His Brother's Keeper: A Story from the Edge of Medicine

Book Description

From Jonathan Weiner, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Beak of the Finch, comes His Brother's Keeper -- the story of a young entrepreneur who gambles on the risky science of gene therapy to try to save his brother's life.

Stephen Heywood was twenty-nine years old when he learned that he was dying of ALS -- Lou Gehrig's disease. Almost overnight his older brother, Jamie, turned himself into a genetic engineer in a quixotic race to cure the incurable. His Brother's Keeper is a powerful account of their story, as they travel together to the edge of medicine.

The book brings home for all of us the hopes and fears of the new biology. In this dramatic and suspenseful narrative, Jonathan Weiner gives us a remarkable portrait of science and medicine today. We learn about gene therapy, stem cells, brain vaccines, and other novel treatments for such nerve-death diseases as ALS, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's -- diseases that afflict millions, and touch the lives of many more.

It turns out that the author has a personal stake in the story as well. When he met the Heywood brothers, his own mother was dying of a rare nerve-death disease. The Heywoods' gene therapist offered to try to save her, too.

"The Heywoods' story taught me many things about the nature of healing in the new millennium," Weiner writes. "They also taught me about what has not changed since the time of the ancients and may never change as long as there are human beings -- about what Lucretius calls `the ever-living wound of love.'

"The Heywoods mean the whole story to me now: an allegory from the edge of medicine. A story to make us ask ourselves questions that we have to ask but do not want to ask. How much of life can we engineer? How much is permitted us?

"What would you do to save your brother's life?"

Customer Reviews:

found it boring.......2007-03-29

I read this book solely based on the author's fantastic first book "time love and memory", but found this book to be utterly boring. Instead of an entertaining read filled with scientific facts, we get the tragic and predictable story. Given the slow pace of medical research on most complex disease, the odds of even a billionare being able to save a brother in a short time frame are near zero, let alone a family of more modest resources. The writing style seemed overly simplistic, and i kept thinking that there were many facets of the story that to me, would be much more interesting, but didn't get told for whatever reason. With great respect for the author, i found this particular book unappealing.

"What would you do to save your brother's life?".......2006-08-17

A couple of years ago I had a cancer scare. There was a growth in my kidney that the doctors said was either a dense cyst or a tumor. So I had to have a CAT scan every six months for a year in order to monitor the growth. If it stayed the same, I was OK. But if it expanded, cancer was the most likely diagnosis. Fortunately, it turned out to be a cyst. But I came away from that experience with the knowledge that things can go terribly wrong in my body even if I do everything right. How do you deal with such a worst-case scenario, and how far do you go for a cure?

So it was with Stephen, a healthy and active 29-year-old from a successful family of overachievers. One day, Stephen was unable to turn the key in the door of the house he had just finished remodeling. He dismissed it as fatigue, but his hand continued to weaken and other symptoms arose. Finally, he could no longer ignore signs that something was wrong. He was examined and given a terrible diagnosis: ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). His younger brother Jaime, an engineer with an entrepreneurial streak, immediately switched careers to genetic engineering and began a race against time to save Stephen. Jamie founded an ALS foundation and enlisted the aid of various medical and research experts to help him find a cure using gene therapy. As Stephen's health declined, the pressure to find a cure intensified, until the stress began to take its toll on everyone involved.

I was afraid that "His Brother's Keeper" would be a turgid read, but I was mistaken. Jonathan Weiner writes in a clear fashion, and has the ability to make complex subjects easy to comprehend. The author uses Stephen's saga as a gateway to the world of cutting-edge medicine, including cloning, gene therapy, and the use of stem cells. He also reveals the arcane world of drug development and testing in the United States. Not surprisingly, medical ethics also come into play, such as the right and wrong of profiting via seeking cures, and experimental drug trials on dying humans who have no other options. But most compelling was the personal story of a family rallying to the side of a terminally ill member. Mr. Weiner was not exempt from tragedy either, for he parallels Stephen's fight with his mother's decline from a rare neurological disorder. His account of the moment when he discovered she was "not Ponnie and...not my mother (p 220)" is perhaps one of the most disturbing passages I've ever read in a non-fiction book.

Despite its excellence, I would've liked two changes in "His Brother's Keeper." First, it seemed that Stephen was a cipher in his own story. He pops in and out of the proceedings at various stages of disability, and appears lost in the tornado of Jaime's quest, the author's personal struggles, and the medical discourses. Perhaps that was intentional, but knowing Stephen better would have made him a more compelling figure. Second, the book does not end with Stephen's inevitable death and its repercussions. I wanted the closure of finding out how Stephen and his family dealt with his passing and the aftermath. But even with these issues, "His Brother's Keeper" is a fascinating tale of one family's forced entry into a part of medicine that is almost science fiction in nature. Recommended.

Science vs. Profitability vs. Humanity.......2006-03-12

The book itself is compelling as it glides you through the journey Jaime Heywood (the protagonist) takes in order to engineer a cure for his brother who has been diagnosed with ALS.

Weiner does a great job in showing the reader the reality and complexities behind scientific discovery and engineering. He also manages to showcase the giants in the world of neuroscience and neurology - the battle and fuse between academia and industry - the red line between ethics and empathy.

Although the summary on the back cover claims the book is written in 'translucent prose' - this is only partially true. It is evident that Weiner exerts considerable effort to keep the techno-jargons as simple as possible, however it is hard to appreciate the scientific gibberish without any prior knowledge (or interest) in the neurosciences.

