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15th out of 40 books
—
77 voters
Obsessed
by
Ted Dekker (Goodreads Author)
Stephen Friedman is making a good living in good times. He's just an ordinary guy. Or so he thinks.
But one day an extraordinary piece of information tells him differently. It's a clue from the grave of a Holocaust survivor. A clue that makes him heir to an incredible fortune . . . a clue that only he and one other man can possibly understand.
That man is Roth Braun, a seria...more
But one day an extraordinary piece of information tells him differently. It's a clue from the grave of a Holocaust survivor. A clue that makes him heir to an incredible fortune . . . a clue that only he and one other man can possibly understand.
That man is Roth Braun, a seria...more
Paperback, 512 pages
Published
October 1st 2006
by Thomas Nelson Publishers
(first published December 1st 2004)
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From the beginning, I am very much curious about this book. So I really searched first its author and found out that Ted Dekker—the author—is known for his book entitled Three. However, since the copy I only saw from Dekker is just this book, I searched first for readers’ feedbacks. Honestly, I’ve been picking books up safely these days because eventually, I don’t want to go bashing and ranting some poor books just because they hadn’t made my taste. I’m glad that the feedbacks I’ve read were all...more
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A good read from start to finish. The only reason I gave it an 8 was that some of the things Stephen Friedman does in this book just seem a little too far fetched. Almost like watching those old scary movies where the high school girls decide to stay in the house even though there's an ax wielding psycho out to get them. You know, the ones you kept screaming at to just get out of the house? Come on, you know what I'm talking about...
Publisher's Summary
Stephen Friedman is making a good living in...more
Publisher's Summary
Stephen Friedman is making a good living in...more
First off, I must say I found this novel by Ted much different than House or Skin. In fact, as I was initially reading it, I though I had a different author. I think it was because it started so slowly for me.
It starts with a ruthless Holocaust Commandant and his son, Roth, discussing the death of a rescued female camp survivor, Ruth (aka Martha at the camp), who died in the US and donated a Stone of David to a museum. All of them together were worth millions and they were obsessed in getting th...more
It starts with a ruthless Holocaust Commandant and his son, Roth, discussing the death of a rescued female camp survivor, Ruth (aka Martha at the camp), who died in the US and donated a Stone of David to a museum. All of them together were worth millions and they were obsessed in getting th...more
Obsessed is another of my favorite Ted Dekker books. Not as spiritually-driven as most of his work, this thriller would appeal to others outside the Christian realm. Good luck putting this novel down!
Official Synopsis:
Its Los Angeles in the early seventies, and Stephen Friedman is living the groovy southern California life of a real estate wheeler-dealer. Hes making money hand-over-fist and has long ago given up hope of finding the family held lost in warn-torn Poland. But when a strange, deceas...more
Official Synopsis:
Its Los Angeles in the early seventies, and Stephen Friedman is living the groovy southern California life of a real estate wheeler-dealer. Hes making money hand-over-fist and has long ago given up hope of finding the family held lost in warn-torn Poland. But when a strange, deceas...more
This has been an addictive page turner. It's kept me on pins and needles. There were times where I couldn't bear to turn the page because I just didn't want to know if the character was going to encounter an ugly end, or a great success. However I just had to keep going and read it because I really wanted to know what happened. The action and the plot were well written and it just keeps you on edge. It's been a very suspenseful plot and a very thrilling ride.
Stephen as a character is what makes...more
Stephen as a character is what makes...more
Dekker has done it again. This thriller takes the realities of the Holocaust and works it into a masterpiece of suspense, romance, and mystery. Being a huge fan of Holocaust stories, I found this particular take on it very interesting. It gave me a fresh reminder of the horrors of Hitler's time and got me thinking how on earth the church could have stood back and let it all happen. But then, who knows what I would have done in the same situation? I pray I would have been a Corrie Ten Boom.
For th...more
For th...more
This is my first Ted Dekker book, and I must say, wow. His writing style is excellent and there's always a turn or twist. Nothing that was really horrid or shameful or anything that I'd be embarrassed about if our teen daughter read it. Held my interest without a problem. Stephen, the protagonist, is a wee bit flaky, but he's lovable. I'm now officially a Dekker fan!
1 like · like · see review
This is one of my favorite books by Ted Dekker. It wasn't the same kind of exciting as some of his others, but it still kept me riveted the whole way through. Unlike some of his others, this book made complete sense the whole way through.
