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Wild Thorns (Interlink World Fiction)
Sahar Khalifeh Manufacturer: Interlink Publishing Group ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 1566563364 |
Customer Reviews:
Multi-layered Story that Needs to be Heard.......2006-07-11
An invitation to sit at a Palestinian dinner table.......2003-07-13
The tale is already twenty-six years old, set just a few years into the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Written by a Palestinian, about Palestinians, it is sympathetic to them, but it's not a propaganda piece. We get only rare glimpses of Israelis in this book, but when they do appear, they are shown in the same humane light that shines on the main characters. When a five year old Syrian boy meets his imprisoned father for the first time, the Israeli guards turn away with tears in their eyes. This is not the only scene in which someone on one side of the conflict responds compassionately to the suffering of someone on the other side.
Parents and grandparents want their boys and young men to study and become professionals with good incomes, and they hope for their daughters to marry successful daughters. Men struggle to feed their families and to negotiate a little self respect in spite of the compromises they find themselves making. Other men (and boys) alternate between pride, fear, and shame as they try to respond to the humiliations and oppression of their people with costly courage.
One of the great functions of literature is to let the reader walk in another's shoes. That is what I had in mind when I chose to read this book. I have not been disappointed.
tragedy or farce?.......2001-10-01
This novel is part of something called the Emerging Voices Series and, from what I could find online,
although the book is now over twenty-five years old and Sahar Khalifeh is in her fifties, she is indeed
considered one of the important voices in Middle Eastern literature. The action of Wild Thorns takes
place just a few years after Israel occupied the West Bank, which is where Khalifeh lived when she
wrote it. The main character in the book is Usama, a young Palestinian returning to the territories
after being fired from his job in the oil states. Though his mother has high hopes that he will marry a
lovely cousin, Usama has actually returned to his homeland on a mission, to blow up the buses which
carry Palestinian day laborers to their jobs in Israel.
Usama is shocked by the changes he finds on his return, the indignities that people put up with,
starting with the difficulty getting through the check points on the way into the territories, having to
submit to searches and interrogations. But he is most disturbed by how economically dependent
Palestinians have become on Israel, both for jobs and for consumer goods. He sees this as a kind of
collaboration, which implicates everyone in the occupation.
Meanwhile, the hero of the book is really Adil, another young Palestinian, Usama's cousin, who has
stayed at home, works at one of the well paying Israeli jobs in order to take care of his extended
family, and wants no part of the coming violence. But, inevitably, he too gets caught up in the sweep
of events. In the first instance, when he just happens to be on the scene when an Israeli soldier is
attacked and stabbed, Adil carries the soldier's young daughter to safety. But in the end, when Usama
and his cronies attack the very bus convoy that Adil is riding in, he ends up grabbing a gun himself.
Though Ms Khalifeh is obviously sympathetic to the plight of her people, the novel is largely
non-polemical. Adil seems to be as much a victim of Usama's mindless terrorism as is the Israeli
soldier. Yet, Adil's final decision to take up arms makes a certain awful sense too. Even someone as
generally hostile to the Palestinian cause as I am can understand how even the most decent and
reluctant of men would choose to fight with his own people when push came to shove. But, of course,
this is the evil logic of terror, to make everyone take sides, to turn even the peace loving into killers.
It is this that makes the events of the novel as tragic as they are inexorable.
Understanding the Realities.......2001-04-16
Truth is only one but there are many versions of it.......2000-12-13
I do agree completely with the other reviewers who have stated that this book can not be approached believing that is merely propaganda against Israel. It simply shows that no matter the reason, violence only creates suffering for of those who are involved in the conflict.
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Gone Wild
James W. Hall Manufacturer: G K Hall & Co ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items: ASIN: 0783813686 |
Customer Reviews:
Wild and Dangerous.......2002-01-15
This book deals with the dwindling numbers of endangered species and man's indifference to whether they live or die. In particular, the orang-utan is highlighted. It's a battle between Alison Farleigh who is desperate to stamp out poachers, trappers and other enemies to animals, and a couple of brothers who have made it their lives work to capture wild animals no matter the cost.