Weiner writes in an incredibly personal manner and at times his bias and favourtism seems a little overwhelming. Nonetheless, Weiner is honest in the sense that he as a bystander (despite cheering the Heywoods on with all his might), is capable of comprehending the truth of the matter at hand - an incredibly interesting perspective.

The book reads almost like a non-fiction. The Heywoods seem almost too good to be true (any other ordinary family would have fallen to tatters). Then again not many families have handsome business-minded chap with lucrative connections in the MIT and a Pulitzer Prize-winning author documenting their story...

A good read.

Heartbreaking and uplifting:.......2005-08-14

I read a review of this book and instantly wanted to read it. It is a heartbreaking story of an amazing family and the sacrifices one brother makes for another. It is well researched and although science is one of the major stars here, the author makes it understandable to the lay person. It made me laugh and cry along with the family - the kind of book you save to read again. I will follow Steven's progress with care and keep this family in my heart for long after the book is finished.

As a stone felled Goliath, a twitch tries another........2005-04-26

A few years ago Stephen Heywood was a great looking guy with a seemingly unending future. Raised among academia and European holidays, he chose a different path, becoming a carpenter.

While other guys might make sure that the car was vacuumed out before a date, Stephen was concerned with having to start the car with his left hand, his right seemingly unable to turn the key. But, the object of his affection takes his hand anyway, beginning the journey together, towards...?

The reader learns that Heywood's affliction is ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Choices are to be made: To continue living life as he knows it, with needed changes along the way. The romance turns to marriage and later, he's blessed with becoming a dad. His brother leaves a career to pioneer in ALS research and fundraising.

This story is one worth knowing and certainly one a reader will remember. While disease may tether someone to the ground like Gulliver, as long as the brain can think, think, think! the giant survives. -Laurel825

I Am My Brother's Keeper, Journal of a Gunny in Iraq

Average customer rating:

Not very good
SIMPLY THE TRUTH, UNEDITED
Simple but Clean and Crisp
Amazing
Awesome

I Am My Brother's Keeper, Journal of a Gunny in Iraq
Jason Doran , and J. K. Doran
Manufacturer: Caisson Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Iraq | Middle East | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1928724051
Release Date: 2005-01-02

Book Description

This is one of the first books published that was written by a Camp Lejeune Marine who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In this first hand graphic account, GySgt Jason K. Doran, a Silver Star recipient, shares his experiences of his tour of duty during the Iraqi War. The book covers the journey of 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment, a part of Task Force Tarawa, from the ship ride over through the Suez Canal, to the bloody battle for the bridges at An Nasiriyah and then home again. This book allows the reader to share in the day-to-day experiences and personal account of a Marine's tour of duty. This is the real thing. Gunny Sergeant Doran was there.

Customer Reviews:

Not very good.......2006-02-12

The author is a real hero, but this is a mediocre book. Not reccomended.

SIMPLY THE TRUTH, UNEDITED.......2005-12-31

I wasn't even into the first chapter before I had tears in my eyes. This Gunny has it all right. He sees the military exactly as it is, and explains it perfectly. He has seen so much in his short 41 years, and it has effected him greatly in his personal life - yet he continued to ask for the tough assignments. ALL MILITARY MEMBERS WILL LAUGH at his picture perfect descriptions of military life. ALL CIVILIANS NEED TO READ this book to truly understand the War in Iraq.
Jason tells the sometimes gory truth, but it is a truth that more people should know. He paints a blow-by-blow, gunshot-by-gunshot picture of the war without losing the reader. It is captivating from the Foreward through to the last page. He is a Marine's Marine. One rough, tough, Texan who is still a caring, loving man and father. Buy the book.

Simple but Clean and Crisp.......2005-09-20

Writing was not the best but I enjoyed this story by a fellow Marine and praise him fr sitting down and knocking out this story of combat, something I hope to do in the future. Nice job mixing intr-unit relations with external threats.

Amazing.......2005-09-15

Why more out there don't know of this book is beyond me. Far surpasses even "Generation Kill" and, dare I say, "The March Up" simply on the fact that is a Gunny who knows where his heart, his head, and his loyalty is, without question. Inspiring and motivating, this is a book that I've given to my fellow Marines and that I continue to recommend at all times. Lets you know what it was, and is, really like...something even different than those of us who went over in 1991 saw. Get this, and realize that what you are seeing on your CNN and even your FOX, and reading about in your newspapers and magazines, is largely a ruse. I just can't recommend this enough and truly can't put into words the measure of this book (or for that matter, this Gunny). Semper Fi brothers.

Awesome.......2005-09-09

This was an awesome book! Very difficult to put down. Author writes as he speaks - unedited for profanity. When reading a book on the lastest war written by an Active Duty member you shouldn't expect sensorship and there is none in this book. If your delicate eyes can't handle profanity from someone getting shot at, don't read it!

Average customer rating:

Decent Memoir
Fantastic Memoir
keeping it real
brothers and keepers: A memoir or therapy session
Brothers and Keepers

Brothers and Keepers: A Memoir
John Edgar Wideman
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618509631

Amazon.com

With novels like Damballah and Hiding Place, John Edgar Wideman began his career in an explicitly modernist vein--indeed, his chronicles of life in the Pittsburgh ghetto of Homewood had more than a trace of a Joycean accent. The autobiographical Brothers and Keepers, however, allowed the writer to find his own voice. Perhaps this dual portrait of the author and his brother Robby--serving, then and now, a life sentence for a murder committed during a bungled robbery--finally forced Wideman to fuse the modernist trappings of his earlier work with the storytelling traditions of African American culture. "My memories needed his," the author recalls. "Maybe the fact that we recall different things is crucial. Maybe they are foreground and background, propping each other up." In any case, the Rashomon-like result is a raw meditation on fate and family, as well as an indictment of our entire notion of crime and (especially) punishment.

