Book Description
From the winner of the 2004 Impac Prize, a classic story of friendship and betrayal.
The Last Friend, the new novel from internationally acclaimed author Tahar Ben Jelloun, winner of the 2004 International Dublin/IMPAC award, is a Rashamon-like tale of friendship and betrayal set in twentieth century Tangier. Written in Ben Jelloun's inimitable and powerfully direct style, the novel explores the twists and turns of an intense thirty-year friendship between two young men struggling to find their identities and sexual fulfillment in Morocco in the late 1950s, a complex and contradictory society both modern and archaic.
From their carefree university days through their brutal imprisonment and ultimate release, the two rely on each other for physical and psychological survival, forging bonds not easily broken. Each narrator tells his version of the story, painting a vivid portrait of life lived within and in opposition to the moral strictures of North Africa.
Set against a backdrop of repression and disillusionment, The Last Friend is a tale of loss of innocence and a nation's coming of age.
Customer Reviews:
Captivating.......2006-06-06
I have always considered Tahar Ben Jelloun to be one of the most gifted and elegant writers of our times. This newest book of his confirms and reinforces this view.
The story focuses on a close and deep friendship, that between two Moroccan men, Ali and Mamed. It also touches on a host of other issues, ranging from loyalty, betrayal and jealousy to the `western' culture and way of life, social and moral issues within Moroccan society, religion, middle eastern politics, western imperialism, disease and death.
Succinct and pithy, graceful and lyrical, pungent and penetrating, this is a beautiful study on human nature with all its weaknesses, its faults, its contradictions. Rarely will one find a book so concise and full of substance.
The mystery of friendship . . ........2006-05-19
The two men in this short novel by French-Moroccan writer Ben Jelloun tell a story of friendship that lasts from their youthful years in school to middle age, when they are both professional men with wives and children. The bond between them has been deepened by shared adversity - they are punished as young men for their political activities - but they are also kindred souls, drawn to long talks about matters both serious and puerile, and to Western culture, especially films.
Their careless and puzzled attitudes toward girls lead in later life to marriages that are neither as deep or as emotionally grounded as their friendship. When one man abruptly breaks off their long-standing relationship - something we know from the fist page - the mystery of this sudden rift sets up a perspective from which we view their story as each tells it. Finally, the book is an exploration of the mystery of friendship itself. The last pages are a beautifully articulated testament to the power of friendship to both enrich our lives and lead us into self-contradictions that are beyond fathoming.
WARNING: The editorial reviews above give away much of the story. Best to avoid reading them if you prefer discovering and pondering the plot turns, as they occur, for yourself.
Beautiful Adventure.......2006-01-20
The Last Friend chronicles thirty years of friendship between Ali and Mamed. Set in Morocco and Sweden, both Ali and Mamed narrate the lifecycle of a friendship that ends in betrayal, hurt and distance. This translation from French is lyrical, insightful, brutal and gentle. You'll think of your friendships after reading this....and Mamed's troubling decision.
Book Description
This arresting historical novel deals with the rivalry between two great men whose friendship turns to enmity as one (Attila) becomes corrupted by power, while the other (Aetius) is ennobled by it. Ross Laidlaw's masterful portrayal of these two figures is based on his intimate knowledge of the times and is written in a narrative style that vividly evokes the brutality, decadence, and desperation of this fascinating period of history.
Customer Reviews:
Not up to par!.......2007-04-03
I have been reading historical fiction for a while. Pressfield is to Grrek history as Cornwell is to ancient Brit. However, this writer is neither. The story rambles, stumbles and falls several times per chapter. I make it a practice to never quit on a book, and this one tested my resolve. Attila must be turning in his grave!
A Well Researched and Well Written Book.......2005-02-07
This is a book to get your teeth into, not something to pick up and put down. It is a book about two great men, Attila, King of the Huns and Flavius Aetius one of the great Roman Generals, friends, who turn into bitter enemies.
The book is set in the early 5th century. The German tribes are overrunning the Western parts of the Roman Empire. Nothing and no one can stop the might of their forces. The government of Rome is forced to grant them federate status.
