5 comments about The Last Patriot.

1. This is the summer page turner. Brad Thor does an outstanding does of plotting a completley believeable story line.
   This book grabs you from the very first chapter and moves along at a good pace.
   It was also a pleaseure to read the book that has been thoroughly researched. I have been to several of the places that Thor mentions and can vouch for the accuracy of his discriptions.
   To me it is just as important that an author gets even the small details correct ie weapons descriptions of historical places etc... and Brad Thor delivers on that front his knowledge of the tournaquet pants and other information is first rate.
   It was also a pleasure to read an author that presents Islam in such a straight forward manner. He presented the extremeist and balanced it nicely with an explanation of how and why some groups have a more moderate view, but he makes it clear taht Islam is a threat to our way of life.
   This is the first one of his books that I have read and I am going to make a point of going back to read the rst of his work.



2. I had never read anything written by Brad Thor previously. I'm an avid viewer of the Glenn Beck show and saw Brad on there with his new book, The Last Patriot. It sounded intriguing so I purchased it the very next day. I was not disappointed. Thriller is not the word for it! I could not put the book down. This is a roller-coaster ride that has thrills, chills and romance all rolled up in one. Chalk me up as a new Brad Thor fan who's waiting for his next book and who's going to read his prior work while waiting for that new book!



3. In "The Last Patriot," our hero Scot Harvath picks up the story six months after the conclusion of Brad Thor's previous novel, "The First Commandment." Agent Harvath and his lady love Tracy Miller are hanging out in Parish trying to forget about their violent past and build a new life together.
   
   Unfortunately, the past has a nasty way of catching up with such people, especially when it involves unresolved issues about duty, honor and safety. Harvath and Miller are quickly hurled back into the espionage business after witnessing a car bombing outside a quiet Parisian bookstore. And we're off!
   
   The plot line is a bit more complicated this time around: Harvath must help the White House locate a long-lost document from the early days of Islam that will supposedly overturn the very theological foundations of modern Jihadism. The text makes many references to Thomas Jefferson and the Barbary Wars from the early 1800s ("to the shores of Tripoli"). It's a potent mix of history, religion, detective work and high-tech mayhem involving the usual characters from Washington, Colorado and beyond.
   
   I'm only giving this one four stars because it lacks some of the clever humor and repartee of Thor's other thrillers. (Example from his previous novel: "Our sensors indicate you are wearing a silk thong with the words 'Go Navy' inscribed with purple sequins.")
   
   Also, this latest novel lacks some of Thor's usual oddball characters such as "The Troll," a 4-foot-tall genius midget from The First Commandment. Furthermore, I think Brad Thor may be overreaching his narrative skills a bit with the heavy intellectual content in this latest novel. He's right that Islam is desperately in need of a Reformation from within, but I'm not sure he'll convince many moderate Muslims with this cloak and dagger approach, particularly when it means blasting your way through a mosque.
   
   On the theology side, I wish the book was about twice as long, including a much more thorough explanation of Mohammed's lifetime and his approach to "revelation." I also wish the newer characters, such as the UVa historian Nichols, were fleshed out a bit more. Leaving that aside, most fans of the genre will be delighted by The Last Patriot. It's a perfect beach book for summer 2008. Thor is a good writer and I hope his next novel weighs in at about 600 pages.
   
   WARNING: This is not a politically correct treatment of Islam, the Koran or this legacy of the Prophet Mohammed. Those with delicate sensitivities on this topic should probably stay away.



4. Brad Thor has written a book that will keep you reading into the early hours of the morning! Very well written and keeps you guessing till the end. Made me hopeful that our country never comes to this!!!!!!!!!!!!!
   Great Book!!!



5. I flew through this book without noticing. It is well written and has a good mix of real history and fiction.

5 comments about Sail.

1. Once again, James Patterson has put his name to another author's work. His name should be followed by James Patterson, Mass Publisher.
   
   I thought the writing was as if a teenager wrote the book. The main character was kind of sily and was not very likable The only character that was likable, her brother-in-law, was killed off after the author led us to believe that he would be the hero. Toward the end of the book, it did get a little better. It is hard to believe that the bad guy (her husband) could cover up his evil side long enough to woo and marry her. There is no explanation even of how they met and got married, especially, with her working day and night at the hospital.
   
   I think I am going to write Patterson's name off my list of favorite authors. If you really want to read a good book where you get your money's worth, try Greg Iles or P.J. Parrish.
   
   Although I personally am not talented enough to write a book, I do expect famous authors making millions off the masses to at least find authors who have the same style of writing before putting their name on it. He should be embarrassed to take credit for this book.



