Being Mrs. Alcott

Average customer rating:

Limited Interest

Beautiful Journey Through an Unglamourous Life

A good study of human nature.

An interesting novel about keeping up appearances

Being Mrs. Alcott
Nancy Geary
Manufacturer: Grand Central Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0446697567

Book Description

Married for nearly 35 years and living in a house that has been standing for the better part of a century, Grace Alcott is the picture of quiet domesticity. But with her husbands premature retirement and their fortune dwindling, they are on the verge of losing their cherished family home. Now, as she secretly deals with a terrible illness, Grace must come to terms with the choices shes made and find the strength to salvage what she holds most dear. BEING MRS. ALCOTT captures the deep sorrows lying just beneath the surface of privilegeand poignantly portrays one womans love for her fractured, but beloved, family.

Customer Reviews:

Limited Interest.......2006-11-26

A very easy read with one-dimensional characters of most interest, I should think, to those familiar with Boston and Chatham.

Beautiful Journey Through an Unglamourous Life.......2005-12-08

This complex story belongs in the same category as 'About Schmidt' in that we are invited for an intimate look at the inner thoughts of a normal, average woman: Grace Alcott. The reader almost matures with the central character from college days into grandparenthood - gaining increased confidence, yet never quite successfully dodging life's questions and doubts. Real life is truly reflected in Grace Alcott's story. Being Mrs. Alcott is a beautiful depiction not of 'and they lived happily ever after,' but rather, 'they continued to struggle and live as happily as they knew how.' An empathetic reader gains a wise perspective on a parent's view of the world: reflections of life's successes and failures from marriage to child rearing to retirement.

I would recommend this to anyone with a mother, sister or wife, and I would pass this along as recommended reading to mothers, sisters and wives as well.

A good study of human nature........2005-08-22

I've read all four of Ms. Geary's books and this one is quite different from the other three. It isn't a mystery. It's more of a character study taking Grace from her courtship in the 60s up to the present. Ms. Geary has done an excellent job of not stereotyping each individual, showing that everyone of us has good and bad traits. Her insight and perception over the decades of time covered is magnificent. I couldn't help wondering how she could know this much about love, marriage, human tendencies, etc. Her observations were very perceptive, and interesting. Almost educational.

An interesting novel about keeping up appearances.......2005-08-03

Throughout her life Grace had always behaved in a proper manner --- proper for someone raised in a well-connected, upper class New England family. Grace went to the best schools, wore the nicest clothes, and enjoyed a life of leisure and luxury, never earning a single paycheck. As she was growing up, Grace's parents made all the decisions for her. Her mother even orchestrated the perfect wedding without considering Grace's wishes.

When she married Bain Alcott, an ambitious young man from her own socioeconomic class, Grace's life did not change so very drastically because someone else still earned all the money and made all the decisions. Bain provided them with a very comfortable lifestyle that included a lovely beachfront home on Cape Cod. Grace followed whatever decisions her sometimes-overbearing husband made, even though she did have some ideas of her own. When she disagreed with Bain she confided only in Prissy, her rather unconventional friend of whom Bain did not approve.

The Alcotts suffered a devastating loss during the early years of their marriage when the elderly babysitter left their baby daughter alone in the tub to answer the phone. In an instant Sarah drowned. Grace suffered the loss in her characteristic proper manner, gracefully and silently. She later had two sons. Bain spent most of his time and energy earning a living, and Grace practically raised their sons alone. The family's social life consisted of tennis, the country club, and other similar activities. The boys were denied nothing.

Though Grace attempted to instill the values with which she had been raised, her sons often did not behave in what she considered the proper manner. As the boys grew up they became strangers to Grace. They did not respect their mother and had no appreciation of all that she had done for them. They assumed that the comfortable lifestyle their workaholic father provided was their birthright and were ill-prepared for their adult lives, which involved jobs and marriage.

From outward appearances Grace and Bain had a nearly picture-perfect life; Bain believed in keeping up appearances. Behind the scenes, however, the picture was much less appealing. Bain's investments suffered a huge loss. Even with all his business acumen, he could not reverse it, so he decided to sell their Cape Cod home. He made this decision without even asking for Grace's opinion. Grace loved the house and was deeply pained at the thought of having to give it up.

