Average customer rating:
- Because I enjoyed it
- (three and a half stars) alternative history with an autobiographical twist
- Excellent, if flawed, novel
- Poorly constructed, fundamentally disappointing
- It could have happened here...
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The Plot Against America
Philip Roth
Manufacturer: Vintage
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ASIN: 1400079497
Release Date: 2005-09-27 |
Amazon.com
"What if" scenarios are often suspect. They are sometimes thinly veiled tales of the gospel according to the author, taking on the claustrophobic air of a personal fantasia that can't be shared. Such is not the case with Philip Roth's tour de force, The Plot Against America. It is a credible, fully-realized picture of what could happen anywhere, at any time, if the right people and circumstances come together.
The Plot Against America explores a wholly imagined thesis and sees it through to the end: Charles A. Lindbergh defeats FDR for the Presidency in 1940. Lindbergh, the "Lone Eagle," captured the country's imagination by his solo Atlantic crossing in 1927 in the monoplane, Spirit of St. Louis, then had the country's sympathy upon the kidnapping and murder of his young son. He was a true American hero: brave, modest, handsome, a patriot. According to some reliable sources, he was also a rabid isolationist, Nazi sympathizer, and a crypto-fascist. It is these latter attributes of Lindbergh that inform the novel.
The story is framed in Roth's own family history: the family flat in Weequahic, the neighbors, his parents, Bess and Herman, his brother, Sandy and seven-year-old Philip. Jewishness is always the scrim through which Roth examines American contemporary culture. His detractors say that he sees persecution everywhere, that he is vigilant in "Keeping faith with the certainty of Jewish travail"; his less severe critics might cavil about his portrayal of Jewish mothers and his sexual obsession, but generally give him good marks, and his fans read every word he writes and heap honors upon him. This novel will engage and satisfy every camp.
"Fear presides over these memories, a perpetual fear. Of course, no childhood is without its terrors, yet I wonder if I would have been a less frightened boy if Lindbergh hadn't been president or if I hadn't been the offspring of Jews." This is the opening paragraph of the book, which sets the stage and tone for all that follows. Fear is palpable throughout; fear of things both real and imagined. A central event of the novel is the relocation effort made through the Office of American Absorption, a government program whereby Jews would be placed, family by family, across the nation, thereby breaking up their neighborhoods--ghettos--and removing them from each other and from any kind of ethnic solidarity. The impact this edict has on Philip and all around him is horrific and life-changing. Throughout the novel, Roth interweaves historical names such as Walter Winchell, who tries to run against Lindbergh. The twist at the end is more than surprising--it is positively ingenious.
Roth has written a magnificent novel, arguably his best work in a long time. It is tempting to equate his scenario with current events, but resist, resist. Of course it is a cautionary tale, but, beyond that, it is a contribution to American letters by a man working at the top of his powers. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
In an astonishing feat of empathy and narrative invention, our most ambitious novelist imagines an alternate version of American history.
In 1940 Charles A. Lindbergh, heroic aviator and rabid isolationist, is elected President. Shortly thereafter, he negotiates a cordial “understanding” with Adolf Hitler, while the new government embarks on a program of folksy anti-Semitism.
For one boy growing up in Newark, Lindbergh’s election is the first in a series of ruptures that threaten to destroy his small, safe corner of America–and with it, his mother, his father, and his older brother.
Customer Reviews:
Because I enjoyed it.......2007-10-01
I really loved the first 300 pages. Roth's voice is wonderful as a child trying to make sense of chaos, and the nightmarish what-if built a good tension.
However, the ending was rushed and way too neatly wrapped up. I would prefer if the last 60 pages were just removed from the book. I'm still giving it five stars, because despite the ending, this was a fun, fast read.
