Crackpot: A Novel (New Canadian Library)

Book Description

Hoda, the protagonist of Crackpot, is one of the most captivating characters in Canadian fiction. Graduating from a tumultuous childhood to a life of prostitution, she becomes a legend in her neighbourhood, a canny and ingenious woman, generous, intuitive, and exuding a wholesome lust for life.

Resonant with myth and superstition, this radiant novel is a joyous celebration of life and the mystery that is at the heart of all experience.

Customer Reviews:

Okay.......2007-05-13

I really didn't like this story. I grew bored with the story

Average customer rating:

Funny and worthwhile
Sara - Please write another book for us !
this book was crazy
Incredible!
innovative and fun

Crackpots: A Novel
Sara Pritchard
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Divorce | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 061830245X

Book Description

When we first meet Ruby Reese she's a spunky kid in a cowgirl hat, tap dancing her way through a slightly off-kilter 1950s childhood. With an insomniac mother and a demolitions-expert father, her entire family is what the residents of her small town would call "a bunch of crackpots." Despite the dramas of her upbringing, Ruby matures into a creative, introspective, and wholly beguiling woman. But her adulthood is marked by complex relationships and romantic missteps -- three unsuitable marriages, dramatic crushes, the complicated love between siblings. As Sara Pritchard deftly guides us through Ruby's story, from the present to the past and back again, a portrait of a remarkably resilient woman emerges. Suffused with humor and melancholy, imagination and insight, Crackpots heralds the debut of a skilled and sensitive storyteller.

Customer Reviews:

Funny and worthwhile.......2007-09-19

She has an odd but engaging view of things. I liked this book a lot.

Sara - Please write another book for us !.......2006-03-27

This book was impossible to put down. I was sad when it ended - I knew I'd miss Ruby terribly. I had the good fortune to take it with me on vacation and enjoy it non-stop......however, I begrudged the time when I had to put it down and watch Old Faithful! Please Sara, write another book......I can't wait to read your next book!

this book was crazy.......2005-10-30

I liked and didnt like this book.
Its about Ruby, a woman who goes through a bad childhood, and an abusive marriage, and then gets married again.
It was really sad that she had all these dysfunctional adults in her life when she was little, and I think the author kept the story going with her dysfunctional adulthood.
I liked it all in all because it switches through her life sporatically so you have to keep reading to put all the parts together.

Incredible!.......2004-10-05

Sara Pritchard writes the words that you think but don't always record or say while you're experiencing your life. She still sees a five- or six-year-old's simple (and sometimes erroneous) comprehension of things adults don't explain to children, and brings Ruby into adulthood and midlife with the same complex thoughts we all have during the harsh realities of life. I found this book to be simultaneously provoking and enlightening, and couldn't put it down until I finished reading it.

innovative and fun.......2004-05-11

Sara Pritchard's Crackpots reminds me of a line from Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five: "Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time." Ruby Reese, too, has come unstuck. Crackpots is a novel about her life, that starts at her birth in 1950 and ends on December 31, 1999. The path between is anything but straight. The novel jumps from memories of Ruby's childhood to her marriage to an abusive man, back to childhood, forward to a second marriage. Ruby, Pritchard's fictionalized version of herself, has lead a full life by the time she is fifty: she loses most of her family to either death or addiction, gets married three times, gets divorced three times, and owns at least three people's share of pets. As the time shifts, so too the narrative technique as Pritchard alternately employs first, second, and third person narration as Ruby matures. These innovations are interesting and, for the most part, work well, the one exeption being mild annoyance at reading "you walk down the hall," or "you see your mother." This book is funny, and a good fast read. It is a solid debut novel, and I truly hope Ms. Pritchard can avoid the autobiographical writers trap: a lack of subject for a second book after they've written out their lives.

Book Description

This sequel to the critically-acclaimed The Eyes of God, from award-winning author John Marco, continues the epic tale of Arthurian elements, diverse magic, war, intrigue, romance, and deception.

Customer Reviews:

This one is better than the first (The Eyes Of God).......2007-05-30

but then in my opinion - it would have to be. Still lots of "stuff" to read through. The characters are getting a little more "fleshed out", but still not as good as they should be for a conflicted character driven story. I've bought all 3 books and will read all three because of that. I can't start a series that I own without finishing it. It's a personal quirk. And this one "flows" a little bit better than the first. I, too, love to be immersed in good 500+ page books, but I keep feeling the need to come up for air with this series. I find that there is a LOT of detail that isn't well described and yet takes a lot of words to do that. And while reading, I find myself thinking "how many more pages to a break or the end of a chapter". That to me is a big sign that a book has left a lot to be desired since usually I can read for hours at a time. I am reading the 3rd and last book right now....it's about the same experience for me...but I will persevere.

