Gregory Books

This book is very well written and helpful. It gives a good Christian insite into the effects of emotional abuse. If you have been emotionally abused in your life I recommend this book.

The topic of emotional abuse is one that must be addressed in our time. Physical abuse is highlighted quite often but not emotional abuse. Everyone should read this book. It will change the course of many lives.

This has been such a great book for me. It was such a big eye opener for me. I knew that my life as a child left me scarred, but without any physical signs of abuse I felt that maybe it was all in my head. It was hard to read and realize that the emotional abuse I have suffered still has a great impact on me today. I loved how they spoke of God and seeking Him in your road to recovery. This book is so well written and it's easy to understand. It has identified the different types of abuse and I can see the type I myself have suffered from. Even if you have never suffered emotional abuse I would still recommend this book.

I've been reading a lot of self-help books, but have rarely been so moved to recommend them to others. I found this one uncommonly wise, kind, and helpful and sensible--you come away
with a grounded, helped feeling...hopeful, too. I'm not crazy about the word "empowering," but this book is empowering, I think. If you're looking for help in this area, this book is worth reading. (I know Bill Blass used to say in those magazine perfume ads that he didn't like people (women) who thought they could be helped by self-help books--remember?--but I don't care! This is a truly good one!) If you are in pain and you suspect past emotional abuse might be a factor contributing to it, please check this book out. You might even be moved to pass it on to friends--I am already plotting to purchase additional copies!

This book is an excellent resource to help a person recognize the difference between criticism and emotional & verbal abuse. Criticism is normally given IN LOVE, there is an enormous difference between criticism & abuse. This book will also help anyone who was previously in an abusive relationship to be able to recognize some of the common traits all emotional abusers and potential emotional abusers exhibit and steer clear of another abusive relationship. I even found instances in my own life where I was the one doing the controlling through emotional abuse & have been able to discontinue that behavior through self examination & prayer. Excellent book!

OK, so perhaps you don't need this book, but you'll enjoy it anyway!
The best review and tutorial on clusters available, this book is also funny
enough that you probably don't want to read it in a quiet environment.

As other reviewers have said, this is an excellent book and is a *must have* for anyone exploring practically any aspect of cluster computing. Even beyond the quality of the information conveyed, the writing style is wonderful and the author makes an otherwise abstract and cumbersome topic quite readable and quite approachable. This book is regarded as the Clustering Bible worldwide, and I've seen copies placed prominently in the bookshelves of individuals in Beijing, Tokyo, Paris, and the US. Microsoft's own Cluster Server was codenamed 'Wolfpack', as an honerable reference to the cover art of this specific book.

Aaron McKee
Clustering Products Manager
TurboLinux Inc.

In a subject which is probably considered dull Pfeister has written a book which is actually entertaining as well as informative.If you are new to high perforamnce computing this book will begin from the basics and teach you all the way.If you are a pro you still will find it a great refernce material worth a read.You are bound to find something new in it.

This book provides a terrific introduction to the hardware, software, and systems architecture of parallel computing, candidly discussing the issues and trade-offs in various approaches. The emphasis is on clusters, but there is lots of information on the whole continuum from single processor machines to SMPs to clusters to distributed computing. Pfister will leave you with a better understanding of things like how SMP machines keep processor caches coherent, what the differences are between SMP, NUMA, and distributed computing, how various cluster products work, real world cluster issues (like system administration), programming models used in parallel computing, and why programming code that runs efficently on these architectures is usually the hard part.

The book is somewhat dated - nothing about Beowolf for example - but the concepts remain valid. Many of the issues are illustrated with reference to mainframe clusters, especially IBM's 390 sysplex, which I found particularly interesting since I don't have much experience with these systems.

The style is highly readable and informal, but not insultingly non-technical. The book is loaded with opinion and insights - it is not a dry textbook of issues related to clustering. Highly recommended for anyone in the business of creating information systems that need to run fast.

