Amazon.com
In The Tesseract, set in muggy, scary Manila, Alex Garland again proves himself the past master of the youth paranoia novel. His first novel, The Beach--a tale of Western tourists on a druggy Thai isle--was dubbed a Gen-X Lord of the Flies. It made him Britain's richest 28-year-old writer even before Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the movie version. Now Garland ups the literary ante with an intricate three-part crime-story structure that several critics have compared to Pulp Fiction (only without the jokes). It's hard-boiled yet lyrical, subtle yet simple. Garland has three sets of characters collide, as if in a devilishly devised model-train wreck involving real trains, and his Manila is more grittily realistic than his Thailand. The first protagonist is Sean, an English seafaring lad who's about to meet the gangster Don Pepe, who's upset because Sean's boss recently missed a protection payment. It's not just the tarmac-melting heat that accounts for Sean's sweaty state of mind. As Don Pepe's posse's footsteps get louder outside his room, Sean glimpses his face in the mirror "in a state of flux. Unable to resolve itself, like a cheap hologram or a bucket of snakes, the lips curled while the jaw relaxed.... Fear, Sean thought distantly. Rare that one got to see what it actually looked like." Garland's great gift is conveying such mental states with the economy and grace of a Muhammad Ali punch. One feels that Don Pepe is about to reach up from the book and do violence to the reader.
Next comes the entire, tensely compressed life story of Rosa, a rural beach beauty turned big-city physician. Rosa is tormented by memories of her first love at 16, a man who comes crashing back into her life. In the last section, Sean and Don Pepe's thugs literally crash into her life, along with the book's third star duo, tough street kids Cente and Totoy. The Tesseract's vivid images and breakneck chases make it unsurprising to learn that Garland started out as a comic-book author, though his second novel really bears comparison with Robert Stone's Dog Soldiers. --Tim Appelo
Book Description
One of the most acclaimed thrillers of the year...
The "extraordinary"* national bestseller by the award-winning author of The Beach.
"Riveting...The Tesseract offers myriad secret pleasures beyond its seemingly plot-driven narrative of intrigue in the streets of Manila."-San Francisco Chronicle Book Review
"The Tesseract has the traits of a thriller, but it's also a love story, a character study, a portrait of life among Manila's street kids, even an experiment in narration...a feverish, affecting, altogether captivating story....What really makes The Tesseract so gripping is the author's dazzling performance as a storyteller-not the bloody climaxes per se but the innovative techniques and deft changes of pace with which they are related. This is one of those rare novels that can be read for thrills but also taken apart and examined the way a jeweler does a fine watch. Garland also lavishes his characters with quirks that ring true, outbursts of human oddity that transform a moment that most authors would rush past into something memorable...all but flawless, a tour de force of brilliant narration and psychological acuity."-i>The Washington Post
"Virtuosic...cinematic, poetic, terrifyingly precise."-The New York Times Book Review
"Bristles with suspense...mature, intelligent, and rewarding."-People
"[A] swift psychological thriller...beautifully rendered."-Spin
"Powerful, exotic...unfold[s] like a corrupt and mysterious flower."-J.G. Ballard
"Thoroughly assured...violently entertaining."-Michiko Kakutani, New York Times
"A steam engine of a narrative."-Newsweek
"Reminiscent of Graham Greene."-The New Yorker
"Delivers tremendous speed and style."-Dallas Morning News
"A dangerously hot novel."-The Christian Science Monitor
"Inventive and compelling."-Los Angeles Times
"A dashing tour de force."-St. Louis Post-Dispatch
"Richly emotional."-Harper's Bazaar
"[A] page-turner."-Time Out New York
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding book!!!.......2007-10-04
This book is a whirlwind character driven effort that really deserves critical acclaim. Garland paints a vivid picture with prose that's precise and never excessive. He imbues his characters with a level of depth and just enough random touches that you feel you know them one paragraph in. I loved how the story came together and I was thoroughly impressed with the author's range and depth -- this poignant story will make your head spin. Don't miss it!
Not his best work.......2007-07-28
Alex Garland is an experimental author, whose willingness to take risks has paid off in some outstanding books. (Beach, his take on utopia is one) Unfortunately, for most lay readers, the Tesseract isn't one.
By definition, a Tesseract is a mathematical construct with connective properties beyond the description of an Amazon review. The book is written in such an interwoven style. As a technical (and artistic) achievement, this is both unique and novel. As a readable thriller, not so much.
Perhaps the lasting impact of the book is it predates the Montage style movies (21 Grams, Crash, City of God) who try weaving less "mathematically perfect" stories toghether. Again, this is a successful artistic vision, but the readability of the novel suffers. It's not one the average reader will find gripping.
