The Parting Glass : A Toast to the Traditional Pubs of Ireland (Irish Pubs)

Book Description

What better way to experience the richness of Ireland's cultural heritage than a meandering journey through its traditional pubs? The Parting Glass is a nostalgic ramble through 43 of the most inviting establishments in the cities and countryside of Ireland. Eric Roth's warm, glowing photographs and a sparkling text by Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe columnist Eileen McNamara capture the timeless feel and flavor of this intrinsic, but disappearing, part of Irish life.

Ireland's pubs are legendary-unique meeting places where revelers have habitually gathered to sing, dance, and share a little craic with their stout. Some of the pubs visited here are historic taverns; others are more contemporary. But all reflect the vibrancy and drama of the country's social history. Like many traditions entering a new century, Ireland's pub culture may now be endangered, even as the "Irish Pub" look and feel are being exported across Europe and America. This charming volume invites tourists, armchair travelers, and anyone interested in Irish history and culture to raise a "parting glass" to this cherished aspect of life in Ireland.

Customer Reviews:

The Parting Glass.......2007-03-25

Great photography. Great for Irish conversation. Makes a great gift.

Mouth watering tour of Ireland.......2007-01-18

This book is for those who want to be swept away on a marvelous journey through a land of incredible scenery interrupted by warm and friendly people invigorated by mouth watering blends of spirits served in the most welcoming places short of heaven.

A four-leaf clover of a find! .......2006-03-22

This book made a wonderful gift for my husband this Christmas. He and I went to Ireland a few years ago to see a U2 concert at Slane castle. To this day, it remains one of my favorite vacations of all times, and this book rekindled those wonderful memories. So much so, that after browsing through the pages together, my husband and I are planning a return trip "across the pond" as a gift to each other! We're even planning some of our itenerary around these cool cities and pubs.

The photos are just beautiful and so are the stories of the owners, the bartenders, the patrons and pub histories. Neat facts are tucked in between the pages, making it more than a photo essay -- I learned that a special place called a "Snug" exists in the older pubs, where the women used to share a pint or two without the company
of men.

If you are looking for an unusual and thoughtful gift, I recommend this book. It would make a wonderful father's day gift, (or mother's day gift!), it would be great as a birthday present, a graduation present, a coffee table book for a new homeowner, or for any other occassion where you want to raise a pint in celebration. Cheers!

Photos on tap.......2006-03-09

When I'm in Ireland -- which isn't nearly enough -- I try to avoid the trendy new pubs and stick to the joints where the local people go, where you're still likely to find a session in the corner, where the food is simple but hearty, and where the Guinness is pulled with pride.

Eric Roth, a Boston-based photographer, pays tribute to the "real" Irish pubs of Ireland in "The Parting Glass." Of course, there are thousands upon thousands of pubs to choose from, and the book had limited space, so after exhaustive research (read: going to lots of pubs) he picked 43 representative establishments to capture on film. Eileen McNamara, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe columnist, went along for the trip and provided the text to support Roth's images.

Of course, I have my own favorite spots in Ireland, and sadly, they're not included here. And yet, of the 43 pictured, I've been to only a handful, and they ALL look a delight!

The book includes numerous large, colorful photos of pub facades and pub interiors. Too, you'll find distinctive pub signs and unique pub decor. Better yet, you'll see people manning taps and hoisting pints, people who make up Ireland's traditional pub scene as much as the Guinness-stained tables, peat fires, live music and pleasant conversation.

There are city pubs and country pubs, ornate pubs and plain, crowded and empty. Roth's photos are gorgeous, rich in color, detail and personality. McNamara's narrative is equally colorful, informative and evocative of the pub experience. Combined, they create a desire to dive through the pages, take a seat and order a pint.

What an amazing journey........2006-01-27

Eric and Eileen have done a masterful job of painting an intimate and loving portrait of these cherished Irish institutions. Eric has a keen eye for dramatic composition and a wonderful sensitivity to the details that make these places come alive in his photographs. Eileen's lively prose is direct and personal. It's the next best thing to embarking on your own year-long pub crawl through Ireland.

