. Recommended.