Another incredible novel from Garland!.......2007-04-14
Think Quentin Tarantino movies. Now picture that in written form. Garland takes three individual stories and allows them to run their natural course, eventually overlapping with one another through brilliant twists pulled off by the author Alex Garland. If you have read his first novel, The Beach (much better than the movie) then you are already familiar with his writing expertise. He grabs your attention from the very first page, and doesn't let go until the last sentence of the novel. I would also suggest looking into the meaning of "Tesseract" which is quite an interesting concept in itself. Somehow Garland manages to take seemingly unrelated stories and intertwine them with ease. A must read!
Good Work but I wont give it All my stars........2006-08-06
Reading 'The Beach' (also by Garland) was what made me get The Tesseract. Being a fan of Southeast Asian set novels, and knowing that Garland is a master of the "Backpacker's Culture", I knew from the start that The Tesseract will not disappoint.
This book is no beach culture.It is set in the heart of Manila, in a seedy hotel along Roxas Boulevard. Garland describes the smallest of details of Manila with the precision expected only from one who has lived in Manila itself.
While The Beach has both its plot/climax and raw narration to offer, The Tesseract's gem is its fast but just right rhythm, and the way it unfolds how the characters of 3 separate 'stories' are interrelated, hence the title 'The Tesseract'. Take six cubes and arrange them into the shape of a crucifix, at the point where the cross is made. Thats the tesseract.
Sean the English seaman and Don Pepe, the aristocratic mestizo. Corazon, Rosa and her children. Rosa and Lito. Totoy and Vicente. All of their stories are presented independently but in the end they all climax in a common joint.
I also liked particularly how Garland personified Don Pepe, (a Spanish mestizo with assistant thugs). The author even knows the concept (and the word) of "sip-sip"--an irritating trait in the Philippine Society. This Don, who also has the mindset of most elite Filipinos, cannot seem to get enough of the irritating habit of uselessly comparing the Philippines to the countries theyve been to.
Its also pleasing to know that although Garland also touched on the provincial life in Infanta, Quezon, he didnt stick to the usual Maria Clara stereotype that most foreign authors, and even Filipino authors cast on the female characters.
I found out that there's been a movie adaptation produced, the movie altered a whole lot of details. It was set in Bangkok (maybe Manila wasnt exotic enough or marketable enough?), and a female assasin character (not present in the book) was wedged in...perhaps to add a sex factor to it.
Directed by some dude named Oxide Pang. That's what you get for tampering with a fantastic novel. A B-grade "Chuck Norris" type of film.
Gimmicky.......2005-08-07
While the writer is a thinker and talented, I found the novel a downer, and felt disappointed. After reading it, I had no sense of having learned anything, except perhaps the meaning of the word tesseract. There were so many directions that could have proved fruitful, had the author chosen to explore them, but he didn't. He chose to go for the gimmick, and to write a story that was itself an illustration of a tesseract. That's the problem I have with the book. Like the movie, "The Usual Suspects", there is a gimmick. And like screenwriting, he works from the outside in, instead of from the inside out. This is a movie, it's not a novel, in that respect.
People may enjoy it as a movie, but I didn't enjoy it as a novel. However, the writing is good, and the execution is excellent. It can't be faulted in any literary sense. Just not my cup of tea.
Michael P. Sakowski
Author "The Enterprise Zone"
Average customer rating:
- Enraptured by Moonfall
- Contains some nice weirdness and thoughts.
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Moonfall (Tesseract Book)
Heather Spears
Manufacturer: Tesseract Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| Arthurian
| Contemporary
| Epic
| General
| Historical
| History & Criticism
| Magic & Wizards
| Series
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Series
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Series
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
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All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
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ASIN: 088878306X
Release Date: 2003-01-14 |
Book Description
Tasman is born into a world populated by two-headed bicephalic "twins" who share one body. Alone, she struggles for acceptance and becomes the unwitting key to the Earth_s salvation, in a poetic and apocalyptic vision of the future where technology exists as a mere remnant of a destroyed world, conjoined twins are the norm and the orbit of the moon is decaying.
