History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Super Reader
Best Terry Brook's Trilogy.
Characters a Bit Slow
Once again we are in GOOD hands with this last installment of the Word/Void
Author Terry Brooks

Angel Fire East (Trolltown)
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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

ASIN: 0345379640
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Amazon.com

Angel Fire East marks the close of Terry Brooks's Nest Freemark-John Ross saga, which began with 1997's Running with the Demon. After a long layover in Seattle for the middle book, Knight of the Word, the fantasy-meets-modernity action returns to Nest's native Hopewell, where once again Nest and John must face off against the Void, this time in the form of ancient demon Findo Gask, who favors a black-clad evil preacher getup for his menacing needs.

Brooks's well-realized and likable cast from the previous books is back, from Nest (now 29) to Ross (haggard as ever) to Pick (still just a few inches tall) and even grown-up versions of Nest's childhood friends from Running, including Bennett, now a junkie with child. Of course, Findo Gask has assembled a creepy little Legion of Doom to harry these nice folks: a giant albino demon; a formless, flesh-eating ur'droch; and a knife-wielding Orphan-Annie-gone-bad named Penny Dreadful. And Angel Fire's main plot thread is even compelling: John Ross has caught a shape-changing, wild-magic creature of enormous power, a gypsy morph, that he and Nest must discover how to turn to the Word before Gask and his crew can capture it for the Void.

But as with Knight of the Word, wooden pacing and unconvincing transitions keep this tale from rising to the level of Brooks's previous masterworks, such as the excellent Shannara and Landover series. If you've read the first two books, it's certainly worth seeing off your old friends in Angel Fire East. But if you're--heaven forbid--new to Terry Brooks, check out his earlier work, or even his very capable novelization of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. --Paul Hughes

Book Description

When Running with the Demon appeared two years ago, it was recognized at once as a masterpiece in the making, a bold departure that promised to revitalize contemporary urban fantasy and showcase Terry Brooks's vast storytelling gifts as never before. The second book of the series, A Knight of the Word, raised expectations even higher. Now, in Angel Fire East, sure to be hailed as his most ambitious, most accomplished work yet, Terry Brooks brings his bestselling epic trilogy of good and evil to an unforgettable close.

As a Knight of the Word, John Ross has struggled against the tireless dark forces of the Void for twenty-five years. A rootless wanderer scarred as deeply by the magic he wields as by the unspeakable horrors he has witnessed in its service, Ross is driven by dreams that show the world reduced to blood and ashes by the Void and its minions. The grim futures he dreams each night will come true unless he can stop them now, in the present. But for all his power, John Ross is only one man, while the demons he hunts--and which hunt him in turn--are legion.

Then Ross learns of the birth of a gypsy morph, a rare and dangerous creature formed of wild magics spontaneously knit together. If he can discover its secret, the morph could be an invaluable weapon against the Void. But the Void, too, knows the value of the morph, and will not rest until the creature has been corrupted--or destroyed.

Desperate, Ross returns to the town of Hopewell, Illinois, home of Nest Freemark, a young woman with magical abilities of her own. Twice before, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the lives of Ross and Nest have intersected. Together, they have prevailed.

But now they face an ancient evil beyond anything they have ever encountered, for a demon of ruthless intelligence and feral cunning awaits them in Hopewell. As a firestorm of good and evil erupts, threatening to consume lives and shatter dreams, Ross and Nest have but a single chance to solve the mystery of the gypsy morph--and of their own profound connection.

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Customer Reviews:

Super Reader.......2007-08-04

Yet more time has passed. Nest is back in Hopewell, having been an Olympic athlete, and John Ross grows ever more tired. They must end up working to stop a demonic preacher, and a dangerous magical source from doing bad things to small town Hopewell and the rest of the world.

Both John and Nest must struggle with the problems their own powers causes, as well as working out how to fight their opponents.

Best Terry Brook's Trilogy........2007-06-09

I disagree with the Editorial Reviews. In my opinion this is the best Terry Brook's trilogy. I own and have read all of the Shannara books, and
this trilogy is superior. For me, all of the books in the trilogy were true "page-turners". I found it very difficult to put them down. I love to read just before bed, and many a night I would promise myself I could read only one chapter and then find an hour later I was still reading. I really cared for the characters - wishing I could spend time with them. The mood, the suspense, the settings - everything was perfect.

Characters a Bit Slow.......2007-06-03

Nest has magic in her. She's come to terms with that over her lifetime and now, in her late twenties, accepts it. She also accepts the fact that she is destined to lead a quiet life in the small town where her family has always lived. She will act as guardian over the nearby forest and try to keep her magic in check. This winter will be just one of many boring seasons by herself.

Then a nasty demon shows up at her door, asking about a man Nest knew years and years ago, a Knight of the Word named John Ross. The demon seems to think that John is headed for Nest's house, and he warns her that if she tries to help him or hide him, very bad things will happen.

Soon Nest's house is filled not only with John Ross and a strange magical and powerful creature called a gypsy morph in the form of a small boy, but also an old friend who has come upon hard times and her little girl.

The demon and his footsoldiers are all around them, though, making trouble and putting everyone in danger. Nest can't throw John and the boy out--if they can get the boy to communicate with them, they will have a powerful weapon in the ongoig fight against the demons of the Void. But time is running out for all of them.

