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Louis de Bernières is a masterful writer, which is to say his command of the various crafts of writing--creating character, innovative description, telling a whopping good story--weaves a spell and sucks you into the magic. From the moment Dionisio Vivo and Ramón "Cochinillo" Dario attend to the cravate corpse deposited in his garden by the coca lords, you become ensconced in the world of Ipasueño, its passions, ironies, and political intrigues, and cease to be aware of the hand of Bernières behind the scenes.
Dionisio, a professor of philosophy, writes a series of letters, published in the prestigious journal La Prensa, castigating the coca trade, and from there the story spins furiously in many directions and subplots. There's the love affair of the century between Dionisio and Anica Moreno, Lazaro's tragic dance with leprosy, and--to the great pleasure of fans of Bernières's previous novel, The War of Don Emmanuel's Nether Parts--further interactions with the magical jaguars and human inhabitants of Cochadebajo de los Gatos. Events take their course in the way of a grand tragicomedy, with the devastation that's expected followed by the irrepressible joy of life that's never expected and Bernières's tongue-in-cheek touch throughout.
It's a delightfully mesmerizing book. Set in a mythical South American country that's a composite of real South American history and Bernières's fertile imagination, and therefore a perfect companion to take on a south-of-the-border vacation, the book is awash in the realities and flavor of South America and the lunacies of Bernières's genius. --Stephanie Gold
Book Description
Dionisio Vivo, a young South American lecturer in philosophy, is puzzled by the hideously mutilated corpses that keep turning up outside his front door. To his friend, Ramon, one of the few honest policemen in town, the message is all too clear: Dionisio’s letters to the press, exposing the drug barons, must stop; and although Dionisio manages to escape the hit-men sent to get him, he soon realizes that others are more vulnerable, and his love for them leads him to take a colossal revenge.
Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord is the second novel in a trilogy set in South America. It won a Commonwealth Writers Prize in 1992.
Customer Reviews:
The best of the bunch.......2007-07-03
Having now read all three novels in the South American trilogy, I think Don Vivo is the best. It continues to flesh out the characters so beautifully crafted in the first book while containing more of the romance and heartbreak with a bit less of the magical realism of Don Emanuel. De Bernieres doesnt lose a step in terms of plot, characterization, tone, etc. He is, at this point, probably my favorite contemporary English writer. I haven't read anything of his more recent than Birds Without Wings, so he may have fallen off. However, all four novels of his that I have read have impressed me deeply, not only with his skills but with the consistency and strength of his voice. De Bernieres should be read by all, but in particular, by postadolescent young men.
Too weird for me.......2006-01-13
I can't believe I wasted time reading 100+ pages of this book before giving in. The first page should have been warning enough! Having adored Captain Correlli's Mandolin I plodded on in the hope of enlighthenment but eventually I had had enough. I found the use of what I presume to be Spanish or Portuguese phrases, and spirits very tough. I gather this book follows on from another - maybe I should have read that first.
I think the subject matter is interesting but it was too surreal for me to enjoy. I'm sure it is a great book, but it was harder work than I was willing to endure.
Challenging the new conquistadores.......2004-08-30
Latin America has spent decades struggling to break the chains of residual colonialism. While North Americans can rejoice in casting off hereditary monarchy, Latin America has been gripped by a far stronger and enduring set of bonds - culture and tradition. When Spain ruled these lands, great haciendas, usually built on royal land grants, were ruled by titled aristocrats using armed vaqueros and the Church to maintain social quiet. Today, it's drug lords and paramilitary squads but the structure has changed little. While an established anti-establishment stable of writers in Latin America have mildly flourished [those that have survived], de Bernieres intrudes as an outsider to bring a fresh, vivid and disturbing view of this society. His imagination is boundless and his capacity to impart his visions is peerless.
Vivo Dionisio is a philosophy teacher - young, vibrant and, of course, idealistic. He's also articulate, which leads him to pepper the great newspaper, La Prensa, with complaints about the drug lords. In particular, the local padrino, El Jerarca. An obtuse, obese, and overbearing man, he views Senor Vivo as a threat to his hegemony. Most powerful men in such societies can dominate the local police. Here, however El Jerarca must contend with a philosopher police chief, Ramon. While Ramon is powerless to deal with the drug czar, he is anything but submissive. He cheerfully retrieves the corpses El Jerarca's men leave in Dionisio's front yard, hoping to find a niche in the drug lord's armour. Dionisio may provide the key - if he survives.
Dionisio, however, has many interests. Among the most demanding is his new-found love, Anica. Anica is the epitome of the spirited Latin lover - intense in all her interests, devoted to the man she loves, tragic in her desire to preserve and protect Dionisio. His response to her is almost a cliche of Latin American writing, but with a humanity rarely seen in such literature.