While struggling through this book, I spend more time thinking about the characters of this author than about cluster. He has this unique style of telling a subject like a friend telling you a story and it goes like : I am going to tell you this .. but first let me explain why I tell you this .. and now I want to tell you how I am going to tell you this .. and finally this is this, believe you me .. OK, truth is - I lied, it is actually this ... and on and on. He successfully made "this" simple and understandable to a certain degree, but the "how I, why I" portion mix with some high IQ humours did confuse me no end - though it is fun. I find that at some stage I have to use a finger to point to a key sentence and said " OK, Pfister is going to tell me this - lets see how" - then at some stage I will have to judge whether he has finished what he promised and is already on to new stuff. And, he does choose some words that I suspect is more often used in classical literature - rococco, dischotomies, litany, etc - which although harmlessly infrequent, does add some irritation to the already burden mind. All things considered, going through this book is fun. In case you are one of those like me that is quite lost and struggle a fair bit, I did find chapter 6 fairly readable - so perhpas you want to starts from there and work backward/forward if other chapters frustrated you a fair bit.

Great Book by an author who was born into the game and has the unique abilty to show blacks involvement with Wallstreet since day one.

You never know where you're going unless you know where you came from! I just started the book, and I wish my finance professors had incorporated this into the otherwise impeccable curriculum at Clark Atlanta. Very interesting read. Every person on wall street should read it, it's not only black history but AMERICAN history.

I found the information in this book very informative and surprising that black participation in finance went back as far as it did. Stories of black stockbrokers and mutual fund salesmen in the 1950's to the investment bankers of today, records the slow but meaningful progress made on the Street in the last few decades. Hopefully, the progress will continue....

This book was an impulse buy for me, I have always had little interest in Wall Street but my son works in the securities industry so I thought I would read this for some background. I am very glad I did because I did not realize how deep African American history in the financial world is. I enjoyed the stories of people like Philip Jenkins and John Patterson, early pioneers who deserve greater recognition for their contributions. I think that this book is an important contribution of both African American and Wall Street history and does a good job of illuminating aspects about the history of finance that went unrecognized for far too long.

This book fills in the missing pages of Wall Street's History. It documents how African-Americans overcame racism and other barriers to become successful in the financial securities industry. This should be part of every business school's curriculum.

We heard about this great book from friends, bought it, and then bought five additional copies for our children. Common sennse ideas, but what we don't think about in our everyday lives, that can save big dollars over the course of short time.
I'd recommend this as a fine gift for your friends and family.
Also to be said, it's easy, quick and down to earth.

This book is one of the best thing out there right now if you are not sure how to improve on your spending. And yes, because you will save money, you will be making better choices. The book is an easy-read, but intelligently written. It is a quick-read book, but very informative. It will not waste your time. I really liked the book. I found the book very valuable to me in every practical way. The author is extremely well-written and you will understand what he is talking about even if you may never have done the things he talks about. You will not alienated. You should take his advice to heart and start implementing his suggestions right away. Also, you don't have read everything. You can skip around and read what interests you. This book will definitely make you smarter. It is amazing. Very well-written. Everyone should have a copy.

Read this book on vacation. Great read. I never buy a personal savings/finance book- I find that ironic and prefer the library for a book on how to save money, but I bought this one and it was well worth it. Common sense tone and pacing of book make this immediately applicable where you don't have to write things down to save money and later forget. you start saving right away. Surprised . Real find this book was.

After reading "The Millionaire Next Door" (one of my all-time favorites!), "Living Rich by Spending Smart" was an outstanding read. I really enjoyed the financial wisdom shared within this book. It really is amazing to think how simple it is to save significant money and yet how careless we can be throughout our days and months. This book contains some excellent tips on how to be smarter with your daily expenses, while still continuing to live an enjoyable lifestyle.

I'm age 70. Living Rich and Spending Smart has opened my eyes as to how much money I have thrown away. I hate this book. It makes me ashamed of myself. On the other hand, this knowledge will make living entirely on Social Security a lot easier.

