Average customer rating:
- Superb dialogue
- One of the Best Books I Have Read!!
- AMAZINGLY GOOD WRITING...
- Province of Night
- Superb Writing
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Provinces of Night: A Novel
William Gay
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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Literary
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ASIN: 0385499280
Release Date: 2002-04-09 |
Amazon.com
In his second novel, Provinces of Night, William Gay re-creates the oppressive, evocative atmosphere of the American Deep South that he first explored in his debut novel, The Long Home. Against the backdrop of rural Tennessee in the 1950s, our teenage protagonist, Fleming Bloodworth, finds himself alone in the family home after his father, Boyd, abandons him to hunt down and kill his wife's lover. At the same time, Fleming's grandfather decides to return to his family after 20 years of self-imposed exile. He returns to discover that his remaining two sons, Warren and Brady, are in turn an alcoholic womanizer and a Bible-quoting fantasist who enjoys putting curses on his enemies.
This is a self-consciously big novel in the Southern tradition that could easily have buckled under the weight of its own ambition. Instead, Gay pulls it off with ease, presenting us with a stream of unforgettable characters. While the central themes of love, loyalty, and forgiveness are explored seriously and sensitively, the finely wrought prose is also sprinkled with moments of genuine humor as Gay proves that he's not afraid to gently mock his gang of Southern eccentrics. This is a wonderful novel and a worthy successor to the tradition it so obviously admires. --Jane Morris, Amazon.co.uk
Book Description
It’s 1952, and E.F. Bloodworth is finally coming home to Ackerman’s Field, Tennessee. Itinerant banjo picker and volatile vagrant, he’s been gone ever since he gunned down a deputy thirty years before. Two of his sons won’t be home to greet him: Warren lives a life of alcoholic philandering down in Alabama, and Boyd has gone to Detroit in vengeful pursuit of his wife and the peddler she ran off with. His third son, Brady, is still home, but he’s an addled soothsayer given to voodoo and bent on doing whatever it takes to keep E.F. from seeing the wife he abandoned. Only Fleming, E.F.’s grandson, is pleased with the old man’s homecoming, but Fleming’s life is soon to careen down an unpredictable path hewn by the beautiful Raven Lee Halfacre.
In the great Southern tradition of Faulkner, Styron, and Cormac McCarthy, William Gay wields a prose as evocative and lush as the haunted and humid world it depicts.
Provinces of Night is a tale redolent of violence and redemption–a whiskey-scented, knife-scarred novel whose indelible finale is not an ending nearly so much as it is an apotheosis.
Customer Reviews:
Superb dialogue.......2004-12-09
One of the best novels I've read in the past few years, "Provinces of Night" shows the influence of Flannery O'Connor and of Cormac McCarthy, but is also highly original. The language and dialogue are what make it most enjoyable. The story is both funny and dark.
One of the Best Books I Have Read!!.......2002-11-14
Nearly perfect. Great story, beautiful prose, humor, sadness, thought provoking, page turning. All of that, and one sentence on page 155 I could make absolutely no sense out of.
AMAZINGLY GOOD WRITING..........2002-11-13
When I read William Gay's first novel, THE LONG HOME, recently, I had the strong feeling that I had discovered the work of someone very special - and reading PROVINCES OF NIGHT has confirmed that for me. Gay writes with a carefully and languidly - the breadth and depth of his writing demands full attention from the reader, and the rewards are great indeed.
The above-mentioned languid quality of his work does not for a single moment indicate any sort of laziness on his part - writing this good can, of course, come from the foundation of a natural talent, but it takes hard and diligent work to come up with a finished product of this quality. Gay's characters are vivid and real, and they are built up slowly - the reader is required to get to know them, rather than having them dumped off the page and into their lap. His descriptive abilities are astonishing as well - if there isn't a word that suits the image he's trying to get across, he's not above combining existing words into a single unit, and he does so with taste, style and intelligence. There are no cheap, easy gimmicks at work here - just talent and imagination.
Set in the same small rural Tennessee town in which his earlier novel takes place - but in the 1950s this time, as opposed to the 1940s - Gay captures the setting and characters with absolute perfection. His country folk are depicted honestly - they are uneducated, to be sure, and some of them are certainly not the brightest match in the box, but he treats them with respect. They come across as honest and real - the figures of speech they employ might seem odd to city dwellers, and their knowledge of the world outside of their area ranges from non-existent to a shadowy grey awareness that is tempered liberally with misinformation and rumor. They look upon outsiders with doubt and suspicion - and usually for good reason.
