The Rock: A Tale of Seventh-Century Jerusalem
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • fascinating
  • Entwining Islam, Judaism and Christianity
  • Crossing the Bridge of Intolerance
  • A must read for people of all faiths.
  • A "novel" which educates, rather than entertains.,
The Rock: A Tale of Seventh-Century Jerusalem
Kanan Makiya
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375700781
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Book Description

The Rock of Jerusalem is one of the world’s most spiritually resonant and politically contentious sites: where Adam first stepped upon leaving Paradise, Abraham attempted to sacrifice Isaac, Jesus preached, and Muhammad began his night journey to heaven,. Sorting through the rubble of the three competing faiths, Kanan Makiya has woven a vivid tapestry from centuries of legend and belief to imagine the origins of Islam’s first monument, the Dome of the Rock. A narrative of mythic power, The Rock offers a grand tour of seventh-century Jerusalem and–by reminding us of how much Jews and Muslims once shared–serves as a bracing talisman for our times.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars fascinating.......2006-08-17

good story intermingling Islam, Jew,Christian groups just after Muhammad, with many good references in bibliography.

5 out of 5 stars Entwining Islam, Judaism and Christianity.......2006-07-10

I recommend Makiya's novel to anyone having a serious intent to gain a better understanding of the cultural divide between the "western world" and the middle eastern Islamic world. In spite of being only 261 pages of story telling, it can be a deep read from time to time if you read critically - the notes on the sources he used run 65 pages. Mr Makiya has used the historical fiction approach to connecting Islamic history and religious traditions to Judaic and early Christian history and religious traditions. He used this approach in order to present a comprehensible story to readers who are not scholars in the histories of these religions. For readers raised in a Christian culture, his story provides the connecting links between the three religious traditions and, of course, begs the question "Why have the religions that built on a common base so often been such fierce enemies? Ask the veterans of the US Civil War the same question. Mr Makiya does not directly answer this question, he leaves the answer to the reader, perhaps because each culture involved will have a different answer. It is culture that determines how a people will interpret a given set of religious "facts" to promote its perceived needs and cultures change very, very slowly.

The author's knowledge extends far beyond the Jewish Bible, the Koran and the Christian New Testament into that bewildering morass of traditional lore associated with these religions,
principally that of Islam and Judaism. I am in no position to criticize the details of his construction but it seemed to me to be stronger on Islam and Judaism than on early Christianity,perhaps because I know more about the latter religion. Although centered on the history of Islam from the time of Mohammed to when Islam conquered Jerusalem and built the Dome of the Rock, the story does not shirk telling about the unsavory as well as the uplifting events in the history of Islam.

An obvious labor of love, the author waxes poetic at many points in the narrative, introducing the reader to Islamic and Judaic poetry as well as his own. "Western" readers often do not appreciate how much more the cultures of the eastern and southern shores of the Mediterranean are based on their histories and religions than are the current cultures of the European-derived peoples.

Although one reviewer has criticized the author for not making the characters alive enough, I disagree. He seems to me to have hit a good balance between making his characters live and give the story continuity but not letting their stories obscure the emergence of Islam into a region deeply infused with Judaic and Christian sentiments and histories. One criticism that I do have - the author did not run the religious histories back beyond Abraham to Melchizedek, king of Salem (now known as Jerusalem) and the emergence of the Israelite religion from a more ancient tradition. The seeds of monotheism grew in many places - Akhnaten's Egypt, Melchizedek's Salem, the intellectuals of classical Greece, etc.

One thing in the book was of special interest to me - the history of Jews in Yemen. I knew that Jews were represented in pre-Christian trade in the areas of the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean - there are stories of people claiming Jewish descent in Northeastern Africa, Southeastern Africa and India - but I did not know that there was a series of Judean kings of Yemen. One of the main characters of the book is K'ab who was a Yemenite Jew converted to Islam. Happy history hunting.

5 out of 5 stars Crossing the Bridge of Intolerance.......2003-02-15

Kanan Makiya succeeds where many other authors failed. A historical novel about the interplay of religions. Like Amin Maalouf, Kanan writes eloquently and with great authority about a subject difficult to most readers. He destroys long held views about identity and shows the human underneath the religious dogma.

