Bean Books

Do not shy away from this book because of its length (or because of the Oprah sticker!). It's a fantastic story and when you're finished reading, you'll wish it had been even longer. It's true. This book is on my list of all-time favorites as is Lamb's earlier work, She's Come Undone. I'm now eagerly awaiting his new novel which I've just ordered.

Every book lover simply must discover Wally Lamb.

I was intimidated by the length of the book but when my sister told me she read it twice I figured there must be something to it. I love this book and I didn't want it to end. At some point I thought I knew where the story was going....WRONG! The ending completely fooled me.
Read it and enjoy!

Great book, I loved it start to finish. I am a nurse and thing this book really gives a great view into psych problems for those not exposed to it, and a view of what people with different disabilities have to deal with.

But it's worth it.

It took me over 2 years to read this book. I struggled with not just with the length of the book - but also with the narration. I admit I didn't admire Dominick - I even disliked his character, and couldn't even bring myself to read more than a few paragraphs at times. But after midway in the novel, the tone picks up and somehow putting the book down is too hard. It wasn't an obligation to the author or to some higher power literary God - but insatiable curiousity of "the ending" and this gradual development of the main character spurred me to read more, to get to the ending which was all worth everything.

I can't say this is my favorite book - but will it be one of the ones I really like? Yeah. Because Wally Lamb put himself in his novel, put himself in his characters, made life tough for them and then when they persevered they survived and were better for it: they lived after being emotionally dead for a period. A regeneration. And that's what's cool about him. And this book.

I was close to tears when I read the last two pages. It was all so poetically beautiful that I didn't want it to end. And it didn't in a way - it only began.

I recommend this book even if you find you can't finish it immediately. I'm not sure if anyone really could. It's worth a try like everything in life, and when you finish this, you'll be happy you did.

The book was pretty interesting,unfortunately it is a bit too long. I myself struggled to finish the book. I described the book "like riding in an old roller coaster" because it takes you to a long preparation for what is going on between the two brothers. It's like falling in line and you're so excited, then once you're in the ride getting past to the first peak it just doesn't go fast enough, and the ride just struggles to get up to the next peak. Then the excitement is lost. Basically while reading, I waited for something more exciting to happen and when I get to that point where excitement comes, it just didn't last. A few more hundreds of pages then it just takes you far enough to make you interested, but it always leaves you hanging. The ending is almost more of a fairy tale type, where he "lives happily ever after" type of thing. Maybe if he woke up from all this as a nightmare and realize that he is actually in the mental institution instead, probably my reaction would have been different.

I would somewhat recommend this book to some who have patience for reading, but not for some who is look to just pass the time.

If you've seen the movie and were disappointed, don't neglect the book for that reason! This book is a great example of its genre and is historical fiction at its best. The movie was almost embarassingly bad and was no credit to this book.

Enjoyed the book. Easy to read. Read this book even if you have seen the movie. Gives you more details and makes you understand the time in history better. I highly recommend this book for leisure reading.

I liked the book much more than the movie. I don't think the movie did much justice for the story...

I really liked this book. I found myself swept away in the moments. It was quick-paced and dramatic. With a long book like this, I usually find myself getting bored with the characters and I begin anticipating a quick wrap up. But, I found myself covering the bottom on the pages so I wouldn't skip to the bottom to find out quickly what had happened... I was savoring the drama. I just purchased my next book by the same author and I hope I get the same results.

Having Studied History in College and recently watched the film of "The Other Boleyn Girl", i was very impressed with the book and found it hard to put it down, it had very vivid images and one could almost imagine themselves in each scene looking on as the story unfolded. Very enjoyable read and gave a great insight into the the Boleyn's as a family.