I liked that even though this book was the third in a series, I felt like I could pretty well pick up on what was going on without having read the two previous books. I also liked that although this book was science fiction, it took place in a pretty normal town where nobody knew that magic existed.

The characters were really clueless. Nest should have had some idea of what was going on with Larry, and Gask should have been able to figure out what form the gypsy morph had taken. Everyone was a bit too slow to figure things out.

Once again we are in GOOD hands with this last installment of the Word/Void.......2007-05-01

It took me quite a long time to even get the courage to purchase Running With The Demon. I believe it had been out in paperback at least a year before I got around to it. I was a fan of Shannara--and that was ALL. I had already ignored his Landover series from day one (and still haven't read them--although one day I will) but this one seemed different. The idea of a contemporary fantasy story set in the REAL world was fascinating and the loosely based similarities to the Harry Potter series is about as far off the mark as comparing the Lord of the Rings to Star Wars.

I am quite impressed overall with the entire series, and with Angel Fire East in particular. The character of Findo Gask is at once one of Brooks' more demonic creations, but in a totally different manner than anthing set before. Sure he has given us some truly horrible creatures over the years, but Findo is much more evolved than the others...and consequently is much more intelligent and cunning, and therefore almost real in how he can make your skin crawl. I loved the pacing of the story and how it all unfolded so meticulously. It almost seems as though each and every person introduced is treated as though they were the main focus of the story, and that secondary characters simply did not exist.

I have also noticed that no matter how much I enjoyed or hated a novel, there are ALWAYS those who feel as opposite from the way I do as is possible, and therefore discount my opinion of the book I reviewed. I never feel the need to preach about how if I liked any particular book that the world HAS to like it as well...and so I won't here as well. What I WOULD like to say is this: chances are if you liked Running With The Demon and A Knight Of The Word, you will more than enjoy Angel Fire East. Personally I felt it was one of the more satisfying stories Terry Brooks has ever written. He is right now in the middle of bridging the storylines of the Word and Void to Shannara with Armageddon's Children and the upcoming Elves of Cintra. Once again, I cannot WAIT to buy and read them as well...and who knows, while waiting for the last book, I may finally pick up that first Landover book that came out so long ago and give it a go...

Author Terry Brooks.......2007-01-10

Everything written by Terry Brooks has been excellent. I buy his books as soon as I find out he's written another one.

Average customer rating:

The City of Falling Angels
Life in the City of Venice
Only 'ok'.
Immensely enjoyable, but not up to Midnight in the Garden standards...
Gave up after 103 pages

The City of Falling Angels
John Berendt
Manufacturer: The Penguin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1594200580

Amazon.com

Past Midnight: John Berendt on the Mysteries of Venice

Just as John Berendt's first book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, was settling into its remarkable four-year run on The New York Times bestseller list, he discovered a new city whose local mysteries and traditions were more than a match for Savannah, whose hothouse eccentricities he had celebrated in the first book. The new city was Venice, and he spent much of the last decade wandering through its canals and palazzos, seeking to understand a place that any native will tell you is easy to visit but hard to know. For travelers to Venice, whether by armchair or vaporetto, he has selected his 10 (actually 11) Books to Read on Venice. And he took the time to answer a few of our questions about his charming new book, The City of Falling Angels:

Amazon.com: The lush, cloistered southern city of Savannah was the locale of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Venice, the setting for The City of Falling Angels, is vastly different. Was it the difference itself that drew you to Venice?

John Berendt: Savannah and Venice actually have quite a lot in common. Both are uniquely beautiful. Both are isolated geographically, culturally, and emotionally from the world outside. Venice sits in the middle of a lagoon; Savannah is surrounded by marshes, piney woods, and the ocean. Venetians think of themselves as Venetian first, Italian second; Savannahians rarely even venture forth as far as Atlanta or Charleston. So both cities offer a writer a rich context in which to set a story, and the stories provide readers a means of escape from their own environment into another world.

Amazon.com: I enjoyed your rather declarative author's note: that this is a work of nonfiction, and that you used everyone's real names. In your previous book you did use pseudonyms for some characters and you explained that you took a few small liberties in the service of the larger truth of the story. Why the change this time?

Berendt: When I wrote Midnight I thought I would do a few people the favor of changing their names for the sake of privacy. But when the book came out, several of the pseudonymous characters told me they wished I'd used their real names instead. So this time, no pseudonyms. As for the storytelling liberties I took in writing Midnight, they were minor and did not change the story, but my mention of it in the author's note caused some confusion, with the result that Midnight is sometimes referred to now as a novel, which it most certainly is not. Neither is The City of Falling Angels. In fact, I dispensed with the liberties this time and made it as close to the truth as I could get it.

Amazon.com: In The City of Falling Angels, a number of fascinating people serve as guides to the city, each with a different idea of the true nature of Venice. Who was your favorite?

Berendt: I don't have a favorite, but Count Girolamo Marcello is certainly a memorable, highly quotable commentator. "Everyone in Venice is acting," he told me. "Everyone plays a role, and the role changes. The key to understanding Venetians is rhythm, the rhythm of the lagoon, the water, the tides, the waves. It's like breathing. High water, high pressure: tense. Low water, low pressure: relaxed. The tide changes every six hours."

I nodded that I understood.

"How do you see a bridge?" he went on.

"Pardon me?" I asked, "A bridge?"