Book Description

A haunting portrait of lives arriving at different destinies, Brothers and Keepers is John Edgar Wideman's seminal memoir about two brothers one an award-winning novelist, the other a fugitive wanted for robbery and murder. Wideman recalls the capture of his younger brother Robby, details the subsequent trials that resulted in a sentence of life in prison, and provides vivid views of the American prison system. A gripping, unsettling account, Brothers and Keepers weighs the bonds of blood, tenderness, and guilt that connect Wideman to his brother and measures the distance that lies between them.

Customer Reviews:

Decent Memoir.......2007-01-20

John Edgar Wideman has composed an interesting take of two lives gone wrong in his memoir, "Brothers and Keepers". In the memoir, Wideman explores the causes and consequences of his brother's life sentence in jail for murder. Wideman speaks his mind about the whole affair, but also lets his brother do his fair share of the talking through a series of interviews the two shared in the prison visiting room. Though the basic goal of the memoir is to determine how two brothers followed such radically different paths, it delves into the broader topic of African-American men and society.

Even though it overall is a great experience, two problems I had with the novel was its lack of structure and Wideman's tendency to rant. It seems that Wideman tends to build up a subplot, but then just as suddenly dashes away to discuss something new. This makes the book difficult to read more than a few pages at a time. As for the ranting, it's like Wideman tries to use the text as a way to vent his frustrations about racism in America. His whining can get excruciatingly annoying. But, despite these problems, "Brothers and Keepers" is an excellent look into the lives of two African-American men, while reflecting on the role of the African-American race as a whole.

Fantastic Memoir.......2006-10-27

Brothers and Keepers is a fantastic memoir written by John Edgar Wideman that explores how the narrator and his brother, Robby, end up living extremely opposite lives. Growing up in Pittsburgh, Wideman and his brother are not given all of the best opportunities but Wideman does what he can to work hard. His efforts result in a well educated, middle class man, while his brother ends up a convict. The memoir explores where the two divulged and what influences they've had throughout their lives.
In terms of actual material, the memoir is ordered in a way that keeps the reader riveted throughout all of the text. Wideman tells the story of his brother's crime, divulging from that plot to reflect upon their family's life as a whole. These unique reflections provide valuable insight into both John and Robby's most inner thoughts. The pace of the novel is fairly rapid; although, sometimes I found myself losing interest in Wideman's reflections, anxious to hear the next part of Robby's tale.
What makes this memoir most unique is the frequency with which Wideman acknowledges what few or many details he is capable of recalling from his past. Not only does this make the story even more believable, it allows the reader to make many of their own decisions about what really happened in John and Robby's lives. The reader also gets to hear the voice of Robby, who also often fails to remember specific or important details. Wideman writes, speaking for his brother (the text uses no quotations), "Must have passed out or gone to sleep or something, cause it gets blurry round in here. Don't remember much but they gave back my clothes and took me Downtown and there was a arraignment next morning" (103). On one of the most important and emotional days in Robby's life, he can't seem to remember how the day ended. It is these sporadic inclusions and omissions keep the reader inquisitive throughout the text.
Overall Brothers and Keepers is a very well written memoir that forces readers to dig deep into their own mind because most humans struggle with very similar life dilemmas, although probably not to the same extent. Although some may argue that that some memories ramble on too long, each provides a unique perspective about Wideman and the human race as a whole.

keeping it real.......2006-05-17

In a sentence: This is an excellent book about honesty and fact and fiction. It blurs the lines between truth and lies, real and fake, memory and what happened v.s. what really happened. Beautiful. Wideman puts himself and his family front and center and at the core of the story. One is not quite sure which is fiction and which is non-fiction. Also, when persons speak there are no quotation marks and the reader distinguishes who is talking by the choice of vocabulary and flow of the language. You can really hear the difference in your head.
The basic discription is: It's Wideman trying to make sense of his growing up and how his broother ended up in jail for murder.
This is a great book for lovers of Paul Auster in that "what is the truth of the matter?" is a recurring question......

brothers and keepers: A memoir or therapy session.......2004-07-19

wideman tells an excellent tale about how two siblings of the same environment can go on to lead totally different lives. One brother is a world reknowned novelist and professor. The other brother is a convict serving a life sentence for murder. Wideman explains and analyzes how culture, including racism, classism,and self-identication, influences a person's lifestyle. At times the memoir seems reminscent and nostalgic. Other times, wideman tends to get lost in his own thoughts while writng, which makes the work appear as therapeutic writing not intended for others to read. The issues he raises in the book such as racism, self-identification, and guilt, helps us as readers to recall our own issues with these subjects and how we can work through them.

Brothers and Keepers.......2004-07-19

In Brothers and Keepers, John Edgar Wideman uses a range of narrative techniques to unravel the complicated relationship between he and his brother Robert Wideman. These different narrative techniques, such as letter writing, greatly assisted to the overall movement of the novel. Through letter writing, John effectively gives Robert a voice in the novel. The authentic voice of Robby allowed the reader a real portrayal of a man serving prison time as he, in confessions to his brother, reflects on their relationship growing up. Their struggle to discover is apparent through John Edgar Wideman's choice of narrative technique.

