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To read In the Palm of Darkness is to hike through a Haitian landscape dense with spirits, loas, mystery, poverty, disintegrating environmental and social structures, and an elusive, near-extinct species of amphibian. Victor, a herpetologist from the U.S., comes to Haiti to find the blood-red Eleutherodactylus sanguineus, but cannot escape the emotional alienation he's left behind at home. For Victor's Haitian guide Thierry, the search is a trip into the heart of the heart of his country, family, and himself. Montero also subtly weaves a larger message of worldwide ecological collapse that may be signaled by the (actual) sudden sharp drops in frog populations. This intelligent and intense novel is the first work by the Cuban-born Montero (currently residing in Puerto Rico) to be translated into English. It should not be the last.
Book Description
The quest for an elusive amphibian in the mountains of violence-torn Haiti brings together an unlikely pair of hunters--American herpetologist Victor Grigg and his Haitian guide, Thierry Adrien--whose individual stories unfold and intertwine in a mesmerizing tale of love, sex, and fraternal rivalry; of the propagation and extinction of species in the natural world; and of the mysterious forces of nature that govern the fate of all living creatures.
In the Palm of Darkness is a compelling tale that reads like a murder mystery but also reveals a highly sophisticated and refined literary voice.
Customer Reviews:
A Waste of Time and Paper.......2002-12-29
Intriqued by the title, and interested in insights on Haiti, I mistakenly wasted my time reading this 'soap opera type' strings of incidences, that kept the reader in a state of indifference.
The first paragraph deceives the reader into thinking they are in for a treat... I was not. It is a mundane story of a boring American and his lifeless responses to a ficticious Haiti. Many one line descriptions of sex, murders and spirits overwhelm the story. No real depth. It is very obvious the author is an outsider, who neither knows or cares for the place or its people. Although the format was smart, the writing itself became very predictable and annoying.
A Waste of Time and Paper.......2002-12-29
Intriqued by the title, and interested in insights on Haiti, I mistakenly wasted my time reading this 'soap opera type' strings of incidences, that kept the reader in a state of indifference.
The first paragraph deceives the reader into thinking they are in for a treat... I was not. It is a mundane story of a boring American and his lifeless responses to a ficticious Haiti. Many one line descriptions of sex, murders and spirits overwhelm the story. No real depth. It is very obvious the author is an outsider, who neither knows or cares for the place or its people. Although the format was smart, the writing itself became very predictable and annoying.
intriguing!.......2000-01-20
I read this book as part of a local book club I belong to, and it was by far the most interesting, well-written (what I could tell from the translation) of the three we've read so far. I loved the juxtaposition of the Haitian guide's personal anecdotes with the main thrust of the story told by the narrator. There is even juxtaposition within each chapter, as Thierry recounts his mysterious stories about his life in Haiti (sometimes gruesome and always enthralling) the narrator is only half-listening, as he ponders his own less-than-fulfilling personal history. The writer never fully unravels the dark mysteries of Haiti, only hints at them. I am anxious to read other books by Ms. Montero.
Life, death, quest ..........1998-08-23
A wonderful read - questions our view of the world , our priorities, our interpersonal relationships in a quiet way. This is a book wrapped in factuality re:the extinction of frogs and in mystery - the zombies, poisons and spirits of the Haitian world. This is tightly constructed story that is never a hard read.
More than just Haiti and frogs.......1998-07-21
It's a shame that there aren't more English translations of this writer's work. I'm eager to discover what else Montero has to say (A hint to translator Edith Grossman should she ever read this). I found this novel among those listed in the Best Fiction of 1997 compiled by Booklist. Montero's novel certainly is deserving of a "Best of" list being a uniquely constructed story with alternating viewpoints of the two protagonists (the American gets the even numbered chapters, his storytelling Haitian guide the odd) and intertwining reports of the decline of numerous species of frogs throughout the world. I have never come across a work of fiction that incorporated the extinction and threatened extinction of amphibians as a metaphor for the chaotic state of the human condition. Having recently returned from a wildlife tour of Costa Rica, I am well-acquainted with the low or completely absent populations of frogs there. I was astonished to learn from reading t! his novel that the phenomenon of vanishing frogs is a global one. Readers with an interest in the alarming environmental situation of our planet and the mysteries of life should find a copy of Montero's novel and give it a thorough read. It is sure to give some reflection on the fragile state of both Earth and the human heart. The final paragraph is heartwrenching. I gasped before closing the book leaving me with much to mull over.
