Cross

Book Description

Alex Cross was a rising star in the Washington, DC, Police Department when an unknown shooter gunned down his wife, Maria, in front of him. The killer was never found, and the case turned cold, filed among the unsolved drive-bys in D.C.'s rough neighborhoods. Years later, still haunted by his wife's death, Cross is making a bold move in his life. Now a free agent from the police and the FBI, he's set up practice as a psychologist once again. His life with Nana Mama, Damon, Jannie, and little Alex is finally getting in order. He even has a chance at a new love. Then Cross's former partner, John Sampson, calls in a favor. He is tracking a serial rapist in Georgetown, one whose brutal modus operandi recalls a case Sampson and Cross worked together years earlier. When the case reveals a connection to Maria's death, Cross latches on for the most urgent and terrifying ride of his life. From the man USA Today has called the "master of the genre," Cross is the high-velocity thriller James Patterson and Alex Cross's fans have waited years to read--and the pinnacle of the bestselling detective series of the past two decades.

Customer Reviews:

Now that was one awful book.......2007-10-17

Did a 4th grader write this book? What a mess. Now I remember why I stopped reading Patterson. Look at Patterson's picture on the back of the book; it looks like he's apologetic. As if to say " I'm sorry this book is so terrible. Please buy it anyway."

Good, But Lacking.......2007-10-14

While the latest installment of Alex Cross was good, it was lacking something. That something was the ending, which was a total letdown after all the suspense built up through the book.

James Patterson could've done so much with this concept, and while it was a page-turner, I feel like he really dropped the ball in wrapping it up.

Another fast ride........2007-10-14

Once again Mr Patterson has given us a look into the life of Alex Cross. There is something that has always made this character endearing. Could it be the relationship with his children or the way he allows his Grandmother to guide him when he needs it. Then of course there are the bad guys that he has to find and stop. With the help of his ex-partner John Sampson he opens up the old wounds created by the death of his wife Maria as it seems that her killer has once again entered his life. I really enjoyed this one.

Enjoyed this latest Cross update.......2007-10-09

The story has its usual twists and turns, especially at the end, and kept me turning the pages to see how it would all play out. What a surprise at the end. Lots of foreshadowing though from the Butcher, but I didn't see where the answer would come from. Neat little twist.

Terrible, absolutely terrible.......2007-10-05

I'm half way through this and I'm scanning like crazy. Can't wait for it to be over! No wonder Patterson's chapters are only 2 pages long -- there's no substance, the story is fragmented - totally lacks cohesion.

Didn't care for some of his others either -- cookie cutter templates that lack credibility and substance. I think Patterson is way past his prime for writing now.

Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History

Average customer rating:

America, the Christian Nation Under God
Rediscovering God in America
faith is still here...
Outstanding
Great CD!

Rediscovering God in America: Reflections on the Role of Faith in Our Nation's History
Newt Gingrich
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1591454824

Book Description

A simple walk through Washington, D.C. began a profound journey of personal discovery and renewal for Newt Gingrich, one of America's most influential politicians and commentators. At the National Archives, the immortal words from the Declaration of Independence that we "are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights," jumped off the page and into his heart with the simple truth that from day one in our country's history, the Author of freedom was not the state nor even the Founding Fathers. Our basic human rights and freedoms were-and are-"Creator-endowed." Gingrich sounds a clarion call for us to recognize that the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness that we hold so dear are inseparable from a sincere and humble acknowledgement that these gifts are only the Creator's to give. As a bonus, the book includes a "walking tour" of Washington, D.C.

Customer Reviews:

America, the Christian Nation Under God .......2007-09-26

This book was another top notch, highly informative conservative-traditionalist volume that speaks the truth that America is indeed a Christian Judeo nation at heart.

It is so vitally important for American culture to return to our moral religious values, and seek the historical truth that indeed the Founders were very spiritual people who upheld very Christian ideals in springing to life the American nation.

While Thomas Jefferson was a Deist (not an Atheist but one who believed that God had sprung the universe into life with little involvement in the affairs of man), many of the founders themselves were personally brought up in the Christian tradition. I can recall the miracle on Christmas when George Washington crossed the Delaware River to storm the Hessian base camp, or his Thanksgiving Day prayer.

One can come to the logical conclusion that the inspiration of the American idea was spawned from the both the secular notions of the Enlightenment era, and the philosophies of Christianity.

Regardless of those extremists out there who try to twist history into something that it wasn't for PC reasons or their own personal contempt for American Christian ideals, there is no United States of America with out the traditions and philosophies of Jesus Christ.

God, the Ten Commandments, & the teachings of the lord Jesus Christ will always be apart of America.

This is one fantastic book worth your time and money.