This book is very touching to read if you are a mother. It reminds you of all the special reason you are a great mom to your child.

My mom was quite touched to get this. Lots of feel good messages to make you look like a great son or daughter.

I paged through this book quickly one day & thought of the many similiarites that I had with the relationship with my son. The thought of the book kept coming back to me. My son is at college out of state so I ordered the book and after making some personal notes on a few of the pages, I sent it to him for his 20th birthday. I received a phone call the day he received the package and in a very soft voice, choking back tears I heard "Mom, I got the book - I want to tell you how much it meant to me". I teared up at his response. It is a Wonderful Book! It makes you laugh. It makes you cry. I think it is a must for a son and/or mother to have. What a tribute to sons and mothers alike~

Reading this book made me have a lump in my throat and have tears in my eyes. See how we shape the lives of our children.

As a mom of two boy's ages 4 and 7 I need to let you know how truly I enjoyed this books "reasons". Growing up haveing a wonderful mom I saved so many memories and things that I would pass on to a GIRL. Well as we all know we don't get what we always want out of life. When I came across this book i was surprised to see mom and son in the same sentence. I watch for commercials, books, sayings, even school activates that focus on a realashoinships between a mom and son....they are few and far between. I have grabbed on to my boys and try my best to be a great mom and friend. It was so nice to read this book i plan to keep it and share it with the boys some day. Thank you so much for writing about this and i hope to see more books on the same subject.I would gladly give this book a five.
A mom in michigan (with 2 boys)

I've seen signs up in my local lab (when I went for blood tests) about the HPV virus. I'm guessing there are a lot of educational intitiatives out there. It's about time! Henderson, Yasgur and Warshowsky were out there educating women a couple of years ago. This is a really readable book and very informative. I hope that when women see the sign hanging in their labs, they'll turn to this book for information.

Dr. Henderson opened up my eyes to a major health problem in this country today--the HPV virus. I learned what it is, how it can be prevented, and how it can be treated. I was especially appreciative of Dr. Warshowsky's tips about holistic approaches, as I prefer to avoid medications and such whenever possible. I have three daughters in their teens and I have sat them down and talked to them about the virus. I asked them to read this book. The book, by the way, is very easy to read and they should have no problem understanding it. But I never felt "talked down to" by the authors either. I think every woman and teenager should read this!

Since the publication of this book, a spate of new books have come out discussing the HPV virus. It's great that this little-known condition has finally received some publicity! However, I would have to say that I still think this is the most reader-friendly and focused book around. I highly recommend it, and I give it to all my clients and patients who come in with the HPV virus. I hope that Henderson, Yasgur and co. publish more books on other medical topics.

For women who take the extra steps to understand and take responsibility for their own bodies (and their daughters'), this book is another Must Read. Since women bear the brunt of consequences for most STD's, as well as other reproductive issues, it pays to be as informed as possible. Dr.Dr. Henderson and company are to be commended for bringing this particular issue into the light and to the popular consciousness.

I want to tell people that I think this is a great book, but I don't think I can add anything original over what the other reviewers have already said. This is definitely clear and helpful and I've recommended it to a lot of friends. Kudos to all the authors, especially Warshowsky and his holistic chapter.

"Big Cicadas" is a pleasant surprise that stays with you long after you finish it. It reveals its story through short vignettes that capture the feel of a life lived in a small Pennsylvania community in its many facets and through subtle imagery that allows the reader to see the characters both as they see themselves and as others see them. Nothing ponderous here! Just a great read.

"Big Cicadas" is a modest but remarkably accomplished first novel. Gregory Miller renders the many facets of small-town life -- bright and dark, salutary and sinister -- with a skill that evokes Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio," and the author's talent for capturing the inner lives of young people took me back to Ray Bradbury's "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and Stephen King's "Stand By Me."

In Jay Jarvis, Miller has given us a believable and fascinating protagonist, a principled individualist reminiscent of Mersault in Albert Camus's "The Stranger." The central mystery -- why won't Jarvis sign a manifestly rational and benevolent petition? -- comes to a surprising and satisfying resolution.

