The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3: Wizard's First Rule, Blood of the Fold ,Stone of Tears

Book Description

The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3 Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, and Blood of the FoldThe Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3 Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, and Blood of the FoldBook 1: Wizards First Rule The masterpiece that started The New York Times bestselling epic Sword of TruthIn the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say. In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out. This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.Book 2: Stone of Tears An Epic of Awesome PowerKahlan has at last gained the one goal she had always thought was beyond her grasp .... love. Against all odds, the ancient bonds of secret oaths, and the dark talents of men long dead, Richard has won her heart.Amid sudden and disastrous events, Richard's life is called due to satisfy those treacherous oaths. To save his life, Kahlan must forsake Richard's love and cast him into the chains of slavery, knowing there could be no sin worse than such a betrayal.Richard is determined to unlock the secrets bound in the magic of ancient oaths and to again be free. Kahlan, alone with the terrible truth of what she has done, must set about altering the course of a world thrown into war. But even that may be easier than ever winning back the heart of the only man she will ever love.Book 3: Blood of the Fold An Epic of Two WorldsIn a world as rich and real as our own, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell stand against the ancient forces which besiege the New World-- forces so terrible that when last they threatened, they could only be withstood by sealing off the Old World from whence they came. Now the barrier has been breached, and the New World is again beset by their evil power.War and treachery plague the world, and only Richard and Kahlan can save it from an armageddon of unimaginable savagery and destruction.Terry Goodkind, author of the brilliant bestsellers Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears, has created his most masterful epic yet, a sumptuous feast of magic and excitement replete with the wonders of his unique fantasy vision.

Customer Reviews:

wizard set.......2007-09-12

great to get a set like this. When you finish the 1st book 2nd one is right there.

Great style, substance and themes........2007-09-11

Goodkind's writing seems to mature with each book, adding nuance and layer to his seemingly simple themes and characters, leaving the reader to wonder to themselves about what "good and evil" really are.

The stories come alive with great characters, plenty of action, and the wonderment that magical concepts add to the stories. All the fun of being a kid again, but with the adult themes that will keep you reading far into the night.

Have fun!

Sword of Truth.......2007-09-01

Very fast transaction and accurate description of the item, so I would recommend this Seller.

Fantasy at its best!.......2007-08-16

I recommend the first 3-4 volumes of this serie to every fan of good fantasy-literature.
Very creative story, fascinating characters, a lot of suspense, a lot original ideas!
It`s too bad that after "Temple of winds" the whole story started to lose its grip, logic and tended to repeat itself.
Nevertheless, as said before, the first 3-4 volumes are excellent!

Don't Buy This Set.......2007-08-05

Unless you've already read the series and just want to replace your copies, don't buy this set. I made the enormous error of purchasing this set without reading any of Goodkind's novels first. I forced my way through Wizard's First Rule and realized that I wasted my money. I have no intention of ever reading Blood of the Fold or Stone of Tears.

I have very, very few positive things to say about the Wizard's First Rule. So I'll just get the positives out of the way now. Zedd is a very likable character. Not very original, certainly, but he's kooky and funny and hard not to like. The character Giller, too, is likable after a fashion.

Well, that's about all I can say thats positive about the novel. So lets get to the negatives.

1. It's poorly written. The narrative is clumsy, the dialog is repetitive and unrealistic. Not only is the language poor, but Goodkind is unable to logically construct even a simple paragraph, let alone an entire chapter. He has a habit of meandering in his paragraphs so that the first sentence of the paragraph has absolutely nothing to do with the last sentence. This would be understandable were he writing in stream of consciousness, but, alas, he is not. He also has the annoying habit of changing the perspective of the narrator from paragraph to paragraph without informing the reader, making it difficult to sort out who thinks what.

2. The characters are detestable. As I already said, Zedd and Giller are good characters. But they are minor characters. The hero, Richard, is one of the most immediately dislikable protagonists I've ever seen. He's arrogant, whiny, awkward, stupid and completely intolerant of other people and their cultures. Which leads me to my third major criticism.

