Book Description
Kim Edwards's stunning family drama evokes the spirit of Sue Miller and Alice Sebold, articulating every mother's silent fear: what would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? In 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins, he immediately recognizes that one of them has Down Syndrome and makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and to keep her birth a secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is an astonishing tale of redemptive love. BACKCOVER: “Edwards is a born novelist. . . . Rich with psychological detail and the nuances of human connection.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Unfolds from an absolutely gripping premise, drawing you deeply and irrevocably into the entangled lives of two families and the devastating secret that shaped them both. I loved this riveting story.”
—Sue Monk Kidd
“Anyone would be struck by the extraordinary power and sympathy of The Memory Keeper's Daughter.”
—The Washington Post
“Kim Edwards has written a novel so mesmerizing that I devoured it. . . . The Memory Keeper's Daughter has it all.”
—Sena Jeter Naslund
“Kim Edwards has created a tale of regret and redemption, of honest emotion, of characters haunted by their past. This is simply a beautiful book.”
—Jodi Picoult
Customer Reviews:
Really wanted to love this book but didn't even like it..........2007-10-09
I really wanted to love this book....after all, its a National Bestseller, on multiple critic's "must-read" list, on my Amazon recommendations list every time I check, and I have had more than a few people recommend it to me. Also, after reading the first thirty pages or so, I was riveted - such a unique and interesting plot....I though the rest of the book would be sensational. However, not only was I wrong and beyond disappointed, but I just can't understand the hype surrounding this book!
Once the plot is set-up within the first thirty pages or so, the book utterly failed to deliver and just tanked. The writing is boring, trite and the entire middle of the book is way too repetitive. Each paragraph I read felt like I had read it before...saying the same thing ten different times/ways does not make a book interesting. In fact, I had a hard time forcing myself to keep reading, but kept thinking about the fact that so many people liked this book so figured maybe the ending would somehow redeem it. It didn't. The book went downhill fast and never recovered, not even at the end. I DO NOT recommend this book at all!
A good concept, but fails in the delivery.......2007-10-09
I failed to connect with anything in this novel: not the plot, not the characters, not the writing style. It just didn't live up to the hype that seems to surround it. I think my biggest problem was with the author. Kim Edwards has "Lifetime Original Movie" scripts in her future, in my opinion. I found the story quite contrived and often cheesy. The reader KNOWS that the secret will be revealed at some point. Knowing what is coming just kills a book. I have a few ideas of how Edwards could have made this better, and they all involve some pretty major plot adjustments. I wish I felt SOMETHING (love, hate, whatever!) for the characters because I think that could have saved the story for me. I know I was supposed to care, to feel anger, resentment, frustration... I just didn't feel any of these things. So, unfortunately, I can't recommend this book, though I must say there is an audience for it. Several people in my bookclub found something personal that they could connect with in the book, and it clearly impacted their impression of it. Not sure why I didn't, but...it is what it is...
A Waste... .......2007-10-08
This novel was predictable, I had zero interest in the characters, and the writing was juvenile; I struggled to finish it. I would definitely not recommend this novel - what a waste of 400 pages.
contrite.......2007-10-05
i found the characters to be completely unrealistic. A mother who thinks that she lost one of her children at birth spends the rest of her life feeling empty. Her husband, albeit a good man, hides the secret (that their child is alive) from her his entire life. come on, you must be joking. i kept reading the book thinking that the characters would become more "real" but it didn't happen. and, it's a long book!
The husband was a good father to their son yet the sons spends his entire adolescent and adulthood hating the father. ridiculous! if, as in real life, the author would have simply let the boy go through what most adolescents do (disliking their parents) but then turning around in young adulthood, it would be so much more believable.
very disappointing.
Great book - couldn't put it down!.......2007-10-05
I really enjoyed this book, and found that I couldn't put it down. Edwards allows you to get really involved with the characters, and sympathise with all viewpoints. I would have one caveat: the subject matter was quite sad and depressing, and so I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who wants a happy and jolly read!
Book Description
Before they hit the beach and flock to pool parties, teach your daughters about modesty, purity, and sexuality. The proven message of purity in Secret Keeper is now available for younger girls.The world seeks to empower women, but one of the greatest powers you can teach your daughter is the power of modesty. For girls 8-12 (and their mothers or small group leaders), Dannah Gresh brings the message of purity in a biblical, engaging and bonding way - CDs, diaries with stickers, and talking points! Pop the CD into the car system to hear greetings from Dannah Gresh and contemporary artist Rebecca St. James, and take off on a new adventure together. Moms will learn the key risk factors for girls, while Dannah's fun approach will appeal to young girls looking for a positive adult role model. Each chapter in the mom's book suggests a creative date where you treat yourselves to things like a facial, manicure, new outfit, tea party ... both mom and daughter will learn valuable lessons corresponding to each date.
Customer Reviews:
WOW!.......2006-10-07
What a neat book and kit to use with your daughter! One thing the description doesn't say very well is the kit includes a mom guide, a secret keeper girl diary and cd and stickers. When you select it above it also suggests you should buy the diary. (I ended up with an extra diary to return...bummer)
Cool book. - The cd is a neat addition to the date night.