Monster, by Walter Dean Myers, is to say the least an interesting book. The stories protagonist, Steve, is put on trial for murder because he "aided in a robbery that led to the murder". The book is written mostly in a format for a movie, for Steve writes the movie script to help him cope with the trial and the trauma that is occurring inside of him. In the end, Steve is found innocent and released, but Myers is never clear if Steve really did assist in the robbery, leaving the reader to have to choose for themselves if Steve is truly guilty or innocent.
I thought this book was overall a good read. The drama of the storyline mixed with the mystery of Steve's actions certainly kept me fascinated from cover to cover. The idea to write in a movie script was a very creative idea on Myer's part, and he should at least deserve credit for originality. My only quarrel with the book was the characters. It was not that I had any problems with the character's personalities, rather their lack of personality. As I started reading, I wanted to like Steve, or hate him, or have some definite opinion on how I should feel about him. But as the book went on, I found myself having to reach harder and harder to grasp Steve's character, until I realized that it was not me who had the problem. It was Steve, whose defining characteristics were as flat as the pages that they were written on. When the court's decision finally came, I wanted to know very badly what the verdict was, but I later found that I would not have been to upset if the verdict went either way. I did not care how the book ended, or how it affected Steve, I just wanted to know what the ending was.
If Mr. Myers reads this, I would like to tell him that he is a great writer and a very creative thinker. Just next time, remember to make the protagonist more human, so that readers will be able to "feel what he is feeling" easier. If you master that, your books will truly be great.

I am a high school English teacher and I have struggled with finding books students would read. I found just such a book with Monster. I had several who took the book home the first night and finished it. My students begged for more reading time in class because they didn't get to read as much as they wanted to the night before.

Quick read, excellent story. Steve Harmon is a 16-year-old on trial for the murder of a drug store owner during a robbery attempt. He is accused of being a look-out for the robbery. The reader knows essentially what the jurors know - except for brief, descriptive scenes of Steve's incarceration. Steve comes from a loving stable home. He's an aspiring film student and a loving older brother. The impact of how quickly and how terribly things can go wrong is very strong. An excellent story for teens - neither condescending or boring - but one adults can appreciate as well.

Monster is an amazing book, because, at least for me, it transports you to a world you don't see every day. One in the courtroom, one in jail, on on the streets. The unique way it was written kept my interest, and made it feel like you were sitting right there. The dialogue was awesome, and it was all written in dialect that seemed realistic. Read this book...you will love it! Or if you don't love, you will at least be fascinated by how the main character's fear is so real, you can feel it.

Monster is the riveting tale of a young man on trial for murder. His attorney stresses that he needs to stand out from the other thugs on trial, as he struggles with his own sense of self. Steve narrates in a unique way, a collection of train-of-though style journal writing and screen plays of the events. He builds it all into a movie in his head, and on paper to help him sort out what's going on around him.

[...]

For me there is nothing better than listening to a book on CD while chewing up a lot of asphalt during a road trip. I discovered this little gem 'Ender's Shadow, at the local library and became an addict to Ender, Bean, and the Shadow series as a result. For those of you that think you have to read or listen to Ender's Game first, don't worry Bean and his story stand up all by themselves with no problem.
The author 'Scott Card' has often stated that he believes his books are best when the story is spoken. No argument here. He uses multiple well known narrators including one of the very best Scott Brick. Fair warning is to be given however. Once you listen to Scott Card's Ender and Shadow series on audio CD, you will never feel the same about actually reading a book again.

If you just finished reading Ender's Game, go to this one next as was recommended to me. This is the story of Bean, smallest member of Dragon army. The tale takes place during the same events as Ender's Game but from Bean's perspective. Loved it. Would have given in 5 stars but it took a little bit to get going. Enjoy!

This is one of the most OK books I've ever read. While it's not bad, I didn't really find it all that good either. Keep in mind that I'm a long way from Jr. High/High school, which is the age range this book is intended for. If that's your age range, it's a totally different book. Knowing the ending of this alternate view of Ender's Game, I think it would be especially important to make Bean a bit more likeable. He's genetically gifted, and judges every bad decision, and basically everybody besides Ender as stupid. I was pleased to find that Bean gained some humility, he eventually uses his brilliance to help other people. He still makes mistakes, and a character like Bean who criticizes and condemns others for being "stupid" seems likely to put himself through the same torture when he makes mistakes, yet he doesn't. Bean, right out of the toilet, is the most obnoxious character I've ever experienced a point of view through. I realize he's just a kid, but he's still the type I would encourage to play in the street.

