Books and Authors Books

In Tales of Dirt, Danger and Darkness, Paul Steward shows us the intensity, the peril, the exhilaration of subterranean exploration. These tales will thrill, amuse, and frighten--in other words, they do exactly what good stories are supposed to do, entertain and inform.

This book is a must-read for cavers and non-cavers alike, and for adventurers in general (including the armchair variety).

Paul Jay Steward's novel of short stories, "Tales of Dirt, Danger, and Darkness," is a variety show of caving macabre. The author is your host as he appears throughout the book as if to say, "Welcome to my nightmare." Every page is filled with wry commentary and twisted wit as Paul guides you through caving anecdotes and tales that will make you paranoid enough to avoid the dark recesses of your own garage. This book not only held my interest, it also gave me the creeps and made me laugh out loud. I heartily recommend this one.

Although not a caver myself, I certainly have enjoyed the beauty of caves. They have always seemed to have a life of their own, but now, after reading this collection of stories, I see dark and terrifying things in every corner (which is not a bad thing since I love a good horror tale).

These stories truly reach out and grab your heart and give it a good twist. No matter what your views were on caves before, wonderful or scary...you won't walk away from this book and see them the same ever again.

Mr. Steward's book should come with a sticker like a sign I once saw at a cave entrance. "WARNING, ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK!"

I once enjoyed going into caves. Now I think I'll just be content with the IDEA of going into caves.

Seriously, Paul Steward's stories are intriguing and scary. In fact, the next time I'm with friends at a late-night campfire I'm going to pull out Paul's book and read the one about the two guys who make the mistake of trying to convince a landowner to let them explore a cave on his property...

If you think you like caves, you need to read this book. There are some things you should know...

Outrageous, bizarre and funny, Paul Steward's book, TALES OF DIRT, DANGER AND DARKNESS, transports the reader into realms of terror not often visited. The horrors of the cave world, presented as entrapment and death, remind the reader that, in darkness, the mind is precariously perched between fantasy and reality and between good and evil. The terror of being accountable to the devil is there because of human greed and the desire for fame and power. And Steward often approaches the episodes in this book with subtle humor. We all have our spiritual dark sides, so clearly presented in this book. An electrifying collection of original short stories, and an excellent read!

I don't like to give the story away, so I'll just say that Jodi Thomas is gifted. She brought the characters to life, one at a time, making you fall in love with each and every one. The romance between Alli and Luke is delightful, and comes around in it's own time. The residents of the area all need each other, but they don't know it yet. I couldn't put this book down from the first page, this is one I'll look forward to read over again in the future. You won't be bored or disappointed with this book.

I really enjoyed this book! I have not read very many of Ms.Thomas contemporary novels; I prefer her historical novels, but this one caught me from the start. Her characters a lovable and her heroine/hero are ones you can root for! A great summer read!

This is an amazing book. It's listed as romance but I'd actually call it "women's fiction" because, although Allie and Luke fall in love, the story is about Allie and the people of the community and not about the romance. There are no sex scenes in this book, which is partly why I'm so surprised I loved it. It's just a sweet, beautiful, touching story about a strong young woman and her Nana finding a place to grow and belong.

A community of misfits comes together and becomes a family. The story is set in Texas, but I wouldn't call it a "Western". There is a mystery/suspense thread throughout the book relating to Allie's "uncle" and some strange occurrences around the lake, but that's all just secondary to the story of Allie growing as a person and getting to know and love her neighbors.

Nana reminded me of both of my own grandmothers, and she was even from the same hometown that my grandparents and my parents are from. This book made me cry several times, but not because the story was sad. As a matter of fact, it wasn't sad at all. It's just very touching, and the story has a very serene and wistful feel that made me homesick for small town life.

This is my first Jodi Thomas book, and it certainly won't be my last. TWISTED CREEK is a new keeper for me.

If you like something different in the romance genre, this is for you. Twisted Creek is about Allie, an average woman whoses life has not gone in any good direction, ever. When she inherits an old bait supply/cafe from an uncle she never knew she had; she's suspicious but game.

The resulting charachters, plot and setting are compelling, complex and keep you turning pages.

I've never read Jodi Thomas before but plan on finding her backlist. This story was both moving and interesting. If you like Pamela Morsi, you'll love Jodi Thomas; like Morsi her charachters are human, fallable, and interesting. Great read! Honestly, I couldn't put it down.

I'm a huge fan of Jodi's historical romances but I liked how this one started out and thought I'd give it a read. I'm glad I did.

