Amazon.com
Penzler Pick, March 2002: Robert Littell, long known as one of the best writers of fiction about the Cold War, is not as well known as John le Carré or the great Charles McCarry, but nevertheless has a devoted following among serious aficionados of the literary spy novel. His latest book, which runs close to 900 pages and covers the years 1950 to 1995, is an ambitious one that is destined to become the definitive novel about the CIA.
The historical events of that crucial period are well known to most of us. The end of World War II and the division of Germany into sectors by the Allies laid the groundwork for the Cold War and the rise of the OSS, a wartime branch of the American government, into one of the most powerful tools of intelligence.
The involvement of that agency in the defection of Burgess and MacLean from Britain to the Soviet Union; the Suez Canal crisis, which ended Britain's role as a superpower; the Bay of Pigs fiasco and the Cuban Missile Crisis; the arming of rebels in Afghanistan to repel the encroaching Soviet forces; the Gulf War--all are well documented here.
All these events, which had such major consequences for our own history and that of the world, were well known to, organized by, or played out with the full cooperation of the CIA. These, as well as such minor events as defections on both sides, are the backdrop to this novel which stars a large cast of characters who we get to know as young men and women recruited while still in college. Their personal and public lives are followed as they rise through the ranks of the Company, and we know that one of them is a mole. We don't know who it is any more than the CIA does, and it will take years to unmask the traitor.
In the meantime, we have become involved not only with Littell's fictional characters, but also with some of the real people who inhabited that world: William F. Buckley Jr., G. Gordon Liddy, William Casey--and we are privy to conversations in both the Kennedy and Reagan Oval Offices.
We also know by the end of this exciting story that the fight is not always the good fight. Compromises are made, mistakes happen, and pragmatism wins out over idealism. We do not live in a perfect world, but it's the only one we have and it is that way because of the events in this book. Don't let its size deter you. This is nothing less than a stunning historical document. --Otto Penzler
Book Description
With a sharp eye for the pathos and absurdity of the Cold War, Robert Littell crafted his first novel, the now legendary spy thriller The Defection of A.J. Lewinter. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt of The New York Times called it "a perfect little gem, the best Cold War thriller I've read in years," and the praise kept coming with critics hailing Littell as "the American Le Carré" (New York Times) and raving that his books were "as good as thriller writing gets" (The Washington Post).
For his fourteenth novel, Robert Littell creates an engrossing, multigenerational, wickedly nostalgic yet utterly candid saga, bringing to life through a host of characters-historical and imagined-the over 40 years of the CIA-"the Company" to insiders. At the heart of the novel is a stunningly conceived mole hunt involving such rivals and allies as the MI6, KGB, and Mossad.
Racing across a canvas that spans the legendary Berlin Base in the 1950s-the front line of the simmering Cold War-to the Soviet invasion of Hungary, the Bay of Pigs, the Afghan war, the Gorbachev putsch, and other major theatres of operation for the CIA, The Company tells a thrilling story of agents imprisoned in double lives, fighting an enemy that was amoral, elusive, formidable.
Littell tells it like it was: CIA agents, fighting not only the good fight, but sometimes the bad one as well. Littell also brilliantly lays bare the warring within the Company to add another dimension to the spy vs. spy game: the battles between the counterintelligence agents in Washington, like the utterly obsessive real-life mole hunter James Angleton, and the covert action boys in the field, like The Company's Harvey Torriti-the Sorcerer-a brilliant and brash rule breaker and dirty tricks expert who fights fire with fire, and his Apprentice, Jack McAuliffe, recruited fresh out of Yale, who learns tradecraft and the hard truths of life in the field.
As this dazzling anatomy of the CIA unfolds, nothing less than the world's future in the second half of the twentieth century is at stake. At once a celebration of a long Cold War well fought, an elegy for the end of an era, and a reckoning for a profession in which moral ambiguity created a wilderness of mirrors, The Company is the Cold War's devastating truth, its entertaining tale, its last word.
