Valley of Silence (The Circle Trilogy, Book 3)

Book Description

The battleground has been chosen for the final showdown between those selected by the gods and the minions of the vampire Lilith. But there is one vampire who dares stand against her. And his love for the scholarly queen of Geall will complete the circle of six-and change the face of eternity.

Customer Reviews:

Great Trilogy.......2007-09-16

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and the two preceding books in the series. It was hard to wait to read the next book. I was able to really connect with this story and found it very interesting.

Super Reader.......2007-08-31

A pretty average and very light fantasy. It seems a group of vampire hunters from our world have gone to another to help a queen fight an evil vampire queen. Including a vampire nightclub owner, and a couple of other supernatural types.

For a war against an evil vampire queen, well, there really isn't much war. The evil vampire queen is pretty lame, too. Probably because she is a crazy girl that became a vampire, not really Lilith.

The battle at the end is over in about two eyeblinks. Pretty much it seems all this is kept out of it to have space for the romance parts.

Other than that, Roberts seems to be a decent enough writer, but I doubt she grew up reading about medieval warfare or monsters.

I wish it wasn't over.............2007-07-26

As I read the last few pages this afternoon I was caught in a bittersweet battle of not wanting the story to end and yearning to read the finale. What a great book and a great trilogy.

With the complex nature and background of Cian I would love to read about his journey through his life of being "damned" and his transition into "normal" society. I think we need some more of him. What an amazing character.

Trilogies Rock.......2007-07-19

Nora Roberts is the best a trilogies. They all have a good ending but you cant wait to read the next one. This book will hook you.

poorly read.......2007-07-16

I truly enjoy all of Nora Roberts books, and I read the first 2 Circle Trilogy books. The Book 3, I did not realize was ordered as an audio book. The story is great, the reading terrible. I would not recommend anyone getting the audio unless this is really your thing. I like to read and imagine what someones voice would sound like, not listen to a man try to read a woman's part and sound like a female. Terrible reading!

Silence on the Wire: A Field Guide to Passive Reconnaissance and Indirect Attacks

Average customer rating:

Light Face of the Dark Side
A Wonderful Treatment of Network Security
super
New look at the (in)security of networked computers
Something to have in mind

Silence on the Wire: A Field Guide to Passive Reconnaissance and Indirect Attacks
Michal Zalewski
Manufacturer: No Starch Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Network Security | Networking | Computers & Internet | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1593270461

Book Description

There are many ways that a potential attacker can intercept information, or learn more about the sender, as the information travels over a network. Silence on the Wire uncovers these silent attacks so that system administrators can defend against them, as well as better understand and monitor their systems.

Silence on the Wire dissects several unique and fascinating security and privacy problems associated with the technologies and protocols used in everyday computing, and shows how to use this knowledge to learn more about others or to better defend systems. By taking an indepth look at modern computing, from hardware on up, the book helps the system administrator to better understand security issues, and to approach networking from a new, more creative perspective. The sys admin can apply this knowledge to network monitoring, policy enforcement, evidence analysis, IDS, honeypots, firewalls, and forensics.

Customer Reviews:

Light Face of the Dark Side.......2007-07-16

The Global Network is not a battle ground. It is a play ground.

This book although it covers security issues is great insight into the mentality that the security geeks can have. For them the security of platforms and networks are faulted and the hackers task is to disclose that.

A Wonderful Treatment of Network Security.......2007-06-12

At a conference I was at some time ago, a fellow mentioned to me that one person he would probably not want to play poker with is Michal Zalewski. I didn't really get his statement at the time, but after reading this book, I can now wholeheartedly understand his reluctance.

Although only 260 pages long, Michal's book covers an incredibly wide range of topics, pinpointing numerous areas in which incredible amounts of information about you and your computer are available, even though it may not seem that way at first blush. From the keyboard, to the processor, to the operating system, to the network wire, Michal points out the many holes from which this information is leaking from. His writing style gives rise to an entertaining narrative where a high-level picture makes the main concept available to everyone, while at the same time providing citations in the footnotes that let you delve into the details at a later point.

Silence on the Wire impressed me in so many ways that it's difficult to list them all here. Michal's understanding of so many areas in computer security is simply astounding. He covers each topic in just enough detail, not bogging down the reader in lots of technical jargon, but also not doing an inordinate amount of 'hand-waving'. His movement through the various components of the computer and the network is very well done; it ties together in a nice progression that the reader can follow easily.

I enjoyed the a nice selection of papers Michal discusses in which many ingenious attacks were described (timing attacks on RSA, SSH password recovery through timing analysis, TEMPEST, etc.). But one thing that truly stood out in this book is Michal's own contribution, which includes his work with p0f, the analysis of various ISN generators, and his work on identifying various web browsers through timing analysis. I was just amazed at how easily Michal pulled these 'fingerprints' out of seemingly random and/or innocuous data sets.

I had actually read about much of the work that Silence on the Wire covers beforehand, but in spite of that I learned a great deal from this book, and I know that many others can too. If you only read one book on network security, make it this one!

super.......2007-03-08

Thanks a lot, we are very happy to have this book in our library!

New look at the (in)security of networked computers.......2007-01-13

I am a student studying information security and I've read many books lately on the subject. Silence on the Wire is truly a unique book, and a nice change from the conventional reading material. Michal is a known expert in his field, and you can find many of his works and research in a simple search. His book focuses on the basic, yet most overlooked computer and network designs that can be attacked. In Silence on the Wire, Michal takes us on a long, treacherous journey of a packet, from when the data is first entered to its final destination. Along the way, we look at flaws in the design of computers and networks and how they are eventually exploited.

I held off reading this book all summer, after trying to read through the second chapter and finally getting frustrated with it. Chapter two is the book's downfall, as it spends entirely too much time getting to "the point" (as Richard Bejtlich puts it). Michal's explanations here were too confusing and will lose almost any reader. I think the section on the Turing Machine can be skipped over, unless you slow down and take notes and draw yourself diagrams of the information. Only then, will you probably understand what it's getting at. I'm happy to say though, reading the rest of the book was fairly easy; anybody with a background in network computing and security will be able to follow along.

Silence on the Wire is a fascinating read and I definitely recommend it to anybody who is interested or responsible for information security. Michal hopes his book will give you a new perspective on security and explore the relationships and interactions between components. I am glad I got to read this book and hope one day to contribute my own research to the topic.

Something to have in mind.......2006-11-10

Maybe not all of the possible threats described are real today, but one really get a glimpse into a world where the major objective is to exploit possibilities not intended to be there. People populating this world think differently than the rest of us, and an explanation of how they think is both scary and enlightening. Michal Zalewski walks us through various scenarios in an easy to understand and an often humorous way.

Dialogues with Silence: Prayers & Drawings

Average customer rating:

Portrait of Prayer
Silence is enough.

