Audio Books

When Trevanian passed away last December, I was intrigued by the descriptions of his thrillers in the obituaries, and decided to try them out. Though I haven't yet read his most famous book, Shibumi, I've now completed Incident at Twenty-Mile and The Summer of Katya.

I found both books gripping. Trevanian likes to play with pacing, point-of-view, and plot twists in such a way as to draw you relentlessly on, even as you're aware on some level that you're being had.

At the same time, neither book delivers in the end on the suspense that has been so well crafted. Instead, the plots in both novels are resolved by eruptions of violence that arise randomly, rather than organically from the story and characters. And I was surprised to find that both books relied on the hoary device of an amnesiac killer.

I came across The Summer of Katya by accident, and am happy to have discovered both the author and the novel. This is a witty, often amusing little story, with dialog that you can practically hear and a mystery that remains a tantalizing, just-out-of-reach secret until the end. Both of the male characters are vitally human - Katya, the love interest, is superficially charming but strangely wooden, the first clue that something is seriously wrong with this picture. The plot epitomizes the old adage that love is blind; although the reader is not sure what the problem is, you know there is one, a discovery that Jean-Marc stubbornly refuses to see until it is literally forced upon him. This book is a little known gem; a quick, enthralling reading experience.

I was reluctant to read this book. I got into Trevanian because of his pre-X-gen notion. "Nothing matters", no holds barred. This one became a page-turner. Damn me and Trevanian! Too many good books...He gets me every time, no matter what! I imagined, the Iternational-Espionage Master bringing me into an exciting World of the Fearless. This one goes somewhere else. Can't explain...you just gotta read.

He tested things I could never imagine. Turns out Trevanian has a heart. This book will fool you if you know the author. A good read, for sure. Romantic at least, confusing at best. You don't know the story until the end...it's tragic, sort of. Won't give away the end...a good journey. There is no side-show. Something else comes into play here...and it writes beautifully.

Trevanian is a wonderful writer, best known for spy thrillers, his artistry however, is most impeccable in this mysterious love story. As it opens, Jean-Marc Montjean, begins telling his story and it flows from there with casual, yet poetic prose, evolving like the day, bright with possibilities in the early hours, full of hope, yet soon twists to the inevitable dark of evening. The reader feels compelled back in time and into the shoes of the narrator. It is tight, organic and fluid. Goes down in history as a classic along side Rebecca and Wuthering Heights.

This really is a work of genious. A love shadowed by the burdens of a painful past. A must read!

I grew up in Idaho, and in school there we learned a slightly different version... I found it in a Google search for Lyrics and it said that the verse we sung as the second verse was found in the Canadian version:
"I followed your low hills
And I followed your cliff rims,
Your marble canyons
And sunny bright waters.
As the fog was lifting,
A voice was saying
This land was made for you and me."

Only we sang it as:
" I travelled low hills
I travelled cliff rims,
Great marble canyons,
and sunny waters,
A voice came calling,
as the fog was lifting,
This land was made for you and me.

In the first verse we had a difference also... instead of "from California to New York Island" it was " from California to the Bedloe's Island. Later I thought I must have heard wrong because I never saw that in print and wondered WHAT was Bedloe's Island. Yesterday I saw on History Channel that Bedloe's Island was the name of Liberty Island at the time that the Statue of Liberty was built there, and it wasn't until years later that it was changed to Liberty Island. It makes me wonder, was Bedloe's Island in the original verse or did Woody Guthrie write it as New York Island ... which really doesn't make sence because there was Ellis Island, Bedloe's Island, Manhattan, Staten and Long Island, more than three dozen islands... so if the song said "from California to THE NEW YORK ISLAND" not islands, then WHICH island??? Ok, while writing this I found the words from the original manuscript, it was Staten Island. All I know is we learned to sing about the Bedloe's Island. Oh yeah, I'm 51, born in 1956 which was the year that the name Bedloe's was officially changed to Liberty Island. Woody Guthrie wrote his song in 1940 but the first known professionally printed publication was in 1956 by Ludlow Music. By then it was THE NEW YORK ISLAND. Maybe the people from New York knew which one he meant.

into the little sayings and tidbits of trivia littered throughout. Still, nice art (a little busy at times) and a quick read with sheet music and bio at the end.