The relationship that develops over the course of the story between E. W. Bloodworth - an elderly man who left the area, his wife and family, many years before - and his grandson Fleming, whom he has never seen is one of the most touching depictions I've come across in some time, without ever venturing anywhere near the maudlin. The Bloodworth clan - and their neighbors and acquaintances - are a pretty rough-hewn lot. They number among their members bootleggers, drunks, hell-raisers, stand-by-your-man women and I-ain't-takin-any-more-of-your-BS women. Fleming is a pretty intelligent - if uneducated - young man, and he is instantly attracted to his grandfather's personality and stories of his life. E. F. is a banjo player and singer, a collector of old tunes - mostly blues. His fame actually spread to the point of a record label recording eight of his songs - but he never chose to pursue music as a career. It simply meant too much to him.
When E. F. decides to return home after many years away, he stirs the stew of a lot of family members and other locals - he's not exactly welcomed back by everyone with open arms. One of his sons, in particular, Brady, is downright hostile. Brady is quite a piece of work himself, living with his elderly mother (E. F.'s wife) and casting spells and hexes on any and all who cross him. He's looked upon by the locals as a bit of a curiosity and a crackpot - but at the same time, with enough trepidation that they try not to wind up on his bad side.
There's a whole cast of memorable characters here - and a main plot with several related subplots that whirl and eddy around each other like currents in a stream. Definitely enough to keep the reader involved and interested. William Gay is a writer of amazing talent and patience - if you're a fan of well-written, compelling fiction that contains emotion as well as a gentle dose of humor now and then, you owe it to yourself to check out his work. My next stop is his short story collection, I HATE TO SEE THAT EVENING SUN GO DOWN.
Province of Night.......2002-03-26
Gay, evoking Cormac McCarthy and William Faulkner, writes about "simple" people with incredible profundity that employs "drop-dead sentences." Expect to be surprised and overwhelmed by this "carpenter's" mastery of prose. He evokes Faulkner's Cash and God's Jesus--need I say more?
Superb Writing.......2002-03-24
William Gay can write like mad. If you love to read, if you love books, if you love words and the way they can express things you see and understand but can barely put into thought images let alone words, buy and read this book. Then, when you have savored the richness of it, go buy and read The Long Home. Put William Gay high on your list of writers whose books you will buy as soon as they hit the book stores.
Customer Reviews:
Unusual and fun Regencies.......2005-09-21
LADY WHILTON'S WEDDING
Daphne Whilton's widowed mother is remarrying, but Daphne's uncle Albert is determined to throw a monkey wrench into the wedding plans if he can't keep the money his late brother left his widow. When Albert dies, it seems that he's won after all, as a death in the family would postpone a wedding for at least 6 months. So Daphne decides to hide the body, aided unknowingly by the groom's son Graydon and the loyal butler.
The good:
The humor. It's reminiscent of the movie Arsenic and Old Lace, with the body disappearing, and some bumbling petty criminals.
Daphne. She's a wonderful heroine--no shrinking violet, she's logical and resourceful
Graydon. Likewise a wonderful hero. He's protective, but when he discovers Daphne's involvement, he respects her and works with her.
The bad:
The emphasis is more on the comic adventure than the romance.
The unusual:
This is written in omniscient POV, which can be distancing, but it's very effective in this case.
The verdict:
This would make a fabulous movie. As it is, it's a rollicking fun read.
AN ENCHANTED AFFAIR
Lisanne Neville can see fairies, which makes people think she's odd. Her parents die, leaving her an orphan heiress, and her greedy uncle takes over, alternately punishing her and ignoring her. She routinely escapes to the "haunted" woods, but this is threatened when the impoverished Duke of St. Sevrin who owns them decides to sell the timber. She proposes marriage to him as beneficial to both--saving her woods and getting her out from under her uncle's thumb, and paying off his debts.
The good:
Lisanne is a very strong heroine, and I liked how she took matters into her own hands and engineered her own rescue.
The story doesn't end with the wedding. It shows Lisanne and St. Sevrin adjusting to marriage and working at making it a success.
The bad:
It's a bit darker than most Regencies, at least at the beginning, with the abuse Lisanne suffers at her uncle's hand.
I wanted Lisanne to escape sooner, though I understand why she didn't.
