Swimming in the Volcano: A Novel

Book Description

Winner of the American Book Award for Easy in the Islands, Bob Shacochis returns to the setting of his first collection of stories with Swimming in the Volcano, a haunting and evocative novel possessed of the same beauty as the places and people of the Caribbean. Set on the fictional Caribbean island of St. Catherine, an American expatriate becomes unwittingly embroiled in an internecine war between rival factions of the government. Into this potentially explosive scene enters a woman once loved and lost, but who remains a powerful temptation-one that proves impossible to resist.

Customer Reviews:

1st Installment in a Trilogy?.......2002-09-26

I'm a big Shacochis fan. I've devoured all of his work,and have had the good fortune to see him do a reading of 'Squirrelly's Grouper' down in Key West, several years ago. I loved this book, but, was told, at one point by the author himself,that it was the 1st installment in a trilogy. In fact, I was told the second book's working title was 'The Magnificence of All that Burns". As good as "Swimming in the Volcano' is,it begs for a follow up. What happens to Mitch? What happens to Issacs? What happens to Cassius Collymore? Perspiring minds want to know!

Magical, Frightening and True.......2001-03-28

This book caused me to add Bob Shacochis' name to the list of authors whose prose is absolutely brilliant--sometimes even a bit blinding, as some other reviewers have suggested, but it is superb writing nonetheless. Shacochis joins Reynolds Price, V.S. Naipaul, Annie Proulx and Don DeLillo in my pantheon of modern literary geniuses. Maybe "economy" was not one of the author's strong suits when he wrote "Swimming in the Volcano," but to me this is an absolutely trivial objection when weighed against the power of his language and the unflinching accuracy of his observations.

Unnecessary verbosity and flashy writing are literary sins, to be sure, but Shacochis doesn't commit them here. If "Swimming in the Volcano" is overwhelming at times, it's because the author is sounding depths of the human experience other writers don't dare to plumb. He is not indulging himself or merely playing with words. He gets into the minds of his subjects, Caribbean and American; and their voices, whether in Caribbean or American dialects, ring jarringly true.

I would rank this novel with Don DeLillo's "Underworld" for its rare synthesis of power and substance. Like DeLillo's masterpiece, "Swimming in the Volcano" has plenty of sound and fury, but signifies something profound about men and women and the lives they create.

The Next New World........2000-02-07

"Swimming in the Volcano" follows in the brilliant footsteps of Graham Greene's library. This book is full of lush prose and novel metaphors, on top of a thought-provoking and involving story. By the way, you may want to have a dictionary nearby.

Waiting for the volcano to blow.......1999-11-27

The obvious comparison is to Robert Stone and Graham Greene. Alright, no problem. If you're going to "borrow," might as well borrow from the best. But the author expends too much energy on trying to impress the reader with the quality of his prose and not enough on characterization. I'm impressed, however, with the scope of his knowledge oncultural matters relating to the Carribbean -- he obviously knows his subject. A good book, but next time, Bob, lighten up on the literary pyrotechnics. Go back and read G. Greene and you'll be reminded how simply and eloquently he states his case.

Lush and Captivating.......1999-10-20

This is a book to be savored rather than gulped. It is like sipping cognac. The prose is lush and sensuous. As the various scenes unfolded I could feel myself inside them. Shacochis takes us into the complexities and uncertainties experienced by well intentioned, idealistic and naive people as they get caught up in forces that ultimately consume and, in some cases, destroy them. You have to concentrate and contemplate. And you are left hanging till the last page. And even then the story stays with you. A thoughtful tour of the dark side of life, culture and politics in the Carribean.

Average customer rating:

Swimming in the Volcano : A Novel
Bob Shacochis
Manufacturer: Penguin USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OM15R6

Customer Reviews:

It Takes Courage!.......2006-01-24

To be able to take her half brother and sisters across country
and set up a new life in town took a lot of work. But then
when her house is vandalized it become doubly hard. A lot of
people help her to rebuild and support her. There could have
been a tragic ending if Wade had to come to her rescue. What
courage Callie had to do this in her life.

I enjoyed this book in this series. You will too.