And if a loser named Peter decides to spam my review with is radical trash, please ignore him because he is an internet stalking pervert. (& no one cares about what he thinks anyway.)

Rediscovering God in America.......2007-09-10

The book is an excellent reminder of the source of strength and wisdom that all our founders looked to as they made decisions concerning the founding of America. There is a clear discussion of the separations issue and the foolish conclusion that our leaders did not want God a part of public life. It reminds us of the importance that all leaders in the first 100 years of the country place on Christian faith.

faith is still here..........2007-07-26

Millionaire in 365 Days: The Daily Plan to Get There

America is the MOST faith based country in the world....But ???

Newt is such an interesting guy...it is worth reading to get a sense of the history of how our country's founders and there on saw faith as part of America.....buy it, if you have faith in America as well...

Outstanding.......2007-07-21

I read with interest how our founding fathers consistently built buildings with the reminders that there is a Supreme being, God, who has blessed us with this country, our constitution, and our democracy. There are so many nihilists around us that would destroy all of this. Evil does lurk in this world. A well writtent book, succinct but accurate with historical facts.

Great CD!.......2007-07-16

This CD is very helpful for anyone visiting our nation's capitol. I wish we'd had it before our visit.

Washington, D.C., Then and Now (Then & Now)

Average customer rating:

Pretty Good
Interesting historical look at the nation's capitol
Washington DC Then and Now

Washington, D.C., Then and Now (Then & Now)
Alexander D. Mitchell IV
Manufacturer: Thunder Bay Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1571451919

Book Description

Millions of schoolchildren and visitors make the pilgrimage to our nation's capital each year. Built on reclaimed swampland, Washington is now the country's neoclassical seat of government and culture. Now you can witness Washington's development over the last century and a half. Seventy modern color photographs are compared side-by-side with seventy archival photographs from the 1850s to the 1950s. While focusing on famous vistas and familiar landmarks, it also explores well-known neighborhoods. The Then and Now series includes: New York, Washington, Boston, and San Francisco.

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Good.......2006-10-01

This book is pretty good to see a historical comparison of Washington DC "then" vs. "now." The most disappointing aspect here is that a lot of the current pictures seem to have been taken on the same overcast late fall/early winter day. Washington DC is one of the most beautiful cities in the world but a lot of the current pictures don't capture that. The historical pictures and overall comparisons are pretty good though and I would have rated this a "5" if they had done a better job capturing the city's beauty. A solid "4" none the less.

Interesting historical look at the nation's capitol.......2005-04-01

Having seen a few other books showing historical photos of different cities' landmarks and their modern looks, I was interested to see what this book would offer. I was not disappointed, fiding the choice of subjects ranging form the famous to the obscure, painting a picture of a Washington long ago.

With many of the more famous buildings in Washington having been built in the last 70 years, there aren't as many older structural pictures to hold up against a view of the current looks. This is often refelcted by what originally stood on the site, and then the facing page shows what is built on the site now. Obviously, there are pictures showing the White House, Capitol, and a few other notable buildings to examine for small changes, but the majority of the book features things the average visitor wouldn't normally notice.

To people who have spent some time in this great city, they would greatly appreciate where the modern looks and everyday scenery has come from. To the average reader, this book would be an interesting coffee table book to entertain the curious.

Washington DC Then and Now.......2000-07-18

Washington D.C., Then and Now, is full of many fascinating pictures taken in and around the Washington D.C. area. The city is rich in history and full of a number of buildings, monuments and historic areas. Through the years, the city has changed and developed around these landmarks. Washington D.C., Then and Now traces this development and change through pictures.

The premise behind the book is to show the reader each area of the city as it appeared using archival photographs on one page, and comparing it to a recent picture of the same area, taken from approximately the same location, to demonstrate how the area has evolved.

The author has organized the book by street name or area. The earliest known picture of the Capitol, taken in 1846, is the most famous picture (Only seven are known to exist). There is an interesting story about how the rare picture was obtained. You'll have to get the book to find out.

Amazon.com

The villain is a classic spy caricature: cold-war CIA super-patriot Robert Thornhill wants to reclaim the glory days of the Central Intelligence Agency--when money flowed like the Mississippi during a flood, and the FBI watched helplessly from the sidelines. Working from his secret underground bunker, he blackmails Danny Buchanan, one of the great Washington lobbyists, to front an enormous bribery scheme that will force Congress to bend to the CIA's whims. But Thornhill's plan springs a leak: Buchanan's assistant Faith Lockhart discovers her boss's dirty dealings, and she intends to expose the whole mess to Thornhill's nemesis, the FBI. Thornhill's associates attempt to assassinate Faith, but their bullet kills her FBI escort instead. Faith finds herself on the run with Lee Adams, a fit-and-trim PI who had been shadowing her at the behest of Buchanan.