Grace received some upsetting news from her doctor that she chose, rather uncharacteristically, not to share with Bain even though the doctor urged her to do so. The doctor wanted to run a series of tests to confirm his suspicion that Grace had breast cancer, the same disease that took Grace's mother's life at age 45. Grace decided that her possible diagnosis, which she believed was a definite diagnosis, would remain her guarded secret. She decided to live out whatever remaining time she had in her own way. She did not want to be pitied and fussed over, and be in the process of dying. She wanted to carry on as always, being Mrs. Alcott, and just fade away when the time came.

Grace's fantasy of just fading away was just that --- a fantasy. The reader realizes that real life doesn't work that way. Author Nancy Geary keeps the reader keenly interested as the novel reaches its unpredictable conclusion.

--- Reviewed by Carole Turner

Book Description

Medusanna
A priestess of terrifying power convinces the
Se’sehen
A yuan-ti tribe from the distant jungles of Chult to serve her growing cult of
Sseth
The merciless god of the serpent people who languishes in the foul plane of
Smaragh
Where a trapped and desperate Karell can only hope Arvin will find her before the
House of Serpents
Finally destroys their last hope for freedom.

Customer Reviews:

The Circled Serpent.......2007-08-16

Vanity's Brood picks up from where Viper's Kiss left off and continues to shed light on Arvin, a rogue/psion, and his efforts at exacting revenge on Sybil, the half-demon yuan-ti abomination responsible for the deaths of Naulg and Karrell, the only two people he ever felt close to. In this final installment Arvin who has grown stronger, mastering powers such as invisibility and polymorph self among others, returns to Hlondeth before traveling to the exotic Jungles of Chult...
Vanity's Brood starts off incredibly well, with a description of Smaragd, one of the infinite layers of the Abyss, immediately catching the reader's interest and attention. The plot as a whole is excellent! The book is so incredibly well written and presented that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense.
Lisa Smedman has done a FANTASTIC job of acquiring and presenting, efficiently and successfully, essential knowledge relevant to Faerun, including customs, religion and the history of the peoples of Toril. Her solid grasp of factual detail makes her capable of providing the necessary background needed to carry out the difficult task of writing Forgotten Realms novels, which is something often missing from the work of many Fantasy authors. Consequently, from the moment you pick up the book you have trouble putting it down and if that is not a clear sign of a fantastic writer/author, I don't know what is!
Moreover, Lisa Smedman does a fantastic job of providing a good dose of Faerunian history and lore throughout the book (e.g. pages 12-13).
Furthermore, on pages 122, 130, and 237 respectively, the author provides more exceptional portrayals that help teleport the reader alongside Arvin: "They recoiled and stumbled backward, screaming and weeping. At least a dozen ran blindly into the lava and were killed, their hair and clothes bursting into flame and their flesh sizzling as it roasted from their bones," "He could remember every detail. Sibyl, sending out waves of magical fear that turned into lava and burned the flesh from his bones, leaving him a walking skeleton the reeked of seared meat. Zelia, cracking open enormous eggs and slurping out the screaming infants they contained, her neck bulging grotesquely as she swallowed them down. The marilith demon, hacking open Karrell's pregnant belly with its swords, inside was a nest of dead snakes tied in an intricate knot," and "She bit into it [the heart] like an apple, blood-juice running down her chin and throat."
On the negative side:
1) Yuan-ti are monsters and there is nothing cute or pleasant about having the hero become intimate and have babies with one. If it was elves, or even halflings it would be great, but scales and forked tongues... Really...
2) Sibyl had been to Chult before and since she is winged she would have recognized the landmark/volcano. The same applies for the Se'sehen who are native to the region and would have also picked up on the portal's location.
Nevertheless, these are quite minor when compared to the overall story, the dialogues, and the small details, which are all wonderful and create a strong sense of mystery and anticipation.
Dwarves, Halflings, Yuan-ti, Couatl, Dinosaurs, Tanar'ri, Gods (!), and factions like the Thieves' Guild and Talos' clerics have been presented very well.
If you love the Chultan Peninsula and all that it entails, try and get your hands on a copy of The Ring of Winter and The Jungles of Chult Accessory/Adventure (they are both Second Edition AD&D, out of print and it will take a bit of searching, but it's well worth it).
In conclusion, the House of Serpents trilogy is a series highly recommended to all Fantasy, and especially Forgotten Realms and Planescape, fans. Those with a soft spot for the Vilhon Reach and the Jungles of Chult in particular will have a ball.
Magic, romance, intrigue, betrayal, and swordfights are all about.