Customer Reviews:
Intriguingly Informative.......2007-09-13
This author quite clearly has inside connections and information from the intelligence community - he almost certainly interviewed or is acquainted with people who are or were active agents in their field. One impression I am left with is the scene of the midnite assasination of a high-ranking member of the (Catholic) clergy in recent times. Anyone with memory of recent (20 yrs.)historic headlines should be able to figure out what the implication of this scenario is. Think two Popes back.
Adequate historical espionage novel.......2007-07-11
As a fan of Le Carre's earlier spy novels (the Cold War ones), I am always looking for something comparable. The Company is not it. It is perfectly adequate historical fiction, but does not rise to the level of art that the Le Carre novels achieve. Most of the characters are two dimensional, and the plot twists are foreseeable if you are paying attention.
If you are looking for a summer spy novel to pass the time, The Company is acceptable, but it is unlikely to leave a lasting impression. Ludlum fans may enjoy it, but I doubt many Le Carre fans will.
cartoonish and implausible.......2007-06-27
I can't understand all the reviews lauding The Company as a great spy novel. Folks, this book is hardly in a class with John Le Carre. Not even close. There is very little suspense in its 900 pages: the outcomes of the events described (Bay of Pigs, Hungary 1956 and so on) are well known to history, and once you clue into the novel's overriding idea -- the heroic CIA is the Savior of the Planet -- then there's very little to keep you guessing as to how it will all work out.
There are good guys (us), bad guys (russkies), and go-to guys (Israelis); all the wives are beautiful; all the children are perfect; and there's always plenty of whiskey on hand. Even crazy James Jesus Angleton is fully vindicated in the end.
Much of the dialogue is of cartoon strip quality; some of it is just preposterous. For example, Mikhail Gorbachev, under house arrest in August 1991, is depicted as some kind of Russian Patrick Henry.
The identity of the KGB mole inside the CIA is easy to guess. Trust your first instinct on this, it will turn out to be correct.
Entertaining and enchanting.......2007-06-09
I never thought I'd enjoy a spy novel this much - I could not put this book down and was very sad to reach the end. There should be a sequel!
Even though the plot twists didn't really surprise me, the characters were really well done and have stayed with me evr since I've read the book.
Fascinating Company.......2007-06-02
"The Company" by Robert Littell came to us as a gift (an autographed hardback copy no less). It is the author's historically-based account of nothing less than the history of the CIA, from its birth just after World War II to recent involvements at the end of the Cold War. A daunting 900-page tome, "The Company" kept me going my focusing on the CIA and KGB's role in real historical events--the Hungarian revolt against Soviet domination in 1956; the outing of Soviet agent Kim Philby in the British MI6 spy organization; the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961; the death of Pope John Paul I; the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; and the breakup of the Soviet Union under Gorbachev and Yeltsin; along with the expected tradecraft of the spy vs. spy world. Historical characters also pepper the book--William Casey, the Kennedys, Allen Dulles, G. Gordon Liddy, and others, though some "historical" stories might be written off as conspiratorial speculation (i.e. an attempt to assassinate Castro, and the "unnatural" death of the Pope after his 40-day reign in 1978). Littell carries the story from event to event by following the careers of three young officers who all join the CIA out of Yale in 1951--each with his own style and motivation. Some of the other fictional characters (the Sorcerer from the U.S and the shadowy "Starik" from the Soviet Union) are deliciously drawn. (I thought U.S. counterespionage ace James Jesus "Mother" Angleton was one of these, but it turns out that he's a real character--no one is exactly who they seem to be). This is the best spy book I've ever read, though I'm not much a fan of the genre. I might try some more, particularly of Littell's books after reading "The Company."
