Owner: The Bent Bookmark URL:http://thebentbookmark.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:19:24 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Book reviews, book excerpts, quotes, and more. Site statistics:Click here
People with Something to Hide Wore Sunglasses 2007-10-07 09:34:00 The Number 1 Ladies' Detective AgencyFiction, by Alexander McCall SmithRetail: $12.95, papberbackPublished: 2007 (Original Hardback, 2003)A part of a series of small books written by law professor and prolific author Alexander McCall Smith. The writing is light and the plot uncomplicated but the stories McCall weaves around Private Investigator Precious Ramotswe make this one especially enjoyable.An excerpt: Mma Ramotswe watched her client as she sipped her bush tea. Everything you wanted to know about a person was written in the face, she believed. It’s not that she believed that the shape of the head was what counted -- even if there were many who still clung to that belief; it was more of a question of taking care to scrutinize the lines and the general look. And the eyes, of course; they were very important. The eyes allowed you to see right into a person, to penetrate their very essence, and that was why people with something to hide wore sunglasses indoors. They were the ones Read more:Sunglasses
The Starry Night 2007-10-04 07:33:00 The Color of Light: Poems on Van Gogh’s Late PaintingsNon-fiction, by Marilyn Chandler McEntyreRetail: $20.00Published: 2007A unique and beautifully compiled book of poetry where the author offers thoughts inspired by Van Gogh’s paintings.Bright, colorful prints of some of the artist’s most famous paintings accompany each poem.An excerpt:The Starry Night
What laughter booms across the night skyfrom the bellies of heavenly beings? Few hear it,but sometimes the breath of heaven curls like a bard’s beardand what has only twinkled begins to beat and throb.Behind it all a drumbeat calls over the mountains.The villagers think it’s thunder, those who are not asleep.Only a few remain awake to see the starry, starry nightand witness what they can barely imagine how to tell.Some nights the roar breaks the silence. One was therewhen it happened, and saw, and tried to tell the secret,and died young. How much of life he gave for thiswe cannot know only that something preciousas nard was po
Too Young for Breast Cancer 2007-10-03 08:07:00 Nordie's at Noon: The Personal Stories of four Women "too young" for BreastCancer
Non-fiction, by Patti Balwanz, Kim Carlos, Jennifer Johnson, Jana PetersRetail: $12.95, paperbackPublished: 2007The moving story of four young women learning to live with all of the challenges of breast cancer. Meeting once a month at Nordstrom's Nordie's Cafe they talked to one another about their fears and future plans.Their individual accounts in this small volume provide a reminder to all of us how difficult life sometimes is for many people, and, how rewarding life still can be when lived with courage, friendship, and love.An excerpt:JanaGiant tears rolled down my cheeks as my stepmom drove me to my first chemotherapy appointment. I'm not sure what made me cry. Maybe sheer terror at the chemotherapy horror stories I'd heard. Stories about relentless vomiting, hair loss, fainting, and other bad reactions. Maybe it was fear of the unknown. What if the treatments didn't work? I was prepared to do
A Faith Worth Believing 2007-10-19 08:28:00 A FaithWorthBelieving
: Finding New Life Beyond the Rules of ReligionNon-fiction, by Tom Stella Retail: $14.95Published March 2005A clear-sighted and much improved approach to religious faith. I no longer believe that I must, by adhering to the rules of religion, strive to win God's favor. Rather, I must learn to be attuned to God present within all creation, writes the author. An excellent book!
