Book Description
One womanÂ's story of why she left the culture of Islamic Jihad to support American liberty and tolerance
Why are so many Muslims embracing jihad and cheering for al-Qaeda and Hamas? Why are even the modern, secularized Arab states such as Egypt producing a generation of angry young extremists?
Nonie Darwish knows why. When she was eight, her father died while leading Fedayeen raids into Israel. Her family moved from Gaza back to Cairo, where they were honored as survivors of a “shahid”—a martyr for jihad. She grew up learning the same lessons as millions of Muslim children: to hate Jews, destroy Israel, oppose America, and submit to dictatorship.
But Darwish became increasingly appalled by the anger and hatred in her culture, and in 1978 she emigrated to America. Since 9/11 she has been lecturing and writing on behalf of moderate Arabs and Arab-Americans. Extremists have denounced her as an infidel and threatened her life.
In this fascinating book, she speaks out against the dark side of her native culture—women abused by Islamic traditions; the poor and uneducated mistreated by the elites; bribery and corruption as a way of life. Her former friends and neighbors blamed all the their troubles on Jews and Americans, but Darwish rejects their bigotry and calls for the Arab world to make peace with the West.
The only hope for the future, she writes, is for America to continue waging its War on Terror, seeding the Middle East with the values of democracy, respect for women, and tolerance for all religions.
Customer Reviews:
An Informative Perspective.......2007-09-15
If you're like me, you might know very little about Mideastern culture and life. This book is a highly readable and personal account of one woman's life, experiences and views on Muslim culture. I'm enjoying it; she puts a "human face" on this part of the world and it's issues.
Eye-opening insights into the causes of Islamic extremism........2007-09-11
The author grew up in Egypt under Nasser's dictatorship, but later moved to America. Her father was an Egyptian military officer killed in Gaza by Israel because he organized raids to cause mayhem inside Israel. She reports on the problems in Egypt and Gaza, and on the government and religious propaganda which is polarizing the Islamic world to the point of Jihad. This is an eye-opening read, and it gives insight into how difficult it will be to ever correct this problem.
EXCELLENT BOOK.......2007-09-01
THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW THE MIDDLE EAST FEALS ABOUT AMERICA AND WHY. NONIE DARWISH IS A VERY BRAVE WOMAN AND I THANK GOD SHE HAD THE GUTS TO WRITE THE TRUTH.
Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror.......2007-08-25
This is an excellen book for those seeking to understand Arab Muslim perspectives. The culture is based on a background, history and value system entirely foreign to our way of thinking. The author relates her life from early childhood, through her school years and early adulthood living first in Gaza then Cairo. She is from the upper middle class, the daughter of a high ranking military officer who is martyred. She describes what it is like to be a woman in the arab muslim world. She raises the issuesleading to a lack of trust both within the society and in relation to other societies. She discusses the inner thinking and the daily propaganda regarding Israel. She also gives important information on the Arab view of Palestines role in the conflict. She distinguishes between the radical Islamic movements and moderate Islam. She notes the purpose and intent of fundalmentalist Islam is the eventual overtaking the world. She discusses how this is being taken to countries throughout the world to bring about this change. We need to understand those with whom we are dealing. This is a book that is easy to read, direct and highly informative.
Demonstrating the Power of Love.......2007-08-15
Now They Call me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America,
Israel, and the War on Terror, by Nonie Darwish.
Sentinel, Penguin Books, 2006, 258 pp
From our first encounter with Nonie Darwish, through her articles and first web site, we felt that she was someone special. We were attracted by her open and obvious love for America. That web site disappeared, only to reappear as [..] , with this unique opening statement:
To Muslims and Arabs across the globe: Reject hate, embrace love. Bring out the best in Islam by showing your compassion, gratitude and forgiveness. Make the holy land truly holy by giving Israel and the Jewish people the respect they deserve in their tiny little country. This is not a crisis over land. It is a crisis of the soul; a crisis in our faith, judgement and self confidence. Israel should not be regarded as an enemy, but as a blessing to our neighborhood. We need not fear peace, but embrace it.
These are remarkable words to be coming from the daughter of a "shahid" (a martyr for jihad) who was assassinated while serving as a high-ranking Egyptian military officer stationed in Gaza specifically to be of assistance to the Palestinians.
The September 2001 attack on the twin towers in New York was life-changing for many people. From that moment on Nonie Darwish felt compelled to take a stand. It led her to write her life story "Now They Call Me Infidel" which is a pure gift to all of us. She also stepped out into public life with all its demands of speaking engagements, and the disapproval she was bound to experience.
After reading her book with eagerness, I would suggest that it is the perfect book for supplemental reading by all High School students. Let them hear about Islam from someone who has experienced it fully from birth and has turned to Christianity and America for a better life. Let them sense her loyalty and love for her new country. As she describes it--"Many immigrants come to this great nation in search of material gain, which is fine; however, the biggest prize I gained was my religious freedom and learning to love. For me it was nothing short of cataclysmic. I had turned from a culture of hatred to one of love."
In her book she describes her impressions of America. We Americans need to see our country through someone else's eyes, so that we can withstand the propaganda that insinuates that we are the culprit and instigator of all the troubles of the world. It is eye-opening to read through the chapter "A New Beginning in America" and find out why the following words are in italics; and learn just how much our culture differs from the Muslim culture in Egypt. This is specially applicable to the difficult life programmed for women. She considers "friendliness and helpfulness"," courtesy", "diversity and multiculturalism", "self-sufficiency, pride in labor", "generous, honest, and open", "informality", "women's relationships", and "child rearing".
Gradually, to Ms. Darwish's horror, she discovers that her beloved land of refuge, her America which means so much to her, is being attacked from within. She is painfully aware of those old patterns of hatred, as they eminate from mosque after mosque.