Dialogues with Silence: Prayers & Drawings
Thomas Merton
Manufacturer: HarperOne
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060656034
Release Date: 2004-02-17

Amazon.com

Though best known for his spiritual writings, Thomas Merton also made drawings, whose Eastern-style brushwork have a meditative power rivaling that of his finest prayers. In Dialogues with Silence, these (mostly unpublished) drawings--of human figures, churches, the crucifixion, and abstract forms--are paired on pages with the texts of his well-known prayers. Editor Jonathan Montaldo's introduction to this volume asserts that Merton, the author of classics including The Seven Storey Mountain, became a:

witness for his generation of the way out of self-defeating individualism by tracking anew the boundaries of that ancient other country, whose citizens recognize a hidden ground of unity and love among all living things.

He might have added that, for Merton, one direct escape from individualism was the act of loving other individuals, an aspect of Merton's character that shines clearly in the many portraits here. Notably, the most arresting of these images is a face without features. It hovers next to a prayer that begins, "O God, my God, why am I so mute?" --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

An intensely personal devotional book from Thomas Merton, the ultimate spiritual writer of our time, showing his contemplative and religious side through his prayers and rarely–seen drawings. The only Merton gift book available.

Dialogues with Silence contains a selection of prayers from throughout Merton's life––from his journals, letters, poetry, books––accompanied by all 100 of Merton's rarely seen, delightful Zen–like pen–and–ink drawings, and will attract new readers as well as Merton devotees. There is no other Merton devotional like this, and the paperback edition will be elegantly designed and packaged.

Customer Reviews:

Portrait of Prayer.......2006-04-23

While he was alive, Thomas Merton dedicated his life as a monk to contemplative meditation, constantly seeking a closer and ideal relationship with God. After becoming a Trappist monk at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky, he searched for solace in a monk's life of solitude. But the more Merton expressed himself through his writing, and became better known in the outside world, the solitude that he sought was harder and harder for him to find. Johnathan Montaldo has done a wonderful job of editing this collection of Merton's prayers and private thoughts and pairing them with sketches from Merton's own hand. Together both represent the soul of a man who offers inspiration and insight to this very day.

"Dialogues with Silence" is a collection that is best read in small batches; while it is possible to read it through as one might a novel, the point of meditation and contemplation (especially on the prayers) would be lost. Some of the pictures and words go hand in hand and offer a look into Father Merton that many have never experienced before this book. The prayers are a candid glimpse into a struggling soul, and are juxtaposed with thoughts on nature and poems that are starkly beautiful. Every page is a testament to the magnificent talent that Merton had in transferring his thoughts into words.

There are many prayers I could single out to include as an example of the power of Merton's writing, but this prayer to Etienne Gilson struck me as most appropriate to one of the struggles that Merton underwent: "Please pray for me to Our Lord that, instead of merely writing something, I may 'be' something, and indeed that I may so fully be what I ought to be that there may be no further necessity for me to write, since the mere fact of being what I ought to be would be more eloquent than many books." It is extremely fortunate for us that Merton did feel the need to write so that his love of God might be an inspiration to all who read his works.

Silence is enough........2001-10-29

Before becoming a Trappist monk, Thomas Merton "loved books, women, ideas, art, jazz, hard drink, cigarettes, argument, and having his opinions heard" (p. x). At age 26, however, he abandoned that life for a life of prayer, silence, and anonymity "from the world's one thousand and one interesting things" (p. x). He ended his wanderlust by travelling instead the inner geography of his heart and soul. This collection of 183 prayers is the result of his twenty-seven-year journey as a monk at Gethsemany.

"This book is a partial harvest from over four hundred prayers collected from Merton's published and unpublished works" (p. xvii). Most of the prayers here are derived from Father Merton's THOUGHTS IN SOLITUDE and ENTERING THE SILENCE. (I have given this book four stars only when measured against his NEW SEEDS OF CONTEMPLATION, and these earlier books.) In his prayers, we find Merton entrusting himself "completely to the silence of a wide landscape of woods, and hills, or sea, or desert," his heart on fire, as he quietly searches for salvation. "My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going," he prays. "I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end" (p. vii).

Although this may not be Father Merton's best book, it offers us the quiet prayers of a humble monk. Those prayers may be experienced as a powerful antidote to the troubling events unfolding in the world today.

G. Merritt

Average customer rating:

Wonderful read

Among The Best In This Series

another good book

People of the Silence (The First North Americans series, Book 8)

The best novel of the prehistoric Southwest I've read
People of the Silence: A Novel of the Anasazi (The First North Americans series, Book 8)
Kathleen O'Neal Gear , and W. Michael Gear
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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People of the Lightning (The First North Americans series, Book 7)

People of the Mist (The First North Americans series, Book 9)

People of the Masks (The First North Americans, Book 10)

People of the Lakes (The First North Americans series, Book 6)

People of the Sea (The First North Americans series, Book 5)

ASIN: 0812515595

Book Description

At its pinnacle in A.D. 1150 the Anasazi empire of the Southwest would see no equal in North America for almost eight hundred years. Yet even at this cultural zenith, the Anasazi held the seeds of their own destruction deep within themselves....On his deathbed, the Great Sun Chief learns a secret, a shame so vile to him that even at the brink of eternity he cannot let it pass: In a village far to the north is a fifteen-summers-old girl who must be found. Thoughhe knows neither her name nor her face, the Great Sun decrees that the girl must at all costs be killed.Fleeing for her life as her village lies in ruins, young Cornsilk is befriended by Poor Singer, a curious youth seeking to touch the soul of the Katchinas. Together, they undertake the perilous task of staying alive long enough to discover her true identity. But time is running out for them all--a desperate killer stalks them, one who is willing to destroy the entire Anasazi world to get to her.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful read.......2007-10-07

I have read all of the current books in this series and by far this ranks as my all time favorite. There are also follow-ups that accompany this book, the Anasazi Mystery Series that greater explains in detail about events that actually led up to this book. If I could go back, I would have read those in succession first and then this book. All in all, this book has all of the great elements that I love to read about in a book. It has romance, betrayal, mystery, and complexities that are much like the human experience that occur sometimes in life. It is about the intense love shared by two people and what they sacrificed to finally be together. The consequences for their actions greatly influenced their entire community.

Among The Best In This Series.......2007-08-25

Engaging novel set among the Anasazi of the 1200's. Probably as close to an actual living breathing recreation of that culture as anyone will ever write. These authors do not begin with a modern Christian perspective and proceed from there, they take the good and bad, humorous and shocking of a past nation and tell it like it was, "warts and all.'

another good book.......2006-03-15

at first it was hard for me to get in this story but after a 4th to half of the book it got better and I could not put it down. this book goes good with the new book MOON and the Anazazi triogy books.

