Brother Odd (Odd Thomas Novels)

Book Description

Loop me in, odd one. The words, spoken in the deep of night by a sleeping child, chill
the young man watching over her. For this was a favorite phrase of Stormy Llewellyn,
his lost love, and Stormy is dead, gone forever from this world. In the haunted halls of
the isolated monastery where he had sought peace, Odd Thomas is stalking spirits of an infinitely darker nature

Through two New York Times bestselling novels Odd Thomas has established himself as one of the most beloved and unique fictional heroes of our time. Now, wielding all the power and magic of a master storyteller at the pinnacle of his craft, Dean Koontz follows Odd into a singular new world where he hopes to make a fresh beginning—but where he will meet an adversary as old and inexorable as time itself.

St. Bartholomew’s Abbey sits in majestic solitude amid the wild peaks of California’s high Sierra, a haven for children otherwise abandoned, and a sanctuary for those seeking insight. Odd Thomas has come here to learn to live fully again, and among the eccentric monks, their other guests, and the nuns and young students of the attached convent school, he has begun to find his way. The silent spirits of the dead who visited him in his earlier life are mercifully absent, save for the bell-ringing Brother Constantine and Odd’s steady companion, the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

But trouble has a way of finding Odd Thomas, and it slinks back onto his path in the form of the sinister bodachs he has met previously, the black shades who herald death and disaster, and who come late one December night to hover above the abbey’s most precious charges. For Odd is about to face an enemy who eclipses any he has yet encountered, as he embarks on a journey of mystery, wonder, and sheer suspense that surpasses all that has come before.

Customer Reviews:

I just love Odd Thomas.......2007-10-10

I fell in love with Odd Thomas with the first book. Now there are three and I loved all of them. Dean Koontz is one of my favorite, but he really got me with this character. I think it got to him, too, as Odd has grown and come back to us in two more books. Will there be more? I will be watching for them.

Brother Odd.......2007-10-05

With a touch of humor and the talent for bring his readers the surreal, Dean Koontz leads us through another adventure of Odd Thomas. It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for our undaunted hero!!

Brother Odd.......2007-09-04

This is probably my least favorite in the ODD series of books. The first ODD book clearly is the best. The second one is pretty good, this is so so. It's a short read for a fat book. The print is large & the lines are spaced apart. Koontz's older works are far superior & well worth reading. Go back 10+ years & read those books, Watchers being a favorite of mine. Brother Odd is a book to borrow from a friend or the library, it's not worth purchasing unless you want it because you already have the other 2.

Brother Odd, Odd Plot.......2007-09-01

This is the first Brother Odd novel I have read. The plot is interesting, albeit very eerie and unusual, involving science and ethics and the existence of God. The plot is resolved in a satisfying manner at the conclusion, but on the way to that conclusion, Mr. Koontz wanders off on tangents, explaining details that are often unrelated to the storyline. The character development is effective. Who could not fall in love with meek and humorous Brother Odd and his ghost companion, Elvis?
It's time for me to give another Brother Odd book a chance.

Good not great.......2007-08-28

Any Koontz novel is worthing reading. Not his best work. Not even his best Odd Thomas book. Of course "Odd Thomas" (the first in series) is pretty hard act to follow. I thought it was better than the second in the series but by no means was it up there with "Intensity" (which may be the best/scarriest book ever written). All in all it's a Dean Koontz book so it better than most out there.

Average customer rating:

Cold case-- Or is it?
The Worst Connelly Book
One Of The Best Of Its Type I've Ever Read
Return to Form
Michael Connelly

Echo Park (Harry Bosch)
Michael Connelly
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316734950
Release Date: 2006-10-09

Book Description

In 1993 Marie Gesto disappeared after walking out of a supermarket. Harry Bosch worked the case but couldn't crack it, and the twenty-two-year-old was never found. Now, more than a decade later, with the Gesto file still on his desk, Bosch gets a call from the District Attorney. A man accused of two heinous murders is willing to come clean about several others, including the killing of Marie Gesto. Taking the confession of the man he has sought-and hated-for thirteen years is bad enough. Discovering that he missed a clue back in 1993 that could have stopped nine other murders may just be the straw that breaks Harry Bosch.

Customer Reviews:

Cold case-- Or is it?.......2007-10-06

Harry Bosch is a bull-dog of a cop. Methodical and focused, he plots on--trying to find out who abducted and probable killed Marie Gesto in 1993. He reviews the files and re-interviews the witnesses and suspects every few years.

A man is stopped by a patrolman. Garbage bags containing body parts are found in his car. He confesses to having killed nine other victims, including Marie Gesto. But Harry is suspicious; it doesn't feel right to him, but all the pieces seem to be there. Getting help from his FBI companion and friends could mean loss of his job, if he survives.

Good detecting, lots of excitement and twists; this is my first "Harry Bosch" book but it won't be my last.

Review by Wanda C. Keesey (author of Lost In The Mist)

The Worst Connelly Book.......2007-10-03

This is the 11th Michael Connelly book I have read and it is by far the worst. There was no character development and the plot was predictable & contrived. The Connelly formula is growing thin: Bosch is driven to solve a murder, some flimsy romantic sub-plot is thrown in, it appears that one character committed the crime but then, at the last second, some tangential character really did it. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Connelly fan, but I am now concerned that he may have "jumped the shark." He needs to reinvent his formula. Bosch is beginning to come off as a two-dimensional annoying character.

One Of The Best Of Its Type I've Ever Read.......2007-09-26

To say I liked this this book is an understatement. It is one of the best of its type I've ever read.

Other reviewers in this space tell you what it's about, so I won't repea; but in general Harry Bosch, a middle aged single, lonely, virtuous yet scarred LAPD detective battles Dpartment politics to save a girl and solve a crime ten years old wherein another girl disappeared. The crime always haunted him; and here he gets his "justice" of sorts. It's just a great read for your vacation or the airlane or a rainy afternoon by the fire. Highly recommended. Almost guaranteed.

A word of warning. Unless you know downtown Los Angeles better read this with a map or else follow the action on Mapquest. Harry speeds down lots of streets which meant nothing to me till I got a map.

Return to Form.......2007-09-23

Actually, the last Bosch novel I read was "Lost Light," which I thought signaled a character and series running out of steam. "Lost Light" was pretty much by-the-numbers, with some extra "family" stuff tossed in to show Harry's getting older. Whatever. Well, I was wrong about Harry's sunset years. For one thing, despite occasional novelistic misfires, one has to keep in mind that Connelly is such a pro at writing, that he just keeps chugging along. "Echo Park" is a fine example.

At 400 plus pages, you wonder if it's appropriate to call "Echo Park" a lean, stripped down Harry Bosch novel - but that's what it is. A genuine page turner. A young woman's years ago disappearance, a serial killer, corruption, familiar stuff that Connelly rearranges, yet again, in a fresh and exciting way. And with Harry as an X factor, those are usually interesting twists, like the unseen twist in the metaphorical tunnel of the Bosch series (which gets very concrete in "Echo Park").

