On-the-tape

Growing up, my father had a copy of the original vinyl recording of this from the 1950's. Every Christmas it came out and was played, and now I can't think of Christmas without it. After being unavailable for decades, I'm delighted to see this record once again available. Few people know that Dylan Thomas gained fame in his lifetime as a radio personality, and the dry, droll voice of his takes his fantastic prose and breathes a life into it that the simple words themselves cannot demonstrate. A classic, recommended to all.

Christmas so often disappoints us. And why not? How could it ever live up to the sappy and maudlin presentations it suffers so often on TV, in the movies, even in commercials! Along comes Dylan Thomas (well he came along a while ago) and captures elements of the holiday that we can still live today. There is a town shut up against the cold with the occasional hardy soul braving the elements. There are families, rich in generations, sharing a day punctuated more by the telling of tales than the exchange of gifts. There are children overcoming their own fears of the unknown to give "Good King Wenceslaus" to a spectral figure behind a closed door. And there lies, on the final page and in the final line, an ending that captures all of what is best in the holiday and, maybe, what is best in all of us. Granted, until you hear the poet himself read this work, you will never capture the full effect, but you will come close. And you may be more ready for Christmas than you have ever been before.

Who hasn't read this short tale of magic about Christmas past in a village in Wales, Dylan Thomas' most beloved book? I've read it to myself perhaps 20 times; I've read it to my children and laughed over the pictures maybe 10 more times. But, till now, I've never experienced the joy of hearing the poet himself read it to me. Omigod, what a pure pleasure. Recorded in 1952, this new release is all cleaned up and is a real keeper. Thomas' cadences, inflections, emphasis, pauses, and his marvelous Welsh accent make a listener close her eyes and just get lost in the humor and love and reminiscences of a bygone era.
There are quite a few other selections in this collection - and they're good - but even if you buy it just for A Child's Christmas in Wales, it'll be money well spent.

I recently watched both "The Shawshank Redemption" (with Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman) and "Stand By Me" (with River Phoenix, Jerry O'Connell, Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman) and this prompted me to dig out my old copy of Different Seasons. Most people are surprised when they learn that those movies were based on novellas by horror master, Stephen King, but he shows that he's not just into scaring the heck out of you.

The story cycle bases one novella per season, and each follows characters on a journey, whether it's one of hope, descent into corruption, coming of age, or life through offspring.

"Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" takes place over decades, as a prison inmate retains his spirit and soul, while breathing life into a dark institution, and whose patient nature finally leads him to freedom. The story is told in first person from the point of view of old Red, the guy who can get you things, about Andy Dufresne, a young banker jailed for the murder of his wife and her lover.

One of King's great strengths is creating a believable voice for his characters, and as you read this tale, it is like Red is talking to you. Other King strengths are providing back story and creating a world in which these characters live, one with a past, present and future, and it makes them three dimensional. One of King's flaws is going off on tangents and digressions a bit too often, but he always comes back to the story.

'The Body' (basis for 'Stand By Me') is a coming of age story about four small town boys on the cusp of entering Junior High School. On the Friday before Labor Day, they set off to find the body of a missing boy. One of the four boys, Vern Tessio, overheard his brother talking to a friend about the dead body.

The characters fall into several categories: Gordon LaChance, who narrates the story as an adult, is the dreamer/writer whose older brother died earlier that year. Chris Chambers is athletic, tough but smart. wise beyond his years and the white sheep in a family of black sheep. Teddy Duchamp is the psycho wiseguy who wears thick glasses and hearing aids as the result of his war veteran father putting his head to a stove. Vern Tessio is the least intelligent, but plays a key symbolic part as the one tells the others about the body and also is the first to spot it.

Along their journey, the boys encounter adventures, such as Milo Pressman the junkyard operator and his dog, Chopper. There is a run across a high trestle as a train bears down on them, a swim in a culvert full of leeches, and a night in the dark woods with screaming wild animals. When they eventually reach the boys, they have a run in with a group of teenage hoods from their town. A major difference from the movie, is that this story details the aftermath of the confrontation after the boys return to town.

