A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League

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Ron Suskind won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1995 for his stories on Cedric Jennings, a talented black teenager struggling to succeed in one of the worst public high schools in Washington, D.C. Suskind has expanded those features into a full-length nonfiction narrative, following Jennings beyond his high-school graduation to Brown University, and in the tradition of Leon Dash's Rosa Lee and Alex Kotlowitz's There Are No Children Here, delivers a compelling story on the struggles of inner-city life in modern America. While it appears to have a happy ending (with Jennings earning a B average in his sophomore year), A Hope in the Unseen is not without a few caveats (at times, Jennings feels profoundly alienated from his white peers). Trite as it may sound to say, this book teaches a lesson about the virtue of perseverance, and it's definitely worth reading. --John J. Miller

Book Description

It is 1993, and Cedric Jennings is a bright and ferociously determined honor student at Ballou, a high school in one of Washington D.C.’s most dangerous neighborhoods, where the dropout rate is well into double digits and just 80 students out of more than 1,350 boast an average of B or better. At Ballou, Cedric has almost no friends. He eats lunch in a classroom most days, plowing through the extra work he has asked for, knowing that he’s really competing with kids from other, harder schools. Cedric Jennings’s driving ambition–which is fully supported by his forceful mother–is to attend a top-flight college.

In September 1995, after years of near superhuman dedication, he realizes that ambition when he begins as a freshman at Brown University. In this updated edition, A Hope in the Unseen chronicles Cedric’s odyssey during his last two years of high school, follows him through his difficult first year at Brown, and now tells the story of his subsequent successes in college and the world of work.

Customer Reviews:

Overrated. .......2007-08-26

A Hope in the Unseen was an engaging read and I absolutely fell in the love with the beginning. Cedric's life was put into a perspective that I could connect to and it was as if I could see everything through is eyes. It is a story that is uplifting and can be appreciated by people of any gender or color.

However, I did find a few things to frown upon. One part of the book that bothered me was the constant racial labeling. Understandably it is one of the main themes throughout the story and it is what makes this book so appealing to many. You get to see a struggling young black man make it out of a situation where many others would have gotten swallowed up. Yet, to me it became annoying because when I would finally reach a moment when I could connect to the characters as people the writer, and sometimes Cedric, would draw the whole focus back to who was what race and where they come from. It is great to be proud of who you are and what your background is but it doesn't have to define you.

During one of the later chapters we encounter Cedric and Zayd eating lunch. Zayd's friend, Josh, wanders over and immediately Cedric makes a remark about he should not be seen with two white guys. Whether he meant it jokingly or not it hurt Josh's feelings and created an awkward situation. Maybe it's because I just don't understand it but I think it was a little insensitive of Cedric. This was the only flaw that I had problems ignoring. It just seemed as if Cedric felt that he was entitled to be at Brown simply because he was a minority. Even if he wasn't in the minority, I sense a certain attitude that develops from attending an ivy league institution. It is almost as if by having your name on their roster that it makes you superior to everyone else.
This is definitely not the case and if people to hold on to such a mentality is disturbing.

Another problem I had with the novel was that after finishing such an uplifting story you start wondering what is next and if the system has ever changed. Sure, Cedric made it out and became successful but what about everyone else who was left behind? What about the students who were not as academically inclined or those who were not fortunate enough to have people supporting and pushing them like Cedric did? This book gives people an insight into a world that many are oblivious to. This could have been a great opportunity to open people's eyes about social injustice and to spark their interest in finding a way for more students to become like Cedric. I believe the author could have steered this book into becoming a link between the readers and social activism. Plenty of people have either had similar experiences or are now more aware of such situations and would be more than happy to support and contribute to any programs that are trying to turn this around. I believe more could have been done with A Hope in the Unseen in this regard.

All in all, this story was fairly interesting and inspiring. It was definitely helpful to read about the transitions from high school to college and to see how one person dealt with the common worries of university life. However, I do not see myself recommending this to many people and I believe that it is highly overrated. I do not believe it is "formula shattering" as one reviewer described it. In fact I think it follows the basic guidelines to any underdog story. I felt as if I could have been reading any number of stories, except with a different setting and character. A Hope in the Unseen is good for classroom reading assignments or book clubs because it has many discussion points and may lead readers to be more aware of the various issues it touches on. Other than that, I must truthfully say that I would not have read this given the chance to choose it for myself.

A Beautiful Mind.......2007-07-07

Ron Suskind's A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League is reminiscent of A Beautiful Mind: The Life of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash. In "A Beautiful Mind," our hero, John Nash, faces and fights his own demons to finally succeed and excel in the Ivy League world. In "A Hope Unseen," our hero, Cedric Jennings, fights and faces demons of societal injustice to finally succeed and excel in the Ivy League world.

Suskind's riveting narrative of Jenning's ascension from inner city life to Ivy League life paints a portrait of the contrasts between cultures like few other books ever have or ever could. More importantly, it tells the story of moving beyond suffering to a place of hope through persistence and resilience based upon Christian faith, maternal wisdom (mother wit), and the inspiring tradition of African American music.

Reviwer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction, Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.

Awesome Book!.......2007-02-06

This is an awesome book that I would have never read if it weren't required by one of my classes! Even though I paid for standard shipping, the book arrived quickly! I am very pleased with my purchase from this company.

Hope is seen.......2007-01-22

Moving story about a young man struggling through life in the inner city, who through grace, faith, determination and hardwork achieves the dream. The story follows him through high school and college. Outstanding novel for anyone to read, but especially for young black males.

Inspiring, but I'm not a fan of Suskind's style.......2007-01-04

I read A Hope in the Unseen recently and found it to be an uplifting story which had the potential to create awareness about DC's inner-city schools - but that's where it stopped.

