Best Scandinavian Literature
A #1 international bestseller in the vein of Fredrik Bachman's A Man Called Ove. : an irresistible, funny, charming, and tender-hearted tale about friendship, love, and an old man who is young at heart. A bestselling phenomenon that has captured imaginations around the world, The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen is inspiring, charming, and laugh-out-loud funny with a deep and poignant core: a page-turning delight for readers of any age.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a novel we selected for our Book Club, and my first reaction was that this is an odd book. Of course, in this setting you can expect a lot of ends."
"Full of funny, quaint and poignant tales of living in a nursing home, he describes his fellow "inmates" in hilarious and heart-felt ways, facing life and death on a permanent basis, but always with compassion, understanding, and not a small sense of humor."
"If this is a translation from Dutch, it helps American readers by expressing distances, weights, etc."
"a great diary about keeping the ravages of senility from approaching to rapidly, Fight fight fight and above all, keep your sense of humor and share it and your love with others."
"I’m so touched by this books depth of understanding in the world of the elderly."
"I go to a senior citizens center often and as I have read this book I recognize many of the same characters."
"I enjoyed this book about a male senior citizen very much."
"By the time a person goes to a nursing home, many of your former friends have passed away."
Set in the Danish coastal town of Karrebaeksminde, journalist Rebekka Franck returns to her hometown with her six-year-old daughter. - 2Book Lovers. '... kept me awake long into the night even when I had to be early to my office the following day...it was that good.'. Another macabre tale by Willow Rose to keep me awake at night!'. Grab your crucifix (Rebekka Franck#3) Seven, Eight ... Gonna stay up late (Rebekka Franck#4) Nine, Ten ... Never sleep again (Rebekka Franck#5) Eleven, Twelve ... Dig and Delve (Rebekka Franck#6) Thirteen, Fourteen ... Little Boy Unseen (Rebekka Franck #7) Edwina Chain Letter Horrorstories from Denmark (A collection of horror-stories from Rebekka Franck's Danish hometown). Also don't miss out on her 7th street crew-series.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I grew up a huge fan of the Nightmare On Elm Street series and have fond memories of watching the movies as a child."
"I enjoyed the storyline and character development, but erroneous punctuation and sentence structure were distracting."
"Rebekka is a journalist who is covering a series of murders and trying to deal with personal problems as well."
"I wanted to try this Author, I love Mystery/Thriller and although the story was interesting, i had a hard time getting into it in the beginning but I am a committed book reader and hate not finishing a book."
"This fast-paced mystery follows a Rebekah as she tries to solve a serial murder spree."
"My only problem with the book is that it seemed to have random words missing here and there, but for the most part the word was easy enough to add as I read."
"Book kept me guessing until the end."
"Then he drugged their daughter and almost killed her and she was willing to let him right back in the child's life immediately? Smh...Then jumping in bed with a complete stranger that she didn't have a clue who he was and she didn't consider her child in that decision?"
Unable to avoid his fate, he returns to the Viking North to face his brother and claim his birthright, only to discover that victory will demand sacrifices beyond his wildest nightmares. God's Hammer has a good narrative flow, including action and dialogue, with the political / historical backdrop of the time and place: the English, Danes and Northmen. ...I was swept up in the action and enthralled by the descriptions of Hakon's struggle... -- Robert H. Goss on Roundtable Reviews. ...The author has a strong background in the history of Dark Ages Europe... -- Brad Eden of the Historical Novel Society.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Bravo Mr. Schumacher, "God's Hammer, Hakon's Saga Book 1" , was really a great read. For readers: if you've enjoyed any of Bernard Cornwall 's great Saxon series of books about Uhtred of Bebbenberg, you'll love Schumacher's protagonist, Hakon Harroldson."
"Great adventure."
"Gripping story, one that can’t be set aside easily."
"A thoroughly enjoyable book, packed with adventure, courage, honor and faith."
"I loved the pacing of the story, but most of all I grew to love the characters in the story."
"One of the best Viking historical novel I have ever read."
"Just doesn't compare to Cromwell's or Nelson's stories."
Best Scandinavian Literature
The Poetic Edda comprises a treasure trove of mythic and spiritual verse holding an important place in Nordic culture, literature, and heritage.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The translation is great, but for one gripe I have: everyone has about 5 different names, so it can be confusing when you come across the 5th different way of saying Odin or Thor; I wish they had standardized the names as much as possible, though it has to be kept in mind that the verse often requires the variance of references due to its style."
"I can't speak to the calibre of the translation, but as a neophyte coming to the Poetic Edda, it was mostly clear and very entertaining."
"I'm loving having this book, it's a hard read but the foot notes really help."
"Lee M Hollander presents the old saga's just the way they are."
"I am not a lit or mythology major but I have really enjoyed reading through this."
"This book is the holy grail of Norse literature."