A truly wonderful work, I felt I was there and close to the characters, I had a difficulty in putting the book down, and I was upset at having finished it. I reread many segments.

Please keep writing kanan, please keep enlightening us, so that more people can cross the bridge of intolerance.

5 out of 5 stars A must read for people of all faiths........2003-01-23

This was a wonderful book. I had roughly two minutes to select a book at the library and this one was it. This book moved me to tears in several places. The imagery was spectacular and the characters came to life - it was like I was there. I have recommended it to all my friends as a must read. This book served as an excellent introduction to Islam and has increased my desire to learn more about it. Mr. Makiya please write more!

3 out of 5 stars A "novel" which educates, rather than entertains.,.......2002-08-28

Theologians and serious religious scholars may be fascinated by this academic study of the seventh century interrelationships of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity (Coptic, Orthodox, and Roman) and the holy sites in Medina, Mecca, and Jerusalem. Less a novel than a thesis, the book uses the characters as mouthpieces for historical research rather than as living humans: they remain flat and lacking in those unique personal characteristics which make fictional characters come alive and communicate with the reader.

In prose which is as archaic and poetic as the Bible, the Torah, and/or the Koran, the author uses Ka'b, a Jew who becomes a trusted advisor of the Muslim Caliph Umar, to tell the early religious stories and legends, sometimes common to all three religions, which infuse the Holy Land, its religious sites, and shrines. Because Ka'b is a teacher, he can preach to his subjects, including the reader, with impunity. While this is effective in conveying a great deal of information about the history of these sites, it perpetuates the distance between the reader and the subject matter and does not allow for the kind of identification with a character which can make this information come alive and remain with the reader.

The formality of the style and the enormous amount of abstraction in the story-telling sometimes make the actual sequence of events difficult to follow. Events affecting these sites are described, but the reasons behind them are not always clear--unless, of course, you already have a great deal of knowledge of the people and places important to all three religions and understand their historical practices and traditions. This scholarly work succeeds in showing the common threads of the three major religions and their common interests in the holy sites as they existed in the seventh century. It is less successful in providing keys to the disputes which surround these sites in the present day. Mary Whipple
The Rock : A Tale of Seventh-Century Jerusalem (Vintage International)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Rock : A Tale of Seventh-Century Jerusalem (Vintage International)
    Kanan Makiya
    Manufacturer: Vintage
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
    ASIN: B000OXLLV0

    The Illearth War: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Book Two
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Nothing to Write Home About
    • The Greatest double trilogy ever written!
    • A very unimaginative series
    • As If!
    • Best of the Three
    The Illearth War: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever, Book Two
    Stephen R. Donaldson
    Manufacturer: Del Rey
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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    ASIN: 0345348664
    Release Date: 1987-10-12

    Book Description

    The second volume in the epic Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever.
    Thomas Covenant found himself once again summoned to the Land. The Council of Lords needed him to move against Foul the Despiser who held the Illearth Stone, ancient source of evil power. But although Thomas Covenant held the legendary ring, he didn't know how to use its strength, and risked losing everything....

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Nothing to Write Home About.......2007-06-22

    If you read my review of the first book in the series, you know that I was not too impressed with Donaldson's writing style or his main character in the story, Thomas Covenant. Unfortunately, this book starts off and ends with the same old repulsive Covenant character exactly as we left him in the last book. Time seems to drag whenever Covenant is in the picture. You know what to expect around Covenant. He cowers in a corner muttering Hellfire to him self then occasionally bursts into a totally unexpected fit of rage, or performs some totally incomprehensible act. Somehow this madman always comes up with some incredible insight the much smarter characters are oblivious to. Of course he is always scheming ways to save his own rear-end at the expense of others. The other characters have to drag Covenant from point A to point B in the story which really gets tedious. My biggest complaint about Covenant is that he never learns anything from his mistakes. I think that is why his character is so totally unbelievable. The good news for this book is that at least 1/3rd of the story ignores Covenant entirely, and therefore this part flows much better, and is much easier to read.