I love reading stories about the holocaust, probably mostly because of the hope that stayed alive even in the worst of situations. I enjoyed reading about Ruth and Martha and the sacrifices they were willing to make for each other and their children. They were b...more
I love reading stories about the holocaust, probably mostly because of the hope that stayed alive even in the worst of situations. I enjoyed reading about Ruth and Martha and the sacrifices they were willing to make for each other and their children. They were b...more
Sometimes Ted Dekker can move so quickly through his ideas that he loses me, but it never fails that I finally catch up to him in the end. Aside from his captivating and thought-provoking plot lines, such as this one, he has a style that grips me from start to finish. "Obsessed" was, in accordance with the theme of the book, very dark. The entire idea of Roth Braun literally chilled me, but I think that the point of the book, obsessing over something in order to reveal God's obsession, was made...more
This is the 5th book by Ted Dekker that I have read. As with all of his other offerings that I have read (The Circle Trilogy & Three), he draws you in quickly and takes you from past to present and back again without pity. Just as I thought I had the whole story figured out, in true Ted Dekker fashion, the plot would take a 90 degree turn. You cannot predict a Ted Dekker ending, but hold on tight and enjoy the ride.
The story follows a young Jewish man and his quest to find his birthright, le...more
The story follows a young Jewish man and his quest to find his birthright, le...more
Whenever I read a Ted Dekker book, at some point I just sit back and shake my head! He is nothing if not creative, but sometimes it's over the top. People do things you never imagined people would do. On the other hand, especially in this book, without that extreme imagination, you would never grasp the complete idea, obsession. After all, God is obsessed with us and we need to be more obsessed with Him. So in light of that, I loved the book. As always there were surprises, suspense, and periods...more
May 31, 2009
Heather Palmer
marked it as to-read
A deadly tale of ultimate obsession.
Stephen Friedman is making a good living in good times. He's just an ordinary guy. Or so he thinks. But one day an extraordinary piece of information tells him differently. It's a clue from the grave of a Holocaust survivor. A clue that makes him heir to an incredible fortune...a clue that only he and one other man can possibly understand. That man is Roth Braun, a serial killer who has been waiting for Stephen for thirty years. Roth was stopped once before. T...more
Stephen Friedman is making a good living in good times. He's just an ordinary guy. Or so he thinks. But one day an extraordinary piece of information tells him differently. It's a clue from the grave of a Holocaust survivor. A clue that makes him heir to an incredible fortune...a clue that only he and one other man can possibly understand. That man is Roth Braun, a serial killer who has been waiting for Stephen for thirty years. Roth was stopped once before. T...more
This seemed different to me than the other Dekker novels I have read. Interesting, a bit slower, but different. Maybe the topic of obsession just didn't connect with me or I just did not connect with characters as well as I have in the past but I had a hard time staying in sync with the choices made by almost all of the characters. It just didn't seem feasible.
That being said, this still ends up as an entertaining story...though you have to wait it out until the very end...and I do appreciate th...more
That being said, this still ends up as an entertaining story...though you have to wait it out until the very end...and I do appreciate th...more
Like most of Dekker's books, this was a pretty intense, quick read that alternated between thought-provoking and emotionally gripping with plenty of twists along the way. The book alternates between an German Prison camp where Jewish women are tortured and killed 1944-45 and the aftermath of those events that affected both sides in 1973.
Like some of Dekker's earlier books this shares both his strengths - intense, action packed, unexpected twists, thrilling - as well as his weaknesses - inexplic...more
Like some of Dekker's earlier books this shares both his strengths - intense, action packed, unexpected twists, thrilling - as well as his weaknesses - inexplic...more
Obsessed is set in 1973 and is about two men searching for the Stones of David, a relic that is worth over $100 million. One man is a Nazi German descendant and the other a Jewish war camp descendant; good vs evil. As it is set less than 30 years after the war, the Holocaust is still on the minds of the people in this novel and it plays an important role in the plot. Dekker switches back and forth in time from WWII to the early 1970's as he weaves his tale.
I do recommend this novel. It has histo...more
I do recommend this novel. It has histo...more
'Life is hardly worth living without an obsession' can very well sum up the premises of this book. Stephen Friedman is a well established real estate investor. He is also a child of the Holocaust, an orphan. So when the news that an eccentric old lady has died and she claims that she is his mother, Stephen becomes obsessed, first with the discovery of a link to his past but then he stumbles upon an evil that has survived the Holocaust and is still obsessed with destroying people's lives.
Fast-pa...more
Fast-pa...more
Jan 15, 2009
Keiki Hendrix
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction-christian
This is a take your breathe away suspense thriller. Dekker has outdone himself. Slowly you are taken from mere interest, to understandable fanaticism, then ultimately a page turning ending.
This is not a book for the squimism. Not a book for the faint hearted. At times, I was almost sickened. If I had not already known of the atrocities of the Holocaust, I may have put this book down somewhere in the middle. But, these sadistic scenes just mirrored history and added great depth to the redeeming...more
This is not a book for the squimism. Not a book for the faint hearted. At times, I was almost sickened. If I had not already known of the atrocities of the Holocaust, I may have put this book down somewhere in the middle. But, these sadistic scenes just mirrored history and added great depth to the redeeming...more
Obsessed is a story about personal obsessions, lost treasures and stolen lives. This spiritual thriller written by Ted Dekker was told through a series of flashbacks to 1940s Nazi Germany, using overflowing tension in concentration camps during the World War II, and to a devastating treasure hunting in Los Angeles in the 1970s.
