Book Description
The delectable new installment in the best-selling and beloved adventures of Isabel Dalhousie.
When Mimi, Isabel’s cousin from Dallas, arrives in Edinburgh with her husband, Joe, several confounding situations unfurl. First, Mimi and Joe introduce Isabel to Tom Bruce–a bigwig back home in Texas. The roving eye of Tom’s young fiancée leads Isabel to believe that money may be at the root of her love for Tom. But what, Isabel wonders, is at the root of Tom’s interest in Isabel herself? Then there are the feelings that Isabel has for Jamie, which are certainly hard to ignore. And she mustn’t forget about her niece, Cat, who’s busy falling for a man whom Isabel suspects of being an incorrigible mama’s boy.
Of course, Jamie counsels Isabel to stay out of it all, but there are irresistible philosophical issues at stake–when to tell the truth and when to keep one’s mouth shut, to be precise–and philosophical issues are meat and drink to Isabel Dalhousie, editor of the Review of Applied Ethics. In any case, Isabel is certain of the ethical basis for a little sleuthing now and again–especially when the problems involve matters of the heart.
Customer Reviews:
Needs More Substsance...........2007-10-03
I've read McCall's entire #1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, the first of The Sunday Philosophy Club series and now this. His books are repetitive, with constant allusions to what was written about in previous books. Please, in the future, write a prologue for those who haven't read prior books in a series, so those who have, don't have to be reminded of what they know.
The protagonist in this series is Isabel Dalhousie, who edits a journal of applied ethics. She fancies herself to be a philosopher, and constantly rambles on and on ad nauseum about defining her duties to other people.
She, like Mms Ramotswe, in the detective series, longs for a more gentile time, where people were connected to others, and polite to everyone; is a woman who was left money; starts out being single; unwinds with tea; and has an assistant whose first name is Grace. Although this series is more substantive than the first, there isn't enough meat in it for me.
Should Isabel have an affair with Jamie, or shouldn't she? Will it affect her friendship with him or not? Will her niece be upset (since her niece had an affair with him in the past)? Does her niece have a right to be upset? Is their age difference a problem? What will her housekeeper think? Does it matter if others approve. Get the picture.
I believe authors should "show not tell" and this author tells from every angle possible. Repeatedly.
Why the book is considered a mystery, is the only mystery one will encounter.
A little more introspective.......2007-08-27
Not as jolly fun as some of Mccall Smith, this book deals with fall summer romances and other topics on love and life after forty. Certainly not a mystery. No corpses in this book
Isabel Dalhousie takes a new direction.......2007-08-22
This is a wonderful, meandering story that gives the Isabel Dalhousie series a totally new focus. Isabel comes to the fore as a central character instead of her accustomed role as an observer of others. To be sure, the reader still gets the benefit of her ongoing philosophical mulling of virtually everyone and everything that happens in her life, but in this book, she actually HAS a life. And it's a life that has real emotion and serious romance. Throughout this book (and the rest in the series), the author, Alexander Mccall Smith, uses his characters so well to demonstrate the unceasing zig-zagging that marks everyone's interior lives and ultimately serves up a continuing story full of human foibles, generosity, uncertainty, warmth and love of all kinds. Like virtually all of Mccall Smith's books, "The Right Attitude to Rain" leaves the reader feeling better about human kind and reflective on how to better deal with life's fellow travelers.
I finally love Isabel Dalhousie.......2007-08-18
I was not sold on Isabel when I read the beginning portion of this series (I preferred 44 Scotland Street), but I loved this book. Isabel in particular came alive for me in this book. Smith is so amazing -- even a classic fiction ploy comes as a surprise at the end of this novel.
Interesting and fun characters.......2007-08-17
In another installment in the Isabel Dalhousie mystery series set in Edinburgh, Scotland, we see the wealthy philosopher in a different light. In previous books she was described as a middle-aged spinster, but in this novel Isabel has a suitor. Who cares that he is her niece's castoff? Or that he is fourteen years her junior? Isabel ponders these sticky details as she continues to fall in love with Jamie.
Isabel isn't an innocent; she has been married before and has seen much in her life. She is aware of how fortunate she is to have inherited a house and enough money to keep her in good stead for life. She enjoys a good relationship with her niece, Cat, and is hosting her cousin and spouse, Mimi and Joe, on vacation from America.