2. i love most of patterson's books. even when he co-athors i wish i could have thought of doing it. i will keep reading his books. i will re read them like all of my books. i can't believe how much i miss the first time i read a book. the re-read makes me know i can sleep while reading just the same as watching tv. thanks for giving me something to take me to another place.



3. After not fully enjoying his past few books I was skeptical about reading this one. This book was given to me by a friend,so I figured if i dont like it no loss since I didnt pay for it. I was a bit surprised as to how well this book really was. A very good story line and a quick read. Also his characters werent the one dimensional types he normally creates. i dont want to give the story away so i wont get into details but the ending shocked me, normally I can come very close to predicting his endings but with this book I wasnt able to. If you are/were a doubting thomas (like me) when it comes to reading pattersons books,you may want to pick this one up and give him a second chance.



4. As a long time James Patterson fan, I was very disappointed with this book. The characters lacked development, the events began and ended too fast for the reader to gain an emotional attachment to what was going on. It seemed everything was crammed into the book in order to make it more interesting, but it just made it more unrealistic. It comes off as a book written in a hurry in order to make it on people's summer reading list. For the most part, it was a waste of my time and I would not recommend it to my friends.



5. First of all, I am a huge fan of James Patterson books. I have so many that my bookcase is bulging. This book is one of my favorites. It is a quick read. (Great for taking on vacation) Mr. Patterson is known for taking twists and turns and I am usually mad at him because of whom he made the "bad guy" in the book but this time I was very pleased with him!! Enjoy!!

5 comments about Swan Peak: A Dave Robicheaux Novel (Dave Robicheaux Mysteries).

1. I am a fan of James Lee Burke and look forward to every Dave Robicheaux novel. Mind you, it isn't a bad read - it simply does not compare well with his other work. Not a big deal really since every author occasionally doesn't quite hit the mark.
   
   "Swan Peak" is weighed down with too many nefarious, if not nebulous, characters chasaing too many plots, sub-plots and backstories. In my opinion, the story would have been improved by slimming it down.
   
   Robicheaux and his wife Molly, with Clete Purcel tagging along, are vacationing on a friend's property in Montana, far from their native New Iberia and New Orleans. Purcel is always a bull in a china shop and this outing is no different. In fact, Clete is almost buffoonish in this novel.
   
   Burke, of course, is not writing a story about how Dave, Molly and Clete spent their summer vacation. With those two guys, there has to be trouble brewing - and there is. A pair of college kids, seemingly with innocent backgrounds, are brutally murdered on a hill above Robicheaux's friend's property. Immediately suspected are the rich, secretive Wellstone brothers, whose "security" personnel have already had a run-in with Clete. One of the brothers has a badly disfigured face from being burned in a French Foreign Legion tank. The other brother has an unspecified malady that puts him on crutches. Barely have the bodies of the two college students cooled, when two more bodies are discovered. The two have also been brutally murdered and disfigured.
   
   The disfigured Wellstone brother is married to a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice and a beautiful son, who was fathered by a man imprisoned in Texas - until, of course, he escapes. A brutal prison guard stays on his trail as he heads north to Montana.
   
   Now throw in an assortment of oddball locals, a rough woman with a heart of gold, FBI agents, a local sheriff and Burke's ruminations on the Vietnam and Iraq wars and you have the makings of an overly complicated plot. On top of that, add in the crash of an airplane years ago that may have been caused by Clete Purcel and a storyline that never quite catches up with itself and you have a somewhat unsatisfying James Lee Burke novel.
   
   Needless to say, Dave Robicheaux and particularly Clete Purcel narrowly escape injury and death on several occasions and have all kinds of bad guys to deal with.
   
   Frankly, it all got tiresome. The ending was long, drawn out and way too predictable, as well as being unbelievable.
   
   In all, not a great read. Definitely not a bad book, but not on a par with most of James Lee Burke's other work. Hopefully, he'll be back to speed with the next Dave Robicheaux novel.
   
   Jerry



2. Dave & Clete leave the big sleazy & head north to Montana to fish. Not before long Clete is fishing but in trouble again. He & Dave colide with a double homicide which begins their journey into the caves of degradation that are hiding in Montana. They have to re adjust their vietnam memories to get past these next sources of evil & maybe one other from the past that they thought was gone in a ball of fire. More murder & mayhem occur & more sleaze as they get to the finale.