Amazon.com

Virginia Dickens is angry. Her father and brother Jed have left her behind while they go off to Uncle Jack's farm to help him hide his horses from Confederate raiders. It's the summer of 1863 and Pa and Jed believe 9-year-old Virginia will be out of harm's way in the sleepy little town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Too soon they all discover how wrong they are, as Union and Confederate soldiers descend on Gettysburg for the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Virginia has front-row seats to this horrific episode of history, and she records every incident and feeling she experiences in her journal (which is actually Jed's; he entrusted it to her when he went away, asking her to be his "eyes and ears in Gettysburg").

Mary Pope Osborne's gripping story is a welcome addition to the popular My America historical-fiction series. Neither Osborne nor Virginia shy away from telling the truth, brutal and painful though it may be. This lends a certain depth, appeal, and integrity to the book that a history textbook could never match. Real players in the Civil War, including Robert E. Lee and Abe Lincoln, make cameo appearances, while the fictional characters seem just as authentic. Osborne has written a wide variety of other engaging stories, including Adaline Falling Star. (Ages 8 to 11) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Virginia Dickens has promised to keep a journal for her older brother Jed. And Ginny finds plenty to write about: Pennsylvania Volunteers arrive in the town square reporting a big battle in Virginia and calling for more men to join their ranks. Rumors fly that the Rebs are headed to Gettysburg, and the Battle of Gettysburg ensues. Suddenly, Ginny's quiet town is filled with the injured. Ginny's brother Jed has joined the Union army, and they find him wounded in a makeshift hospital. With Ginny's nursing, he recovers, and Ginny is is able to witness the President's Gettysburg Address.

Customer Reviews:

Witness to the Battle of Gettysburg.......2006-05-13

Young Virginia, named after the state, shares her emotional journey through the Civil War, missing her dead mother, worriying constantly about her brother and father, and being afraid so often.
Living in Gettysburg isn't exactly safe - especially when one of the most famous Civil War battles is fought right there. Virginia witnesses it all, and writes it all down in the journal her brother gave to her.
But when she finds out what ahs happened to her brother, she must gather up all her courage and face the world as best as she can.

My Brother's Keeper.......2005-12-15

My America: My Brother's Keeper: Virginia's Civil War Diary, Mary Pope Osborne, 4 stars.
I thought that My Brother's Keeper was a very good book. It was about a girl named Virginia Dickens. She lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in the year 1863. Her father and brother, Jed, have gone to Uncle Jack's house to help hide his horses from the Conferate soldiers. She is staying with Reverend McCully and his family while they are away. The whole time she is scared for her brother and father and wants them to come home.

I gave this book four stars because, even though it was a very good book, there were some parts that were very boring/confusing. Sometimes Virginia would be talking about something, then she would start talking about something else and it would be very confusing and hard to follow. Sometimes she just was rambling on and it got boring.

The book, overall, was very good though. It had some very suspenseful parts where I was on the edge of my seat. For example, when Virginia was sitting in the tree while the Confederate soldiers were passing, I wasn't sure whether she would get caught or not and I was anxious to find out.

Some other books I would recommend are: The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Picking Up the Pieces, and Nicola and the Viscount. (...)

THE COOL BOOK .......2005-10-18

I thing this book was good because it had a iot of detait about the character. People should read this book if they like the Civil War and if they would like to know about the Civil War this book would be good to read. A reader that would like to read about the Civil War would read this book. My favorite part was when Jed told them that he was going to get married to Jane Ellen. It was my favorite part because it made me feel very happy that they were going to get married. My favorite character was Virginia because they talk abouÝ her a lot and how she had to keep Jed's diary for him. I hope that the next book is as good as this book was. I love these books.

My Brothers Keeper.......2002-12-14

Hi I am Glenna Miller my book is My brothers keeper .The auther is Mary Pope Osborne.There are a 107 pages. The setting is Gettisburg in 1863.The Genre is fiction. The plot is her brother and dad go to her uncles to help hide his horses from the rebs. So she has to stay with Reverand Mcullys family.Jane Ellen Reverand Mcully daughter likes Jed her brother but she only saw him once.The rebs came and yelled "have the union came"I like the place and I like the way it goes in 1863 it is pretty cool. I like her name it is Virginia cause it is my home town.I hope you like this book the way I did. So pick up this book My brothers keeper

A Promise at Gettysburg. . ........2002-12-01

Nine-year-old Virginia Dickens is left in the care of Reverend and Mrs. McCully while her father and brother help her uncle hide his horses from the Confederate raiders and fight. She promises to keep a journal for Jed, her brother. Her family thinks she'll be safe but they are wronged when Gettysburg is ambushed. After the battle, she and her father find her brother in a makeshift hospital. The book ends as the town slowly recovers and Virginia hears President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Mrs. Osborne has successfully creates individual characters, and she poses difficult questions about war and the waste of human life. There is a lyrical quality to several passages, and the author slowly builds suspense and release.

Book Description

What responsibility do the Polish people share for the mass murder of the Jews, which took place largely on Polish soil? In this major contribution to the history of the Holocaust, Antony Polonsky brings together in translation the most important arguments in this very public and controversial debate. The volume's contributors grapple with the complex moral issues and painful questions which are history's legacy: What could the Polish people have done, and what were they willing to do? Many have argued their innocence and utter helplessness before the Nazis, while others resolutely refuse excuses for standing by, or even aiding, the slaughter. b /b b i My Brother's Keeper? /i /b meets these dilemmas head-on, in a tough and troubling debate.