De Bernieres portrayal of people and events is matchless. His novel approach, categorised by some as "magical realism", keeps this book lively, entertaining, but fraught with a need to expose injustice. His knowledge of Columbian society, with its many disparate elements, is vast. He weaves these many threads together in building a seamless tapestry of politics, magic, tradition and affection. Violence is a fundamental element, with all forced to contend with its pervasive role. Happiness is balanced by tragedy and grief in ways that leave the reader breathless. This is an admirable work, with black humour and deep ironies. Read it and enjoy the work of a writer of peerless prowess. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
If only Sr. Vivo..........2003-02-02
lived in our world...we could use a few like him.
Dionisio Vivo (not his real name) is just a typical philosophy teacher in a typical high school in a small Andean town in a small Andean country. Then he writes a letter to the editor of the local newspaper, telling the local drug lord to put a stop to his dirty business....and life gets complicated for Dionisio.
De Bernieres writes with great style, creates wonderful human characters who are just a touch over the top, and tells a tragic story with wit and humor.
Senor Vivo and the Coca Lord.......2002-10-14
Very complex, creative and compelling. Gets you into the mindset of the time and place. Makes you want to say, "why didn't I think of that" when he brings it up a notch. De Bernieres understands what he is writing about. Love all his works.
Average customer rating:
- Rape is not Romance!
- Island Flame
- Excellent Classic Pirate Historical!
- hated and loved itguilty!
- a quantum step backward for romantic relationships
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Island Flame
Karen Robards
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0440221072 |
Book Description
Bestselling, award-winning author Karen Robards brings to life two extraordinary characters--an aristocratic beauty and a notorious pirate--in a love story that sizzles with passionate adventure and unbridled desire. . . .
Lady Catherine Aldley was en route to London when pirates attacked her ship. Just in time, Captain Jonathan Hale rescued her from his own men, sweeping her into his arms, staking his claim on the pampered daughter of England's ambassador to Portugal. All Catherine had were her wits and the will to beat her captor at his own game. His searing kisses kindled unfamiliar passions, but she vowed to make him her prisoner of desire. . . .
He was a legendary pirate, daring, triumphant, free. Jonathan Hale never took captives and always escaped--until he saw the headstrong beauty he couldn't leave behind. She was fire and ice, a lady outraged, a tigress in his arms. Cathy refused to be treated like chattel, yet yielded to his sensual invasion as she conquered his body and soul. She made loving truly dangerous, exposing his deepest fears--and his mutinous heart. . . .
Customer Reviews:
Rape is not Romance!.......2007-06-29
I've enjoyed reading several of Karen Robards books. This is not one that I could even finish. Rape has no place in a romance. I was very disappointed.
Island Flame .......2007-06-08
From the Publisher
"Ms. Robards seems to know instinctively our most secret thoughts and then dreams up the perfect scenario to give them free rein . . . the results are pure magic!"
--Romantic Times
I find it hard to believe that Romantic Times, or anyone for that matter, would consider rape, and brutality their "secret thoughts".
I am 1/8th through the book and refuse to continue reading. The heroine, a virgin, on her way to England is captured by pirates. The captain happens to be knock out gorgeous but brutal. Not only does he kill people like flies on the wall, but he rapes and beats women. He rapes our heroine several times and guess what? She actually got a thrill from it. Does the author think women enjoy rape? I find this book to be insulting to women everywhere. What finally make me throw the book down in disgust was when he beat her until she was black and blue and then proceeded to rape her again and she started to feel something for him!
That's totally disgusting. However, I have to say, despite the heroine falling in love with a brutal man with no morals, Ms. Robards is a wonderful writer. I simply don't care for her early books. She improved her characters greatly in the books she wrote in the '90's.
You may want to skip this book if you feel the same as I do about a hero who is mean, cruel and despicable, but don't give up on Karen's book. Her later books hold me spellbound.