I enjoyed this book .......2006-12-06

This was a solid follow up to The eyes of god. It was a great read, it keep me on the edge. It had a great deal more action in it then The eyes of god did. Which I think was needed in the sequel. In edition to the expanding of the main plot, characters personalities and personal dilemma's. I would suggest this trilogy to any person who enjoys epic stories. I'm also looking forward to reading the sword of angels. On the other hand I have to say there were many grammatical errors. (Hints the 4 star rating) but if you can over look them as I did you can enjoy the story and get lost in the pages.

somewhat disappointing.......2006-04-11

This is not a bad book, by any means, but I had had higher hopes for it.
I *loved* the Eyes of God, and couldn't wait for this one to come out in paperback so that I could find out what happened next. I'm still waiting. Eyes came to a definite conclusion; this one is obviously the second in a triology, and leaves half the characters hanging.
Also - it's a minor quibble - but as expensive as books are these days, I expect the editor and proofreader to do their jobs. A minor misspelling, grammatical error or typo once in a while is one thing, but when major errors seem to crop up on every other page, I find it extremely off-putting.
I hope the next in the series is better.

Great Story with some drops but overall greatness.......2005-10-27

This is one of those books that you really do not want to put down and can't wait until you have the time to pick it up again. There are some parts of the storyline that don't really make sense, but they are peripheral and the main characters are strong. I like the fact that he made Baron Glass a main character although I do feel as though Lukien has turned out to be much weaker than one would expect. These books are long and great....a great addition to your fantasy library.

RECOMMENDATION: A MUST HAVE

John Marco, Master Storyteller.......2005-08-05

My favorite thing about John Marco's writing is that you just can't predict what is about to happen. There are no sacred characters. You never know who is about to be killed off. Every character is fair game. You will love this book. A well written book is always a pleasure!

God's whole armor: A manual of spiritual warfare

Average customer rating:

God's whole armor: A manual of spiritual warfare
Jean S Jones
Manufacturer: Smith & Daniel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

Matt Stromsoe has come a long way since his wife and son were killed in an explosion meant for him. Wounded severely in both body and spirit, Stromsoe gave up the last thing that held any meaning for him—his job on the police force—and proceeded to hit rock bottom, hard.

That was a lifetime ago, and finally the spiral of personal destruction and despair seems to have come to an end. The man responsible for the murders—Stromsoe's best friend from childhood and his wife's old lover—is behind bars and Stromsoe has put the past behind him, rescued from the abyss by a former colleague who offers him a job at his private security firm. Stromsoe's first assignment is to protect local television personality Frankie Hatfield from a stalker. But the further Stromsoe is drawn into this case, the more he finds that the net of intrigue is wide and ultimately leads back to the man who killed his family. As events conspire against him, Stromsoe learns that prison is no safeguard against revenge.

T. Jefferson Parker has been hailed as belonging "in the first rank of American crime novelists" (Washington Post Book World) and praised for "some of the finest writing you'll ever read" (Chicago Sun-Times). Superbly crafted, emotionally complex, and filled with heart-stopping action, Storm Runners proves why the novels of T. Jefferson Parker are impossible to resist.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2007-10-01

This was a great book by T Jefferson Parker. His knowledge of the Spanish Gang called La Emme is very insightful and believable. He also takes you back and gives you history of the LA DPW. Very good book from start to finish.

SHOWDOWN IN THE VALLEY.......2007-09-20

The story of these two individuals is tied together with the lives of first one woman, who eventually married the cop, and one of the drug lord's lovers, who was killed by the actions of the cop. After the killing of the Ofelia, Mike Tavarez's lover, he tries to kill the cop, Matt Stromsoe, but ends up killing Matt's wife and young son instead. Matt himself is injured in the bomb blast and spends years recuperating and rehabilitating. He also spends time just trying to kill himself through drinking and pity.

But another friend of Matt's, Dan Birch pulls him back from the brink of self-destruction and gets him into rehab, then offers him a job working security with Dan's firm.

Here is where the stories start to intertwine. The person Matt is assigned to be a bodyguard for is a Fox News Weather Lady whose high-profile life has attracted a stalker. She has asked for protection and for Dan's company to stop the stalker.

Of course there are layers and layers of lies and deception and eventually the threads of the plot lead us back to Tavarez. Even though he is in prison, he still maintains a lucrative and vast network of corruption in the Southwest.

Throw in a formula for making rain, corrupt utility executives, scared innocents, and a little romance and you have a formula for a good read that keeps you turning the pages.

Parker takes the time to let us in on the mindset of the characters, he lets us see their flaws and their strengths. He leads us to the final showdown and ties up all the loose ends. Its always a pleasure to read his books.

Parker is on the downswing.......2007-07-20

Sorry Jeff, but I just couldn't get past the unbelievable plot cornerstone: seeding the sky to make it rain. I found that central point, and the manner in which it is presented, to be quite preposterous. Character development was only passable - - not great. I was actually happy when the book ended, so I could move on to DeMille, Lescroart, Coben, et al.