Customer Reviews:

Blonski's New Judeocentrically-Framed Morality and its Implications.......2007-04-18

Jan Blonski has invented a new form of morality, in which indifference to a murder now makes one morally (though not legally) guilty of the murder. How creative! Not surprisingly, Blonski's "new morality" is entirely one-sided. Not a single one of the following questions is answered in this volume: Should those Jews who were indifferent to Polish deaths also share in moral guilt for them? In fact, how often did Jews include Poles in THEIR universe of moral obligations? Had Poles disappeared instead, wouldn't there have been some Jews delighted at this outcome? Should Jews also be enjoined to stop searching for attenuating circumstances behind their conduct, and admit fault for their complicity in Polish sufferings (as from the Zydokomuna)? Should the endless discussions on the Church's traditional negative view of Jews be expanded to include Judaism's historically negative view of Christianity? Or are there different moral standards now in existence for Poles and Jews?

Polonsky (p. 11), Blonski (p. 46), and Bryk (p. 176) portray Polish defensive reactions against Jewish accusations as tacit admissions of Polish guilt. Oh, really? Using the same reasoning, when Jews likewise react against falsifications of their history (e. g., by the Holocaust Deniers), should one conclude that the Deniers may be on to something?

What purpose does Blonski's "new morality" serve? Kazimierz Kakol (p. 146) sees it as yet another dilution of German guilt (however subtly, in this case). Otherwise, it is, not surprisingly, all about Holocaust uniqueness. Andrzej Bryk writes: "The Polish side has had difficulty in grasping that Jews have been struggling for the acceptance of the uniqueness of the Holocaust very often by indirect means, even through libelous accusations, bordering on the irrational. Yet it has to be added that faced with moral insensitivity toward's one's suffering, one fights with anything at hand, very often with shock." (p. 176). Taking Bryk to his logical conclusion, one could exonerate the Holocaust Deniers by treating their views as an irrational but somewhat understandable reaction against the chauvinistic exultation of Jewish sufferings over those of all others!

Blonski repeats the myth of the 10,000-strong Kielce mob (p. 39; actually 200-300 at its peak, with no more than 150 at 4 Planty Street) and the myth of equivalency in risk to life from participating in the Underground and from rescuing Jews (p. 38; Actually, one search by a dog-wielding German was usually sufficient to uncover a hidden Jew). Bryk (p. 170) complains that the AK was planning a desperate, suicidal uprising in the event of wholesale German extermination of Poles, but not for the 3 million Polish Jews (p. 170). What he conveniently forgets is that the AK also didn't launch an uprising for the 2-3 million murdered Poles.

Teresa Prekerowa (p. 74) presents an oft-quoted computation of only 1-2.5% percent of Poles ever helping Jews. Her computations are invalid because they do not factor the tiny number of Jews ever potentially AVAILABLE to be rescued. (The vast majority of the Jews remained trapped in ghettos until their journeys to the death camps). Owing to this fact, the vast majority of potential Polish rescuers never had access to a single Jew during the entire German occupation (Turowicz, p. 139)!

Poles are repeatedly berated (pp. 22-23, 77-80, 142) for discussing "Jewish passivity", when unmentioned is the fact that many Jewish authors (e. g., Bruno Bettelheim, Yitzhak Zuckerman, Leon Poliakov, Hannah Arendt) also shared this view. In attempting to create a Polish counterpart to "Jewish passivity", Prekerowa asks: "But was every Pole a conspirator? The enormous majority of the population even in Warsaw, in this heart of underground Poland, to say nothing of the inhabitants of the tens of smaller cities and towns and hundreds of villages, thought only about ways to survive the war, to stay alive...Their everyday lives were filled by commonplace activities which helped to make living under the occupation bearable." (p. 78). Ironically, by hinting that most Poles were afraid to participate in Underground activities, Prekerowa weakens the argument about Polish risk-taking in this activity but not in the hiding of Jews. And, ironically, by admitting the harrowing experiences of Poles, Prekerowa demolishes the usual portrayal of Poles as "spectators" of the Jewish catastrophe.

Salmonowicz (pp. 56-57) identifies Russian and Prussian Jews as 19th-century disseminators of anti-Polish writings. Rymanowski (p. 156) points out that few Jews were involved in the 19th-century Polish insurrections against foreign rule. Jan Karski (p. 86) confirms the shortage of arms faced by the AK at the time of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, and the disbelief of Judge Felix Frankfurter to his testimony (p. 88). Yisrael Gutman (p. 202) again repudiates the notion that the German [...] death camps were set up in occupied Poland because of Polish attitudes. He also recognizes the difference between traditional anti-Semitism of the Polish type, and the racist and exterminationist [...] anti-Semitism.

The informed reader understands that this book is part of the same old genre of Judeocentric selective moralizing against Poles--which continues to this day. After the recent publications of NEIGHBORS and FEAR by Jan Tomasz Gross, there was the predictable media fascination about the moral issues and responsibilities that Poles now must face, but not a trace of interest in any of the unsavory aspects of past Jewish conduct against Poles.

