The Empty Chair

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It's not easy being NYPD detective Lincoln Rhyme, the world's foremost criminalist. First of all, he's a quadriplegic. Secondly, he's forever being second-guessed and mother-henned by his ex-model-turned-cop protégé, Amelia Sachs, and his personal aide, Thom. And thirdly, it seems that he can't motor his wheelchair around a corner without bumping into one crazed psycho-killer after another.

In The Empty Chair, Jeffery Deaver's third Rhyme outing--after 1997's The Bone Collector and 1998's The Coffin Dancer--Rhyme travels to North Carolina to undergo an experimental surgical procedure and is, a jot too coincidentally, met at the door by a local sheriff, the cousin of an NYPD colleague, bearing one murder, two kidnappings, and a timely plea for help. It seems that 16-year-old Garrett Hanlon, a bug-obsessed orphan known locally as the Insect Boy, has kidnapped and probably raped two women, and bludgeoned to death a would-be hero who tried to stop one of the abductions.

Rhyme sets up shop, Amelia leads the local constabulary (easily recognized by their out-of-joint noses) into the field, and, after some Holmesian brain work and a good deal of exciting cat-and-mousing, the duo leads the cops to their prey. And just as you're idly wondering why the case is coming to an end in the middle of the book, Amelia breaks the boy out of jail and goes on the lam. Equally convinced of the boy's guilt and the danger he poses to Amelia, Rhyme has no choice but to aid the police in apprehending the woman he loves--no easy task, as she's the one human being who truly knows the methods of Lincoln Rhyme.

Rhyme's specialty combines the minute scientific analysis of physical evidence gathered from crime scenes and his arcane knowledge of, it would seem, every organic and inorganic substance on earth. Deaver combines engaging narration, believable characters, and his trademark ability to repeatedly pull the rug out from under the reader's feet. Lincoln Rhyme's back all right, and the smart money's betting that his run has just begun. --Michael Hudson

Book Description

Renowned criminalist Lincoln Rhyme faces his ultimate opponent: a kidnapper and murderer dubbed the Insect Boy. But Rhyme is in for a surprise when he learns that catching a criminal is one thing...and keeping him is another. Now Rhyme, in North Carolina to undergo risky spinal cord surgery, finds himself hunting a ruthless killer in the heart of a southern swampland -- and going head-to-head with his protégé, Amelia Sachs, in a rivalry that tests the limits of both their expertise and their love.

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Jeffery Deaver's ingenious, wheelchair-bound criminalist from the international bestsellers The Bone Collector and The Coffin Dancer returns with a bang when an appointment at a renowned North Carolina hospital puts him in the exact wrong place at the exact wrong time. When the police turn to Lincoln for help finding two kidnapped hometown girls, he has no idea that the kidnapper will ultimately come between him and everything he holds dear -- especially his esteemed protegee and love, Amelia Sachs. When Rhyme and Sachs disagree about the perpetrator's identity, they find themselves pitted against one another in a winner-take-all battle of wits. A battle that will test the meaning -- and price -- of loyalty. The Empty Chair features the signature plot twists and heart-stopping suspense that have made Deaver a household name.

Customer Reviews:

Deaver never lets you down.......2007-06-01

I have more books written by Jeffrey Deaver than any other author, and that's because he is so consistent, he never seems to come up with a dud. The Empty Chair is one of his Rhyme/Sachs series, Rhyme being the C4 quadriplegic criminalist who pursues the baddies from the confines of his Storm Arrow powered wheelchair or his bed in his apartment off Central Park, and the only part of his body he can move (from the neck down) is his 'ring finger', and even then only very slightly. I saw the film The Bone Collector some years ago, and as a result I can't but imagine that Denzel Washington in the part of Lincoln Rhyme in any of these novels, even though I believe that Deaver's vision of the man is white caucasian. And somehow I believe Amelia Sachs is far more attractive than Angelina Jolie (who played the part in Bone Collector), but maybe I just love tall redheads who love fast driving....... Anyway The Empty Chair is another example of Deaver making a complicated story out of ostensibly a simple plot, a skill he is very adept at. While in North Carolina for experimental surgery that might improve (or worsen) his disability, Rhyme is drawn into a local police hunt for a 16-year-old known as The Insect Boy, and who is alleged to be responsible for murder, rape and abduction. One of his female victims is thought to be alive but she needs to be found quickly in the intense August heat of the humid Carolina swamplands. As usual, nothing is what it initially seems, and although I constantly tried to guess the next twist, more often than not I was wrong - and I'm becoming a seasoned Deaver reader. The Empty Chair is as much a puzzle as a piece of entertaining fiction, and I admit I wasn't always able to come up with the answers before they were revealed. Standard Deaver fare, then, but a high standard nevertheless and worth adding to your personal library.