Also Great As A Girls' Small Group.......2005-04-22
My daughter (10) and I invited three of her friends and their moms to join us as we journey through this book and its companion, Secret Keeper: The Delicate Power of Modesty. As a small group, we are having so much fun and learning so much about each other. We meet one week and discuss the concepts from the books and plan our date and then we have our date on another night. We are planning this as a year-long journey, so there is no rush.
If you are interested in using this in a small group environment, I would recommend limiting the numbers to 3 or 4 additional girls and their respective moms. Our girls all know each other, but coincidentally they do not attend the same school, church or social events. Therefore, they have expressed how "safe" they feel sharing their feelings and concerns and knowing that it's not going to get spread around. The moms have to feel safe too, as you never know what your daughter might share out of the blue. The more you can work together with the other mothers, the better the conversation can flow. Keep asking questions and truly listen. In a safe, honest environment, you'll be amazed what you will learn and how open your daughters are to the message of modesty and learning who they really are - not who the world says they ought to be. Enjoy the journey with your daughter.
Diary and Book of Beauty.......2004-07-21
Dannah Gresh has created a set of books that are completed with a CD by Rebecca St. James. This is a book set for 8-12 year old girls who are interested in inner and outer beauty. There are eight fun ideas for things like tea, parties, facials and shopping trips. The Diary has lined pages and "devotional-style" paragraphs for contemplation.
The Secret Keeper Girl book seems to be a "planning book" for moms and also includes information on fashion, like information on false advertising and the example of Kate Winslet's picture on GQ.
I remember my mother sending me to a class that talked about the subjects in this book, but I can tell you, this book is way more fun! You give your daughter the Diary book and she can listen to the CD.
Also included:
Recipes for facials
Affirmations of Beauty
Fashion Tips
~TheRebeccaReview.com
Book Description
How much would you sacrifice to save someone you love?
When Olivia, wild-haired and headstrong, makes a terrible mistake, she must turn to the person least likely to help--her mother, Elaine. Motherhood was a role that Elaine never embraced and her best never amounted to much. But now Olivia faces prosecution for a naïve connection to a drug deal and she needs Elaine more than ever. As the days count down and Olivia's future hangs in the balance, Elaine must decide just how much she is willing to give for a second chance with her daughter.
With Daughter's Keeper, Ayelet Waldman has crafted a redemptive journey at once highly emotional and unbearably suspenseful, as Olivia and Elaine's struggle builds to a beautiful, heart-wrenching climax. In this luminous, gripping novel, Waldman brings to life the tensions and the tenderness that forge the unshakeable bond between parent and child. Daughter's Keeper reveals the unlimited boundaries of forgiveness and the sacrifices we make for love.
"A powerhouse novel of complex emotions so compelling that when I finished the book, I started over again."--Amy Tan
"In Daughter's Keeper, Ayelet Waldman shows that the power of love, even when prickling with thorns, can ultimately provide what the criminal system cannot: a hard-fought, hard-won second chance."--Glen David Gold, author of Carter Beats the Devil
"Waldman's passion and affection for her characters shine through."--Publishers Weekly
"Waldman has written Daughter's Keeper with enough intelligence, tenderness and craft to shape outrage into a story that is both moving and enthralling." --Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius and You Shall Know Our Velocity!
"Ayelet Waldman has brought the war on drugs home, and has shown us just how close to home it can come....She looks past headlines and into the heart. What she finds there is hope for us all." --Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard Out of Carolina
Customer Reviews:
Polished and Powerful.......2006-02-19
At first I thought the themes would be too heavy, that I would get really bummed out. The book is very realistic and has that slice of life feel, something I adore. I really felt that I was looking right into the every day, humdrum existence of real people as a train wreck of circumstances passed through their lives. Have you ever wondered how people keep going on with their lives even while they are being tried for a crime? I have. Ms. Waldman showed me a picture of that. This book really hit the mark stylistically in terms of contemporary realism and documents the affect of the insanity of indicting incidental folks who almost accidentally commit a crime while the real criminals in our society act with impunity. The book does all this quietly, with no emotional manipulation, just real characters dealing with a messed up society. The character arcs are realistic... the whole way through the book for example, I kept wondering what was going to happen to Elaine. Would her development be realistic or hack? I was thrilled with the outcome!
pure enjoyment.......2005-11-17
I speak for not just myself, but my entire book group when i say that this book was pleasurable and intriguing. First off, the story plot wasn't a rehashing of the same old story. Obviously Mrs. Waldman's through understanding of the legal system, and it appears, this matter of trug trafficing in particular, lent a emotional aspect to a subject I often find very dry. Couple that with the unusual, or I take that back, not unusual (as most women I know have strained realtionships with their mothers!) but rather often unspoken mother-daughter relationship's trials and tribulations. The two women struggling to forgive each other and themselves was at times hard to read but nonetheless honest.I look forward to reading more of her work.
Smart, fast and emotional.......2005-03-04
This book is the story of a young woman who battles America's drug laws. 22 year old Olivia Goodman is in a bind when her boyfriend, illegal Mexican immigrant Jorge, is persuaded to participate in a drug deal, and Olivia's vague complicity sweeps her into an intense legal battle when she is arrested with Jorge. Her mother, Elaine, has choose between helping her daughter and pleasing her fiance.
