Owen Books

It has been an great pleasure to read this book. I like the charters and the story

............No, I'm not.)----(Learn about the author's "take" on this review title at the three stars {***}, below).

((Here is my approach to obtaining/reading/reviewing Gay romance tales in book form (you could see it as seeking the holy grail of that genre, or as looking for the "Addictive Read"). Selection of read materials is based mainly on purchase of new stories by favorite authors or on comments/reviews by you in these on-line "Book" pages. Re the latter, sometimes I feel correctly steered by you (the "Keepers" filling my shelves), other times mislead---occasionally badly (the "Throwaways"). Rarely, I come across the "Addictive"---- those I can reread at least monthly (see below starred *** area for a list......and for some "near-Addictive" as well). For some reads, I'll share comments with you, as follows below. Thanks for sticking with me so far.))

{{WARNING!! This Book May Be ADDICTIVE To Your Health!!}}

For me, a gay romance set in the diplomatic corps was very much a new experience---one of enjoyment, one of learning. Thank you, Zahra Owens, for inviting us along into this new world you created for us---one to which you've given a timely spin, in several instances relating it to current day events. And kudos to Dreamspinner Press for giving us one of the most truly elegant and memorable book covers I can recall running across. Thanks also, guys, for providing a lesser number of typographical errors than have many similar publishing houses out there.

Now (and in no particular order) some other "pluses" that stand out and for which I'm thankful to Zahra Owens:

- Setting up a marvelous structuring of the book. It is noteworthy that her "transitionings" from one point to the next in the life and the relationship of her two main characters are beautifully and interestingly written. This makes following where she is taking us so easily done......creating great anticipation along the way.

- Giving us Jack's and Lucas's initial and very real seeming physical encounter (in a mens room, interestingly), as one so intense that it almost jumps off the page. Oh, and for creating a beautifully......beautifully done love making scene in a shower (it certainly made this reader want to get wet).

- Providing a big, mirthful hoot to our enjoyment by imaginatively adding some new pages to the reading world's "How-to" book on Sushi dining.

- Creating great romantic sex scenes---highlighted by a lovingly done and sweetly detailed man-on-man, first anal love making scene (Wow!!) which is written from the point of view of a character who has known only heterosexual intercourse. Owens is also especially good at giving us a multitude of "touchy-feely" moments, and creating in our minds a picture of lyrical love making. This means including the "little things" that you'd expect to occur in the foreplay phase of making love: the touches, the kisses, the disrobing and tossing around of garments, the little whispers of endearment---they're all wonderfully there. Then she goes on to compellingly build up to the very deepest physical aspects of "making love."

- Allowing us to discover that she's created a bit of magic for her couple by giving them their own little "Verbal Connection" {***}, simple phrases involving apologizing, which will carry them through their entire relationship. No, all you readers out there, I won't go on to give this away---find out yourselves. Suffice it to say, it's a sweet and simple device which prompts me to ask: how many authors think to give their couples a special "VC"? Thank you, Zahra, for being that type of person.

- Devising a life threatening crisis into which she immediately pulls us, while at the same time inventively "back-forthing" us between the lead male in trouble and his anxiously aware and waiting lover. It would be near perfect, as written, to serve as a film script.

- Wonderfully pulling off, later in the book, a "reintroduction to our couple" in their new surroundings. It's very beautifully, smartly and "up-to-dately" handled. Bravo! (Although, for suspense purposes, I do wish she'd used a different job title in Liz's description of the person Lucas was going to be meeting/escorting).

- Last, but far from.......well, you know: coming up with some notably refreshing usage of the romance language (e.g., "........feel his breath ghosting across his face."). And there are others.

In closing this review, I'll admit planning to include some grousing about a few minor grammatical problems---most of which I now see are likely due to differences between U.S. and our author's European upbringing, education and language usage. Now I find doing so not to be necessary. Far, far more important than dwelling on those things is celebrating the real Joy this woman's story brings to us.......for Joy, indeed, is here and really deserves to be spelled with that capital "J." Even more, though, there is the feeling of HOPE she gives to us.......hope in the perserverance of our happiness.

PS--***Other "Addictive" reads: "Caught Running" (Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux) (Caught Running) // "Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love" (Larry Coles) (Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love) // "Bareback" (Chris Owen) (Bareback). Some "near-Addictives: "Brokeback Mountain" (Annie Proulx) // "The Dreyfus Affair" (Peter Lefcourt) (The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story) // "The Carnivorous Lamb" (Agustin Gomez-Arcos) (The Carnivorous Lamb (Little Sister's Classics)) // "Afterlife" (Paul Monette) // "Cowboy Up" (short stories edited by Rob Knight)

****

............No, I'm not). (Learn about the author's "take" on this review title at the three stars {***}, below).

