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The Sign
Unabridged CDs 11 CDs, 14 hours
Another cutting- edge thriller set at the intersection of science, religion, and history from the bestselling author of The Last Templar.
Another cutting- edge thriller set at the intersection of science, religion, and history from the bestselling author of The Last Templar.
Audio CD, 11 pages
Published
May 19th 2009
by Penguin Audio
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As you might expect from the plot summary, The Sign is a fast-paced tale of life-changing prophecy and global events. Therefore with such a premise, the plot is not exactly un-ambitious, but it is competently written to satisfy most thriller readers. So we have here many of the aspects expected from such a novel: a fast pace from the start, broad global range, a large range of typical characters (hot female reporter, concerned innocents unwittingly dragged into increasingly significant events, ...more
Okay, so now I know Khoury is an author I will regularly be frustrated with. Premises that pique my interest, uneven execution of the story. The Sign started very slowly. By the time he'd established his characters and direction, I saw where the story was heading. I know there was a study published very recently that indicated a spoiler of the ending did not ruin the story for most people, but by around halfway through The Sign, I had a very good idea how it would end. While it wasn't the w...more
Gracie Logan is a reporter in Antarctica following a story on glacial melts when a strange glowing sphere appears. Is this an anomaly? An aurora borealis of sorts? Or a sign? Soon after another sphere appears over the Arctic. Gracie learns of a monk in Egypt who had drawn the identical symbol on a cave months ago. She and her crew take off for Egypt to try to interview Father Jerome. Matt Sherwood is an ex-con who receives a frantic message from his deceased brother’s friend who wonders if D...more
While I enjoyed Khoury previous book, the Sanctuary, I cannot say the same for the Sign. The whole science-fiction story, just an effort to deride organized religion? One of the points stated in the book is how divided we are as a nation and of course one of the major causes implied is organized religion and people following 2000 year old myths and symbols such as the cross. If Mr. Khoury believes on a particular organized religion or not, if he does believe on a God or not, most Christians woul...more
I didn’t like ‘The Last Templar’ so why read another pulp novel by a hack? Well . . .made curious by the cover blurb and 50 cents at a yard sale, I found it hard to resist. Thank God I didn’t pay 75 cents or you would still be hearing my screams.
I don’t mind bad writing. I sometimes reread things I write—and I tolerate myself (on even days). What gets my goat is having a really good idea totally fucked by someone with the literary style of a twelve year old.
This was so bad, I a...more
I don’t mind bad writing. I sometimes reread things I write—and I tolerate myself (on even days). What gets my goat is having a really good idea totally fucked by someone with the literary style of a twelve year old.
This was so bad, I a...more
Some reviewers here and elsewhere of Raymond Khoury's engaging new thriller, The Sign, focus attention on Khoury's alleged attacks on certain political and/or religious beliefs they assume he belittles. I see the novel as something other and more abstract than mere vilification of George W. Bush, religion, or global warming skeptics.
The Sign examines the power of iconography and symbology in a conflicted world teeming with deeply held and seemingly irreconcilable political, bureaucra...more
The Sign examines the power of iconography and symbology in a conflicted world teeming with deeply held and seemingly irreconcilable political, bureaucra...more
Clearly, I have not paid enough attention. His thesis, so to speak, is that US elections are based on profession of faith in God, and the blending of religiosity and politics is heading us down a very slippery slope. I am aware that the growing churches are the born again, fundamentalist, etc ones. Mainstream churches are losing ground, but he is really presenting some scary connections between God speak and the way our country is perceived. The rich white guy old boys club in a way, altho...more
A mysterious sign appears in the sky above Antartica, then in Greenland, and then over the head of a Gandhi-like character named Father Jerome. Is the sign from God or is it a scientific creation? The book follows Gracie Logan, the tv reporter who first filmed the sign over Antarctica, and Matt Sherwood, who is out to save his brother from an evil group of scientists. Eventually these characters meet up and discover the true nature of the mysterious image in the sky.
The book is 458 ...more
The book is 458 ...more
I have now read all of Khourys books. I thought that "The Last Templar" was just ok but I really liked "The Sanctuary" which was a huge improvement in every sense. So my hopes for this book was quite high.
But I am sorry to say that the book didnt deliver as much as I hoped. The story is really interesting and Khourys message is one I am behind 100 percent but as with Dan Brown latest the ideas are better than the actual book. The characters feels a little underwritten and ...more
But I am sorry to say that the book didnt deliver as much as I hoped. The story is really interesting and Khourys message is one I am behind 100 percent but as with Dan Brown latest the ideas are better than the actual book. The characters feels a little underwritten and ...more
This novel is generally a fast-paced tale, fairly written, with decent characterization and good progression. Several of the details stretch credulity, and only the two most prominent characters show much development, but it's a very decent read. My main objection was that the action and drama seemed to overwhelm the author's message. Action and drama are not bad things, and are certainly important in a suspenseful thriller-type story ... but they might be overdone when the author feels the n...more
I almost stopped listening to this book it was so bad. Unfortunately I did not put it down. This book is the classic left wing propaganda tripe that turns my stomach. Long diatribes against fill the book as every character in it condemns religion and anyone who associates with a Church or believes in God. The stereotyping is without thought. The bad guys are conservative Christians and the good guys are liberal atheists. The really bad guys are atheists and throughout the book their speeches and...more
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Why, why must I be such a completist, and finish a book even though I don't enjoy it? I'm not even sure I didn't hate it.
