Havana Bay: A Novel

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In this fourth book in Martin Cruz Smith's splendid series, an amiable Irish American gangster explains to Arkady Renko what he and the other 84 wanted Americans hiding out in Cuba do with themselves. "We try to stay alive. Useful. Tell me, Arkady, what are you doing here?" "The same," says Renko--and it's true. His life as a Russian cop has become so bleak and lonely that he takes any opportunity to shake things up, even spending his own savings to fly to Havana when an old colleague is found dead--floating inside an inner tube after night-fishing in Havana Bay. Renko sets out to make himself useful in this shabby, fascinating, haunted country whose inhabitants look on Russians with the cold disdain of survivors of a nasty divorce.

As he did so well in Gorky Park, Smith again makes Renko very much a classic Russian hero in temperament and tradition, but also the eternal outsider. He is at times close to the edge of despair--but his trip to Havana restores his natural curiosity and life force.

In this hot Havana, ripe with the fruity smell of sex, Renko keeps his Moscow overcoat on--until an equally idealistic and out-of-place young female cop gets him to loosen up. There's an unusually complex plot, even for the sly strand-spinner Smith. He raises baffling questions: Why would a group of military plotters order illegal lobsters in a fancy restaurant and then not eat them? And his descriptions of Cuban life are dead-on, reminding us on every page what a superb stylist he is. --Dick Adler

Book Description

The body, at least what was left of it, was drifting in Havana Bay the morning Arkady arrived from Moscow. Only the day before, he had received an urgent message from the Russian embassy in Havana that his friend Pribluda was missing and asking that he come.

The Cubans insisted that this corpse floating in an inner tube was Pribluda, but Arkady wasn't so sure.

"You don't investigate assault, you don't investigate murder. Just what do you investigate?" Arkady asks Ofelia Osorio, a detective in the Policía Nacional de la Revolución. "Or is it simply open season on Russians in Havana?"

The comrades of the Cold War have parted bitterly, and the Russians who used to swarm through Havana's streets are now as rare as they are despised, much more so than Americans.

Havana is overrun with color, music, and suspicion. The Revolution's heroes have outlived idealism. The Com-munist world has shrunk to Cuba. Paradise has become a stop on sex tours. It is a city of empty stores and talking drums, Karl Marx and sharp machetes, where an American radical rides around in Hemingway's car to tout island investments and a Wall Street developer on the run from the FBI flies a pirate flag.

"A dead Russian, a live Russian," Ofelia says. "What's the difference?"

But the dead Russian is followed by the murders of a Cuban boxer and a prostitute. Although none of them is supposed to be investigated, Arkady cannot be stopped. He speaks no Spanish, knows nothing about Cuba, and, as a Russian, is a pariah. However, there is something about this faded, lovely, dangerous city--the rhythms of waves against the seawall, the insinuation of music always in the air, and, finally, Ofelia herself--that plunges Arkady back into life.

"What ultimately sets the Renko books apart is the careful writing, and, more important, the knowledge of the human heart that is carried through it, through them, first to last."
--Chicago Tribune

Customer Reviews:

Arkady Renko transcends the genre.......2007-07-22

Smith plunges his unsuspecting Russian inspector, Arkady Renko, into a hot and hostile Havana. Teeming with sinister santeros, bitter revolutionaries, ingenious grandmothers and underage prostitutes, Havana is a colorful mess of shortages, crumbling grandeur and intrigue.

Renko, answering an anonymous embassy summons, arrives to identify the body of his old friend and enemy, former KGB functionary Sergei Pribluda, who was undoubtedly in Cuba as a spy. But after two weeks floating on an innertube in Havana Bay (neumaticos, men without boats, use innertubes to fish), and a horrifying comedy of errors in recovering the body, the dead man is hardly recognizable as human. Despite dental evidence, Renko refuses to identify him as Pribluda.

This refusal leads to a mystifying chain of events involving several murders which are, officially, not to be investigated. But Renko, grieving over the death of his wife and heedless of his own fate, investigates. "Stepping onto the street in a foreign city in the middle of the night was diving into a dark pool without knowing how deep the water was."