This time around, the plot has at its center the unsolved case of a missing woman that Harry had investigated thirteen years. Now, as part of the Open-Unsolved Unit, Harry returns again and again to the case, looking for that missing piece that will put away the man he has long suspected of being the killer. But then a call comes in, another man has confessed, and things quickly veer off in directions that the reader - or Harry, can not anticipate. One dark treat in all of this is the serial killer, Raynard Waits, the "Echo Park Bagman." Connelly can develop a character with the best of them. And Waits is a particularly repulsive entry, but one that Connelly is also able to humanize. Yes, he's monster, but a pitiable one that his own history - one that intersects with Harry's own personal life story. On the downside of all of this is Connelly's uneven development of characters. For if Waits is extremely well developed, characters such as FBI agent (and love-interest) Rachel Walling, are paper-thin. Walling in particular, since she is so prominent, is little more than a tool to keep the story revving. You know: "Get this report, Do this for me, Use your influence" with a little love making, wine, and Jazz on the side. This is particularly frustrating, since it's clear that Connelly is so good at character development, but it's a trait I've seen in all of the Bosch novels - the good and the so-so (Connelly doesn't write "bad" novels). Still, this time around the good far outweighs the by-the-numbers stuff. Check it out.

Michael Connelly.......2007-09-22

I enjoy all the books in the Harry Bosch series. The plots are easy to follow and the dialogue is good. What more can one say?

Phantom: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 2 (Sword of Truth, Book 10)

Average customer rating:

Only Terry
Disappointing ovreall with sparks of quality here and there
Merely average
Phantom
The continuation

Phantom: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 2 (Sword of Truth, Book 10)
Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0765305240
Release Date: 2006-07-18

Amazon.com

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Watch author Terry Goodkind discuss how his own morality and sense of good and evil shape the chararacters and action in his epic ten volume Sword of Truth series.

'Phantom' video Clip featuring Terry Goodkind

Watch a video clip featuring author Terry Goodkind

Book Description

On the day she awoke remembering nothing but her name, Kahlan Amnell became the most dangerous woman alive. For everyone else, that was the day that the world began to end. As her husband, Richard, desperately searches for his beloved, whom only he remembers, he knows that if she doesnt soon discover who she really is, she will unwittingly become the instrument that will unleash annihilation. But Kahlan learns that if she ever were to unlock the truth of her lost identity, then evil itself would finally possess her, body, and soul. If she is to survive in a murky world of deception and betrayal, where life is not only cheap but fleeting, Kahlan must find out why she is such a central figure in the war-torn world swirling around her. What she uncovers are secrets darker than she could ever have imagined.

Customer Reviews:

Only Terry.......2007-09-26

Terry seems to have Richard loose that woman more then anything in the world but over all he makes him losign her interesting each time....if you're looking at this you read all the others most likely so you know the deal

Disappointing ovreall with sparks of quality here and there.......2007-09-20

I am about ready to give up on this series, but I think I can make it one more book. This one was again disappointing. It rambled on and on over the exact same tired ground covered in other books. Then there would be a bit of action that was interesting and might have a good twist. Then it would ramble some more. I skipped whole paragraphs and pages and missed none of the plot. If you have stuck it out this long with the series, sure, so ahead. Otherwise don't bother.

Merely average.......2007-09-15

Phantom by Terry Godkind is the second book in the Chainfire trilogy, but also the tenth book in the Sword of Truth saga. For people not familiar with Mr. Goodkind, it may sound odd that a book is part of a trilogy and a saga at the same time, but that is the case with this book. The Chainfire trilogy is merely the final three books in the saga. By all accounts, the final book in the Chainfire trilogy, will in fact be the last book in the Sword of Truth saga. The saga that was started back in 1994 with Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1) is due to close with the next book. There have been a mix of gems and duds among the books, but over all it's proven to be a solid series.

The overall plot of this book is almost identical to the plot of the previous book, Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy, Part 1 (Sword of Truth, Book 9). In that Richard is still searching for Kahlan. The only difference is that in Chainfire, Richard had convinced those closest to him (Zed, Cara, Nicci etc) that Kahlan does exists. Sadly, nothing much changes in terms of that plot line. It almost seems as though Mr. Goodkind wants to milk that piece of plot for all it's worth. There are a few other subplots sprinkled in for good measure as well. Such as the Boxes of Orden and just what they can do. I particularly like this subplot because it ties up events from book one and is obviously bringing things together. There is also, as with previous books, a great deal of discussion of prophecy. This subplot seems to make the book become sluggish and redundant due to the fact the characters seem as though they are constantly repeating themselves. There is also the additional subplot of the First Grand Wizard, Baraccus, and the events he started way back when. Certainly, an interesting addition to the story.

The characters are largely the same characters that were present in the previous book, and the entire saga. There is not much character development at all for the main heroes. In fact, the character that seems to develop the most is Emperor Jagang. Jagang's development mostly centers on readers just leaning more about him. There is no real growth for the characters. At times, this novel felt as though the characters were secondary and they were being dragged along by the story. This is the second book in a row where Mr. Goodkind has offered very little in the way of character development. I was disappointed, especially being that this is the second to last book in the entire series to have flat characters, after readers have invested so much time following the story. I sincerely hope, with the last book, Mr. Goodkind adds a great deal of character development.

I have a few criticisms about this novel.

One being that at times the dialog drags on, and on... and on. The characters say the same thing over and over again. It is almost as though Mr. Goodkind is saying to the reader "I want you to get this point." And then proceeds to beat the reader over the head with the point.

Secondly, there are several times in this novel where the characters are struggling when suddenly one of the characters has an `ah ha!' moment and suddenly figures out a very vexing problem and has all the answers. This is very frustrating as a reader to see things `given' to the characters so easily. This happens no less than three times in this story.

Also, as I talked about above, the simple lack of character development. Sure, the story as a whole is advanced, but in terms of character development there is very little to be found.

Overall this is a slightly disappointing book. As a reader, I don't feel like a whole lot was accomplished in the broad scope of things. Fans of the series will certainly need to read this book, after all there is only one more left to complete the tale. People considering reading this novel, without prior knowledge of the series, need to really go back and start from the beginning. There are events and characters in this book that are discussed, or mentioned that would make no sense without reading the previous books. I would most likely recommend this series as a whole to more adult fantasy readers, yet in the same breath I think there are better fantasy series out there right now with less philosophical discussion based on the author's views and beliefs. This is simply an average fantasy book at best.

Phantom.......2007-09-08

As always Terry Goodkind keeps writing the books that you can not put down. The Phantom is deep into the series of Wizards first rule books (book 10) and it seems sometimes the "catching up" is a little tiresome but I just skip over these parts and truley love all the books that I have read by Terry Goodkind.

The continuation.......2007-09-01

TG in his SFT series has always felt the need to repeat himself hundreds of times so that a full third of the book rehashes the series up to the current point. However up till now the story had continued to advance enough that by the end of whatever book I had read it seemed worth reading. Phantom was a complete disappointment in that it did not. As slow paced as his books are I somehow doubt he'll be able to masterfully end what still stands in my mind as a good series in one final novel. Those who have the time I still would recommend the series, this book one just has to suffer through and in all honesty may not even be that bad if the reader can quickly move to the next one due in Nov 07'.

