Taft: A Novel

Book Description

John Nickel is a black ex-jazz musician who only wants to be a good father. But when his son is taken away from him, he's left with nothing but the Memphis bar he manages. Then he hires Fay, a young white waitress, who has a volatile brother named Carl in tow. Nickel finds himself consumed with the idea of Taft -- Fay and Carl's dead father -- and begins to reconstruct the life of a man he never met. But his sympathies for these lost souls soon take him down a twisting path into the lives of strangers...

Customer Reviews:

Another Minor Miracle from Ann Patchett.......2006-06-28

In a book that is set far away in place, character, and circumstance from her justly celebrated novel "Bel Canto," Patchett has crafted a story that reveals once again that the extraordinary lies just beneath the surface in even the most "ordinary" of people. Nickel, the black manager of a Memphis bar and a former jazz musician struggling with his own losses, hires Fay, a white teenage girl, as a waitress. Against his better judgment he becomes increasingly involved in her life and that of her younger brother Carl, a troubled kid who spells trouble for Nickel. As the characters try to make sense of their own circumstances and find a way to move forward with their lives, dangerous collisions become inevitable and choices must be made. Hovering over everything is Taft, the dead father of Fay and Carl, whose life and experience could not be more different than that of Nickel, and who haunts both Nickel's and the reader's thoughts. The book is well-plotted, with enough suspense to keep the reader turning the pages, as Ms. Patchett performs her own magic, showing us that nothing, and no one, is simple.

Disarming simplicity.......2005-12-26

One characteristic of Ann Patchett's work is her simplicity. All her works concentrate on the emotional interrelationships of a small group of people, often in an enclosed community and/or over a short space of time. This is seen most clearly in her masterpiece BEL CANTO, but TAFT also displays a similarly beguiling compression. There are scarcely a dozen character, and the whole action takes place within a few miles of the small Memphis bar managed by the narrator-hero John Nickel. In fact, very little actually happens until the very end, though the emotional turmoil of affections and loyalties is quite intense. What some other readers saw as a weakness, I treasure as one of the book's greatest strengths.

Nickel, a former blues musician turned bar manager, yearns for his son whom his estranged lover, the child's mother, has taken out of state. In some kind of emotional compensation, he finds himself involved in the lives of a fatherless young waitress who comes to work in his bar and her younger brother. Nickel is not a wholly admirable character, though he strives to do the right thing. Patchett has caught especially well the manner in which emotional trauma can ricochet until a person no longer knows his true feelings or even his own best interest. Looking at her innocent girl-next-door face on her publicity photo, it is hard to imagine that she has been there, felt that, but this book must surely have been born out of experience.

Presumably outside her experience, though, is the specific life of her African-American narrator, John Nickel. I was greatly impressed by her daring in writing about such a world from the inside, but I have to admit that some of the language seems borrowed from hard-boiled fiction rather from life, and I cannot judge whether she captures the particular world of the blues musician. I felt very confident, though, in her description of the work of the bar. And, where it really matters, in the workings of the human heart, Patchett is admirably color-blind and has close to perfect pitch.

The most unusual technical aspect of this book, which gives it its title, is Nickel's imagined reconstructions of the relation between the two young people and their dead father, Taft. These episodes become increasingly detailed as the book goes on, and form a parallel strand in the narrative, almost as though Nickel were there himself, engaging in a form of time-traveling. It is clear that Nickel comes to identify with his imagined Taft, whom he uses as a sort of touchstone of fatherhood. Some readers may have been puzzled by this, but I liked it for its ability to reflect on the soul of the central character (Nickel, not Taft, who in a real sense does not exist). All Patchett's novels, with the partial exception of her first, seem to require some kind of artifice to bring out the feelings of her characters in their purest form. In TAFT, this artifice is perhaps too obvious, a mere authorial device. In THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT, she uses literal but fantastic magic tricks for the same purpose, but the device is more seamlessly incorportated into the fabric of the novel. Surely one of the great reasons for her success with BEL CANTO is her ability to parlay a real-life event (the capture of a South American embassy by terrorists) into an almost magical suspension of time.