Aided and deflected by the fiery, patriotic young detective Ofelia Osorio, who resents this Russian's impertinent interference, but takes her responsibilities seriously, Renko follows his meager clues. Renko's skills rely on keen curiosity, close observation of human nature, and dogged persistence, visiting and revisiting places and people; making his own luck.

The plot's circles and switchbacks pull Renko deeper into the underside of Cuban life and the unfrequented neighborhoods of defunct industries and former tourist attractions.

Smith's picture of the city beguiles with utter authenticity. From the US embargo and the Russians' withdrawal of aid comes a surreal vision of a place stopped in time, where 50-year-old technology runs on willpower and ingenuity. The writing is to be savored, each scene active but not labored, the people full of guile and contradiction.

Like "Gorky Park" and "Polar Star," another genre-transcending masterpiece.

Great descriptions of Cuba, poor story.......2007-07-05

I was disappointed with this book. The plot wasn't very interesting and there was too much padding.

Gone Fishing..........2007-05-01

Martin Cruz Smith is a former journalist and magazine editor. "Havana Bay" is his fourth novel - after "Gorky Park", "Polar Star" and "Red Square" - to feature Arkady Renko and was first published in 1999.

Renko, the hero, works as an Investigator with Moscow's militia - more or less the standard police force - and has something of a chequered career. Never a truly 'practising' member of the Party, Renko hasn't always been thought highly of by those in authority. He has always wanted to catch the people responsible for the crimes he's investigating, regardless of the 'political' consequences - as a result of this, he was once dismissed from the Party for a lack of 'political reliability' and sentenced to a life in Siberia. He has been rehabilitated for several years now, though he always remained something of a disappointment to his father - a very famous ex-General. His father has been dead for some time, though Arkady has recently lost his wife, Irina.

While Renko has been abroad before, "Havana Bay" sees him operating entirely outside the Russian sphere of influence. Having received a mysterious unsigned fax, he's in Havana - apparently to identify a body the Cuban authorities believe to be an old friend of his : ex-KGB Colonel, Sergei Pribluda. Pribluda had been in the Cuban capital for eleven months working as an attache to the Russian Embassy. He had been missing for around a week, until - it would appear - the discovery of a body found floating in Havana Bay. While certain characteristics match up - dental records, for example - Renko isn't entirely convinced : the body has decompsoed to such a point that it's lacking a face and fingerprints. However, since the Cubans believe Pribluda was actually working as a spy, they aren't even remotely bothered about opening an investigation. Arkady, on the other hand, wants to find out what's happened to his friend - even if the corpse isn't Pribluda, he's been missing for a week. Renko isn't the sort to be overly bothered about operating an 'unofficial' investigation - he is techincally a tourist in Cuba - but things won't be easy for him. Since the fall of communism in Russia, there's been a certain amount of tension between Cuba and Renko's homeland. As a result, Renko won't be getting any real help from the Cuban investigators - Sergeant Luna, in particular, goes out of his way to be a hindrance. However, there is a chance Arkady may be able to win over Detective Osario...

Although much better than your average murder-mystery book, I don't think "Havana Bay" was just quite as good as the previous instalments in the Renko series. Part of that came down to the location - I think I may have missed the political games played in Russia. I also thought it was very unfair on Renko to have killed off Irina - he deserves a reason to smile ! However, it is an enjoyable and easily read book - Arkady is a character fans of Harry Bosch should take to very easily.

"What was it about violent death that was better than dreams?".......2006-12-11

When the brooding and sometimes depressed Russian "hero," Arkady Renko, travels to Havana to investigate the gruesome death of a Russian colleague, his contact with the high energy Cubans does little to improve his view of life. Renko, who has been featured in four Cruz Smith novels, has been so anxious to escape from the corruption in Moscow, that he has paid his own way to Cuba for a break. Within a week, however, he is planning his suicide.