Aetius becomes the power in Rome even over the heads of a weak and viscious emperor and his mother. In a series of campaigns he takes on the might of the Huns and forces them to settle peacefully. His one time friend Attila, now his bitter enemy launches an attack on the Eastern part of the empire and in the ensuring battle both men have everything to lose if they are defeated.
The novel portrays brilliantly the brutality of war and the blatant disregard for human life in this period of history and is a must for anyone interested in that period.
Average customer rating:
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Melville & His Circle: The Last Years
William B. Dillingham
Manufacturer: University of Georgia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0820318566 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Ebony, published by Thomson Gale on October 1, 2007. The length of the article is 469 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Could this be his last? Easy Rawlins is back on the streets of L.A. to sore a crime that threatens the lives of his closest friends.(BOOKSHELF)
Author: Lynette R. Holloway
Publication:
Ebony (Magazine/Journal)
Date: October 1, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 62
Issue: 12
Page: 42(2)
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Customer Reviews:
Strong Storytelling....(3.5 Stars).......2005-02-02
The Last King is Nichelle Tramble's follow-up to her debut novel, The Dying Ground, which unfortunately I have not read. However, the author provided enough background to establish the history and torment of the novel's hero, Maceo Redfield, with little redundancy. The Last King opens with Maceo returning from a two-year self-exile to help childhood friends and foster brothers Cotton, the professional basketball player and Holly, a local Oakland gangster. Both men are wanted for questioning in the murder of a high-priced call girl in a posh hotel room rented by Cotton. With Cotton being a star NBA player, a media scandal is brewing. Maceo's instinct is to protect his family at all costs and mend the broken relationships and open wounds suffered in the aftermath of The Dying Ground events.
We follow Maceo into Oakland's seedy underworld: the docks, dirty hole-in-the-wall diners, and crack houses. Tramble writes with familiarity of the city - vivid descriptions and imagery, local political challenges and social ills of the late 1980's and early 1990's resonate throughout the novel. The major drawback of the book is Maceo being in reactive mode during most of the novel. He is no super-sleuth and seems a bit too trusting of strangers (perhaps that's supposed to be part of his charm). He does not appear to have a clear strategy on how to resolve the murder except to find Holly - which largely involves collecting clues by visiting old haunts and sleazy contacts. He seems to accidentally discover who the real murderer is - which wasn't too difficult for the reader to figure out early on - I kept reading to figure how it was done. Nonetheless what was lacking in the mystery/suspense aspect, Tramble makes up for in creating colorful characters, insightful societal commentaries/observations , and a couple of unforeseen revelations in the end.
Reviewed by Phyllis
APOOO BookClub, The Nubian Circle Book Club
Page Turner.......2004-10-13
Excellent follow-up to the Dying Ground. Maceo is back and determined to save his childhood friend Holly from a crime he didn't commit. Believe me, you will not be disapointed. I hope Ms. Tramble isn't finished with Maceo and that we will see him in the next book.
An ambitious and successful endeavor.......2004-10-11
What I most admire about Nichelle Tramble as a writer is her fearlessness. It takes remarkable courage for a female author to take on the voice of a male narrator. But only sentences into both "The Dying Ground" and "The Last King," the reader forgets that these books come not from the world-weary and hard-edged (though perceptive and sensitive) Maceo, but from Ms. Tramble. "The Last King" is satisfying in all the right ways: compelling characters, a riveting plot, and, most importantly, a likeable and authentic narrator.
THE LAST KING- a crime read with conscience and guts.......2004-09-26
I just finished the last king. beautifully done. it actually made me weepy-hard-boiled, cynical me. It went deeper- I got more great existential depth, back-story that pinned but did not bog down the action/events-just a super poetic, deep look into the hearts, souls, and characters in this landscape.
I take issue with the reviewer for the Washington Post's criticism- Tramble takes on all the social, political and cultural elements associated with Oakland (Evelyn waugh, Graham greene, Dickens, Balzac, Haley, Sartre, Marquez all did the same, mind you, it's the mark of a seriously good writer), and anchors her story in social criticism while keeping it all about the action--and she succeeds at this task-- so it's discouraging to see her being knocked for something that's most appropriate- a cultural, political and social context for her art.