Customer Reviews:
Enraptured by Moonfall.......2003-08-26
Heather Spears is a very complicated and disturbing writer, artist and human being. Her "other" career (as an artist) has often been to draw sketches of children in situations of great trauma such as at birth or with facial deformities or the Palestinian children of the Intifada ... maimed, wounded and hospitalized, often fatally. Moonfall is not exactly a book. It is a genre of its own, part poetry, part dream, part science fiction, part prayer ... this small book, first of a trilogy, is an intuitive comment about the direction in which the world is heading. As such it is a remarkable testimony to Spears' com/passionate belief in the ability of humans to care for one another above all else. This is also the book's eloquent message, healing and teaching. Every person in the story except one is a conjoined twin. The characters reveal an empathy and connection with one another which is quite extraordinary, although most fear and reject Tasman, the singleton. Spears' language is metaphor. One almost feels as if one is thinking or feeling the book rather than reading it. But really, to experience Moonfall is to transport yourself to a place beyond words. I highly recommend this book. I found it enrapturing.
Contains some nice weirdness and thoughts........1999-03-21
An unusually creative and strangely unsettling book, Moonfall takes place in a world populated entirely by conjoined twins except for the main character. Spears's perspective of such a sociaty is interesting and the writing is very clear and well done. Although not classic science-fiction, Moonfall is enjoyable and worth reading.
Average customer rating:
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Blue Apes (Tesseract Books)
Phyllis Gotlieb
Manufacturer: Tesseract Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Gotlieb, Phyllis
| ( G )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
( G )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| Gemmell, David
| Greenberg, Martin H.
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 1895836131
Release Date: 2002-11-27 |
Book Description
From the title piece, Blue Apes - a story of discovery, loss and betrayal on a distant planet - to Sunday_s Child- an account of an alien born to human colonists - Phyllis Gotlieb_s short fiction explores issues and passions that are deeply human, even when her characters are not. Gotlieb writes in the American SF tradition from a decidedly Canadian perspective.
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Tesseracts 4
Manufacturer: Beach Holme/Porcepic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
De Lint, Charles
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| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Anthologies
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( D )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
| David, Peter
| Drake, David
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Anthologies
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
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ASIN: 0888783221
Release Date: 2002-11-27 |
Book Description
Tesseracts4 expands the future of speculative fiction in the fourth instalment of this popular anthology of Canadian writers.
Enter worlds where reproductive laws yield a biotechnical marriage of the flesh ... take the stage with a rock 'n' roll band, its fame, fortune and phantom ... prepare for the gift of flight on eagles' wings ... experience the angst of a mother as she searches for her abducted dream child on video ... hand raise a mythical beast in the comfort of your home ... go behind a freakshow cage to meet a philosophical man-faced dog ... charge a truly animalistic sexuality to your credit card.
Average customer rating:
- Really good stories from Canada
- collected contemporary sci-fi and fantasy short stories from Canada
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Tesseracts Nine: New Canadian Speculative Fiction
Manufacturer: EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Canadian
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
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Short Stories
| Canadian
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
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| Books
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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Short Stories
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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Hopkinson, Nalo
| ( H )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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Similar Items:
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The New Moon's Arms
ASIN: 1894063260
Release Date: 2005-09-01 |
Customer Reviews:
Really good stories from Canada.......2006-07-15
Here is the latest in a yearly collection of speculative fiction stories and poems from north of the border, in Canada.
At an isolated research station in the north, one story concerns talking lemmings who are looking forward to being eaten by other predators. There is a modern-day vampire story. Mother Teresa moves into an elderly woman's home, and turns it into an orphanage. A group of aliens about to terraform Earth are totally enthralled by the singing of an elderly eskimo woman who knows that she has reached the end of her life. There is a near-future computer-controlled war story. A man wakes up one morning to find himself conscious, but physically unable to get out of bed. Then he finds that he has turned invisible. His wife, who thinks that he left her in the middle of the night, goes into a deep depression. Then civil order collapses as thousands, then millions, of people similarly disappear.
There is a wide variety of stories here; something for everyone. Read this an example of the state of speculative fiction in Canada, or read this as simply a group of really good stories. Either way, read it.
collected contemporary sci-fi and fantasy short stories from Canada.......2006-04-02
Seven of the 23 collected pieces have been previously published; the others appear here for the first time. While all the authors are from Canada, in introductory and closing sections, the editors each note that there really is no meaningful or helpful classification of "Canadian speculative fiction." In his foreword, Ryman notes that among the selections in this loosely-defined genre of speculative fiction are science fiction, Christian miracle tales, ones based on pagan themes and content, and others depicting inexplicable events. Hopkinson in her closing section "Final Thoughts" cites the variety of humor--satire, buffoonery, camp, etc.--found in many of the stories. A few of the pieces are short-shorts of only a page or two, a couple in verse; the longest is over 60 pages. Detailed biographical notes on the number of authors at the back lead readers to additional works.