A Crazy Little Thing Called Death: A Blackbird Sisters Mystery

Average customer rating:

Nancy Martin and the Blackbird Sisters
Easy Read
Always entertaining
Fun
A Crazy Little Thing Called Death

A Crazy Little Thing Called Death: A Blackbird Sisters Mystery
Nancy Martin
Manufacturer: NAL Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0451220412

Book Description

Impoverished Philadelphia heiress Nora Blackbird has agreed to wed Mick Abruzzo, son of New Jersey's most notorious mobster, leaving the city's bluebloods in shock. Then Nora and her sisters get some ominous news-Sweet Penny Devine, ex-Hollywood starlet and daughter of the Philadelphia Devines, has mysteriously disappeared. Even stranger, her family wants her declared dead pronto. Could someone have plotted her final act? Now it's up to the Blackbird sisters to snoop among the snooty-until they uncover the truth.

Customer Reviews:

Nancy Martin and the Blackbird Sisters.......2007-09-12

This book was a great book in this series. I loved reading it and can not wait for the next book.

Easy Read.......2007-08-14

I enjoy the Blackbird sister books - they're an easy, fast read when I don't want to think to hard about what I'm reading. I would recommend them to anyone, but would caution you to read them in order.

Always entertaining.......2007-06-27

Great writer, great story. The relationships are so interesting, always dynamic and intertwined. Love this author's point of view. The mystery was a good one too.

Fun.......2007-06-11

All of Nancy Martin's books are fun, fast and easy reads. They are entertaining, will make you laugh, and great summer books for relaxing. It is enjoyable to try to figure out Who Done It. Great characters.
Enjoy!

A Crazy Little Thing Called Death.......2007-06-08

Love all of Nancy Martin books and this one was great

Average customer rating:

JD Robb
It wasn't bad
Review of Born in Death
Born in Death
An Okay Read - Hope next book is better.

Born in Death
J.D. Robb
Manufacturer: G. P. Putnam's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0399153470
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Book Description

Eve Dallas has a grisly double homicide to solve when two young lovers-both employees of the same prestigious accounting firm-are brutally killed on the same night. It doesn't leave Eve a lot of leftover time to put together a baby shower for her buddy Mavis, but that's supposedly what friends are for.

Now Mavis needs another favor. Tandy Willowby, one of the moms-to-be in Mavis's birthing class, didn't show up for the shower. A recent emigrant from London, Tandy has few friends in New York, and no family-and she was really looking forward to the party. And when Eve enters Tandy's apartment and finds a gift for Mavis's shower wrapped and ready on the table-and a packed bag for the hospital still on the floor next to it-tingling runs up and down her spine.

Normally, such a case would be turned over to Missing Persons. But Mavis wants no one else on the job but Eve-and Eve can't say no. She'll have to track Tandy down while simultaneously unearthing the deals and double-crosses hidden in the files of some of the city's richest and most secretive citizens, in a race against this particularly vicious killer. Luckily, her multimillionaire husband Roarke's expertise comes in handy with the number crunching. But as he mines the crucial data that will break the case wide open, Eve faces an all too real danger in the world of flesh and blood.

Customer Reviews:

JD Robb.......2007-09-27

Absolutely love this series, have read every book twice and can't wait for the next one to come out.

It wasn't bad.......2007-08-27

I have to say that this wasn't one of my favorites, but I think it was me, and not what Nora wrote. I just couldn't get into the plot until about halfway through. I tried. I read the first few chapters and put it down for MONTHS. I thought maybe I was distracted, but when I started it over a few days ago, I just realized that the subject matter was dry to me. Hard to get started.

I loved the personal dramas, as I always do, and the scenes in the delivery room were great, as were the tense scenes between Eve/Roarke/Whitney. She handled that really well.

I had this one figured out early on, but I do with some of them. This just wasn't my favorite, but it was still good.

Review of Born in Death.......2007-08-01

As usual, J.D. Robb delivers.
As usual, it was very difficult to put this book down.
As usual, I can't wait until the next book comes out.
My only disappointment, was the number of typos that I found in this book. J.D. Robb's editor needs to do a better job proof-reading.

Born in Death.......2007-07-30

As usual Dallas and Roark (sp?) keep things moving with humor, mystery and romance. This one was is a little more humorous with Dallas' friends having babies and Dallas and Roark expressing disgust as they help them through the ordeals, but I wonder will they become parents next??? Very good reading, or rather listening for me.

An Okay Read - Hope next book is better........2007-06-25

I have always enjoyed J.D.Robb's mysteries, but I was a bit disappointed in this novel.
I did enjoy Mavis and the birth of her child. I thought the scene had a humorous touch which was refreshing. I thought the plot for the most part was weak. Some parts held my attention, but overall I thought it could have been developed better. I'll probably buy Nora's next novel "Innocent in Death" with a view towards it being a better than "Born in Death". I hope so.

Average customer rating:

Crime Beat Street Blog Review
Poetry, food, and culture
Disappointing
More case and less political atmosphere
Don't read this writer for the mystery alone!

A Loyal Character Dancer
Qiu Xiaolong
Manufacturer: Soho Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569473412

Book Description

Praise for Qiu Xiaolong:

"A sequel [to Death of a Red Heroine] that in many ways is even more impressive. . . . [Qiu] has moved from the poetic, exotic milieu of his first book (although plenty of elements remain) into a tougher, wider, probably more commercial and modern version of China as seen by America."-Chicago Tribune

"Another wonderful novel featuring Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Bureau . . . [for] Sinophiles like myself, who fantasize about taking an insider's tour of Shanghai."-Maureen Corrigan, NPR's Fresh Air

"The travelogue aspects of the novel don't overwhelm it's critical intelligence. As in all hard-boiled [mysteries], the murder and mayhem provide a cover story for a larger investigation of social mysteries."-Chicago Sun-Times

Inspector Chen's mentor in the Shanghai Police Bureau has assigned him to escort U.S. Marshal Catherine Rohn. Her mission is to bring Wen, the wife of a witness in an important criminal trial, to the United States. Inspector Rohn is already en route when Chen learns that Wen has unaccountably vanished from her village in Fujian. Or is this just what he is supposed to believe? Chen resents his role; he would rather investigate the triad killing in Shanghai's beauteous Bund Park. But his boss insists that saving face with Inspector Rohn has priority. So Chen Cao, the ambitious son of a father who imbued him with Confucian precepts, must tread warily as he tries once again to be a good cop, a good man, and also a loyal Party member.

Qiu Xiaolong, a prize-winning poet and critic in China, now teaches at Washington University in St. Louis, where he lives with his wife and daughter.

