Book Description
In this wickedly satiric romp, Paul Theroux captures the essence of Hawaii as it has never been depicted. The novel's narrator, a down-on-his-luck writer, escapes to Waikiki and soon finds himself the manager of the Hotel Honolulu, a low-rent establishment a few blocks off the beach. Honeymooners, vacationers, wanderers, mythomaniacs, soldiers, and families all check in to the hotel. Like the Canterbury pilgrims, every guest has come in search of something -- sun, love, happiness, objects of unnameable longing -- and everyone has a story. By turns hilarious, ribald, tender, and tragic, HOTEL HONOLULU offers a unique glimpse of the psychological landscape of an American paradise.
Customer Reviews:
Just quirky enough to be entertaining.......2006-11-12
This story seems to be set in somewhat a modern Hawaii setting. Actually it is kind of like a whole bunch a stories; which is strung all together by the main character (the hotel manager). Since the author is haole, it is appropriate that his character is the under achieving hotel manager. The whole time I read it I just pictured the old Blaisdel Hotel on Fort Street. Some of the local characters seemed a little shallow, but if you can imagine Honolulu in the late sixties you might like this book.
Connecting the Disconnected.......2006-04-01
I was going to give this novel four stars but, after reading the bad reviews and feeling how badly they've missed what makes this a great Theroux novel, I'm going to go ahead and give it five stars.
(My memories of other Theroux works is my sole motivation for taking a star off anyway).
Yes, there isn't a clearly-defined plot in HOTEL HONOLULU but the transient lives and lifestyles of the people who end up on that "rock in the middle of water" form a story that feels like a single entity. The characters are bold and vivid. Nothing whitewashed here: old white men rant about the Hawaiians and Asian women and vice versa.
Another wonderful quality about Theroux's writing is that he goes to remote and exotic locations and brings back a reality we've never seen, whether it's the South Sea islands or the dirt roads of Mongolia or the frozen train stations of Siberia...or America's paradise, Hawaii.
Bravo, Paul!
truly awful...........2006-03-16
Imagine a world populated by old, smug, white men and poor, young women with great bodies and rape fantasies. Imagine a world where these young women all find the old men irresistibly attractive. Imagine many variations of the same story crudely retold in a succession of tedious chapters all with pitiful *surprise* endings. Add to this the odd chapter of author self pity. That's it.
I didn't even pass this book on to Oxfam - I binned it to save others the misery!
A journey of laughter, fear, torment, and Self-Actualization.......2006-03-08
When I found this book I had actually been looking for Star Safari. But I was just about to take a trip to Hawaii, so I thought what the hell, lets give it a shot.
I am thankfully glad I did. It started off a little different than I had expected, but I was soon involved in the lives of these Island dwellers. Many things struck close to home in what I am looking for in my life and others seem so far away that I could not imagine them happening.
HH is truly a great travel companion. If you feel lost in life and are searching for an answer this book can give you some options on your path.
The one character that seems to have everything and is truly happy scared me to death. That character alone makes this book worth reading.
My Thoughts.......2005-08-30
I'll start off by saying I'm not really a Theroux fan. That being said I think he is a very talented writer with a great writing style, but personally I do not care for his work.
I've read three PT books and liked this one the best out of those three. However, I would not go back and re-read it.
Average customer rating:
- way too alpha for me...
- You'll love Rathe and Grace
- One of the Best Southern Romances!
- Excitment
- Fast moving and fun
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Violet Fire
Brenda Joyce
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Joyce, Brenda | ( J ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Secrets
ASIN: 0380755785 |
Book Description
A scion of the imperious Bragg family, golden-boy Rathe Bragg finds a society party all rather a yawn until a feisty suffragette bursts into the room. Wielding a six-shooter and shrieking feminist slogans from atop the grand piano, the impassioned lady makes a startling first impression on those gathered, especially Rathe -- and from that moment the sparks between them only intensify.
Irrepressible Grace O'Rourke, an intensely devout feminist, has outraged the entire town of Natchez with her radical ideas, and soon infuriates Rathe with her lack of regard for any opinions other than her own. Yet, despite her steadfast devotion to her cause, Grace warms to the virile gallant. But his bold suggestion of becoming his mistress stings the proud Grace, and she firmly rejects his scandalous proposition. But telling a Bragg "no" is the ultimate stimulant, and now, Rathe ardently pursues the lady whose eyes are ignited by a violet fire.
