Book Description
Its cold. The wells of power are weakening, and the forces of Night are strong. The gods are real, and they still have some power, mostly to do harm. The Instrumentalities of the Night are the worst of these. Piper Hecht, born Else Tage, survived a battle with the Instrumentalities. Now hes captain-general of the armies fighting a crusade for Patriarch Sublime V. Intrigues swirl around the throne of the Grail Empire, as the imperial familys enemy Anne of Menand raises money to help the perpetually indebted Patriarch finance his crusades. Now Piper Hecht learns that the legendary sorcerer Cloven Februaren, referred to as the Ninth Unknown, is still alive, more than one hundred years old, and on his side. As the dynastic politics of the Empire become even more convoluted, its clear that while the old gods may be fading, theyre determined to do everything they can to bend the doings of men to their own advantage. Sieges, explosions, betrayals, Anti-Patriarchs, and suspicious deaths will ensue as the great chess game plays itself out, with Piper Hecht at the center of it all. Dark, exciting, gritty, and sometimes bleakly funny, this is Glen Cook in his Black Company mode, writing military fantasy of compelling intensity.
Customer Reviews:
The Godslayer Strikes Again.......2007-09-13
Lord of the Silent Kingdom (2007) is the second epic fantasy novel of The Instrumentalities of the Night, following The Tyranny of the Night. In the previous volume, Svavar absorbs the souls of several gods through the spear and then flees back to the northlands. The Deves use their firearms to destroy Gray Walker and then save Pinkus Ghort -- and Princess Helspeth -- from the Hero revenants.
Prince Lothar is snatched from the hospital tent and later reappears among the Imperials. The dying Grade Drocker selects Piper Hecht to command the Patriarchal forces after his death and later the Patriarch concurs. As the senior Brother of War, Sergeant Bechter conducts the service for Drocker.
In this novel, Patriarch Sublime V -- formerly Honario Benedocto -- of the Bothan Episcopal Church has a dire need for funds. He has too many outstanding loans. Some date back to vote buying in the Patriarchal election and the rest had paid for funding of the Calziran Crusade. Unhappily, the Crusade had been a military win, but an economic loss.
Now Sublime is trying to conquer the Maysean heretics in the End of the Connec by issuing letters of marque to Grolsacher mercenaries. The plunder has not been that great. Rumors say that sooner or later he will be sending in Church forces to seize this land.
Brother Candle is a Maysean Perfect, a leader of the Seekers After Light. When the Grolsacher mercenaries besiege Caron ande Lette, Brother Candle is sent out the back way to save his life. Church mercenaries would love to capture a Perfect.
Piper Hecht - formerly Else Tage -- is Captain-General of the Bothan Episcopal Church forces. One of his duties is to ensure that his forces are ready to follow the orders of the Patriarch. Of course, he has good subordinates, so he spends most of his time with Anna Mozilla, his lover.
Pinkus Ghort is Commander of the Bothan City Regiment. He has been a friend and campaigning companion of Hecht for years. When he comes to fetch Hecht, Piper goes with him without complaint. On the way to the Closed Ground, Hecht, Ghort and their escort encounter three bowmen and a sorcerer who try to assassinate Piper.
The Collegium -- the Princes of the Church -- includes the official sorcerers of the Bothan Episcopal Church. In the West, almost all mages are either part of the Collegium or dead. A committee of these Princes is waiting when Hecht finally arrives for his meeting.
Upon hearing about the assassination attempt, Principate Muniero Delari leaves the room in a rush to question the prisoners. The rest of the committee question Hecht closely about the ambush. When Delari returns, he has little information, but has learned the rendezvous point for the assassins.
After the meeting, Delari takes Hecht to the baths for further discussion. Hecht leaves early to check on Polo, who had been injured in the ambush, and to meet with Ghort to discuss the two men from the City Regiment who had betrayed them into the ambush. Then Hecht leaves for his overdue staff meeting.
Hecht meets his senior staff at the Castella dollas Pontellas, a Brotherhood of War facility. One of his senior staff is Clej Sedlakova, observer for the Brotherhood. Others included Colonel Buhle Smolens, his second in command, the Krogusian Hagan Brokke, his planning officer, Titus Consent, his intelligence chief, and Tabill Talab, his senior quartermaster. These latter two are Devedians.
In this story, Hecht briefs his staff on the Clearenza situation and is briefed in turn on current efforts. He arranges to have a few days off and then has a private meeting with his intelligence chief. Consent wants to convert to the Chaldarean faith and asks Hecht to be the godfather for his soon-to-be-born child.
Later, Hecht and Ghort take ship up the Sawn to Sonsa. There they pick a young urchin as a guide and deliver a courier packet to a Brotherhood agent at the Ten Galleons, a local cathouse. They have to leave the cathouse in disguise as a family group and then one young girl refuses to return to the house. She claims to be an adducted child from a good family. All four flee town before their enemies can organize a pursuit.
The four walk through Alicea to the Knight of Wands inn and wait for the deserters to arrive. When the two men from the City Regiment appear, Hecht and Ghort confront them and their paymasters outside the inn and learn that Immaculate, the Anti-Patriarch, was apparently behind the ambush. The attempt had been set up by Rudenes Schneidel through intermediaries.