Jodi Thomas writes the best romances, and they're just that "romances" not bits of dialogue used as filler between sex scenes - she gives you an actual engaging story that you want to follow all the way to the end.

Keep up the good work, Jodi!

A friend handed me a tattered copy yesterday. I finished this afternoon. It was superb. Rarely have a read a collection this compelling. Buy it, read it, and pass it on.

I read this book upon the recommendation of a clerk at Books Along the Teche in New Iberia, LA. J.L. Burke may be New Iberia's favorite son, but Tim Gautreaux offers much more to the reader. His dialogue and characters ring authentic. Each story is one you are glad to read, and "Easy Pickings" is a story you will remember with a smile and a chuckle for the rest of your life.

I just finished reading this book, and could start all over again. Gatreaux has a wonderful way of crafting a story with believable people. No matter where the reader is from, because of his character descriptions, it is easy to identify with these folks from Louisiana. Gatreaux's short stories evoked all kinds of emotions, but there were many places where I simply laughed out loud. The best thing about this book, is the ability of the author to depict flawed characters living flawed lives, who nonetheless experience redemption in various ways. I will be looking for more books by this talented writer.

This second collection of short stories from Tim Gautreaux is, perhaps, even better than the first. Of course, if you look inside the book and see who published the individual stories, it's obvious that they must be good; The New Yorker, Atlantic, and Esquire are not noted for publishing bad fiction.

While these are fiction, the stories ring so true to life and the lives of the characters, that we can all see ourselves in someone in this collection. Most of Gautreaux's stories have a touch of humor, but all show the depth of character that draws readers into the stories.

Anyone who reads these stories and enjoys them, should also read his novels. You'll find that same voice and an author you can trust, who will not betray your empathy for his characters.

Tim Gautreaux's writing is simply amazingly good. His characters are sublimely human, and he has a knack for finding the good in all of them - even those who might be a bit unsavory. He places them in situations that are ordinary and unique at the same time - and in those situations he finds ways to reveal things to us that allow us to learn more about ourselves. The characters learn about themselves as well, and this is a treasure to observe. The stories here deal with joy and sorrow and all of the areas in between. The people here are struggling to come to grips with their own families, with their work, with the people around them - and with the world in which they live.

In the title piece, a man attempts to assert more of a guiding influence on his grandchildren, and in the process winds up changing several aspects of his own life as well. His trials in striving to accomplish a task given him by his wife, while sitting with his grandchildren at the same time, is presented with some of the most genuine humor I've read in a while - but it's a gentle humor, and it never belittles the characters or the situation (and this finely-tuned humor is used to good effect in several of these stories, even the more `serious' ones.

`Misuse of light' is a moving portrait of a man who works in a camera shop learning about the lives of his customers through the small areas where their lives intersect with his. When someone sells a camera to his shop and he finds a roll of film in it, he develops it in order to get a glimpse into other lives. Opening this door can, as he learns, have jarring effects - on him as well as on the lives he enters. When he uncovers information that causes pain to the young woman who has sold him the camera, rather than abandoning his `study', he probes a bit further in order to get to a level in this past wherein she can find a bit of peace. It's something that makes the character endearing - it's a story to restore faith. Another story dealing with faith it `Good for the soul', in which a parish priest with a bit of a drinking problem, attempting to do a good deed (against his better judgment), runs afoul of both the law and his community.

`Easy pickings' details a rather inept thief's attempt to take advantage of a solitary elderly woman - rather than being a cakewalk, he finds that he's definitely bitten off more than he can chew. There's a great deal of the above-mentioned gentle humor in this tale - and Gautreaux delivers it with tender respect, never ridiculing his characters. `The piano tuner' is, like `Misuse of light', a finely-crafted work in which one character sets out to help another cope with the world - and does so with no expectations of any sort of reward. It's a good example of how those among us who are a little `different' can find their niche - and a gentle lesson in showing such folks more tolerance.

`Resistance' is another case of one human helping another - in this instance, an elderly man, a widower, sees a need and fills it. The little girl who lives next door is very obviously the victim of an abusive, drunk father. When the neighbor learns that her parents are unable/unwilling to help her with her science project, he takes on the task himself - and the light he creates shines not only into her dark life, but also into his own.

`Sorry blood' and `Sunset in heaven' both deal with aspects of growing old. In the former, an Alzheimer's patient is victimized by one of the lowest low-lifes you're liable to meet (and hope that you don't). In the latter, the plight of an old man similarly afflicted opens the eyes of a middle-aged man to the possibilities in his own life.