Enjoy the entire Bragg saga --
Customer Reviews:
way too alpha for me..........2006-05-12
this historical romance, set in post Civil War Mississippi, was written in 1989-and it shows.
Brenda Joyce is a talented writer-but in this novel she had both hero and heroine doing stupid, dangerous, implausible things.
The hero is VERY Alpha male-to the point of grabbing, throwing the heroine about-constantly thinking about his lust for the heroine, but not really caring about anything she believes in-doing things that ruin her reputation, make her lose TWO jobs and become a outcast-but doesn't understand why she doesn't want to be with him?
Sadly-the heroine is even worse. For someone who is supposed to be a strong, intelligent neo-feminist/suffragette-Grace comes across and a mean, mealy mouthed,insipid, just plain stupid-even the dreaded "too stupid to live".
One wonders why the hero would want to be with her-she is hateful to him and accuses him of bigotry, womanizing, and a host of other sins simply because he's a Southerner. She spends the entire book getting herself into one perilous situation after another-and Rathe must come save her every time-real independant, huh?
Also-I understand this is a post civil war book-but the author paints a simply terrible picture of all Southerners. The women are stupid and all the men vicious "Dark Riders"(klan) who seem to go around all day raping, killing and torturing former slaves, being ignorant and turning a blind eye to everything. Not one Southern character is shown in a positive light-enough to throw me off this book for sure.
It is a testimony to Miss Joyce's writing style that I actually stuck around for about 250 pages before I gave up in disgust!
If you like intelligent, loving characters-then definately SKIP this book.
You'll love Rathe and Grace.......2004-09-18
Violet Fire gets better every time I read it. Grace and Rathe are two of my favorite characters of all time. Their story is very sweet, often laugh out loud funny, occasionally sad, and is one of the best romances out there.
One of the Best Southern Romances!.......2004-05-29
I've read my share of romance novels and many of them are predictable, hackneyed, and extremely lacking in plot. Violet Fire is lacking in none of the above and it's extremely funny, and absolutely charming.
Excitment.......2002-06-14
This book was nonstop action and romance in one I could not put it down Rathe and Grace are awesome. Their is only one thing about it that worries me if Rick Bragg is Rathe's son it doesn't say anyhting about him in the Bragg Books only in the Deadly Seris
Fast moving and fun.......2002-05-17
This was good enough to spur me to read the rest of the series. Wonderful read!
Customer Reviews:
engrossing.......2000-12-02
This book hooks you from the beginning. The story is fast paced and very well written. The story is brimming with love and passion. A definite worthwhile read.
Average customer rating:
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Love by Fire
Violet Ashton
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0449143600
Release Date: 1980-09-12 |
Average customer rating:
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Secret Fire
Violet Winspear
Manufacturer: harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 037302682X |
Average customer rating:
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Violet Fire
Brenda Joyce
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000J2HCPA |
Average customer rating:
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Violet Fire
Brenda Joyce
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VXMRZ2 |
Average customer rating:
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Violet Fire
Brenda Joyce
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P1JCNU |
Product Description
When brash golden boy Rathe Bragg first spots fiery suffragette Grace O'Rourke she's crashed a proper society bash and she's wielding a six-shooter from atop a grand piano. But Rthe can't resist this subtly sensual suffragette, and when Grace comes to Natchez in 1875 to work as a prim governess in the home of Rathe's wealthy, wanton mistress, their paths cross again. And this time Rathe sets out to tame Grace's political passions and claim her as his own, loosing her most deeply repressed desires....
Amazon.com
What if? Harry Turtledove, renowned alt-historian and the editor of this anthology, calls that question "those two mournful little words." But little though they might be, they inspired some of the previous century's most brilliant speculative fiction, including the 14 short stories collected here.
And with contributors like Poul Anderson, Greg Bear, Gregory Benford, Larry Niven, Kim Stanley Robinson, Bruce Sterling, and Turtledove himself, there's truly not a clunker in the bunch. All of these stories revolve around Turtledove's central beard-tugging question, but they vary wildly in style, mood, and approach. Many toy with how the future might be altered had some particular event turned out differently (what if the Confederates had won at Gettysburg, or the Enola Gay had crashed before making its fateful flight?), while others follow dimension-hoppers traveling through tangled branches of our timeline (as in Sterling's "Mozart in Mirrorshades," Anderson's "Eutopia," and Jack L. Chalker's surreal ferry ride through "Dance Band on the Titanic").