People of the Silence (The First North Americans series, Book 8).......2005-09-13

I really enjoy this series in my oppion it is best to read the series starting with Book 1 so that you know what is being talked about. If you are a Indian or love to read about Indians and their history then this is a Great Series of Books to read. It gives great in sight to the beliefs of the Indian Nations and their ways of life.

The best novel of the prehistoric Southwest I've read.......2005-09-05

_____________________________________________

This is a fine, thick speculative historical-political novel about the prehistoric American Southwest, specifically the enigmatic Chaco culture and its neighbors during the early 12th century. This is an impressive book. It's well-researched, and features complex people, muddling through life, in cultures much different than our own. The Gears' characters are exceptionally well-drawn. They're presented sympathetically, but with warts and all. Besides history, there's romance, treachery, greed, slavery, rape, murder, humor, exotic religion, mystery.... and fine masonry. A great deal of fine masonry. Did I mention the murals? The masks? The macaws?

The Chaco phenomenon has been puzzling and fascinating people since the rediscovery of the Chaco Canyon ruins in the 19th century. I've followed the debate with interest [note 1], and the Gears' story is as likely to be tru(ish) as any. Although I'm kinda partial to the more recent "Mexican cannibal terrorist warlords" hypothesis [2] for Chaco's Secret Masters -- which isn't incompatible with (but is darker than) the Gears' interpretation. Both Gears are (IB) working archaeologists, and they've clearly spent some time around the campfire with the Chaco guys, listening to stories too outrageous to be published...

And if you've never visited Chaco, well, you should. Fall is the primo time. Bring a sturdy vehicle, and plan to camp out for a night or two. And don't miss Earl Morris's stunning recreation of the Great Kiva at Aztec Ruins -- which you'll recognize from the novel. There are no finer Precolumbian buildings in this country. And no finer masonry anywhere.

SILENCE is a gripping and successful long novel, which held my attention throughout. This is the best novel of the prehistoric Southwest I've read (this is an uncrowded niche). An impressive achievement, and a definite keeper. Highly recommended for historical-fiction and Southwestern US fans.

__________________
Note 1) Fellow Chaco fans will enjoy catching up by reading "In Search of Chaco: New Approaches to an Archaeological Enigma" (2004), edited by David Grant Noble -- though he unaccountably left out the "Mexican cannibal terrorist warlords" theory.

2) MCTW is largely the work of Prof. Christy Turner, as documented in his book "Man Corn" (1998). The cannibal part is well-supported -- Turner even found a fossil human turd in a burnt-out pueblo, above a mass-grave, in southern Colorado. On analysis, the coprolite had relict proteins found only in human muscle tissue. Yup, burn out your enemies, eat them, sh*t on their graves. Yuck.

So much for the "peaceful Anasazi" wishful-thinking, which still hangs on in a few romantic holdouts.... Turner's work has not been greeted with cries of joy from the archaeological or Pueblo Indian communities.

Review copyright © 2005 by Peter D. Tillman
Consulting Geologist, Tucson & Santa Fe (USA)

Lucifer: Mansions of the Silence - Volume 6 (Lucifer (Graphic Novels))

Average customer rating:

Facets of revenge
OK, but not as good as the previous volumes

Lucifer: Mansions of the Silence - Volume 6 (Lucifer (Graphic Novels))
Mike Carey
Manufacturer: Vertigo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401202497

Customer Reviews:

Facets of revenge.......2005-02-14

This is the first part of the story that Carey probably had not yet completely planned when he started the Lucifer epic (The Basano's prophecy has run its course.)

One major theme in 'Naglfar' is revenge: Lucifer took revenge on Izanami for what she tried in 'The House of Windowless Rooms'. He made sure, that the souls of their sons he had killed were no longer within her reach. Tsuki-Yomi was just an innocent bystander who surely did not deserve his fate. That explains why he is devoting his whole afterlife to get even with Lucifer. And in contrast to David Easterman (who had a similar hatred for Lucifer in his heart, see his final words in 'Childeren and Monsters') he can actually make Lucifer understand that superior firepower does not protect against painful revenge.

But Lucifer has now truly succeeded in his initial quest. He is finally free to do whatever he wants. And he does ...

Parallells to the the foreign policy of the world's last remaining superpower are certainly hidden in the deeper layers of this amazing fantasy epic. (Sadly they may be too subtle for some readers.)

OK, but not as good as the previous volumes.......2004-11-12

I thought this was an all-around good Lucifer book, but it was a nowhere near perfect one. First of all, I think I missed something: either Mike Carey skipped an issue or didn't write one at the very beginning. the last Lucifer tp ended with Lucifer gaining the Naglfar and preparing to assemble a crew, this one begins with the crew already assembled. Where's the part where he actually persuades the crew to join?
Most of the antagonists in this story I found hard to understand. iT's possible their motives were explained in another volume, but if they were I have forgotten what they are. Tsuki-Yomi merely seems to turn up to make those of us who know our Japanese mythology go " oooooh!" and then be a pain in the bum.
This volume also seems to suffer under the "heros acting like complete and utter [...] problem that affects stories where the writer wants the heros to not be goody two shoes. In this instance, it's manifested when the heros seem to forget about two of their number (who I thought were the most sympathetic) and intentionally maroon a third ( who saved the life of the very character that marooned him). As a consequence, all three are left behind when the others depart. I realy hate this kind of thing.
Now, as for the things I liked. I like d the concept behind the story ( Finally, they rescue Elaine!).I also liked how Mike Carey was able to mix together characters from many storylines in Lucifer in one storyline. I also liked how most of the story was spent with the various characters fighting and bickering on the ship. I really like that kind of thing.

The Forests of Silence (Deltora Quest, 1)

Average customer rating:

Unimpressed
DELTORA QUEST!!!!!
First Fantasy
A Very Quick Book
The start if a great quest

The Forests of Silence (Deltora Quest, 1)
Emily Rodda
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0439253233

Book Description

The evil Shadow Lord is plotting to invade the land of Deltora and enslave its people. All that stands against him is the magic Belt of Deltora with its seven stones of great and mysterious power.In secrecy, with only a hand-drawn map to guide them, two unlikely companions set out on a dangerous quest. Determined to find the lost stones and rid their land of the Shadow Lord, they struggle toward their first goal--the sinister Forests of Silence.

Customer Reviews:

Unimpressed.......2007-07-12

I was rather surprised to see so many positive reviews of this book, but I guess I'm not the standard in this case.

When I bought this book I had never heard of Deltora Quest or Emily Rodda before and the only reason I paid money for it was because I wanted to read a marginally written children's fantasy. But this has nothing to do with my taste in books.

As I read it, I became increasingly embarrassed by the writing. The book's pace was unsettlingly quick so by page fifty the characters were already grown up and had families. It's meant as a children's story so the book is given some allotment of cheesiness, but it's taken to another level with the constant barrage of cliched phrases and cookie-cutter characters that are just plain boring. To be honest, it read like an unskilled preteen's idea of fantasy with a plot line thought up during third period math class.

