Secret Sins of the Mothers

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The tragedy of Margaret O'Donnell, in the first volume of the Mockingbird Hill saga

EDITORIAL REVIEW: FACED PACED READ WITH SURPRISES

Secret Sins of the Mothers

Pick it up...can't put it down!

Secret Sins of the Mothers
Dorothy K. Morris , and Vannessa Vermond
Manufacturer: Ht Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1892977036

Book Description

Rape, a double murder, and the effects that the actions of our ancestors have upon the lives of their descendants are the simple themes of this easy-to-read, classic tale of mystery and romance. Much of the action occurs in South Carolina during the Civil War, but the novel is primarily a story about people, not about war. The plot twists and turns, the characters shock and surprise us. We are transported from the Civil War era to modern times. The earlier part of the story revolves around Margaret, a poor young white girldaughter of a half-breed Cherokee and his sullen, bitter-tempered wife. Margaret's personal diary is found hidden in a secret compartment of an heirloom desk a full century later. The truth about her life--the hidden paternity of her heir and only male child--had lay hidden in these pages for decades. The discovery of these truths deeply impacts the lives of her living descendants in the late twentieth century. Margaret's secret sins are exposed to her descendants. Now the family must cope with these terrible secrets. This is a book that you cannot put down until you reach the very end. Allow yourself a full evening before you begin to read the first few pages.

Customer Reviews:

The tragedy of Margaret O'Donnell, in the first volume of the Mockingbird Hill saga.......2006-08-21

"Secret Sins of the Mothers" is the first of what is now the three-part Mockingbird Hill series written by Dorothy K. Morris, a native of Charleston, South Carolina. Most of this first novel is set in rural South Carolina during the Civil War, but the story is not really about the war. Many of the male characters in the story go off to fight for the Confederacy, but that is to allow the focus to be on the women they leave behind and the relationships they form during a time when survival matters more than class (at least to most people). However, part of the story takes place in the present, among the ancestors of the people we meet in the past.

The story starts in the fourth decade of the 19th century when a half-Cherokee Indian by the name of Charlie O'Donnell decides the time has come for a wife. He finds one in Sylvie Sharp, an indentured servant who worked two consecutive contracts because her younger sister died on the ship from England to the United States. The marriage is of convenience and nothing more, and produces a daughter named Margaret for Sylvie's dead sister. But before Margaret is even born in this story, a woman named Elizabeth Perry reads a pair of desperate letters written by Margaret to another Miss Elizabeth from Tally's Nook, South Carolina, on November 30 and December 6 in the year 1864. This is how we are introduced to the mystery that winds its way through Morris' first novel.

I am in the habit of taking the book jacket off of a hardcover book like "Secret Sins of the Mothers" and putting it away when I start to read the book without paying attention to the cover art or anything the publishers have to say on the back or the flaps. That was a good thing in this case because the cover art by Vanessa Aeriane Vermond captures the pivotal event that happens at the end of Part 2. I was surprised when this happened, so I was happy that I did not look at the cover and that I ignored the reproduction of the cover art on the title page as well. The same thing applies to the back of the book jacket, which in the first sentence after the title gives away the key things that happens in the novel. I appreciate that readers usually need some sort of hook to get them interested in a new reader, but I had the third book and was not going to read it without reading the previous two novels first. That fact that an author gets to the third volume in a series is a pretty good sign and if you are interested in stories set during and after the Civil War that could be enough to recommend these books as well without knowing the specifics of this tale of mystery and romance. So my advice is to pay not attention to the dust jacket of this book.