Average customer rating:

A great ending for a great series.
A Calagon-type book ~~ it takes you away!
Multi-layered, multi-generational saga
Most entertaining!
A satisfying visit with the fiesty Donaghue family

The Parting Glass
Emilie Richards
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0778324389

Book Description

USA Today bestselling author Emilie Richards continues the journey begun in her beloved novel Whiskey Island with this unforgettable tale of star-crossed lovers, murder and three sisters who discover a hidden legacy that will lead them home at last to Ireland.

Megan, who is feeling hopelessly unprepared in her new marriage, has no idea how to fix the problems already facing her relationship. Casey, who is happily married to her high school sweetheart, is facing a new challenge: motherhood. And Peggy, who always dreamed of becoming a doctor, has put medical school on hold with the discovery that her young son is autistic.

Each facing her own difficulties, the Donaghue sisters are brought to the remote Irish village of Shanmullin by Irene Tierney, a distant relative who hopes that they will be able to help her learn the truth about her father's death in Cleveland more than seventy-five years ago. As a stunning tale of secrets and self-sacrifice, greed and hidden passions unfolds, the life of each sister will be changed forever.

Customer Reviews:

A great ending for a great series........2007-07-13

Be sure to read the first book, Whiskey Island, before this one. I started reading Emilie Richards with her Shenedoah Series because of the quilt block titles. She only gets better with each book. This series was exceptional. Good solid reading from start to finish.

A Calagon-type book ~~ it takes you away!.......2004-07-24

I am a devoted Emilie Richards fan ~~ I have read almost all of her books and I totally loved Whiskey Island ~~ it's in my home state and I love books that is set in Ohio since I know the general area. I just love Richards' books since she delves into her characters' lives and she brings her readers along with her into a journey that travels back and forth in time between two different generations of people, especially women. This book is no exception. In fact, it's better than Whiskey Island in some ways ~~ the sisters are more mature and dealing with more mature issues than being single and wondering if they'll ever fall in love.

Each of the sisters are set on their paths that they have chosen in life. Casey, who is not written about very much in this novel, is pregnant and happily married to Jon, her friend from high school. The novel centers mostly on Megan and Peggy. Megan and Niccolo are married but dealing with a shattered saloon that a tornado has torn apart, the growing lack of communication between the two of them and with Megan's restlessness as she is temporarily out of work. Peggy takes her son, Kieran, to Ireland after putting medical school on hold since he has autism and Peggy decided to devote time to helping Kieran learn the basic skills. She also went to be her cousin's companion. Irene, a lovely Irish spinster, is seeking answers to her father's death eighty years before. The sisters all help with the research and along the way, found answers to their own questions and problems as well as discovering the great secret that Irene's father has been holding all those years.

This is a great escape-novel. If you're overwhelmed with life and life's demands, this is the perfect book to sink yourself into for a few days. It's not a demanding reading but it's a fun reading ~~ and Richards keeps you guessing as you turn the pages. Once again, she writes about star-crossed lovers, relationships between husband and wife, between sisters and friends and lovers. It's a wonderful novel. She has the charm to keep you coming back for more.

7-23-04

Multi-layered, multi-generational saga.......2004-01-08

A multi-layered, multi-generational saga of an Irish family. Spanning the Atlantic ocean and richly populated with a diverse set of characters, Emilie Richards weaves stories together in a flashback style that works, tied together with humor, love, and tragedy. Beginning with a series of disasters during Megan Donaghue's wedding, the reader is then transported to Ireland with sister Peggy and her autistic young son Kieran to the home of a dying distant cousin. Misunderstandings, pubs and saloons, alcoholism, schizophrenia, debilitating grief, miracles, and autism, as well as the requisite red-headed Irish tempers give the story realism, and the setting is casually comfortable. A wonderfully hopeful glimpse into the lives and loves of the Donaghue Sisters.