I really liked this book a lot because of the way it explores the relationship between Olivia and her mother - it starts off with clashes and discomfort, and develops and changes throughout her experience and actually had me in tears by the end.
I also liked the author who has a lot of knowledge about the legal system and the drug laws in question. It taught me a lot about these laws that I'd never considered before. I always like books where I learn interesting things! A fast moving story to the end.
Wonderful read........2005-02-16
This is a great, fast-paced read from the author of the Mommy Track mysteries. She tackles more serious subject matter this time, but never loses her wit and sense of humor. There's a valid social message here, but Ayelet doesn't shove it down our throats or beat us about the heads with it; the characters are multidimensional and very much alive, and the prickly intimacy of the relationship between a middle-aged mother and her grown daughter is captured very aptly. Ayelet delivers the legal maneuverings and courtroom tension you might find in a John Grisham novel with the intelligence, wit and warmth of the Ivy League educated attorney and mother that she is. It makes for a great combination and a very satisfying read.
A GREAT BOOK.......2004-06-24
Do you want to read a REALLY good book? One that you can't put down? DAUGHTER'S KEEPER by Ayelet Waldman the best book I've read in a long time. Walman, besides being a smooth, even writer, weaves the hot issues of drugs, abortion, racial intergration,with most definitely the U.S. federal Court System. Some reviewers say that Waldman is prejudice concerning the system. There are thousands of stories that contradict that idea. Last there are mother-daughter issues, love, much weeping and memorable characters.
Product Description
Edwards's assured but schematic debut novel (after her collection, The Secrets of a Fire King) hinges on the birth of fraternal twins, a healthy boy and a girl with Down syndrome, resulting in the father's disavowal of his newborn daughter. A snowstorm immobilizes Lexington, Ky., in 1964, and when young Norah Henry goes into labor, her husband, orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Henry, must deliver their babies himself, aided only by a nurse. Seeing his daughter's handicap, he instructs the nurse, Caroline Gill, to take her to a home and later tells Norah, who was drugged during labor, that their son Paul's twin died at birth. Instead of institutionalizing Phoebe, Caroline absconds with her to Pittsburgh. David's deception becomes the defining moment of the main characters' lives, and Phoebe's absence corrodes her birth family's core over the course of the next 25 years. David's undetected lie warps his marriage; he grapples with guilt; Norah mourns her lost child; and Paul not only deals with his parents' icy relationship but with his own yearnings for his sister as well. Though the impact of Phoebe's loss makes sense, Edwards's redundant handling of the trope robs it of credibility. This neatly structured story is a little too moist with compassion.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Lack of story.......2006-10-17
The main story happens within the first 100 pages of the book. You can save yourself reading even the first 100 pages by reading the book flap instead. Kim Edwards struggles for the next 300 pages to add substance to the story. She is a very descriptive writer and can write for a half page or more on how lint looks on a shirt. I felt that she used her creative descriptions to compensate for a lack of story in the book. I found myself distracted by her writing style and skimming entire pages hoping to find some substance in the story.
The Most Talked Book Today.......2006-08-09
The most talked about book today. A phenomenal first novel by Edwards. The choice of a father to hide the birth of one of his twins has far reaching consequences."
Book Description
Separated from her mother at an early age, Tara Elgin Holley became her mother's legal guardian at age 16 and set about trying to rescue the blonde fairy princess she remembered from the shambling street person her mother had become. An inspiring story of one woman's struggle to struggle through the pain to reach a better understanding of her mother, herself and a devastating mental illness.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent book that provided much comfort.......2003-11-13
As a young woman with a mother who has paranoid schizophrenia, this book was invaluable to me. My mom was missing for 12 years, and I received this as a gift not long after finding her (about a year and a half ago). It was personally very comforting for me to read this wonderful book, and I would recommend it to anyone. Ms. Holley's close bond with her mom reminded me of the bond I had/have with mine, and the inherently conflicted feelings that result from that bond.
A Must Read.......2002-10-23
My Mother's Keeper is an excellent autobiography/biography in one of a mother and daughter and their separate and entwined lives. I am a mental health RN and have been studying about schizophrenia. This book has helped me see in places I have never been able to see into before. I now have a broader perspective of schizophrenia and how families must feel also. Ms. Holley's writing is easy to read and follow. So much so, that it is very hard to put the book down. This is definitely a must read for anyone who wants to find out more about schizophrenia.
Moving telling of a difficult story.......1999-06-02
This was an exceptionally well written memoir, one that must have been very difficult to write. Ms. Elgin moves gracefully along the line between her mother's story and her own, and (it appears) honestly grapples with the ups and downs of both. Thank you.
Accurate, yet sensitive and personal.......1998-07-17
This book provides an accurate description of the development and chronic course of schizophrenia, one of the most debilitating illnesses of our time. The Holleys' sensitive portrayal of Mrs. Elgin's life touched me deeply. I thank them for giving us and honest depiction of this illness.
A must read for anyone curious about schizophrenia.......1998-02-01
I fell in love with this book from the first page and couldn't put it down. The author takes you through the beginning of a beautiful singing career of her mother to the painful discovery of a life long mental illness. It truely gave me a new understanding of schizophrenia and the affect it has on family and friends.
