The Snow Garden: A Novel

Book Description

Christopher Rice became a publishing sensation overnight with his rst novel, A Density of Souls. The stunningly wide-ranging coverage included appearances on The Rosie ODonnell Show, MTVs Real World, and The Early Show, print features in everything from USA Today to The Advocate, and a website deluged with e-mails from fans. One of the most original writers of a new generation was launched. His new novel, The Snow Garden, is a story of murder and sexual menace on a snowbound university campus. When a respected professors wife drives to her death in an icy river, an illicit relationship between a student and his teacher threatens to come to light, and within days Atherton University is the scene of escalating speculation and intrigue. Another death emerges from the shadows, and the connections between the two accidents begin to look uncomfortably close. As in A Density of Souls, Christopher Rice explores the dynamic within a tightly knit group of young people haunted by sexual memories and fears and driven by obscure desires. The Snow Garden casts this web of friendship and passion against the backdrop of a threat that grows darker as the novel proceeds. The result is a stunning new novel from an arresting talent.

Customer Reviews:

A writer on his way..........2007-06-22

I just finished The Snow Garden and like Density of Souls, I found it interesting but both novels were confusing in many places and a lot of reasons "why" events were happening were never brought to light. We needed to know more about Jesse, whom I feel stole the show. Although some of the plots get twisted up within themselves, I believe that Christopher is on his way to becoming a good writer. He's young and just getting started - he will grow into his stories.

Miles ahead of his debut, Chris still has a few bugs to work out..........2007-02-24

I will admit I'm a little torn here. I liked this book a lot more before I read the horrendous `A Density of Souls' and that experience alone tarnished my view of Christopher Rice in general. That said, `The Snow Garden' is a much better book than his debut, but it still falls into some of the same pitfalls, it just has a few extra redeeming qualities this time around. Again, Rice was able to paint a very eerily detailed picture for the reader, something he also did in `A Density of Souls'. A characters surroundings and atmosphere is the first key to grabbing the attention of the reader and so in that regard this novel excels.

The characters in this novel are also more intriguing and all around more entertaining than those in `A Density of Souls' but once again Christopher falls into stereotypes, the same stereotypes that made his previous work annoying. He also tends to get off subject too much, lacing every characters background with so much tragedy and so many dark secrets that they come off, bluntly put, unreal. I mean, one tragic story is enough...there's no way everyone in that school has suffered their share of trauma. That aside, these sub-plots and or flashbacks still aren't enough to make me despise this book. They are no where near as off-putting as those found in `A Density of Souls'.

The plot here is better crafted as well. Yes, as some have mentioned, it gets a little chaotic, and there were times when I chuckled at the amateurish tendencies Christopher gives some of his characters (I couldn't help but think `Hardy Boys' when Tim and Randall where in the storage locker...or laugh a little to myself at Randall's sudden surge of manliness as he stands up to Eric...I mean where did that come from). That aside, the main storyline involving murder, betrayal, sex and adultery fit a little nicer this time around. Despite all the intertwining sub-plots and character development points Christopher was able to meld them all together in at least a decent and satisfying way.

So, in a nutshell, this is the basic synopsis of the novel. Randall is our main character. He's a gay student who has been carrying on an affair with his married Art Professor Eric behind everyone's back, including his best friend Kathryn. When Eric's wife dies in a horrific car accident that may or may not have been murder Eric quickly finds himself the main suspect, even in the eyes of his beloved Randall. As Randall tries to get to the bottom of things himself, determining whether or not Eric is a cold hearted killer, we are introduced to a cast of characters that in ways add and in others take away from the grit of the novel.

One of the biggest issues I have with this novel was its lack of depth given to the most interesting character, Jesse, Randall's roommate. Jesse stole the entire show with his psychotic ways of using sex and need to destroy everything and everyone he touched, and his sheer magnetism that obviously affected everyone around him also drew me further into the novel only to have any real explanations of his intentions and purpose completely disregarded and glossed over. He was far more interesting than Randall, Kathryn, Tim and maybe even Eric (although I liked his character quite a bit) and deserved to be fully explored.

As many have also mentioned, the editing of this novel is so bad it's embarrassing. There were plenty of times it got so bad I was confused and had to reread sentences before realizing it was the authors mistake and not my eyes. But still, it's not enough for me to really truly hate this novel, for as I mentioned, I actually like it.