an entertaining read; A-.......2007-05-28

This was my first Deaver novel - I "met" Sachs and Rhyme in this novel (which I just found out maybe wasn't ideal, according to another review). Luckily I saw the movie "The Bone Collector" long enough ago that I could put the actors out of my mind and start fresh. I actually hadn't even drawn the connection when I started the book, not knowing Deaver was the common author.

Good:
I still feel like I appreciated the characters, despite not having the benefit of their background from the previous novels. Some reviews have cast them as 1-dimensional & cliche's... not sure I can agree with that. I was drawn in and Deaver did a good job at making the book as standalone as possible, in spite of being part of a series. It was very readable and rather gripping. I wouldn't know forensic evidence if it hit me in the eyeball, so I don't know how accurate Deaver is, but he does make that aspect of the novel very compelling, interesting and believable. When all else fails, there's the list of clues taunting you, the reader, to figure it out for yourself. Very engaging - a strong and cohesive element for the novel.

Bad:
The plot twists, while fun, grew a little tiresome. I felt cheated by many of them. I know better than to think Deaver made them up as he went along, but it began to feel that way. No previous hints/foreshadowing/allusions to give the reader a shot at them - they just get pulled out of a hat, it seems. The whole plot seems to balance on the knife edge of plausibility, as well. I'm pretty good at suspending reality and just letting books take me for the ride, but the ice got pretty thin toward the end, even for me.

Overall, though, I do recommend the book. It was an entertaining read that I kept coming back to. My reading time is sporadic but I found myself making time to finish The Empty Chair. If this is one of Deaver's worst offerings (as many of these reviews say) then I might become a fan.

Exciting Thriller? Rename this book Empty Promises!.......2007-04-08

From its boring title to its cast of cliched southern rednecks, the Empty Chair disappoints from the very beginning. The storyline about a teen killer/kidnapper obsessed with insects is interesting, but the story quickly dissolves into a half-baked tale of southern intrigue that never offers any excitement. Deaver tried to save the book by pulling about a dozen rabbits out of a hat near the end of the novel, but many of these surprises and plot twists make no sense at all, and after the third or fourth one, the reader just gets tired of the whole thing. Deaver also tries to wrap up every plot conflict with a neat little bow at the end, but he leaves out most of the explanations which only leaves readers scratching their heads and wondering what happened. Try the earlier books in this series, both of which were far better reads.

Not very engrossing.......2007-03-02

For some reason, as I was reading this book my mind kept wandering. I'd suddenly realize that, while I had `read' the last two pages, they hadn't really registered. I don't know if it was just that I wasn't in the mood for that particular type of book (it was for a book club, so I couldn't put off reading it), if I've OD-ed on mysteries, of it there was just something about this book that I didn't quite like. Looking at it from a purely superficial viewpoint, there was nothing really wrong with the plot, the characters, or the writing, but it just did not draw me in. I didn't feel that tug of interest. It was just... okay. Until I got to the end, which annoyed me for its happy sitcom-wrap up `good people are really all okay no harm no foul thank you very much' ending. If it's possible to be ticked off about a happy ending, for some reason this book made me just that. I can't pinpoint why I didn't like it, the attraction just wasn't there.

Another great Rhyme book from Deaver........2007-02-04

No spoilers.