Average customer rating:
- The eyes of Bette Davis
- Fascinating
- Let Me Just Say This . .. .
- B.D. Hyman--Sold Her Mother Out for $$$$$$$$$
- My Mother's Keeper Book
|
My Mother's Keeper
B. D. Hyman
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Bargain Books
| Stores
| Books
| Arts & Photography
| Audiobooks
| Biography
| Business & Investing
| Calendars
| Children
| Computers & Internet
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Film
| Greeting Cards & Accessories
| Health, Mind & Body
| History
| Home & Garden
| Humor, Comics & Pop Culture
| Literature & Fiction
| Mysteries & Thrillers
| Nonfiction
| Parenting & Families
| Reference
| Religion & Spirituality
| Romance
| Science & Nature
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Sports
| Teens
| Travel
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
| Dance
| General
| Reference
| Theater
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
This 'n' That
-
The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis - A Personal Biography
-
Bette Davis (Life&Times series)
-
Mommie Dearest
-
Bette Davis: A Biography
ASIN: 068804798X |
Customer Reviews:
The eyes of Bette Davis.......2007-09-29
I am not crazy about this book because it seems to be an apparent attempt for B. D. to cash in on her mother's famous name. The book describes how Bette was an unsympathetic and uncaring mother over the years and how B. D. had to "take care of her." Is this really true? I have no idea. Was the book interesting? Yes, parts of it were.
Before I read this book I was never too crazy about Bette Davis. Am I the only one that thinks she always looked and sounded so haggard and tired in all of her pictures? But after reading it I have a new understanding of Bette. She wasn't concerned with Hollywood or with all the glitz. She just wanted to be an "actor." Maybe that was what meant the most in the end.
Fascinating.......2007-09-16
Although I think Bette Davis was a fine actress, she obviously had a very hard time with relationships and it's sad that her daughter had to suffer. You can tell that the author (daugher B. D. Hyman) loved her mother through it all. It gives us insight into Bette's psyche.
Let Me Just Say This . .. ........2007-08-29
I love all of these amateur psychiatrists diagnosing NPD. Apparantly Joan Crawford suffered from this same disease - I read all about it in the reviews for "Mommie Dearest". No one can definitely say what went on in the home of Bette Davis. Even if B.D. speaks the truth - there are 2 sides to every story & her book would be a pretty boring read if she didn't try to stir up some dirt. I don't think Bette Davis was a perfect mother - but I do believe she loved her daughter and did the best she could. Bette was a great actress - and that would undeniably take a toll on other areas of her life so I believe that B.D. probably suffered for it but not to the extent that she claims in "My Mother's Keeper." At the end of her life Bette didn't have a vast fortune to bestow on any of her children - that is why Bette worked up until the end - she was in constant need of money. She supported her Mother, her sister, maintained her daughter Margo's care, and eventually supported B.D.'s family. B.D. needn't have waited until Bette's death for an inheritence that would never come. I am of the impression that B.D. felt the need to soil her mother's name and in the midst of Bette's illness to make a buck. I do think that B.D. should drop it already - if you go to her website she is still preaching about her controlling mother - how can you preach forgiveness if you yourself can't forgive? Why doesn't she just get on with her life already?
B.D. Hyman--Sold Her Mother Out for $$$$$$$$$.......2007-06-16
Well well well...B.D. Hyman--say Amen, folks! The woman who seems never to have had a real job in her life, along with her leech-like husband Jeremy--tears her mother apart with this sensation-seeking piece of muck raking.
Bette Davis was not an easy woman to deal with--I think anyone with a brain in their head could figure this out. Highly strung, neurotic, and probably an alcoholic, she was demanding to the point of torture. B.D. and Jeremy, however, b***ch and moan about what a witch she is, but still had their hands out ready to take any cash she offered. If you would like a good laugh, read Narrow Is the Way, B.D.'s follow-up book detailing how they ran away to the Bahamas when creditors started chasing them in the U.S.. B.D. now runs an evangelical ministry--snigger snigger--you can give her money--cash, credit card or check--and she'll pray for you.
My Mother's Keeper Book.......2007-03-08
Thanks for sending the book so quickly. I appreciate this. Great Service!!
Average customer rating:
- The End of Part One
- Fantastic
- Excellent
- fun stuff
- Keeper of Earth
|
Keeper of the Earth (Daughter of Destiny)
Jenna Solitaire
Manufacturer: Tor Teen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Action & Adventure
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| Nature
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure & Thrillers
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Love & Romance
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Action & Adventure
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fiction
| Nature
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Adventure & Thrillers
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Love & Romance
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Keeper of the Flames (Daughter of Destiny Series) (The Guardian of the Boards)
-
Keeper of the Waters (Daughter of Destiny Series) (The Guardian of the Boards)
-
Keeper of the Winds (Daughter of Destiny series)
-
The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, Book 2)
-
Glass Houses (The Morganville Vampires, Book 1)
ASIN: 0765353601 |
Book Description
Having found the Board of Fire, Jenna and Simon hurry to decipher the clues that will lead them to the Board of Earth—and mastery over the very land itself. But on their way to locate the tomb of a mythical English hero while fending off shadowy new attackers who want the Boards for themselves, an offer of help comes from a surprising source. Can Jenna and Simon trust this offer—or are they walking straight into a trap set by the one who has coveted the Boards for millennia?