Book Description
Favored by few, the St. Louis Cardinals used an unlikely cast of characters to win their first World Series in nearly a quarter century. Manager Tony La Russa's Cards had just won 83 regular-season wins, the fewest by a World Series winner, and nearly missed the playoffs after a late-season slump. But the Cardinals beat San Diego and the New York Mets in the playoffs, then won their first title since 1982 by taming a heavily favored Tigers team that entered the Series with six days' rest. Cardinals Rule follows all of the post-season action from the first pitch to the final out of one of the more improbable triumphs in World Series history.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for anyone that enjoyed the Cardinals 2006 World Series Title.......2007-01-16
This book mainly focused on the postseason run to the World Series title which is what I was looking for. There were lots of pictures to compliment highlights of each series and games. It also talks about the the tail end of the season, how the Cardinals struggled going into the playoffs before devoting itself to the playoff run.
It is what I expected, and wanted, as a Cardinal fan to have as a memento to the season!
picture book.......2007-01-12
This book is pretty good in terms of pictures and captions, but it doesn't offer any substantial insight.
Average customer rating:
- Not what I have come to expect from this author.
- Hard to put down
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Cardinal Rules
Barbara Delinsky
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Gemstone
ASIN: 0778320154 |
Book Description
Rule #1: Never Get Involved.
Corrine Fremont has always lived by this rule. Determined not to become like her irresponsible and selfish parents, Corinne has never dropped her guard in her professional or personal life. She's all business -- all the time. That is, until she gets an opportunity too enticing to ignore . . .
Rule #2: Never Resist Temptation.
Maverick businessman Corey Haraden conducts his love life the same way he does business -- with enthusiasm. Corinne isn't like the women he usually dates, but she intrigues him. That's why he offers her a job she can't refuse -- to tempt her . . .
Rule #3: Rules Are Made to be Broken.
Customer Reviews:
Not what I have come to expect from this author........2006-09-14
o.k...now I am a big fan of Ms. Delinsky, but this book just wasn't as good as some of her others. I found it to be borning and unexciting. The story just dragged on and on. Really, who would make a business decision solely to meet a woman, who whole idea is just too funny. You know Corinne and Corey are going to end up together, get it over with already.
Hard to put down.......1999-11-30
Barbara has done it again! She pulls you into the story and won't let go. She tells of real-life trials and tribulations and makes you yearn to help solve the problems.
Book Description
Modestly described by its author as "a little rule for beginners," this masterpiece of spiritual wisdom was written in the 6th century as a handbook for aspiring monks. Today, it ranks as the preeminent monastic legislative code. Its concise guidance fosters the development of self-discipline, supported by community worship.
Customer Reviews:
A noble edition of a spiritual classic.......2006-12-02
There are many editions of this great spiritual classic, but Cardinal Gasquet's translation of the Rule of Saint Benedict has been out of print for too long. It is a delight to see it reprinted - and so handsomely - leatherbound, gold blocking, silk ribbon, noble endpapers. Baronius have done a great service in publishing it so beautifully.
Its pocket-size renders it particularly useful for the laity who may wish to read a portion each day as they travel, and the dignity of this edition makes it an ideal gift. Cardinal Gasquet's introduction, too, offers valuable insights to the rule and to Benedictine spirituality.
Product Description
Fiction, Romance, Harlequin, Betty Neels
Customer Reviews:
Pure fun to read.......2006-03-03
I mostly only read books in the science fiction/fantasy genre, but I picked up The Cardinal Rule because Dermody is another name used by writer C.E. Murphy, author of Urban Shaman. I'm still waiting on Urban Shaman, but judging by The Cardinal Rule, when I get it I will really enjoy it. Cardinal is a spy thriller - sort of. Those looking for espionage a la Robert Ludlum are doomed to be disappointed, but I wasn't. It's the most fun I've had reading a non-SFF novel in I don't-know-how-long, a blend of Bond-style hecticness with something of the sensibility of TV's Alias (a program I'd like if they cut out the mystical-Renaissance crap and actually added some realism) and a plot that crosses over into what looks like SF territory at times.