After this operation, Hecht and Ghort return to Bothe with the children. Hecht leaves the boy Pella and the girl Vali with Anna and she soon has them dressed and behaving as good Bothan children. Hecht goes off to ask Delari about Rudenes Schneidel.
This story continues the adventures of Else Tage -- former Captain of the Sha-lug slave-soldiers of far Dreanger -- in the lands of his enemies. But are they really his enemies? He is beginning to have too many friends among the Bothans for his peace of mind.
Highly recommended for Cook fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of swords and cannons, Things of the Night, and international intrigue.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Thoroughly Pleasing.......2007-07-16
Thankfully Cook's publishers have allowed him to step away from his proven intellectual properties of the Black Company and Garrett. I thoroughly enjoy those series, but it is amazing to see how witty and how imaginative this man is. I agree with an earlier reviewer that a few "out of time" dialogs exit, but they should not detract from the brilliantly woven story.
Cook's character development is as good as anyone writing. His pacing and style create a fast-paced imagery and identifiable characters. I read this book craving the next page, while dreading that it was brining me closer to the end.
Eh, Whatever........2007-07-03
I have read quite a lot of Glen Cook's stuff earlier output so I know he can write good creative stuff when he is of a mind to. Sadly, this series is not up to that standard. There is nothing at all inventive about the world in which this tale is set, It is a very thinly veneered Europe of the Late Middle Ages, complete with Moors (Pramen), Cathars (Seekers) and Holy Roman Emperors and Avignon Anti-Popes. For all that it is neither Historical Fiction or Alternative History Fiction. The Fantasy aspects of the story are even thinner yet. The Instrumentalities of the Night seem to be afraid of their own shadows and turn into Easter eggs if one just yells "Boo" in a loud enough voice. As for the Sorcerers - Well, lets just say that so far not a one of them could whup even Hagrid from Hogwarts on their best day. Any good tale requires that the hearer/ reader/ viewer can attain some degree of Suspension of Disbelief. It also helps if you can come to care about the main character I just want the "lifeguards' to kick Piper's smug butt up between his ears. So, all in all, the story here barely works in either regard. To save the series, the third book will have to be a humdinger
Hard edged and realistic........2007-06-27
As with all of Glen Cook's novels, Instrumentalites of the Night is a departure from standard fantasy fare. There are few, if any, ultra-good, or ultra-evil characters. There are no "you hold the only key" characters who must rise from obscurity to defeat an all-powerful enemy. Cook's stories are filled with very real characters who must deal with their very real lives. Living in a world where very few people are as bad, or as good, as they may seem. Lord of the Silent Kingdom seems almost a retelling of actual history, rather than a work of fiction. His honest portrayal of individuals makes them that much more believable. He has created a world, and let his characters walk it. Great Fiction.
Enjoyable addition to this series...........2007-05-25
First, I have read every single thing Glen Cook has published aside from his last 3 garrett novels, and have reviews for many of them on this site. He is one of my very favorite authors.
This story picks up the 3 storylines of Else Tag/Piper Hecht, Brother Candle, and Helspeth. Much of the story is devoted to Hecht's storyline as Captain-General of the Patriarchal armies. When other viewpoints come in, often months pass between with some description of ongoing military and political events in the interim. Considerably greater background on Hecht is given during the story as well, some of it bearing on the plot.
As in the prior novel, the abundance of place-names referring to places that may have existed in 12th century europe (or even today) but altered beyond recognition has made matters far too complicated. We know the map is of europe with substantially lower mediterranean (and black) sea levels and extensive glaciation in the north, so why not give us that map? At least he keeps the name of the person Gibraltar was named for in the name of that landmark, but....I guess i can brag about figuring out Corsica and Sardinia (I think).
This story, in style of writing, resembles Dread Empire more than anything else of his I have read. The eventually connection between Hecht and Helspeth is once again teased at the end of this novel, but knowing Cook, he might just kill her instead. (I keep thinking of O'Shing when I consider this) He does tend to kill off much of his cast in major battles at the end of a series, so presumably most of the players will be around a bit longer.
Time is spend on politics in the Grail Empire, usually through Helspeth but Ferris Renfrow is treated in more detail. Presumably we will learn a lot more about him later in the series.
Brother Candle is mainly used to give a first-hand view of events in the Connec, including resurgence of Night instrumentalities, a couple of invasions/sieges, and a glimpse of the inside of politics within that faction.
Cook also introduces a figure, the man in brown, who becomes almost a deux ex machina for resolving a number of events and incidents differently than they already would have turned out. It reached the point that everytime Hecht had trouble, you could count on the man in brown showing up.
I enjoyed this book a lot, despite inconsistent patterns of grammar usage in exposition/descriptions, which was distracting early in the book. That said, I recently reread the original dread empire trilogy, and it is by far more enjoyable that this while being substantially shorter.