If all this sounds a bit confusing, it is at times. Baldacci works hard to keep the tension steadily rising, but it is sometimes difficult to remember why Faith and Lee can't just stop running and go for help. Nevertheless, they are very likable heroes, and Baldacci's depiction of the world of lobbyists and the internecine warfare of the FBI and CIA (complete with state-of-the-art spy gadgets and transmission-proof chambers) elevates the novel with details that can come only from careful research. --Patrick O'Kelley

Book Description

It sounds like a movie pitch: "The story is like Tom Clancy crossed with John Grisham set in the Washington D.C. political world." But David Baldacci's Saving Faith successfully fuses elements from both of these chart-busters in this political thriller spiced with techno-wizardry.The villain is a classic spy caricature: cold-war CIA super-patriot Robert Thornhill wants to reclaim the glory days of the Central Intelligence Agency--when money flowed like the Mississippi during a flood, and the FBI watched helplessly from the sidelines. Working from his secret underground bunker, he blackmails Danny Buchanan, one of the great Washington lobbyists, to front an enormous bribery scheme that will force Congress to bend to the CIA's whims. But Thornhill's plan springs a leak: Buchanan's assistant Faith Lockhart discovers her boss's dirty dealings, and she intends to expose the whole mess to Thornhill's nemesis, the FBI. Thornhill's associates attempt to assassinate Faith, but their bullet kills her FBI escort instead. Faith finds herself on the run with Lee Adams, a fit-and-trim PI who had been shadowing her at the behest of Buchanan. If all this sounds a bit confusing, it is at times. Baldacci works hard to keep the tension steadily rising, but it is sometimes difficult to remember why Faith and Lee can't just stop running and go for help. Nevertheless, they are very likable heroes, and Baldacci's depiction of the world of lobbyists and the internecine warfare of the FBI and CIA (complete with state-of-the-art spy gadgets and transmission-proof chambers) elevates the novel with details that can come only from careful research. --Patrick O'Kelley

Download Description

Danny Buchanan and Faith Lockhart are the greatest influence peddlers in Washington because they can guarantee results. But Buchanan's bribery scheme is uncovered by Robert Thornhill, a zealous CIA chief, and he is forced to spy on his clients and network of politicians to further Thornhill's grand plan. Separately, Lockhart goes to the FBI to tell all, and thus becomes a target of Thornhill's. As the FBI is unknowingly pitted against the CIA mastermind, and Buchanan and Lockhart think each is destroying the other, it's left to private investigator Lee Brennan to "save Faith."

Customer Reviews:

Not his best.......2007-08-14

I'm still confused on how Faith and Danny did what they did. Not much character developement and suspending disbelief seems to be a major prerequisite for this book (and the narrator was horrible). But there are a few surprises and not much else. Overall, not a very memorable story.

Hooked me for hours!!!.......2007-07-25

This book started off kinda slow, but then kept getting more and more convoluted and exciting. I couldn't lay it down for the last hundred pages. A man's book, to be sure, but also extremely interesting to anyone who has served with one of the intelligence services.

Baldacci takes readers on a heck of a ride.......2007-07-16

Saving Faith opens during a meeting of a top-secret cartel headed by Robert Thornhill, Deputy Director of the Central IntelIigence Agency. Pursuing his own agenda, Thornhill pushes the group into arranging the assassination of Faith Lockhart, a Washington lobbyist who, for reasons revealed later in the novel, threatens his plans. The group reluctantly agrees to implement Thornhill's plan, even though it means that a FBI bodyguard must also die.

Scheduled to take place at a FBI safehouse, the hit goes wrong due to the timely intervention of private detective Adam Lee, hired to shadow Faith by persons unknown. Although the FBI agent is killed, Lee escapes with Faith, beginning a long, dangerous odyssey that begins in Maryland, moves to North Carolina, and ends in a Senate Conference Room in Washington. Adam and Faith become fugitives, forced to flee from the police, the FBI, and the CIA.

Okay, by now you probably have several questions, among them: Who is Robert Thornhill and why does he want Faith Lockhart dead? Who are the members of the secret cartel, and what are their goals? What secrets does a lobbyist possess that could threaten the CIA? Why is her death important enough to sacrifice the life of an FBI agent? Why was Adam Lee at the cabin that fateful night?