Customer Reviews:

Crime Beat Street Blog Review.......2007-09-12

I was really looking forward to the second installment in the Inspector Chen series but was quite disappointed in this book. Detective Yu, a primary character in the first novel, barely made an appearance in this one, instead too much time is devoted to the character Detective Rohn, an American working for the U.S. Marshall's office. Frankly she just isn't that interesting, she seems like a caricature of an American woman, blond, pretty, not all that smart save for an occasional comment here and there, and worst of all close minded. I didn't really get into the "what could have been" romantic suggestion the author made about her and Chen, she was too condescedning towards the Chinese, I didn't think Chen, despite his own struggles within the political system, would really find her appealing.

I also felt Qiu Xiaolong relied too heavily on plot devices he used in Death of Red Heroine, which were fabulous the first time but formulaic here. It seemed like Inspector Chen doesn't really work at all, he just ponders things until he makes a connection. That is part of detective work, but not the whole bit. Also, Chen summarizing the wrap up at the end of the novel was dull, I wanted to read about the things he discovered as he was discovering them, not later in summary. How is the reader supposed to feel like part of the story otherwise?

Despite all these criticisms there were some great moments in the book, and I hope I never have to drink snake's blood to show my gratitude to anyone!

Poetry, food, and culture.......2006-12-21

The book contains all the ingredients that make a mystery good -- a puzzling crime, dialogs between characters whose implications are left for the reader to extract, and a plausible conclusion. However it was not for these elements alone that I enjoyed the book. In fact I had picked up the volume after hearing a review for it on NPR (National Public Radio). It was reported in that review that the book depicted the going-on in current China, in particular Shanghai very well. I found the statement to be well grounded.

The fabrics of the city are of course delivered through the book's protagonist, chief inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai police bureau. He is an intelligent 30-ish man of integrity who enjoys poetry and food. Because of his interest in poetry, readers are exposed to fragments of Chinese poetry throughout (for every 5 pages or so appears a fragment). His predilection towards food brings readers to the nooks and corners of Shanghai for gourmet Chinese food and specialties. The process of solving the case reveals snapshots of the society -- how guanxi (loosely translated as relationships or connections) dominates every aspect in life, how no one is ever free from politics (Chen Cao often times withholds information even from his own boss for political considerations), how rapid economic growth is accompanied by the growth of the triads, how Mao's cultural revolution is still affecting peoples' lives, etc. Cultural differences between US and China is also highlighted through the character US Marshal Catherine Rohn, who is Chen's US counterpart in solving the illegal immigration case and serves as his love interest in this episode (another cultural aspect -- Chen gets monitored by Internal Security for his interest in Catherine).

Except for the slight slackening of pace towards the end I enjoyed the novel very much. This was my first episode in Inspector Chen series. Immediately after finishing this book I placed an order for an older episode featuring Chen.

Disappointing.......2006-06-06

I'd heard good things about Qiu's first book, Death of a Red Heroine, but was only able to get my hands on his second book, ALCD. I picked it up eagerly, not because I like mystery fiction generally, but I am interested in the political and cultural environment of China. I was surprised to find the book a bit dull. I liked the detailed descriptions about life in china, but I found the characters not particularly interesting and the story kind of pedestrian. Moreover, I found the attraction between Chen and Rohn very grating, but that's prob because I hate romantic stuff in non-romance books. Seemed very hollywood to me. In fact, wouldn't be at all surprised if the book was made into a movie. Anyway, I would still recommend reading the book because it does paint a very interesting portrait of life in china and it's always a good thing to support authors there. If you are interested in reading more chinese authors, check out Mo Yan. Cheers.

More case and less political atmosphere .......2005-05-28

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, Death of a Red Heroine, I jumped right into reading the sequel. This second visit with Chief Inspector Chen and his loyal deputy Yu is fun and the case even more interesting than that in the Red Heroine as it involves gangs and illegal immigration from China to the United States. But what I really liked in Red Heroine was the interesting group of characters, the descriptions of life and political atmosphere of 1990 Shanghai. Nothing in Character Dancer add to the first book in this area as it is not fresh and the group of characters are given minor rolls. New twist is that Inspector Chen must work with a United States Marshal, a woman named Catherine Rohn. This I suspect was a plot devise to give some dialog to the management of U.S. / China relations. The problem here is that the Rohn character is so underwritten she becomes more of wooden prop to hold up the narrative. And lastly, I am not a big fan of mysteries that end which several pages of the brilliant inspector explaining all that happened and perhaps why. All that said if you liked the character of Inspector Chen and a book more aimed at the case than the character I think you will get some entertainment value. I do plan to read the next book in the series and hope it returns to the roots of Red Heroine.

Don't read this writer for the mystery alone!.......2005-01-06

Once again Qiu Xiaolong offers a fantastic mystery. What amazed me in his first novel was the cultural depth, so to speak, the feeling I had at the end of the novel that I had learned more about modern China than I would have, had I watched a documentary or assisted a one-semester course at the local university. I had the same sensation this time, even though some of the minor details were already known. Inspector Chen is a very believable character caught like so many of us between a profession [police officer] and an avocation [poet] which at first appear mutually exclusive. The true revelation comes when we discover how his knowledge of poetry helps him in his investigations. This characteristic of his, the love of poetry, also makes Chen - at least to my eyes -- more Chinese, for crafty, more sensitive than many men and certainly than most detectives, reminescent only of Inspector Morse, in his beloved Cambridge.

I agree with the previous reviewer than some of the more literary passages, tangential subjects, and cultural observations appear to have been shaved off in this second book, probably through the hands of some know-it-all editor who believes that a thick book with plenty of literary allusions might bore or be too much of a challenge to the ninth-grade level reading he imagines his readers to possess.

But in the end, the cuts, if there were some, did not take away from the overall charm of the book, of Inspector Chen and of China.

I intend to read his next book and I strongly recommend the reading of this one; both for the mystery as well as for the information on a changing China.

Average customer rating:

Lot's of drama and lots of sex
Fabulous
Great read!!!
Its Not Up To Par
I loved the book, BUT...

Chasing Destiny
Eric Jerome Dickey
Manufacturer: Dutton Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 052594950X

Book Description

Eight-time New York Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey's new novel is filled with intrigue, speed, and sex appeal. And an unforgettable female narrator rides her sexy yellow motorcycle right through it all.

Billie (aka "Ducati") is known as much for her extraordinary beauty as for the sexy yellow motorcycle she rides through the mean streets of Los Angeles. Tough, talented, and self-assured, Billie's used to doing things her way—but that was before love threw an oil slick in the road and spun her life into chaos.

Billie's first problem is simple: she's pregnant.

Her second problem is that her lover, Keith, is still married.

Keith has some "things" to deal with, and the people in his life are dark and duplicitous enough to take matters into their own hands, determined to keep Billie from having her baby. Billie suddenly finds herself confronted, attacked, run off highways, threatened and shadowed. Keith still has ties to his manipulative wife, Carmen, and he adores his fifteen-year-old daughter Destiny. Will he do the right thing by his new family, or stand by his old one?

Soon all eyes shift as everyone finds themselves desperately chasing Destiny, a troubled and deceptive girl dancing on the edge of womanhood. When the rubber meets the road, everyone's fighting dirty for what they want...and they're all willing to destroy their enemy or go down in flames to get it.