(three and a half stars) alternative history with an autobiographical twist.......2007-09-18
I liked Philip Roth's "Plot Against America," but didn't love it. It seems to me that any alternative history novel (or time travel novel, for that matter), which maintains the possibility that the Nazis might prevail in World War II, is almost inevitably going to have its chilling moments. Indeed, it was quite terrifying to be reminded of how close Hitler came to invading all of Europe during the early phase of the war. Here, of course, Roth's alternative history centers on Charles Lindbergh, a known Nazi sympathizer, defeating FDR in 1940 (his unprecedented third term in real history). Of course, it is well known that a good percentage of the U.S. population didn't want to be involved in "Europe's War," until the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, so it is not completely far-fetched that Charles Lindbergh, an aviation hero who strongly favored U.S. isolationism, might have had a chance to be elected President.
What makes "The Plot Against America" unique I suppose, is how Roth basically writes his "autobiography" as a young boy as it might have been through a Lindbergh administration, and the rising tide of anti-semitism that resulted. Some of it works quite well and we can feel the world closing in on the Roths in particular, and the Jews in general, especially through a nefarious plot to dilute the Jewish communities through the newly created "Office of American Absorption" and other such efforts. However, other parts of the book feel contrived such as how the Roths are one acquaintance away from Lindbergh himself, namely through Philip's Aunt Evelyn, who has married the much older Rabbi Bengeldorf: a complicit sympathiser of the new administration. (SPOILER!!!). The manner in which the clock sets itself back to zero in the second to last chapter also felt forced to me.
I found the afterward of the book very informative, where Roth reviews the actual series of events through the historical figures mentioned in the book. It would have been more interesting to me if Roth had covered in greater detail the war itself, and the consequences of the U.S. failing to enter the fray at the end of 1941. But I understand this wasn't Roth's principle focus.
I do think "The Plot Against America" serves well as a genuine warning about how a different course of events in the past could have lead to a very different America, and different World for that matter. Perhaps the frightening scenario portrayed in this book can also be used as a forewarning to future generations.
Excellent, if flawed, novel.......2007-08-26
The book appeals from different points of view: a gripping book of fiction, alternative history and a warning call to the complacent. The switch in history is scary and it is possible that things could have been this way. It is both chilling and fascinating to think of the German fascism of the 1930's and 1940's happening here. Roth's writing as usual is spectacular. I could not put it down. My only problem was that the resolution happens so glibly and quickly that it is hard to imagine it could happen so easily. I recommend this to Roth fans, people into Judaica,
historians.
Poorly constructed, fundamentally disappointing.......2007-07-10
The Plot Against America was occasionally interesting, well-styled, but generally bad. As a general rule I have mixed feelings about "alternative history" as a genre. Such stories can raise interesting questions and "what-if" scenarios. They can also, however, wander painful far into the realm of fantasy where suspension of disbelief becomes an exercise in rejecting rationality. Unfortunately, Roth's wanders from an interesting, well-constructed novel to a silly fantasy by its final chapters. Yet, this is not the most fundamental problem the story faces. The book is first and foremost a story of rising anti-semitism in 1940s America and its impact on, and the reaction of, a Jewish New Jersey family. My problem is that the fear felt and displayed by the family far exceeds what would be a reasonable reaction to the events with which they're faced at any specific point in the first half of the book. It's as if the effects (the family's responses) are always several chapters in front of the causes (government sponsored discrimination of Jews). This problem was so pronounced that I found myself wondering if the book was some kind of statement about what Roth calls "ghetto Jews" seeing anti-Semitism everywhere. (Its not)
It could have happened here..........2007-07-08
This book draws obvious parallels with the modern political situation in the U.S., how facism creeps up on us rather than appears overnight. It comes complete with a folksy, popular President in the guise of Charles Lindbergh, whose seemingly benign programs hide a more sinster agenda (this one against the Jews, who slowly and systematically begin to lose their rights throughout the book); people who are complicit in the plot against their own people; and a watchdog reporter who is speaking out against the administration, a la Edward R. Murrow or Keith Olbermann (Walter Winchell, who in the scope of this book, goes beyond his job as a gossip columnist). The characters are all drawn well, from the prideful father who is less than successful at protecting his family; the relative who becomes a bitter disabled war veteran; the aunt who falls under the spell of a power-hungry rabbi; and of course the protagonist, who slowly loses his childhood innocence as these events unfold around him.