Average customer rating:
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The Tesseract
Alex Garland
Manufacturer: Penguin Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0140258426 |
Average customer rating:
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Dark Earth Dreams (Tesseract Books)
Candas Jane Dorsey , and
Roger Deegan
Manufacturer: Tesseract Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
Dorsey, Candas Jane
| ( D )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Unabridged
| Literature & Fiction
| Books on CD
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
General
| Books on CD
| Audiobooks
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: 1895836050
Release Date: 2002-11-27 |
Book Description
Form is suited to content in this innovative, beautifully packaged discbook. More than just a spoken word collection, Dark Earth Dreams combines the lyrical prose of internationally known Canadian speculative fiction writer Candas Jane Dorsey, with the haunting music of Canadian composer Roger Deegan. This CD is accompanied by text for a follow-along reading of two of Dorsey_s short stories, Living in Cities and Black Dog.
Average customer rating:
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Distant Signals (Tesseract Books)
Andrew Weiner
Manufacturer: Tesseract Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| Arthurian
| Contemporary
| Epic
| General
| Historical
| History & Criticism
| Magic & Wizards
| Series
Anthologies
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Short Stories
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0888782845
Release Date: 2002-11-27 |
Book Description
This intriguing collection of short stories stretches reality in a highly original manner, from comical accounts of alien encounters and disturbing speculations on the future of the earth, to the threatening possibilities of Artificial Intelligence in an omnipresent technological world.
Average customer rating:
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Dreams of an Unseen Planet (Tesseract Books)
Teresa Plowright
Manufacturer: Tesseract Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
| Alternate History
| Anthologies
| Arthurian
| Contemporary
| Epic
| General
| Historical
| History & Criticism
| Magic & Wizards
| Series
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0888782829
Release Date: 2002-11-27 |
Book Description
As threats of global war and pollution loom larger, the governments of the world select an educated elite to establish colonies on the red planet Gaea. This chosen group will use their knowledge to attempt to preserve and cultivate the human species. But in the colony Ventura, something goes horribly wrong. The ideal community becomes a sterile, desolate place; the chosen group hopelessly obsessed with procreation as the birthrate falls to zero. Miera Tull finds herself more and more alienated from the obsessive sexuality of the colony. Instead, she is assaulted by mysterious sensual dreams dominated by the colour red. Slowly, she begins to understand that the planet Gaea may have a message for her - a message of hope in an otherwise hopeless world.
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Fires of the Kindred (Tesseract Books)
Robin Skelton
Manufacturer: Tesseract Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| Classics
| Contemporary
| General
| Historical
| Humor
| Letters & Correspondence
| Middle
| Old
| Poetry
| Renaissance
| Shakespeare
| Short Stories
Historical
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0888782713 |
Book Description
In his new book, Robin Skelton speculates on an alternate past, an ancestry that might have been -- or was, perhaps, forgotten. It is a revisioning of our origins, back to the roots of shamanism and the beginnings of mythology. True magic and harmony with nature undergo displacement by violent ambition and abstract thought, driving a wedge between the unity of Woman and Man. Told simply and sensitively through the lives of two apprentice shamans, themselves at the threshold of adulthood, the narrative draws us into a world where the ruling process is Change, where Humanity itself is losing its innocence and, for better or worse, is coming of age.
Average customer rating:
- Easy read and great primer for women
- Bravo! A Book Written to Be Read and Enjoyed About Money
- Fascinating and intimate look at money & finance!
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WHEN ARE YOU ENTITLED TO NEW UNDERWEAR AND OTHER MAJOR FINANCIAL DECISIONS: Making Your Money Dreams Come True
Eileen B. Michaels
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Financial Planning | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Money Management for Women | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0684815346 |
Book Description
ReferenceLarge Print EditionHeres the book that will make your money dreams come true. It doesnt matter how much or how little you have, there are always choices about how to live your financial life. But before making decisions, we must understand that money is not a small compartment of our lives its an intimate partner. In this witty, down-to-earth, and money-wise book, Michaels offers solid help and encouragement. Whether or not we know it, we make these decisions every day of our lives. Michaels simply helps us to make them with more understanding of our own capabilities.
Customer Reviews:
Easy read and great primer for women.......2004-02-17
This was not my first financial book--and I still enjoyed it! It's the kind of book that you can pick up to read at any point (read one chapter or section) and get a lot out of it. I gave it to my younger sister as a must-read. The title resonated with me because as most women, I love to shop. So it became clear to me that I had to re-think my splurges. A year after reading this book I bought my first home!
Bravo! A Book Written to Be Read and Enjoyed About Money.......1999-03-28
What a treat to Find a book that talks in English and Understands how to communicate important issues. I've bought this book for friends, and family as gifts and each and everyone has loved it. Michaels has a flair for speaking in such a personal way that I felt like we were sitting at the kitchen table together.....
