Book Description

It begins with a simple note. Roger Bascombe wishes to inform Celeste Temple that their engagement is forthwith terminated. But, Celeste, for all her lack of worldly experience, is determined to find out why her fiancé should have thrown her over so cruelly. Adopting a disguise, she follows her erstwhile lover to the forbidding Harschmort manor, where she discovers a world —by turns dizzyingly seductive and utterly shocking–she could never have imagined, and a conspiracy so terrifying as to be almost beyond belief.

Seething with danger, terror and romance, The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters is a mammoth work of the imagination, a deliriously readable, heartstoppingly suspenseful, and darkly erotic masterpiece of storytelling.

Customer Reviews:

Swashes, Buckles.....Books.......2007-09-02

I rarely become bored with a book, regardless of the length. I did so with this one. I think this review is the first one I've ever written in which I agree wholeheartedly with other reviewers that 200-300 pages could easily be lopped off without any significant impairment to the book. ---The only thing one would miss would be situation heaped upon situation where one or more of the three protagonists find themselves entering a dark door or some such to encounter a member of the "cabal" that seems surely to spell their imminent demise, only to escape to another turn in the plot. After ten or fifteen of these scenes, the suspense vanishes in a puff of blue smoke and the page-turning becomes routine.

This is a bit of a shame because of the potential wasted. There are deeper underlying currents here which are left to meander out of the book's (author's?) reach. The high point of the book is surely when Miss Temple is first captured by the Contessa. The erotic dream states induced by the books are the most fascinating, well-penned and, ahem, transfixing parts of the book. It also is the part that puts profound questions before the reader. As Caroline asks Miss Temple, "So many are so tender, hungry, so deeply in need. How much of what you read - or indeed, what you remember - was most singularly rooted in painful loneliness? If a person could rid themselves (sic) of such a source of anguish....can you truly find fault?"----It raises a pointed question regarding the intrinsic value of books such as, well, this one. It piques one's curiosity as to whether this book itself might not be an allegory of sorts, such as Veilandt's paintings are.

But--never mind---such literary heft is not this author's bailiwick, and we are off to more swords slashing, bullets flying, blue glass exploding until the last page of this ponderous (in weight) book. Perhaps many readers will be satisfied with this overdone picaresque. But as for this reader's final judgment, I shall, taking a lead from the book, be absurdly cryptic:

MENE MENE TEKEL PERES

Read every word and sorry I did .......2007-06-23

I never give up on a book. No matter how boring or slow as I just know that somewhere the author JUST HAS TO get interesing or better somewhere for a publisher to go to the expense of publishing! Definetly wrong in this case. I did make it to the last sentence and found that I had totally wasted my time and money.
The book never delivers what it promises. It seems to be only a juvenile series of chases to catch the bad guys. I saw a review that compared this book to a video game and I agree with that in that there is no more depth of story than you would find in the adverage video game.
Save your time and money for better fiction than this.

Fun fantasy for adults.......2007-06-02

I read this book last year and enjoyed it so much I bought copies for my sister and sister-in-law who are also enjoying it. Although there are many characters and plot lines to follow, it is a rich story and was a compelling read for me.

One reason I liked this book is that it reminds me of the Golden Compass trilogy by Philip Pullman. That book was a favorite read for our family when my daughter was a teen. The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters feels like an adult-themed version of a Pullman novel. If you like fantasy and Pullman and want some mature themes, you will like this book.

Do try to not throw it against the wall.......2007-05-15

Have you ever read a book that seems promising based on the description and the beginning? But once you've gotten about 300 pages into it and still not much of substance has been revealed all you want to do is throw it against the wall? I'm afraid that, to me, this is one of those books.
As another reviewer mentioned- this would be a fantastic book if its editor actually did their job and turned the book which is around 750 incredibly long winded pages into a 300 page novel. Pages are spent describing a main character pouring her tea and arranging her scones.
If you decide to purchase it, good luck getting through it- sometimes it's worthwhile, but overall- wait for the paperback. I really wish I did.

Marvellous, if you know what you're getting into........2007-02-20

This is not a book for anyone who likes fast-paced, surface-skimming light reads, despite the fact that the entirity of the novel takes place over just three days. While not matching the pea-soup tedium of some of Dicken's most verbose moments (the first chapter of Bleak House comes to mind) Dahlquist is VERY fond of descriptive passages and these do slow the narrative pace to a crawl at many points. Still, it's beautifully written, achingly complicated and makes a good stab at mixing the stilted, prissy style of the Victorian gothic novel with bodice-ripping sauciness. Enjoyable, original and one to linger over.