Amazon.com
For those who like the Grinch more before his transformation by the Whos down in Whoville, and those who don't automatically think of George Bailey's encounter with the angel in It's a Wonderful Life every time they hear a bell ring during the Christmas season, New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, has teamed with three other gifted writers of romantic suspense to produce four intriguing tales of holiday upheaval. Claire Cross's "A Berry Merry Christmas" sends Holly Berry, a technophobic elf, to spread a little Christmas cheer to orphaned Natalie Sinclair and her Uncle Drew. When Natalie requests a new mommy for Christmas, little does Holly suspect she's the ideal candidate to fill the role--and to become a loving wife to Drew, who finds himself believing once again in the magic of Christmas. Only Santa Claus--"Mr. C" to Holly--can make all their dreams come true.
In Dee Holmes's "The Unexpected Gift," Sabrina McKay is spending her first Christmas since her divorce alone in Pine Falls, Vermont, with her young son. She finds the best gift of all not under her Christmas tree but passed out cold in her front yard. Investigating her son's report that "there's a dead man in the yard," Sabrina discovers former bad boy--and her girlhood boyfriend--Zach Danforth. Together again, they realize the true meaning of Christmas and the rediscovery of a love never lost.
Jake Rimsa discovers that the packaging doesn't reveal the true value of the gift inside in Susan Plunkett's Christmas Promises. Roped into giving Marne York, his ex-fiancée, a ride home for Christmas, Jake finds little evidence of the polished, pampered, starry-eyed young woman he left behind when he joined the FBI. Instead Marne has become a fierce advocate on behalf of battered women and a woman who has learned, in the most horrifying way possible, to take care of herself. And Jake uncovers in Marne the long-buried passion she believed forever dead. Together they seek a foe determined to make Marne pay for her interference, and they find the greatest gift of all--love between equals.
In the final story, only Nora Roberts can combine Christmas and an escaped serial killer with a grudge and still make it sizzle! Lieutenant Eve Dallas returns in Midnight in Death. When her first Christmas with her new husband Roarke is interrupted by reports of the naked, mutilated body of the judge responsible for convicting serial killer David Palmer, Eve learns that her name appears on the list of others to be killed. Since she was responsible for arresting Palmer the first time, Eve is back on the case. But Roarke is on her case, exhorting Eve to join him under the mistletoe for a little Yuletide cheer and to let him bring his considerable connections to bear to locate the hiding place of the monster threatening their happiness. Together they capture the psychopath and the spirit of Christmas. What a way to start the new year! --Alison Trinkle
Book Description
Four tales of holiday love and danger from Nora Roberts writing as J.D. Robb, and bestselling authors Susan Plunkett, Dee Holmes, and Claire Cross.
Customer Reviews:
Romance + the Christmas Season = A collection of Great Short Stories!.......2007-08-09
I must admit that I initially bought this book for the JD Robb short story about Eve and Roarke, two characters that I have come to love reading about,and if you are a lover of the "In Death series", you won't be disappointed. However, I am happy to say that I really enjoyed the other three short stories, all of which were by authors that I had never heard of, but am seriously considering seeking some of their other works, especially Susan Plunkett.
The first short story, "A Berry Merry Christmas", was probably not my favorite of the four, but I enjoyed it immensely. It was about a clumsy, yet good natured elf, named Holly, who is having trouble doing anything right. So imagine her delight when "Mr. C" (AKA Santa) gives her an opportunity to redeem herself by helping complete a seemingly easy task before Christmas, and she doesn't intend to fail and believes that even she is up for the challenge. Afterall, how hard could it be to bring happiness to a young orphan, who has lost everything in a fire, the result of faulty christmas lights (Natalie) and her lonely uncle, Drew? Will this holiday bring magic,joy and love to all?
In the "The Unexpected Gift" by Dee Holmes, a recently divorced woman, Sabrina, finds her ex-lover, bad boy Zach, in her yard, apparently suffering from a night of "fun". Will this holiday season find these lovers rediscovering each other, or will their fears prevent it?
What happens when an ex-lover returns to find out why you stopped loving him? In Susan Plunkett's "Christmas Promises", you find out what regret, pain and secrets can do to a relationship. After four years with no explanation, Jake feels that the least that Marne can do is talk with him and tell him why she broke her Christmas promise. While battling their own individual demons, they try to locate a traumatized young girl. Marne has to decide if her past will haunt her forever, or allow Jake back into her heart.
And finally, in JD Robb's Midnight in Death, Eve Dallas is being pulled away from the holiday festivites to locate a crazed killer who she once caught. What more can she handle after trying to find the perfect gift for a man who has everything and owns most of the planet, her sexy husband, Roarke. As usual, a serial killer in 2059 New York is not easy to find, especially if he is systematically destroying everyone who he feels is responsible for his incarceration. And wouldn't you know, he intends to save the best, Eve, for last.
I definately enjoyed these short stories and recommend them to anyone who wants something quick and entertaining to read.
Great Stories.......2006-10-23
Like most reviewers I purchased this book for the JD Robb story, but found myself enjoying all the stories.
In the first story A Berry Merry Christmas you have a delightful tale about a Christmas Elf who is sent to help a single man raising his orphaned niece.
In the second story, The unexpected gift, you have a divorced mother and her 5 year old son. The son discovers what he thinks is the body of a dead man in their yard. Only the man is not dead and he is Sabrina's old boyfriend.