Once again James Hall portrays his bad guys as just about the lowest, most demented scum of the earth, yet smart enough to keep getting away with their evil deeds. Thorn, Hall's recurring laid-back alternative-living hero, plays a minor role as the backup for Alison. It seems that his main role in this book is to get the living bejeezus repeatedly beaten out of him.
It's an action-packed thriller interspersed with more sensitive moments when the story is told from a young orang-utan's perspective. There are no real surprising twists to the story, yet it remained compelling from start to finish. Any book that highlights the plight of the many endangered species of animals around the world is a worthwhile book.
An excellent thrill-ride.......1999-05-31
Hall's books terrify me - but I can't wait for the next one!.......1998-11-23
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Wild Thorn
William Hoffman Manufacturer: HarperCollins ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Similar Items: ASIN: 0060197986 Release Date: 2002-11-26 |
Book Description
From the critically acclaimed author of Tidewater Blood and Blood and Guile comes a gripping novel of suspense about a man who puts his life in jeopardy in order to bring a killer to justice.
In Wild Thorn, Charley LeBlanc returns to the place of his birth only to find himself caught up in corruption and intrigue. The black sheep of a distinguished Virginia family, Charley has now settled in Montana to escape his felonious past. When he heads east for a brief trip, he discovers that an old mountaineer woman he has befriended is dead under questionable circumstances. Charley wants answers and sets out to find them.
He's hampered by a local law force that remembers only too well Charley's previous misdeeds. But he's unexpectedly welcomed by the richest man in the area -- and his sexy, younger wife. The deeper Charley digs, the more he believes the old woman's death is not what it first appeared. And before long he uncovers a devious and dangerous enemy.
Brilliantly written, with a strong sense of place and an intriguing cast of characters, Wild Thorn confirms William Hoffman's place as a writer of rare and extraordinary talent.
Customer Reviews:
A Mystery with Vivid Writing.......2007-09-21
Virginia author writes excellent mystery.......2007-05-18
A Mystery That Feels Real.......2004-06-23
Hoffman has brought back Charley LeBlanc, the flawed but fascinating main character from his Hammett Award winning Tidewater Blood. Charley is a former Viet Nam vet and convict. He definitely has flaws but to me that's what makes him fascinating. I think the best mysteries are the ones where the detective isn't a cop.
Hoffman clearly knows the mountains of West Virginia. Whether it's his vivid description of the land and wildlife, his depictions of the people who inhabit the abandoned coal mine towns or the history of the region, you'll feel you've been there when you finish the book.
TAME THORN.......2003-08-16
strong anti-hero tale.......2002-12-18
He and Blackie return to Cliffside in Shawnee County, West Virginia to check up on Aunt Jessie Arbuckle, a woman who befriended him when many others turned their backs on him. He arrives to find Aunt Jessie dead and Esmeralda, a homeless woman who depended on the charity of Shawnee County to feed and clothe her, charged with her murder. Charley knows through the ties that bind him to Esmeralda that the wrong person is locked away and he intends to find the real perpetrator.
William Hoffman uses words to convey colorful images in the mind's eye so that the reader senses the environment that the flawed protagonist struggles to adapt to so he can have a peaceful life. Charley is an anti-hero who makes very serious mistakes but is likable because of the tenderness he shows to those few people that he cares about. The story line is beautiful in its simplicity but the author writes about complex people who are put in difficult situations and that makes this novel a fabulous read.