I gave this book and the Woody Guthrie CD to a friend who had just become an American citizen. She was thrilled with the lyrics and the photos about her new country. I think they do a good job of telling America's story.

My kids LOVE this book! And the CD is one of the best I've heard for kids. My two (ages 4 & 7) are singing the songs, especially the title song (w/all its verses) constantly. The illustrations in this book are also amazing. This book would make a really nice gift.

The art in this book is phenomenal and draw young and old into the book. I think that every time one looks at any of the paintings one will find something new to see. The lyrics, of course, are pure poetry. I am pleased that the original verses are restored. The only thing I did not like was that the song of This Land is Your Land does not match the order the lyrics are written in the book, so you can't enjoy both at the same time. However, it is not important enough to make me give this book a lower rating. The other songs included on the CD are also masterful and are extremely popular at the preschool I work in.

This entire trilogy has captived my daughter who has never loved to read due to learning challenges. She has in just a short time read the entire trilogy twice.

Kate Constable has written yet another great book for young adults, as well as older adults. The Chanter of Tremaris is a great series.

Kate Constable has given us a magical world to explore in three remarkable texts. Through these books, the author joins the company of Lloyd Alexander ("the Prydain Chronicles"), Ursula Le Guin (see "Gifts" and the just published "Voices"), and Joy Chant ("Red Moon and Black Mountain", "The Grey Mane of Morning" and "When Voiha Wakes") in creating stories and characters of depth and beauty.

To some of the other reviewers here, my suggestion is that the way to enter the Chanters of Tremaris trilogy (and, really, any work) is to let go of your expectations (whatever we think it should look and sound like) and to surrender to the magic that lives in these stories. As readers, we can fall into the trap of always scanning the horizon for something new, something that we've never seen before. The downside of this is that we often miss the treasures that are sitting at our feet. Don't miss this outstanding fantasy series.

This book, The Waterless Sea, was the best book ever! I could never put it down!
Basically Calywn and here group are chanters. They can use their magic by singing. Heben (he's awesome!) searches for them to find his taken chanter siblings. So many adventures and so little time to explain!

I loved this book. I literally read it in the space of a few hours, it was such a page-turner I could /not/ put it down.
The characters are wonderfully painted; my favorite is Halassa, with Trout following close behind (I was dissapointed at his dissapearance in this book!).
I hate Darrow. In the first book, at the beginning, when he was all crazy in Ataris and then when he was cheerful on their way to Kalysons, he was fun. But he was simply a mentor then. Now he's all dark and depressed and in love with Calwyn. Their little drama is exciting, but I dislike it and it gets in the way of the action and the suspense (for instance; Halassa's dying and their talking about their feelings. Halassa should of been a more important part of this story; considering he almost died.)
Now, Heben. I loved meeting this character; just liked I loved meeting the other main charries in the first book; it was all part of the adventure. I really hope Heben stays around. The only thing I would changed is his relantionship with Calwyn. I would of liked a tiny bit of romance between the two. So Darrow didn't simply look like a crazy jealous idiot. And so it made sense. I mean, why not Halassa instead of Heben? Calwyn was closer to Halassa then Darrow, she says so herself.
Mica and Tonno. They were slightly annoying, but lovable all the same. I kept wanting to picture them in a lounge drinking Diet Cola and making fun of Calwyn and Darrow.
Overall, the book was good. What I'm waiting for (and hoping for) is that Trout learns to chant (LOL)!

The Weeping Chamber was one of my first Christian fiction reads. And it surprised me. This genre is very A-typical. But this book takes you on a historic journey with enough weight and mystery to keep you turning the pages. I liked everything about it, especially when the past becomes unraveled and we see the pain our character is hiding. I've loved this book for 10 years and still do.

THIS BOOK IS VERY WELL WRITTEN. I LIKE THE MAIN CHARACTER BECAUSE HE IS HUMBLE AND DOWN TO EARTH. JESUS IS VERY WELL DISPLAYED. YOU WANT TO STEP INTO THE BOOK AND MEET THESE CHARACTERS. SCRIPTURE IS PLAYED OUT PERFECTLY.