    For some reason Donaldson's use of incomprehensible words seems to abound in this book. Maybe he found a new thesaurus, since the first book? Sometimes it seems he just can't wait to use a newly found word in a sentence, so he throws it in whether it makes any sense or not. Some sentences have 3 or 4 words never before uttered by humans.

    The writing is somewhat dark, and it seems that no matter what the good guys in the story do, the evil bad guys are always twice as powerful and at least one step ahead. It looks like we are falling into a consistent theme where the good guys manage to barely survive at the end, but only after a terrible number of causalities. The inconsistency in the various uses of magic by both sides makes the whole thing hard to grasp. In the first book we had rape, and in this one Donaldson brushes very closely to incest. I'm not sure what he is doing with the sexual stuff, but it adds nothing to the story. Covenant can not get any more repulsive than he already is.

    Overall this book was an easier read than the firs one, but it is nothing to write home about.

    5 out of 5 stars The Greatest double trilogy ever written!.......2007-02-21

    Amazing characters, world, and story.
    I reread all 6 books every few years!
    I just cant fathom how a writer can be so creative/imaginative!
    Same quality as HGG series!
    only a bit darker I suppose, at times.
    It wears me out, emotionally!

    2 out of 5 stars A very unimaginative series.......2007-01-04

    You can also read my review of the series in my review of the 1st book. Basically, I just want to restate how un-impressed and how boring this un-inspiring series was. Donaldson focuses so heavily on his writing style and his portrayal of a one-dimensional self-pitying Covenant that he forgot to write a story which would captivate his audience. Instead he writes a very rudimentary, unimaginative, predictable plot with flat unbelievable characters. My suggestion is not to waste your time reading this series as I did.

    2 out of 5 stars As If!.......2006-11-28

    A lot of reviews focus on the main character Thomas Covenant. From the reviews I read some people love Covenant, some hate him and others love to hate him. I thought he was a bad character but for a different reason. Personally I don't find him fleshed out enough to be believable so I didn't really pay attention to what he's feeling and doing during the story and I realized that I wasn't missing anything! For two books in a row now he's been this unwilling character that gets dragged through the plot and doesn't actually have an effect. Ok so in the first book he rapes a girl at the beginning and at the end his magic ring does something but in this one he literally does not do a single thing! As in the first book he takes up a lot of description because he's constantly angry, sad, guilty, etc. and we have to hear about it all the time but now he doesn't even have an effect on the story. The characters would have done the same thing without him there and it's for that reason I think he's a bad character.

    Aside from Covenant there are several other characters but since they're not the main character they're even more shallow than Covenant. They just don't have real personalities. The author makes all of his characters go so quickly from being incredibly scared or sad to mastering their emotions and taking charge. It's just not realistic. Sure, it's fantasy, but that doesn't give an author license to create characters that are all mentally incomprehensible!

    A friend of mine loves this series and for him I went ahead and read the second book but I almost didn't make it through and the reason for this can be summed up in two words: As If. The 'as if' construction is Donaldson's favorite. I'm not exagerating when I say he uses it 2-3 times per page. Not only is it annoying to constantly read this but a majority are needlessly added. For example, instead of saying that the smooth, reflective water "looked burnished", he says that it's "as if the water were burnished". The sentence on its own perhaps isn't so horrible; it's a little wordy and it adds an oddly hypothetical connotation to the description, but when this type of thing happens once every three paragraphs it becomes fairly annoying over the journey of 500 pages. At other times the 'as if' constructions just don't make sense. At one point the main character has fallen and is, "lying prostrate on the floor beside the coffee table as if he had fallen off a catafalque." What is a catafalque, you ask? Another quirk of Donaldson's is to get out the dictionary and thesaurus to use unnecessarily obscure vocabulary. I don't know if he's trying to impress his readers but to me it read like when a child uses the Thesauras to vary their vocabulary and they end up misusing words. According to Merriam-Webster a catafalque is, "an ornamental structure sometimes used in funerals for the lying in state of the body." How does a catafalque affect the way someone would fall? He could have fallen from walking, from lying on the couch, or from a catafalque and still be lying prostrate in the same way on the floor - so why go with some obscure word no one's heard of? He's lying next to the coffee table; we get the picture. Move on.