But the real value of TAFT is its pay-off. The beauty of its ending--not too neat but deeply satisfying--kept me awake for most of the night after I finished it. The mainly internal action of the book culminates in a climactic event which at last reminds Nickel of his true priorities. In the last two chapters, Patchett's handling of the strand of magic reconstruction is particularly impressive, finally linking the two characters of Taft and Nickel, and bringing about another of those gentle miracles that one has come to associate with her work.

A beautiful voice, but the story doesn't gel.......2005-11-27

I was completely mezmorized by the first quarter of the book. Even though Anne Patchett is writing as a white woman, her characterizations of John, the black male ex-drummer and bar manager, and of the other bar employees ring true. The little details in the relationships between the characters, their idiosynchrocies and habits, are intriguing. The theme of loyalty and love surrounding John's longing for his son is equally compelling. BUT - when we get to the heart of the story, where John is pulled into alove-lust relationship with Fay, my stomach had a sinking "oh-no" feeling. And this instant reaction was correct. This plot line was flat and unbelievable, even repellant. So, too, are issues with Carl, Fay's drug-dealing brother. Anne Patchett is an incredibly talented author. I highly enourage you to read Bel Canto or The Magician's Assistnat instead.

Patchett's weakest novel is still a good read.......2005-08-15

It's true that Taft is not Ann Patchett's strongest work - and even she's admitted that Taft is not the best title for a book. However, it speaks well for her that Taft is still a good read. It's a story primarily of fatherhood and loyalty - however misplaced. I've read all but one of Patchett's books, starting with the non-fiction Truth and Beauty, and think that Patchett is one of the best novelists writing today. Patchett has a gift for language and is poetic without being thick. She also knows how to weave a story and her characters, even those that aren't as well fleshed out, stay with you long after you've read the last page. If you've never read a book by Patchett, Bel Canto and The Magician's Assistant are better than Taft, but if you've read her other works and want an engaging page turner that's far better than average, Taft is a worthy read. In fact, even if a reader started with Taft, they'd get a good enough taste of Patchett's talents that they'd seek out her other works and be even more impressed with whatever Patchett book found its way into their hands next.

Not her best.......2005-04-01

I think Taft would have been more believable if the story was actually written by a black man. I think it's arrogant for Patchett to think she can write in a black man's voice. I loved The Patron Saint of Liars, but Taft was a bit of a mess.

Average customer rating:

American story: A novel of three lives
Allen Taft
Manufacturer: Arco Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006ARE94

Average customer rating:

#1 ~ Highly Recommend!!!

Millie Taft: A Novel by John R. Booth
John R Booth
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1594577943
Release Date: 2004-09-22

Book Description

Prepare to open your mind and your heart as we follow the timeless quest of a man and a woman separated by nearly a century in search of one another. The story of Millie Taft is deep, yet playful, and allows each reader to take from it the conclusions they most want to experience for themselves. Is there life after death? Is love eternal? Do our actions in this life dictate our destiny once we leave this place? We all ask these questions and I invite you to accompany Leonard and Millie on their timeless journey. Perhaps you will find that secret place deep within your own heart where these answers await your embrace. Whether you seek enlightenment, to be offered hope, or simply wish to be entertained, MILLIE TAFT is a wonderful and inspiring ride.

Customer Reviews:

#1 ~ Highly Recommend!!!.......2004-12-20

This book is great! It is a very creative and enjoyable story, I look forward to more books from this author.I just couldn't put this book down~A wonderful & delightful book!

Average customer rating:

No Clive Cussler
Nice filler while waiting for the next Cussler adventure...
Very Enjoyable Read
Off and Running
Cussler's protege

Tremor (A John Taft Novel)
Craig Dirgo
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
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ASIN: 0786284617

Book Description

Over a hundred years ago, Nikola Tesla created a device for transferring electricity without wires. It was supposed to be his greatest triumph. Instead, his invention spawned a nightmare so terrifying that it was hidden from the world...until now.