The other important thing to know is that Morris tells her story briskly. Charlie O'Donnell usually makes his living making turpentine and I know plenty of authors of books like this one that would go to great lengths to work in all of the details of a process like that into a novel (if they are Jean M. Auel, of course, then they actually would have done it for real). Consequently, there is an economy of story telling her that keeps you involved in the story. I have a preference for what is happening in the past rather than in the present in "Secret Sins of the Mothers," and to tell the truth Morris would have maintained my interest without the modern part of the story. That is where Morris wants the payoff for this story to be found, and I can certainly follow her reasoning for wanting to play it that way, but that is not the most captivating part of the tale. Now I am hoping that when I pick up the next Mockingbird Hill novel, "Coyotes of Creek Crossing", that a lot of the things Morris quickly at the end of Chapter 13 of this book will be fleshed out more fully. The important thing is that I want to find out more about what happens to Margaret O'Donnell (plus I am betting Charlie comes back from the war).

EDITORIAL REVIEW: FACED PACED READ WITH SURPRISES.......2000-03-02

"The author, who was born in Charleston, S.C., grew up in the low country where most of her story is set. The story takes us back to the mid-1800's, just prior to the Civil War when we meet the young Margaret O'Donnell, a young woman who is the daughter of a half-Cherokee and an Irish mother. The family has a small home on the Parrish plantation, where her father, Charlie, is employed. Her mother, Sylvie, is probably the most sour and unhappy woman you'd ever expect to meet and Margaret tries to stay out of her way(and so does Charlie). When Charlie goes off to war, Margaret steps up to fill his shoes, bringing home game for the two of them to eat. She also is asked to come over to the Grenville plantation to read to the owner's daughter, Elizabeth Perry. Elizabeth and Margaret form a close relationship, so close that Margaret feels that Elizabeth is the only one she can turn to when the unthinkable happens. The story jumps back and forth from the present to the past, but that doesn't cloud the issue. In the present, Elizabeth Wilson, a descendent of the Perry family, finds an old letter in her mother's trunk. The letter leads her on a quest for answers about the family and about herself. This is a pretty fast-paced read with a couple of surprises thrown in along the way."

Secret Sins of the Mothers.......2000-02-10

Great! I am an avid reader and Louis L'Amour is my favorite author. Ms. Morris' writing reminds me of him, in that her plot and characters are not complicated and I feel as if I am with them, observing all that is happening. This book is easy to read, has an interesting plot and compelling characters. I can especially relate to Charlie. I was born and raised in the low country of South Carolina (Bethera, right in the middle of Hell Hole Swamp). My uncle managed a turpentine plantation during the 1930s and I worked with him several summers, helping to blaze the trees and gather the sap. I am waiting (impatiently) for Ms. Morris' next book. Turn off the TV and pick up this book for an entertaining evening!

Pick it up...can't put it down!.......2000-01-29

From Lannette B. Steed (boat5050@charleston.net), January 10, 2000,

Book Description

This book chronicles the unforgettable account of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. It is the story of Dave Pelzer, who was brutally beaten and starved by his emotionally unstable, alcoholic mother: a mother who played tortuous, unpredictable games--games that left him nearly dead. He had to learn how to play his mother's games in order to survive because she no longer considered him a son, but a slave; and no longer a boy, but an "it." Dave's bed was an old army cot in the basement, and his clothes were torn and raunchy. When his mother allowed him the luxury of food, it was nothing more than spoiled scraps that even the dogs refused to eat. The outside world knew nothing of his living nightmare. He had nothing or no one to turn to, but his dreams kept him alive--dreams of someone taking care of him, loving him and calling him their son.

Customer Reviews:

A must for parents and educators.......2007-01-20

As a Psychotherapist and campaigner for the rights of children I would recommend this book as a compulsory text for any course on child care, therapy or education.
It is gripping, moving,shocking and eye-opening. It is particularly relevant to understand the capacity of disturbed parents to hide and disguise their cruelty and the mind confusing, emotionally scarring dilemmas faced by the abused child.
And yet it is hopeful and heart warming.

