The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3: Wizard's First Rule, Blood of the Fold ,Stone of Tears

Book Description

The Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3 Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, and Blood of the FoldThe Sword of Truth, Boxed Set I, Books 1-3 Wizard's First Rule, Stone of Tears, and Blood of the FoldBook 1: Wizards First Rule The masterpiece that started The New York Times bestselling epic Sword of TruthIn the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say. In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out. This is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.Book 2: Stone of Tears An Epic of Awesome PowerKahlan has at last gained the one goal she had always thought was beyond her grasp .... love. Against all odds, the ancient bonds of secret oaths, and the dark talents of men long dead, Richard has won her heart.Amid sudden and disastrous events, Richard's life is called due to satisfy those treacherous oaths. To save his life, Kahlan must forsake Richard's love and cast him into the chains of slavery, knowing there could be no sin worse than such a betrayal.Richard is determined to unlock the secrets bound in the magic of ancient oaths and to again be free. Kahlan, alone with the terrible truth of what she has done, must set about altering the course of a world thrown into war. But even that may be easier than ever winning back the heart of the only man she will ever love.Book 3: Blood of the Fold An Epic of Two WorldsIn a world as rich and real as our own, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell stand against the ancient forces which besiege the New World-- forces so terrible that when last they threatened, they could only be withstood by sealing off the Old World from whence they came. Now the barrier has been breached, and the New World is again beset by their evil power.War and treachery plague the world, and only Richard and Kahlan can save it from an armageddon of unimaginable savagery and destruction.Terry Goodkind, author of the brilliant bestsellers Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears, has created his most masterful epic yet, a sumptuous feast of magic and excitement replete with the wonders of his unique fantasy vision.

Customer Reviews:

wizard set.......2007-09-12

great to get a set like this. When you finish the 1st book 2nd one is right there.

Great style, substance and themes........2007-09-11

Goodkind's writing seems to mature with each book, adding nuance and layer to his seemingly simple themes and characters, leaving the reader to wonder to themselves about what "good and evil" really are.

The stories come alive with great characters, plenty of action, and the wonderment that magical concepts add to the stories. All the fun of being a kid again, but with the adult themes that will keep you reading far into the night.

Have fun!

Sword of Truth.......2007-09-01

Very fast transaction and accurate description of the item, so I would recommend this Seller.

Fantasy at its best!.......2007-08-16

I recommend the first 3-4 volumes of this serie to every fan of good fantasy-literature.
Very creative story, fascinating characters, a lot of suspense, a lot original ideas!
It`s too bad that after "Temple of winds" the whole story started to lose its grip, logic and tended to repeat itself.
Nevertheless, as said before, the first 3-4 volumes are excellent!

Don't Buy This Set.......2007-08-05

Unless you've already read the series and just want to replace your copies, don't buy this set. I made the enormous error of purchasing this set without reading any of Goodkind's novels first. I forced my way through Wizard's First Rule and realized that I wasted my money. I have no intention of ever reading Blood of the Fold or Stone of Tears.

I have very, very few positive things to say about the Wizard's First Rule. So I'll just get the positives out of the way now. Zedd is a very likable character. Not very original, certainly, but he's kooky and funny and hard not to like. The character Giller, too, is likable after a fashion.

Well, that's about all I can say thats positive about the novel. So lets get to the negatives.

1. It's poorly written. The narrative is clumsy, the dialog is repetitive and unrealistic. Not only is the language poor, but Goodkind is unable to logically construct even a simple paragraph, let alone an entire chapter. He has a habit of meandering in his paragraphs so that the first sentence of the paragraph has absolutely nothing to do with the last sentence. This would be understandable were he writing in stream of consciousness, but, alas, he is not. He also has the annoying habit of changing the perspective of the narrator from paragraph to paragraph without informing the reader, making it difficult to sort out who thinks what.

2. The characters are detestable. As I already said, Zedd and Giller are good characters. But they are minor characters. The hero, Richard, is one of the most immediately dislikable protagonists I've ever seen. He's arrogant, whiny, awkward, stupid and completely intolerant of other people and their cultures. Which leads me to my third major criticism.