Well, I've concluded that I'd be doing Baldacci and his readers a grave disservice by revealing the intricacies of his convoluted plot, so you'll get no answers from this reviewer. I will say, however, that the plot of Saving Faith ultimately does hang together, making for a gripping read. Like Alfred Hitchcock, Baldacci loves coincidence. Like the famous director, he also gives his audience a hell of a ride, building to a surprising, satisfying conclusion (I suspect the Hitchcockian touches were deliberate, as many of the book's elements parallel the classic North by Northwest; witness the name Robert Thornhill, suspiciously close to that of Roger Thornhill, the unwilling hero of that movie thriller). Baldacci remains in top form, showing that the success of previous books (Absolute Power, Total Control, The Simple Truth, and The Winner) was no fluke.

Saving Faith.......2007-03-23

A very good book. This is the second book by David Baldacci that I have read. I look forward to reading the rest of his novels.

Yeah...not one of his best....for a Democrat writer.......2007-03-23

Most liberal writers are pretty good at what they do..but this is not one of the best ones of Baldacci's. Skip it...go on to the next one...look for four stars or more. He has a lot of good books, this isn't his best.

Average customer rating:

Thriller--not a mystery or detective novel
Mystery
Good but not great: An audiobook review
Good, but with some inconsistencies
Quantity has seriously eclipsed quality

Four Blind Mice
James Patterson
Manufacturer: Little, Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316693006
Release Date: 2002-11-18

Amazon.com

In this latest thriller from perennial bestselling author James Patterson, Washington cop Alex Cross gets involved in his partner's effort to save the life of an old Army buddy who's facing execution for a horrendous and inexplicable murder spree in North Carolina. The Army's evidence against Sergeant Ellis Cooper, a decorated Vietnam vet, is overwhelming, which isn't surprising since it's all been planted by a quartet of killers whose reason for framing the erstwhile hero isn't revealed until long after they are. The big secret is who set the murderers loose, and in true cliffhanger fashion, Patterson keeps it under wraps until the very end. Meanwhile, his usual blend of action, violence, fast pacing and uninspired-though-serviceable prose prevail, and will probably do so all the way to the top of the bestseller lists. --Jane Adams

Book Description

Alex Cross is on his way to resign from the Washington Police when his partner John Sampson shows up at his door. One of Sampson's oldest friends has been framed for murder and, worse yet, is subject to the insular laws of the U.S. Army. The evidence is strong enough to send him to the gas chamber.

Cross and Sampson plunge into a case where military codes of honor conceal dark currents of revenge and ambition, and the men controlling the moves have the best weapons and training the world can offer. Drawing on their years of street training and an almost telepathic mutual trust, Cross and Sampson go deep into military lines to confront the most terrifying-and lethal-killer they have ever encountered.

Customer Reviews:

Thriller--not a mystery or detective novel.......2007-07-14

The mystery/detective novel was a rather pure form in its earlier days. The focus was not on the murder itself and the detailed agony of the victim. In fact, the crime was disposed of rather quickly. The story was how the detective, through investigation and logic, revealed the murderer. There was no sex, no outright violence and certainly no sadism.

Somewhere along the line the detective novel evolved into the "thriller," in which the theme ranged far and wide. In most novels by James Patterson there is a pervasive vein of sadism, as there is in "Four Blind Mice." Ex-rangers from the U.S. Army, men who had fought in Viet Nam, continue their killing for hire and for pleasure in America. The sadism is very detailed and has nothing to do with the plot itself. For example, there is a lengthy and gruesome description of how the rangers tortured and killed a woman suspected of being Viet Cong. Perhaps it is to show that the men were not nice fellows, but the fact that they murdered people at all should establish that.

The detectives who trail the killers are bedroom hoppers, narrated with rather specific detail. Again, the sex has nothing to do with the plot, with tracking down the killers. One has to suspect that the sex is to titilate the sort of reader who can be titilated or manipulated by this.

The actual plot is not of much interest, nor is how the criminals were caught. What sells the Patterson books is the violence, the sadism, the sex--and short chapters for those with short attention spans. And because of this, I suspect the Patterson books will not be long remembered. Readers still read Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Philo Vance, etc., and they will be doing so when the Cross books are in the dustbin.

Mystery .......2007-07-03

Alex Cross the mystery solver. Great read. Fast moving and exciting. Never go wrong with James Patterson reading

Good but not great: An audiobook review.......2007-05-04

After reading a few reviews, it sounds like the audio version actually helps the story a bit. The two narrators are both quite good, with the exception that some of the bad guys sound too much like one another.

I am glad to get back to the world of Alex Cross. I have read or heard 3 other Patterson books this year and have been sorely disappointed with two. I only liked one (Jester) and I was looking forward to getting back to comfortable ground with Alex Cross.