She lashes out at terrorists who are invading the Western countries: "America's Islamic enemies and critics--even those who love living in the United States - are nothing more than pirates. That's what Islamic terrorists are - pirates. Instead of building their own society as a model of what Islam should be, they leave it in ruins and look to conquer hard-working successful lands.....They cannot stand to live in a Muslim culture, and they have their eyes set on beautiful and welcoming democracies, not to blend in, but to rob those democracies of their soul and ruin the value system and culture that made them great...." p. 185. You need to get hold of this book and sense the depth of Ms. Darwish's feeling as she begs you to save our precious country from the onslaught she sees coming.
She describes her shock at the Arab world's response to 9/11. They dared to rejoice over the tragedy. When she phoned family members and close friends, whose opinions she had formerly trusted, she could not believe that many thought America deserved to suffer.
The last chapter is "Jihad Comes to America". Nonie dismisses the popular and over-used definition of jihad as merely spiritual pursuit: "there is only one meaning for jihad, and that is: a religious holy war against infidels." p. 201. She remarks that she is shocked by the radicalism she encounters on the American campus. "I am stunned to see them choose to revive the worst of Islamic culture in America rather than be part of America and demonstrate the best of Islamic culture."
On page 159 there is a moving description of Nonie's introduction to Christian worship when she and her husband and family attended a church and "listened to a message of compassion, love, acceptance, tolerance, and prayer for all humanity." There had been some violence in the Middle East and the pastor prayed for everyone--"Muslims, Jews, and Christians. It was very different message from the prayers to `destroy the infidels' that I grew up with....I learned the most important command in scripture was `Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Nonie had found what she was hungering for: "In this church, that day, my soul was revived and nourished with the love of a tolerant and forgiving God." Knowingly she was willing to be called an infidel.
After a remarkable experience of visiting Israel Nonie explains: "I now fully understand why the United States supports Israel and rightfully so. My love of America now extends to Israel." Hence the name of her new web site!
We salute another brave woman, and heartily recommend that you read this extremely important book.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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Similar Items:
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They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies
ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Average customer rating:
- A Novel To Be Savoured!
- Common Humanity
- Empathy Without Borders
- All the Trappings of a First Novel
- History without pretenses; a riveting story that crosses all borders
|
The Welsh Girl
Peter Ho Davies
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0618007008 |
Amazon.com
Following two widely praised short-story collections, Equal Love and The Ugliest House in the World, Peter Ho Davies's first novel, The Welsh Girl, deserves to be equally well received. It carefully examines two great themes, dislocation and cowardice, through the stories of a WWII POW camp built by the British in the remote mountains of northern Wales and Esther, the 17-year-old Welsh girl at the heart of the story. The POW camp, filled with Germans, is yet another national insult, as far as the Welsh are concerned, only one of many instances of prejudice between and among the novel's characters: Welshman against Brit and vice versa, Brits and Welshmen against Germans, Germans against Jews. Some of these enmities are age-old antagonisms; others are newly-minted political killing machines.
Davies introduces a Welsh concept--cynefin--for which there is no English equivalent. It means a certain knowledge and sense of place that is passed down the matrilineal line in a flock of sheep. They always know where they belong and never leave their own turf. It is a perfect metaphor for much of what takes place in this carefully plotted story, and for the displacement felt by many of the characters. Esther longs to escape her village, yet is devoted to the flock and to her father. She meets Colin, an English soldier, in the pub where she works. He is a rough sort and things end very badly between them.
Another theme visited again and again is the concept of cowardice. Is it cowardly to save one's life and the lives of others by surrendering to the enemy? Is death the price that must be paid to be considered brave? The German POWs debate this endlessly, especially Karsten, an intelligent, sensitive soldier who did surrender himself and his men when it was clear that all was lost. When he and Esther find one another under impossible circumstances, Davies renders their relationship perfectly: it is star-crossed, but desperately important to both of them, setting them both "free" in the truest sense of the word. The Welsh Girl is a beautifully told story of love, war, and the accommodations we make in the midst of both. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
From the award-winning author Peter Ho Davies comes an ambitious and moving wartime romance in the tradition of "The English Patient and Atonement". "The Welsh Girl" begins with a provocative but little-known fact of World War II: the British held German POWs in camps in remote Wales, a proud land with age-old antagonisms toward England. Davies?s beautifully written novel imagines the unexpected and perilous romance that blossoms between a secretive local girl and a German prisoner, and explores the indelible bonds of love and duty that hold us to family, country, and ultimately our fellow man. The Welsh girl of the title is Esther Evans, seventeen, the daughter of a shepherd in the rugged Snowdonia Mountains, who works at the local pub. It is 1944, and the war comes to her village just after D-day in the form of a new POW camp. Although the presence of the English guards is only grudgingly tolerated at the pub, the arrival of the German captives brings the entire village to the hillside above the camp. At first Esther watches from a distance, but her attention is soon caught by one of the soldiers, Karsten Simmering, a troubled young man who has begun to question what he is fighting for. One evening, as Esther lingers by the camp fence, she is astonished when Karsten calls out to her in English. The fates of these two become inexorably entwined when their relationship takes a treacherous turn that calls into question all their assumptions about national and personal loyalty.
Customer Reviews:
A Novel To Be Savoured!.......2007-10-15
What a great novel. It's a somewhat slow moving story, but I enjoyed that aspect of it. The book could be savoured that way. I truly enjoyed the Welsh setting and the characters were all very well developed. Great account of the effects of war on civilians.
Common Humanity.......2007-09-07
The story of a half jewish German national reluctantly forced by his mother to flee to Britan in the 1930s where he becomes an interrogator of German prisoners for the British forces as World War II is ending. He believes his ancestry to be of no significance but it renders him bewilderingly ineffective while interviewing the notorious Rudolph Hess. Sent, in consequence to work at a prinsoner of war camp in Wales his life intersects with well-drawn characters who too find that llife is what is lived and not what is imagined or planned. That the vanquished can be kind and the victors rapists are just two of the many textures of life that Peter Ho Davies brings warmly and ruefully to light. That German hated the Jews and the Welsh hated the British discouragingly means, I suppose, that our common humanity requires that we hate or feel superior to someone.