`Rodeo parole' is a frightening, surreal look at a desperate attempt by prisoners to be viewed in a more favorable light by the parole board - by making themselves sitting targets for a bull enraged by repeated electric shocks from prison guards. Its few pages explode with action.

My two favorites in this collection are `Dancing with the one-armed gal' and `The Pine Oil Writers Conference'. In the former, a man on the run from (or is it `to') himself meets a woman hitchhiker as he travels west from Louisiana. They're both looking for something - and neither is sure just what, although they think they know - and the `answers' they find aren't the ones they expect. It makes for a very interesting and revealing encounter - both for the characters and the reader. `The Pine Oil Writers Conference' is, for me, the gem of this book. Gautreaux has created the classic `riddle wrapped in an enigma' with this story - an aspiring writer (a minister) attends the conference, hoping to find out if writing fiction is `the thing he does best'. The short excerpt included in this story produced by the character for a conference workshop is so well written than it made me sorry there wasn't more of it.

I've never read anything by Tim Gautreaux before - but you can bet I'll be looking for his other short story collection (SAME PLACE, SAME THINGS) as well as his novel (THE NEXT STEP IN THE DANCE). This little book was a great discovery.

All these stories were well written but I could only get enthusiastic about 25% of them.

These stories may be short but they are deep and rich. Each one is beautiful and gut wrenching, complicated and simple, fun and devastating!! The characters come off the page and into your soul. They are alive and kicking. The language is beautiful. it carries, weaves and stings without getting in the way. Mary Otis accomplishes an incredible amount in a very small space. I took my time reading her book - though one could read it in one sitting - because each tale has so much color, aroma and flavor and I wanted to savor each one on its own. The book is amazing.

A wonderful debut by a gifted, original stylist. Armed with little more than good intentions, the hapless women and children who are Otis' protagonists do their best to survive and to find love in a world, fragmented and twisted off its axis, which no longer obeys the expected rules. Otis' eye for the absurdities of contemporary life is razor-sharp and unflinching, but always informed by humor and compassion. In unique and surprising language, Otis presents stories to be savored and re-read. Highly recommended.

I am not usually someone who reads short stories, often feeling like they do not allow me to really enter and explore a specific world for any length of time. This collection of short stories is the exception. I devoured this book in the same way I would a rivetingly good novel. Mary Otis's world is so complete, her characters so surprising and intriguing and the stories so connected, I literally couldn't put it down. I laughed outloud, I was moved, I was forced to reflect on my own idiosyncracies. Each story stays with you almost like a film would, with the images resonating long after. Mary is truly a brilliant new talent. I encourage all to buy this book!

I stumbled upon a reading by Mary Otis herself at the famed Book Soup in Los Angeles. Being a film editor, sights and sounds distract my attention from the written word, but the pictures Mary painted were too descriptive to dismiss. I was pulled into a story filled with colorful characters, and their often awkward, but very human scenarios. With further reading, each story was threaded by her characters' poignant, private observations, which range from comical to desperate, but mostly, bitter-sweet.

I couldn't help but make a connection to filmmakers Robert Altman (i.e. Shortcuts), or Jim Jarmusch (i.e. Broken Flowers), both in storytelling style, and character use. Mary's storytelling has a slight, but intentional disjunctive quality, yet the dots connect in a cohesive whole with the closure of each story. Her characters try to find their place in this awkward world, but along the way, never forget to laugh, or at least allow us to laugh. Overall, her dry, slightly sarcastic take on the human condition, be it marriage, the family structure, or social grace and lack thereof, make for an endearing read.

The second installment of one of the best scifi anthologies around and also the first where my all-time favorite Joker of all time Jube the Walrus is introduced (or is he a joker or something else entirely you will have to read to find out.

The story forces on an invading force from outer space dubbed in typical pulp fashion "The Swam" the stories focus on the attempts by Aces and Jokers to fight it and by a tyrannical cult to control it in the mistaken belief that the swarm's arrival is for the greater good of all humanity.

There are also appearances by other Aces including Cord, the Great and Powerful Turtle Captain Trips and an unfortunate teenager named Kid Dinosaur who can change into any of the long dead reptiles that he has knowledge of...unfortunately his mass doesn't change.