Average customer rating:

Of Dreams and Assassins (Caraf Books) Malika Mokeddem Manufacturer: University of Virginia Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Political | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books ASIN: 0813919940

Book Description

Of Dreams and Assassins is the urgent and rhythmic fourth novel of Malika Mokeddem, her second to appear in English. Born in Algeria to a Bedouin family that had only recently become sedentary, Mokeddem was raised on the stories of her grandmother, who encouraged her education at a time when girls did not go to school. Though raised in a tolerant version of Islam, Mokeddem nevertheless felt the weight of custom and tradition. Of Dreams and Assassins, though not strictly autobiographical, evokes through the beauty and vastness and oppressive heat of the desert Mokeddem's early yearning for freedom. Through its heroine, Kenza, and her simultaneous rebellion and immersion in the literary classics at a boarding school, the novel dramatizes the possibilities for women to express their identities.

Kenza is an exile, first in her own society and later in France. Born during a visit to Montpellier in the year of Algerian independence, she returns with her mother to Oran to find her father has taken another wife. Her mother leaves alone, never to return. Kenza's subsequent search for herself through the mother she doesn't know, told in a frank first-person narrative, mirrors the struggle of Algerian women to make a place in a society that has stripped them of their rights in spite of their crucial participation in the war for independence. Kenza's suffocating childhood in the house of her boisterous, leering father is broken only by summers in the desert, where the dates "become golden brown and gleam like little clusters of suns that mock the children." Eventually, Kenza, like Mokeddem herself, leaves her home to go to school in Montpellier, because she can no longer tolerate life in Algeria.

Of Dreams and Assassins is a protest, against the subjugation of women in Algeria and the violence of the last ten years, perpetrated by fundamentalist Muslim guerrillas. In exile, Kenza puts her hope in mtissage, the blending of cultures embodied by the character of Slim, her friend and confidant, who lives happily with his mixed-race origins. Kenza's story dramatizes Mokeddem's belief that the future of Algeria lies in its women and in education; only through liberation and education can the pain of Kenza's exile be redeemed.

Average customer rating: Chilling . . . Wolf Dreams Review Extremely Well Done Amazing A Bright Light on a Dark Subject

Wolf Dreams Yasmina Khadra , and Linda Black Manufacturer: Toby Press ProductGroup: Book Binding: Hardcover Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books Similar Items: In the Name of God The Swallows of Kabul Morituri (Toby Crime) The Attack: Novel The Sirens of Baghdad: A Novel ASIN: 1902881753

Customer Reviews:

Chilling . . ........2006-06-11

This chilling tale describes the descent of a young Algerian, an aspiring movie actor, who is swept by the soul-crushing forces of poverty and a repressive government into the arms of the Islamist insurgency. A stint as a driver for a wealthy family exposes him to the ruthless abuses of privilege and pushes him in revolusion back to his Muslim faith and from there under the influence of political rhetoric to the fringes of the Resistance, where he becomes an assassin and eventually an armed underground fighter engaging in attacks on government forces.

Along the way there is much bloodshed and sorrow, treachery, betrayal, and unspeakable acts, all in the professed service of God. The author's distate for the Islamist movement in his home country is undisguised, and he has written a disturbing account of its worst excesses. A short novel, it moves with the swiftness of well-written crime fiction. It includes a glossary and a time-line identifying the key dates in Algerian political history from the War of Independence (1954-1962) to the first years of the 21st century.

Wolf Dreams Review.......2005-03-18

The book is written by Mohammed Moulessehoul under a female pen name, Yasmina Khadra. He did this to avoid persecution, being an officer in the Algerian Army. He eventually revealed his true identity, years later while in exile in France.

The story follows Nafa Walid, a man who hopes to become an actor in the movie industry, but he begins to gradually loses control of his destiny and becomes drawn into the Algerian Islamic Fundamentalist movement. "Wolf Dreams" shows how dissatisfaction and disillusionment in a corrupt nation can give rise to fundamentalism, and how the chaos of civil war can transform a normal, middle-class young man into an indoctrinated assassin; a man who inflicts pain and terror on others without qualms, and accepts the idea of his own death with the devotion of a true-believing fanatic.

It is definitely worth the time to read; it's gritty and pulls no punches, showing the corruption of the country's aristocracy, but at the same time, it doesn't glorify Islamic fundamentalism. It shows that fighting monsters has a nasty habit of turning people into monsters themselves.

I give it four stars for the reasons mentioned above. It may not be for everyone, but it is an eye-openner to what leads people down the path to terrorism and murder.