The strength of Patterson's Cross books is the realistic conversations - the rhythms, cadences, colloquialisms and vocabulary sound right. They sound so right that I am reminded of a personal story. Way back before Patterson's picture was plastered all over the back of every one of his books, I used to work in a used book store. The Alex Cross books started filtering in and Mrs. Rivers, the assistant manager and an elderly African-American woman (also an avid mystery/thriller reader) placed Patterson's books in the African-American authors section. She was shocked when a book came in with his face on the back. She commented that she never would have believed that a white man could have pulled that off so well. He still pulls it off.

However, the story flows in a herky-jerky manner. Sampson and Cross gleen clues from things that should not provide clues. For example, while in Raleigh, NC investigating an old ritualistic multiple murder, they hear that a single prostitute was killed. No details are provided of the prostitute's murder, but still they know it is connected. How?

Patterson is intent on moving the personal lives of Cross and Sampson forward. That is appropriate. At times, though, it felt as if that was the only part of the story he really put a lot of thought into. The rest seemed to be rather sloppily tossed in there - the connections were loose, characters are introduced than dropped.

So, my grade: B-

Good conversation. Like the characters. My suggestion: Slow down "James Patterson, Inc." and take the time to work out some of the kinks and make these books better.

Good, but with some inconsistencies.......2007-04-07

I picked this up at an airport before an international flight. I've read a few Patterson books recently. This was not quite as good as some of the others. Part of the problem might have been me reading them out of chronological order (this is another Alex Cross book). I didn't really care for the ending. There also seemed to be some technical and story inconsistencies.

Quantity has seriously eclipsed quality.......2007-01-23

While I have read numerous books by James Patterson, only a few have been part of his "Alex Cross" series. The Cross books have a mechanical, mass-produced feel to them. However, with Patterson churning out something like 5-6 books a year, that's hardly a surprise. I don't mind someone being prolific, but it's almost gotten to where he should open up a chain of drive-through windows and donate a portion of his profits to re-seeding forests. We're getting true pulp fiction of the distinctly hastily-written-and-not-well-researched variety. There isn't nearly the attention to detail in these novels as in, say, a Michael Connelly crime thriller. There were also way too many implausibilities in this book for me to take it very seriously - even as fanciful entertainment.

The "four blind mice" in this book are three Army Rangers who served together in Vietnam (and a fourth 'mouse' that is revealed at the end of the book). Upon their return, the 3 continue to kill for both profit - as contract hit men - and fun (they're deranged "good 'ol boys" who truly get their kicks from killing even when no money is involved). But the amount of killing they do - and their complete lack of caution to keep from being caught - simply defies reason. These guys would have been caught within a week by even the most dysfunctional police force in the country. And they're supposed to be "professionals"? Uh, right.

A few examples:

1. They abduct a prostitute, let her out in the woods, and then "hunt her down" for sport before killing her. Just as they are about to start their hunt after releasing her, a police cruiser stops to ask the 3 men what they are doing on the side of the road with their lights off. They give an answer that satisfies the cop and he drives off. There is NO WAY that when the prostitute's body was later found, the cop wouldn't have tied it to the 3 guys on the side of the road and launched a major manhunt.

2. Another cop later pulls them over and they shoot him. Then, one of them gets in the car and simply drives it into the bushes on the side of the road to hide it. No attempt to even wear gloves before touching the inside of the cop car or the steering wheel.

3. The men go to a house full of call-girls and kill everyone inside. Again, no attempt to conceal fingerprints on doorknobs, clothes, furniture, etc.

Professional killers are simply not this cavalier when it comes to covering their tracks. With such huge deficiencies in the details, it was awfully hard to take Mr. Patterson's fiction seriously in this book. It was like these characters had been on one continuous joy ride / killing spree for the last 20 years without getting caught. With guys this back-slapping careless? I'm sorry, it just ain't gonna happen.

To be honest, there wasn't much here in the way of either mystery or thrill. In fact, the only real mystery is where Cross's long-distance romance with Jamilla is going to eventually end up.

Will I continue to read books by this author? Yes, but I won't generally expect too much from them - especially the crime thrillers. I enjoyed his recent books more in the genre of Nicholas Sparks better. One was called "Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas" and the other "Sam's Letters to Jennifer." Because they didn't rely on much of anything requiring research or technical detail - just books about human relationships - they were far better and far more plausible reads.

Patterson has the imagination to tell some very good stories. The problem is usually in the execution, not the story itself. I'm afraid quantity is definitely eclipsing quality as he attempts to churn out a book every few months. I'm not sure what's driving him to produce books like a machine gun - he's certainly made his millions with so many bestsellers and several movies. In fact, his books have grossed over $1 billion - so you do the math. It's astronomical even if he gets only 10% of that. One would think that as he near retirement age and with all his success, he'd take the advice that Nana constantly gives to Alex Cross in this book: slow down, don't work so much, and don't be so driven. I'd certainly like him to slow down enough to write better books.