For years, I've enjoyed Brouwer's mysteries and thrillers. His prose is tight, and he creates memorable characters. I picked up "The Weeping Chamber" wondering if his style would be complimentary to a historical novel. I expected it to be a bit more religious in tone than his previous work, and worried that I might not enjoy it as much.

I should've known better.

As always, Brouwer refuses to fit into preachy boxes. Yes, this is a beautifully written and researched book. It never feels heavy-handed in its details, and yet it feels utterly believable, breathable. Even better, though, it deals with very human struggles. We meet a man named Simeon, who has faced personal grief and resulting guilt. He's lost a child, and his marriage is estranged. Cautious in nature, he's not sure what to think of this new "miracle worker" from Nazareth. Is this man insane, or is he truly God's Son? Soon, Simeon is caught up in the intrigues of those last days of Jesus' life, even intersecting in an unexpected way.

If you want a book that captures the feel of Israel in Jesus' day, and if you want a book that makes those days seem as humanly pregnant with emotion and struggle, then you owe it to yourself to pick up "The Weeping Chamber."

I keep a list of books that have made a strong and marked impact on my life, and this book is very near the top of the list. I found this book in a catalogue and started reading it without any expectations of greatness, but this book made a large impact on my life. Weaving the familiar story of Christ into a person's life, Brouwer threads the pages with truth about God and His love and power. It is not a fast-paced book, but an almost relaxing read. Of course, there are plots turns that will keep your attention, but the soothing way the words flow as you read of the struggles of Simeon is beautiful. I have read this book many times, and I still love it.

This is a great novel--and I'm not too much of a novel reader. I could tell you about the story, but you can read the comments provided by Amazon to get that. I don't have anything else to add to that part. I write the review not to tell you the story, but to tell you that it's a great novel.

I picked this up off a 2-dollar shelf or something--I assure you that this is not the kind of book I would look at and say "Mmmm...now THAT looks interesting." Rather, it is more likely that I would look at this book and think "Mmph...not for me." In retrospect, it is quite remarkable that I bought it at all--regardless of the low price.

So, since I now had the book, I might as well read it, right? So I did. In two days. I don't think I put it down when I had free time. The book is such an easy read, and very entertaining. I was truly impressed by the book. I guess it is one of those books I could call "heartwarming," or "precious." Believe me, coming from a guy, that's quite a compliment (winks). I think I even teared up at the end. Again--coming from a guy, that's kinda impressive, don't you think?

I'm sure the girls are ready to buy it now...just because it made a guy cry...

But guys--don't be turned off becuase I used patty-cake terminology like "precious" to describe this book. It's a great book. It's an entertaining read. It's captivating. It's interesting. It's good. It's not a long book, and I'm pretty sure that if you pick it up, you won't put it down...at least not until you finish it (or it makes you cry too).

Great book.

Rabbi Harold Kushner is best known for his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, but this work is in my judgment his greatest contribution to the philosophy of the spiritual life, Kushner's pièce de résistance. Using my favorite Hebrew Bible text, Ecclesiastes, as a springboard, Rabbi Kushner writes about the "ultimate thirst of our souls": the need for "meaning," for "the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter." Rabbi Kushner offers readers his wisdom -- born out of years of study, struggle and life experience -- about how to live a life that matters.

READ this BOOK! Rabbi Kushner hits on so many relevant and pertinent topics that you will be amazed how you see yourself in the anedotes and examples used to illustrate Kushner's point. Rabbi Kushner uses the Old Testament story of Ecclesiastes to illustrate how man's search for happiness is eternal and not unique. I could not believe how similar Ecclesiaste's view on life and search for happiness are so similar to my own. I found myself stopping on many occasions and telling my wife "READ THIS!"
I have been on a self-help book crusade for the past several months. Reading a bunch of these books have helped in finding some understanding to the search for happiness I have been after. After each book, I can say one or two of the points explained in the book have made sense and have some good practical applications to dealing with everyday situations that arise in my life. Kushner's book is by the far the best. He gives you straightforward and understandable examples of the negative behavior that conflict in man's search for happiness.
From the opening pages Kushner had me! He hits the nail on the head when he says the lines "If you ask anybody what is more imporant - work or family? - without a doubt they answer family. But then ask them how much time they spend away from family by putting work ahead of family and making work more important than family obligations." (paraphrased) He has many of these observations that help the reader get some insight into how destructive these behaviors are towards our supposed goal of happiness. I highly, highly recommend this book - READ this BOOK!

