Book Description
"Throws all its chips in the air like a dazzling Nabokovian trick."—Daphne Merkin, Los Angeles Times Book Review
In this humane yet savagely witty portrait of apartheid South Africa in its waning years, Tony Eprile renders his homeland's turbulent past with striking clarity. The Baltimore Sun declared Eprile's "horrifying yet heartrendingly beautiful" prose to be "comparable to his fellow authors of Apartheid Andre Brink and Nadine Gordimer." As the novel builds to a harrowing conclusion, the protagonist, a veteran of the secret war in Angola and Namibia, is forced to appear before the Truth and Reconciliation Committee with astonishing results. Nobel Prize-winning author J. M. Coetzee calls The Persistence of Memory "a story of coming to maturity in South Africa in the bad old days. Always warm-hearted, sometimes comic, ultimately damning." Reading group guide included.
Customer Reviews:
A Younger Perspective on Apartheid.......2006-12-29
After reading several books by J.M. Coetzee, I was more or less prepared for the conditions and incidents portrayed by Mr. Eprile. However, the experience here is that of a person maturing in the closing years of apartheid, rather than the older characters in Mr. Coetzee's works. The result is a view into the vulnerability of a young person trying to adapt to a collapsing racist society, the lack of alternatives for living a morally fulfilling life. Perhaps it's this lack of structure in the experience that leads to a shortage of structure in the novel. While some of the parts are intensely interesting, and all are worth reading, most can be read without reference to the others. The lead character's gift of memory is a unifying factor, but really not vital to most of the events. The writing is outstanding, though it might benefit from cutting, and the work is entertaining despite the grim subject at its center.
Epile's South African Tale.......2006-11-05
Great historical depiction of the Apartide in South Africa. Beautifully written; it reads as a historical memoir. Plot not that engaging. Very interesting protagonist point of view. By the end of the book, the question of 'accurate' memory lingers.
Memory and atrocity and the narrative of history.......2005-12-28
One of the lessons to be learned from The Persistence of Memory is that a photographic memory does not necessarily tell the larger truth. The short and perfectly recollected moments in the life of Paul Sweetbread (the protagonist with perfect recall) add up to a whole that is somehow less than the sum of its parts. Sweetbread is unconvincing and unreliable as a narrator precisely because his grip on the details is so startlingly clear.
Cameras lie, Eprile tells us. The propaganda corps of the South African army stage scenes where soldiers play football with local children. Judicious cropping is all that is needed to make the perfect observer into one that cannot be trusted. The comparison with Sweetbread as witness is inevitable.
I can think of very few metaphors that would work better for the process of truth and reconciliation in South Africa. It is a brilliant idea for a book, and one that seems to fit perfectly with the situation that it is describing.
The flaw in the book is that it seems to try to do too much above and beyond developing this central idea. The Persistence of Memory is also a coming of age story, and also has a lot to do with the response of Paul as a human (and not a camera) to what he sees in Namibia. There is a lot of material, and unfortunately the beautifully written individual scenes do not seem to gel very effectively into a larger whole. As a reading experience, I found it disjointed and ultimately unsympathetic.
It might sound strange to sum up a review by saying that while I admire the book immensely, I am not certain how widely I would recommend it. I certainly think that it would be of interest to people who have read a lot in the literature of South Africa. I can also tell you that it makes a satisfactory book for a book club. We had a lot to talk about after it was finished.
It is at least an impressive effort. Eprile is a writer to watch for the future.
Read it for yourself to decide what you think.
"What will become of us all?".......2005-01-05
South Africa from 1968 - 2000 is revealed in all its cultural variety and internal stresses through the life story of Paul Sweetbread, an overweight Jewish boy who is an outsider to everyone. Neither a Boer nor an Englishman, he is also not really a Jew, since his family has never been observant, leaving him without any common roots that connect him to his Caucasian countrymen. A person with a photographic memory, he is, from the outset, a victim of his memory. Because he can quote from his schoolbooks exactly, teachers think he cheats; his fellow students torment him.
As he sets the scene and creates a fully drawn personality for Paul, the author recreates his early school and home life, his relationships with black servants, and his family history, including the death of his father. The action intensifies when Paul, having finished school in 1987, joins the South African Defense Force for two years, instead of going to college. South Africa is nervously protecting its borders against what it believes are communist insurgents, while also facing threats from within. Apartheid has been challenged, the British and Boers are at odds, and African nationalism is growing.