Most entertaining!.......2004-01-08

I read this book unaware it must be the sequel to "Whiskey Island". Not a problem. The author pulls you in with each character and the storyline going from past to present, then back again was done smoothly. I'm looking for other books by this author!!

A satisfying visit with the fiesty Donaghue family.......2003-07-31

Occasionally life will hand us a situation and we don't know if we are strong enough to handle.

This is the case for Peggy Donaghue when she learns that her young son is autistic. So she puts her medical career on hold while she struggles to understand the condition that has her son locked in a world of his own. When she receives an offer to spend a year in Ireland with a distant relative, she grabs the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with her son and learn about her family's past in return.

Emilie Richards returns to the story of the Donaghue sisters in her novel, "The Parting Glass," a sequel to her bestselling book, "Whiskey Island," which began the chronicles of the lives of the Donaghue clan, the family who has been apart of Cleveland's large Irish community since days of the first immigrant's arrival.

Richards picks up her story of the feisty Donaghue sisters, focusing on little sister Peggy's story. Her decision to move to Ireland to live with elderly distant cousin Irene Tierney proves to be a move that will affect not only her life, but the lives of her entire family. As Peggy helps Irene unravel the mystery of their connected lineage, they discover family secrets that will soon come clearly important to the American side of the family. Experiencing love in the form of handsome but tragic Dr. Finn O'Malley will prove to be an added adventure that Peg hadn't planned on.

Back in the States, Megan, the eldest sister, has married her true love, Niccolo Andreani, an ex-priest who works with the trouble youth of their close-knit neighborhood. However, on the night of their wedding, a tornado strikes, all but leveling the historic Whiskey Island saloon, revealing a mysterious marking that will change the lives of everyone who comes into view of it. As they work to restore the saloon, Megan and Nick found out that married life is not exactly all wine and roses. As the couple work through communication problems early on, each wonders if they have made a mistake abandoning their former lives.

Only the middle sister, Casey, is living in relative harmony, having married her high school sweetheart, Jon Kovats and now is expecting their first child. But if one Donaghue ain't happy, none of them are happy, and the two older sister travel to Ireland to try to sort out their myriad of problems together, family style.

Intermixed with the Donaghue sisters' story is the story of Irene's family during the early days of Prohibition, and how their family became intertwined with the Donaghues in the beginning. The love story of Glenn Donaghue and Clare McNulty is heartbreaking and poignant.

Book Description

Intent on a nursing education in Virginia during the turbulent 1970s, an Irish emigrant passionately faces ethical and emotioal dilemmas impeding her goal. Prejudice, betrayal, and death permeate the story of her friendship with a black medical student and her love for an Irish widower and his dispirited young son.

Average customer rating:

Stocking Stumpersthe Parting Glass

Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0940462710

4 Titles By Emilie Richards : The Trouble with Joe Prospect Street The Parting Glass Wedding Ring

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4 Titles By Emilie Richards : The Trouble with Joe Prospect Street The Parting Glass Wedding Ring
Emilie Richards
Manufacturer: MIRA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NSGFM6

Product Description

4 Titles By Emilie Richards : The Trouble with Joe Prospect Street The Parting Glass Wedding Ring. four mmpb books.

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Parting Glass
Emer Cdatmv Tri82042 Kenny
Manufacturer: ARTEMIS RECORDS/MUSICRAMA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 6308612553

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The Parting Glass
Emilie richards
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000P0N656

The Parting Glass: A Guide Through Dependence and Co-Dependence

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The Parting Glass: A Guide Through Dependence and Co-Dependence
Tom Kearney
Manufacturer: Liberty Pub. Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1893095282

Parting glass: An American book of drink

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Parting glass: An American book of drink
B Lanzerotti
Manufacturer: B. Lanzerotti for Twin Willow Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006P876S

Book Description

She was the mysterious woman in the long black cloak. He was the sexy guy next door. They shared a common wall between their Capitol Hill townhouses and not much else ... until disaster scored a direct hit on the mystery woman's bedroom and the sexy guy's heart. He baked her a cake, she learned to throw a football, there were some misunderstandings in the living room, some mishaps in the yard, and some romantic moments everywhere.