Customer Reviews:

Lot's of drama and lots of sex.......2007-10-02

This is not my favorit EJD book. The drama and high antics were superb, but the content and the characters were mean, selfish and sad. Fiction is generally based on facts, but I'd hate to know any of the damn near middle age folks acting the way they act in this story. Too much was unbelieveable for me or I just don't know people that stupid. I love EJD earlier work, but this did not do it for me. Chasing Destiny was not bad, but it was not good.

Fabulous.......2007-09-13

Considering all the baby momma drama I have had, I am so glad someone finally wrote about it. This book was fantastic from start to finish!

Great read!!!.......2007-09-03

This book sat on my bookcase for more than a year before I picked it up to read...I'm so sorry I waited that long. It is one of EJD's best books so far. I was rooting for Ducati all the way through this book. I loved how it ended and would love to read more about her.

Its Not Up To Par.......2007-08-10

Dickey's books have been way better than this, i was kinda disappointed when i read this book. It was to jumpy and the plot of the story wasn't really all that good.

I loved the book, BUT..........2007-08-06

...I HATED the ending. UGH. I felt like I was watching a GOOD movie for 12 hours straight, only to be slapped with those white scrolling letters at the close to SAY what happened to the characters in two sentences. And then it's done. Otherwise though, I was completely captivated, and read the whole thing on my ONE day off!!

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Has Everything A Great Story Should Have
Read it before you see the movie!!
Great book, crummy title
Oolon Coluphid's Blockbuster Trilogy Begins!
A new perspective

The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, Book 1)
Philip Pullman
Manufacturer: Yearling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0440418321
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Amazon.com

Some books improve with age--the age of the reader, that is. Such is certainly the case with Philip Pullman's heroic, at times heart-wrenching novel, The Golden Compass, a story ostensibly for children but one perhaps even better appreciated by adults. The protagonist of this complex fantasy is young Lyra Belacqua, a precocious orphan growing up within the precincts of Oxford University. But it quickly becomes clear that Lyra's Oxford is not precisely like our own--nor is her world. For one thing, people there each have a personal dæmon, the manifestation of their soul in animal form. For another, hers is a universe in which science, theology, and magic are closely allied:

As for what experimental theology was, Lyra had no more idea than the urchins. She had formed the notion that it was concerned with magic, with the movements of the stars and planets, with tiny particles of matter, but that was guesswork, really. Probably the stars had dæmons just as humans did, and experimental theology involved talking to them.

Not that Lyra spends much time worrying about it; what she likes best is "clambering over the College roofs with Roger the kitchen boy who was her particular friend, to spit plum stones on the heads of passing Scholars or to hoot like owls outside a window where a tutorial was going on, or racing through the narrow streets, or stealing apples from the market, or waging war." But Lyra's carefree existence changes forever when she and her dæmon, Pantalaimon, first prevent an assassination attempt against her uncle, the powerful Lord Asriel, and then overhear a secret discussion about a mysterious entity known as Dust. Soon she and Pan are swept up in a dangerous game involving disappearing children, a beautiful woman with a golden monkey dæmon, a trip to the far north, and a set of allies ranging from "gyptians" to witches to an armor-clad polar bear.

In The Golden Compass, Philip Pullman has written a masterpiece that transcends genre. It is a children's book that will appeal to adults, a fantasy novel that will charm even the most hardened realist. Best of all, the author doesn't speak down to his audience, nor does he pull his punches; there is genuine terror in this book, and heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. There is also love, loyalty, and an abiding morality that infuses the story but never overwhelms it. This is one of those rare novels that one wishes would never end. Fortunately, its sequel, The Subtle Knife, will help put off that inevitability for a while longer. --Alix Wilber

Book Description

In a landmark epic of fantasy and storytelling, Philip Pullman invites readers into a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, or Redwall. Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.

Download Description

Pullman introduces readers to a world as convincing and thoroughly realized as Narnia, Earthsea, of Redwall, wherein lives a half-wild, half-civilized girl named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars of Jordan College is about the shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors.

Customer Reviews:

Has Everything A Great Story Should Have.......2007-10-02

The Golden Compass is the beginning of a great series - but also a story of it's own. Enlisting science, mysticism, history, geography, and great themes of heroism, determination, willpower, tragedy and destiny - this book will hook you and keep you interested. Although the content seems a bit older than it's central character, Lyra - she's still up to the challenges presented to her. This series is a great way to escape into a different world. The audio versions of this book are performed brilliantly - and are a joy to listen to. Looking forward to the movie this year: if anything like the book - it'll be a smash hit.

Read it before you see the movie!!.......2007-09-28

Phillip Pullman's, The Golden Compass is an entertaining and imaginative fantasy yarn that starts off light and fluffy but takes the reader on an unpredictable and thought-provoking ride.

I was drawn to this book after seeing the movie trailer this summer, figuring that any fantasy/sci fi book with enough popularity to garner a Nicole Kidman movie must be worth a look. My early disappointment led to eventual satisfaction as the novel works on many levels. The story has numerous threads but mostly centers on a young girl on a journey to figure out the mysterious disappearance of other young children. It's really best to know nothing else of the plot, as the surprises are part of the fun. Needless to say the imaginative alternative world Pullman creates is one the reasons this book is so fun. The different inhabitants of the world including sentient polar bears and personal daemons make a complicated but well executed backdrop for the intricacies of the story. Pullman writes entertaining action sequences and can pull off the various emotions required of his main characters. Finally, the book works because it slowly ends up being a whole lot more then just a "quest" story and it exhibits many different tones within the prose. The Golden Compass is wondrous, foreboding, dark, philosophical, and biblical often at the same time.

The Golden Compass is the first of a trilogy but I haven't yet read the others so I can't comment on their quality. The movie comes out 12/07 and is produced by New Line Cinema (the same company that made the LOTR trilogy).

Bottom Line: A great read for fantasy fans but make sure you don't give up on it too early.

Great book, crummy title.......2007-09-27

I've had these books on my shelf for several years now and for some reason, haven't taken them down. I don't know why, when I was wasting my time reading the entertaining but inferior Harry Potter books. But now I'm a convert. Pullman is an powerful writer who doesn't patronize or pull punches. Characters in this book suffer sometimes and he lets them do so. The suffering is sometimes useful to help mature the character, and then it is sometimes senseless and tragic, just like in real life. As a teenager, that would have made me respect Pullman immensely, as it does now. His writing is in the tradition of Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm Brothers, before Disney got hold of them and fabricated ridiculous happy endings and grating little song-and-dance numbers. While I haven't read the last of the trilogy yet, I'm going to go out on a limb and say that I bet everybody isn't brought back to life for a forced happy ending.