Product Description
Robert Littell creates a multigenerational, wickedly nostalgic saga of the ClA - "The Company" to insiders. The fictional and historical characters of Robert Littell's novel reveal much of the nearly fifty years of this complex and powerful organization. At the heart is a mole hunt involving the CIA, M16, KGB, and Mossad - a stunningly conceived trip down the rabbit hole to the labyrinthine Alice-in-Wonderland world of espionage, a "wood where things have no names."
Book Description
From New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch comes this exciting and exotic tale of intrigue and seduction, featuring the popular Griffin family.
Lord Charlemagne "Shay" Griffin, second son of the highly–respected Griffin family, excels at everything he puts his mind to, especially when it comes to business. Which is why he never expected the beautiful and seemingly naive young woman he flirted at a ball to best him at a business transaction the very next day!
Lady Sarala Carlisle sees herself as an equal to any man, and she just couldn't resist the chance to put the arrogant Lord Griffin in his place. But Shay is not one to admit defeat. He launches a plan of seduction against Sarala, determined to regain the upper hand. But it is soon clear that the more time Shay and Sarala spend together, the more it becomes about pleasure, not business.
Faced with the Griffin family's scrutiny, society's disapproval, and a potential international crisis, can Shay and Sarala overcome these obstacles and put their competitive natures aside, in order to lay claim to the biggest prize of all?
Customer Reviews:
Chick-lit rejoices, doormat heroes are "in".......2007-09-12
The abysmally congested realm of historical romance repackages and refurbishes so many of the hackneyed stories and trite hero characterizations, you really begin to appreciate authors like Madeline Hunter, Elizabeth Hoyt and Laura Kinsale. Most historical-romance heroes just blur together and the interaction between the hero and heroine constitutes a new version of the same'ole package we've seen umpteen times before. The hero makes all the moves sensually, ably servicing the heroine, while enduring her verbal onslaught at his expense otherwise. A "quick-witted" (romance translation = imprecating, insulting towards the hero) near-virgin heroine is nothing new. That way, the heroine wins both games: the hero conveniently laughs and enjoys the heroine's insults getting her way as a show of "wit," and has her passion adequately serviced by the experienced hero in the love scenes. It's always the arrogant hero that needs to be taught a lesson. SOMETHING SINFUL offers absolutely nothing new from all these true and tried historical-romance formulas.
The prose is horrible, the settings are absent, characters from past novels are too much in evidence, a doormat hero Shay is the romance genre's delight, the "romance" between the lead pair overwhelmingly one-sided, the love scenes (two, after 270 pages) are awful, the ending contrives, and the overall plotting/pacing is terribly dull. Bad? You bet.
SOMETHING SINFUL is anything but, and describes a tamely mundane affair. Aside from the plot with the silks which drags and lasts the entire book, we have an interminable succession of soirees, balls, recitals, luncheons, and plays. Nothing happens, and I mean nothing. The plot dealing with the silks congeals and chokes in the midst of a barrage of ton events. The plot dealing with the "romance" stifles at kisses for over 270 pages! Seriously, the book is just bad in most ways -- plotting, pacing, prose, settings, characterizations, and fun factor. I don't read to wait over 300 pages for something to happen! Not to mention the blatant one-sided giving and showering in the "romance" from the hero to the heroine. You've heard of the doormat heroine, right? Well Suzanne Enoch crafts the quintessential doormat hero in chick-lit, there's no equal ground here. I wanted Shay to find someone who would appreciate him more, which would have been just about anyone else. I'd love to see Sarala cheating him on after they marry so he'd have grounds for divorce.
My first Suzanne Enoch book, and right of the bat, the book flounders horribly. I tend tune out a novel when characters from prior novels (Zachary, Eleanor in this case) or characters for future novels (the Duke, Sebastian) overshadow this story and its characters. Now I haven't read other Enoch books and I'm just guessing here. SOMETHING SINFUL's ending represents the 3rd or 4th novel I've read which has its protagonist(s) concoct a peaceful resolution with the villain only to have the villain return later to terrorize some more. Why do romance novelists persist with this idiotic plot device? Just makes the protagonists look dumber than they already are. And the end is convoluted, the harder the book tries to make it look fun, the more it seems contrived and convoluted.