I had been hoping for a bit more research within the story on the inner-city situation and proposals for its improvement, but I was let down in the face of a lot of needless detail which I did not care about and which had no lasting impact on me. The book is a nice story, but I finished it feeling as though I had not really learned anything new and although the book had a personally inspiring effect, its value as a tool for social activism is not there. That doesn't in any way make it a bad book, but it certainly could have been better, perhaps in the vein of Ted Conover's work - a combination of research, storytelling, and activism together.

I didn't feel that paragraphs devoted to such things as what CD Cedric happened to be holding were relevant, and was generally irritated by their inclusion. Suskind's "invisible author" perspective bothered me greatly, and could have been better handled in a different fashion. Those things said, the book was indeed a nice story - but it just could have been so much more.

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Conspiracies and Truth: Practice or Theory?
"NOTHING IS SECRET THAT WILL NOT BE REVEALED" (Luke 8:17)
Very poorly written
Unbelievable
Excellent new look on history

The Unseen Hand
A. Ralph Epperson
Manufacturer: Publius Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | World | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0961413506

Book Description

It is the contention of the author that the major events of the past, the wars, the depressions and the revolutions, have been planned years in advance by an international conspiracy. This view is called the Conspiratorial View of History, and is definitely not the view held by the majority of historians today. The more traditonal view is called The Accidental View of History, and it holds that no one really knows why events happen--they just do.

Customer Reviews:

Conspiracies and Truth: Practice or Theory?.......2007-06-01

I have had this book since about 1985, when I was 18, and I have read every chapter at one time or another. Since very few chapters are related to each other, this book is more like a collection of pamphlets than a single volume, which is fine with me.

When I was young, immature and highly impressionable, I thought the claims and message of this book were of utmost importance. I have since learned otherwise. The truth about evil acts committed by government are important, but without the right philosophy from which to view those facts, they are useless. (There is no such thing as a 'bare fact.' 'Facts' only aquire the value that their viewer imputes to them, which is determined by that viewer's presuppositions. Facts, fossils, statistics, results are just like a fiat dollar. They have no intrinsic value. Their value is subjective, not objective. Study Gordon Clark's dogmatism and you'll understand.)

In The Unseen Hand you read about the ACTS of tyranny and the violation of Austrian (read: Christian) ideals such as private property rights, personal freedom, the right to the medical treatment of your choice, laissez-faire capitalism, sound money, and the evils of legal plunder, false philanthropy, economic interventionism, and more. The problem with the conspiratorial view is that it focuses on evil intent (to murder and enslave or cause widespread suffering) as of primary importance. While this is probably true in many cases, I have come to see it as immaterial. This is a dead-end road. You can't do anything about it even if it is true, and promoting these ideas will profit you nothing. In fact, doing so will be socially counter-productive to your own goals. If you follow my advice, you'll be taking a short-cut to what you would learn by experience anyway. Let me save you the trouble.

In Austrian economics we leave such speculations behind to focus on the principles and theories which we see violated in all of the accounts found in The Unseen Hand. If governments followed Austrian theory, there would be no conspiracies. If the majority of voters were educated in Austrian theory, and let their voice be heard, governments would not enjoy the power they now have. The Unseen Hand focuses on evil ACTS (practice); Austrian economics focuses on evil IDEAS (theory). All ACTS are the practice of some theory. Without the knowledge of THEORY, your moral philosophy concerning the ACTS will be disjointed and inconsistent. So, while I encourage you to buy The Unseen Hand, please don't stop there. Move on to Austrian economics and leave conspiratorialism behind.

And by the way, Epperson does provide some excellent theory concerning freedom and collectivism in the first couple of chapters of the book. Learning about the conspiracies will develop in you a healthy skepticism of government, even if some of them are a little far-fetched. And I'm not saying they are.

Whether the accounts in The Unseen Hand happen by design or are the result of stupidity, they are still sin. All of it is a violation of some biblical (Austrian) principle. What difference does it make, especially when they are so difficult to prove, and they are only allowed to happen because of the moral ignorance of the masses anyway? Stick with theory.

"NOTHING IS SECRET THAT WILL NOT BE REVEALED" (Luke 8:17).......2007-05-31

"The man in the street does not notice the devil even when the devil is holding him by the throat." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

How many books have you ever read in which the author printed their home phone number on the first page, allowing readers to contact them directly? Well, you'll find Mr. A. Ralph Epperson's number just inside the stark black, white, and gold cover of his excellent "Introduction to the Conspiratorial View of History", THE UNSEEN HAND. I have never met Mr. Epperson, though I have spoken with him by phone on 3 or 4 occasions over the last 12 years; he is one of the nicest, most accommodating authors I've ever been in contact with, and this 1985 book is one I would strongly urge every red, white, black, brown, and yellow American who deeply cares about the Red, White, and Blue to read.

THE UNSEEN HAND is the first of Mr. Epperson's publications I perused - that was about a dozen years ago. I subsequently read several more, and while they all contained valuable information, this nearly 500 page tome with the small print and comprehensive approach to the infamous "New World Order" was easily his best.

(In the year 2000, I was practically forced by The Spirit to undertake an extensively detailed study of Freemasonry. This is far too complex a subject to address in this review, but that same year, I managed to persuade a high-ranking Mason to give me a personal tour of "The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge" of Phoenix, and I was granted a limited time to study that same afternoon in their library located in the Grand Lodge. Part of my mission was to confirm to my satisfaction that the quotations that Mr. Epperson used in his book "Masonry: Conspiracy Against Christianity" did indeed originate with genuine Masonic publications, and that he was not quoting out-of-context in order to twist and misrepresent their meaning. Not only did I find Mr. Epperson to be a very reliable researcher who was adhering to truth, but when I was unable to locate a particular book even in the Masonic library, he xeroxed the pages in question from his copy of it and mailed them to me at his own time and expense. A VERY nice gentleman! And for my part, I was happy to relate to him a few pieces of interesting information that I was able to gain knowledge of as a result of my guided Lodge tour by maintaining an "Aw shucks, gee-whiz, golly-gosh, I'm so impressed" attitude. It's amazing what you can learn by playing dumb. Of course, in my case, some folks swear it ain't an act.)