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

Average customer rating:

Overrated.
A Beautiful Mind
Awesome Book!
Hope is seen
Inspiring, but I'm not a fan of Suskind's style

A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League
Ron Suskind
Manufacturer: Broadway
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0767901266
Release Date: 1999-05-04

Amazon.com

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

Book Description

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

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grand Avenues: The Story of the French Visionary Who Designed Washington, D.C.

Average customer rating:

An Earlier Gift From France
American Child
"City of Magnificent Intentions": The Planning of the American Capitol
Remembering a forgotten man
Extremely well-written

Grand Avenues: The Story of the French Visionary Who Designed Washington, D.C.
Scott W. Berg
Manufacturer: Pantheon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0375422803
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Book Description

Grand Avenues tells the riveting story of Pierre Charles L’Enfant and the creation of Washington D.C.--from the seeds of his inspiration to the fulfillment of his extraordinary vision.

L’Enfant’s story is one of consuming passion, high emotion, artistic genius, and human frailty. As a boy he studied drawing at the most prestigious art institute in the world. As a young man he left his home in Paris to volunteer in the army of the American colonies, where he served under George Washington. There he would also meet many of the people who would have a profound impact on his life, including Alexander Hamilton and James Monroe. And it was Washington himself who, in 1791, entrusted L’Enfant with the planning of the nation’s capital--and reluctantly allowed him to be dismissed from the project eleven months later. The plan for the city was published under another name, and for the remainder of his life L’Enfant fought for recognition of his achievement. But he would not live to see that day, and a century would pass before L’Enfant would be given credit for his brilliant design.

Scott W. Berg recounts this tale, richly evocative of time and place, with the narrative verve of a novel and with a cast of characters that ranges from Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers to the surveyor who took credit for L’Enfant’s plans, the assistant who spent a week in jail for his loyalty to L’Enfant, and the men who finally restored L’Enfant’s reputation at the beginning of the twentienth century.

Here is a fascinating, little-explored episode in American history: the story of a visionary artist and of the founding of the magnificent city that is his enduring legacy.

Customer Reviews:

An Earlier Gift From France.......2007-07-03

Most people today would not know of the controversy and opposition to the Statue of Liberty, and the efforts and struggles it took to make a suitable platform for it. Similarly, the full story of L'Enfant's contributions to the original design of Washington, DC, was lost for almost a century before being restored. The US Government was very small in 1791, when work was started on the new capital's design, and one of the more interesting aspects of this historical narrative is the small cast of characters involved. The focus of this book is on these various individuals and how they impacted the evolution of the capital over time. Not surprisingly, all of the human traits, good and bad, march through the story with what seems a preponderance of greed, selfishness and small mindedness. It is interesting that the individuals who restored L'Enfant's reputation and works, and were not from the capital city.

American Child.......2007-06-21

Berg has written a fabulous book of popular history, full of intriguing anecdotes and fascinating glimpses of G. Washington, T. Jefferson, and J. Monroe, among others. Perhaps by favorite aspect of "Avenues" is the hissy-fit relationship between L'enfant (architect of DC) and Jefferson, a builder in his own right who despised L'enfant for his petulance, arrogance, and bullheadedness. (At least two of these qualities can be attributed to Jeff, as well.)

I've been visiting DC since I was a boy, but often, as children, we give little thought to something's creation. It just exists. But "Avenues" opens a window into the past that I'm still thinking about. In the beginning, there was L'enfant. Without him (and Rick Olmstead, who carried the torch), DC would be a drastically different city. Bravo to Scott Berg, and thank you!

"City of Magnificent Intentions": The Planning of the American Capitol .......2007-05-30

GRAND AVENUES depicts the genius of Pierre Charles L'Enfant and his artistry in designing the capital city of the United States. Rich with biographical, political and historical detail, Scott W. Berg has included 25 black-and-white illustrations that will intrigue Washingtonians, city planners, history buffs and architects. In 1790, Thomas Jefferson commissioned L'Enfant to "provide aid in the form of drawings of the particular grounds most likely to be approved for the site of the federal towns and buildings."