How to Look on the Bright Side 2007-10-18 07:37:00 Here's the Bright
Side: Of Failure, Fear, Cancer, Divorce, and Other Bum RapsNon-fiction, by Betty RollinRetail: $14.95Published: 2007Betty Rollin has been through the ringer in life and so her advice to people going through tough times is valuable, wise, and practical.Convinced there are helpful lessons and insights to be learned from having cancer, going through divorce, or losing someone you love, Rollin encourages the reader not to cringe in despair or sink into depression or escape into denial when these things hit them, but to face it whatever it is.Unlike many books of this type Rollin does not serve up syrupy platitudes and empty cheers to those who suffer. She certainly offers optimism but she balances it with this kind of statement: "A good attitude is always a good idea, but don't count on it to cure disease."A cancer survivor herself, Betty Rollin knows what she's talking about. When life introduces us to the worst we ever dreamed of, Rollin asks us to look on the brig
Bewitching Pieces of Information 2007-10-17 07:23:00 The Intellectual Devotional: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Roam Confidently with the Cultured ClassNon-fiction, by David S. Kidder & Noah D. OppenheimRetail: $22.50Published: 2006I accidentally stumbled onto this book while looking for something else. Although a new one by the same authors titled, The Intellectual Devotional: American History: Revive Your Mind, Complete Your Education, and Converse Confidently About Our Nation's Past, is now out, it will have to be reviewed at another time.This one, however, is an amazing book of little known information, always wondered about facts, weird details, wonderful discoveries, and stimulating thoughts.Designed like a religious or self-help book of daily devotions this volume offers a variety of wise and enchanting tidbits of information about all sorts of things. There are seven basic themes for each week's daily readings: history, literature, visual arts, science, music, philosophy, and religion.The content reads like
How to Handle Life's Giant Issues 2007-10-16 07:28:00 What About the Big Stuff? Finding Strength and Moving Forward When the Stakes Are HighNon-fiction, by Richard CarlsonRetail: $19.95Published: 2002Carlson earned a huge crowd of readers and fans with his book about how not to sweat the small stuff in life. But he kept being asked about the really big issues we all sooner or later wonder about: serious illness, injury, divorce, addictions, terrorism, aging, and death.He uses the wisdom of both Western and Eastern religious philosophies and truths to provide guidance and solutions for both physical and spiritual healing.Remarkable anecdotes from ordinary people are included and they give the book a certain authenticity that keeps it from being just another volume of shallow pep talks.An excerpt:One of the most fascinating aspects to a quieter mind is that it allows thoughts that were previously unconscious to become conscious. Because of the quiet, and because thoughts are being met with acceptance, the unconscious is somehow less frigh Read more:Handle
, Issues
How the Bible Can Hurt You 2007-10-15 13:01:00 Sins of Scripture: Exposing the Bible’s Texts of Hate to Reveal the God of LoveNon-fiction, by John Shelby SpongRetail: $24.95Published: 2005This book, like most of Bishop Spong’s books, is not for the fainthearted. If, however, you are interested in taking a serious, rational, teachable approach to Scripture, then you will find here valuable research and maybe even inspiration.In spite of all the good that is in the Bible, Spong reveals how Scripture has been and continues to be used to support ideas and movements that are not good, that are in fact terribly destructive and evil.In 2000 John Spong retired as the Episcopal Bishop of Newark, N.J. He remains, however, a prolific author and teacher and continues to write books and articles dealing with some of the most important questions facing Christianity and today’s churches.An excerpt:I know what parts of it have been used to undergird prejudices and to mask violence. I have discovered that there is a strange ability among b
The Struggle to be Approved 2007-10-14 19:53:00 Down RiverFiction, by John HartRetail: $24.95Published: 2007John Hart's debut novel, King of Lies, received literary accolades and high praise from readers. His second novel will prove to be just as rewarding.The story is located in a small North Carolina town where people form opinions quickly and rarely change them. Although Adam Chase was born and grew up in the town his life was a blur of family turmoil and boiling apprehension. After being implicated in a murder and then acquitted he moves to New York City and blends into the palpable anonymity that exists there. Now he has returned home where he learns that his family's river land is in the middle of a treacherous battle with a massive power company that wants to own the property.His family and most of the town have not forgiven him for his past and still consider him a murderer. When a spree of killings begin Adam Chase becomes the primary suspect. His struggle to prove his innocence and find a life where he has never bel
Help for Addiction & Mental Illness 2007-10-23 07:32:00 At Wit's End: What You Need to Know When a Loved One Is Diagnosed With Addiction and Mental IllnessNon-fiction, by Jeff Jay & Jerry A. Boriskin, Ph.D.Retail: $14.95, paperbackPublished: 2007Mental illness and addiction are growing problems in American society. But worse is that many today are fighting both of these debilitating battles at the same time.These authors provide a tremendously helpful book of understanding and resources for those whose loved one or friend is trying to cope with what they call "co-occurring disorders."An excerpt:It is very difficult to know exactly what role addiction or mental illness is playing in an individual at any given time. Both conditions produce similar symptoms, yet they operate on different pathways. Assuming a certain behavior is due to an addiction when it is really caused by an anxiety disorder is an invalidating and potentially dangerous mistake. How do we get a handle on all of this? First, we need to understand some of the key componen