3. (3.5 stars) A middling James Lee Burke book is still MILES ahead of most other writers' work in the crime fiction genre. This one, altho not up to the standards of the previous "Tin Roof Blowdown", is well worth reading. I agree with some previous posters that the plot lines are too numerous & unnecessarily tangled. The book would have been helped by leaning it down a bit by dropping a couple of subplots. I disagree, however, with those who believe the book was hurt by temporarily leaving New Orleans & moving to the soaring "Big Country" setting. I think Burke brilliantly juxtaposes with bitter irony the edenic, "Heaven's Gate" Montana setting in all its staggering natural beauty against the petty, narrow minded, sometimes outright evil & horrific actions of various tormented human beings found in the book. It was also interesting to see how one tortured character who had committed many horrific acts in his past found redemption of a sort with a good woman, rather than his receiving the usual expected comeuppance of brutal street justice that is usually meted out to such characters in this series. Finally, I see all the debate about how Dave & Clete are portrayed as acting much younger & much more physically fit & formidable than men who are their actual ages. I really feel readers need to suspend disbelief about the "age factor" of the heroes in these various genre series. Robert Parker's Spenser is a Korean War veteran, even older than Robicheaux & Purcel, & still performing much larger than life derring do. I think we need to see these larger than life protagonists as forever sealed in still-vigorous middle age, rather than as preposterously unlikely senior citizens. Lawrence Block tried to portray his Matthew Scudder character as acting like his actual age in the last couple of books in that series, & the results were sad & dismal (at least for this fan). So I think it's either end these series & maybe create younger series heroes, or use artistic license & keep the older characters going frozen at an (inaccurate) younger age. Since I enjoy reading about these characters' exploits so much & don't want them to go away, I prefer the latter course.



4. ANOTHER GREAT BOOK BY BURKE. ROBICHEAUX FANS WILL LOVE IT. WILL PATTON IS THE BEST READER AROUND FOR MY MONEY.



5. I fell in love with the author many years ago. I have completed almost all of his works. I enjoyed Swan Peak and eagerly await his next novel.

5 comments about Big Russ and Me.

1. Tim Russert has written a wonderful, well-deserved, tribute to his father. It's also an unintended tribute to himself. After all, as a good, worthy son, he absorbed his father's valuable lessons of morality, life and living and displayed it in his own life. And the tributes never come across as boasting or bragging. He tells it all with a great sense of humor.
   
   I have recommended this book to dozens of friends and family members, young and old. If you don't get a lump in your throat, reading about the positive thinking, fair-minded, objective, intelligent and kind-hearted father-son duo, then you must examine your life and priorities.
   
   Do read the book!



2. There were many things in his book that my husband and I can relate to! Really enjoyed it---my respect for Tim has doubled after reading this.



3. It is making me fall in love with Tim Russert all over again. While I don't believe it's a classic piece of literature, it is a wonderful, charming, insightful tale about Tim, aka Timmy, and his family, most especially Big Russ.
   I'm loving reading it, although it makes me sad with the realization that we'll never get to see him again - and this year being so wonderful relativve to the political scene. He was relishing in it - glad to have his book. I also have his other book which I will read after this.
   Worth the purchase price and the time to read it.



4. I have not, personally, read this book. It was a gift for my son, who is an avid reader, and an admirer ( who wasn't ? ) of Tim Russert.I did read the review, and will get this book for myself.



5. a truly warm and wonderful audio book that I will listen to again and again

5 comments about The Gingerbread Girl.

1. Having read and/or listened to nearly all of King's work (okay, uncle, I didn't make it through _Insomnia_ or _Lisey's Story_), I have to say that this falls somewhere between _Gerald's Game_ and _Rose Madder_. This isn't King at his worst, but he's not at his best either. Other than _The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon_ (and that was written from the kid's POV), I'm not at all sure that King does well when it comes to writing about women or from a woman's point of view. As was the case with Lisey, this female protagonist was neither believable nor particularly interesting, and the action was drawn-out waaaayyyy too long.
   
   Oh, and I agree with another reviewer: just WHAT did the title have to do with ANYTHING?
   
   The narrator was credible; she's a bit like Lindsay Crouse who did _Gerald's Game_, but I found myself glancing repeatedly at my iPod, wondering just how much longer I had to listen to the perils of Pauline.
   
   If Florida is to become King's next "Maine" -- as it seems from this and _Duma Key_ -- then I hope he figures out something more interesting to do in such claustrophobic climes. _Duma Key_ was very good, but if I have to sit through one more island narrative, I might build myself a raft.