In the third story Christmas Promises we have two lovers reunited after several years as they work together to find a missing child.
In the fourth story, Midnight in Death we have the 8th book in the In Death series. Eve and Roarke's Christmas is interrupted when she has to find an escaped murderer. Things heat up as Dr. Mira is taken hostage.
All of these tales were great and my only complaint was that they weren't longer. A good book!
Great!.......2006-03-25
I am an avid reader! I love mystery/thriller/romance/suspense, pretty much anything! I particularly like JD Robb, which is why I bought the book in the first place. While the story from her was short, I expected it so was not disappointed. The other stories were good too!
Bought this 6 years ago and STILL enjoy the stories!.......2005-11-11
Like most other reviewers, I bought this anthology for the extra "In Death" story ("Midnight in Death") by JD Robb/Nora Roberts. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by the other 3 stories and how uplifting they were!
In Claire Cross's story, we have to have our belief in magic and Santa Claus as "Mr. C" assigns his elf, Holly Berry, to help fulfill a young girl's Christmas wish for a "new mommy". This story is very funny and wondefully warm and touching!
The Dee Holme's story is great to show how strong Sabrina McKay is in spite of her recent divorce and hard time taking care of her 5 year old son due to the very little to no assistance for her ex-husband. Sabrina is not afraid to go after what she wants including the boyfriend from her youth who seems to not want her.
In the Susan Plunkett story we have a darker side of life with a woman and her ex-fiance being thrown together by family after four years apart. They join forces to find a missing daughter of a battered woman and find danger and joy together.
Finally is the always intriguing Lt. Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke to try to track and stop a serial killer that Eve put away 3 years ago and is now systematically killing everyone who put him in prison from the judge on down. It is a race of wits, determination and time.
All four stories are enjoyable in their own way!
Very enjoyable anthology, well worth the money.......2005-10-29
From the back cover: 'Tis the season for passion and intrigue--in four festive Christmas novellas by four outstanding authors...
In JD Robb's "Midnight in Death" Lieutenant Eve Dallas must postpone her first Christmas with her new husband, Roarke, to hunt for an escaped serial killer--but she and Roarke still manage to find ways to celebrate.
Susan Plukett's "Christmas Promises" brings a woman and her ex-fiance together after four long years as they search for a missing child--and make up for broken promises of Christmases past.
In Dee Holmes's "The Unexpected Gift" Sabrina McKay and her five-year-old son are coping with the first Christmas since her divorce and her son finds a 'body' in the yard--and unexpectedly they rediscover the true spirit of the holidays.
In Claire Cross's "A Berry Merry Christmas" a mysterious nanny has a special message to deliver to a young orphan and her uncle who long to feel the joy of Christmas in their hearts once again.
And my review:
All of these stories were good. I normally don't like Christmas murder mysteries, but JD Robb's story was so engrossing that I couldn't put it down.
My favorite, though, was "A Berry Merry Christmas". I admit it, I'm a sucker for lighthearted fantasy, and the story of an elf who didn't quite fit in just warmed my heart.
Highly recommended!
Amazon.com
History is peppered with oddments and ironies, and one of the strangest is this. A few days before the first Christmas of that long bloodletting then called the Great War, hundreds of thousands of cold, trench-bound combatants put aside their arms and, in defiance of their orders, tacitly agreed to stop the killing in honor of the holiday.
That informal truce began with small acts: here opposing Scottish and German troops would toss newspapers, ration tins, and friendly remarks across the lines; there ambulance parties, clearing the dead from the barbwire hell of no man's land, would stop to share cigarettes and handshakes. Soon it spread, so that by Christmas Eve the armies of France, England, and Germany were serenading each other with Christmas carols and sentimental ballads and denouncing the conflict with cries of "Á bas la guerre!" and "Nie wieder Krieg!" The truce was, writes Stanley Weintraub, a remarkable episode, and, though "dismissed in official histories as an aberration of no consequence," it was so compelling that many who observed it wrote in near-disbelief to their families and hometown newspapers to report the extraordinary event.
In the end, writes Weintraub, the truce ended with a few stray bullets that escalated into total war, and that would fill the air for just shy of four more Christmases to come; further, isolated attempts at informal peacemaking would fail. But what, Weintraub wonders at the close of this inspired study, would have happened if the soldiers on both sides had refused to take up arms again? His counterfactual scenarios are intriguing, and well worth pondering. -- Gregory McNamee
Book Description
In the early months of World War I, on Christmas Eve, men on both sides of the trenches laid down their arms and joined in a spontaneous celebration. Despite orders to continue shooting, the unofficial truce spread across the front lines. Even the participants found what they were doing incredible: Germans placed candlelit Christmas trees on trench parapets, warring soldiers sang carols, and men on both sides shared food parcels from home. They climbed from the trenches to meet in "No Man's Land" where they buried the dead, exchanged gifts, ate and drank together, and even played soccer.
Throughout his narrative, Stanley Weintraub uses the stories of the men who were there, as well as their letters and diaries, to illuminate the fragile truce and bring to life this extraordinary moment in time.