3. Inconsistent character development. Goodkind frequently changes the personality of his characters to suit the chapter. In one chapter, Richard throws a tantrum because he cannot use his right hand to do something because it is against the culture of a tribe he is visiting. A chapter or two later, he willingly eats the flesh of another person because the culture dictates he must. In addition, Richard (and the other characters) range from mind-bogglingly stupid to brilliant and back something within a couple paragraphs. Goodkind makes his characters smart when he needs to in order to advance the plot, then makes them stupid when he needs to. Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, etc., all do enormously stupid things, and then are brilliant the next chapter. And its not just one character, every character is in turns brilliant and stupid. And it seems that there is always one brilliant character and several stupid characters at any given time so there is always enough intelligence to advance the plot. What's the point of having 800 pages of character development if you just throw it away to advance the plot?

4. And speaking of the plot, the story of the Wizard's First Rule is pretty poorly devised and highly predictable. There are two major secrets in the novel, the first being the identity of the Wizard (which is readily apparent within the first 15 pages of the text) and the identity of the Traitor (which is apparent as soon as it is learned that Richard was betrayed). And despite how painfully obvious who these characters are, Goodkind painstakingly devotes hundreds of pages to discovering their identities. It's terribly painful clawing your way through this book when you already know how all the big secrets and how the book is going to end within the first few chapters.

5. Plot-lifting. In a lot of ways, Wizard's First Rule is a dumbed down version of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time. Richard is essentially Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, though he is purely a good character and destined only to help the world. Kahlan Amnell and the Confessors are utterly identical in every way to Jordan's Aes Sedai. The torture and training Richard endures is identical (and often down to the very wording) to the training Egwene Al'Vere endures. Darken Rahl is a very poor rip off of Shai'Tan, the Dark One (and, for that matter Darth Vader of Star Wars fame). There is very, very little of Goodkind's original thought in the Wizard's First Rule, and what original thought there is is very poor.

6. Convenient Writing. Goodkind is the King of making crap up as he goes. Due to his inability to write his way out of a wet paper bag, Goodkind is constantly having to make up new powers or abilities to get his characters out of a seemingly impossible situation. The best example for this is one scene in which Kahlan, Zedd and Chase are ambushed by Darken Rahl's minions. For whatever reason, Zedd and Chase are incapacitated and Kahlan, for some other stupid reason, can't use her powers and is being raped. Suddenly, Kahlan develops a new ability that 1. has never been mentioned before, 2. she admits that she had never been able to do before, 3. must be taught by an expert, as stipulation Kahlan never met. Yet somehow, Kahlan is able to use this power and miraculously defeats the enemy. Goodkind's writing in these situations is so bad that he flat out admits what the character just did is impossible, but goes with it anyway.

In truth, I could list another dozen or so criticisms of this book. But I doubt anyone is going to read that much. My advice: If you've never read Terry Goodkind before, read him before you blow the extra money on this set. If you're an intelligent, well-read reader, you will likely hate the series and regret spending the money, as I did. You are more likely to enjoy this book if you are a child, say 10-12 years old, or you have never read a fantasy book before. If you fit into either of these categories, the cliches will not seem so bad, and the new world of fantasy will blind you to the very poor writing and storytelling. But in either of those circumstances, I would still advise against buying the set. Make sure you like Goodkind before you drop the money for three of his books. Go to the library and read a chapter or two first. There's a very good chance that you will despise this novel like most other experienced readers.

I gave this set two stars, by the way, for the reasons listed in the previous paragraph. If you're an inexperienced reader or are new to the fantasy world, this series will work well for you. In addition, Mr. Goodkind CAN write, and can write well. The Wizard's First Rule features one or two chapters that are marvelously written. But this is an extreme exception to the rule. Perhaps the later books are better, but after Book I, I will work very hard to ensure that I never read another word of Goodkind's writing.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Way better than the Stallone movie
Not Free SF Reader
Awesome
A good book.
Great purchase!

First Blood
David Morrell
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446364401

Book Description

From New York Times bestselling author David Morrell comes the novel upon which the box office superhit Rambo was based. First came the man: a young wanderer in a fatigue coat and long hair. Then came the legend, as John Rambo sprang up from the pages of First Blood to take his place in the American cultural landscape. This remarkable novel pits a young Vietnam veteran against a small town cop who doesn't know whom he's dealing with -- or how far Rambo will take him into a life-and-death struggle through the woods, hills, and caves of rural Kentucky.

Customer Reviews:

Way better than the Stallone movie.......2007-09-13

If you want to read a top notch thriller, get this immediately.
Had they filmed this version it would definately be in the AFI top 100 of all time. Gripping, suspensful with great characters you can't go wrong.

Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

A seriously good combat veteran is drifting, no longer in the military. He wanders in to a town, mostly minding his own business.

The local law enforcement decide they don't like the look of him and his alpha maleness in their 'nice' little place.

They harrass him.

Very, very bad mistake.

In the end, to salvage the situation, Rambo's old relationships must be brought to the surface.

Awesome .......2007-05-20

This book is better than the movie and the movie was very good. At this price the book is steal

A good book........2007-03-27

I liked this book. It's got a lot of killing. In fact it's very very violent. And there's some disturbing scenes. In all Rambo kills about 25 people in the book. And it has a sad ending. But I'm pretty used to these kinds of things. If you are a fan of the movie then you'll like the book.

Great purchase!.......2007-01-23

This was a special purchase made as a gift for someone who'd been looking in stores for the book and couldn't find it. He was very surprised when I delivered the book to him and has enjoyed re-reading it.

The Transfusion Committee: Putting Patient Safey First

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The Transfusion Committee: Putting Patient Safey First

Manufacturer: American Association of Blood Banks (AABB)
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1563952238

The Blood of Our Sons: Men, Women, and the Renegotiation of British Citizenship During the Great War

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The Blood of Our Sons: Men, Women, and the Renegotiation of British Citizenship During the Great War
Nicoletta F. Gullace
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1403967105
Release Date: 2004-08-26

Book Description

Winner of the 2003 North American Conference on British Studies Annual Book Prize!This path-breaking study brings together feminist and political history in innovative and refreshing ways, examining the complex relationship between war, gender, and citizenship in Great Britain during World War I. Nicoletta F. Gullace shows how the assault on civilian masculinity contributed to women's suffrage. Feminists organizations tapped into nationalist feelings to open doors for their demands, taking advantage of a public culture that celebrated military service while denigrating those who opposed the war. Drawing on a vast range of popular and official sources, Gullace reveals that the war had revolutionary implications for women who wished to vote and for men who were expected to fight.

Blood in the Argonne: The "Lost Battalion" of World War I (Campaigns and Commanders)

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Great Reading
How to keep 700 men alive, sans food, for 4 days.
Good book but lacked depth
Brutal but Honest Depiction of War
Eye Deep in Hell.

Blood in the Argonne: The "Lost Battalion" of World War I (Campaigns and Commanders)
Alan D. Gaff
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0806136960

Customer Reviews:

Great Reading.......2007-03-06

Very well researched and yet very entertaining. Hard to put down once you get into it.Lots of time period sayings, song verses,skits, and jokes.Not hard reading at all. Usually these books bore you with too much of what wasn't important. Not this book. It will definitely hold your interest.

How to keep 700 men alive, sans food, for 4 days........2006-04-29

Readers who enjoy stories of military units and army encounters will appreciate Alan D. Gaff's BLOOD IN THE ARGONNE: THE 'LOST BATILLION' OF WORLD WAR 1. For the first time the story of the 77th Division is told from the perspective of soldiers in the ranks, following the unit which penetrated German lines in the Argonne Forest of northeastern France only to find themselves surrounded by German forces and alone. How to keep seven hundred men alive without food for over four days? The story of their ordeal comes to life as Gaff explores soldier backgrounds, struggles and achievements.

Good book but lacked depth.......2006-03-03

There were a lot of liberties taken for the sake of telling a story in this one. The author could have gone deeper into the men and their effort. I would definitely recommend other books, for a historical view, first. Not a bad book just not that great either. I would recommend "Finding the Lost Battalion: Beyond the Rumors, Myths and Legends of America's Famous Ww1 Epic" for more depth.

Brutal but Honest Depiction of War.......2006-01-30

Alan Gaff has produced a first-rate depiction of war from a fighting man's perspective. Unlike many military histories I've read, this one doesn't subscribe to the "Big Man" theory of history that emphasize generals and strategy. Instead, this book tells the stories of the regular, blue collar guys in battle. It has a gritty realism, lushly illustrated with songs and anecdotes that reveal the underlying humanity of a truly human endeavor--the practice of war.