I'll start off by saying that with every Deaver book I read I become more and more of a fan. I randomly got into him by reading The Blue Nowhere (which is honestly one of the best books I have read in the past year) and when I finished that, I found that I liked it so much I wanted to keep reading more of his work, so I got into the Rhyme series. Having just finished this book, the third in the series after Bone Collector and Coffin Dancer, I can say that while it hasn't been the best so far (I reserve that title for Bone Collector) it was definitely a great read and I enjoyed every page of it.

This book is different from the first two books of the series in that instead of the action taking place in the middle of New York City or 30,000 feet up in an airplane, the entire book takes place either in the forests of a small North Carolina town, or the Sherriff's Departement of that said town. Even with the different venue, it is still a great book that not only keeps you glued to each word, but also delivers those plot shattering twists that Deaver can always be counted on for. Throughout the book, I had my qualms about some of the characters upon initially being introduced to them, but I'm telling you now, you won't know what's going to happen, I promise. And even if you have an inkling about it, that's only about 10% of what's really going on.

From reading the descriptions about the book and the jacket review, I was wondering what the plot of the book was going to be (especially the part about how Sachs turns on Rhyme and he has to track her down), but it most definitely works in the story and the way the ending wraps itself up is definitely satisfying. All in all, if you liked the first two books you're going to read this book anyway, regardless of reviews, but if you're questioning whether or not you want to pick up the Rhyme series, I say full-heartedly go for it.

The Empty Chair (Star Trek: Rihannsu, Book 5)

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Worth waiting for
Grim reading and unpleasant ending
Rihannsu finally concluded
Finishes a saga
Rihannsu Book 5

The Empty Chair (Star Trek: Rihannsu, Book 5)
Diane Duane
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416508910

Customer Reviews:

Worth waiting for.......2007-05-14

I'd almost given up hope that Diane Duane would finish the story left hanging at the end of SWORDHUNT and HONOR BLADE so many years ago, but this final chapter did not disappoint. As with the earliest books in this series, MY ENEMY, MY ALLY and THE ROMULAN WAY, this final, fifth book has an actual ending, and a very satisfying one at that.

I couldn't remember much about either SWORDHUNT or HONOR BLADE, but that didn't seem to get in the way of enjoying the final volume. The main characters and plot threads were all introduced in the first two volumes, which I've frequently re-read, and anything I'd forgotten about the later books was easily caught up by the ongoing plot and character revelations in THE EMPTY CHAIR.

I highly recommend this novel for any fan of Diane Duane's original series Trek novels.

Grim reading and unpleasant ending.......2007-02-16

The fourth book in what became the Rihannsu series left on us on a really high note. Whenever I read it, I was left to wonder what the author would choose to do. I had great hopes, because it seemed that the author had the permission and the willingness to go way beyond what the canon and the continuity allowed.

It is rarely good to have such high hopes for something. For one thing, meeting them can become unrealistic. For another, there is always a let down with having one of the many possibilities chosen. Anyway, to get going on the content of this review, the writing is excellent, but the style of the story was presented with such skill it actually reduced the enjoyment of the book. That style is one of personal darkness and suspicion, if not paranoia. The Triad that rule the Romulan Empire assume that eveyone is as deceitful and ruthless as they are themselves. One would expect that in the villains of the piece. But trust is lacking in many unexpected places as well. None of the rebel leaders fully trust Ael, or of course Jim Kirk, and they never will, no matter how those two behave. Ael does not completely trust her own crew, and there is even a space between Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise. The last one is probably where the author went too far. There needed to be a time when the characters could escape from loneliness and fear and isolation in the midst of others. Lacking it makes the book to grim.