Excellent Classic Pirate Historical!.......2007-02-28
In this reissue: Island Flame is an all-time classic for those romance readers who love a senusal pirate romance. The young beautiful blonde, blue-eyed, Lady Catherine Aldley has lived in opulent comfort with her father Sir Thomas Aldley, the ninth Earl of Badstoke as the Queen's Ambassador to Lisbon. He is concerned that "Cathy," now seventeen and starting to be courted by young men is becoming too isolated in Lisbon. So he decides to send her to England to live with her aunt and rejoin English society and make an advantageous marriage, sending her off on a military ship the "Anna Greer" feeling she will be safe. Little does he realize that silver and other expensive goods were to be disguised in the hold so that pirates would not discover the treasure. The dark, handsome, pirate Captain Jonathan Hale knows about this treasure and attacks the "Anna Greer," but comes to realize there is even a richer treasure when he feasts his eyes on the beautiful, young Cathy. In all of his 34 years he has never seen such beauty. Jon takes Cathy's innocence and continues to keep her captive throughout the long voyage. Once they stop for supplies at the Spanish Port of Cadiz, Cathy makes an escape attempt and falls into even rougher hands. Jon saves her, only to almost lose his own life. Through the long days of nursing Jon back to health, she learns from his man Petersham the hard boyhood and life Jon has had and she begins to realize she is falling in love with this dark, troubled pirate. When Jon awakes from his illness he realizes the same about Cathy and struggles with his feelings of love that are new to this hardened man. He takes her to his island home in Las Palmas and they have a short idyllic life, still not expressing their love. As Cathy discovers she is carrying Jon's child, the island is attacked by British ships. Her father is among them and he captures Jon and is ready to hang him. Cathy pleads for his life and that of her child and convinces her father to allow her to marry Jon. After the ceremony Cathy's father knocks Jon unconscious, has him hauled off to prison, but tells Cathy that he has escaped and left her alone and pregnant, while at the same time whipping and torturing Jon in prison telling him that all of his torture is at the request of Cathy. Jon eventually escapes and once again kidnaps a very pregnant Cathy, taking her this time to America to his Charleston plantation. There they struggle through their relationship and the mutual lies and betrayals. This is not a story for the squeamish. If the reader is uncomfortable with rape and harsh treatment, then this may be a book to avoid, but these details fit in a story about a rough pirate, and most definitely in the understanding and building of the hardened character of Jonathan Hale and how this young tenderhearted woman eventually breaks down all barriers within his heart and emotions and helps him understand himself and finally find true love and happiness. It is disturbing and dark at times, with a happily ever after ending. A true classic romance that is rare and one that is destined to be on romance collector's shelves for years to come.
hated and loved itguilty!.......2006-07-05
The hero is a pig, the book outdated, and the treatment of the heroine was horrible.
So why did I give it three stars...because despite myself, I was riveted and couldnt put the book down. I actually enjoyed reading it, and yes, I am embarrassed by it...thankfully, K. Robards has improved since then.
a quantum step backward for romantic relationships.......2006-03-30
I should have listened to the reviewers on this one. It is too
brutal in its portrayal of rape & physical abuse. These characters are not people who belong in this genre, or perhaps in any form of literature. One cannot feel anything but disgust
at the ersatz hero and his attitude towards women.Nor can any
feelings of sympathy be truly garnered up for the spoiled brat
heroine. I only hope that young readers don't pick this book up
or, if they do, they see it for the travesty it is. Shame on
you, Ms.Robards
Average customer rating:
- A Work of Historical Art!
|
Fighting The Flames: The Spectacular Performance of Fire at Coney Island (Literary Criticism and Cultural Theory)
Lynn K. Sally
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0415977592 |
Customer Reviews:
A Work of Historical Art!.......2007-03-27
This book has been long overdue! A forgotten piece of American History has just been brought back to life. The turn of the 20th Century produced an element of excitement and history that could only be found at Coney Island. These are firefighting heros that could only be found in one scope of mass entertainment. They are brought back to life here in this book that has been well researched and written. Once you start reading it, you'll be both hooked and fascinated!
Average customer rating:
- Excellent Classic Pirate Historical
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Island Flame
Karen Robards
Manufacturer: Leisure Books/ Nordon Publications Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GSL2TE |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Classic Pirate Historical.......2007-01-12
Island Flame is an all-time classic for those romance readers who love a senusal pirate romance. The young beautiful blonde, blue-eyed, Lady Catherine Aldley has lived in opulent comfort with her father Sir Thomas Aldley, the ninth Earl of Badstoke as the Queen's Ambassador to Lisbon. He is concerned that "Cathy," now seventeen and starting to be courted by young men is becoming too isolated in Lisbon. So he decides to send her to England to live with her aunt and rejoin English society and make an advantageous marriage, sending her off on a military ship the "Anna Greer" feeling she will be safe. Little does he realize that silver and other expensive goods were to be disguised in the hold so that pirates would not discover the treasure. The dark, handsome, pirate Captain Jonathan Hale knows about this treasure and attacks the "Anna Greer," but comes to realize there is even a richer treasure when he feasts his eyes on the beautiful, young Cathy. In all of his 34 years he has never seen such beauty. Jon takes Cathy's innocence and continues to keep her captive throughout the long voyage. Once they stop for supplies at the Spanish Port of Cadiz, Cathy makes an escape attempt and falls into even rougher hands. Jon saves her, only to almost lose his own life. Through the long days of nursing Jon back to health, she learns from his man Petersham the hard boyhood and life Jon has had and she begins to realize she is falling in love with this dark, troubled pirate. When Jon awakes from his illness he realizes the same about Cathy and struggles with his feelings of love that are new to this hardened man. He takes her to his island home in Las Palmas and they have a short idyllic life, still not expressing their love. As Cathy discovers she is carrying Jon's child, the island is attacked by British ships. Her father is among them and he captures Jon and is ready to hang him. Cathy pleads for his life and that of her child and convinces her father to allow her to marry Jon. After the ceremony Cathy's father knocks Jon unconscious, has him hauled off to prison, but tells Cathy that he has escaped and left her alone and pregnant, while at the same time whipping and torturing Jon in prison telling him that all of his torture is at the request of Cathy. Jon eventually escapes and once again kidnaps a very pregnant Cathy, taking her this time to America to his Charleston plantation. There they struggle through their relationship and the mutual lies and betrayals. This is not a story for the squeamish. If the reader is uncomfortable with rape and harsh treatment, then this may be a book to avoid, but these details fit in a story about a rough pirate, and most definitely in the understanding and building of the hardened character of Jonathan Hale and how this young tenderhearted woman eventually breaks down all barriers within his heart and emotions and helps him understand himself and finally find true love and happiness. It is disturbing and dark at times, with a happily ever after ending. A true classic romance that is rare and one that is destined to be on romance collector's shelves for years to come.