The majority of my problem with this book doesn't lie with the plot because any plot can be made interesting with some crafty writing. This book didn't have crafty writing. The dialogue was weak at best and the occasional attempt at dated language was painful. The zooming plot line mixed with the excruciating descriptions make it hard to read.

I suppose in the end I got what I wanted, thus the two stars, but this book just isn't that good. Yes, it's a children's book and any child would like it, but even children deserve some quality writing and for a seasoned writer, this shouldn't be considered a huge success.

DELTORA QUEST!!!!!.......2007-04-13

Deltora Quest by Emily Rodda is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read. It is about two boys name Jarred and Endon who have been best friends since they where little. They lived in a castle, Endon was the son of the king of Deltora and Jarred was the son of a butler at the castle. Endon's dad has just died and he is about to take over the thrown. Jarred has done some research on the belt of Deltora and knows that if Endon does not where the belt all of Deltora will fall to the dark lord. One of the kings friends talks Endon into thinking that Jarred is going to betray him, so Endon has called the guards on Jarred but will he escape?
Deltora is vast land suppurated into 7 tribes who each had a magical gem. The story of the land goes that there once was a blacksmith. He wanted to bring the tribes together. So he makes a belt with 7 slots to put the gems in. After he made the belt He went to each of the tribes to ask them to set there gems in the belt. One by one the each put there gem inside the belt, then he put on the belt and all of the tribes where united and he was known as the king of delta but what he doesn't know is that someone is planing to kill him.
I would recommend this book to anybody with a great since of imagination and adventure.

First Fantasy.......2006-11-05

This book was my first fantasy book, and it made me a lifelong fan. Rodda's way of writing is magnificent, and her descriptions are amazing. For those who read "epic", if you want your kids to become like you, this is a great place to start, reminiscent of Robert Jordan.

Storyline:
Young Lief of Del, a boy living in living nightmare to all, is called forth by his father, Jared. The first half is taken in the POV of Jared, the second Lief. Lief and Barda set out to the Forests of Silence, to find the first gem of the belt of Deltora.

Pros:
-Nice unclichéd characters, although one reminds me of a character from the Wheel of Time, slightly.
-Good worldbuilding that stretches over the entire series; one that could almost be real.
-Great sense of danger; the monsters are unique in fashion; like the Oz tales.

Cons:
-Random seperations of characters; anger used in unhelpful situations.

A Very Quick Book.......2006-10-08

This Book is very quick to read. One because it's only one hundred and fifty pages. Two because It's realy good. It has many unsuspecting twists and a very unpleasant face off with an arrogant and immortal night at the end [see front cover to know what I'm talking about]. I am writing a book too. I'll try to post a few snippets on the internet but anyways you should read this book. it is awseome and it'll at the most take a couple of hours to read. I can't wait to read the sequel wich is Lake of Tears.

The start if a great quest.......2006-03-09

Have you ever dreamed of being part of a great quest and becoming a hero? Well, now you can by reading the book The Deltora Quest The Forests of Silence by Emily Rodda. The beautiful and peaceful place of Deltora is in peace until Endon become the king. The evil shadow lord knew that the time had come to take over and destroy the belt of Deltora the thing that protected the people until now. The evil Shadow Lord destroys the belt and scatters the precious stones that made the belt magic all across the land, so the people of Deltora will live in torture and suffering. Jarred a old friend of the old king Endon, plans to retrieve the stones and rid the shadow lord of the land to once again have peace. Jarred's son and another old friend go out to find the first stone of Deltora in the forest of silence. They encounter all kinds of people, and creatures throughout there first step of their great journey. Will they be able to finish there great adventure or die trying?

Average customer rating:

Another Erdrich Novel for Young Adults
More Please!
Newbery? This one merits your attention.
The rest is silence
A REMINDER OF THE BEAUTY AND BOUNTY OF NATURE

The Game of Silence
Louise Erdrich
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064410293
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Book Description

Her name is Omakayas, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop, and she lives on an island in Lake Superior. One day in 1850, Omakayas's island is visited by a group of mysterious people. From them, she learns that the chimookomanag, or white people, want Omakayas and her people to leave their island and move farther west.

That day, Omakayas realizes that something so valuable, so important that she never knew she had it in the first place, could be in danger: Her way of life. Her home.

Download Description

Her name is Omakayas, or Little Frog, because her first step was a hop, and she lives on an island in Lake Superior.It is 1850, and the lives of the Ojibwe have returned to a familiar rhythm: they build their birchbark houses in the summer, go to the ricing camps in the fall to harvest and feast, and move to their cozy cedar log cabins near the town of LaPointe before the first snows.

The satisfying routines of Omakayas's days are interrupted by a surprise visit from a group of desperate and mysterious people. From them, she learns that all their lives may drastically change. The chimookomanag, or white people, want Omakayas and her people to leave their island in Lake Superior and move farther west. Omakayas realizes that something so valuable, so important that she never knew she had it in the first place, is in danger: Her home. Her way of life.

In this captivating sequel to National Book Award nominee The Birchbark House, Louise Erdrich continues the story of Omakayas and her family.

Customer Reviews:

Another Erdrich Novel for Young Adults.......2006-12-28

The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich (HarperCollins, 2005); Where the Great Hawk Flies by Liza Ketchum (Clarion Books/Houghton-Mifflin, 2005).

Considering the depiction of Native Americans in books, so much has changed since I was the age of our twelve-year-old daughter.

In several new books for young readers, the narrative vantage point has been very decisively shifted to place native characters in the point-of-view position, in the center of events instead of serving as "colorful" parts of the scenery. I've recently read aloud to our daughter Lillian two new young adult novels with Native American themes, Louise Erdrich's The Game of Silence (HarperCollins, 2005) and Liza Ketchum's Where the Great Hawk Flies (Clarion/Houghton-Mifflin, 2005).

At about Lillian's age I read James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, and I strongly recall the ache I felt in response to Cooper's elegiac, grandly romantic evocation of the "noble" Chingachgook, who appeared to be in Cooper's view inseparable from the strange and sublime new American landscape. As an outdoorsy suburban Boy Scout, I couldn't help but see woodsman and trapper Natty Bumppo as an exemplary white ambassador to the Indians.

Along with Cooper's portrayal of close companionship between an immigrant frontiersman and aboriginal chieftain, I imbibed from that book a desolate, lump-in-the-throat sense of traditional Indians as an endangered species, remnants of a society too fragile to withstand the onslaught of the Europeans' well-armed civilizing force.

In the popular media, depictions of Native Americans continue to wobble or careen between positive (dignified, sensitive, stoic, ecological) and negative (brutal, aloof, lethal, voracious for alcohol), yet in contemporary literature for children and young adults, the native characters (as is also true of African Americans) are now usually portrayed in far more complimentary ways. While in all earnestness, some authors create stories that seem too didactic in seeking to compensate for the stereotypes of the past, these new books of Erdrich and Ketchum offer writing for younger readers that is enjoyable as well as challenging, and historically complex.

