Average customer rating:
- Great story!
- Worth a read
- The limit of human endurance...
- comparison
- good book
|
The One that Got Away: My SAS Mission behind Enemy Lines
Chris Ryan
Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Military & Spies | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Military | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Asia | History | Subjects | Books | Afghanistan | Armenia | Bangladesh | Belarus | Bhutan | Brunei | Cambodia | Central Asia | China | Far East | General | Georgia | Hong Kong | India | Indonesia | Japan | Korea | Laos | Malaysia | Maldives | Mauritius | Mongolia | Myanmar | Nepal | Pakistan | Philippines | Russia | Seychelles | Singapore | South Asia | Southeast Asia | Sri Lanka | Taiwan | Thailand | Tibet | Turkey | Vietnam
General | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books
General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
Operation Desert Storm | United States | Military | History | Subjects | Books
General | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
Bravo Two-Zero
-
Bravo Two Zero
-
Immediate Action
-
Soldier Five: The Real Truth About the Bravo Two Zero Mission
-
Remote Control
ASIN: 1574881566 |
Book Description
The British Army's Special Air Service is one of the world's premier special operations units. During the Gulf War, deep behind Iraqi lines, an SAS team was compromised. A fierce firefight ensued, and the eight men were forced to run for their lives. Only one, Chris Ryan, escaped capture or death, and he did it by walking nearly 180 miles through the desert for seven days and eight nights. This story features extraordinary courage under fire, narrow escapes, a battle against the most adverse physical conditions, and, above all, of one man's courageous refusal to lie down and die.
Customer Reviews:
Great story!.......2007-07-10
This book is great mainly due to the dangerous background of the mission. Ryan survived for about ten days in a hostile environment while he had to deal with coldness, exhaustion, injuries and starvation. Therefore it is an account of an incredible surviving. Respect for Ryan. His book is a must-read !
Worth a read.......2007-03-27
Not the tale of an inhumanly capable and faultless warrior and all the more compelling for that. Very interesting and informative, a more realistic treatment of events that the McNabb book, or at least more believable.
The limit of human endurance..........2006-01-27
Imagine driving two hundred miles, a long boring journey no doubt. Seems like ages...
Imagine walking it with no food, little water, and freezing temperatures that had already cost the lives of two of the SAS patrol troopers. That's what Ryan did when he journeyed to the Syrian border when the infamous Bravo Two Zero mission fell apart due to bad luck, poor intelligence, and below zero temperatures.
The famous - or infamous - Bravo Two Zero mission was about eight SAS troops that where sent behind enemy lines during the first gulf war. They were compromised early on, and with a fire fight early on, and no communication from headquarters, the men had to evade and escape. Four of the men were captured and tortured in an Iraqi sess-pit of a gaol. Three of the men died, one shot in combat and two died from hypothermia. Only one escaped. "The One That Got Away" is his story...
Ryan had to endure a terrific journey on foot of 200 miles to get to the Syrian border. Along the way, he drills (kills) a few Iraqi soldiers, or guards. He even breaks one's neck, told in squirm-inducing detail:
"When the second man saw me, his eyes widened in terror and he instantly began to run. But somehow, with a surge of adrenalin, I flew after him, jumped on him and brought him down with my legs locked round his hips. I got one arm round his neck in a judo hold and stretched his chin up. There was a muffled crack, and he died instantaneously."
Ryan's spirit comes from a very deep well, and with his SAS training, he pushes on even when he is on the verge of complete exhaustion (towards the end, he starts hallucinating).
Andy NcNab's "Bravo Two Zero" book is about McNab's torture at the hands of his Iraqi captives. Ryan's story is also about brutal pain, but his is self-inflicted as he desperately seeks to escape capture (he loses all his toe nails due to the 200 mile hike, he is on the verge of getting frost bite, he drinks radioactive water, and to finish off bad luck, he nearly gets lynched when he finally gets to Syria).
Ryan comes across as a methodical man. He plays by the book (he doesn't journey during the day - an SAS no-no). His methodical thinking about getting things right sometimes makes the other members of the SAS patrol seem incompetent. That seems a tad unfair (though as the author, and with the slight fact that he was actually there, he may have a right to say what he wants). I think the real incompetence in the Bravo Two Zero mission was the lack of intelligence from the top brass and not the men on the ground (why should you have the cold terrain as the enemy as well as the Iraqis when it needn't be? Shouldn't Intelligence know that the temperatures in Iraqi can drop really low?)
Even if you not a fan of Special Forces you will find this book riveting. People who like endurance will also love this book - for example if you are one of them loons who think climbing Everest in a pair of flip-flops is a great day out, then this book is also for you.