Alas, the hero's pathetically sensual response to the heroine's insulting imprecations isn't anything new. It is, in fact, romance's way to keep the heroine on top -- in every that matters. What's funny is our heroine Sarala bends over backwards at everything her mother forces upon her: a new English name (Sarah), English gowns, etc. Yet, she won't accept Shay's offer for the silks. Shay supports her preferred birth name Sarala in front of Sarala's mother but this kind gesture isn't even in the least reciprocated as Sarala continues her barrage of imprecations and cold demeanor with Shay. Of course, Shay enjoys bearing the brunt of her superior, snide attitude. All the Griffin men in SOMETHING SINFUL make self-deprecating jokes for their wives' delight. Teasing the women - about anything - is just taboo. Suzanne Enoch's heroines must be put on a pedestal while the men ground to dirt, right?
Sarala in fact lives for showing up Shay. Talking with her father once, Sarala dreams of pilfering Shay dry of all his wealth ("taking every guinea he owns"). Like the disingenuous way she made off with the silks in the beginning? To what end? Why do you live for debasing him, don't you want him to do well? At the end, she wants him to pine and grovel before she accepts marriage. Despite the fact that he's already groveled and pined endlessly by this point. But alas, she wants to hear the word "love," and it's a competition to make him debased first. He's already bestowed compassion, gifts, tenderness and caring on her, and she wants him groveling more. Yep, termagant of a heroine and a doormat hero here. Then again, I guess that's chick-lit at its best.
I thought love was more about giving, so why is it ok for the heroine to take-and-take at every turn? Shay and his family give everything to Sarala while Sarala continues to insult Shay and dream of impoverishing him. I swear, Sarala doesn't deserve Shay or any Griffin generosity for that matter. Because at this point, she's just being a royal B and of course the chick-lit that this is, Enoch lets her get away with it.
I also thought Sarala's agreement to sell the silks to Shay after she learned they were stolen property was horribly underhanded. She profits off Shay, and since his family has the money, and since her family needs funds, she really doesn't have any qualms about it. When Sarala and Shay are "trapped" to marry, Sarala frets she doesn't want him to be trapped into marriage. She thinks (and I quote): "she and [Shay] both preferred to deal honestly." What a bunch of crap, she prevaricates from the get-go with Shay posing as an ignorant innocent to extract information from Shay. Then, Sarala actually sells silks to Shay for 4 thousand; silks she knows are stolen, and silks she knows Shay will have to return to the Chinese emperor without any sort of sale. She doesn't think about that? And she's talking about dealing honorably?! If Sarala were serious about honor, she would reveal her "secret" from her past to Shay (immediately) when she learns of his intent to follow through on the marriage instead of "showing" him much later. A secret about her lack of virginity which becomes obvious from its first abstract reference. At another ball, Sarala baits Shay into showering her with more compliments by telling him there's something wrong with her and that she didn't grow up English (even though Shay just finished voicing his admiration of her and lauding her uniqueness). If shere were honest about telling him the truth about her lack of virginity, why the duplicitous approach to garner more praise and then later just seducing him? Just so you can hear more tender drivel about you? Even that's all he's done the whole novel? What a bunch of hypocritical crock. Love? There's no giving from her end, it's all take-take-take.
Let's examine how badly one-sided this is, shall we? (the giving entirely from hero to heroine)
* Shay compliments her shrewd business perspicacity and more than once tells her he admires her. In return for his admiration and respect, Shay meekly accepts her insults.
* Shay bestows Sarala with ruby necklace worth a lot more than the silks she deviously heisted.
* Shay's brother Zachary rents some land from Sarala's father which helps her family postpone creditors for weeks
* Shay's prestigious family (the popular "in" crowd) invites Sarala and her family to join them at every ton event. In essence, elevating Sarala's family's status tremendously and helping their image amongst the peerage. Sarala goes from an empty dance card to having all eyes on her at every event simply by association with the Griffins.