King does a nice balancing act with his adult narrative and pre-adolescent dialogue, making each voice unique and fleshing out each boy's character to make them multi-dimensional. All four experience growth, but Gordon and Chris take this growth with them as they get older. Don't let people drag you down. There's a lot more to this story than just kids looking for a dead body.
My bumps here are again that King goes off on tangents and digressions, some to fill in background and history for the characters, but sometimes really straying far from the course. At one point he takes nearly a page to say that someone is dead, where 'The kid was dead. The kid wasn't sick, the kid wasn't sleeping.' Would probably have sufficed.

I won't go into a lot of detail about the other two stories. 'Apt Pupil' is about a boy who discovers a Nazi war criminal living in his town, and blackmails the old man into telling him stories about the war in exchange for not blowing the whistle on him. The stories the boy hears slowly lead him into senseless acts of violence. In 'The Breathing Woman' a 'disgraced woman is determined to triumph over death.'

These four stories combine to make an interesting cycle, and demonstrate that Stephen King has writing talents that stretch beyond his horror work.

I just love Stephen King's books, okay? I've read them all, except RIDING THE BULLET, because I'm on the computer enough already, and I personally like to have a book with paper pages to pour over while I'm on a plane or a couch or a beach.

So I have read King--in hardback--for years. I always buy his books as soon as they are published. Then I buy them in paperback for tote-ability. They don't weigh as much, and therefore don't load me down when I'm walking mile-long concourses, nor hurt my stomach when I am (re)-reading them on the beach.

To me, all of his books are marvelous. But SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION is his best story EVER.

This story is actually one of four in King's book, DIFFERENT SEASONS. And it is actually entitled "HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL RITA HAYWORTH AND THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION." Preceding the story, there is a single page with a single sentence which says, "It is in the tale, not he who tells it." Oh, and this tale does tell itself, but if King had not put it down for us, (pen to paper, so to speak) we would never have had the gift of this masterpiece to even consider.

When you realize the King of Horror has written a work that would catapult most authors into the galaxy of writers' stardom, and that it is just one of his many, many works, you just have to appreciate what a great WRITER King is. Sound silly? Well, as we all know, there are best-selling authors out there who are not particularly good writers. King sets this story down with a writing skill so superior that it is difficult to imagine something more perfectly written.

Of course I saw the movie, and it was fairly true to the book. But not until you let the actual words of this story envelope you and enthrall you do you get the full-tilt emotional fulfillment of reading a thoroughly engrossing story.

King does a beautiful job of giving us the substance of the characters, both in the realm of the facade a prisoner must maintain to survive, and of the inner anguish a prisoner struggles against to stay whole. We get to know the two main characters -- Andy and Red -- inside and out, and this is what makes the book so very compelling.

And I have never, ever, read a story in which the last sentence takes my breath away, causes my heart to beat faster, and makes my eyes tear, as this story does.

Some of the scenes are hard to take--particularly the prison rape scenes--but they are necessary for us to understand just what makes the wrongly-incarcerated Andy Dufresne so unique. And if he were not so unique, if his character were not so brilliantly disected in King's writing, there would be no story at all. Events happen around Andy, but what happens inside Andy is what gives this story wings.

I hope you will read this tale. I hope you will be inspired by it. I hope you will be as enthralled by the writing as I am. I hope you will love it, for your own sake.

Reta hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption, was a great short story by stephen king. I enjoyed reading this book and even watching the movie. I was suprised how much the book grabed my attention and how I didn't ever put it down.

Aside: Doesn't Maxwell look like the teacher/monitor from the 80's movie, The Breakfast Club? Anyway...

I applaud John Maxwell, who writes books integrating Christian principles into non-spiritual topics, like leadership. In this book, Maxwell brings up three things that we need to understand in order to be a success: 1) To know our purpose in life, 2) To maximize our potential, and 3) To sow seeds that benefits others.