THE UNSEEN HAND is a thoroughly researched and referenced study that briefly examines nearly every aspect of the "New World Order" conspiracy, from Forms of Government to Science, from Laetrile to The Atomic Bomb, and everything in between, such as Secret Societies, The Federal Reserve, Population Control, Income Taxes, The Civil War, and about 32 other related topics. With each chapter addressing a separate facet of the conspiracy, obviously no subject herein is given a full treatment, for that you will need to search out books targeting a particular area in question, and those books ARE out there. Nevertheless, THE UNSEEN HAND is a remarkable overview, large and densely packed with solid information (including an index) that draws a lucid, meticulous, and faithful picture of the unseen forces that shape our world while we sit mesmerized in front of the glowing box of superficial and misleading images that serve only to fill our minds with the ideas "they" wish us to entertain.

Although this book does contain some, what on its face would seem to be, outrageous and insane charges, I would caution everyone not to dismiss ANYTHING out-of-hand. Dig deeper before dismissing! It has been suggested on this Product Page that Epperson's contention that Jesse James lived to the age of 107 and that Karl Marx was a satanist raises some doubt about the validity of his book. While I tend to believe that the outlaw's assassination by a Robert Ford bullet has been fairly well established now, there is reason to believe that James may have been a member of the Knights of the Golden Circle, as Epperson claims. And though Marx's connection to satanism is unproven (and thus Epperson ought not to have framed it quite so affirmatively), I've looked into that question sufficiently to state that the suspicion most definitely is not without merit. (See "Was Karl Marx A Satanist?" by Richard Wurmbrand.) As for Epperson's opinion of the John Birch Society: buy the book, dial his phone number, and ask him directly.

Overall, THE UNSEEN HAND is an illuminating Introduction to the Conspiratorial View of History by a very serious researcher. The book collects an enormous body of evidence from a massive amount of sources and organizes it in a very logical way. Along with "The Creature From Jekyll Island" by Griffin, "None Dare Call It Treason: 25 Years Later" by Stormer, and "Foundations: Their Power And Influence" by Wormser, I consider THE UNSEEN HAND a "must-read" for all American patriots. It may be a history book, but don't kid yourself, it is really all about our future!

This being the last review I intend to write for this website, I would like to close by quoting those immortal words of Admiral Yoey O'Dogherty, spoken to the brave men aboard the U.S.S. Queeg after the rout of Communist Chinese forces at the battle of Phatphuc Mao: "Men, we've kicked enough Red heinie for one day; let's get some pizza 'n' beer and study America's Constitution. We'll have strawberry blondes for dessert."

Very poorly written.......2006-10-02

While I am quite interested in the subject matter, the author's horrible presentation (including poor citations and inadequate attributions, grammatical and punctuation errors, poorly-constructed sentences that must be reread several times to understand the meaning, unnecessary explanations of the obvious [such as explaining who Rose and Joe Kennedy were and what "immutable" means] and fallacious reasoning make this book a complete and total loser. If you can find a copy of this book (which may not be easy to do since the author is self-published) in the hands of a friend or at your local library, for a good laugh you can read the chapter entitled "Science versus Reason" -- it's quite entertaining! I never laughed so hard.....

Unbelievable.......2006-08-23

Wow! What a contrast to what we learned in history classes in school. Obviously, when reading about secret societies, scandals, cover ups etc., one cannot assume that all is valid. However, this book is very stimulating. Good food for thought, e.g. "wow, what if this is true".

Epperson is very persuasive in his conspiratorial view of history. If you're a skeptic, you'll love this book. He does a great job of tying governments, wars, assasinations, to capital interests and economics. It's a great read.

Excellent new look on history.......2006-05-05

With conventional history books leaving many holes and questions as to why, this books starts here. The first 9 chapters educates you to full understand the remaining topics. This should be required reading in all history class in school to give a different perspective. This is a book I will read more then once; learning more each time.

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Invisible Worlds: Exploring the Unseen
Piers Bizony
Manufacturer: WN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0297843427

Book Description

Take an amazing and truly awe-inspiring visual voyage, courtesy of 100 incredible images made from the most sophisticated, cutting-edge technology, and see what can’t be seen with the naked eye.

It’s an eye-opening experience: from the smashing of atoms to the diffraction of X-rays skimming through a crystal of DNA, the deepest patterns of nature’s building blocks are revealed to thrilling effect thanks to revolutionary technology. These thoroughly breathtaking images delve deep into the invisible world, letting us peer into the hidden secrets of heat, sound, and all manner of exotic energies and radiations. View the human body as seen in a colored Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan; a photo of a huge solar prominence, taken by an Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope; an enhanced electron scan of tiny dust mites; and striking spots of light from the distant galaxies. Computer simulations, powered by 21st-century mathematics, hint that there are still greater truths out there. It’s as unbelievable as the best science fiction—and it’s all true.

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Everything Present
Excellcent
As Close to a Perfect 5stars as possible
refreshing paranormal romantic suspense thriller
An fabulous new direction for author Samantha Graves (aka CJ Barry)

Sight Unseen (Warner Forever)
Samantha Graves
Manufacturer: Forever
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0446618381

Customer Reviews:

Everything Present.......2007-10-12

Raven is running, but can't seem to get away from Dax, the ex-cop determined to keep up with her. When she stops running long enough for him to get closer....whooeee! 'Sight Unseen' has everything I love in a romance novel: plausibility, a slow build up to the hot romance, interesting places, full characters, page turning suspense and a good story to bring it all together. I'll be buying Samantha's next book.