At no point did I feel like the existential exposition slowed the action or took me out of the energy of the tale. On the contrary I saw Maceo as one of the archetypal "lone cowboy" figures, haunted, driven by his demons, forced by circumstances to return to his roots and face his demons-wherever they may have been. And that's an eminently human task, regardless of who we are, where we're from-we've all got to go back to the roots, or suffer the consequences.Tramble dares depict a dirty, beautiful and complex world, and invites us to wander it with her.
A great read. I hope we see more of Sonny Boston in books to come as well. She's a real pistol!
Life in the hood.......2004-09-07
For whatever reason Maceo Redfield has never felt comfortable with his life, and as a result he has always lived his life on the run. Sometimes running from individuals, however most times running from his own personal demons. Oakland, California is his birthplace and his heart will always be there, but when things become too complicated, his way out is to do what most cowards do, he runs.
Oakland is but a memory until his childhood friend, basketball superstar Cornelius "Cotton" Knox is accused of murder. Maceo feels the pull of loyalty drawing him back to the place he thought he'd left behind. When Maceo disappeared two years ago, for those who loved him, he left behind a world of hurt and disappointment. He seizes the opportunity to save Cotton, as it is also a way to redeem himself.
Seedy hotels, shady characters, and prostitutes are familiar things that Maceo encounters, but it is a path he must retrace to find the answers to all of his questions. But there is something positive in all of his efforts, he meets a mysterious and intriguing woman who ignites feelings in him that he thought were long dead, and he must not let this interfere with his quest.
THE LAST KING is an urban drama that takes readers into the dark side of Oakland, yet Ms. Tramble does not lose them in the darkness. She places much emphasis on the fact that your environment is only one factor when determining where your life will take you. And she shows that with supreme dedication, strong friendships can weather any storm. The writing is strong, visual and real and at times I felt the pain and confusion of the characters. This story touched me and I highly recommend it to others.
Reviewed by Simone A. Hawks
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Book Description
In a story connected to Once Tempted, she tells the tale of Lord Colin Danvers, brother of the hero from Once Tempted, whose racy past has already been alluded to.
Download Description
They Met At London's
Notorious Cyprian's Ball...
Georgiana Escott has one night to find the perfect man to ruin her and leave her with a tattered reputation so she can avoid an arranged marriage to an aging, despicable roue. With a misstep, she tumbles into the arms of the disgraced and dashing Lord Danvers. But Georgie doesn't know that the lover she has enticed to follow her into the night and the stranger she holds responsible for her misfortunes are in the same...
When Lord Danvers find himself entangled with a tempting Cyprian, his secret mission to expose a dangerous spy goes awry. Yet once he starts to unmasked this bewitching lady, he realizes the seductress who claims his heart may be the traitor he seeks. Mistrust makes them adversaries in a perilous game -- but how can he dismiss his obsession with her when one night of passion entwined their lives forever?
Customer Reviews:
You Want Great? Read............2005-04-25
This story was good, but extremely tedious. The beginning story line is similiar to the book *A TOUCH OF VELVET*, by *KATHRYN N BENDER*, where the heroine must lose her virginity or marry a disgusting man. The similiarity pretty much ends there, as the resulting plots are very different, as are the characters. So while Ms Boyle's book is fluffy and okay, *A TOUCH OF VELVET* is very depthful, has extremely romantic and hot love scenes, and has such intense dialogue you'd be hard pressed to find another like it. To be honest, I was looking for another copy of Ms Bender's first book *THE ROSE OF ENCHANTMENT* (because I REFUSE to give mine to my sister) but I couldn't find a copy so I ordered her 2nd book, and I'm SOOOO glad I did.(Although AMAZON has its release date as May I got my copy already.)
A deeply moving and very exciting love story!.......2005-04-24
This was my first Boyle book but will not be my last. I really found Colin a very compelling and interesting hero. You knew immediately that he was not guilty of the herendous charges against him and that he was a highly honorable person. Just the way he dealt with Georgie the first nite they meet at the Cyprian Ball - he did everything in his power to treat her in a highly honorable manner, yet he certainly was intrigued. Georgie was one of the better female characters I have read about recently. She was a take charge girl, who really had a interesting way with words and dealing with situations. She was a challenge for Colin - he just found her so different and they seemed to sizzle right off as two destend for passion. I loved the way they met - the one night of passion they shared that night was totally believable and the way they meet a year later on the shores of France was a perfect way for them to come together again and for Georgie to show her uniqueness aboard a ship- and also she did have a little surprise for Colin. Neither had forgotten the other and it was not long before they rekindled their passion. This is a story about spies and danger but the plot is believable and the romance is not overshadowed by the dangerous mission Colin is on for the Crown. The only problem I had which kept me from 5 stars is the ending - it was a little rushed and the epilogue i would have liked to have learned a little more about their life, their children and not that she was just sailing off with him on another secret mission. But all in all I loved this story about two exciting characters that in a nite of surprised passion truly found their sole mates!!