In defining success within these three principles, he defines what success in NOT, namely wealth, power, or a number of other things that we normally equate with making it in this world. He brings up some good examples of the wealthy and powerful industrialists of the early 20th century who died penniless or miserable.

Principle #2 really spoke to me. Maximizing potential is something, by nature, that I constantly strive to do. Maxwell's chapters devoted to this principle were the most beneficial to me. The inevitability of change in our lives brings us to the point of what decision we will make. It's not like we can avoid change, we can't. This becomes an inflection point in our life and can determine what will happen to us over the next one, five, ten years. We can go into the unknown (which is hard to do) or keep the status quo.

Principles #1 and #3 also brought up some good things for me, but I have to say that the chapters relating to maximizing potential were the most interesting. But that is where I am in life. Perhaps the other two chapters are more suited for you.

The pits of the book that I feel compelled to highlight are few, but nonetheless present. While the material is useful, I found it rather simplistic. Some chapters had a bullet point list of "fix-it" solutions. Abstract areas like leadership are rarely solved by concrete methods of A, B, C, etc., although it can be a good start. I wish it would have gone deeper. Also, this may be a pet peeve, but Maxwell uses a lot of insightful examples using references like, "It is said that Abe Lincoln said this..." or "According to a 13th century monk..."

Like I said, the examples are useful in illustrating a point, but these roundabout references lose a little bit of legitimacy to me. I'm sure that he has a good research staff, but I am used to seeing more solid citations when referring to a story or person.

But this is a good overview of success, which is not derived from wealth or power, but of knowing the purpose that God created us for and to actually go out and realize it.

it changed my lifelong, discouraging concept of success. I was encouraged to see my life with hope again. please write more books like this. i have been telling my friends to buy the book. my negative attitudes are changing. best of all, this is so God-inspired. i just chanced upon this book, not realizing how much it was going to help me change . thank you. the bookstore said it's so hard to obtain it and i just didn't let go of it anymore at the store. hope i didn't say too much.

We all know this: the choice of our "favorite" book is a difficult one. Perhaps the "most influencial" one is easier, at least in my case it proved to be so. This book has shaped my way of thinking like no one, perhaps just "The power of positive thinking in business" by Scott Ventrella came close to it, but one step below.
As an IT consultant I use to read mostly technical books, which of course become outdated pretty soon and their value diminishes with time without discussion. The value that "Your road map to success" provides is enormous because has not timeframe, I can't see it outdated anytime and provides guidance which can be life-long followed and reintepreted.
I am finding myself to recommend this book to just aybody I care for. Chances are you'll do the same after you read it.
Absolutely recommended.

Every nurse can relate to the emotions portrayed in this book. The short story format is perfect for the busy nurse to read. The next time you want to remember that special nurse in your life or the one who helped you through a crises, or if you are a nurse yourself, read this book! It's my second favorite inspirational book -- my first being "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Wisdom" by Taro Gold. Giving these kind of inspirational gift books assures that your present lasts longer than candy and flowers and will boost the readers' self esteem! Every nurse I have known who has read these books has loved them!

Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul pays grateful tribute to nurses - - those exalted and capable servants who selflessly tend the sick, injured, aged, and downhearted with deep compassion and unceasing dedication. Containing more than one hundred true stories of service and sacrifice, this uplifting book tugs on your heart strings and tickles your funny bone while artfully honoring the noble profession of nursing. Anyone who has ever been the recipient or the provider of health care will be challenged, motivated, and enlightened by these inspiring, true-life examples of exceptional courage, commitment and caring.
Dr. Mom, Marianne Neifert, MD

Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul is a book long overdue. These stories cannot help but touch the hearts and souls of all who read it, nurses or not. Nurses will recognize their own experiences somewhere in these stories, which affirm the personal nature of nursing and the importance of personal touch involved in the care of others. The authors have done nursing a wonderful service in bringing to light the touching, funny, heartfelt anecdotes shared by those at the bedside.
Sally Russell, M.N, R.N
Educational Director
Academy if Medical Surgical Nurses

This second book in Prairie Legacy is a continuation of the life of Virginia, granddaughter of Clark and Marty and daughter of Belinda and Drew.... of the Love Comes Softly series. Virginia is becoming an adult and her plans for college, marriage and friendship with Jenny are all challenged in this book, another great one by Janette Oke. The end leaves one reaching for book 3 of this series.