Customer Reviews:
fascinating.......2007-03-14
This book gave me for the first a real understanding of the Christmas Truce in No Man's Land in 1914. To see details of the events from all sides was great. It made me wonder why they just went back to the killing after it.
Great Christmas read, not a great book........2006-01-03
The book does prove that it is politics and governments who want and pursue war, not the fighting men on the front. However, I thought the writing was dry and matter of fact given the great subject matter and should have been more inspired. The letters home that were used within the book clearly stole the show here, along with the story of Phillip Maddison's bicycle ride behind the enemy lines during the truce. I thought the best part of the book was the last "what if" chapter, where the author really let loose with some alternative history if the truce had led to a secession of hostilities. Also this book was turned into a movie this year in Europe, I believe it was a joint German, British, and French production. Fitting!
War is a failure of civilization.......2005-07-24
Another eloquent and well-documented proof that war is a failure of civilization. A wonderful story of humanity and hope. Should be a required reading for decision-makers in government, high-ranking military officials, or anyone else responsible for sending young men to die for a cause that is not theirs. . . .
Great story, but book is hard to follow.......2004-12-29
This is a great story for the holiday season and is a great anomaly in what was a horrible war of attrition. However, the book is more of a collection of thoughts rather than an oral history or an actual story. At times I couldn't tell which side I was reading about unless the names were totally obvious. Also it may be tougher to understand if you don't know the geography or the history of the WWI era and how it came to pass.
Boring, Disorganized, and Highly Repetitive.......2004-08-12
I have read over 40 books about World War I, and this is the worst book I've ever read on the subject. The book is boring, disorganized, and relentlessly pursues it pacifist agenda. The book is repititous ad nauseaum. In the author's attempt to convince his readers that the ordinary soldiers didn't want to fight, he presents a huge number of barely discernible short stories and excerpts throughout the book. The text is erratic and disorganized. This unconvincing book seems not like the work of a published author, but the work of a human psychology student's term paper. Much of the book simply consists of word-for-word extracts from other published media. Ignore the positive reviews on the back cover - it's clear these reviewers didn't read more than the first few pages. This book isn't worth the paper it's printed on!
Customer Reviews:
Silent Night.......2006-06-02
Book Review
Jarica
Do you like super chills? Do you like it when goose bumps grow or when your eyeballs pop out of your sockets? If you do "Silent Night" by R.L. Stine is just for you. This book is the ultimate prize. It has everything needed if you like horror books. This is one of the best horror books I ever read. Do you want to know about it?This book is about a girl named Reva.
Everyone in the world she meets thinks she's a snob , you would too if you played a role in this story. She believes she can have anything and anyone she wants. Her dad owns Dalby's Department Store after all , and Reva's very spoiled because of that , but when her own cousin Pam robs the store with a few of her friends , finds a needle in her liptstick and someone murders Mitch she's ready to give up and shake in her boots. You would too. Murder was gift wrapped to her as a present. This was the best book I've read all year and I think you'll like it too so buy it ASAP!!!!!!!!!
A guilty pleasure..........2005-10-03
I read this book for the first time about ten years ago and absolutely loved it! In elementary and middle school, I was an R.L. Stine fanatic. I have read many of his books, and to this day, the "Silent Night" trilogy is my favorite--this one coming in first. I'm 21 years old now and still love this book... During the summer or weekends, I often find myself picking this book up and have probably read it about 15 times now. It's kind of just a comforting (guilty) pleasure that takes me back to my childhood... The story is actually really creative and it's even better to me now because it was written so long ago that the fashions described in the story (and other R.L books) are laugh-out-loud funny. Tapered jeans, "diamond-like studs" in the guys' ears, the whole bit. It's just great! Also, in November and December, it's great to get in the holiday mood! Highly recommended!
This book is such a good one!.......2005-07-23
I have read a few R.L Stine books and I can say this one is probably my favorite. I suggest reading it in November or December so that it will get you in the holiday mood. It's a very easy read with a good ending. I have also read all of the sequels and I really like this one!
R.L. Stine has done it again!.......2004-09-19
Reva Dalby is a spoiled, snobby, stuck-up girl and no one likes her. So someone wants to get Reva back for all the horrible things she has done. First she found a needle in her lipstick, then someone sends her a present containing a surprise. Reva is scared now. Who is doing all these horrifying things to Reva? Reva's money can't help her. No one can. After all, who can you turn to when murder comes....gift wrapped?
Silent Night is awesome!!!.......2004-04-25
Silent Night is a great book that shows R.L. Stine at his best! The main character is so mean that its funny to hear what she has to say about people. This is suspensful and worth your time.
Customer Reviews:
Silent Night 1 & 2 rock!.......2004-12-27
These books are spectacular! Its super chilling and extremly freaky. I love these books and expect the same for the others. Try "Dangerous Girs" by Stine as well, you'll love it!
"'Tis the season . . . to die.".......2003-12-01
Coming home from college for the holidays with her roommate (Grace Morton), Reva Dalby is unaware of the danger that lays ahead for her yet again in this third and final book in the Silent Night trilogy. In this book, she heads a fashion show at her family's department store, after taking credit for designing some scarves her cousin Pam and Pam's friend (Willow) did themselves. But before the show can get under way, one of the models is murdered, followed by yet another (it just sucks being a model in this book), making a murderous trail straight for Reva.