The verdict:
Surprisingly complex for such a short book (228 p.). It's a Cinderella story, if Cinderella had played the part of her own fairy godmother.
Average customer rating:
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A Wedding is a Family Affair
Brenda Dr Hunter
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Weddings | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Planning | Weddings | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Marriage & Family | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Etiquette | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Self Help | Protestantism | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0880708360
Release Date: 1995-10-01 |
Customer Reviews:
Excellent wedding etiquette book!.......2001-10-22
How to, what to; in this day and age of divorce and second marriages, this book is a MUST! I used it as my reference every step of the way and as I planned by non-traditional nuptials, I was delighted that etiquette was still upheld!
Lovely stories from other brides and grooms were told to encourage us to have our own special Scottish ceremony a day we'll never forget!
Excellent guide.......2001-04-06
With me exchanging vows for the 3rd time and my wife for the 4th, this helpful book was a Godsend. The night before the wedding my wife's mother was threatening not to come if my wife's father "brings that tramp" and her second husband was granted parole. But thanks to this well-written and immensely helpful book we took everything in our stride apart from a minor scuffle at the reception between my dad's ex-boyfriend and his then wife.
Book Description
Older and wiser than the usual betrothed, Herbert Choyce and Miss Merriman are in no hurry to get married. But, in this 27th of Thirkell's Barsetshire novels, the enthusiasm of friends and neighbors sweeps them up in a rush to the altar, with unexpected results. Praise for Angela Thirkell: "There's just no stopping after one novel." - Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews:
Witty, insightful, irreverent and kind.......2005-04-08
I have to admit that I had never heard of Angela Thirkell, even though I enjoy English authors so very much. Someone suggested that I give her a whirl, knowing how much I enjoy Jane Austen and Miss Read, Elizabeth Cadell and DE Stevenson. I landed on this book, A Double Affair, and found myself completely absorbed in the characters from the very first. This book is almost the last in a long series, The Barsetshire series, so even though I was meeting everyone for the first time and there was gads and gads of past history I was unfamiliar with, I was not lost for context.
This woman is witty! If you are a fan of Jane Austen at all, you have just got to try this author. I found myself chuckling with her interspersed observations about her characters, as if she were sitting in a cafe watching their lives unfold before her and recording it for our enjoyment. The books are kind, there is friendship and courtesy, but there's nothing "high faluting" about them.
Now I have to go figure out which book is the first and start there. There are many many books in this series, so I should have plenty to enjoy for a good while.
Customer Reviews:
not that interesting.......2004-05-21
I have to admit to being disappointed in this story. It had all the makings for a terrific regency/historical love story but failed on many counts. Our heroine, Felicity Merriwether, got pregnant while engaged to be married to Captain Anthony Sheridan, but he left for Spain/France in the Army before knowing she was having a baby. When she wrote to him that she was with child and wanted to come join him, he apparently bled all over her letter so could not make out what she was writing about except that she wanted to come to Spain to join me so he told her to stay in England not knowing why she wanted to come to him instead of waiting. She thought he knew she was pregnant but did not care. Soon after he finds out she married someone else while engaged to him without telling him. Tony finally comes home 6 years later and she is a widow and he is involved in a murder investigation. There really is no sexual tension between them because she, Felicity, refuses to except or understand that Tony did not know she was pregnant. She basically refuses to except his story. Which does not really make any sense - didn't she love him at one time? Was he not trustworthy enough for her to lose her virginity to? Her husband is portrayed in the book at not being a nice guy but didn't he leave her son, Tony's son not his, his money knowing he was not really his son? He was not a noble with entailed lands - a Cit really - so he could do anything he wanted with his money. Might have made more sense for Tony to return to England with Felicity and her son Charles without any funds. The story of Diana/Meg was not that interesting either. Could have been fleshed out more. One of the reasons Felicity keeps giving in not marrying Tony now was that men can be dominating and she does not wish to be dominated and her fear is related to her marriage. Well, there are 2 women in the story who seem to have happy marriages indeed so Felicity can not be so stupid to believe all marriages were like hers.
Mystery + Romance.......2003-06-05
After dueling with a pair of "enchanted" pistols, that have the reputation of leading one to their true love, the tired war veteran, Tony Sheridan finds himself encountering the one woman he has ever truly loved, one he believed to have abandoned him for another. She is now a widow with a young son, who he does not realize is in fact, his, at first. Love is a secondary consideration for both of them, though. Felicity is more concerned with survival, and Tony with finding a murderer. Besides, each feels that the other wronged them.