Harriet Klausner
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3 Satinwood Romances: Wild Thorn Summer / Floodgates of Love / Shadows From Njara (Satinwood Romances)
Louise Brindley , Nesta St. John , and Judy Sutton Manufacturer: banner press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000J4FH82 |
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4 Titles in the Thorn Series: (1) Tropical Freeze; (2) Mean High Tide; (3) Gone Wild; (4) Buzz Cut (Set of 4)
James W. Hall Manufacturer: Various ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000WWT5GG |
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Fraser Darling in Africa: A Rhino in the Whistling Thorn
John Morton Boyd Manufacturer: Edinburgh University Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: 0748603689 |
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Wild Thorn
William Hoffman Manufacturer: HarperCollins ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000OA7PA4 |
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WILD THORN SUMMER, FLOODGATES OF LOVE, SHADOWS FROM NJARA
Louise; Nesta St. Johnand Judy Sutton Brindley Manufacturer: banner press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: B000JS293O |
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Wild Thorns
Manufacturer: SAQI BOOKS ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000GO6N4W |
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The Marchese's Love-Child (Harlequin Presents)
Sara Craven Manufacturer: Harlequin ProductGroup: Book Binding: Mass Market Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0373125216 |
Customer Reviews:
very good indeed : ) though not perfect : (.......2006-07-25
4 1/2 Stars...Great Love Story.......2006-03-23
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The Marchese's Love-Child (Presents)
Sara Craven Manufacturer: Harlequin ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000OXHV64 |
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Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the 20th Century
Manufacturer: Ace Trade ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0441011330 Release Date: 2004-03-02 |
Amazon.com
Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction of the Century may not include every reader's choices for the top science fiction of the 20th century, but it lives up to its title. Editor Orson Scott Card has assembled 27 standout stories by the biggest names and best writers in the genre. Not surprisingly, most of these stories have been anthologized or collected elsewhere, and some (like Arthur C. Clarke's "Nine Billion Names of God," Harlan Ellison's "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman," and Robert A. Heinlein's "All You Zombies--") have been reprinted innumerable times. In addition, Card has previously placed some of these selections in his retrospective 1980s anthology Future on Ice.While some stories in Masterpieces lack fine prose and well-rounded characters, they are solid and engrossing entertainments. Other selections combine literary and science fiction virtues to produce a superior blend, and some of these stories--"Bears Discover Fire" by Terry Bisson, "Snow" by John Crowley, "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison, "Face Value" by Karen Joy Fowler, "Tourists" by Lisa Goldstein, and "The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin--are art.
Masterpieces isn't an anthology for the well-read fan. However, it is a great book for the new or intermediate science fiction reader. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
An overview of the best science fiction short stories of the 20th century as selected and evaluated by critically-acclaimed author Orson Scott Card.Download Description
"A virtual who's who in a century of imaginative fiction, this new hardcover collection includes classic and influential stories by: Brian W. Aldiss * Isaac Asimov * Greg Bear * Gregory Benford * Octavia E. Butler * Arthur C. Clarke * Philip K. Dick * William Gibson * Joe Haldeman * Robert A. Heinlein * Ursula K. Le Guin * Anne McCaffrey * Frederik Pohl * Mike Resnick * Kim Stanley Robinson * Pamela Sargent * Robert Silverberg * Clifford D. Simak * John Varley * Roger Zelazny With a new critical essay by Orson Scott Card, Masterpieces is a glimpse of the greatest works that mixed science with fiction...and changed the way we think about ourselves, our future, and our place in the universe. Featuring bold, brave, and breathtaking stories, this definitive collection will stand the test of time in this century and in those to come."Customer Reviews:
How could I be disappointed?.......2004-11-06
Some Outstanding, but not all are true masterpieces.......2004-06-04
Several key authors are missing entirely from the book (and Card apologizes for this in his Introduction). The "Media Generation" chapter includes a couple of stories ("Bears Discover Fire" by Bisson and "Tourists" by Goldstein), that, while fine stores, are not science fiction under almost anyones' definition. I think Card could have chosen better stories by Asimov and Bradbury.
There are enough good stories to make the book worth purchasing. Of these, I include: "A Saucer of Loneliness," by Theodore Sturgeon, "The Nine Billion Names of God," by Arthur C. Clarke, "'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman" by Harlan Ellison, "Passengers," by Robert Silverberg, "Inconstant Moon," by Larry Niven, "Sandkings," by George R. R. Martin--and the superlative story "Pots" by C. J. Cherryh.
The net of this is that I think there is some excellent material here, but that it is neither a comprehensive sampling of twentieth century science fiction nor a true set of masterpieces. Of course, Card chose stories that affected him deeply, without turning this into another compilation driven by awards, and one has to respect that as well.