Empathy Without Borders.......2007-08-21
This gem of a novel is not designed for those who prefer action books with linear plots; it's as real as life itself. From the start, I believed in these characters -- Esther, the Welsh girl...Karstan, the German POW...Jim, the young English boy.
The Welsh Girl can be read in so many different ways: as a story of connections that span boundaries and defy expectations. Or it can be read as a novel of identity. Peter Ho Davies write: "We have something in common, you and I. The same dilemma. Are we who we think we are, or who others judge us to be? A question of will, perhaps."
By the end of the novel, each character will wrestle with this question. The POW will learn the true meaning of "to surrender." The young English boy will find out what "courage" is all about. And the Welsh girl, at the center, will discover about cynefin -- a Welsh quality that has no English translation, but loosely translates to the flock knowing its place. And each will define himself or herself further by comparison with a presumed dead Welsh soldier, whose identity seems to be in the eye of the beholder.
I was enchanted by this novel, the first by the author of Equal Love, a fine short story collection. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly for true readers who are fascinated with love, family, loyalty, and national identity.
All the Trappings of a First Novel.......2007-07-13
Not to harp, but this book had all of the unfortunate qualities of a short story writer attempting the fateful first novel. As a first, it's good enough, but not more than that, and hardly "luminous" or compelling as penned in other editorials.
The primary plot of the book does not even get going until well into the novel, and we are not even introduced to Karsten, one of the main characters, until several chapters in. The writing borders on poetic at times, particularly with Davies' capture of the countryside and life in a rural Welsh village, but such is not the stuff of a great novel. It smacks of good short story writing, and that's all.
Another disappointing aspect of The Welsh Girl is the failure of its subplots. At the outset, the text seems to want to focus on a British soldier named Rotherdam, and his interrogation of Rudolph Hess; Hess has been held captive in Wales for some time. Rotherdam and Hess appear again in two subsequent chapters, but their narratives are never fully linked to that of Esther and Karsten, nor does this "subplot" ever truly enhance or highlight the main narrative. It has the feel of a separate story being mashed into another.
Lastly, I was extremely disappointed in the ending of this "novel." In point of fact, it did not really have an ending. The closing chapter is simply a summation of what those in the village are doing after the war, we get a snapshot of Esther alone, raising her child, and the loose knowledge that Karsten stayed to help her and has since gone off. There is some suggestion that maybe he is unable to return, since he went home to Soviet-occupied Germany, but there is no satisfactory explanation of what really happened. The book ends abruptly and pointlessly, with no real closure.
Overall, I found this underwhelming. It had the possibility of being a wonderful piece of historical fiction, but in the end, I think the author fell into the mistake of thinking a novel is just one long story.
History without pretenses; a riveting story that crosses all borders.......2007-06-27
I bought this book on a whim; prompted by the amazon.com-Gods.
If you know anything about the UK geographical divisions, or even if you have only seen photos of the picturesque countryside, you will be enthralled by this story. If you are intrigued by human stories of WWII, you will be intrigued by this story. If you have ever been misjudged in a situation, you will relate to this story.
Peter Ho Davies creates three characters : they are brought to life by circumstances and his narrative descriptions. You come to appreciate all three for who they are.
It is a page-turner to be sure - as the reader waits to discover how three unlikely people will happen upon one another in a world torn by war, prejudice, hatred, and nationalism.
Although the book has been finished for weeks now, I am still thinking on their fate....
Book Description
In this moving sequel to Even Now, Emily Anderson falls deeply in love with a young Army reservist who is about to serve in Iraq. At the same time, Emily’s parents seem on the verge of losing all they had gained. Will heartbreaking tragedy be the turning point for all of them?
Customer Reviews:
Love It!.......2007-08-31
This is the first book I have read by Karen Kinsbury and I love it. I found it difficult to put the book down. Its a love story that will make you cry.
A Tear Jerker that's worth reading........2007-08-06
This book, a sequel to Even Now, caused me to shed more tears than when I first read Black Beauty as a child. Yet, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an excellently written love story. It is a little slower than some of Kingsbury's other books, but it was definitely worth the read. I appreciate how the book illustrates the fact that most of our news reporters never show the good side of our troops' presence in Iraq. I feel the characters are realistic, and the story believable. Keep your tissues handy, you'll need them.
Unbelievable.......2007-07-21
Ever After by Karen Kingsbury is mainly a book of supporting the war and its servicemen. I completely support the war and agree totally with Karen's arguments, but I've heard them all before so it left me looking for how good the story was. The relationship between Justin and Emily was just too perfect that you couldn't identify with them. Justin is too perfect in all aspects that you couldn't connect with his character. Emily seemed more believable because you saw the determined way about her when she found her parents in Even Now. Also, it left you thinking they are perfect for each other, but when Justin dies all that love between each other seems wasted. Although Karen tries to make it a point that his death caused Joe (his best army buddy) to find Emily and become closer than friends. Well if Emily and Joe were meant for each other, than why'd Emily have to spoil her purity by kissing Justin earlier?
When Emily and Joe become close friends it all happens too predictable and quickly after Justin's death, even though it says 18 months later it really takes only five pages. Although I have to say at least Joe is a little easier to identify with because you saw his weaknesses, his emotional side.
Lauren's conversion to a right state of mind is about the only thing I liked about this book, besides the support for the troops. Though through the whole book you question why Shane still loves her when she can be such an annoying person.
The teen center is very unbelievable because the teenagers there can act like 16 or 10. Their attitude changes from completely emotional to acting like a tough-guy. Karen didn't show how much an impact Justin did on them when he was alive so it was hard to believe they would cry over his death. Plus, why would a nineteen year-old (Emily) spend time with teenagers maybe one or two years younger when they're depicted as near gansters? They call her "pretty mama" or "hot mama", I would most likely stay clear of them.
Though I have to say, I'm glad someone stepped up to support the war and its servicemen when there are so many who are blindly disagreeing.
5-star story.......2007-07-15
The novel raises important questions about both sides of the war issue, and gives thoughtful and thought-provoking responses to each side. It helped me to try to approach people with opposing views more considerately and lovingly. I believe reading this book would build bridges of understanding, no matter what one's opinion of war might be.