It's helped by the fact that it takes itself seriously, but not too seriously, and the heroine, Alisha MacAleer, is just pure fun to read. Absolutely pure fun.
Excellent Spy Suspense.......2005-12-30
First in a new series. CIA Agent Alisha MacAleer's new assignment isn't going well. She's immediately "made" and barely escapes with her life. Her ex-fiancee shows up working as an agent for the Russians and her target that she is supposed to be investigating may or may not be one of the good guys. No one seems to be whom they seem and the only thing Alisha is sure of is that she can't trust anyone. This is a series I'm really looking forward to seeing more of. Hopefully Ms. Dermody writes fast.
thrilling suspense tale.......2005-12-15
CIA Agent Alisha MacAleer hates her current assignment. Her handler and mentor Greg Parker informed her that she must go undercover looking into the activities of an American scientist working at a base in Kazakhstani. No matter what she does she knows she will hurt someone dear to her as the target is Brandon Parker, son of her mentor. Still she does the job as the professional she is seeking to learn whether he is developing a robotic soldier and if yes how far along has he come.
However, the investigation falls apart from the beginning as Alisha is outed immediately. Not sure who gave her away, she flees trusting no one; not even those from her agency. Professionals follow her with plans to silence her about what little she has learned.
This thrilling suspense will leave the audience breathless, but also like the heroine bewildered with who is doing what to whom except that everyone seems to be after Alisha. Adding to her confusion (but in this case not the audience) she has no idea what she learned that has made her a target. Readers will commiserate with Alisha as everyone she meets is a potentially deadly stranger especially the wild card Riechart, whom she is very attracted to even though is a freelancer.
Harriet Klausner
Book Description
In this compelling new book, Judge Lavine claims there are certain recurring, core principles of persuasion that can be studied and when mastered lead to successful advocacy. Lavine's unique interdisciplinary approach draws from history, literature, psychology, drama, religion, and the law to discuss the fundamental principles of effective persuasion that will help all lawyers win cases and avoid serious errors.
Cardinal Rules of Advocacy begins by discussing the need to properly identify your audience and tailor your arguments to its needs. The book then examines the importance of establishing integrity and credibility in the courtroom. Chapter 3, which explores the necessity to think creatively and rigorously in advance of trial, is a provocative essay on barriers to creative legal thinking and advances simple strategies for promoting inventive thought. Lavine then turns to the importance of preparation. Chapter 5, how to frame issues compellingly in favor of your client, is a tour de force on the key elements of the ideal issue statement. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 stress the need to effectively answer questions from the bench, develop a central theme, and use words precisely and persuasively. Lavine concludes the book by discussing the importance of behaving professionally and civilly in court.
Throughout the book, Lavine teaches lawyers to think about advocacy in more creative, effective, and systematic ways while stressing the ethical aspects of effective advocacy. Each chapter is followed by exercises that promote discussion and provide hands-on instruction methods. This book will be of great interest to practitioners, and will also be useful in law schools, seminars, and in-house training programs. Any lawyer-trying cases in court, arguing appeals, counseling clients, or negotiating deals-can learn from and replicate the persuasive techniques found in Cardinal Rules of Advocacy.
Whether just starting to practice law, or a practitioner of many years, you will find Cardinal Rules of Advocacy to be a thought-provoking exploration that will reignite the recognition that advocacy has a noble history and is, at its highest and best, not just a job-but an art form.