Seriously, I would recommend reading this, especially now when the second Gulf war is still simmering. It gives you a realistic journey on combat that you rarely get with the media. I also recommend McNab's "Bravo Two Zero" as it gives an account of his capture and torture.
comparison.......2006-01-13
this is a fantastic book. the SAS are phenominal. this mission was flawed, and this book is a testiment to the hardcore training and personnel of the SAS. however, to address another reviewer's comments, i fully disagree with the assessement that the SAS are vastly superior to Delta Force. firstly, for a number of years ive had close affiliations with the special operations world, and personally know a great number of both Delta operators and SAS soldiers and have conversed with them greatly on training, tactics, and so forth. no arguement that both are superior to the SEALs, who have always been overrated and hollywood. but the fact is, it is a complete and utter fallacy to state that Delta dont have the training to survive the way this SAS team did. thats absurd. first, delta's founder, charlie beckwith, a green beret who spent time with the SAS, used the SAS unit structure and training criteria as a template for Delta. second, Delta and the SAS are two of the most closely aligned units in the world, with frequent exchanges, putting Delta operators through SAS training and vice versa, as well as executing missions together from time to time. bottom line, Delta is the US military's MOST elite, MOST well trained, and MOST combat experienced unit of the last 25 years. Delta operators and SAS soldiers dont bother with the comparison themselves, because they're of the same caliber and embrace each other. further, the reason Delta has never done what mcnab's team did is because they've never been in the situation, which by the way was caused by MISTAKES. now im not bashing the SAS, even the most elite units make mistakes, Delta has as well. ultimately, these men survived through a undominable will, and escape, evasion and survival tactics, and to assume that Delta does not have this training is ludicrous, not to mention wholly untrue.
good book.......2005-06-14
i think this book is very good.
i was in the SAS and i fought against the IRA.
Book Description
"Lost fish," writes Howell Raines, "chasten us to the knowledge that we are all, in each and every moment, dwindling. Imagine my surprise when I discovered well into my sixth decade that losing fish can prepare us for a blessing as well as for pain."
Confronting loss -- of an elusive fish or something larger -- is at the heart of The One That Got Away, the graceful sequel to Raines's much-loved, bestselling memoir Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis, published to great acclaim in 1993. With the same winning combination of reminiscences, anecdotes, philosophy and fishing lore, his bold new memoir covers the eventful years in this latest passage of his life, and the realization that in relinquishing his former identity as a newspaperman he has actually gotten what he wanted, just in the most unlikely way.
In wry and witty prose, Raines shifts between fishing vignettes and personal reflections on his childhood, his second marriage, his relationships with his two sons, the trajectory of his career at The New York Times and his move toward old age. At the center of his narrative is his most thrilling fishing adventure -- an epic battle with a marlin he hooked and fought for more than seven hours in the South Pacific -- which comes to symbolize his growing understanding and acceptance of the unpredictability of luck, love, lies and life, and how the unexpected can, in fact, be an opportunity to make life more interesting.
Raines's wonderful descriptions of streams, people and fish; his passion for angling and writing; and his wise and perceptive commentary on the vagaries of his own life combine to create a profound book -- one of undeniable appeal and uncommon heart.
Customer Reviews:
Fishing, daydreaming, politics, woman, drinking................2007-04-18
Even though I was not going to write a review about this book, the many critiques posted by other reviewers made me pause and then decide to add my thoughts. For the fisherman who has done any amount of fishing, you find that sooner or later, you discuss just about everything on your mind with your fishing buddies.
This book does meander over quite a bit of territory, both, literally and figuratively. Howell travels the world to engage in his beloved flyfishing hobby and catch the elusive fish of wherever he lands. He also muses on his career, life, and personal values.
The forward and backward in time writing technique seems a little forced sometimes and towards the end it does seem that there has been a little repetition, but, overall this is an interesting book written by a man who has seemingly made peace with himself and life.
To any potential readers, if you are a neo-conservative that can't stand a sentence or two of criticism of Fox News and the Bushies, then maybe you should pass. However, if your skin is not so thin, you wonder about what a smart man thinks when in his 50/60's, and you enjoy a fish tale or two, then read this book.
The reader is engaging and the story is pretty good.
Too much politics, too little fishing.......2007-04-06
Author is a major liberal, and there is way too much politics and way too little fishing. Not a bad book, but certainly not a good book...