My one complaint, which is absolutely not the fault of the author, is that the same irritating editor at Knopf who "translated" the title of the first Harry Potter book committed the same crime against this book. The Brit title was Northern Lights. Why change that? Was the editor afraid that American children might not know what those were or, god forbid, might have to do a little research to find out? With the Potter book, the change was even more egregious because the original title, The Philosopher's Stone actually made reference to a historical myth, while The Sorcerer's Stone doesn't. Hello Knopf editor, if you want to change Brit spellings to American ones, fine. But please don't change content. It's gratuitous and insulting to the intelligence of American kids. Here is what Pullman had to say about it on his web site FAQ:

Q. Northern Lights was re-titled The Golden Compass for the American market. Why did this change come about? Do you have a title in mind when you start a story?

A. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. The editor who made that change was also responsible for changing "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone", which made sense, into "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," which didn't. At the time, I didn't have enough clout to resist.

Also, if you bought a first American edition, you should know that the beautiful little symbols Pullman drew for each chapter head and the quotes he selected were not included. Subsequent versions have them though.

Oolon Coluphid's Blockbuster Trilogy Begins!.......2007-09-25

Lyra is a ten-year old hellion "raised" at Jordan College, Oxford, in an Alternate Dimension England. In her world, spiritual phenomena take different form than they do in ours. There are such things as ghosts, and all humans have visible "souls" in the form of animal familiars called daemons. This has led to a blend of science and metaphysics called Experimental Theology, which is the field of both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter, two Northern explorers/scientists/rivals. Mrs. Coulter is an ally of the Theocracy ruling this world, while Asriel is a defiant freethinker.

As Lyra aspires to be like Coulter and Asriel, she might seem a perfect heroine for this sort of sci-fi/fantasy, which deals with the intersection of physics and theology as major parts of the plot. Unfortunately, as Lyra has no actual interest in physics or theology, one would think that it would be hard to make the story work. How can she be a meaningful heroine for metaphysical science fiction if she is too ignorant and incurious and "unimaginative" even to TRY to figure out what is going on?

Well, she can't be. Lyra -- for all her aggressive, "unladylike" behavior - is a mere damsel, a rambunctious pet carted around by a bunch of doting adult males who (inexplicably) adore her and want her to be their daughter. She is equally adored by some half-naked Witches who want to sleep with Lyra's father so they can have an equally "magnificent" daughter just like her. A Magic Compass tells Lyra exactly where to go and what to do -- and she obeys. But other than the power to understand this compass and make everyone she meets fawn all over her, Lyra has few REAL ten-year-old talents, and shows little of the initiative a real ten-year-old should be capable of.

For example, when her friend (or "devoted slave") Roger goes missing, she is "magnificent" enough to abuse the helpless servants about it - but never thinks to ask her powerful protectress for help. When she finds out some unsavory information about a Certain Person, her response is to take off into the night without a plan, clue, map, sandwich, or change of underwear. Then she wanders around aimlessly until she is 1) attacked by villains, 2) rescued by people who just happen to be going where she wants to go. Pullman (in his role as narrator) keeps telling us that Lyra's lack of imagination and planning are good things, because if you actually THINK about what you are trying to do, you might get discouraged and give up. (Seriously, that's what the narrator says.) So, boys and girls. Thinking? Bad. Wandering the docks alone at night aimlessly? Good.

Lyra superficially resembles the impulsive and tomboyish heroines of Joan Aiken (WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE, BLACK HEARTS IN BATTERSY, NIGHTBIRDS ON NANTUCKET). But Lyra does not benefit from the comparison. Aiken's recurring themes included friendships between stronger and (seemingly) weaker children, resulting in empowerment for the weak child. Aiken's boys, like her tomboys, were as gentle to the weak as they were courageous and clever. By contrast, Pullman's recurring themes are the matter-of-fact destruction of the weak, and the author-approved triumph of the brutal. Lyra may pityingly accept the "devoted slavery" of a mere beta male like Roger, but gives her true love to the ruthless and mighty. The shocking climax of Volume One deluded me into thinking she might grow out of this fault, but it actually gets worse.

In fact, GOLDEN COMPASS is by far the best in the trilogy. It starts out plodding, but picks up in the latter half. It has some stretches of lovely language and vividly horrific imagery. The improved second half gave me hope for good things. But HIS DARK MATERIALS, supposedly Pullman's best work, declines after Book One. His many vivid passages prove him a good writer and will make this series a natural fit for Hollywood, which excels at stringing together stirring set pieces, if nothing else. But despite his talent, Pullman has consistently let me down as a storyteller. He has no interest in fleshing out the potentially interesting World he creates, betrays an outright distaste for the humble task of fantasy storytelling, and is shockingly careless with good ideas deserving of better treatment. In Book 3, he springs on us his Agenda, which dominates and derails the series, and leads to one of the most memorably moronic conclusions in literary history.

The popularity of the series could stem from Pullman's refreshingly different fantasy setting, intriguing metaphysical concepts, and the lip-service paid to certain humanistic notions such as feminism, homosexuality, anti-authoritarianism, and scientific progress. But considering that the setting is so sketchily realized, the concepts so clumsily trashed, the humanist pretensions so completely undermined by the story, the "daring" conclusion such a copout, and the Enemy such a strawman, that a cynic might suspect that HDM's popularity in certain quarters really stems from its ultimate descent into a virulent hate screed. Readers who like the first book should be cautious about spending hard cash on the series until they have finished it.

The blurb on my copy recommends this to children as young as eight, but I recommend parents take this with a heavy dose of salt. Book One contains much to stimulate the imagination, and children will love those "daemons". But the best parts of the story are horrific scenes, usually involving the victimization of children, for which the later books no justice and no comfort. For children who are old enough for the horror, you might want to discuss with them the fact that in later books the heroes are mostly amoral, the author shows clear contempt for the homosexuals, women, and even the child victims he pretends to champion, and the series ultimately confuses nihilism with depth.

A new perspective.......2007-09-22

Well, I probably don't offer much of a new perspective, but I must disagree with the people toting an anti-God message. I read all of the reviews. And, while spiritual myself, and Catholic, I still read it because I wanted to see what all the hub-bub was about. Now that I've read the books, I want to say: How dare you "religious" people say you shouldn't read this to children. This is EXACTLY what you should read to children. I don't see the blasphemy. I see God working in mysterious ways, despite the fact that the author is allegedly an atheist. Does beliving in nothing alter the powerful moral messages in these books? If you think so, then shame on you! That's ashame that you can't trust your children to be more insightful than you and see the message of courage and love and bravery in spite of the evils of this world. Apparently, that's all negated because of the suggestion that people in the church could be there for personal gain and power rather than to help others. Shocking!! Like that's never happened before!!! hello people, open your eyes! God wants you to question yourselves, your church friends, your pastors, and even your God. He wants you to decide for yourself after hearing all of the evidence! And fortunately, with God there's more than one right answer. So stop hatin, please!

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In an age of rampant hyperbole, what is the word for genius?
The Power To Do Anything
"The troubles always start when they start for you."
something missing
The Ministry of Special Cases

The Ministry of Special Cases
Nathan Englander
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375404937
Release Date: 2007-04-24

Book Description

The long-awaited novel from Nathan Englander, author of For the Relief of Unbearable Urges. Englander’s wondrous and much-heralded collection of stories won the 2000 Pen/Malamud Award and was translated into more than a dozen languages.

