Christopher Guest

"A small but epic book. Wills masterfully analyzes the Gettysburg Address in terms of its oratory and historical context. Debunking the notion that the 272-word speech was spontaneous or at least quickly written, he reminds us of how fastidious it was. For Lincoln, a man who frequently quoted Shakespeare and was well read in many areas, this was an opportunity to say a great deal at a crucial time of the Civil War. His brevity — the actual Oration by Edward Everett was at least two hours long — was stunning at the time but clearly no accident. Required reading."

"I was 12 or 13 when was introduced to the fantasy/adventure books written by the author of the famous Tarzan series, and first read this novel. The idea of a huge mole machine burrowing to the center of the earth and discovering flying reptiles and other dinosaurish creatures was magical. The writing style now seems somewhat formal and clumsy, but as a young reader I was whisked along into the unknown. Later, in the 1930s, the author has Tarzan make the journey, too. How could that not work?"

"The symbiotic relationship between the oak tree and civilization is powerful. From acorns as food, to ink, and the more obvious uses of the wood itself, Logan connects the very origins of man with the oak and all it has provided. It is clear that Logan reveres the profound importance of this tree and skillfully combines the science with a poetic fervor."

"A novel about childhood friends who are reunited amid a murder investigation in the South. Franklin is a superb storyteller and this immersion into the dark recesses of the South is memorable. The novel has made a deep impression on me."