Customer Reviews:
The End of Part One.......2007-06-18
Jenna Solitaire, the Keeper of the Boards, has to find the last board of the elements and the key to hold them together. She and Simon find themselves directed to England and Scotland. All she has to do is figure out the location of a field she saw in a dream. A field that looks like any other. But between the Journal, the Boards, and Shalizander she manages to find the right location. But finding the location is only the beginning.
Jenna needs to keep the three Boards under control, fight off Shalizander's attempts to get her to complete the ritual of the dagger, locate the board and the key, link all the boards, awaken the Master Board, and fight off attacks from her enemies. Not so simple a task. This is Jenna's hardest battle yet with its own challenges, choices and losses. How well with Jenna survive? What losses will she have to endure? You will have to read to find out.
This book concludes the search for the Elemental Boards. There are still eight more boards to find. There are supposed to be thirteen boards (yes, 4+8=12 and not 13) but this cycle is over. This volume was much more fantasy oriented with huge amounts of magic and magical beings and less of the real world. Because of this there are fewer areas where the story does not work like in the earlier books. Although the larger series is not yet over, I am not sure if I will look at the others if they ever come out.
Fantastic.......2007-04-20
I am not a teenager any longer and I enjoyed the "Daughter of Destiny" books ENORMOUSLY!!! These books are not just for kids or teens but for people of all ages. I am eagerly waiting the next installment of this fantastic series!!!!!
Excellent.......2007-04-17
I am way over the age of 21 and absolutely love the Daughter of Destiny series. Keeper of the Earth was another excellent adventure along with the rest. I can't wait to find out what happens next. I hope that there will be more in the series.
fun stuff.......2007-03-26
OK, this is very enjoyable and when is the next book coming out?? I'm way past being a teen, but I have really liked this series. Very clever.
Keeper of Earth.......2007-03-21
I am 21 years old and I absolutly loved this series of books. Although i didn't like one part in this book (anyone that has read it will know what i am talking about) that part was sad! I really hope Jenna continues her jouney and continues to write more books! Keep up the awesome work!
Average customer rating:
- Top-Notch Action-Fantasy
- A Little Better
- Completely Amazing
- Excellent series
- Another great addition!!!
|
Keeper of the Flames (Daughter of Destiny Series) (The Guardian of the Boards)
Jenna Solitaire
Manufacturer: Tor Teen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Action & Adventure
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| Nature
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure & Thrillers
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Love & Romance
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Action & Adventure
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
| Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror
| Literature
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fiction
| Nature
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Adventure & Thrillers
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Love & Romance
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Keeper of the Earth (Daughter of Destiny)
-
Keeper of the Waters (Daughter of Destiny Series) (The Guardian of the Boards)
-
Keeper of the Winds (Daughter of Destiny series)
-
Cast in Courtlight (The Cast Series, Book 2)
-
Greywalker (Greywalker, Book 1)
ASIN: 076535358X
Release Date: 2006-05-30 |
Book Description
My name is Jenna Solitaire, and I am the Keeper of the Boards. With the elements of Air and Water at my command, I now go in search for the most dangerous Board I have sought so far-the Board of Fire.From the searing desert of the Middle East, Jenna and Simon travel to the ancient city of Pompeii, following the clues to the hiding place of the Board of Fire-also known as the Board of the Flames. But Peraud is hot on their trail, and is more determined than ever to claim the two Boards the Keeper already possesses. Jenna must also contend with her growing attraction to Simon, who is torn by his desire for her-and his sacred duty to the Church.
Customer Reviews:
Top-Notch Action-Fantasy.......2007-08-07
An unabashed 5 stars for this surprisingly well-written novel that's geared toward teens but really can be read by anyone who enjoys fantasy with a great, realistic herione and lots of non-stop action and thrills.
I have to say I seriously underestimated this book because it was fairly thin, and was part of a teen series. I was blown away, however, by how realistically rendered the characters were; especially Jenna, who, to my huge relief, not only used her head to make wise and moral decisions, but also had a clever tongue to go with her admirable personality.
Besides succeeding in characterization, the author also succeeds with the story. The book is extremely well-plotted, and you get the impression that the author already knows how everything will fit together at the very end of the series. The action never let up, and the dreams Jenna kept getting were a great plot detail because not only did they introduce mysteries/questions to answer in the future, but also answered some current ones. That way, the reader is excited to find out what's going to happen, but is not frustrated by not getting rewarded for his/her efforts.
And of course, what's a fantasy book without a romantic quandry? I'm happy to say that this is tastefully done and does not get in the way of the bigger goal: getting the boards. The villian is mysterious and evil enough to be scary, and the book is not afraid to go into more adult themes.
This is the third of the series but the first I've read. I'm definitely going to check out the other three, after this edge-of-your-seat read. It was everything I was looking for in a book, with something extra besides: a heroine that's cool, calm, and collected, and understands that there needs to be a balance between the head and the heart. What a breath of fresh air that was.