Erdrich is the author of nine novels for adults, two collections of essays, and three collections of poetry along with two children's books and a previous young adult novel, The Birchbark House (nominated for a National Book Award in 1999), to which the new novel The Game of Silence is a sequel.

It's not easy to summarize the differences between the volcanically talented Erdrich's books for adults and those for younger readers. The former are more erotic and more violent, with a fabulous flexibility about conventional definitions of "realism," and an intensely metamorphic use of language, with surges of imagery born in dreams and hallucinations. Yet in other respects Erdrich's way of crossing the page is unmistakable, in any genre.

As Lillian pointed out when I asked her about what makes a good young adult novel, the most obvious difference is that the narrator -- the active, witnessing consciousness of a story's events -- is usually a child or teenager. The tenor and tempo of the narrator's voice is therefore different, and in a successful young adult novel the voice is convincing, evocative and flushed with personality, not an adult's idea of how younger people sound.

Erdrich's young adult books are never simplistic as they explore tremendously difficult experiences, including European-borne epidemics, which decimated native communities throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth century. It's certainly noteworthy that when writing for younger readers Erdrich never resorts to a "special" tone or style, like certain adults who adopt condescending mannerisms when talking to kids. The Birchbark House and The Game of Silence are as serious in scope and as beautifully written as any reader of Erdrich's adult books would hope.

As with its predecessor, the setting of The Game of Silence is a mid-nineteenth-century Ojibwe community on an island in the lake Gitchi-Igaming, eventually known as Lake Superior. In both books, the main character is Omakayas (or Little Frog, "because her first step is a hop"), who is idiosyncratic and multi-dimensional, like classic literary girls such as Brink's Caddie Woodlawn, Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, Wilder's Laura and Mary, Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Betsy, and Alcott's March sisters in Little Women.

A substantial pleasure in Erdrich's Omakayas books is their portrayal of daily life among the Ojibwe, who are related in language and in their seasonal subsistence-cycle (summertime agriculture, autumn fishing and gathering, wintertime deer hunting, and spring maple-sugaring) to the Abenaki people of "Wabaniak" or northern New England and Quebec, our own region. While Omakayas and her family are beginning to see the ripple effects of changes in the east, for instance in the arrival of native refugees fleeing colonial seizure of their traditional homelands and the horrific diseases that precede the settlers themselves, readers are given at least a glimpse of the complicated societies that existed prior to the coming of Europeans.

Even more so than in The Birchbark House, in The Game of Silence Erdrich incorporates Ojibwe words and phrases, deftly translating them within her English sentences and also including a wonderful glossary that also can be read through for its own delights. As described in another of her recent books, Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country (National Geographic Directions, 2003), Erdrich has been painstakingly learning her ancestral language, and the steady presence of another language in The Game of Silence changes the sound, the texture, and the perspective of the story.

Another ingredient in classic literature for younger readers is illustrations, and like The Birchbark House, The Game of Silence features Erdrich's lovely pencil drawings, accompanying her image-rich prose as a visual counterpoint.

More Please!.......2006-11-12

the continuing saga of omakayas and her family draws you in and keeps you close. Several of my 5th graders read the book together and immediately asked to read the sequel. When told that it hadn't yet been published, they were dashed, and anxoius for its release. I find it poetic and beautiful, and they are hooked by the story. A teacher's dream...

Newbery? This one merits your attention........2006-03-12

This is the sequel to The Birchbark House. Like its predecessor, it transpires in the Ojibwe tribe's mid 19th century home on one of the Great Lakes and on the family of Omakayas, the middle child of three `siblings'. (Siblings is like that because of what happened in Birchbark House.) Also like Birchbark House, this one is a charming blend of historical fiction and clear, lovingly drawn, appealing characters. A young reader will benefit greatly from seeing the westward movement of white people through Native American eyes, and do that within the context of a most enjoyable story with endearing characters and emotionally accessible events, plus they'll get a smattering of Ojibwe language and its culture. Well worth giving to your middle school reader.

The rest is silence.......2006-01-22

No one becomes a children's librarian in the hopes of someday striking it rich. We all do it for our separate, twisted, obscure little reasons that probably have their roots somewhere in our youth. I did it partly because I realized that I wasn't cut out to be an archival librarian (the moment of inspiration came when my husband pointed out that I'd set my coffee cup down on my conservation textbook) and partly for two little words: readers advisory. I love recommending good books to good readers. I love recommending good books to bad readers. I love recommending good books period. And if I were to calculate the most frequently cited question I get on the children's room floor it might be, "My child loves the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. What else can you recommend?". Now until now my instinct was to grab "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich and thrust it into the waiting patron's arms. Now, unfortunately, I have a choice to make. "The Birchbark House" is good, yes. But its sequel, "The Game of Silence" is even better. How can I go about not recommending the sequel before its predecessor? I can't. Just the same, "The Game of Silence" does not absolutely require that "The Birchbark House" be read in order to understand the following story. It stands on its own beautifully and it shouldn't be any wonder to anyone that it garnered itself the 2006 Scott O'Dell Award for historical fiction. It undoubtedly deserved it.

Having survived the smallpox plague of 1847, Omakayas still mourns the loss of her little baby brother, but keeps her spirit strong. Good thing too. A band of raggedy homeless people have arrived in the girl's Ojibwe camp and her good tribe takes them in immediately. Amongst the people is a baby, its mother long gone, and the perfect remedy for the hole in Omakayas's family's heart. Word has reached the tribe that the white settlers are forcing all Native Americans to move farther west despite a treaty made years ago. To verify the truth behind this rumor and to see whether it was the whites who broke their word or the Natives, four men are sent from the camp to discover the truth. In the time that it takes the men to get back (the span of one year) we watch Omakayas's adventures and traditions. As time goes one, however, it becomes clear that change is imminent and that Omakayas must allow herself to go into the woods to seek the spirits that have given her so much knowledge in the past. What she sees may make all the difference in how she lives the rest of her life.

Though I'd enjoyed "The Birchbark House" I was reluctant to read its sequel immediately. No matter how well read a children's librarian might be, it's very difficult to voluntarily read books in a genre that you yourself avoided like the plague as a child. In my case, historical fiction. I decided not to read this book simply because I'd read the first one and probably knew exactly what to expect with this sequel. Then it started appearing on all the Best Books of the Year lists. And then Roger Sutton (editor of Horn Book Magazine) started singing its praises to the skies. About the time people started murmuring the words "Newbery" and "Game of Silence" in the same breath I knew I had to give in and read it. Thank God for that. Having honed her skills already on everything from picture books to adult novels, Erdrich has sketched out a perfect tale. Characters grow and change and know one another better by the story's end.