Performed by C.J. Critt

Download Description

Dear Reader:

In a previous life, before the time of Plum, I wrote twelve short romance novels. Red-hot screwball comedies, each and every one of them. Nine of these stories were originally published by the Loveswept line between the years 1988 and 1992. All immediately went out of print and could be found only at used bookstores and yard sales.

I'm excited to tell you that those nine stories are now being re-released by HarperCollins. Back to the Bedroom is presented here in almost original form. I've done only minor editing to correct some embarrassing bloopers missed the first time around.

I lived in northern Virginia when I wrote Back to the Bedroom. My children were young, and we spent a lot of time visiting the Washington, D.C. museums and wandering through the historic neighborhoods. One day while strolling Capitol Hill I came upon two townhouses that captured my imagination. The houses were totally different -- a birthday cake of a house and a bran muffin of a house, and yet they shared a common wall. I wondered about the people who lived inside the houses. And eventually the houses inspired Back to the Bedroom.

Back to the Bedroom is the story of a young woman with the soul of a birthday cake living in a bran muffin house -- and a nice-looking guy with the substance of a bran muffin living in a birthday cake. They share some misadventures, some romantic moments, some misunderstandings, and ultimately they turn into wedding cake.

And for Plum fans, you'll be interested to find that this was the first of the four romances to feature Elsie Hawkins, the prototype for Grandma Mazur.

Janet Evanovich

Customer Reviews:

Kittens,car crashes,fires,explosions,excellent sex!.......2007-08-08

Stop! Newsflash! Evanovich states in a little insert here that Elsie Hawkins - the eccentric elderly boarder with our heroine - is the prototype for (drumroll...) Grandma Mazur. Say no more! The book itself is pretty crazy. Cellist Katherine Finn - Kate - gets a terrible shock when a camera pod from a helicopter crashes through her roof - and the floor below, down onto her bed... Then it rains through the hole. Amazing stuff, really. Well, interested neighbour David Dodd witnesses all this - so it's a good excuse to introduce himself. Help her cover her roof, contact friends about carpentry, feed her dinner, help her with furniture and her new tenant, Elsie. Just being friendly, you know. (Yeah, right.) Help her when she breaks her leg. Help her right into his bed after a brief romance. David's excellent for that sort of sexy neighbourly thing with a flummoxed Kate. Trouble is, Kate thinks he's a bum. He stays home most days and doesn't appear to have a job, whereas she's a driven Type-A musician on a very tight schedule. Ah, but the chemistry! Of course there's people waving guns and knives and stuff running around, and - not a dog this time, but kittens. Car crashes. Fires. Explosions. Excellent sex - did I mention that? You know the drill. Enjoy.

Loved It!!.......2007-07-15

I loved this book!! It reminded me of the Stephanie Plum novels. The character, Elsie, in the book is the prototype for Grandma Mazur in the Plum novels!! A quick and enjoyable read that had me laughing out loud!!

Fun Quick Read.......2007-04-14

This book is an earlier work of hers, so it is not the same quality as the Plum books. But hey, people grow in their work.
So just enjoy this book as a quick fun read, to enjoy when you don't want to have to think so much.

don't bother.......2007-03-09

This is the worst book I ever read of listened to. I suffered through the whole thing waiting for a good part. Don't waste your time.

Back to The Bedroom.......2007-03-01

Stupid. Don't waste your time. I enjoy the "Numbered" novels and was greatly disappointed by this sappy, unrealistic Harlequin-esque romance. Blah.