Unusual surges of electricity are being tracked emanating from the former Yugoslavia. Special Agent John Taft of the National Intelligence Agency is dispatched to investigate the phenomenon, and uncovers a conspiracy of terror, led by a fanatical Serbian nationalist and powered by a machine capable of targeting any location on the globe-and causing apocalyptic earthquakes to strike on command.

Now, as the terrorists fell cities at will with their earth-shattering weapon, Taft must fight a battle on dangerous ground, against an unstable foe whose greatest desire is to control the world--or destroy it.

Customer Reviews:

No Clive Cussler.......2007-05-26

This is no Clive Cussler. The writing seemed amateurish and the plot implausible. Yes it was fast paced and exciting at times. But I have to say that teen readers, whom this should be targeted at, would probably love it. Needed work on the editing also.

Nice filler while waiting for the next Cussler adventure..........2007-03-30

Since I am a HUGE Clive Cussler fan, I was thrilled to hear about 'The Einstein Papers' some years back. It turned out to be pretty good Brain Candy--nothing intellectual, but then again, neither is most of the Bond movies--but it was fun and a nice way to fill the gap waiting for the next Dirk Pitt tale. When Dirgo teamed with Clive to begin the Oregon Files novels, I was equally excited. Unfortunately the first two books were just horrible. They had a TON of promise, but nearly zero payoff. Cussler wisely picked up on this, and hired Jack DuBrul to write the last two Oregon Files books, and they have been excellent (thankfully)...

...so after two abysmal books with Cussler, I was more than a bit skeptical about buying another book written by Dirgo. I went ahead and took the gamble and I gotta tell you it paid off. This sequel to 'The Eienstein Papers' was just as fun and a great escape while I waited for the next Dirk Pitt or Kurt Austin adventure. Again, nothing earth shattering, but just plain FUN. Sometimes readers fault an author because of bad editing or publishing errors, and by and large the author has little (if any) control over these things. I would prefer it we just judged the book based on the STORY alone. Based upon that, I'd say that while nobody will be comparing Tremor to Clancy anytime soon, if you know what you are in for before you start it, I think it is well worth the effort to buy and read.

I have ONE minor, almost insignificant problem...I felt that the overall plot of Tremor was slightly too close to Cussler's most recent Pitt novel with his son, 'Treasure of Khan'. The idea of using an electrical device to induce damage is also the focal point of that story as well. I have to admit however, that Dirgo goes into MUCH more detail, especially regarding the origin with Tesla, but it kinda spoiled the storyline a little. Seeing as I read Khan first, every now and then I kept having this feeling I had read this before. Again, a minor complaint, but one that was (for me at least) impossible to ignore--especially since Dirgo and Cussler have worked so closely together in the past.

If you HAVEN'T read Khan, I say this book will be exactly what will fill your void of action/adventure and will certainly fill the gap you may be experiencing during any dry-spell...but if you HAVE read Khan, just be aware that you MAY have a feeling of Deja Vu. I personally look forward to the next book in this series.

Very Enjoyable Read.......2006-05-12

I have to start off by saying that the action series is not my normal genre. I usually stick to fantasy/sci-fi, with an occasional foray into action with murphy and sapir's "Destroyer" series. With that said, I really enjoyed this book. From start-to-finish I was able to envision the whole thing in my mind, as if it were a movie being played out in my imagination. Unlike a previous reviewer, who obviously seemed not to have noticed the book is a work of fiction, I found the story to be really interesting. I've always been interested in Tesla-related stories. I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series...

Off and Running.......2006-04-21

Even though Dirgo's first book, "The Einstein Papers," wasn't that great, I knew Clive Cussler couldn't be wrong about him, and in "Tremor" it showed. The writing is more practiced, the editing tighter (though the copyediting was nonexistent), and the characters more alive. Dirgo is still going with a conglomerate cast rather than focusing on a single protagonist, but his characters are distinct enough to tell them apart, so it works.