I have read alot of series book and it seems that the sequels never live up to the first. Most authors could have put everything in one book. But not this one. I could not believe that this book was better than the first. It kept moving and there was not a slow part anywhere. Virginia was a bright and mature young girl in The Tender Years. She has blossomed into a bright mature young woman. She is learning that everything has a purpose and God will take care of everything.. I recommend this book highly. It was soo good now I cant wait until #3 comes out. I hope I dont have to wait tooo long......My neice and I are anxiously waiting.. WAY TO GO JANETTE OKE..You have created another masterpiece

Mrs. Oke did a great job with this book. She shows what the change from teen years to a young adult are like, while interweaving the gospel, a deep concern for Virginia's unsaved friend, and what it's like to still be a friend to someone when things get tough. I just loved it.
~Abby Louise

I have never been dissappointed by a Thoene book. Even those Thoene novels which are not my favorite titles are ten thousand times better than anything else out there. It is interesting that any criticism of their writing compares their books to other Thoene books not to the novels of other contemporary writers. It's because no one in their genre is as good as they are I think. I have my MA in Lit. I teach American and English Lit and drama. I just have to say, having read and reread their novels, I really feel that this Irish series is right up there with the best of the best of Thoene titles! It is obvious they are going to write a Book 4 for the Galway Chronicles. I just wish they would write faster! Bravo to the authors. You are the best I have ever read. (And I am comparing your writing to Steinbeck, Mitchner, Faulkner, Hemmingway...all of whom are long gone. May you live and write forever! We intellectually starving readers need you!)

I am never dissappointed in a Thoene novel. This Irish series is best of all in my opinion! I love the on going story of Kate and Josheph and all the characters of Ballynockanor. The stories my grandmother told about her childhood in Ireland have really come to life. It is amazing how similar the stories in the Galway Chronicles are to the real life history of many of us Irish Americans! The injustice of l800 Ireland under English rule make me value America all the more in spite of our problems here. Anyway, this is a great read for ANYONE!

It should have been a happy day in Ballyknockanor. Joseph Burke and Kate Donovan were finally getting married. But the rejoicing turned to sorrow when the groom was arrested at the reception for his part in the recent Irish repeal movement. Unknown to Joseph and Kate, this is part of a larger scheme by neighbor Colonel Mahon in an attempt to take over their lands. As he plots and schemes, Kate finds herself in danger. Joseph becomes a further victim of the plot. Will last minute attempts to stop his punishment be successful? Will he and Kate ever be reunited? Can she survive Mahon's plans for her?

The first part of this book was so hard for me to get through, I thought about quitting. I just wasn't sure that I could deal with any more of the character's sadness. But just before I quit, the pace of the story really picked up and I got drawn into these character's lives once again. There are so many fascinating plots levied against them, I had a hard time putting the book down until I reached the satisfying ending. As always, the Thoene's back up their story with wonderful historical research that makes this time period come vividly to life.

With the way this book ended, you can bet it won't be too long before I'm back for the final chapter in these characters's saga. And I'm sure I'll enjoy it just as much as I did this chapter. Well worth reading.