Extremely Well Done.......2004-10-07

Khandra's books are simple with multiple levels of perception. More importantly, they are masterfully wordsmithed (the over-used term is well earned in this case). These are the kind of books that haunt you for years as they become part of your psyche.....and you see parallels to the writing all around you.......the writing truly provides you with a new perception of your own life.

Here are all the books to date, with a bit of info on each:

Swallows of Kabul (2004)
A bit hit in France, this story of 2 couples and their attempts to cope with the rule of the Taliban is mesmerizing.

Wolf Dreams (2003) 3rd of an Algerian trilogy
A story of a Moslem Jihadi, from sweet boy to fanatic fundamentalist has been recommended for insight into the driving force of suicidist youngsters.

Morituri (2003) 2nd of an Algerian trilogy
An Algerian kidnaping story that provides a compelling look at the definition of crime in a permanently impoverished society.

In The Name Of God (2000) 1st of an Algerian trilogy
A look at the phenomena of Moslem fundamentalism in Algeria, this book has strong parallels to Camu's "The Plague." In some ways it is a more modern variation on a theme of Camu's work.

Amazing.......2004-04-07

I really enjoyed this book. It followed the path of Jihadi from disaffected youth to unstoppable monster. It showed how vague idealism and vanity can create a perfect storm from which otherwise normal and ambitious young men are transformed into vicious monsters that will kill women and children. I thought the complexity of this book extended further than expected, including portrayals of strong (but amoral) women as well as redeeming grace and nobility from otherwise corrupt aristocrats. The author is often ambivalent about the competing sects in Algerian society, even though it is plain that he does not withhold moral judgment from the terrorist/protagonist. I think that the issue of our times is Islamic terorrism and Yasmina Khadra gets inside of the terrorist mind and the social-psychology of the Casbah in a way that is neither overly didactic, nor morally obtuse. I think this book exceeds "In the Name of God" both as a narrative and for showing how Islamists are a form of revolutionary at war with existing society, in spite of their pretensions of conserving Islam in pure form.

A Bright Light on a Dark Subject.......2004-01-14

This is a book that surprised me with its insights. The author was recommended by NYT book review but the insights into the Islamic Fundamentalist culture and the violent whirlpool that a young man can be sucked into were a surprising revelation. The relatively innocent immature young man who starts out the book slowly is degraded into a monster who is to be destroyed. I often thought of the young men who flew planes into the World Trade Center and the corruption of their souls that turned them into monsters who needed to be destroyed.

Average customer rating: The Whole Body Shivers The Terror of Art Friends Superb new author! The Assassins Dream is the novel I had been waiting for... Great Read

The Assassin's Dream J. D. Townsend Manufacturer: Five Star ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books ASIN: 1410402630

Book Description

2174 A.D. Acquired Genetic Neurological Syndrome has killed nearly two-thirds of Earth's male population, and women have risen to dominate all aspects of life. The Whole Body governs with chilling efficiency; the Ministry of Termination dispatches those who might threaten the world order or whose usefulness has come to an end. To that end, a select few have been engineered to carry out the clandestine orders of the North American Council - K-Class assassins. At 19, Kay Black is probably the most talented assassin the Ministry of Births has ever produced. When routine assignment to terminate Angela Potemkin, a renowned scientist with the Central Office for Genetic Research, does not go as planned, Kay learns information about herself that turns her world upside down, and her search for the truth about her origins reveals that she has received an inheritance, something that makes her even more dangerous than an assassin. The trouble is she is not alone in receiving this unexpected gift, a gift that by its very nature will challenge the foundations of power in the world . . . if Kay can survive long enough to use it.

James Townsend is a veteran of journalism, a musician and a student of the mysteries of consciousness. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he writes, plays music and enjoys the humbling presence of the Rocky Mountains.

Customer Reviews:

The Whole Body Shivers.......2006-08-14

This book was just handed to me by a friend who knows I can't resist a good read. I was not disappointed. It was a good enough page-turner to keep me at it for two days, and left me wishing for more.

There's not really any new ground being broken here in terms of the plot, in my opinion. Many other stories came to mind as I was reading. What makes this novel good is the author's talent in drawing the inner lives of the characters, and for his imagination in crafting a compelling dystopian future.

At first, given the setting of this story, I feared this would be a feminist political vehicle, but that's not the case. I found myself at a few turns wishing the author had taken a more imaginative approach with the plot. I started getting a sense of the ending about half-way through, and was disappointed that it ended in such a predictable way.

Three stars is an honest assessment. I've read a lot of science fiction, and a lot of other fiction. This was a good effort, not great. But the potential for greatness is there, and it would be well worth it to keep a look out for this author's next novel.