((Here is my approach to obtaining/reading/reviewing Gay romance tales in book form (you could see it as seeking the holy grail of that genre, or as looking for the "Addictive Read"). Selection of read materials is based mainly on purchase of new stories by favorite authors or on comments/reviews by you in these on-line "Book" pages. Re the latter, sometimes I feel correctly steered by you (the "Keepers" filling my shelves), other times mislead---occasionally badly (the "Throwaways"). Rarely, I come across the "Addictive"---- those I can reread at least monthly (see below starred *** area for a list......and for some "near-Addictive" as well). For some reads, I'll share comments with you, as follows below. Thanks for sticking with me so far.))

{{WARNING!! This Book May Be ADDICTIVE To Your Health!!}}

For me, a gay romance set in the diplomatic corps was very much a new experience---one of enjoyment, one of learning. Thank you, Zahra Owens, for inviting us along into this new world you created for us---one to which you've given a timely spin, in several instances relating it to current day events. And kudos to Dreamspinner Press for giving us one of the most truly elegant and memorable book covers I can recall running across. Thanks also, guys, for providing a lesser number of typographical errors than have many similar publishing houses out there.

Now (and in no particular order) some other "standout pluses" for which I'm thankful to Zahra Owens:

- Setting up a marvelous structuring of the book. In this regard it should be noted that her "transitionings" from one point to the next in the life and the relationship of her two main characters are beautifully---but even more importantly---interestingly done. This makes following where she is taking us so easily done......creating great anticipation along the way.

- Giving us Jack's and Lucas's initial, very real and physical (mens room) encounter, one so intense that it almost jumps off the page. Oh, and for creating a beautifully......beautifully done love making scene in a shower (it certainly made this reader want to get wet).

- Providing a big hoot to our enjoyment by imaginatively adding some new pages to the reading world's "How-to" book on Sushi dining.

- Besides all the great sex---highlighted by a lovingly done and sweetly detailed man-on-man, first anal love making scene (Wow!!), written from the point of view of one having known only heterosexual intercourse---(Owens is especially good at) giving us a multitude of "touchy-feely" moments, and creating in our minds a picture of "romantic" love making. This means not leaving out the "little things" that you'd expect to occur in the foreplay phase of making love: the touches, the kisses, the disrobing and tossing around of garments, the little whispers of endearment---they're all wonderfully there. Then she goes on to compellingly build up to the very deepest physical aspects of "making love."

- Allowing us to discover that she's created a bit of magic for her couple by giving them their own little "Verbal Connection" {***}, simple phrases involving apologizing, which will carry them through their entire relationship. No, readers, I won't go on to give this all away---find out yourselves. Suffice it to say, it's a sweet and simple device which prompts me to ask: how many authors think to give their couples a special "VC"? Thank you, Zahra, for being that type of person.

- Devising a life threatening crisis into which she immediately pulls us, while at the same time inventively "back-forthing" us between the lead male in trouble and his anxiously aware and waiting lover. It would be near perfect, as written, to serve as a film script.

- Wonderfully pulling off, later in the book, a "reintroduction to our couple" in their new surroundings. It's very beautifully, smartly and "up-to-dately" handled. Bravo! (Although, for suspense purposes, I do wish she'd used a different job title in Liz's description of the person Lucas was going to be meeting/escorting).

- Last, but far from.......well, you know: coming up with some notably refreshing usage of the romance language (e.g., "........feel his breath ghosting across his face."). And there are others.

In closing this review, I'll admit planning to include some grousing about a few minor grammatical problems---most of which I now see are likely due to differences between U.S. and European upbringing, education and language usage. Now I find that not to be so necessary. Far, far more important than dwelling on those things is celebrating the real Joy this woman's story brings to us.......for it is here and really deserves to be spelled with that capital "J." Even more, though, there is HOPE.......hope in the perserverance of our happiness.