Forty years have elapsed since the Cuban Revolution raised and then dashed the hopes of the Cuban people, and corruption is rampant among the higher-ups in the Cuban police department and the government. The early affinity between the Cubans and the Russians has changed to outright enmity, and Renko finds his own life threatened by Cubans. Though as a Russian he is not supposed to investigate his friend Pribluda's death, he is unsatisfied with the inquest. Making the acquaintance of Ophelia Osorio, a police officer in the National Police, who believes him to be honest, he is sometimes able to gain important information.

Gradually, this complex story evolves into an investigation of much more than the death of one Russian. A sugar company, set up in Panama and involving high-ranking Cubans, some Chinese, and some Russians appears to be a shell in a get-rich-quick scheme. Several American radicals now living in Cuba are involved in this and other schemes, and as the action picks up, complicated by Santeria and Abakua religious practices and beliefs, Renko is brutally attacked, leaving him wondering if he will live long enough to get on the plane for Moscow that weekend.

Cruz Smith's ability to convey the atmosphere of Havana and to depict the mood of its inhabitants of all economic levels brings the story alive, and the contrasts between Renko's dour Russian character and that of the Cubans suggest that the alienation between the two countries may have involved more than the Russians' failure to support Cuba financially. The action, slow to start and sometimes graphically violent, ends in a dramatic grand finale, including several crosses and double-crosses and leading to the reader's new view of what was really going on behind the scenes. Though the action is not as tight as it is in Gorky Park and Polar Star, this novel further develops the character of Renko and hints at new, more complex Renko novels to come. n Mary Whipple

A Russian in Cuba.......2006-09-12

Arkady Renko, our hard-bitten Russian Investigator makes his fourth appearance in this series that started with the amazing book Gorky Park, and its impressive sequal Polar Star. Havana is not quite up to these standards, but is still a highly readable book with plenty of action and snappy dialogue -- as is almost everything written by the very professional Martin Cruz Smith, who never fails to capture the exotic appeal of interesting people in remote places. However, readers interested in this genera might do better to skip to another Smith masterpiece -- Rose.

--Auralgo

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Havana Bay
Martin Cruz Smith
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Havana Bay
Martin Cruz Smith
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Havana Bay (The Arkady Renko trilogy, Book 4)

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Havana Bay (The Arkady Renko trilogy, Book 4)

Manufacturer: Recorded Books, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0788739697

Product Description

10 Discs. In this richly complex mystery, best-selling author Martin Cruz Smith paints a stunning backdrop of dazzling excesses and stark deprivation. Havana Bay portrays soulful Russian detective Arkady Renko exploring the dark side of Cuba as he investigates the fatal accident of a Soviet comrade. Still reeling from his wifes untimely death in Moscow, Arkady flies to Cuba to identify an old colleague who has been pulled from Havana Bay. After he points out that the decaying corpse could be any missing person, police officials turn hostile. Suddenly, Arkady must emerge from his depression and uncover a web of corruption, or his new enemies will silence him forever. Martin Cruz Smiths masterful prose transports you to Fidels fading paradise to search through crumbling buildings, hear riotous island music, and experience the intense tropical sun. The exotic, earthy characters burst from the pages with narrator Frank Mullers dramatic performance.

Havana Bay, By Martin Cruz Smith, Unabridged Library Edition 8 Audio Cassettes, Read By Edward Lewis

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Havana Bay, By Martin Cruz Smith, Unabridged Library Edition 8 Audio Cassettes, Read By Edward Lewis
Martin Cruz Smith
Manufacturer: Books on Tape, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000JM4A5A

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Havana Bay: A Novel
Martin Cruz Smith
Manufacturer: Random House Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OFTL4M

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Havana Bay: A Novel (Mortalis.)
Martin Cruz Smith
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0345502981
Release Date: 2008-05-20

Book Description

When the corpse of a Russian is hauled from the oily waters of Havana Bay, Arkady Renko comes to Cuba to identify the body. Looking for the killer, he discovers a city of faded loneliness, unexpected danger, and bewildering contradictions. His investigation introduces him to a beautiful Cuban policewoman; to the rituals of Santeria; to an American fugitive and a group of ruthless mercenaries. In this place where all things Russian are despised, where Hemingway fished and the KGB flourished, where the hint of music is always in the air, Arkady finds a trail of deceit that reaches halfway around the world–and a reason to relish his own life again.