Gold Medallion Award Winner.......2007-07-10
Ever After was just awarded the BEST CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR, Gold Medallion Award! Congratulations Karen!
-Rose Andrews
Book Description
From the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth Rock to Christian Coalition canvassers working for George W. Bush, Americans have long sought to integrate faith with politics. Few have been as successful as Hollywood evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson.
During the years between the two world wars, McPherson was the most flamboyant and controversial minister in the United States. She built an enormously successful and innovative megachurch, established a mass media empire, and produced spellbinding theatrical sermons that rivaled Tinseltown's spectacular shows. As McPherson's power grew, she moved beyond religion into the realm of politics, launching a national crusade to fight the teaching of evolution in the schools, defend Prohibition, and resurrect what she believed was the United States' Christian heritage. Convinced that the antichrist was working to destroy the nation's Protestant foundations, she and her allies saw themselves as a besieged minority called by God to join the "old time religion" to American patriotism.
Matthew Sutton's definitive study of Aimee Semple McPherson reveals the woman, most often remembered as the hypocritical vamp in Sinclair Lewis's Elmer Gantry, as a trail-blazing pioneer. Her life marked the beginning of Pentecostalism's advance from the margins of Protestantism to the mainstream of American culture. Indeed, from her location in Hollywood, McPherson's integration of politics with faith set precedents for the religious right, while her celebrity status, use of spectacle, and mass media savvy came to define modern evangelicalism.
Customer Reviews:
Aimee Semple McPherson.......2007-08-24
I was very curious about the "real" Aimee. I grew up hearing tales about her and her lifestyle. Book was very interesting.
Book Description
A dangerous ring of spies, a game of mistaken identities, and a heartwarming romance of unlikely pairs come together in Lauren WilligÂ's engaging and exciting third novel THE DECPTION OF THE EMERALD RING. Praised for the “cheerfully postmodern and energetic . . .romance-adventure hybrids [that] have escaped the clutches of niche fiction.” (The Onion A.V. Club), her Pink Carnation series is garnering her critical acclaim and a loyal fan base.
Lauren WilligÂ's debut The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, appeared on retailer bestseller lists in hardcover and made a big splash in sales in trade paperback. Her second book, The Masque of the Black Tulip, was selected as a BookSense Pick for January 2006, and continue to rack up incredible reviews. Lauren WilligÂ's passion for authentic historical detail coupled with her talent for enthralling love stories make her series the perfect read for lovers of romance, history and adventure.
The year is 1803 and England and France remain at odds. Hoping to break the English once and for all, Napoleon backs a ring of Irish rebels in uprisings against England and sends the Black Tulip, FranceÂ's most deadly spy, to the Emerald Isle to help. What they donÂ't know is that also in Ireland is EnglandÂ's top spy, the Pink Carnation, who is working to shut the rebels down. Meanwhile, back in England, Letty Alsworthy intercepts a note indicating that her sister, Mary, is about to make the very grave mistake of eloping with Geoffrey Pinghingdale-Snipe (second in command of the League of the Purple Gentian). In an attempt to save the family name, Letty tries to stop the elopement, but instead finds herself swept away in the midnight carriage meant for her sister and is accidentally compromised. Geoff and Letty, to each otherÂ's horror, find themselves forced into matrimony. Then, Geoff receives word that he is to travel to Ireland to help the Pink Carnation and disappears immediately after their wedding ceremony. Letty learns of GeoffÂ's disappearance and, not to be outdone by her husband, steals away on a ship bound for Ireland, armed and ready to fight for her husbandÂ…and to learn a thing or two about spying for England.
As in her previous tales, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation and The Masque Of the Black tulip, our modern-day heroine and hero, Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick, continue their budding romance in this captivating third novel in the series.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent!.......2007-10-10
Once again, I was very pleased with Lauren Willig's writing. Her books are so funny! I have people asking what I'm reading because I'm continually laughing out loud. This book was the third in the series. The first book, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, was by far the best of the three. This one was delightful, though.
I love the fact that the characters from previous books frequently pop up in this one. They are all characters I've grown to love - so I don't mind hearing about what they're up to. The Deception of the Emerald Ring does introduce relatively new main characters. Letty, the heroine of the story, is not as endearing as Henrietta of book 2 was, but she's lovable just the same.
I was also very pleased that Willig gave us something to look forward to concerning Eloise and Colin. I absolutly can't wait till the third book comes out!!
Great read. Willig is an excellent writer.
Bestseller Material.......2007-09-29
Lauren Willig's Deception of the Emerald Ring was one of the best books I've read in a long time. The thing I loved most was the strong female lead not competeing for the spotlight with the male lead. For those who are really unsure about reading a period drama, fear not: although the book is set in 1803, there is no tough Shakespeareian-esque language to muddle through and it does not solely focus on the past. Every few chapters, Willig jumps forward to the present day with her character Eloise Kelley as a doctoral candidate researching the events of 1803, so you are basically discovering the happenings of the past along with Eloise (and there is also Eloise's personal life unfolding as well, mainly having to do with the handsome man providing material for her dissertation. You just have to read to find out what happens with this beautiful man).
Boo to forced marriages, Stopped there.......2007-09-12
I read the first two and liked the strong main characters. However, this book starts off with a girl being forced into marriage by cultural norms. I realize it is the custom of the time, and that is fine, but to use it as the jumping off point for a book of female empowerment is wrong. I stopped reading after that, which incidentally was in the first or second chapter. I don't remember, as I have blocked it from my memory.
I strongly recommend The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, which is the first book in the series and the best of all.
French Spies in Ireland? Who knew?.......2007-08-14
A few years back, I picked up a hardbound book on a remainder table titled The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. It looked rather fluffy and a touch silly, but I was in desperate need of something to read at the time, and went on ahead and purchased it. I was expecting a so-so novel, but what I got was a funny, smart novel that had me laughing as I enjoyed it. Afterwards, I kept my eyes open for any further works by Lauren Willig.