This is another time where my powers of description do not measure up to how great this book is

If you are a fan of

Lewis Shiner
Walter Jon Williams
Pat Cadigan
George R.R. Martin
Roger Zelazny

Then do yourself a favor and find a copy of this book.

Aces High is a high class, and high up restaurant catering to the Aces, the Wild Card victims with powers. It is expensive and snooty, run by one of their own, a man named Hiram Worchester, who has the ability to control weight.

The Aces have two serious problems in this book, and the stories all relate to these somehow, the menace of the alien Swarm, and the crazy black magic style power use of the Astronomer, a geeky crazed black magician type.

The other memorable nasty, Demise, with his death gaze and regeneration abilities, also is introduced in "If Looks Could Kill".

Wild Cards 02 : 01 Pennies from Hell - Lewis Shiner
Wild Cards 02 : 02 Jube: One - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 03 Unto the Sixth Generation: Prologue - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 04 Jube: Two - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 05 Ashes to Ashes - Roger Zelazny
Wild Cards 02 : 06 Unto the Sixth Generation: Part One - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 07 Unto the Sixth Generation: Part Two - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 08 Jube: Three - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 09 If Looks Could Kill - Walton Simons
Wild Cards 02 : 10 Jube: Four - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 11 Unto the Sixth Generation: Epilogue - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 12 Winter's Chill - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 13 Jube: Five - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 14 Relative Difficulties - Melinda M. Snodgrass
Wild Cards 02 : 15 With a Little Help From His Friends - Victor Milán
Wild Cards 02 : 16 Jube: Six - George R. R. Martin
Wild Cards 02 : 17 By Lost Ways - Pat Cadigan
Wild Cards 02 : 18 Mr. Koyama's Comet - Walter Jon Williams
Wild Cards 02 : 19 Half Past Dead - John J. Miller
Wild Cards 02 : 20 Jube: Seven - George R. R. Martin



Fortunato meets a nice girl to go along with his geisha collection, but his pursuit of the Masons through rare coins has terrible consequences.

5 out of 5


Walrus boy ain't what he seems.

4 out of 5


An ally makes a desperate teleportation attempt to warn Jube of the Swarm.

4 out of 5


The death of his alien ally and the loss of the singularity shifter and a garbled message of warning distracts Jube from the xmas cheer.

4 out of 5


The death of his alien ally and the loss of the singularity shifter and a garbled message of warning distracts Jube from the xmas cheer.

4 out of 5


Jube hires Croyd to find the alien corpse, and anything with it. Devil John biffo.

4 out of 5


Modular Man made, Swarm invade.

4 out of 5


Singularity shifting. Don't try and mind-control androids.

3.5 out of 5


When Jube realises his ally meant the Swarm, he knows he needs the power of the Singularity Shifter rather more urgently.

3.5 out of 5


Astronomer hires Demise eyes.

4.5 out of 5


Jube enlists the transparent infobroker.

3 out of 5


Punks find Shifter.

2.5 out of 5


Girl shy Turtle.

4.5 out of 5


Astronomer, Swarm, Takisians all prove to be a little overwhelming.

3 out of 5


Captain Trips drops back in, as Tachyon's relatives show bad timing, capture them, Turtle, and others.

5 out of 5


Tachyon and Trips vs Takisians and Swarm for the fate of the world.

5 out of 5


On the Mason trail.

3 out of 5


Astronomer has hostages and Shakhti machine, but the Aces rally for a raid.

4 out of 5


Swarm sighting.

3 out of 5


Yeoman finds the Singularity Shifter while taking out Egrets. When Tachyon learns of this, he has a plan to take the fight to the Swarm.

5 out of 5


Jube tells Red about some aliens and decides his allegiances are local.

3.5 out of 5

This is the second book in the Wildcards series. This book focuses on the lives of many of the aces of the wildcards universe, with the main unifying plot of the stories being the threat of an alien invasion.

Aces High is a more focused book, dealing with a smaller group of aces and returning to them more often rather than the sampler that the first book was. Many of the favorites return; Fortunato, Dr. Tachyon, The Great and Powerful Turtle, but there are some really nasty villians that appear in this book, as well. The villians are not nice people, so be warned, but they are interesting characters. The leader is pretty much evil to the core, but his hirelings are much more human, each with their own motivations which are explained pretty well in the book. They aren't all evil; many are just looking to get ahead and backing the team that they think will win. Well, and perhaps are a bit more accepting of the "win at any cost" mentality.