The only problem I had with the book was its rather sudden ending, which I won't reveal here, but it sure seemed like everything was suddenly wrapped up nicely and neatly, and not in tune with the rest of the story. Still, I would say this was a good book and I would recommend it.
Customer Reviews:
Well Mr. Roth may be a Pulitzer Prize winner . . .......2007-08-02
but, this book certainly didn't seem to me to be worthy of a prize winning author.
I purchased this book thinking that it would be a story about what the US might have been like if Lindbergh had become president in the early 1940s, but the 1st third of the book (and all I could read) was strictly about how this whole process affected the Jews. Now I'm sure that Jews in this country might have been treated differently with Lindbergh as president, but I was really hoping for some other topics to be covered, like how the isolationist policies would affect the US? Would we have found ourselves with no trading partners? If we had a different attitude, would Japan still have bombed Perl Harbor? If we had stayed out of the war, would we have supplied arms to either side of the conflict?
But in the part of the book I read, we focused on a Jewish family and only on that family and how their life was affected. Before I quit reading I started flipping pages and scanning to see if this book was ever going to move on to a different subject and I kept seeing phrases like " the massacre of Russian Jewry", "what their Gentile betters", "for the Jewish insurance agents", "Jew-hating Christian Front", and on and on. So, I decided that this book was not going to be what I had hoped and just stopped reading and moved on.
My star ratings:
One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five stars - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.
Chilling.......2007-06-18
This book created in me a fascinating mix of feelings. I did not want to continue reading for a variety of reasons. First of all, the plot did not seem to progress. There just was not that much activity. There was a lot of fear, a lot of suspicions, but very little action. Secondly, it did not feel good to read. It did not rise to the glorious state of joy nor sink into the painful abyss of tragedy. It felt rather like floating through a marsh. Third, I did not particularly relate to or care about any of the characters. Now, hearing that, you may be surprised that I would recommend the book, but I am recommending it for a variety of reasons. I believe that all of the aspects of the book that seem to make the reader immediately want to return it to the shelf are important and purposeful. Roth was writing a book to create the very uncomfortable feelings you will probably experience while reading, which is quite daring for an author. First, the lack of action displays how quietly and subtly changes in our government can occur. The United States may have been immune to physical attacks or hostile coup d'etats, but how does our liberty stand up to a slow and secret shift toward fascism? Second, the lack of strong feelings one way or another reveal in ourselves the ability to be persuaded to believe very different things. Lastly, the ambivalent feelings we have toward the characters also presents a strong point. Are we as Americans willing to stand up and protect people that we do not know and maybe don't even like? It is an interesting book, and I think it ought to be on many reading lists, especially in light of our current political situation. Perhaps there is no risk of the country becoming a Nazi stronghold, but what other fate waits for our nation if we do not pay very close attention to the subtle changes?
entertaining but over the top .......2007-03-22
The first 75% of the book, describing the rise of President Lindbergh and his relatively mild anti-Semitism, worked for me: it was entertaining yet not completely implausible. The last 25% of the book (in which Vice-President Wheeler, in real life a perfectly respectable Democrat, leads a Nazi coup, inspires anti-Jewish pogroms, and after a week is overthrown as suddenly as he is installed) was a bit too ridiculous to be plausible.
This book makes my hair stand on end........2006-09-05
Let me qualify by first saying I am a huge fan of Roth's. This book is right up there with "The Human Stain" and "American Pastoral," although it has a completely different structure. It's a "what if" story revolving around FDR's loss of a third term to Charles Lindbergh, who runs on a platform that has a single issue - staying out of the war in Europe, which is accelerating because of actions by Hitler. Lindbergh's anti-Semetic agenda is feared by the Jews of Newark, and the book is told from the viewpoint of a pre-adolescent boy living there during this time. It's a chilling account of how government (lead by a popular and compelling President) can subversively take over the hearts and minds of a nation and cause havoc of a chilling nature. I'm not completely finished with the book yet, and I'm counting on Roth to give a satisfying ending. I don't think this is one of Roth's big commercial successes in the long list of his novels, but it should be.