Classroom Read.......2006-06-07

I am a special education teacher at a residential treatment facility that works with children in similar situations. As an end of the year project, I read this story to my 16-18 year old high school girls. They wouldn't let me put it down. The emotions, empathy, and similar situations my girls experienced were finally put into words. David, to them, is a survivor and has given them hope for their own future! Thank you Mr. Pelzer for sharing your story and helping my girls know that they are not the only ones!

a truley touching story........2005-01-25

The story a child called "it" it shows us the life of a boy longing to be loved. he is abused by his alcoholic mother. his father is torn between the two but chooses not to tell anyone. all his younger syblings are treated with love and care. he is trying to survive in his mothers 'hell'. i recommend this book to teens and young adults it will open your eyes to smoething you might have been blinded by but yet still happens in the world today... Abuse. some people just dont have the courage to stand up for what they know and believe is right. but just think about it you would be saving and inoccent life and giving a chance that wouldnt have been givin.

Michelle M, Miller Place, NY .......2004-11-04

This book was about a boy named David who went through a rough time when he was younger. He would get abused by his mother and his dad was an alcholic. The boy had no right and no say in that house hold his younger brothers had more say then he did. he would get tortured everyday and his mother would make him stay and live in the basement with nothing. Later in the book he finally gets rescued and is put into a shelter home. His life isnt how it use to be anymore.

Incredible Courage amidst incredible abuse.......2004-06-03

As I read this, parts of the text were unbearable. Yet, Dave's story is an unfortunate reality of the deviance that exists within the human psyche to control, manipulate and abuse another. Anyone involved with educating children in whatever form they chose should read this because the truth brings to light what is hidden in the darkness. Dave is definitely an overcomer and his book will challenge you to look at the little boys and girls we see each day...a bit more carefully and mercifully.

Average customer rating:

Page turner

Sins of the Mother
Patricia Rushford
Manufacturer: Howard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Business | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1582293422

Book Description

Popularity and fame have created a glimmering facade in Shanna O'Brian's world, but when the spotlight fades, even her success fails to penetrate the darkness of reality. Faced with the heartrending loss of her mother and the man who fashioned her country music career, Shanna must return to the place where her dreams have been both nurtured and shattered, Morningsong Estates.

Upon the death of his father, Shanna's ex-husband, Joshua Morgan, is now in control of her record label and proclaims to her that he loves her still. This unsettling revelation, coupled with Shanna's need to reclaim possession of a life she has too often surrendered to others, leads her down a path of self-discovery that is cruelly threatened by unseen forces.

Can the mayhem surrounding Shanna be resolved despite her fledging faith in herself, her God, and the man determined to redeem her trust?

Customer Reviews:

Page turner.......2003-11-08

If you like mystery, romance and Christian fiction, then this is a good book to pack for your road trip. I read it in a couple of stops because it moves along at a fast clip, leaves you hanging in the right spots, and develops its plot twists well. As a matter of fact, I'm about to go search for another Rushford book.

The only minus to the book is the way everything neatly wraps up in the last few pages...but most novels suffer this similar fate. Despite the negative, the book has a lot to offer.

Average customer rating:

Wow this was a heavy hitter

Sins of my Mother

Maddy from the Bronx

Very compelling and realistic!!

FOOD FOR THE SOUL!

Sins of My Mother
Terri Jones Salter
Manufacturer: Xulon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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My Soul Cries Out (Urban Christian) (Urban Christian)

Seemingly Stalled?: Lessons Learned from the Shoulder of Life's Highway

Confessions of a Lonely Soul

The Black Door

Mommy's Angel: A Novel

ASIN: 1594672989

Customer Reviews:

Wow this was a heavy hitter.......2007-04-12

I thought that this was an excellent book. It touched on how history will allow itself to repeat if we don't recongnize it. Also touched on the fact that we do not have to carry our burdens alone. All we have to do it let go and let GOD. I really wish that she writes a sequel just to see how the remaining sisters survive. Now that Dorothy has passed (such a terrible death, I had a tear come out my eye) And Jackie is in the streets, and Brandy, Angie, and Gina are getting their lives together.

Sins of my Mother.......2006-08-18

This book is a very real Christian novel of proverty and chaos.The mother gave birth to four daughters which she didn't know how to love. She is fighting her own demons.Angela,who is the main character tries to keep the family together even if it means letting them use her for their own selfish needs.Upon completing this book in one day, "AWESOME" What a great book. Pass it on.