While the previous two Silent Night books switched point of views between Reva and other characters, "Silent Night 3" zeroes in on Reva a little more, of her acting like her usual snobby self--stealing boyfriends and stabbing people in the back, so to speak. Out of the three books, this is my least favorite. It's not as suspenseful as the others until around the end; and even then, there are too many unbelievable plot twists to make "Silent Night 3" very enjoyable. You can probably skip this one and not feel guilty about it.
Well . . ........2003-02-20
Im going to make a short statement. Well first of all, I was full of excitement when the Silent Night books came out. . . but mainly for the covers, a crazed santa, a mob of evil model things. But was oh so dissappointed to find that this--like many of Stine's books--had no scary fictional beasts, merely a stupid kid. Although, I did enjoy the book, and suggest it to everyone. DO NOT BUY IT FOR THE COVER(S)! None of the juicy things the cover shows happends :(
Awesome.......2003-02-13
This book is awesome...I'd be scared if i was Reva. At the end though it was unreal to believe how crazy that girl REALLY was. It also was weird why that girl beat herself up and said her boyfriend did it....lol
Reva's A Jynx.......2003-01-27
If you had to be around Reva, you'd be in great danger. She's been kidnapped and this holiday ,she took advantage
of her cousins scarfs,and called them Revawear. But for her Revawear show, her models are being killed.There are many subspects and here is a list 1.Daniel Powell,her ex boyfriend. 2.Rory,her friends crazy girlfriend. 3.Grant Nichols,one of the models girlfriend.I'll give you a hint,one of the suspects are dead. I gave it a five * because it had suspense,mystery , and the kind of person like Ebeneezer Scrooge who everyone hates , but the way of thier killing is very gross how they squeeze scarfs around there neck and act like you're a manniquin
Book Description
A short, powerful new novel by one of the greatest writers in the German language
On a Dark Night I Left My Silent House is Peter Handke's evocative, moving, often fantastic, novel about one man's conflict with himself and his journey toward resolution. During one night shift, an unnamed, middle-aged pharmacist in Taxham, an isolated suburb of Salzburg, tells his story to a narrator. The pharmacist is known and well-respected, but lonely and estranged from his wife. He feels most comfortable wandering about in nature, collecting and eating hallucinogenic mushrooms. One day he receives a blow to the head that leaves him unable to speak, and the narrative is transformed from ironic description into a collection of sensual impressions, observations and reflections. The pharmacist, who is now called the driver, sets out on a quest, travelling into the Alps with two companions--a former Olympic skiing champion and a formerly famous poet--where he is beaten and later stalked by a woman. He drives through a tunnel and has a premonition of death, then finds himself in a surreal, foreign land. In a final series of bizarre, cathartic events, the driver regains his speech and is taken back to his pharmacy--back to his former life, but forever changed. A powerful, poetic exploration of language, longing and dislocation in the human experience, On a Dark Night I Left My Silent House reveals Handke at his magical best.
Customer Reviews:
Isolation Examined.......2000-12-31
This was a fantastic, albeit somewhat depressing, book. I agree with the other reviewers here. But I would add that the book is a moving exploration of man's ultimate and inherent isolation.
Handke's Characteristic Alchemy.......2000-12-04
The editorial review here is pretty accurate, insofar as summations can ever do justice to a Handke novel, which rely little on plot or human characterization for their power. The novel really takes off when Handke puts his protagonist on the "steppes"--which turn out to be the plains of north-central Spain--and has him explore and experience himself in nature. Readers who liked "My Year in the No-Man's Bay" of "Weight of the World" will like this; here are long passages equally evocative and magical. Undoubtedly there are significances here that literati will find resonant, and perhaps metaphorical parallels that students of European politics will identify, but as an exploration into consciousness, into human interactions with nature and time and memory, this small novel delivers an experience that is very satisfying indeed.
Average customer rating:
- Laura Bridgman!
- A wonderful book. Very enjoyable.
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Child of the Silent Night
Edith Fisher Hunter
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Nobody's Perfect
ASIN: 0395068355 |
Book Description
The story of Laura Bridgman, the first deaf and blind child to be taught to communicate with the outside world, some fifty years before Helen Keller.
Customer Reviews:
Laura Bridgman!.......2000-10-16
I LOVE this book! This book is talking about Laura Bridgman.Laura is blind,deaf,mute and she can't smell or taste.Laura had a illness called Scarlet Fever.She had this illness when she was two years old! Her brother and sisters had this illness also.But only she lived out of all the children in her family! I felt sorry for Laura Bridgman when I read this book.This is a really sad story.
A wonderful book. Very enjoyable........1999-07-12
I read this book with my daughter. I did not know of Laura Bridgman before reading this book. It was a fascinating book. Her neighbor that was very close to her helped her in many ways before she even went to the Perkins Institute. It is wonderful that she was able to learn so much. It makes you realize how much we take for granted.
Average customer rating:
- Brilliant
- Bland
- MUST READ
- Great page turner for reluctant readers!