Bean's family was the worst addition to this story, and there are some coincidences involved with that which could make your stomach turn, it did mine. There is some severe cheesiness, but overall, a relatively decent story. I wonder why a kid from the Netherlands would seem so much like a kid from the US. Why is almost every ultra smart kid in this story European or Euro-American? Why aren't there any major Chinese or other Asian characters in here? There seems to be such a lack of smart kids from outside of the US and Europe? Hmmm...no Africans, and the only god represented here is the Christian/Mormon one.Lack of interesting character and culture give this book a mediocre rating in my book. Science? As if, this is OSC...remember? Not for everybody.

I am amazed at all the positive feedback about this book. In Enders Game Card repeatly justifies the rigorous isolation and abondonment of Ender to achieve the type of commander needed to lead the final battle. But then in Enders Shadow Bean is able to replace Ender as commander without any of the trama that Ender was forced to endure. Bean is smart, clever and clearheaded "always" whereas Ender looks hesitant and overwrought, with Bean looking over his shoulder, he's been given the authority to decide if Ender is competent to lead or should he step in and take over command. Where does Bean get the experience to become Enders "supervisor?" I don't know but he is deemed fit enough with a couple months as a team leader to be fleet commander.

I think that Card has over time decided to "dumb down" Ender so that there can be remarks like "Bean is better than Ender." Enders Game was an emotional rollercoaster of deception, but Enders Shadow showed the greatest deception of Ender was by the author himself.

I just hope that Sherwood Smith doesn't deny Inda the way Card did Ender.

While this book is consistent with the Ender is God view, Bean is a separate and uniquely intriguing character. His childhood is about as far from fairy tale as one can get and still be a child-safe book. He's got a brain unparalleled in the known world, which must have been a daunting task for the author to describe well, but somehow Orson Scott Card succeeds.

I would recommend reading Ender's Game first, but you could potentially read this book as a stand alone novel and it would still be fine. The author has a lovely way of presenting things, even if the bad guys are as cheap a sci-fi trick as buggers.

I was a little reluctant about this book, but it turned out to be pretty good. Some corny stuff in it, overall though not bad.
Follows the story of a young girl, with six brothers, and what happens to her life when her widowed father takes on a new mysterious wife. And what she must do in order to get her family back, and how she deals with falling in love with a guy from the wrong side of the tracks (or the ocean).

First book in the Sevenwaters trilogy.

Marillier has crafted a gorgeous retelling of a Celtic fairytale. Lord Colum, an Irish widower, with six sons and a daughter, buries his grief at his beloved wife's death by throwing himself into fortifying his stronghold in order to withstand the endless attacks of the Britons.

Finbar believes that his father is too harsh and decides to help a wounded Briton escape from Colum's dungeon. He asks his young sister Sorcha, a gifted healer, to save the man's life. She does, but is soon forced to leave him on his own. He escapes into the forest, where he disappears.

Meanwhile, Colum remarries, but Sorcha's new step-mother is a witch, literally. When she discovers that she can't control Colum's children, she turns the sons into swans. Sorcha, hiding in the forest, is told by the fairy folk that she can save her brothers, but the task will be difficult and she must complete it without telling anyone what she is doing. The only way to break the spell is to weave a shirt for each brother out of nettles. If she utters a single sound before the task is complete, her brothers will be trapped in their animal forms forever.

After being brutally raped, Sorcha is captured by the older brother of the Briton whose life she saved. Because of a trinket she carries, Red knows that she has met his brother. He vows to keep her with him until she speaks to him about his brother.