A great book and one the everyone should read at some time in their lives!

Thanks again for getting me the book so fast and in such good condition!

Gary

A thoughtful, spiritual examination of why fame and fortune do not produce happiness, and why "average" and "successful" people often feel emptiness in their lives. Many brief anecdotes are used to illustrate the author's observations, which are linked to the book of Ecclesiastes.
Read by the author. You will read (or listen to) this more than once!

Kushner is a sage and this book is a classic. As always Kushner's knits together wonderful stories, quotes, and historical observations that are always on the mark and move his thoughts forward. The disease that plagues our age is overconsumption and Kushner invites the reader to step away from the table of materialism and instead search out the things that really matter.

This is the wrap-up volume of the author's "Bromeliad" trilogy (the title of which has to do with tiny Amazonian frogs living in tree-top flowers, who know nothing about the world at large, or even that it exists) -- though it runs parallel, actually, to the second volume, which followed the exploits of Grimma and the nomes who stayed behind at the quarry while Masklin and a couple of others went to investigate the nearby airport. Now it turns out that, in their quest for the Ship waiting for thousands of years somewhere out in space, the three bickering adventurers have managed to stowaway aboard the Concorde and have gotten to Miami and then to Cape Canaveral. There, they meet other nomes, much more widely traveled than themselves (thanks to migrating geese), get close to a rocket launch, and make use of the Thing to contact the Ship. As always, Pratchett tells a delightful, very humane story with lots of humor (the nomes tend to be VERY literal), while at the same time commenting on subjects like interspecies relations, religious dogma, and the whole point of society. Written for adolescents but enjoyable for any thinking reader.

DON'T READ THIS BOOK INTILL YOU READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS IN THE BROEIMLEAD TRILOGY. This book is about when Masklin (a nome) trys to find this one ship that while supposedly send the nomes to a different planet. This ship is faster than light. The one thing that leads them their is a thing. This thing is like a box with lots of electric inside, and only if this thing is by something that is powered by electric it works. Now in this book Masklin, Gurder, Angalo, and the thing go out to find the ship. At the beginning they fly on a airplane to Florida. When they get their they find more nomes (which they never knew that there was any other nomes). Now they have get the ship to them somehow. Read this wing of a book to find if they find the ship.

My Dad has been reading Terry Pratchett books and he thought I'd like this one. He was right! You should read this book , because it is very funny and exciting. The book is about three nomes that got stuck on Earth and need to take a space shuttle home. The nomes get a lot of useful help from Thing, a machine. But too bad when Thing runs out of "pow" (power)!
I don't have the first two books from this trilogy but I am getting them next!

Wings is the third and final volume of the Bromeliad (following Truckers and Diggers).

Masklin, Gurder and Angalo have just left the quarry and are heading to the airport in hope to go to Florida, where they can put the Thing on a space shuttle so that it can call the Ship. Following Grandson Richard, 39, they board the Concorde.

What somewhat surprised me with Wings is that it's not only the conclusion to a tremendous adventure: the story really gets a level deeper, as the relationship between the nomes and the Thing develops. And don't worry, you still get those hilarious puns such as the one about frogs who have "such a tiny life cycle it still had trainer wheels on it"!

The Bromeliad trilogy is a gripping story, extremely funny and easy to read, but it's also a story about how the world around you can always amaze you if you only look a bit further than just at your direct neighbourhood. I highly recommend it to both children and grown-ups alike!

The Bromeliad trilogy soars to a grand finale with "Wings," the companion volume to "Truckers" and "Diggers." This tale runs parallel to the second book of the series, and brimming over with Terry Pratchett's usual wit and satire... and a mild dose of insanity.

Now that humans are returning to the quarry where the tiny nomes live, the nomes must somehow find a new place to live -- and fast. So Masklin is following the instructions of the Thing (a computer who is smarter than all the other characters put together) and going on a secret mission with Angalo and the Abbot to Florida.