Special Agent John Taft of the secret National Intelligence Agency is sent to Serbia to investigate some surges on the European power grid. Upon his arrival in Belgrade, as he checks out the security at the Nikola Tesla museum, he also checks out its curator, Nadia Slavja, and gets invited to her apartment for a night of passion. While she sleeps, he copies her keys, but he makes a mistake that turns his advantageous one-night stand into something more. When Nadia became suspicious of his motives, she spoke to her brother, a Serbian agent, and Taft winds up coming clean to the brother and sister and involving them in his scheme to save the world.

When the NIA ties the European power surges to earthquake activity, and it looks as if it's all made possible by a device invented by Nikola Tesla, a plan is devised to root out the perpetrator. The Americans make off with Tesla's papers, leaving a set of decoys planted with locator chips so when they are stolen they can be followed to the bad guys' lair.

Meanwhile, Taft's partner, Larry Martinez, teams up with a thriller author who fills in a lot of blanks on the capabilities of the Tesla device, while the evil perpetrator, Galadin Ratzovik, plays the stock market and prods his captive scientist into finishing his work on the device to effect his grand finale. Mid-mission, Taft gets called back to the States to work more closely with his partner and the author while the military takes over the search for the perp in Serbia. With the clock ticking and the Netherlands releasing a Serbian war criminal to protect themselves from a demonstration of the Tesla device, Taft and his cronies finally figure out what Ratzovik's plan really is, but will they get there in time to stop it?

This book began as a spy tale, following John Taft on his mission in Serbia, then deftly branched out into a full-blown, multiple-agency, across-the-globe mission with several teams following a multitude of leads, tightening their net as they go, until the conclusion explodes onto the pages. Going back to the multi-angle, intricate format of his "Oregon" Files novels, Dirgo delivers a page-turning adventure.

Cussler's protege.......2006-04-03

If you like Cussler, you will like Dirgo just as well. It's great reading and I couldn't put it down. It will fill in the gaps between Cussler's new books

Book Description

The critically acclaimed author of Voodoo Dreams delivers an inspired work of historical fiction about the warring passions that drove the great abolitionist Frederick Douglass and two women -- one black, one white -- who loved him.

Douglass' Women reimagines the lives of an American hero, Frederick Douglass, and two women -- his wife and his mistress -- who loved him and lived in his shadow. Anna Douglass, a free woman of color, was Douglass' wife of forty-four years, who bore him five children. Ottilie Assing, a German-Jewish intellectual, provided him the companionship of the mind that he needed. Hurt by Douglass' infidelity, Anna rejected his notion that only literacy freed the mind. For her, familial love rivaled intellectual pursuits. Ottilie was raised by parents who embraced the ideal of free love, but found herself entrapped in an unfulfilling love triangle with America's most famous self-taught slave for nearly three decades.

In her finest novel to date, Jewell Parker Rhodes vividly resurrects these two extraordinary women from history, portraying the life they led together under the same roof of the Douglass home. Here, fiery emotions of passion, jealousy, and resentment churn as the women discover an uneasy solidarity in shared love for an exceptional and powerful man. Douglass' Women fills the gaps and silences that history has left in an unforgettable epic full of heartache and triumph.

Customer Reviews:

Biracial Harlequin Romance.......2007-09-07

The book was an easy read but it consisted of a lot of bed hopping circa 1800s. Not my thing.

Refreshing change from the typical story lines we see today.......2007-08-27

I truly enjoyed this read. I loved the details the author used to describe the setting...this book was romantic, it made you cry, laugh, angry, wanna climb into the story and talk some since into Mr. Douglas' wife...just a really great read. I recommend this book to all. Such a refreshing switch from the typical: "my man left, I am angry now I must get revenge" story lines that crowd the market today. Nice to read embellished historical books. I wish there were more!

Wonderful Book but I think.......2007-08-22

I'm Bipolar now...reason being...I have gone through so many different emotions reading this book. I have almost cried, became angry and laughed to keep from crying. I felt sorry for Anna, having been the one to finance Freddy's freedom only to get dumped on and ignored for the rest of her life. Except for the short visits which left her pregnant. I can actually see why she wouldn't want to learn to read, she wanted to at first because she admired Freddy, but later on she despised it. And then to have him actually move his lover in the house...okay wait a minute. I have no sympathy at all for Ottilie. Anyway, this was a great book and if I could give it more stars I would.