Average customer rating:
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La Conjura Contra America / The Plot Against America
Philip Roth
Manufacturer: Mondadori (IT)
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ASIN: 987939741X |
Product Description
3 Books - 1) - Portnoy's Complaint / 2) - The Professor of Desire / 3) - The Plot Against America, in either Hard or Softcover, (See Seller Condition Comments), Shipped in one package
to save on shipping costs.
Average customer rating:
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BOOKCLUB-IN-A-BOX discusses Philip Roth's THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA (Bookclub-in-a-Box)
Marilyn Herbert
Manufacturer: Bookclub-In-A-Box
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1897082185 |
Product Description
Fiction writers make the very best historians because they not only give you the facts of an historical event, but they support these facts with the emotional insights and reactions of the participants. Philip Roth goes one step further. He changes one single fact and observes the imaginary fall-out of that change. The year is 1940 and Franklin Delano Roosevelt loses the election to aviation hero and alleged anti-Semite, Charles Lindbergh. This fictional alteration has diametrically opposite effects on the reactions of the Jews of America and on the rest of America s citizens. Told through his own eyes as a seven year old, Roth uses himself, his family, and his community to discuss the ripple effects of this unsettling event. After all, these are the war years in Europe and the Jews of Europe are suffering horribly. Roth describes the two-year period from 1940 to 1942 in order to explore whether ethnic hatred and murder could come to the great United States of America in the same manner and with the same consequences as it did in Europe at that time. How safe were Americans then? How safe were American Jews at that time? And really, how safe is everyone today? Read this amazing book to uncover Roth s conclusions. Every Bookclub-in-a-Box discussion guide includes complete coverage of the themes and symbols, writing style and interesting background information on the novel and the author.
Average customer rating:
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Plot Against America
0
Manufacturer: Arrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 0099490749 |
Customer Reviews:
Gilbert Morris is my all-time *favorite* series/saga writer!.......2001-03-26
The House of Winslow series is one of the best series I've ever read. They chronicle the life of the Winslows, a fictional family with major historical implications. Gilbert Morris is a wonderful, detailed writer, easily mixing real and fictional people. Mostly, the books pertain to the Methodist faith, though not always.
This set of books covers ground from 1620-1776.
'The Honorable Impostor' is the first book. It begins with Gilbert Winslow, a wayward pastor with ties to the Church of England. He is asked to infiltrate a group of Puritans and help "bring them to justice under the King's law". Through a series of events, he ends up coming, quite unwillingly, to the New World with the group, thereby establishing the House of Winslow in America.
'The Captive Bride' covers two generations of Winslows. Matthew, Gilbert's son, breaks his parents' hearts and is sent off to England to find his roots. Instead, he finds a wife and a heap of trouble. He loses his mind in prison and leaves a heartbroken, pregnant wife to go back to his father. Rachel Winslow grows up without a father in Salem amidst the crazed witch trials. When an unexpected piece of the past confronts her, she has nowhere to turn but God.
'The Indentured Heart' chronicles the life of Adam Winslow, Rachel's nephew. Cruelly abused by a stepmother who's jealous of him, Adam is sent to live with his older brother. He goes into business with his half-brother, Charles, and cousin, Saul. On a fact-finding mission back to England, he finds another abused soul and brings her back as an indentured servant. Charles and Saul try every trick they know to make off with the dark Winslow's part of the business, but end up helping him more than they could ever know.
'The Gentle Rebel' begins right before the American Revolution. It concerns two cousins--Nathan, the son of Adam, and Paul, son of Charles--who are on different sides of the war. When Nathan's younger brother becomes an early casualty of the war, Nathan vows to fight in his place. He has a new "little brother", Laddie, who has a secret of his own.
