Reviews

This 150th-anniversary edition features both color and monochrome illustrations. The book is priced at half a penny less than what Thoreau spent constructing his cabin, and a portion of the proceeds from sales are being donated to the Walden Woods Project, which strives to protect the land and waters the author loved. The Thoreau Institute and Houghton Mifflin will be holding celebratory events and displays, so be ready with a few copies of this beautiful edition. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/04.] Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Gr 9 Up-Henry David Thoreau's classic, first published in 1854 and reporting on his experiences at the eponymous site where he lived in physical and social independence during the mid-1840's, receives refreshing treatment here. William Hope reads leisurely but with feeling, offering listeners the illusion that the author is speaking directly to them. The abridgements are not substantive, so listeners will feel that they have become acquainted with the complexities of a text that is both orderly and sprinkled with irony and other literary devices. The chapters are tastefully set off by musical interludes that complement Thoreau's own rhythms. Not only is this an excellent alternative for students assigned to read the text that is often offered in tiny print without benefit of margins, but it is also possible to suggest this to thoughtful teens who are seeking an intellectually engaging listening experience for their personal enjoyment. Hope's pacing invites readers with minimal skills to accompany their print foray with his narration. The careful editing here assures that they will not become lost between page and sound.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.