I can't think of a story I didn't enjoy in this book, either. All were well written, and were tied together well. I think my favorite story may have been the exploits of Modular Man, but Captain Tripps is a very interesting character as well. I hope to see more of them in future books.

So far, it seems that these books should be read in order, so if you skip Wildcards 1 and start here, you may be lost. Just a word of warning, since I know the books can be hard to find.
I recommend this book to all Wildcards fans and any superhero fan that has not read this series yet is doing themselves a disservice.

A great installment in the Wild Cards universe. An alien swarm is headed on a collision course with earth and the Aces must unite to fight the impending doom of the world. However, "the Astronomer" - a super-villain- is trying to stop the heroes, and employs any devious methods to reach his ends... There are new characters presented such as Demise - who can look in your eyes forcing you to relive his death, and thus die yourself...and Jube, the walrus-like newspaper salesman with bad taste in jokes and equally bad fashion sense... who knows what motives he has?

This is a great story, and I can't help but think that the wild cards would make an excellent series on the sci-fi channel.
I look forward to the next episode!

Relic113

The continuing short story collection set in the shared world as introduced in 'Wild Cards,' this is the continuing stories of those Aces and Jokers (and sometimes plain old natural humans) in the fallout of the genetic Wild Card virus. We're in the eighties now, and a new menace looms on the horizon - a dark alien organism is on its way, and the Swarm Mother sends terrible creatures down to attack earth in many places - and who else can stop them but the super-powered Aces?

The nice thing is the story-arc merely starts with the swarm assault, and from there, the weaving in of new and old characters is superb. We revisit some of the best characters from the first volume (The Great and Powerful Turtle is my favourite so far), and the story of the Swarm Mother certainly doesn't end in that single attack. This is solid stuff, and very well organized to say that it's a shared world.

Now I've ordered book three in with the last of my online gift certificates, and hope it arrives soon! Nothing quite like a new literary addiction.

'Nathan

Sit back and relax with this read because W. A. Heisler exhibits a truely remarkable understanding of what Christmas is all about. His storytelling will fill your heart with the love and peace we all need to feel. I'd recommend this to all those who are looking to get away from the hustle and bustle that Christmas has become.

Wow, what a journey An American Christmas will take you on. From the first story "The Tradition" it touched my heart and I could not put it down. This book is an emotional, heartwarming and inspritational read. So enjoyable. I have actually read it twice. I have given it for gifts and encourage everyone to read it. You will truly feel the power of the words.

I liked this book a lot. My favorite stories are "Stille Nacht" (set during World War II) and "These Four Walls".

The author has a good sense of humor and it's most evident in "These Four Walls" (the story about the kids and the 'witch').

There's also some suspense in "Stille Nacht" and "The Long Road Home." (That surprised me even though I read and liked a few of the author's uncollected suspense stories.)

Three of the stories have spiritual elements. I normally wouldn't enjoy stories like that (outside of the horror genre), because I'm an atheist. It takes talent to make an ornery guy like me appreciate a sentimental and spiritual Christmas-themed story.

I'm looking forward to a book of Heisler's suspense and horror tales.

W. A. Heisler does a magnificent job with these five spiritually uplifting and inspiring Christmas stories that will touch and warm your heart. Heisler is able to quickly pull you into each story and connect you personally with each character. His ease and humor keeps your interest. A great holiday gift idea for someone you love.

What a great way to spend your christmas vacation! The Christmas memories shared in the short stories of this book offers such a variety of characters each with a feel good theme that offers an uplifting solution to the commercial driven christmas it puts the focus on the real meaning of christmas and the importance of the memories we make during the holdays. I laughed, cried and really enjoyed An American Christmas.

Eduardo Gonzales Viana speaks to each of us with convincing clarity, beautiful prose, and deep and thought provoking messages about life and its dilemmas. His gift of expression and the ease with which he presents his characters and shares his story is a gift to us all.

This is probably the most creative and far-reaching book of short stories I have read in many years. It is also the first book published in English by this extraordinary Peruvian-American writer. It says a great deal of what we can expect from Gonzalez Viaña in the future.

Gonzalez Viaña writes with the Borgesian power to reveal the mystery of man and the universe. You can practically hear his characters breathe. What prose! Complete and poetic.

Arte Publico's translation reveals to us a superb author. The characters and situations offer stories of Biblical dimensions. Fascinating!

Living in Oregon is a great Latino writer whose dreams are America. Amazing grace! Absolutely perfect from opening word to closing sentence.