Paul's wartime experiences, recreated in stunning detail, further develop his character as he observes Captain Lyddie, "The perfect specimen of South African manhood," engaging in racial brutality, described in passages of great power which embed themselves in Paul's perfect memory and in the reader's. The battle for survival of South Africa and the changes which will be necessary as the country changes from white to black rule are ever at the forefront of the novel. Paul's empathy for the Bushmen, whom the SADF uses as trackers, is palpable, while his fear, engendered during a photo assignment in a black township, reflects his awareness of the dangers from within.
Thoughtful and challenging but filled with wry humor, Eprile's novel presents events from Paul Sweetbread's life slowly, sometimes deliberately omitting important information in order to maintain suspense and let the reader come to know Paul through his life and actions, rather than through background information. He creates a sympathetic picture of an extremely sensitive young man who finds himself in impossible situations which mark him for life. His philosophical musings near the end of the book about memory and metaphor raise important questions about society and national "memory," how a country constructs its memories of the past in order to make it acceptable, and careful readers will savor the language and sheer intelligence of Eprile's observations. Mary Whipple
A Cautionary and Prophetic Novel for South Africa.......2004-10-13
Why is Tony Eprile's powerful and highly literary novel about his growing up in apartheid South Africa nowhere to be found in the popular chain bookstores in the prosperous shopping malls in Johannesburg and Cape Town? Probably for the same reason that most white South Africans, save the unrehabilitated right-wing Africaners, deny having anything to do with the horrors of Apartheid. Raising the unpleasantness of the inhumanities of this state-sponsored policy at a dinner party in South Africa is considered poor taste, much as discussion of the camps was eschewed by polite German society of the 1950's and 1960's. The past is just that, so reason so many white South Africans, who drive their Mercedes and BMW's past vast squatter shanty towns bordering the verdant suburbs, where affluent, largely white communities appear to thrive amid the sea of need that contains so many of the country's black citizens. In one such Cape Town suburb an office of Sotheby's International Real Estate is located directly across the road from a particularly miserable shanty town. "Memory is itself a subversive act," writes Eprile, and the absence of memory destines so many whites in South Africa to luxurate in total denial of the active volcano they live atop. The future of South Africa is a matter of great importance, if only for the great human suffering which would occur if the country were to implode as Zimbabwe has. Tony Eprile's novel would merit serious attention for its articulate, literary style alone. But as a cautionary and prophetic view of South Africa's past and future, it is a mirror for anyone who cares about injustice and its peaceful resolution, both in Africa and in western countries which are still struggling with racism and the inhumanities thereof.
Book Description
A rogue shrouded in mystery, Lord Gabriel Kenyon returns from abroad to find himself guardian of Kate Talisford, the girl he had betrayed four years earlier. Now sworn to protect her, he fights his attraction to the spirited young woman. Although Kate wants nothing to do with the scoundrel who had once scorned her, Gabriel is the only man who can help her recover a priceless artifact stolen from her late father. On a quest to outwit a murderous villain, she soon discovers her true adventure lies with Gabriel himself, a seducer whose tempting embrace offers an irresistible challenge--to uncover his secrets and claim his heart forever....
Customer Reviews:
Great!.......2002-09-15
Gabriel Kenyon returns from Africa seeking revenge on the man who killsed his partner. He also finds himself responsible for his parner's daughters. But he'd rather face the wilds of Africa than face Kate Talisford, a girl he's sworn to protect...a girl he longs to possess. As Kate and Gabriel search for her father's killer and a priceless statue, they find that maybe the true treasure is the bond that they're forging...a bond that could be love.
Barbara Dawson Smith tells a fantastic historical story, full of intrigue, fun and of course, love.
terrible disappointment but should've known.......2002-01-29
The official reviewers panned this romance, but because just about everything Smith has written has been at least passable, I thought they were being too harsh. Not so!
The hero is neither likeable nor intriguing, and the story leaden and choppy. Stay away from this one. Try her best stories instead, in my opinion, Never a Lady and Her Secret Affair (if you like the reluctant male lover type!).