"Do you see a bridge as an obstacle--as just another set of steps to climb to get from one side of a canal to the other? We Venetians do not see bridges as obstacles. To us, bridges are transitions. We go over them very slowly. They are part of the rhythm. They are the links between two parts of a theater, like changes in scenery. Our role changes as we go over bridges. We cross from one reality ... to another reality. From one street ... to another street. From one setting ... to another setting."

Once I had absorbed that notion, Count Marcello continued: "Sunlight on a canal is reflected up through a window onto the ceiling, then from the ceiling onto a vase, and from the vase onto a glass. Which is the real sunlight? Which is the real reflection? What is true? What is not true? The answer is not so simple, because the truth can change. I can change. You can change. That is the Venice effect."

I was not terribly surprised when he later told me, "Venetians never tell the truth. We mean precisely the opposite of what we say."

Amazon.com: Now that you know Venice well enough to be a guide yourself, what would you say to a visitor looking for insight into the character of the city?

Berendt: Tourists generally shuffle along, on narrow streets so crowded as to be nearly impassable, between the major sights of St. Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge, and the Accademia Museum. All you have to do is to step off these heavily traveled alleyways, and in a few moments you will find yourself in quiet, much emptier surroundings. This is more like the real Venice. Another thing to do is to go into the wine bars where Venetians stand around drinking and talking. They will very likely be speaking the Venetian dialect, so you won't be able to understand them, but you will get a sampling of the true Venetian ambiance enlivened by the pronounced sing-song rhythm of the language. I'd also suggest stopping someone in the street and asking for directions. Almost invariably, you will be rewarded with a genial smile and the instructions, Sempre diritto, meaning "Straight ahead." This will only leave you more confused, because when you attempt to follow a straight line, you will be confronted by more twists and turns and forks in the road than you thought possible, given the instructions. This is part of what Count Marcello described as "the Venice effect."

Book Description

The author of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil returns after more than a decade to give us an intimate look at the "magic, mystery, and decadence" of the city of Venice and its inhabitants

It was seven years ago that Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil achieved a record-breaking four-year run on The New York Times bestseller list. John Berendt's inimitable brand of nonfiction brought the dark mystique of Savannah so startlingly to life for millions of people that tourism to Savannah increased by 46 percent. It is Berendt and only Berendt who can capture Venice-a city of masks, a city of riddles, where the narrow, meandering passageways form a giant maze, confounding all who have not grown up wandering into its depths. Venice, a city steeped in a thousand years of history, art and architecture, teeters in precarious balance between endurance and decay. Its architectural treasures crumble--foundations shift, marble ornaments fall--even as efforts to preserve them are underway. The City of Falling Angels opens on the evening of January 29, 1996, when a dramatic fire destroys the historic Fenice opera house. The loss of the Fenice, where five of Verdi's operas premiered, is a catastrophe for Venetians. Arriving in Venice three days after the fire, Berendt becomes a kind of detective-inquiring into the nature of life in this remarkable museum-city-while gradually revealing the truth about the fire. In the course of his investigations, Berendt introduces us to a rich cast of characters: a prominent Venetian poet whose shocking "suicide" prompts his skeptical friends to pursue a murder suspect on their own; the first family of American expatriates that loses possession of the family palace after four generations of ownership; an organization of high-society, partygoing Americans who raise money to preserve the art and architecture of Venice, while quarreling in public among themselves, questioning one another's motives and drawing startled Venetians into the fray; a contemporary Venetian surrealist painter and outrageous provocateur; the master glassblower of Venice; and numerous others-stool pigeons, scapegoats, hustlers, sleepwalkers, believers in Martians, the Plant Man, the Rat Man, and Henry James.

Customer Reviews:

The City of Falling Angels.......2007-10-08

This is a book I could not put down. I suggest this to anyone who is planning a trip to Italy (or not!)

Life in the City of Venice.......2007-10-03

In 1996, a fire started in the Fenice Opera House in Venice, Italy. And not just any fire. A fire that would consume not only most of the beautiful building, along with it paintings, frescoes and history in this last of it's kind building. No, this fire consumed almost a decade in the life of Venice. How did the fire start? Was it arson? Was it negligence? Who had the most to gain? Was it the Mafia or was it the contractors that were working on the remodeling? These are just some of the questions that drew John Berendt to extend his stay in Venice and try to capture the city and it's people in print.

In the course of the investigation, Berendt introduces us to many of the citizens of this city. We meet Archimede Seguso, a renowned glass maker, that watched the Fenice burn and then created over one hundred glass vases to memorialize it. Of course, most of these pieces still haven't been seen by the public because they are tied up in a litigation of a weird brotherly feud. We meet the Rylands - Jane, an American Expat and her British husband that waylaid a poor old lady and took her incredible achieves for their own profit. The woman was Olga Rudge, the famous Mistress of writer Ezra Pound, who's writings and letters were worth a small fortune. And we meet members of the Save Venice foundation, a non-profit organization that was created to help restore buildings and art in the city of Venice. But an implosion of the group was caused by mixing too many people with large egos wanting the Title and prestige involved with this organization.