Sorcha will not speak, as to do so will doom her brothers. Despite the pain caused by the nettles, as well as various other threats to her health and safety, Sorcha continues to weave the shirts and to keep silent. Finally, Sorcha is forced to make a choice between saving her beloved brothers or the man who has protected her and who she has come to love.

Beautifully written.

Upon having devoured this book in a day and a half,
I was positively bedazzled, mystified and hypnotized, though not without some overpowering sense of loss. For because of these alluring, real characters and settings, I'd myself unwittingly become a part of them;
I felt, thought, and reacted as though everything, in some way or other, would directly affect ME.

I think this is why I'd been so taken with Daughter of the Forest;
though I very much appreciated the refreshing irony of a fairy tale having dark undertones, it was still difficult for me to fully acknowledge the way the story ended, with its beloved characters each going their seperate ways, so different from traditional happily-ever-after's.

Whether I found this part of the story depressingly bleak or not, it still is one of the most enchanting works of fiction I've come across.
I Could not recommend it enough.

this is one of my favorite books in the entire world! i first picked this in grade 9 or 10 and to this day it remains one of my favorite and most highly recommended books. i think that marillier is wonderful with words. after reading the first paragraph of this book i was enthralled. i've loved faeries all my life, but after reading this book i became interested in celtic culture and started reading up on it. the characters are all very well done. sorcha is a strong, resiliant woman that you thoroughly enjoy reading about, though my personal favorite character is finbar. i have given this book to both my mother and grandmother and aunt and they all loved it. this is a definite purchase!

This novel is one of the few books that has emotionally touched me. I wouldn't classify this book as entertainment but rather as an experience - an emotional journey with its protagonist that despite the historical setting and the element of magic is so grounded in human realities.

The story is set in pagan times when the tension between the Brits and the Irish was just brewing. Amidst this political tension is a far greater force - the spirit world of the Irish forest that plays with the lives of seven gifted siblings. Sorcha is the seventh daughter of a seventh son and she possesses the power of healing. When her widowed father marries the mysterious lady Oonagh her brothers are turned into swans and Sorcha has to save them by weaving shirts of the poisonous starwort plant that stings and disfigures her hands. Most importantly she cannot speak until she finishes her task.

This novel is Sorcha's story. It recounts the hardships she faced alone in the forest. The terrible experience of loneliness, of privation and abuse that makes the reader suffer with her (I cried on three occasions). However it also recounts Sorcha's fateful discovery of love in the most unlikely place and is therefore a tender love story of two people who have to reconcile their loyalties and let fate take its course.

The only flaw I found in the book is that with so much sorrow and challenges imposed upon the protagonists, the novel ends like a traditional fairy tale on a happy note. I found it difficult to accept. However this element can be forgiven as the novel also ends with a lot of questions about the other characters. Who is the mysterious figure lurking in Sorcha's vision? Where has Finbar (her brother) gone? Will Diarmid and Cormack return? What of the lady Oonagh?

I found this book difficult to put down and contradictorily wanted to prolong the reading experience and get to the end at the same time. It's one of the best books I have read and would recommend it to all. Can't wait to read the second book. Too bad it's not available in my country.

I should preface my review with the fact that this is my first reading of Bujold and that I had read many reviews about this book before picking it up.

I really enjoyed the initial setting-up of the story and the tone that was set. However, immediately after this came a 'stretch out' where the prose dragged down the pace and the story slowed with extraneous detail.

Other reviews had mentioned this, and it was because of those reviews that I was prepared for such style, and I finished the book undeterred - which I am glad I did. The storyline is great, but 100 pages less, and the book would have been a much better fit for me.

This book was well written and had a very well developed, fascinating culture and belief system. Cazaril was an intruguing character. But, by the end I was struggling to finish it. I thought the ending was pretty predictable, and overall the book was perhaps a bit too short on action and excitement.

This is the anti-miles book. Miles does not participate, and the hero here seems to be almost his opposite in every way. He's painfully modest, and quite restrained. Fortunately, it turns out that this is one of the best books ever written by anyone. It totally rocks, in every way. If you've gotten this far, just buy this book now.