Perhaps "Fine Pieces" Rather Than "Masterpieces".......2003-06-27
I, however, *can* forget several of these stories - and already have, a mere few days after reading them. Most of the forgettable stories are the more recent ones, which is probably not a coincidence. Early science fiction (pre-1960s, let's say) is almost inherently more worthwhile than most later science fiction, and the stories selected here are cases in point. Terry Bisson's "Bears Discover Fire" is a meandering inanity. "Dog Fight" by William Gibson and Michael Swanwick is a drugs and sex tale, "appealing" only in the way that Trainspotting was "appealing." "Rat" by James Patrick Kelly is similar.
There are, however, some truly, truly great stories here, which more than merit four stars. "The Tunnel Under the World" by Frederick Pohl, for example, ends with a revelation worth the price of admission. "Inconstant Moon" by Larry Niven is full of emotional impact as two individuals adjust to the thought of the sun going nova. George R. R. Martin's "Sandkings", despite being relatively recent, is a story that would might expect from Stephen King at the top of his game. Heinlein's "All You Zombies-" is a time-travel story to make the head spin. James Blish's "A Work of Art" puts Richard Strauss into the 22d century. Perhaps the most enjoyable of all is "Tunesmith" by Lloyd Biggle, Jr. Biggle, writing in 1957, the dawn of the television age, predicts a society where commercials have subsumed all other forms of art, until a gifted musician appears to save society. A surprisingly moving story, and finely crafted, skilfully bringing the reader full circle without the reader ever suspecting that he was moving.
...if you truly want "masterpieces," you should pick up Silverberg's Science Fiction Hall of Fame, volume one, or even the Best of the Nebulas edited by Ben Bova. But if you want several excellent stories by talented writers, you would do much worse than this collection of Card's favorites.
A few masterpieces........2003-03-25
The Best Anthology of the Century.......2002-01-15
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The Complete Book of Bible Trivia (Complete Book Of... (Tyndale House Publishers))
J. Stephen Lang , and Stephen J. Lang Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Similar Items:
ASIN: 0842304215 |
Book Description
People who love the Bible and trivia will enjoy J. Stephen Lang's The Complete Book of Bible Trivia. With over 4,500 questions divided into 14 topical sections, trivia buffs will be tested on such topics as Crimes and Punishments, Military Matters, Things to Eat and Drink, and Matters of Life and Death. Answers are conveniently placed on the following page.Download Description
Non-Fiction: Everyone will enjoy learning more about the Bible with this best selling, entertaining, collection of over 4500 questions and answers.Customer Reviews:
The Complete Book of Bible Trivia .......2007-01-07
Not Exactly What I Was Hoping For.......2007-01-03
A Great Book for Browsing.......2003-03-08
A Good Ice Breaker.......2001-05-26
Test your bible knowledge, or prepare to be on a game show.......2000-08-12
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The Complete Book of Bible Trivia Crossword Puzzles
J. Stephen Lang Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 0842303243 |
Book Description
A collection of 100 crossword puzzles based on J. Stephen Lang's best-selling The Complete Book of Bible Trivia.
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The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
Stephen Lang Manufacturer: Tyndale House ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000IN8DH6 |
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Complete Book of Bible Trivia
J. Stephen Lang Manufacturer: Tyndale House Pub ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000OV9ZOW |
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The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
J. Stephen Lang Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publisher, Inc. ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: B000MDYTKM |
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THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BIBLE TRIVIA.
J. Stephen Lang. Manufacturer: Wheaton: Tyndale House, 1996 24th prtg. ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000KIGUSS |
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Curiosidades De LA Biblia: The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
J. Stephen Lang Manufacturer: Alba House ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: 9586079279 |
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The Complete Book of Bible Trivia
J. Stephen Lang Manufacturer: Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996 ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover ASIN: B000NXTD6Q |
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The Complete Books of Bible Trivia & American Trivia
Manufacturer: Parsons Technology ProductGroup: Book Binding: Audio CD ASIN: 1572642572 |
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