Tempting indeed!.......2002-01-22
This is a wonderful romantic adventure with a plot and pace that never let up as orphaned Kate plunges into a wild search involving an ancient Egyptian icon and a truly chilling group of Regency bad guys. Gabriel is the perfect hero--reluctant, sexy and ultimately redeemed by the love of a good woman. Barbara Dawson Smith is one of the most consistently excellent authors in the genre.
Not Her Best.......2001-11-25
In 1812 England, Kate Talisford and her younger sister, Meg, are forced to move to a smaller dwelling after the death of their father, Professor Henry Talisford. Both girls are startled when Lord Gabriel Kenyon appears on their doorstep after accompanying their father on his expedition to Africa four years prior. Kate is especially embarrassed, recalling her previous declaration of undying love for Gabriel and promised seduction if he would convince her father to abandon his expedition. But Gabriel hasn't forgotten Kate and finds her more attractive than he did four years ago.
As he informs the girls that he is now their guardian, he warns them away from Sir Charles Damson. Gabe believes that Sir Charles is responsible for Henry's death and subsequent theft of a valuable artifact that Henry discovered. Romantic tension sizzles between Gabriel and Kate as Meg and Kate accompany Gabriel to his grandmother's estate and begin their search for the missing artifact.
Though the love scenes are sufficiently steamy, the romance seems a little contrived as Gabriel hardly seems the type of man to carry a torch for a sixteen-year-old girl for four years and then give up his wandering for her. And, while Yasmin's reappearance in England could tie up some loose ends and supply some angst to Gabe and Kate's relationship, the reader is left in the dark concerning the exotic Yasmin's seduction of Gabriel and subsequent association with Sir Charles. Fans of this author will recognize Gabriel as the younger brother of Michael, the hero in ROMANCING THE ROGUE. Avid readers of Ms. Dawson Smith shouldn't be too disappointed with her latest read, but it probably won't generate a lot of new fans.
You Can Do Better, Barbara!.......2001-11-24
I have always purchased Barbara Dawson Smith's books, sight unseen, but this is the last time. Tempt Me Twice has a potentially interesting character in Gabriel Kenyon, but there is not enough depth of character that endears or excites the reader towards lusting after him, as our dear, sweet heroine, Kate supposedly does. Most of all, enough with those dull Rosebuds! If you want a sensational Barbara Dawson Smith book, try Too Wicked to Love. It is sensational! And funny and very character driven--and one of the best Regencies I have ever read! And Barbara, I am hoping with your next book, you will win me over once again.
Customer Reviews:
Great Great Read...Looking to buy more of this authors books........2006-07-06
Two books in one and a great surprise. The surprise was how satisfying the stories were. Neither story left you feeling like you missed something, these were two complete stories that were interwoven together. Now i'm looking to see if some of the characters have their own books somewhere. These stories were great and the characters were wonderful. Been a long time since i actually laughed out loud while reading a romance.
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Customer Reviews:
Go read this bloody, good book!.......1999-08-12
I have never read Eric Lustbader at his best like this. He challenges every boundary of Science-Fiction I know of. Ronin is developed in a very intrueging way. For those who want fantastic entertainment, look no further!
Product Description
3 Titles By Eric Van Lustbader Sunset Warrior Series (1-3) : 1. The Sunset Warrior 2. Shallows of Night 3. Dai-San. three mmpb books.
Average customer rating:
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Shallows of Night
Manufacturer: Berkley Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000I1BSW0 |
Amazon.com
Put together by a radio-show personality who worked closely with medium George Anderson, We Don't Die is well documented, well written, and seems veracious. It is one of the most convincing accounts of communication with the deceased. A gentle religious man, Anderson was almost committed to a state mental hospital at age 16 because of his "visions," but by his 20s, he was helping spirits communicate with friends and relatives still residing on this plane of existence. Approximately 15 percent of the time he's not correct, and this is attributed to mix-ups in human communication or ignorance on the part of the questioner. The information that living folks pass between each other is often relayed or perceived inaccurately, so it seems logical that some perceptive error would occur in communications from the incarnate--particularly since a lot of these are conveyed through images, symbols, and tactile impressions. Anderson's conversations make for an engrossing read not to be missed. --P. Randall Cohan
Book Description
This is the phenomenal true story of the world-renowned psychic medium George Anderson-the groundbreaking book that first brought afterlife experience into the light. For over 12 years Joel Martin documented evidence of Anderson's powers-the ability to reach 'the other side'-and repeatedly astonished believers and skeptics. This is the book of those universal visions, the inspiring messages of hope, truth, and peace, and a glimpse into eternity to answers to the unfathomable questions about life and death.