Lois Bujold is a brilliant writer. I loved the characters, flaws and all I became wrapped up in their lives. While I was listening everything around me disappeared. The Authors descriptions say so much in so few words. The story just picked me up and took me along. There are such strong relationships between so many of the characters it seemed to add magic to the story.

I would have to say this story is now up there my favourites of all my listening.

Wow! Now THIS is a novel! After having just slogged halfway through and then abandoned an epic fantasy in which the "heroes" of the book are so unlikable and stupid and narcissistic that I was praying for the "bad guys" to win and slaughter them, The Curse of Chalion is immensely refreshing.

Likable main characters! Likable supporting cast! Beautiful storytelling! A mature and believable plot line! Solid world-building! Amazing!

I don't know how Bujold does it, but even the cliched parts are refreshing, and the evil villains are evil without my imagining them twirling their mustaches and tying damsels in distress to railroad tracks. The writing is superb, the characters so deftly drawn and handled. Each sentence is important, nothing is wasted.

This book shows how conventional elements can be taken and made into something new and fresh and exciting. The storyline itself is conventional: a battle-scarred, honorable man has been chosen by fate to save a kingdom from enemies within the royal court. And yet, at the same time, the storyline is not at all conventional: the hero is canny and circumspect, there are no raging battles, and except for the ending no spectacular mystical pyrotechnics.

The characters are conventional and yet not conventional. The usual cast of spies, kings, queens, princes, princesses, warriors, and "wizards" of a sort are all present, and yet each one is unique, fresh, original. These characters are ALIVE, they are real, they are themselves. The plotline makes sense, is not convoluted or inane.

Altogether, a wonderful book, wonderfully written, with an excellent, compelling plot, a satisfying conclusion, and marvelous and lovely characters. Wonderful book. I wish there were more out there like this one.

What a pleasant surprise. I read Isle of Palms (2 1/2-3 stars)so I was not expecting to love this work by Ms. Frank so much. The flow of her voice is gripping. There were times I wanted to take a break but found I could not put this book down. The tales of the Hamilton family in 1963 and 1999-2000 were enthralling. I feel Ms. Frank handled the good and bad times of the 1960s very well; with great respect and honor for all those involved. The intensity of family was a wonder to behold. I also found it interesting how Ms. Frank told the story of the entire Hamilton family but yet was able to decide which family's members to keep a mystery (yet fully a part of the story). I do not usually "jump ahead" in my readings but this story was so gripping I found myself inpatient to find out what becomes of the family at certain times of their lives. Thank you Ms. Frank for introducing to us and sharing the Hamilton family with us.

This was the first time i read a book by this author and it will be my last. For some reason i couldn't get into this book, i'm used to contemporary romance and this didn't have it. I feel bad that i only gave it 1 star but some other readers might like it!

Couldn't put this book down and you know a book is really good when reading it makes you laugh out loud!! I have become addicted to Dorthea Benton Frank's writing. I have visited the areas that she writes about and reading her books makes me what to go back to South Carolina as soon as I can.

My neighbor gave this book to take along to the beach. She insisted that I would love it and that it was a great beach read. Well, she was right. Sullivan's Island was a wonderful, moving story. There were bits of humorous moments that kept the story on a lighter tone. Sometimes I couldn't help but laugh out loud and at times I wanted to cry. The characters were seemed real to me and they were people that I could relate to. This book was consistently interesting, and it was hard to put down.

Sullivan's Island is truly a wonderful novel that is straight from the heart about family life. Ms. Frank's real gift is evident in her ability to create such a believable and likeable heroine. The novel is set in the Deep South and if you have ever traveled and spent time in that beautiful area this story will bring back memories of the ocean and marshes of the South. The book is full of the local color and flavor of Charleston's barrier islands and the author does a wonderful job of evoking the laid-back atmosphere of this area. All in all, it was an entertaining read that is ideal for an easy at the beach. I'd gladly recommend this book to all my friends.