All but four of these stories were written in the last two decades of the century--before then, Turtledove suggests in part, we weren't scientifically certain about whether Martians and "oceans on Venus full of reptilian monsters" might exist, so we were satisfied by more conventional, planet-faring SF. But the ideas that the contributors wrestle with here, and that irresistible human urge to speculate about the implications of our actions (and whether our decisions matter at all), prove timeless. --Paul Hughes
Book Description
Explore fascinating, often chilling "what if" accounts of the world that could have existed–and still might yet . . .
Science fiction’s most illustrious and visionary authors hold forth the ultimate alternate history collection. Here you’ll experience mind-bending tales that challenge your views of the past, present, and future, including:
• "The Lucky Strike": When The Lucky Strike is chosen over The Enola Gay to drop the first atomic bomb, fate takes an unexpected turn in Kim Stanley Robinson’s gripping tale.
• "Bring the Jubilee": Ward Moore’s novella masterpiece offers a rebel victory at Gettysburg which changes the course of the Civil War . . . and all of American history.
• "Through Road No Wither": After Hitler’s victory in World War II, two Nazi officers confront their destiny in Greg Bear’s apocalyptic vision of the future.
• "All the Myriad Ways": Murder or suicide, Ambrose Harmon’s death leads the police down an infinite number of pathways in Larry Niven’s brilliant and defining tale of alternatives and consequences.
• "Mozart in Mirrorshades": Bruce Sterling and Lewis Shiner explore a terrifying era as the future crashes into the past–with disastrous results.
. . . as well as works by Poul Anderson • Gregory Benford • Jack L. Chalker • Nicholas A. DiChario • Brad Linaweaver • William Sanders • Susan Shwartz • Allen Steele • and Harry Turtledove himself!
The definitive collection: fourteen seminal alternate history tales drawing readers into a universe of dramatic possibility and endless wonder.
Download Description
Explore fascinating, often chilling "what if" accounts of the world that could have existed—and still might yet...
Science fiction's most illustrious and visionary authors hold forth the ultimate alternate history collection. Here you'll experience mind-bending tales that challenge your views of the past, present, and future, including:
- "The Lucky Strike": When The Lucky Strike is chosen over The Enola Gay to drop the first atomic bomb, fate takes an unexpected turn in Kim Stanley Robinson's gripping tale.
- "Bring the Jubilee": Ward Moore's novella masterpiece offers a rebel victory at Gettysburg which changes the course of the Civil War... and all of American history.
- "Through Road No Wither": After Hitler's victory in World War II, two Nazi officers confront their destiny in Greg Bear's apocalyptic vision of the future.
- "All the Myriad Ways": Murder or suicide, Ambrose Harmon's death leads the police down an infinite number of pathways in Larry Niven's brilliant and defining tale of alternatives and consequences.
- "Mozart in Mirrorshades": Bruce Sterling and Lewis Shiner explore a terrifying era as the future crashes into the past•with disastrous results.
...as well as works by Poul Anderson • Gregory Benford • Jack L. Chalker • Nicholas A. DiChario • Brad Linaweaver • William Sanders • Susan Shwartz • Allen Steele • and Harry Turtledove himself!
The definitive collection: fourteen seminal alternate history tales drawing readers into a universe of dramatic possibility and endless wonder.
Customer Reviews:
glaring lack of synopses.......2006-05-09
I've read a few of the stories. It's a decent collection. However, my reading time is limited. I don't have time to read the first few pages of each story to figure out what the subject is (to decide if I'm interested enough to read the entire story). You can guess a bit from some of the titles. But this book, like any good anthology, should have a brief synopsis, or at least a one-line description of the subject or theme of each story. Thank goodness some of the other reviewers here provided that.
Good but Uneven.......2006-04-23
There are some very good alternate history tales, some that are not so good and a few that seem to be less alternative history as merely action stories in another time. Three long stories stand out: THE LUCKY STRIKE - how the US dropped the bomb, won the war, and spared Japanese civilians. BRING THE JUBILEE manages to include the Civil War while still maintaining a small shred of credibility by starting in the 20th century. MOON OF ICE is one of the best Hitler Wins stories ever written. Unlike other tales in which the world is a giant slave camp, civilization evolves and Germany evolves along with it. ALL THE MYRIAD WAYS has my vote for the best short story.