Having served as a Continental Army officer under George Washington and designed Federal Hall in New York City, L'Enfant was immediately entranced with this project. Originally from Paris, he loved breathtaking views and a variety of buildings and space within a metropolitan city. "This first recorded evidence of L'Enfant's inclination toward city planning occurred in December, 1784, when he wrote at some length to George Washington outlining his scheme to establish a peacetime corps of engineers." Prior to his arrival in Washington, L'Enfant also worked on projects in Trenton, New Jersey, and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jefferson and L'Enfant held completely different viewpoints on the way that Washington, D.C. should be laid out. As L'Enfant continued to evaluate Jenkins Hill as the perfect location for a congressional building, he writes, "From these heights every grand building would rear with a majestic aspect of the country all around and might be advantageously seen from twenty miles off." L'Enfant was proposing that the District of Columbia be designed on an expanded scale, with vistas, rises and boulevards. One major problem arose when George Washington suggested selling lots in the best areas of D.C. as delineated by L'Enfant's plans.

"L'Enfant now was arguing for a fundamentally public city --- in opposition to the motivations behind almost every other American public city --- in opposition to the motivations behind almost every other American place --- and to that end he was committed to the development of the public areas before the sale of the private." One problem was that houses were erected that did not fit with the public buildings in close proximity. In one case, L'Enfant actually tore down the completed home of a very influential Washingtonian, who had built it too close to a major public office building.

L'Enfant had organized a plan to access the Potomac River, allowing materials and supplies to arrive swiftly by water to the construction sites. "Every step in L'Enfant's chronology of construction was destined to reduce waste and conserve time, materials, and money." He wrote a significant memo to Washington, requesting that the project be completed as quickly as possible, using a million dollars, and suggesting that the oversight committee of commissioners be eliminated. Unsuccessful in his attempts to drive the project to immediate action, L'Enfant failed. Subsequently, Jefferson heralded Andrew Ellicott and assisted him in preparing a drawing to replace L'Enfant's plans.

Pierre Charles L'Enfant died in debt, unpaid for his work on America's capital city. "It is sometimes called the City of Magnificent Distances, but it might with greater propriety be termed the City of Magnificent Intentions."

--- Reviewed by Marge Fletcher

Remembering a forgotten man.......2007-05-12

This is an interesing story of how the basic plan for Washington, D. C. was formed. Pierre L'Enfant, a major in the Revolutionary Army worked with George Washington himself in the original design. L'Enfant was the graduate of excellent design schools in Paris, and he had been trained by his father. He had to fight off the influence of Thomas Jefferson the opponent of Washington and Hamilton in this project. His tenure on the project was short. Politics and land speculation was what really drove the process, little changed from today. A brilliant and far-seeing man who after this brief tenure died pretty much alone and unheralded. His work and his place in history was resurected about 1900. A well written and interesting account that meshes well with other biographical works of the era.

Extremely well-written.......2007-05-08

I've always thought Washington was a beautiful - if not problem-ridden - city, with its wonderful (and confusing) street system and beautiful buildings. This very well-written biography of both L'Enfant and his times is a worthy examination of the city, the politics behind its creation, and the men who both promoted and built it. Berg is a masterful and easy writer.

I'll look forward to another book by him. (Not to be confused with A. Scott Berg).

Average customer rating:

Insider look at Washington
Great book
This is a useful item
Kathryn Graham, a personal history
I wonder if reviewers really read the book?

Personal History
Katharine Graham
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375701044
Release Date: 1998-02-24

Amazon.com

In lieu of an unrevealing Famous-People-I-Have-Known autobiography, the owner of the Washington Post has chosen to be remarkably candid about the insecurities prompted by remote parents and a difficult marriage to the charismatic, manic-depressive Phil Graham, who ran the newspaper her father acquired. Katharine's account of her years as subservient daughter and wife is so painful that by the time she finally asserts herself at the Post following Phil's suicide in 1963 (more than halfway through the book), readers will want to cheer. After that, Watergate is practically an anticlimax.

Book Description

Winner of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Biography

An extraordinarily frank, honest, and generous book by one of America's most famous and admired women, Personal History is, as its title suggests, a book composed of both personal memoir and history.

It is the story of Graham's parents: the multimillionaire father who left private business and government service to buy and restore the down-and-out Washington Post, and the formidable, self-absorbed mother who was more interested in her political and charity work, and her passionate friendships with men like Thomas Mann and Adlai Stevenson, than in her children.

It is the story of how The Washington Post struggled to succeed -- a fascinating and instructive business history as told from the inside (the paper has been run by Graham herself, her father, her husband, and now her son).

It is the story of Phil Graham -- Kay's brilliant, charismatic husband (he clerked for two Supreme Court justices) -- whose plunge into manic-depression, betrayal, and eventual suicide is movingly and charitably recounted.