***** This charming, slightly Shakespearean with a touch of Agatha Christy and a dash of Barbara Cartlandt book will charm readers who have followed Ms. King since her delightful first novel. The hero and heroine alike display keen wit and illustrate how love can mend the the unmendable.
Average customer rating:
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Western Weddings (Foreign Affairs)
Day Leclaire , and
Susan Fox
Manufacturer: Harlequin Mills & Boon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Leclaire, Day | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 026383185X |
Average customer rating:
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Affairs of the Heart: A Wedding Guest Register
Terry Winn
Manufacturer: Cedco Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Marriage | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Weddings | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0768320070 |
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful guest register.......2003-06-30
This book fits into our color scheme so well. I especially like that it is more rare to find. It makes me feel like my wedding will be more unique. I highly recommend it.
Average customer rating:
- Beautiful companion to Affairs of the Heart: A wedding guest
- Great book to record all your memories!!!
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Affairs of the Heart: A Wedding Record
Terry Winn
Manufacturer: Cedco Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Marriage | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Weddings | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0768320062 |
Customer Reviews:
Beautiful companion to Affairs of the Heart: A wedding guest.......2003-06-30
This book fit into our color scheme so well. I like the fact that it is more rare to find. It makes me feel like my wedding is unique. I highly recommend it.
Great book to record all your memories!!!.......1999-01-08
I love this book! You can record all the stages of your relationship from courtship, engagement to your wedding. The book has beautiful pictures and plenty of space to record your memories and add your own pictures. Definitely a book you'll want to show off!
Average customer rating:
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Corinne's Family Affair (Brides)
Zoe Cooper
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0380787008 |
Average customer rating:
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The Coverley Pines Affair
Edward Michel-Bird
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Domestic Life | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Literature & Fiction | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
Mystery & Thrillers | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1412029899
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Book Description
Fascinating characters, gripping story. Rejected by Diane, the only woman he\'d ever loved, humiliated in the Tabloids, wealthy, vengeful Dr. Scott raises the curtain on a modern Greek Tragedy.
Book Description
THE YEAR IS 2311
It is a year of infamy, a year that later generations will remember as one that altered the course of history at the cost of thousands of lives. It is the year of the Tomed Incident, and its tale can at last be told.
In the midst of escalating political tensions among the Klingons, the Romulans, and the Federation, Starfleet goes forward with the inaugural flight of Universe, a prototype starship that promises to revolutionize space exploration. But the Universe experiment results in disaster, ravaging a region of space dangerously close to the Romulan Star Empire, apparently confirming suspicions that the Federation has begun testing a weapon of mass destruction.
As the military buildup accelerates on both sides of the Neutral Zone, Captain John Harriman of the Federation flagship U.S.S. Enterprise™ NCC-1701-B is fated for a final confrontation with his oldest enemy at a flashpoint in history -- with the Beta Quadrant one wrong move from the outbreak of total war.
Customer Reviews:
A so-so, character-less, plot-driven Enterprise-B adventure.......2006-05-12
Let me just say upfront that this isn't a bad book at all. But it's not a great book either. And that's basically the problem with it. When one is presented with a "lost" story, one expects it to be a tale worth telling. This feels more like a "fill in the gap" measure than a tale worth telling. Also, I highly recommend reading Peter David's "The Captain Daughter" first as characters and events from that story are heavily referred to, something the publisher neglected to mention. Basically, this is the story of the Tomed incident that was supposedly a great turning point in the affairs of the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans. Although it is fairly intelligent and well thought-out, (as others have mentioned) it takes GREAT liberties with the moral character of Captain John Harriman (and of Starfleet Command, for that matter) as he participates in some things that I have a real problem believing that people of an "evolved sensability" would participate in. However, this "flaw" in the handling of Harriman's character is heavily counter-balanced by the fact that he ISN'T written as a totally inept putz as he was originally shown as in "Star Trek: Generations". He has, in this novel, become an experienced and seasoned veteran starship captain, having commanded the Enterprise for over 18 years. Which leads to my only real gripe with this story -- now, maybe it's just me, but doesn't 18 years seem a bit of a stretch? Given the way Harriman was presented in Generations, I think I'd rather have read about a "new" Enterprise captain (after all, Kirk wasn't the only captain of HIS particular Enterprise). Years before the film Generations, there was a huge poster of the Enterprise-D that listed a different captain's name for the B. I'd liked to have learned about THAT captain (and ample opportunity presents itself at the end of this book). Also in sticking with Harriman the author seems to have really limited himself as far as characterization because, although other crew members are (briefly) introduced, the only other full character seems to be Demora Sulu. The other characters are almost afterthoughts and never feel fleshed-out. So, largely, it is a Harriman/Sulu story (think Kirk/Spock novel with the rest of Kirk's crew in the far background). Ultimately, not a bad book, but I hope any further Enterprise-B adventures focus more on what's always appealed to me most about Trek, the characters. What I'd really like to see is the LAST story of the Enterprise-B. I want to know what ultimately happened to her!