Maddy from the Bronx.......2005-09-23

What I enjoyed most of this book is the spiritual aviance you sense while reading this book. It deals with true life issues that surrounds us on a daily basis. After all the hardships Angela kept facing she always knew deep down inside that God was calling her and that he gave her the inner strenght to move on and that it was ok for her to live her life as well. God help those who help themselves. At the end when Angela accepted God and give herself to him and his ways was when she truly found happiness with herself.

Very compelling and realistic!!.......2005-07-09

This book is very powerful. I could see reflection of my own childhood as I read about Rosa and her sisters. I was also raised by my grandmother until she died when I was ten, and the similarities of Rosa and her sisters life, were bone chillingly similar to my own. This book mirrored my life in many ways and although I continued my relationship with God after my grandmother died, there were many time I doubted him, because of the hurt and pain my brother, sister and I endured as children. I believe the past has made me the strong black woman that I am today, and I try to encourage other women and young girls, who have endure similar hurdles in their life. Sins of My Mother is a very real and thought provoking book, I literally could not put it down. I completed this book in a day and a half, it is simply brilliant. The final chapter had me in tears, because it was only about two years ago, that, I had to completely surrender my will to God, and total except his will in my life. This is one of the hardest things and strong willed independent sister could ever do; but God will take you to a place and point in your life, where you will run to him, and give it all over to him.
God bless you Terri Salter.

FOOD FOR THE SOUL!.......2005-07-05

If I had to pick a word for this book, it would have to be AWESOME!!! It was powerful in content and even more effective in my self discovery process. This book was like a mirror being held up to my life. I can't say that I have experienced the same things that Angela or the others did in the book, but the behavioral, emotional, and spiritual scars left on me are similar. I invited my book club to read this book last month and it was a success! I hope that the word gets around and groups of people across the country sit and talk about this book for hours like we did. To see the progression of each character, and sometimes unexpected end, was truly genius. Sins of My Mother is thought provoking and definately what one would call a "page turner". I felt as if this author was speaking "to" me and not "at" me. She simply used characters as her tools to get the message across. She has blessed us all with this great piece of work and I look forward to seeing what will be next! Truly a gifted writer!

Average customer rating:

The Last Sin Eater
A Good Read
Excellent Book
Another Excellent novel by Rivers
The Last Sin Eater

The Last Sin Eater
Francine Rivers
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Mothers & Children | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
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ASIN: 0786233907

Book Description

Set in the Great Smoky Mountains, The Last Sin Eater is a

masterful blEND of realistic characters, historical accuracy,

and compelling mystery.

Customer Reviews:

The Last Sin Eater.......2007-09-13

I loved this movie; of course, the book is even better. Nevertheless, this is a stirring movie that will leave you crying both tears of relief and joy in the end as misunderstandings are finally made clear. Basically, a daughter is reunited with her estranged mother through a series of events. All I can is that you've got to watch this movie. By the way, the beginning is a little confusing, but it will all make sense at the end. Or, if you read the book you'll understand exactly what's happening at the beginning of the movie.

A Good Read.......2007-08-09

Although somewhat predictable it was non-the-less enjoyable. I read it through during a long drive and a day at the beach. Any fan of Francine Rivers will not be disappointed! I'm looking forward to watching the Michael Landon Jr. produced movie of this book out on video soon.