Excellcent.......2007-06-25

Great quick read book. I wish there was more. It would probably make a great movie. Worth reading.

As Close to a Perfect 5stars as possible.......2007-04-13

After her award winning series as CJ Barry, Samantha Graves had established herself as an excellent Romance author. With Sight Unseen she has raised the bar and changed the rules of the romance genre. To lable this book simply a Romance title, would be a grave injustice, Sight Unseen goes much deeper than that.

The adventure begins as Samantha takes the reader to the bottom of the ocean, to retrieve a medallion that was worn by 'King Pacal Votan the Great'. Raven Callahan is a modern day treasure hunter of sorts, with a special gift that allows her to authenticate the items, with a simple touch. She and her sister, Jillian receive information from inanimate objects. The stronger the emotion of the person that owned or touched the object, the more intensely it is felt by Raven. Working for API, she recovers priceless pieces for private collectors, as well as, museums that have been lost or stolen.

Dax Maddox is rugged and attractive, with loneliness and haunting anger in his eyes. Once a respected detective in Miami, he now had only one goal - to catch a killer! The night, Nick, his rookie partner was murdered, he had been imprisoned in a world filled only with shades of gray. He left the force to pursue a cop killer, to exact revenge and get justice for Nick. Which lead him to the art auction, at 'Matador's Auction House, in Miami. Bringing him face to face with the Vassalo painting and the beautiful woman he knew was a thief.

The chemistry between these two characters, Raven and Dax, is palpable. From the moment he forces her into a closet at the auction, to the swirling intensity of their first kiss, the reader is swept up into the story, like a leaf in a tornado! The author develops each as an individual, while continuing to bring them together, moving toward a confrontation with a killer and explosive intimacy. Both of which will leave the reader breathless and wanting more!

Samantha Graves has delivered an action packed, suspense thriller, filled with three dimensional characters that are intelligent and sexy. The various plot elements are effortlessly woven into the fabric of the lead, as well as, the supporting characters. This title has everything a reader could ask for; suspense - that keeps you guessing, action - that will keep you thinking, passion - that will make you breathless, combined with enough twists and turns to construct a moutain trail. What more could a reader ask for? Well, a sequel, of course!

Don't let "Sight Unseen" remain unseen by you!

refreshing paranormal romantic suspense thriller .......2007-04-07

Raven Callahan has a unique job description of legalized thief as she recovers stolen art for the Antiquities Preservation Institute (API) to return to the lawful owner. API management including Raven's immediate supervisor "Bigs" Bigley recognize that she is the best recovery agent in their firm. What they do not know is why she is so superior to the rest. She has psychometric skills sothat when she touches something her five senses receive images, sounds and feelings.

A killing maniac has kidnapped her current partner Walter; threatening to kill him if Raven fails to steal Vassalo's self portrait from Matador's Auction House in Miami. However, also at the auction house is former cop David "Dax" Maddox who recognizes Raven. He is on a vendetta since he left the force following the murder of his police partner, which he blames himself for; he needs to destroy the killer. Reluctantly tied to a mad man's death threats, Dax and Raven must team up, but neither trusts the other as a thief and a cop, even a legal thief and a former cop, see the world from different perspectives.

This is a refreshing paranormal romantic suspense thriller in spite of combining two overly used recent themes that of the art thief with that of the psychic. Though Raven's skills are more obvious and legit in some ways she will remind the audience of Blanche in Hitchcock's Family Plot. Dax adds to the investigation as he has his own agenda and as a cop distrusts burglars even those allegedly legit. Fans of psychic romantic investigative thrillers will want to read the brisk, unique and fun SIGHT UNSEEN in one sitting.

Harriet Klausner

An fabulous new direction for author Samantha Graves (aka CJ Barry).......2007-03-30

Sight Unseen represents a new direction for author Samantha Graves who also writes futuristc romance under the name C.J. Barry.

The book is listed as a romantic suspense but it has a paranormal twist! As her first foray into comtemporary romance this book was a home-run! The plot is excellent - and believable, which can be hard to do when the heroine has a psychic power. The suspense is gripping... and the romantic connection between the hero/heroine was very well done! The perfect balance of attraction and wary interest.

Since there is no description on this listing here's the blurb from the back cover:

CLUES ONLY THIS PSYCHIC CAN SEE
Can an art theif earn an honest living? Raven Callahan does, with the help of a rare psychic power that lets her read the emotions locked inside ancient objects. But when her partner is kidnapped and Raven is forced to steal a priceless masterpiece to save heim, ESP takes a backseat to quick wits, steely nerves, and the lethal skills she needs to survive.

A KILLER ONLY HTIS COP CAN CATCH
Ex-cop Dax Maddox made just one mistake on th ejob, but it took a young rookie's life and cost Dax his ability to see color. Now stalking a killer brings Raven into his life - and floods his gray world with vivid and conflicting emotions: anger and lust, suspicion and awe. Are the criminals they seek one and the same? If so, Dax and Raven's growing need for each other could inspire a madman's terrifying scheme for the ultimate revenge...

The Unseen Queen (Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 2)

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joiner king trilogy
dark nest ii : the unseen queen
Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 2
Another terrific storyline
Good sequel

The Unseen Queen (Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 2)
Troy Denning
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 034546303X
Release Date: 2005-09-27

Book Description

The epic Star Wars odyssey enters a new frontier as the heroes of the New Jedi Order confront a monstrous evil–insidious, unseen, and insatiable. . . .