Two Books In One.......2006-11-21
If you're looking for a journalism memoir, you've come to the wrong place, really. You'll have to wade through much tedium about fishing, through which Raines tries to come to epiphanies about life and loss. I found myself flipping through about 85 percent of the book to get to what I thought were the good parts: his recollections of how Jayson Blair wrecked his NYT career. Raines paints himself as a saviour of what he thought was a hidebound newspaper. There may always be a debate about what he really achieved. He should have stuck to either fishing or journalism to make this book work. One wonders if something this muddled could ever make it past the gatekeepers at the evolving Times of today.
The One That Got Away - In more ways than one!.......2006-11-12
Howell Raines' memoir, The One That Got Away, is a sequel to his best selling Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis, and is an account of the latest years of his life including his remarriage and his career as executive editor of The New York Times.
It is also a book about fishing. If you're looking for a lot of details about the plagiarism scandal that ended his 25 years at The Times, you will be disappointed. On the other hand, if you love fishing, especially fly fishing, you will be in heaven.
In The One That Got Away, Mr. Raines takes you around the world to a series of well-known (and little-known) fishing spots, where he describes his equipment and explains his techniques for catching the elusive salmon or bonefish or trout. You'll discover his love for this catch-an-release sport, especially in the tale of his epic battle with a marlin that he hooked in the South Pacific and fought for over seven hours.
You also might find yourself speculating about the absolute veracity of these fish tales as well as the other events he describes in his book. After all, aren't "fish stories" synonymous with "lies" in the English language?
His credos on journalism ("to see events wholly and coldly and try to write about them for the informational benefit of the Republic"), and The Times newspaper (to deliver high quality fact-based information and analysis about news that is found out, rather than imagined") were sorely tested when that "small, amiable, brown-skinned young man known as Jayson Blair" was exposed for publishing lies in The Times.
Howell Raines says he had "no way of knowing and no cause to be consulted" about Jayson's rapid promotion from trainee to reporter, his lack of professionalism, or his frequent errors. But, as the guy "at the end of the chain of command," he took personal responsibility and demanded a complete disclosure. When the dust settled the "Gray Lady's" reputation was saved, but the editor found himself without a job.
The One That Got Away is a book about confronting loss, be it fish or career. Howell Raines learned that in relinquishing his former identity as a newspaperman, he actually got what he wanted. As much as he loved journalism, the dream of escape was always there.
As far as his relinquishing that marlin...what do you think?
Thin Metaphor.......2006-11-03
Raines uses the metaphor of hooking and losing a large fish to describe his career; the surprise of getting a job that was beyond his expectations (hooking the fish), the long tedious years of work (fighting the fish), and his unexpected firing (losing the fish). Raines' first fishing book outlined his political agenda. In his second book, he explains his management oversight that resulted in his dismissal. I prefer fishing literature that makes an environmental point, an ethical fishing point, or is just an entertaining story. I am finished buying Raines' books because I do not care to spend my entertainment money to listen to his personal agenda. Raines' books are editoral pages thinly wrapped in fish.
Book Description
In passionate love stories from four of romance's most prominent authors, meet women who've spent years thinking they've missed their shot at Mr Right – only to discover that fate is handing them one more chance.to win back the love of the one who got away!
Customer Reviews:
Yawn! A snoozer........2005-09-11
The Trouble With Charlotte by Victoria Alexander: 91 pages. Charlotte has been widowed for 7 years and is about to become engaged to a safe and steady man who is a sharp contrast to the rogue she impetuously married when she was only 18 years old. Imagine her surprise when Hugh returns! He wasn't dead, but merely suffering from amnesia caused by war injuries. He claims to have changed, and so has she. Can they recapture their love, or is it time for them to move on? This is a sweet story, but not very believeable or convincing. Charlotte's two widowed friends are introduced, and it would have been nice to learn what happens to them too.
Much Ado About Twelfth Night by Liz Carlyle: 92 pages. It took me so long to prod through this short story because I had trouble connecting with it and following along with the plot. Although I forced myself to finish it, I can't even summarize the story. It was that confusing and totally boring.
A Fool Again by Eloisa James: 87 pages. My favorite story in the book. At seventeen, Genevieve was on her way to Gretna Green to elope with the wild and passionate Tobias when her father caught up with them, dragged her back home and forced her to marry the much older Erasmus to save her reputation. When shrewd and ruthless Erasmus died seven years later, he stipulated in his will that Genevieve must marry one of his business partners after a two year mourning period in order to inherit his estate. Upon hearing that Genevieve was now a widow, Tobias returned from India, where he had retreated to soothe his wounds and make his fortune after being jilted. Genevieve had her sights set on marrying the snake-like Felton to fulfill her husband's will, however how could she resist the charm and passion of her first and only true lover?