After they sneak aboard the Concorde, freak out the stewardess and hijack the plane, the nomes learn that none other than Richard Arnold (grandson of Arnold Bros, founder of The Store) is on board. Now they must somehow send the Thing into space, so it can contact the spaceship and whisk the nomes away. Easy? No way.

Technically, anybody who has read the end of "Diggers" will know exactly what will happen in "Wings." But like flying on the Concorde, it's the ride that's half the thrill. "Wings" is a little tighter and funnier than its predecessors, partly because it has a much smaller cast -- the small bickering trio, plus the Thing. It doesn't get much better than that.

The nomes are fun protagonists, partly because they're so likably naive about the world in general. If they were left alone, they would probably produce a cute little civilization, and their naivete produces plenty of entertaining humor (Concerning the sound barrier: "All right, own up. Who broke it?"). Pratchett manages to make us laugh with the nomes, not at that.

The long-suffering Masklin has a new slew of problems the moment he leaves, ranging from the Thing refusing to talk to him to Angalo razzing the stewardesses. Atheistic Angalo and the abbot just avoid biting out each other's throat. But it's the Thing's dry, superior guidance that really steals the show.

Pratchett brings his Bromeliad trilogy to a close full of action, suspense, and frogs. A witty and wild ride on the Concorde, and not one to be missed.

All the books of James Allen are profound and way ahead of their time. This is a must read and requires deep meditation. A Timeless Classic.

Great book. His writings are inspiring. You will also note some interesting biographical info in the beginning.

'Mind is the Master-Power that molds and makes,
And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
The tool of Thought, and shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills:-
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking glass.'
-From the book

This book was my introduction to 'Change your thoughts, change yourlife'. A friend gave me this book several years ago and it dramatically changed the way I began to think. It just made sense, it clicked with me. I was also very surprised to find out that all those years I was thinking that my thoughts were private, no one but me could know them. Then, I read this and realized that our thoughts do show in many ways: appearance, health, our circumstances, etc.

I have read many books on this subject and this is one that will ALWAYS remain in my collection. I still pull it off the shelf and read it occassionally. It's overflowing with valuable wisdom on how your thoughts create your world.

This volume has 5 books in one. It's a small but somewhat chunky book with 384 pages.

This is the volume to start with, but I would recommend all three volumes in "The Wisdom of James Allen" series. These books are valuable to read in marathon sessions, yet they can be practically consumed in short sittings. A meal of just a few pages will give you sufficient spiritual energy for the day. I recommend reading and re-reading because the wisdom is timeless and the principles can be applied daily. This is important reading for clergy, counselors and anyone who wants to start the quest of being a guide by first learning to guide themselves.

As a Man Thinketh is a must read and has been for most of the 20th and now the 21st century. To get this companion piece with other great writings by James Allen is amazing. I would suggest it for anyone who is interested in finding the tools necessary to command their own lives.

My favorite book is The World According to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney. The World According to Humphrey is a humor book about an animal who interacts with people.

My Favorite character is Humphrey the hamster. I like this character because he's funny, interesting and I never knew what would happen next. He meets new people and learns things other animals can't.

I like the writing style because it has tips at the bottom of each page of how to raise a hamster. The author made me laugh when she included stories of the children fighting.

I love this book because I love books with humor. I love the small but big adventures that Humphrey had. Even though he was small he had a big goal: To help people with happiness.

I recommend this book to people who like humor.

The World according to Humphrey is a great book. I like this book because it was an entertaining adventure book. The author's point of view was told by the hamster Humphrey. Humphrey lived in a classroom and each weekend he slept over with a different student. My favorite part is when he escapes from his cage and puts the picture on the overhead. My least favorite part was when Mrs. Mac leaves the school. I recommend this book because you can learn a lot about yourself by watching another species. I GIVE THIS BOOK TWO THUMBS UP!

This book was a joy to read. We read it for our mother-daughter book club, and Mom liked it as much as Daughter! Good choice of themes for discussion (mother with serious illness, shyness over non-English speaking family members, detrimental effects of too much TV-watching and too little family time), all wrapped up nicely by the adorable protagonist.