Hiding from the law...........2005-12-17

ALL ROADS LEAD TO TEXAS by Linda Warren
December 16, 2005

Amazon rating 3.5/5

Reviewed by Marie Hashima Lofton

"Callie Lambert changes her last name to Austin and takes her three young half siblings from New York to the Texas town she was told she was born in. Callie has heard of a special homestead program there, which will make land available to her. What the townspeople don't know is that Callie technically kidnapped her siblings and is most likely wanted by the FBI. When Callie shows up in Homestead, she is assumed to be the children's mother, but in reality Adam, Brit and Mary Beth are her siblings by a different father (now deceased), and are hiding from their abusive stepfather Nigel. Their mother is also dead, and only Callie can protect them.

In Homestead, they encounter people who are as good to them as family, and Callie falls for the sheriff, a cowboy named Wade Montgomery. He senses that Callie is hiding something, but his gut tells him to trust her. Wade is dealing with his own demons, mainly trying to get over the tragic death of his only son." - Complete review at BookLoons - M. Lofton.

I enjoyed this story and was especially caught up with the fact that the children were running away from their step-father, an abusive man that was not after their best interests. Not my favorite book in this series but was still enjoyable nonetheless.

fine romantic thriller .......2005-12-15

Callie Lambert fears her abusive stepfather who she assumes killed her mother; however her trepidation is not so much for herself, but for her younger half-brother and two half sisters. Feeling a need to protect them, Callie abducts her siblings and flees New York for her birth town Homestead, Texas using a different identity so as to make sure she cannot be traced. She assumes that law enforcement will ultimately catch up to her vile stepfather.

Callie knows having four young people move into the small town would not allow them to stay in hiding, but she plans to insure nothing would place her in the spotlight of the sheriff's office. However, that is before she met Sheriff Wade Montgomery, who seems to have more than just a passing interest in her and her charges as they are attracted to one another form the first encounter. Still he upholds the law so she dreads what he will do if he learns the truth. Wade realizes she hides a secret that keeps her anxious especially around him, but wants to help her even if it means losing the job he always wanted for not helping her means losing his heart.

The duo enhanced by the antics of her siblings and the townsfolk make for a fine romantic thriller with the suspense coming early and late. The ensemble cast is top rate with the varying individuals having differing personalities. Though the stepdad is mean to the bone with no redeeming quality, fans will appreciate this return Home to Loveless County entry due to a fine plot focusing on the trepidations of Callie cautious distrust of falling in love.

Harriet Klausner

All Roads Lead to Texas : Home to Loveless County (Harlequin Superromance No. 1314)

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All Roads Lead to Texas : Home to Loveless County (Harlequin Superromance No. 1314)
Linda Warren
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OWWXEK

Book Description

A must for Myst fans - the third novel from the creators of the CD-ROM Myst and the new CD-ROM - Riven.

It has been nearly seventy years since the devastation of D'Ni by Veovis. In Myst: The Book of D'Ni, Atrus and Catherine return to D'Ni to begin the rebuilding of the once again beautiful city and the search for survivors trapped in the Ages to which they escaped. Their rebuilding and resulting discoveries tell them much about themselves, their future, and most surprising, about their secret past.

This stunning and mystifying AudioBook is the perfect companion on that next long drive, plane ride, or walk. Let Myst: The Book of D'Ni take you on an adventure.

Customer Reviews:

Great Myst literature.......2007-06-07

Before I got down to reading this book not too long ago, it had been just sitting in my bookshelf. I've owned all three Myst novels for however long they've been out and while I read the other two years ago, I never touched this one. I think the description on the back cover threw me off. Maybe it just didn't sound interesting to me. I don't know. What I do know is that I really shouldn't have passed it off all this time because as I discovered when I finally did read it, there was an adventure lying in wait that I had been missing out on the whole time.

Yes, I guess you could say the plot starts off slow (or is non-existent in the beginning). The same could be said in The Book of Ti'ana (my personal favorite of the three). But quite honestly, I never felt it. I have a great love for everything Myst, and so from the first page, I was in it for the duration, regardless of how dull it was. It really does get good, though. They return to D'ni and begin exploring the Ages within recovered books. This in itself is quite the adventure, since the possibilities are endless. And then, once they discover Terahnee.... well, let me just say it only gets better from there.

This novel is an adventure, and I'd highly encourage anyone interested in reading this book to do so.

