United States Books - Page 3

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel

Lisa See

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 605 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Phenomenal Women Book Club (Houston, TX) 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was a wonderful, loving, and tragic story of friendship and betrayal that teaches the reader much about compassion and forgiveness. We felt that Snow Flower and the Secret Fan was a book that truly transcended time and culture. This plot, with two women at its center, encompasses the hurt, pain, anguish, and undying compassion two women felt for each other. The author's ability to paint `true and clear' pictures of her characters allows you to see into their soul; thus developing a deeper understanding of both the men and women portrayed in the book.

This is a memorable piece that allows you to experience feelings that you have faced either through your own life or the life of a loved one. After reading it, many of us were forced to rethink the experiences we've had in the 20th century and how they are reminiscent of the events shown in the book: dishonesty, betrayal, a desire to survive, illness. All of these ultimately ending up with a common denominator of devotion and forgiveness.

Many of us cried as we completed the book because we came to the realization that this would not be a happily ever after tale. "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" was a great story with twists and turns you might not anticipate. Through this book many can better understand how far women have come since the days of foot binding; it also shows us how far we have not come from sharing a sisterhood of secrets, compassion, betrayal, and unconditional love as sisters. This was an excellent story and we highly recommend it.

Editorial Review:

In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Tsar: A Thriller

Ted Bell

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 150 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Swashbuckling counter Spy Alex Hawke returns in New York Times bestselling author Ted Bell's most explosive tale of international suspense to date.

There dwells, somewhere in Russia, a man so powerful no one even knows his name. His existence is only speculated upon, only whispered about in American corridors of power and CIA strategy meetings. Though he is all but invisible, he is pulling strings -- and pulling them hard. For suddenly, Russia is a far, far more ominous threat than even the most hardened cold warriors ever thought possible.

The Russians have their finger on the switch to the European economy and an eye on the American jugular. And, most importantly, they want to be made whole again. Should America interfere with Russia's plans to "reintegrate" her rogue states, well then, America will pay in blood.

In Ted Bell's latest pulse-pounding and action-packed tour de force, Alex Hawke must face a global nightmare of epic proportions. As this political crisis plays out, Russia gains a new leader. Not just a president, but a new tsar, a signal to the world that the old, imperial Russia is back and plans to have her day. And in America, a mysterious killer, known only as Happy the Baker, brutally murders an innocent family and literally flattens the small Midwestern town they once called home. Just a taste, according to the new tsar, of what will happen if America does not back down. Onto this stage must step Alex Hawke, espionage agent extraordinaire and the only man, both Americans and the Brits agree, who can stop the absolute madness borne and bred inside the modern police state of Vladimir Putin's 'New Russia'.

Fireproof

Eric Wilson, Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick

Amazon Price: $10.19 List Price: $14.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Thomas Nelson Amazon Marketplace: 42 new & used starting at $7.00

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

So Real, So Relevant 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Every marriage goes through some tough times. In this day and age, most of us accept divorce as acceptable and sometimes expected in a marriage. It is refreshing to read a story that is based on renewing a couple's love for each other and showing the blessings you can reap from forgiveness rather than the continuing hurt of divorce.

This story is realistic. I felt like I was reading about an actual couple who had gone through feelings of separation and written a story about it. They have been married for six years - long enough to know each other well, and to be disgusted with each other. It is interesting to have the viewpoint of both the man and the woman, to be able to put yourself in both of their shoes, so to speak.

I think a lot of spouses go through similar feelings of distance and could relate well to the characters. There is not a lot of drama as you might see in a movie or on TV - not a lot of tension that you feel as you are reading. It is, however, real enough to someone who is going through similar heartaches, similar fights, and similar distances without putting the blame on only one or the other.

I have not read any other Eric Wilson books as of yet, and I have not yet seen the movie, "Fireproof." From this novelization, I can see his talent of fiction writing, adding such lovely descriptions of a fire, of the surroundings in a scene, of a person's thoughts and struggles. I look forward to reading one of his own novels, which I received today!

"Fireproof" can touch lives and encourage married couples to focus their attention back onto each other and to make their marriage fireproof through the One who can bring redemption, love and joy into it.

Editorial Review:

Inside burning buildings, Captain Caleb Holt lives by the firefighter's adage:  Never leave your partner.

Yet at home, in the cooling embers of his marriage, he lives by his own rules.

Growing up, his wife Catherine always dreamed of marrying a loving, brave firefighter . . . just like her father.  Now, after seven years of marriage, she wonders when she stopped being "good enough."  Countless arguments and anger have them wanting to move on to something with more sparks. 

As they prepare for divorce, Caleb's father challenges him to commit to a 40-day experiment:  "The Love Dare."  Wondering if it's even worth the effort, Caleb agrees, for his father's sake more than for his marriage.

Surprised by what he discovers about the meaning of love, Caleb realizes that his wife and marriage are worth fighting for.  His job is to rescue others.  Now Captain Holt is ready to face his toughest job      ever . . . rescuing his wife's heart.