I will readily admit I had high hopes for this book. I thought Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil about the city of Savannah, Georgia was fantastic! He did such a wonderful job describing the beauty of the city, as well as the eccentricity of it's people. Not so much with Venice, although he certainly tried. Maybe it's the fact that I just don't understand the Venetian culture the way I do culture in the US. Or maybe this book was more about the glitterati instead of just the average folks. Either way, it fell short for me. I really didn't get a chance to CARE about the people in this book. There were too many exceedingly shallow people that cared more for their titles and their parties than they did about anything else. The back story of the Fenice fire just seemed to get lost in it all. And since reality is never as cut-and-dried as fiction, we still don't know what really happened that night at the Fenice.

I did enjoy learning more about Ezra Pound and Olga Rudge. And I was intrigued about the side story of the poet Mario Stefani, a man that took his own life during this time period. But reading about the Save Venice Organization and their constant bickering over whose name would be at the top of the stationery and who got the best seats for a gala rather turned my stomach. As did the story of the Rylands and how they swindled a poor elderly woman AND her family out of their birthright. Maybe my expectations were just too high for this one. Venice is a beautiful city, one I'd love to visit some day. But this book didn't do much for me! Like a Seinfeld episode, it was a whole lot about nothing.

Only 'ok'........2007-09-19

I prefer books with a strong plot. This didn't really seem to have a strong plot and the pieced never really seems to come together as strongly as I had hoped. It may just be the style of this author... and if you like that type of style this would be a book for you.

Immensely enjoyable, but not up to Midnight in the Garden standards..........2007-09-03

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt is one of my favorite books, so I decided to read his latest, The City of Falling Angels. While the formula for both books is pretty much the same, Midnight is a much better book--only because Savannah is a much more quirky city than Venice, Italy.

As with Midnight in the Garden, Berendt combines many elements to create The City of Falling Angels. He provides a little history of Venice. He interviews dozens of colorful characters. And he focuses on a possible crime. In Falling Angels, this is the burning of Venice's famous opera house, La Fenice. As far as history, I felt the author could have provided a little more information about Venice's rich past. Venice has many interesting characters, and Berendt did his best to seek them out. He interviewed Murano glass blowers, city officials, American expatriates, artists, and even a man who considers himself a culinary expert. His specialty is making the world's best-selling rat poison. He also looks into the many famous Americans who made Venice their home, including Peggy Guggenheim and Ezra Pound. But the characters in Venice fell short of Savannah's eclectic bunch including The Lady Chablis, the Voodoo priestess Minerva and antiques dealer Jim Williams. Also, the Fenice fire didn't quite have the drama as the murder in Midnight in the Garden

But I still enjoyed The City of Falling Angels immensely, and John Berendt is a fine writer with a keen eye when it comes to describing places and sites that he visits. After witnessing the opera house fire, glassblower Archimede Seguso goes to his shop and starts creating glass vases like he's never made before. "Against an opaque background as black as night, he had set swirling ribbons of sinuous diamond shapes in red, green, white, and gold, leaping, over-lapping, and spiraling upward around the vase. He never explained what he was doing, but by the second vase, everyone knew. It was a record of the fire in glass--the flames, the sparks, the embers, and the smoke--just as he had seen if from his window..." As for why he chose this city, "Venice was uniquely beautiful, isolated, inward-looking, and a powerful stimulant to the senses, the intellect, and the imagination....Because I could not imagine a more enticing beat to assign myself for an indefinite period of time."

I don't think that The City of Falling Angels is going to do to Venice what Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil did to Savannah. However, after reading The City of Falling Angels, I'm certainly considering a trip to Italy.

Gave up after 103 pages.......2007-09-01

If a book cannot grab me within the first 100 pages, then I have to stop. Not only that, but it was due at the library, and there is a waiting list (why?). I just have little time, and so many other books to read.

I will say that what I did read was somewhat interesting, and the writing was good. I just wasn't that interested in the story - at least at 100+ pages. It must get better, but I wish that I was made to care earlier in the writing.

Sorry if this wasn't very helpful, this review is more of my opinion than a critique.

The Word & the Void: Running with the Demon; a Knight of the Word; Angel Fire East

Average customer rating:

Awesome book - awesome collection

The Word & the Void: Running with the Demon; a Knight of the Word; Angel Fire East
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: SFBC Fantasy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

ASIN: 0739475479

Customer Reviews:

Awesome book - awesome collection.......2007-10-05

The is a masterpiece that now starts all of Brooks' tales. This collection of the first three books makes it easy to read all of the starting stories for his entire Shannara lineage.

To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire

Average customer rating:

My friend escaped because he had been on the waiting list to attend this school.
A story that needed to be told
never forget
Gripping and tragic
Great historical account of a terrrible school disaster

To Sleep with the Angels: The Story of a Fire
David Cowan
Manufacturer: Ivan R. Dee
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 156663217X

Book Description

The story of one of the deadliest fires in American history that took the lives of ninety-two children and three nuns at a Catholic elementary school in Chicago. An absorbing account...a tale of terror. --New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

My friend escaped because he had been on the waiting list to attend this school........2007-06-24

Overnight he lost all of his playmates and the sight of him made the mothers of his dead friends cry. Later he became a surrogate child of these lost mothers who would hold him for long periods of time as if he were a doll. My school like almost all schools of that time was torn down because it had wooden stairs. We still put disturbed children next to normal students who become their victims.
This event and Three Mile Island caused massive waste. To prevent another child from trying to get a shorter day by setting a fire, we lost those old treasured buildings. We have now wrecked the environment to avoid nuclear fuel. A few people can kill some of the gentleness and trust in a civilization.