The ending of the book just left the reader hanging. After so much emotion, there should have been a more sold conclusion. Did they get married? Did they have children? What did they do for employment? I wanted to know. After I have invested time in a book, I want a complete story. I also wanted to know more about the villians. Their capture was just sort of passed off as an aside.

There were some things in the book that annoyed me. Millia kept doing impulsive things which could have gotten her killed. How did she survive this long anyway. Diez was the one who made it all happen for her, then she hates him. The action which separated them didn't make sense either.

An epilogue was badly needed. I felt cheated after investing so much emotion in the book.

This is one of the best she's written since after she wrote Kill and Tell. This story grabbed me from the first chapter. It made me angry, it made me cry. It made me go kiss all my own kids and say a prayer for all that I have. I totally forgot that this was fantasy while reading this work. This author is sensational. This book is why she is my favorite. She did not disappoint.

The first 100 pages and the last 80 were full of grieving and sorrow. I was crying more than I liked. Milla's infant in stolen from her and she is searching for 10 years for him. Then she meets Diaz an assassin who helps her. With his help she gets answers and they develop a relationship. This part of the story was good. I loved the Diaz character. There were a couple of lines about Diaz that intrigued me, which follow. "women tended to be afraid of him. He tried never to be rough, but nevertheless there was a fireceness to his lovemaking that seemed to intimidate them." (P 127). "Diaz wasn't taking care of her out of the goodness of his heart. He was taking care of her the way a wolf cared for its wounded mate." (p 364). So, Diaz was interesting, but I had other problems with the book. During Milla's search for her son, she put herself in danger and nearly got killed three times because she was too emotionally unstable to act in a safe manner. I also had problems with the author who had Diaz do something which caused Milla to hate him (p 317). I felt like the author couldn't think of a better way to separate them and used this. It was out of character for Diaz. He could read people and would have known her feelings. The reason he gave later for doing it did not make sense to me.

Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: six. Setting: 1993 Mexico and 2003 El Paso, Texas. Copyright: 2003. Genre: romantic suspense.

The first chapter of Cry No More sets the stage for what will eventually be a heartwrenching tale. When readers meet the heroine, Milla Boone, she is living in Mexico with her husband, a surgeon who is there on sabbatical with a group of American doctors. Milla is taking care of her six-week-old son when he is taken from her, while she's left to fight for her life. For the next decade, Milla is consumed with finding her missing child. She spearheads a group called Finders, which is dedicated to finding missing persons. All the while her lost child is at the forefront of her mind. Milla will do anything to find him, and the peace of mind that she feels his return might bring.

Cry No More has all the makings of a tearjerker, and was deliciously fulfilling and well written. But I didn't cry. I came close once. But for me the story was more enjoyable and engrossing than emotional. I rooted for Milla, for her quest for answers, for her to find her son, for her to be able to move on with her life, but I didn't pity her or empathize with her. She seemed to strong and solid for that. As a character, I don't think she'd want my pity--or my tears for that matter. Or maybe I'm just made of sterner stuff than the typical romance reader. Regardless, Cry No More will take you on a journey that is both enjoyable and difficult to turn away from. Read it when you've got a long weekend ahead of you to become engrossed in the story.

This is my first book by this author and I couldn't put it down. I especially liked Diaz - talk about your strong silent type! Yum!

Author Karl Keating is founder and president of Catholic Answers, an organization designed to promote Catholicism and separate fact from fiction about the Church in order to provide greater clarity to what the essentials of the faith are. Originally an attorney, he was disturbed to discover information promulgated by so-called fundamentalists that was not only inaccurate, but often malicious in its description of Catholicism.

CATHOLICISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM: THE ATTACK ON "ROMANISM" BY "BIBLE CHRISTIANS", was written in 1988 and has enjoyed continued success among both Catholics seeking to better articulate and defend their beliefs, and non-Catholics, who have hungered for an accurate depiction of what Catholicism actually is.