PS--***Other "Addictive" reads: "Caught Running" (Madeleine Urban and Abigail Roux) (Caught Running) // "Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love" (Larry Coles) (Freshman Pledge: The Magic of Love) // "Bareback" (Chris Owen) (Bareback). Some "near-Addictives: "Brokeback Mountain" (Annie Proulx) // "The Dreyfus Affair" (Peter Lefcourt) (The Dreyfus Affair: A Love Story) // "The Carnivorous Lamb" (Agustin Gomez-Arcos) (The Carnivorous Lamb (Little Sister's Classics)) // "Afterlife" (Paul Monette) // "Cowboy Up" (short stories edited by Rob Knight)

****

DIPLOMACY is a story about Jack, an American ambassador, and Lucas, a younger European diplomat. Jack and Lucas meet at a political event in Belgium, and they're instantly attracted to each other. However, Jack is a married man of 15 years and Lucas is engaged to a beautiful young woman. They can't deny their explosive chemistry, but can they risk giving in to their feelings? When their wives go away together for a weekend sightseeing trip, the men decide to explore their attraction. Their passion for each other is undeniable, but is it worth risking their careers and relationships, and hurting the ones that are dear to them?

This is a very adult love story that involves many adult themes, including infidelity, politics, long-term relationships, and parenting. There's plenty of deception, and even a bit of danger.

I absolutely cannot read M/F stories that involve cheating, but for some inexplicable reason in a M/M romance I don't mind the men cheating on their wives.

This is a very entertaining story, and the romance is very real. The angst is realistic and appropriate, not contrived for the sake of drama. The sex is pretty hot, though it is not the focus of the story. DIPLOMACY is a romance, not erotica. I don't care much for politics, so I found the political aspects a bit dry. Fortunately, though, the author focuses more on the relationships in this story than on politics and policy. In quite a few places the book feels very much like the Nicole Kidman movie THE INTERPRETER, and there's even a nod to that movie in the book.

If you like a serious, more grown-up feel to your M/M romance, this is a great read.

Jack Christenson is living the perfect life with the perfect wife. He has recently been appointed the youngest Ambassador for the United States in Belgium. The evening following a State Banquet there is a reception for US citizens to meet the President and the Ambassador and it is there that Jack meets Lucas Carlton, a junior Information Officer with the British Consulate and his fiancée, Lucy Marsh. One look into Luke's eyes awakens feelings that Jack, who is deep in the closet, thought he had buried over 20 years ago.

Things heat up quickly and Luke and Jack go away for a very passionate weekend together when their women are on a weekend shopping trip, and they continue the relationship after they return home. They realize that they are playing a very risky game and Jack knows that the slightest hint of scandal could result in him being recalled as Ambassador and most likely his marriage will be over. For Luke it will mean the end of his career in the Foreign Service if his sexual orientation and affair with the Ambassador were revealed. Will Jack and Luke have the courage to stay together and take the heat and all the negative consequences that their affair will have on their careers and their personal lives? You will have to read the book to find out.

Diplomacy has everything - danger, intrigue, high stakes and a whole lot of sex as Jack and Luke can't keep their attraction under wraps. The sex is erotic, sensuous, hot, combustible and above all, loving. Zahra Owens paints a picture of two wonderful men whose love has to withstand a kidnapping, the glare of living in the spotlight, the tabloids and betrayal. At times the story is bittersweet as they separate but try to find a way back together.

This is Ms Owens' first novel and what a treat it was for me read it. The two main characters are believable and three dimensional and the supporting characters add breadth to a very complicated plot. Although English is not her first language the author has done a great job of mastering it, and her prose has a European flavour which only adds to the dialogue. This is a wonderful novel with lots of plot twists and turns and the right amount of conflict to make it extremely interesting. Based on this story I'm confident Ms. Owens has a long career as a writer ahead of her and I highly recommend this book.

Eggerton successfully blends humor and tragedy in this, his debut novel. While weaving three sets of seemingly unrelated characters into one neat package, Eggerton takes the reader on an emotional ride of spiritual discovery. His characters are likeable, and the type that we, as readers, come to care about and share in their ups and downs. Altogether, a great read.

I picked up this book and could not put it down. It kept me up most of two nights. The stories of three very different characters whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways take us on a journey of the discovery of our true human nature, a God at work behind the scenes, and inverted expectations. A nice dose of magical realism in Marshall's character creates some delightful and poignant moments which are metaphors for how easily we delude ourselves about what we really believe. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story.

Marshall Hollenzer is Driving tugs at the mind and the heart enveloping three sets of people travelling towards a common understanding of themselves, the world and what it all means. If you need to lose yourself in a wonderful story, this book will provide you with hours of imaginative wisdom.

Thank you Owen for writing this book.

This author is as aware of conflict and drama as he is of the magic of the rhythm in a sentence, and that makes for some beautiful reading.

Egerton's characters and his story are equally strong and thoughtful, and his unique sense of humour makes for a terrific navigator. The emotions of each character ring true, and each situation seems natural to identify with, no matter how bizarre or dreamlike.