From the Paperback edition.

3 Titles by MARTIN CRUZ SMITH (Polar Star - Havana Bay - Red Square)

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3 Titles by MARTIN CRUZ SMITH (Polar Star - Havana Bay - Red Square)
Martin Cruz Smith
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000TNKL84

Book Description

Mia Wilde has a reputation for being too wild to tame, but that doesn't mean she's going to let someone get away with distributing provocative photographs of her. So she enlists the help of private investigator Cameron Sinclair--the one man who seems immune to her flirtatious and outrageous personality. But Mia soon learns that appearances can be very deceiving.

Customer Reviews:

Too Wilde To Tame.......2007-09-17

This book was very good. If you like steamy, this is it! I thought the writer captured the emotions of the male character very well. I very much enjoyed that he was not one dimensional. Keep 'em coming Janelle Denison.

I really love the Wilde books!.......2007-05-21

For easy, fun reading, Janelle Denison really makes for a great time! I love her dialogue, the sex sizzles, the characters are fun and attractive to imagine in my head, and it certainly takes me away from the ho-hum life of raising 3 stinky kids and carting them around their soon-to-be summer activities--yikes! For those of you looking for serious literature, I suggest you look for the classics section in the library. For the rest of us who are looking for some fun--Janelle and the WILDEs are the greatest! The characters are believable, the relationships are not just flat on the page but are actually believable, the romance and sex scenes are great and I find them very enjoyable. Keep writing--I can't wait for the next installment!

Denison does it again.......2006-03-23

Janelle Denison does well with this book. I'm still reading it, but it's very good. You wouldn't feel remorse for buying this titillating read.

Worst of the Wilde Series.......2006-02-07

We've been introduced to Mia and Cameron in previous novels but all the anticipation fell flat in TOO WILDE TO TAME. The plot was thin, uninteresting and just filled pages between sex scenes. The sex scenes didn't do it for me either and I blame that on the fact that there was a severe lack of character development. Cameron was a sexy, shell of a man while Mia appeared to be exactly what she didn't want to be labeled ~ a tramp.

All of the Wilde stories are the same. The characters agree to a short affair and the result is always the same. I wish Denison would give us something new. I'm barely interested in Joel's story, which is next. If you haven't read the other books in the Wilde series, I'd recommend WILDE THING and THE WILDE SIDE. Their plots are thin as well, but at least the romance is steamy.

Disappointed.......2006-01-29

I was very disappointed in this book because of all the great reviews. I found Mia to be blindly self-centered and selfish and never came to like her character. Having insecurities is human, hurting others repeatedly and over long periods of time because of those insecurities shows a lack of courage and/or the intelligence required to be at all perceptive or sensitive to others' feelings, to say nothing of one's own. Towards the end of the book, Cameron tells her he loves her and she doesn't even acknowledge it. At all! Not to his face nor even in her private thoughts afterwards. She hurts her stepmother all her life, therefore, hurting her own father (although the author never acknowledges that part, but how could he not be hurt when his youngest and only daughter doesn't accept the woman he loves during all her growing up years! Maybe he too lacks perception, and never figured out his wife was hurt by Mia's lack of trust.) Mia shows her selfishness with her roommate, Gina, as well. Gina is involved in an abusive relationship, comes home with bruises and Mia won't push the issue because she doesn't want to lose her friendship! And this behavior and all of her insecurities stem from her mother dying when Mia was only 5? Sorry, but I just couldn't swallow it. Not only do most people not even remember much of what happened when they were five, but at that age kids are extremely resilient. It's hard to see this as the sole reason for Mia's many emotional issues since she was surrounded by a very loving family the whole time after that and nothing else bad happened to her, ever. Not even with boyfriends. After all, she was the one who broke up all her amorous relationships. And no, I do not accept her family's over protectiveness as a cause for her inability to form long term relationships. A cause for an overly developed sense of independence, yes, but not fear of getting emotionally involved. Frankly, if so little messed up a person's psyche to such an extent, our world would truly be hell on earth for everyone, all the time, everywhere. I gave this book 2 stars, because I've read worst. But that's not saying much. I'm very sorry I paid full price for this. I can't believe there are so many 4 and 5 stars! They really fooled me into buying this book.