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Accessories Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Accessories Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WV1VNW

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Designs Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Designs Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WW004M

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Furniture Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Furniture Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WV62WW

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Dark Wood Bedroom Set Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Dark Wood Bedroom Set Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WVF2FU

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Embroidered Bedroom Slippers Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Embroidered Bedroom Slippers Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WVBQ00

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Inflatable Bedroom Furniture Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Inflatable Bedroom Furniture Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WVW92E

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Personalized Bedroom Slippers Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Personalized Bedroom Slippers Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WVIL3K

The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Lamps Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Cheap Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Lamps Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000WVBC18

The Online Business Setup, Direct Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Accessories Businesses

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The Online Business Setup, Direct Marketing, Back End Sales for Bedroom Accessories Businesses
J Bowman J Orr
Manufacturer: LTBR, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000UGSHPY

Book Description

Beyond Enders Boxed Mass Market Set
Contains: Speaker for the Dead, Xenocide and Children of the Mind

Speaker for the Dead:
In the aftermath of his terrible war, Ender Wiggin disappeared, and a powerful voice arose: The Speaker for the Dead, who told the true story of the Bugger War.

Now, long years later, a second alien race has been discovered, but again the aliens' ways are strange and frightening...again, humans die. And it is only the Speaker for the Dead, who is also Ender Wiggin the Xenocide, who has the courage to confront the mystery...and the truth.

Xenocide:
The war for survival of the planet Lusitania will be fought in the hearts of a child named Gloriously Bright.

On Lusitania, Ender found a world where humans and pequininos and the Hive Queen could all live together; where three very different intelligent species could find common ground at last. Or so he thought.

Lusitania also harbors the descolada, a virus that kills all humans it infects, but which the pequininos require in order to become adults. The Startways Congress so fears the effects of the descolada, should it escape from Lusitania, that they have ordered eh destruction of the entire planet, and all who live there. The Fleet is on its way, a second xenocide seems inevitble.

Children of the Mind:
The planet Lusitania is home to three sentient species: the Pequeninos; a large colony of humans; and the Hive Queen, brought there by Ender. But once against the human race has grown fearful; the Starways Congress has gathered a fleet to destroy Lusitania.

Jane, the evolved computer intelligence, can save the three sentient races of Lusitania. She has learned how to move ships outside the universe, and then instantly back to a different world, abolishing the light-speed limit. But it takes all the processing power available to her, and the Starways Congress is shutting down the Net, world by world.

Soon Jane will not be able to move the ships. Ender's children must save her if they are to save themselves.

Customer Reviews:

Beyond Ender's Game (3 books).......2007-08-24

Read them! Kids and adults alike! You will love them. Be sure you read "Ender's Game" first. One of my all-time favorites! (I'm 68 years old.)
H. in Texas

Not worth the purchase.......2007-05-15

By the end of Ender's Game, the Ender story feels complete. Author Card may have agreed, as the following stories take Ender and his tale in an entirely new direction. If you just stick to Ender's Game, you won't feel at a loss. These stories feel extraneous and the characters are too certain of their own righteousness to be believable.

More in Sci-fi, but less in strategy (sometimes brilliant but sometimes...).......2007-02-28

I have read the whole ender series, but with a strange sequence which may have affected the way I view the different books in the series. The first book I have read was the Shadow of the Hegemon, thanks to a tourist that had left it in the library of a hotel in Skiathos island. This book got me hooked, but it confused me also as I didn't know if I should start reading the next books or the previous ones.