3. Inconsistent character development. Goodkind frequently changes the personality of his characters to suit the chapter. In one chapter, Richard throws a tantrum because he cannot use his right hand to do something because it is against the culture of a tribe he is visiting. A chapter or two later, he willingly eats the flesh of another person because the culture dictates he must. In addition, Richard (and the other characters) range from mind-bogglingly stupid to brilliant and back something within a couple paragraphs. Goodkind makes his characters smart when he needs to in order to advance the plot, then makes them stupid when he needs to. Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, etc., all do enormously stupid things, and then are brilliant the next chapter. And its not just one character, every character is in turns brilliant and stupid. And it seems that there is always one brilliant character and several stupid characters at any given time so there is always enough intelligence to advance the plot. What's the point of having 800 pages of character development if you just throw it away to advance the plot?

4. And speaking of the plot, the story of the Wizard's First Rule is pretty poorly devised and highly predictable. There are two major secrets in the novel, the first being the identity of the Wizard (which is readily apparent within the first 15 pages of the text) and the identity of the Traitor (which is apparent as soon as it is learned that Richard was betrayed). And despite how painfully obvious who these characters are, Goodkind painstakingly devotes hundreds of pages to discovering their identities. It's terribly painful clawing your way through this book when you already know how all the big secrets and how the book is going to end within the first few chapters.

5. Plot-lifting. In a lot of ways, Wizard's First Rule is a dumbed down version of Robert Jordan's the Wheel of Time. Richard is essentially Rand Al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn, though he is purely a good character and destined only to help the world. Kahlan Amnell and the Confessors are utterly identical in every way to Jordan's Aes Sedai. The torture and training Richard endures is identical (and often down to the very wording) to the training Egwene Al'Vere endures. Darken Rahl is a very poor rip off of Shai'Tan, the Dark One (and, for that matter Darth Vader of Star Wars fame). There is very, very little of Goodkind's original thought in the Wizard's First Rule, and what original thought there is is very poor.

6. Convenient Writing. Goodkind is the King of making crap up as he goes. Due to his inability to write his way out of a wet paper bag, Goodkind is constantly having to make up new powers or abilities to get his characters out of a seemingly impossible situation. The best example for this is one scene in which Kahlan, Zedd and Chase are ambushed by Darken Rahl's minions. For whatever reason, Zedd and Chase are incapacitated and Kahlan, for some other stupid reason, can't use her powers and is being raped. Suddenly, Kahlan develops a new ability that 1. has never been mentioned before, 2. she admits that she had never been able to do before, 3. must be taught by an expert, as stipulation Kahlan never met. Yet somehow, Kahlan is able to use this power and miraculously defeats the enemy. Goodkind's writing in these situations is so bad that he flat out admits what the character just did is impossible, but goes with it anyway.

In truth, I could list another dozen or so criticisms of this book. But I doubt anyone is going to read that much. My advice: If you've never read Terry Goodkind before, read him before you blow the extra money on this set. If you're an intelligent, well-read reader, you will likely hate the series and regret spending the money, as I did. You are more likely to enjoy this book if you are a child, say 10-12 years old, or you have never read a fantasy book before. If you fit into either of these categories, the cliches will not seem so bad, and the new world of fantasy will blind you to the very poor writing and storytelling. But in either of those circumstances, I would still advise against buying the set. Make sure you like Goodkind before you drop the money for three of his books. Go to the library and read a chapter or two first. There's a very good chance that you will despise this novel like most other experienced readers.

I gave this set two stars, by the way, for the reasons listed in the previous paragraph. If you're an inexperienced reader or are new to the fantasy world, this series will work well for you. In addition, Mr. Goodkind CAN write, and can write well. The Wizard's First Rule features one or two chapters that are marvelously written. But this is an extreme exception to the rule. Perhaps the later books are better, but after Book I, I will work very hard to ensure that I never read another word of Goodkind's writing.