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Too Wilde to Tame
Janelle Denison
Manufacturer: BERKLEY SENSATION
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739459147

9 - JANELLE DENISON - FORBIDDEN - PRIVATE PLEASURES - SEDUCTIVE FANTASY - WILD FANTASY - CHRISTMAS FANTASY - HEAVEN'S GIFT - WILDE THING - THE WILDE SIDE - TOO WILDE TO TAME

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9 - JANELLE DENISON - FORBIDDEN - PRIVATE PLEASURES - SEDUCTIVE FANTASY - WILD FANTASY - CHRISTMAS FANTASY - HEAVEN'S GIFT - WILDE THING - THE WILDE SIDE - TOO WILDE TO TAME
JANELLE DENISON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000RRM1LW

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Product Description

**** ($3.99 USA POSTAGE FOR ALL 9 BOOKS, WHICH WILL BE MAILED AT THE MEDIA - BOOK RATE WHICH IS SLOW SURFACE MAIL, 7 - 21 DAYS DELIVERY TIME).

Book Description

Moongobble has successfully completed two of his three Mighty Tasks: He's collected the Golden Acorns of Alcoona and bottled the tears of the Weeping Werewolf. There's only one more Mighty Task to go, then Moongobble will become a member of the Society of Magicians. But this might be the most difficult one of them all. Moongobble must go deep into the Forest of Boodle to recover the Queen's Belly Button, a magical stone that was plucked off an ancient statue by a band of elves. The Belly Button has the power to tempt its owner to do evil things -- and those elves have been causing trouble left and right.

Moongobble enlists the help of Edward, Urk, the Rusty Knight, Fireball the Dragon, and Arfur, an old friend. Even with their help, this task won't be easy. Anyone who attempts to steal the Belly Button and fails will be turned into stone! Will Moongobble be able to successfully steal the stone and resist its powers?

Customer Reviews:

great book!.......2007-08-13

My seven year old loves this series, he truly can't put them down once he gets started. They are fun and exciting, with adventure, but at an appropriate level for a second grader. We are moving on to other Bruce Coville books as his reading level increases, have not yet been disappointed.

Great book.......2006-01-15

We love all the Coville books and the Moongoble series is great fun. Good for younger children perhaps. 5-7

Engaging and Fun.......2005-07-13

Bruce Coville has written a wonderful trio of books for the beginning reader. The characters in this story are amusing, especially the Rusty Knight, and the talking frog. Edward is a bland main character, but serves a purpose as the straight man around whom all the magic takes place.

I will be using the book in my 2nd grade classroom this year, and feel that the short chapters and solid story will prove to be big hits with my students.

The Moongobble series is an excellent introduction to the world of fantasy, and should prove to be a gateway novel for younger readers that will eventually lead them to the Secrets of Droon series, and from there to Harry Potter.

Excellent for younger readers.......2004-12-14

Bruce Coville has once again written a story quite suitable for young fantasy fans. I read to my 5 and 6 year old sons and they always enjoy the magical follies of the less than competent magicians. The scary parts in the Moongobble series are not really scary, which is a plus, compared to Spiderwick where menacing goblins kill pets and dwarves, and some characters die. The very young boy, Edward, being the hero makes it all the more interesting for children. Also the language is much gentler than in Spiderwick. (...) As aways, the drawings added to the appeal as did the handsome production values with a volume sized perfectly for small readers' hands. After the happy ending there is a great picture with all the kids' favorite characters, plus the opening for additional books even after Moongobble has fulfilled his Mighty Tasks. May we hope for more, Mr. Coville?