From its unforgettable opening scene in the darkness of a forgotten cemetery in Buenos Aires, The Ministry of Special Cases casts a powerful spell. In the heart of Argentina’s Dirty War, Kaddish Poznan struggles with a son who won’t accept him; strives for a wife who forever saves him; and spends his nights protecting the good name of a community that denies his existence--and denies a checkered history that only Kaddish holds dear. When the nightmare of the disappeared children brings the Poznan family to its knees, they are thrust into the unyielding corridors of the Ministry of Special Cases, the refuge of last resort.

Nathan Englander’s first novel is a timeless story of fathers and sons. In a world turned upside down, where the past and the future, the nature of truth itself, all take shape according to a corrupt government’s whims, one man--one spectacularly hopeless man--fights to overcome his history and his name, and, if for only once in his life, to put things right. Here again are all the marvelous qualities for which Englander’s first book was immediately beloved: his exuberant wit and invention, his cosmic sense of the absurd, his genius for balancing joyfulness and despair. Through the devastation of a single family, Englander captures, indelibly, the grief of a nation. The Ministry of Special Cases, like Englander’s stories before it, is a celebration of our humanity, in all its weakness, and--despite that--hope.

Customer Reviews:

In an age of rampant hyperbole, what is the word for genius?.......2007-09-04

Nathan Englander's short story collection, "For the Relief of Unbearable Urges" received accolades and awards when it debuted five years ago, all well deserved. Now, after five-years, Englander offers his first novel, "The Ministry of Special Cases." If any thought that the fresh pathos laden voice of "Relief" was a fluke, "Ministry" will surely set them straight.

First, a brief review of the plot. The place is Argentina in the 70's under the reign of a military junta that snaps citizens up without paper work and recourse and then pretends as if they know nothing about them. In this surreal environment, where reality, memory, and the official story often conflict lives our main character, Kaddish Pozen, a Jewish son of a whore living on the outskirts of his community who supports his family by collecting fees from the descendants of unsavory deceased Jews who pay him to erase their ancestors name off of grave stones in the cemetery where criminals lay buried. The cast of characters we meet along the way are as many and varied as one can imagine, all touched and warped by the insanity of their world.

While the premise surely will prove irresistible to many readers, a few may question an author's ability to execute a tale layered with such a thick helping of symbolism. A credit to Englander's talent then that he not only succeeds, but does so with the sensitivity and humor that marks him as a young author of great potential. While every writer imagines themselves a unique voice, Englander's novel, with its characters facing problems far beyond their depth and often contrasting images at once frightening and absurd brings to mind Isaac Singer's work, clearly one of the author's inspirations.

Any effort to explain too much of this novel risks spoiling some of the fun of watching it uncoil. Suffice to say, I suspect in a few decades' people will recall fondly when they first discovered Mr. Englander's gift.

The Power To Do Anything.......2007-08-13

Englander's book is truly an amazing example of the author's superb writing abilities. It compares very favorably with his first book of short stories, but here, Englander gets into serious depth of character development and how they deal with bad situations way beyond their ability to control.

The book describes a period during the dictatorship of Argentina and the discrimination experienced by Jewish Argentinians during the reign of the dictatorship in the country at the middle and end of the 20th century. The book focuses on not just discrimination against Jews, but governmentally sanctioned discrimination against youth and liberal or different political and social ideas and ideals. The book is the story of one very unusual Jew, who realized that an old and closed Jewish cemetary could in fact be of danger to those still living. Many decades ago, the business of prostitution in Buenos Ares was a Jewish monopoly, no longer true, but at a time it was. Those people had their own cemetary and it occured to Kadish, the protagonist, that people would pay to have their last names removed from those tombstones. So, he started a business removing the names off people's tombstones to protect those still living.

While the story centers around the Jewish element of the social climate, Englander is careful to point out that the discrimination was not just against Jews, but against Youth and Thought. The police randomly rounded up groups of youths and then either incarcerated them, released them or killed them. The actions of the police were related to power and control.

In addition, Englander paints a wonderful picture of the legal system and its absurdity. In fact, the book is reminiscent of "The Trial" by Franz Kafka, in that no matter what is done, there seems to be no end or ability to seek legal relief or redress. The system seems to be designed to specifically frustrate and delay the attempts of any individual trying to get information on any youth taken away by the police.

In totality, the book is a truly wonderful picture of life in a totalitarian dictatorship, where those who are given the power to enforce the law, abuse this duty to the maximum extent. Absolute power corrupts absolutely; as illustrated so beautifully and graphically by Englander in this book.

The book is truly powerful and beautifully written. All the author's unique talents have been brought to bare in this fabulous work. The book is recommended to all adults who have interest in seeing how things become skewed horribly in situations where there is no check and balance on power, and where people find it amusing and fun to inflict pain, anguish and even death randomly on people, purely because they CAN! It is a fast reading book and highly recommended for its beautiful writing and its clarity of intent.

"The troubles always start when they start for you.".......2007-08-04

Set in the Argentina of 1976 - a dark and violent time of upheaval - "The Ministry of Special Cases" is about a family torn apart by a power-corrupted government. It centers primarily on the actions of Kaddish and Lillian Poznan after their teenaged son, Pato, is `disappeared' by mysterious officials one night, perhaps never to be seen again. Kaddish and Lillian are locked in a futile race against time, knowing that every day their son is missing the likelihood that he has not survived increases. But how can they penetrate the defenses of the government and the police to get information regarding a son whose existence is now denied? At best, Kaddish and Lillian are told that their son must have run away from them, and are advised to give up their search before making `needless' trouble. But the Poznans know the truth about Pato's disappearance - Kaddish was home when his son was escorted from their apartment by mysterious men, who also removed three of Pato's books that they had deemed inappropriate.

The search for their son leads Lillian to Argentina's Ministry of Special cases, where hundreds of people line up and fight for information about missing loved ones, and are frustrated by bureaucratic dead-ends. Worse than the government's unswerving apathy toward Kaddish and Lillian is the fearfully uncaring attitude that they find from general citizens they turn to for assistance. Everyone is too wrapped up in their own problems to care about the Poznan's plight - and much too afraid of losing their own family if they anger the government. Until their own son was taken from them Kaddish and Lillian themselves had been blind to the severity of the problem - Lillian is genuinely startled to find so many people waiting at the Ministry of Special Cases, and dismayed to hear from a couple that is finally giving up hope after two long years of no news.

The strength of Englander's story is that the Poznans are a believable family unit. They are not the utopian family of amateur fiction, but a realistic family burdened by animosity and failure and bitter disappointment. Kaddish is marked by his low birth - an `hijo de puta' who will never earn respect or dignity, and the spectacular failures of his numerous get-rich-quick schemes to overcome his status have put a great deal of strain on his marriage to Lillian, who had believed in his abilities as a young (naïve?) young woman. And Pato is your typical disgruntled teenager; he hates his parents, acts out, runs away to his friends' home, smokes pot, and refuses to listen to their sage advice that could have kept him safe. And yet the reader feels the strength of their familial bond thanks to Englander's prodigious talents as a writer. Despite their fighting, it feels devastating when the Poznans are torn apart.