Nightingale by Cathy Maxwell: 73 pages. A cute sexy story. Jemma had always lived her life to please her family, giving up her true love Dane to marry a titled man. Now she was widowed and destitue, and her family was once again dependent upon her to save them. In a drunken stupor, her brother Cris challenges Dane to a duel. After not seeing each other for many years, Jemma approaches Dane, asking him to call off the duel and spare her brother's life. He is agreeable, only if she submits to a night of passionate lovemaking with him. The two fall in love again, and Jemma is torn between following her heart or following the demands of her family obligations.
Some good, some not so..........2005-08-13
I read all 4 of these authors. James rarely fails; I generally like Carlyle, too. Alexander and Maxwell are a bit more hit or miss for me. These perceptions held true in this anthology.
Alexander's was my least favorite. I remember my gasp when Captain Robb showed up at the end of a previous book. Here's the story, and it's bland and disappointing. It was not helped by Marcus, Earl of Pennington telling the story. Him, I like, just not his telling the story. The device was simply awkward.
Maxwell's wasn't top notch either. It was a pretty ordinary humdrum plot with a less than likeable heroine and a hero who seemed easily duped. Both hers and Alexander's seemed rushed and almost trite. Carlyle's and James' were more complex.
It's hard to decide whether to give the "best liked" label to Carlyle or James, but I think it goes to Carlyle by a hair. Her characters were interesting (lead and secondary), and although the reader could easily figure out what was happening, Carlyle made it fun to watch the characters grasp it piece by piece. James had strong leads as well and included a few unique elements, like the fair and the nature of the other suitor. There was more humor in Carlyle's story, but both sizzled where appropriate.
4 stars for these two, less for Alexander & Maxwell, leading to 3 stars overall.
Get your hands on it.......2004-12-13
It's always difficult to rate anthologies when you like some stories but not others. At least 2 of the stories are 4-star; the others are 3.
I bought this book because of Carlyle and James, two of my favourite authors. But it was Alexander's story I enjoyed most: she's funny and I look for that in my romance reading. I've read her before and don't recall it being very witty..perhaps it's time to check again.
Carlyle's story, which hinges on misunderstandings, also sparkled, and while James' story was pretty passionate I couldn't really sympathise with Genevieve's motives. I've mentioned elsewhere that Maxwell isn't a favourite author and I found her story to have an ordinary plot, with predictable progress. People looking for passion will find plenty of it in her story though.
My Last Anthology.......2004-12-06
Here we have 4 of my favorite authors and I didn't enjoy any of them. In fact, I just couldn't read one all the way through. Into the trash it went.
Each one of these authors write wonderful full-length novels. I just think their hearts aren't into the shorter format required by an anthology.
However, I've never read many books in this format that I've enjoyed. So, it may just be me on this book. I see that others have enjoyed it. I'm just tremendously disappointed.
So, I won't be buying any more anthologies. I'll save my money, time and energy for their stand alone books. In fact, I'm reading Victoria Alexander's "A Visit from Sir Nicholas" right now and enjoying it very much.
I'm glad this one didn't get away!.......2004-11-02
What a charming collection of stories! I haven't read all of these authors before but I'm certainly going to be looking for their books in the future. My absolute favorite was the Eloisa James story "A Fool Again" which was so delightful and romantic that it reminded me of why we should all be "fools for love" at one time in our life. Or in this case, twice! These stories are like delicious appetizers and now I'm starving for a main course. I'm off to the bookstore to find Ms. James' latest and to check out some of the books from the other authors too.
Book Description
Fast-rising record exec Tony Gooden has his priorities in line: making money and loving the single life. But his game is thrown off balance when he sees Serena Kincaid, the only woman he ever put himself on the line for.
Download Description
Fast-rising record exec Tony Gooden has his priorities in line: making money and loving the single life. But his game is thrown off balance when he sees Serena Kincaid, the only woman he ever put himself on the line for.
Customer Reviews:
Don't Let This Novel Get Away!!!.......2006-01-04
Have you ever had that one true love that got away? Do you regret it? This is what radio executive Tony Gooden has to deal with in The One That Got Away, the latest novel by C. Kelly Robinson. Tony loves the single life, but his whole world turns upside down when Serena Kincaid pops back into the picture. Serena is the only love Tony has ever had and he let her go. Tony wants her back right now but that's not going to be easy. Serena is dealing with a wayward teenage daughter and a philandering husband. She is torn between trying to save her marriage and rekindling a past relationship with Tony.