And so here we come to the most redeeming quality to book possesses and most likely the main reason why I will recommend and stand by it...and that is the impressive and completely blindsiding ending that just ransacked me in such a good way. When we finally uncover the dark secrets that matter...granted some of them really don't, but at least the dark revelation behind Eric's closeted homosexuality and his wife's untimely death (that whole orgy thing was just a fantastic inclusion)...we are brought to this otherworldly place that makes up for the grammar, the stammering and the overexposure of one too many characters (and the underexposure of the most important).

At times I get the feeling that maybe Christopher somewhat made things up as he went along, starting from chapter one and then every-once-in-a-while just going "I think this character should do this" or "maybe he should have undergone this" and just went with it. That would at least explain why some plot points are never expounded upon and some are over analyzed. He's lucky that it fits together better than his mess of a debut (have you noticed I truly despise `A Density of Souls' yet?) and he's extra lucky that the last third of this book is so engrossing. I recommend giving it a read through for it really is decent in most respects, just don't expect a masterpiece. Oh yeah, and is it just me or is the cover art just brilliant...makes you want to, no need to read this book! Good move.

Great Potential but the same problems abound.......2006-06-17

Over the years I've read three of Christopher Rice's novels - all of which have a similar theme - the trials & tribulations of young folks (largely gay) with deep dark secrets. The same problems that plagued the first and second novel also are present in this one:

(1) Too many charaters - Yes, after a few 100 pages they begin to come into focus but the avalanche of names and relationships can cause problems
(2) Too many subplots - ALthough he somewhat manages to tie them together the result is unsatisfactory. Every single character does not need a deeply involved past with numerous branches leading to yet more subterranean veins of action.
(3) Too autobiographical - Sure, all novels are in a sense about the author but this is the third coming of age story of a young gay guy with sordid secrets.

The author has wonderful insights, an almost poetic way with the English language and terrific character development. In THE SNOW GARDEN there is just too much conflicting action between all the characters - a is mad at b who is friends with c who likes d who dated a but wants to date b... One other criticism - there are just too many gay folks for a realistic setting. It seems every other student at this college was/is/wants to be gay. Plus, as in the other novels, the straight dude finally falls for the hero - a not so well-disguised Rice. In this case, Jesse almost stole the show with his sociopathic and intensely creepy agenda of using sex to psychologically destroy a person.

Shows his age...........2006-05-03

Christopher Rice's second novel is everything that you expect from a young, precocious and ambitious author. Problem is, that is NOT a good thing. While "The Snow Garden" does have a fair amount going for it - as a mystery, the final third kicks into high gear - the book leans heavily towards pretentious. While, as a gay man, I like that gay characters can be presented as protagonists, Rice seems more intent on making them mouthpieces for his own philosophies. And please, spare me any more writings that think all straight guys will go down if they just meet the right man? Augh!

But it also means that you are slogging through two thirds of a mystery that plods like flip-flops in the slush. Some of the twists are more than a little preposterous (the disappearance of Jesse made me stop and double-back to see if I'd missed something), characters underdeveloped and hackneyed, unnecessary sub-plots slip in and are discarded, and as others have noted, the proof-readers of my hardback edition must have been tipping at the Scotch too often. Genders switch, as does a character name at one point. Forget minor errors, this was the speed reading equivalent of nailing a pot-hole. Quite frankly, if there wasn't a famous last name attached here (hey, it was what first drew me in), "The Snow Garden" would likely be spoken of as a sophomore outing by a promising writer who needed to lose the pretensions. Here's hoping Christopher Rice does a little woodshedding before book three.

Merely Okay.......2006-04-22

I thought that the description of this book sounded fantastic. The cover drew my attention, too. I know, I should never judge a book by its cover, but I do. I have tried at least five times to read this book, but I just can't seem to get into it and stay into it. There are some parts that are very exciting and make me stay up until 3:00AM reading. These are followed by sections that I have to read over and over again because they are so boring that I cannot pay attention enough to comprehend what is going on. When it's good, it's very, very good, but when it's boring, it's horrid.

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The Snow Garden: A Novel
Christopher Rice
Manufacturer: Miramax
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OHCYHQ

Customer Reviews:

What's missing?.......2002-09-19

...Oh yeah, ROBIN SCHONE!!!!!! Robin's unique ability to truly combine the erotic and the romantic and to make both work is missing in this book of shallow tales. I have to say these stories were erotic, but the lacked the tenderness, the depth of character, and teh deep, challanging, intruiging erotica that I have come to expect with Robin's stories. Perhaps I have been spoiled, but without Robin, this book wasn't worth the price of a trade paperback.