'The Saintly Buccaneer' finishes out Paul Winslow's story. Paul is Impressed into the British Navy after a hard night of drinking. He wakes up on a ship with a soft-hearted captian and his beautiful daughter with no memory of himself or his horrible past. When the British ship clashes with an American ship on the high seas, he meets someone who sparks a memory--as well as shame.
The Winslow Books are the best!.......2000-05-28
I think that the Winslow series is the best that I have read so far. They leave you in suspense until the end and surprise you sometimes. I would suggest if yoiu like romance and suspense to definetly read this series. I love the Winslow series!
It was interesting but repeated it self........1999-06-03
I liked these books they taught you quite a lot about history and I liked the way the story went through the generations .The story line is pretty predictable when it comes to their love life. I definitely think #1 was the best.You should read them but if you don't like book one then you probably won't like the rest.
Average customer rating:
- A great Historical Romance
- So Absurd it's Hilarious
- Poor - don't waste your money!
- Worst Romance Novel EVER
- :0)
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Captive Bride
Johanna Lindsey
Manufacturer: Avon
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Book Description
The irresistible call of adventure brings lovely Christina Wakefield to the alluring Arabian desert. But fate imprisons her after she encounters Sheik Abu, the strikingly handsome though arrogant adventurer, whom she had known in England as Philip Caxton.
Once Christina had rejected Philip's fervent offer of marriage. But now she is to be his slave -- desperate for the freedoms denied her...yet weakened by her heart's blazing desire to willingly explore her virile captor's most sensuous cravings.
Customer Reviews:
A great Historical Romance.......2007-05-14
Johanna Lindsey is my favorite romance novelist; I have read many of her books, my favorite being Warrior's Woman, and have not yet been disappointed. I thought this story was really good especially when you consider that this was her first novel. I was really surprised when I saw all of the bad reviews that were given. If you had read many of her books you would know that Johanna Lindsey likes to write about cultures where women are not treated as the equals of men. There are many that did not like this novel because of some of the things that happen to Christina. However, you have to keep in mind that the story takes place in a time long ago when the men were dominant and women were treated and thought of much differently than we are today. Philip may seem a bit harsh and insensitive at times but you have to remember that he is part of a different culture with different traditions. I think his behavior helps us understand what kind of person he was and allows you to appreciate his transformation as the story progresses. In the end I was very pleased with this book. I thought it was a very exciting and captivating work of romance. If you like historical romances and can be open minded than I would really suggest you give this book a try, I know you will enjoy it.
So Absurd it's Hilarious.......2007-01-26
I have a few of her first books and after reading through my stock of her newest and in my opinion, her best, I decided to bite the bullet and go for the ones that really didn't catch my interest from looking at their summaries.
It is clear that this book was written a long, long time ago. The paragraphs are really choppy; in one paragraph you'll be here and in the next a lot of time has passed and you'll be somewhere else. The love-making is quite...almost juvenile I'd say. "He mounted her." I had to keep reminding myself that this book was thirty years old too. But I didn't even get half-way and had to skip to the end just because I couldn't take it lmao.
Though what is most intriguing is the writing style reminded me of her last book that wasn't so good either. Is JL losing her touch?
So in short...don't read this book unless you have absolutely nothing better to do and want to be amused. Go more recent!
Poor - don't waste your money!.......2006-10-16
I was most disappointed by this book. Probably most of that disappointment can be explained by the fact the book is very old (and comes across as old-fashioned). Fortunately she got better after this book!
I had some problems with the basic premise of the book - Englishman kidnaps Englishwoman in Egypt and forces her to become his mistress...
The style seemed short and jerky without full characterisation. I got bored of her saying "I hate you" to him, and it appeared the only reason her liked her was because she was beautiful.
There are shedloads of better books of this genre out there, don't waste your money on this one.
Worst Romance Novel EVER.......2006-10-06
This is the most atrocious novel I have ever read in this or any genre. The characters have absolutely no development and there isn't a SINGLE likeable thing about the male lead. I actually am a big JL fan and honestly have to question if she truly wrote this drivel. I threw it away.