The best of The Lost Era.......2006-04-23
The Lost Era has its share of good books (the Sulu book, the Worf book, the Enterprise C book, and the Uhura book) and one subpar one (the Riker book). But this is its greatest achievement.
In ST:Generations, the crew of the Enterprise B is treated lightly, and Captain Harriman lightest of all. He redeems himself a bit in Peter David's "The Captain's Daughter", but it is in this book that we learn what kind of man Captain John Harriman really is.
The writing is tight and the pacing is good, but details are not lost at its expense. The story is interesting (although the first conspiracy angle, the one with Admiral Mentir, still doesn't settle well with me). And, best of all, we finally learn what the Tomed Incident is. (Shatner and Reeves-Stevens mistakenly said it was when Kirk stole the cloaking device in "The Enterprise Incident", but since we see Nanclus in ST6, that cannot be true.)
The twist David R George III throws at us toward the end of the novel -- the real story behind the Tomed Incident -- blew my mind. It makes this by far the best of the Lost Era novels.
It doesn't have Kirk? And it's good?.......2005-02-05
David R. George III hasn't been the most prolific Star Trek writer, but he has been one of the most effective recently. With two wonderful Deep Space Nine books to his credit (Mission Gamma: Twilight and co-authorship with Armin Shimmerman of The 34th Rule), he has rapidly become somebody who I *must* check out when I see his name on a Trek book. In Serpents Among the Ruins, part of the Lost Era series of Trek books, George does yet another great job, this time rehabilitating the character of Captain John Harriman, captain of the Enterprise B (seen in the movie Star Trek: Generations). In the movie, he's kind of an inexperienced dweeb, lessened in order to make Captain Kirk seem that much greater. George obviously wanted to do something about that, and he's created a book with wonderful characters and a tense atmosphere.
This story pretty much has everything a Trek fan could want: Klingons & Romulans, interesting Federation characters (including Demora Sulu, our favourite Sulu's daughter), tension, a little bit of humour, and a huge action sequence. It also provides us with an early look at Elias Vaughn, who later (in the Deep Space Nine relaunch series) becomes first officer of the station. Having become very familiar with Vaughn from the Deep Space Nine series, it was interesting to see how he started out. How much has he changed? This is his first field mission for Starfleet Intelligence, so we do get a lot of nervousness and a little bit of angst when something happens that he's never done before. While I did find the angst a little annoying at times (while realistic, I thought the book dwelled on it just a bit much), Vaughn is an interesting character who we want to learn a lot more about.
The most impressive thing about the book, however, is Harriman. As I said, the only exposure to Harriman that most of us have received is in Generations, and it's not a good one. There is also Peter David's The Captain's Daughter, but I read that so long ago that I have no idea how he was characterized in it. It's now eighteen years later, and Harriman has become a very skilled commander, well-loved by his crew and respected by Starfleet admirals (except his father, which really becomes an issue in the book). He's also extremely interesting to read about. At times, his introspection goes on a bit too long, but most of the time it's very enjoyable to get inside his thought processes.
The rest of the characterization is done extremely well too. Sulu is Harriman's first officer (she was just a new helmsman in the movie, but she became first officer about ten years ago) and we get a lot of insight on her, as well as some on her relationship with her father (in hindsight, though, as Sulu does not appear in the book). When she has to take over the ship, she shows that she's ready for a command as well. The Romulans are distinct and very intriguing, and the Klingon political intrigue is extremely well-done, though sometimes the Klingon politics doesn't seem to fit in with the rest of the book. This may lead into the next Lost Era book, which deals with the Klingons and Cardassians a few years in the future, so it's not a major point. Even the rest of the bridge crew for Enterprise have enough character hooks to make them interesting, even if they aren't truly three-dimensional. All the way around, characterization is one of George's strong points.