Best Historical Norse & Icelandic Fiction
In this savage saga of love, war, lust, and magic set in the tenth century, young Sigrid is destined to be the mother of the king of the Nordic lands that would become Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and England. In 2002, she was awarded the prestigious journalist award Guldspaden (“the Golden Shovel”) for her book Blackout , which describes her ten years as a Bosnian War correspondent.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This novel is an interesting weaving of the stories of Sigrid “the Haughty,” a semilegendary Viking-age queen of Sweden, and Sweyn, the illegitimate son of King Harald “Bluetooth.” The author is an award-winning Swedish war correspondent, and she masterfully “covers” the ambitions of the story’s myriad Viking warriors in a sober and sobering style, in all its brutality and humanity. The author applies the same bluntness and frankness in talking about war as she does in talking about Sigrid’s experience as woman very much in a man’s world. With this blunt sensibility, the novel really is typically Scandinavian (other reviewers seem surprised at the Scandinavianness of the book, which is what surprises me—it’s a story set in the brutal Viking age written by a Swedish war correspondent, for goodness’ sake!). The text reminds me less of “Game of Thrones,” as others have pointed out, and more of the History Channel series “Vikings.” For instance, it is historically accurate inasmuch as possible, e.g., almost all of the characters in the book worship the Norse gods, and the author does a stupendous job bringing this unfamiliar-to-most world view accurately and engagingly to life. It reads as though the author had written it in English in the first place, which is impressive given the Swedish lens on Viking history that the American reader is invited to look through."
"### REVIEW UPDATE ###. As indicated below, subsequent to the original review, I came to greatly appreciate the value of the impact upon my inner self so much that I raised the star rating to five stars. Subsequent to that, I ordered the Audible recording through Amazon at the ridiculously low price of $1.99, so I can listen when I can't read, and so I can list while I read - I love Whispersync for audio. Furthermore, I have pre-ordered the second book in the series, scheduled for release October 17, 2017. Here is a link where that book can be found for pre-order: The Valhalla Series (2 Book Series). ** ** **. **WARNING**. This translated book has graphic scenes of violent sex that many readers may find revolting. Nonetheless, readers must be forewarned – I wish the book description had provided just such a disclaimer. Quick Overview. If, like me, you find yourself wishing to learn more in regards to your Viking heritage by reading historical fiction set in the time of your roots, I have this advice: Be careful what you wish for, because the truth of your heritage may be revolting…. I had an incredible challenge in selecting my Kindle First book this month. Many of the musings in this book, although perhaps not specifically true to the characters shown, are a truth that we Viking descendants may be wise to remember, lest we delve too deeply into judging the woes and ills of other cultural groups. At the same time, I am humbled and I have grown as a person by exposing myself to the essential truths at center stage in “The unbroken Line of the Moon.” More to the point, I could not easily read this tale. Yet, neither could I toss the book into the dust bin…this is a revolting, disgusting tale that I got addicted to…. Length: Print, 464 pages; Audible, 14 hours 30 minutes. Q - How was this book obtained? Q - Is this a book that I can read without having to read others first? Q - Is this a fast, easy read or is it more of a leisure read? A – This is a leisure read. A – Due to the graphic scenes of violent sex, if this were a film it would be rated either PG-17 or R. Q - My biggest pleasure or disappointment? “You’ll get what you yearned for after you part your legs and offer yourself up.”. Emma screamed and kicked, but Toste hit her in the face again, this time so hard he almost knocked her out. The Unbroken Line of the Moon (The Valhalla Series Book 1) (Kindle Locations 3505-3521). Comments regarding your opinion of this book or of my review, whether favorable or unfavorable, are always welcome. If you buy the book based on my review and become disappointed, especially, I do want to know that and I want to understand how I can improve as a book reviewer."
"While the warnings of graphic violence and sex are absolutely true I think it should also be made very clear that these scenes are not just in the book to shock or stimulate the reader."
Best Teen & Young Adult Death Nonfiction eBooks
Raine finally knows that her gorgeous neighbor, Torin St. James, is a legend straight out of Norse mythology, and that her feelings for him are strong. Desperate, Raine makes choices that could not only tear her and Torin further apart, but lead to the destruction of everything and everyone she loves. Great storyline... K. M. Whittaker "Page Flipperz - Blog"(cairns, qld, AU). Ednah is the author of The Guardian Legacy series, a YA fantasy series about children of the fallen angels, who fight demons and protect mankind. Since then she has published four more books in this series.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"She struggles to make him remember her, but her plans quickly fall through, and when small things come back to him, such as calling her Freckles, she does not know if it is his subconscious remembering or if he is getting his memories back. People are calling her names and vandalizing her lockers."
"**. This book picks up where the first ended and I couldn't have been happier when Torin falls in love with Raine all over again and even begins to slowly remember their time together before the Norns scrambled his memories."
"The risks the main character takes to regain her love add a level of meanness to her and everyone around her."