Fascinating and intimate look at money & finance!.......1997-11-25
Ms. Michaels superbly combines money management, relationships, and practical advice in this hard to set down financial advisor. (I read it in one sitting). Who would have thought a book on finance could be so interesting! While the author caught me with her witty title, she captivated me with her personal stories. Her fascinating characters walk the reader through real life experiences -- consequences of financial decisions -- the good, the bad & the not so pretty. In the process, the reader accomplishes a self-discovery of the intimate relationship she has with money & spending. After a year of plowing through half a dozen books on finance, (some of us need more help than others), it was most refreshing to find an author who brings together vital information and engaging personal history in such a pleasurable format. I will definitely be on the look-out for more titles from Ms. Michaels.
Book Description
This daringly real, intensely moving love story gives vision and hope to everyone in search of a love worth waiting for. In their bestseller When God Writes Your Love Story, Eric and Leslie Ludy described the breathtaking perfection of God's plans for each young person and offered fresh guidelines for being Christlike in relationships with the opposite sex. When Dreams Come True shares the Ludys' personal story, illustrating how they lived out the principles of the first book in their own romance and marriage. Includes an all-new chapter from Eric Ludy, "What Happened Next?"
âI had a God who knew my every desire. He also knew how I would fall. And yet He was waiting on the other side of my failure and my shattered dreams with some dreams of His own...â
Here’s hope for anyone in search of a love worth waiting for.
From the bestselling authors of When God Writes Your Love Story comes this daringly real, true-life account of Eric and Leslie Ludy’s own journey through the struggles and triumphs of a God-written romance.
Story Behind the Book
Eric and Leslie Ludy know that most young people today have never seen a successful, Christ-centered relationship modeled, and believe that âhappily ever afterâ is a thing of the past. The Ludy’s wrote When Dreams Come True to offer their own example of a God-written love story, providing the vision for that âsomething betterâ that so many young people have never seen.
Customer Reviews:
Dreams Can Come True, Life Can be Good for Your Kids.......2007-09-15
I've shared the Ludy's book with my own three teens and with the teens of my friends. The story stands in stark opposition to what our culture teaches and gives hope and a vision of an honorable love affair that can last forever. My own children watched as friends became lovers, broke up, had babies, and were alone, or went from one tragic relationship to the next. This book showed them that it is realistic to hold out for something better and they were rewarded for doing so. Our culture needs to know there are other options and that the way to true love and happiness does not begin in the bedroom. One of the best parts of this true story is that it involves two people who went the wrong way first. This mom says, save your children's marriages before it's even an issue, get this book and give them a vision of something wonderful that's worth waiting and trusting God for.
My 15 yo daughter just finished the book. She didn't particularly want to read it, but it's a great story and once she started, she needed no more prodding. Besides providing a "vision," the story works as a "dating manual" for those committed to Jesus Christ. The reader sees how the young lovers come to fall in love, identify their feelings for one another, but manage to take the high road of abstinence and trust God that His way is truly best. When they finally marry, they've already proved their love for one another in the way they have put the other one's well-being above their own. A beautiful story for everyone.
Inspiring.......2007-03-12
I've made a point of avoiding Christian-aimed relationship books because so many of them are either condescending or unrealistic. But everything the Ludys have written blows that idea completely out of the water. They break the mold by being honest and open. This book is a treat to read; Eric and Leslie tell their story as if you were sitting in a living room with them. It's bold to be truthful, and it's daring to do it in our culture. I hope every young woman looking for a good romance reads this and takes it's message to heart. I wish I had read it years ago.
The story of the Ludys.......2007-01-19
This is not a book with directions on "the way" to do things. It is simply the very honest story of how God worked in the Ludys' lives to bring them together. Eric and Leslie take turns writing chapters throughout this book. They begin by describing their childhoods, their adolescences, and how they lost their innocence. They tell of different relationships they went through and left them hurt and feeling dirty and defiled. I thought they were rather too descriptive for young people without the same experiences, but then the beauty at the end is more beautiful when compared to the beginning. Also, I think their story would be encouraging for those who have had the same kind of adolescence and disillusionment regarding true love.
They explain how they came to know the Lord and how their relationship with Him changed their life. They finally gave their entire life to Him, including their love life, committing not to date another person except the one they will marry.
Their meeting is described, at the time when Eric was 21 and Leslie, 16. They tell how they struggled with their relationship, trying to keep it at just friends, yet with the Lord drawing them closer. They came to the conclusion that they were meant for each other, but that they weren't ready yet for marriage, rather like Jim and Elisabeth Elliot. They continue to grow and mature in their spiritual lives, as well as their love for each other. When they decided it was time for them to become engaged and get married, they committed to save their first kiss for their wedding.