Portraits of two believable women.......2006-02-07

Like all historical fiction, this book conveys the author's vision of what might have happened, not what actually happened. Hard historical details of the lives of Frederick Douglass's black wife and white mistress are patchy. However, the reader feels that Jewell Parker Rhodes is probably near the mark with her characterization of Douglass as an ego-driven man, handsome and charismatic, who knew how to charm women both in and out of bed. You feel the power of his first wife Anna, a black woman with every disadvantage except her inner strength, moral character, and love. And Ottilie is like many white women whose sails unfurl and mast crumbles when their man abandons them. (I used to be one of them.) This engaging story is believable as a metaphor for the truth even though it's not the literal truth. I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished it. Since then, I've searched the web for images of Anna and Ottilie without much luck. I'd love see photos of Ottilie's paintings. The author brought these women to life for me.

A treasure, if not historically accurate.......2004-05-20

It all depends on what you want from a book. This is fiction. It is an imaginary journey through the author's delightful style into the minds of people we can never know. If you must have true history, there are some things concocted for the mere pleasure of story. BUT, if you want delicious reading, thoughtful insight, memorable characters, this book is a treasure. I found Anna to be not whiny but torn by her own sense of right, her desire for happiness and her acceptance of reality. Ottilie was brazen and a snob, typical of the bourgeoisie of any age, who believe that because they grew up wealthy, pampered and indulged, the world owes them continual pampering and indulgence of any flight of fancy... on top of that, the "world" owes everybody pampering and indulgence, without realizing it is the Annas of the earth that sustain us all and make life tolerable. Douglass himself is portrayed as bigger than life, the kind of man who can do dynamic things both good and evil. He seems true of mind as so many in public life, where the bounds of right and wrong cross and fade in trying to solve the "big" questions of humanity. In pursuit of his goal and by the grace of his own unmeasurable ego, he walks on some plane above everyone in his life, never seeing them as anything but stepping stones and stumbling blocks. We can't know if the man was truly of that disposition, but judging from others of that ilk, it seems plausible. Wonderful work. Very worth the read for pure enjoyment of the author's perfect voice and pacing.

The American Narcissus: Individualism and Women in Nineteenth Century American Fiction (The Douglass Series on Women's Lives and the Meaning of Gend)

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The American Narcissus: Individualism and Women in Nineteenth Century American Fiction (The Douglass Series on Women's Lives and the Meaning of Gend)
Joyce W. Warren
Manufacturer: Rutgers Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0813510406

The determined reader: Gender and culture in the novel from Napoleon to Victoria (The Douglass series on Women's lives and the meaning of gender)

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The determined reader: Gender and culture in the novel from Napoleon to Victoria (The Douglass series on Women's lives and the meaning of gender)
Carla L Peterson
Manufacturer: Rutgers University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Hidden Hands: An Anthology of American Women Writers, 1790-1870 (Douglass Series on Women's Lives and the Meaning of Gender)

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Hidden Hands: An Anthology of American Women Writers, 1790-1870 (Douglass Series on Women's Lives and the Meaning of Gender)

Manufacturer: Rutgers Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Patrons and Protegees: Gender, Friendship, and Writing in Nineteenth Century America (The Douglass Series on Women's Lives & the Meaning of Gender)

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Patrons and Protegees: Gender, Friendship, and Writing in Nineteenth Century America (The Douglass Series on Women's Lives & the Meaning of Gender)

Manufacturer: Rutgers Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0813516900