It is through Mimi and Joe that she is introduced to another couple from America. Tom and Angela were observed by Isabel in an Edinburgh museum before she met them. She noticed things out of kilter with their relationship on first view, and those things are only reinforced when introduced. Why is Angela with the older man whose face is partially paralyzed? Is it love? Of him or his money? Should Isabel tell Tom of her suspicions about his fiance? Always a philosopher, Isabel feels the need to think and talk these questions out with Jamie. Here lies my biggest, maybe only, problem with the book. Jamie seems to agree with her every spoken thought and seems to have no opinions of his own. He comes across as too malleable. It's hard to feel sexual tension in the story when he has so little personality.
But this series is about philosophical judgments and how they apply to everyday life, and this book is no different. Isabel Dalhousie is an intriguing, fun character. The other characters in the book are interesting and the dialogue is entertaining. The lack of strong mystery doesn't detract from the diversionary amusement value.
Alexander McCall Smith always makes the reader aware of the gentle nature of humans, and a genteel way of life. This book becomes more difficult to put down after the halfway point.
Armchair Interviews says: You can count on this author making you think about human nature.
Book Description
In the tradition of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe and The Secret Life of Bees, this luminous, heartfelt novel explores the tragedies and triumphs, the pleasures and sorrows of two women, Tee Wee and Icey, their families, and the white family that employs them as cook and housekeeper on a tenant farm in rural Mississippi.
Though the women are as different as water and wine—Icey is feisty, hot-tempered, and impulsive, while Tee Wee is more submissive and disciplined—both are driven by a passionate determination to give their children a better life. Through trying times, they are the pillars, fierce and resilient; yet they celebrate life with a love of food, music, and family that makes even the most traumatic moments endurable. The illicit love between Tee Wee’s daughter Crow and the white landowner’s son Browder; the heartbreaking death of one of Icey’s children, for which she will blame herself; the murder trial of Tee Wee’s youngest son which threatens to tear apart not just their family but the entire town—all these events are interwoven with occasions of joy, including Crow’s fulfillment of her lifelong dream and Tee Wee’s own hard-fought success.
A richly emotional epic spanning two decades in the Deep South, the story of Tee Wee and Icey and their families are a prism through which we view the universal—racial strife, dysfunctional families, secrets and redemption. Illuminated by a resonant storytelling voice and dialogue that rings loud and true, Right as Rain provides indelible portraits of indomitable characters and an almost tangible sense of place, while revealing a deep understanding of race in mid-century America’s rural south.
Customer Reviews:
Southern Charm at its Best.......2006-08-07
Bev Marshall's Right as Rain is a well crafted novel. The characters are realistic yet unpredictable. At times I felt as entangled in their lives as the characters in Gone with the Wind.
The Southern flavor that runs throughout the novel is charming and believable. Tee Wee and Icey were so vividly described that I felt I knew them all my life; I watched their families grow as the neighbors in my own hometown. My only disappointment was the court trial that took place at the end of book. I felt it was a little drawn out. When I was ready for this novel to conclude and finalize the characters' lives, it began an arduous court scene. However, I would recommend this book to my friends and would definitely give it as a gift. I'm looking forward to reading other books by Mrs. Marshall. Thank you Mrs. Marshall for capturing the true essence of southern charm that is still alive and well!
Right as Rain is a Winner!.......2005-04-14
I am a sucker for southern novels and southern writers. They have the ability to speak to my heart in such an intimate way. And Bev Marshall is no exception. She is a wonderful storyteller. Her novel, Right as Rain has an intensity that takes your breath away and a softness that fills you with a quiet peacefulness.
Right as Rain spans two decades in Mississippi and entices us to scrutinize our history of race relations; or lack thereof. What is shown will repel you and draw you in at the same time. The rich fabric of the story of Icey and Tee Wee, their families, and the family that employs them is fraught with racial strife, unrealized dreams and secrets that grow larger with time. But it is the love and friendship that evolves between Icey and Tee Wee that touches our hearts and keeps us turning the pages.