The last pages of the book tell of their wedding. Eric tells of his tears as he waits for his bride. Leslie writes of her nervousness before the wedding, and the peace and happiness that came over her as she walked down the aisle to Eric. It was so familiar; I don't know how many brides feel that way, but I know I did. They told how their first kiss was so special because they had saved it for marriage.
I thought their book was a sweet story of how God can change lives, and how His plan for us is the best and most beautiful. For those who have similar backgrounds, it may be helpful in their own lives. Those who have grown up with and held to a higher standard of purity in relationships will not find much to apply to their lives. The Ludys have seen God do amazing and wonderful things through the surrender in their lives, but those how have kept themselves to their ideals, to physical and emotional purity, and to a relationships with a greater parental involvement, will have a sweeter story to tell.
A sweet and convicting love story!.......2007-01-18
I love this book. It is one of the best books I have ever read. Eric and Leslie are amazing authors. All of their books are excellent! All are must reads for everyone, but especially for young people and singles. Their story will touch your life. They are funny, real, encouraging, convicting, and inspiring writers. READ THIS BOOK!
Ah, a hardcore yet tender love story..........2006-11-14
This book really shows what God can do in one's life. Eric and Leslie both had gone down destructive romantic paths before meeting each other and developing a loyal friendship, which turned into a chaste romance. (They did not even kiss until they had said their vows.) I loved the part where Eric proposes to Leslie--it is so romantic and pure. If you're looking for a real love story, buy "When Dreams Come True"--And read it 'til your face turns blue! (yes, I know, I'm not good at rhymes.)
Book Description
Everyone knew the earl of Penhollow needed a wife, so one thunderous night the villagers gathered together to ask the ocean to deliver a bride to the bachelor lord . . .
The Sea Brought Him A Wife
When Pierce Kirrier, the handsome earl of Penhollow, rescued a mysterious beauty from the billowing ocean waves, he had no idea who she was—or where she came from. But at the first sight of this enchanting maiden, he had to claim her for his own. Taking her back to Penhollow Hall, he pampered her like a princess, determined to win her trust and her heart.
But Her Past Could Take Her Away
Nothing had prepared Eden to awaken in an elegant bedchamber in a remote corner of Cornwall. It was like living in a perfect dreamworld, where every wish came true. In Pierce's arms she found a love . . . and bliss . . . she never knew existed. But once her secret past caught up with her, those dreams could be shattered—forever.
Customer Reviews:
Kinda Dull and Predictable.......2007-07-17
I purchased this book during my exploration of new authors (to me) of the historical romance genre. I have read many books full of witty characters, interesting plot twists, and temperaments expected with the era. I am afraid that I found this book lacking. The characters seemed too boxed, the conversations lacked depth, the passion boring. I was surprised by the 5 star rating when I noticed that nearly half of the reviews where from the same reviewer - should that be allowed? But it spawned me to draft my first review. Even the title gives away what is going to happen at the end. The pace seemed to move SO slowly. Even when Eden, the leading female character, would throw herself at the Earl, he would reject her sexual advances. It didn't seem noble to me, it seemed unrealistic. Most men of the era, even the ones with honor, would at least partake further in some of the advances, but hold back from "going all the way". I suppose I have been spoilt by other books where similar situations are described in more depth where you really feel the restrained passion and the mental anguish while they debate the right thing to do. To summarize, my review would be that is a "Fluffy" tale which moves at a slow pace, has a predictable plot and characters. Just ok overall.
*FABULOUS*.......2006-07-22
It is so romantic! I love Cathy Maxwell! Her books are excellent! I love them all! This is a wee bit predictable but in a good way! Loved it!
the virgin coutesan and the English Lord..........2004-12-09
Does a person's past actions dictate if they are worthy of true love? This is the question that this book is based on. Cathy Maxwell has written a wonderful, sweet tale about the hardships that all of us-rich and poor-have to sometimes face, and what our choices mean to our future.
I found all the characters interesting-a few who are stalwart, and some to be enjoyed if for no other reason than their obvious flawed character. The hero and heroine are beautiful-but not perfect-and that is what endears them to the reader. The hero in particular is a genuinely good man, and good lord to his people. They are both, along with the oppressive mother in law, in heart lonely and in search of a family. They are also ruled by the dictates of the regency era ton. A thoroughly enjoyable book that I heartily recommend.