A Little Better.......2007-06-18
Jenna Solitaire has traveled to Pompeii with Simon Monk to try and retrieve the Board of Fire. The board was hidden by one of Jenna's ancestors in Mount Vesuvius. This action caused the volcano to erupt and destroy ancient Pompeii. The ghosts of those killed in the eruption are still wandering the island and many have taken to inhabit the local dogs. It turns out that Jenna's great-grandmother had a lover in the area before she journeyed to America. This old lover, once a priest, is still alive. He offers Jenna help in controlling the boards.
After Simon tries to find out more about his own past things begin to get sticky. But all things lead to Jenna having to go into the volcano and retrieve the board. Unfortunately an old prophesy says that when the board is removed, the volcano will erupt again thus destroying the area. How can Jenna get the board? How much help will her great-grandmother's lover be? What secrets will Simon learn about his own past? Will the forces arranged against Jenna be able to triumph? You will have to read to find out.
This one was a little better than the first two although there were some glaring continuity problems at the start. This is the first volume to mention needing a connection for the stolen Blackberry to work (still no mention of charging without a charger or how it could hook to European power outlets). At one point Jenna is saved by meeting the conditions of a prophecy. Later we find out those conditions were not met. How did she survive? Bad writing. It is also becoming clear that this four-book series is intended to be part of a larger work. A little better than the first two and I would put it at about 2 ½ stars.
Completely Amazing.......2007-03-13
I have read thousands of books so far in my life and spent several years recently as a bookseller... and still there are some books that just grip me and I can't let go of them. This series was like that for me.
This series is slated towards teens and I am definitely not in that age group, and I still love this series! I had to buy it for myself after reading the first one in advanced reader form (booksellers get these). I waited for the rest of the series and it was well worth the wait!
There are few books I read that have such a blend of humor, action, struggle, magic, wonder, and destiny. You can read this as lightly or seriously as you choose.
Jenna has taken me on a journey I wouldn't have had otherwise, and I wouldn't change that for anything!
Excellent series.......2007-01-22
Both my daughter and I loved the series. There is action, adventure, archaeology and mystery all rolled into one. We've read all four and can't wait for the next installment.
Another great addition!!!.......2006-11-26
I love this series. I am a big fan of the Fantasy genre and maybe have already read all the books there are and I was estatic to find another wonderful series to read. FIVE STARS!!! It's a keeper (LOL,:D, I crack myself up). Buy and read this now!!!!
Average customer rating:
- Good for mature teens!!
- the light keepers daugter
- It's All Good
- A warmly recommended story of family differences
- Beautiful and Poignant
|
The Lightkeeper's Daughter (Readers Circle)
Iain Lawrence
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Family Life
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Lawrence, Iain
| ( L )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
( L )
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| Lasky, Kathryn
| Lewis, C.S.
| Lobel, Arnold
| London, Jack
General
| Family Life
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Private Peaceful (After Words)
-
Zazoo
-
The Rag and Bone Shop
-
Stargirl (Readers Circle)
-
The Wreckers (The High Seas Trilogy)
ASIN: 0385731272
Release Date: 2004-05-11 |
Amazon.com
The thunder of the waves, the screams of seagulls, and the smell of torn kelp suffuse this quiet, introspective story of a young woman's return to her childhood home on an island off the west coast of Canada. The sea in all its moods makes a turbulent background for a story of four people closely tied together by their idyllic but claustrophobic life alone on Lizzie Island, and by the tangled strands of resentment, guilt, and love that bind them. Elizabeth, nicknamed Squid, has brought a load of bitter anger with her on this first visit back to Lizzie Island since she left two years ago after her daughter, Tatiana, was born. The child is the result of an encounter with a passing kayaker, who took advantage of Squid's youthful innocence. The visit is tense also for Squid's parents, Hannah and Murray, the meticulous lighthouse keeper. All three blame themselves and each other for the death, or possible suicide, of Squid's brother, Alastair, but are unable to confront their feelings.
Iain Lawrence makes a striking shift in this book from the swashbuckling action of his seagoing trilogy, The Wreckers, The Smugglers, and The Buccaneers, to a contemplative story only gradually revealed in bits and pieces through the memories of the four principals. The harsh but seductive beauty of the island and its limitation on their lives is subtly portrayed in this book that will be enjoyed by older girls who are willing to accept its thoughtful pace. (Ages 14 and older) --Patty Campbell
Book Description
Three years have passed since Squid McCrae last saw her parents and the remote island where she grew up. She returns now at seventeen, a young woman with a daughter in tow. The visit, she knows, will be rough. Lizzie Island–paradise to some, a stifling prison to others–brings an onslaught of memories. It is the place of Squid’s idyllic childhood, where she and her brother, Alastair, blossomed into precocious adolescents. But Lizzie Island is also the place where Alastair died.