If you enjoy realistic fiction but need to know that there is love, kindness and joy in the world, regardless of circumstances, or that strength of character can survive the obstacles life throws at people, then this book is for you. An added bonus is that Marshall's prose grabs the reader and takes them for a ride they'll tell their friends about.
A Little Disappointing.......2004-10-02
Actually I had high hopes for this book but it never really connected with me and I was disappointed by the time I finished reading. It seemed that the characters were continually changing their behaviors, so that just when you thought you knew one of them (thought processes, reasoning, ideas, outlook on life, past reactions), they would suddenly change into some other person. Crow was the most erratic, while none of Browder's or Ruthie's decisions were consistent or made any sense over the course of time.
The constant bickering and jealousy between Tee Wee and Icey, even as aging women and mothers, seemed idiotic and childish. The J.P. trial section was bad. I also couldn't stand the references to sexual acts and crude language used to describe these acts.
The story was told such that the different sections were separated by a large span of years. However, I'm not sure this method worked. For instance, Crow and Browder lived on the same farm where he was thinking of her all day and all night, and one would assume they saw each other every day, but then from the age of 12 when they were messing around under the porch to the sudden jump where they were 18 years old, nothing at all happened between them? In several cases such as this (not all), the method didn't seem to work because it's difficult to imagine that nothing happened in these characters' lives in the meantime, or that they had no interactions.
Overall, I did not find myself becoming involved in these characters thoughts and lives, and I never really understood them in the sense of why they chose to do the things they did and to live their lives the way they did. I was just a little disappointed and I wouldn't give this book as a gift or recommend it.
Perfectly Drawn Characters.......2004-07-02
Bev Marshall has a knack for perfectly drawing her characters with her skill with the written word as a fiction writer. You can almost see the colors as the characters come to life. I'm left wanting to know what happens in Crow's life. What a woman! Overcoming obstacles placed in her way, weaving paths around them for a way of escape (if need by). What else is life anyway? Love this book. Kept me drawn in. And Bev is from a town just down the highway from me.
A PERFECT MOTHER'S DAY GIFT.......2004-05-12
My daughter gave me a copy of RIGHT AS RAIN for Mother's Day, and it was one of the best gifts I've ever received. The novel brought back so many wonderful memories of my childhood. Marshall is a gifted author with the ability to paint such vivid pictures with her prose that reading a scene is like living it! The voices in the novel were so right on, black and white, adults and children, Marshall tackled them all beautifully. I couldn't believe it when I saw on the book jacket that she's a white writer. Her understanding and sympathy for the plight of African Americans during the civil rights era showed in every line. Thank you, Bev Marshall for this wonderful gift. Can't wait for your next one.
Average customer rating:
- Simple
- Greek Boxer
- A salt and pepper mystery
- Awesome.
- Enjoyable if you like Character-Based Mysteries
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Right as Rain: A Novel
George P. Pelecanos
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ASIN: 0316695262 |
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George Pelecanos's Washington, D.C., is a far cry from the upwardly mobile, tourist-attraction-speckled enclave of Margaret Truman (Murder at the National Cathedral, Murder in Georgetown). Pelecanos's capital is a haunting terrain of drugs and death, a no man's land of posturing dealers and skeletal warehouses that shelter their buyers:
A rat scurried into a dim side room, and a withered black face receded into the darkness. The face belonged to a junkie named Tonio Morris. He was one of the many bottom-of-the-food-chain junkies, near death and too weak to cut out a space of their own on the second floor; later, when the packets were delivered to those with cash, they'd trade anything they had, anything they'd stolen that day, or any orifice on their bodies for some rock or powder.
When PI Derek Strange is hired by Chris Wilson's mother to find out why her son, a black cop, was killed by a white cop, Terry Quinn, on a dark night in that no man's land, Strange figures that the answer is painfully clear: a typical case of mistaken identity, fueled by the assumptions and preconceptions of Quinn's innate racism. But what Strange finds is a tentative kinship with Quinn, who is desperate to proclaim himself "color-blind." Kicked off the force and convinced that there's more to his own story, Quinn asks to join Strange in his investigation. As the two pry into the past, drifting through the neighborhoods both men have known all their lives, they find themselves enmeshed in a tangle of cold-blooded competition and heated personal enmity.