The general pattern in the whole series is:
The beginning book is Ender's Game. Then we have two subcategories, one the Shadow series (which, with the exception of the first book, take place on earth and are more within military strategy) and one the Ender series (which take place in space and are more into new sci-fi ideas). Shadow series probably can be read from everyone, while I guess that the Ender series (especially from Speaker for the Dead onwards) would be read mainly from sci-fi fans.
Below are my comments for the books of the series, in the order I have read them and a marking (10 is the highest mark):

Shadow of the Hegemon: The first book I have read, and which I could not leave from my hands. I finished it in 2 days. It was fast paced action, very smart plot and after reading it I believed that Orson Scot Card (OSC) has invented/re-invented a new genre of literature. That of military strategy and adventure combined with brilliance/mind games and hidden portions of romance. Such books always existed but this seemed to be THE book. It was like the way Dan Brown re-invented books with trivials and puzzles, together with fast paced adventure. I strongly recommend it to everybody that likes such type of books. (mark: 10)

Shadow puppets: The sequel to the above. I found it interesting but somehow boring as the above story developed little and the focus was on the characters (maybe too much focus so that it seemed to me that it was slightly mumbling jumbling. Strategy, brilliance and adventure seemed to be very low here. I would not recommend it for anybody to read it in isolate, unfortunately you have to read it if you want to go to the next book. I really believe that OSC made a mistake here (deliberately or not) as this book should have been told in 50-60 pages and be included in the previous or the next book. (mark: 6 but you will read it because you will want to read Shadow of the Giant)

Shadow of the Giant: (see below)

Ender's game: A really great book to read, probably the best of the series, however, as I had read its sequels first, when I reached the 80% of this book, I had predicted the end. However, it's at the highest standards of sci-fi, military strategy, adventure, brilliant mind games and very good depth in the human aspect of the characters. In comparison to the shadow series, it is more "space" sci-fi, while shadow series have much lesser sci-fi elements and are more down to earth. (mark: 10)

Speaker for the dead: Another great book, but different style. Less adventure, more human aspect, more maturity. Brilliance yes, but not military, sci-fi yes (some great ideas) but not spaceship style. (Mark: 9)

Xenocide: A good sequel of the previous novel. In certain points more brilliant, in other sections more boring, however is again a very good sci-fi book. The only flaw in these series (Speker for the dead, Xenocide, Children of the mind) is the idea behind one of the alien species described which I found outrageously extreme, however if you ignore it becomes first class reading. (Mark: 9)

Children of the mind: I think that OSC has wrapped up his case pretty badly in that one. It's a fair book except the fact that I felt that OSC mumbles jumbles for one third of the novel not having decided how to end it. In other critiques I have found it described as nice approach to moral dilemmas, however, moral dilemma is when you describe it once and make your choice, while here the dilemma is repeated and repeated... I felt like I was watching a movie worth 10 oscars and the end did not worth to be included even in a cheap video movie. And again, many open ends at the end (for possible sequels). (Mark: 7 but you will read it as you will be hooked from the previous ones).

Ender's shadow: Having read Enders Game and Shadow of the Hegemon, I found this book probably the best of the series, which of course is my subjective preference. I could characterize it as probably the best book I have read ever! Not to repeat myself, it has all that Shadow of the Hegemon and Ender's Game have, and even more...(Mark: the absolute 10).

Shadow of the Giant: When I read shadow puppets, I said, "that's it, OSC has lost either his talent or his appetite for good writing...", so I was pretty unwilling to read it. Fortunately I decided to, as it proved to be a good one, were I believe that OSC has nicely wrapped up his story, with two small flaws.
* The one is described below (its end needed to be slightly more complete) and,
* The other is the fact that although he describes certain smart battles, he does not focus enough on them as it seems that he is in a hurry to wrap all things up. It had all elements to become a masterpiece but it ended up being a good to read book (Mark: 9)

In general, both series have three categories of good stuff:
1) Some great sci-fi ideas (battle room, battle games, fantasy game, ansible, aia, Jane, in/out travel, raman varelse etc)
2) Great military strategy, mind games etc combined with adventure
3) In certain books, depth of characters, moral dilemmas etc
And two main bad stuff:
1) Mumbling jumbling in certain books which was completely unnecessary (either OSC wanted just to produce and sell another title - see shadow puppets- or he could not decide how the story will continue-see last book of Ender series).
2) One of the alien species described in the Ender series was so too outrageous even for sci-fi that made it look ridiculous. The idea behind it was brilliant in sci-fi terms, but he could try a different living organism...
Finally, OSC has left open ends in both series (probably for next sequels), however I believe that there are two things missing. a) the story of the Hive Queen and the Hegemon, told in a metaphorical manner so it means much for humanity. b) In ancient theatre, a story should end in a way that brings "katharsis" to the story, and the souls of the readers. I believe that the end of the shadow of the giant may be smart for commercial purposes but it was very unfair to the reader as it did not bring full "katharsis".