    This book could have gotten a 1 but I reserve that for books that I don't finish and somehow I managed to get through this one. I don't think I'll be attempting the third book in this series.

    4 out of 5 stars Best of the Three.......2006-10-30

    The second installment is the best of the three because of the conflict. Gives you something to enjoy other than the bemoaning of Thomas. WEll written but tends to be a bit wordy.

    As in the first, it takes some time to actually get to the meat of the novel and as always, the way Thomas Covenant is, is truely annoying.

    This series, desptie it's problems with the main character, has many intriguing facets. Not the least is the way white gold is the foundation of the world. I just wish you saw more of him using it. Good Characters and action.
    The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever BOOKS ONE & TWO (Lord Foul's Bane & The Illearth War)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever BOOKS ONE & TWO (Lord Foul's Bane & The Illearth War)
      Stephen R. Donaldson
      Manufacturer: DelRey Fantasy
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback
      ASIN: B000WE0M2K

      The New Destroyer: Guardian Angel (New Destroyer)
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • This is the OLD Destroyer!!!!
      • Remo, we missed you!
      • Nothing new here.
      • DESTROYER IS A FUN SUMMER READ!
      • Guardian Angel (new destroyer series)
      The New Destroyer: Guardian Angel (New Destroyer)
      Warren Murphy , and James Mullaney
      Manufacturer: Tor Books
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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      ASIN: 0765357593

      Book Description

      THE DESTROYER NEVER DIES . . . .

      VIVA LA REVOLUCION!

      When a dozen border patrol volunteers are murdered in New Mexico, apparent victims of Mexican nationals, Dr. Harold W. Smith of the super-secret agency CURE worries the first salvo in a new border dispute has been fired. His worst fears are realized with the appearance of the charismatic Santa Ana, a uniformed, would-be despot with a silver tongue and a thirst for bloody revolution.
      General Santa Anna has redrawn the border between the U.S. and Mexico to fit his own twisted version of reality, and thousands of illegal aliens are drawn to his message of liberation. The Southwest is on fire, and as the revolution explodes the entire nation is at risk. It seems the brazen general has planned for every eventuality. Except one...
      Mostly MIA for the past four years, Remo Williams, CURE's one man enforcement arm, has returned to the U.S. just in time to prevent Armageddon. With his Korean mentor Chiun, the Master of Sinanju, at his side, America just might live to see mañana.
      But it turns out Santa Anna is not the only threat to The Destroyer. Remo not only must save the United States from civil war, he must square off against the only woman who ever killed him...

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars This is the OLD Destroyer!!!!.......2007-08-09

      Wooo! He's back - they're ALL back. Remo, Chiun and Smith have returned to the world they were born in - and it's a GREAT world indeed! The characterizations are right, the dialogue is right, the relationships are right. This is the way it's supposed to be.

      (I've got ALL the books, read each of them more than once (well... okay, there were a few that I could barely get through once!) and I KNOW when something's right - and when something jumps the track.)

      I hope that the series has taken out the "revolving door" of authors for the next several years - or at least find authors that have bothered to read the old books before thinking that their "skills" and "worldly understanding" will get them through!

      Great job - keep 'em coming!

      5 out of 5 stars Remo, we missed you!.......2007-07-31

      Ahhh, it sure feels good to find The Destroyer is back to it's roots. Remo is taking care of business as only he can. Chiun continues to be the most dangerous Korean who has ever lived but still has the childlike qualities that have always made us love him. Smitty is still the proud American bound and determined to save the US from itself and will continue to work at it until his dying day.

      In this book you will also find useless self-serving politicians (yes, Virginia, they do exist). You will find out what really happened at the battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto. You will also get the return of one of Remo's most dangerous enemies. You get all of this wrapped up in a very funny, very exciting adventure the likes of which we haven't seen in a Destroyer book in several years.

      Do yourself a favor, buy this book. If you are an old fan of the series you will enjoy the return of Warren Murphy and Jim Mullaney to the books. If you have never read a Destroyer before, then this is a great place to start your obsession.