In the third novel of the series, The Deception of the Emerald Ring the game between French and English spies continues. Letty Alsworthy is in London for the Season with the rest of her family, including her beautiful sister Mary, their flitterwit of a mother, and a father who means well, but can't seem to pass a bookstore without picking up a few new volumes. Which means that it's up to Letty to keep the family together, the bills paid, and things running smoothly. Besides, she knows that a suitor will not look at her twice, especially if Mary is in the room. But Letty is wise enough to know that if her sister goes through the elopement that she's planning, it's going to simply ruin the rest of the family. So, in the middle of the night in nothing more than her nightgown and a cloak she tries to find Lord Pinchingdale to tell him that it simply can't happen.
When the carriage that is bringing her to Lord Pinchingdale stops, she suddenly finds herself in the very passionate embrace of the viscount, who seems not to mind at all that she's isn't Mary. Worst still, two of Pinchingdale's friends are there, witnesses to the entire escapade, and Letty and Pinchingdale find themselves wed to each other, with neither of them happy about it at all. In fact, the groom is so unhappy that he leaves in the middle of the wedding celebrations, and a humiliated Letty decides to follow him -- off to the scarcely calm land of Ireland, where a revolt supported by the French is looming.
And suddenly, Letty finds herself in the middle of conspiracies, meetings in dark dank churches, sinister men in black, and all sorts of aliases and plots, all with the mysterious Pink Carnation at the center of it. Will poor Letty manage to keep her wits around her, and solve the awful dilemna of her marriage to Pinchingdale, who seems to loathe her on sight?
I have to say that this installment of Lauren Willig's of her series is rather exciting. For one, the action is shifted rather quickly from London to a place that isn't used very often for the Napoleonic wars -- Ireland. This really kept my interest, as I had no idea that the French were happily formetting revolution there, and seeking to use the country as a staging point for a possible invasion of England instead of just going across the Channel.
Nor does Willig forget the modern day story of Eloise Kelly and Colin Selwick. Eloise's scholarly researching into the Pink Carnation gives some amusement, not to mention her meddling grandmother's attempts to get her married off. It does get annoying in spots, as it does break up the story of Letty and Pinchingdale at the worst possible moments, and it does get predictable.
With those caveats in mind, it's still a fairly good story, and Willig's prose and mannerisms fit in nicely with the writing style of the Regency novel. Too, it's clear that she's paying homage to Baroness Orczy's novels of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Lastly, it's the fact that she can do research and isn't afraid to put in new elements into the ongoing story, and that I can always applaud.
Winding up, this gets a good four stars in all. If you like a smart, witty historical novel with plenty of slyness and a few laughs, this series would fit the bill nicely.
Recommended.
So exciting!.......2007-06-17
I had so much trouble putting this down. I really enjoy all the characters, and can't wait for the next book in the series!
Book Description
"This incredible story, which plunges us immediately into the bloodiest aspects of the war, is also a suspenseful autobiography that will keep you chewing your fingernails to see if Van Devanter survives any of it at all. She proves herself a natural storyteller. . . . The most extraordinary part in this book is Van Devanter's plight after the war-her attempt to retrieve the love of her family, only to realize they don't want to see her slides, hear her stories; her assignment to menial duties at Walter Reed Army Hospital. . . . How Van Devanter survives all of this to become, incredibly, a stronger person for it is what makes her book so riveting."-San Francisco Chronicle
"An awesome, painfully honest look at war through a woman's eyes. Her letters home and startling images of life in a combat zone-surgeons fighting to save a Vietnamese baby wounded in utero, the ever-present stench of napalm-charred flesh, a beloved priest's gentle humor and appalling death, the casual heroism of her colleagues, a Vietnamese 'Papa-san' trying to talk his dead child back to life, a haunting snapshot dropped by a dying soldier with no face-tell the story of a young American's rude initiation to the best and the worst of humanity."-Washington Post
"Moving, powerful . . . a healing book."-Ms. Magazine
"This book reads like a diary: unguarded, heartfelt. . . . [It] is both moving and valu-able, for reminding us so vividly that war is indeed hell . . . and that its most tested heroes are the doctors and nurses who doggedly labor not just to save life, but also to keep their respect for it, even as their surviving patients are sent out, once more, unto the breach."-Harper's Magazine
"In Vietnam, reality hit fast: Van Devanter's plane was fired on when it landed in Saigon; and after three days of adjustment, she was assigned to the 71st Evacuation Hospital, a 'MASH-type facility' near the Cambodian border. There, the casualties, . . . the personal danger, the fatigue, the heat, rain, and mud, the harassment of officers enforcing petty regulations, and above all the meaninglessness of American involvement rapidly put an end to Van Devanter's blind patriotism, her innocence, and her youth. . . . Van Devanter brings us face to face with the toll that undeclared war took on its combatants."-Kirkus Reviews
"If you read only one work about Vietnam, make this the one. . . . This is the way it was, as seen through the eyes of an army second lieutenant when she was twenty-two. I believe her completely, because this reviewer remembers Vietnam the same way, when he was a nineteen-year-old Marine PFC."-Deseret Sentinel
Customer Reviews:
Sex, lies and surgical tape...30+ years later.......2007-08-07
Based on my personal observations, Lynda was the laughing stock of the 71st Evac Hospital. And, she was also almost universally disliked. You had to tolerate her. But, you didn't have to like her. I heard alot from her other "friends" there in 1971. And, I was unfortunate enough to have to spend an afternoon, sitting in a jeep in downtown Pleiku, while she and a friend were wined and dined, so I observed her interactions firsthand. She was laughed at constantly because she was always trying to get out of doing something. But, that was Vietnam's fault. Not hers.
The book is not even good fiction. About 95% of the happenings she claimed never occurred. If they occurred they occurred to someone else, someplace else. The majority of the book is nothing but flights of fancy from a woman that wouldn't know the truth if it bit her. Every problem she ever had, since 1969, was blamed on Vietnam, the people she worked with, the war, the weather, whatever. Not one time in her book did she ever take responsibility for her actions and the repercussions she got from bad decisions.