So this is a novel with many influences -- but ultimately Miller transcends them to give us his own unique voice and vision. Readers of all literary tastes will fondly recall the hours they spent in Still Creek, Pennsylvania, with its suspenseful eddies and subtle currents.

Completing the school year for a teacher is a rewarding experience. The summer that follows is a time of renewal, self-exploration, and a time to pamper yourself in you own pleasures. Gregory Miller's first fiction venture was the greatest of these pleasures for this public school educator. Having dealt with the complexities of leaving my home in a small Pennsylvania town that really does not understand anything (nor does it want to know anything) outside of itself I can appreciate the views that Miller has presented. This is an excellent read I would recomend to anybody who has ever had to come to terms with being able to see outside the walls that their home has established for itself... I too look forward to future works of the author...

This debut work is remarkable in its simple charm and understated complexity. The rapid-fire chapters create quirky memorable, but beyond all else truly real characters. The life which Miller breathes into these creations is full and colorful and engaging. While the tale of small-town life, it holds a quality of relevance for anyone looking for answers or courage in the face of adversity. BIg Cicadas is a book to which I know I'll be returning on a regular basis.

I received a copy of Big Cicadas just after it hit the bookstore shelves. It went right into the stack on my desk, in the queue for summer reading but with about fifteen others ahead of it. Then the stack got knocked over, reshuffled and BC wound up on top... I wish it had happened sooner.

Reading Big Cicadas was my first diversion in several years from biography, historical fiction or action/adventure. But then, Big Cicadas has elements of all three in a homey, thoroughly enjoyable small town fashion.

It is the biography of every stranger who ever settled in a small town where everyone knew everyone else and where visitors were more welcome than new settlers.

It's a journal of small town-style adventure. The author sets the stage so effectively with his writing style that even the most worldly of readers finds excitement in the same day to day events as the story's characters.

And it is history and sociology as well.

Still Creek is a 90's town with 50's values. Here the residents are content to enjoy the seasons while the town drifts into the next stage of sociological evolution in its own good time.

I recognized all the characters and all the scenes from my own youth. The sights and sounds of summer, the voices, the people, the tragedy and the recovery... all were as real and believable as a childhood memory. The author's gift for seamless joining of dialogue and scene description makes the small town action move along like a ride on a super train - fast, smooth and satisfying.

I'm looking forward to Gregory Miller's next effort.

Gabo is something else. He is, to put it simply, an astounding writer, with a verve of language and a capacity for fleshing out great characters and fantastic stories unparalleled by any living writer. I daresay he is the best living writer, at least of those who are famous, and I doubt many who read him would disagree that he is at least among the best.

This collection of stories draws upon several other volumes, and spans a fair portion of his very long career (may he live a thousand more years!). If you have read any Garcia Marquez, you will love these little gems as much as you loved his novels-- I enjoyed "Innocent Erendira", "The Very Old Man" and "The Handsomest Drowned Sailor" best of those I recall; sadly, my copy was lost so I don't have a reference at hand.

If you have not read any Garcia Marquez: first, I recommend you do so IMMEDIATELY... there is a reason he is quite famous and a reason he is so renowned; both are very just. This volume is a nice starting point, a gateway drug into the wonderful world of Gabo. Work backwards: the early tales are good, but do not exemplify Garcia Marquez at his fullest strength, and to really appreciate him in the beginning you should really read him at his fullest capacity.

You will almost assuredly devour this little volume and end up begging for more. I recommend, of course, ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE (his masterpiece, and worth reading no matter what you think of his other works!!!), LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA, his COLLECTED NOVELLAS, and his more recent STRANGE PILGRIMS, which is another excellent collection of short stories.

But what are you doing reading my review? Get this book and any other Garcia Marquez you can get your hands on, and read, read, read!

You might not like or understand every story, but this is a good read.