Exciting New Fantasy Series for Young Readers.......2004-11-24

Moongobble, the wannabe wizard, has successfully completed two of his three Mighty Tasks needed to be admitted into the Society of Magicians, including collecting the Golden Acorns of Alcoona, and bottled the tears of the Weeping Werewolf. However, there is still one task left, and it's the most challenging yet. Moongobble must go deep into the Great Forest of Boodle to find the Queen's Belly Button, a magic stone that was stolen by a band of evil elves. To complete his task, Moongobble enlists the help of his friends, the Rusty Knight, Urk, Edward, Arfur, and Fireball the dragon. After all, the best way to get things done is with the help of your friends.

I have been a fan of Bruce Coville's books for years and years, and was ecstatic to see this adorable new series by him. Young readers will be thrilled to see that there is a wonderful new fantasy series on the market, geared perfectly towards their age group, and parents will be enthralled to find their children delving into a wonderful new, wholesome series that even they will find interesting. Overall, this is a wonderful new series that will be loved by all.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

Moongobble & Me: The Evil Elves (Moongobble and Me)

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Moongobble & Me: The Evil Elves (Moongobble and Me)
Bruce Coville
Manufacturer: Full Cast Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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Book Description

Moongobble must complete one last Mighty Task before he is accepted into the Society of Magicians. But this one is a doozy: he must retrieve “The Queen’s Belly Button”—an enchanted stone that has turned an entire elf village bad! Soon Edward and Moongobble—along with Urk the Toad, Fireball the Dragon, and the Rusty Knight—are off on their greatest adventure yet. Can they regain the stone without turning evil themselves? This fun-filled tale of magic and adventure will have the entire family laughing out loud!

Book Description

Most people have back surgery to relieve pain, but all too often it doesn't help. For the half million people who undergo back surgery each year, and the additional million who are seriously contemplating it, Do You Really Need Back Surgery? is a godsend--an informed, reliable guide to when you should consider surgery and when you should not. Written by an internationally recognized expert in nerve and spinal surgery, this highly readable guide covers everything back patients need to know to make informed decisions about their treatment. The book discusses the details of spinal anatomy; the difference between acute, chronic, and recurring pain; shows how to keep the spine healthy; and explains such terms as spurs, stenosis, and slippage. It also reveals what clues your physician uses to predict whether a given type of pain is likely to go away with rest and exercise, and which types may become emergencies. Dr. Filler discusses the risks of surgery, the decisions you may be faced with and what options you have, and your expectations for recovery. He provides detailed explanations of the wide array of spinal injections and surgeries, including discectomies and fusions, as well as innovative procedures such as electrothermic and laser techniques and artificial disks. He explains the various medical imaging and diagnostic tests available and even covers the complexities of health insurance. From Pilates to pedicle screws, and from osteoporosis to spina bifida, Do You Really Need Back Surgery? covers all the questions your doctor usually doesn't have the time to answer. Featuring more than 80 illustrations, it is an essential manual for every neck or back pain sufferer.

Customer Reviews:

Valuable Source of Spinal Information.......2007-09-29

This is a pretty comprehensive guide for understanding the workings of the human back. The author takes you through an anatomy lesson where you learn about the different sections of the human spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacrum. The structure of the individual vertebrae and the differences among the vertebrae in the various sections are described. Then he goes into the actual spinal cord and nerves and how they are affected by problems in the vertebrae. Various back pains are discussed including 'referred pain' which is where you feel pain in one of the body's extremities that is actually caused by nerve trauma in the spinal cord or one of the nerves that branches out from the spinal cord to that extremity. All facets of spinal health are presented in easily understandable terms.

The second half of the book proceeds by discussing the various surgical methods that can be utilized to treat spine related problems. Historical procedures are included along with current medical trends for treating spinal problems so that you can see how back surgery has progressed over time. Even future directions and experimental techniques are discussed to give you a feel for what is up-and-coming in the field of spinal surgery. Risks are discussed as well so that you can make an informed choice to have a particular operation and understand the related consequences.

There are even chapters that discuss types of pain, pain medications and their associated complications, non-surgical methods for treating back pain and their effectiveness and potential consequences, genetic spinal disorders, recovery from spinal surgery, and even cost and health insurance matters. In fact, the health insurance chapter has valuable information describing the differences among the various type of insurance available such as HMO's, PPO's, and PSO's and explains the difference between 'contracted' and 'uncontracted' providers so that you'll know what to ask when seeking surgical help and how to control your costs.

