Exodus by Leon Uris was the first book by him that I read. A love affair began and has endured. Uris is agreat author. EXODUS follows the plight of th...moreExodus by Leon Uris was the first book by him that I read. A love affair began and has endured. Uris is agreat author. EXODUS follows the plight of the Jews attempting to reach their homeland. They blockaded by sea, went on a hunger strike and finally allowed to make their journey. Reader, you will be surprised at anti-Semetism displayed by their "friends." There is romance, but the determination of this Jewish group to make their land their real home is greater than romantic love. You will read about the Jewish notobles of that era and their absolute intent to make the Israel experience work.(less)
After reading two chapters I realized I had already read this book. My opinion may be tainted because the read was on its second trip. The story was e...moreAfter reading two chapters I realized I had already read this book. My opinion may be tainted because the read was on its second trip. The story was easy to follow, and the book was well written.
Mr. Forsyth is an awesome writer. He had to lay down the background of extreme terrorism before and after 9-11-1 and keep the reader engaged until the...moreMr. Forsyth is an awesome writer. He had to lay down the background of extreme terrorism before and after 9-11-1 and keep the reader engaged until the novel began to 'flow' for the reader. He entertwined background and personality histories and thereby giving the novel 'lift' through chapters that could have been drudge reading. The hero, Mike Martin, had served in Her Royal Magesty's Air Force in a pre 911war in Afghanistan. There he saved the life of an Afghanii solder. (Russian/Afghanii war). The Afghan soldier was post 911 picked up in a sweep arrest of terrorists. He was not in fact a terrorist but was held in Gitmo until the plot of this story unfolded. British and American intelligence caught a whisper of an economic terrorist plot made by bin Laden et. al. In an effort to determine the nature of the plot Martin was passed off as the Afghan who was supposedly released from Gitmo. Martin, posing as the Afgan, does not determine what is going down until the last chapter of the book. Can he save the day at the last minute? In the meantime an unrelated mishap allows the Afghan to escape his new prison. While authorities hunt him down, pirateering on the high seas does not get enough attention from the said authorities which is why the deadly terrorist plot is not discovered in timely fashion. Summary: The lack of due dilligence could end the world as we know it.(less)
**spoiler alert** I think I am reading the 1951 edition, not the later edition. The spelling is horrible and the typos run rummpant. Had I not studied...more**spoiler alert** I think I am reading the 1951 edition, not the later edition. The spelling is horrible and the typos run rummpant. Had I not studied the background in college, I would be lost. Now, having said that, it is an amazing book. The battles are covered in a small paragraphs as are the love interest. No need to be overly graphic--'He won the battle.' 'He loved her.' The book is set in the mid 1500's, so there were crusades. The East and West are in dispute over lands, religion, succession rights--much the same as today.
Those issues resulted in part in WWI. So we have dark age, middle age and modern age problems discussed in this book. The Asian Tatars (the Mongols?) swept in a time or two to help their cousins in Europe (the Ottomans) completely confusing the warring nations. I am deliberately vague on specifics because one's nationality, religion, loyalties, etc., could change in the blink of an eye and in the heat of the battle. There is so much mystery surrounding these peoples.(less)
This book was sad which is easy for me to say since I was born after WWII. My parents lived trough the Depression. They were not as affected as some p...moreThis book was sad which is easy for me to say since I was born after WWII. My parents lived trough the Depression. They were not as affected as some people were. They had vegetable gardens. Daddy's father did fine with his sawmill and peanut crops. My Mother's mother was a widow, but tennants worked 'her place' and she did fine with her cotton crops./(less)
A very good book. We know who Christopher Columbus is and ehat he did. These entries give us the "how." His character seemed to change with each missi...moreA very good book. We know who Christopher Columbus is and ehat he did. These entries give us the "how." His character seemed to change with each mission. I guess I thought he discovered America one day, took a look around and went back home. Instead he had a mission and carried it out accordingly. He met barriers in communication, hostility (on and off the ships), funding, proving the mission--the list goes on. How could I have beem so naieve?(less)
This is not the book I own about Clark Gable. The biography I have was released in the 1970's entitled THE KING. It was a very good book. If there is...moreThis is not the book I own about Clark Gable. The biography I have was released in the 1970's entitled THE KING. It was a very good book. If there is anyone who remembersthe book, please give me a heads up. Thanks(less)
This was a strange book. The editing was very bad, and the storyline was unbelievable. Jon and Julia were Jon and Katherine disguised as Mary and Matt...moreThis was a strange book. The editing was very bad, and the storyline was unbelievable. Jon and Julia were Jon and Katherine disguised as Mary and Matthew in one lifetime. Evan was Blue Cloud married to Flower in an earlier time. After Blue Cloud's brother killed killed Flower and Blue Cloud's twin boys, Flower died in order to continue mothering her children. Sadly the twins explored the wrong portal causing their mother to seek Evan to help find her boys. In Daniel's safehouse, where Julia had gone for protection, Jon had gone to be brought back to life, and Evan had gone for grief therapy, each of the lovers' story unfolded by unatural means. Take these comments, twist them around even more and there you will find the writing style of the book. Oddly, I enjoyed reading the book.