My Brother's Keeper: Faith-Based Units in Prisons

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My Brother's Keeper: Faith-Based Units in Prisons
Jonathan Burnside , Nancy Loucks , Joanna R. Adler , and Gerry Rose
Manufacturer: Willan Publishing (UK)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1843920611

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Changed
Flesh and Blood Brother

The Brother's Keeper
Tracy Groot
Manufacturer: Moody Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802431054

Book Description

Thirty Years after he followed a star to Bethlemen, one of the Magi is back on another mission. This time, he is sent not to an infant "king of the Jews," but to the king's brother James. The sons of Joseph run a successful carpentry business in Nazareth. At least, it was successful until the oldest Brother, Jesus, left home to tell the world he will forgive their sins and save their souls. Now everyone is hearing outlandish reports of healings and exorcisms. Business is suffering; not many people want a stool made by the family of the local crazy man. James wants nothing more than to shut out the strangeness and have a normal life. But normal walked out the day his brother did, and strange things keep happening. One brother starts listening to Jesus' troubling speeches. Fanatical Zealots descend on Nazereth to convince the family to join their fight against Rome. An eerie visitor with a foreign accent tells James to "consider it all joy." James knows that this year's Passover pilgrimage will be more important than ever. He must find Jesus and talk some sense into him. He must warn of a possible plot against Jesus. And he must decide for himself who his brother really is. What does James not know, on the dusty road to Jerusalem, is that more than one faction has murder on it's mind. Tracy Groot is a part time writer, full-time mother, and co-owner with her husband, Jack, of a coffee shop in Holland, Michigan.

Customer Reviews:

Changed.......2005-03-30

I felt the uneasiness that James must have felt knowing that his brother was not what he had hoped he would be. It wasn't the dying on the cross that convinced James that Jesus was extraordinary. William Barclay said it best, "That there was a meeting of James and the Risen Christ is certain. What passed at that sacred and intimate moment we shall never know. But we do know...James who had been the hostile and unsympathetic opponent of Jesus became (changed)...." From The Letters of James and Peter.

Flesh and Blood Brother.......2005-03-18

Who is this brother, the brother of Jesus? His name is James. Feel the anguish of a younger brother, whose older brother has left the family unit and is bringing scorn on the family. Smell the sawdust of the carpenter's shop where the brothers had worked together. What is the meaning of the rumors about Jesus? But in James' eyes, Jesus is just a man, raised in a devote Jewish family. Finally, when Jesus died a criminal's death, James knew. This Jesus was the Son of God. This is an excellent book telling the story about Jesus as seen through the deep emotions, awakening senses, the turmoil and the conflict that James, the brother of Jesus, felt. The story fits within the scriptural referrences to James in Galatians 1:19; I Corthinians 15:7, Acts 1:13-14 and the book of James.

Captain America & The Falcon Vol. 2: Brothers And Keepers

Average customer rating:

One of the best ever

Captain America & The Falcon Vol. 2: Brothers And Keepers
Christopher Priest , and Joe Bennett
Manufacturer: Marvel Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785115684

Book Description

Haunted by his personal failures, Captain America comes to suspect that he has been under psychological attack from the rogue Navy Intelligence unit that created the so-called "Anti-Cap" Super Sailor when he discovers a direct link between this shadow group and the deadly killing machine M.O.D.O.K. But are they running M.O.D.O.K., or is M.O.D.O.K. running them? To find out, Cap has no choice but to turn to the only person who actually knows: the Anti-Cap himself! Meanwhile, the Falcon has gone on the offensive, shutting down the Rivas drug cartel. But there's a line between heroism and vigilantism, and Robbie Robertson fears the Falcon has crossed it and may never find his way back. Collects Captain America & The Falcon #8-14.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best ever.......2005-10-25

You can't go wrong with this book. If you don't like this book you're weird.

Average customer rating:

More than 5 stars!
An impressive first novel
it was ok
You decide!
Enjoyable journey!

My Sister's Keeper
Bill Benners
Manufacturer: McBryde Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback

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ASIN: 0975870033
Release Date: 2007-03-01

Product Description

This riveting suspense thriller explores the special bond between a brother and sister when Richard Baimbridge rushes back to his coastal hometown of Wilmington, NC, to assist with his sister's recovery after she's brutally attacked and crippled investigating the rape of a 13-year-old. Coming face to face with his tormented past and a dark family secret, he fights to stay above the flood of childhood trauma and, serving as his sister's legs, is drawn into the dark underside of this quiet coastal community where he, himself, becomes the primary suspect in the murders of Wilmington's young girls.

Customer Reviews:

More than 5 stars!.......2007-10-01

This is absolutely a 10 star book!! This is THE best book I've read and I read about 2-3 books a week!! It was fast paced...I loved that the chapters are no more than 2-3 pages long. Every chapter had a twist that made this book IMPOSSIBLE to put down! The writing was superb...not a lot of chatty descriptions...it's a very TO THE POINT style of writing..his grip on the emotions of the characters is right on target and pulls you right in...whether it be fear, anxiety or compassion....one of the key characters is a paraplegic young woman...being one myself I can tell you the character as he wrote her was totally true to form...to read this book was like being a fly on the wall and watching the entire story unfold...a wonderful experience and the story was gripping and real...
Do yourself a favor and don't miss this one...Bill Benners is the new James Patterson!!

An impressive first novel.......2007-09-23

My Sister's Keeper is full of suspense and it kept my attention from page one through the very end. Being a coastie, I enjoyed the author's descriptions of Wilmington and the Cape Fear area. Richard Baimbridge, the lead character, is a complex but naive man who ends up over his head (literally) as he attempts to bring down the bad guy. When the book began, I questioned the level of Richard's devotion to his sister, even though she is crippled and needs his support. Fortunately, he stumbles upon Sydney, an almost eligible woman who keeps his love interest throughout the novel. The author chose the younger sister of a former girlfriend, which created a good twist in the old versus new love knot. The conflict between Richard and his father is a bit overdone, but his mother is well-depicted as the silent-sufferer and peace-maker in a family torn by tragedy. Richard is set up for a big fall by Ashleigh Matthews, a love/hate character who tries to help her own suffering sibling. Some connections are not as mysterious as the author intended i.e. Winston. Voilence is pervasive throughout the story, but it ends with a high note despite the demise of many innocent victims.