The events of the book also make for grim reading. This is the story of war. The focus is not on the surface elements, the maneuvering and the fighting, that most Trek stories ending in space battles involve. Instead it is about the underlying factors behind the battles. That is, that wars essentially escalating rounds of violence and death and destruction, and that between those rounds, the leaders have to calculate how many lives on both sides they are willing to spend to get the result they want. Also, the espionage factor here is not the game of spies stealing secrets. We are told what happens to the spies, usually violent death, long before we are told the results of their work, if we are told. That brings up another flaw in the book: the leading characters are all keeping secrets from one another. In her previous books, the author generally seemed to do this for dramatic purposes. In this, it is stated over and over that the characters simply never trust each other enough to reveal much, and people die because their leaders keep those secrets from each other. Quickly I stopped looking forward to finding out more about what was going on, and dreading the body counts resulting from the revelations. Also, it got to the point where I just felt that so many secrets were hinted at that I did not really know what was going on. This is fiction, it should be different from reality.

Anyway, these issues are why I took away one star from the rating. The other star was lost due to the ending. I must warn readers that the next paragraph may contain spoilers and political commentary that may not be of any use in judging how good a read this book is. Anyway, after this book was announced, one of the Pocket Book editors said that, while this series had been declared outside the established Romulan continuity, he was not sure that it had to be. Reading through the first four books with all their statements about how Rihannsu want to be free, that speaking their minds is an essential trait of being Rihannsu, I wondered how the author could possibly tell the story of an idealistic revolt that still fit with the ruthless police state of the 24 th Century Romulan Star Empire. Horribly, she managed it. Actually, all she did was, once again, to just do the real world thing. After all the commentary about the people overthrowing the oppressive government, what really happens is that one ostracised faction of the elite throws out the elite faction in power. The concept of removing all of the elite from power and blocking their return is passed over. It is the only way to prevent another revolt, and seemingly the whole point of the last three books of the series, but it does not happen. For me, it makes all the preceding events, in this book and all the others, a waste. After opening up all those grand possibilities, it throws them away.

I usually refrain from recommending for or against books I give three stars. If this was a piece of historical fiction, I would recommend it very highly, as informative about the period and with writing of enjoyable quality. But non-fiction can be grim and depressing and make one afraid for the future, because being enjoyable isn't their purpose. I assumed that this author, at least, would go against the recent trend in Star Trek, and provide me with a little hope for the future. She didn't. This book is, quality wise, definitely worth reading, but not worth owning.

Rihannsu finally concluded.......2007-02-12

Oh, God (Elements), how I love this series. Diane Duane is a marvelous yarnspinner when it comes to her characters.

I read "My Enemy, My Ally" probably about 12 years ago, but I never tire of reading it. When I discovered that "The Romulan Way" was a continuance of that story, I devoured the storyline (Arrhae is intriguing) that opened up the history of ch'Rihan and ch'Havran like no book had dared to before. The detailed yarn of The Declared as they left Vulcan those millennia ago and the setbacks they encountered... it explains a LOT about why the Romulans (Rihannsu) are "the way they are."

Discovery of "Swordhunt" and "Honor Blade" when they came out made life interesting until the cliffhanger, and now that I've read "The Empty Chair," I can safely say that I am going back to re-read the entire series again. When you do re-read it, you take great notice of all the intricacies of the characterisations of the original characters (Harb Tanzer, Freeman, Narhaht (a Horta), Arrhae, Ael, Aidoann, the list continues).

And I agree with the previous reviewer--that line by Ael to Kirk at the end successfully ties in this series to canon in such a way that I truly believe it is part of Trek History. The Romulans (Rihannsu) certainly did emerge in TNG quite different than we remembered from TOS... and this series explains how and why they appeared to change so drastically. *applause for Diane Duane*

Finishes a saga.......2007-01-27

The Star Trek universe has been enriched by another book from Diane Duane.

The author of many books based on her own fantasy worlds (like Young Wizards, which my kids love), screenplays, etc. in 1988 Diane Duane also wrote my favorite Star Trek book, "Spock's World". In it, she expanded our knowledge of Spock's home planet of Vulcan, bringing together elements from several episodes of the original Star Trek series, including "Amok Time" and "Journey to Babel". She also gave us more about the Enterprise itself, giving it a recreational deck and a computer bulletin board reflecting those early PC/pre-Web days.