I've always had a weakness for Erdrich's pencil illustrations, thinking them as essential a complement to her stories as Garth Williams's were to the "Little House" books. In this story Erdrich uses them to their fullest effect. Pinch, Omakayas's mischievous little sprite of a brother, is rendered here in all his round spiky-haired cheerfulness. Though he annoys those he loves past all endurance, you're just as enamored of the little guy as his doting mother and frustrated (but amused) siblings. There was one picture in the batch that I found a mite bit confusing, of course. In the chapter "Fish Soup" we see a picture of Twilight (Omakayas's cousin) gutting a fish with her hair in two pigtails above her head. Oddly enough, she seems to be wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt of a particularly modern design. It's a cute little image but if the shirt isn't made of 100% cotton then Erdrich probably should have made that clearer. As it stands it seems like a very odd discrepancy in the midst of otherwise historically accurate pictures.

In every novel there's an odd little moment here or a word there that strikes the reader as funny. For me it was the moment when Old Tallow, the warrior woman who hunts with a pack of trained dogs at her side, says that when she fell down a cliff she, "pitched ears over butt all the way to the bottom". Butt? Interesting word choice there. Still, it gets the message across. And for every little quirk in the tale there are three times as many small instances of writing perfection. As Old Tallow has a rotted finger chopped off and scalded closed (it sounds more violent than it actually plays out) Omakayas sees only a single tear fall from the woman's eye. Later, the girl, "wished she'd caught that tear. It was rare. Probably, it was the only tear Old Tallow had ever shed". Even better are sections that discuss Pinch's fish catching skills. Though his traps look like beavers' nests and his decoy the oddest shaped fish anyone has ever seen, time and again Pinch catches more fishies than anyone else. "The fish that Pinch carved was apparently the most delicious-looking fish in the world". In this way Erdrich weaves that ever necessary thread of loving humor into her books. You can be meaningful all day and bore children to tears or you can dot the text with funny and very real moments of childhood and end up with an even better book. Erdritch opts for the latter.

Here's what I love about the stories of Omakayas. They're actually interesting to kids. There are great snowball fights, snow houses, contests, and examples of kids playing in realistic ways. At the same time they're historically accurate and though they never downplay the horror of colonization, neither do they wallow in misery and woe. These books show characters proud of their ancestry who are precious to their readers because they seem so very real. People complain all the time about how depressing good books are to kids sometimes (ala "The Bridge to Terebithia"). Fine. Let's have them all read "The Game of Silence" in school instead. You'd be hard pressed to find a book half as wise and a quarter as amusing. I could probably go on and on and on about it (which is a relief after reviewing some books that take all my energy to find words to describe) but I'll just leave you with the knowledge that this is undoubtedly one of the best books to come out in years and years. A bloody brilliant piece of work.

A REMINDER OF THE BEAUTY AND BOUNTY OF NATURE.......2005-09-08

When it comes to stories of the Ojibwe people, it seems to this reader/listener that Louise Erdich writes not only with her pen but also with her heart. A native of North Dakota, Erdrich is of German-American/Chippewa descent, and she is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe. Thus, her novel "The Birchbark House," which introduced young Omakayas, glistened with insight and admiration for characters who lived in the 1850s.

The same may be said of "The Game of Silence," beautifully delivered by voice actress Anna Fields.

Now, of course, Omakayas is older and she has learned a great deal as she goes about her days among her people, all following the shifting seasons. There have been changes: a sister has found someone to love, and Omakayas becomes aware that she possesses a unique gift - her dreams foretell the future.

As the story opens, days are peaceful on a Lake Superior island. The people live in houses made of birchbark during the summer, then as the days grow cooler they prepare for harvest. When winter falls all will leave their birchbark houses for cedar cabins close to a town, LaPointe.

However, the Ojibwe's serenity is interrupted by white men who want them to leave the island, want to push them away from the land they call home.

Intended for young listeners, those in grades 5 through 8, "The Game of Silence" will not only offer them a wealth of historical detail but also a reminder of the beauty and bounty of nature.

- Gail Cooke

Deltora Quest (Special Edition) Books 1-4 (Deltora Quest, books 1 through 4 (The Forest of Silence, The Lake of Tears, City of Rats, The Shifting Sands))

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Deltora Quest (Special Edition) Books 1-4 (Deltora Quest, books 1 through 4 (The Forest of Silence, The Lake of Tears, City of Rats, The Shifting Sands))

Manufacturer: Scholastic for Barnes & Noble books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

ASIN: 0760795797

Product Description

This is a Special Edition created exclusively for Barnes & Noble Inc. First printing May 2005. Contains the first four books into one book: The Forest of Silence, The Lake of Tears, City of Rats, and The Shifting Sands.

The Voice of the Silence: Being Chosen Fragments from the "Book of the Golden Precepts"

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The 2 Paths: Nirvana or Bodhisattva
Dedicated to the Few.

The Voice of the Silence: Being Chosen Fragments from the "Book of the Golden Precepts"
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky
Manufacturer: Theosophical University PR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0911500057

Book Description

"Here is the real Mahayana Buddhism" -- D. T. Suzuki

"I believe that this book has strongly influenced many sincere seekers and aspirants to the wisdom and compassion of the Bodhisattva Path." -- 14th Dalai Lama

Translated from the Book of the Golden Precepts, which shares a common origin with the Stanzas of Dzyan of The Secret Doctrine, the rules and ethics presented in the Voice contrast the two paths of spiritual attainment: the one pursued by those seeking knowledge for their own enlightenment; the other chosen by those whose aspirations are prompted by compassion for all.

Customer Reviews:

The 2 Paths: Nirvana or Bodhisattva.......2007-04-20

This book was first published 1889 by H. P. Blavatsky (1831-1891). As stated it contains chosen fragments formulated so as to become a daily meditation book. A small book comprising 97 pages, 72 pages for the main body of the book and the remaining 25 pages being for the glossary. But for the eastern terminologies, this is an easy book to read and can be quickly read. This book is available as a PDF download via Google.

Essentially this book deals with the two paths that one can choose to take on the path to higher spirituality, the path of Nirvana or the path of the Bodhisattva I.e. returning to help a suffering humanity, the latter being the superior of the two.

I personally would recommend the movie 'The circle of iron', a martial arts/spiritual film by Bruce Lee. This movie reveals the path of the initiate and the choice to be made regarding Nirvana or the Bodhisattva path. Just a small tid bit, there are many levels beyond both these paths and the path of Nirvana is a downward spiral that draws on ones dharma; better to take the Bodhisattva/Christic path of sacrifice, depending if one is able.