"She is devastated, Torin doesn’t remember her thanks to the norns and the whole school thinks she is a witch. They are helping her through the days at school and while Lavania is training her as an immortal in the evenings. Unfortunately, she has the norns to worry about, her father’s health and the darkness that appears to be taking over Eirick. The idea focusing on the Norse gods and how they are affecting mortal lives was new and refreshing. Then the author writes a fabulous love story with lots of action and humor thrown in."
"I spent the entire days and read it, and it's so amazing, I couldn't put it down and I immediately bought the 2nd one, and just finished it today and I can't wait to read more when I can buy the set :-) so excited."
"Absolutely love this series!"
Best Asian Literature
By 1969, the art schools had closed, and Xiao-Mei was on her way to a work camp in Mongolia, where she would spend the next five years. And when the Revolution ended, it was the piano that helped her to heal. After five years in a labor camp in Mongolia, she returned to China, before moving on to the United States and finally Paris, France, where she has lived and worked since 1984.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"a book well worth reading and gives us an understanding of life in another country, and of the hardships that can be given to those living in a country with leaders who are not worthy of the position they have.. She shows wisdom and strength as she fought to hold onto her dreams and it shows courage as harsh treatments were dealt out to her., a lady who despite those years of hardship won out and formed a life where those early dreams came true."
"I am not a musician nor have I played an instrument, however, that really didn't keep me from appreciating this powerful autobiography."
"Surviving the spirit crushing effects of the cultural revolution, Xiao-mei tells how piano which was forbidden ultimately became her salvation."
"I grew up during this time period but have not read first person stories of Man's cultural revolution."
"This honest and at times heartbreaking story of a young girl successfully manipulated by her country's government and it's attempt to control it's people is one that holds within it an unforgettable lesson of truth's redemptive power. It is a stark reminder of the lives, the time, the dignity, and the beauty lost by humanity at the expense of toxic politicians, leaders, people, and governments that seek to dominate instead of lead."
"I enjoy listening to Bach but will enjoy it more after this experience."
"The Secret Piano is so well-written on many levels; the language, the evocative scenes and the character development."
"An excellent story of what happened to young people in China during their cultural revolution."
Best Italian Literature
When the painter’s servants uncover the real reason why Maria has been sent away to train with Master Trevisan, they threaten to reveal a secret that could tear down her family and the future of their trade. LAURA MORELLI holds a Ph.D. in art history from Yale University, has taught college students in the U.S. and in Italy, and currently produces art history lessons for TED-Ed.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Laura Morelli has that fine gift of a storyteller which I thoroughly enjoyed."
"Well researched and fun reading for those who love historical fiction."
"Well researched and wonderfully written."
"I am a shoot-em up kinda reader: Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Scott Horvath, et al."
"Maria Bartoloni has been apprenticed, despite the fact she is female, because she has skills that will benefit her anticipated husband, painter, Paulo Grisonni. To compound matters, Master's wife is pregnant and suspicious of Maria's beauty and the times she spends with Master Trevisan. Maria gradually becomes aware of the fact that she, too, is with child. Morelli has done a good job of embedding the reader in 16th Century Venice, totally transporting the reader to another place and time and firmly places them in someone else's shoes."
"Our protagonist, Maria Bartolini, has worked for her father her entire life and has fallen in love with Cristiano who also works for her father. Soon Trevisan’s servants discover the true reason that Maria’s father sent her away, leaving Maria having to make a very difficult decision. While the trials and tribulations of Maria’s life held my interest, I was especially enraptured with the chapters where she worked alongside the painter Master Trevisan. This is one of those few books that I will read again – at another time when I can shut out the world and make Maria’s world my world."
"I cheered for Maria Bartolini, the protagonist, whose work ethic and love for her father and her paramour remained steadfast despite the many hurdles and heartaches in her path."
Best African Literature
#1 BEST SELLER in its category TOP 20 in Epic Fantasy TOP 20 in Dark Fantasy TOP 20 in Sword and Sorcery The Omehi are surrounded by enemies that want them dead.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"And I – like many – enjoyed Gladiator, HBO’s Rome, and old-school movies like Willow, Conan the Barbarian, Beastmaster, etc. It took a little time to absorb the new vocabulary and mythology, but it was integrated into the story well enough that the foreign became familiar and then unremarkable. The story centers on Tau Tafari, a commoner who, by dint of perseverance bordering on psychopathy, becomes one of the greatest swordsman of his time (or so the reader is lead to believe). The book, like the best of the genre, also introduces the reader to a large cast of characters, each with their own motivations, perspectives, and murky and shifting intentions. Second, unlike a lot of fantasy I’ve seen, it’s not set in some generic Dark Ages/medieval world. I’m Black, so that was also interesting, although, to be honest, the African setting didn’t really play into the story much for me. If you want a complex, compelling and captivating story, but your time budget doesn’t allow for hours of uninterrupted reading, this is the book for you."