- A Christmas Gift
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Silent Night
Mary Higgins Clark
Manufacturer: Pocket
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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All Through the Night (Holiday Classics)
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My Gal Sunday
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Weep No More, My Lady
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Moonlight Becomes You
ASIN: 067100042X |
Book Description
Mary Higgins Clark, the "Queen of Suspense," has crafted a very special holiday story about a child's courage in the face of danger, and the power of love. Charged with menace and thrilling suspense, it is the #1 New York Times bestselling author's gift to readers for all seasons.
SILENT NIGHT
When Catherine Dornan's husband, Tom, is diagnosed with leukemia, she and their two young sons travel with him to New York during the holiday season for a lifesaving operation. On Christmas Eve, hoping to lift the boys' spirits, Catherine takes them to see Rockefeller Center's famous Christmas tree; while there, seven-year-old Brian notices a woman taking his mother's wallet. A St. Christopher medal tucked inside the wallet saved his grandfather's life in World War II, and Brian believes with all his heart that it will protect his father now. Impulsively, Brian follows the thief into the subway, and the most dangerous adventure of his young life begins. . . .
Download Description
In New York with his family, so his father can get treatment for leukemia, seven-year-old Brian Dornan sees his mother's wallet being lifted. Desperate to retrieve the St. Christopher medal tucked inside -- which he believes to be protecting his father -- Brian follows the thief into the subway...and into the most dangerous adventure of his young life.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant.......2007-07-03
This story was even better than the ones MHC has written with her daughter, because the characters weren't as goofy and the overall tone wasn't humerous. Not that those are bad (I love the witty, quirky stories too!), but this was a straight dramatic story about a 7 year old boy who followed the woman who pickpocketed his mother and ended up being kidnapped and taken hostage by her deranged brother who had just busted out of jail. While that doesn't very Christmasy, the family rallied together in prayer at Midnight Mass, and drew faith and courage from St. Christopher. The characters were presented in a compassion-isnpiring manner, and the story was fast-paced and action-packed.
Bland.......2007-06-12
After hearing my friends rave about Clark's books, I decided to pick up this book to see what all the fuss was about. Unfortunately, it was pretty much what I suspected. The characters were shallow and one-sided and the story was sappy. I didn't bother finishing it. I guess it's alright if you're looking for a quick read and want to turn your brain off.
MUST READ.......2005-05-13
The name of the book is Silent Night by Mary Higgins Clark; it is wonderful and demonstrates a Childs courage and faith. Along with a killers point of view on life.
The story takes place on Christmas Eve in Manhattan, N.Y. The story's main conflict is to return Brian Dornan safely home after being kidnapped by Jimmy Siddens who has recently escaped from jail. Throughout the book, Brian has faith in a Christopher medal that saved his grandfather during a war to save him from Jimmy and save his dad from his sickness.
There is a variety of situations taking place that connect. For example, Catherine is desperate to find her son, Brian, Jimmy is thinking of ways to get rid of Brian and sneak out of the country, Cally (Jimmy's sister) is worried on what Jimmy will do to Brian, and Brian is terrified to find out what Jimmy is going to do with him. He attempts to escape from Jimmy a couple of times, which brings out more suspense. The suspense and tension in the book force you to keep reading.
I would strongly recommend this book if you like to be put in a suspenseful situation. It is a real page-turner because it is told in so many different points of view, which makes it even more interesting; it helps the reader understand what each character is going through and there is so much going on that you are curious to find out what will happen next.
Great page turner for reluctant readers!.......2005-01-15
My high school English class had a class set of these books and it was assigned reading for the holiday season. The assignment was met with the usual groans, but the students dove in. Soon I was hearing remarks like, "Hey, I read the whole book in two days!" and "This is the first assignment that I have liked!" and "Guess what? I really read this book!" Most students actually finished reading the book in much less than the assigned time. A couple of them admitted that this was the first book they had actually read all the way through. The story takes place on Christmas Eve and involves a lost boy. It involves some tense situations and presents a number of good role models for children. After our class had completed the reading, each student who felt so moved wrote a note to Mary Higgins Clark. We were delighted a few weeks later when we received a letter from her expressing sincere appreciation for the many laudatory comments from the young readers. I recommend this book to youngsters from 9 to 99 who wish to have a "good read" for the Christmas season.
A Christmas Gift.......2004-02-19
I read this book while I was sitting in my OB/GYN's office, in agony. It was Thanksgiving and Christmas was right around the corner, and I fould out that I had tumors. I checked out the book as a Christmas read, but after reading it, it confirmed the idea of what Christmas is all about. I realized how lucky I was, and was glad that my health problem had been found before it grew worse.
Average customer rating:
- Christmas Eve from the Dog's Point of View
- Charming and Original, But Not For Everyone...........
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Silent Night
Sandy Turner
Manufacturer: Walker Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Christmas
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ASIN: 1844280063 |
Amazon.com
Silent night, indeed. Thanks to one yappy little dog, thousands of pencil-scrawled barks, yaps, wuffs, and grrrs fill a small family's house on Christmas Eve in this clever, comic-strip tale.