Keating's book is a thoughtful, well-written examination of the Catholic faith and provides a reasoned, yet respectful refutation of fundamental (pun-intended) misconceptions. Drawing from the scriptural foundation of Catholic beliefs (a foundation often denied by opponents, Keating examines comprehensively issues including: Salvation, baptism, purgatory, the papacy, the Mass and Eucharist, Marian beliefs. He does so without bile or rancor, eschewing the appeal to anti-intellectualistic fear and understanding so typical of his opponents.

The book provides great insight and helps the reader to understand and articulate what it means to be a Christian and a Catholic. Keating provides apologetics in the best sense of the term.

This book came from heaven! Very instrumental in my conversion. It does a good job of exposing those trying to expose the "Evil Roman Church" as well as explaining Catholic doctrines.

It clears up hisorical misconceptions, including many found in Lorraine Boettner's hate book, Roman Catholicism. This book shows, with legit evidence, that history is always on the side of the Catholic Church.

One point that really hit the nail straight on was how fundamentalists consider doctrines like Eucharist, Confession Purgatory to be "inventions of Rome", yet they don't consider their doctrines such as once saved always saved, sola scriptura, and sola fide to be inventions? (all of those came in the last 500 years).

Overall a good read for Catholic apologists in training as well as Fundamentalists.

One of the BEST!! So many people have converted to Catholicism because of this book. Many have come to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Catholic faith because this book clears up all the misconceptions people have heard and because it reveals the truth of Catholicism right from the horses mouth. A must read!

CARL KEATING HAS PROVIDED SOLID ANSWERS WITH HISTORICAL AND SCRIPTURAL BACK-UP TO ATTACKS ON THE CATHOLIC FAITH THAT HAVE BEEN PERPETRATED, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, BY FUNDAMENTAL EVANGELICALS. AS ONE WHO HAS BEEN HAMMERED, UNJUSTLY BY FOLKS OF THIS PERSUASION, I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR HIS, IN DEPTH, INSIGHTS.

I MIGHT ADD THAT, WITH A FEW EDUCATED ANSWERS FROM KEATING'S BOOK, I'VE MANAGED TO "SHUT DOWN" SOME OF THE SAME OLD, TIRED, POINTED COMMENTS FROM ONE OF MY MOST ANTAGONISTIC OPPONENTS.

THANK YOU MR. KEATING FOR YOUR DETAILED, PLAIN LANGUAGE EXPLAINATIONS OF THE FAITH THAT SO MANY OF US HOLD DEAR, AND JUST DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT TO WARD OF THESE EVANGELICAL ATTACKS.

JACK MEYER
DANVILLE, NH

This is a clearly written introduction to Roman Catholic apologetics. Keating explains what apologetics is, identifies the top traditional criticisms of Roman Catholicism by Protestants, more specifically fundamentalists, and how to rebut them, and finishes with a very high level "so you think you want to be an apologist" chapter and a chapter recommending other books for further reading if you want to get serious.

I found it a bit dated in his examples and who his focus is on. For example, he spends quite a bit of time on Jimmy Swaggert. Clearly in the 1980's he was prominent, but just as clearly he is irrelevant today. I would like to see an update on who the current cast of characters/ organizations are that sponsor and promote anti-catholicism, but I guess you can get that from Keating's website. In any of the 5 states I have lived I have never experienced the anti-catholic protesting and pamphleteering he writes about as if it is commonplace. Again, maybe I'm just lucky. More often the opportunity for apologetics arises at family and friend informal gatherings when the topic turns to religion. Not with a fundamentalist banging on my front door.

He consistently claims a large percentage of fundamentalist converts are former Catholics but I don't see that where I live. My experience with fundamentalist/bible-church types is not that they have any strong animosity or are stridently anti-catholic but that they are frankly just woefully uneducated on the Christian religion (as are many catholics) beyond what the bible and their particular pastor/priest says. They also tend to be from other Protestant faiths more often than not in my observation. A good bit of this book should help a Catholic educate these folks on the church, and probably educate the Catholic on his own Church as well. I would also recommend The Faith Explained by Leo Trese as an excellent and easily read apologetic.