The Terror of Art Friends.......2006-06-23

Full disclosure: I know the author. There is that moment of worry when you have to come out with an honest opinion on a friends work. Considering I have a long history of reading in this genre, and a deep vein of honesty, this started as a daunting read. Luckily it didn't take long to realize I was off the hook. It's a good book by any standard. Written in a deceptively simple style that reminds me of "The Mount", which I hope you've had the pleasure of reading also. Obvious influences are nice, because there is no moment where you feel the writer is using their proven style as a crutch, so you just get to relax and enjoy the story. Which has a wonderfully balanced ending. Like all great Sci-Fi, it leaves you with the story as a whole, yet later you find yourself thinking of a number of ways where a sequel might go. Well done a book you'll give to a friend going on vacation for all the right reasons.

Superb new author!.......2006-03-05

This is the first book of this genre that I have read but I found it to be amazing!! I read The Assassin’s Dream with my book club to explore female centric societies in fiction literature. This story portrays a society where women dominate the politics and economies of the entire globe. Yet, there isn’t even a twinge of stereotypical feministic views. Probably the most accurate view of what life would be like if women really were in charge. Townsend makes it easy to fall in love with his characters, while weaving a fantasy world full of gadgets and gismos. You don’t have to love Sci-Fi to be a fan of this book; I recommend it to anyone!

The Assassins Dream is the novel I had been waiting for..........2006-01-19

For the past year I have been jumping from book to book, hoping to find one that grabbed me. This one just about fell through the cracks. After the first chapter I was hooked. The novel flowed...chapter after chapter, pulling me along. The characters tugged at me whenever I set the novel down. The emotions pushed at me as not many novels are able to do lately. Thank you Mr Townsend for a wonderful read. I am waiting, feeling empty, hoping I don't miss the sequel. Please don't leave us hanging too long.

GregV

Great Read.......2005-10-21

Having read the insightful reviews that have come before, I'll begin by saying I find them all pretty accurate.
Mr. Townsend seems to have a skill to paint word pictures on a vast, sweeping canvas, and simultaneously ink in exquisite detail. He smoothly moves between presenting a visionary's alternate worldview and its consequences, then meticulously focusing in on a character's interior landscape. Quite an art!
In decades of reading fiction, I don't recall another male author who seemed so adept at describing female emotions, or detailing the feminine response to an intimate encounter. I find it almost uncanny, and definitely noteworthy.
I enthusiastically add my vote to the earlier reviewer's observation that she awaits a sequel. This novel, while whole unto itself, begs a sequel.

Average customer rating:

A dream of treason Marshall Pugh Manufacturer: Pinnacle Books ProductGroup: Book Binding: Unknown Binding General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary ASIN: 0523005571

Average customer rating:

Malika Mokeddem Of Dreams and Assassins.(Book Review): An article from: International Fiction Review Patricia Geesey Manufacturer: International Fiction Association ProductGroup: Book Binding: Digital General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books ASIN: B0008DZJ0A Release Date: 2005-07-31

Book Description

This digital document is an article from International Fiction Review, published by International Fiction Association on January 1, 2003. The length of the article is 970 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Malika Mokeddem Of Dreams and Assassins.(Book Review)
Author: Patricia Geesey
Publication: International Fiction Review (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2003
Publisher: International Fiction Association
Volume: 30 Issue: 1-2 Page: 100(3)

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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The Assassin's Dream J. D. Townsend Manufacturer: Five Star ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback ASIN: B000OZ9MOG

Average customer rating: Living the Sweet Life Gluten Free Gourmet Great resource for all GF cooking Just desserts Recipes so good, even non-celiacs savor them!

The Gluten-free Gourmet Makes Dessert: More Than 200 Wheat-free Recipes for Cakes, Cookies, Pies and Other Sweets Bette Hagman Manufacturer: Holt Paperbacks ProductGroup: Book Binding: Paperback Desserts | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books Healthy | Special Diet | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books Gourmet | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books Natural Foods | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books Low Fat | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books Gluten-Free | Special Conditions | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books Similar Items: The Gluten-Free Gourmet Bakes Bread: More Than 200 Wheat-Free Recipes The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Comfort Foods: Creating Old Favorites with the New Flours The Gluten-Free Gourmet Cooks Fast and Healthy: Wheat-Free and Gluten-Free with Less Fuss and Less Fat The Gluten-free Gourmet, Second Edition: Living Well Without Wheat (Owl Books) More from the Gluten-free Gourmet: Delicious Dining Without Wheat Accessories: Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor ASIN: 0805072764