Despite being given new worlds to populate, the insectoid Killiks have not found peace. An unknown enemy has been attacking the new nests–and the Killiks hold the Jedi responsible. Traveling back to the Unknown Regions to unravel the mystery, the Skywalkers and Solos discover an evil far more familiar than they ever expected . . . and even more terrifying. Why does the Dark Nest want to kill Mara? Will Jacen’s apocalyptic vision trigger another galactic war or prevent one? And perhaps most ominous of all, what deadly secret are the Killiks hiding?

To find out, Luke, Mara, Han, and Leia must embark on a perilous journey into the uncharted void between right and wrong. The ferocious Unknown Terrors are only the beginning of the awesome challenges that lie ahead in their quest to fathom the unfathomable. For an obscure dispute is about to explode into chaos, pitting Jedi against Jedi–and threatening the very galaxy itself.

Customer Reviews:

joiner king trilogy.......2007-08-30

how can ANYONE say that the joiner king trilogy is anything other than disappointing?? obviously, most readers of these books have never read most or all of the previous novels, like i have. i've read them all. these books were gross, and the bugs were gross, and the authors have made jaina out to be an idiot. i gave this final book one star because i had to put in something. the whole set of three are not really any good.

dark nest ii : the unseen queen.......2006-08-11

set a year after 'the joiner king', leia is in the midst of her jedi training, luke is faced with a fragmenting order and han is forced to worry more about his children, who are still part of the nests. secrets are uncovered and more mysteries thrown down to the reader as the situation prepares to erupt on a galactic scale.
the jedi order seems on the verge of splintering in this volume, and the reasons are all unfortunately highlighted through the story. the younger knights, amongst them jaina and jacen, all act incredibly arrogantly (jacen especially), as do some of the masters. saba sebatyne's constant belittling of leia's non-jedi abilities seems nothing more than being deliberately obstructionist. yet jae and tarfang still provide much-needed relief, and the ending, set among an exciting space battle, certainly sets the scene for the trilogy's final installment.

Star Wars: Dark Nest, Book 2.......2006-02-25

It is a Star Wars novel. If you are just starting reading the novels, I would not start here, otherwise, read on. If you are srarting, I would go with Heir to the Empire by Timothy Zahn and go form there. You will here the score in the background, it is that good.

Another terrific storyline.......2006-02-17

I love this continuation of the adventures of Luke, Leia, Han, and their offspring. I like they are starting to link these characters to Anakin, Padme, and Obi Wan in Episodes I-III. I look forward to reading about these characters as they reach old age.

Good sequel.......2006-02-10

If you liked The Joiner King, you'll like The Unseen Queen. Similar in quality to The Joiner King (see my review), it continues to have some of the same benefits (ie. good sense of mystery/intrigue) and some of the same problems (ie. less than satisfying treatment of the "foundation" characters).

On plot points, the development of Leia as a Jedi is an "about-time" for many Star Wars fans. And the interaction between Jacen Solo and Queen Mother Tenel Ka is compelling.

This trilogy is a must read for Star Wars fans, who are getting the first opportunities to see Luke & Leia reactions (and their friends and family) to new information on the fate of their parents, which we discovered in the recent Episode 3 movie, and is only now being revealed to the OT characters by R2-D2.

Practical Psychic Self-Defense: Understanding and Surviving Unseen Influences

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EXCELLENT BOOK TO HAVE HANDY
Best!!!!
Great book that can help certain people
Good book for those that understand..............
Excellent resource

Practical Psychic Self-Defense: Understanding and Surviving Unseen Influences
Robert Bruce
Manufacturer: Hampton Roads Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1571742212

Book Description

Is everything that goes on in your mind really you? Really your thoughts and desires? Perhaps not, says Australian psychic researcher Robert Bruce, author of the highly popular and groundbreaking Astral Dynamics. Based on more than two decades of firsthand research and experience, Bruce reports that our minds are subject to influences from many unseen spiritual sources. Some of these influences and can influence how we think, feel, act, even how our bodies function. They can make us unhappy, irritable, confused, sick, unstable, even crazy. They can interfere with us, disturb our lives, even attack us psychically. This is why we need practical tools and countermeasures for psychic self-defense, all of which Bruce provides. Think of this book as a supernatural expose for the beginner, a survival guide for those living the nightmare of being influenced by unfriendly spirit beings and forces of darkness, says Bruce. "I have lived through everything I describe and have spent decades searching for ways to survive and create spiritual peace and quiet for myself."

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENT BOOK TO HAVE HANDY.......2007-10-18

A friend of mine recommened this book and I'm glad I bought it.. It has opened my eyes spiritually...
It is a good book to have handy in case of psychic attack or just to help someone in need..... You will not be disappointed with this book!

Best!!!!.......2007-10-06

Robert really done great job explaining the problem of the unseen,and more information of kind of entities that lot of psychics never knew about. Even though there is other good methods that he may not know about,he did give best wisdom that a lot of mediums lack.

This should be your #1 book to buy!

Great book that can help certain people.......2007-09-08

This book is great to explain to anywone how to protect themself from unseen negative influence. I think that this a must for anyone serious about his self-developement. Even if you are not experiencing major sign of psychic attack, you can be dealing with a small/weak neg, or you can just use some of the technique presented on a preventive approach. Some techniques are good for general cleansing of negative energy on our body and environment.

Any serious health professional should be aware of this reality. This is sometimes hard to differentiate mental/emotional internal problem and mental/emotional external induced problem. If some symptoms are present, the best is to test some cleansing/depossessing techniques and see if there is result. If yes, deepen this approach, if no, pass to other thing.