All-in-all the book was worth the price for the information you will gain. However, I found that there was little discussion about 'degenerative' spinal problems in specific though I could imagine some of the techniques described might be useful for these situations such as transpedicular kyphoplasty. I would have liked to see the book spend some dedicated time discussing this particular type of spinal condition with, perhaps, some information about technologies that are on the horizon. Perhaps a few references to internet sites where one could find information on specific disorders would be nice as well.

Very helpful.......2006-11-06

After a few years of worsening spinal stenosis I recently had to have a multiple laminectomy. There have been some post-operational complications or further problems, and I am trying to sort things out. I may have to decide to have further surgery or not.

Dr. Filler's book has been very helpful to me in understanding my situation regarding my spinal problems and my possible options for addressing them. The book presents basic, practical information in a comprehensive, well organized, and detailed manner. The writing is clear and straight forward. Dr. Filler clearly has a lot of knowledge and experience, and he shares it in a way that is very useful for patients.

The best patient is the educated patient.......2006-07-09

Facing the prospect of a cervical spine fusion, I wanted all the information I could find. Dr Filler's book is a very easy and enjoyable read. The book has general chapters on spine health, conditions and diseases that may necessitate surgery, and diagnostic and surgical procedures. Dr Filler then dedicates chapters to specific conditions and specific areas of the spine. He concludes with postoperative considerations and the future. I'm no stranger to major surgery. This is the best book of its kind that I have read. I shared the book with family members. It helped me understand my condition and better communicate with my surgeon.

For those you want a better understanding of their spine conditions.......2006-06-12

This is an excellent book for those who want to be in control of their health. I run a specialist clinic, Core Concepts, for back pain in Singapore. For our patients that want to have a thorough understanding of their condition and treatment options, we strongly recommend this book.

In fact, our copies of the book are rarely in the clinics but are out in the hands of our patients to read at home. Improving patient knowledge is an integral part of our philosphy in active treatment. We want patients to understand how we are helping them instead of playing a passive role in their treatments. This book helps us to that.

Easy to Read ... Thorough Information.......2005-09-17

I am facing major back surgery soon and this book was invaluable...it provided me with a thorough understanding of the anatomy of the spine and the details of the surgery which I will have. It is easy for a layman to understand and you can skip to the chapters that are appropriate for your particular ailment. I have already recommended it to two of my friends who also have severe back problems. It should be on the "MUST READ" list of anyone who has a back problem, no matter how large or small.

Do You Really Need Surgery?: A Sensible Guide to Hysterectomy and Other Procedures for Women

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Recommended reading for all women
Explains what to expect and how to make the recovery easier
terrific information for any woman with 'women's problems'
A Must-Read for All Women Facing Gynecologic Mysteries
Fantastic coverage

Do You Really Need Surgery?: A Sensible Guide to Hysterectomy and Other Procedures for Women
Michele C., M.D. Moore , and Caroline M., M.D. De Costa
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
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ASIN: 0813533937

Book Description

At last, here is a user-friendly guide to gynecologic surgery. The authors' guiding principle is that each woman for whom any kind of surgery is recommended should be well informed about the indications, the risks, and the expected results.

Using anecdotes drawn from a combined fifty years of experience, doctors Moore and de Costa provide clear and accurate information about women's anatomy, physiology, common gynecological ailments, diagnosis, alternative treatments, and, finally, full details about surgery itself. Among the surgeries discussed are removal of the uterus (hysterectomy), removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), and removal of fibroids. The various ways of performing these procedures are examined, including minimally invasive surgery done through the laparoscope.

The authors also help the patient through the post-operative phase, revealing what to expect, how to make the recovery easier, and how to take care of yourself after the surgery. The result is a book that empowers women as they weigh their options with regard to gynecologic surgery.