Gripping.......2007-07-18

One of Parker's best. No gruesome ways to kill or torture women as in the sex criminal who practiced taxidermy on them, no people-eating serpents, which had turned me off to his books. Ditto tired jaded cops in all mystery fiction, a boring stereotype. Here a cracking good story. Parker's typical damaged hero rehabilitates to bodyguard a San Diego TV weather woman, the romantic interest--but a bit too convenient. Why do women always fall into the arms of a PI hero with no effort on his part? Too common, unlikely male fantasy. The woman is also more normal vs so often so off-center as to be unbelievable in some of his books, though she has an unusual obsession. Only plot flaw: Why would a major bad guy only decide to break out of prison at the end when he had the means and know-how to do it all along? Again too convenient to the plot. Parker's lyrical and fresh descriptions of nature always illuminate, now that he has dropped sleep-inducing multi-page descriptions of setting. His voice is unique and fresh, the menace in the plot one not explored to my knowledge, and twists of plot and character make STORM RUNNERS a standout, and a fast satisfying read.

Three and a half stars.......2007-07-16

I think I've read nearly all of T. Jefferson Parker's books. I love his fast paced books set in Southern California. I thought this was a good book but not his best. Still worth reading. I look forward to your next one!

Storm Runner (Tales of the Wolves, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Only Half Decent
Storm Runner
Great Book!
great

Storm Runner (Tales of the Wolves, Book 3)
Tara K. Harper
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0345371623
Release Date: 1993-07-05

Book Description

As a wolfwalker, Dion made an ideal border scout. She could experience the woods and mountains through the senses of her companion, the wolf Gray Hishn; even the wild wolves fed her their impressions. And that was how she knew that in the beleaguered lands across the border, something unspeakable was happening. The wolves were fleeing in droves. And those that remained behind had cut Dion off from their packsong. Nothing but their terrible grief and despair leaked through.
Dion knew that time was running out for the people on the other side of the border -- and for wolves everywhere. Her only hope lay with an ancient rite that had remained untested for generations -- the Calling of the wolves!

Customer Reviews:

Only Half Decent.......2007-06-01

The first two books, 'Wolfwalker' and 'Shadow Leader' were very well written and pretty good. This one is still good, but kinda...meh. And I'll be glad to lay it out to you.

Longear, the short mastermind woman behind the raiders and Lloroi of Bilocctar, has returned from the run since 'Shadow Leader' and is the one responsible for the pain and misery in Bilocctar. The Lloroi Conin and his wife Namina are helpless against her power and allows her to do whatever she wishes. Though Namina gets some courage and would like to see her family in Aryie. After a long while of negotiating with Longear, Longear accepts and decides to go with them for...protection. Later on, we discover that wasn't the case at all and disposes of them, though leaving Namina alive and Namina soon becomes the icon for the rebel fighters who want to destroy Longear and her raiders.

In the meantime, refugees are trying to escape from Bilocctar, a few older men and women, Elders, and a lot of children, though a little more than half are killed off by raiders, disease, poison, and hunger. Of course, the Wolfwalker Dione and her friends help these still-live refugees across the border to safe ground. Right after Dione rescues a refugee boy who has almost drowned in the river, and then almost killed by worlags, the beetle beasts who once were able to wield clubs in 'Wolfwalker' but I guess Tara simply changed her mind afterwards.
But there is trouble far worse than just simply Longear. Dion learns that Wolfwalkers from Bilocctar have been captured, beaten, killed and used as tools for the wolves so the wolves can hunt humans. In order to gain support of the noncaptured wolves and to see what is really going on, Dion and a few other Wolfwalers prepare themselves for The Calling, which hasn't been used since Landing 800 years ago. Only by gaining the wolves' support, Dion and her friends cross into a war between the raiders and guess who comes out the winner? Though not without a few deaths of flat characters and one important one. But hey, at least Dione wins again, it's all cool.

I suppose I should get to the stuff I've noticed in my reading and go from there.

The plotline was very weak. A little more than half of the book was about saving the refugees and putting them into homes, at the same time the rebel force is using Namina to mark the raiders of whom they've slayed. I thought it would be best to emphasize more on the captured and beaten Wolfwalkers, rather than have a few show up in the end, dead. We did not get to the Calling of the Wolves until much later.

The Calling, which was this ancient, untested art that was designed to call all of the wolves in the country to join in the audience and tell of their grief, was a huge disappointment. I expected it to be something a lot more, and maybe a lot harder to do. Instead, we are given one measly chapter about it, and then it's forgotten.