This is a must read for a Maggie Shayne's fan. First one was Wings in the night, then followed with At Twilight, Twilight Hunger. And she's thinking in making two more addition to the serie. Next one will be published in March 2003 by MIRA books, I'll be waiting! You'll love every installment of these serie. In Wings of the night those three stories are magnificent; the first one makes you fall in love with Eric Marquand & Tamara. In the second you start to understand why Rhiannon is that stubborn and proud, you'll love her cat pandora believe me, and remember she's the princess of egypt! And in the third you felt like dancing in a neverending walts of love with Damien, maybe the most old of the vampires, when he perform his magic. In Twilight Hunger, it moves my heart the love between Morgan and Dante is so beatiful, it almost makes you cry all what they had to fight to be together. And in At Twilight (Born in Twilight & Beyond Twilight) It's very interesting what happens to Angelica, her struggle between her belief and what she is, and Jameson with the fear of losing his child. In the second story you'll know sparkly vampire Cuyler and her strong spirit against Ramsey and his neverending fight with his past. And the truth that will let him be with Cuyler. Be sure to get all three books and even with that you'll not be satisfied with these romance books, you'll want more and more of the vampire gang. I will never grow tired of them.

I just purchased Maggie Shayne's new book Born in Twilight and read it straight through!!!!! Her characters are so well drawn and enchanting that I HAD to read it through and see where she was taking them!!!!! Angelica and Jamie are the kind of vampire you know you have to meet - this is a haunting love story and one that will hold you to the very end!!!!! Maggie Shayne is a master at creating a vampire romance- her vampires uphold the highest standards of mortal man and yet revel in their vampire nature - you will cry with them and love with them!! This is a book NOT to miss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I originally submitted this review in 1997 (before Amazon created the About You Page) and am resubmitting it under my public account as directed by Amazon's Customer Service. The original review will be deleted via Amazon.

Maggie Shayne's newest addition to her fantastic vampire series is her most emotionally charged yet.

A week before she is about to take her final vows and become a nun Angelica ventures out alone at night to help the homeless. On the way to the shelter she is attacked by a ruthless vampire and transformed into one of the undead.

Jameson Bryant's life has been haunted by the evil DPI (Department of Paranormal Investigations/vampire killers ~ if you were wondering) because he has a rare blood type that will allow a vampire to transform him into a creature of the night. He escapes their clutches but during the last set of tests they happen to take more than just Jameson's blood. They've take his sperm (yikes!) in order to start their next phase of experiments.

Jameson finds Angelica near death suffering from self imposed starvation and although he knows she is dangerous something about her calls out to him and he is compelled to help her. Too hungry to resist what Jameson offers she drinks from him and cannot stop . . . Just as she realizes she's ended this beautiful, kind man's life a DPI agent shows up. In her fear and confusion she believes him when he says he can make her mortal again. The DPI fear vampires and it is their intent to exterminate the race. In their never-ending paranoia they discover it may be possible for a newly turned vampire to become impregnated. Angelica naively becomes their guinea pig in their newest and most heartless experiment to date.

Fortunately Jameson's vampire friends show up in time to transform him and when he learns of the results of the DPI's experiments he sets out to find Angelica. Although she thinks he's a monster and he despises her for cutting his mortal life short they must join forces if they are to save another innocent from the hellish clutches of the DPI.

BORN IN TWILIGHT is one of the best books I've read in a long time and the most original and emotional vampire novel I've ever read. The best thing about this story is the care Ms. Shayne takes to develop the love story and the characters. She didn't take the easy way out and let them fall into a silly love/hate relationship so prominent in many novels. The characters struggle and grow and slowly begin to like each other almost against their will. They were real people and when they fall in love you know it's for eternity. This romance is the stuff dreams are made of.

Ms. Shayne's amazing storytelling talent shines in BORN IN TWILIGHT. The ultimate page-turner, it is a not to be missed read for lovers of a fast paced, darkly sensual, deeply emotional, tear jerking stories. Although it is a spin-off of her popular Wings In The Night series (for the now defunct Silhouette Shadows line) it very easily stands alone

Dorothy L. Sayers' "Busman's Honeymoon" can be considered her finest "all inclusive" Lord Peter Wimsey novel. She skillfully combines the culmination of the Wimsey/Vane romance and a "domestic mystery". Whereas other of her novels (The Nine Tailors, for example) could be considered her best mysteries, this book is beautifully written. The reader is expected to have a passing knowledge of England at the time and the life to date of the characters, as well as a classically literate education. Don't let this put you off, however; the book stands perfectly well alone. It's old - it's not outdated.