The Debt of Tears (The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Volume 4)

Average customer rating:

When the magic stone met the crimson pearl flower...
Best Chinese novel of all time!
A good translation, but...
A Remarkable Achievement
Translation is great for English Readers

The Debt of Tears (The Story of the Stone, or The Dream of the Red Chamber, Volume 4)
Cao Xuequin , Cao Xueqin , E. Gao , and John Minford
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All Chinese Books | Chinese | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0140443711

Customer Reviews:

When the magic stone met the crimson pearl flower..........2005-10-24

The Dream of the Red Chamber (The Story of the Stone) starts off as an immensely long inscription on a miraculous stone which was copied out by a visiting man and taken down into the world for publication. Volume 1 gives the account of the magic stone's origin, renders the discourse redolent of a supernatural, mystical overtone. Once upon a time a piece of stone that was unworthy to be used for repairing the sky possessed magic power and ended up in the mortal world. The unhappy stone incarnated and lived out the life of a man before finally attaining nirvana and returning to what Buddhist refers as the "other shore."

Jai Baoyu is the incarnation of the stone. The name "bao-yu" means "treasured jewel" and was named after the wonderful incident that the only surviving son of the Jia household was born with a piece of spotless jade in his mouth. Lin Daiyu, Baoyu's teary cousin with a superior intelligence, is the incarnation of the Crimson Pearl Flower, which the unhappy stone once conceived a fancy that he took to watering everyday so the flower was able to shed the form of a plant and became a girl. The consciousness that she owed the stone ensued her to repay him with the tears shed during the whole of a mortal lifetime if they were ever to be reborn as humans in the world beneath. It was no wonder when Daiyu first saw her cousin, who had tyrannized the household, hated studies, and spent most of his time in women's quarters, it was as though she had seen him somewhere before, like a déjà vu.

Aside from the ethereal origin, the first volume of The Dream of the Red Chamber depicts a fairly eventual record of a great Manchu household (Qing Dynasty) under the tutelage of the Imperial family in early 18th century China. It's the picture of daily routines in the life that emerge most vividly from its discourse. The Jia household is genuinely disguised as some highborn aristocrats whose ancestors were ennobled for their military powers. This first installment of five parts, titled Golden Days, captures the Jias at the hi-time in which members of the Rong-guo mansion and the Ning-guo mansion dressed in silk, ate delicately, pampered by a domestic hierarchy of servants and maids, when they were still nested in the protecting shadow of the ancestors and the readily accessible wealth. The family's decline and fall constitute the general background of the novel.

With over 500 characters, thousands of one-hit appearances and a skein of household members and their distant relations of the clan, reading of The Dream of the Red Chamber will be more pleasurable and rewarding with the family genealogy handy. The book has a general flow of daily happenings and inter-family drama, with an emphasis on the relationship between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu. Household activities, domestic anecdotes, subbing rivalries, seditious schemes, love affairs, contention between concubines, political intrigues, black magic, witchcraft, and even murder constitute to the pages of this Chinese epic that evokes Remembrance of Things Past and One Hundred Years of Solitude. The heart of the novel is the pre-destined relationship between a semi-ethereal entity and magic stone under the context of the Buddhist understanding that earthly existence is an illusion. This meeting, though is meant to be, is in vain, one that is full of tears.

When the fairy led Baoyu into the land of illusion and showed him his fate, he could scarcely make out of what he saw. Nature might have endowed him an eccentric obtuseness of a simpleton. How does one expect a 13-year-old (scholars deem him to be 13 throughout most of the book) to recognize and seize his destiny? The fairy showed him not only his life cycle but also the romantic passions, love debts, heartbreaks of dust-stained human world. Baoyu was destined to mingle with girls around him. The ancestors thought Baoyu had inherited a perverse, intractable nature that rendered him eccentric and emotionally unstable. Exposure to the worldly illusions of decay might hopefully succeed in enlightening, awakening, and transforming him.