To that which spoke to me:

"The "Soundless Voice," or the "Voice of the Silence." Literally perhaps this would read "Voice in the Spiritual Sound," as Nada is the equivalent word in Sanskrit, for the Sen-sar term." Pg 73

"Tanha - "the will to live," the fear of death and the love for life, that force or energy which causes the rebirths." Pg 78

and to the study of the ego:

"Deva Egos" (The reincarnating ego) pg 29 which pointed the way to the book 'THE CAUSAL BODY AND THE EGO' by Arthur E. Powell.

"Manas rupa. The first refers to the astral or personal Self; the second to the individuality or the reincarnating Ego whose consciousness on our plane or the lower Manas - has to be paralysed." Pg 77

"Antaskarana is the lower Manas, the Path of communication or communion between the personality and the higher Manas or human Soul. At death it is destroyed as a Path or medium of communication, and its remains survive in a form as the Kamarupa - the "Shell"." Pg 89

Dedicated to the Few........2004-11-01

After Madam Blavatsky reintroduced the esoteric, perennial, spiritual wisdom back into mainstream western consciousness, she realized that there were two very different types of seekers who would make use of such knowledge. There were those who would seek it for personal power and selfish benefit, and those who would seek it to attempt to educate and liberate all of humanity. The difference between these paths was transcendence of the personal ego to reach the realm of the Higher Self. This book was an attempt to see that her gift of esoteric knowledge would not be passed unquestioned and unchallenged to those who were not fit to receive it.

The first thing that strikes the reader familiar with _Isis Unveiled_ and _The Secret Doctrine_ is the Buddhist emphasis of this volume. While it is based on the same archaic sources as the other works (some of which are pre-Buddhist in origin) it is the true Buddhist path of the heart that clearly shines through again and again. In fact, you have the admonishment: "But even ignorance is better than Head-learning, with no Soul-wisdom to illuminate and guide it." The Soul-wisdom is clearly present here on every page. This depth of understanding of the highest form of Buddhist thought is indeed remarkable for a book written in the 1880's by a westerner. In writing this book the Madam ensured that the spirit of true enlightenment would forever be welded to the Theosophical movement.

This particular edition is a verbatim copy of the original of 1889. As carefully as Madam Blavatsky chose her words, it would be unthinkable to edit them to be more "accessible" to a modern audience. If the reader has difficulty with the technical Sanskrit terms there are detailed glossaries included for all three sections.

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Two Thumbs Up!
The Loud Silence of Francine Green
Another Great Cushman Book
period piece
Selling half-truths and lies to our youth

The Loud Silence of Francine Green
Karen Cushman
Manufacturer: Clarion Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618504559

Book Description

Francine Green doesn't speak up much, and who can blame her? Her parents aren't interested in her opinions, the nuns at school punish girls who ask too many questions, and the House Committee on Un-American Activities is blacklisting people who express unpopular ideas. There's safety in silence. Francine would rather lose herself in a book, or in daydreams about her favorite Hollywood stars, than risk attracting attention or getting in trouble. But when outspoken, passionate Sophie Bowman transfers into Francine's class at All Saints School for Girls, Francine finds herself thinking about things that never concerned her beforefree speech, the atom bomb, the existence of God, the way people treat each other. Eventually, Francine discovers that she not only has something to say, she is absolutely determined to say it. Once again, Karen Cushman follows a young woman's progress toward her true self, this time exploring the nature of friendship and the experience of growing up Catholic in an era that is both fascinating and relevant to today's young people. Author's note.

Customer Reviews:

Two Thumbs Up!.......2007-04-10

The Loud Silence of Francine Green is a great story about a young girl named Francine and her friend Sophie who live blocks away from the studios of Hollywood. Personally, after reading every Karen Cushman book and disliking most of them, I was hesitant to read this new one. However, I was surprised to find that this book was very detailed, descriptive and most of all interesting! The Loud Silence of Francine Green was so good that in fact I finished it in one day. At the end of the book however, I was very disappointed. Karen Cushman threw in too many events that she did not clear up and left bold questions in my mind. She also left suspense at the end of the story where there could be a sequel but it would not have a point. Although the Loud Silence of Francine Green's ending was not impressive I still thought the book a friends who live in the world of Hollywood was an excellent story and I highly recommend for the [...] age.

The Loud Silence of Francine Green.......2007-03-26

Francine Green wishes she could be like the Hollywood movie stars she adores because "they always knew what to say." Francine however, never knows what to say and in Los Angeles in 1949, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. That's not to say Francine doesn't have "unplumbed depths". She has a lot on her mind, she's just learning how to put it into words, and when the appropriate time to do so is. Something her new best friend, Sophie Bowman, can't say for herself.

Sophie questions everything about the world around them from the teachings of their mean Catholic school teacher Sister Basil, to the "FBI" hunting down and questioning people based on their political beliefs. Sophie even dangerously questions the existence of God. Francine befriends Sophie when no one else will and the two form a friendship that forces Francine to search inside herself and stand up for what she believes.

Good news first. I don't know much about the 1950s. I learned some in school, I've seen films like The Majestic and Good Night and Good Luck, but upon picking up this book, when it comes to communism and the Red Scare, I was about as clueless as Francine. Ms. Cushman does as good a job as any in describing her era and painting a portrait of what life was like in Los Angeles in the 1950s. I honestly feel as if I understand what some of the people in that time period were going through after reading this and can make sense of some of their actions and fears. I did say "some" of the people though, and I'll get to that later.

The book is absolutely hilarious at times. I found myself laughing out loud quite often, like during Francine's theory on why nuns are bald, or when Francine's little brother Artie pees in her closet, or when Francine's father decides to turn Artie into a man and takes him fishing, or during Francine's mother's cemetery celebration on Mother's Day. But the book isn't all humor and it balances these scenes of comedy nicely with dark, complex scenes of Francine and her family living in fear of the world around them. Francine's father begins digging for a bomb shelter. The girls at school practice "duck and cover" drills in case a bomb is dropped. It's no wonder Francine is confused about the world she lives in.

Now the bad news. I found myself hating Sophie more and more as the book went on. Sophie is not half as clever as she thinks she is, the questions she asks are not even remotely as thought provoking as she'd like them to be, and her timing is selfishly horrible. She's a troublemaker and that's it. She's impulsive and in the worst kind of way. Sure there are some light, touching scenes that reveal there could be more to her, but in the end, there's not.

I've read some reviews that claim this book is not "preachy" (which was half the reason I decided to pick it up) and I would have to strongly disagree. I've already admitted that I have no real knowledge of the 50s and I have no strong opinions on McCarthyism, but I thought it was rather obvious that Ms. Cushman does. I feel it's this "one-sidedness" that causes this coming-of-age tale to lose most of it's appeal. For example, in a book about the effect of McCarthyism on Los Angeles residents in 1950, why does she fail to explain what communism really was? Could that discussion have been conveniently left out?

