Towelhead: A Novel

Amazon.com

Thirteen-year-old Jasira wants what every girl wants: love and acceptance and the undivided attention of whoever she's with. And if she can¹t get that from her parents, then why not from her mother's boyfriend, or her father's muscle-bound neighbor, Mr. Vuoso? Alicia Erian¹s incandescent debut novel, Towelhead, will ring true for readers who remember the rarely poetic transition from childhood to young adulthood. Jasira is a creature of contradiction: both innocent (reading romantic intentions into the grossest displays of lust) and oddly clear-sighted, especially when it comes to the imbalance of power, and the things we do for love. When her mother exiles her to Houston to live with Jasira's strict, quick-to-anger Lebanese father, she quickly learns what aspects of herself to suppress in front of him. In private, however, she conducts her sexual awakening with all the false confidence that pop culture and her neighbor's Playboy magazines have provided.

Jasira tells her story with candor and glimmers of dark, unexpected humor--as when she describes her mother's boyfriend Barry's assistance in her personal grooming: "A week later, Barry broke down and told her the truth. That he had shaved me himself. That he had been shaving me for weeks. That he couldn't seem to stop shaving me." The freshness of her narrative voice sets Towelhead apart from the sentimental or purely harsh treatment of similar subject matter elsewhere, and makes the novel a promising follow-up to Erian¹s well-regarded short story collection, The Brutal Language of Love. --Regina Marler

Book Description

It is August 1990. Saddam Hussein has just invaded Kuwait, and Jasira's mother has bought her daughter a one-way ticket to Texas to live with her strict Lebanese father. Living in a neat model home in Charming Gates, just outside of Houston, Jasira struggles with her father's rigid lifestyle and the racism of her classmates, who call her "towelhead." For the first time, the painful truth hits her: she's an Arab. Her aching loneliness and growing frustration with her parents' conflicting rules drive her to rebel in very dangerous ways. Most disturbingly, she becomes sexually obsessed with the bigoted army reservist next door, who alternately cares for, excites, and exploits her.

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Customer Reviews:

a really great read.......2007-10-01

I had given up on fiction long ago because it was always disappointing and boring in comparison to non fiction. Even all the top rate books that were supposed to be so good bored my to point of being unable to finish them. This book however is one that was hard even for me to put down. A great read and incredible first novel.

A Muslim girl grows up in America.......2007-02-15

A fast, funky hilarious read about a sexy young Muslim girl growing up in America. This first novel is like its title, unique, curious and fascinating. Highly recommended.

wow..........2006-11-10

this book will cause some SERIOUS discussion at book clubs and in book shops! She definately doesn't hold back much in this book!

Not funny or insightful. Disturbing, though. I'll give it that........2006-09-12

I respect folks who can bring a novel to fruition in any form, so I don't write this negative review lightly. I picked this book up at the library solely on the strength of the intriguing title (being of similar ethnic background) as I chased down my kid. I guess that I was hoping for an insightful character study, a new perspective, a mature and unique voice....something!

What I got was a titillating story about a 13 year-old girl who struggles to find her value in an environment where no one seems to prioritize her. My biggest complaint is that none of the characters elicited empathy from me. There were plenty of flat "bad" characters in the story. There were a few lazily-portrayed characters who where slightly more benign (along a continuum, one could say). But I wasn't really rooting for anyone, certainly not the main character, Jasira. Okay, so maybe I'm a nerd and a prude, but there were few redeeming qualities about this novel. Well maybe there's one. It was a quick read. And I'm a slooow reader.

Provocative Story of Adolescent Sexuality .......2006-07-27

This is the first novel that I've read which deals with adolescent female sexuality in a way that is honest and realistic. Though still child-like in her thoughts and behavior, Jasira's body has nonetheless matured into that of an adult woman. She has been neglected and ignored by both her parents, which leaves her craving attention and approval, and vulnerable to abuse. Erian does a good job of exploring the complexities of adolescent female sexuality. On the one hand, Jasira is excited to learn about sexual pleasure, and yearns to receive romantic attention and affection from her father's next door neighbor. On the other hand, Jasira submits to the sexual demands of her classmate in order to placate him and maintain their friendship. Jasira, like all adolescent girls, lacks the emotional maturity and awareness of self that are critical to having a healthy sexual relationship, but is nonetheless at an age where she is discovering and exploring her sexuality. The novel details the transition from childhood into becoming a sexual being, and challenges many of the traditional notions about adolescent girls and sex, as well as what constitutes a family.