A few are downright silly - SUPPOSE THEY GAVE A PEACE about the election of George McGovern. MOZART IN MIRRORSHADES is likewise unworthy of conclusion. One is struck that perhaps the most important event of the last century - the Russian Revolution & the advent of Marxist dictatorships - is strangely absent. In sheer numbers of people affected and human beings killed for ideology, nothing else comes close. All in all, a good, uneven collection.
Not living up to its title.......2006-01-02
They are not the best stories; in fact, some of them are quite boring. And not all of them are alternate history stories. What's alternate-historic or uchronic about "The death of Captain Future". Besides, at least 4 stories have been published in other anthologies: Victorious Hitler, Dangerous Visions and Mirroshades; "Bring the jubilee", was published all by itself.
All in all, a jumble of good, not so good, original and already-published, alternate or not, stories.
The Title Is So Misleading, You Can't Help But Be Disappointed.......2005-08-04
Chances are you came across this book by using the keyword 'alternate history.' Historians, and history buffs have enjoyed the pioneering work of the 'What If'(c) series. In the 'What If' series, eminent historians put to use their knowledge of people and situations when confronting crucial historical events in which the results could in all probability have turned out very differently. The series pioneered the genre of 'alternate history'(sadly misused in this books title) and set a standard of excellence in scholarship. Turtledove's title 'The Best Alternate History Stories ot the 20th Century' is so misleading as to be a great dissappointment to whomever accidently buys this book. (This book is one of the reasons I miss flipping through the pages at the local bookstore.) This book is not alternate history, by any standard. It's science fiction through and through. I'm not particularly fond of science fiction, so I'm not qualified to judge this book by its merits as science fiction, but I suspect that the reason this book has rated as highly as it has, has more to do with the tastes of science fiction fans than that of history buffs.
For a century of stories, I was hoping for more.......2005-03-18
This was a good book...but I was disappointed that this was the best alternate history of the twentieth century. I think that there has to be something better out there. I read all of the stories, and I think that many of them weren't really alternate histories, strictly speaking. I like Harry Turtledove, but I guess there just isn't enough stories on this subject for this to be an incredibally good story set. It was fun, but not as good as expected.
Book Description
A monumental new work of modern Jewish scholarship.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful and Thought provoking.......2007-07-06
A great book and companion to the Torah Commentary. A joy to use!
Shalom, John Allen
A great complement to the Torah.......2006-11-04
It provides many insights that are useful in Torah study.
The perfect commentary.......2006-09-03
When I was doing research for my Bar Mitzvah, I had to write an introduction to my Haftarah. After looking through all the commentaries at my Temple, I finally decided that this was by far the best one. Everything about it makes it an excellent resource.
Plaut, himself a Rabbi, gives fantastic insight into every single aspect of the Haftarah. His commentary on the Torah was amazing, and so is this one. This is a perfect commentary for Jews and Gentiles alike.
At Long Last! An Organized Commentary !.......2001-01-22
Plauts's Haftarah Commentary is a MOST welcome addition to my library of materials for B'nei Mitzvah preparation. The page layout for text and translation is pleasing to the eye and the gleanings and essay sections help to illuminate main ideas to be discussed. In addition, there is a concise and well written bio for each prophet and description of the times they lived in as well as the Torah link. I cannot begin to tell you how much time this volume has saved me when organizing for each student. It is truly the answer to my wish. I highly recommend it to all and especially to those who work with seventh grade Bar and Bat Mitzvah students.
Compliment to Plaut's Torah; stands alone well too!.......1999-04-26
Like Plaut's Torah, this is a reverent, liberal reading of the Haftarah and filled with inciteful and inspirational notes. Probably because there has been less focus on the Haftarah relative to the Torah, there are fewer notes. However, I still think this is a "must" for a Reform Jewish Library and worthwhile for any modern or post-modern person of faith.
Book Description
Women rabbis are changing the face of Judaism. Discover how their interpretations of the Prophets, Writings, and Megillot can enrich your perspective.
The Haftarah is a potent tool for understanding the values, ethics, and moral lessons contained in the Torah readings. In this first-of-its-kind volume, more than eighty women rabbis from the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements offer fresh perspectives on the beloved texts that make up the Haftarah—the Prophets and Writings—and the Five Megillot.