Customer Reviews:
Time tested and consistent with current persuasion theory.......2003-07-11
Persuasive argumentation is a critical point of trial advocacy. Even the best legal argument with the most solid logic is useless if it can't be used to persuade the judge or jury to your position. "Cardinal Rules of Advocacy" presents the fundamental principles of persuasion in a clear and easy to understand format. Some of the most important rules are making sure that you understand your audience, tailoring your argument toward that specific audience, establish and enhance credibility, thinking creatively before the trial, total preparation, reframing the issues, and answering and posing questions. Chapter three is an excellent analysis of creative thinking for presenting your case, fallacies, and appeals to emotions. This provides a good solid basis for an argument which when coupled with the credibility and reframing the position produces a persuasive communication. This is a highly recommended read for anyone who needs to persuade others.
Cardinal Rules of Advocacy.......2002-12-27
Cardinal Rules of Advocacy is exceptional as a practical and thought-provoking guide to understanding and mastering the fundamental principles of persuasion, especially for the trial lawyer. Judge Lavine's lucid prose, erudition, wit, and years of experience as a successful trial lawyer and respected jurist all contribute to a book of uncommon insight and utility.
Probing deeper than other books about trial advocacy that merely focus on the rules of evidence, Judge Lavine's book discusses in depth such topics as identifying the audience, establishing and enhancing integrity and credibility, the necessity of thinking creatively, the importance of total preparation, and the need to frame the issues, focus on key themes, and use language precisely and persuasively. The text is greatly enhanced by well-chosen illustrations from law and literature and, at the end of each chapter, musings and exercises that provide the basis for stimulating discussion about each topic covered in the book.
As an experienced trial lawyer and law school teacher of trial advocacy, I have found Judge Lavine's book to be an excellent resource.
speak now and take your piece.......2002-12-26
Cardinal Rules Of Advocacy is a wonderful book for teaching people how to form and craft an argument. As a college instructor, I find the book to be an extremely valuable text for working with students who have to learn how to stand before an audience and present a cogent,thoughtful, concise and entertaining position on complex issues. All too often, my students fumble and stumble their way through public speaking and debate. But the Cardinal Rules of Advocacy offers insightful methods and techniques for people who want to learn the important skill of making a persuasive argument. As an added bonus, the book features Lavine's incisive prose and sly wit.
Cardinal Rules of Advocacy by Douglas S. Lavine.......2002-12-23
As someone whose legal expertise comes from exercising to Law and Order re-runs, I read Cardinal Rules of Advocacy with an eye towards better understanding the trial process and was rewarded for the effort. The book is lucidly written, humorous, and enlightening.
A classic for our time........2002-12-08
On learning the skill of persuasion, Hon. John W. Davis once quipped that if you want advice on how to catch a fish, learn from a fish, rather than a fisherman. So what better book to read on persuasion than this one written by a judge, rather than a lawyer?
More than just teach how to be persuasive, Judge Lavine reminds us the practice of law is an art. My favorite passage - building on the story of three bricklayers, the first who says he is laying down bricks, the second who says he is building a nave, and the third who understands he is building a cathedral - is this: "When you argue, even in a small case, don't be content to lay a brick or build a nave; try to bring to your work the consciousness of someone who is creating a cathedral."
A wonderful book. If you ever tried to read Aristotle's classic "The Art of Rhetoric," and surrendered, take heart. "The Cardinal Rules of Advocacy" is a classic for our time.
Average customer rating:
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A Cure for the Common Life: The Cardinal Rules of Self-Esteem
Catherine Cardinal
Manufacturer: DeVorss & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Amazing Power of Deliberate Intent: Living the Art of Allowing
ASIN: 0875168108 |
Book Description
A CURE FOR THE COMMON LIFE: THE CARDINAL RULES OF SELF-ESTEEM is a small but deceptively powerful book that pinpoints 10 specific ways to recognize the root cause of common emotional problems and, at the same time, determine a realistic course for improvement. What makes this book different from so many other "self-esteem" books is author Dr. Catherine Cardinal and her instinctive, straightforward ability to connect with the heart of the problem. Her compassionate and honest comments then provide a realistic view of the many options we have before the next step.
Written in a clear, thoughtful, all-embracing, and entertaining style, Dr. Catherine Cardinal gives you the confidence and support to finally take that giant leap - and change for your own good.