Eye Deep in Hell........2006-01-15

I first became interested in the "Lost Battalion" when I learned there was a local connection. As part of my volunteer work for my local county historical society, I have been privileged to listen to taped interviews with two of the men who surivied being pinned down for 5 days in the Argonne Forest. Their names were Peter P. Koshiol (pg. 152) and Albert A. Euteneuer (pg. 306). Although they were both long dead, their words remained just as fresh as the day they were spoken. But one thing was clear. Although their experiences have gone down in history as a great example of American courage under fire, the blood and fire of those five days in the Argonne Forest scarred them both for the rest of their lives. This is a point that Alan Gaff hammers home again and again in the book he has written about what they went through. His book follows the "Liberty Boys" from the moment they were all drafted, their training and their shipment "overseas," and their final experiences in coming up against the Kaiser's military machine. Mr. Gaff pulls no punches in describing the brutal reality of hand to hand combat during the First World War. AS the Generals and Colonels whiled away their time in fortified bunkers behind the lines, thousands of "grunts" were killed fighting for their country. On October 2, 1918 a ragtag crew of American soldiers were pinned down and surrounded behind enemy lines without food or water, and what comes out of this book is not only the story of the Officers, who most accounts have focused on, but also the strory of the common soldiers who watched their best friends eviscerated before their eyes. This is combat reporting at it's best. It is also the most accurate report we are likely to get. This book, which I recommend highly, is certain to remain the definative account of World War I's heroic Lost Battalion. For this Mr. Gaff deserves a round of applause.

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First Blood: a Novel

Manufacturer: M. Evans; distributed in association with
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000FMO3MO

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Threadbare
Greaat historical fiction
Enchanted ...
Reviewed by Ashley Merrill
Haunting beauty

The Blood of Flowers: A Novel
Anita Amirrezvani
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316065765

Book Description

In 17th-century Persia, a 14-year-old woman believes she will be married within the year. But when her beloved father dies, she and her mother find themselves alone and without a dowry. With nowhere else to go, they are forced to sell the brilliant turquoise rug the young woman has woven to pay for their journey to Isfahan, where they will work as servants for her uncle, a rich rug designer in the court of the legendary Shah Abbas the Great.Despite her lowly station, the young woman blossoms as a brilliant designer of carpets, a rarity in a craft dominated by men. But while her talent flourishes, her prospects for a happy marriage grow dim. Forced into a secret marriage toa wealthy man, the young woman finds herself faced with a daunting decision: forsake her own dignity, or risk everything she has in an effort to create a new life."Anita Amirrezvani has written a sensuous and transporting first novel filled with the colors, tastes and fragrances of life in seventeenth-century Isfahan...Amirrezvani clearly knows and loves the ways of old Iran, and brings them to life with the cadences of a skilled story-spinner." -- Geraldine Brooks, author of March"An engrossing, enthralling tale of a girl's quest for self-determination in the fascinating other world that was seventeenth-century Iran." -- Emma Donoghue, author of Touchy Subjects and Life Mask

Customer Reviews:

Threadbare.......2007-09-30

I had such high hopes for this book because the subject matter was so different. Women in 17th Century Iran could have been so exotic and fascinating. The novel was plodding. The ending was weak. However, the book was very well-researched.

Greaat historical fiction.......2007-09-12

I was drawn immediately into this compelling story. The characters experience quite a few lurches through better and worse times over the course of about 6 years that the story covers. I wondered how the narrator might have made better choices in several situations, which brought mistery to both her and her mother. Although flawed, the narrator does grow significantly during the course of events. My one crticism is that I wish the other characters hadn't been so one dimensional.

The backdrop of 15th century Persia was very interesting, since I knew nothing about it before. An ecellent work of historical fiction, this book shows it has been extensively researched.

Enchanted ..........2007-09-09

From the first page, the narrator (unnamed throughout the book) enchanted me. Set in ancient Persia, this book follows the coming of age of a poor village girl as she struggles to find her place in the family of her father's half-brother, in the city, and in the art of making rugs.

The narrator's enthusiasm for the art of rug-making is infectious but never over-informative and boring; I'll never look at a rug the same way again. The narrator bravely admits her faults, but has a spunk that is inspiring. Even while living in a patriarchal age and society, the female narrator makes her own destiny without betraying the rules of her culture.

I can't say more without giving away an important plot point, but I can say that Amirrezvani's ending is superb. I both loved this book and found it inspiring.