Average customer rating:
|
Island Flame
Karen Robards
Manufacturer: Leisure
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: 0843911514 |
Customer Reviews:
Woo-hoo!.......1998-11-09
Well written. I liked both the hero and the heroine. Interesting plot, all the good stuff. Nice cover. =)
Average customer rating:
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Island Flame
Karen Robards
Manufacturer: Leisure
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000FTMOVY |
Average customer rating:
|
Island of flame, (The Your fair land series)
Virginia Armstrong Oakes
Manufacturer: John Day Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Baby-3 | Ages 4-8 | Ages 9-12 | Animals | Arts & Music | Books on Cassette | Books on CD | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Computers | Educational | History & Historical Fiction | Issues | Literature | Obsessions | People & Places | Popular Characters | Reference & Nonfiction | Religions | Science, Nature & How It Works | Series | Sports & Activities
ASIN: B0006AWJUI |
Book Description
A hideous accident kills the senior officers of UNS Hibernia--leaving a terrified young officer to save three hundred colonists and crew aboard a damaged ship on a seventeen-month gauntlet to reach the colony of Hope Nation. With no chance of rescue or reinforcement, Nicholas Seafort must overcome despair, exhaustion, guilt; he must conquer malfunctions, mutiny, and an alien horror beyond human understanding. He must save lives. And he must take them, in the name of duty.
Download Description
A hideous accident kills the senior officers of UNS Hibernia--leaving a terrified young officer to save three hundred colonists and crew aboard a damaged ship on a seventeen-month gauntlet to reach the colony of Hope Nation. With no chance of rescue or reinforcement, Nicholas Seafort must overcome despair, exhaustion, guilt; he must conquer malfunctions, mutiny, and an alien horror beyond human understanding. He must save lives. And he must take them, in the name of duty.
Average customer rating:
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Midshipman's Hope
David Feintuch
Manufacturer: Warner Books, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NQJSCM |
Customer Reviews:
Emancipation from the Sin of Slavery and from the Slavery of Sin.......2007-01-01
Wilmore's work, now in its third edition, is a standard in the treatment of African American religious history. His detailed study proposes that Black history equals religion and Black religion equals the struggle for freedom.
From the personal testimony of Black religious leaders and from the "common" African American man and woman, the freedom emphasis is upon escape from sin to find personal salvation of their soul--eternal life in Jesus Christ. Once spiritual deliverance was found, a boldness then also grew to find freedom from the sin of others, from White oppression and enslavement. True, for some African Americans freedom from the sins of others did take priority. But for the majority, freedom from their own sin was the preeminent concern. For most, it was a both/and, not an either/or.
Wilmore's work remains an important contribution, especially in terms of understanding the yearning for freedom present in the lives of African American slaves.
Reviewer: Robert W. Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction, Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.
Prayer and Protest.......2001-02-08
Wilmore's book is a standard, and fairly thorough, introduction to the connection between African American religiosity (writ large) and African American societal protest. Tracing the connection from African religion (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions) through slavery and supposed freedom to the present day, Wilmore presents a sweeping argument that throughout history African Americans have used their religious understandings to strengthen their resistance to oppressive realities. This should be a standard text for any class on African American history, and would be an informative read for Black History month.
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- Something Rising (Light and Swift): A Novel
- Somewhere a Song (Daughters of Fortune #2)
- Starman Jones
- Story Cards: Aesop's Fables
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- Sweet and Vicious
- Tabula Rasa
- Tales of Beatnik Glory
- Tequila, Lemon, And Salt: From Baja...tales of love,faith - and magic
- Tevye's Daughters: Collected Stories of Sholom Aleichem
Books Index
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Red Dog