The One That Got Away is an entertaining novel by C. Kelly Robinson. This novel is about how making life choices can affect everyone around you. Robinson expertly shows the range of emotions that Tony goes through in trying to get Serena back. I found myself really feeling for these characters while I was reading this fast-paced and intriguing novel. C. Kelly Robinson continues to write enjoyable, true-to-life stories for all to contemplate.
fabulous contemporary romance .......2005-11-02
Executive Tony Gooden has two goals in life. He plans to make a lot of money and to use his wealth to fully enjoy the life of a single. He is succeeding at both as he is rising fast up the corporate ladder and has no problem scoring with the women. Life is perfect until he sees his college sweetheart Serena Kincaid at the wedding of his college roommate in Chicago.
Years ago Tony let Serena marry someone else though he foolishly crashed the wedding in an almost Mrs. Robinson scenario, but finally moved on with a string of models. Now seeing her, he wants her more than life itself. Serena has her own troubles with her marriage to Jamie collapsing. She wants Tony, but figures on a one night stand to forget her troubles at least for an evening. Both have the best night of their lives, but he needs more while she has doubts after one failed marital relationship and their previous history. Still he heads to Cincinnati to make his case.
THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY is a fabulous contemporary romance starring two likable protagonists who belong together yet somehow never took the next step. Instead they went their separate ways, but have a second chance at love if both take the risk to their respective hearts. The story line focuses on the changing triangular relationship between Tony, Serena and Jamie who still wants his wife at his side (among other women) and uses their daughter to achieve his objective. Fans will welcome this fine Midwest tale due to the fully developed cast who because they seem real make choosing so difficult to decide.
Harriet Klausner
Is It Love or Stalking?.......2005-11-02
Have you ever loved someone, but the timing/situation was not right, and they slipped away? In the latest release from C. Kelly Robinson, titled The One That Got Away (TOTGA) the girl that got away is Serena Kincaid and the guy that is still pining for her is Tony Gooden. More than ten years have lapsed, since Tony crashed Serena's wedding to her current husband, Jamie. Fast forward a decade later and a not so accidental encounter at a friends wedding, which brings the two face to face where old memories, wounds, heartbreaks, and feelings are revisited-as well as the reason for why their paths had not crossed in all those years. But when Tony survives an untimely accident, his priorities change, and he realizes that tomorrow is not guaranteed and some people are worth taking a chance with. There are just a few roadblocks-Serena's married, dealing with a rebellious teen, and she lives in another city. Is she willing to give up what she has accomplished in the last 10 years to be with someone that dissed her a decade ago?
Robinson explores marriage, relationships, love, children and inner emotions in his latest novel. TOTGA depicts the struggles that many individuals experience in the game of love and relationships. Robinson gives us mature characters who are forced to make some tough decisions. Decisions that not only affect them but that will ultimately impact loved ones as well. We witness and feel the pain of the main characters as they make decisions with their hearts rather than their heads. Robinson delivers a conscious twisting story about love and lust between Serena and Jason and forces us to assess whether or not two individuals can go back to a love that previously existed without repercussions.
While TOTGA covers typical territory (it is primarily a relationship novel), Robinson does introduce unexpected plots twists and turns. Additionally, secondary characters are skillfully developed and their stories are integral to the primary storyline. TOTGA was an entertaining and engaging read, however, I wanted more back story regarding the primary characters; serious character flaws were alluded to for both but they were never really fleshed out. That aside, Robinson's writing was captivating enough to keep me reading this book and I was able to finish it in one sitting. Nice story for a clear, mild autumn day.
Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO BookClub
Book Description
Have you ever wondered what happened to the first, the truest and/or the greatest love of your life? Have you ever considered how that person would respond if and when you contacted him/her? Lee Robert Schreiber did just that, and this is his poignant, often hilarious and absolutely true story.
Customer Reviews:
Food For thought!.......2006-01-20
I suppose all of us from time to time take a moment and think about our first love and wonder what they are doing, what would it have been like if we never broke up and is there still feelings there. In this work our author takes this one step further and contacts his. What do you think happens? Would you be bold enough to do the same, and is that a wise move to make for any of us? I believe our author found more than he bargained for.
As our author takes this quest he also shares with the reader his self-examination as he struggles for answers to many whys in his past and his present. He finds out some things about himself as well. We learn he at times is rude, perhaps will not commit, is competitive and he realizes the importance of his fathers presence after his death.
This is a work of the past, touching the present and influencing the future. A different work, one that will perhaps stir emotions in you that you didn't even realize were there. A story of life, loss, searching and finding and ultimately understanding life must take its course with each one of us and will have its way.