:0).......2006-07-14
I like it its a historical romance and thats how it was back then..I admit he was a little harsh and crass at times but i really did like the ending..
Most historical romance novels are like that and i have read worst with actual rape not nearly raped. if you can't handle this book then you should go for that romance candle light dinner thing harlequin present books (not hating on harlequin books i love them), but other than that i thought the book was good not bad for Johanna early work
its like i always say a bad reivew can really downplay a good book and a good review can really up play a bad book, because of some of the bad reviews for this book I almost didn't read it but i'm glad i change my mind
Customer Reviews:
avid reader.......2006-07-23
I have read 4-in-1 books before and have enjoyed them. This book however was poorly written. The story plots were interesting yet each story was too short. There was no substance in the stories. The characters meet once or twice and find themselves in love right away and soon marry. This book should have been split into one or two books with a more in-depth history into the characters. If interested in 4-in-1 books I recommend "Castles" by Tracie Peterson or "Bride for a Bit."
Book Description
Her pilgrim family had nurtured her in an atmosphere of religious and political freedom now enemies of that freedom threatened her very life!
The Captive Bride takes the Winslow family beyond the Pilgrim settlement at Plymouth to assist in building the great new nation. For a time the Winslow dream seemed to have gone down with a sinking ship, but Rachel revives the spark of hope. As free-thinking and spirited as her mother and her grandfather Gilbert, Rachel faces capture by those she wishes to help, pressures to conform and, ultimately, a test of forgiveness beyond human accomplishment.
Is marriage the only possibility for her? Is her faith her own? Can she face unjust imprisonment even death without retreat?
The religious freedom and fervor which had marked the young colony might be its undoing.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Book, though too short.......2006-03-21
I LOVED this book so much more than the first that was all anger and hostility between Gilbert and Humilty. I agree with another customer that Morris was in a hurry when he wrote this. Morris gives the reader a "crash course" on the Salem Witch Trials, which I found diappointing. The Salem Witch Trials are an interesting though tragic part of American history. Also there are some historical discrepancies such as Edward Winslow's presence in the year 1659 when he had in fact died in 1655 and the governor of the colony being Oliver Bradford instead of Josiah Winslow, Edward's son!
In spite of that, though, I learned quite a lot from this book about people like John Bunyan who wrote Pilgrim's Progress and about people and events I had never heard of before like John Sassamon, King Philip and King Philip's War. It made me want to learn more about it. Also, it was interesting seeing Gilbert confronting himself as it were in his son Matthew. It seemed like a bit of poetic justice. And I loved Rachel. She is beautiful, spirited and interesting, not at all whiny like Humility in The Honorable Imposter. A very good and essential read!
Rather frustrating.......2005-05-31
I had a hard time reading this book. I got tired of reading a sermon on every other page. This book also skipped too much time. I felt that Gilbert Morris was in too big of a hurry to write about the Revolutionary War that he left out several stories that could have been told. I continued with this series for about 12 books then gave up. The third through fifth books were my favorite. Adam and his nephew Paul are two of my favorite heros in the series. Morris does a good job making them multi-dimensional. I was disappointed in the later books, I felt that he ran out of stories after he ran out of wars. (Though it doesn't look like he's made it to WWII, yet. Maybe I'll come back then.)
This series is great for people who like historical fiction, just don't believe all that you read in it. The witch trials in this book especially. Morris has taken extreme literary license to make his characters fit into history. In fact, many of the events he portrays as real are completely made up. I got frustrated because I happened to be studing Salem in school at the time and what he was writing didn't really match what happened.
A great read for Morris fans, but everyone else should be a little wary.