"Using that and other magical Gifts—Enraging, which makes Omehi men near unstoppable Colossi, and Enervating, which leaves opponents unable to fight—they push the native Xiddeen of the peninsula. I was mildly critical of the fantasy trope of renaming normal things in my review of Age of Assassins. The later info dumps that explain a lot of what we see in the prologue are a little clunky, but the real problem isn’t with the epic fantasy side of things. If he sees one of the men he seeks to take revenge on, he will draw his sword and head over to attack, even if that man is surrounded by twenty crack soldiers and failure would mean death for his entire family (and probably his unit too). Comically, in one scene his internal monologue indicates he will sneak up on his target, only for him to immediately start shouting from ten paces away. This sort of thing can be part of an effective arc, and Tau does eventually change, but by then any sympathy I had for him his long gone. All of this takes place while Tau is training to be a part of one of his caste’s military units. And the caste system is used to show injustice in much the vein of a lot of dystopian YA books. But Tau resists any camaraderie with his fellow trainees (even though they could help him take revenge), and the military side of it isn’t super interesting (it has shades of a sports book or something like Holly Jenning’s Arena too). The inter-caste conflict is more interesting, although Tau is frequently so stupid that he would get screwed by even a fair system, so what does it matter?"
"The story this reminded me most of, was Red Rising by Pierce Brown, which has similar themes of caste, loss, going beyond what is expected to be possible for your caste, etc... It also has a similar approach to working as a team and building skills through small scale training skirmishes (which is where I'm expecting the Gladiator comparison to come into play), but rather than feeling like an imitation of this sort of story, there's enough novel ideas playing out to keep things interesting."
Best Russian Literature
Our protagonist, Harriton Nikiforov is an everyman - a binge drinking, tabloid column reporter who has settled for the humdrum of the everyday, with a job that pays the wages, a neurotic girlfriend who gives him migraines and a boss that gives him constant grief. Tasked with a new assignment, Harriton suddenly finds himself ripped away from his normal routine of Moscow society life, to a journalistic quest of sorts that leads him deep into the realm of the Virtual Gaming World of Fayroll. Given explicit orders to write a series of fluff pieces on the game and its developers, Harriton grudgingly accepts the assignment, but soon finds himself enthralled by the virtual fantasy world and its amazing quests, unpredictable challenges, and nearly endless possibilities. ***** Great story and a fresh take on the LITRPG scenario. *****Great russian litrpg Had a good translation and excellent story telling. If you are into litrpg this story should get that fix in. *****More Please An excellent example of the Russian LitRPG genre. I can thoroughly recommend this story to all LitRPG fans!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This was a well paced and interesting read about someone not familiar with online games and learning about them."
"Another Russian LitRPG and i quite enjoyed it too."
"MC not a pro gamer and therefore makes interesting choices (and is not OP.)."
"i cant wait for all the translations to come out,, such a fun read!"
"Great book!"
"So far I have really enjoyed the book."
"Good story mostly until you get to the parts where he talks about women and work."
"Find a newer novel in the genere that has some decent story or characters instead."
Best Spanish Literature
Humanity falls…. An international bestselling author, Manel Loureiro was born in Pontevedra, Spain, and studied law at Universidad de Santiago de Compostela.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Our films and television programs typically present a myopic view of how events would unfold within our borders, dealing with issues that are comparatively far simpler due to our unified language and government."
"I like everything from suspense (Koontz, King), to historical fiction (Follett), fantasy (Salvatore, Rothfuss, Rowling, etc. Further, the main character's journal updates often happened at stupid, inopportune times, like while he is trapped in life threatening situations surrounded by zombies. He kind of creeped me out as he simultaneously observed how the girl was "just a baby," went on to describe her pubescent breasts, and followed that up with a comment on how "sexy" she was. Don't waste your time, unless you are a rabid consumer of vapid fiction and don't care about character development, plot, and originality."
"Manel Loureiro is an author who will inspire you to write. A huge chunk of the book is about a guy who's cat is escaping to find another cat in heat, a guy who watches a lot of news on TV, bitches about his utility company, and who likes vacations. Just a dimwit protagonist unloading an endless supply of simplistic thoughts on his victims (people who spent $2 on his book). He's a diver, so of course so he puts on a wet suit and carries a spear gun to escape his apartment. After about 10 pages, I started scrolling forward and decided that only Mr. Loureiro could best reveal to you how terrible the writing is, in his own words. Fear travels faster than a dust cloud ... and it's already in the wind." "I'm not a practicing Catholic, but the events of the last twenty-four hours seem like divine punishment for some gigantic collective sin of mankind."