Gabriel José de la Concordia García Márquez(1927 - ), or simply Gabo as he was known, was born in Columbia. He started as a journalist, then he became an editor, and a publisher. He won the 1982 Nobel Prize in Literature. García Márquez has lived mostly in Mexico and Europe and currently lives in Mexico City. The 80 years old author is credited with introducing or popularizing magical realism in modern literary fiction.

Some of his works have been classified as both fiction and non-fiction: Chronicle of a Death Foretold (Crónica de una muerte anunciada) (1981), tells the tale of a revenge killing, and Love in the Time of Cholera (El amor en los tiempos del cólera) (1985), is loosely based on the story of his parents' courtship. Many of his works, including those two, take place in the "García Márquez universe." The settings and characters are continued from one book to the next. The stories and novels cross genres and include magical realism: flying people, flying objects, the dead who can still think, etc. He has eight novels and numerous shorter works.

His novel One Hundred Years of Solitude (Cien años de soledad) (1967), has sold more than 36 million copies worldwide.

Based on his writings, it strikes the general that since he has written many short stories and only 8 novels, then it would be interesting to read some of his short stories. At the present time there are three books on the English market, although more have been printed. Five have been printed in the last 30 years, and three are still popular: the present book, The Collected Novellas, and Leaf Storm: and other Stories. Leaf storm has seven stories. The Collected Novellas has Leaf Storm plus two others: No One Writes to the Colonel and Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

The present book has the widest selection since it has 26 stories, long and short, that cover both realism and magical realism. Also, some are aimed at children. I enjoyed the collection and put it in the same class as Joyce's Dubliners, or similar in terms of enjoyment.

My only slight criticism is that his children's stories seem very adult. Some will be surprised with the realism and the lack of magic in many stories.

This collection of twenty six stories by Nobel Laureate Garcia Marquez was first published as a whole in 1984, although the stories were previously published in three separate volumes. As a consequence, two translators are credited here: Gregory Rabassa for the stories from EYES OF A BLUE DOG and THE INCREDIBLE AND SAD TALE OF INNOCENT ERENDIRA AND HER HEARTLESS GRANDMOTHER, and J. S. Bernstein for the stories from BIG MAMA'S FUNERAL. Both scholars and avid followers will appreciate the chronological ordering of these tales as well as the dating of first publication from 1947 to 1972 to see the progression of a much heralded talent.

As befitting the work of a master, every story is wonderfully told, with deft touches that make each memorable. Many, particularly the early stories, deal with death, particularly the separation of consciousness from the physical body, and many explore the messiness of love. Several combine the two. In "Death Constant Before Love," a politician suffering from a terminal disease falls in love with a girl given to him as a political favor. "The Third Resignation" tells the tale of a seven year old boy who falls into a coma and then grows up in a coffin in his mother's house. Three times, he resigns himself to death. "There Are No Thieves In This Town" chronicles the foolishness of a man who steals three billiard balls from a local pool hall and who loses his wife and unborn child for it. Always, Garcia Marquez's exception talent for storytelling carries these tales alone with a romantic and mystical eye for human vulnerability. His style is never rushed, always lingering over the moment, which gives even the shortest stories the feel of a novella. Not all these stories embrace the magic realism for which the author is famous, although the reader will emerge bewitched all the same.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez is one of the most incredible writers I have ever encountered. He is a profound storyteller. In fact, his work is like a beautiful Magritte painting filled with surreal images. I marvel at the translator. I can't imagine translating "Eyes of a Blue Dog." How on earth was he able to translate such a complicated story? It's incredible! The other stories are amazing as well. My favorites are "Big Mama's Funeral" and "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings." Each story has a special dose of magical realism. I look forward to reading other books from this author. I highly recommend this book.

Marquez takes you into a magical tour throughout this wonderful short story book that you can read repeatedly and never tire from it. He is a master at his art and always engulfs you with a subject simply by using his unique surreal style of putting things together in writing.
I have read this book several times in both languages Spanish and English, and grasped more of his "magical realism" in Spanish, simply because it was originally written in that language and there is always something lost during translation, although the English version was pretty decent. Marquez's words are vivid and visual, as you read the stories you imagine them on a movie screen.