Amazon.com

(For mature audiences.) Garth Ennis, who is also known for his popular Vertigo series Preacher, always manages to weave together the dark and horrific with the commonplace to epitomize the graphic-novel medium. John Constantine, Hellblazer: Damnation's Flame collects issues 72 to 77 of the DC Comics series in a volume that is really composed of four short stories. In the primary tale of the collection, Constantine, a trench-coated magus, wanders the streets of New York City. Reeling from the loss of his lover, Kit, he literally falls under the spell of a minor magician. Constantine's physical body is abused in a homeless shelter while his soul travels the barren roads of a tiny slice of hell. His companion on the journey is President John F. Kennedy, who has been trapped in this limbo world since moments after his assassination. The site of the ever-suffering Kennedy will be difficult for many readers, but through Constantine's interactions with the President on their journey to hell's White House, Ennis punctures many of the myths that have shaped late-20th-century America. Kennedy is shown to be all too human, and the ruler of this hell, a ghostly Abraham Lincoln, reveals himself as the only bigger myth-figure able to free Kennedy with a heavy dose of reality. "Act of Union," the second story, flashes back to 1980 with a quotidian narrative about Kit and Constantine's first meeting. This is a small, beautiful story that demonstrates Ennis's impressive range as a writer (especially when compared to the bloody opening selection). William Simpson's sketchy artwork perfectly captures the mood of Ennis's word balloons. "Confessions of an Irish Rebel" is another tale with a smaller and less mystical scope than the opening, but, as Constantine becomes mixed up with his old friend Dublin, things take a turn toward gore and violence. Finally, "And the Crowd Goes Wild" is actually a frame narrative, a story told in a bar that again moves back over a decade, to the night Chas Chandler gave John a ride in his cab and ended up being involved in a terrifying case that touched hell itself. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Ennis is Gold.......2007-01-04

You can pretty much pick up anything that had Garth Ennis's name on it and it will be an enjoyable read.

The least of Hellblazer........2006-05-18

Garth Ennis, John Constantine, Hellblazer: Damnation's Flame (DC Comics, 1999)

I love Garth Ennis. Preacher remains one of my favorite comic titles ever. But I really have to wonder what on Earth was going through his mind during most of his Hellblazer run, much of which is disjointed, fragmentary, and unsatisfying. (Not all of it, I rush to add; just most of it.) Damnation's Flame is very much in this mold.

There are four stories to be found here-- the title story, which deals with John's sojourn in America after the break-up, two stories involving the late Brendan, and a fourth involving Chas. If it all sounds rather like Ennis was running around trying to figure out how to get a number of folks into the stories he'd been neglecting, well, that's because it is. There are certainly some amusing moments to be found here (most of them involving John F. Kennedy, who is portrayed as an egotistical, question-dodging jerk-- the accuracy of which I'll leave to the individual reader to decide), but if you're looking for coherence, you're liable to find yourself at a loss. For collectors only. **

Debunking America.......2003-01-03

I have to believe that whoever didn't like this collection either doesn't get it or refuses to accept it. To be fair, the opening story is a little out of the ordinary for the usually London-based Constantine. Whereas Garth's other spectacular book PREACHER embraces the American Myth, "Damnation's Flame" thouroughly reveals it for what it is...a myth. Caught in a sliver of Hell, John encounters slaughtered Indians, soldiers who died for nothing, streets covered in crack, and a positively wanker of a president.

The other stories aren't earth-shattering, but they are enjoyable. John visits his old friend Brendan and meets Kit in a flashback to his days at Ravenscar (the mental hospital he was in and out of for three years). John also meets Brendan, now a hard-drinking ghost, in the present. And back in London, Chas tells his mates about one of the many times Constantine was apparently killed, and how this time there was even a funeral for him. The entire Ennis cast was present (Header, Kit, Brendan, Rick the Vic) as well as the Delano cast (Ray, Chas, Ritchie, Cheryl), and Moore's little-seen Emma.

By the way, if the sight of John F. Kennedy walking around with his hand pressed against the hole in his head to keep his brains from falling out isn't enough incentive to buy this book, check out his best line from the story:

"To be seen in a historical context as the conscience of the United States is not the honor one might think. It is, in fact, a burden, and one that I was...at the time...loath to shoulder. My chief concerns were, to set the record straight, immediate political survival, and regular extramarital sex with as many women as possible.