Best German Literature
![The Hangman's Daughter: [Kindle in Motion] (A Hangman's Daughter Tale Book 1)](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61zK%2BxaC4UL._SS600_.jpg)
Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at. play in his small Bavarian town. Amazon Exclusive: A Q&A with Author Oliver Pötzsch Question: What initially inspired you to write this story? But I also look up to many authors of the fantasy genre such as Tolkien, Terry Pratchett, and the almost forgotten Fritz Leiber. In his life he built an enormous archive of information about my ancestors and the hangman profession, and I have been allowed free use of this resource. Also, during my career as a journalist I made several radio programs on this topic, talking to herb women and guardians of cultural heritage and searching in many archives of Bavarian cities for my ancestors. Oliver Pötzsch: After the thriller about Ludwig II, I am writing the fourth novel in the Hangman series. "A brilliantly-researched and exciting story of a formative era of history when witches were hunted and the inquisitors had little belief in their methods beyond their effect in pacifying superstitious townspeople . Pötzsch, actually descended from a line of hangmen, delivers a fantastically fast-paced read, rife with details on the social and power structures in the town as well as dichotomy between university medicine and the traditional remedies, which are skillfully communicated through character interactions, particularly that of Magdalena and Simon. The shocking motivations from unlikely players provide for a twist that will leave readers admiring this complex tale from a talented new voice."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I liked the start of this story, the basic idea of the tale, a hangman searching for the truth. The title of this story suggests this daughter has a major role, but quite frankly she doesn't. In fact, the hangman's daughter is such a minor character, she could be removed completely from the story and the novel would be virtually the same. She has a scene towards the end of the book where she's captured as a hostage, but it's so forced and unnecessary, it's more like a "women in refrigerators" moment. In the meantime, if you're a minor character living in this historical world, it seems like your only purpose is to be to chased, tortured, threatened with rape, or face being burnt alive as a witch. Yes, the hangman's daughter manages to escape, but the scene adds nothing to the novel. The second woman, the hangman's daughter, captured and threatened, was an unnecessary cliché. Instead of tying up loose ends, there's more drama, then everything is miraculously solved behind the scenes. The female characters could be replaced with potted plants, so I can't see myself recommending it to any of the women in my life."
"People assume witches were involved except Jacob who does not believe in witches and is determined to discover the truth and uncover the murder."
"Truly enjoyed the read."
"This is a great read and I am going to read ALL of your books in this series."
"A great partnership is forged between the executive who has both book smarts and life experience in medicine and the local physician just back from university."
"The author does a fair job of describing what it was like to exist when torture was a natural way of life, although it could be set almost anywhere in Europe. The writing style is clumsy and repetetive, as if the author is trying to fill space or has forgotten he's already said something."
Best French Literature
A fake marriage, an office hook-up and a lost email... turn the lives of 3 French aristocrat siblings upside down in this sexy rom-com bundle. WARNING: Just like in Pride and Prejudice that inspired this book, expect to find one rich and handsome Mr. Darcy and one feisty girl who can't stand him. Unlike Pride and Prejudice , this enemies-to-lovers romance also contains artful nude photos of said Mr. Darcy, a fake marriage, and nights of wild passion in Paris. GUARANTEED: Belly laughs, hot love scenes, a secret baby and a happy ending for this lust-to-love romance. BOOK 3: THE PERFECT CATCH When brooding goalie Noah meets perky realtor Sophie, sparks fly hot and fast... If you enjoy humorous contemporary romance brimming with emotion and heat, the Darcy Brothers box set is for you! The Darcy Brothers: Find You in Paris Raphael's Fling The Perfect Catch.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Even with some predictable outcomes due to the familiar tropes, I was still absorbed by the story and then also surprised by the mystery element. Sebastian Darcy and Diane Petit were well-developed love interests that demanded a HEA and it was an enjoyable reading journey to follow. If I'm being honest, though, due to her conservative upbringing and my own naivete, I was a little bit shocked by Mia's past permissive behavior. At the same time, I appreciated how the author portrayed Mia's parents and didn't mock or belittle their Christian faith, but instead showed how forgiveness and grace was an integral part of their beliefs. Although they initially resist a relationship with each other, logistics and attraction pull them together and they lose the battle."
"But to do so he needs Diane to come into the picture and play the dutiful loving girlfriend, then his wife all of which will be fake but necessary in making people believe it's true. And the only way she can see getting anything done is to play along with Sebastian's plan... who will win with this game of cat and mouse? Mia Stoll's life has been turned upside down since her run in with a snowman named Olly at the company party. The only reason she even took the job at DCA Paris offered was to get a good paycheck, to help with her scholarship program, and get her doctoral. Not only that but if her moma and papa find out about any of her activities she will surely pay the price.... is she willing to go all out for the man who turned her life upside and be with him? For six months she will live in Paris while working at her dream job as a real estate agent. Noah does too and he's beside himself because on one hand his childhood friend Uma is coming to town to help out, and he's been told that she likes him."
Best Australian & Oceanian Literature
Imagining a life beyond the kitchen and fields of the wealthy family they both work for, they plot to leave their homeland, marry, and raise the child Kathleen is secretly carrying. Born in Germany and now a resident of Spain, Sarah Lark is a horse aficionado and former travel guide who has experienced many of the world’s most beautiful landscapes on horseback.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Michael and Kathleen grow up together in nineteenth century Ireland, at a time when the majority of the Irish are starving because of the potato blight. It felt authentic, the author has put a lot of care into her research which shows in the detail of the historical facts and the way she describes the landscape. The characters are very human, as portrayed by their determination, hopes and dreams but they also have their flaws which makes them realistic."