Excellent Book.......2007-08-02

This was an excellent book. I knew that the movie had been released and I wanted to read the book before I watched the movie. The books are always so much better, though the movie was very good as well. If someone is saying that it isn't realistic, that the children could never repeat the scripture just by listening to the preacher, doesn't know the power of God. You are right, even though I have many verses to my memory, it would have been extremely hard for me to repeat all that was said to them through this man. But seeing God's miraculous hand in many difficult situations, I have no problem seeing the reality of this situation. This person also may not know very many missionaries. We have several very close friends who are missionaries and the stories they have shared with us are simply amazing! There is a God and He is very active in the lives of His children. If He wants His Word spread to the most remote areas of the world, it will be accomplished. All through scripture, we see how God chooses the weak to be used it huge ways. Look at King David--a puny little shepherd boy, yet God used him to slay Goliath. Later, that same young man becomes a mighty King. Yes, it is very possible for God to take two young children like Caddie and Fagan to bring his message of salvation to those mountain people. Excellent Book! This was my first Francine Rivers book. Now I am hungry to read more from her!

Another Excellent novel by Rivers.......2007-07-18

This novel was excellent. I wasn't sure about the topic when I read the description, but I couldn't put it down. I love Francine Rivers books and I think this is one of her best.

The Last Sin Eater.......2007-07-04

I thought this book was very good. I live in the South and know that the mountains are like living in the darkness because of lack of education. I thought it was well written and held my interest. The only problem I had with it was that the main characters were a little young for what they were going through.

Average customer rating:

GREAT BOOK TO READ!
Lots of unanswer questions?!
A Lot of Truths Left Unsaid
Ended too soon
It kept me reading...

Sins of the Mother
Maria Eftimiades
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312956584

Book Description

On October 25, 1994, a hysterical Susan Smith told police a tale that would strike terror in the hearts of mothers everywhere. An unidentified gunman had sped off with her two little boys, leaving her screaming on the side of the road.For more than a week, the people of the tiny town of Union, South Carolina rallied around the young mother. They combed the woods and neighborhood parks for the missing children, and prayed for their safe return, while FBI teams launched a massive manhunt.No one ever suspected that the pretty 23-year-old who tearfully pleaded for her children in front of millions of TV viewers could be capable of such a heartless act....until she led police to the watery graves of her young sons. As a shaken community confronted its outrage and sorrow, a stunned nation asked how it could have happened.Star People reporter Maria Eftimiades answers all the troubling questions of the most tragic crime of the decade, as she takes you into the dark heart of a mother who confessed to sending her own children to their deaths.Includes 8 pages of dramatic photos

Customer Reviews:

GREAT BOOK TO READ!.......2007-01-23

This story is all about Susan Smith the homocide/suicide she planned that turned into a homocide of her two children. This book is filled with suspense, drama, and some real life photos of Susan Smith and the days of the horrendous murder! If you are interested in any of this, I recommend this book. It's a great book because once you start reading it, you don't want to put it down.

Lots of unanswer questions?!.......2003-05-03

I find this book very boring, it was mainly facts that we could read in magazines, we mostly heard people who knew Susan and David Smith and their little boys but not very much from the actual families. The book keep repeating himself but still it was a fast reading. It was boring to read about the police who was searching and keep saying the same thing. I would had like to know more about the feelings of Susan and David Smith and what their life was before. We know that Susan was depressed and want to die and bring her kids with her but after she think that was better if she didn't have her kids because she was in love with a guy at that moment and he had told her he didn't want to have a family allready made and he didn't feel he was mature enough to raise two youngs boys. How cruel and stupid of Susan to think she can get aways with it and that the man she love will come back to her because now she would be free, she won't have her littles boys anymore and she keept saying she love them so much but why she killed them for a guy? Really she really love her kids? Even David Smith, the father of her children said he would had keep them gladly, he would had take them if Susan felt it was too much for her. Susan just thought of herself when she killed her littles boys, she want to be free of them and start a new life with the man she was in love with but still she was depressed and depression and anxiety can change your state of mind and Susan I beleive was not in her right state of mind when she thought first of killing herself with her boys and after just killing her boys and be free from them, I do beleive she regret it but still how could a mother do that if she love her children so much like she said she did and people said Susan did?!

