The Shining Company

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Summary: The Shining Company
Review: As I was reading The Shining Company I was thinking this is the best adventure book I ever read. I also couldn't keep my eyes off it and a number of times my teacher kept telling me to put the book down and pay attention. At first I didn't want to read it but I did and it got better and better until I couldn't stop reading it. It's also the first Rosemary Sutcliff I've ever read and I will probably read more.

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Summary: Book Report
Review: Good books need lots of great reviews to persuade converts. =) I picked this up as Celtic/medieval literature for a college class and wondered whether this "juvenile" book would contain enough depth, but found myself immediately intrigued. Sutcliff's writing is consistently true to the era she portrays, and is often poetic, as well. The characters are refreshingly real; I care more about their development as individuals than how the battles will turn out. So far, I'm totally happy to rate this book 5 stars. I can't wait to finish it!

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Summary: I just picked it up today but am still reading
Review: Good books need lots of great reviews to persuade converts. =) I picked this up as Celtic/medieval literature for a college class and wondered whether this "juvenile" book would contain enough depth, but found myself immediately intrigued. Sutcliff's writing is consistently true to the era she portrays, and is often poetic, as well. The characters are refreshingly real; I care more about their development as individuals than how the battles will turn out. So far, I'm totally happy to rate this book 5 stars. I can't wait to finish it!

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Summary: They were real people from a real time...
Review: I got this book for my 7th grade son who is studying Medieval times at school. When I scanned the first few pages and found references to the Spartans at Thermopylae (I'm a Greek history buff), I started reading in earnest--and didn't stop. The author creates characters that are achingly real, involved in compelling situations that breathe life into ancient history. This is the best kind of historical novel; one that builds a realistic world that reveals culture and creates a "feel" so that you can understand it.

The people in this book seem very alive. They act consistently with the natures the author has created for them, and they are people one would want to know. Their way of speaking, customs, clothing, food, names--everything is couched in an impressive amount of historical detail that is soaked up by the reader without apparent effort.

I enjoyed this "juvenile" book thoroughly. I would have devoured Ms Sutcliff's books if I had found them younger, and--since the best children's books can hold their own with the best adult books--I will enjoy devouring them now!

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Summary: Book Report
Review: The Shining Company is for people who like a little bit of guts, blood, and brains here and there.The Shining Company has some Lord of the Rings things; there is a object that the main character is attached to, and there is war. But it's a true event. This book is about the Anglo Saxsons going to war. It's also about how the main character copes with war and travels to war. I loved this book because I love Lord of the Rings and gore.

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Summary: History at it's finest
Review: This book has told me that history can be fun. and i think Rosemary Sutcliff has a art for history, and i think everyone should read it.

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Summary: Great tale from a respected Historical fiction author
Review: This is the first book by Rosemary Sutcliff I have read, but I assure you, it will not be the last.

I was captivated by this book from the begining. It is rather long, (or at least, seems long, though it's really only about 250 pages) and every night while I was reading it, I hated having to put it down and go to bed, wondering what was going to happen to Prosper next.

I loved the way Mrs. Sutcliff built the book around the story of the Gododdin. The main plot is an excellent story in the first place, and this book did a worthy job of making it into a story with real people who we can relate to.

The characters are also excellent. There are quite a few of them, but they each have unique, individual personalities, and are quite alive. The main character, Prosper, is an interesting narrator, even though at first there doesn't seem to be much to make him stand out among all other warriors and shieldbearers.

All in all, this is a very good book, I would especially reccommend it if you have interest in British history, battles and armies, or just good stories.