Something for Everyone.......2005-11-21
Go ahead, admit it. Lee Schreiber isn't the only one to have wondered about, even obsessed about, a past love, or maybe even the first love, the one from which one never fully recovers. We've all thought about it, imagined what would happen if we sought them out, maybe even tried to contact them. In "The One That Got Away", Mr. Schreiber has gone one step further and written a funny, touching, insightful book about, among other things, his attempt to contact his first love, whom he has not been in touch with for 25 years, and how she responds. Although a good portion of the book is devoted to his past relationship with her, Mr. Schreiber also weaves other important aspects of his present life into this story: music (readers may find themselves humming or even singing a few bars out loud), his passion for the game of poker, his close and diverse circle of friends (they all have different opinions of what he is about to do and what will result) and, last but surely not least, his family (one of the most memorable chapters of the book include Mr. Schreiber throwing a ball up in the air to amuse his 5-year old nephew). This wonderful book has a little bit of something for everyone. I, for one, hope that we see more from Mr. Schreiber.
The One That Got Away.......2005-11-19
The New York Times Science section, sometime ago, had an article addressing how many people (male and female) are boldly connecting with a past love. The Internet appears to have fueled this effort with dozens of web sites having been created to help people (a lot of married people have signed up for these, which says a lot about marriage) find a once (and possibly still) loved classmate or friend.
Lee Schreiber in his recently published book The One That Got Away writes of his own experience in seeking out a past love, a "soul mate" if you will, and what motivated him to do so. Mr. Schreiber never married. He begins to wonder if his problem of not being able to fall "truly, madly, deeply" for a woman might have its roots in a woman whom he had fallen for some 25 years before, in college. He decides that it is time to find out. He locates her and writes to her, asking if she would meet with him. He constructs a list of questions to ask her: "Does she ever think about me and if she does, when and how often?" , "If I think she is my soul mate, as I do and continue to believe, does she think of me the same way?" , "Can I be attracted to a woman, now 25 years older, as much as I was when we first dated?"
Mr. Schreiber sets the reader up at the beginning to wonder if she will respond and, if she does respond, will it be by telling him to get lost or will she meet with him, and maybe, just maybe, realize she still loves him, and, if he finds her married, will she leave her husband and children to live happily ever after with him.
If this was all this book was about, it would still be a very good read. But there is much more here. We learn much about the writer through his own self-examination that causes us, the reader, to question his original premise. It seems Mr. Schreiber is extraordinarily competitive (even with his girlfriends). He can be rude, overly opinionated, arrogant, and has a strong belief he knows more than most on topics like music and writing. And maybe this has a considerable amount to do with his inability to achieve a lasting relationship. But there are many subtleties at play in this book. While Mr. Schreiber may be a bit overbearing at times he is always genuine and open to criticism (even if he doesn't agree with it). He even allows himself to be influenced by those whose opinions he trusts.
We also learn that reaching out to someone you have had no contact with for decades is not an easy thing. And while Mr. Schreiber doesn't say this specifically, it is clear that the recent loss of his father emboldens him. His path of self discovery takes an unalterable course, with its own momentum and without any hope of him returning unchanged. As I read on, I couldn't help thinking of the great quote of Goethe,
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back-- Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."
There will be some who, learning of the premise of this book, will immediately set it down. This will be especially true of those who believe in living in the present and find indulging in the past to be unacceptable. And this will be unfortunate for them because this is a wonderful work. Mr. Schreiber may be looking back but what comes through most are the conclusions he draws today; identifying what matters most in his present life and what should matter in each of our lives. I was so taken by what Mr. Schreiber had chosen to examine and where he was going with it, that I began to believe he might have an answer to my own questions about life's relevance. I thought for sure that his own conclusions would cause a sudden and great revelation in me (strangely enough, I found Mr. Schreiber's book in the self-help section). Alas it doesn't. But this doesn't make it any less of a book. Mr. Schreiber reaches the right conclusions. Every reader will see this. I guess the secret is to allow these conclusions, the right ones, to infect our lives to such an extent that we are happy.