WORST BOOK EVER!.......2005-01-14
I read this book in attempt to end my addiction to Bertrice Small novels, but it in now way sufficed. While the plot was somewhat interesting, the novel itself lacks necessities. There is no description and a slow pace plot, as well as weak dialogue. I personally enjoy books filled with details about what the characters look like. Here the author reveals only the features of the main characters, Georgie and Colin, and leaves you guessing for everyone else. And what she does write about these two is only a general acknowledgement of body type and hair color (and that Georgie has sable colored eyes). She also lacks any detail of the settings. While in Small's novels she often goes over board in describing setting and character's features, I much prefer that to nothing! The plot itself is slow moving with almost half the book (at least 145 of about 380 pages) is dedicated to that "one night of passion." It literally drags on forever. Did I meantion that the author is redundant and often repeats herself over and over. While I enjoyed Boyle's use of alternating third person limited narration between Colin and Georgie in the first few chapters, she quickly scraps this formula, and begins with third person omnition, giving inside thoughts of many different characters, and often changing between Colin and Georgie in the same chapter. I was at least enjoying that much. The last half of the book picks up a bit of steam, but I while I enjoyed the plot concept with the mystery of why Mr. Pymm and Mandeville look familiar to Georgie, I was very upset to discover (and this is a bit of a spoiler if you still want to read the book) that it was impossible for the reader to guess who they were when tehy had never been introduced in the story. While I was convinced Hatchcliffe was Mandeville (in which I was almost correct) I thought it very unfair for Mandeville to turn out to be someone that was never introduced.
In short while the "One Night Of Passion" has an intresting plot and well written abstract, it lacks essentials of good writing such as character development, character description, good dialogue, and little things like compound sentances. I would NOT recommend this book to anyone who thinks those things may be important in a romance novel.
An interesting story 2-3 starts really.......2003-12-01
This is my first read by Ms. Boyle, Some parts are very much like the bunny that keeps going and going and going. I think the overall story was interesting and although the herione was annoying at some parts, it was pretty good while you were reading it. The hero also, seemed to change a bit during this.I think anyone who wants to hear about a long sea jounrey would enjoy this book the action in it is pretty good, I'd maybe read it for a long trip with nothing to do, instead of on my freetime.
Boring!!!.......2003-10-15
This book was so boring. I should have know I was in trouble when I started skimming portions after the first ten or so pages. The plot essentially consisted of two neverending scenes: the Cyprian Ball scene, which took up one-quarter of the book, and the scene on the ship, escaping the French, which took up half of the book. On the other hand, the author simply omitted the parts of the plot that would actually have been interesting: the events of Georgie's youth, the events that led up to Colin's "fake" court-martial, and the events that occurred in the year Colin and Georgie were apart (like Georgie having a baby, for heaven's sake!). So instead, these two wooden characters fall in love in three hours, don't see each other for a year, then reunite and their love is as strong as ever. Total hogwash. Plus Georgie's role in outwitting the French captain was wholly implausible. There's more, but I don't have the mental energy to cover it all. Simply put, this author simply cannot write, and I will not waste my time on any more of her books.
Customer Reviews:
I found myself cheering the couple on; great ending!.......2005-06-18
Lynne Graham writes the best endings I have ever seen in Harlequins, instead of leaving the story dead cold and unfulfilled. I love how she takes the "Happily ever after" a little bit further.
The characters are always different in Graham's books, and these were quite unique. I love how we are given insight into the male character's mind-set and feelings, too. So much so that I wish all romances were written this way, because it is much more satisfying IMHO.
I'm currently collecting all of Lynne Graham's titles, and I personally rate "A Night With His Wife" in the top 10, although it is difficult to choose favorites--they are all terrific!