A story that needed to be told.......2007-06-19

How could this happen? What happened as a result of this tragedy? These were the questions I had when I started reading this book.

The author goes into much depth on the geographical layout of the school, the classroom locations, the class sizes, the culture of the school and teachers, the neighborhood, and other items that give you insight on this tragedy. Many factors contributed to the fire and you need to know them all.

This is a very moving book and it's hard to read for long periods of time because you have to take a break and reflect.

never forget.......2007-05-27

Was a great gift to a good friend, he was a teenager when this tragic event happened, was the most heartbreaking book he's ever read, but was glad he did.

Gripping and tragic.......2007-05-14

I read the book during my training as a volunteer firefighter, which helped put things in context for me-- even without that, however, I defy anyone with a heart to read this book without crying.

The authors' diligent work in researching this tragic event is evident throughout the book. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the admirable historical research and thoroughness of the authors, this is not a subject that lends itself to clinical detachment. The stories of innocent lives ending in pain and families-- indeed, a community-- destroyed, is moving, but not for the faint-hearted.

Great historical account of a terrrible school disaster.......2007-05-13

As a Professor of Fire Science I am constantly seeking out books having to do with great historical fires in American. These books are to be used as course research papers by my students and typically are not available via the library network. I trust many of my students are buying their copies from Amazon.com a name that can be trusted.

Average customer rating:

excellant characters and great story
A Historical, Mystery, Romance
This is more like it!
Good story, well written, but not very engaging to me...
Superb - Truly Romantic - a Can't-Put-it-Down Book

River of Fire (Fallen Angels)
Mary Jo Putney
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451188640

Book Description

Rebel, soldier, hero and spy, Kenneth Wilding-the Demon Warrior-returns from the Napoleonic wars to an empty title and a ravaged estate. A stranger offers financial salvation in return for Kenneth's entering the household of England's greatest artist to unmask a terrible crime. But he also discovers a dangerous new way of life-and an irresistible woman.

Customer Reviews:

excellant characters and great story.......2007-06-27

mary jo putney is a great story teller and bring her characters to life for the reader

A Historical, Mystery, Romance.......2006-08-07

Both Kenneth Wilding and Rebecca Seaton are very interesting characters but this book moves at a much slower pace than most of Mary Jo Putney's other books. And although it is a historical romance, there is a mystery to be solved. It's a good read, just not my favorite.

This is more like it!.......2006-06-06

After waiting for two years to collect the Fallen Angels books (so that I could read them all in a row), I've been very dissapointed in the series so far, with the exception of THUNDER AND ROSES. Now, after reading RIVER OF FIRE, my faith in Putney's writing ability is restored.

My main complaints with a lot of the other books in the Fallen Angels series was that the love story would get shoved onto the back burner while the mystery/intrigue took centre stage. This really annoyed me, as I want the romance to be the central theme in the story. That's why I read romance, and not historical fiction, because I want a story that is primarily a love story. RIVER OF FIRE delivers on that front. However, if you want a mystery where the villian is less obvious, then you might be a bit dissapointed. Yet, even though I had a pretty good idea who the villian was, Putney still kept me turning pages. The final showdown with the villian was well-executed. When I reached the last few chapters of the book I just couldn't put it down.

The characters were both well-drawn, and ones that I cared about. I cheered for them to get together. They were both flawed in human ways, but not overly flawed as to be unlikeable. That's a difficult balance for an author to strike, and I applaud Putney for a job well done. I also liked the peek into the art world. As someone who has studied music, much of what she said about painting (like how the desire to create art is like a fire in the blood) made sense to me. The way Putney used a shared love of art to draw the characters together reminded me a lot of the way she used nature to to do the same thing in THE WILD CHILD.

It should be noted that while this book is part of a series (book six), RIVER OF FIRE also works as a stand-alone. Though characters from previous books do make appearances, the reader won't be left feeling confused at all. And there are no loose threads to be tied up in the next book. I wasn't left with any questions at the end.

Not the best work Putney has ever done, but RIVER OF FIRE is a very enjoyable read, and I do recommend it. Other worthy works by this author include THE WILD CHILD, THE RAKE, and SILK AND SHADOWS.

Good story, well written, but not very engaging to me..........2006-05-31

I wanted to try a Mary Jo Putney novel because of all the wonderful things I've heard of her Regencies. I found River of Fire at the bookstore and the plot seemed interesting. River of Fire, while well written and historically accurate, failed to enthrall me. More on that later. Kenneth Wilding, Lord Kimball, has returned from the Napoleonic wars and finds that he and his sister are about to lose their estate. But luck changes when a gentleman offers to pay for his debts in return for working as Sir Anthony's secretary. Bowden suspects that Sir Anthony, his brother and a famous and praised artist, had killed his own wife and Bowden wants to gather evidence that would find him guilty. Bowden is aware of Kenneth's spy-like abilities when he was at war and has no doubt that he will do the job well. Kenneth has no choice but to accept the assignment. Besides, he too loves art, but has repressed his desire to expose his talent due to his late father's objection to such a thing. In his new job he meets Rebecca Seaton, Sir Anthony's daughter. She lives as a hermit after her reputation was ruined when she almost eloped with a poet. Rebecca and Kenneth share a common passion and talent for painting and an attraction between them is almost immediate. However, Kenneth has a job to do -- to gather incriminating evidence against Rebecca's father. How would she feel if she found out that Lord Kimball is working for her father under false pretenses? There are some twists throughout the novel.