Buy for two of the stories.......2002-08-12

I found two of the stories worth the price of the book. Nikki Donovan's and Betrice Small's stories were interesting and well executed. Like other reviewers, I found the Nikki Donovan's Enchanted tale (Beauty and the Beast) to be delightful and highly erotic. Betrice Small's story on true love not caring about the circumstance of someone's life was enjoyable (and erotic). Unfortunately, I found the editing mistakes in Liz Madison's story to be disruptive to the story. I didn't think women were named Victoria in 1250 AD nor had chocolate been discovered by the English at that time. These editing mistakes seriously distracted from the storyline. Susan Johnson's character arguments over who is in charge detracted from the sex. They don't like each other so why is good sex worth it?

Mostly Delighted.......2002-08-08

Having enjoyed Captivated & Fascinated, I was interested to read Delighted with 2 new authors. As usual, Bertrice Small and Susan Johnson did not disappoint. I can't say the same for Nikki Donovan. Enchanted basically reads as a disjointed, flat, Beauty and the Beast with sex. Very uninspiring, almost didn't finish reading it. With His Promise by Liz Madison, on the other hand, is engaging within the first 2 pages. Her story line is well developed, the characters have depth & personality and her descriptive writing flows so well it pulls you in immediately. The sexual innocence and erotic build up is extremely hot and is coupled with a believeable love story and likeable protagonists which makes the sex even hotter. You don't want to miss this one. Great prelude to your own delights!

Susan Johnson's Out of the Storm.........2002-07-07

Was much better than her last novel Again and Again. The hero and heroine were much more likeable in this story and I actually found myself rooting for the hero to win his lady. It was refreshing to see Prince Radovsky stay faithful to Lulu even after the two part ways. In other Johnson books, the hero most likely goes out and has marathon sex with any willing female when there is a crisis which I find somewhat distateful and unnecessary. I loved the ending and will more than likely re read this fabulous, erotic and romantic story.

Disappointed rather than delighted.......2002-06-28

While previous erotic romance anthology like Captivated and Fascinated blends seamlessly sizzling passion and poignant heartfelt characters, Delighted seems contented only to bombard the readers with sex and... more sex. You begin to wonder why Robin Schone - a frequent excellent contributor was excluded and brought in new entries from Nikki Donovan and Liz Madison.

This is not to say the budding talents are not good. Liz Madison threw in an impressive debut with a medievial romance in England 1250 which tells of Victoria Woodville, a female warrior grappling with the daunting task of protecting her homeland from a despot who craves on territorial expansion. She falls in love with an ally - Stephen de Burgh of Normadic origin and learns to trust him in battling the enemy together. Her style reminiscent of Virgina Henley pleases but lacks the spark of originality and erotic abundance. Nikki Donovan pens "Enchanted" - a surreal tale about the intimidating Beast of Lord kidnapping the lady Esmay to remove his curse through carnal relations. The entry suffers from an overload of sex with a contrived romance between undeveloped characters to whack its flaccid premise.

Veterans Bertrice Small and Susan Johnson scores better, both playing the elements of erotica and romance to a perfect pitch. Particularly Johnson in "Out of the Storm" who proves herself a maverick in creating sensual dialogues and a sizzling couple. She notches up the erotic atmosphere with an unconventional relationship between Lady Darlington and her stepbrother Prince Radovsky through a fateful meeting in the storm. Bertrice Small stretches the boundary with a love story between a courtesan and an enamored customer. It is erotically charged and her female protagonists is particularly strong and cunning though some may be put off by some debauched scenes of threesomes.

Customer Reviews:

An Amazing, Life-Changing Story.......2007-08-07

I "happened" upon this book in our church library. It is the wonderful true story of a man who lived by faith and relied on prayer for everything in his life. He cared for many orphans and his many stories of how God miraculously provided are amazing. It is a real faith builder and a real challenge in your own walk with God. I highly recommend this book!