Good book for those that understand.....................2007-03-16

Lots of good information. Some of the processes work well. Others do not...for me. Not a casual read. If you have had experiences with being attacked by negative energy, spirits etc.....this is a interesting read. Best advice the Author gives is to seek professional help if at all in doubt.

Excellent resource.......2007-01-30

It is only because of our Western societies lack of willingness to accept the realities underlying the materialistic manifestation we create, that most people are blind to the true causes behind many problems.

My third eye opened unaware to me as a side effect of a spiritual awakening. Suddenly I was made aware of discarnate entities within my environment. I gradually realised, through direct observation over the following few months, that they were feeding off energies within me. It took months of researching and many anguished moments before I began discovering pertinent information relating to my manifestations. During this time I was spending between 10 -18 hours per day in direct contact with these 'invisible creatures' and as a result learnt more as time progressed.

I am currently at the point where I have read practically everything relating to Entity Manifestations and Psychic Self Defence, additionally researching these subjects from different religious perspectives. Personally I have discovered much to add to the current expanse of knowledge already gleaned. But I must say that Robert Bruce's book would have to the most concise, useful and pertinent information on the subject available. And not just from my own encounters but also in relation to my ex girlfriends possession.

Robert's common sense approaches can be adapted to individual circumstances and methods and symbology's modified or amended to fit more appropriately with religious beliefs or domestic situations.

Highly recommended for many different levels of entity incursions: anything from light negative influences through to full blown "virtual puppetry" possession.

Elvis, Linda and Me: Unseen Pictures and Untold Stories from Graceland

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Elvis, Linda and Me
Elvis, Linda and Me
Elvis Linda and Me
Elvis, Linda and Me: Unseen Pictures and untold stories from Graceland
OVER PRICED

Elvis, Linda and Me: Unseen Pictures and Untold Stories from Graceland
Jeanne LeMay Dumas
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1425960006

Book Description

"Elvis fans the world over constantly dream about what their fantasy would have been if they had been lucky enough to have known him. Imagine having been Linda Thompson's best girlfriend and being with her the night she met Elvis. Then imagine becoming Elvis' friend, being kissed by him, working for him, and the ultimate dream: having sleepovers at Graceland with Linda (actually sleeping in his bed) while Elvis was away, traveling with Elvis and Linda on concert dates, and taking pictures of the upstairs area at Graceland. This book tells the story of how it all began and gives you a look at the incredible (some never-before-seen) pictures."

Customer Reviews:

Elvis, Linda and Me.......2007-06-05

The contents of the book itself are very good. Book flows easily and I actually read the book in one day. It is overpriced but I bought mine, new, from an online auction site for 1/3 the price. The photos are nice but thought they could have been printed on better quality paper or in color if the originals were as such. This book is good for the Elvis fan who just wants to hear about only the positive things Elvis did in his life as she only just touches on the negative. Just wondering if Linda will write a book (everyone else has), though I would be very interested to read her accounts since she was alone with Elvis the most during that period.

Elvis, Linda and Me.......2007-05-15

One of the few Elvis books that is easy reading as well as entertaining for those of us who are often too busy to get into a complicated book, yet we want to read up on Elvis. It is also refreshingly positive (most of it)yet truthful. The author doesn't criticize & condem, just expresses an opinion & moves on. She does repeat herself throughout & some of the people mentioned in the book are not portrayed as being too bright; otherwise, it is a pretty good book.

Elvis Linda and Me.......2007-04-10

This book is good but not as good as Inside Graceland.
Jeanne tells us all about life with her best friend Linda and Elvis.
She tells a story of when Elvis was talking about his mother and yelled out momma and all the lights in graceland went out for a few seconds.
Then they came back on as he went on talking about his mother and yelled out momma again the lights went off again for a few more seconds I thought that was really strange but interesting. I thought Linda had left Elvis because of all the drugs Jeanne tells us that was part of it but also that Elvis was cheating on her with many women and also getting pretty serious with Ginger his last girlfriend. If you are an Elvis fan and have a collection of Elvis books then you should add this one to your set it is pretty good.

Elvis, Linda and Me: Unseen Pictures and untold stories from Graceland.......2007-04-10

This is a great book. There were times I would find myself laughing and times I would almost be in tears. It showed a side of Elvis no one got to see except those who were close to him. It has some great pictures of Elvis and Lisa Marie and some of his famous bedroom. Jeanne Lemay Dumas told about her life, the ups and downs, with the King of Rock and Roll. This is a must for any Elvis fan.

OVER PRICED.......2007-04-07

The book is great --- the price is about double what it should be.

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Two lives and another
A LIGHT tear-jerker
Don't read the back of the book
Just a wonderful, wonderful story
Thoughtful and Beautifully Written

Evidence of Things Unseen: A Novel
Marianne Wiggins
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743258096

Book Description

This poetic novel, by the acclaimed author of John Dollar, describes America at the brink of the Atomic Age. In the years between the two world wars, the future held more promise than peril, but there was evidence of things unseen that would transfigure our unquestioned trust in a safe future.

Fos has returned to Tennessee from the trenches of France. Intrigued with electricity, bioluminescence, and especially x-rays, he believes in science and the future of technology. On a trip to the Outer Banks to study the Perseid meteor shower, he falls in love with Opal, whose father is a glassblower who can spin color out of light.

Fos brings his new wife back to Knoxville where he runs a photography studio with his former Army buddy Flash. A witty rogue and a staunch disbeliever in Prohibition, Flash brings tragedy to the couple when his appetite for pleasure runs up against both the law and the Ku Klux Klan. Fos and Opal are forced to move to Opal's mother's farm on the Clinch River, and soon they have a son, Lightfoot. But when the New Deal claims their farm for the TVA, Fos seeks work at the Oak Ridge Laboratory -- Site X in the government's race to build the bomb.