Amazon.com

For this enchanting novel Brian Jacques has brought to bear the experience of his eventful and adventuresome life, a life which has taken him all over the world and seen him variously described as folk singer, playwright, and broadcaster. No doubt his usual writing environment--garden in summer, conservatory in winter--provides him with the ideal theater for observing the wildlife on which the book's unusual central characters are based.

It is, perhaps, appropriate that the story line revolves around the theft of the famous Redwall Tapestry, for Marlfox is a richly woven tapestry, skillfully running together threads of the magical and mythical with the "natural world," to give its audience a heady blend of fairy tale and medieval adventure. The result is a tale of grand themes and conflicting human passions played out against a backdrop of humor and uncertainty; yet the author manages never to lose sight of the reality of life as experienced by the human and animal kingdoms alike.

Young readers will gorge themselves on this literary feast, a spread worthy of comparison to other classics in this vein such as The Hobbit, Duncton Wood, The Mythical Knights of the Round Table, and the stories of C.S. Lewis.

Book Description

A villainous new presence is a-prowl in Mossflower Woods: the Marlfoxes. And when they ruthlessly steal the most precious treasure of all, the tapestry of Martin the Warrior, it takes the children of warrior squirrels to follow in their fathers' heroic footsteps to recover it...

"A richly imagined world in which bloody battles vie for attention with copious feasting and tender romancing. Where males and females are heroes and warriors. Where the young triumph and the old endure. Where intelligence is as valued as strength and wit is frequently more important than size."-- The Cincinnati Enquirer

"A grand adventure story...breathtaking."-- Chicago Sun-Times

Customer Reviews:

It's a Marlfox review, what's left to say?.......2007-10-09

Marlfox is definetely one of the better Redwall books. This novel still uses Redwall cleshes, but has several suprising twists. I'll try not to give anything away, but a character from a previous book plays a major part. The book was fairly easy to follow considering the amount of perspectives. Brian Jaques used wonderful detail, but the villains could have been smarter. For example, one of the main villains makes a very stupid mistake ending with lethal consequences. Some other characters desperately needed more background and expansion.(One of the first characters mentioned included!) Overall this book gets: 3&1/2 out of 5 stars.

Marlfox - Excellent Read.......2006-12-04

Marlfox is an exciting action packed book by Brian Jacques. It is the 11th book in the fantasy Redwall series. What is interesting about this series is that most of the books are stand alones.

The peaceful animals that inhabit the Abby of Redwall are under attack by mysterious creatures known as Marlfoxes. These deadly creatures can appear and disappear at any given moment. And on top of that, the great Tapestry of Martin the Warrior, the great jewel of Redwall, has been stolen.

It's up to the squirrel warrior Dann Reguba and the squirrel maid Song Swifteye with the help of a shrew named Dippler to get the tapestry back. They must cross the hidden lake and penetrate the island castle of Marl.

This book was one of my favorites in the series because of the shocking endings of each chapter. They left me wanting to read more. I recommend this book highly.

Marlfox - Excellent Read.......2006-12-04

Mark's Book Report.......2006-11-01

Marlfox is all about conflict; conflict between good guys, bad guys, and conflict between characters on the same side. This book is a typical good vs. bad novel with a little twist. The Plot is one of the most important aspects of this story. Like most novels, the conflict is between the good guys and the bad guys. But unlike most good guy bad guy novels, there is another conflict other than good guy bad guy. There is a conflict between the characters on the "bad" side. The Marlfox are evil. They are cunning, sinister, and addicted to power. This hunger for power overcomes their consciences and soon they are fighting among themselves. This type of betrayal has been witnessed throughout literature and history. Julius Cesar was murdered by his own cabinet, even by his best friend, Bruno. Just like Cesar, the Marlfoxes killed themselves off. How evil do you have to be to kill your own kin? In fact, their lust for bloodshed led them to murdering their mother Queen Silth. Who wins this conflict, brain or brawn? This time brains win. The marlfox who outsmarts the others will become supreme ruler. You'll just have to read to find out who wins.

The Characters in Marlfox are animals but they act in such a human-like way. This is personification. Cregga the badger acts very much like a mother. She is blind but very powerful. She is very protective of the young ones in Redwall Abbey. This is very appropriate and believable. Mothers are usually more protective than fathers, and usually mother animals are the most protective of their young. The author, Brian Jacques first introduces his characters with a vivid physical description like this one of Jangular Swifteye "...he was an unusual squirrel, half as tall as most of his species, with dark terra-cotta fur..." he then describes the character's nature, temperament "...he was renowned as a quick and dangerous warrior, immensely strong and wise in the ways of battle..." Brian Jacques' technique in narrating is very unusual.....