A Lot of Truths Left Unsaid.......2002-11-01

I bought this book, hoping to get a glimpse into the mind of Susan Smith and to learn why she killed her children. Instead, I received a well-written account of the events that happened after Susan showed up on Shirley McCloud's doorstep.
The story was told from several points of view, from the investigators and the townspeople. What wasn't included was David or Susan's point of view. The author uses the in-laws to tell us how David was reacting both during the investigation and after his wife confessed. Through friends and investigators, we learn about Susan's tumultuous childhood, which included two suicide attempts.
She clearly had problems. Whether it was a full-blown mental illness that caused her to murder her children or a cold and calculated act so she could secure another relationship was never really touched upon. Included was her confession, which seemed phony and trite to me. The fact that the Smiths refused to see Mark Klaas and Jeanne Boylan, both of whom could have helped in this case, raised a major red flag with me. As a parent, I would've given them the five-star treatment.
The truth, which wasn't told in this book, was that David Smith knew his wife. Susan's family knew her for what she was and was more interested in protecting her than in finding those boys. That was the impression I got from reading this book.
Once Susan confessed to the murders, Eftimiades explains the mixed reations of the townspeople. Many were suspicious of her from the very beginning, but didn't want to get involved.
I expected the book to end with the coverage of her trial. Instead, it ended with Christian passages of forgiveness. I wasn't surprised to learn that several of the family members, including David, have made a buck off those killings.
Overall, I felt that Eftimiades could've done more investigating to make her book a believable and worthwhile read. Instead, I felt more empathy for the sheriff and the townspeople than I did for the Smiths' and their families. The coverup was too obvious and the ending way too short and disappointing.

Ended too soon.......2002-05-10

This book was very well written. However, it ended way too soon. Far better, I feel it would have been, to wait for the outcome of a case before publishing the book because it leaves the reader hanging. My favorite book on this case still remains
"Beyond All Reason," written by David Smith, the father of the slain boys.

It kept me reading..........2001-04-08

This case has haunted me since I first heard about it. This is the second book I've read, the first being "Mother Love, Deadly Love" by Andrea Peyser. I liked both books, but this one seems to put you there. I was in Union, S.C. one year after it happened, I was travelling through from Columbia, and I stopped and ate at the Quincy's Restaurant. I'm from Missouri, and everything down there seemed so spooky, especially the kudzu. This book tells it like it happened. I can't imagine how Susan can sleep at night.

Average customer rating:

Original Sin
Stuck at Home Pregnant
This Suspenseful Novel Is Aptly Named "Original Sin!"
One of my favorites
I love Marius Gabriel's style

The Original Sin
Marius Gabriel
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Psychological & Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0553079298
Release Date: 1992-04-01

Book Description

Eden van Buren lies chained to an iron bedstead in a homemade cell. Her captor is a handsome tormented young sculptor who lives alone in the Arizona desert. He is honest, compassionate, and uninterested in money. Why then has he kidnapped Eden and demanded ten million dollars in ransom? And why does he seem intnet on destroying Eden's mother? The answer lies in half-century of dseire, brutality, and betrayal--a dark skein of tangled lives and shameful secrets that spans three generations and three continents, from Franco's Spain to the cruel brulaity of Veitnam, from the haut monde of Bevery Hills to exotic Costa Brava to the basement of an isolated house where Eden's captor seeks his ransom revenge. For he is more than a kidnapper; he is an avenging angel, and he represents the final piece in a puzzle of lies and deception that began with. . .the original sin. A gripping novel of love, revenge, and redemption, The Original Sin is a work of stunning intensity and riveting suspense--a novel that establishes Marius Gabriel as one of the most exciting new voices in contemporary fiction.

From the Paperback edition.

Customer Reviews:

Original Sin.......2004-05-22

Marius Gabriel's debut book is my favorite so far. It is such a captivating story, I could not put it down. The plot is so elaborate with so many unexpected turns. It is passionate, sexy, suspenseful and twisted; all the ingredients necessary for an amazing and compelling read.
Gabriel is a talented author with a very vivid imagination. I definitely recommend this book.