Now the past collides with the present as Squid’s homecoming unleashes bittersweet recollections, revelations, and accusations. But nothing is what it appears to be. No one possesses the complete truth, and no one is without blame.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Good for mature teens!!.......2006-10-11
I would highly recommend this to a mature teen. It was very good. It taught you about family and the importance of love.
the light keepers daugter.......2006-05-24
The Light Keepers Daughter
This book was strange but really interesting. At first I thought that the book was bad but as soon as I kept on reading, it started to get a lot better. The book has a lot of twisted and turns in it. Although squid loves her dad she blames him for everything that happens, like her brother dying. I like this book cause it was different. Not every book is about islands and light keepers. This girl that is the main character is so much like anything, or me, that I wish that I never had to go home like that. She is always having fun and running around. I really like it and would recommend this to anyone who likes fun fictional books. One thing I didn't like was how they would talk about how the past was, and then they would talk about the future bounce back and forth between the past and future and sometimes they would lose me. It talked about people in the third person a lot which was kind also of confusing.
It's All Good.......2005-04-18
It was an amazing, beautiful story. The characters were so alive, the plot was emotional, and overall it was great. A lot of it made me want to cry. Sad, but great.
A warmly recommended story of family differences.......2003-03-10
Recommended for older readers is Iain Lawrence's Lightkeeper's Daughter, a story of seventeen-year-old Squid, who returns home to her parents' isolated life on an island bringing with her a young daughter. Squid has a lot to face before she moves away from her parents: she resents them for their isolated life, blames them for her brother's untimely death, and seeks a closeness with them which might never be. Lightkeeper's Daughter is a warmly recommended story of family differences, strife, and the effects of an isolated environment on the family unit.
Beautiful and Poignant.......2003-01-30
Set on a remote island on the western coast of Canada against a backdrop of wicked storms, anguished memories, and vast loneliness comes the beautiful and poignant story of 17 year old Squid and her family, the Mc Craes. Though much of the story is about Squid, the story is told mostly from the perspective and memories of Squid's mother Hannah, as the reader is drawn into the world of separation, and reunion.
Growing up on the remote Lizzie Island and as a lightkeeper's daughter, Squid could swim before she could walk, and had only met 50 people in her entire 17 years. Squid returns to the island after three years separation with her three year old daughter Tatiana in tow. The reunion is painful, and redeeming, much of it bringing back memories of accidental or perhaps suicidal drowning of Squid's brother Alistar, and of Squid's pregancy from a lone kyaker when she was 13 years old. Much of the conflict in this story stems from the death of Alistar and how each member of the family deals with the regret, guilt, and loss, and from the difficulties and beauty of living daily with isolation and often violent nature.
I loved this book, and think it would be a wonderful read for the older thoughtful teen reader. I thought the rating as a 14+ teen novel was misleading as the slow poetic pace and thought provoking nature of the book might not capture the attention of the average teen. But, the gift in this book for me was truly the beautiful langugage Lawrence weaves throught out the story...The descriptions of the sea and rugged beauty of the island were truly captivating.
Amazon.com
Murray Katz, the celibate keeper of an abandoned lighthouse near Atlantic City, has been blessed with a daughter conceived of his own seed and a holy ovum. Like her half brother Jesus, Julie Katz can walk on water, heal the blind, and raise the dead. But being the Messiah isn't easy, and Julie, bewildered by her role in the divine scheme of things, is tempted by the Devil and challenged by neo- Christian zealots in this lively odyssey through Hell and New Jersey. Winner of the World Fantasy Award.
Book Description
Call it a miracle or an accident at the sperm bank. But Julie Katz, the half-sister of Jesus, has been born to a celibate father. Soon poor Julie is tempted by the Devil and challenged by neo-Christian zealots-and that’s just the beginning of her fantastic odyssey through Hell, a seceded New Jersey, and her own confused soul. Winner of a 1991 World Fantasy Award.
Customer Reviews:
Know the true nature of God when you read this book!.......2007-03-08
All right, perhaps you won't, but didn't that catch your attention? It's actually the book's title character, Julie Katz, who tries to fathom the nature and will of God. But despite her own semi-divine parentage, this Jewish girl from South Jersey has no clue what the eternal Mom wants her to do on this Earth.
Julie does get a lot of advice and ideas from others, however. That sets forth a chain of events which sometimes parallels Julie's more famous half-brother, who coincidentally is one of the main characters of the all-time best selling book.
Instead of dwelling on "the power & the glory" - though there is that aspect to the book as well - Morrow mostly focuses on how an average woman with divine powers gets on in life. Julie's attempts to seek the truth lead to a miracle-filled ministry, a trip to a fascinatingly-devised Hell and her returning to a warped future Jersey where the Revelationist sect holds sway but an underground Church of Uncertainty holds her words quite literally as "gospel." (By the way, as a one-time New Jerseyan, I can appreciate the irony of Morrow's turning my former home state into an autonomous right-wing fundamentalist theocracy in the latter part of the book.)
Morrow's novel hits home on multiple levels. In particular, he boldly satirizes religion as practiced by various denominations of Christians. If you are easily offended by religious satire (especially those who believe The Rapture may be imminent), this is probably not the book for you. Those who are somewhat more open-minded will appreciate Morrow's biting wit in this well-paced novel.