yan'ti are annoying.......2006-12-13

I just don't get the yan'ti as a villan-race. the mind seed stuff I don't like either.

James Bond with Scales........2006-04-03

I find this book (and series in general) has several limitations preventing me from really enjoying it.

First. James Bond Syndrome. In no less than 3 occasions does the evil, horrible, unbelievably cruel killer who lacks all remorse.... leave the protagonist incapacitated, yet not quite dead. Much like in the James Bond movies where the villain always leaves Mr. Bond in a complex death trap & then just leaves along his merry way. Thus allowing Bond to be in "Great Danger", yet still managing to escape to thwart the bad guy in the end. This comes off as hockey & improbable. There is also instances of monologuing (a term from the Incredibles). This is where the villain just stands there talking about how evil he is, how great his plan is, how he's about to rule the world.... And while he yapping, the hero sneaks off & hits the self-destruct button. This novel lacks the sense of style or wit to pull this off without sounding tired & recycled.

Second. This book is based in the Forgotten Realms, a setting for the Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game. The book is almost an endless series of flavor text. When a Game Rule interferes with the action of the story, the author seems to bend over backwards to accommodate the rules. This leads to such exchanges which are barely over "I can't get my spells now because Page 45 of the Player's Handbook says I have to pray for spells for 1 hour at the same time each day." I find this barely disguised flavor-text distracting.

For an example, when the main character throws his dagger at a translucent, undead foe, he offers the following observation "I half expected my dagger to pass right through it." This is because the Translucent Foe had the Incorporeal Property of the Game. Part of this property is a 50% chance for all physical attacks to miss. Thus the "I half expected it to miss" remark. I fully expected some character to say "I'm out of Power Points", "I can't cast 4th level Spells," or "It's ok, I'm still at half Hit Points."

I find this writing style disorienting. One, I play the game a lot. Two, they mess it up at some point. They get a rule, or effect completely wrong. When an author writes and decides to set certain limitations upon themselves, violating those rules can be jarring. In this case, the author made a consistent attempt to only write within the rules of the D&D Game & to make the audience aware she is accepting these limitations. These limitations I know pretty well. Thus, when she writes something that is inaccurate or wrong, it leaps out at me in a way it wouldn't normally otherwise. Much like a historical writer setting a story during the US Civil War & having soldiers equipped with machine guns. The inaccuracy leaps out at you.

For a story about half-snake people running around in a fictional world trying to go to another plane of existence to fight gods.... You've already stretched my suspension of disbelief pretty far. When you start making things up I know to be wrong (things that can't be done in D&D, yet you've spent 120 pages making sure I know this is a D&D novel) then you breach my limit.

Overall, I don't recommend this to the casual reader. However, if you:

1. Really like the Forgotten Realms. You might enjoy this. It details a race of people (the Yuan-ti snake-people) in a detail never done before. The story also takes place in Chult & Hlondeth, two areas which have received little attention in the past. I was able to finish it, despite my misgivings, due to the detail surrounding peoples & cultures long ignored by FR writers.

2. A D&D player. The book is chock full of D&D references & is reasonably faithful to the Game it represents (although the better you know the rules, the more jarring the inconsistencies). Whether you are just looking for better ways to talk "in-game" about various powers, spells, or abilities, or looking for inspiration how to set you own Character's Adventures to Paper, you'll find inspiration here.

Those merely seeking a well-written piece of fiction, may be disappointed.

The book has moments of potential, the characters are well written & the overall plot & story quite good. It just fails to overcome the limitations of tired, overused plot devices & an archaic language best suited to a sub-set of people that understand what a d20 is used for.