This has become one of my favorite books. I've shared it with my fourth grade students, my mom, friends looking for books to encourage their children to read, and anyone who will listen. The humorous, heartwarming tale of Humphrey and the positive effects he has on the lives of his classmates, teacher, principal, custodian... is enjoyable time after time. My students can't wait to reread this book and read the other Humphrey stories. I credit the book for helping my own "Sayeh" to raise her hand and speak up for the first time in class on the day Sayeh in the story first raised her hand. We all love Humphrey!

I read this book to my 5 and 7 year old boys. This is a good book for this age group. It has appealing characters, a meaningful story and good plot development. It reminded me a bit of the secret life of bees in that it uses excerpts from a Hamster care manual after each chapter. (Secret life of bees began each chapter with an excerpt from texts on bees and beekeeping). This is a nice feature. I am glad to learn of the two other Humphrey titles. This is a good book to encourage a reader to read on his own. With my seven year old, I read until the story was getting exciting and then laid the book down. Of course he picked it up and continued reading it himself. The suspense was too much.

Word cannot begin to say how insightful this author is. And still speaking to us many years after his death.

Once again Andrew Murray gives excellent counsel for spiritual growth. Every believer needs help along the way and Absolute Surrender is a great tool to use as a springboard. The message is meaty and to be taken in with the intent of life transformation! As Jesus lived His life in absolute surrender to Father God, so must we, and this book points the way!

THIS IS THE MOST WONDERFUL BOOK I HAVE EVER FOUND OTHER THAN Andrew Murray,THE POWER OF Intercession. I suggest the whole world would Understand the Bible A whole lot clearer if they just read Andrew Murray Books. What A wonderful Evnagelist he was.

This book was truly insightful and should be used as a tool to assist all who strives to improve their Christian walk.

Right up there near Brother Lawrence's "The Practice of the Presence of God" (free online at the Practice Gods Presence web site) are the wonderful works of Andrew Murray. "Absolute Surrender" is a classic in every sense.

These gifted children of God have a way of restating, enlivening, and magnifying the very words of Our Lord and do greatly glorify Our Father.

"Auntie Mame is the American Alice in Wonderland. It is also, incidentally, one of the most important books in my life. Its witty Wildean phrases ring in my mind, and its flamboyant characters still enamor me. Like Tennessee Williams, Patrick Dennis caught the boldness, vitality, and iridescent theatricality of modern American personality. In Mame?s mercurial metamorphoses we see American optimism and self-invention writ large."--Camille Pagli.

I could not agree more with Camille. I just wish that P. Dennis and T. Williams could have combined and written AUNTIE MAME AND BIG DADDY IN WONDERLAND.

What a funny book! I just read it for the first time (after letting it languish on my bookshelf for something like 2 years) and couldn't put it down. I hesitate to give away any of the plot - it's best read for yourself - but trust me, it's HILARIOUS! The only drawback is that the writing seems sort of overwraught in places (i.e. descriptions of people yelling and screaming at each other when it seems only a small tiff might have transpired in real life) but it hardly matters. It's a fun read.

This is an extraordinarily funny novel by Patrick Dennis about a woman, who-despite a lot of mishaps conquers her life and never gives in or up. There is a slight supposition that the author pours a lot of autobiographical parts into this novel,which is especially notable in the sequel of this book "around the world with auntie Mame". His portrayal of Mame let her become the prototype of human optimism,who is able to master any kind of situation, fate or illfate, good or bad,which life can bring. She is simply the super woman as regards survival. Auntie Mame should be compusery reading for all disappointed and depressed of this world.

I have read this book several times over the years, and find something funny or poignant that I missed each time I have read it. Also, the movie with Rosalind Russel is a gem among gems. (FORGET the musical "Mame" that Lucille Ball did!!! It is the pits!!!)

Auntie Mame is just the sort of novel that leaves you dancing for more. I was first introduced to Auntie Mame through the Rosalind Russell film, which is just wonderful. You can imagine how pleased I was to find this book and to know that the adventures went even further than the film. After reading this book, I became so attached to Mame and Patrick that I felt like they were old freinds and I carried the book around with me at all times. They were there when ever I needed to be cheered up or simply bored and there was no one to talk to. Auntie Mame's exploits while extreme are totally believable and you get a distinct feeling for the time period and how it was a time of innocence and innovation. Patrick Dennis has gained a prominent place on my bookshelf.