Daiyu seems to know Baoyu more thoroughly than anyone does. She is able to nail his problem despite her occasional tiff with him over trivial matters. Baoyu always complained about people's getting angry with whatever he did, but he never realized how much he had provoked them at the first place. Couplets, poems, and verses in the novel hint at his friendlessness in the mortal world and the incessant debate over the depth of his relation with Daiyu. The roaming back and forth, sink and soar between sorrow and elation between the two incarnated cousins constitute to the understanding that earthly existence is indeed a transience but karma determines the shape of one's life and the life after. This idea of life being a dream from which one eventually awakes is a Buddhist tenet, but the incorporation of it into the novel becomes a poetic gesture to demonstrate that the main character (Baoyu) is indicative to the author.

The Dream of the Red Chamber in Chinese has the connotation of being rich and grand. The title can refer to a dream of the vanished splendor and opulence. The frequent use of dream imagery implies the possibility that the luxurious world of the author's youth, which he attempted to reconstruct, had vanished so utterly at the time of writing. The story of the Jias closely accorded with fortunes of Cao's own family, which attained its height under the reign of Kangxi. But the exact relationship existing between characters of the novel and members of Cao family is uncertain and discreet. Baoyu is assured to be author's self-portrait, whose struggle towards emotional maturity was delineated with an affluence of nuance. Other characters could be compsite of several family members over different generations for the purpose of disguising facts.

Best Chinese novel of all time!.......2003-11-17

Well, in my opinion anyway. David Hawkes has done an amazing job translating this brilliant 18th-century novel into colloquial modern English. I have read all the translations-- this is my favorite novel, and this is by far the best version for an English speaker who just wants a good book. I can imagine that a Chinese reader could pick holes in this translation, as I could nitpick at a translation of Shakespeare-- the wealth of the original is impossible to transfer whole into another language and culture. If you want a word-for-word translation so you can use this as a study guide while you read the Chinese, maybe the wooden Beijing Languages version could help you! But I have a hard time imagining any new translation being more vivid and fun to read than this one. Yes, it is littered with sometimes annoying Britishisms. That is the price of a colloquial translation! It's true that Hawkes does not explain all the references-- that would be another book in itself. And I am sure he made mistakes-- I help a French translator occasionally and even though he is very well-versed in English, it is so easy for him to miss something that only a cultured native speaker could pick up. But this translation is ALIVE. Until that perfect translation comes along one day, Hawkes's is still better than all the others. Be grateful to him! (2003)

A good translation, but..........2003-02-02

The attractions of this translation are numerous -- which is fortunate for a book that, in total, weigns in at 2500 pages. Most people will enjoy the stylish prose and exquisite interjections of poetry, but you is urged to read sample pages before investing the full measure of your time. While entertaining and quite appealing, this translatoin has its flaws -- and they have been pointed out by several native Chinese translators. The prose is here littered wtih Briticisms that seem almost anarchronistic at times. Xueqin's cultural and literary references, which profoundly enrich the book, are passed over without even a footnote (though the introduction is illuminating). The careful reader may even feel that they are missing the context and mood of the original book. If your interest in this masterpiece is for its fundamental merits -- storytelling, characterization, beauty of language -- then you will find this a pleasure, and you need look no further. If you wish a deeper sense of the Chinese mood of the work, then the four-volume translation may be more attractive.

A Remarkable Achievement.......2002-08-19

I spend a lot of time wandering through bookstores. One particular book has caught my eye over the years, and the other day I bought it - Volume 1 of Cao Xueqin's eighteenth century epic, "The Story of the Stone: The Golden Days". As a developing eighteenth century scholar, I was doubly attracted to it. "The Golden Days" absolutely blew me away - used as I am to eighteenth century novels (British, French, American), this is wholly unlike anything I've read from the era. It bears structural similarities to the Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy" and "Sentimental Journey," but aside from that bears more in common with ancient Greek novels like Longus's "Daphnis and Chloe" or Heliodorus's "Eithopian Romance," as well as the mysticism of the ancient Egyptian "Story of the Shipwrecked Sailor." And yet, Cao's attention to actual life experiences, and the detail he conveys about tradition and ceremony, along with frank dealings with human relationships and sexuality makes "The Golden Days" much more than any quick summary of style or content can relate.