Disappointing conclusion.......2006-03-20

Vanity's Brood is the third and final book in the House of Serpents trilogy by Lisa Smedman. The first book in this trilogy is Venom's Taste; the second is Viper's Kiss. It is important to note that if you are considering this book you need to read the other two in order to be up to speed or else you will be completely lost in regards to some of the pieces in the plot line.

This book is mainly plot driven. Being that it is the conclusion of a trilogy Ms. Smedman needs to tie up loose ends that were in the first two books. Smedman does tie up many of the loose ends that were created during the first two novels, however, once I was finished with this book I felt slightly unsatisfied with the conclusion. There were a few twists in this book, but at least one of them seemed contrived and almost forced into the story. Don't get me wrong though, the book does a good job at concluding the story and leaving some room for future use of some of the characters if so desired. The first two books had an intimate feel to them. Well written, good story, and a sense of closeness with the story. This book seemed... to broad I think. It has a totally different feel than the first two. If the first two had been like this it may not have been as noticeable. For lack of a better term this book just seemed `off' to me.

Character development seems to take a back seat in this book. The first two in the series had a plethora of character development, yet that aspect seemed very neglected in this novel. Maybe, the author figured the characters advanced as far as they needed to in the first two, I can't speak for the author - but I was really disappointed with the lack of character development found within the pages of this book. There seems to be so much room for growth and exploration of the characters, specifically Arvin, Karrell, and Zelia. The use of Psionics as a class is little known in novels. The author does a good job at moving the character along in progression in the first two novels yet in this novel there is little to no growth in his powers or anything.

This trilogy as a whole would garner a 4/5 stars from me. But this book almost seems to be written by a different author, or rushed to get it on the store shelves. I don't know. Even the final battle seemed, `wrong' to me. It didn't seem to fit the story at all nor the previous events from the first two books. After finishing the book at contemplating the final two chapters, I had an empty feeling like nothing was really accomplished.

For fans that have invested time in the first two books, I suggest reading this book simply to know how it ends. For fans of the Forgotten Realms, this is a decent series and most will enjoy the psionic use and how the main character progresses (in the first two books). For general fans of fantasy books, I hate to say, but I would recommend not reading this if you have other book in your `to-read' pile. Let me say again though, this is not a bad trilogy by any means. In fact the first two books are very good. But, this third book... just doesn't do it for me. I do enjoy Ms. Smedman's work though and will keep reading he books.

Great series.......2006-03-15

Just put the book down and wow, what a book. This whole series has been great and you would be well advised to get into it. Great action and a wonderful cast of characters. good Job

If you like books like this one, might I suggest another I've recently come across. The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's another fantasy adventure sure to please. I highly recommend it.

Amazon.com

After you've seen the Star Wars movies enough times, certain unmistakable sounds get hardwired into your brain: the warbly snicker-snack of dueling lightsabers; the signature fwoosh of hatches opening and closing (which Star Trek never did as well); the sharp, metallic bangs of blaster fire; even Han's trademark "yee-haw!" as he and Chewie lay into Imperial ships with the Falcon. If any advantage sets audio CDs apart as the format for telling dramatized Star Wars stories, this is it. In the Star Wars: Dark Forces Collector's Trilogy, all these audio tropes get employed to their full effect--along with John Williams's stirring score, of course--to convincingly transport you to that galaxy far, far away.

A CD drama based on a graphic novel series, based on a video game, and based on ... well, Star Wars, may sound a little suspect, but even derivative work can excel when the original source is strong (Lucas), the writing skills proficient (long-time sci-fi author William Dietz), and the voice talent able (dozens of workman actors, with credits ranging from The Fugitive to Shine to Fargo).

