A modern day tale written long ago
353552
The extensive detail lost me at times and there were a few characters that I completely lost track of, but other than that this story could probably relate to many today.
4838891
Great read. Love the manner in which the story was told. Modern day vs 200 years ago. I recommend it highly.
2907373
I am in the twilight of my life, reading books I should have read many, many years ago, but did not.  I believe there is a lot of truth and fantasy in this book...the characters are well known to us as they, by their traits, have been woven into our societal buzz words..to me that means the book has meaning and depth to last throughout the decades...it shows the good people, and their antithesis; it compartmentalizes people by their accident of birth, and those who were innately good, and those who practiced evil purposely...it was thoroughly entertaining, historical in a sense, has a spiritual bent, and also a well-woven story...I thought the ending was left fluttering in the breeze somewhat...don't know what I would have thought of it had I read it 60 years ago...in this "politically correct" age in which we live, as a literary work it would have been damned with faint praise, if at all...the conditions at that time were so different, (or were they...don't we still have slave traders in this day...same stuff, different day!)
3570381
When I originally read Tom Sawyer I believe I was in middle school.  At the time it fascinated me.  The story really gives you an inside look at life in a smallish town in the America in the 1800s.  I know I read the book again in my 20s and still enjoyed it, but it had lost some of its magic.

Reading this story for a third time I can say its not one that, for me, stands up to re-reading.  Id rather keep it in that section of my brain that was still nave to so many things in the world.  The me that read this book while I was still innocent, so to speak.

I remember being very bothered by the language used when I first read this book.  Now I appreciate the authors use of correct language and dialects for the time he was writing about.  I still don't like it, there are many words I would never use myself, but its true to the time.

If youve never read this book, I strongly encourage you to pick it up.  Its not long and its really a wonderful piece of classic American literature.  But if you read it years ago and remember it fondly, it may not hold up to your more adult (and dare I say cynical) views of today.

***Note: Since the Amazon reviews seem to be for all of the editions of the book I want to let you know that I read the Kindle version of the Wisehouse publication and had no problems with missing pages or bad formatting.
407044
Considering that it was published in 1976 it is astonishingly current (yeah some of the terms are a little old - like still using DDT). An excellent book. Well written and worth reading. And of course being part of the inspiration for The Stand by Stephen King a must read.
3701876
Although the story begins centuries ago, it easily transforms into a modern-day theme based around two parents that you might recognize as your own neighbors who go through the daily parental rituals of hard work, caring for their home, and raising their children as best as they can. So the power of love, protection and teaching strong values to their children is the norm.  However, there are other powers that this family possesses that are not normal, and this is the real story. And it is a good story.  The writer's style is smooth, making it an easy read.  She also has a gift in bringing the characters to life so that you want to know more about them as the pages turn.  Above all, it is an intriguing read in the never-ending search for good vs evil. And which wins?  I choose to keep that one a secret!
134343
This is a modern story for a modern time. Fantastic for a YA audience, but much here for their older peers and elders to digest and reflect upon. A brilliant near future fiction is one that you could see becoming reality with only the circumstances described in the story. This is exactly that kind of story, and one wonders if there are patriots--those who question the tyranny that can come out of (but is not required of) authority--in the real world who would stand up when necessary. This book is an inoculation against such tyranny to anyone that reads it.
3308821
I remember reading this book about the time it was published, and I remember I thought it was an amazing story. I'm sure that it's probably completely dated now, considering that it was written before the internet or the development of all the technology we have, like mobile phones. The story itself however is timeless, as teenagers are the same in any age.

As an aside, I remember too wondering if I would still be alive in 2057 (I'd be 80) and if we'd really have colonies on the moon then. That I would remember that twenty years later, says something about this book.
3648583
Meaningful and current in today's world even though initially written nearly 400 years ago.
3814094
Though the prose reflects an earlier time, the story is fascinating.
540617
Really enjoyed this book. Seemed so modern when I read it that it was easy to forget that it was written a hundred years ago.
4806630
I read this book when it was published all those years ago. A classic read for today's world. A fan.
1961954
I am glad I read this book, a classic, but if it were written today I believe it would not be held as a wonderful piece of literature.
466191
This enchanting novel weaves a tale thru past & present. As you read there is the inevitable sense of the collision affecting both eras. I eagerly await this author's next book.
1827534
I think this book was published in 1946, but don't let the age fool you.  The author presents the story in a much more real way than many of the modern Christian writers do today.  In many of the contemporary Christian novels, the characters are either so perfect that they don't seem real or so have very filthy minds.  A good Christian novel is one that is somewhere in between.

Francena H. Arnold, in Not My Will, keeps it real and presents characters with real problems that only God can solve.  Contemporary Christian authors should follow her example in the novels they write.  Parts of it are sad, but it is well worth reading.

You may also consider reading&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Searching-for-Mom/dp/1419670395/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Searching for Mom</a>, which isn't nearly as bleak, but it is a more recent book that explores the will of God in the family relationship.
2166176
Some of the things in this book are so relevant, its hard to believe it was written so long ago.
2293308
Great story! While times change, kids and the way that they scheme, dream and think, do not. Fun to read, though today's kids may not understand some of the time dated references and descriptions as written by the author.