Disappointingly mediocre Ennis tale..........2001-11-06

Garth Ennis' work on Hellblazer is some of the best in the medium, but this trade horribly dissapoints. Any no name writer could spin this tale of John Constantine, it's suprising to see the Ennis name on it. Constantine himself loses most of what made him so cool in other Ennis works... He becomes an everyman in this book, a nobody with nothing so cool about him that someone would want to write a book about. But sadly enough, Ennis has done it, and it's a stinker.

Somewhat uneven..........2001-10-27

I am sad to say that I didn't enjoy this as much as other Hellblazer TPBs that I have read. The art was OK, but the storytelling was jumpy. I love the character of John Constantine, though. They shouldn't 'Americanize' him with Nic Cage in the movie.

The Flames of Damnation (Warhammer 40,000 Novels)

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Bravery and sacrifice for the Emporer.
W40K Comic Novel
A GREAT COLLECTION OF STORIES

The Flames of Damnation (Warhammer 40,000 Novels)
Various
Manufacturer: Games Workshop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1844162532

Customer Reviews:

Bravery and sacrifice for the Emporer........2006-12-20

This black and white graphic novel is comprised of about 20 individual and unrelated short stories from various Warhammer authors and artists. A wide variety of characters experiencing carnage and intense battles are found here, with space marines and guardsmen fighting chaos, orks, and tau. The overriding theme of the stories is the necessity and willingness of Imperial soldiers to sacrifce themselves for the good of the Imperium. Bravery and selflessness in the face of terror carries the day here.

Highly recommended for fans of Warhammer graphic art.

W40K Comic Novel.......2006-07-18

Here is a collection of Warhammer 40,000 tales that prove the courage and raw determination of the mighty Space Marines and Imperial Guardsmen. They hunt down and destroy all the enemies of mankind. They crush all invading greenskin (orks) hordes and lay waste to all the horrible forces of Chaos.

**** I found only a few flaws. Most readers either will not notice the errors or simply not care since they are so minor. Yet I could not help but wonder how an ork would know what "playing chicken" even meant. Otherwise, Warhammer 40,000 fans will love the non-stop battles described within these stories ... whether the humans win or lose. ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

A GREAT COLLECTION OF STORIES.......2005-12-07

Flames of Damnation is a manga-sized, black and white graphic novel showcasing the talents of numerous artists and writers in a collection of two dozen stories set within the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The first thing that stands out about this 224 page book is the uniform quality of the art. From the first page to the last, the art is outstanding. While some are certainly better than others, I can say with all honesty that there is no weak jobs in the book. That's quite an accomplishment considering the number of different people working on the book. The stories range in page count from 6 to 12 pages or so and are culled from the pages of Warhammer monthly. This is kind of a bash book as the stories are not connected in anyway but are just different, small slices of the Warhammer 40,000 milieu.

A few of my favorite stories in the book included: "Single Combat" written by veteran WH scribe Dan Abnett with phenomenal art by Kevin Hopgood, telling the tale of the last two combatant survivors on a war torn planet and their final battle to the death.

"Zero Option" is another great Abnett story with art by David Pugh. In this story, a lone company of imperial guards mans a lonely outpost on a frozen planet, waiting desperately for help to arrive and holding off the hordes of chaos. At the end we see the fateful means in which they go to survive.

"Predator and Prey" is about a primitive plant on the fringe of the empire. It's native inhabitants, alien tribesmen find themselves in a hunt and struggle with a chaos demon and hoping that the great empire will eventually come to their aid...but reality for this world is much different.

Writer Gordon Rennie and Artist Karl Richardson submit "Last Stand on Yayor" about the desperate struggle of the inhabitants of this planet against hordes of zombie plague infested armies. The Confessor of Agriworld is forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.

In "Black Bone Road", a rogue Psyker is causing a malignant influence on the populace of a planet that even the Space Marines are challenged to stop. Story by Graham McNeill and art by John Standing.