Beautiful book, even if not a Myst fan.......2004-04-11

Not usually a fan of video games, I was at first reluctant to read this book. However, I'm glad I did. It is a beautiful story, involving moving themes and wonderful insites into civil rights issues. Both well written and well paced, the book ranks as one of the best I've ever read, along with Tehanu (Ursula LeGuin) and The Time Traveller's Wife (Audrey Niffenger). It shows a stroke of brilliance not demonstrated in either of the other two books before it, so if you could not stomache the second (as I couldn't), still read this one.

Light-reading.......2004-03-17

Though I enjoyed reading, Myst: The Book of D'Ni, there are a number of problems with the story. The book itself is rather pretty physically, with gray parchment-like paper and embossed cover. It is well written in the general sense of being easy to read, having good dialogue, and a smooth flow throughout. The main problem with the book is that not much happens in the first two-thirds of it. Not until then does the primary crisis of the book appear. Prior to this there are a few minor challenges and even the death of a colleague. But the death is treated rather cursorily and the poor person makes his exit from the story without much memory of him afterward. When the crisis does come it isn't all that unique and Atrus, the main character, never seems to be in serious peril through most of it. The one or two points at which he, and his party, seem in danger of their lives the authors let them off the hook rather too easily. Those might not seem criticisms at all to some. David Gerrold's advice to writers in, Worlds of Wonder, is appropriate here: "[challenges/crises] require that the person at the core of the story grow teeth big enough to chew [them]." That is also how the reader grows. Atrus never really seems to have problems big enough to be interesting, or worthy of stretching his abilities to the utmost, until the end of the story. Even then the situation never really feels out-of-control - partly due to the fact that the crisis is somewhat of an overused device with the rather predictable "surprise" setbacks. I don't mean to be too harsh. The characters are likeable, and sometimes memorable. If you are interested in light reading, I could easily recommend this book.

Great book........2004-01-24

I read this book at a very young age, probably around eleven or twelve, and it has stuck with me ever since. I've probably read it about twice. The hardcover edition is amazing, with fully designed pages and everything, it really helps the enviroment of MYST sink in. Summaries of what happens in this books are in other reviews, so I wont bother with that here.

Out of all the other MYST books, I always thought that this one was a best one... But it is unlike the other two in subject matter and basic concepts. At it's heart is a "what price will you pay for perfection? and would you throw it away if you had to?" sort of story that might be a little heavy handed... But if you enjoy the videogames a lot (and this was before Riven) then you'll love this one. Locations and things described in this book have stuck with me for the last six years.

Good storyline, a little dry at times though.......2003-12-30

A very interesting continuation of the myst storyline. It was interesting to discover how and where the previous myst characters ended up. The beginning of the book is slow to get started (about the first 1/3 of the book). The first time I started reading it, I didn't finish due to the boring beginning. After that, however, it picks up. The style of book is quite similare to the previous books, and is filled with beauty, awe and mystery. As compared to the previous books, it is not as good, but good enough. I give it four stars.

The Myst Reader, Books 1-3: Three Books in One Volume (The Book of Atrus; The Book of Ti'ana; The Book of D'ni)

Average customer rating:

Great for any reader!
A sensational book
Simply wonderful.
Must read Myst Reader
Myst Reader

The Myst Reader, Books 1-3: Three Books in One Volume (The Book of Atrus; The Book of Ti'ana; The Book of D'ni)
Rand Miller , Robyn Miller , and David Wingrove
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1401307817

Book Description

This omnibus edition of the hugely popular Myst trilogy is published to coincide with the release of Myst Revelations, the latest in the line of the bestselling Myst interactive CD-ROM games.The award-winning Myst series is one of the most successful interactive CD-ROM computer games in history with sales of more than 12 million copies worldwide. Myst captivated the world when it was first conceived and created by brothers Rand and Robyn Miller. Its extraordinary success has gone on to spawn Riven, Myst III Exile, and most recently, Uru: The Ages Beyond Myst. Devoted fans of these surreal adventure games gather yearly at "Mysterium" (whose event sites are spreading to other countries) to exchange game strategies, share stories, and meet up with old friends.The Myst Reader is a literary companion to the CD-ROM games and a compendium of the bestselling official Myst trilogy: The Book of Atrus, The Book of Ti'ana, and The Book of D'ni. Devoted fans and new players alike will be delighted to have three books in this mythic saga together for the first time in one value-priced volume, which will be published in time to coincide with the long-awaited release of Myst Revelations.