2. This story had me on the edge of my seat, begging to hear more and gasping in fear right along with Emily. I became Emily in my imagination and suffered along with her. Her fears were mine as well as her triumphs. This is one I will listen to again and share with my friends and family.



3. It's Stephen King, it's not too long, and it's beautifully read by Mare Winningham (who also read Lisey's Story on audio cd). It wasn't my favorite story by him, but it wasn't bad. It's definately suspenseful in parts, but I felt a little cheated at the end.



4. Mare Winningham does an excellent job narrating this two-CD audio version of Stephen King's long story. It doesn't feel long, though. This one is a well-built thrill ride, and King proves once again that he can reach into his bag of tricks and scare the daylights out of the listener. The story is simple almost to the point of bare-bones, but it has a lot of tension and plenty of surprises in store. Any fan of King who enjoys audiobooks will like this one. It's not profound, but it's great at what it does, gripping the listener in a vice of tension and suspense and not letting go. Saying any more would only risk spoiling this delightful treat for King's fans.



5. I thought this story was good but could have been better. It was so underdeveloped it almost seemed unfinished. I am still wondering what happened to the poor old guy that ran the bridge.
   
   Oh, and just an FYI for those of you who seemed confused by the title, I believe it is a reference to the kid's story "Gingerbread man" as in "run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man."

5 comments about Rules of Deception.

1. In this novel, a doctor who practices in Third World countries as a volunteer with Doctors Without Borders finds himself embroiled in a scheme of international intrigue, terrorism, and government corruption at the highest levels. He must outthink and outfight his opponents while trying to unravel the mystery of why he's the object of an international manhunt, wrongly implicated as a terrorist, and accused of murder.
   
   As an escapist thriller, this book works as far as the mechanics of the action; a lot of shooting in picturesque locales. The realization of the individual characters is pretty thin, though, so it's hard to build up much empathy on more than a very superficial level. I didn't find myself invested in them at all.
   
   Frankly, this book - with the exception of its fatal flaw - works better as a script for a movie than as an engrossing novel.
   
   Now to the real problem.
   
   
   SPOILER! SPOILER! SPOILER!
   
   
   
   
   The key plot device - the actual perpetrators of the terrorist action - is one that in my opinion fell out of style back in the 70s: the "rogue" US government agency. And the reason it's so hackneyed is that in this day and age of government oversight and extremely partisan politics, it's simply beyond incredible that such an agency would not only be able to gather the resources necessary to carry out this scheme, but that a "competing" agency would let them continue on their path simply to discredit them.
   
   I mean.... HUH?????
   
   It was simply ludicrous beyond belief, and had me laughing out loud.



2. Straight out: buy Moscow Rules by Daniel Silva and take a pass on Rules of Deception. That is my rule.
   
   Reich is a great writer. Unlike the authors who deliver treats once a year, Reich forces us to wait a while longer. Thus, one is left with a longer period to anticipate greatness. Sadly, Rules of Deception fails to deliver.
   
   Here we follow reluctant hero Jonathan Ransom as he tries to find out who the woman he married really is: wife or spy? A series of subplots are drawn to the inevitable meeting at a woeful conclusion. In the past Reich was a master at weaving these subplots into the fabric of a great story. In Rules of Deception the weak subplots combine to weaken the whole.
   
   In the past Reich was able to provide sufficient character development, usually surrounding an unwillling hero who rises to a great challenge. Perhaps it is just that Reich has become too formulaic. We have seen this story before in the same venues. Are there any other countries beyond Switzerland in which to be chased?
   
   To be able to deliver consistantly great thrillers without falling victim to formula is a great challenge. Reich was able to successfully march rhough the minefield in the past. Sadly, Rules of Deception demonstrates that even a master sometimes fall short.



3. This book is a great thriller and espionage read but I was frustrated by the author's propogating the stereotypes and even his inaccuracies in details language and names. The names he had picked for his 'Iranian' characters were arabic and pakistani (Quitab and Parvez Jin) and Iranians write Farsi/Persian not Arabic. Overall he seemed to foster the typical stereotypes set forth by Hollywood. Might sell well but not responsible!



4. This isn't the genre of book that I usually read. As a fast moving story of International Espionage, I was never sure where the story would turn next and who or whom could be trusted. The story is set in a post-9/11 era and many of the details reflect our modern world. I have to wonder how much of the story is fiction and how much is true. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a story that makes you question the current events you read in the daily paper or see on the news.