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A startling account of faith and faithfulness
Exceptional, detailed account of his life

George Mueller: Delighted in God
Roger Steer
Manufacturer: Shaw
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0877883041
Release Date: 2000-03-07

Customer Reviews:

A startling account of faith and faithfulness.......2002-04-15

George Muller was a sometime missionary and longtime pastor of a church in Bristol, England, in the middle of the nineteenth century.
At that time, the plight of orphans in the country was despicable and hopeless. It is the plight of these orphans that inspired so much of Charles Dickens' writing during the same period. Orphanages were of a vastly different nature than we are used to thinking. Unless a child was an orphan of a rich or well-established family, there were few options for them. Some orphanages accepted children according to recommendations; ie, if the child or some advocate could gather enough signatures affirming his character, behavior, etc., then they would accept this child. If an orphaned child had the strength and presence of mind to collect such signatures. But mostly, poor children had no option but homelessness and a rough street-life.
Muller set about to do something about that: he resolved to open and run Christian orphanages that accepted children simply on the basis of need. Indeed, he turned away any child who could be accepted at one of the more traditional orphanages.
In addition, Muller set out, through the direction of the orphanages, to prove the existence and good faithfulness of God in a way that I can only compare to Elijah on Mt Carmel. He decided to rely solely and completely on God to provide the means and funds needed to run this orphanage. He did no fundraising whatsoever; moreover, he would not even make his financial needs known even to those who inquired and wished to help. He was steadfast in his determination to rely solely on God to supply His needs, and would not taint such a testimony to a doubtful world with any kind of profession of need or request for help -- not even from his own congregation in Bristol.
And God came through. Again and again, God answered George Muller's prayers, and never once was the orphanage in need. More than that, Muller was able to expand his efforts at an amazing rate: it wasn't long before four major houses were built for orphanages, housing, educating, feeding, and job-training as many as 10,000 orphans at a time. In addition, there were scripture training schools, a publishing house sending out Bibles and scriptural tracts at a very high volume (for little or no money) and heavy financial support of missionaries in other countries. All of this, all of it, without ever letting a single person know of the financial needs of all the work. All told, nearly 1,500,000 pounds were received during George Muller's lifetime from the hands of God.
There were certainly trying days. The book chronicles time and again, at times for months on end, when the orphanages ran on a shoestring budget, at times receiving the money needed to but lunch only at breakfast time. Nonetheless, there was never a single incident when they did not have what they needed.
Muller spent his latter days traveling the world, preaching in as diverse places as Israel, Russia and California(in the 1800's, still a remote corner of the earth.) Instead of boasting of the deeds he had accomplished, the expounded scripture, called on people to recognize the goodness and faithfulness of God, and to rely on Him to supply for them. He insisted that his faith, which was so renowned and talked about, was no extraordinary thing; it was simply the result of years of experiencing God's ability and willingness to meet His needs.
I do not think that Muller had any kind of doctrinal belief that fundraising was a bad thing, and so it would be a twisting of his testimony to use it against missionaries and organizations that fundraise. He simply desired to show that God is faithful and able to meet our needs -- and He did so. It was intended, by this ordinary man, to strengthen the faith of people around the world. I know that reading it has strengthened my faith, while both convicting me and giving me confidence to trust God with my needs. George Muller is an example to me, and a hero of the faith. I would encourage anyone to read more about his life and work -- and the work God did through him and for him.
That said, I must say a word about the shortcomings of this particular biography. It is incredibly tedious at times in its attention to detail. In the times of near-shortage in the orphanages, it does paint the picture well to see how sixpence came in at this hour and two pounds the next day, then three months of relative abundance, then a week in which only eight pence came in and then the day before money was needed to repair the furnace so-and-so wrote a letter including ten pounds. To some extent this is indeed helpful. But when George and wife are touring the country, I don't feel like I need to know about every train and every hotel and house and congregation they preached to. The attention to detail, though it certainly honors Muller's spirit (who was gifted with incredible attention to detail, which doubtless helped him run the houses as he did) is very tedious to read. Some sections are definitely best simply skimmed...

Exceptional, detailed account of his life.......1999-09-29

This book provides many excellent stories from the life of Muller. The stories are not only insightful, but also include actual diary entries from the period. If you're looking for a book about George Muller, this is the one to get.

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Alice In The Delighted States
Hope. Edward
Manufacturer: LIncoln Mac Veagh The Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GVNGNG

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Alice in the Delighted States

Manufacturer: Lincoln Mac Veagh
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000C2L870

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Alice in the Delighted States
Edward Hope
Manufacturer: Lincoln Mac Veagh - The Dial Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NPPKVG

Alice in the Delighted States. With Illustrations by Rea Irvin.