"I really liked this novel, two different storylines going at once, it had to come to a head, but the ending really?"
"This story line based on true historical facts was good."
"With the rollercoaster of emotions author induces throughout book, it can be slow going at times but worth the effort."
"Actually Ms. Lark writes very well."
"New Zealand and its down under neighbors are intriguing in their immigration history and native stories."
"I really love historical fiction, this was a interesting take on England exporting criminals to Austrailia, emigrants going to New Zealand and their ensuing lives."
"I could not put this book down - it was so interesting and intense."
Best Jewish Literature
With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church. I marvel at her ability to weave together a story that grips hold of my heart and my imagination.” —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author. A Panzer tank through your heart, leaving dirt and rubble through which poppies bloom.” —Suanne Laqueur, author of An Exaltation of Larks. Amy Harmon is a New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including the Whitney Award–winning The Law of Moses . Her historical novels, inspirational romances, and young adult books are now being published in twelve countries around the globe.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"But the mark of a great Amy Harmon book is her expertly crafted story that builds so very slowly - she builds you up and up and before you know it you’ve fallen for her characters and then it happens - the downfall that completely shatters you. The common theme within all of her books is that love and faith conquers all, and how hope and resilience can help you rise above even the most difficult of situations. I really hope that people give this book a chance. And strangely enough, I find myself convinced that God loves his children – all his children – that he loves me, and that he provides moments of light and transcendence amid the constant trial.”. “Many will seek to tell me what God’s will is. He is quiet, and my anguish is so intense, so incredibly loud, that right now I can only do my will and hope that somehow, it aligns with his.”. "Our immortality comes through our children and their children."
"Amy Harmon brings together the best and the worst of humanity on these pages, paving this journey with violence and bravery, horror and love. It's a ruthless barrage of emotions, this story, a relentless war between life and death, between good and evil, illustrated exquisitely by an author whose writing prowess knows no bounds. I've read many books of the true accounts of holocaust survivors, seen the movies and documentaries, taken classes concentrating on this area of study. To feel as though you know their strength, to get to know their life up until the moment it is stolen away, to know their helplessness in the face of something so unjust and so terrifying, it changes the way you look at the world, to see such atrocities through their eyes. This may be a fictionalized account inspired by true events, but you won't convince my heart Eva and Angelo aren't real. This story weaves it's way under your skin and into your soul so you feel every step of their journey, of their fight, of this miracle. Our world would be such a beautiful, peaceful, harmonious one if we sought to understand each other instead of judging each other for the ways we are different, for the God we pray to, for where each of our trees first took root. From Sand and Ash is a rich work of art, a stunning masterpiece that has moved me, altered me, captivated me. These characters, this fictionalized truth swathed in Harmon's unparalleled storytelling and her breathtaking writing style make for an epic story of bravery, love, resilience and loss that is both haunting and heartwarming all at once."
Best Greek & Roman Literature
Homer’s great epic The Odyssey —one of Western literature’s most enduring and important works—translated by Richmond Lattimore. The most eloquent translation of Homer's epic chronicle of the Greek hero Odysseus and his arduous journey home after the Trojan War.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Peter Green states in the introduction that he is following in the footsteps of Lattimore, to preserve as much of the poem in Greek--wording, sentence structure, meter, and so on--in English, but to also make it declaimable. There is the Fagles translation, in modern free verse, is wonderful to read aloud. The Fagles Odyssey was on Selected Shorts once, and for a long time after I insisted that there was no other worthwhile contemporary translation of Homer. Lombardo's translation is pretty common in colleges because of the price and the slangy presentation. In the Greek, the Iliad has "μῆνιν ἄειδε θεὰ Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος" Quite literally, "Rage! The first word is the theme of the poem, the way it is directed first against Agamemnon, then toward the Trojans, and then tempered for a common moment of humanity, is the internal trajectory of the whole epic. Make it into readable English, and you wind up with a host of compromises where thousands of close translations might do. Go far enough you wind up with Girardoux's "The Trojan War Will Not Take Place," worthwhile on its own, but not really a "translation." The introduction includes a plot summary of the whole Trojan War, of which the Iliad only covers a small portion. There is also a synopsis of the poem keyed to the poem in the back matter to help find your place, an enlightening glossary of names and concepts to help you through your first read, and footnotes to inform the reader of context that has since been lost."