Pelecanos generally has a light touch with the treacherous quagmire of -isms, veering only occasionally into sententious meanderings about the consequences of an economically and racially divided society. His wry humor, particularly in his descriptions of Earl and Ray, the heroin middlemen who bring the concept of white trash to a depressingly low level, leavens the novel's noir bleakness. And Strange himself is a compelling character: a middle-aged black man who has seen more of life's callousness than he cares to admit, and whose jitteriness about personal commitment speaks volumes about his own expectations for happiness. A strong character and a good read--Pelecanos fans can settle in and look forward to Strange's next appearance. --Kelly Flynn
Book Description
The mother of a young police officer killed by another cop hires Derek Strange to clear up the lingering doubts surrounding her sons death. After Strange interviews the accused cop Quinn, he joins the investigation, even though in part he is investigating himself and whether his own prejudices led him to pull the trigger.
Customer Reviews:
Simple.......2007-05-09
Terribly simplistic book. The only redeeming qualities are that it is a very fast read and it is always interesting to read books based in DC which do not involve politics. The story was weak and simplistic and the characters were right out of a cereal box. If only I could get/understand all of the music references, maybe that would have made the book more solid. In my opinion, find a different crime novel to read, maybe even another Pelecanos book.
Greek Boxer.......2007-03-03
Since I discovered Pelecanos, he is my favorite crime writer. (Rankin still writes my favorite cop stories though, followed by Connelly.) GP's style is unique: ethnically mixing Greeks with Blacks, in his subjects mixing ordinary, but explosive crime stories with sharp descriptions of social reality, in his main characters building on empathy with the good, the bad and the ugly. He wrote a series of related stories involving his Greek creations Nick Stefanos and Dimitri Karras, respectively their family history over several decades of DC history.
Right as Rain builds up new characters, a black and a white ex-cop, again both very contradictory and complex, involved in DC crime economics: drugs, prostitution, race conflicts...
As there is no Greek main character involved this time, at least the black hero with the strange name Strange (Strange Investigations, what a great company name!) has a dog named Greco.
Strange and his Irish pal Quinn keep dancing around race issues like a pair of Greek philosophers in a Platonian dialogue.
Great stuff, and right as rain.
A salt and pepper mystery.......2007-02-01
The only detective series featuring a black detective I know of besides this one is Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins novels. In my humble opinion, this one is better.
Derek Strange is a more well-rounded character for one thing. He's fifty-something years old, an ex-cop who retired from the force thirty years before. When on duty, he carries a Leatherman, a buck knife and advanced technology such as Night Vision goggles. He does not shy away from a fight. On the other hand, he goes to church and he visits his mother in a convalescent home. He also has commitment issues. He's in love with his secretary and would like a family, but he keeps several girls on the side and often visits massage parlors. He also has a love for old records, many of which are vinyl and secretly collects theme music from old western movies.
This is also a salt and pepper mystery in that Derek's sidekick in this yarn is Terry Quinn, another ex-cop who quit the force after being accused of shooting a black officer. Derek is hired by the victim's mother to rehabilitate her son's name. When Derek interviews Quinn about the case, they bond. For one thing, Quinn is addicted to western novels. Eventually the case revolves around the drug trade in Washington D.C., including Columbians, redneck middle men, and the heroine-addicted sister of the black officer Terry mistaken killed. Quinn is also conflicted as he's not sure the shooting wasn't racially motivated. This eventually affects his relationship with his black girlfriend, Juana.
Washington D.C. is an integral character in this narrative as Strange maneuvers his vintage car through avenues and streets named after states and the alphabet. This is modern noir with much of the action going down in the seedy sections of D.C.
Most detective series worry little about the personal lives of their protagonists. The story in RIGHT AS RAIN will remind you of Rockford File episode, but Pelecanos's emphasis on the personal lives of Strange, Quinn and the city of Washington D.C. brings it to invigorating life.
RIGHT AS RAIN was my first Derek Strange, but I'll definitely be reading him again.