Stephen Friedman is a successful realtor and an orphan who had tried to find out who his real parents were for a long time. One day, he learned that his real mother was a...more
Stephen Friedman is a successful realtor and an orphan who had tried to find out who his real parents were for a long time. One day, he learned that his real mother was a...more
This was my first Ted Dekker novel, and it was a good one! It was an easy read that kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I really liked how Dekker combined history and more modern day into one story. Two different plot lines that turned into one kept me entertained and reading fast. I did not want to put this book down. Dekker creates fun and mystifying characters in Stephen/David, Martha, Ruth, Roth, Gerhard, and the many other minor characters who contribute to the story. While defi...more
This book adds history with people trying to find out about their history. The main character his mother died that he did not know about that she was his mother and now wants to find out about his history. Though from the second perceptive it was talking about his mother during when the holocaust was happening and how she was pregnant but also this other lady was also. It is about her struggles of trying to hide her pregnancy and be able to keep living. It is really good.
Mar 31, 2008
Kendra Beth
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Those who enjoy suspense novels, or who are exploring "good" and "evil."
Recommended to Kendra Beth by:
Rachel
Shelves:
fictional-3
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How much would you give for something you wanted? What if you wanted it more than anything else? Ted Dekker unleashes this modern-day parable of a man who finds himself consumed by an obsession. As his desire grows, his actions become more desperate, and he soon discovers that he isn’t alone in his pursuit. Dekker weaves a story that, while flawed, raises some interesting questions about how far a person should go to uncover the truth.
Feb 13, 2013
Kiana
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
truly-gripping
How long will you remain sane as a passion burns inside you? You have one focus. One goal. It is a glorious future, that is what Stephen Friedmen was fated. This book is gripping. This book is about love when you least expect it. With tellings of Martha and Ruth, it gives you a strong portrayal of a true friendship. Grief together, mourn together and hope together. The antagonists were flawless, intelligent, reasonable and because of their consistency in tracking Stephen's progressing ambitions...more
Dekker explores good and evil through the story of the holocaust from WWII. Not for the faint of heart, this details death, dying, and torture through the evil that was the Nazi's. One his books that borders on horror, but does have a good plot that as usual drives you to keep turning the page (although you're almost afraid to find out what happens). Recommended for adults only.
Pretty good book and a fast read. Ted Dekker is up there in writing and Im making judgements based off the two books I read. This book is fiction of course, with incorporation of real historical events. The main character Stephen Friedman, juggles between running his business and the threats he faces from the antagonist pursuing him. The book turns a life story into an adventure that lands on the verge of life and death as well as some redemption. This books tells multiple stories throughout the...more
Ted Dekker is like the Stephen King of Christian fiction writers! Obsessed was a really good book, I was literally on the edge wanting to know what was happening next. It was intriguing seeing a different take on a piece of history that we all learned about in school. When I say different, I mean an extreme twist on it! Naturally it's a fiction, so it's not a history lesson of any kind, but it does remind us that there are sick psychopaths out there who thrived through horrifying times such as t...more
I thought I would have a hard time with this book as sometimes reading about the Halocaust is a little rough going. But I couldn't put it down. I needed to know more, both in the present (1973) and the past (1944). Such twist that take place in this book! And it had a little bit of everything....thriller, horror, romance and history. Two thumbs up!
It had been a while since I read a Dekker novel, and this one was a re-read from a few years ago. It has some of the typical Dekker serial killer plot, extremely suspenseful, but with a historical twist unlike any of his other novels that I've read. I really enjoyed the multiple twists as the novel drew to a close. One of my favorite Dekker books.
An obsessive read.... of the page-turner variety, that is. A story spanning three decades, beginning in a Nazi concentration camp in World War II, where unspeakable horrors unfold, and culminating in hunt for a Jewish relic. Two factions collide and face off in their quest for this artifact: same goal, different motives, one obsession.
Aug 10, 2011
Bmw2jkc2cwc
added it
Talk about Obsessed! Talk about Love! What a strong story of absolute love and desire! Wow! I actually own this as an audio book on cd. It was wonderful. Slow at first because I'm not a big history buff. The story is much set in the past during a huge part of history, but it kept my attention wonderfully. This is a great book.
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Ted Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.
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“I sell ideas. Actually, if you think about it, everything is really no more than idea. The past is nothing more than a memory, which is one kind of idea. The future is still a hope, another kind of idea. The present is fleeting and becomes a memory before you can put your hands on it. All ideas. I sell ideas.”
—
19 people liked it
“My name is Gerhard Braun, and I am God.”
—
5 people liked it
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