"With many books, translations are negligible, with two obvious exceptions, one is the Bible, and surprisingly the other is The Iliad. -Translated by Robert Fagles, 1990. “Sing, O Goddess, the anger of Achilles, son of Peleus, that brought countless ills upon the Achaeans. Many a brave soul did it send hurrying down to Hades, and many a heroes did it yield a prey to dogs and vultures for so were the counsels of Zeus fulfilled from the day on which the son of Atreus, king of men, and great Achilles first fell out with one another.”. -Translated by Samuel Butler, 1888. “Rage: Sing, Goddess, Achilles’ rage, Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks. Incalculable pain pitched countless souls. Of heroes into Hades’ dark, And let their bodies rot as feasts. For dogs and birds, as Zeus’ will was done. Begin with the clash between Agamemnon—. The Greek Warlord—and godlike Achilles.”. -Translated by Stanley Lombardo, 1997. “Anger be now your song, immortal one, Akhilleus’ anger, doomed and ruinous, that caused the Akhaians loss on bitter loss. and crowded brave souls into the undergloom, leaving so many dead men—carrion. for dogs and birds; and the will of Zeus was done. Begin it when the two men first contending. broke with one another—. the Lord Marshal Agamémnon, Atreus’ son, and Prince Akhilleus.”. -Translated by Translated by Robert Fitzgerald, 1963. “Sing, goddess, the anger of Peleus’ son of Achilleus and its devastation, which puts pains thousandfold upon the Achains, hurled in the multitudes to the house of Hades strong souls of heroes, but gave their bodies to be the delicate feasting of dogs, of all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished since that time when first there stood the division of conflict Atrecus’ son the lord of men and brilliant Achilleus.”. –Translated by Richmond Lattimore, 1951. “Sing, goddess, of Peleus’ son Achilles’ anger, ruinous, that caused the Greeks untold ordeals, consigned to Hades countless valiant souls, heroes, and left their bodies prey for dogs or feast for vultures. Zeus’s will was done from when those two first quarreled and split apart, the king, Agamemnon, and matchless Achilles.”. -Translated by Herbert Jordan, 2008. “An angry man-there is my story: the bitter rancor of Achillês, prince of the house of Peleus, which brought a thousand troubles upon the Achaian host. Many a strong soul it sent down to Hadês, and left the heroes themselves a prey to the dogs and carrion birds, while the will of God moved on to fulfillment.”. -Translated and transliterated by W.H.D. Rouse, 1950. “Achilles’ wrath, to Greece the direful spring. Of woes unnumber’d, heavenly goddess, sing! That wrath which hurl’d to Pluto’s gloomy reign. The souls of mighty chiefs untimely slain; Whose limbs unburied on the naked shore, Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore. Peleus’ son; His wrath pernicious, who ten thousand woes. Caused to Achaia’s host, sent many a soul. Illustrious into Ades premature, And Heroes gave (so stood the will of Jove). To dogs and to all ravening fowls a prey, When fierce dispute had separated once. The noble Chief Achilles from the son. Of Atreus, Agamemnon, King of men.”. -Translated by William Cowper, London 1791. “Achilles’ baneful wrath – resound, O goddess – that impos’d. Infinite sorrow on the Greeks, and the brave souls loos’d. From beasts heroic; sent them far, to that invisible cave*. That no light comforts; and their limbs to dogs and vultures gave: To all which Jove’s will give effect; from whom the first strife begun. Betwixt Atrides, king of men, and Thetis’ godlike son*”. -Translated by George Chapman, 1616. “The Rage of Achilles—sing it now, goddess, sing through me. the deadly rage that caused the Achaeans such grief. and hurled down to Hades the souls of so many fighters, leaving their naked flesh to be eaten by dogs. and carrion birds, as the will of Zeus was accomplished. Begin at the time when bitter words first divided. that king of men, Agamemnon, and godlike Achilles.”. -Translated by Stephen Mitchell. “Sing now, goddess, the wrath of Achilles the scion of Peleus, ruinous rage which brought the Achaians uncounted afflictions; many of the powerful souls it sent to the dwelling of Hades, those of the heroes, and spoil for the dogs it made it their bodies, plunder for the birds, and the purpose of Zeus was accomplished__”. -Translated by Rodney Merrill. “Sing, goddess, the anger of Achilles, Peleus’ son, the accused anger which brought the Achaeans countless. agonies and hurled many mighty shades of heroes into Hades, causing them to become the prey of dogs. and all kinds of birds; and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled.”. -Translated by Anthony Verity. Antony does not attempt to be poetic. “Of Peleus’ son, Achilles, sing, O Muse, The vengeance, deep and deadly; whence to Greece. Unnumbered ills arose; which many a soul. Of mighty warriors to the viewless shades. Ultimately sent; they on the battle plain. Unburied lay, to rav’ning dogs, And carrion birds; but had Jove decreed,”. -Translated by Edward Smith-Stanly 1862. “Sing, Goddess of the rage of Achilles, son of Peleus-. that murderous anger witch condemned Achaeans. to countless agonies and threw many warrior souls. deep into Hades, leaving their dead bodies. carrion food for dogs and birds-. all in the fulfillment of the will of Zeus”. - Translated by Professor Ian Johnston, British Columbia 2006. “The rage, sing O goddess, of Achilles, son of Peleus, The destructive anger that brought ten-thousand pains to the. Achaeans and sent many brave souls of fighting men to the house. of Hades and made their bodies a feast for dogs. and all kinds of birds. For such was the will of Zeus.”