Brian Jacques narrates Marlfox in an omniscient point of view, but also in a first person point of view. Right now I know this doesn't make sense but let me explain. Brian Jacques is a character in the story which makes it first person, but he is an elderly character who is telling a story to the children that was passed down from generation to generation. He knows everything about every character, their personalities, their physical characteristics, what they're thinking which shows this is written in an omniscient point of view. However, because the author acts as a character telling a story, he is also telling the story in a first person point of view. Another example of Brian Jacques' unique writing style is that he switches setting chapter to chapter. He tells the reader what is happening on both sides of the conflict. He switches every chapter, from one side of the fight to another. That makes putting the book down very difficult. He'll end the chapter in the scene of the redwallers defending the abbey with "...come on up on the wall, mate, there's something here I think you should see..." and switches setting to where the Marlfoxes are attacking the abbey. That is the same scene and it is happening at the same time, but the narrator switches sides from what the Redwallers are witnessing to what the Marlfoxes are witnessing.

All in all in all, the story is very solid and makes the reader ask many questions. I recommend this book to any person who likes blood, gore, trickery, betrayal etc.
-Mark Pangilinan

Treacherous Foxes.......2006-03-14

In His novel of Redwall, Marlfox, Marlfoxes, the treacherous brood of Queen Silth, are lurking in Mossflower Woods. I like this novel because Brain Jacques combines adventure and humor. In this book the marlfoxes steal the great tapestry of Redwall Abbey. Songbreeze, Danflor, Barble and Dippler, young woodland creatures, set out to retrieve it. Along the way they face many dangers while back at the abbey there is trouble. Janglur, Songbreeze's father, slays the Marlfox Ziral. The Marlfox code states blood for blood, which means Janglur must be slain. As the creatures of Redwall fight for freedom at home and abroad friends are slain. By the time the tapestry arrives in Castle Marl, the slaves in Castle Marl are just waiting for freedom.

I like this book because of the action, thrilling adventure and how it ends a chapter with our heroes in danger or an exciting part. As in his other Redwall books Brian Jacques takes animals such as mice, hairs and badgers and gives human personalities. He use his imagination to create a world far away where you can only enter with your imagination. He makes you wish you could leave this world and never come back and plunge in to Mossflower Woods and live at Redwall Abbey! If you like fantasy you'll love this book and the rest of the series. Here is a quote from Marlfox,

"If you are traveling cross the flatlands, through the woods, or along the path, you may hear our twin bells. They will be calling you to come and join us, and we would be pleases to see you. Do call in someday, you will be made welcome by all who dwell within our walls.
Rimrose Swifteye,
Apprentice Recorder to Friar Butty
at Redwall Abbey in Mossflower country."

4-book Set; the Long Patrol; Marlfox; Pearls Oflutra; the Legend of Luke By Brian Jacques

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4-book Set; the Long Patrol; Marlfox; Pearls Oflutra; the Legend of Luke By Brian Jacques
Brian Jacques
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000V2H37K

Product Description

4-book set by Brian Jacques.

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Marlfox
Brian Jacques
Manufacturer: Philomel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MVSBEE

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Marlfox
Brian Jacques
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NKH6I6

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Marlfox - A Novel of Redwall
Brian Jacques
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Redwall, Mossflower, Mattimeo, Mariel of Redwall, Salamandastron, Martin the Warrior, Bellmaker, Outcast of Redwall, Pearls of Lutra, Long Patrol, Marlfox, Legend of Luke, Lord Brocktree, Taggerung, Triss, Loamhedge, Rakkety Tam, High Rhulain (Redwall, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)

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Redwall, Mossflower, Mattimeo, Mariel of Redwall, Salamandastron, Martin the Warrior, Bellmaker, Outcast of Redwall, Pearls of Lutra, Long Patrol, Marlfox, Legend of Luke, Lord Brocktree, Taggerung, Triss, Loamhedge, Rakkety Tam, High Rhulain (Redwall, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
Brian Jacques
Manufacturer: Ace/Jove
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000WL7IES

Product Description

A complete set of the first 18 books in Brian Jacques' popular and well written fantasy series for children, set in a faux-medieval world populated by anthropomorphic mice, badgers, otters, hares, and others.

Brian Jacques Redwall Set 6 (Marlfox,Legend of Luke) (Redwall, 11 & 12)

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Brian Jacques Redwall Set 6 (Marlfox,Legend of Luke) (Redwall, 11 & 12)
Brian Jacques
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Product Description

11th and 12 books in the Redwall series. Marlfox and The Legend of Luke.