"The Golden Days" begins in amusing, but sympathetic fashion: the goddess Nü-wa is repairing the sky with 36,501 stones. When she finishes, one remains, which is cast off. Having been touched by a goddess, this stone has magical properties, able to move, change size, and even talk. One day, a Buddhist monk and a Taoist come upon the stone, and promise to let the stone have an adventure - to become human. As the stone waits by a pond, it falls desperately in love with a Crimson Pearl Flower, which is also selected for incarnation by the Fairy Disenchantment. The stone and the flower are incarnated as the novel begins in earnest, as a young minor nobleman named Jia Bao-yu, and a commoner related to the family, a girl named Lin Dai-yu - both unaware of their heavenly origins. "The Golden Days" centers around the daily events and occurrences in the lives of these two teenagers, as they come to grips, as we all must, with human life.

The Rong and Ning branches of the Jia family, on opposite sides of Two Dukes Street, are the centerpieces of the novel's action. Like the "big house" fiction of the English eighteenth century, these ancestral manses provide a locus of activity, as the nobles, their extended families, friends, and servants mingle and interact constantly. Cao marks himself as a remarkable author by the way he handles a massive cast of characters, letting us into the private lives and concerns of all ranks of society, as well as the forms of etiquette that determine their relationships. Another terrific facet of the novel's construction is the almost stream of consciousness style Cao employs - as characters pass in and out of the immediate action of the novel, the narrative seems to choose the person it's most interested in and follow them for pages at a time, before seamlessly passing to the next character. It's really quite amazing, how, in this way, we come to understand the motivations, fears, and hopes of so many individuals. Time, distance, culture, Cao levels distinctions, making historical China accessible to even 21st century readers - he reduces people to their human concerns.

Cao Xueqin's novel is also remarkable for what I can only call it's pro(to)-feminist tone. While we are reminded by certain characters that male lineage is of major importance to the structure of the society, the narrative consistently shows the power, ability, and influence of women. At the novel's beginning, a Taoist named Vanitas finds the stone, and is asked to transcribe its story, but complains initially that it is about a "number of females". The stone obviously insists that the story be written out. Later, Bao-yu, the major male character, says he is more comfortable around women - that they are like water, while men are like mud, castoffs, unclean. One of the main characters of this volume is Wang Xi-feng, a young woman in her early twenties, who for an extended period, manages the affairs of both the Ning and Rong mansions. Cao's respect and admiration for the strong women in Bao-yu's life: Xi-feng, Dai-yu, and two particular servants, Aroma and Caltrop, is quite obvious and important to the novel.

If you are like me, and know tragically little about Chinese literature and culture, Cao takes care of that too - there is a heavy emphasis throughout the novel on the cultural productions of China. The book integrates a wide range of poetry, drama, fiction, folk wisdom, and mythology as a central part of Bao-yu and Dai-yu's upbringing. One can sense Cao's insistence in the novel that education and cultural production is of vital importance, particularly to children. While the Fairy Disenchantment seems to be the guiding spirit of the novel, hinting at the diappointments inevitable in the course of life, this is a novel about youth, and hope for the future, even in the midst of concern about how long prosperity can last. Taken altogether, "The Golden Days" cannot be recommended enough. David Hawkes's translation is first rate, and his introduction, pronunciation notes, and appendices are thorough and very helpful.

Translation is great for English Readers.......2002-02-02

This book was fascination not only for the cultural review of 1700's in Manchu (Qing Dynasty) China and aristocratic households of the day, but also for the introspective look at family dynamics and confucian practices in the time. With the tragic/romantic form of writing one feels a longing to understand how different life was in those times and places. I also got a great feel for what the writers intent was and the criticisms of political changes through the translaters appendixi and annotations. Great reading for thinkers!

Average customer rating:

Keep them coming!
A level-headed review
Hit or Miss: Mostly a Whiff
A great read
Even Better Than Wizard's First Rule!

Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth)
Terry Goodkind
Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio on MP3-CD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: MP3 CD

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | MP3 CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

Science Fiction & Fantasy | MP3 CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

Accessories:

Brilliance Audio DMP-206b Soul MP3-CD Audiobook Player

ASIN: 1593353006
Release Date: 2004-06-10

Book Description

In Wizard's First Rule, Richard Cypher's world was turned upside down. Once a simple woods guide, Richard was forced to become the Seeker of Truth, to save the world from the vile dominance of Darken Rahl, the most viciously savage and powerful wizard the world had ever seen. He was joined on this epic quest by his beloved Kahlan, the only survivor among the Confessors, who brought a powerful but benevolent justice to the land before Rahl's evil scourge. Aided by Zedd, the last of the wizards who opposed Rahl, they were able to cast him into the underworld, saving the world from the living hell of life under Rahl.

But the veil to the underworld has been torn, and Rahl, from beyond the veil, begins to summon a sinister power more dreadful than any he has wielded before. Horrifying creatures escape through the torn veil, wreaking havoc on the unsuspecting world above.

If Rahl isn't stopped, he will free the Keeper itself, an evil entity whose power is so vast and foul that once freed, it can never again be contained.

Customer Reviews:

Keep them coming!.......2007-09-17

For Terry Goodkind and Sword of the Truth fans, you just have to read book 2!

A level-headed review.......2007-08-15

By now you've seen reviews of this book that hype it as the best thing ever, and those that slam it for the violence and rape images. I will do neither. I give it 5 stars based on one thing: its ability to keep me turning page after page, not wanting to put the book down. The only other book in this series that accomplishes that feat for me is Faith of the Fallen. Some reviewers claim they know Fantasy. I know Fantasy Fiction myself...my library contains over 500 books in the genre, and I am a writer myself, though I have not yet sought to publish my work.

Yes, there are acts of violence and rape described in this book. It's probably overdone to drive home just how evil the enemy is, so that Richard's actions are all the more justified. Unnecessary, yes. But ultimately it has a place in my library. You see, if every book on my shelf were The Sword of Shannara, that would be incredibly boring. No knock aginst Terry Brooks, I enjoy his books and am just using this as an example. It is the diversity of the material that makes the reading worthwhile. There is nothing out there like The Sword of Truth series. Though people will claim the Sword of Truth is similar to the Wheel of Time series, the latter has child-like characters, way too many side stories and characters, does not possess the violence and graphic descriptions, and the villians are forgettable. So Goodkind sits on my shelf next to Zelazny's Amber, Moorcock's Elric, Brooks's Shannara, Hobb's Assassin, and many others...and holds its own place for what it brings to the table.

For those who choose to explore it, this book holds some fascinating elements such as the Sliph, the Mriswrath Cape, the Black and White Towers, how prophecy works and much more. No other book in the series brings out such a variety of fantastic elements.

My final thought on the entire series is that it was intended as two trilogies, with Wizard's First Rule through Blood of the Fold as the first, and the Chainfire trilogy as the second. But perhaps after the success of the first two books, someone in Goodkind's camp looked over at the bloated garbage Jordan was writing (and the money he was making) and said, "hey, we can do that too!" Every book in between the "two trilogies" I have described above does little to advance the overall plot, which explains why they are the least popular. Although, without the bloating, we would never have been gifted with the excellent Faith of the Fallen. But that is a story (or should I say review) for another day...

Hit or Miss: Mostly a Whiff.......2007-08-11

Pros:
--Richard
--Seamless fantasy world building
--Individual scenes of excellent prose

As a lover of fantasy, I appreciate Terry Goodkind's world building skills. He does a phenomenal job creating a world where magic is part of Nature's balance both in the world of the living (The Creator) and the dead (The Keeper). His prose, in varying stretches of the novel, leads me to forgetting that I'm reading as I become immersed in individual scenes.

So why 2 stars?
Con:
--Overwritten scenes that become tired melodrama
--Characters with conflicting behaviors and actions
--Overkill of author's drama for anti-woman sentiment
--Simplistic and overdose of rape (This book is NC17)

The characters are far too inconsistent in their behaviors and actions, and storytelling is overdone. Let me say first that Richard is consistent in his personality and actions. He's the only one. The rest of the main characters, especially Kahlan succumb to the Wizard's First Rule, that people will believe in something out of fear or ignorance. One might argue that even the wise fall prey. That's potential good drama. Bad drama is when the characters you've been led to believe are wise, assertive, and make good decisions under great stress, "repeatedly" act like they have no sense in the world. Because I respect Kahlan's character and the others like Zed, I found the unusual behaviors contrived by the author just to magnify some "dramatic" moment. The result consistently fell flat and largely unimaginative.