"Oh, rapture! Oh, bountiful Jehovah! Oh, joy for all our former woes a thousand times repaid!" ... "You blasphemed the aspidistra, and something awful HAS come down that chimney!" How can we resist an intelligent, deft, good-humored protagonist like Lord Peter Wimsey, here assisted by his new bride Harriet Vane? They honeymoon in the countryside at a newly-purchased house, whose previous owner turns up -- not early in the novel -- quite starkly & mysteriously dead in the cellar. With that unfortunate find begins a merry, mirthful, sharp, scintillating murder mystery which anyone will enjoy.

The 30 pages of letters & diaries which open the book are slowish going, but do keep going ... This reader's first experience with a Dorothy Sayers mystery was marvellous & rewarding. "Busman's Honeymoon" is literature, if we can rob that august noun of any suggestion of the ponderous, the boring, the dull -- it is literature that effervesces!

I am glad to find so many favorable reviews of this, Dorothy L Sayers' final detective fiction novel, on the internet. It failed to find much favor with the public or the critics when it was written in the late 1930s. In actual need of the income that her earlier works in this genre had generated (she had to support not only herself but also a non-productive husband and an illegitimate son), she negotiated with her publisher to "once again try my hand at detective fiction" after he had pointed out that the market seemed to have become saturated.

Just as a busman's holiday is a vacation where the busman is likely to be as involved with driving as he is throughout the rest of the year, a busman's honeymoon (a phrase which she coined) is one where the busman (in this case Lord Peter Wimsey) is likely to spend his honeymoon checking alibis, interviewing murder suspects, observing rigor mortis, and all the other tiresome activities of an amateur detective.

Lord Peter and Harriet Vane are the honeymooners. After their wedding (reported in a series of letters that begin the novel), they travel to "Talboys", a country house chosen by Harriet. Their reception is not as predicted. Eventually Lord Peter's butler, Bunter, discovers a corpse in the cellar.

The novel began life as a play, as you may infer from the many static scenes involving a large ensemble of characters entering and exiting. The prose is as rich in wit, classical illusions and sophistication as you will ever encounter in detective fiction. Dorothy L. Sayers was an honours graduate and capable of writing as well as George Eliot.

Don't expect the kind of fast food satisfaction that Agatha Christie provided so successfully. You will find instead the full silver service dining and wining experience here.

In this second book of the "Song of Albion" series, Lawhead fleshes out his landscape and characters, yes, and even the villians. For some reason, he switches narrators and unnecessarily forces the reader to make a mental jump, but once that jump is made, the story breezes along.

Tegid, the bard, and Llew, the reluctant king, set about carving a new life for themselves while Meldron, the usurper, thinks they're dead. They have time to rebuild and form a company of sorts, but when Meldron catches on to their survival, we know the showdown will eventually come--and to mostly satisfactory results.

Lawhead fills his story with rich details and memorable scenes, but, as in the first book, he makes some apparent blunders. Though I was intrigued by the re-appearance of Nettles from the first book, his character never played a true role in the events of the story. Lawhead seemed to set him up for significance, then let me down. This type of thing happens occasionally in Lawhead's writing, whether due to poor plotting or forgetfulness, I do not know.

Overall, though, I have to give this book a glowing recommendation. Once finished and set aside, I couldn't get it out of my mind. The scenes were still there, the characters still breathing, the questions still rumbling through my thoughts. Maybe, in this fictitous world come to life, like the real world we inhabit, people and events don't always react or go as planned. Maybe, there are bigger purposes, as of yet unknown to this reader. Maybe, I don't care...I just want to believe the Otherworld is out there, and the Song of Albion is being sung, bringing life to all who hear it.

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. The whole trilogy is a great story that is really hard to keep your mind off of. The characters and the plot is well thought out and the essence of the battles and good vs evil is almost overbearing at times. Lawhead has great description, and describes each scene well. If you like a book that will stretch your imagination with celtic culture and mythology this is a great series to read!