This novel is a shiny pebble you want to keep in your pocket, its wisdom executed with style and skill. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys having their wet head wrapped in a big, soft, warm towel.

Both of these issues, among others, are examined in this simple yet complex story about a variety of characters, all of whom we recognize.

What lies beneath the skin of the average person? What do they believe in, and why? What makes their worlds shatter? What would make your world shatter?

The author never wastes a word, entertwining the characters in unlikely but believable ways. It's a quick read that lingers with the reader, to make you think about your beliefs, and what you would do for those beliefs.

To each individual, the book could be about God, or the meaning of life, or simply how you fit into the world. This makes the book touching on a personal level. I think every reader will find a different way, and reason, to love this book.

This OU history book is the best college football book on the market. If you love the Sooners you will love how this book is written; 1,000 mini-stories of stats, facts, and trivia. Hours of enjoyment await!!!!!!

I met the young men who wrote this book because I bought it from them in Norman, Oklahoma, on the same day the Sooners were having Media Day. They were very polite as they signed my book, and then they suggested I take it to the tent nearby where Coach Stoops was signing autographs, and sure enough, I got the coach himself to sign the artwork right in front of the book -- but all that meant was when I got home I couldn't read the book! I was too afraid to mess up the Coach Stoops signature. Finally my wife came home with another copy from the local bookstore, I read it, I loved it, and I'll cherish the Stoops signed copy -- I have it right there next to my Bootlegger's Boy signed by another legendary coach, Barry Switzer.

Okay, the thing is I saw a video on You Tube about this book that Bob Stoops was using to raise money to support charity in Oklahoma. I live in Georgia, we need charity here too, Bob -- but, well, I ordered the book, and I'm sure some of the proceeds went to a good cause, and hopefully not to the powerhouse program that is making a run at the BCS title game right now . . . and the point is, I did enjoy reading the book. Not because I'm an OU fan, but I'm a football fan, and it gave me a glimpse of the Big 12 in a way I'd never thought of. Plus, now two of my teams are included in this seires and I absolutely love them. I bought the Georgia book and the Yankees book the second I saw they were available. I read the Yankees book in two days, and the Georgia book twice in a week. This is not a heavy-hitting type series -- it is fun, which is what I like about it. It creates banter if you want to challenge your friends and see what they know, or you can just sit back and test yourself, or you can just sit back and enjoy the memories of so many great moments in your team's history. All in all, great sports series.

If you love Oklahoma Football or even College football, this book is for you. It even has a Foreword by Bob Stoops. In this book you will find 1,000 stories about Oklahoma Football, including 10 chapter intros about certain players, coaches, and places. But what's even better is that the books links you to the author's website for more written, audio, and video material. This is a great gift book, an easy read, and for every Sooner fan! Must have book!

this book was amazing, any sports fanatic would love this book. This book is well worth the money. This book has trivia that most people wish they new...This book is a great buy!

This book is a smart and funny take on "what I learned while repairing an old house". You feel smarter about the how and why of house structures after you read this book (especially fascinating is the discussion of paneling -- why walls and doors were originally paneled). At the same time Owen mocks the self-importance one feels working on one's house and the messes one backs into when you get the brilliant idea to start a huge project at 6 PM. While Owen is a guy, working on a house, he shares the joy in a gender-inclusive way and you come away with the feeling that the joy of removing plaster is within reach for all of us.

We picked this book up in the midst of a 2-year home renovation. His humor brought us some needed levity, and his research and knowledge even helped guide some decisions. Worth reading.

This book is the story of the author's renovations of his newly-purchased colonial-era house. In the process, Owen learns a great deal about how houses work and how they're built...and he makes a lot of mistakes.

Somehow do-it-yourself books always make me feel less than competent. It looks so easy in the book. Owen perfectly captures the learning process involved with getting to know an old house. In the process, he passes along much of what he's learned and frequently makes me laugh out loud.

Anyone who has lived in, or, especially, tried to improve, an old house should read this book.

Have you ever wondered why you couldn't just use the paint they use for nuclear power plants, for your house? Wouldn't it be a lot more durable? David Owen has wondered - and visited the manufacturer who makes nuke paint, to get the answers.

Also among the choicest bits in a book that is full of great moments: the description of a layer of ugly wallpaper over a layer of ugly paint over a layer of ugly wallpaper over a layer of ugly paint...

Read this book during that break from stripping paint; have a tall glass of iced tea with it. And rejoice in the fact that even though it's 100 degrees and you're working on your house, at least you are not on an aluminum ladder near electrical lines in the rain.