--Cyndi
There she goes again............2000-11-22
Star the heorine of this book is emotionally still very vunerable and thinks almost childlike. She and the hero were caught in a comprimising position and got married a couple of years ago.After sleeping with him one night Star runs away because he rejects her the next day. When he finds her she has twins (nick named Mars and Venus would you believe) Because of their tiny size the hero thinks they are not his but seeing her again he wants 1 NIGHT WITH HIS WIFE but he soon finds that one night is not enough....
cute, but...........2000-02-16
the heroine was whinny and the hero just needed help, however, the story was cute and itw is worth reading
WOW! Double WOW! This book is so good!.......1999-12-13
This book made me cry in places and constantly tugged at my heart. The hero is to die for -- gorgeous beyond words and a billionaire too! Beautiful passionate lovescenes, romantic setting, emotionally intense dialogue, memorable hero and heroine -- this book has all the elements that I look for in a romance book.
Average customer rating:
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One Night Of Passion
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739426540 |
Average customer rating:
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Gamma, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1963: Mourning Song, Crimes Against Passion, Time in Thy Flight, The Vengeance of Nitocris, Itself!, Venus Plus Three (novelette), A Message from Morj, To Serve the Ship, the Gamma Interview, the Freeway, One Night Stand and More
Manufacturer: Star Press, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I3JXIY |
Customer Reviews:
Broken is a must buy.......2007-09-23
Megan has know joined the small list of authors who are an automatic buy for me.
It is almost impossible to find an author who can write erotica which makes you laugh,cry and feel emotion the way Megan does.
The erotica is (amazingly) almost secondry to me..and thats saying something as the sex scenes are scorching.
Bravo and five stars from me and may i have Joe's phone number :)
My First Megan Hart.......2007-09-05
Broken was my first book by Megan Hart, and I have to admit that it brought out every emotion in me. I do not normally get emotional over books, but this book brought me to tears a few times. Loved the ending.
I ordered "Broken" after I had read the first half of "Broken" and I can't wait for it to arrive.
I dont ever read for fun.......2007-07-25
But wow I have to say I loved this book. I had to buy it couldn't wait for my libary to get it in. and enjoyed every minute of it. It's not Sloppy and messy but sensual and funny. while being more than hot.
I loved this book!
Deeply moving and sensitive erotic tale.......2007-07-10
Sadie's a therapist whose beloved husband Adam was paralyzed four years ago in a skiing accident. She's catered to him out of love and loyalty, but longs to have someone hold her and touch her. Adam has withdrawn from life and as she holds on by a thread, she fears her loyalty is being put to the test when she looks forward to her once-a-month visits with Joe Wilder. At their lunchtime meetings, Joe shares his sexcapades with Sadie, in great detail, with Sadie imagining herself as a participant. She doesn't mean to be disloyal to Adam, she just needs a release and time to herself. The erotic passages are very detailed and each encounter provides further insight to Joe's character. Sadie teeters on that thin cusp between her love for her husband and her need to escape her obligations. A secondary plot includes Elle Kavanaugh, from Hart's previous novel "Dirty"; she's a patient of Sadie's and is about to embark on a new odyssey in her life.
I feared that this book was about infidelity and that I would be upset like I was after reading Lolly Winston's "Happiness Sold Separately." I couldn't have been more wrong; rather than infidelity, it's a portrayal of a women's quest for a sense of her own self-identity after suffering a huge blow that alters the future she and Adam carefully mapped out. I laughed; I cried; I absolutely loved this book. Megan Hart writes so eloquently and draws the reader in that they feel like they know these characters. Her portrayal of quadriplegic Adam, warts and all was incredible and sensitive. Megan is definitely the queen of "eroplotica" - erotic novels with actual storylines. I look forward to each novel she writes.
Don't miss this book.......2007-07-08
I don't write many reviews and I read A LOT of romanace and romantica novels. This novel is deserving of 5 stars because the characters are unforgettable and this book really stays with you. I've started a new book since finishing this but I can't get into it because I can't stop thinking about Broken. Megan Hart's other novel Dirty was the same way.
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- The Shattered Alliance (Ice Age Cycle, Book III, A Magic: The Gathering(r) Novel)
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