My review of this book is not as fluent as others. But, my statements are based on personal experience with the subject matter of her and this book firsthand. I was there, I know.
Home Before Morning.......2007-05-18
I read this book for the first time many years ago now and it touched a cord in me simply at the time I was going thru something similar myself being discharged from the military and finding that you really have no place in the world. I never experienced anything like she did and how she overcame all her obstacles only attests to the strength of the person she became because of it. I believe she has passed on now due to exposure of agent organge while serving our country. I always try to make people see just what sacrifices that our fighting men and women go thru to keep us free that we never even hear about except very rarely in such books as this one. "They" don't want this kind of information coming out to let us know just what has really gone on. This continues to be one of my favorite books and I generally wind up reading it a few times a year. It's one book that will never be let go. It is well worth reading and I guarantee you it will make you think and be appreciative of the little things that we all take for granted.
honest look into the time and culture of the Vietnam War.......2007-01-20
Lynda was a U.S. Army nurse at the 71st Evacuation Hospital in Pleiku from 1969-70. In 1979, a year after the founding of Vietnam Veterans of America, she helped launch and became the head of VVA's Women's Project. She also began counseling other Vietnam veterans and conducting seminars around the country. Lynda was among the first few who committed herself to helping herself and others recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following Vietnam. I knew Lynda personally for many years. It took me a few years to get around to reading this book and when I did I wished I had read it earlier as it provided me a lot of insight into what ordinary men and women were thinking and feeling as they found their lives involved in the quagmire called Vietnam and the impact that it had upon them for the remainder of their lives. Honest, sad, vivid. Lynda passed away in 2002.
Life Changing.......2006-06-11
Growing up in the generation just past the edge of the Vietnam War era, I never really understood the war or the veterans. As a nurse, I started reading this book for the "nursing story." By the end of the book, I had a whole new view on the war, nurses in the war, veterans, the pain of war and the aftermath. I am appalled at the treatment, such as being spit on when our troops returned. It literally was life altering in my thought process of this era. Soon after reading it, a Vietnam vet. accompanied his wife for a procedure in the unit I worked. He openly told me that he had been sober for 2 months, and I was able to look at him in a whole new light and sincerely tell him how great that was. Another reminder that we have no right to judge others.
Fact or Fiction??.......2006-04-15
Ms. Van Devanter passed away in 2002. She, along with all who served in Vietnam, deserve our respect and appreciation for the sacrifices which they made in a very difficult and unpopular war.
I read this book and was deeply moved. However, just after I read the book I found a website dedicated to the memory of the 71st evac hospital near Pleiku where Ms. Van Devanter served. The author of the website served side by side with Ms. Van Devanter during her tour in Vietnam. I asked him what his thoughts were on the book. Here is his reply:
"Let me just say it like this: "Home Before Morning" is a wonderful blend of facts and exaggerated facts, designed to entertain and promote a certain agenda.....was that diplomatic enough?? I was fortunate enough to visit with Van (her nickname) while she was on a book tour that included my hometown. We had a great visit and she gave me a copy and wrote some nice things on the coverleaf. I took it home and read it that night, then had lunch with her the following day. She, of course, wanted to know what I thought of it. I asked her where she'd served, as it was obviously not at the 71st. We both laughed about that and she admitted that she wanted to sell books.
Van and I arrived at the 71st within days of each other and worked together every day until she was transferred out. She was an officer and I was an enlisted man, so we lived in different worlds, though working together 12 hours a day. Since we worked together, we sometimes hung out with the same gang...the OR/ER/Post-OP/X-ray bunch. After a few months of patching up GIs, NVA, civilians, etc., we both got disenchanted with the way the war was going and became politically active and were among the ringleaders of the "Great Turkey Day Fast" of Thanksgiving Day, 1969...consisting of refusal to eat Thanksgiving Dinner to protest the manner in which the war was being fought.
The case that she identifies as Gene was actually one that I scrubbed on. It's among the stories I have listed on the site. It was pretty gruesome and must have touched a nerve in her. Each of us who served there has at least one case that we think about every day.
Lest you believe that the war was as Van described it...it wasn't! There were lots of times when we had NO cases at all and a few very scary times when we had many more cases than we could handle. As in most military situations, it was 99% boredom and 1% sheer terror! 99% of the time we were operating on 1% of our brain power and 1% of the time we needed 150%!! Sometimes it was really wild! I think there's a story about "Push" that describes it..if not, I'll have to write it down."
You be the judge.
Book Description
Nineteen-year-old Emma Bau has been married only three weeks when Nazi tanks thunder into her native Poland. Within days Emma's husband, Jacob, is forced to disappear underground, leaving her imprisoned within the city's decrepit, moldering Jewish ghetto. But then, in the dead of night, the resistance smuggles her out. Taken to Krakow to live with Jacob's Catholic cousin, Krysia, Emma takes on a new identity as Anna Lipowski, a gentile.
Emma's already precarious situation is complicated by her introduction to Kommandant Richwalder, a high-ranking Nazi official who hires her to work as his assistant. Urged by the resistance to use her position to access details of the Nazi occupation, Emma must compromise her safety—and her marriage vows—in order to help Jacob's cause. As the atrocities of war intensify, so does Emma's relationship with the Kommandant, building to a climax that will risk not only her double life, but also the lives of those she loves.
Customer Reviews:
Beautifully crafted novel.......2007-08-29
I read a short blurb about The Kommandant's Girl in my alma mater's quarterly magazine - the author was a college classmate of mine. A few days later, while perusing the stacks at my local library, I happened to find the book. She's written quite the page-turner - the town of Krakow comes alive on the page, the characters are multidimensional, and the plot is well thought out. There does seem to be a loss of steam in the last 2-3 chapters, but that doesn't detract from the overall quality of the novel. I highly recommend it.
