A Superb Book by a Compelling Author
937025
This is a superb book by one of the most engaging and intelligent writers on matters of Scripture. If you agree that Fundamentalism is a dead end -- one that, to me, deprives believers of appreciating the full majesty of God's creation; if you believe that the gist of what modern science tells us about the cosmos is correct, and yet are, as Robin Parry calls himself, a "bible believing Christian," this is the book for you!
4239524
Well written;great character development; a compelling read.
2938387
An excellent book, well worth reading. It has: mystery and suspense; a well crafted plot; interesting characters that develop in realistic ways; good dialog; realistic action - I could go on. I've only got a few minor quibbles. One is how rapidly Julia takes a dislike to Kate, it's immediate, and for no apparent reason. Another is that Ryan tends to flip back and forth between rational and irrational conversation, e.g. Chapter 8 when he blames Kate for events that are completely out of her control. I was worried that the dialog was going to deteriorate at that point. Thankfully, the author pulled it back together. If you read this book, you won't be disappointed.
3630033
I always enjoy a book by Neale Donald Walsch and consider him one of the most profound authors of our time.  "Happier Than God" is no exception.  His insight into the nature of human reality is extraordinary and his ability to articulate ideas makes compelling reading.

If you've read Neale Donald Walsch's previous books in the "Conversations With God" series, this book will feel friendly and familiar.

His discussion of what he calls the "Law of Opposites" is what stood out to me as one of the best parts of the book.  In order to understand the "Mechanism of Manifestation" we must understand and embrace the "Law of Opposites".  Neale Donald Walsch says that in order to create anything we must first create a context in which it may be experienced.  The dualistic nature of the world we live in requires that context to be opposite in nature.

From my viewpoint, if you apply this to the state of the world, then the escalating terrorism and violence we've seen for the past few decades appears to be a natural result of the fact that there is also a profound shift happening in consciousness.  More and more people have begun to embrace the idea that they do in fact create their reality by their thoughts and feelings, awakening a spiritual renaissance that is sweeping the globe.

I enjoyed this book tremendously.  Yet the explanations, as profound and intellectually engaging as they are, lack a quality that I can only describe as experiential.  It provides plenty of food for thought for the mind - in fact it's a feast - but I thought the writing lacked a feeling quality that could have made this book more powerful.  The personal examples he used from his own life to illustrate a point were scant and described in a very perfunctory way.

I love the size of this book.  It's a bit smaller than his others and is handy for leaving on a nightstand, carrying on a plane, in a purse, etc.  It's the kind of book that lends itself well to reading bits and pieces at a time.  In fact, the structure of the book is laid out in a way that provides the reader with plenty of breaks to stop and reflect, giving the reader as much or as little "breathing time" as is needed to integrate its substance.  All in all, I would highly recommend this book.
1457028
Sofer has done a fantastic job with her first novel. She has written about what she knows. The author grew up in Iran until the she was ten years old. She escaped Iran in 1982 along with her family. Her history and her outstanding research transports the reader to post revolution Iran. The books takes place mostly in Tehran and contrary to its title has little to do with Shiraz, a beautiful city in Iran. Sofer weaves an entertaining tale of a wealthy Jewish businessman in Iran who is imprisoned for vague reasons (which was and is not unusual in Iran even today). What makes Sofer's book so exceptional is her analytical mind and choosing to examine the various people's motives for their actions. She gets the reader to get inside the minds of the prison guards, the torturer and the tortured. It is not merely a book about atrocities against the Jews in Iran. She depicts the diversity and the randomness of ending up on the government's hit list. Religion, wealth, occupation as well as family history could (and still can) all get you in trouble in Iran.