Knowing How & When to Retire 2007-10-22 11:28:00 The Wall Street Journal: Complete Retirement GuidebookNon-fiction, by Glenn Ruffenach & Kelly GreeneRetail: $14.95, paperbackPublished: 2007Someone once called retirement the world's longest coffee break.But retirement today is hardly as leisurely as that. Many people who retire do settle into a more comfortable lifestyle of spending time with their grandchildren, pursuing their hobbies, or traveling to all the places they always wanted to go.Others start new careers, write a novel, begin their own business, or even go back to school. But leaving the workplace is not necessarily the pot of gold under the rainbow. Many struggle with limited finances, enormous health costs, family crises, and other issues that require plenty of resources.Experts today say most retirees can expect to spend two decades beyond their active work years. How will they manage without a steady flow of income?The Wall Street Journal: Complete Retirement Guidebook offers a steady, practical, step-by-step proc
A Story of Welcome 2007-10-20 22:31:00 We Are All Welcome
HereFiction, by Elizabeth BergRetail: $22.95Published: April 2006This is the story of three strong females in 1964. Paige Dunn, paralyzed from the neck down from polio, is a feisty woman of amazing independence in spite of her limitations. She has boyfriends. She paints and writes songs. She loves lying in the sun. Diana Dunn is her 13-year-old daughter. She is filled with adolescent angst, a developing sexuality, and a desire to flee the ongoing care she needs to give to her mother. Peacie is a serious-minded African-American who cares for Paige during the day. She also has little patience with Diana and her teen issues. When Diana’s boyfriend decides to support black voters and risk his own safety, the three women pull together with amazing results
The Amazing Library 2007-10-26 08:35:00 My mother and my father were illiterate immigrants from Russia. When I was a child they were constantly amazed that I could go to a building and take a book on any subject. They couldn't believe this access to knowledge we have here in America. They couldn't believe that it was free.— Kirk DOUGLAS, American Actor (1916- ) Read more:Amazing
, Library
Dangerous Promises 2007-10-25 07:26:00 Promise MeFiction, by Harlan CobenRetail: $26.95Published: April 2006The author’s famous character, Myron Bolitar, returns in the midst of serious criminal charges. An agent for athletes and entertainers, Bolitar has a new girlfriend. Ali is a 9/11 widow, beautiful and a seemingly perfect match for Myron. He promises her teenage daughter Erin, and her friend Aimee, that he will always be available if they need someone to drive them home when they and their friends have had too much to drink. No questions asked. Aimee accepts the offer and later wakes Myron up in the middle of the night needing a ride. He takes her to one of her friends’ house. The next morning she is missing and Myron Bolitar is immediately a suspect. It will take his many gifts to clear his name. A surprising ending will determine if they were enough. Read more:Promises
A Very Inventive Novel 2007-10-24 07:32:00 The Air We BreatheFiction, by Andrea BarrettRetail: $24.95Published: 2007National Book Award winner Andrea Barrett has written an inventive, remarkably fresh novel that at times startles with its themes and characters.The story is set in a sanatorium at Tamarack Lake in the Adirondacks in the year 1916. The institution is filled with victims of tuberculosis, patients rich and poor, stable and troubled, quirky and brilliant.The book begins slowly, as though shrouded in the dank air of the sick and the dying. The patients tell their story methodically, and Barrett’s attention to detail and dialogue begins to bring together a cast of characters in circumstances that border on brilliance. In fact, the whole story is ingenious.While the war in Europe heats up and builds intensity, the Americans in the sanatorium mostly dismiss it. Their focus is on another kind of survival, living through the monotony and the wretchedness of their disease.One of the patients inaugurates a discussion g
Just About to Lose It 2007-10-30 07:03:00 BorderlineFiction, by Mark SchorrRetail: $23.95Published: 2006Psychologist Brian Hanson is patching his life back together after battling demons haunting him as a Viet Nam vet. He's also, as a recovering alcoholic, fighting to stay sober. While things seem to be moving in a positive direction, one of his patients suddenly dies. The police rule it a suicide but Hanson strongly doubts their conclusion. He decides to dig deeper but a number of obstacles get in his way including his wildly restless wife and a ruthless deputy mayor out of control.An excerpt:Sitting on a park bench, Brian Hanson twitched with unchanneled energy. He thought back to Vietnam-era braggadocio, locked and loaded, ready to rock and roll. The trite little phrases that had become part of his vocabulary. Spray and pray, for indiscriminate firing into the brush; shoot and scoot, lock and cock; tag and bag, for the goodbyes to comrades. Most of all there was the mantra he had repeated to himself incessantly, when he sa
The Lost Gospel 2007-10-29 23:20:00 The Lost Gospel
: The Quest for the Gospel of Judas IscariotNon-fiction, by Herbert KrosneyRetail: $27.00Published: April 2006Using an ancient text declared authentic, and undeniably accurate biblical archaeological research, Krosney turns the story of Judas on its head. Instead of the infamous betrayer and uncourageous follower history and the New Testament has made him, Krosney claims Judas to be Jesus’ favorite disciple. According to this long hidden document, Judas was asked by Jesus to betray him. He did not sell him out. Krosney, an award-winning writer and filmmaker, has pieced together a fascinating detective story that will have serious Christians thinking and talking.