Customer Reviews:

Recommended reading for all women.......2004-08-31

I came across this book after reading the authors' first book about Csection, which I found really helpful. I haven't had a hysterectomy but I needed some minor surgery and this book really explained the procedure well and what to expect afterwards. It also explained why I had the symptoms I did. My Mom also read it and though she's already had a hysterectomy found a lot of things she hadn't known (especially about the menopause afterwards) The book doesn't push you into surgeries but gives lots of information and a guide for making up your own mind.Queenie

Explains what to expect and how to make the recovery easier.......2004-08-09

In Do You Really Need Surgery?: A Sensible Guide To Hysterectomy And Other Procedures For Women, Michele Moore (a family physician specializing in women's health) and Caroline de Costa (a gynecologist and obstetrician, and a mother of seven who has herself undergone a hysterectomy) combine their more than fifty years of experience to provide accurate and clear information to the reader about the anatomy, physiology, and common gynecological ailments of women. They deftly and accessibly cover diagnosis, alternative surgery, and full details about medical procedure of hysterectomy surgery. Do You Really Need Surgery? also takes the reader through the post-operative phase, explains what to expect and how to make the recovery easier, as well as how to take care after the surgery to insure against post-operative complications. Critically important and very highly recommended reading for anyone contemplating such surgery, Do You Really Need Surgery? also informatively addresses possible non-surgical options.

terrific information for any woman with 'women's problems'.......2004-03-30

I was lucky enough to get hold of a review copy of this book while going through the investigations and decision-making for my upcoming hysterectomy. This book covers everything I needed to know, without pushing the reader too much in any one direction. It's really good on the details and risks of hysterectomy with the laparoscope,this is information I couldn't find in any other book. As a result I now feel confident about having this procedure. I'll have the book with me as I go through the process, it has a lot of information about what happens in the weeks after hysterectomy and how to get back to better health quicker.Five stars to these sympathetic women ffor producing this sensible guide.

A Must-Read for All Women Facing Gynecologic Mysteries.......2004-03-28

Five stars for Michele C. Moore and Caroline M. De C osta's Do You Really Need Surgery? A Sensible Guide to Hysterectomy and Other
Procedures for Women. Physicians Moore and De Costa write clearly, humorfully, and usefully about women's options for gynecological surgery-remembering that hysterectomy used to be the most often performed unnecessary surgery, they offer numerous choices, always emphasizing the need for the empowered patient's choice. "Remember, you are the person having the surgery, not them [doctors]!" Michele and Caroline write, using their first names with pseudonyms for their patients. They offer personal narratives about their patients, some of whom have opted for surgery! -most notably hysterectomy-and some of whom have not. They consider the options of alternative medicine as well as
mainstream Western approaches. Michele and Caroline detail not only success stories, but also they offer clear explanations of the risks and consequences of gynecologic surgery. This book is written in clear colloquial language. (...) Some possible bad consequences, often temporary, are concisely described with "Yuck." The technical details are there, clearly presented using as little jargon as possible. I have friends facing some of the conditions Michele and Caroline analyze, and I will give them a copy of this book enthusiastically.
Particularly wonderful sections are those on what to expect after the surgery that squarely face women's sexual fears and realities that follow many hysterectomies-Moore quotes one of her patient's delighted analysis: "Hysterectomy takes away the baby carrier and leaves the playpen." The concluding section-tips to make a sensible decision-is brilliant. Though I hope to be lucky enough to avoid having the complications that would
make in-depth study of this book necessary, if they arose,I also hope I would be able to consult these two wise women.

Fantastic coverage.......2004-03-21

This book covers every aspect of the hysterectomy procedure and thoroughly explains alternatives. I really felt empowered by reading this book and have recommended it to all my female friends, regardless of their age. This is the kind of stuff women really need to know.

Do You Really Need Bypass Surgery? A Second Opinion

Average customer rating:

Do You Really Need Bypass Surgery? A Second Opinion
Howard H. Wayne
Manufacturer: Creative Alliance
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0977194841

Product Description

A book that details a medical treatment that prevents heart attacks, avoids the side effects of surgery, saves lives, and tens of thousands of dollars

Average customer rating:

Do you really need eye surgery?
William H Havener
Manufacturer: Thomas
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Ophthalmology | Specialties | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Surgery | Disorders & Diseases | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0398037140

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