In 1984 Diane Duane had already taken on the task of adding more to our knowledge of the Vulcans' long-ago sundered brethren, the Romulans (or Rihannsu as they have come to be called in their own language) with "My Enemy My Ally". She followed this up with a sequel called "The Romulan Way" in 1987 (both co-authored with her husband Peter Morwood).

Now comes a new Romulan book, finishing up this particular saga, "The Empty Chair". Unfortunately when I started reading it I soon realized I'd missed something, which turned out to be the books "Swordhunt" and "Honorblade", both published in 2000. I had to go back and read what happened there to really make sense of "The Empty Chair" and discovered that Stockholm's excellent Science Fiction Bookstore no longer had the two books in stock, presumably because all of the prequels to "The Empty Chair" have just been published together in a single volume called "Rihannsu The Bloodwing Voyages".

(All this is part of the 40th anniversary of Star Trek celebrations, apparently.)

So having read the two books I missed, I resumed reading "The Empty Chair" and it made a lot more sense, although rereading the first two books probably would have helped a bit too. When I got to the end of "The Empty Chair" and Kirk receives something he has obviously been looking for, I had no idea what the thing was. It is possible the reader is not meant to know, but the answer might be in one of those earlier volumes. And I really had no idea what was happening in the last scene. I guess it is based on one of the first two books, which after twenty years, I've forgotten.

So there is a problem having a series with respectively three, thirteen, and six years between its components, although this will not be a problem for a new reader who picks up the books now.

Before I bought the anthology volume I read a negative review of "Swordhunt" on Amazon. The reviewer didn't think enough happened, and was somewhat upset because it apparently doesn't really have an ending and just flows into "Honorblade". In the new anthology the two are combined as "Swordhunt" and I have no idea where the earlier break could have been.

Briefly these books are the story of a Romulan commander named Ael, her ship Bloodwing, and how through a series of encounters and interactions with James Kirk, she leads a Romulan civil war. As I said, it expands our knowledge of the Romulans considerably. I've also been confused about this empire without an emperor, whether there was one or more Praetors, who the Senate are, etc. These questions are answered, at least for this period in Romulan history.

There's more talking than action, but I liked that. There are also bonuses, like briefly meeting the character Sam Coglan again, and encountering the only two Yankees fans on Romulus.

There's also a place towards the end., with major changes among the Romulans, and Spock in the midst of it, when you wonder why he doesn't just start the Re-unification process that he takes up decades later during "Star Trek The Next Generation"? Duane answers that, and shows us that perhaps this is where Spock originally gets the idea. (Now I really wish the film "Nemesis", all of which takes place on Romulus or in Romulan space, had told us where Spock was at this time. Presumably there was no way to get Leonard Nimoy into the film, but it was a large hole.)

One also wonders why, if everything is changed, when we get back to the Romulans in the TNG episodes "Unification" the empire seems as closed in and totalitarian as before? This too Duane provides an answer for, and perhaps it puts the later TNG/DS9 Romulans into a more understandable context. Ael's remarks to Kirk towards the end reflect this:

"But bear in mind that things will change here, and may do so unexpectedly. When they do, I must react as I must. It has even occurred to me that, if matters do not go as I plan, you should not be surprised if for some while, I and all my people might close our borders, and vanish to put our house in order...It will not last forever. Nothing does. But after such a withdrawal, or absence, when we appear again, possibly you should not be surprised if we do not loók, or act, as we do now..."

Rihannsu Book 5.......2007-01-14

WOW this was a great book. there was action from the beginging and did not slow down. This was vary good colusion to the Rihannsu series. im not a huge fan of the romulans but I loved this book go get your today.