Book Description

Bette Hagman's four cookbooks have sold more than 220,000 copies and established her as the leading expert in the ever growing market of gluten-free cooking. She is the premier creator of recipes for those intolerant to gluten and for those allergic to wheat. In the latest addition to the Gluten-free Gourmet series, Hagman turns her hand to that most loved part of the meal, dessert. At the core of this book are more than two hundred easy-to-follow recipes for delicious cakes, pies, cookies, puddings, and other sweets, including Chocolate Peanuty Cupcakes, Raspberry Bars, and Gingersnaps. The nutritional information and dietary exchanges that accompany each recipe will make these desserts fit easily into any diet. Hagman also answers common questions about gluten-free baking and provides a list of sources for gluten-free baking products you can order by mail. With The Gluten-free Gourmet Makes Dessert no meal will have to end without dessert again.

Customer Reviews:

Living the Sweet Life.......2007-05-21

I have all of Bette Hagman's gluten free cookbooks and love this one as well. You get treated to some very helpful information about how to prepare a myriad of gluten free dishes, desserts included and how to maintain a gluten free lifestyle. This book cross references recipes in her other works; readers are sure to want to have the full collection.

For those of you who follow regimens such as South Beach, Atkins and Weight Watchers, you can still follow those logical regimens the gluten free way. Gluten free is not restrictive - in fact, it is very liberating as is the health benefits you will enjoy. How sweet is that!

Gluten Free Gourmet.......2007-01-05

I am happy to have options for eating. I have not used many recipes out of it.

Great resource for all GF cooking.......2007-01-05

I bought this, having already purchased her "Comfort Foods" book, and was surprised by all the extra useful information. It is not only a great source for desserts, but offers tips that are useful for all gluten free cooking. Also, it includes indexes of all other dessert recipes in her other books. I would recommend all of Bette Hagman's books to anyone on a gluten free diet, and this one especially to those with kids who need GF treats.

Just desserts.......2006-08-12

I have celiac disease, which is essentially an allergy to wheat protein, and I've been GF for 5 years now. (Why does that sound like I'm at an AA meeting?) Bette Hagman's books are the first couple of books that I got, and I still use them every day. "Dessert" is one of the best for the extra information it includes.

While all of the books have the GF mixes, this book has a great table of the protein, fat, carb, and fiber content of many of our "funny flours" (p26-7). It's fantastic for figuring out what flours to try substituting with if you're trying to increase the protein or fiber content of a recipe. It also has an example of how to take an ordinary cake recipe and make it GF, and suggestions for how much xanthum to use (p30-1). There's also a great troubleshooting chapter that starts on page 33.

The "cakes from mixes" chapter is less than exciting. It's where you take a GF cake mix and then add so much stuff to it that you could've started from scratch.

Steer clear of the brownie recipe on page 138. It was rock hard on the edges and underbaked in the middle, and it didn't have nearly enough chocolate in it. I just use a regular recipe and, with the help of the guidelines on page 33, make good cocoa brownies.

Favorite recipes:

Pumpkin cake p64
Banana cake p61 (These are both like really good breads.)
Toll House cookies p157
Chocolate Mousse cake p282 (One of the better flourless choc cakes I've had)

TK Kenyon
RABID, coming in 2007 from Kunati Books

Recipes so good, even non-celiacs savor them!.......2006-02-19

I was recently given this book by my celiac mother-in-law, and I am so grateful. My sister and I are both celiacs, and desserts like cake and cookies have been missing from our lives for years. (I mean, REAL cakes and cookies that taste like their gluten-laiden counterparts.) From the very first recipe we tried- frosted macadamia nut bars (p.145) to my 25th birthday treat- whoopie pies (p.118), my entire family has devoured the outcomes. Including those who can eat wheat. This book explains evey detail about gluten-free flours, right down to thier protein contents, and how and why they work. This is an absolute must for anyone who wants to enter back into the realm of heavenly desserts, or anyone catering to their beloved celiac. Just be prepared to stock your shelves with a bunch of new flours, and you'll be on your way!

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1. Ophelia's Fan: A Novel
2. Out of My Skin
3. Passion Play
4. Pin-Up Nudes II (Artist Archives)
5. Quincie Bolliver (Double Mountain Books--Classic Reissues of the American West)
6. Realms of the Arcane (Forgotten Realms)
7. Red Sea
8. Sandstone Spine: Seeking the Anasazi on the First Traverse of the Comb Ridge
9. Soledades / Loneliness (Letras Hispanicas / Hispanic Writings)
10. Stoning the Keepers at the Gate: Society's Relationship with Law Enforcement

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