Terrific story.......2007-08-25
This book reminded me of the movie Black Book, which has a similar plot line -- Jewish girl falls in love with Nazi officer she's spying on. And yet that's way too simplistic, of both this book and the movie. THE KOMMANDANT'S GIRL is beautifully written and keeps you turning pages far into the night. I loved it and didn't want it to be over. After I read it, I sent it to my sister, who is also an avid reader, and she loved it, too, then passed it to her daughter, who felt the same way. The story is entertaining and meaningful, bringing to life an era that should never be forgotten. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
She had me up until the very end, but then she let it slip away.......2007-08-02
For me this was a four-star book up until about the last 50-60 pages or so, at which point I'd have to drop to 3 1/2 stars. The plot is simple and straightforward. There were a few twists along the road, but nothing extraordinary and perhaps even a bit predictable. I thought the protagonist Emma/Anna was well developed and the story was well supported by other applicable characters. I got to know about Emma/Anna, her life and the great personal conflicts that erupted for her with the onset of the German invasion of Poland.
However, as the final pages of the book played out the author inserted a few occurrences that were just too coincidental. The types of coincidences that make me just role my eyes and say "oh, please", situations that were just a bit over-the-top and contrived, even for a novel. For the sake of those who wish to read the book I won't give details because they effect how the story ends, or course.
All in all, Jenoff did a nice job for this being her first book. Her style is very reader-friendly. I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick read with substance and a good story.
The Kommandant's Girl.......2007-07-19
Almost great. A little too glib and shallow, one couldn't get the feeling of dread and feeling needed. However, a very readable book and I'd read this author again. The writing flows nicely.
I wanted to love this book.......2007-07-11
..and it took me awhile to figure out why I didn't. After all, I enjoy all types of books: romance, drama, history, fiction and non-fiction. I also found the author's intentions admirable. I guess the problem is that it seemed to walk down the middle of all these genres without mastering any of the reasons I read a particular type of book. While its an easy engaging read, it just didn't hold up to some of the wonderful non-fiction books out there that tell basically the same story. Yes, to some degree that's what historical fiction is, but this book didn't add anything new in terms of plot or character compared to other stories I've read set against the same time period (fiction and non-fiction). Probably not the greatest analogy, but have you ever had a favorite book that was made into a movie? While an enjoyable passing of time, you find the film version lacking the character and plot development found in the original telling. That's how I felt after reading this. That being said, I wouldn't not recommend this book and admittedly might have rated it higher if I didn't go in with such high expectations or other books to compare it to. As I read this book, I kept thinking back to another that I would recommend above this one: "In My Hands" By Irene Gut Opdyke
Book Description
This celebrated volume begins when Nin is about to publish her first book and ends when she leaves Paris for New York. Edited and with a Preface by Gunther tuhlmann; Index.
Customer Reviews:
Should be read simultaneously..........2007-09-09
...with "Tropic of Cancer." For newbies, read the synopsis of Anais Nin and Henry Miller at "wikipedia." Then start reading Volume 1 of Anais Nin's diaries (1931 - 1934). After a while, maybe 30 - 40 pages you will want to take a break. So, pick up "Tropic of Cancer" and read the first couple of chapters. Anais had Henry read her journals; Anais and Henry helped each other with each others works. The preface to "Tropic of Cancer" was written by Anais Nin (at least it was signed by her; legend has it that Henry actually wrote it). "Tropic of Cancer" was published (and immediately banned in the United States) in 1934. (By the way, off topic, Henry Miller reminds me a lot of Hunter S. Thompson, at least "Tropic of Cancer" and "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.")
A womans heart ...laid out boldly in words for all to see. .......2005-12-31
ANAIS has been someone who has carried me through some tough times in the past...I read her at twenty...and twenty-three and twenty-six. Her troubles were my own and we were kin. She is meant to be read by anyone who loves life...in it's full fleshy sometimes heart rending reality. She writes with the open-heart of a poet, and leaves the reader feeling more than fed. READ ANAIS NIN!
A great read.......2004-10-08
I recomend reading Anais Nin's diary. The book is such poetic prose. Some sentences really took my breath away, the way she can captivate something so beautiful and human in simple words. Since it is a diary, its main focus is her life, but its not selfish, infact she mentions herself very little. The main focus is Henry (Miller) and June, his wife. When Ananis Nin falls inlove with someone, so does the reader. Her descriptive skills gave me goosebumps, you really can see it in your minds eye, hear the music or feel the softness of skin. I highly recomend this to anyone thinking about reading this book, you will come away with a slice of life from 1930's France.
Wonderfully delicate and erotic.......2004-07-30
This is one of the most profound works of literature I have ever read. Nin leads you directly into her life, the nature of the people around her, her feelings and internal conflicts. She writes delicately and powerfully and womanly. Everyone should have a chance to read this.
Worth reading.......2004-04-11
A bit long and occasionally dense, but overall, a worthwhile and insightful glimpse into the life of a remarkable, thoughtful writer in 1930s France.
Average customer rating:
- Loved It!
- great look into WWII era
- A lovely window into the WWII time period
- An okay read but not that great
- Excellent!
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A Woman's Place: A Novel
Lynn Austin
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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| Genre Fiction
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All She Ever Wanted
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A Proper Pursuit
ASIN: 0764228900
Release Date: 2006-11-01 |
Book Description
As America rises to meet the challenge of World War II, the call for defense workers unites four women at Seneca Shipyards in Michigan. As their lives intersect, this unlikely gathering of women will encourage, shape, and influence one another as they learn valuable lessons about themselves and about life, love, and faith.
Customer Reviews:
Loved It!.......2007-07-21
This was the first book I have read by Lynn Austin and I loved it. I love books that take place during this era so I guess that's why it was just too good to put down and when it was over I was wishing for a sequel. Now I'm reading Eve's Daughters and I can't put it down either! Ms. Austin is a wonderful author! Any suggestions of other Christian novelists who write stories about WWII?
great look into WWII era.......2007-06-26
I found A Woman's Place to be a great window into the WWII era and how it affected the lives of several women. Though not her best novel, I throughly enjoyed it...enough to stay up till 3am finishing the book!