The story arc of the set's three Dark Forces stories (Soldier for the Empire, Rebel Agent, Jedi Knight) spans roughly the same time period as New Hope-Empire-Jedi, following Kyle Katarn, a young Imperial officer turned Rebel operative turned (nearly) Jedi Knight. Old favorites like Han, Lando, Luke, and even Chewie pass in and out of the story, a classic Star Wars tale of honor, love, loyalty, and revenge, which sets Kyle against the evil Imperial pretender Lord Jerec. Good fun, well done. (Running time: six hours over six discs; two discs per title.) --Paul Hughes

Book Description

Kyle Katarn has joined the ranks of legendary Star Wars heroes such as Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. A timeless adventure of revenge and honor, the trilogy is set in a shimmering universe of sound that only CD technology can fully capture. In Soldier for the Empire, Kyle Katarn, having just graduated from the Imperial Military Academy, learns of his father's murder. On his way home, he meets a Rebel agent, learns the ugly truth about the way in which his father died, and swears revenge. In Rebel Agent, Kyle learns more about what his father found in the Valley of the Jedi that ultimately led to his death. Kyle finally earns his Knighthood as a Jedi, and the stage is set for him to avenge his father's death and stop the Dark Jedi from taking control of the source of energy that lies underneath the Valley. Jedi Knight, the exciting conclusion to the series. In Jedi Knight Jerec, the Dark Jedi, brings his forces to Ruusan in the final part of his search for the Valley of the Jedi. Destroying anything that gets in his way, Jerec reaches the Valley just ahead of Kyle Katarn and Jan Ors. With the help fo the indigenous inhabitants of the planet, Kyle and Jan confront Jerec's Jedi and prepare for a final showdown with Jerec. If Jerec defeats Kyle, the unlimited power contained in the Valley will enable him to rule the galaxy. Are Kyle's untrained Jedi powers enough to defeat Jerec?

Customer Reviews:

Star Wars, Dark Forces Collector's Trilogy book cd's.......2007-03-19

Very well made, interesting and easy to follow. Very good sound effects in the back ground to go along with the story telling. If you played any of the games in relation, you will enjoy it even more. I'm glad I bought this and I already went through it twice.

Barely worth it.......2006-02-01

A good idea crushed by weak radio style acting. If the stories were simply narated and not played as though they were old time radio broadcasts, the stories themselves are interesting. Painfull to listen to in the car driving b/c of poor volume in recording. Get some othe Star Wars audio book.

Really not THAT bad.......2004-09-01

It's a well-done audio play. It has all the sound effects of the original radio dramas, used to wonderful effect. Like most Star Wars works, it re-uses the music from the movies but that isn't a bad thing. Each piece is used exactly where you'd expect to hear it. The story is of a young imperial officer discovering that the Empire isn't on the side of the angels and that he shares with Luke Sykwalker a claim to the legacy of the Jedi.

The ONLY complaint that I'd have about this is that it strays from the books it's adapted from and the games the books are based on. In other words, some of the most dramatic aspects of the story are left out. Example: Instead of the old Jedi Knight Rahn holding his own against all the Dark Jedi in his final battle, Jerec (chief baddie) just kills him without a fight. There are a few other examples of incredibly anti-climatic re-tellings of certain aspects of the story... but overall it really isn't that bad. I bought it, and if you've played the games (and you should since Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II features live actors in movie cut scenes that all together could be considered Episode VII) then it's a fun way to revisit a great story. "A Self-taught Jedi" indeed. Kudos.

Dark Forces audio dramatization.......2003-01-22

I've always been a huge fan of Star Wars and own quite a few audio books and dramatizations including the wonderful Star Wars trilogy dramatized radio broadcast, the Approaching Storm, Darth Maul, Episode 1, Episode 2, Rogue Planet, etc.

Judging from reviews I read, I was expecting this to be at least a reasonable facsimile of the original trilogy radio dramatization but it definitely is not that. I felt the writing, acting and even the story concept poor. If you're anxious for something good to listen to and haven't tried the other Star Wars books on audio cd yet, give those a shot first and see if you can pick this up used. This can be mildly entertaining at times but it's certainly not worth full price.

Among all of my Star Wars audio books and/or dramatizations, this one comes in dead last... I'd recommend venturing into non-Star Wars audio books like Frank Herbert's Dune before dropping any money on this selection.