Average romance.......2004-07-27
The beautiful Eden has been brought up by Madame Indrani as a courtesan and is sold, along with her virginity, to a rich sultan. During her voyage to the East she manages to escape the ship she is sailing on and is washed up onto the shore of Cornwall. She is saved by the handsome Pierce Kirrier, Lord Penhallow, who is immediately smitten by the green eyed beauty.
Pierce shuns the life of the ton in London and is happy to stay in Cornwall running his mining business and breeding horses. His mother and the villagers all think that he should marry soon so that he can produce an heir. The villagers think that their prayers have been answered when Eden turns up at Penhallow. Pierce and Eden immediately fall in love with one another but will Eden's past catch up with her and ruin their chance at happiness.
This is an average run of the mill regency romance. The plot had potential but didn't go anywhere. I didn't warm to Eden as I thought that she should have told the truth before marrying Pierce. I also thought that her behaviour was childish when she ran off just because Pierce went away on a business trip. Pierce was a gallant gentleman but a bit shallow as he only seemed to love Eden because of her exceptional beauty.
Lea Ling Tsang
Exciting, Passionate Tale.......2003-08-25
Cathy Maxwell is a wonderful writer whose fairytale yet richly developed characters and stories never fail to delight!
When Dreams Come True is the entertaining story of the ravishing Eden, a woman of great compassion, generosity and integrity who had the misfortune to be raised for a life as a courtesan. A virgin yet thoroughly schooled in the art of lovemaking, she's sold to a foreign sheik for an astronomical sum. Escaping in a dingy during a storm at sea, Eden finds herself washed onto the shores of Cornwall and into the arms of the handsome, gallant and highly principled Pierce Kirrier, Lord Penhollow.
Villagers believe she is the answer to their magical incantations for a bride for the Lord. Eden and Pierce's courtship while she recovers at his gorgeous estate is exciting and moving. But with Pierce's mother dead set against her and her enslavers searching for her all over England, Eden must struggle with the warring instincts of her passionate attraction to Pierce and her determination to protect him from her past.
This is an exciting tale of passion, loyalty, suspense and friendship. Most of all, it is a lot of fun. You won't want to put this one down, so be sure to start reading when you have a few hours of free time ahead of you.
Book Description
Are you waiting for your glass slipper? How often have you told yourself that you could be truly satisfied if only you had the "right" man, the "perfect" job, or "enough" money? Do you find yourself passively waiting for this special someone or something to change your life and give it meaning? If so, you may be a victim of what Lee Ezell calls the "Cinderella Syndrome". Combining personal anecdotes and vivid case histories with sound advice from the Bible, "The Cinderella Syndrome" will lead you to burst the bubble of "fairy tale thinking", on your way to a creative, happy and truly fulfilling life - even in the middle of a less-than-perfect world.
Customer Reviews:
Quick fixes don't work.......2001-10-30
Although I was excited about this book, I was not very pleased with the style with which it was written or the content. Ms. Ezell seems to have some very quick solutions to very difficult life problems. The book itself proports to address the very real problem of women who are discontented with their life, who have wishful thinking about what the want and who they are with, but proposes to address those concerns in a little over one hundred pages. In the chapter on forgiveness, Ms. Ezell counsels you to look in the mirror and say I forgive. Although she warns us against "magical" thinking, she seems to be using it herself. She contradicts herself. Her bible quotes seem self-serving and her reference to "humanists" seems to infer an intolerance to different faiths and opinions. She tells us that we should trust God to give us what we need, but then says that everything in life is not planned, some circumstances just happen! I was pretty dissappointed, to say the least and I have a magical feeling that I was not the only one!
Find out what it means to be truly happy........1999-09-18
Is there someone from your past you can't seem to forgive, no matter how hard you try? If you're honest with yourself, you have to answer, "yes." This book will show you how to forgive others and in turn, how you can acheive ultimate happiness. The Cinderella Syndrome also shows you neat ways to remind yourself you hold the key to your own happiness. I encourage everyone to read this book: You'll want to keep it for future reference as it will enhance your daily devotional.
Customer Reviews:
a very solid story that promotes family values and a strong faith under fire.......2007-03-19
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
Zoey Witherspoon has made a new life for herself and her children back in her hometown of Sweetwater after coming to terms with the death of her workaholic husband, DEA Agent Dane. Now two years later, her world flips on its axis once more when Dane appears on her doorstep... very much alive!
As it turns out, Dane's plane went down in an Amazon jungle killing his partner and the pilot, but leaving Dane alive but suffering from amnesia. Though most of his memory has returned, there are still some things he can't remember, like what happened immediately before and after the plane crashed. But now he's back and wanting to make up for lost time.