The Man With Enormous Wings is a great one, a shabby old man with wings falls from the sky during a heavy rainfall in some tiny South American village, and since the people that live there are superstitious they assume he's an angel from the far away heavens. So they decide to put him in a chicken coop and spread the word that there is an angel in town so people from all over the place come around with bizarre ailments such as a man that could not sleep because the noise from the stars kept him awake at night. Another woman could not stop counting and she had run out of numbers to count. Well, it goes on and on and nothing happens. The freak with wings becomes sick and somehow manages to fly away flapping it's wings like a vulture while Elisenda is cutting onions.

Then there is The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, about some children, playing by the sea and seeing some bulky mass approaching them. At first, they think it is an enemy ship, but discover it is a dead body. The kids drag him into the town and all the women in the village start fussing all over him, especially because he was a big man. They clean him up but couldn't find clothes big enough for him to wear since he was a large man, and they decide to name him Esteban which means Stephen in English, I guess because he looked like a gringo. The men in the village start to get a little jealous about the women fuss too much over this dead Esteban. The women make up stories about what his life would have been like, what he might have done for a living, and felt sorrow over this orphan corpse. Eventually after the women grieve tremendously for Esteban, they gather flowers, hold a funeral, and he's thrown back into the sea (this was supposed to be a children's story).

Well, there are twenty four more wonderful stories in this book that you must read including Erendira and her Heartless Grandmother, and Death Constant Beyond Love.

I read it 30 years ago and have ever since wondered why it is not at the top of every list of XXth-Century novels, and certainly as the undisputed No.1 of those out of Latin America. Do yourself a favor and read it. Then you can ponder why you've been steered away from it by critics and professors and have been directed instead to the so-called magical realism of GGM and his myriad imitators.

When one of the best contemporary Latin-American authors says "If I could only save from the fire one of the novels I have written, I would save this one", you know that the experience of reading this work has to be invaluable. In this novel, the author explores, through the use of some fictional characters, the effects of the dictatorship of Manuel A. Odria in Peru. One of the aspects that shocked me and that I still find surprising is how well the impact of these terrible events translates to other dictatorships that occurred later in the Latin American history.

Vargas Llosa uses a very difficult style throughout this novel, since he jumps back and forth through time and space, and also changes continuously among the viewpoint of different characters, without warning the reader about what is going on in each case. It does take some getting used to in order to fully enjoy the novel, but once you achieve this, the rewards are abundant and leave us satisfied. In this regard, it may help to read "The Time of the Hero" first, since in this book the author uses a similar technique, but keeping it a little simpler.

I have heard some of my friends and family complain about Vargas Llosa's style in this work, saying that the author is just trying to be fancy with his writing when there is no need for it. I do not agree with this; I think that the point the author is trying to make through his convoluted technique has to do with the frustration that people feel during a dictatorship and he wants you to feel some of it too when you are going through the experience of reading about it. But also, the author knows that you are going to have to give the book your full attention if you want to understand it, so his style helps assure that you will grasp his point.

In my opinion, there is only one other book that can compete with this one for the best Latin-American novel of all times, and most people can probably figure out pretty quickly that I am referring to "One Hundred Years of Solitude". I am not sure which one comes on top, but I know for sure that I would not want to have to make a choice in terms of which of the two to save from the fire!

Another example of screwed up Latin American politics and corruption with a required lack of understanding for the first hundred pages or so.

If you aren't used to non-linear story telling: linear - this happened, then this happened, then.....;
non-linear - this happened (sometime); this happened (some other time - maybe earlier, maybe later); this happened (could be later, could be sooner than anything else, could be any time in between, maybe). Simple - after 600 pages if you haven't figured it out it doesn't really matter - you've had a hell of a trip anyway.

Sound like I'm being negative? I'm not - it was a blast. There are some real stinkers in here - and I liked some of them, disliked some and pretty much didn't care about the others.