Excellent! same style & quality of the original radio drama.......2000-05-07

These CDs were absolutely wonderful. for those of you who have listened to the original Star Wars radio drama and wished you could have more star wars stories in the same fashion. HERE IT IS! . for those of you new to the star wars universe....or have not heard the original radio drama, this is a full cast audio production with sound effects. This is well written and acted. the story is excellent. a must have for any star wars fan. great for tips on the road in the car.

Average customer rating:

An Interesting perspective; Unique Commentary

Fischer oddly misreads Benedict's character.

A biography of Benedict XVI filled with personal insight that many other "instant" biographies lack

A first-hand account of the new Pope's astonishing life and ministry

It has it's good points, but has a rushed feel.

Pope Benedict XVI: A Personal Portrait
H.J. Fischer
Manufacturer: The Crossroad Publishing Company, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Pope Benedict XVI: His Life and Mission

ASIN: 0824523725

Book Description

Vatican correspondent for over twenty years and an intimate colleague of Joseph Ratzinger writes the definitive book on the remarkable career, personality, and future of the new Pope.

Customer Reviews:

An Interesting perspective; Unique Commentary.......2006-09-18

Having read several biographical accounts of the life of Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI (Including John Allen's account and Benedict's own "Milestones."), I found this to be a unique perspective that is a must-read book for the scholar and pedestrian-scholar of Ratzinger/Benedict. It is important to note that this book does not provide the typical biographical chronology that one would expect in such a work. Rather, Fischer reflects from a more experiential perspective, providing insight into the life from the view of an acquaintance.

This is also a translation from the original German that adds another element of uniqueness. Aside from the Pope's own memoir, most of the English biographies currently available are written by native English speakers. While this is a good translation, as far as I can tell, one does not read it with the same flow as if it were originally written in English; something of a minor detail to note. Additionally, Fisher often inserts his own commentary about his life, interspersing it with narrative of the experience of Benedict XVI; something else to be aware of.

All in all, this is a nice read that provides a welcomed change of perspective. This is not the book to read if you have not read one of the other more in-depth presentations of the life of Benedict XVI. Read those first. Then pick up Fisher's book to supplement and vary your experience.

Fischer oddly misreads Benedict's character........2005-11-08

The author claims to be a personal friend of the new pope. One wonders. He seems to misread seriously Benedict's interpersonal style. I know several people who had frequent contact with the pope when, as Cardinal Ratzinger, he was Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. They consistently emphasise his great gentleness and kindness which they found to be at least as remarkable as his oft-noted intellectual brilliance and personal piety. They also observe that he is temperamentally quite shy but was never "cold" - a psychological distinction that seems to be lost on the author.

A biography of Benedict XVI filled with personal insight that many other "instant" biographies lack.......2005-10-01

When Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany was elected to succeed the late Pope John Paul II, among the least surprised Vatican insiders was H.J. Fischer, a journalist who has enjoyed a personal and professional relationship with the new pope for nearly three decades. Unlike so many of the "instant" biographies of Ratzinger that appeared in the weeks following his election to the papacy, Fischer's book was in the works and was nearly completed before the death of Pope John Paul II in April of 2005. As a result, he offers a personal perspective lacking in books by authors who were forced to rely on secondhand, encyclopedic information about the new pope.

Because the book is based largely on Fischer's acquaintance with Ratzinger, there is little information about his early life, which is fine for those of us who care more about his theology and less about where he attended kindergarten. Fischer picks up the story in earnest in 1976, when he first interviewed the then-local theologian who was making a name for himself in ecclesiastical circles. As Ratzinger quickly rose to the positions of bishop, archbishop, cardinal, and dean of the college of cardinals, Fischer, the Vatican correspondent for a German newspaper, kept close tabs on the prelate's career and stayed in contact with him on a regular basis.

All that may lead you to suspect that an author who is also a native German Catholic would have a tough time maintaining his journalistic objectivity in writing about the first German to be elected pope since the sixteenth century (or the eleventh century, if you want to get technical, but I don't). However, Fischer paints a remarkably balanced portrait of Pope Benedict XVI, revealing such seeming paradoxes as his warm sense of humor but often cold personality. In fact, Ratzinger comes across as the embodiment of an array of paradoxes: a theological conservative who spearheads innovative efforts designed to bring the old church into a new millennium; a quiet, thoughtful, and content Bavarian theologian whose colleagues from around the world considered him to be God's choice to lead the church's 1.1 billion adherents through a time of seismic cultural change.