      3 out of 5 stars Nothing new here........2007-07-29

      I was a reader of The Destroyer from the first novel until the early 80's. I didn't know the series had continued on. Apparently, it was a good thing I didn't keep up with the series.
      Well, from my point of veiw, there's nothing new about this 'New' Destroyer. Remo is the Master of Sinanju by title only. Chuin is still there, even though this book makes reference that the two of them met during the Kennedy administration and it is now 2007. I figure this would put Remo somewhere near 70 years old, and Chuin well into his 120's.
      Chuin has devolved into a spoiled child. Where he used to insult Remo, he now only plays with toys. He actually _likes_ other assassins, rather than consider them pretenders to the art of killing.
      Smith seems about ready to retire though. He's old and arthritic. He works fewer hours, and has delegated some of his responsibility to an assistant.

      I was disappointed in the book. One of the things I liked reading the series for was the growth of Remo. Now that there are two Masters of Sinanju, the book is nothing more than graphic descriptions of how the Whop-Fu took effect. There is one scene where Remo casually rips the door off a Panic Room. He's already able to dodge bullets, and in several instances, he took the full brunt of a missile, or TNT and walked out without a scratch. So, essentially, the two heroes are all powerful and invincible.

      I was hoping that Chuin was gone, or retiring, and that Remo had taken on a student to replace him. That would have breathed new life into the series for sure.

      Don't get a copy.

      5 out of 5 stars DESTROYER IS A FUN SUMMER READ!.......2007-07-16

      My first exposure to The Destroyer was in the 1980's with the movie Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. While not a good movie I was very entertained by the characters of Remo and Chuin and their camaraderie. That said I read several Destroyer novels throughout my teens and then life moved on.

      On a whim at a bookstore this summer I saw New Destroyer: Guardian Angel and decided to give it a read. I'm glad I did. The characters are firmly intact and creator Warren Murphy and new scribe James Mullaney do a fantastic job of reinvigorating the series.

      For anyone new to the series, it's easy to jump on. Remo and his mentor Chuin are master assassins in the art of Sinanju. They work for CURE a secret branch of the government that deals with impending perils to our country. In this novel the dangers come from a militant group that want to create new borders and countries between the US and Mexico. Remo and Chuin are called on to defend the Alamo, stop a ruthless female killer, prevent illegal aliens from causing lots of trouble, and so much more.

      For summer time reading it's a blast. If you're familiar with the characters give it a read because you'll find in doubly enjoyable!

      4 out of 5 stars Guardian Angel (new destroyer series).......2007-07-13

      The author has gone back to the original "Destroyer" series style and it was a pleasure to read this book, by Warren Murphy.
      The New Destroyer: Choke Hold (New Destroyer)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        The New Destroyer: Choke Hold (New Destroyer)
        Warren Murphy , and James Mullaney
        Manufacturer: Tor Books
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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        ASIN: 0765357607
        Release Date: 2007-10-30

        Book Description

        Pity poor tobacco tycoon Edgar Rawly. Thanks to lawsuits, government meddling and the inexplicable deaths of many of his best customers, his megabucks industry is gasping its last breath. That is, until the introduction of the Cheyenne Smooths, Rawly's latest product. Not quite tobacco, not quite legal, more addictive than crystal meth. Suddenly customers are once more beating a path to his door. That's when the bodies start piling up. Seems people are not only dying to taste the flavor of a Cheyenne Smooth, they're killing for it.

        Enter Remo Williams, the Destroyer, and Chiun, the deadly Master of Sinanju. They've been sent to kick some butt, but wind up in danger of being snuffed out themselves.