This book is pretty heavy and bleak. You can read the Amazon description. If you are already in a bad mood, save this one for later. Imitation of the characters is not a healthy form of flattery or living.

Llosa is a genius and this is one of his very best. As all other reviewers mentioned, it is difficult to get the drift initially but once you do it is a great feeling. The characters, plot and dialogue ring true throughout the entire 600 pages. The only problem for me was the translation. Several Peruvian and Limeñan phrases are translated almost literally. Although this slapped me in the face whenever it occurred it did not manage to spoil what is a wonderful book.
Anyone who perseveres with and enjoys this should (if they haven't already) read 'The War of the End of the World'which is also a haunting novel.

Mario Vargas Llosa is one of the most important living writers, and undoubtedly deserves his reputation as one of Latin America's two great novelists. Conversation in the Cathedral is the first book of his I've read in several years. Like most great works of literature, this book is not a quick read. First of all, it is 600 pages, and second, Vargas Llosa writes in a style that is difficult to get accustomed to at first (more on that below). Conversation in the Cathedral is a book that requires a major time commitment, but the ultimate payoff is worth it.

As far as the story, it takes place during Peru in the 1950's during the Odria dictatorship. Ostensibly the story revolves around two old acquaintances who accidentally meet and over beers discuss their lives over the preceding years. These two characters are Santiago and Ambrosia. The former is a young journalist whose father was a senator and member of Peru's upper crust elite. He has turned his back on his family's wealth and connections, flirted briefly with Marxism at the university, and now works as a newspaper journalist. Ambrosia formerly worked as one of Santiago's father's servants, but was forced to leave Lima for reasons that become clear only very late in the book. The novel's structure is somewhat complicated. First, it does not follow a linear narrative path. It frequently jumps around chronologically, and even after finishing the book I am not completely certain about the chronological order of events. Second, the story is told from multiple perspectives. Part of the story consists of the actual conversation between Santiago and Ambrosia, as the two interrogate each other about what they've been doing over the previous decade or so. Most of action is live, however, and it is told in both the first and third persons. The thing that makes this book (indeed, most of Vargas Llosa's books) so slow going at times is his use of alternating dialogue. This often makes it difficult to ascertain who exactly is talking to whom, or what is happening. Especially for those readers who are reading Vargas Llosa for the first time, the first part of the book will go pretty slow, but the pace picks up considerable over the second half of the book.

This book is powerful on many levels. First, Vargas Llosa is one of the most politically astute novelists around. Not only is he a passionate observer of politics, he has soiled his own hands in it, having unsuccessfully ran for Peru's president a while back. Much of this book's action revolves around political intrigues among the ruling establishment. One of the most intense and quickly paced sections of the book details a plot to overthrow the country's hated security chief. Santiago's own father, being an influential Senator, plays a central role in these conflicts. Overall, Vargas Llosa makes penetrating insights into the nature and functioning of authoritarian regimes. He realistically portrays the cynicism and moral corruption of authoritarian leaders, as well as the mechanisms for maintaining power. This book also explores the complex dynamics of race and class through the character of Ambrosia, a black man who has moved from job to job but knows Santiago from working for his father the senator. Another character through whom the issue of class is explored is Amalia, who also worked as a servant for Santiago's family in the distant past and who later develops a relationship with Ambrosia. The depiction of this relationship provides some of the most heartrending sections of the book. Various parts of the book are told from her perspective, and they provide a very nice balance to the parts told from the perspective of high ranking political officials. Finally, through the character of Santiago, Vargas Llosa explores a number of themes. I even suspect that the character might have been inspired by the author's own early life. Santiago is initially impelled by a rebellious impulse to dabble in Marxism and renounce the bourgeois lifestyle of his family and the politics of his father. He is soon disillusioned by Marxism, however, finding himself unable to commit to a single ideology so totally. At the time of his meeting with Ambrosia, he is a fairly cynical, albeit content low-profile journalist. Vargas Llosa writes powerfully about the conflict between Santiago and his family, who despite their aristocratic outlook are generally kind people and regard Santiago's rejection of their lifestyle as a slap in the face.