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Cardinal Rules
Barbara Delinsky
Manufacturer: HARLEQUIN BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Paperback | Delinsky, Barbara | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000SELNIQ |
Average customer rating:
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Cardinal Rules
Barbara Delinsky
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Paperback | Delinsky, Barbara | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000QU6C9M |
Average customer rating:
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Cardinal Rules
Barbara Delinsky
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Paperback | Delinsky, Barbara | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000NLOC1Y |
Average customer rating:
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Cardinal Rules (Harlequin Temptation, 164)
Manufacturer: Harlequin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Harlequin Temptation | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000BYG68U |
Product Description
Romance
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- The Rare, Longed-for Gift of Peace
- An Experience of Solitude
- Revealing and Insightful
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The Green Desert: A Silent Retreat
Rita Winters
Manufacturer: Crossroad General Interest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Inspirational
| Catholicism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
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| Catholicism
| Christianity
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General
| Christian Living
| Christianity
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Mental & Spiritual Healing
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| Religion & Spirituality
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| Spirituality
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Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
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ASIN: 0824521331 |
Book Description
Find out how living in extended silence affects the way you look at the world and how you connect with the Creator.
Customer Reviews:
The Rare, Longed-for Gift of Peace.......2004-03-01
Unreligious types, like me, will like this book because it's an intelligent, capable, competent, worldly, successful person's quest. Winters is not looking for miracles or excuses for why something hasn't worked out. She has made choices, as we all do, and assumes responsibility for them, right or wrong. There is none of this "hand over your life to (diety or organization of your choice) and everything will be
okay." If only it were that easy!
Her prayers articulate what must be universal wishes and anxieties, even for those of us who don't formally pray. They are so honest, unpretentious and revealing--I often felt as if I had "walked in at the wrong time." But they are so relevant, "useful" even, they are a source of solace all by themselves.
Winters' guilt and confusion about choices she's made have a universal (the details don't matter) resonance, as do her regrets about actions that might not always be ideal for her children but she took them anyway.
I don't know if it was her intention, but Winters' fluid writing, and ability to communicate her experience at the retreat, is often hypnotic. For those of us who would never think of going to a silent, religious retreat in the desert, this book saves us from missing out--the author made me feel the peace that she herself was seeking. That is a gift, in every sense.
An Experience of Solitude.......2004-01-23
I found Ms. Winters journal compelling. I, like many women, am entirely too busy serving others, both at my job and in my family. As I read Winters' experience in the desert, I found myself feeling a depth of solitude that was rich and unusual. I felt humbled by the reading, in a healthy way. This humility stemmed from an appreciation of the spirituality that silence and a desert surrounding can offer, as well as the incredible breadth of Winters' reading in the two-week period. I felt that I could clearly visualize the setting, as I walked through her experiences. The contrast with the business of life in her "other world" was so vivid. And Winters' interaction with Fr. John Kane was so very refreshing, both in his profound spirituality and his support of her work and human frailties. Finally, the prayers are so insightful for so many of us who struggle with finding God's approval and voice in our way-too- busy daily lives. It is a marvelous opportunity to reflect on what each of us is truly committed to on this earth.
Revealing and Insightful.......2004-01-11
Rita Winters' insightful, clear perspective on a modern life really struck a chord with me. So many of us have been down a similar path without the opportunity to reflect or means of integrating the results into our lives. Her writing is easy to pick up and has much to give the reader.
Books:
- Intoxicated: A Novel of Money, Madness, and the Invention of the World's Favorite Soft Drink
- Jerusalem's Hope (The Zion Legacy, Book VI)
- Katerina: A Novel
- Layover
- Lens of an Infantryman: A World War II Memoir with Photographs from a Hidden Camera
- Little Altars Everywhere: A Novel
- Little Boys Come from the Stars
- Madras on Rainy Days: A Novel
- Meeting Ms. Right
- Midnight Champagne: A Novel: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
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- Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army
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- Zambelli: The First Family of Fireworks: A Story of Global Success
- The West Indies: Patterns of Development, Culture and Environmental Change since 1492
- High Tech: The Vault.com Career Guide to the High Tech Industry
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The Last Night I Spent With You : A Novel
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Deep Purple: A Novel