The characters are all cardboard cutouts that use their own grief as a sort of depth. I mean, the book depressed me enough. Who doesn't flinch at what the raiders have done to these children? But Tara overdoes it and it gets annoying and irritating and when you're reading, you end up shouting at the characters to 'get a grip' and do something and fight and not just sit around and chant 'oh woe is me' 100 times over. I am sorry if I am sounding rude, but that is exactly what I felt. Dion was the only strong character, as is her too-perfect husband Aranur. Yes, the only ones who are strong-willed are the perfect Dion, Aranur, Gamon, Tehena and a few characters who are only secondary. Though Tomi, the refugee boy that Dion rescues, is a really cool character. Possibly my favorite. And is Sobovi, the Male wolfwalker. I would've liked him more if he was better explained. Instead he is thrown in only to be killed off chapters later.

No, 'Storm Runner' is not a bad book at all, but it takes a long time for the plot to get into effect, and The Calling itself will probably disappoint a few people. But Tara is a wonderful writer and gives us the feeling that we are there and very few can do that. For that, I give her my thanks.

Storm Runner.......2004-01-07

This is a great book. I am so astonished that it's not more popular. The descriptions are great and vivid, and they stand out great in my imagination. The story line is romantic, exciting, humorus, audacious, and creative. The characters have great personality, and there is much diversity. The wolves even have neat personalities, and half the time I wish I could be a wolfwalker, too! This is a great read, and I highly reccomend it!

Great Book!.......2000-06-13

This is a great book. I am a big fan of all the Wolf Walker books. I am Reading Storm Runner right now. If u like suspence this is the book. It just makes u want to read more and more and not stop.

great.......1999-08-22

it really touched me, i loved this book and all the other

Average customer rating:

The Storm Runners LP
T. Jefferson Parker
Manufacturer: HarperLuxe
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: 0061233137
Release Date: 2007-07-24

Book Description

Average customer rating:

Storm Runner
Tara Harper
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S9JD24

Average customer rating:

Storm Runner (Tales of the Wolves, Book 3)
Tara K. Harper
Manufacturer: Books on Tape
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0736683305

Product Description

Dion, the healer and Wolfwalker, is back home with her friends, and they are preparing for war against Longear. There's trouble with the wolves in the enemy counties. Many of them are fleeing in droves. The rest appear to have broken their generations-long pact with the humans, and are hunting down refugees for the enemy. Dion can no longer communicate with their packsong, and must find out why they have fled and turned. But that means her venturing into dangerous enemy territory without the help of Gray Hishn. The only possible hope is her learning and mastering an ancient ceremony: The Calling of the Wolves. As with Tara Harper's other Tales of the Wolves books, there is a whirlwind of combat and survival from page one.

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Storm Runners
Barbara Mitchelhill
Manufacturer: Andersen Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1842706403
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Book Description

Two girls find themselves on a remote Scottish island with a laboratory of evil scientists who intend to play havoc with the weather. They must escape and get the evidence back to Edinburgh before the scientists become unstoppable. It’s a mad race across Scotland with the villains in evil pursuit.

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Storm Runners
Parker Jefferson
Manufacturer: Harper Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000USGQKU

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The Storm Runners CD
T. Jefferson Parker
Manufacturer: HarperAudio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 006122717X

Storm Runner: Tales of the Wolves, Book 3 (Unabridged)

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Storm Runner: Tales of the Wolves, Book 3 (Unabridged)
Tara K. Harper
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B0006IU3QW

The Wolfwalker Series: Wolfwalker, Shadow Leader, Storm Runner, Grayheart, Wolf's Bane, Silver Moons Black Steel, Wolf in Night (Set of 7 Sci-Fi Novels)

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The Wolfwalker Series: Wolfwalker, Shadow Leader, Storm Runner, Grayheart, Wolf's Bane, Silver Moons Black Steel, Wolf in Night (Set of 7 Sci-Fi Novels)
Tara K. Harper
Manufacturer: Del-Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000QYBGEO

Customer Reviews:

A Joy from cover to cover.......2007-09-07

One of the English speaking world's best essayists gives unique and insightful reflections on four of the greatest American novelists. In the process he shows that real comedy is a Christian virtue. Only Christians have the basis for celebrating the comedic nature of creation.

There are good reasons why this masterpiece has gone through multiple printings. It is as if Ralph Wood was channeling G K Chesterton, but with sharper theological powers.

A delight from beginning to end, and a devasting rebuke to those Christians, Left and Right, with humorless souls.

The Comedy of Redemption: Christian Faith and Comic Vision in Four American Novelists

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The Comedy of Redemption: Christian Faith and Comic Vision in Four American Novelists
Ralph C. (Author) Wood
Manufacturer: University of Notre Dame Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORDWHM

Average customer rating:

THE COMEDY OF REDEMPTION: CHRISTIAN FAITH AND COMIC VISION IN FOUR AMERICAN NOVELISTS.
Ralph C. Wood
Manufacturer: Univ. of Notre Dame Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VFOGWC

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