. - Translated by Barry B. Powell. “Wrath, goddess, sing of Achilles Pēleus’s son’s calamitous wrath, which hit the Achaians countless ills many the valiant souls it saw off down to Hādēs, souls of heroes, their selves left as carrion for dogs and all birds of prey, and the plan of Zeus was fulfilled from the first moment those two men parted in fury, Atreus’s son, king of men, and the godlike Achilles.”. -Translated by Peter Green. “Sing, goddess, the wrath of Achilles Peleus' son, the ruinous wrath that brought on the Achaians woes innumerable, and hurled down into Hades many strong souls of heroes, and gave their bodies to be a prey to dogs and all winged fowls; and so the counsel of Zeus wrought out its accomplishment from the day when first strife parted Atreides king of men and noble Achilles.”. - Translated by Andrew Lang, M.A., Walter Leaf, Litt.D., And Ernest Myers, M.A. --------. Wrath–sing, goddess, of the ruinous wrath of Peleus’ son Achilles, that inflicted woes without number upon the Achaeans, hurled fourth to Hades many strong souls of warriors. and rendered their bodies prey for the dogs, for all birds, and the will of Zeus was accomplished; sing from when they to first stood in conflict-. Ateus’ son, lord of men, and godlike Achilles. We have the wide conflict between the Trojans and Achaeans over a matter of pride; the gods get to take sides and many times direct spears and shields. That of Achilles, son of Peleus and the greatest individual warrior and that of Agamemnon, lord of men, whose power comes form position."
Best Eastern European Literature
This first-hand account by the commander of one of those Panther tanks relates with devastating clarity the conditions inside the Kessel, the ferocity of the breakout attempt through Halbe, and the subsequent running battles between overwhelming Soviet forces and the exhausted Reich troops, who were using their last reserves of fuel, ammunition, strength and hope. Eloquent German-perspective accounts of World War 2 are surprisingly rare, and the recent reissue of Wolfgang Faust’s 1948 memoir ‘Tiger Tracks’ has fascinated readers around the world with its insight into the Eastern Front. The rarely-heard voice of a World War 2 panzer crewman, now in a modern English translation.
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Find Best Price at Amazon"(Read "Tiger Tracks") Faust's accounts puts the reader right into the turret of a deadly Panther tank as it confronts overwhelming Soviet infantry, armor, and air power hell-bent on capturing and annihilating all German forces within their grasp as the war ended east of the Elbe river."
"True blood and guts, no sparing of the final dying moments of the 3rd Reich , with all the mayhem and madness, and mass indiscriminate death of all and sundry, for the sake of War."
"However, one can still read this and well imagine what it must have been like to try to reach the American side during the final days of the war."
"Brutality, heroism, and broken hearts, as the Last Panther rolls towards the west to escape the surrounding Russian forces."
"It is harrowing and the. graphic...an armored column mixed column of regular army, scattered SS trying to escape certain death...and a surging hopeless civilians.."
"Very well written Personal account of WWII from a German soldier's point of view."
"His account confirms that civilized humanity is paper thin and when torn asunder by war's ravages it quickly exposes man's brutish nature as nothing else can."
"Faust is detailed in describing his experience, so it's worth reading for those interested in Eastern Front warfare, as well as modelers."
Best Middle Eastern Literature
For after they learn that Selva is but one of their fellow citizens trapped in France, a handful of brave Turkish diplomats hatch a plan to spirit the Alfandaris and hundreds of innocents, many of whom are Jewish, to safety. Highly recommended.” – Historical Novel Review “Kulin, a bestselling Turkish author, has penned this brilliant novel using the techniques of historical fiction.
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Find Best Price at Amazon"It's great to read and learn about the WW II experience and actions of a country other than England, France, Germany, and the US. It's to be hoped that this book will inspire the country to remain true to its commitment to its citizens of all faiths -- something that can't be taken for granted today. As to the story, it's principally about 2 sisters who took different paths in life - one with a traditionally-accepted marriage with social prestige and the other who chose a Jewish man and was disowned by her family."
"In Turkey they were well received and there was (and is) no antisemitism, but it is not tolerated that a high society muslim girl should marry a Jewish man, even if he comes from such a special origin. The history describes the enormous efforts of the Turkish diplomats to organize this special train which during a very long and dangerous journey through several countries finally deposits the Turks safely in Istanbul."
"The suspense of the story was if or when this train car might depart France and then if it would arrive safely in France."
"The question of How is the Author's Writing is awkward, because I felt most of the problems in the writing were translation rather than original writer."
"The collaborating Vichy government of France were rounding up Jews for deportation but Turkey demanded that those 476 people were their citizens and therefore under their protection. The journey across Europe was dangerous and its successful completion depended upon the fact that Turkey stuck to its position that all its citizens, regardless of origin or religion, were equal and deserved protection."