I give copies of this book to friends as housewarming gifts for their first house...; we had to buy two copies for ourselves, as we don't want to run the risk of losing our only copy if someone borrows it.

This is a fine entry in the category of Well-written, Wryly-humorous Books About the Trials of Ordinary Life That Also Contain a Suprising Amount of Useful Information. If that sounds like an excessive qualification, it isn't, since the book is about houses, a subject dear, or dire, to the hearts of very many middle-class married men.

David Owen definitely writes as a guy. It's conceivable that a woman could enjoy this book, in the same way that some men enjoy reading Erma Bombeck. It's also true that many a woman these days finds herself, willy-nilly, the sole proprietor of some "huge box filled with complicated things that want to break," and so will see that this book is essentially inspirational and non-gendered, and will read it anyway. It's for anyone who has a house and doesn't know how that house works. Because if you have a house and don't know something about how it works, you will regret it, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life.

The author is a writer for, among other publications, "The New Yorker", and he has the easy, colloquial, accomplished style that we associate with that magazine. This is not a "humor" book that tries to milk laughs out of the trials of a hapless urbanite who buys a 200-year-old farmhouse and gets his comeuppance. However, he was indeed a Manhattan apartment dweller with a wife and two young children who decided to buy a 200-year-old farmhouse in Connecticut, and certain mishaps and learning experiences did follow from that action. Some are laugh-out-loud funny, but mostly you will find yourself reading along with a smile that is composed of one part sympathy and two parts relief ("at least my house isn't THAT screwed-up!").

Mainly, though, in the course of your reading you will learn a lot. David Owen is a professional writer, and he knows how to research a topic, be it wallboard or lumber or electricity. (Perhaps the finest part of the book is the section on wallboard and plaster.) But he's also just an ordinary guy and a home-owner, until fairly recently just as butt-ignorant as you about how a house works. He lives in a this-old-house sort of place, and most of us don't. (Although once-fine old houses do present an implicit challenge that some of us fantasize about taking on, when our skills are a bit more honed.) His discussions, though, are firmly rooted in what many of us brood about on an almost daily basis: ugly walls, bad wiring, roofing leaks and wet basements.

But courage! A house need not be a millstone. It can be that fort Mom never let you build. If you're a grownup you can actually go out and buy power tools and plywood and all sorts of other neat stuff, and then you can come back home and make your house better.

Or worse. One of the virtues of this volume is its cheerful attitude toward working on one's home: that it is essentially a pilgrimage. Nothing is ever final, and every failure, every flub, teaches you something. Perfection is not the object, but rather, engagement. After a number of years of living in it, and coping with it, your home will become, for better and/or worse, an extension of yourself. If you love yourself, eventually you will love your house, too, with all its endearing faults.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was educational, and heartwarming and a sweet look into the lives of four women who honestly shared the details of their lives.

This is a great read!! This book shows the value of long-time friendships and demonstrates how friends are fun during the good times, but are necessary to help get through the hard times.

These four women share their personal lives with us: their triumphs and their trials. A book that motivates you to call and connect with that close friend that you may not have found time for recently. This is a beautiful story of friendship and the value of sisterhood.

Keep us posted ladies!! We are waiting for Wearing Purple - the Sequel.

There are many touching, humorous, profound thoughts beings passed on in these letters between the 4 women. However, I had trouble following who was who. First, I went to the back and read each author's personal statement. Then I found myself going back again and again. It think it would be helpful to have a "time line" for each of the authors so their letters could be put in a better context.

This book is a marvelous expression of the true love and support that comes only from having good friends. I initially purchased the book simply because I know one of the authors. I wanted to get an autographed copy for my sister. I naturally purchased one for myself as well. It has helped me to refocus on that which brings true happiness, the joy of having a very few good friends who accept you as you are and love you unconditionally.

I truly enjoyed reading about a beautiful, caring "circle" of friends. I hope that through the years I will be able to form a lasting bond with my friends much like the bond that the authors share. Through this book, I realized how precious true friendship can be

email me, I'll let you know...

It's okay, I had to read it for a class. He raises some good questions but he's long winded. A lot of us have already thought about these questions. Talbott feeds you some good food for thought though.

Once being an engineer, a scientist, a professor of Electrical Engineering, etc., etc, now I'm watching this world amazed by its reality and its beauty. My soul is awaken. The wonderful book by Stephen Talbott tells us who we are and to where we do belong

This book is well written, provocative and covers a lot of ground in a very short space of time. The author presents a well-reasoned argument for reversing the usual cause and effect critique of the evil computer, and his suggestion that the problem is in the way we think about technology is right on.