MacKayla lane travels to Ireland in order to seek a very important book to the fae, a book that is a million years old of the blackest magic ever. MacKayla is pursued by fae assassins and is forced to work with Jericho Barrons, a man that is as mysterious as he is hot. And that is not where her man trouble ends she's also pursued by V'lane a fae that can turn arousal into obsession. The world of the fae and the human race are growing closer together will MacKayla be able to protect that boundary or will evil get the upper hand?

Hmmm...yeah...okay...listen I have been a KMM fan for a very long time and I totally respect her need for stretching her creative muscle and venture forth. And for those that are new to KMM...this book and even series may entertain. There are elements here that just didn't work for me...personally and that is my issue (such as stories told in 1st person) and I know that those that enjoy this story are going to not take kindly to my opinion. However this story was a tad bit flat, there was a lot of potential here but yeah, flat is the only way to describe this read. Well, that an a wee bit of violence...combined with a sassier than likable heroine. So, if you're a long time fan, don't go looking for any of the magic of her Scottish series...you're not going to find that here. As long as you're willing to have an open mind and you can suspend reality you will be entertained.

I was intrigued by this new venture by Moning. I've thoroughly enjoyed her Highlander series and couldn't wait to start the Fever books. The ending of the first book left me frustrated but I immediately picked up book 2. The slow pace of book 2 on the main plot points was distracting but enough newness was sprinkled in that I kept reading. However there are too many unresolved issues to keep me going from here. I'm ok with a series and the continuation of characters but there has to be some resolution for that satisfaction I want when I close a book. I'm not getting that with the Fever books.

As for character growth...I do like Mac but she's more likely to stumble into an answer than deduce it logically. That gets boring after a while.

The story continues right where it left off on the first book. There was no wrap up, no conclusion. Lets just say I immediately bought the third book when I bought the second book knowing there wouldn't be a conclusion with this book either.

Mac and Barrons are still working together. They are not too friendly to each other. Barrons is NOT a man. He's a something that Mac can't figure out but he keeps her safe so she'll deal with it.

Mac was investigating the Dark area near the bookstore and found a house. She found some of her sisters stuff in the house. She felt a pulling towards a warehouse behind the house. Inside she found a portal to the unseelie world being opened by The Lord Master, aka Alina's boyfriend. She's discovered there by Malluce the vampire. Barron's falls in and saves her. She ends up stabbing Mallue with the spear. (This might have happened in the first book.) Malluce is expected dead but there's no proof. Mac starts seeing a grimreaper like ghost thing following her around. One night it attacks her and it's Malluce. He kidnaps her, brutally beats her inches from death. Barrons finally comes to her rescue nearly too late. She askes him to feed her the half eaten Rhino-Boy off the slab. It has healing powers. Within 10 minutes she's fully healed and nearly as strong as Barrons. They pursue after Malluce. She wants to fight him. Barrons says ok but ends up jumping in to behead Malluce because Mac was enjoying herself too much. The second book ends in the same fashion: no ending.

I am glad that I stuck with the series. In this book, Mac has grown up a lot and learned a lot more. She is still looking for the book with Jericho. But she is learning that everyone is playing for their own agenda. She starts trying to pay everyone to get to the book herself. Which blows up in her face when they come back on her breaking promises and such.

It does get side tracked. They are after the book, but it seems every time they turn around, something else is getting the attention. And, of course, fae V'Lane tries to get in her pants at every chance encounter. On one of these encounters, he takes her to faerie.

I do have to say that I don't know what to think of Jericho. It seems like there is going to be some kind of relationship besides teacher and student. But he is also such a jerk.

I am excited to see how the next book does.

Seriously, Moning is Awesome. I was really hesitant in buying the first one in the series, but once I started I loved it. It sucks you in and you can't get enough. All her books are great, especially the highlander series.