But can they overcome Zoey's fears he will return to his old work routine and Dane's still foggy memories? Will their faith see them through?
When Dreams Come True was my first book by Margaret Daley and my first book from Harlequin's Love Inspired line. I was pleasantly surprised and will now be looking for the rest of the books in The Ladies of Sweetwater Lake miniseries. It is a very solid story that promotes family values and a strong faith under fire. I also really like the fact Daley is not afraid to tackle such serious subjects as alcohol and drug dependency and even juvenile delinquency. Even with the heavy subject matter, the story never gets too serious and Daley proves that putting your trust in God will see you through even the worst of situations.
Dane has deep personal struggles that make it very difficult for him to open up to anyone, even his wife. His underlying guilt over something in his past colors everything he does and is the driving force behind his career determination. After the plane crash, and his memory's return, he realizes that what once kept him going is no longer enough and he longs to fill that emptiness. As he adjusts to his new life and searches for his new path in life, his faith grows, as does his desire to make a difference in the lives of others, starting with his family. When he finally comes to terms with his past and once again accepts God in to this life, readers will be overjoyed at the transformation this makes in him.
Zoey had always depended on herself and God to raise her family, with Dane being gone so much. After his "death" she returned home where she would have the support of her family and old friends. But she's grown so used to Dane not being around that when he returns, she has a hard time trusting him to be there for them. I do admit Zoey is a strong woman who has been through way more than any one person should have to experience, but I wasn't overly fond of her. To me, she was just being stubborn and hung on way too long to her belief Dane would abandon them again. She is always upset with Dane for not opening up to her more yet every time there is a chance of a breakthrough and he's fighting his fear to talk to her, she turns and runs before he has a chance to say anything.
The supporting cast adds so much to this story that I'd be remiss if I didn't mention them. Zoey's circle of friends has been through so much in each of their respective lives yet nothing is too much when one of them is in need or hurting. These women band together and will make everyone think about their own circle of friends who are always there when the going gets tough. Blake, Zoey and Dane's son, is battling his own internal demons and my heart cried out for him when I learned why he acted the way he did. Then there is Eddy, the young local teen crying out for help, who touches that part of Dane he likes to keep hidden. If not for him, I don't think Dane ever would have been able to leave his past behind and become the man God wanted him to be.
If readers are looking for a sweet and moving story with a strong message of faith in God and hope for the future, then When Dreams Come True is exactly what they need.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2007. All rights reserved.
Sweet and poignant!.......2006-11-07
Back from the Dead...
Two and a half years after being declared dead, Dane shows up on Zoey's doorstep. Can they reclaim their love and forgive the past?
Daley, as always, writes a story that delights, even as it touches your heart.
Average customer rating:
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Hope-so Too: When Two Hope Together Dreams Come True.
Jodi Hills
Manufacturer: Tristan Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Fiction | Dogs | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Pets | Animals | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Adoption | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
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Believe
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I Am Amazed
ASIN: 0972650423 |
Customer Reviews:
Spectacular!.......2005-09-27
At last! A wonderful book that celebrates adoption (specifically transracial adoption.)
Hope-so was adopted by a family that hoped so for a child to love and care for. Their hope was answered when a special little girl entered their family. Because they had hoped so for a child, they named her Hope-so. Hope-so wanted to pass on the love and family life she now had. She wanted to give her heart to a puppy that needed a little girl. And while she hoped for a puppy, a little puppy, without a family, hoped for the same.
Hope-so Too is the delightful story of the dreams that can come true when two hope together. It is also the celebration of love and family. The illustrations are stunning with loads of inviting and colorful images that will draw in children and adults alike.
Armchair Interviews says: Hope-so Too is a special story that will resonate with all families, not only adoptive families.
Beautiful!.......2005-03-31
A wonderful story about hopes and dreams. This is a story about a little girl who was adopted and now wants to adopt a puppy of her own. She hopes and dreams of her puppy and when she goes to the shelter she finds the perfect one.
Beautiful, warm, illustrations.
Product Description
Includes lyrics page!
Books:
- The THOUGHT GANG
- The Yellow Wind: With a New Afterword by the Author
- This Noble Land:: My Vision for America
- Three Adventure Novels: She, King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain
- Thunderland
- Time Will Darken It
- TNIV Story, The: Encounter the Story of Scripture in a Whole New Way
- Turn, Magic Wheel
- Waiting in Vain: A Novel
- Whisper my name
Books Index
Books Home
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The Beach
Phineas Poe: Kiss Me Judas, Penny Dreadful, Hell's Half Acre
The Beach
Sunshine
Dermaphoria