And it is there, when Opal falls ill with radiation poisoning, that Fos's great faith in science deserts him. Their lives have traveled with touching inevitability from their innocence and fascination with "things that glow" to the new world of manmade suns.

Hypnotic and powerful, Evidence of Things Unseen constructs a heartbreaking arc through twentieth-century American life and belief.

Customer Reviews:

Two lives and another.......2007-09-12

The lives of the parents were so intreguing. But I wondered about the child. I know it doesn't make a difference, but I was left curious.

Mary

A LIGHT tear-jerker.......2007-05-13

I don't know what my fellow reviewers here have been reading, but the language here is NOT poetic. It is clunky and puts an extraordinary strain on the reader. The exception to this is where the character "Flash" holds forth - But, sadly, these passages are few and far between - But this brings me to another problem with the book: All these silly, yes SILLY, tropes on light in the characters' names: "Flash", "Fos", "Ray " "Lightfoot" lend an air of the ridiculous to the book. The most ridiculous part is the recurrent reference to Moby Dick the, ahem, "white" whale. Whatever this book is, subtle it is not. Nevertheless, the novel does tug at the heartstrings, as the reviewers here are ever so keen to comment on. But it tugs at the heartstrings in the way a Disney movie, say, does. You know the movie is silly and sentimental and the characters not terribly realistic, nevertheless you find tears trickling down your cheeks. This is best way I know to describe the book to the potential reader. [...]

The novel is, in short, a tear-jerker, which may be your cup of tea. I'm sure Oprah would love it! But it's not good writing. It's not poetic. It's not literature. It just isn't!

Don't read the back of the book.......2007-03-11

This is a great story with rich language. My book group chose this book, and everyone enjoyed it. I rarely choose pages to mark, but marked two for the language. Others in our group earmarked many pages. Heed the warning about the back of the book. It gives away too much of the story. Pleasant reading.

Just a wonderful, wonderful story.......2007-01-18

I got this book as a gift. Nothing I would probably have chosen for myself, but once I started it I couldn't put it down. You get so involved with the characters in the story you can't wait to turn the page. Marianne Wiggins does a wonderful job of putting you right there wherever the characters may go. You are truly immersed in their lives. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a well written story. Was sorry to see it end.

Thoughtful and Beautifully Written.......2007-01-15

I was attracted to this book for the style of the prose moreso than the plot. The writing provides textured detail and unanticipated turns of phrases that marvel and provoke. The story itself is interesting. The writing is marvelous. Not a quick read, but certainly not a dull one.

Average customer rating:

A Deeper Understanding of Iran
Disappointed
good, not great
Very Satisfying
An outsider's deep exploration of Iran

Mirrors of the Unseen: Journeys in Iran
Jason Elliot
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 031230191X
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

In our current climate of war and suspicion, Iran is depicted as the 'next' rogue nation that America and the world must 'deal with.' But the rhetoric about nuclear weapons and jihad obscures the real Iran: an ancient nation and culture, both sophisticated and isolated, which still exists clandestinely in major cities as well as the country's remote mountains and deserts. Jason Elliot has spent the last four years traveling in Iran, and in this remarkable book he reveals the many sides of the culture, art, architecture, and people that Westerners cannot see or conveniently ignore. Part close reading of symbols and images, part history, and part intimate interviews with Iranians of many different kinds-from wealthy aristocrats at forbidden parties to tribal horsemen in the most remote mountain villages, who have never seen a Westerner-Mirrors of the Unseen is a beautiful and thought-provoking book by one of the world's most acclaimed adventurers and authors.

Customer Reviews:

A Deeper Understanding of Iran.......2007-09-15

When I picked up Mirrors of the Unseen, I was very excited since I had so enjoyed Jason Elliot's An Unexpected Light. At first, I was disappointed. In An Unexpected Light, Elliot concentrates on the people he met and the social structures he encountered. This was essential for understanding Afghanistan. Mirrors of Light is Elliot's impression of Iran. He sees the key to understanding Iran in the history of its people, as shown through the people themselves, the geography, and the art and architecture. Each of these provides important keys to understanding the Iranian psyche. In Elliot's view, these are much more important than the current fundamentalist regime. Once I grasped this emphasis, the book was much more interesting as well as enlightening.

Elliot sees the ancient Persian history, dating back three millennia, as the key to modern Iran. The deep understanding of faith, the past glories of Persia, and the representations of these glories in art and architecture are all interrelated. In Elliot's view, the current hot button of fundamentalist faith has only minimal effect on the values and lives of average people, much as many Americans and v ery spiritual, faithful people even if they don't buy into the fundamentalism that is espoused by many in the government.

Unfortunately the fundamentalism on both sides of the American - Iranian divide is what is reported in the press. Elliot gives us a view of Iran that can hopefully lead to peace rather than war.

By the way, IMHO I highly recommend that you IGNORE Elliot's Caveat Lector on page 319 and continue reading. If you skip these pages, you may miss the key to the entire book.

Disappointed.......2007-03-11

It's true, you can't judge a book by its cover. I was so looking forward to reading this book, but was disappointed that it is only a dry description of the author's travels. If you are looking for a book that is more of a "novel" about Iran, this isn't it!

good, not great.......2006-11-01

I loved Jason Elliots first book about Afghanistan, and expected to be engaged with this one. For the most part, I was - the rich culture, history and art of Iran, as well as the local customs and modern problems were brought out by his anecdotes. And tho I struggled with some of his musings about Persian architecture, its a topic I have an interest in. However, his verboise descriptions of poetry and poets, and of name after name of historic references, lost me several times, and so I skimmed a bit. Still - he is a wonderful writer, and I'd read more by him. Just wish I had more background to understand some of his narrative.