This book should be read by all those who live with the Internet and technology. While not exactly a Luddite (Talbott uses computers and the Internet a great deal), the author presents many reasons why we should not just accept the promises of a technological paradise without reflecting on its consequences.

This book was on my reading rendezous list. I read it and it was really good. It's one of
those books where it it is funny, exciting, and kind of weird! It's about these two guys,
Derek and Rory. They're best friends and they plan to do all this fun stuff in the summer but their
their neighbors' great niece Bolivia is coming for the summer and, well, I'll just let you read
the rest. If you are in the middle of trying to find a good book, consider reading this!

I like this book from the first page.It is about two bosom buddies,Rory and Derek.They will never do things separately.No matter what happens,they will stick together.That's what I like to have-someone around my age who has the same interests and hobbies like me.But when their neighbour's great niece,Bolivia,comes to their neighbourhood,Rory and Derek swore not to talk to her and also to ignore her.Rory hates Bolivia from first sight but slowly,Derek begins to like her.Then,something that never happened to Derek and Rory happened-a quarrel.Derek decides to go to camp and Rory tries to avoid Derek and Bolivia.Rory slowly learns to like and adore Bolivia.They do a lot of things that Rory has never done like making snowballs with icecream.There are a lot of comical parts which will make you laugh like hell.I won't tell you the whole story.But I bet you will enjoy this book and make it your favourite book.

I like this book. My favorite character is Bolivia, a girl who lives with her relatives because her parents are in Turkey. The reason I like Bolivia is because she is funny. For example, she dumped her drink all over Rory! (Derek and Rory are friends but do not like Bolivia.) I also like Bolivia's talking parrot named "Lucette". I like it when Lucette chases Rory all over the house. I also like their friendship. An especially good part was when Rory and Derek (They have know become friends with Bolivia) have a contest to see who can eat the most pizza! They tie 5 pieces each. At the end they have a surprise party for Bolivia because she is leaving. They all get tee-shirts that say "Bolivia More Than Another Country" It's a great book!

This book is about two boys and one girl.The girl Boliva, comes to
the city because Boliva's parents have to go to Turkey. She has to stay with her great aunt in Woodside. The little boys Rory and Darik said that it would not be the same. They do lots of sweet games. You have to find what happens. Read the sweetest book
HOt and Cold Summer.

I first read this book at the age of 11. I still love it. It never fails to crack me up, and have me laughing so hard, my husband thinks I'm losing my mind! I will always keep this book in my collection, and I will pass it on to my daughter, and hopefully it will be one of her favorite books. It a fun read, and it's a fun story, and ever since, I have wanted to have snowball fights in the middle of summer with vanilla ice cream!

Having consumed My Brother Michael in one sitting, I was looking forward to Myra Sims with great anticipation and was not disappointed. The author has an amazing way of drawing you into the world her characters live in with charm and skill. She carries you through her books like you're riding a tube down a lazy river on a sunny, summer afternoon; easy and seamless. You keep reading to see what's around the next bend. The voices of her characters ring true and their stories leave you thinking about them for days. I have read and re-read all of Janis' books and each time I see a deeper story emerge. She did a great job of re-telling the story without being boring or redundant. Instead the stories get richer, like many facets of a jewel; deeper colors and hues emerge as you move from book to book.

After waiting two years for this book to come out I can say I wasn't disappointed. Myra Sims is a story of sadness and victory that only Myra can tell. It takes the reader to live with the Catts family and you don't want to leave. Janis Owens has a way of bringing small town USA to everyone.

Myra Sims is a girl we think we know and really don't know as well as we thought. Gabe spins out the love of his life, his brother, family members, and himself in My Brother Michael as clearly as can be. But, we find that just maybe he didn't tell it all. Myra returns the favor in her own version of the story in Myra Sims. By reading both books you are able to get closer to the bottom of what might be closer to the truth. Janis Owens can sure tell a story and what's even better is that she can tell a story twice. Readers will devour both books and after doing so might just become confused about which version to believe. One thing is sure, both books move you right next door to a real Southern family. Before you know it you'll have a cravin' for biscuits, grits, fried pork, fresh coffee, and a big helpin' of anything that Janis Owens decides to put on paper.

Having read the first novel,My Brother Michael, I could hardly wait for the follow-up! It was well worth the wait. Myra Sims with her intriguing combination of strength and vulnerability is a character well worth the closer look we get in this book. Told from Myra's point of view, this novel fills in all of the blanks left by Gabriel Catts. I was thoroughly impressed by the skill with which Janis Owens accomplished this without even a hint of redundancy. I was moved by this story of tragedy and victory set in a rural south so familiar I felt like it was home. If you read and enjoyed My Brother Michael, I dare to say that you will enjoy Myra Sims even more. If you haven't then I suggest you add both to your reading list today.