Customer Reviews:

Great for any reader!.......2007-04-09

I have read these books and played the games. These books are stand alone and are wonderful. They are some of my all time favorite books and have been reread many times. They are enthralling, entertaining and so well written. I own them all seperately, The Book of Ti'ana my favorite. I think combining them in one volume is great too. But I do suggest reading them in a different order than they were written. According to chronological storyline, The Book of Ti'ana comes first, then The Book of Atrus, then The Book of D'ni. But they're still easy to follow in any order. Great great books! Buy them!
Still hoping for The Book of Marrim!

A sensational book.......2007-02-21

This book is superb, a "must read" for anyone. On top of that the games are GREAT. This book may be invaluable in the sense that it will add the storyline of the games and vise versa. With "MYST Online:URU Live" released (Feb/2007) this will definitely give you a great experience while exploring D'ni (The Deep City) in-game.

I would rate this book along with the likes of "The Lord of The Rings", "The Chronicles of Narnia" and even "Harry Potter".

Thank you Rand Miller for creating a great fantasy world for me to escape to. I'm looking foward to the release of "The Book of Marrim".

Simply wonderful........2007-02-12

My first book of the trilogy was the second, then I searched for and found the third. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the first book for a very long time - "out of print," etc, etc. So I was overjoyed to find this edition recently. I admire the intricate setting of the world of D'ni, and simply love them all. They're a must-read that I return to every few months. I think they're just as wonderful as the games, wonderful in a unique way.

Must read Myst Reader.......2007-01-11

This is a must read for anyone who is serious about the game. Not only does it give a rich history of the D'ni but it gives an in depth understanding of the core of the game...... the linking books. For fans of fantasy/SF, the story plot is great and the pace keeps you reading with anticipation.

Myst Reader.......2007-01-05

Great to read the history of the game, as I am a fan of making of movies etc, it looks like a whole world has been created.

Regards

Joyce Parratt

Memoirs from the Beijing Film Academy: The Genesis of China's Fifth Generation (Asia-Pacific)

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Memoirs from the Beijing Film Academy: The Genesis of China's Fifth Generation (Asia-Pacific)
Zhen Ni
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Movie Directors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0822329700

Book Description

After graduating from the Beijing Film Academy in 1982, directors like Chen Kaige and Zhang Yimou transformed Chinese cinema with Farewell My Concubine, Yellow Earth, Raise the Red Lantern, and other international successes. Memoirs from the Beijing Film Academy tells the riveting story of this class of 1982, China’s famous "Fifth Generation" of filmmakers. It is the first insider’s account of this renowned cohort to appear in English. Covering these directors’ formative experiences during China’s tumultuous Cultural Revolution and later at the Beijing Film Academy, Ni Zhenâwho was both their screenwriter and teacherâprovides unique insights into the origins of the Fifth Generation’s creativity. Drawing on his personal knowledge and interviews conducted especially for this volume, Ni Zhen demonstrates the diversity of the Fifth Generation. He comments on the breadth of styles and themes explored by its members and introduces a range of male and female directors, cinematographers, and production designers famous in China but less well-known internationally. The book contains vivid descriptions of the production processes of two pioneering filmsâOne and Eight and Yellow Earth.

Average customer rating:

Myst: The Book of D'Ni (Book 3)
Rand Miller , and David Wingrove
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UTBD9I

Myst : The Book of D'Ni; Myst : The Book of Ti'Ana

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Myst : The Book of D'Ni; Myst : The Book of Ti'Ana
Rand with David Wingrove Miller
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000M4UIVK

Average customer rating:

Wonderful...

Myst: Book of D'Ni
Rand Miller
Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0517289733
Release Date: 1998-12-15

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful..........2006-03-03

Enter Myst: The Book of D'ni. The third installment of the wonderfully acclaimed novels of Myst. Rand Miller indulges us with another spectacular thrill ride of the magical worlds that were created via teleportation books known as the linking books. And this time, we're taken to not in D'ni, but to another world. A world that the D'ni tried so hard to protect, even after its tragic demise.... but when Atrus and his lovely wife, Catherine, accompanied now by some young friends, found a linking book hidden away from the D'ni during the attack of the plauge. Unaware at what might happen to the people living in that world, they link.