This far too lengthy review doesn't due justice to the scope and power of this novel, which is populated by fascinating characters from all walks of life and which explores some of the most salient themes of modern life. I heartily recommend this work, although those who are looking for a somewhat lighter read might want to consider some of Vargas Llosa's shorter works.

This book was great from the very beginning. It is a story about a young photographer , Edith Ivrine, and her assistant, Daisy Valentine, traveling the world to take pitures an show Ediths prints of yosemite at a convention. Their first stop is in San Fransisco where they were planning to leave straight away to sail to Australia. But isntead they found themselves enduring the overwhemliing tragedy of the San Fransisco earthquake and fire. Edith uses this disaster to record the events happening, with her camera against the will of the police officers. This novel has you feel like you are walking the streets covered in crumbled buildings alongs side these two girls.

This book was exellent. Earthquake at dawn, while maintaining the readers interest through highly interesting events, is quite informative, giving information about the earthquake and a firsthand view of what it was like through the eyes of Daisy Valentine, Edith Irvine(a famous photographer)'s assistant. Daisy and Edith arrive in San Francisco hoping to catch a boat to Australia and travel around the world. Unfortunately, disaster strikes right before they dock, and the women find themselves in the middle of one of the biggest earthquakes in history. With the help of the McGregor and Somers families and their friend, Mary Exa, the women are forced to survive in the city by any means possible. Edith does her best to capture the ruins by photograph, but the mayor threatens to shoot anybody who dares to take pictures. An exciting, informative story, Earthquake at Dawn is the perfect book for anyone who wants to learn about the earthquake, or somebody who just wants something to read.

Earthquake at Dawn is a great book. It is about Edith Irvine, a dedicated photographer, and her 15-year-old assistant Daisy. On their way to Europe, the earthquake hits and they have to stop in San Francisco, which is mostly destroyed and collapsing. After the quake, a great fire erupts and several of the city's houses and buildings they had not already fallen burn to the ground. The two are separated from Edith's father, who was traveling with them, and they become friends with a few other survivors. Meanwhile, the mayor is creating even more trouble. Men and women are threatened to being shot for using toilets or electricity, and dynamite, in an attempt to stop the fire, is being set off. But, Edith documents the trip with her photographs, even though that could mean death if she was caught by the mayor, who doesn't want the rest of the country to know the real disaster that is happening in San Francisco. In this incredibly realistic novel, Kristiana Gregory tells the exciting story, based on a letter written by survivor Mary Exa Atkin Campbell and the real photographs taken by Edith Irvine. I would highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed the book Earthquake at Dawn. It's about the 1906 San Fransisco earthquake/fire that happened at dawn (hence the name Earthquake at Dawn). Even though it is historical fiction, it had a lot of true things that made it incredibly believable. Kristina Gregory definitely made the story good by adding some subplots that kept your interest. The subplots were real things too, like Edith and Daisy getting separated from their father, and Molly dying of lack of healthcare. This was a really good, captivating book which I think many people will cherish for years to come.

Kristiana Gregory really brings out Edith Irvine as a devoted photographer. Even in the midst of all the turmoil, she snaps 60 photos, possibly more! In this true-to-life novel, the famous San Francisco earthquake takes place, however, the quake is not the worst that happens! The fire that the quake created was. It lasted three days and killed an estimated five to ten thousand people. The mayor exploded dynamite to try to get rid of the fire, but the dynamite only created more. This novel also illustrates the annoying floor length dresses that the ladies of 1906 had to wear and the automobiles of Daisy's time. In some books earthquakes are made up just for entertainment. Not this one! This earthquake was real. The first shock was on April 18, 1906 and was recorded at 5:12:05 a.m. and it lasted for 45 seconds. There were 27 earthquakes that were actually recorded that day. Mary Exa Atkins Campbell told the earthquake's story.