It's Goodkind's prerogative to create a world where misogyny breeds under the surface ready to explode. In Stone of Tears, readers are beaten over the head with it. Several rape scenes (implied to uncomfortably graphic) are used at pivotal moments in the story where a modestly skillful writer could have created horror and sympathy in less "in your face" detail. From villains spouting their views to getting into a woman's head while she is being raped did not help those story moments move forward, NOR did they serve any moral point of reflection that might have remotely support the content.

When the story focused on Richard and his struggles, there was drama, character complexity, and, yes, moments of "ahas" for the reader as Richard grows into accepting himself (minus the melodramatic hint of a Romeo and Juliet suicide). The rest can be skipped over unless one has a voyeur desire for bad soap opera. If you read only Richard's story, you will have a great journey. Terry Goodkind understands his main character and Richard's story.

Or perhaps, check out a book by David Gemmell, David Duncan, or Jennifer Roberson.

A great read.......2007-07-22

Since I bought the MP3/CD edition, I have two things to comment on, the book itself and the cd production and format.

Goodkind reminds me of Herman Wouk, in both the good and not so good ways. Reading Winds of War, by Wouk, I thought "I wish a better writer could have written this story," as I read on avidly, page after page. He had a way of telling you the same thing three times, or using clunky language. But, then I realized: No other writer thought of this story, it didn't exist before Wouk created it. And I couldn't stop reading the book. Sometimes, a great storyteller is a great stylist, but the most important thing is that he or she tells a great, compelling story. And Terry Goodkind does that. Sometimes, he spends way too many pages telling us something he could have told us in one, but, ultimately, it is well worth the read. It's a powerfully imagined world.

The MP3/CD format worked fine in Media Player and iTunes, once it was imported, but wouldn't play on the car CD player, nor directly off the CD on any other CD Player I tried.

Jim Bond, the narrator, does a consistently good job, giving distinctly different voices for each of the characters. The sound quality is excellent.

Even Better Than Wizard's First Rule!.......2007-06-09

Goodkind seems to have solved some of the kinks in found in the first book of the series in Stone of Tears. This book just seems to flow better, without the stops in action found in the first one.

This one will keep you reading throughout. Don't pick it up unless you have a day or two to finish it!

Average customer rating:

Mesmerizing
Beautiful art, great story
dark literature
amazing

Favole: Stone Tears Book 1
Victoria Frances
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Dark Horse | Publishers | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1593074247

Book Description

Victoria Frances creates in her first book a gothic romantic fantasy reminiscent of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, filled with tales of vampires, magic, and the undying spirit of lovers which reaches across the centuries. Lushly illustrated, Favole: Stone Tears is the first book in an ongoing series by an emerging new talent in the illustration field.

Customer Reviews:

Mesmerizing.......2006-07-05

Beautifully illustrated and well told. Frances' art is to die for (no pun intended). Her luscious gothic world is definitely a keeper. I cannot wait for the next installment in the Favole series. Disappointingly short though.

Beautiful art, great story.......2006-02-26

I first saw some of Victoria Frances' art in an issue of "Heavy Metal", and I fell in love with it right then. When I got the book, "Flavole: Stone Tears", I felt like I was reading a dream. The art is unbelievable. I love this book, and I can't wait for more books in this series.

dark literature.......2006-02-05

i loved this book the only problem is that its too short. this girl is a terific writer and artist and i recomend this to any one who likes reading edgar allan poe or bram stoker. it is meant for a mature crowd but anyone who loves literature will like this piece

amazing.......2005-11-26

The stories in this book are so poetic and beautiful. The gothic art work is amazing! The colors are soft, but yet still bold. I love it!!