* Shay pays Sarala and her family four thousand for stolen silks, a fact Sarala is aware of and has no qualms about collecting.
* Shay makes it a point to call his heroine her preferred name Sarala in front of her mother instead of Sarah.
* Shay defends Sarala from Melbrouke's most remote denigration... constantly.
* Shay gives Sarala a Roman coin, an antique coin from a time period Sarala cherishes.
* Shay invites Sarala to share her past in India even though he has no prior interest for the region. He asks simply because he genuinely wants to know about her. Sure, Sarala asks Shay about antiques and Roman history, but that's because she already harbors a prior interest in such things. Sarala simply doesn't return Shay's genuine interest.
* Shay remembers everything about Sarala.
* Shay's thoughts and words shower Sarala with tender words of love and caring about how unique she is, how he enjoys her "wit" (basically insults and imprecations), how much he loves her business sense, how he hopes she'll be fond of him as much as he is of her, etc., etc., etc. Shay tells Sarala how much loves her green eyes, brilliant mind, breathtaking smile, unique character. Shay tells his older brother Melbourne how much he loves her peculiar differences, and how all those things make her unique to him (her accent, her tan skin, her childhood in India, her business acuity). Both in his thoughts and words, Shay's pining far overshadows Sarala's. And it's Sarala who demands why he wants to marry her. As though she needs him crawling on hands and knees to beg her to accept. It isn't Shay who hesitates to marry, it's Sarala. I understand her past (lack of virginity), but she's just cold and a B with a capital B.
* Even after all this, it's of course Shay tenderly mouthing I-Love-You first. I haven't seen such of a pathetic, debased display of a doormat hero in quite some time.
* Shay is also an interior re-decorator! He refurnishes his town home's furniture with bright colors the way
* Shay desperately worries about Sarala's security after he discovers the silks could endanger its owner.
* Shay goes down on her their first time servicing her desires because he really want to.
* Shay's family must compensate Sarala's family monetarily for "ruining" her in public even though she wasn't a virgin to begin with. Even though she attempts to stop marriage, she goes along with the monetary compensation.
Pride and Propriety meet Irresistible Passion.......2007-08-09
A reversal of the Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice, a haughty aristocratic widower meets an exotic "princess," the daughter of a self proclaimed king of a South American country. Of course the father is actually an Irish soldier who perpetrates an outrageous deception on the the King of England and all of British aristocracy in order to amass a fortune by fraud. As a scheme goes forward to send settlers to his "country," actually a tractless wilderness on the Mosquito Coast, a young woman who never meant to fall in love, and the stiff and prideful aristocrat of high station find that true love sets up a kingdom with rules of its own. There they find that neither the demands of propriety, the facts of social inequality, nor even fateful excesses of greed can disrupt the happiness of two people who have finally found their own true mates.
Bravo!.......2007-07-23
After reading the trainwreck of Sebastian's story, I needed to comment on this book!
This story was wonderfully written, and I just loved that there was mention of another country (India) and the British response to it. When Sarala speaks about her home, I thought it was wonderfully written and like Shay I felt as if I could imagine it as well (images on India in a Regency! I love it!)
I also liked that Sarala's wit and intelligence was a perfect complement to Shay's character. Good job Ms. Enoch! Sebastian's part was wonderfully well written as well..he was aloof and suspicious of Sarala but without being a total jerk, and it certainly heightened my desire to read his story.
(My thoughts on that is in another review!)
Excellent!!!.......2007-02-24
Once again Suzanne Enouch dazzles!
The Griffin Family strikes again! Sarala is a terrific character -- independent and strong. And Shay is a charming rake -- like all of Enoch's heros, he is sexy and roguish. The story is fast and exciting and never falters.
This is one not to be missed!