Reviewed by Ashley Merrill.......2007-09-07

I would consider this novel a diamond on the ruff. Reading the inside jacket to get a glimpse of what to expect, the book looks pretty good, but nothing overly special. As soon as the story starts though, right at the very beginning when you find yourself wrapped up in a story told by a mother to her daughter as they suffer through what seems like very hard times, I found myself unable to put it down. This novel is so beautifully written. I must say it is in one of my top 10 most enjoyable reads.

The narrator of this novel is a young girl. The story is told through her eyes and starts in a small quiet village, where tragedy strikes her family and her and Maheen, her mother are forced to leave in search of distant relatives who could possibly open their doors for them. They arrive in Isfahan, which is many times larger than their humble village and here their journey truly begins. Gostaham and Gordiyeh take these two women in and put a roof over their head for a price. They basically become servants, who work harder and harder everyday for fear that they will be tossed out on the street if they prove to be too much of a burden.

As time goes on, this lovely young girl turns into a woman and enters into a Sigheh with a man she doesn't even know, and learns the craft of lovemaking. Tragedy further strikes when she and her mother are case out of Gostaham's household because of a rash decision she makes.

Anita Amirrezvani has a flow to her words that keep you turning the pages. There are also so many different layers to the story. On the surface it is an enjoying novel, then as the layers go deeper, you find yourself getting a bit of history on the ways of the culture, their language, their dress code, what is considered appropriate and inappropriate, and you learn much about rub making and what makes a beautiful rug. As you read, you can honestly feel as though you have been taken back to that period of time and you feel all the plights that Maheen and her daughter go through right along with them.

Anita Amirrezvani briefly interrupts the story here and there to share a story, which include characters from a different time; fairy tales per se. The story usually is somehow connected with the theme of what is going on in the book. It seems as though just as you are getting into this new, short story, it ends, and she takes you back to the original story and characters. It is a way for your mind to stay sharp and to learn some of the common stories that were told.

I would highly recommend this novel, for you don't just close the book when the last word has been read and set it aside thinking "great book", but you feel as though you have learned something and that the book was truly worth your time reading.

Haunting beauty.......2007-08-28

I received an advance-read copy of this book, and I must say, the cover scared me a little. Between the title and the prostrate figure on the cover, I feared I'd been sent a murder mystery, which I detest. I couldn't have been more wrong. I fell in love with this book and have been recommending it unceasingly.

It is a wonderful read, with gorgeous, lyrical writing. It captured me, drawing me into the narrator's world, where I felt her pain, ached for her success to come, feared it would never happen. It uses Persian folk tales as a clever way to weave the story together. I loved the strong women characters (good and bad), characters who continue to haunt my mind, making me wonder about their welfare (until I remember they aren't real). I was sorry to see the book end, because the story lived on for me.

First Mountain Man: Blood on the Divide (The First Mountain Man, No 2)

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BLOOD ON THE DIVIDE

First Mountain Man: Blood on the Divide (The First Mountain Man, No 2)
William W. Johnstone
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0821755110

Customer Reviews:

BLOOD ON THE DIVIDE.......2005-09-03

EXCELLENT READING, FILLED WITH PERIOD HUMOR,SPELLING OR LACK THEIR OF, ADVENTURE AFTER ADVENTURE AND A SENSE OF BEING INVOLVED WITH THE TIME.

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Blueprints and Blood
Hugh D., Jr. Hudson
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0691033498

Book Description

Analyzing "totalitarianism from below" in a crucial area of Soviet culture, Hugh Hudson shows how Stalinist forces within the architectural community destroyed an avant-garde movement of urban planners and architects, who attempted to create a more humane built environment for the Soviet people. Through a study of the ideas and constructions of these visionary reformers, Hudson explores their efforts to build new forms of housing and "settlements" designed to free the residents, especially women, from drudgery, allowing them to participate in creative work and to enjoy the "songs of larks." Resolving to obliterate this movement of human liberation, Stalinists in the field of architecture unleashed a "little" terror from below, prior to Stalin's Great Terror.

Using formerly secret Party archives made available by perestroika, Hudson finds in the rediscovered theoretical work of the avant-garde architects a new understanding of their aims. He shows, for instance, how they saw the necessity of bringing elite desires for a transformed world into harmony with the people's wish to preserve national culture. Such goals brought their often divided movement into conflict with the Stalinists, especially on the subject of collectivization. Hudson's provocative work offers evidence that in spite of the ultimate success of the Stalinists, the Bolshevik Revolution was not monolithic: at one time it offered real architectural and human alternatives to the Terror.

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