Very Satisfying.......2006-10-30

Elliot does his research well and writes with an understanding of the local culture. It helps too that he can read persian. I was expecting to find accounts of encounters with oridinary iranians and conversations with them revealing their attitudes and opinions. Instead, I found a travelogue filled with descriptions of art in Iran. It was just as nice to read of the history of art in Persia. He appears to be a genuine and hardworking student of persian art and works hard to decipher the intentions of the persian artists and convey their subtlties and magnificence to us.There are descriptions of encounters with locals. Amusing anecdotes of encounters with taxi drivers who are trying to rip him off his dollars or pounds.

All in all a very informative and interesting book.

An outsider's deep exploration of Iran.......2006-10-29

Mirrors of the Unseen offers an informed Englishman's perspective of Iran, pictured in the passages of experience of the author's seemingly random travels over three years, augmented by larger readings of history -- tempered by an apparent knowledge of the importance of mysticism in the Iranian worldview. Most media reviews of the book have been highly laudatory. One by an Iranian of dubious extraction, Amir Taheri, indicated some vitriolic distaste for the book's origin and message, raising my interest further. The latter review dwelt mainly on the missed opportunities of Elliot's visits, which merely confirms Elliot's own view that the culture of Iran is immense when viewed historically, and could not possibly be adequately seen in three years. Likewise, a cursory reading of Elliot's book would inevitably miss many of its deeper points, as did Taheri's. Elliot makes every effort to emphasize the importance of historical art as the purveyor of messages sent over the course of thousands of years -- messages not out of date, but bearing lasting practical value. As such, his book has worth both as a tale of travel by a modern Westerner looking, full of humor and humility, to understand another country, and as an entryway for journeys into philosophy and the meaning of art and science taken at a higher level.

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Spiritual Warfare - its not just for apostles...
Just Okay
assigning blame to the supernatural
THIS BOOK IS HOT!!!!
Seein the Unseen: Preparing Yourself for Spiritual Warfare by Joe Beam

Seeing the Unseen
Joe Beam
Manufacturer: Howard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1582292736

Book Description

There's a WAR Going on...and Your FAITH Is at Stake.

Imagine for a minute that you are in a war.

You're on the frontlines.

You see the explosions

And you smell the smoke.

Wounded loved ones are falling around you, and you want to fight back; but the unseen enemy seems to be everywhere, and he seems to have the advantage. If only you could know the plans and strategies of this unseen enemy, then you could know where he will strike next and how to fight him.

This war, of course, is not between two countries and is not waged with earthly weapons, but it is very real, and you are living in it right now. This war is spiritual, and the enemy you fight is not of this world but of the unseen spiritual world.

In this newly revised and updated bestseller, Joe Beam reveal Satan's powerful weaponry -- his lies, deceptions, and manipulations -- and unmasks his strategy to destroy your life and those you care for. This is not a book of wild sensationalism; rather, it is a dedicated study of God's Word and a sharing of stories of tragedy and triumph.

Open this book,

uncover your enemy,

and prepare for victory.

Customer Reviews:

Spiritual Warfare - its not just for apostles..........2007-05-26

Excellent book, well written and uderstandable without having to be theologist. This book is well balanced in its presentation of fact, with many illustrative examples of experience and practial application. This is a topic that most people avoid, because it is can be difficult to mentally grasp what we cannot see, and because society shuns or thinks those who beleive in such things irrational or fanatical. This book is neither, and makes the Christian aware of the spiritual battles going on within and around us. It is a "must read" for those leading spritual groups within thier churches, and anyone who desires to open their eyes. Don't skip a single chapter!

Just Okay.......2006-10-29

I would rate this book as okay. It doesn't delve deep enough into the subject matter and he tells too many personal stories.

Also, he says that evil spirits aren't fallen angels but the souls of the damned or the unsaved dead. I skipped most of that chapter.

Overall I wouldn't recommend this book. A few parts are good but most of it is boring.

assigning blame to the supernatural.......2006-08-09

The author basically believes that Satan rules the world with the help of evil angels and demons. He bases this a bit on scripture, but just as much on the fact that it's the best answer he can think of for why, if there is a good God, bad things happen to good people, or good people do bad things. He's fixated on the question of blame (can't blame God because God is good, can't blame the good Christian because that would be unChristian, ergo we should blame Satan). If you're inclined to blame tragedy and sin on Satan and his minions, this is the book for you. Otherwise, you probably won't make it through the first 50 pages.

That said, the author is a good writer and has a lot of powerful anecdotes to illustrate his point. And his advice is, essentially, to be aware of your own circumstances, desires, and surroundings, and think about the consequences of your choices in light of your faith, which is good (if obvious) advice for anyone.

THIS BOOK IS HOT!!!!.......2006-03-18

I came across this book while finding myself wandering into a Christian bookstore. The information/informativeness of this book is out-of-sight! You won't learn these things by just going to church or reading your Bible (the Bible is truly complex!). This book will give you a better understanding of the scriptures in its relation to angels, demons, and the devil himself. Alot of things I hadn't a clue about until reading this book. I haven't finished it yet, as I have just started, but once you begin, you won't be able to put it down...

This book answers alot of spiritual questions and problems I've had, especially concerning angels (good and evil) and explaining what demons really are.

Seein the Unseen: Preparing Yourself for Spiritual Warfare by Joe Beam.......2006-02-08

If you want an in-depth, completely biblical look at the spiritual warfare that is waging around us everyday, you absolutely MUST read this book. I own several books on this subject and this one is far and above, hands down the best. Joe Beam shows you, through the scriptures, the origin of Satan and the demons. He shows you how Christ has defeated them and how we can have strength and encouragement through HIM. Mr. Beam also shows how God uses HIS angels to minister to and help us. Definitely buy this one!

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