A little bit of a different type of love story........2006-12-17
I say this is different becuz the two characters not only spar in love but also in business. It was very unusual back then for women to have any business sense let alone be a worthy opponent and Sarala was for Shay. Raised in India Sarala was also more exotic and not conventional in many ways and I think that was the appeal for Shay. They were well matched. One of the more interesting aspects of the story was the very complicated ending to the "family perdicament" Truly I had no idea how this was all going to be resolved and it was very well done. It was great so see Shay's whole family rally around both he and Sarala with support. This book was a great compliment to the series.
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Something Sinful
Suzanne Enoch
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Enoch, Suzanne | ( E ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000JNQ2MI |
Product Description
Stereotyping can get a person into trouble, but Shay Griffin, Lord Charlemagne, doesn't realize how much until he flirts with an exotic beauty at a ball. Assuming Lady Sarala Anne Carlisle, daughter of the new Marquis of Hanover, is just another British society belle, Shay tries to impress her by bragging about a shipment of silk he is about to buy dirt cheap the next day. Sarala, a clever, successful businesswoman in her beloved India, beats him to the docks, the silk, and a sizable profit. Fate weaves the couple together with a silken cord of danger, intrigue, misfortune, and, eventually, romance. Enoch ventured into the world of contemporary romantic suspense with the successful novels
Book Description
Walter Hunt's debut novel The Dark Wing was favorably compared to Ender's Game, Babylon 5, Honor Harrington, and C.S. Forester. The publication of the second volume The Dark Path was heralded by Analog as "a quest that may well prove science fiction's version of The Lord of the Rings." The Dark AscentThe war with the zor is long over, and Admiral Marais, the legendary "Dark Wing" is long dead, though some of his companions on that campaign of xenocide still remain, and in the alien philosophies of the past their might exist man's hope for salvation in the very near future.The Dark Path introduced a new alien force into the delicate balance of power .... one that was the actual puppetmaster of the human-zor war and now wishes to bring both worlds under its madness inducing shadow.But the same ancient philosophy of the zor race that prophesized "the Dark Wing" has also foreseen a hero that will meet the new menace --a hero now mystically embodied in a rebellious space commodore by the name of Jackie Lappierre.As armadas clash and outposts fall, the overly confident alien menace is forced to confront a zor human alliance that has been warned, their covert and insidious plans of infiltration now exposed. .... though victory is hardly ascertained for either side in The Dark Ascent.
Customer Reviews:
Joint Review of Dark Wing Series; Solid - 3.5.......2006-01-24
These 4 books - The Dark Wing, The Dark Path, The Dark Ascent, and The Dark Crusade - exhibit many of the standard space opera devices. There are the winged and in many ways admirable aliens, the remorseless insectoid alien adversaries, the hidden powers attempting to manipulate human fates, and the sprawling and somewhat corrupt space empire. There is also more than a touch of mysticism with events mirroring myths of the winged alien species. Nor can it be said that Hunt has done anything particularly novel with these devices.
Nonetheless, Hunt is a more than competent practictioner and these books are a decent read. Hunt does quite well with reasonably tight plotting and characterization. His integration of the mythic elements is better than average. These books are better, for example, than David Weber's very popular books.
Tries hard to be a mystical Science Fiction story.......2005-08-09
"The Dark Ascent" is the third book in a series. In the future mankind has expanded out to the stars, they have colonized many planets, and they meet the zor. The zor is an alien race with wings. They have a long history of developing powers of the mind. Those with strong mental powers are called sensitives.
The first book, "The Dark Wing," told the story of how a war between humans and zor ended. We had hints that another alien race was trying to get the humans to destroy the zor. Our heroes are able to work out a peace. The second book, "The Dark Path," sets the stage for the next struggle with a new alien race. In the second book we meet Jackie Kearny who is put on a quest for a special zor sword, the gyaryu.