The plot is, a sign appears in Antarctica, over a massive ice shelf collapsing due to global warning, all the while a news crew is filming. A second sign appearing over Greenland for similar reasons confirms the idea that it's signifying the environment and people assume it's a message from God. Through recollection, the trail leads to a priest who's been living in...more
The plot is, a sign appears in Antarctica, over a massive ice shelf collapsing due to global warning, all the while a news crew is filming. A second sign appearing over Greenland for similar reasons confirms the idea that it's signifying the environment and people assume it's a message from God. Through recollection, the trail leads to a priest who's been living in...more
I read both Santuary and the Last Templar, so when I saw Raymond Khoury had a new thriller I grabbed it off the shelf at the library.
I did finish the book, but was mostly disappointed throughout. Khoury had a potentially good/compelling suspense novel with some interesting characters - both good and bad, but his compulsion to overwhelm the reader with page after page of discussion on how believers in God are antiquated and screwing up the US and politics got old fast.
The...more
I did finish the book, but was mostly disappointed throughout. Khoury had a potentially good/compelling suspense novel with some interesting characters - both good and bad, but his compulsion to overwhelm the reader with page after page of discussion on how believers in God are antiquated and screwing up the US and politics got old fast.
The...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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The sign is an action fiction involving political conspiracy, religious idealism and, of course, power.
This is a really light read with most of its 'mysteries' fairly obvious, an underdeveloped plot and an underwhelming ending. I did give it 2 stars because there were some points where the book became a 'page-turner' but those we too few and far between for me to really enjoy the book.
Khoury clearly had an agenda that went well beyond the storyline. Several pages of unnecessa...more
This is a really light read with most of its 'mysteries' fairly obvious, an underdeveloped plot and an underwhelming ending. I did give it 2 stars because there were some points where the book became a 'page-turner' but those we too few and far between for me to really enjoy the book.
Khoury clearly had an agenda that went well beyond the storyline. Several pages of unnecessa...more
Parts of this book were excellent. I thought Khoury did a good job developing a broad range of characters to create interesting political and religious approaches through this novel.
Quite a bit of this writing seemed a little amateurish. Even though I generally agree with the Author’s philosophy, it was a little off-putting that he couldn’t resist blatant bias exposing references to popular current day people and talking points. More subtle could have been more fun. My least fa...more
Quite a bit of this writing seemed a little amateurish. Even though I generally agree with the Author’s philosophy, it was a little off-putting that he couldn’t resist blatant bias exposing references to popular current day people and talking points. More subtle could have been more fun. My least fa...more
Sheesh. This book exemplifies why I despise reading "The latest heart-stopping thriller from the best-selling author of [fill-in-the-blank:]!!!" types of books.
I imagine somewhere next to or under Mr. Khoury's writing desk sits a cardboard box full of cardboard people. There's the cardboard hot chick who's got some smarts to go with her other, umm, assets. There's the cardboard ex-con turned legit businessman and part-time hero who can't possibly contact the authorities ...more
I imagine somewhere next to or under Mr. Khoury's writing desk sits a cardboard box full of cardboard people. There's the cardboard hot chick who's got some smarts to go with her other, umm, assets. There's the cardboard ex-con turned legit businessman and part-time hero who can't possibly contact the authorities ...more
This was a mediocre thriller in which everything was easy to figure out. This character will be killed, that one will be gravely injured but will pull through, etc. That's OK if all you want is a quick read, but it leaves a lot to be desired.
Also, this book was very poorly edited and proofread. I found many typos throughout the text, such as "We have to leave know!" In addition, although it is never stated outright, this story obviously takes place in December 2009 (indicat...more
Also, this book was very poorly edited and proofread. I found many typos throughout the text, such as "We have to leave know!" In addition, although it is never stated outright, this story obviously takes place in December 2009 (indicat...more
Having enjoyed "The Last Templar" and "The Sanctuary" I had high expectations for "The Sign." Unfortunately The Sign didn't live up to those expectations. The text was written in a similar style and voice as the previous books, making it an easy and quick read. However, this book featured too many characters, following too many story lines to truly keep up with the actual plot. I kept waiting to get past the set-up to the actual story. When the book actually did get...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Not as bad as some of the reviews here would indicate. Of course the action sequences are preposterous, in the same way that they are in the movies, where a hail of bullets never hits the good guy (or, a bullet wound is able to be fixed with iodine and a couple of stitches). This book's strength is its examination of religion and the growth of hatred and intolerance in the US under the guise of "Christianity". Religion is not incompatible with science, and a regressive fundamentalis...more
Really good book. Khoury knows how to take several story lines and weave them together like a braid; going from one to the next to the next and tying them neatly together at the end. My one complaint is that some of his fact checking is a little off. At one point Matt gets into a Chrysler Navigator SUV powered by a Northstar V8. The only problem is that Chrysler didn't make the Navigator, Lincoln did, and the Northstar V8 is a Cadillac motor. Other then that, the book makes you think and gives y...more
If I could, I would give this one 3.5 stars.