Awesome........2006-08-18
Pelecanos is a great write no matter. But if you have any experience in DC then its all the more sweet. A tight, gripping novel and great characters and descriptions. Nice plots also. All of his novels are good and they are a great read. I happened upon his a an airport bookseller. It was a GREAT change of pace from the standard rubrick of NYPD Cops, International Spys, or War novels so frequently found around. If you're looking for an action-packed- but very well written novel then definitely pick up one by Pelecanos.
Enjoyable if you like Character-Based Mysteries.......2006-07-27
I ultimately enjoyed this novel, which is the first I've read by Pelecanos. If you read crime fiction, Pelecanos is often held up as the most underappreciated crime writer in the business. The critics adore him (as well as writers such as Michael Connelly, Elmore Leonard, and Dennis Lehane), but his books have never been bestsellers.
This book is certainly well written, but the plot is very slow paced. Pelecanos writes the stories as a series of vignettes involving a lot of different characters. You really don't understand how all these different characters relate to one another until you're about halfway through the novel. At that point, things begin to gel together and you understand what Pelecanos is getting at.
In short, this novel requires a certain amount of patience. This really isn't a thriller or a suspense book at all. It's more of a character-based crime drama. A lot of the characters in this book are in bleak situations and are not very attractive. Even the heroes have severe flaws. There's some humor in this book, but not a lot like Elmore Leonard's books. There also isn't a lot of action in this book until the last 50 pages or so. If you're looking for an entertaining beach read, this book probably won't satisfy you.
Still, I think the writing and dialogue in this book are top-notch. I therefore recommend this book to people who prefer crime novels that are darker and more literary in flavor. I'm glad I stuck with it to the end.
Book Description
The New York Times Bestseller, Book One of The Heritage of Shannara.
Three hundred years have passed since the death of the Druid Allanon, and the Four Lands are sadly changed. The Elves have vanished, and the Dwarves are enslaved. The Southland is under the totalitarian rule of the Federation, and magic is forbidden. Now the spirit of Allanon returns to the Scions of Shannara and shows them a bleak future in which the evil Shadowen have destroyed all life in the Four Lands. To prevent that, he orders the Scions to recover the long-lost Sword of Shannara, bring back the vanished Elves, and find the long-hidden Druids. But the forces of evil are already mobilizing against them . . .
Download Description
Three hundred years have passed since the death of Allanon, and theFour Lands are sadly changed. The Elves have vanished, and the Dwarves areenslaved. The Southland is now under the totalitarian rule of theFederation, and magic is strictly forbidden.
Yet Par Ohmsford still has some power of the Wishsong. While hisbrother Coll recites the old legends, Par uses his Wishsong to bring them life.Then a mythic horror known as a Shadowen confronts them. A man callinghimself Cogline drives it off but also brings a message from theancient Druid Allanon -- to go to the dread Hadeshorn, along with the otherScions of Shannara: Wren, who lives in the Westland, and Walker Boh,somewhere in the Eastland.
At the Hadeshorn, Allanon's spirit reveals a terrible future whereShadowen have destroyed all life in the Four Lands. To prevent that, heorders Par to recover the long-lost Sword of Shannara, Wren to discoverthe vanished Elves, and Walker Boh to bring back the Druids and theirancient vanished stronghold of Paranor.
All those tasks are manifestly impossible...
Customer Reviews:
Boring, Predictable, And Slow.......2007-06-15
When I first delved into the world of Shannara I was a relative novice to the world of literature. The original Shannara series blew me away and left me clamoring for more. Since that time though, I've become quite an avid Fantasy reader and fan. I have read works from some of the greatest Fantasy authors alive such as George RR Martin, Terry Goodkind, R.A. Salvatore, etc. So when I picked up this book in an effort to rejoin the world of Shannara, I was hopelessly disappointed. Akin to books at such a high standard, Brooks' work simply does not match up. His work is light-hearted and can be entertaining but he does not hold a candle to other Fantasy authors such as George R.R. Martin.
The book itself is a dull, drab and predictable work of fiction. It often takes too long for any event of substance to occur and when it does occur it is a hopeless letdown. The characters are one-dimensional and not intriguing in the least: You have Par Ohmsford, the typical flawed hero; Morgan Leah, the protector of the group; Padishar Creel, the daring outlaw, and oodles more of your typical bubblegum fare.