Everyones got one masterpiece in them.......2005-11-15
Thats what they say. It's just that some of us don't get it onto paper.The author has a written a book within a book that is so poignant that it both hurts and exhilerates as the book arcs and swerves. It's something we've all lived thru; the aching heartbreak of the first true love. We all wonder "what if..."and play it out out in our heads, never to know for certain. Here's closure for us all. Lee Schreiber bares his soul, risks it all and tells the true story of whether you can actually go home again a generation later
Average customer rating:
- Excellent movie, interesting book, fascinating man
- A good read
- A great adventure
- An intriguing tale of escape from the other side
|
ONE THAT GOT AWAY, THE (Pen & Sword Military Classics)
Kendal Burt
Manufacturer: Pen and Sword
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Military | History | Subjects | Books
General | World War II | Military | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1844154378 |
Book Description
From The Great Escape to The Colditz Story, readers have become familiar with the many stories of British wartime escapes. But what of German prisoners in British hands? Did they try as persistently as their British counterparts to escape? Did they bait their guards with similar ironic humor and with horseplay often carried to dangerous extremes? Were similar epics of courage and endurance enacted unknown to us on our own soil and on the surrounding seas? How were our prisoners fed, interrogated, guarded? In other words, how did we treat them?
These questions are all answered in the first book to tell the full story of Franz von Werra, a Luftwaffe officer escaping in England, set against the background of our own familiar countryside, and with our own countrymen-police, soldiers, home guards, shepherds, bus conductors and booking clerks playing the unfamiliar roles of pursuer and sometimes unconscious abettor of one of the most ingenious and brazen of all escapers. Based on von Werra's own account, this exciting story provides a fascinating insight to the war from the German point of view.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent movie, interesting book, fascinating man.......2003-10-13
Many years ago I saw the film of the same title about von Werra
on TV and I never forgot it. Hardy Kruger gave a wonderful performance of the complex German pilot von Werra. I finally found the book that the film was based on and very glad I did as it expands on the film and tells far more of what happened to von Werra after he escaped from Canada. I definately recommend this book (and the film too) to everyone.
A good read.......2001-10-25
A very good story of escape from a Germans point of view. Von Werra is obviously a man who likes to expand on his version of events but the authors research into what really took place puts a more credible light on it. I finished the book in 2 days.
A great adventure.......1999-10-01
I always enjoy reading war stories,but detest ones that are fake and just unbelivable.This book while with the author taking you through a documentry at the same time did a great job in keeping the reader going.I obtained my copy from a local market stall for $2.00 last saturday and i finished it by Wednesday in the same week,it just wouldn't let me go. The Authors did justice for Von Werra in presenting an biased view of his exploites,you can feel Von Werra's undying determination,his bottomless energy is awe inspiring. The authors made you feel like you were there digging the tunnel or in the cockpit of the Hurricane hoping the mechanic would hurry up with the Accumulator trolley(used to start the aeroplanes).It was just a pity the book has only 286 pages for i would have kept on reading if it had one thousand.It just drew u in and kept you interested all the way.
Bill Pearce
An intriguing tale of escape from the other side.......1998-08-22
Although there are many books about allied escapees from Colditz and other camps, the story of German prisoners in World War Two is rarely heard. This book gives us that opportunity. Von Werra's story is both heroic as it is exciting. Well worth a read.
Product Description
Hardcover, 16.9 oz. "Four all-new, irresistably romantic tales of second chances from bestselling authors" (from front cover)
Customer Reviews:
Baxter Black Cowboy Mentality.......2007-03-13
Baxter Black is fantastic. He is so down to earth that it's easy to identify with his subjects. I plan to see him at a cowboy poetry reading.
Book Description
The British Army’s SAS—the Special Air Service—is recognized as one of the world’s premier special operations units. During the Gulf War, deep behind Iraqi lines, an SAS team was compromised. A fierce firefight ensued, and the eight men were forced to run for their lives. Only one, Chris Ryan, escaped capture—by walking nearly 180 miles through the desert for a week. The One That Got Away is his breathtaking story of extraordinary courage under fire, of narrow escapes, of highly trained soldiers struggling against the most adverse of conditions, and, above all, of one man’s courageous refusal to lie down and die.
Customer Reviews:
Incredible strength of character.......2003-07-02
Chris Ryan tells his true-life tale of a secret, "behind enemy lines" mission as a member of the elite, British Special Air Service (S.A.S.) during the Persian Gulf War. Chris Ryan not only chronicles the details before, during, and after his "ill-fated" mission - but fairly well describes the actions and events leading to his choice of career.
In a nutshell, Chris' team of special operators - eight in number - are "put-down" by helicopter, behind enemy lines into Iraq. As if this weren't dangerous enough in the time of "pre-combat" Iraq, things take a turn for the worse when the entire team is compromised, or discovered by the indigenous people. A formidable military attack and pursuit entails, and so starts the "last recourse" of evasion. Following this compromise, several events occur which put Chris on a course of tragedy, suffering, self-doubt, and self-preservation. To read this book and not feel inspiration or admiration for the author is not likely.