In some ways these books feel like "The Fellowship of the Ring." There is a quest for a special item which provides great power. There is a struggle between good and evil, and the struggle occurs on several levels. There are many, many characters, and lots happens.
In "The Dark Ascent" Jackie gets the special sword. The new alien race, the vuhl, is able to take over both human and zor minds. In the first part of the book the vuhl takes several key systems from the human empire. Jackie, and others, work to find ways to protect themselves from the vuhl.
There was heavy emphasis on mystical events. The story often bounces between what is happening in the "real world" and what is happening in a spirit world, and what happened in myth. Often the main characters were portrayed as having little control over their lives, and they were often manipulated. I like my science fiction to be more about the heroes making good choices in hard situations, rather than being tricked because the "zor's god" wanted certain things to happen.
Walter Hunt is still a relatively new Science Fiction writer. He has only written the three books. He writes well. The book moves along well. All in all it is a pleasant story. If another book is written in this series I'll probably read it. If you like mystical science fiction, gives this book a try.
excellent science fiction fantasy thriller .......2004-08-29
The insectoid vuhls have changed the dynamics of the galaxy forcing former enemies, humans and the aviary-like zor, to need one another to survive the hypnotic illusion assaults of this new antagonist. Neither human nor zor is pleased with this new arrangement, but both know the vuhls are very determined and powerful adversaries, who are precise killing machine. However, on Mother Earth, most people see conspiracy behind this latest war and the abrupt switching from deadly opponent to needed ally as just another sham to gain extra funding, support is weak and lessoning.
Meanwhile former Commodore Jackie Laperriere is expected to fulfill a zor prophecy by taking possession of the ancient sacred sword possessed by legendary zor warriors and upon climbing Perilous Stair will become an Ou'u avatar; this will enable her to communicate with the heroic souls that make up the sword. Allegedly deceased Captain Thomas Stone lives and warns Jackie that puppeteers are manipulating the three species into constant warfare, but she wonders what she can do to stop this and who is this Machiavellian race?
This latest "Dark" tale runs on two story lines with the confrontations between species very exciting military science fiction and Jackie's ascension as a fantasy quest. The story line moves along both dark paths at a fast pace, but the switching between the two slows down both subplots as readers need to adjust from macro war to micro quest and visa versa. The cast remains powerful regardless of species although at times it is difficult to peruse the "vernacular, but that also adds to the feel of a cross science fiction fantasy thriller that will please Walter H. Hunt's fans.
Harriet Klausner
Product Description
Condensed books selected by the Editors of Reader's Digest. Hardcover with dust jacket.
Product Description
FOUR STORIES ON ONE BOOK:
1. ANCHORS--ROBERT GOLDBERG AND GERALD JAY GOLDBERG
2. MEANS OF ASCENT--ROBERT A. CARO
3. THE DARK ROMANCE OF DIAN FOSSEY--HAROLD T. P. HAYES
4. FEEDING FRENZY--WILLIAM STERNBERG AND MATTHEW C. HARRISON, JR.
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The Complete Works Of St. John Of The Cross, Doctor Of The Church V1: General Introduction, Ascent Of Mount Carmel, Dark Night Of The Soul
St. John Of The Cross , and
P. Silverio De Santa Teresa
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
John of the Cross
| ( J )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
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ASIN: 1432581546 |
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Everest Calling: Ascent of the Dark Side : The Mallory-Irvine Ridge{
Lorna Siggins
Manufacturer: Mainstream Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Ireland
| Europe
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Nepal
| Asia
| Travel
| Subjects
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General
| Mountaineering
| Sports
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Mountain Climbing
| Mountaineering
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General
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ASIN: 1851586636 |
Book Description
This inspiring book grants us profound insights into the truly universal nature of Jesus' original teachings. With compassion and humor, Osho-one of our century's leading mystics-presents us with a series of discourses on the Gospel of Thomas. Each of Jesus' original sayings is the "seed" for a discourse for the modern seeker, encompassing all realms of human experience-philosophy, science, religion, birth, death, love, fear, anger and guilt. Taking Jesus' words out of their narrower Christian context, Osho blends their wisdom with that of other religious traditions. The Mustard Seed will both inspire and sustain us on our own individual paths of inner transformation.