I can sum it up quite simply for you. If you're new to Fantasy or have only read Brooks' work previously, than this would be a fine novel to purchse. If you are an avid reader and have read your share of Fantasy novels, than don't bother because this will just amount to a waste of time.
shame shame shame.......2007-04-26
It took my two weeks to stop giving up on the Sword trilogy but after I got past the first 50 pages, I was hooked. Unfortunately, Scions was quite the let-down. It read like it was just thrown together...one those books that could have been condensed into 25 pages. But, I'll keep reading the series. Every now and then this happens in the big series...don't let one bad apple destroy the entire grove, right?
Scions of Shannara Book Review.......2007-03-28
The Scions of Shannara is the first book in a series of four, which all take place in the magical and ancient times of the land of Shannara. The story is all about Par and Coll Ohmsford's great journey to rid the four lands from the Shadowen (mystical beast that thrive off the magic laid in Shannara and destroy anything in there way). The Ohmsford family is the only surviving descendants of the great Shannara bloodline that lived thousands of years before. Only people with Shannara blood in there bodies carry the ability to defeat the evil magic in Shannara. Par and Coll meat up with their Uncle Walker Boh and cousin Wren, to embark on a great journey. They then pursue the Sword of Shannara which is believes to be able to rid the four lands of the Shadowen. Par, after some trouble, finds the Sword, but at this point all of the Ohmsfords have been separated throughout the four lands leading to the next book in the Shannara series.
been a while since i read it but.......2007-02-23
it was pretty good. good enough for me to keep reading the series. it was enjoyable, but nothing midn boggling as far as creativity or plot, or storytelling or charatcers. i would say above average. read something better if you know where that is, if not, take some time to read this series
I love this series!.......2007-01-18
Although Terry Brook's recent work isn't that good, this series is excellant, and my favorite one by him. It's about four members of a family (the 'scions of shannara') who are all charged with tasks to save the world from destruction by the shadowen. Wren has to find the elves, Walker, the Stone King, and Par and Coll, the Sword of Shannara (none of which anyone has seen for hundreds of years). This really is an excellant series. Brooks has the ability to keep track of several story lines at once, and the character development is great. Unlike in his other books, this isn't so much as incredibly cliched young-boy-goes-off-to-complete-an-impossible-task-and-comes-out-a-man story line. I strongly reccomend these books to anyone who enjoys fantasy.
Customer Reviews:
The Scions.......2004-03-15
The Scions of Shannara is a fictional book with classic adventures and romances. The story tajes place in the Four Lands. There are different races like the dwarves, elves, humans and several others.
Three hundred years have passed since Allanon the Druid died. The Four Lands have changed since then. The Elves have vanished and the Dwarves have been enslaved. The Southland is under the rule of the Federation. However, Par Ohmsford still has the power of the wishong. Allanon's spirit summoned Par and Coll and a few others to rid the Four Lands of the dangerous shadowen.
Par's cousin Wren has to find the elves. His uncle, Walker, has to bring back the Druids Keep in Paranor, and Par and Coll have to find the Sword of Shannara. Once all the quests are complete, the Four Lands will be back to normal.
I would recommend that you read the first Shannara books before you read this one. Several of the characters are descended from previous characters and knowing the history helps to understand the book.
Terry Brooks' writing style is one of a kind. He focuses on description and details so that one can see everything. When Brooks describes a character, it is thorough and one might find them selves agreeing or disagreeing with a characters thoughts.
I liked the book because there was a little bit of suspense and mystery. Just when you think you have figured it out, something else happens to twist the story around. The end of the story is surprising and it makes you want to read the rest of the series of Shannara.
There were some things I didn't like about the book. For one thing, it was kind of repetative. I read all the books before the Scions of Shannara and they were pretty much the same. Another thing was the characters didn't interact much. Sometimes, in the book, it would be days before anyone talked to someone else.
Overall, I thought that this book was unique because even though the story line has been seen before, Terry Brooks came up with new ideas that suited the setting and made it his own.