Read one you will rember this is it.......2007-02-03

I love this series if you like a good story this is the one . Follow the lives of thes childern see them save the world. These books are great for all ages I bought this set for two of my brothers and there wifes. All have enjoyed them emensly.

The Intrigue Continues.......2007-01-15

You don't want to be left wondering do you? The imagination is fed and the enjoyment is even richer with this second series.

Book Description

The modern classic that interweaves the solitude, silence, and prayer of the fourth- and fifth-century Egyptian Desert Fathers and Mothers with our contemporary search for an authentic spirituality

Customer Reviews:

good - not too deep - quick read.......2007-08-31

I enjoyed the perspective of being oversturated with words in our society. We are bombarded by advertising and have become numb to the spoken word. The highlight of the book is " It through spending time in the silent presence of the Lord that gives strenghth to our words"

Satisfied.......2006-11-05

I was very happy with my purchase. The book came quickly and was in excellent condition

Excellent read, great book.......2006-06-06

Short, simple, easy to read in the typical Nouwen fashion, and yet when you are finished, you can not help but feel refreshed, energized, and re-awakened to that "tiny whispering sound" referred to in 1 Kings 19:12. This is an excellent book about the heart of prayer: standing silent in the presence of God. There is a lot of noise out there, and this book shows how to leave the noise outside, how to instill the silence of presence to God in your soul, and how to carry that out to the marketplace, where the message of the Gospel so needs to be heard.

Retreat planning tool.......2006-03-17

This book was recommended prior to a spiritual growth retreat. All retreat members read the book and were very pleased with the information. It is easy to get caught up in the noise and confusion of the world forgetting how important and valuable solitude and silence are to a relationship with God. In those quiet times come rich growth. This was a great reminder.

Three Practices that Bring Life.......2005-08-28

In this book Henri Nouwen takes us through three often-neglected disciplines in our noisy, busy, fast-paced culture. He not only encourages us to take some time to turn from the noise to silence, from the busyness to solitude, and from running fast to slowing down to pray; but he shows us how.

When it comes to solitude, Henri defines it beautifully: "Solitude is the place of purification and transformation, the place of the great struggle and the great encounter..." He talks about how this is a time when we stand alone before a holy God, bare-naked. That is the struggle, to come to God honestly. To encounter this wholly other God who is wholly other in his holiness, grace and love. And as we accept his love and grace, we can boldly come before him and stand in his presence naked and unashamed.

Then he goes on to talk about silence. "First, silence makes us pilgrims. Secondly, silence guards the fire within. Thirdly, silence teaches us to speak." We live in a world of words and silence enables us to hear the voice of God, so that we can breath life into those around us by our careful choice of words. He talks about how as ministers we can give time for silence in our counseling, bringing people to Jesus, waiting for the Spirit's direction.

And when it come to prayer, Henri says, "The prayer of the heart opens the eyes of the soul to the truth of ourselves as well as to the truth of God. The prayer of the heart challenges us to hide absolutely nothing."

We all need help in developing these three disciplines: silence, solitude and prayer in our noisy, busy and fast-paced society. Henri reminds us of the importance of these disciplines and gives us some practical help in how to live them out in real life.

The Way of the Heart : Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry

Average customer rating:

The Way of the Heart : Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry
Henri J. M. Nouwen
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry

Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Average customer rating:

The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry
Henri J. M. Nouwen
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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