If you enjoy suspense and romance in the southeast coastal area, check out Flashback: A Low Country Novel

it was ok.......2007-08-28

this book is a very quick light read. not much depth but entertaining for a one day read. if you need a break from better authors, then i suggest this for an inbetweener. good first try.

You decide!.......2007-08-20

Here is a typical chunk of prose from "My Sister's Keeper." If you like this sample, you will love this book:

"She pulled me stumbling into a nearby bedroom, shoved me onto my back, and took control [control in italics] of my mind and body. Falling on top me, she redirected the storm raging inside me re-channeling my pain and fury into passion and desire. Icy hatred [italics] melted into flaming love [italics]. For the next hour the fire and the cold swirled through me ripping me apart as she held me down, kissed me, and took me to a final release that shattered every obstacle I had left to becoming the man I was born to be."

Enjoyable journey!.......2007-07-23

This is a book with a lot going on! It is definitely one you don't want to put down. It is also one you want to own so you can read it again in the event you overlooked something that was going on the first time around. I would definitly recommend if you want a mystery novel that gives the reader a suprise at every turn.

Average customer rating:

Shows good real world problems
Courtesy of Teens Read Too
touching and likeable but lacks depth
Book Review on My Brother's Keeper
Book Review

My Brother's Keeper
Patricia Mccormick
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786851740
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Book Description

Toby Malone looks up to his brother Jake.Everyone does.He is the cool one, the one who is good at baseball.Even Mr. Furry, the unfortunately named family cat, seems to prefer him to everyone else.Toby and Jake and their little brother have always had an easy, jostling friendship, in which it is them against the rest of the world. But ever since Toby's father left, things have been off balance. Toby's mother seems deflated and resigned.And his little brother is exhibiting odd signs of stress.Toby struggles to keep his family together even as things are falling apart.Despite his efforts, though, Jake is drifting farther and farther away, and Toby knows it is because he is becoming increasingly dependent on drugs.Toby tries to cover up for Jake, to spare his mother yet another disappointment.But his attempts to protect Jake and his mother backfire, only adding to the growing tension between the brothers+until Jake finally goes much too far.With great warmth and wry humor, Patricia McCormick draws a portrait of a typical family that is struggling to reconnect after a crisis.

Customer Reviews:

Shows good real world problems.......2007-04-23

Imagine that your brother one of the most prominant young athletes throws it all away for drugs. That is the problem that Toby faces in My Brothers Keeper. Jake is the best athlete in town and maybe even in the city, he is great at baseball and other sports but Toby becomes suspicious when he hangs out with the wrong people and he starts changing. He does not care about anything anymore and gets all mopey. When Toby flushes a bag of Jakes Marijuana down the toilet Jake sells Tobys most prized posession to get money for the drugs back. To see if Toby can help Jake go back to his old self you have to read this good book.
I thought that this book was good because it showed very good real world problems that can be happening every day. Having your stuff stolen and then sold is something many people have to go through because of how addictive drugs can be. People are careless about everything else when it comes to drugs and this book is a great example of how careless they can really be. This book is such a great example of how people can change because of such a silly thing like drugs and I believe that people whould put time aside to read it
I would reccomend this book to teenagers because it can help show them how dangerous experimenting with drugs can be. The book shows what a person will do to get drug money and also the repercussions of what happens after your able to get the money. I think that if teens who are thinking about using drugs read this they will choose to stay away from them because of what happens. I would also reccomend this book to people that like dramas and people that like books where a family member has to help another overcome a bad time of their life.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-02-04

A brother's love is a brother's love: one of the many truths to life and family. In MY BROTHER'S KEEPER, Patricia McCormick tells a sharp tale of the often too-complex relationships between brothers, and the unspoken feelings and subtleties of such a fragile thing.

Toby idolizes his big brother Jake. Jake's the typical big brother figure; cool, funny, charming, and the school baseball team stud. But things don't always turn out to be as great as they appear on the surface. Internally, there are struggles. Toby's father has left their family to search his fortune elsewhere and has seemed to cease all contact with them. His mother is distant and has taken a stance of resignation. And to complicate the situation even more so, inevitably past Toby's endurance, Jake has fallen into a rut he cannot get out of. The world of drugs.

Now Jake doesn't seem to be around as much anymore. He leaves the house, returning in the middle of the night faded and disillusioned, leaving the responsibility up to Toby to clean things up, make everything seem fine, and to smooth away the creases.

But when Jake finally goes too far, will it be up to Toby to decided how to handle things? Will he rat his brother out, breaking the cardinal rule of the big-brother/little-brother relationship, trespassing on regions of brotherhood Toby has never touched upon?

McCormick creates a completely believable and down-to-earth narrative of internal struggles in the mind of a growing boy's problems in not only the broader family unit, but also the profound nuances of the complicated structure of kinship between siblings. Not only that, but she manages to keep it lighthearted at the right moments, as well as comedic at others.

Cheers to P.M.

Reviewed by: Long Nguyen

touching and likeable but lacks depth.......2006-01-04

My Brother's Keeper is the story of a single parent family consisting of mom and her three sons: Eli who is slightly strange, has a bike called Tonto and a female cat called Mr. Furry; Jake, who has fallen into "bad company," decided that his beloved baseball is uncool and started using drugs; and finally Toby, a 13-year-old with grey hair and whose best friend is the local shopkeeper called Mr. D (who also happens to be a pensioner).