Sandy Turner's succinct bio reads (in its entirety) that he "draws bits of art for The New Yorker," but he's clearly been gone from the world of kids' books for too long. His idiosyncratic style certainly evokes The New Yorker's spare and often silly illustrations, but Turner's gift for composition, ingenious use of color (beige being the book's primary palette), and ample wit (barking being the book's sole dialogue) deserve this more generous treatment.
The story follows a vocal little dog who's desperately trying to alert its owners to a seemingly invisible intruder--a big-bellied guy who just happens to land on the roof in a reindeer-chauffeured sleigh. The brave pup finally does manage to nip off a swatch of the stranger's huge red pants, a magical patch of fabric that's ingeniously included as a real piece of felt on the book's end pages. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes
Book Description
It's Christmas Eve. All is silent, except
Woof Woof Woof
...for one smart dog,
Yap Yapp Yap
who is getting in someone's way...
someone who has something
very important to do tonight....
Yap Yap Bark
Will that dog ever be quiet?
Yap Yapp
Woof Woof Yap
Yap Wuff Bark
Bark Bark Bark
Woof Bark Woof
Wuff Wuff Wuff
Wuff Wuff
After all, it's supposed to be a Silent Night....
Yap Yap grrrr Yapp
A sly and clever Christmas tale like no other!
Customer Reviews:
Christmas Eve from the Dog's Point of View.......2001-12-05
How many Christmas books and stories are there? Now ask yourself how many are told from the family dog's point of view. And how many Christmas stories can be told without using a word? The illustrator of this book is so clever, he tells a complete, very touching, story of the mysteries and joys of Christmas with only barks, yaps, woofs and yipps! Kids will love this book because it confirms their belief in Santa and all that is magical about Christmas, and they will also love the dog's antics. My seven year old niece loves the book and wants it read to her every night!
Charming and Original, But Not For Everyone..................2001-11-27
...............I wasn't quite sure what to expect of this book, but purchased it with the hopes that the originality of its illustrations would be sure to win kids over. The premise is really cute: a little family dog barks his way through each page of this book as he tries to alert them of Santa's arrival on what is supposed to be a "silent night". No one heeds his warnings as he follows Santa around the house as Santa makes his deliveries. Finally the little dog manages to take a chomp out of Santa's red felt outfit, which the family later finds and discards. There is, however, a real piece of red felt on the inside of the back cover, at the story's end, which seems to be there to remind children that there really is a Santa.
I liked the illustrations in this book and I think kids will get a kick out of the fact that each page has little color with the exceptions of Santa's red suit which really stands out. This book, given that it has no words, is only for kids with excellent skill at paying attention. They must follow the images and ideas because there are no words. Also, parents should note that the lack of words mean that they themselves must carry the story by explaining illustrations to the child and possibly asking interactive questions of the child like: "Why do you think the little dog is barking?" and "Why does Santa want the little dog to be quiet?"
Overall, I think this book is great for youngsters ages three to six who have a very good ability to pay attention and focus on a series of images that form a story. Therefore, the book is clearly not for all kids in this age range. Parents must also be willing to take the extra time to explain images and help the child construct the story from the event sequence. Again, this is not for everyone, as not all parents wish to take this approach to storytelling with their children.
Average customer rating:
- St. John's slave rebellion
- To live and die in the V.I. Become a witness, not a reader.
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Night of the Silent Drums
John Lorenzo Anderson
Manufacturer: Mapes Monde Editore
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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ASIN: 0926330063 |
Customer Reviews:
St. John's slave rebellion.......2005-03-13
To look at and experience the island of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, who would know that such a tranquil place has such a violent history? This is an account of the slave rebellion of 1733-1734, a true story told in fiction form through the eyes of Dr. Cornelius Bodger. Denmark had claimed the island in the early part of the 18th century and dedicated it to the cultivation of crops, most notably sugar. But in 1733, a new breed of slave was brought to work the fields: not a breed born into slavery in Africa, but abducted African royalty instead, a proud race that refused to submit to a life of bondage and toil.Thus is it was that a rebellion was fomented by these enslaved African royals and their followers with the intention that the island be converted into their form of government and run under such auspices. For six bloody months, rebels squared off against planters, and a good deal of the island's population perished.Oddly enough, the rebellion didn't end on a bombastic note; it was quietly and in stages put down, and with the deaths of the rebel leaders, the island slowly returned to normalcy.After having read this book, should you visit St. John, you'll probably find it hard to believe that this pretty little island was once hell in paradise.
To live and die in the V.I. Become a witness, not a reader........1997-08-05
This book should be made of glass rather than paper. I read through this book and saw the lives, the greed, the desperation, and the joy of people long since dead. "Night of the Silent Drums" brings the history of the bloody 1733 St. Jan, Dansk Vestindia slave revolt to the present. The Virgin Islands' drought that year was the only thing dry about this book. And it succeeds without couching our preconceived notions of slavery or slaves, plantations or masters, by telling the truth as well as the facts. This work is gratefully and substantially more than ink on paper. When you pick up this one you will become more of a witness than a reader
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- Night Watch
- Nora Roberts Key Trilogy CD Collection: Key of Light, Key of Knowledge, Key of Valor (Key Trilogy)
- Now You See Her
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