The other strength is the way the book is written. The chapters are a countdown to the incident itself, adding to the tension and making the reader want to keep going. The prose is extremely good for a Trek novel, bringing the reader deeper into the story with every page (and you have to keep turning that page). George handles both the quiet moments and the inevitable action sequences with equal aplomb. The last hundred pages are pulse-pounding, as Harriman's plan comes to fruition but obstacle after obstacle seems to keep getting in the way. I had to stop for breath when I finally reached the end of this section, it had me that riveted. Finally, I have to give him credit for painting a bullseye on the forehead of a character and then *not* killing him/her off! In fact, George does the exact opposite. Bravo!
The only problem with this book is that there is some repetition of little plot details that isn't really necessary. I know this happened a few times, but the most prominent is the condition that befalls Ensign Fenn. George has Sulu tell us about it in her thoughts at least twice, both times in great detail. There are other times where George does the same thing with information, compelling me to say to myself "we already know this, can we move on?" While this could be seen to emphasize how important something is, Fenn's condition doesn't really affect the plot much (which also indicates that the subplot could have been cut). It became a bit annoying at times, but I was quickly engulfed in the story once again and forgot about it.
Serpents Among the Ruins makes use of a lot of Trek history, which could be a good thing considering there are none of our "favourite" characters in it. Thankfully, George doesn't hit us over the head with continuity explanations. Instead, he gives us a solid tale that you will want to race through to see what happens next, but at the same time you'll want to read it slowly so you can savour it. Personally, I raced. I can't help it. It was that good.
David Roy
A well-written book with an utterly despicable plot........2004-07-01
If you're not overly inclined to question the validity of the plots or your Star Trek novels, but are happy to simply read a good action-based story, root for the lead character to succeed and be happy when he does, you'll probably like this book, unless you have a dislike for overly convoluted, cloak-and-dagger type stories. If, on the other hand, you expect your Starfleet officers to not simply accomplish great ends, but to do so honorably and, what's perhaps more important, PLAUSIBLY, then you will find this book, as I did, very disturbing.
Because the plot to this book depends so heavily upon secret twists that the reader is not fully aware of until they are revealed, it is impossible to detail much of the problem without unacceptably spoiling the book for those who actually choose to read it in spite of my negative review; suffice it to say that while this book COULD have been a very interesting look at whether a noble goal can and should be achieved by dishonorable means. Instead, those aspects of the story were only given the most skimpy of attention; there is no real question raised as to the morality of the actions of our "hero". There is no indication that he suffers any second thoughts, no indication that any of his friends would think less of him if they knew what he had done. There IS an indication that he and his friends both are concerned with the riskiness of the plan, which quite honestly was an incredible long-shot and which would have made things much WORSE than they would otherwise have been had it failed (which is another reason for refusing to accept the scheme.) But no one seems to question the idea, debatably acceptable but not nearly as much of a given as the story would make it, that lying, cheating, slandering, and committing sabotage are acceptable if they're done in the interest of preventing an interstellar war. This would have been an interesting question, but was NOT interesting as an idea presented for unquestioning acceptance.
This books is a real nail-biter!.......2004-06-18
I love the introduction of the UNIVERSE, a new and experimental starship, as tensions mount between the Klingons, Romulans, and the Federation. Tons of action and, more importantly, believable political intrigue. I rank this book up there with: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "2001", "2010", "Rendezvous with Rama", "Ringworld", all the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" books, as well as books as new to the genre as "Advent of the Corps" and others.
Book Description
A global Christian manifesto in which contributors examine attributes of God-the ones that are most understood in today's culture and the ones that need to be more fully apprehended.
Customer Reviews:
chris.......2007-03-09
I think this book is written for academics and not for the general reader, who may want to gain a general understanding of how God may have revealed himself in other cultures. I found what I read quite informative, but have to confess I gave up, because the amount of detail was overwhelming. Having said that I'm sure it will be of benefit to some people. There was no investigation of India or Asia other than China and Korea. Also no investigation of indigenous cultures in Australia or New Zealand or the Pacific.
Global God Review.......2003-09-02
Drawing from a diverse group of distinguished experts in their fields of study, the Spencers offer a theme summarized in the well selected title, The Global God. God is presented as the One who has revealed Himself to all cultures, but is not limited to one culture's understanding of Him. Rather, by revealing Himself, He is calling people beyond their culture and toward the narrow road which leads to Christ. In the words of the Spencers, it is "Inclusive to all people...exclusive to one Supreme God."