A bit confusing, although important to the series.......2001-11-19
I did not read this book until long after I had purchased #15 of the "House of Winslow" series from a mail-order book club, unaware that it was part of a series. In fact, due to the local libary's limited copies, it was even later before I read Book #1, "The Honorable Imposter". Although the description on the book cover leads one to believe that it's a story about a young woman named Rachel Winslow accused of witchcraft, Rachel doesn't even exist until halfway through the book! The title, "The Captive Bride," is completely misleading, as no bride is captured or kidnapped anywhere in the story. The real plot is how Matthew Winslow deserts his wife Lydia before their first child is born, returning years later when his daughter Rachel is now a young woman of about 15, and his family presumes he has died after so many years. Eventually all of the Winslows are accused of witchcraft and jailed, and eventually are released, although the effect on Gilbert Winslow's health is very bad. Rachel's younger brother Miles, born after Matthew's return, is instrumental in introducing Rachel to her future husband, but it's a minor part of the story.
First book was great, second book definitely lacking.......2000-09-04
I was thrilled with the first book in this series. It was so well done. It would make a great movie. But the second book, Captive Bride, was very disappointing. The plot jumps a quite a few years every few chapters. None of the characters were fully developed, not even the heroine. The author was trying to fit two separate stories into one book and didn't succeed.
Witch or not?.......2000-08-10
Rachel doesn't know if she can ever forgive her father for leaving her and her mother, Lydia, and when she finally does, she may lose him and the rest of her family forever. You are taken to Salem, Massachusetts to see how everyone was suspicious of being a witch. Even if you were a good Christian woman/man! Rachel and her family are taken up against the people of the town who are out to say "they are of the devil." Will their strong Christian faith keep them alive or drive them to their doom? Which ever it is, they are willing to do it because they love the Lord so much. However, they struggle with hunger, and sickness while awaiting a trial. Can someone here on Earth be of any help, to anyone? I enjoyed this book emensely and it helped to further my knowledge on this particular historiacal event. Just like the other House of Winslow books did. They not only were educational, but enjoyable and a good Christian romance! I recomend them to all men and women as well as young adults and teens!
Customer Reviews:
Good story in this Saga of Brides.......2002-06-28
This is another good story that follows the Bride series that Susan Paul Spencer has written of. The hero Lord Senet Gailard has been off fighting and proving himself as an honorable knight after the shame that he had borne because of his father being condemed as a traitor (unfortunately, it was never proven in either this novel or in the Bride Thief, where Senet was first introduced. After proving himself loyal after 10 years of fighting, he is given a boon, the chance to reclaim his family estate, provided he wed Lady Katherine who now rules over Castle Lomas.
Senet arrives at Lomas with his band of knights, and Katharine pretends to accept her fate--until night falls and she flees. Senet of course,finds her and forces Katharine to return. Senet proves to be a fair Lord and they both discover their mutual attraction, but of course never mentioning to each other that it exists.
The secondary characters, provide good background and the story flows quickly. The introduction of Katherine's cousin Kiernan who she had posing as her long lost betrothed, does give some very good humorous dialog. The story is good but did end awfully quickly. Deadlines perhaps, otherwise would have rated a 5*.
An entertaining story.......1999-08-14
This is an enjoyable story about Senet, whose father died a traitor (we never know if he was guilty or not or what he was guilty of doing). His childhood home, Lomas, is now held by Lady Katherine. Having proven his loyalty to the crown in battle, he is given Lomas back if he marries Katherine. Well, Katherine wants no part of a marriage, her father was nothing to brag about and her betrothed, Lord Hanley, hasn't been seen in years and she hated him when he was around. The marriage takes place and though there are more than enough misunderstandings, the only big obstacle to their happiness turns out to be Kieran, Katherine's rogue cousin, who shows up impersonating Hanley. The ending ended to quickly. I wish more detail would have been provided, I think I would have been able to identify with the characters better. I hope that Kieran shows up in Ms. Paul's next story.
Average customer rating:
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Captive Bride
Johanna Lindsey
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000J34CJI |
Average customer rating:
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CAPTIVE BRIDE
Carol Finch
Manufacturer: Zebra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Finch, Carol | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 082171984X |
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