But is "The Ministry of Special Cases" for everyone? No. Englander is a gifted writer, but his eccentricities will turn some readers off as unnecessary and annoying. As a fan of Nathan Englander's story collection, For the Relief of Unbearable Urges: Stories, perhaps I was already primed for his style before picking this book up, but I enjoy his quirks and I have spoken to several other people who do too. For those who can appreciate them, "Ministry" is a one-of-a-kind treat and an amazing novel.
Grade: A-

something missing.......2007-07-15

I read the book and couldn't put it down. I gave it to my mom and she couldn't finish it (which is rare it is usually the other way around). I really wanted to like this book, but there is some quality about it that I just can't describe. The book takes place in a time and place that makes it difficult to fully get into the context of the book and the author doesn't do a lot to describe the character's environment. The book zig zags around with suspense but not much action. Extremely well written, I just didn't like the story.

The Ministry of Special Cases.......2007-07-07

The Ministry of Special Cases

Articulately written book by Nathan Englander, a young writer with a sage's
literary gift. Unbelievable that he can plumb the depths of a time and place
in history through the eyes of one family that not only illuminates their agonies but also those of a multitude of Argentinians.
A must read.

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What???
Don't read the blurb
"This above all, to refuse to be a victim."
"A divorce is like an amputation, you survive but there's less of you."
LET'S TRY SOMETHING POETIC

Surfacing
Margaret Atwood
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0385491050
Release Date: 1998-03-16

Book Description

Part detective novel, part psychological thriller, Surfacing is the story of a talented woman artist who goes in search of her missing father on a remote island in northern Quebec. Setting out with her lover and another young couple, she soon finds herself captivated by the isolated setting, where a marriage begins to fall apart, violence and death lurk just beneath the surface, and sex becomes a catalyst for conflict and dangerous choices. Surfacing is a work permeated with an aura of suspense, complex with layered meanings, and written in brilliant, diamond-sharp prose. Here is a rich mine of ideas from an extraordinary writer about contemporary life and nature, families and marriage, and about women fragmented...and becoming whole.

Customer Reviews:

What???.......2007-01-27

If this was a mystery, where was any kind of suspense? This was about coming to terms with an unwanted abortion. Was she ever married? Does anyone care? She started unravelling from page 172 onward; why then? I felt this book was a waste of precious reading time.

Don't read the blurb.......2006-07-14

This book is the example of how you can't get a picture of the book after reading the blurb. It says "part detective novel". Well, I doubt that the writer of the blurb had ever read or seen a detective story. Yes, the main character is looking for her father who has recently disappeared but she is looking for him more in her memories than starting a real investigation. Stranger even is the expression "psychological thriller". There are absolutely no thriller elements in the story, at least I was not convinced that the main character thought meant certain things seriously which could be interpreted by a shallow mind as the devices of the genre. The main character of the novel is the type of person who has a large and magnificent theatrical stage in herself, where reality and fantasy can meet and can be acted out in full. She lives more in her head than in the physical world. After a painful marriage she does not want to tie herself down with another man. She is afraid of getting emotionally involved and getting deeply hurt again. The novel ends with a question: what will her final decision be? Is she going to accept this far from perfect man? Can she hope to feel good in his strangely mangled and verbally desolate but at the same time intensely passionate world?

"This above all, to refuse to be a victim.".......2005-08-31

After reading Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" I was captivated by her unique metaphorical prose and eager to read another of her works. "Surfacing" definitely did not disappoint me, with its dark logic and interesting situations. It is not by any means a pretty novel, but there is much truth to be found in it, which I think makes for a great read.

The protagonist, a nameless artist, embarks on a journey to her Canadian wilderness home in hopes of finding her missing father. Her boyfriend and another couple accompany her. As the group becomes accustomed to life in the wild, truths are uncovered and tensions develop between the characters that eventually lead up to a shocking climax. The protagonist, in an altered state of sanity, makes a desperate attempt to reconnect with her true self and in the process discovers the answers to all her questions regarding her father.

Throughout the novel the Canadian wilderness is portrayed in such a way that instills in the reader a great respect for all its power. Atwood, being a Canadian native herself, describes it beautifully. "Surfacing" is one of her earlier novels and a great prequel for the ones to follow.

I would definitely recommend this novel. The complex labyrinth of symbolism provides great food for thought. It is very emotionally impacting and leaves the reader pondering their own sense of self.

"A divorce is like an amputation, you survive but there's less of you." .......2005-07-31

One of Margaret Atwood's earlier novels, "Surfacing" tells the story of a young artist who sets out to investigate the disappearance of her father. Accompanied by her lover and another young couple, she journeys to an outlying Canadian island in search of answers. As the group adjusts to life in the rustic cabin that was once the narrator's childhood home, plenty of sexual tension begins to erupt. The narrator contemplates the fate of her relationship with Joe, who wants more from her than she is willing and able to give. Anna and David's seemingly perfect marriage begins to unravel as the truth about their relationship becomes shockingly clear.

The strain among these four people coupled with the unanswered questions about the narrator's missing father creates a lingering sense of foreboding. "Surfacing" is symbolic and slightly obscure, and it will leave the reader contemplating elements of feminism, nationalism, and general paranoia. I found it a bit difficult to connect with the characters since they're so distant (we don't even find out the narrator's name), but the story is interesting and there is plenty of absorbing subtext to keep the reader engaged.

I didn't enjoy "Surfacing" as much as some of Atwood's other books, but it's a very compelling story...I definitely recommend it.

LET'S TRY SOMETHING POETIC.......2005-05-29

The female narrator of Surfacing by Margaret Atwood is a woman with emotional scars that she has never faced, a victim of a previous marriage whose goal is to keep herself from love as long as she can. Taking leave of her job as a commercial artist, she travels to a remote Canadian island to search for her father, who has turned up missing from his solitary cabin. Going along with her is her boyfriend Joe, a man who loves her without receiving anything in return except her body. Also along for the adventure is Anna, her best friend, if you can call someone a best friend whom you've only known for 2 months. Anna's oversexed boyfriend, David, joins the party. What the narrator will find will have less to do with her father than the old standby cliched "return to nature" theme that has already been done to death.

By the time I reached the overblown and hopelessly poetic, I mean pathetic, third part of this novel, I could sum up my feelings as "UGH!" While the first two parts are interesting and work doubletime as a mystery and self-exploration of the main character, it really started to fall apart in the last third when it turned into a poetic nature girl ramble right out of Wordsworth or Shelley, and the author came up sorely lacking. I began to wonder if I was reading Altered States.

Something that was amusing was the constant undertheme of American bashing which surprised me because this novel was originally published in 1972. Americans represent everything that the narrator hates about the world, especially rampant consumerism and anti-environmentalism. You would think that Atwood could see beyond such crass stereotypes. Surfacing was quite good until the writer forced its narrative into a prose poem whose language is at complete odds with the characterization that had been established through its first 2/3's.

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