Each author presents an attribute of God from the perspective of his/her own culture, making positive and negative judgments based on the standard of an Evangelical approach to Scripture. The contributors selected originate from the cultures that they represent and in addition to their "real world" experiences hold relevant academic credentials. As approaches and styles vary, sources used in depicting cultures also varied. For example, William Spencer in his article draws from history, whereas Tae-Ju Moon appeals to many statistics in his approach. In their approach to the study of Scripture all of them use a similar method including concept studies and careful consideration is given to context.
Introducing the theme, the Spencers explain that God has revealed Himself to all people through both natural and special revelation and yet he is calling them to a new way of life beyond their cultural values. Appropriately, the first article, by Aida Spencer, presents the Biblical view of God noting His attributes as they are revealed in Scripture. Following are ten articles. For the sake of space, four examples are offered here. William Spencer by observing history shows America's Darwinian view of power which is distinctly different from God's power; driven by love. Diememe Noelliste observes Caribbean religion and how the African religious beliefs have infiltrated the culture. The prevalent view of God is explored and compared with Scripture. Tokunboh Adeyemo writes about African religions who view God as One that once lived among them but now as a result of sin is far off. Grace May argues that Chinese-American Christians influenced by Confucianism overemphasize God's holiness without taking into account His mercy. Interestingly, all of the cultures represented have somehow developed a view of God that is in some ways representative of the God revealed in Scripture. In some cases this can be credited to natural revelation.
With this summary in mind the question of Scriptural soundness arises. Such an issue depends heavily on one's view of Scripture. Suffice it to say that the Global God is self-proclaimed as Evangelical and Evangelical views are assumed as it is "Inclusive to all people...exclusive to One Supreme God." Moving forward, the concept of a Global God is Biblical and few Christians would deny such a notion. This Biblical concept which underlies the entire project is summarized in John 12.32: "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
After reading and reflecting upon the contents The Global God and the current global culture, it is my belief that it is an important work for many reasons. Offered below are three:
1. One cannot deny the vast differences between many cultures. Indeed, if Christ is the Savior of the world, His message must be one that relates to all people. The Global God shatters the idea that the God of the Bible is strictly Western, but demonstrates that He has revealed Himself globally.
2. If we view God as One who is conformed to our culture we live in ignorance. By viewing other perspectives with respect and in light of Scripture we come to a deeper understanding of Him.
3. Through media and communication technologies, in America as well as in many other nations, we have become increasingly aware of the diversity of our world, and thus, numerous other religions. Such a phenomenon can result in doubting the reality of Christian faith, degrading it to a religion that only relates to the Western world and certainly not a global reality. The Global God depicts the God that is revealed in Scripture as One Who has revealed Himself to vastly different cultures.
Nothing in the text struck me as something with which I would strongly disagree. My one concern is that it fails to be truly global by not including a Middle Eastern perspective. This is a small geographical area that in recent current events has elevated to a place of high visibility. This is the one significant area where I still had questions after completing the text. If afforded the opportunity to speak with the Spencers, I would ask where I could find a good source to learn about the makings, history and current state of the prevalent Middle-Eastern perspective on God. To myself and to many others this would be an important issue to research as we may see a mission field open in Iraq and especially to the un-reached Kurdish people group.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject of natural revelation or anyone who has questions about whether God truly reveals Himself to all cultures. The Global God would be a great starting point for a person with such questions. Also, I would recommend this book to Urban-American pastors who find people from other nations getting involved in their churches and living in their communities. It would certainly be helpful in seeking to understand the perspective of the diverse cultures represented in many urban communities and churches.
Books:
- Recollections of My Life
- Salt and Saffron
- Saul Bellow: Novels 1944-1953: Dangling Man, The Victim, and The Adventures of Augie March (Library of America)
- Sayonara, Gangsters
- Shakey's Loose
- Stelarc: The Monograph (Electronic Culture: History, Theory, and Practice)
- Sweet Dove Died
- Talking Funny for Money : An Introduction to the Cartoon/Character/Looping Area of Voice-Overs
- The Aesthetics of Resistance, Volume 1: A Novel (Aesthetics of Resistance)
- The Artist's Complete Guide to Figure Drawing: A Contemporary Perspective on the Classical Tradition
Books Index
Books Home
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- Dark Hero Of The Information Age: In Search of Norbert Wiener The Father of Cybernetics
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