Goodnight Bush: A Parody

Gan Golan, Erich Origen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 60 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Brutally funny take on the Bush years 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

A dark comedic masterpiece to anyone intimately familiar with the original "Goodnight Moon" and deeply disturbed by the Bush legacy. Having read "Goodnight moon" literally hundreds of times to my children when they were young, every page hit a familiar, yet oddly discordant note. The same kind of surreal visual progression yet lulling cadence is used as in the original to great effect. Lots of small details to notice on subsequent readings. A sad story, but one that carries a positive message that the end of this long trying "day" in American history is nearly over. A book you'll likely either love or hate.

Editorial Review:

A brilliant parody of the children's classic Goodnight Moon, built around the coming end of the worst presidency ever.

Goodnight Bush: An Unauthorized Parody is a hilarious and poignant visual requiem for the Bush administration. In it we see a childlike George W. Bush tucked safely away in the confines of his own room with all of the toys he's willfully destroyed, abused, or defaced. Complete with a quiet Dick Cheney whispering "hush," this bedtime story lets us finally say goodnight to the disaster that was the last eight years.

The Widows of Eastwick

John Updike

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Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Contemporary

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

More than three decades have passed since the events described in John Updike’s The Witches of Eastwick. The three divorcées—Alexandra, Jane, and Sukie—have left town, remarried, and become widows. They cope with their grief and solitude as widows do: they travel the world, to such foreign lands as Canada, Egypt, and China, and renew old acquaintance. Why not, Sukie and Jane ask Alexandra, go back to Eastwick for the summer? The old Rhode Island seaside town, where they indulged in wicked mischief under the influence of the diabolical Darryl Van Horne, is still magical for them. Now Darryl is gone, and their lovers of the time have aged or died, but enchantment remains in the familiar streets and scenery of the village, where they enjoyed their lusty primes as free and empowered women. And, among the local citizenry, there are still those who remember them, and wish them ill. How they cope with the lingering traces of their evil deeds, the shocks of a mysterious counterspell, and the advancing inroads of old age, form the burden on Updike’s delightful, ominous sequel.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Sherman Alexie

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 98 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Excellent 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I bought the books and it was in excellent condition. I would buy again and the fast shipping. thanks.

Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club.com 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Arnold Spirit is a freshman at a high school on the Spokane Indian reservation in northwest Washington. All his life he's been picked on because he looks strange: his head is large because he was born with hydrocephalus, he has seizures, too many teeth and he wears thick glasses. But Arnold is very smart, and he likes drawing. When a teacher counsels him to find hope in the form of attending a white high school off the reservation, Arnold makes a bold move toward a future he didn't think was possible.

Through Arnold's eyes we see the problems faced by many on modern Indian reservations: alcoholism, poverty, lack of opportunity and despair. Yet, we also find acceptance of the shortcomings among those we call family and a way to follow your dreams without denigrating those you leave behind.

Arnold's story is for anyone who chooses to follow a different path than the one clearly laid out before him. Issues of race, friendship, love and community should provide great discussion for mother-daughter book club members.

Editorial Review:

In his first book for young adults, bestselling author Sherman Alexie tells the story of Junior, a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Heartbreaking, funny, and beautifully written, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, which is based on the author's own experiences, coupled with poignant drawings by acclaimed artist Ellen Forney, that reflect the character's art, chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he was destined to live.

Be With Me

Maya Banks

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Be With Me 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Cam Douglas, Hutch Bishop, and Sawyer Pritchard have always loved one woman - Reggie Fallon. They never thought about being with anyone else because she had full and total ownership of their hearts. Her love for them was equally consuming, but she was always afraid that she would have to decide between them at some point, and she knew she wouldn't be able to. Her greatest fear was hurting the men she loved so dearly. The night they all gave into desire, she was frightened to the bottom of her soul, and fled from her men. She ran for an entire year until the night she almost died in the line of duty.

Reggie was a proud strong police officer, and hated showing weakness, but while recuperating in the hospital, she was so grateful to have her Birdie there. Birdie raised Cam, Hutch, and Sawyer, but also Reggie in the ways that mattered most. She had a family, but they never had time, or really wanted a child. From Birdie, she received the unconditional love that every child craves. She knew from Birdie's presence that it was just a matter of time until her men came. When the trio showed up to take her home, she knew her days of running were over. They were all going to have to face the past together, if there was going to be a future. What they did not anticipate was the danger that followed Reggie to reemerge with a vengeance.

What a great new story from MB! She is already a must buy for me, but I am always surprised how she brings new elements to each offering. While the ménage was anticipated, she focused a lot on the more emotional issues. We got to see the internal upheaval, compromise, insecurities, and jealousies that can occur dealing with this type of dynamic relationship. This book is full of suspense, multifaceted characters, and enough eroticism to make you melt! Definitely a must read!!

Editorial Review:

She has a killer on her tail and three men in her bed…

An author who knows how to please turns up the Heat in a sizzling new novel of erotic suspense…

Hutch, Cam, and Sawyer were juvenile delinquents when they formed a friendship with the wealthy but lonely Regina. She felt loved for the first time in her life—by all three. Today she’s a police officer and wary of resuming her relationship with the hot trio—until an attempt is made on her life. When they jump in to protect her, an all-new bond is formed, one riskier than ever before because now a killer looms in the shadows.