This book is a fabulous look into the lives of rural Floridians. You'll feel like a guest in the home of Myra and Michael when you read this, so palpable are the situations depicted here. You'll cry when you read about Myra's childhood, scarred by the abuse of a tyrannical father. You'll share Myra's pain when she is torn between two brothers, Gabe and Michael, who love her perhaps too much. And you'll rejoice when Myra finds the strength to love herself in the end. Be sure to buy "My Brother Michael," a companion piece to this novel, to gain insight into the fascinating characters depicted here. I hope to see more from this fascinating author.

This is a great book to have if you are a fan of Wes Anderson or of the film.

My favorite thing about this screenplay is being able to read scenes that did not end up in the movie or the deleted scenes. I would recommend this for any Royal Tenebaums or Wes Anderson fan.

It is the screenplay of the movie, the same one that should have won the Oscar this year. For people who haven't seen the movie, reading the screenplay first may not be such a great idea. I know this movie went over a lot of people's heads, and I'm not positive one can fully appreciate the story from just reading it. However, I definately recommend reading it after seeing the movie, there is so much great dialogue that is easily missed and a lot of subtle humor that is more obvious written on the page. This was one of the best movies of 2001 and the screenplay is a great way to appreciate it again while waiting for the dvd.

"The Royal Tenenbaums" is really a great and clever film. Although it's not really classified as a solid comedy, it had me laughing aloud from start to finish. Then again, I like that weird kind of humor. To me, it was just a great film that took chances. It wasn't out to win a popularity contest. Wes Anderson makes films the way he envisions them and the way he wants them to be.

The thing that stands out the most in "The Royal Tenenbaums" is the brilliant script that was written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson. The dialogue witty and realistic, and each character stands out and leaves an impression on us.

The story is about Royal Tenenbaum and his dysfunctional family. Him and his wife separated many years ago, but the divorce was never final. His wife, Etheline, kept the house and raised the children by herself. They each reached to fame in some way or another, but not without problems lurking about. After many years have passed, Royal finds out that Etheline has been asked to take somebody's hand in marriage. Royal comes up with a scheme on how to get himself back into the picture, bringing forth a crazy and unexpected family reunion like you have never seen.

With only set directions and dialogue, this reads more like a play. There are no camera angels, which is why it reads like a script for a play. You'll appreciate it more if you've seen the movie, but reading it is just as enriching and enjoyable to me. You get to relive your favorite moments and exchanges through words.

"The Royal Tenenbaums" by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson is a magnificent screenplay and can be enjoyed many times over. With great dialogue exchanges, characters, and out-of-control and unpredictable situations, this is a screenplay worth reading over and over again. A work of art, if you ask me.

Favorite line from the movie: "Anybody feel like grabbing a couple of burgers and hitting the cemetery?" - Royal Tenenbaum

I thought that the Royal Tenebaums was one of the best films I have seen this year, after what I thought had been a disasterous year of film making,it was a breath of fresh air, the only other two films I feel are on a level with it are Amelie and The Man who wasn't there!
From the very opening I wanted to go and see the film, with it's bright colours and quirky story line, the very advertisment had me drooling with delight.
I had mixed reviews from some of my friends, some thought it was boring, others hilarious, after going to see it with my brother and sister it was a unanimous decision, this film was AMAZING!
The plot itself was so simple, yet the characters made the film what it was, I absolutely loved Richie and I thought that Pagoda was brilliant, going to see this film has to be one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.

I have enjoyed several of Endo's novels, including The Girl I Left Behind, Deep River, and Silence. My feeling is that he was worthy of the Nobel Prize, and I am disappointed he didn't win it. He works at the edge. His characters encounter the unusual in the midst of ordinary life, and they are changed by the encounter. In Scandal the unusual is embodied in masochism, the love of the pleasure in pain and self-annihilation. In parallel with the out of body joy of masochism, the protagonist has his own epiphany. This is all served up in a stylish and enjoyable confection. As always, the author hints that God is hiding in the interstices, waiting to appear in refracted light, darkly.

A wonderful novel. A great novel. A very enjoyable read.

Just when you think you have Endo Shusaku pegged, he comes out with a king-hitter like "Scandal". I have been reading Endo for a couple of years now, being a big fan, and "Scandal" has been one that has just further confirmed Endo's versatility and insight.