I like the way the author describes the art world and how unconventional they are during this time period. According to the author, Sir Anthony's career gives him license to behave improperly and in scandal, for it makes him all the more eccentric and admired. He and his late wife had engaged in some scandalous behavior, including taking on lovers on the side, and their daughter is well used to their gatherings and colorful ways. The time period is quite well written and I was impressed with the author's ability to create plausible plot devices that would fit with the Regency era. The suspense plot is well done as well. I had an idea who the real killer was long before it was resolved, but I was still impressed with its execution. However, despite all that, I wasn't very engaged with the novel and its characters. I expected a more complex hero in Kenneth. He is a war veteran, a scarred one at that, who had lost the love of his life in Spain, and I expected something more palatable because of those things. Rebecca is all right as a heroine, but the author spends too much time telling the reader that she's an eccentric and a gifted painter instead of showing that she is those things. I also thought that she and Kenneth lacked chemistry and I didn't find their love to be very believable. This is obviously part of a series and the reader gets a lot of back story without much detail. I hate when I pick up a book without knowing that it's part of a series. Ah, well, River of Fire failed to enthrall me, but I have not given up on Mary Jo Putney. I will give her another chance because her historical writing is pretty good. Perhaps a Putney read will have more stars from me next time...

Superb - Truly Romantic - a Can't-Put-it-Down Book.......2005-06-01

I can't imagine any negative remarks at all about this intelligent and superbly-written book. It was fascinating from the start. The romance was beautiful, secondary characters were interesting and I found it to be one of the better romances I have enjoyed from many years of reading.

We learn much about an artist's world in history. This was a good enjoyable and good read.

Average customer rating:

Very Good Debut (Minor Plot Spoilers)
a very good first novel worthy of widespread acclaim
Terrific story and characters
Can't wait for the next in the series!
Great first book

Angel Fire (A Lydia Strong Mystery)
Lisa Miscione
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312989180

Book Description

The bloody murder of her mother when she was a teenager made Lydia Strong into a woman obsessed with bringing brutal killers to justice. Now thirty years old, she is a reclusive bestselling true crime writer and investigative consultant whose intuitions never lie. The latest case to capture her attention is the disappearance of three adults, each the kind of loner whose sudden absence isn't missed-they have no family, few friends. The Santa Fe Police don't see a pattern, just three people who left their empty lives behind. But when another woman turns up missing, her apartment streaked with blood, even the police have to admit that something is wrong in their usually quiet town. Lydia and P.I. Jeffrey Mark, the ex-FBI agent who solved her mother's murder, begin a relentless investigation. But it is only when the killer ups the ante and goes after Lydia herself that, just like fifteen years ago when she put the FBI on the trail of her mother's killer, the real hunt begins....

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Debut (Minor Plot Spoilers).......2006-06-28

This book is a very well-written debut by the talented Lisa Miscione. It features a character named Lydia Strong, a true-crime writer who assists the police in solving murders. There are currently four books in the Lydia Strong series, and this book is the first.

I have two minor quibbles with this book. First of all, it is impossible to guess the identity of the killer -- he basically comes out of left field. This isn't that problematic, however, since this is more of a thriller than a mystery.

Second, Lydia Strong is a rather cold and angst-ridden character, especially at the beginning. I understand this makes Strong more of a three dimensional heroine, but I still didn't find myself connecting with the character as strongly as I wanted to.

Overall, though, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. If you enjoy this book, I suggest reading "Beautiful Lies" by Lisa Unger.

a very good first novel worthy of widespread acclaim.......2004-03-10

Lydia Strong has a gift of acutely accurate intuition. She can find clues that elude others. She helped determine the killer of her mother fifteen years ago and, now, as a thirty year old woman, she is a bestselling author of true crime books and a consultant for law enforcement. Young women are disappearing in the Santa Fe area. Lisa suspects something is very wrong and calls her friend, PI Jeffrey Mark, ex FBI agent, into town for his help. The two investigate the deaths and soon realize a serial killer may be at work. Things heat up when the killer targets Lydia as his next victim.
Lisa Miscione has written a very good first novel worthy of widespread acclaim. She has the ability to write with great beauty in describing the landscape and setting of this character rich debut. There is enough of a feeling of underlying dread to keep the reader's interest at all times and the relatively rapid pacing also contributed to the pages flying. Overall a well recommended debut.

Terrific story and characters.......2003-03-11

I hope this is the first in a long series about Lydia Strong and Jeffrey Mark. Lisa Miscione has created two characters that you can care about. Their lives and issues are so well developed that you seem to know them, their fears and their motivations.

Her writing is both crisp and haunting. The story takes us to Angel Fire New Mexico, a small town suddenly beset by a high number of missing persons, possibly a serial killer's doing. The problem is that the bodies are not found and the missing persons could have just fled. Lydia, in town to rest after the publication of her most recent true crime book, is certain that something sinister is afoot and she calls upon her friend and partner, ex FBI agent Jeffrey Mark, to help convince the authorities. The reader is fortunate to be along for every carefully plotted step of this fascinating investigation.