Fischer also examines the new pope's history of conflict with proponents of "liberation theology," a movement that arose in Latin America in the 1970s through which many Catholic clerics took up the cause of the poor and the oppressed against the rich and the powerful. For Ratzinger and many other Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, the problem was not in the cause itself but in the Marxist thought and the highly politicized nature of the movement. He and other conservatives believed the church should find solutions outside the political arena; liberals believed there was no way the church could be effective in Latin America without entering the political fray.

The memory of that conflict could have prevented Ratzinger from rising through the ranks as he did, were it not for his unwavering stance on issues surrounding church doctrine. According to the author, the other cardinals held Ratzinger's interpretation of, and commitment to, doctrinal authority in such high regard that for many, his election to the papacy was a foregone conclusion.

A lover of classical music who is looking forward to meeting Bach and Mozart in heaven, Ratzinger was not so enthusiastic about ascending to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church. During the papal voting process in April, he "begged God to spare him 'this guillotine'," Fischer writes. It's insights like that that make this biography a much more interesting and personal one than others on the market. If that's what you're looking for, along with a fairly extensive survey of the last thirty years of Catholic thought from a European perspective, then this is the book to buy.

A first-hand account of the new Pope's astonishing life and ministry.......2005-08-14

Heinz-Joachim Fischer is the leading Vatican journalist and Rome correspondent for one of Germany's premiere daily newspapers. With Pope Benedict XVI: A Personal Portrait, Fischer provides an informed and informative first-hand account of the new Pope's astonishing life and ministry. From simple, humble believer, Joseph Ratzinger, the man who became Pope Benedict XVI evolved into a world respected theologian, a Cardinal of the Church, the unwavering Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and a primary confident of the late John Paul II. A theologically trained correspondent, Fischer proves himself to be an ideal biographer of the new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church as he presents the history of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger for three decades, culminating in his being elevated to the Papacy, facing the problems and opportunities for the Catholic Church in the 21st Century. Both professionally and personally, Fischer knows the new Pope very well, and is able to place life story of the new Pope within the intricacies of Vatican City and the Catholic Church with an insider's insights. Pope Benedict XVI is very highly recommended reading, especially for those not yet acquainted with the life story of the newest Roman Catholic Pope.

It has it's good points, but has a rushed feel........2005-07-03

It's indicative of our society, that as soon as something happens, everyone has to scramble to get a corner of the market. This leads to sloppy journalism, and shoddy writing. The same was true after the election of Pope Benedict XVI, he hadn't been Pope for even a week, before books were already pouring out about him.

Sadly, this is one of those books. The journalist recounts his encounters with then Father Ratzinger, then leaps a few years to Bishop Ratzinger and leaps a few more to Bishop Ratzinger, and soon before you're even a third of the way through the book, Pope John Paul II has died, and Pope Benedict XVI has been elected.

The slipcover heralds the book as a masterpiece, I hardly think so. It has the same recycled pictures that have been all over the media for the past month or so, and it has many glaring typos.

The one point I did like is that they included both Ratzinger's homily at JPII's funeral, and BXVI's first few homilies, to the cardinals, and to the faithful.

I look forward to a year or so from now, when a good quality Biography should be emerging. In the meantime stick with Ratzinger's own autobiography, it's short, and sweet and takes you through the 1970's.

New Pope, new books.(Book Review) : An article from: National Catholic Reporter

Average customer rating:

New Pope, new books.(Book Review) : An article from: National Catholic Reporter
Chester Gillis
Manufacturer: National Catholic Reporter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from National Catholic Reporter, published by National Catholic Reporter on August 12, 2005. The length of the article is 925 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: New Pope, new books.(Book Review)
Author: Chester Gillis
Publication: National Catholic Reporter (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 12, 2005
Publisher: National Catholic Reporter
Volume: 41 Issue: 36 Page: 18(1)

Article Type: Book Review

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