It is Toby who takes it upon himself to try and hold his family together after his alcoholic father left. He does so by covering up for his older brother Jake and hiding his mom's bill because he knows she can't afford to pay them. Unfortunately Toby's best intentions don't always work out quite to plan and before too long, the family nearly enters meltdown.

Patricia McCormick has succeeded in bringing to the fore the problems faced by teens today with regard to the availability of drugs and the hassles they can bring to a family. She also manages to touch upon the breakdown that can occur when one parent leaves, with no regard for the rest of the family and the emotional turmoil and the further problems it can lead to.

However, as good as the story was and as touching and likeable Toby appeared, the book seemed to be lacking a depth that would have allowed the reader to get more inside the world of the disintegrating family.

The book is aimed at younger teenagers, so this may be the reason for the apparent surface nature of the drug abuse, but a great opportunity was missed to investigate and explore the sheer destructive nature of the problem at hand. I feel that the message could have been put across more clearly if the story had continued with "what happened next."

Armchair Interviews says: Overall My Brother's Keeper was an easy, likeable and touching read, but it was lacking some depth.

Book Review on My Brother's Keeper.......2005-12-17

"My Brother's Keeper," is written by the best selling author of "Cut", Patricia McCormick. This book is about a young boy named Toby that goes through a lot; he is 13 years old and already has gray hairs. He goes from having a loving family that is always there for each other to having only his mother who starts going out every night, his big brother, Jake, who smokes pot and goes out all the time, and his little brother, Eli, who Toby isn't around very often.
Most of Toby's time is spent with Mr. D who has a store that Toby helps him with. Toby doesn't always understand what Mr. D's advice is telling him sometimes, but he always figures it out later in the book. This is a quote that I liked that Mr. D had said, "Living is all about letting go." Mr. D and Toby love to collect Pirates baseball cards. Mr. D had given him a card that Toby really loved and that he had wanted all his life, the Stargell.
This year Toby had tried out for baseball and had made the team. He plays catcher. Toby also likes a girl named Martha MacDowell and he had talked to her about baseball and found out that she also plays as catcher. Knowing that Jake is a very good baseball player Toby later finds out that his older brother Jake is not trying out for baseball this year, when last year he had helped their team win their division.
Toby ends up having to always have to lie and cover up for his brother to their mom. Like why he isn't home or why he feels sick. One night Toby's life all starts falling apart. And there is a surprising ending to the story.
I would recommend this book to people that have family problems and to people who don't. For the people who don't have family problems, they can see how a family acts and what goes on. It also shows you how good of a family you may have compared to Toby's family. And this book will help you appreciate what you have. The book also makes you want to read on to see what Toby is going to do next and if their family problems will ever get solved.

Book Review.......2005-10-18

By:Eric Evans
Once again Toby is cleaning up all the mess his brother and his friends make when they're high off drugs. This time they ate all the food in the cupboard. Toby cleans it all up and sprays Magic Citrus to kill the smell. This isn't the first time that they have made a wreck of the house after being high. Sometimes Toby's brother Jake has come home high at eleven `o clock. Not only this but Toby `s mom has had a depression or "constant headache" mood every since they're father left. Toby has a little brother named Eli that he constantly watches. One day Toby can't take his family sinking lower and lower every day so he steals the bag his brother keeps his drugs in and flushes them down the toilet. When Jake finds out he steals Toby's prized possession. He steals his Stargell Pittsburgh Pirates rookie card. After this Eli goes missing. Now everything comes together again. There are some cops that come to Toby's house that drop off Eli and say they found him near the highway. Just as Toby's mom is being informed by the cops about Eli the phone rings and a man says Jake has been caught with drugs. Jake has a day out of juvenile for court and that night Toby and their family have the orange meal which is this dinner Toby and Jake thought of it is made of mandarin oranges, macaroni n cheese, and Cheetos. I would recommend this book to a lot of people because it is so close to reality. Think of all the little brothers who have big brothers whom do drugs, but don't get their brothers help because they are scared.
One reason I like this book was because of how realistic it was. Toby in the story loves his brother, but is fearful of telling someone because he knows the consequences and doesn't want to do that to his brother. Also at the same time he has another little brother he has to watch over all the time because their mom works a lot. This is because their dad left their mom a while back to go to California. Now their mom is trying to find another guy to fall in love with. The reason I call this book realistic is because you can see that this situation is a combination of everyday problems for children growing up.
For some reason you can't put this book down; it isn't left at suspense at the end of the chapter, but it keeps you into the book. You want to know if on the next page Jake gets caught, if Toby tells on him or if he gets away with it. Then not only do you want to know about that, but you want to know what is going on with Toby's personal life for example if he makes the baseball team. Another reason the book is hard to put down is because tension builds and builds on Toby between all these issues then everything falls apart and brings the family closer together.
Another thing I like about the book is the ending and how things from the beginning piece together with things from the ending. For example how they mentioned old hobbies of Jake that Toby is now interested in. Also how they mentioned the orange meal. I thought these were all just mentioned for nothing, but at the end Toby and Jake spend the afternoon together and have the orange meal for dinner.
I would recommend this realistic, hard to put down novel by Patricia McCormick to anyone. It is touching to watch Toby struggle with everyday life in his house. Read My Brother's Keeper to find out what everyday life is like for a boy named Toby and how it all comes crashing down in the end.

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