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Alice in the Delighted States. With Illustrations by Rea Irvin.
Edward. Hope
Manufacturer: NY:
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IU0M32

Be Delighted: A Tribute to Maureen Potter

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Be Delighted: A Tribute to Maureen Potter

Manufacturer: New Island Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1904301665

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Degraded, Delighted Daughter
Helen Delong
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000TDADIM

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My 100-word book review

Only for Asher Fans

Asher's least intersting book

My Novella of the Year

Fun and Cinematic Actioner

Africa Zero

Manufacturer: Wildside Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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The Engineer ReConditioned

Prador Moon: A Novel Of The Polity

The Line of Polity

Voyage of the Sable Keech

Brass Man

ASIN: 1587154471
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Book Description

The novellas Africa Zero and Africa Plus One in one book. The Collector rampages across a far future Africa populated with gene-spliced vampires, resurrected mammoth, and nutters with APWs. But he can handle it.

Customer Reviews:

My 100-word book review.......2007-03-19

An early work by Asher, Africa Zero comprises two novellas set in a distant future where the Collector, a lone cyborg with attitude, wages war on an army of religious fanatics. A nice brisk read, this book has the Asher trademarks of high octane action and plenty of big explosions. Fans of his Polity series will recognise the reptilian sauramen as forerunners of the dracomen in later books, but these prototypes are more entertaining. Few science fiction stories are ever set in Africa, let alone feature mammoths, glaciation, vampires and giant crocodiles as well, so this is one to remember.

Only for Asher Fans.......2007-03-08

Though very well written and engrossing, "Africa Zero" may be confusing to someone who has never read Neal Asher before. It's beginning (and end) is abrupt and overwhelming and the action is brutal and fast moving- the reader will be playing catch-up until half-way through the first story. If you know Asher's work, this is probably what you enjoy most about it but if you've never read anything by him you will probably be a bit confused. However, Asher (as usual) excells at his streamlined method of storytelling to throw the reader into the middle of the story and engross them, even if it's at a forced-march. Gory at times but also laugh-out-loud funny and full of great visuals, "Africa Zero" is not Asher's best work but is definitely one that reinforces Asher's stand-out status among modern sci-fi writers.

Asher's least intersting book.......2007-02-28

I'm a big fan of Asher's polity novels, but I didn't find Africa Zero nearly as interesting. This work seems to be mostly an expression of the author's political views, which are approximately those of the Animal Liberation Front and Earth Liberation Front. The hero of the novel, we are told, was responsible for saving the Earth by culling the human population with genetically designed diseases and preditors -- an idea that has emerged in some factions of the British animal rights movement. In other words, he murdered billions of people for ideological reasons, and we are supposed to think he is cool.

I have to say, I will be harder for me to enjoy Asher's books after seeing how naive, hostile and anti-American his views are.

My Novella of the Year.......2006-05-20

For those of you familiar with Asher's Polity universe the first thing you should know is that this a non-Polity story. The second thing you should know is that you simply won't care. This is trademark Asher all the way, simply resonating with the distinctive and familiar Asher voice. Asher is a natural story-teller and writes with an exuberance that defies comparison. No one crams as much energy, science, terror, adrenaline, blood, explosions, monsters, philosophy, politics, religion, technology, ideas, intelligence, and both the redeemably good and irredeemably evil into his books. The important thing though is no one makes you have a fraction of the fun Asher does when he writes. You ENJOY yourself when reading Asher!!! If there is anything wrong with this novella it is simply that it is a novella not a novel. I wish I could have kept reading indefinitely.

Africe Zero features an ancient cyborg who more less Lone Rangers, albeit somewhat reluctantly, around Africa keeping an eye on the local flora and fauna and the human enclaves that still exist. If you have read the polity books, just think "Golem". The resultings adventures feature all the action, violence, and blood spatters you learn to crave from Asher, the complex plot developments, and as many crazed and insane evil bigots and religious fanatics as your imagination could care to blow away. I suspect that this novella came before the polity novels because you do definitely see the seeds of the idea for the Golems and Dracomen featured there. I whole-heartedly recommend that you shell out the bucks for this one. Asher always delivers more adrenaline charged fun per dollar than any other writer out there.

Fun and Cinematic Actioner.......2005-08-23

Neal Asher's work is the perfect translation of comic book energy to big-screen-style narrative. This book, related in the deadpan first person of an Edgar Rice Burroughs type hero, pits a virtually unstoppable cyborg steward of a transformed far-future Africa against environmental vandals, ruthless corporate schemers, and sadistic religious fanatics, but as usual there is more to his larger-than-life characters than at first it seems. Harshly logical and gleefully brutal, this disarmingly juvenile but richly themed work carries forward the best pulp tradition with visceral, steamrolling conviction.