This is an excellent CD. Mary Oliver's reading voice is very interesting and adds an addition dimension to her wonderful poems. They also don't mess up the simplicity of her reading voice with background music or any other distractions. It's about 40 poems, drawn from various books.

The DVD itself is technically a little wanting -- the recordings of the poet reading clearly come from a variety of different events and are patched together with varying levels of care. However, the poems are beautiful and it is a joy to hear Oliver's voice speaking them.

Listening to Mary Oliver read her own poetry is a joyful, serene experience. "Wild Geese" is one poem that I could hear several times each day. I am grounded by listening to Mary Oliver.

A wonderful collection from a wonderful career - and hopefully there are many more collections to come.
Sound quality is generally extremely good, 'though one or two tracks seem to be down on level, but hearing the poet read her own work gives the listener/reader that added benefit.
Essential listening.

Mary Oliver is certainly one of our finest contemporary poets. Her terse and sparse use of language in effect widens our horizons as we readers are able to expand our vision through her creative work.
This CD has ample examples of her poetry, from several different volumes, and the listener can accompany the readings with personal copies of the published works. Oliver's ability to use the natural settings of her New England environment to state something profound about the human condition is one of her gifts. To see in the ordinary what is unforgettable, is another. Her language is visual, so that we see what she describes in new ways. This collection of poems, read by the poet, is a classic and one to be treasured and listened to over and over.

i bought this book when it was first printed. i wore the pages right out of the book, and bought a second. this book inspired me to write poetry of my own.

I have this book, which I got in 1995. It is Wonderful! I have read it many times and still have not lost intrest!! It is SO good, that I can not believe that it went out of print. I have also read Kevin's new book: Unfinished work. Which came out on Nov. 6. This book is beyond describing. Read it for yourself!!
Kevin Max Smith has a beautiful, amazing, God-given talent, that VERY few people have! He is wonderful at writing. And his poetry is deep and moving. I hope to see many more books from Kevin. Also , look for another coming out (sometime soon, I hope) : The London Cowboy Choronicles. These are all wonderful works of poetry!!
I also hear he
is (possibly) starring in a movie coming out some time next summer. Be sure to check that out as well.

This book was a awesome encouragement of how beautiful God can really work through just one man. Kevin is sincere and personal and his style is very beautiful.

This is an amazing book. When it was originally published promises were made that a second book would be forthcoming. So, Kev - where is it?

Most artists have to die before they're appreciated. Thankfully Kevin Max Smith of DCTalk fame didn't have to die, his book just had to go out of print before everyone scrambled the ends of the earth trying to get their hands on a copy. The poetry is pure delight (my favorite is "Captured") and I love his poems for their sheer simplicity. The artwork by Jimmy Abegg sets off the collection nicely making it something that you want to pass down from generation to generation.

I very much enjoyed these stories. They all take place in tow different times. The present or resent past and then during WWII.

Things happen in the present and these women are then taken back to WWII times and even to Germany to learn the truth of their past and heritage.

It is nice to be able to read one long story and have the complete picture and not have to stay up all night having to read just one more chapter.

I highly recommend this book.

I have never written a review before, but I can't overstate how powerful these stories are. Each of them made me think about the meaning of identity, of family history. I took the book out of the library, and was so moved by it that I had to go buy it -- I need this book on my own bookshelf! Read it -- but be prepared to stay up late to grab every bit of it!

I have my own family history that is very similar to some of the stories...They touch you very deeply on so many levels. You will not be able to put this book down!

In Awake in the Dark, Nayman has taken a tragic subject and crafted from it stories that are at once painful and full of light and compassion. It is a journey through the Uncanny in the truest sense. Nayman manages not only to make the familiar strange - a lamp can be a corpse, a wall can be a coffin - but going a step further she makes the strange familiar - strangers can be siblings, a Nazi can be one's mother.

Though each story is about a different character, the stories thematically weave in and out of one another and build a fabric. Each character's moment of unmasking or reclaiming a part of their identity seems to be another step in the last character's process of self-discovery. The only other book I've read in which the sense of deep shared history is so tangible is Marquez' 100 Years of Solitude. This feeling of connectedness makes each vignette better than the last and emphasizes one of the overarching themes of the book: redemption through sharing and owning one's history.

Awake in the Dark is piercing, poignant and strikingly original and I highly recommend it.

Tales of terrible times, told economically and without appealling to tears - and this dry, rough way of telling episodes that happened gives them more impact. I really liked it.