Here we are again, Lewis Gillies has returned to the land of Albion to complete unfinished business. King Meldryn Mawr is dead and his killer must be brought to justice. These two things begin the second leg of this intriguing journey through Albion. No longer the awed American scholar. Lewis has a new name, Llydd Ap Dicter (Anger, Son of Fury) and has found new life among Albion's people.

Llydd is soon forced to face a monumental decision and realizes that in order to do that which he originally set out to do, he must bend himself to the will of wise bard and friend Tegid Tethal regarding a crucial subject. Now that Meldryn Mawr is dead, Albion and her people need a new King. Therefore, due to his closeness qirh Meldryn, Llydd is chosen King and given the name Llew.

Naturally the dawn of Llew's Kingship does not sit well with others among the populace and stiff opposition is faced. During the conflict, flight, and journey that ensues Llew will grow to be called Silver Hand, for a reason that is self-explanatory but I will not divulge it. Read it yourself and see how it fits into the story well.
The meat of this book is the story of the quest to oust a villainous claimant to the throne of Albion. Again, it is filled with rich examples of Celtic legend and lore. Tegid's use of songs and stories to convey lessons is quite effective and touching. The love between Lady Goewyn and Llew Silver Hand is explored again, after being hinted at and begun in THE PARADISE WAR. The friendships, relationships, and love (and hate) between various characters is written convincingly and engagingly.

All in all this is a great book and a worthy sequel to THE PARADISE WAR. Again you may find it difficult to put it down and wish that you never had to leave the world established by this book and this series. But that's just the mark of a great writer taking you on a journey through a great story. And that's just what THE SILVER HAND is, step two of a wonderful and engaging story.

Wilbur Smith is an incredible historical fiction writer. I have read most of his books this summer, leaping from one to the next. I read all I could buy, then I used the library system to get more including this book: When the Lion Feeds. I knew about the Courtney brothers from other books, but never knew the details of their young lives and experiences until this one. I frankly feel like I am part of the family. From the generations that go back to the 17th century to the current time in South Africa or England, Wilbur brings together intrigue with this family and others (such as Ballintyne {sp})with social issues of the Black, Brown and white folks of Africa. I am his greatest fan. Why is my review lower for this book? Only that it is his first and he is so much better the more he writes. I encourage others to read him; you will be delighted!

When the Lion Feeds was truely a thrilling and realistic book. I grew up in South Africa and when I want to remember I read the wonderful stories Wilbur Smith has written. I have grown very fond of the Courtney Saga. Each character draws me into all the excitement that Africa has to offer. Sean Courtney who is the hero in this novel starts an historical journey through the African Bush. Almost all of Wilbur Smith's books show the beauty and mysteries that the the dark continent has to offer. When reading this novel I remember what it is like to appreciate such a marvelous landscape with all its treasures. Great reading filled with history and excitement.

When the young Courteney brothers sneak off into the fields surrounding their house to experiment with the forbidden gun, Sean accidentally shoots his brother Garrick's leg, which results in its amputation. This is the foundation for their shaky relationship and which affects their children in succeeding Courteney family books.

Sean forever after feels guilty and tries to take protective responsibility for his brother, but Garrick, always feeling like the loser, develops bitterness towards Sean. When Sean rejects the advances of Garrick's wife, in retaliation she tells Garrick that Sean forced himself upon her, and Garrick's hatred is cemented.

Sean abandons his brother and his home to seek other adventures. He develops friends and jealous enemies during his business ventures in gold mining. He becomes wealthy, but after losing it all, takes to the bush with his best friend, where they encounter danger with nature. Sean experiences it all: savage battle, wealth, poverty, danger, victory, injustice, sickness, romance, profound love and profound sadness. He pushes himself through all his adventures with fortitude, wit and charm. He's as sly as a fox and as gentle as a lamb.

After reading this book, I was hooked on Wilbur Smith, and went on to read the next two books: The Sound of Thunder, and A Sparrow Falls, which continue the Courteney saga. There are others in the series which I plan to get soon. I feel confident I won't be disappointed!