I could not put this book down. I can't wait for the sequel, 'The Darkness Gathers', and then for even more new episodes.

Can't wait for the next in the series!.......2002-09-23

Mysteries can be be strong on plot, character or setting -- a few on two or more. This first mystery, by a talented young writer, creates a chilling atmosphere in the Santa Fe area. Her pacing is flawless: each chapter kept me turning to the next. And we care about the heroine, even though I, for one, couldn't understand her.
Resting between best-sellers in her Santa Fe home, Lydia Strong reads about three people who have mysteriously disappeared. The only connection seems to be their absence of ties to others. Lydia becomes fascinated by these disappearances, just as she has been fascinated by a nearby church that she passes as she runs every day. Lydia's mother was extremely religious and the church seems to be calling Lydia. In particular, Lydia dreams about the blind man who plays a guitar there.
Lydia asks her friend Jeffrey Mark, an ex-FBI man turned private detective, to come to New Mexico and work on the case with her. Their relationship is complex and puzzling. For years they have wanted to be together. Lydia represses her desires, we are supposed to believe, by picking up one-night stands in a bar.
Together they put clues together and, not surprisingly, the killer turns out to have connections to the little church. The killer is detected by tracking down a vehicle identification number (that's not giving away the plot -- as soon as they realize they've got a VIN, they're home free), not by clever deduction of motive. If you're looking for a whodunit with clues and a satisfying ending, this isn't the book for you.
I expect the lead character, Lydia Strong, to grow over time, as Sharon McCone has done. Lydia is complex and not always plausible. Failing to recover from her mother's death, she goes through what Jeff calls a series of "psychiatric hit and run" encounters with therapists. She's supposed to be sensitive to her environment -- not quite psychic, just preternaturally aware -- but we don't see her use these gifts often.
Lydia takes herself very seriously (her mother, she says, was also "a serious woman," but she doesn't see the irony). There is no humorous relief;
Lydia has a dark mind and this is a dark book. Hopefully, the author will lighten her writing, tighten her prose and give more insight into Lydia in the next volume

Great first book.......2002-02-24

This was an exciting story and had good character development. The main character is Lydia (whose mother was killed when she was 15). She is now 30 and an crime author and crime consultant, having become famous on writing about the serial killer that killed her mother. Reviewing articles from the paper and TV, she sees another serial killer at work. The story line gets a little muddled in whether she is good or has some minor paranormal powers. She calls her long time freind Jeffrey (former FBI agent - now a private crime consulant) for help. Again the story is muddled with issues with him and her issues with the 15th annivery of her mothers death. All in all a great first book of a new author and well worth reading. I look forward to another story not so muddled.

Average customer rating:

THE FIRE THAT WILL NOT DIE
a clear authentic record of a soul
Burn Victim's Experience
Well written and gives you an appreciation for modern medicine
Emotions will run the gamut from anger and sadness to joy

The Fire That Will Not Die
Michele McBride
Manufacturer: Etc Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0882800663

Customer Reviews:

THE FIRE THAT WILL NOT DIE.......2007-01-12

Excellent book, I would read " To Sleep With The Angels " first and then this book. That is the order in which I read them and it was very imformative. You get the overall view and then the view of a person that went through this disaster.

a clear authentic record of a soul.......2006-12-26

I don't know that one can 'review' such a book the same way you can review a novel about pioneers or a non-fiction work about politics or hunting. This document of Miss McBride's is valuable because it is a historical record of challenges that most often are not written about by the victim, but by journalists and other 'authorities'. This soul is an authority on her own life.

When I first read this work and now again, I have to say that it is a genuine memoir that does not shy away or try to protect the reader. Just as such a memoir of a survivor ought be. I think the pages here are a testament to the author finding her way back despite the lack of pathways offered. That is the heart of this work, that she finds her way.

Burn Victim's Experience.......2006-03-14

I was disappointed that there were only a few photos (which were printed on the page, not photo plates). I sympathize greatly with Ms. McBride's experience, which I have no doubt was absolutely terrible. When I received the book, I paged through it and was disappointed with the almost constant repetition of thought-lines that became rather tediious. If one were to cut out the repetition, the book would be about 1/3 its length. Very little is said about the OLA fire itself, and even the months of treatment and recuperation - while one could never say this should be "interesting", one would not expect it to be verbosely boring. By contrast, I found "To Sleep With The Angels" to be spellbinding and sobering.

Well written and gives you an appreciation for modern medicine.......2006-01-19

With medical science now making great advances in treating burn victims using synthetic skin grafts (and hopefully with even greater advances on the way), this book brings home (through the personal experience of a survivor of the fire at Our Lady of the Angels) the deep physical and psychological scars that stay with a burn vicitm for life. The author refers to herself as a "burn," which also reflects her experience in a time when those with scars or handicaps were not viewed so much as people with difficulties, but instead as walking embodiments of their disfigurement. This book is well worth reading. I recommend it highly.

Emotions will run the gamut from anger and sadness to joy.......2004-04-08

Michele McBride is an inspiration for all of us. Never again will I complain of little aches and pains, after reading what this woman endured for more than forty years after the tragic fire. I had no idea that being burned affects your muscles and joints making them practically unbendable, and also interferes with your circulation. Michele rose above the ashes of this tragedy and can teach us all how to cope with disaster. The most horrible part of the story is how the community in which it took place basically fell apart after the fire. Children, adults and clergy alike were encouraged NOT to talk about the fire at OLA, when talking and expressing grief would probably have been the best therapy for the survivors. I lived in that neighborhood and many people said that the neighborhood "changed" because of a shady real estate practice called blockbusting. I think the neighborhood changed because the heart went out of it when all those children died - the people couldn't cope and moved away.