5. I don't read much of the spy thriller genre, but when I do, I hope that the author can match wits with the likes of someone from the intelligence community. Too much to ask, you say? Okay, well then how 'bout a little character development? How about some insightful historical context? No... ? A bit of thoughtful dialogue then, with one or two brilliant uses of descriptive "takes you there" scenery or witty turn of phrase? Alright, forget it. Can we have one or two cool spy gadgets and a wee bit of love and sexual tension?
   
   In the end I couldn't finish it, even though I tried as it was a gift from a friend. Based on the first half though, I figure that that and the second half will probably show up on some daytime movie channel someday. Who knows, it might hold my attention until my workout's over on the treadmill...
   
   May be a real page-turner for other folks, but it looks like Christopher Reich's works are not for me.

5 comments about Moscow Rules (Gabriel Allon).

1. Our hero Gabriel Allon is faced with his most ruthless advesary yet.
   Ivan Kharkov is a wealthy arms dealer who is in the good graces of the
   KGB and the powers that be in Moscow. A journalist named Aleksander Lubin
   is murdered in France. He is covering a lead on Kharkov and his weapons dealing. Ari Shamron dispatches Gabriel to the Vatican to meet with Boris
   Ostrovsky the editor of a Moscow newspaper called the Gazeta. Allon finally has to go to Moscow and meet with Olga Sukhova to get the source of Kharkov's dealing. After narrowly escaping death at the hands of the KGB he has to make contact with Elena Khartov,Ivan's wife. She is a
   collector of art. Gabriel finally is able to make contact with Elena through the efforts of Sarah Bancroft. They learn that Kharkov is going to furnish al-Qaeda with missiles known as "arrows of allah". It becomes
   Gabriels to find out where the missiles are and who is going to use them.
   The turns into a very dangerous mission. It is one of the most dangerous
   efforts that Allon has encountered. You will find this book impossible
   yto put down. Do not miss this book.



2. While other authors of pop thrillers seem to have come off the rails in recent works, reigning master of espionage fiction Daniel Silva is beginning to make it look like he doesn't know how to write a bad book. He's back with another tale of Israeli operative Gabriel Allon that is as relevant to current events as it is entertaining - a non-stop adrenaline rush of the politics of deceit and terrorism, of violence and honor. As usual, Silva's themes are simple: Annon's unflinching loyalty to the survival of Israel on one side, opposed in this case by loyalty to only greed in the form of Ivan Kharkov, a shadowy arms dealer of the "new" Russia, a fictional character based loosely on a real "merchant of death" recently upended by allied intelligence forces.
   
   "Moscow Rules" rings true to current events like all of the author's previous works, and the picture he paints of post-Soviet Russia is indeed scary. Many of the Russian mobsters who ruled during the chaotic 90's following Communism's collapse are still in charge, as are many of the old Soviet guard, only now with respectable jobs and respectable titles holding high places in commerce and government. While the names of the organizations and political parties may have changed, there is little doubt that the new state police, the FSB, has reinstated the brutal principles and principals of the treacherous KGB, while the new National Party's oppressive control of the people is as repressively effective as Khrushchev or Brezhnev - or Lenin or Stalin - could ever have dreamed. It is a land where Russian oil and Russian weapons are making a new class of billionaires, and at least in the case of weapons, where there is little discrimination as to the hands in which the weapons end up. And when a Russian journalist and his editor are murdered after uncovering a Kharkov arms sale to al-Qaeda, Allon is summoned back from his convalescence and honeymoon to thwart the deal.
   
   As expected, the stoic Allon faces down gangsters and criminals while building alliances with familiar faces and cooking up intricate schemes making "Mission Impossible" look about as complicated as an episode of "Friends". Allon moves from cliff hanger to cliff hanger, serving as a punching bag for Russian thugs in between. If there is anything to criticize in this well-researched thrill fest, it the similarity in plot and format to "The Messenger" - substitute "Moscow's" Kharkov for "Servant's" Saudi billionaire and you pretty much get the idea - right down to the supporting cast. Buy hey, the formula works - exceedingly well - so why change it? Like all of Silva's tales, while it is not difficult to predict the finish, it is also predicable that the magnitude of the geo-political problems that Silva illuminates will leave you with a lingering and uncomfortable feeling of fear and frustration - the realization that it will take at least a legion of Gabriel Allons to calm these troubled Middle Eastern waters of today.