The Greatest Detective Ever 2007-11-04 11:32:00 Arthur and GeorgeFiction, by Julian BarnesRetail: $24.95Published: 2006What a terrific story this is. Julian Barnes, a British author of 9 other novels, delves into the life of the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, and gives the reader a true-life story of stunning heroism. The George in the novel is George Edalji, a half Scottish half Indian lawyer, who was wrongly accused of crimes he didn't commit. The two cross paths when in 1906 Doyle heard of George's case and decided to take action. Julian Barnes' writing is majestic and enthralling. He gives fascinating details of the early lives of both men until they are brought together by fate as adults to undue the cruel work of prejudice and persecution. Read more:Greatest
, Detective
Books - Blueprints of the Future 2007-11-03 22:26:00 "If minds are truly alive they will seek out books, for books are the human race recounting its memorable experiences, confronting its problems, searching for solutions, drawing the blueprints of it futures."-- Harry A. Overstreet, American Philosopher Read more:Books
, Future
Is This All There Is? 2007-11-02 07:47:00 The Meaning of LifeNon-fiction, by Terry EagletonRetail: $19.95Published: 2007Eagleton, a professor of English at the Universtiy of Manchester, and a Fellow of the British Academy, has written a wonderful little book that will tickle and enlighen every reader.At the very outset he wants to know if "What is the meaning of life?" is an authentic question or does it just appear to be?He turns to the heavy hitters of history--people brilliant and articulate--scholars, poets, writers, educators, philosophers, and others to see if they have any real answers. It turns out they do. And along with Eagleton's sharp wit and keen mind their thoughts provide an adventure in life's meaning that is as fun as it is informative.An excerpt:This is not of course to suggest that all questions are answerable. We tend to assume that where there is a problem there must be a solution, just as we tend rather oddly to imagine that things which are in fragments should always be put back together again. But
Norman Mailer - Theologian? 2007-11-08 07:17:00 On God: An Uncommon ConversationNon-fiction, by Norman
MailerRetail: $26.95Published: 2007It’s almost impossible for me to describe this book.Mailer has already established a legendary writing career crammed with best-selling novels. In this book he has with his biographer pieced together a fascinating collection of conversations on theology.“Theology” might not be completely accurate. It’s more like “ideas” or “thoughts” about God, Satan, the world, and morality. Whatever they are Mailer uses them as constructs for his own spiritual and ethical beliefs.As in reading his novels, this particular work too is not something you can breeze through and feel as though you’ve finished the story. This is a book you will need to return to, often, in order to get clear in your own mind what is really being said. And even then, you might still be wondering for years, what in the world was he talking about.An excerpt:We might assume that God, like us, is doing the best that can be
Reading - Moral Illumination 2007-11-07 07:28:00 “The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.” - Elizabeth Hardwick, Literary Critic & Novelist Read more:Reading
, Moral
A Mind-Searing Portrait of Evil 2007-11-06 07:33:00 The Burnt HouseFiction, by Faye KellermanRetail: $25.95Published: 2007Here is another offering in Kellerman's series of books featuring detective Peter Decker and his wife Rina Lazarus.The married sleuths investigate a plane crash that involves dark mysteries and confusing evidence. At the center of the investigation is flight attendant Roseanne Dresden. She was listed as a part of the flight crew on the doomed plane; however her body is missing in the wreckage.This begins a search into her abusive, cheating husband, a stock broker with endless troubling behavior. As the story unfolds somewhat impossible conclusions develop, but fans of Kellerman will no doubt hang on for the final turbulent landing.An excerpt:Decker continued sifting. He wasn't having much luck. Things that appeared solid at first glance disintegrated through the gaps in his fingers. He scooped up more of the cinders and let them fall through his fingers, repeating the process for several minutes as he dug deeper. A Read more:Portrait
Recommend Site To A Friend