The Empty Chair: Handling Grief on Holidays and Special Occasions

Average customer rating:

Very Helpful After Losing A Loved One
Help for anyone who has had a loved one die.
The book is very misleading!
Help for the Holidays
Ritualizing Loss

The Empty Chair: Handling Grief on Holidays and Special Occasions
Susan J. Zonnebelt-Smeenge , and Robert C. De Vries
Manufacturer: Baker Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801063779
Release Date: 2001-09-01

Book Description

Losing a loved one-whether a spouse, parent, child, sibling, or friend-leaves people feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Holidays and other special occasions seem to intensify the pain. Whether the occasion is Christmas or Easter, a birthday or anniversary, these celebrations force the bereaved to again face the reality of a loved one's absence. Susan Zonnebelt-Smeenge and Robert C. De Vries know firsthand the sorrow of bereavement: Both lost a spouse. Yet as they faced their pain and gleaned insights from their professions-Susan is a psychologist, Robert, a minister-they found renewed richness on special days that once brought heartache. In The Empty Chair, the authors share a comforting blend of emotional support, spiritual guidance, and personal experience to help readers honor their loved one on important days. Those who support the bereaved-mental-health professionals, pastors, funeral home staff, and others-will also appreciate this book for its reflective yet practical approach.

Customer Reviews:

Very Helpful After Losing A Loved One.......2006-03-30

I found this book very helpful after losing a loved one. I particularly liked the format of this book. The authors give excellent ideas and suggestions as well as inspiring meditations. I highly recommend "The Empty Chair" to anyone who has experienced a death of someone close to them.

Help for anyone who has had a loved one die........2006-03-15

What a great book! In tackling a sometimes difficult topic, the authors did a splendid job in addressing holidays and other occasions and how to handle them after losing a loved one. I have enjoyed this book so much that I've recommended it to several friends.

The book is very misleading!.......2005-12-04

First of all, this book has handling grief on holidays and special occasions right in the title but it barely touches on that!!!! I have seen other books do a much better job helping survivors honor their loved one, acknowledge their grief, etc than this one does. If you are looking for help on how to handle the holidays, this one will not give you much help.
Second, I did not realize how Christian this book is when I bought it. The Christian meditations are nice for those of you who are. It should at least say that in the title or cover or something! It does not. If you are Christian, you may like the meditations. They are thoughtful and inspiring if you follow this faith. I am sure you will draw comfort from it. If you are not Christian, you probably won't and you will be skipping a lot of pages! While I understand that death and spirituality overlap, I have a problem with the fact that this book is Christian but does not advertise itself as such.
As for rituals and such to honor your loved one, there are other books that do a much better job than this one in that department.
While I do not doubt the qualifications of the authors, I do not think this book does a good job in addressing the subject because it barely touches on the sublect at all!! I would pass this one up if you are specifically looking for holiday help. It may help you if you are a Christian who needs guidance with grief from the death of a loved one, but since this book is so general, it will leave you searching for more help.

Help for the Holidays.......2004-08-10

This is a wonderful easy read that helped me through a difficult time. I thought that I had completed the grieving process for my father, but realized that during the Holidays I would get really down. After reading The Empty Chair, I realized that what I was going through was normal, and needed to deal with those emotions. Since reading this book, I have learned how to enjoy the Holidays and remember the good times with my father instead of resenting and grieving that he is not there to share those special times.

If you know of anyone who just lost someone close to them this is an excellent gift.

Ritualizing Loss.......2002-10-28

This book is an excellent tool for ritualizing loss in any situation, especially during the holidays. It offers an effective format to simply state what you may be holding back while sitting around the holiday dinner table or gathering around the Christmas tree or at a family reunion. It is often hard to spontaneously say that we miss the person who is no longer there, whether it be from death or divorce, that there is an empty spot in our hearts. You may get choked up while going through the suggested format, but it can be extremely healing.

The Empty Chair: Finding Hope & Joy - Timeless Wisdom from a Hasidic Master, Rebbe Nachmann of Breslov

Average customer rating:

Best advice from a wise man
Inspiring, moving wisdom
Teaching Resilency and Providing Comfort
A source of inspiration during emotional times
Touching. Uplifting. Comforting.