This book was to me, a wonderfully written story. Although it's not as good as Rand's previous two installments, Book of Ti'ana and Book of Atrus. But I will refuse to say that Book of D'ni isn't bad either. If you've read the Book of Ti'ana, you'll realize a similarity later in the story. The new world Rand introduces us to is nothing short of breathtaking. Although this story doesn't pull you in and make you feel like you're "really there" like BoT did, the characters aren't as memorable as the others are, either. Because after reading this book, the only characters you'll be left to remember are the ones at the very end. Still, it's a wonderful story. And since the Book of Marrim is being finished very, very soon (more like, extremely soon), it's best to read this book to familiarize yourself with Marrim. As she will become important in the next book.

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Myst: The Book of D'Ni
Rand Miller
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000O63804

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MYST: THE BOOK OF D'NI (MYST, NO 3)

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GKQVKC

Ni Dieu, ni maître, ni croquettes - 30 millions d'imbéciles

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Ni Dieu, ni maître, ni croquettes - 30 millions d'imbéciles
Pat Larcenet , and Manu Larcenet
Manufacturer: Glénat
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
ASIN: 2723427811

Book Description

The Gospel According to Mark is the first volume in the Opening the Scripture series by Loyola Press. Its subtitle, Meaning and Message, indicates its nature and purpose. It carefully examimes the meaning of the biblical text in order to discern the message of the Gospel of Mark for readers today.

Customer Reviews:

A good study tool.......2007-01-09

We are using this book in a group setting but is probably just as good a tool for use by oneself. It is very informative. Used with a Bible, checking on Old Testament and New Testament related scripture, a wonderful picture comes through and you can relate to Mark's story!

Popular, Practical, Personal.......2005-11-21

I found George Martin's, The Gospel According to Mark, a pleasure to read and very practical. He has thoroughly researched the scholarship on Mark and used it to under gird his observations. Martin's writing is clear and direct. He writes popularly, but substantially, so the book serves both lay readers like me and Bible scholars as well. And he does not take us down rabbit trails on technical matters that would sidetrack us from the main purpose of understanding the text at hand.
The book is also easy to read because it is laid out intelligently and gracefully. The gospel is presented in the text, so I did not have to go back and forth between it and my Bible. Passages of Mark are printed in bold and are followed by Martin's explanations in standard type. Scattered throughout the book are very informative blocks of information about the social, political, economic, and religious background of the gospel.
The Gospel According to Mark has changed the way I read the Bible. Martin's sentence by sentence explanation of the meaning of Mark's words and what they said to Mark's original readers has caused me to approach all Scripture with more care. His disciplined approach to figuring out the context of each passage has shown me the importance of working hard at discovering what the writers of Scripture intended to say to their first readers and what they say to me.
Best of all, however, George Martin's book has unpacked the meaning if Mark's gospel so effectively for me so that I am getting to know Jesus better, which is one of my life goals.

Worthwhile and Spiritually Challenging Reading.......2005-10-04

Although I prefer the Revised Standard Version, I can understand why George Martin uses the New American Bible translation of the Gospel of Mark as the basis of his fine commentary--it is the translation used in the Catholic lectionary. In spite of using a translation I do not prefer, Martin's commentary is very good because he seeks to use the Gospel to challenge the reader with penetrating questions. Martin's commentary, like the Gospel itself, calls us to conversion. Instead of a dry academic commentary, Martin gives us a pastoral commentary that, at the same time, is scholarly in the best sense of the term. For example, he includes valuable historical and theological background information in various text boxes throughout the book. I will quibble with him on two matters only. First, he seems, to me at least, to push the envelope a bit too much in speculating about the limitations of Jesus' knowledge inherent in his human nature (see, for example, pp. 333, 359-60). Second, I flatly disagree with his analysis of Jesus' saying that in the resurrected life "they neither marry nor are given in marriage" in the pericope at Mark 12:18-27. Martin speculates that Jesus may mean "that there will be no new marriages in heaven, not that existing marriages will be dissolved" (p. 322). In my opinion, the plain meaning of the pericope is that the earthly marriages of the widow are in fact dissolved at death--none of the seven marriages becomes part of the risen life. This meaning is certainly consistent with the Catholic view that marriages are dissolved when either party dies. There may be at work here a lurking Western cultural "romanticism" in the commentary. Other than those two quibbles, I think all would greatly gain, as I did, from reading this spiritually challenging commentary.

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