3. In Daniel Silva's "Moscow Rules," Gabriel Allon is honeymooning with his bride Chiara at a beautiful estate in the hills of Umbria, Italy. In addition, he has begun restoring a seventeenth century painting by Poussin on behalf of the Vatican. Gabriel and his wife are guests of an Italian nobleman and living under assumed names. The staff has strict orders to tell no one of their presence. Allon has reason to be circumspect, since he has a host of enemies who wish him dead. He has worked in Special Ops ("executioners and kidnappers, buggers and blackmailers, men of intellect and ingenuity") on behalf of the Israeli government for quite a while and has killed more than his share of miscreants. There are many who seek revenge and would pay a great deal to see him suffer.
   
   After a five week stay in Italy, Allon is summoned back to the field. He is to meet with a journalist named Boris Ostrovsky, who has "an important message to pass along regarding a grave threat to the security of the west." What promised to be a quick assignment turns into a nightmare; Allon once again is drawn into a dangerous high-stakes operation. He and his colleagues will attempt to bring down an über-villain named Ivan Kharkov, formerly of the KGB, who has been selling sophisticated armaments to the enemies of the west. Thwarting him will not be easy, since Kharkov is a powerful and well-protected multi-millionaire. Nor does he shy away from violence. He keeps a close eye on anyone who might interfere with his interests and has already ordered a number of his opponents killed. The only individual in a position to penetrate Ivan's defenses is his wife, Elena, but is she willing to risk her life and her children's well-being in order to soothe her conscience?
   
   The Israeli spymaster, Ari Shamron, who has ostensibly retired, is still in the picture, meddling in the affairs of Israel's foreign intelligence service "as though it were his personal fiefdom." Shamron and Allon may not always see eye to eye, but like a loving father and son, they usually manage to make peace after they finish squabbling. Their devoted colleagues include Uzi Navot, Eli Lavon, and Sarah Bancroft, who have played prominent roles in Silva's previous books. They come up with an elaborate and risky scheme to stop Kharkov before his latest weaponry falls into the wrong hands.
   
   "Moscow Rules" is fast-paced and lively, the dialogue rings true, and Silva's fine descriptive writing breathes life into every scene. (Gabriel meets up with his British counterpart in a safe house that is "a dreary little bedsit, with a cracked linoleum floor and flea market furnishings.") We learn a great deal about the new Russians--"oil tycoons and metal magnates, supermodels and spoiled children: the moneyed elite of a Russia resurgent." Some of these nouveau riche are boorish, demanding, ostentatious and rude, but they are loaded with money and willing to spend whatever it takes to get what they want. They have the government in their pockets. In addition, corrupt ex-KGB agents or "siloviki" are still in power and they could not care less about human rights. Standing against them are a few courageous souls who would like to see a truly democratic Russia. A journalist named Olga Sukhova mournfully states, "The history of Russia is nothing but a series of convulsions. We cannot live as normal people. We never will."
   
   Although there is enough suspense and intrigue in "Moscow Rules" to keep us invested in the outcome, Silva never overplays his hand; he keeps the plot within the bounds of believability. The action shifts to such far-flung locations as Washington, D. C., London, Jerusalem, Moscow, and St. Tropez, and the large cast of characters includes a number of highly-placed government officials who try to put their rivalries aside to work together for a common cause.
   
   Allon is a fascinating protagonist. He loathes violence but kills without compunction; he adores his wife but will leave her at a moment's notice when duty calls; he is a fierce warrior with the soul of a sensitive artist. The "Moscow Rules" alluded to in the title are all about assuming the worst: Act as if your adversaries have you under constant surveillance, as if someone is always eavesdropping on your conversations, and as if no one can be trusted. In this case, Gabriel and his comrades have ample reason to be fearful and suspicious. Their foe is merciless, immoral, and sadistic. Stopping him will require a bit of luck, a great deal of Chutzpah, and superior tradecraft.



4. i'm crazy about Daniel Silva's works, so I was primed to really like this one; and I did, but not as well as the others he has written. I believe that my main discontent was with the reader. I would expect that names and places which are Russian would be researched by the reader before recording the book. One of the items that annoyed me the most was the continued mispronunciation of the word dacha. The narrator pronounced it as daka instead, and that drove me up a wall. Other than that, I enjoyed the book, although the "good guy" FSB Colonel seemed a mite contrived as a way to get out of a tough spot.



5. (4.5) Daniel Silva continues the Gabriel Allon series with this book and he does so with his usual style and talent. Many here have recounted the story line of the book, some in more detail than necessary, however if you are a fan of this writer and character, you are in for an enjoyable time in following his latest escapade, much of which is set in Mother Russia. Silva asures us this is a work of fiction. Let's hope it stays that way.

5 comments about Fearless Fourteen (Stephanie Plum, No. 14).