Brian Jacques Set 6 (Marlfox, The Legend of Luke) (Redwall Series, 11-12)

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Brian Jacques Set 6 (Marlfox, The Legend of Luke) (Redwall Series, 11-12)
Brian Jacques
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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MARLFOX
JACQUES BRIAN
Manufacturer: PHILOMEL BOOKS
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000PGJF9Q

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Marlfox
Brian/ Fangorn (ILT) Jacques
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ9XTQ

Amazon.com

In a future where the ancients have long since departed Earth for the stars, those left behind live complacent lives filled with technological marvels they no longer understand. Then a cosmic threat known as the Encroachment begins a devastating ice age on Earth, and it sets in motion a series of events that will bring together a cast of original characters who must struggle through war, political intrigues and age-old mysteries to save the world. (B 4worned, 1 oph Banx' carrokters theenx en funetic inglish, which makes for some tough reading but also some innovative prose.)

Book Description

Count Alandre Sessine VII has already died seven times. He has only one life left - one last chance to catch his killer. His only clues point to a conspiracy beyond his own murder. For a catastrophe is fast approaching the earth from which there is no escape - until a loophole through apocalypse is discovered. And a chosen few will do anything to keep it a secret. Someone has betrayed Sessine, killed him before he could uncover the truth. Now he has three days before his funeral to live the way men used to live: restricted to one life where one mistake could be his last. Suddenly he finds himself an outlaw, a fugitive, a desperado. And his only hope of survival is finding others like himself. Others who hold a piece of the puzzle to an enigmatic weapon of salvation and chaos...

Customer Reviews:

not as epic as other Banks novels.......2007-04-28

There is one phrase I usually assosiate with the novels of Iain M. Banks - "space opera." There is one word which assossiates with the same novels - "epic." While Feersum Endjinn was a gripping read the entire way through, it lacked both the epic-ness (that feeling of great importance) and a sufficient amount of opera-ness (that feeling of beauty in detail).

The characters in this novel don't seem as well as developed as they do is his other novels (Algebraist, Consider Phlebas). The idea of the Encrochment upon the earth, the castle/tower of future earth and the Crypt are all decent ideas. However, the novel reads more like a fantasy than it does a sci-fi book; I was thankful when science and techology were interwoven.

When it comes down to it, a Banks sci-fi book is solid good reading. "thi weeard spelin ist so hart 2 reed so it didt afekt mi raetin"

Potentially great book (ride, ideas, characters) reduced to very good by plot.......2007-02-06

Well, this guy has six incredible ideas before breakfast. Having enjoyed several of his books now (including a couple from his non-SF `M'-less alter-ego) I'm not quite as easy to surprise (for example, his technique of outrageously incongruous scale - spaceships the size of continents; windows several kilometres high etc. - doesn't make me goggle so much anymore). So it's all the more impressive that given my high expectations and prior experience he still rarely disappoints. It's also cool that he isn't limited to books centring on the `culture' - much as that excellent concept is robust enough to underpin plenty of books. The `culture' could have been a part of Feersum's universe, but Banks largely goes somewhere else here.

How on earth did he get away with all those chapters of `phonetic' writing? At first I thought, "OK, sure, I get your point: Bascule thinks laterally.... I presume you're going to revert to conventional spelling any time now." And for a little while I was like, "That's enough now, this isn't novel or quirky anymore, it's getting annoying." But after a while I was surprised by how fluent I'd become in reading it. Moreover, even though I would have dismissed this method as a cheap stylistic trick, it really does give Bascule a distinct voice. Not only visually, but in allowing someone to sound like the artful dodger in the deep deep future. Alone the phonetic thing would soon reverse its appeal, but this is Banks, and he can write. Bascule - cockney urchin meeting dry Tom Sawyer - is a triumph of charm.

Typically we have adrenalin charged passages of frying pan to fire action (I don't think I've had less chance to draw breath in any book than the opening of Consider Phlebus), which at one point is like watching a video on fast forward (Sessine's - hmmm, what's the plural for `demise'). Moreover I just like the way Banks writes. He can evoke a mood, lace conversations with humour, present an idea with sting, paint a character... Banks' original ideas would have been enough to establish him as an SF writer, but - unlike some others in this field - he can cross over to novels as well because he doesn't need galactic level sensationalism to make him a good read (but here you get that as well). Banks soon had me in, and pretty much held me.