        Turns out Edgar Rawly is not the only shady character to recognize the value of the Cheyenne Smooths, and things really start to heat up when Remo bumps into a cult of ancient Chinese assassins, an Asian crime lord, and a worldwide addiction that just might send civilization up in smoke...and dump the Destroyer on the ash heap of history.
        CHOKE HOLD: HARDY BOYS CASEFILES #51 (Hardy Boys Casefiles)
        Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
        • Good action description, above average storylines
        CHOKE HOLD: HARDY BOYS CASEFILES #51 (Hardy Boys Casefiles)
        Dixon
        Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

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        ASIN: 0671700480

        Customer Reviews:

        3 out of 5 stars Good action description, above average storylines.......2000-02-12

        The story is about the the famous detectives, Frank & Joe Hardy fight to protect wresterler, Sammy. In the process of narrowing down their suspect list of who may be sending threatening notes and attempting to hurt Sammy, the Hardys find themselves in difficult positions too.
        Choke Hold (Book 7): They Must Not Surrender to Fear's Grip (2:52 / Soul Gear / Laptop)
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          Choke Hold (Book 7): They Must Not Surrender to Fear's Grip (2:52 / Soul Gear / Laptop)
          Christopher P. N. Maselli
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          The HARDY BOYS CASEFILES COLLECTOR'S EDITION: (48 ROCK 'N' REVENGE/ 51 CHOKE HOLD/ 52 UNCIVIL WAR) (Hardy Boys Casefiles Collector's Edition)
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          • One of The Best by Franklin W. Dixon!
          The HARDY BOYS CASEFILES COLLECTOR'S EDITION: (48 ROCK 'N' REVENGE/ 51 CHOKE HOLD/ 52 UNCIVIL WAR) (Hardy Boys Casefiles Collector's Edition)
          Franklin W. Dixon
          Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Paperback

          Mysteries, Espionage, & DetectivesMysteries, Espionage, & Detectives | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          Hardy BoysHardy Boys | Mystery & Detective | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          Dixon, Franklin W.Dixon, Franklin W. | ( D ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
          MysteriesMysteries | Teens | Subjects | Books
          Hardy BoysHardy Boys | Series | Teens | Subjects | Books
          GeneralGeneral | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
          Similar Items:
          1. Illegal Procedure (The Hardy Boys Casefiles #95) Illegal Procedure (The Hardy Boys Casefiles #95)

          ASIN: 067102034X

          Book Description

          LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN:
          THREE...TWO...ONE.

          THREE ACTION-PACKED STORIES.
          TWO STAND-UP GUYS.
          ONE AWESOME MISSION!

          The Hardy Boys fight crime. No compromise, no surrender, no matter the consequences. You'll find it all in...

          ROCK'N'REVENGE

          Mix hard rock with hard crime and danger's bound to hit the top of the charts. The boys are bodyguards for a hotshot rock star who's about to take center stage in a killer of a concert!

          CHOKE HOLD

          Talk about fighting crime...this is wrestle-mania! Frank and Joe will have to make some pretty slick moves and take on some pretty rough customers to pin this case down!

          UNCIVIL WAR

          The Hardys have joined a reenactment of a Civil War battle. But someone's using real bullets. The war games are over, the true battle has begun -- and the boys are directly in the line of fire!

          Customer Reviews:

          5 out of 5 stars all hardy boys books.......2004-01-03

          Even if I didn't read every single "Hardy Boys" book there awesome. I just know because they fight and do boys stuff. I even read more "Hardy Boys" books than school work. I just wish they had a holiday where you read "Hardy Boys", for just one whole entire month (no school no nothing except reading "Hardy Boys").

          5 out of 5 stars Hardy's Rock!.......1999-12-31

          Holy, man! I've read almost every single Casefile there is and I can list them all in order off the top of my head. I love their books and I think that they're great! The Casefiles are so much more interesting than the blue books. You know that there's always going to be danger and excitment in each book, but you also know that Frank is going to be teasing Joe and Joe is going to do something funny too. That's why I like all of their books.

          4 out of 5 stars This is GOOD!.......1999-07-04

          I just started reading The Hardy Boys--before, I read Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys--but I think this was really good since Nancy Drew got kinda annoying after a while. It was interesting and it kept me reading--in fact, I pretty much read it in one sitting! Good characters and good plot.

          5 out of 5 stars Pure Action!!!.......1999-02-22

          I really love these new "Casefiles collector's editions" I've bought them all, and I think that this one is the best so far. In "Beyond The Law," Frank and Joe must help their old friend/enemy Ezra Collig, and clear him of extortion. In "Spiked!" they get involved in a case of murder in Southern Callifornia, and in "Open Season," the boys fight for their lives while on a cross country ski trip in the Colorado Rockies. I really enjoyed all three stories, and would recommend them to anyone.