1. I have read all of this series and find now that they are becoming predictable and becoming old. Being raised in the Trenton, NJ area it is still a fun beach read, but needs to be spiced up with more reality and less stupidity in Stephanie's adventures. Love Grandma and the immediate family, they are real.



2. Stephanie & Morelli are stuck playing mommy & daddy to teenage internet gamer, Zook, who could possibly be Morelli's son.
   
   After getting bailed out of jail, Zook's mom, Loretta, is kidnapped by one of the guys that helped her brother rob a bank 10 years prior. The accomplice hopes to gain possession of the entire 9 million by killing two of the other partners.
   
   Wedding plans are being made...
   no Stephanie has not chosen Morelli or Ranger. Tank, one of Ranger's men, woke up one morning and found himself engaged to Stephanie's friend, Lula. Tank doesn't want to get married but Lula is really getting into the planning of the unexpected event. (Personally, I think it's going to very hard to turn the ex ho' into a housewife.)
   
   Check out Janet Evanovich's current book, you'll be glad you did.



3. First Sentence: In my mind, my kitchen is filled with crackers and cheese, roast chicken leftovers, farm fresh eggs, and coffee beans ready to grind.
   
   Stephanie keeps suspecting someone has been in the basement of her boyfriend, police detective Joe Morelli. Stephanie is baby-sitting teenaged "Zook" after him mother was arrested. Zook's uncle isn't happy that the kid is spending time at Morelli's house and claims Joe is Zook's actual father. But the uncle, Dom Rizzi, is no saint as he did time for a bank robbery in which the money was never recovered.
   
   Having grown up in "Jersey," I loved the earlier Plum books. Not this one.
   
   It's one sight gag after another--oh, but wait, we're reading. What would probably be very funny visually, just doesn't quite work here, in spite of Ms. Evanovich's best efforts. She's a good writer, but this is so chaotic, you lose the focus, and the impact, of the main story.
   
   Stephanie is a character who hasn't grown. She's the type I might enjoy at first, but would never have as a friend as she is just too much of a ditz. Men might love her; most women would just shake their heads in disbelief.
   
   Give me a strong, smart, independent female protagonist; I think Stephanie and I are done.



4. It must be difficult for a writer to maintain the same level of story line and entertainment for 14 books. I have loved this series and look forward to a new book every June. Fearless Fourteen, I'd swear, was written by a ghost, or Evanovich had three or four assistants come up with outrageous ideas and she strung them together in a ridiculous plot with undefined, goofy characters no one can believe (even for Stephanie Plum).
   
   Joe Morelli never approves of Stephanie getting herself in dangerous situations and yet in this book he even wires her up and sends her out in what could be a life-threatening circumstance. The ever-hot Ranger fizzles in his brief appearance. Grandma? What happened to her this time out? And is Rex the hamster dead for lack of care or companionship? Stephanie used to value her independence, not this time.
   
   My advice to Evanovich is take your time. Even if a new book comes out every two years instead of one, if it is like your previous books in the series, it would be worth the wait. Get back to your Plum Zone like the old days, give your characters some substance, make the plot cohesive. I miss Stephanie, the real one. Get her back. Please.



5. I thought this book was good and can't wait for the next one! Stephanie and Lula continue to make me laugh. Keep 'em coming!

5 comments about A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose (Oprah's Book Club, Selection 61).

1. I am so grateful for Amazon and finding great books at really affordable prices; shipping was prompt and the condition of the book was excellent.
   Thank you



2. Eckhart Tolle's A NEW EARTH is both a spiritual lift and a mental jog. We miss too much in this life when we are not aware of transcending the ego and living more fully. Thanks for making it available on the Internet.



3. I found this book to be a great overview of the amazing moment we find ourselves in. Mr. Tolle provides an excellent view of the opportunity unfolding for humanity. For those ready to enter more deeply into the moment of now, I also highly recommend
   
   Journey Into Now:Clear Guidance on the Path of Spiritual Awakening
   
   and/or see an introduction to the teaching (same as that of Eckhart Tolle)at www.leonardjacobson.com



4. The highlight of this book starts on page 137. Tolle observes, "after two ducks get into a fight, which never lasts long, they will separate and float off in opposite directions." He continues the theme through page 138, telling us that ducks then flap there wings and get over it, suggesting that we all be more duck-like. Of course, then we would have to float, which would mean we'd all have to be made of wood, which means Tolle is really offering us hocus pocus psychology.
   