"Scandal" is very much full of self-references to Endo's own life. The main character, Suguro, is a Christian author, who has written novels called "The Life of Christ", "The Voice of Silence" and so on. Fans will recognise the echos to Endo's other works. Additionally, the characters often share names with other Endo novels. Suguro also appears in "The Sea and Poison", the highschool girl Morita Mitsu comes from "The Girl I Left Behind" and Naruse comes from the pages of "Deep River", (though with a changed given name, but life details are similar).

The similarity to Endo's other works ends there, however, and "Scandal" takes a no-holds-barred look at the depravity of the human heart and the urges that lie suppressed by the individual. As Suguro hears repeated rumours that he visits some extremely questionably places in Tokyo, he begins a hunt for the presumed imposter. Along the way, he encounters much that is disturbing about himself.

"Scandal" is a book that looks unflinchingly into the darkest recesses of the human heart. Endo seems unafraid to address those issues some would prefer to be hidden away, and he makes us look at them in ways that might make us feel uncomfortable. While not shocking in the explicit sense, the book does succeed in making one feel a touch uncomfortable with the matters dealt with. Endo shows a great deal of understanding for the nature of sexuality.

Although I would not recommend the book for everyone, I would recommend it for fans of Endo and those interested in the secret desires of people and the concealed corners of our own souls. This is an excellent book.

Scandal is the story of an acclaimed Japanese Christian novelist in old age named Suguro. At an awards ceremony honoring his distinguished career, Suguro hears disquieting rumors that he has been seen carousing in the red-light district. He enters the district to investigate the rumors and safeguard his reputation, but is unprepared for what, and who, he finds there.

Shusaku Endo uses this story as a kind of autobiography, accurate in depth of feeling, if not character and circumstance. He said in his A Life of Jesus that he thought of the Gospels as collectively forming a true portrait of Jesus, even where he saw them as fuzzy on the details. That is a good way to read Scandal, as a portrait of Endo.

Suguro struggles with old age, oncoming death, and the dissonance between his private self and his public reputation as an upstanding Christian. In many ways, Suguro is forced to confront himself; he learns that the foundations he has built his life upon are unsound, even his work, his marriage, and his religion. Endo's unflinching portrayal of himself in the figure of Suguro is thus poignant and, at times, tragic.

Scandal is about, among other things, a man going to a dangerous, uncertain place with his religion. Some religious people will not want to follow him there. On the other hand, this is not an exclusively Christian novel, and readers of any religion, or none, would have much to gain from it.

It is helpful, but not necessary, to have read some of Endo's other work to put Scandal in context. Silence and A Life of Jesus are classics. At least ten other works are in English translation.

Scandal is so rich and complex, and finally, so human, that it practically requires a second reading. But I am beginning to find that each time I read it, I demand another reading myself. I doubt that I will ever come to the end of it.

I just finished "Scandal" by Shusaku Endo which makes it the third book I've read by this author. All of the books have been excellent with "Silence" being my favorite. Endo is a Christian Japanese author and "Scandal", like "Silence" give an insight to the theological questions that go through his mind. The basic issue in Scandal is the relationship between good and evil in all of us. The main character in the story is a Japanese Christian writer (this whole book is pretty autobiographical with little attempt to hide that fact). At an awards ceremony he is confronted by the possibility that he has a double and that double has been spending a lot of time on the seedier side of life. The actions of his double threaten his reputation and he searches out this "doppleganger" to resolve that threat. Along the way he becomes interested in the nature and motives of the underworld people he comes in contact with.

Mr. Endo poses a variety of questions for the reader. As I previously mentioned, the main question is the level of good and evil in all of us. He seems to suggest that those of us who worship Jesus have within us the potential to have been one of those who stoned Jesus on His way to the Cross. While this is a shocking proposition to many, Endo's tale leaves one pondering the issue.

This book, like the other two I've read (including "The Sea and Poison"), is written in a compelling style that moves the reader along without any literary roadblocks. Even though you may quess correctly at some of the outcome, you want to see how the author gets you there. I rated this a "4" instead of a "5" because it fell a bit short of "Silence" so I knew he could do better.

Endo doesn't give you easy answers. This book explores the darker side of human nature, the side behind easy domestic life, beyond common decency, beneath worldly success. It may not be a pleasant book to read, as it doesn't gloss over the capacity for evil in a human being, but it is a book that will leave you thinking about just how authentic you are. If you're not ready to face brutal honesty, don't read this book. But if you're prepared for some deep insights into the nature of man, you shouldn't let this one pass you by.