This book will show you just what a human being will be able to do through training, fitness, willpower, and mabe, the survival instinct - not to mention the memory of family.
Average customer rating:
- Warning
- 9th Book in the SVH Senior Year Series
- I Loved it!...
- your right
- Grrrrreat!
|
The One That Got Away (Sweet Valley High Senior Year No. 9)
Francine Pascal
Manufacturer: Sweet Valley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books | Action & Adventure | Children's Literature Guides | Classics by Age | Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths | General | Humorous | Literary Criticism & Collections | Poetry | Popular Culture | Read-Aloud | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Short Story Collections
Fiction | Friendship | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Sweet Valley High | Sweet Valley | School | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
SVH High | Sweet Valley | School | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
School | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
Pascal, Francine | ( P ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books
Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
Maria Who? (Sweet Valley High Senior Year No. 8)
-
Broken Angel (Sweet Valley High Sr. Year(TM))
-
Bad Girl (Sweet Valley High Senior Year No. 12)
-
Take Me On (Sweet Valley High Sr. Year(TM))
-
Boy Meets Girl (Sweet Valley High Sr. Year(TM))
ASIN: 0553492810
Release Date: 1999-09-07 |
Book Description
Will Simmons messed up. Big time. And he knows he should just let her go. He should let Jessica be happy with her new boyfriend. But he can't stop thinking about her. He knows he could make her happy--if she would only let him try.
Customer Reviews:
Warning.......2004-09-17
I thought this book would be like the Sweet Valley Junior High series, but from the few pages I read here on Amazon.Com, I would not recommend this book. I would consider this book not appropriate for girls...maybe under 12. Maybe this book wasn't meant for younger girls, anyway, but I just thought I should warn Sweet Valley Junior High readers that thought this would be like those books.
9th Book in the SVH Senior Year Series.......2002-08-09
"The One That Got Away" centers primarily around Jessica Wakefield, Ken Matthews, and Angel Desmond. First up: Jessica, who discovered her secret admirer was Will Simmons in the previous book (#8: "Maria Who?"), has decided not to tell her boyfriend (Jeremy Aames) anything about it yet, which causes problems later on when he does find out via Melissa Fox. (Melissa definitely lives up to her last name again in this book; she's extremely sneaky and manipulative. I can't wait to see what else she's up to in the following stories.)
Next up: Ken appears to be finally coming out of his shell (caused by the death of his girlfriend, Olivia, in the big Sweet Valley earthquake awhile back). The reason for his attitude change? Maria Slater. Looks like these two will be pairing off pretty soon--that is, if Ken can completely get over Olivia first.
And lastly: Poor--and I use the word intentionally--Angel is developing a bad betting habit at the horse track. His whole college career could be riding on his careless spending.
"The One That Got Away" pretty much ends on a bum note for everyone. Hopefully, a few of the characters will find some hope and resolve in the next book: #10, "Broken Angel".
I Loved it!..........2002-07-24
This book is really good!... I love the fact that the boy is the one falling on top of himself to get a girl not the other way around. Will has deffinantly changed!...
your right.......2001-08-05
One person was right, what did happen to the old gang, when did will jeffery and all those other people come in. I have the svu books {Sweet valley university}and jess and liz are the same characters and how could liz let todd go like that she always talked about it being so hard. it's kinda [stupid]. she just can't put in a series of books not k
Grrrrreat!.......2000-10-26
I love this book. I love how Will comes a crawlin' back. I knew he would. Melissa now sees what it is like to not have the perfecr life. Yet, now Jessica seems to. WHy is it soooo easy for all these character to fing boyfrineds and girlfriends? I can't find anyone who is anywhere near as perfect as Jeremy or Will. Oh well, its SV.
Books:
- The Power of One (Young Reader's Edition)
- The Pursuit of Marriage
- The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II
- The Secret
- The Secret: Unlocking the Source of Joy and Fulfillment
- The Stolen Woman: Florence Baker's Extraordinary Life from the Harem to the Heart of Africa
- The Temptress
- The Time Traveler's Wife
- The Wedding Night
- The Wild Wood
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- SQL Cookbook
- History: Fiction or Science
- A critical revision of the genus Eucalyptus,
- Beach Road
- Chance and Circumstance: Twenty Years with Cage and Cunningham
- History: Fiction or Science
- Disaster Blaster: A Kid's Guide to Being Home Alone
- Basic Chip Carving With Pam Gresham
- A Gorey Year: 365 Days of the Art & Words of Edward Gorey: 2006 Calendar
- Admiral David Glasgow Farragut: The Civil War Years