Customer Reviews:
Deceived.......2007-06-03
How easy are people deceived they rather believe this book than the bible he says there is no hell funny Jesus talks about hell in the bible in Mathew 25 Jesus says these shall go into everlasting fire so I don't know who was giving George Anderson the visions but they were not from Jesus his books are full of errors and are of the devil.
An Amazing Man and a REAL medium.......2007-05-17
In 1995, following the death of my son, I traveled to Long Island to meet with George Anderson. At the time of my trip, I owned a small angel store. One of my customers had just lost her husband so the two of us flew to NY to meet with Mr. Anderson. He knew nothing about either of us, not our names or where we were from. He didn't know we had flown across the country praying for a sign, a connection, a message, ~anything from beyond. George Anderson picked us individually out of an audience at separate times. Both my customer and I had astounding experiences of those who had passed over. My son and her husband both came thru with messages, specific to each of us. I wrote a chapter about the experience in a book recently published, Blessings in the Mire. Anyone that knows me, knows that I was not inclined to believe in mediums, psychics, healers, and the likes, and that for the most part I think most of this is charlatans out to make a buck with their peddled wares. George Anderson changed my mind. He is a very gifted man, with an amazing life story to tell. In this book, We Don't Die, he speaks of how painful his childhood was as a result of his "visions" in his youth. Believe me, because it's true. Get this book, and then if you are in need of spiritual guidance, seek him out. I have long since moved on and no longer have my angel store; now I write books about it! But when I returned to my angel store after the NY trip and meeting with George Anderson, I called the publisher and ordered a crate of, We Don't Die, which I sold in record time. And if you want the detailed account of our profoundly impactful experience feel free to buy Blessings in the Mire.
Superb Book. Loved This Book & Everyone I Gave This Book To Loved It!.......2007-04-21
Goerge Anderson is incredible and he has clearly made a difference in the hearts and minds of those he has touched. A gifted medium and a person of kindness, I found Joel Martin's "We Don't Die" to be inspirational as well as informative. It's a wonderful book for the believer as well as the skeptic. I couldn't put the book down.
Proof of Eternal Life.......2007-04-10
I read this book years ago when I was doubting a meaning in life and everything felt worthless. It gave me hope and provided inspiration for my journey. Must read.
I thought it was very moving.......2007-03-22
The book was so touching and moving that it warms the heart.
Product Description
Poor Emo Boy- he's unpopular. Unloved. He has no family. Not only does he need to deal with things like pondering suicide and questioning his sexual identity, but on top of that he's got these emo super powers that only seem to bring destruction and disaster, causing everyone to hate him more than they already do. His first love suffers a head explosion, the football team wants him dead, and he got an F in English. No wonder he's so depressed!
Customer Reviews:
Steverino you rock!.......2007-02-04
This is one funny character. I love the art. I love the stories. I love all of it. Can't wait for volume two of Emo Boy.
move over, hamlet!.......2006-12-08
If you like emo, comic books, or neither, this book is for you. Anyone could find something to like about Emo Boy. The author strays from band name-dropping and cliche-pushing to deliver a character who at his very core is just looking to be accepted - and, after all, that's what everyone's looking for. These first six issues of the series promise that good things may yet be coming for the world's most melancholy superhero.
Average customer rating:
- Not very convincing afterlife material.
- Truly Comforting and Inspirational
- IT IS A VERY GOOD BOOK!!!!
- Believable and Inspirational
- Very convincing, and not a bit goofy
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Heather's Return: The Amazing Story of a Child's Communications from Beyond the Grave (The We Don't Die Series)
Geri Colozzi Wiitala
Manufacturer: A.R.E. Press (Association of Research & Enlig
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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From Erin With Love: Knowledge of Life After Death
ASIN: 0876043511 |
Book Description
Soon to be a TV movie, Heather's Return tells the true story of Heather Leigh Wiitala, a teenager who died September 25, 1990, yet manages to reach out from "the other side" to comfort her grief stricken mother, the author of this book. Dreams, apparitions, and mysterious events are related that reveal the existence of a never-ending dimension to life. Whether you believe in reincarnation or not, your heart will be warmed by this tale of hope.