Customer Reviews:

Fun western with a touch of romance........2004-04-24

Angel Fire is a western novel with a romantic twist. Melanie Corbin is a woman fleeing two men who raped a close friend and committed murder. Fleeing with her are two ex-slaves Ned and Tilde. Melanie hires Kurt Buckner hoping he will protect her and her companions while they travel west to lead a new life.

This novel was pretty good. I was impressed with Ballas' ability to write convincing female characters. I also liked the stories of day-to-day life of the wagon train. Oh...And I loved Ned and Tilde.

Things I didn't like? Kurt seemed to get injured at least three times in this book. It got old. Also, he seemed to recover very quickly. Second, I found it distasteful that Melanie (the heroine), stood by and did nothing while her friend was assaulted. (This seemed out of character).Third, Kurt's `fear of commitment' issue also dragged about halfway through the book, and I wanted to kick him in the pants to `get on with it,' (those familiar with romance literature would probably roll their eyes at this subplot which is a staple in the romantic genre.

Still, Angel Fire was fun, exciting and well written, well worth reading.

Way to go Jack.......2001-01-16

I like Jack Ballas. Not because he's a member of DFW Writer's Workshop, but that when Jack writes you can feel the tension, the romance, the excitement. I don't read many books but Jack is one of those writers I love to listen to.

Average customer rating:

A Guilty Pleasure
A unique premise. . .
I loved this book!
WOW!
Perhaps Greeley's best fiction book

Angel Fire
Andrew M. Greeley
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812583418
Release Date: 2004-11-02

Book Description

Someone to watch over me? Sean Seamus Desmond, newly-announced Nobel Prize winnter, relishes the unknowns of science, but a real-life mystery of love and passion. . . in the form of a beautiful woman who says she's his guardian angel? Impossible. Yet there in his New York hotel room is an enchanting creature named Gabriella Light, who inexplicably and dramatically has just saved his life.Voluptuous and exquisitely dressed, sexy Gabriella, angel or not, is determined to keep him alive as a terrifying web of intrigue closes around him. Pursued by a very real and present danger, Sean Desmond will question his own sanity and his deepest beliefs, as he experiences what cannot be rationalized away as anything other than a powerful, radiant, and transcendent love. . . one that will test him as a man too long afraid of human and divine fires within himself!A wonderful, electrifying novel, Angel Fire, will delight readers with the storytelling magic that Andrew Greeley does best. Again he has created a tale rich with suspense, breathless entertainment, compelling ideas--and fascinating charaters we love, cherish, and never forget.

Customer Reviews:

A Guilty Pleasure.......2002-01-26

Gentle Reader, this book may or not please you. This sample of text might help you decide:

"Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I necked and petted a naked angel."
"Did you enjoy it, my son?"

A unique premise. . ........2001-04-11

. . .and a unique perspective help make this novel by controversial Catholic priest Fr. Andrew M. Greeley quite enjoyable.

As stated in other reviews, there are elements of Fr. Greeley's theological viewpoint in which I find myself in sharp disagreement. But there is no doubt that he is an outstanding storyteller.

In this book, Greeley ventures into the realm of Science Fiction with the introduction of the amazing character of Dr. Gabriella Light, PhD. -- the angel Gabriel, no less -- as a personal guide for the lapsed Dr. Sean Desmond on his trip to Sweden to pick up the Nobel Prize. It seems that terrorists are after Dr. Desmond because of the potential implications of his scientific discoveries.

Fr. Greeley's style is not for everybody. He dabbles a little to far into the erotic than might be considered strictly appropriate for a celibate clergyman. His incorporation of his criticisms of modern Catholicism into his books can serve as a turn-off.

BUT, Fr. Greeley is a great storyteller in the old Irish tradition. His imagination is incredible. And his fundamental faith in the goodness and grace of God is inescapable.

For me, this is one of his best offerings.

I loved this book!.......1999-06-09

I read Angel Fire as a library book and loved it enough to buy it after the fact. A charming, funny, entertaining novel.

WOW!.......1998-06-27

I picked this up off of my mother's bookshelf one day because I was bored. Then I started reading and couldn't stop!

This is a book about real angels who seem to, in fact be quite similar to real people. Just like humans, they have problems, likes and dislikes, loves and even children.

I fell in love with Sean and Gabriella; their story was poignant, and yet at the same time amusing. Rock on Gabby!!

One things is for certain; I'll certainly be reading more of Greely's books sometime in the near future.

Perhaps Greeley's best fiction book.......1997-10-03

I am a huge Andrew Greeley fan. He is most decidedly one of my top ten favorite authors. I actively convert other avid readers to his work and if I want to start them on Greeley's fiction, this is the book that I start them on. If you have never read Greeley before, this is the book to read. Mixed with Greeley's interesting blend of religion and "real life" this book is spectacular. For anyone who has ever pondered about the existance of angels this book is both an introspective and fun read. As with every Greeley book, at the end of the book you will be wishing that the book could go on forever because you get so very attached to the characters.

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