The Empty Chair: Finding Hope & Joy - Timeless Wisdom from a Hasidic Master, Rebbe Nachmann of Breslov

Manufacturer: Jewish Lights Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1879045672

Book Description

A little treasure of aphorisms and advice for living joyously and spiritually today, written 200 years ago, but startlingly fresh in meaning and use. Challenges and helps us to move from stress and sadness to hope and joy.

To some, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) is best known for stories that possess profound depth and speak to the very soul. To others, his teachings shed light on some of the deepest mysteries. Here, his timeless wisdom, adapted by disciples living in Jerusalem today, reaches out to us all: Never lose hope; find joy and cause for happiness in everything that happens to you. Teacher, guide, and spiritual master Rebbe Nachman provides vital words of inspiration and wisdom for life today for people of any faith, or of no faith.

Customer Reviews:

Best advice from a wise man.......2006-11-21

This book has brought a lot of comfort to me and my friends. I am a Christian, and I love the wisdom imparted that spans religions and speaks to our hearts. I have given this book to some of my friends who are Jewish and they cherish the book, it has given one solace in the death of her best friend, and the other keeps it by her bedside, to read daily. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to live a happy and God-filled life!

Inspiring, moving wisdom.......2003-05-03

This book has beautiful, moving quotations full of great wisdom and advice from Rebbe Nachmann that will provide inspiration at any point in time in one's life. My only complaint is that there are not more of them in this book. It is disapointingly short (about 100 pages with 1-2 quotes a page), especially for the price.

Teaching Resilency and Providing Comfort.......2002-03-23

This pocketsize collection of pithy quotes and classical Hasadic stories from a mystic rabbi may ironically appeal more to New Age spiritual seekers than traditional synagogue worshippers. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810) avoids obscure religious references to any holy book while encouraging readers to "never despair!" and "get into the habit of dancing."
"Always remember: joy is not merely incidental to your spiritual quest," warns Nachman, a Hasadic leader in Ukraine during a turbulent time of religious persecution. "It is vital." Nachman's inspirational quotes, often given in imperative sentences, focus on the need to liberate yourself by maintaining hope and secluding yourself daily.
Adored by his followers, many modern readers will find his extremely optimistic assertions questionable. "When troubles come, as they will, take comfort in your faith that whatever happens is for the best," advises Nachman. This soothing advice, especially in light of the Holocaust and suicide bombers, remains a very difficult task for contemporary adults.
Still I have found myself drawn to this wise little book on many somber, pensive occassions. The Rebbi seems like a kind, tolerant older brother urging me forward toward the light. "Go carefully: spiritual growth must proceed slowly and steadily. Too often we want to improve ourselves and our relationships so quickly that we make ourselves frustrated and confused." Doesn't that sound very apt for the 21st century?
For whatever reason, I have found myself giving copies of this book to friends during times of emotional confusion and mild depression. It seems to strike a familiar chord and ease burdens. What more can a thin book do?

A source of inspiration during emotional times.......2001-01-25

Like another book published by Jewish Lights, "The Gentle Weapon" (see my separate review of it) this book of short teachings and aphorisms of a great Rabbi of 2 centuries ago brings me comfort. In a book like this, it is best to go through it and find, perhaps two or three entries that have special meaning to you and then refer to it over and over again. There is one entry which states that attempts to get closer to God are never wasted even if you fail to reach your goal. Through some profoundly emotional times, I have prayed fervently only to have things turn out disappointingly. Therefore I ponder whether I am indeed better for searching for God even though at times I have been left empty. I recommend that you search for God by finding the entries in this book that reach you and then truly thinking about their meanings.

Touching. Uplifting. Comforting........1999-10-04

This little book contains such timeless wisdom. My personal favorite goes something like "all the world is a narrow bridge. The secret is not to look down." I find myself going back to it again and again, particularly at times when I feel lost or in need of an insight. I usually find something to renew my hope. I have given it as a gift many times. Even those who do not come from a Jewish background will find something to touch their hearts. Truly a treasure.