Listen to me - gushing like a schoolgirl. Well, fair enough - there is a lot of mediocre stuff out there, and this is refreshingly good. The strengths are greater than the weaknesses, but there are weaknesses. The ideas are great, and likewise the narrative, but at some point the crypt becomes an excuse for sloppy and indulgent plotting. There are similarities to the Matrix concept (cf. Neuromancer et. al.) of inhabiting virtual realities, and philosophising about whether computer based existence is any more or less authentic. Matrix 1 was wonderfully cohesive - the realisation that the `reality' was constructed enhanced a tight, incisive plot. Matrix Reloaded, however, was a dog's breakfast. Unfortunately the further I got into Feersum, the more it felt like Reloaded. Nice idea that, for example, the heroes can have an alternate self working in a different time-scheme to protect and aid their `base-reality' selves - but why don't the far greater resourced villains have the same thing? And why do these alternate selves - who appear to be as developed as the originals, devote their lives to utter service? Surely they'd be more like a twin who of course wants their own life. Why? Because it feels good - but it doesn't make sense within its own conventions.

Similarly the Asura is a two-edged device. Introducing a god into a story can be fantastic, but it can also remove any suspense: "Hey, how can we get out of this dilemma? I know, I'm a god - zap: there is no problem." Makes for resolution, but takes away much interest. The way writers often get around this is by having the god gradually struggling to be aware of their powers - it works in Matrix 1, gets by in The Fifth Element, and runs along OK for a while in Feersum. I love the way Banks details the precise way Asura defeats various psychological attacks, rather than simply having her deck them Rambo style. He does work a lot harder to give Asura a history rather than just having her appear. But by the time she can just zap the entire government, bound and gagged, miraculously into a room I'm unclear on why they might still be running from them. Any rabbit can be inexplicably pulled out of a hat. The whole odyssey in the unexplored regions of the Crypt had a nice mood, but made no sense at all.

The ride is well and truly enough with Banks. The rich ideas could just about be enough - but imagine if he had have put them all together in a satisfying cohesive structure! It's not a total random mess like a lot of books, and it's got a lot going for it, but for me it takes it from great to very good. Hey, I'll take very good.

A mind game of a book.......2006-02-26

This is a superb book. Much of the book is taken up with the thoughts of the main character and his thoughts are presented in phonetic fashion, which means it might be difficult for some readers if they can't latch onto the accent.

The structure of the story plays games with the reader's mind and once one gets to the end of the book one is left rethinking the whole story.

This book very clever and very rewarding.

feersum intellect.......2006-01-29

great study of neurolinguistics set in sf story with good action, plot etc.

jacket summary.......2006-01-15

from the back cover of the August 1996 Bantam paperback edition

Count Alandre Sessine VII has already died seven times. He has only one life left - and one last chance to catch his killer. His only clues point to a conspiracy beyond his own murder for a catastrophe is fast approaching Earth. And a chosen few will do anything to keep it a secret.

Sessine has three days before his funeral to live the way men used to live: restricted to one life where any mistake could be his last. Suddenly he finds himself a fugitive whose only hope of survival is finding others like himself. Others who hold the pieces to the puzzle of a weapon of salvation and chaos...

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Feersum Endjinn
Iain M. Banks
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N797CM

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Feersum Endjinn. Signed copy
Iain M Banks
Manufacturer: Orbit
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000KN58WC

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Great Book to Learn the Fundamentals of Religion

Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion (4th Edition)
Lawrence Cunningham , and John Kelsay
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Religion & Spirituality | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0131923773

Customer Reviews:

Great Book to Learn the Fundamentals of Religion.......2000-04-02

The Sacred Quest is a great read for people interested in learning about the study of religion, as it explores the meaning of the "sacred" through different mediums, including the nature and definitions of the words "sacred" and "religion," the appearance and language of the sacred in our daily lives. The authors also explore the many different types of sacred communities and rituals, which gives the reader a "crash course" into many different world religions and cultures. Another interesting aspect which the author delves into are the questions of evil and morality, although I found these two sections to be a little confusing and awkward to understand. Overall, the author does a great job of explaining the terms and ideas presented, and I would recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating subject!

The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion

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The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion
Lawrence Cunningham
Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WNCYT0

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The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion
Lawrence S.; Kelsay, John; Barineau, R. Maurice; McVoy, Heather Jo Cunningham
Manufacturer: Macmillan Library Reference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8OSJ2

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The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion
Lawrence S.; Kelsay, John; Barineau, R. Maurice Cunningham
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8MVPK

The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion (3rd Edition)

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The Sacred Quest: An Invitation to the Study of Religion (3rd Edition)
John Kelsay Lawrence S. Cunningham
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OHYJD8

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