Lastly, I would strongly urge anyone wanting to read this to, or put this in the hands of a child to tread very carefully. I have no problem with Ms. Cushman's opinions or feelings on the Cold War (however you can't deny the fact that they are littered throughout the book) and I don't doubt that with careful structure, this book could provoke a great discussion about the 1950s if it's approached as a work of fiction depicting one author's point of view. What scares me is a different message lurking through the book that I think children could take away, the message that it's okay to be like Sophie. It's okay for children to ask questions, but Sophie doesn't just ask questions. Sophie provokes people for her own pleasure. I would hope that children would be able to distinguish between the way Sophie acted throughout the book with Francine's powerhouse of an ending. Francine chose an appropriate argument, with an appropriate setting, at an appropriate time. I was glad to see that she had grown from the beginning of the book and had learned from Sophie, that you don't always have to act like Sophie to stand up for what you believe in.

Another Great Cushman Book.......2007-01-16

Karen Cushman's new historical fiction book is modern compared to her other novels. The Loud Silence of Francine Green takes place in 1950's Los Angeles during the height of the Red Scare and McCarthyism. Thirteen year old Francine attends All Saints School for Girls, and is constantly being told, by her parents, her teachers, and her confessor, to keep quiet and do as she is told. On the other hand, her new best friend, Sophie, encourages her, by example, to speak out against what is wrong and to question authority. Francine is both embarrassed and inspired by Sophie's fearless antics, which often lead to Sophie's standing in the waste basket, Sister Basil's favorite form of punishment. Francine's friendship with Sophie causes her to wonder if the advice of the adults in her life to "keep quiet" and "don't get involved" is really the best advice. We see Francine mature in this book, but not too much - the scene where Francine decides to call the Pope for advice reminds us that she is very much still a child.
Cushman endows Francine with a genuine and endearing voice. It sometimes feels like Cushman is trying too hard to illustrate the effects that the fear of Communism had on people, with Francine's father building a bomb shelter in the backyard, and a family friend of Sophie's being blacklisted for his political beliefs. Altogether though, the book works, and by novels end we see a more mature Sophie that has grown in courage and self-confidence.

period piece.......2006-11-15

Francine Green is an eighth grader who is coming of age in the McCarthy era. Her Catholic school and strict father do not permit her to challenge authority, at least not until new student Sophie Bowman comes along. Sophie has been raised in a more liberal family, and has a strong nonconformist streak. If she was a character in "Dead Poets Society," she'd probably be the first to leap up on her desk. Not having the luck to have a teacher like Robin Williams, she is frequently punished by the nuns and shunned by the other students, even those who rebel in their own way. However, she and Francine become fast friends and together, they practice dance steps, skip school and attend a movie premiere in hopes of seeing their crush, Montgomery Clift.

When Sophie's father's friend, a Hollywood actor, is blacklisted, Francine
begins to seriously question some of her previously held ideas. As the adults around her worry about nuclear war and Communism, it is left up to her to find her voice on more personal matters. Recommended.

Selling half-truths and lies to our youth.......2006-10-23

I must admit that I am impressed with the skill and subtlety Karen Cushman used in THE LOUD SILENCE OF FRANCINE GREEN. This does not change the fact that this book paints a false version of U.S. history, designed to reflect as negatively on the United States as possible. She accomplishes this through clever use of half-truths and out-and-out lies, taking full advantage of the the fact that her intended audience was born after the Cold War was over, and therefore have no first-hand and little academic knowledge of the era.

Consider, for example, how one might describe the actions of fire fighters if you omit the fact of the fire: they break down doors of houses with axes, rush in, spray water on everything, and drag out unconscious people.

Similarly, in the book, in describing the McCarthy era, the dangers of the Soviet Union at the time are minimalized. She equates Communism with sharing with others, omitting the fact that one is voluntary and among friends, and the other is under pain of torture and death, being forced to give all the fruits of your labor to a brutal government. Those who are against Communism are depicted as ignorant, evil, and bigots, while those who are sympathetic towards Communism are depicted as kind, intelligent and thoughtful. Cushman calls the worries at the time of atomic war and of Soviet aggression (she describes the Soviet takeover of Eastern Europe as if it were by free election as opposed to brutal military conquest) as paranoia, while taking advantage of the ignorance of science most of her readers have, as well as the paranoid fear of nuclear energy that was instilled in the United States by the well-financed "no-nukes" campaign. She treats a publication about preparing for atomic attack by the U.S. government as if it were total lies, when, in fact, it was actually highly accurate (if you want to know what a REAL nuclear attack is like, try John Hershey's HIROSHIMA; the overwhelming number of deaths are from the shock wave and flying debris, not the radiation and heat, so, in fact, if you are in the outer area of the shockwave, "duck and cover" will protect you from the flying debris and glass which can very well kill you). Of course, Hershey could not appear on her list of resources; after all, he was merely a liberal, and does not have the rock-solid far-left credentials required to be recommended reading.

She takes advantage of the fact that tone does not carry in books. The secondary heroine, Sophie, is always getting into trouble in Catholic school, supposedly for asking challenging questions. While there are the well-hidden indicators that she would not get into trouble if she asked the questions in a proper context, the fact that tone does not carry also hides whether she asks the questions in a thoughtful manner, or, as is implied in easily overlooked parts of the book, in a mocking manner, clearly interested in creating trouble rather than actually getting answers. The former, in a Catholic School, would have resulted in an offer to discuss them in a later context. The latter is what would have gotten the questioner into trouble.

Cushman, in her author's note, states that she never actually heard of the key punishment used in the book being used (making students stand in a wastebasket). However, she does state punishments she knew about, one of which is guaranteed to be false: making male and female students exchange clothing. Seeing that doing this is specifically prohibited in the Bible, it is clear that Cushman was just making it up to make the Roman Catholic Church look worse.

But, as I said, I am impressed with her skill and subtlety. She cleverly places phrases that counter her major implications, probably to allow "plausible deniability," with all the clarity of speed limit signs in small Southeastern towns. These are here so, when she is called to defend her work, she can just point these out. In addition, she makes sure that the most easily disproved lies (such as Catholic priests not being persecuted by the Soviet Union) are not in the text but come out of the mouths of characters, so she can just say, "The characters are wrong."

Why bother? Well, currently, the United States is involved in another conflict. And the voices from the far left are trying to play down the brutality and ambitions of the enemy, and focus only on the actions of the United States. A book like this indoctrinates young people with the idea, "the authorities lied in the 50's, and a lot of innocent people were hurt as a result. Now they're lying again, and it's up to everybody to stop them."

However, things have reversed. She talks about actors and college professors being fired or unable to find work because of their politics. But these days, the ones being blacklisted are not the liberals; they are the conservatives. Those who are afraid to speak out because of fear of retaliatory violence are not the liberals, but the conservatives. I, myself, am writing this review in spite of a genuine fear of reprecussions.

If Cushman wants to see the evils of McCarthyism, all she has to do is look in a mirror.

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