Based on readings that are rich in imagery—some poetic, some narrative, some dark and brooding—their commentaries include surprising insights on the stories of Deborah and Yael, David and Goliath, David and Bathsheva, and the witch of Endor, among many others. Themes such as Jerusalem as woman, the story of Jonah and the fish, and other prophetic images are informed and challenged by this groundbreaking work.
A rich resource, a major contribution to modern biblical commentary, and the ideal companion to The Women's Torah Commentary, The Women's Haftarah Commentary will inspire all of us to gain deeper meaning from the Hebrew scriptures and a heightened appreciation of Judaism.
Contributors include:
Judith Z. Abrams
Analia Bortz
Sharon Brous
Sue Levi Elwell
Susan P. Fendrick
Karen L. Fox
Shoshana Boyd Gelfand
Laura Geller
Rachel Sabath-Beit Halachmi
Jill Hammer
Karyn D. Kedar
Valerie Lieber
Sheryl Nosan-Blank
Debra Orenstein
Barbara Rosman Penzner
Hara E. Person
Geela Rayzel Raphael
Laura M. Rappaport
Ilene Schneider
Rona Shapiro
Shira Stern
Pamela Wax
Nancy Wechsler-Azen
Average customer rating:
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Teaching Haftarah: Background, insights, & strategies
Lainie Blum Cogan
Manufacturer: A.R.E. Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Judaism
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| Law
| Movements
| Music
| Mysticism
| Philosophy
| Prayerbooks
| Sacred Writings
| Sermons
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| Women and Judaism
ASIN: B0006RYFI0 |
Product Description
An excellent Torah commentary designed to help the beginning and more seasoned student and scholar understand the text in its historical, religious and cultural background. Includes important comments on the Hebrew words, grammar and syntax. Briteinu takes the reader through the yearly cycle of Torah reading and will be a great companion for your personal growth.
Product Description
An excellent Torah commentary designed to help the beginning and more seasoned student and scholar understand the text in its historical, religious and cultural background. Includes important comments on the Hebrew words, grammar and syntax. Briteinu takes the reader through the yearly cycle of Torah reading and will be a great companion for your personal growth.
Average customer rating:
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Briteinu: A Messianic Commentary on the Weekly Torah and Haftarah Portions (Genesis - Bereshit, Volume 1)
Manufacturer: Shoreshim Publishing, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound
Commentaries
| Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
| Sacred Writings
| Judaism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Study
| Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
| Sacred Writings
| Judaism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Torah
| Sacred Writings
| Judaism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0975291424 |
Product Description
An excellant Torah commentary designed to help the beginning and more seasoned student and scholar understand the text in its historical, religious and cultural background. Includes important comments on the Hebrew words, grammar and syntax. Briteinu takes the reader through the yearly cycle of Torah reading and will be a great companion for your personal growth.
Average customer rating:
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Briteinu: A Messianic Commentary on the Weekly Torah and Haftarah Portions (Leviticus - Vayikra, Volume 3)
Manufacturer: Shoreshim Publishing, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound
Commentaries
| Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
| Sacred Writings
| Judaism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Study
| Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
| Sacred Writings
| Judaism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Torah
| Sacred Writings
| Judaism
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0975291440 |
Product Description
An excellent Torah commentary designed to help the beginning and more seasoned student and scholar understand the text in its historical, religious and cultural background. Includes important comments on the Hebrew words, grammar and syntax. Briteinu takes the reader through the yearly cycle of Torah reading and will be a great companion for your personal growth.
Product Description
An excellent Torah commentary designed to help the beginning and more seasoned student and scholar understand the text in its historical, religious and cultural background. Includes important comments on the Hebrew words, grammar and syntax. Briteinu takes the reader through the yearly cycle of Torah reading and will be a great companion for your personal growth.
Books:
- Hunger Point: A Novel
- In the Skin of a Lion
- Jakob von Gunten (New York Review Books Classics)
- Killing Mister Watson
- Learn to Play Go: A Master's Guide to the Ultimate Game (Volume I) (Learn to Play Go)
- Lighthousekeeping
- Lithium for Medea
- Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper: A Novel
- Mademoiselle Benoir: A Novel
- Magnificent Obsession
Books Index
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