Rebecca Forster's HOSTILE WITNESS is a very readable book. This was a 'whodunit' wherein all the characters "cudda dunit." There was a special twist a...moreRebecca Forster's HOSTILE WITNESS is a very readable book. This was a 'whodunit' wherein all the characters "cudda dunit." There was a special twist at the end. There were some grammatical errors which hampered the plot only momentarily. Wine tasters clear their palates with cheese. After reading an intense book (taste the wine) this book is a wonderful palate cleanser (cheese). (less)
My husband and attempted to take a sailing honeymoon. Insrrad it rained everyday. So we ended up reading JAWS and OVERBOARD. We did other things too,...moreMy husband and attempted to take a sailing honeymoon. Insrrad it rained everyday. So we ended up reading JAWS and OVERBOARD. We did other things too, but reading books on honeymoon is something not quite expected. This book was sheer tension from beginning to end. Our hero and his wife are the only two people on the craft. They take shifts sleeping and sailing. He awakens to find her gone overboard. Using log entries and compass ppints, etc., he travels back to where their shift had changed. He knows she is in a life vest. After days of retracing he finds her. What happens next is not mine to tell.(less)
THE EMPTY CHAIR by Jeffery Deaver is a Lincoln Rhyme thriller. Well written story about "The Insect Boy" who is a teenaged kidnapper. This book has a...moreTHE EMPTY CHAIR by Jeffery Deaver is a Lincoln Rhyme thriller. Well written story about "The Insect Boy" who is a teenaged kidnapper. This book has a twist at the end.(less)
We used to have a black housekeeper. She would cook our dinner (the mid-day meal in the South). Her husband would come to the back door, she would pas...moreWe used to have a black housekeeper. She would cook our dinner (the mid-day meal in the South). Her husband would come to the back door, she would pass out to him a plate of food and glass of iced tea. I never knew where he ate those meals.
THE HELP took me back to times passed. When James Meredith integrated Ole Miss, some of my father's male employees were in the Mississippi National Guard. They "got called up" to Oxford. I do not remember how long those men stayed in Oxford, but the wives got to visit them a week-end or two. Every one of them had a baby about nine months after their "visits." The best part is where those babies were made. I will give you a hint: there were no hotels in Oxford for the Guard's use.(less)
An excellent book! Literature should make one think, dream, question, remember--ah, the list goes on. In reading THE MEMOIRS OF CLEOPATRA, which I rea...moreAn excellent book! Literature should make one think, dream, question, remember--ah, the list goes on. In reading THE MEMOIRS OF CLEOPATRA, which I read without too much stopping, I wondered how great was her beauty and charm; what was the sound of her voice; what decisions were made in haste; what would she have done differently if given the chance; were her goals calculated or happenstance. Most of all, how did she so charm Julius Caesar before she had ever practiced her charms? Perhaps the rug delivery was so exotic that her lack of experience was not an issue. Mrs. George is an excellent author. She carries history and love together very well.(less)
TA page turner for me. I did have to make notes re: who did what to whom; the result of said action; and finally the resolution of the said action. I...moreTA page turner for me. I did have to make notes re: who did what to whom; the result of said action; and finally the resolution of the said action. I further confused myself by studying the history of the Middle East going all the way back to Abraham and Hagar in the book of Genesis, THE HOLY BIBLE. If literature causes the reader to yearn to know more, then I believe it has served a high purpose. (less)
A good read. A lot of familial intrigue. From my reading Strauss and the waltz were diminished because Strauss'music was not so much about the art but...moreA good read. A lot of familial intrigue. From my reading Strauss and the waltz were diminished because Strauss'music was not so much about the art but about who could outdo whom. It was a fascinating read under a differemt light.(less)
GFrederick Forsyth is one of my favorite authors. This is a book of short stories, not my favorite favorite literary form. These stories were 'Forsyt...more GFrederick Forsyth is one of my favorite authors. This is a book of short stories, not my favorite favorite literary form. These stories were 'Forsythian.' 'Favrian' is to football what 'Forsythian' is to literature. Both men are at the top of their game. (Brett, that one was for you!).(less)
Read the condensed version of Nicholas Sparks' MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE and saw the movie. Generally I prefer the book to the movie but not here. Why? The...moreRead the condensed version of Nicholas Sparks' MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE and saw the movie. Generally I prefer the book to the movie but not here. Why? The movie had Kevim Costner in it while the book did not. This a poignant love story. I recommend this book.(less)
This book was made into a movie. It is the autobiographical story of Mrs. Rawlings move from city life to the swampland of Florida. It is the story of...moreThis book was made into a movie. It is the autobiographical story of Mrs. Rawlings move from city life to the swampland of Florida. It is the story of the relationship between her and her husband, her writing, and her love for the swamp people. They traveled by boat. Lliving conditions were primitive. The book is mellow--an everyday look into life in the swamps. A great read.
Ever since reading this book, I have had a dream of spending my final days in a cross creek.(less)
Thomas Jefferson sweated blood for our country. We think of the Bill of Rights, The Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence, but his passion...moreThomas Jefferson sweated blood for our country. We think of the Bill of Rights, The Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence, but his passion for freedom started in The House of Burgesses(sp) and later the Continental Congress. His research and writings for colony of Virginia were predicates for the DOI, USC & BOR. (If I am not mistaken, he may have been in France with his daughter and Benjamin Franklin at a pivotal point concerning the Constitution.) He loved his wife. It was said that he should be kept in Philadelphia and New York or Richmond because every time he went home his wife got pregnant. Unfortunately, only two of his children lived, and Miss Patty died in childbirth. He was so meticulous in his writing and research. He had a vision for our country that only a few people could see. Jefferson was flying blind in his belief of the 'American Experiment.' He doggedly held firm to the ideas and ideals that made our country great. Oh that we had a Thomas Jefferson today.(less)
Loading...