          5 out of 5 stars One of The Best by Franklin W. Dixon!.......1999-02-13

          This is a great series of books together! I espscially love Uncivil War(since the civil war i just love!) Choke hold is very suspenseful. Dixon stops the chapter right when something is happening to Frank or Joe. I just love it!
          Choke Hold
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Choke Hold
            Lew Dykes
            Manufacturer: Jove
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 0515102369
            Choke Hold
            Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
            • Book Club fave
            • Excellent voice
            • cool book
            • Didn't enjoy it at all.
            • Clear, illuminating
            Choke Hold
            Todd Babiak
            Manufacturer: Turnstone Press
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Paperback

            BritishBritish | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
            ClassicsClassics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
            LiteraryLiterary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
            GeneralGeneral | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: 0888012454

            Book Description

            As Bruce Lee once said, "To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person."

            After suffering a trauma that would eventually shape his outlook on life, jeremy Little finishes high school and leaves for Boston to study drama. He drops out in his first year and becomes obsessed with martial arts training. Eventually he owns his own school, finds a girlfriend, and things seem to be looking up until one of his students kills a gay man. The resulting publicity destroy's Jeremy's business and he returns home to the small Alberta town of Seymour where he is forced to confront his old demons. Jeremy struggles with his fear as he learns to open himself up to his family and the possibilities of love.

            Choke Hold is an original, quirky novel that follows the life of a young man who feels torn between the need to defend himself and the desire to stop fighting.

            Customer Reviews:

            4 out of 5 stars Book Club fave.......2004-09-17

            Todd Babiak writes for the Edmonton Journal so we included his novel in our book club. We weren't disappointed. It's full of keen insights into masculinity and is also, well, quite a bracing and beautiful read.

            5 out of 5 stars Excellent voice.......2004-09-17

            I didn't think I'd like a book about a martial arts instructor, but I quite loved Choke Hold. The voice was tranquil and intelligent yet, at times, quite fierce. It really stayed with me.

            5 out of 5 stars cool book.......2003-09-23

            The voice of Jeremy, the hero of Choke Hold, is subdued and funny and sad. I heard this book was going to be made into a movie, and it will make a good movie. I just don't know how it will convey all the inner thoughts of Jeremy - my favourite parts.

            1 out of 5 stars Didn't enjoy it at all........2003-08-12

            I found this book to be a bit smug and too cute for it's own good. The author tries to place importance on the most trivial things and in the end, the reader is left bored.

            5 out of 5 stars Clear, illuminating.......2003-07-15

            The simple language in Choke Hold and the flatness of the descriptions and confrontations make it an odd but pleasing read. With each new chapter I was drawn in more. The narrator, Jeremy, is not exactly a lovable young man. His decisions and even his thinking process is frustrating, but as you get to know him you are glad to see the world through his eyes. It's a strange and sexy little book with a martial arts focus. Martial arts? Why would I read about martial arts? That's what I thought in the beginning, but I was fascinated. This is a terrific novel.
            The New Destroyer: Dead Reckoning
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              The New Destroyer: Dead Reckoning
              Warren Murphy , and James Mullaney
              Manufacturer: Tor Books
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Mass Market Paperback

              ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
              Action & AdventureAction & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
              Similar Items:
              1. The New Destroyer: Choke Hold (New Destroyer) The New Destroyer: Choke Hold (New Destroyer)
              2. The New Destroyer: Guardian Angel (New Destroyer) The New Destroyer: Guardian Angel (New Destroyer)
              3. The Best of the Destroyer The Best of the Destroyer
              4. Serenity (Collector's Edition) Serenity (Collector's Edition)

              ASIN: 0765357615
              Punishing Locks, Chokes, And Advanced Submission Holds
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                Punishing Locks, Chokes, And Advanced Submission Holds

                Manufacturer: Paladin Press
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Unknown Binding
                ASIN: B00009KH2R
                Choke Hold (Book 7), Vol. 7
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  Choke Hold (Book 7), Vol. 7
                  Christopher P. N. Maselli
                  Manufacturer: Zonderkidz
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback
                  ASIN: B000OSYKUE