Top-notch satire.......2006-08-17
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! The satire was spot-on and very prescient. The baroquely grotesque dystopia built by the Revelationists in this novel is perhaps more frightening (and less hyperbolic) now than when Morrow wrote it, given the gradual mainstreaming in the U.S. of fanatical evangelical perspectives on "the End Times." If the loud intolerance of many modern fundamentalist Christians keeps you from comfortably embracing Christianity, this may be the book for you. I found it at turns laugh-out-loud funny and heart-breakingly poignant. Morrow's prose is rich and eminently quotable; I couldn't stop reading choice bits and pieces to my family. This is my first Morrow novel, after having read many of his short stories (I recommend "Bible Stories for Adults"), and I was fully satisfied with the expansion of Morrow's narrative powers into the novel form. Enjoy and be enlightened!
Not for the easily offended.......2006-02-06
Now that's a cliched review title but that's about as good as we're going to get tonight. It is true, to some extent, but it's not like Morrow sets out to offend everyone in creation, mostly just people who take religion too seriously and the majority of his "offenses" are simply pointing out contradictions or other illogical facets of said religion. The premise of this is that Murray Katz, a single Jewish fellow, winds up with an immaculate conception when one of his donated sperm suddenly fertilize and eventually gives birth to his daughter Julie, who right away exhibits powers that are similar to a guy who lived two thousand years ago, leading family and friends to believe that she's the daughter of God. Right then starts her journey as she tries to contact her heavenly mother and get some word out of her, while resisting all impulses to use her powers to fix everything in the world, knowing that it really won't solve anything. Along the way she encounters some extreme Christian fundamentalists (and wait until you see what they do to Atlantic City), and the devil, and goes to a lot of places that she really didn't expect to go. Morrow tends to stick to the genre of religious satire and when he's on (this novel, Towing Jehovah) he's fantastic, and when he's not on (This is the Way the World Ends) it just comes across as heavy handed. Fortunately in this novel he's firing on all cylinders, the premise is sound and the characters are sometimes prisoner to their own archetypes but he manages to wring some actual emotional content out of all of this. It works because he doesn't get too silly, the way he does in some of his other books. Julie is the daughter of God and she has powers and he actually plays it straight from there, with everyone having basically believable reactions in the context of the book. Even the devil makes sense and the scenes later when they visit, er, another plane of existence seem to have some kind of solid grounding. Julie's quest to get some kind of acknowledgement from God and to basically figure out what the heck her purpose is on Earth is touching at times. Some things start to get odd toward the third part of the novel, when New Jersey decides to secede from the rest of the country (another reason I like the book, it's my home state, although we're not really too flattering there . . . but then who likes Atlantic City anyway) and Julie has to deal with a whole new set of problems. But even that makes sense, again you have to suspend a little bit of disbelief but Morrow doesn't take himself totally seriously. But things aren't played totally for laughs either, when people get killed, it's horrifying and brutal and Morrow spares us nothing. It's black humor, in the Vonnegut sense, and he's trying to prove a point and entertain us at the same time. Sometimes he goes a bit over the top, while I do appreciate the noting where the church (or Christian teaching) deviates from what the Bible actually says, I've never seen anybody do it in a way that doesn't come across as someone lecturing at me and proving that they've done their research. Fortunately he only does it once, but it's still one too many times. But I'm nit-picking really. This is probably tied with Towing Jehovah as his best novel (and I think this also won the World Fantasy Award) and well worth the time to read if you want an examination of religion that doesn't get too serious. Devoutists of any religion may want to steer clear, but I don't think this book is for you anyway. Just a hunch.
Absolutely fantastic........2006-01-26
Funny, irreverent, and thought-provoking, Morrow's book is a joy to read. His wiring sucks the reader in as his daughter Julie grows up. I won't write a description of it because Amazon already has, but I will say that I'd recommend this book to anyone. (Well, unless you're a conservative christian. Then this book will probably piss you off.) But for the rest of us, it's a fantastic read.
Recommended by a friend.......2004-10-13
A friend of mine recommended this book, and Towing Jehovah. My husband bought them for me for Christmas. Not only will I never take a book recommendation from this friend again, I will never read another book by James Morrow. This book was thought provoking? Only if your thought was "What the heck is he thinking?!" Morrow's writing style is sadistic, boring, and painful to read. My first thought reading the first book - "it's got to get better... it has to". During the second book, ""this one can't be as bad as the first one..." I was wrong on both accounts. I am a collector of books, and for the first time ever, I have toyed with the idea of burning or just throwing away two books.
Books:
- The Oath
- The Other Wind (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 6)
- The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (National Book Award for Young People's Literature (Awards))
- The Queen of the South
- The Reckoning: A Thriller
- The Return Journey
- The Schwarzbein Principle II: The "Transition" - A Regeneration Program to Prevent and Reverse Accelerated Aging
- The Secret Life of Bryan (Visitation, Book 2)
- The Undomestic Goddess
- Through Wolf's Eyes (Wolf, Book 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Foundations of IT Service Management: based on ITIL
- Alzheimer's Activities: Hundreds of Activities for Men and Women with Alzheimer's Disease and Relate
- The Pink Floyd Encyclopedia
- The Education of a Christian Woman: A Sixteenth-Century Manual
- The Volunteer Management Handbook
- AKU-AKU: The Secret of Easter Island
- Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968
- College Accounting: A Practical Approach, Chapters 1-15
- The New Nonprofit Almanac and Desk Reference: The Essential Facts and Figures for Managers, Research
- Isle of Canes
Water for Elephants: A Novel
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman
A Thousand Splendid Suns