Customer Reviews:
The Mustard Seed: Commentaries on the Fifth Gospel of Saint Thomas.......2006-01-17
You have to be open to new ideas to appreciate this book. I absolutely loved it. Very thought provoking, very insightful. Osho tries to shock you into "experiencing" the essence of life. He moves beyond philosophical debate to experience. I will read this book again and again.
A book that Made Secret teachings Of Jesus come alive.......2005-12-13
You don't have to be a follower of Osho Rajneesh to appreciate his literary talents and masterful communication. In Mustard Seed, Osho made the supposedly secret teaching according to St. Thomas come alive in modern times. If you've never read any of Osho's books, you may begin with this one. If you're a Christian, after reading this book, you may feel like Jesus Christ has come back in person and was speaking directly to you through Osho's book. You'll feel like smiling and crying at the same time at the genius of Osho. He is without any doubt the greatest writer, author and communicator in modern times.
A towering literary titan who breathes life, love and light into the most obscure philosphical and mystic teachings of all ages.
In this book, Osho entertains you with his exceptional wit, insight, humor and friendliness. Tasting the words of Osho through his books is like drinking from the water of life. It will seduce and titillate you. It will make you rock with laughter and go mad with joy. It is difficult putting an Osho book down, once you begin reading one. He is like a cool breeze during the hot summer months that caresses not only your body but your soul as well. In Mustard Seed, he proves that he is the Guru Of all Gurus, a limitless ocean of wisdom, knowledge, insight, humor and literary brilliance.
Ikey Benney, New York City
Jesus the mystic........2005-07-10
I was at Rajneeshpuram (Osho's Oregon commune) when this book was first published and denmand for it was very high (I had to wait several weeks to get a copy). And with good reason, too. This book presents a more believable Jesus, a revolutionary mystic whose mission was to put us in touch with our inner selves, rather than a god-man interested in only gettingpeople to worship him.
Inner Transformation.......2005-06-20
This book......Found its way in my hands 2 days prior to my Greek Mandatory Military Service Initiation. And Transformed my life completely. I will never be the same again. For once you get a glimse of the truth...Its impossible to deny it as once before.
I fell in love with Osho the Same moment I so deeply as never before fell in love with Life.
Peace and Love To all! There isnt a book on this earth that can effect you more then this. Christians..Be ware....Be Aware. For this book....Will allow you to love Jesus..in such a deeper way than before.
This book changed my life........2005-01-12
Over the course of a lifetime, only a handful of books truly changes the way one perceives the world. For me, this is one of those books. With wit and deep insight, Osho traverses the border of Western and Eastern thought drawing on the commonalities of both. The book rationalized some of the teachings of Jesus and put them in context-- some his most difficult parables were given clarity. Osho's words are sharp, and cut deep.
Though I bought this book in 2000, I lost it soon after I finished it. Even now I still wrestle with some of his ideas.
I won't go so far and say that this book is for everyone. It is quite long, and the reader must be open to Osho's ideas, which at times can seem black and white. But if you can get by that, the book is extremely deep. And satisfying.
Books:
- The Desert Rose : A Novel
- The Gates of November
- The Giant's House: A Romance (P.S.)
- The Girl at the Lion d'Or
- The Little Sparrows (Orphan Trains Trilogy, Book 1)
- The Looking Glass: A Novel (The Locket Series)
- The Lost Upland: Stories of Southwestern France
- The Painted Kiss: A Novel
- The Place of Dead Roads: A Novel
- The Puttermesser Papers: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
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The Once and Future Spy
The Craft of Intelligence: America's Legendary Spy Master on the Fundamentals of Intelligence Gathering for a Free World
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Legends