A very well done collection of stories that is great for relative newbies to the Warhammer 40,000 world as it serves as action-jammed indoctrination without getting too far in depth. Awesome!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Brilliance Audio.(The Messenger)(The Covenant of the Flame)(Strange Candy)(Spy)(Red Phoenix)(Rapture in Death)(Piece of Work)(Mask Market)(Looking for ... An article from: California Bookwatch

Average customer rating:

Brilliance Audio.(The Messenger)(The Covenant of the Flame)(Strange Candy)(Spy)(Red Phoenix)(Rapture in Death)(Piece of Work)(Mask Market)(Looking for ... An article from: California Bookwatch
Gale Reference Team
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000NO39QK
Release Date: 2007-02-21

Book Description

This digital document is an article from California Bookwatch, published by Thomson Gale on November 1, 2006. The length of the article is 976 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Brilliance Audio.(The Messenger)(The Covenant of the Flame)(Strange Candy)(Spy)(Red Phoenix)(Rapture in Death)(Piece of Work)(Mask Market)(Looking for Alaska)(Into the Storm)(Incantation)(Havoc)(Haunted in Death)(Ghost Dancer)(Devil in the Junior League)(Damnation Street)(Armageddon's Children)(A Stolen Season)(Audiobook review)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication: California Bookwatch (Magazine/Journal)
Date: November 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: NA

Article Type: Audiobook review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Flames of Damnation
Marc Gascoigne
Manufacturer: GAMES WORKSHOP (ABS)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000K7F55I

Average customer rating:

excellent read

10 stars.

Wonderful Book

A Time To Find Yourself

Not what I wanted.

Chronicles of Tao: The Secret Life of a Taoist Master
Ming-dao Deng
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Taoism | Eastern | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Taoism | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0062502190

Book Description

A guide to freeing ourselves from the inappropriate and crippling behaviors that sabotage our success.

Customer Reviews:

excellent read.......2007-04-11

this book is great -cover to cover, it really gives you a glimpse of what a taoist master goes through to be on the level they are on.a great introduction to taoism.

10 stars. .......2007-02-26

It seems to me that this book has definitely been underrated in one specific area, it's capacity as a teaching manual. Don't misunderstand me, there are no exact step by step instructions, but there is a wealth of information that profoundly elucidates taoist philosophy and practice. For anyone aspiring to the Path, this book is of immeasurable value as encouragement and a thourough grounding in Taoist priciples. I can't say enough in thanks to the author and Master Saihung for allowing his story to be shared.

Wonderful Book.......2007-02-14

As with any book that touches a cord of truth, you must also remember that it was written by a person. This is a wonderful, warm story about one man's experience with the Tao. It's the kind of book that can enrich your own practice if you alow it to.

A Time To Find Yourself.......2006-12-25

A masterful spiritual odyssey, a work of great literature, and a time to find yourself. When you start this book you will not be able to put it down. It is such an adventure--you will find it difficult to believe it's true--well 80 percent true. You will encounter a Grand Master who spontaneously ignites a candle and levitates a heavy brass teapot with thought alone ( p. 95) , a beautiful maiden metamorphosing into a six-foot lizard ( p.151),and the wondrous theory behind the creation of the Golden Embryo ( fetus of immortality) ( p.314-5 ) plus much more. Yet only the naive will expect to find the deepest secrets revealed inside a book.We are warned this many times , most notably in the parable of the Seven Bamboo Tablets of the Cloudy Satchel (p.310-12) "Truth ultimately lies not in learning, for one inevitably reaches the limits of one's art," said Slender Gourd."Therefore ,one can attain truth only by transcending the self." This leads to the intellectual climactic paradox of the chronicles, Saihung's insight that : "...All the knowledge of the sages was a tender way of leading the student to the realization that there was something beyond knowledge and facility, something on the other side of high learning. All of civilization was a mere shadow play, a crude projection from the light of truth that had need of neither conceptualization nor structure."(p.312) At the close of the story, we are warned once again: " Though I might find a procedure published in a book, it didn't seem to work until it was taught to me--and invariably details were left out of the writing. I suppose this was what was called 'direct transmission'. It wasn't anything mystical or supernatural. It was the security and power of a lineage, the vitality of being taught."(p.473). For more information see : [...]

Not what I wanted........2006-11-03

This long and wordy book turned out to be about the Tao cult of longevity. I was hoping to read a biography of a Taoist life. I didn't finish it.

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