   The problem is, obviously, we are not ducks. We have feelings and emotions. Tolle calls this our Pain-Body, as if feelings are a bad thing. If we could only recognize it and wish it away, we would all be better. He forgets that it is our emotion that separates us from ducks and makes us uniquely human. I can't imagine telling someone with a broken arm to just see the bone and wish it away. It is with great damage that books such as this make just such a suggestion with emotional and psychological pain. It creates a shame around mental and emotional suffering that only does harm for those with serious hurt.
   
   We are not, and should not desire to be, ducks! Quack!



5. There are more reviews on this book then almost any other book on Amazon - and there is a good reason for that. People found something of value from reading this book and felt the need to share what they learned. The book does not break any new ground for the serious spiritual seeker - but it sure clears stuff up and makes some complicated ideas seem much easier to digest.
   
   Eckhart does present and package the ideas that this book has in a newer and open way. The book is best read slowly over days, even weeks, so one can assimilate what is being said. The book will change some lives. The key is to read this book with an open mind and heart and allow the energy of this book to flow through you.
   
   I cannot but repeat what others have said about it - however, I will add my own two cents worth and recommend it to others.

5 comments about The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity.

1. I loved this book! I have read many of the reviews from 5 stars down to 1. Seriously, readers, why can't we just take the book for what it is, an entertaining read! There are too many people out there who try to psyco analyze everything in print. I didn't see it as heresy. I didn't even see it as slightly disrespectful to our God. We are merely human and there is much that we do not, and never will understand. God's ways are not our ways. Why should anyone put God in a box? I believe that He wants to have a very personal relationship with each and every one of us, and if He wants to appear as a large African-American woman called "papa" who are we to say He can't?
   You need to read this book with an open mind, so not everyone is going to "get" it. It is open to interpretation, but so is the Holy Word. I believe God intended it that way - different passages speak to different people in different ways.
   God has a sense of humor, and I think He must have smiled when He read this book.



2. This is not my normal reading genre and I'm often uncomfortable reading "Christian" books but I was pleasantly surprised with The Shack. Whether or not you're open to the anthropomorphism that casts God as a black woman or the Holy Spirit as an ethereal Asian nymph like creature you should take the time to listen to their dialogue as written by William P Young.
   
   It is an easy call to say that folks who buy into the Laws and Letters of Theology as presented by many mainstream churches today will squirm in their britches at the loose cannon approach taken here. Young writes from his heart and is brave enough to admit that most of us have railed at the Lord for the perceived injustices we see in the world today. Many of us have gone so far as to hate him (her, it) for taking loved ones in horrible ways before we're ready to let go. We question wars and why they're allowed if indeed God has the power to "just say no".
   
   The courageous thing that Young's done in this book is not just to ask the hard questions but to attempt to offer answers that actually make a little sense.



3. It would be a better book if the author had left out the vast amount of doctrine. For example, trying to explain the trinity while telling a story fails to to both.



4. One thing I learned a long time ago: Never let a book (or Bible teacher, or preacher, or friend, or long-held belief about a thing) ever replace God in your life. When the Holy Spirit abides in us, we have access to the discernment that will say to us, "yes, this is right," or "no, don't be so quick to weave that into the fabric of your soul." I have a relationship with God. Relationship. Which means as I have read this book, I have given room to the Holy Spirit to speak to me about what I am reading. This book is not the Bible. But neither is Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest, and yet God has used both of these books (in addition to Bible study) to lift veils from my eyes, encourage me, convict me, give me vision and hope . . .
   
   I don't know this author, but I'm awfully glad he wrote this book. Oswald often points out scripture that details a really simple walk with Christ: "Do you find your walk with Jesus simpler than it ever has been in your life?" The Shack has pointed me more in this direction.
   
   I suppose I could take the time to pick apart the book out of context, attempting to highlight what could be considered "unbiblical." Or, I can simply ask God to show me what He wants me to learn from it and enjoy it for what it is: One man's best attempt to express the trinity as he sees and experiences it.
   
   Whether fiction (as it is categorized), or not (as the foward somewhat suggests), it is wonderfully encouaraging and thought-provoking. I'm considering purchasing extra copies to give away - which is exactly how I came to read it!



5. A wonderful book with a powerful message about the human condition in relationship to the Trinity. In many ways, reminiscent of the writtings of CS Lewis. For convenience sake, I downloaded the audiobook to my iPod so that I could listen during my commute to the office. The narration brought the story to life and synergistically complimented the storyline and the listening experience. Perhaps better appreciated by members of the chior rather than the skeptics. The audiobook contained almost nine hours of material.