Really Good Book.......1999-09-23
I have never even heard of the Shannara before. I bought book 3 when I was in grade 8. It sat on the bookshelf for about 7 years. I was sitting at home and began to read it. I couldn't put the book down. I read to about page 100 and my dad told me I shouldn't start a series without reading the first book first. So I went to the Grande Prairie Public Library and got out The Scions Of Shannara. I read this book in about 4 or 5 days. I loved it. It had a good story line. The way Terry Brooks, described Par Ohmsford, kind of made him sound like a bad ass. Which describes me. So I really liked it. I am just starting book 2 and am on about page 120 and it is still the same. The Shannara Heritage is very interesting, and would reccommend it to anyone. Especially if your still young and exploring the library's to see whats out there
A really good book (The Scions of Shannara)........1999-07-02
It follows in the footsteps of the Shannara Trilogy, with more magic and more energy that keep you guessing and hoping and right on the edge of your seat. It was a very well written and exciting book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Book Description
Here together for the first time in one volume are the first two books in Terry Brooks’ enthralling epic,
The Heritage of Shannara.
Since the death of the Druid Allanon, the Four Lands have changed profoundly, with magic strictly forbidden in the Southland, now under totalitarian rule. In Book One, The Scions of Shannara, Par Ohmsford, descendant of the fabled Shea and possesor of the power of the Wishsong, accidentally brings a mythic horror to life, and a man calling himself Cogline drives it away. Cogline brings a message from Allanon: venture to the dread Hadeshorn, along with the other Scions of Shannara– Par, his brother Coll, Wren, and Walker Boh. On the way to the Hadeshorn, they must face the dangerous Shadowen. When they finally arrive, Allanon's spirit reveals a dangerous secret. In the future, all life in the Four Lands will be destroyed. To prevent this terrible fate, Allanon commands Par to recover the long-lost Sword of Shannara, a task that is next to impossible.
Ancient evil forces remain in control of the Four Lands in The Druid of Shannara. To restore the Keep of the Druid Allanon, Walker Boh sets out on a journey to find the black Elfstone. After narrowly escaping death, he learns that the Elfstone lies in the hands of the Stone King. Now Walker Boh must venture into perilous, unknown lands with a strange band of fellow travelers that includes Morgan Leah, whose once-magic sword has been broken; Quickening, the daughter of the ancient King; and Pe Ell, an assassin who hatches his own dark, sinister plot. Can they capture the black Elfstone and restore peace to the Four Lands?
Customer Reviews:
Swept away by Mr. Brooks.......2007-09-02
Someone recently told me that the Shannara series is post-apocalypse and this has caused me to reread them after all these years.
Mr. Brooks paints a better series than J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter. His characters have much more depth. The book is action-packed. His imagery flows like water and carries you through the scenes.
The maturity level of the characters, their level of diction, and the way they carry themselves is very mature and admirable. Subsequently, with the action packed, this is a book for adults as well as adolescents.
There was never a dull moment and I found it difficult to put every book in this series down.
Brooks has a way of weaving language together that makes a scene beautiful. He shows instead of tells, which is a skill that separates him as a distinguished writer.
Good Book?.......2007-01-09
Of Course, being in the Shannara series, it was a great book
BUY IT!
Product Description
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Bt Scions of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Brooks, Terry | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Brooks, Terry | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Shannara | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0345356942 |
Product Description
4 Titles By Terry Brooks Heritage of Shannara Series : The Scions of Shannara The Druid of Shannara The Elf Queen of Shannara The Talismans of Shannara Books one thru four. four mmpb books.
Average customer rating:
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The Scions of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Shannara | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OW6J0O |
Average customer rating:
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The Scions of Shannara
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: A Del Rey Book/ Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Shannara | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000NPY6P2 |
Average customer rating:
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Scions of Shannara :Heritage Shan 1
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: BALLANTINE BOOKS @
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Shannara | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000UDXSEW |
Books:
- The Tin Can Tree: A Novel (1st Ballantine Books Trade ed)
- The Trolley: A Novel
- The Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships: Decoding Social Mysteries Through the Unique Perspectives of Autism
- The Usual Rules: A Novel
- Theros Ironfeld (Dragonlance Warriors, Vol. 4)
- This Rock: A Novel
- Those Bones Are Not My Child: A novel
- Tomato Red
- Turkey--Bright Sun, Strong Tea: On the Road with a Travel Writer
- Watercolor: The Complete Course
Books Index
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