Sofer is also an excellent writer. Her prose is clear and not sentimental. You will learn a lot and I highly recommend it.
2215051
This is the third book that I have read by Louis Begley, and though they have all been outstanding, this one is by far the best.  This is the book that solidifies him in my mind as one of the best authors alive today.
In case the title of the book is not a strong enough hint that there will be no happy ending to the story, Begley quickly sets a tone of personal destruction and moral failure.  His main character, John North, opens the book by approaching a stranger in a bar, and offering to buy him a drink if he will sit and listen to a story that North has never told anyone before.  The story is a long one, told over several days and several bottles of whiskey.  And the silent listener, whose name we never learn, whose voice we never hear, and whose judgment we never receive, is described as being nearly identical to North in every detail - a physical manifestation, perhaps, of North's troubled conscience.
And yes, his conscience has ample reason to be troubled.  The tale he tells is one of deception, weakness, and tragedy.  North, a prize-winning novelist, recounts to his companion the details of his affair with Lea, a young French journalist who interviews him for an article about his latest book.  North succumbs to his desire for Lea, despite his love for his wife Lydia and his fear of the pain she would suffer if she were to discover his infidelity.
Begley proves in this novel that he is both a gifted storyteller and a master of painting with words the entire spectrum of human emotions.  His first-person narration is infused with an overwhelming feeling of honesty, ruthless self-reflection, and guilt.  Begley writes about love as well as he does about fear, about lust as well as he does about anger.  As a character, North is one of the most genuine I have found in literature.  He hides nothing from us, makes no excuses for his weakness, and delivers his self-condemning story with unflinching honesty.
1980047
A wonderful book that pulls the reader into two exotic locales -- the country of Ethiopia, and the practice of surgery. The story chronicles the lives of a pair of conjoined twins, beginning with the circumstances that led to their birth, and ending with a resolution of the conflict that separates them for much of the story. The writing is always clear and compelling, and sometimes lyrical, particularly when it is about Ethiopia. The characters are fully realized, and the story line pulled me along as strongly as any thriller. Some reviewers said they were bored or put off by the frequent medical interludes in the book -- some of which are quite technical and graphic -- but I was fascinated and found them entirely appropriate, since medicine is so important to so many of the characters. Why four stars not five? I found the plot a little contrived in some important places, and I shared another reviewer's sense that the end had been pulled too neatly and tightly together. Still and all, this is a terrific book, which I strongly recommend.
2074498
This novel is compelling - riveting plot, fascinating, well developed characters. One of those books that will keep you reading late into the night. First, there's the power of the book as a terrific adventure novel, full of suspense, romance, intriguing characters. the plot keeping you on the edge of your seat.
For me, an additional appeal was the insight Clavell gives you into the 'clash of cultures' during that period. You come away with an appreciation of the refined oriental culture, thinking about who were the real 'barbarians'. A very fun, entertaining adventure read on one level, very thought-provoking on another.
This book should be on everybody's reading list.
43396
stephen gilligan's new book is even better than his previous excellent ones. He  is one of the most important writers in his field.
4952369
A page-turner literary novel? Yup, that's what this one is, and it's excellent. The characters are interesting and believable, the political atmosphere is relevant and intriguing, and the plot resolution is fully satisfying without being predictable. Much careful research went into the writing of this novel, and Dempsey has skillfully balanced every aspect of the book. She is a master of physical description ("Pastor Royce  . . . swept back his white mane of hair with both meaty hands"), of showing the dynamics of a relationship without explaining (see 2nd page of Chapter 12), and an expert at brief characterizations that give the reader so much information in so few, but strong, words ("When Isaac was done, he was done, and no amount of cajoling could reengage him"). Dempsey is also one of the most skillful authors I've read when it comes to employing seamless point-of-view changes. A compelling story of unexpected betrayals and surprising new loyalties set in contemporary times and underpinned with a fascinating Holocaust revelation, This Is How It Begins feels worthy of becoming a New York Times bestseller. One of my top favorites, new and old.
2644021
This book is as good as any author can possibly write!
2429650
I have yet to read a book by Barbara Brown Taylor that I would give less than five stars. Since my first encounter with her writing when I was a seminary student in the 80s through her book The Preaching Life, I have been a fan of this fine thinker and writer. She is an outstanding story teller who uses this well developed gift to exquisitely connect a life of faith and spiritual awareness to the experiences of daily life without the weight of dogma. An illumined mind which graciously offers her insights to the reader. This book subtly and wisely suggests that Science and Faith are not only compatible, but are inseparable. BBT leads the reader to grasp that each discipline informs and is made richer by the other and we become more aware that the sum of Science and Faith provides a richness beyond any notion of either/or..
3281801
I am always thrilled when I discover a book and author that cover one of my favorite reading genres --that area that Alan Furst so nobly patrols along with David Downing's two recent books on pre-war Berlin --Zoo Station and Silesian Station, and now I can add C.J Sansom's wonderful Winter in Madrid as well.

I found this book, in spite of its considerable length at over 500 pages to be a wonderful and compelling read. The characterizations of the three highly diverse public school mates at an English boarding school and how they are fated to meet again in Madrid following the end of the Spanish Civil War made for a real page turning experience.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys  being brought back to that period of utter turmoil, divided loyalties and questionable political alliances and intrigue.
4411290
A truly remarkable book by a truly remarkable author!!!! Regardless of one's gender or marital status, you should read this book for the knowledge!!!
2056931
The late Robert James Waller wrote some best sellers, but I wonder whether they would have moved as well had it not been for the movie, The Bridges of Madison County.  I have liked his books, but not loved his writing style - this particular book, though, was a truly compelling and engaging story. The weaving in of characters from a previous book added to the interest, and the dabbling of Native American mysticism, environmental battles,and political corruption gave this particular story some real depth.  It is worth reading - probably more than all of Waller's other books.
2338825
This wonderfully titled, and remarkably beautiful book, is a compelling read. The author's unfortunate viral illness that laid her low for many years gave rise to a beautiful experience for the readers. A wonderful book to share with anyone going through hard times, an illness, or is simply someone who loves nature and is fascinated by its complexity and beauty.
1082862
This writer has an unmistakeable gift for the narrative. This is a book you will find yourself highlighting and quoting for a long time. It is a long book, a slow read because of the marvelous use of language, and the plot and setting are more than fascinating. There is a slew of interesting characters that the narrator encounters, and brings to life quite well. This is a book that is perfect for e-book since it is lengthy and a paperback version would be unwieldy to handle. I will definitely look for more from this author. He is clearly quite gifted!