                  Dancing Between Two Worlds: Jung and the Native American Soul (Jung and Spirituality)
                  Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                  • native
                  • very nice
                  • Dancing Between the Lines
                  • One of my top 10 favorites
                  • This is an excellent book, a must for all Jungians!
                  Dancing Between Two Worlds: Jung and the Native American Soul (Jung and Spirituality)
                  Fred R. Gustafson
                  Manufacturer: Paulist Press
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  United StatesUnited States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books | 19th Century | 20th Century | 21st Century | African Americans | Civil War | Colonial Period | General | Revolution & Founding | State & Local
                  Native AmericanNative American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
                  JungianJungian | Movements | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
                  GeneralGeneral | Philosophy of Religion | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
                  Similar Items:
                  1. Healing the Soul Wound: Counseling With American Indians And Other Native Peoples (Multicultural Foundations of Psychology and Counseling) Healing the Soul Wound: Counseling With American Indians And Other Native Peoples (Multicultural Foundations of Psychology and Counseling)
                  2. Buddha in Redface Buddha in Redface
                  3. Native American Postcolonial Psychology Native American Postcolonial Psychology
                  4. The American Indian Mind in a Linear World: American Indian Studies and Traditional Knowledge The American Indian Mind in a Linear World: American Indian Studies and Traditional Knowledge
                  5. Moonlit Path: Reflections on the Dark Feminine Moonlit Path: Reflections on the Dark Feminine

                  ASIN: 0809136937

                  Book Description

                  In this thought-provoking and sensitive book, a noted Jungian scholar explores the deepest elements in the American psyche that need healing to bring forth the best in both of the worlds we walk in: the highly differentiated and technologically developed Western civilization and the indigenous native "soul" that is the essence of each human being. The author demonstrates that this soul is forcefully represented in America in the experience of the Native American peoples and their relationship to the land and to the ancient "indigenous one" at the heart of our human rights.

                  The author explores not only the best of Native American spiritual thought to rediscover that soul, but also the terrible psychic damage done to later settlers by five hundred years of violence against the original peoples. He sketches positive directions that will create a partnership between the two worlds of our past and bring them together in a "dance" that will encourage a more redemptive spiritual order.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars native.......2007-03-09

                  Eduardo is an awesome person. I saw him speak in person. He is very good at helping to put the audience in the right 'space' in regard to working with/understanding Native people.

                  5 out of 5 stars very nice.......2006-04-28


                  A wonderful and deeper telling of Dances with wolves. I liked it very much.

                  5 out of 5 stars Dancing Between the Lines.......2000-01-19

                  A beautiful work of sensitivity and insight from a man who truly understands not only his soul, but the spirit of the Native Americans he has come to grow with. An amazing Jungian analyst and talented writer, this book opened my eyes to a world I could not see before.

                  5 out of 5 stars One of my top 10 favorites.......1999-05-31

                  This is an incredibly insightful book by Gustafson, who shares his own story combined with the teachings of NA people and Jungian psychology. Definitely a "must have" book for therapists working among NA populations.

                  5 out of 5 stars This is an excellent book, a must for all Jungians!.......1999-03-14

                  This book is well written and comes from the many seasons of the author life and work. Dr.Gustafson draws from his many years as a Jungian Anayst and his personal experience with his native american friends. There are some wonderful stories here from the authors life and some powerful insights that will be helpful to those seeking a deeper understanding of their soul.

                  Books:

                  1. The Sergeant in the Snow
                  2. The Shadow Knows (William Abrahams Book)
                  3. The Stranger at the Palazzo d'Oro and Other Stories
                  4. The Transformation of the Avant-Garde: The New York Art World, 1940-1985
                  5. The Turtle Warrior: A Novel
                  6. The Woman of Rome: A Novel (Italia)
                  7. There's No Room for You, Maddie Morrison
                  8. Trademarks of '20s & '30s
                  9. Voice Through A Cloud
                  10. Walking Towards Walden: A Pilgrimage in Search of Place

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