Stone Songs on the Trail of Tears: The Journey of an Installation

Average customer rating:

Stone Songs on the Trail of Tears: The Journey of an Installation
Pat Musick , Jerry Carr , and Bill Woodiel
Manufacturer: University of Arkansas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Mixed Media | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Artists, A-Z | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Book Description

In March 2002, artist Pat Musick, her husband, Jerry Carr, and historian Bill Woodiel set out to commemorate a portion of the great and tragic Trail of Tears. On the Trail of Tears, the Cherokees, among other American Indian tribes, were forced to migrate westward, leaving their homelands for the unknown.

Following the tradition of Christo, and inspired by installation artist Andy Goldsworthy, Musick and her crew created an art installation. It is an eye-catching piece of art featuring five yokes that combine oak, wood, steel, and native Ozark sandstone, designed to represent the struggle of those who took the brutal journey.

The installation traveled to twenty-two stops along the Benge Route across nothern Arkansas, the actual route taken by some of the Cherokees in 1838. Musick and her crew moved the installation to each spot along the Trail of Tears; sometimes using the wagon ruts or other physical remains still present to guide their way. Time was spent in each area, meeting locals, setting up, photographing, and moving on, as ephemeral as the Cherokee's journey itself.

This book chronicles the journey, with full color photos, poetry (Musick imagines a young Cherokee mother making the trip with her child), maps, journal entries, and introductory essays on art and history. This is a beautiful and powerful portrayal of the strength, courage, and perseverance of the Cherokee people. It is more than a book; it has become a documentary piece of history.

Average customer rating:
DK14 DAVID COPPERFIELD Lewis Stone '35 RARE Lobby Card. HereÂ’s a terrific lobby card from the original 1935 release of DAVID COPPERFIELD featuring a great image of FRANK LAWTON and ROLAND YOUNG. Lobby card is in VERY GOOD-condition. SOME pinholes, no stains, no tears, a chipped lower right hand corner, a vertical fold. A lobby card is an 11 x 14 inch placard advertising a movie. They were displayed in the theatre lobby to entice moviegoers to go to the box office and buy a ticket.
n/a
Manufacturer: n/a
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards
ASIN: B000VITXO0

Average customer rating:
DY03 Andy Hardy Blonde Trouble MICKEY ROONEY Lobby Card. Here's a terrific lobby card from the original release of ANDY HARDYS BLONDE TROUBLE featuring a great image of MICKEY ROONEY, LEWIS STONE and BONITA GRANVILLE. Lobby card is in near MINT condition. No pinholes, no stains, no tears.
n/a
Manufacturer: n/a
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards
ASIN: B000VL015C

Average customer rating:
From the Trail of Tears to Millionaire
Grace Stone McGee
Manufacturer: Carlton Press, Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 080621175X

Average customer rating:
No Time For Tears...: A walk through life with Ann Deane Teal
Kellee Stone
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 1434324729

Book Description

Two factors motivate this unusually inspiring novel based on the true life of Ann Deane Teal. The first one being the desperation and despair that this 'girl next door' felt. The other is her need for survival. Devastating would describe most of the men in her life. Her father and three husbands cause immense turmoil that is totally unbelievable for one person to endure. Mental and physical abuse, murder and drug rings weave an intriguing tale. After the murders of her two young children and the ensuing threats on her life by her psychopathic husband, she is placed in a 'mini witness protection program' where the FBI encourages her to buy a pistol and trains her to 'shoot to kill.' Then, a miracle happened. Ann Deane thought for the first time that she had died and gone to heaven. She had never been happier in her life. God had certainly answered her prayers this time. Enter Charlie - who turned out to be the love of her life. But all good things come with baggage - his two grown children, Warren and Maria, who in the next twenty years never ceased to make her life miserable at times. Thank God she had her daughter, Mary Kate, by her side. Two rare life-threatening brain surgeries are chief among her many never ending health problems. Her unshakable faith in God and her sheer will in the face of adversity is the cornerstone of this book. You share her heartaches, hopes, and her dreams as she struggles to overcome these obstacles. This is probably the most inspirational story of the century and a must read for everyone.

Average customer rating:

Of stone and tears (G.R. chapbook)
Leonides Moreno
Manufacturer: Greenfield Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books