Something very strange is going on in this book . . .
595041
. . . something that almost can't be put into words, but I'll give it a shot:  As simply as I can say it, the book's essence, its soul, belies it title.  Al 'n' Tipper come off as anything BUT joined at the heart.  There's some weird discontinuity between their marriage, their family, their thesis, and the book's title.
Let me be clear:  I come from a totally different perspective than the Gores.  I'm thrilled he's not in the White House.  I think their ideas on the family in America are fundamentally wrong.  But there's some other weird thing happening in this book that goes beyond all that.  Their take on the family, for all its nuanced social science grounding, just seems like a steaming pile of do-do.
What's going on here?  I think this book strangely and unwittingly uncovers the bane of modern existence:  A case of ideology trumping common sense.
What I mean is this:  Whereas their data all tend to point in the direction of a recovery of tradional values vis-a-vis the family, their conclusions point in the opposite direction--toward the accomodation of the family in relation to modern corrosive values that, indeed, threaten its very existence.
Thank God this confused individual has decided not to seek the Presidency in 2004.
2804170
This was a very different, weird, strange book.  A type that I have not read before.  There were multiple stories and some tied together.  Sometimes the stories were hard to follow but maybe it was the genre of the book.  The author does a good job writing these stories though.  In a way the stories are kind of eerie.  You don't really know what is going to happen next.
1884072
kind of strange in parts and really not a clear path to follow
549192
MY THOUGHTS

This book is really different.  You have an anthropologist professor and a televangelist as the main characters.  The story is about a treasure in the Guatemalian jungle.  I got the anthropologist but the televangelist.?  That just didn't make sense.  The book seems like history in the making,  the events about the happen. Then to make the plot even more strange,  a Mayan shaman, a guru, a minister's ex-wife, drug lords and I could go on and on.  I felt like there were too many characters in the mix.  True, they each had their own personalities and added a small amount to the story, but way too many characters for me.  I did like that the author added the mystic Edgar Cayce who was known as  the Sleeping Prophet.  I could relate to that. The secret that lies in the Guatemala jungles is some kind of documents that  could connect with Cayce's prophecies. The journey brings human sacrifices, mystic abilities and a few surprises along the way.  I did enjoy the folklore, the cultures and the geography. The title does seem appropriate, Course of Fate.  We never know what will happen nor when.  Only Fate has that answer. There is lots of action, lots of anticipation on the part of the reader and it does make the reader think.  History that hasn't even happened yet!  Grab a copy and go on the journey to the jungles along with all the other characters in the book.  You may like this book that seemed to me to be similar to Indiana Jones but with a lot deeper plot.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and PUYB  and voluntarily decided to review it.
2109948
I have no idea what's going on in this book,though I spent great fortune on it. I just want to figure out what exactly it is that makes so many people buy this book
209241
Yes, yes it does seem like a weird book. And it is, trust me it is a weird book. But it's also rather interesting... he puts forth some actual evidence to support that at least as far as mythology is concerned we were  created by these "serpent gods". I'd recommend it to anyone with  weird taste in books.
4716538
Well this one is definitely "out there" as far as weird and strange. The characters almost seem like they don't even know their own profession...like a lawyer who doesn't read "the pact" before signing it. When things get going out off hand, both Alice and Jake seem to ignore things, like they are in a fairy tale world. Having said all that, it did keep my interest, just wondering what else was going to happen. I received a copy of this book from Net  Galley. The review is of my own choosing and opinions.
4816982
Strange book, the Title and the Book don't go together at all.  The book was okay but not something I would recommend
2363796
I think this is a very unique book. The concepts are very intriguing as are all the characters. However, it is confusing and seems to be missing the point. It is one you almost have to read twice to fully understand.
4620820
A hard story to follow and the ending......... Weird
4443809
That book is full os mystery and surprises. At first, I got a little offended because I am a Spiritist, but everything is clarified towards the end. The beaus are kind of useless here, especially Dylan (but I root for him and Mina) and there are too many clothes and scenes descriptions that got me confused and bored. I don't know if it is because my first language is not English, though. Anyway, the book is amazing, full of surprises. But those unexplained objects flying are annoying.
4857646
I'm not sure what I was expecting when I purchased this book, but I can say it's description does not do it justice. Quirky.
2895651
This book was weird, and strange, and mysterious.
No I didn't listen to the podcasts- I didn't even know they existed before I read the book, and I don't have interest in them now. This book wasn't one of my normal reads. And I probably wouldn't read it again.
It was just strange, and weird. It brought up many questions into the mystery of Night Vale and King City, some answered, some not.
Jackie has been 19 for as long as she can remember. She has worked in a pawn shop also for as long as she can remember. Until a mysterious man in a tan jacket and deer skinned suitcase comes in and drops off a paper that says King City. Jackie can't let it go, and her life changes for the first time in years.
Diane's life is work and her son Josh. Until Evan from her work goes missing. No one else seems to remember him. She becomes solely focused on finding out about Evan.
Diane's son Josh wants to learn more about his absent father, even despite his mother not wanting him to know.
Diane's ex husband Troy keeps popping up around town. The diner, as a police officer, at the movie theater. He is everywhere.
If you want to know more about Jackie, Diane, Josh, Troy, the man in the tan jacket and even want to know about the mysterious librarian creatures, and about invisible pie- then pick up this book. You can learn about Night Vale, without having to first listen to the podcasts. It wasn't one of my favorite reads, but it wasn't all bad.
3905875
The subject matter is very disturbing, but  I was confused by the organization and timeline of the book.  Events seemed to go back and forth.
865572
Perhaps I am missing a hidden message in this book but I am afraid to me, it's just very odd.  It appears to be a children's book but why on earth you would ready your child a book which essentially seems like a parent's way of apologizing for ignoring her own daughter in favor of going to lunch with her friends??  This is not a book I would read to my child, all I can see that it would do is confuse them and put the suggestion into their heads that their parents are in someway unfit.  A very odd book, oddly written.  Sorry but not for me.
2324065
WEIRD BOOK. AT 90 %, BUT AM CONFUSED. SEEMS THERE WAS ONE STORY AT THE BEGINNING AND A DIFFERENT ONE THE LAST HALF OF IT. MAYBE IN THE LAST 10% THEY WILL BE BROUGHT TOGETHER?
3691591
I'm about halfway through the book as I write this.  This is a strange sort of story, clumsily written but the author manages to make it interesting and fun to read.  The characters are believable if a bit one-dimensional.  The story is unusual and interesting.

The problem with the book is that the author often phrases things in ways that are unclear and I find myself re-reading sentences a lot to get their meaning.  At times I can't quite figure out what he means.  However, at least so far, this hasn't hurt the story.  I'm getting the information I need to follow it.

I have to say that with all his writing problems he's keeping my interest.  I'm enjoying the story and I'm curious about where it's going.  It's a very unusual approach to a legal thriller, imaginative and constantly taking unexpected directions.

I bought this book by mistake, having confused this author's name with another I'd read some years ago.  I'm glad I did.  If this story continues to be this good I'm sure I'll read his next book as well.

Barry