This is the first Raymond Khoury book I have read. I now plan to read his others.
Maybe a little corny with some loose ends but a fun, fast paced, enjoyable read.
Certainly drives home the need to separate politics from religion; something I wholeheartedly agree with. Electing a leader based on religious beliefs can result in to dire consequences. Khoury, not so subtly, suggests this to be the case in the election of a moron, George ...more
This is the first Raymond Khoury book I have read. I now plan to read his others.
Maybe a little corny with some loose ends but a fun, fast paced, enjoyable read.
Certainly drives home the need to separate politics from religion; something I wholeheartedly agree with. Electing a leader based on religious beliefs can result in to dire consequences. Khoury, not so subtly, suggests this to be the case in the election of a moron, George ...more
This was more of an action book than anything else. At times, it felt a bit like a screen play (insert kick a** scene here type feel). The action writing made for a quick fun read. By the end of the novel, I felt like I had seen a pretty decent summer blockbuster.
There is a deeper side to the novel, if you choose to explore it. The novel raises thought provoking questions about faith and the power of religion in regards to mass manipulation. I live in the south, so the idea of “...more
There is a deeper side to the novel, if you choose to explore it. The novel raises thought provoking questions about faith and the power of religion in regards to mass manipulation. I live in the south, so the idea of “...more
I was surprised. I really, really liked his book "The Last Templar", and "The Sanctuary" was okay, nothing special. But this one, while long as hell, was also surprisingly good in most places.
I do have one objection, and it's the only reason this book didn't get five stars. When he wrote about Boston/Cambridge/Woburn, it just didn't seem like the places to me. Boston was the best, the Seaport area etc. But the Woburn chapter just didn't ring true at all to me.
...more
I do have one objection, and it's the only reason this book didn't get five stars. When he wrote about Boston/Cambridge/Woburn, it just didn't seem like the places to me. Boston was the best, the Seaport area etc. But the Woburn chapter just didn't ring true at all to me.
...more
I usually am a big fan of Mr. Khoury, unforunatly, this particular book just didn't rub me the right way. The novel is about a mysterious sign that is seen all over the world and the world's reaction. Some think its an act of God, other think its something more. As religions fight over the meaning, Gracie, a TV anchor, and her team set out on what proves to be a most interesting adventure. Follow Gracie and her team as they globe hop in hopes of finding the truth. Of course seeking the truth can...more
John Hanscom
rated it
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review of another edition
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review of another edition
Recommends it for:
to anyone whomever wants mere escapist action fiction.
I almost gave it a four, but the book has serious flaws, and does not live up to his earlier books, which I've read. In fairness, it is an exciting adventure story, but that is all it is. There is no history to what appeared to be historical fiction, and it ends badly. The protagonist cuts a swath of destruction that would make ames Bond envious, is being hunted by the police, and the book ends without addressing any of this. In addition, the books has two themes, global warming and religious...more
Hated this book. The whole concept doesn't make a lot of sense. Why would an entire group of people invest so much in creating something they really can not be sure of the outcome? How could someone with just a petty crime past manage to outwit some very adept special ops people?
Even when you get past that, you are pounded over the head with an atheist message.
I don't mind reading people with opposing views, I like to think things through but I good novelist knows how to make a p...more
Even when you get past that, you are pounded over the head with an atheist message.
I don't mind reading people with opposing views, I like to think things through but I good novelist knows how to make a p...more
This book had a few 'but that doesn't make sense' and 'that can't happen' that really irked me but overall it was an alright read. I say this because I don't thinking the ending should have been the ending because it just seems to me that there shouldn't have been a story at all if that was the case.
However it does bring up some interesting things about America/Religion & America. Interesting politicians they have there...I feel this book was about making a political statement and I think i...more
However it does bring up some interesting things about America/Religion & America. Interesting politicians they have there...I feel this book was about making a political statement and I think i...more
Okay. Not my favorite of his books. Characters lacked depth. Plot was predictable. That said, it was fast paced and an okay escape although a bit preachy. I am all for protecting the evironment. Anyone who has seen the glaciers know global warming is real. I also believe that humans have a huge ego to keep saying God created us in his image. I also find it horrible that religions try to hide or change history in order to promote their own aims. History is important. In this book Khoury spoke som...more
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Raymond moved to Rye, New York, from his native Lebanon at the outbreak of the civil war there in 1975. After graduating from Rye Country Day School, he returned to Lebanon to study architecture at the American University of Beirut. During his years there, in between repeated flare-ups of fighting, he illustrated several children's books for Oxford University Press's Middle East office. Raymond co...more
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