Customer Reviews:
Not very convincing afterlife material........2006-02-24
I really feel sorry for the author of this book. After the loss of her daughter, this grieving mother is desperately searching for answers. She starts to think that different coincidences in her life (she calls it "synchronicity") are messages from her daughter from beyond the grave. While some of her experiences are unusual, she interprets things like finding a penny on the ground or hearing a popular song on the radio as a sign from her daughter. At one point she interprets finding a penny with the current year on it as meaning that her daughter wanted her to make a new start. Everytime she sees a picture of a rose, she thinks her daughter is trying to tell her something. Clearly, if we are looking for a particular symbol, we will find it, because you would have overlooked it if you weren't searching for it. It's nice that these experiences helped her to cope with a tragic loss, but it's definitely not convincing afterlife reading.
Truly Comforting and Inspirational.......2002-04-06
I read this book recently for the second time. I am truly amazed by the events in this book. I too had a child who died who was born the same year as the author's Heather. My child passed away in the same hospital as Heather. I share the author's tremendous grief and have renewed my faith in God. I live in the vicinity of the author and have visited Heather's grave many many times, praying that Heather can find my child in heaven and let him know how very much I love and miss him. After reading this book I too am praying for communications beyond the grave. I can't wait!
IT IS A VERY GOOD BOOK!!!!.......2001-01-18
This was an excellent book. My aunt wrote it 6 years after my cousin Heather's death. It is about going through lifes obstacles of losing a loved one. She talks alot about her old religon and how it had an effect on her beliefs. After Heather died she started showing my aunt that there was life after death. And by these happenings it forced my aunt out of her religon to reconsidering new beliefs and reincarnation. After she got through her "obstacles" in life she showed that many other people can get out of the religon too and she makes people believe in the unexplained. It is a really good book and please consider in reading her other two books out!! There is also a movie coming out on Heather's Return in 2002. It's as good as the book. Please go and see it when it comes out!!!! Many kids in my school read this book and were very interested in it so please take the time to read it and tell other people about it!
Believable and Inspirational.......2000-05-08
Someone gave me this book about 3 years ago, and I just read it this past week. I couldn't put it down. Geri Colozzi Wiitala relates the remarkable "coincidences" that happen after her 17 year old daughter's death in 1990. I found myself reading pages outloud to my partner and some friends because I was so excited by the intensity of some of the "coincidental" events. Excited, because I, too, often see many syncronicities in my life. There is one example that Wiitala relates about seeing a license plate with a significant name, at a very 'coincidental' time, and I was so interested because I often see 'meaningful' license plates at "meaningful" times. You will enjoy this book, and you will be inspired! You will remember the syncronicities in your own life, and you will want to be open to seeing more. I decided to keep a Journal of my experiences, because of Wiitala's book.
Very convincing, and not a bit goofy.......1999-01-27
Don't be put off by the fact that the title sounds like New Age goofiness and the book is published by Edgar Cayce's organization. The author is no dummy, and the book is well-written and convincing. The author was a committed Jehovah's Witness who found her beliefs challenged by the paranormal events surrounding her 17-year-old daughter's death from a cancer-related infection. The events themselves run the gamut but are low-key, experienced by several people, and generally have the ring of truth. The book is not the least bit preachy (quite the opposite, really). Of the literally hundreds of books on the paranormal that I have read, this is one of the few that substantially exceeded my expectations. It's not going to convince a skeptic, but I have no doubt the author is sincerely reporting what she and others experienced.
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Dinge, Die Wir Nicht Verstehen/Things We Don't Understand
Manufacturer: Verlag Der Kunst
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 9057051567 |
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We Don't Die
Manufacturer: G. P. Putnam's Sons
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HTL4ZE |
Books:
- The Pinball Compendium, 1930s-1960s
- The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist (Interlink World Fiction Series)
- The Shadow of Doctor Syn
- The Shark Mutiny
- The Steel Breakfast Era: The Decadent Return of the Hi-Fi Queen and Her Embryonic Reptile Infection (Eraserhead Double #3)
- The Story of Colors/La Historia de Los Colores: A Bilingual Folktale from the Jungles of Chiapas
- The Sweetheart Season: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)
- The Task of This Translator
- The Tidewater Tales (Maryland Paperback Bookshelf)
- The Turquoise Ring
Books Index
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