Stuck at Home Pregnant.......2004-02-01

I went to the local libary to pick up some books to keep me busy as I wait this long, long months. The first thing that I thought was "What a huge Book!" I honestly didn't think it would of captured me the way it did. I have to say this book has such raw emotion that would catch myself catching my breath, or crying. I went and bought all the Marius's books hoping the are as capavating as this one. The characters feel like you are actually there through all thier ordeals. You find yourself rooting for the best for your favorites. All I know is that this book has kept me busy through the days and nights since I can't put it down.

This Suspenseful Novel Is Aptly Named "Original Sin!".......2003-08-30

This is a huge, multi-generational, "pick it up and you can't put it down until the last page is read" kind of novel - perfect for a vacation or a snowbound weekend.

Marius Gabriel writes a dramatic tale that spans three generations, and takes the reader from 1920s Spain, through the Spanish Civil War, WWII, Vietnam, and the early 1970s (US) culture of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll. All the action and subplots revolve around wealthy, sophisticated Mercedes Eduard, who was born in prewar Catalonia, the child of a rape victim. What follows is a riveting story of deception, love, and revenge most terrible. The historical backdrop, especially about Catalonian politics, anarchy, and the Civil War in Spain, certainly enhances the novel.

There are too many twists and turns in the plot to number, which make for a roller coaster ride of a read. And more than seven sins, (deadly or otherwise), are committed here. However, many of the book's characters are flatter than cardboard, and all too predictable. Joel Lennox, who kidnaps Mercedes' daughter Eden, and asks for millions of dollars in ransom, is the only character who is really fleshed out. He comes alive with his background of surviving the emotional pain of an abusive childhood, soldiering in the Vietnam War, and working his craft as an artist.

There are many books like this one on the shelves. I was quickly absorbed in the addictive storyline. It is a good, light read, but if you miss it, you are not missing a literary masterpiece.
JANA

One of my favorites.......2002-07-10

Marcus Gabriel makes you fall in love with the feelings between Joel and Eden. Then, when you find out what they are, your stomach swirls around. Great ending though, not the ending I expected, but better. One of the best books I have ever read.

I love Marius Gabriel's style.......2002-03-02

Having had Mask of Time delivered to me accidently, and having read it because I was short on reading material at the time, I became hooked on Mr. Gabriel. I then purchased his earlier book, the Original Sin. I read it a long time ago but I recommend it, and Gabriel, to all my new reading buddies. His style is captivating, his characters real, his plots are intriguing. I absolutely loved Original Sin and did not want it to end. There is nothing I did not like about this book and I look forward to his next book. This is a great read.

And Sin No More: Social Policy and Unwed Mothers in Cleveland, 1855-1990 (Women & health)

Average customer rating:

And Sin No More: Social Policy and Unwed Mothers in Cleveland, 1855-1990 (Women & health)
Marian J. Morton
Manufacturer: Ohio State Univ Pr (Txt)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Average customer rating:

A Sin of Color
Sunetra Gupta
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Mothers & Children | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Memories of Rain: A Novel

ASIN: 1570718563

Book Description

Debendranath Roy, presumed dead, leaves behind a pale, languishing wife and a mystery that takes 20 years to unfold. His hidden passion for his brother's wife, his own wife's unrequited love and his niece's obsession to uncover the truth create the beauty, power and tension of this story.

A Sin of Color tells the story of three generations, and of a house in Calcutta called Mandalay. It is to Mandalay that Debendranath's father brings his young bride after their wedding. And it is to Mandalay that Debendranath's older brother brings his own wife, the woman with whom Debendranath falls in love. Fleeing the house, his family and his ill-fated love for a married woman, Debendranath leaves for England. But he cannot escape his passion—and years later, neither can his niece, Niharika, a beautiful and talented writer.

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My Mother's Sin and Other Stories by Georgios Vizyenos
Georgios Vizyenos
Manufacturer: Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
British | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Greek | Instruction | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0874514436

Book Description

English translations of the six longer stories by Georgios Vizyenos, whose fiction both describes late 19th-century Greece and looks beyond it to question the very nature of reality.

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