An Empty Chair: Living in the Wake of a Sibling's Suicide

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Sibling Survivors

An Empty Chair: Living in the Wake of a Sibling's Suicide
Sara Swan Miller
Manufacturer: Writers Club Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Suicide | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Suicide | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

ASIN: 0595095232

Book Description

At least 30,000 people kill themselves in the United States alone, most leaving behind shocked siblings. Yet, too often, the grief and bewilderment of surviving siblings is simply ignored, leaving the bereaved siblings feeling even more abandoned. The accounts of siblings' experiences in this book are based on interviews with more than thirty people from all over the United States, as well as the author's own experience of losing a sister to suicide. Just as sibling relationships are varied and complex, so the feelings and experiences of sibling suicide survivors run a long and complex gamut from deep grief, to anger, to guilt, to relief. Often these feelings are intermixed. The survivors are often bewildered by the complexity of their feelings, including reactions that may seem shameful or inappropriate. These moving accounts will help other sibling survivors of sibling suicide see that they are not alone. No matter what their feeilngs and reactions are, there are others who have shared them.

Customer Reviews:

Sibling Survivors.......2001-01-09

Swan-Miller writes sensitively and knowledgeably about the impact of the suicide of a family member on the surviving sibling(s). Using her personal experience as a starting off point, she explores a variety of sibling relationships and feelings about the suicide of a brother or sister. Through interviews with sibling survivors she exposes the wide variety of emotions that these survivors go through and the unique aspects of their experiences. Straight-forward prose, well organized chapters and an underpinning of psychological expertise help the reader understand and digest this difficult topic. Clearly there is a need for greater support and understanding of sibling relationships within the family dynamic- especially when there is a suicide. Though I think that a bibliography/list of resources for survivors would have been a useful inclusion, this book is an excellent resource for lay and professional alike.

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The Empty Chair
Jeffery Deaver
Manufacturer: Coronet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Living With an Empty Chair: A Guide Through Grief

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Living With an Empty Chair: A Guide Through Grief
Roberta Temes
Manufacturer: New Horizon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Developmental Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0882821105

Book Description

Winner of the National Psychological Award for Excellence

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The Empty Chair
Jeffery Deaver
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0743499883

The Empty Chair: The Journey of Grief After Suicide

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The Empty Chair: The Journey of Grief After Suicide
Beryl S. Glover , and Glenda Stansbury
Manufacturer: In-Sight Books, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Grief & Bereavement | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Suicide | Death & Grief | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Suicide | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 189278534X

Book Description

When a loved ones completes suicide, the reaction to such a sudden and final act can sometimes delay the healthy grieving process. This new book describes and offers guidance for each emotion and issue that one encounters following a suicide.

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Bloody River Blues

Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 073941464X

Product Description

John Pellam, scouting locations for a new film in a small town in Missouri, inadvertently witnesses a double homicide and some serious gunplay that left a cop paralyzed. He didn't see the guy who ordered the killings, but the police don't believe him. The U.S. attorney who thinks he knows who was behind the murders has bet his career on Pellam's identification of a criminal the feds have been trying to nail for years. They'll do anything to get Pellam's cooperation, including threatening his new girlfriend, shutting down the movie, and keeping Pellam from inking a deal to get his own film made. That project is Pellam's ticket back to the top of the heap in Hollywood, a perch he fell off of when he supplied the drugs that killed his best friend. The cops want Pellam's testimony, the mob boss wants him permanently silenced, and the film's director wants him to finish the job he's been paid to do. But first Pellam has to find his way out of the traps they've all set for him, and he does it with style, wit, and a self-deprecating charm that makes him a hero to everyone--well, almost everyone. William Jefferies, who usually writes under the better-known nom de plume of Jeffery Deaver, has a couple of other Location Scout mysteries to his name (Shallow Graves, Hell's Kitchen). Pocket Books has reissued them as Deaver titles ("writing as William Jefferies"), but regardless of their provenance, they feature topnotch writing, snappy dialogue, solid pacing, and excellent characterization. Bloody River Blues was overlooked by Deaver's fans when it first came out eight years ago. Now that the publisher has cleared up the mystery of who actually wrote it, it ought to get the attention it deserves. --Jane Adams

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