Michelle: A Biography

Liza Mundy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

She can be funny and sharp-tongued, warm and blunt, empathic and demanding. Who is the woman Barack Obama calls "the boss"? In Michelle, Washington Post writer Liza Mundy paints a revealing and intimate portrait, taking us inside the marriage of the most dynamic couple in politics today. She shows how well they complement each other: Michelle, the highly organized, sometimes intimidating, list-making pragmatist; Barack, the introspective political charmer who won't pick up his socks but shoots for the stars. Their relationship, like those of many couples with two careers and two children, has been so strained at times that he has had to persuade her to support his climb up the political ladder. And you can't blame her for occasionally regretting it: In this campaign, it is Michelle who has absorbed much of the skepticism from voters about Obama. One conservative magazine put her on the cover under the headline "Mrs. Grievance."

Michelle's story carries with it all the extraordinary achievements and lingering pain of America in the post-civil rights era. She grew up on the south side of Chicago, the daughter of a city worker and a stay-at-home mom in a neighborhood rocked by white flight. She was admitted to Princeton amid an angry debate about affirmative action and went on to Harvard Law School, where she was more comfortable doing pro-bono work for the poor than gunning for awards with the rest of her peers. She became a corporate lawyer, then left to train community leaders. She is modern in her tastes but likes to watch reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Brady Bunch.

In this carefully reported biography, drawing upon interviews with more than one hundred people, including one with Michelle herself, Mundy captures the complexity of this remarkable woman and the remarkable life she has lived.

Time of My Life: A Novel

Allison Winn Scotch

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Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Contemporary

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Jillian Westfield has the perfect suburban life straight out of the upscale women's magazines that she obsessively reads. She’s got the modern-print rugs of Metropolitan Home, the elegant meals from Gourmet, the clutter-free closets out of Real Simple, and the elaborate Easter egg hunts seen in Parents. With her successful investment banker husband behind the wheel and her cherubic eighteen-month-old in the backseat, hers could be the family in the magazines’ glossy Range Rover ads.

Yet somehow all of the how-to magazine stories in the world can’t seem to fix her faltering marriage, banish the tedium of days spent changing diapers, or stop her from asking, “What if?”

Then one morning Jillian wakes up seven years in the past. Before her daughter was born. Before she married Henry. Suddenly she’s back in her post–grad school Ikea-furnished Manhattan apartment. She’s back in her fast-paced job with the advertising agency. And she’s still with Jackson, the ex-boyfriend and star of her what-if fantasies.

Armed with twenty-twenty hindsight, she’s free to choose all over again. She can use the zippy ad campaigns from her future to wow the clients and bosses in her present. She can reconnect with the mother who abandoned her so many years before. She can fix the fights at every juncture that doomed her relationship with Jackson. Or can she?

With each new choice setting off a trajectory of unforeseen consequences, Jillian soon realizes that getting to happily ever after is more complicated than changing the lines in her part of the script. Happiness, it turns out, isn’t an either-or proposition. As she closes in on all the things she thought she wanted, Jillian must confront the greatest what-if of all: What if the problem was never Henry or Jackson, but her?

Sharp, funny, and heartwarming, Time of My Life will appeal to anyone who has ever wanted to redo the past and will leave readers pondering, “Do we get the reality we deserve?”

Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid

Dr. Denis Leary

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A hilarious blast of scathing irreverence from the award-winning actor and comedian.

“A pissed off Leary is the best Leary,” says one critic of the writer and comic. In Why We Suck, Dr. Denis Leary uses his common sense, and his biting and hilarious take on the world, to attack the politically correct, the hypocritical, the obese, the thin--basically everyone who takes themselves too seriously. He does so with the extra oomph of a doctorate bestowed upon him by his alma mater Emerson College. “Sure it’s just a celebrity type of thing--they only gave it to me because I’m famous.” Leary explains. “But it’s legal and it means I get to say I’m a doctor--just like Dr. Phil.”

In Why We Suck, Leary’s famously smart style and sardonic wit have found their fullest and fiercest expression yet. Zeroing in on the ridiculous wherever he finds it, Leary unravels his Irish Catholic upbringing, the folly of celebrity, the pressures of family life, and the great hypocrisy of politics with the same bright, savage, and profane insight he brought to his critically acclaimed one-man shows No Cure for Cancer and Lock ’n Load, and his platinum-selling song, “Asshole.”

Proudly Irish American, defiantly working class, with a reserve of compassion for the underdog and the overlooked, Leary delivers blistering diatribes that are penetrating social commentary with no holds barred. Leary’s book will find wide appeal among people who want to laugh out loud or find a guide who matches their view of what’s wrong in America and the world-at-large; and fans of his one-man shows, his many movies, and Rescue Me, Leary’s Golden Globe and Emmy–nominated television show. Why We Suck is the latest salvo from one of America’s most original and biting comic satirists.