The book first starts out telling the story of each woman (Rosa, Jean, Virginia, and Helen). Their stories cross paths later on as they meet each other at the factory they work at. The book describes the impact that working at the factory brings to each of them. Virginia longs to be more then a housewife but is afraid to tell her husband she works there. Helen wants to escape the loneliness her silent house brings. Rosa has recently moved in with her strict in-laws and wants to escape their rules. Finally Jean just wants to prove that she can still be a woman and do a "man's job." Each character grows throughout the novel in many ways.
I really like how Lynn Austin did her research and fully described the 1940's in her writing. It really brought the era to life and I could picture it fully in my mind. I look forward to her next book out in September titled "A Proper Pursuit."
A lovely window into the WWII time period.......2007-06-06
Three-time Christy Award winner Lynn Austin pens an engaging novel about four diverse women who become friends while working at a ship-building factory during World War II in the fictional town of Stockton, Michigan. The seemingly simple plot of relationships between women is shot through with the meaty themes of forgiveness, discovering identity, prejudice, gender roles and faith. Each of the four will fight their own battle to change their past and invent a future for themselves.
Virginia "Ginny" Mitchell is a sweet little housewife who has been dominated by her husband Harold for years. She is insecure about her marriage. Is Harold having an affair? When she impulsively joins the WWII workforce, Ginny begins discovering her identity as a woman who is competent and can contribute in more ways than just as mother and wife. In an evangelical Christian story such as this one, Austin successfully walks a fine line between showing the importance of stay-at-home moms and the significant contributions made by working mothers.
Rosa Voorhees is a sultry, gorgeous Italian from New York City who hits the bottle while trying to get along with her churchgoing Dutch in-laws she lives with in Stockton. She is desperately in love with her new husband, Dirk, who is in the military. "Rosa had found what she'd longed for all her life, and she was terrified she would lose it." She strives to overcome a difficult past, create a different future for herself, and overcome obstacles to earn her high school diploma.
Helen is a lonely 50-ish single teacher who fears love and relationships. Her six brothers and sisters all died young, and years ago she was the victim of an unhappy love affair (whose specifics unfold in a surprising plot twist). "If her siblings' brief lives had taught her anything, it was that life was short, happiness fleeting." Helen has lost her faith and fears relationships, but her friendship with the three other women chips away at her cold persona. When the opportunity to teach opens up, she must choose between mentoring her new friends and a secure job. When tragedy strikes the four friends, she regrets ever loving anyone again. Will her heart change?
Jean is caught between her attraction for two men: one movie-star handsome and a long-time love, and another with a good heart but crippled by polio. As she wrestles with a decision of who will win her heart, she fights stereotypes about college and suitable career choices for women.
When a POW camp is set up in Stockton to house German prisoners, readers will find it interesting that Helen is vehemently opposed and prejudiced. Yet she fought her father's disapproval to teach young black students and children of migrant workers. The reason for her violent dislike of the Germans unfolds as the book nears its end.
Austin is a talented writer (CANDLE IN THE DARKNESS, FIRE BY NIGHT, HIDDEN PLACES), and some of her scenes particularly shine. A women's church meeting where the punch is inadvertently spiked provides some hilarious moments (reminiscent of the Andy Griffith episode where Aunt Bee and her friends take too much "tonic.") Seeing the war briefly through Ginny's two young sons' eyes also provides some poignant moments. The African-American character of Thelma King gives Austin a chance to flesh out some of the issues of racial injustice of the time period.
There is some repetition (we hear at least three times where Jean's brothers are stationed). Ginny's use of italicized new vocabulary words is engaging at first, but becomes a bit irritating halfway through the novel. Other than these few quibbles, readers will find A WOMAN'S PLACE a lovely window into the WWII time period, and a nice book club read with its conversation starters about racism, gender roles, overcoming a difficult past, and forgiveness.
--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby
An okay read but not that great .......2007-04-02
Rosa,Ginny,Helen,and Jean four women from different walks of life who meet when they all work at ship building factory. Each woman is at crossroads in thier lives each trying to each out to god to make it though World War 2.
"A Woman's Place" was the first book that I have read by Lynn Austin and while I wanted to like it, I just couldn't. This book just seem drag in places and the ending seem rushed.
Excellent!.......2007-01-28
Prolific author, Lynn Austin, well know for her biblical and American Civil War novels brings to life the early 1940's to tell the story of four woman whose lives are forever changed by the Second World War.
Four women, brought together by America's call for women to aid the war effort, take jobs at the Stockton Shipworks and train in electronics. Newly married Rosa wants to escape the disapproval of her parents-in-law while her husband Dirk fights overseas, Jean, the youngest, dreams of going to college, Helen is all alone after the death of her elderly parents and the wealth left to her is simply not enough and Virginia is desperately afraid she has become nothing more than a "servant" to her husband and sons. Working as a team the women discover that their differences are not enough to stand in the way of friendship. They discover abilities previously untapped and challenges never before experienced. When tragedy strikes and prejudice threatens to separate them these women find strength and hope in eachother and discover that faith and friendship is truly enough to overcome all things.
Lynn Austin has written a beautiful novel that held my interest throughout all of its 446 pages. Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the characters but this is not a distraction or hard to follow. Despite finding Virginia's timidity irritating in the early chapters she soon developed into a character I understood more as her personality and circumstances were revealed. The remaining three characters were fascinating and believable and while from another era, their hopes, fears and challenges were easy to relate to. The author transports you to the 1940's with relevant detail and obviously impeccable research. The prejudices these women face entering a man's world are explored as well as other issues as relevant today as they were then like racisim, prejudice, bitterness and forgiveness.
A Woman's Place is a tribute to all women who sacrificed so much while their men were sacrificing their lives during the World War II era.
Books:
- Racism: A Short History
- Reflections on the Revolution in France (Oxford World's Classics)
- Retracing the Past: Readings in the History of the American People, Volume II (Since 1865) (6th Edition) (Retracing the Past)
- Rise and Fall of the Third Reich
- Rural Women Battering and the Justice System: An Ethnography (SAGE Series on Violence against Women)
- Salt: A World History
- Salt: A World History
- Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
- Suite Française
- Telling the Truth About History
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