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Zero Hour: The Last Good War Book III
James Reasoner
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

War | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312873476

Book Description

1942: The U.S. has started to turn the tide against the Japanese. Through the eyes of young soldiers and nurses, we experience the gritty action and poignant stories of Americans trying to win the Pacific island by island. And in North Africa, British Intelligence may have the key to winning the tank war. Up close and personal, the bullets fly at the climactic Battle of Algiers.

Botshabelo: Former fastest-growing urban area in South Africa approaching zero population growth (Urban and regional planning)

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Botshabelo: Former fastest-growing urban area in South Africa approaching zero population growth (Urban and regional planning)
Skip Krige
Manufacturer: Dept. of Urban and Regional Planning, University of the Orange Free State
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Statistics | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0868865605

The globalisation of democratic policing: Sector policing and zero tolerance in the new South Africa (Occasional paper series)

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The globalisation of democratic policing: Sector policing and zero tolerance in the new South Africa (Occasional paper series)
Bill Dixon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0799219894

A new hope for sustainable development in Africa: Zero emissions and total productivity of raw materials

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A new hope for sustainable development in Africa: Zero emissions and total productivity of raw materials

Manufacturer: University of Namibia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Trade, environment, and sustainable development: Setting an agenda for southern Africa : issues and insights from a ZERO Workshop held 16-17 May 1996, Harare, Zimbabwe (Special paper series)

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Trade, environment, and sustainable development: Setting an agenda for southern Africa : issues and insights from a ZERO Workshop held 16-17 May 1996, Harare, Zimbabwe (Special paper series)
B Maboyi
Manufacturer: ZERO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0797416781

Book Description

You're engaged! And now you are knee-deep in planning the details of the wedding. But are you also getting ready for what comes after the wedding?Alice and Robert Fryling bring over twenty-five years of marriage experience to this workbook designed to guide you through open and honest communication about the things that will really matter in your marriage:

money

time

communication

sex

family

work

faith This isn't just a book you read--it's a book you do. Its interactive style allows you and your future spouse to explore its biblically-based counsel and challenging questions together or with a pastor. And with three chapters tailored specifically to your first few months together, you can even use A Handbook for Engaged Couples after the wedding.Set aside time now to develop a marriage that starts well and grows to lasting maturity.

Customer Reviews:

It's the Jam!.......2007-03-08

I really liked this book. Our pastor got us to purchase it as a part of our premarital counseling. It has a short ammount of information that gets straight to the point in each chapter (2 or 3 pages), and then it has at least a page, if not two, of great discussion questions. The questions are deep and thought provoking. They challenge the couple to really deal with the issues at hand. The information is short, but impactful. The book also has a great, natural flow. I love it!

Best thing we did for our relationship........2004-04-21

This book is really amazing. Going through it page by page was the best thing we have ever done for our relationship.

A Good Premarital Counseling Tool.......2000-08-02

I have used this book for premarital counseling for several years. I can give one to each person and use it as a "get started" tool to help in counseling. It provides a very good scriptural groundwork for our sessions. It also covers some hard-to-counsel areas very well.

I'm not engaged but..........1999-09-10

I'm not engaged, or even close to being engaged. Nonetheless, I found the Frylings' handbook refreshing and honest about communications and expectations among couples. I bought it on a whim, having heard that the Frylings do not sugarcoat reality in their presentation. My own relationship was floundering and I needed direction. I wish I had bought it several months earlier!

While written from a evangelical Christian perspective, it has that special universality of truth for every couple looking to understand and to communicate with their mate or future spouse.

I can see it being read alone for personal growth, with your fiance, or even the two of you with a counselor or older, wiser friend. Better yet, try going through this (be ready to be challenged!) with a married couple who seems to "have it together."

Catholics will love it as an addition to their time spent in pre-marital counseling. You're best to buy two copies, with each person reading a portion (set up in topical chapters with discussion questions).

Though I'm one who has never been married, I believe it would be great for a couple married several years as well, helping re-ground your marriage. Don't think of this as just a tool to get your spouse to open up, but as a mutual opportunity to renew the love which drew you to marriage in the first place.

This book is no panacea, but it can assist a new beginning, or a careful grounding for a future marriage.

For you single guys (and gals) get a copy of "A Handbook for Engaged Couples" and read it. It'll help you (and me) relate to anyone you might consider saying "I do" with on an altar someday.

(post-script: I have since been engaged, and can further attest to this book's usefulness, having been happily married now since 2004).

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

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