Best of all, it is the story of Kay Graham herself. She was brought up in a family of great wealth, yet she learned and understood nothing about money. She is half-Jewish, yet -- incredibly -- remained unaware of it for many years.She describes herself as having been naive and awkward, yet intelligent and energetic. She married a man she worshipped, and he fascinated and educated her, and then, in his illness, turned from her and abused her. This destruction of her confidence and happiness is a drama in itself, followed by the even more intense drama of her new life as the head of a great newspaper and a great company, a famous (and even feared) woman in her own right. Hers is a life that came into its own with a vengeance -- a success story on every level.

Graham's book is populated with a cast of fascinating characters, from fifty years of presidents (and their wives), to Steichen, Brancusi, Felix Frankfurter, Warren Buffett (her great advisor and protector), Robert McNamara, George Schultz (her regular tennis partner), and, of course, the great names from the Post: Woodward, Bernstein, and Graham's editorpartner, Ben Bradlee. She writes of them, and of the most dramatic moments of her stewardship of the Post (including the Pentagon Papers, Watergate, and the pressmen's strike), with acuity, humor, and good judgment. Her book is about learning by doing, about growing and growing up, about Washington, and about a woman liberated by both circumstance and her own great strengths.

Download Description

An extraordinarily frank, honest, and generous book by one of America's most famous and admired women -- a book that is, as its title suggests, both personal and history. It is the story of Katherine Graham's parents: the multi-millionaire father who left private business and government service to buy and restore the down-and-out Washington Post; the aggressive, formidable, self-absorbed mother, known in her time for her political and welfare work, and her passionate friendships with men such as Thomas Mann and Adlai Stevenson.

Customer Reviews:

Insider look at Washington .......2006-12-26

My only regret is that I did not pay more attention to Katharine Graham and the Washington Post while she was alive. Through unveiling her own insecurities and illustrating how she moved into one of the most powerful women in the world, I learned US History and the trials of a CEO woman in the 1960s and forward.

Ms. Graham reveals much about "inside Washington" and does a particularly good job of making the "players" come to life. I really hated to see the book end. Yet, Ms. Graham did what she set out to do -- documented a time in our history. Kathy Condon Executive Coach

Great book.......2006-11-13

Fantastic, gripping book, though it bogged down for me near the end with the minutia of labor/management disputes at the Washington Post. Still recommend highly.

This is a useful item.......2006-11-06

Katharine Graham's book is a useful study of life in Washington and the Washington Post. This is a very nice audio version of the book. For those who haven't the time to read, or have vision limitations, this is a very good substitute for the book.

Kathryn Graham, a personal history.......2006-02-25

Albeit a native of Washington, D C., I nevertheless found this
autobiography most absorbing. Intelligently yet personally written, including her own frequent self-analyses. Highly recommended,
I was sorry to finish it! BBBSS

I wonder if reviewers really read the book?.......2005-12-12

Do the reviewers on here really read the books? One reviewer above stated that Katherine Graham found her husband after he had hanged himself. No, she found him after he had shot himself. This is no small point, as later in the book, she reveals how hurt she was by a sign carried in an anti-Post parade during the newspaper strike that read, "Phil shot the wrong Graham." This is a fascinating book, and anyone posting a review of it on a forum like this should at least give it the respect of getting the basic facts straight.

Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2007 (Frommer's Complete)

Average customer rating:

Always the Best
Adequate
Right to the Point
Great Book On The Washington D.C. Area

Frommer's Washington, D.C. 2007 (Frommer's Complete)
Elise Hartman Ford
Manufacturer: Frommer's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0470038497

Book Description

Frommer's. The best trips start here.

Experience a place the way the locals do. Enjoy the best it has to offer.
* Insider tips on everything from how to get a parking space near the Mall to how to eat in the Senate Dining Room.
* Outspoken opinions on what's worth your time and what's not.
* Exact prices, so you can plan the perfect trip whatever your budget.
* Off-the-beaten-path experiences and undiscovered gems, plus new takes on top attractions.

Find great deals and book your trip at Frommers.com

Customer Reviews:

Always the Best.......2007-05-07

From dining to sightseeing to sleeping, we are always happy with the tips and recommendations in Frommer's Guides.

Adequate.......2007-04-30

This was the first guidebook I purchased when planning my trip to Washington, DC. Frommers always covers the bases and this book is no exception. Hotels, restaurants, local attractions, and more are all covered here. I also found the "Best" lists that Frommers always includes to be useful. It helps me zoom in on the best of the best experiences when time is short on a trip.

The problem I had with the book is that the level of detail for many of these entries was lacking. Hotels get a nice write up but the vast majority of those covered are above the budget for a typical traveler. The information on the tourist attractions also seems fairly comprehensive... until you compare it to the The Unofficial Guide to Washington, D.C. (Unofficial Guides) and realize how much more clear and complete that guide is. While I used this guide for the early stages of planning, it was my frustration with it that prompted me to look at other books and I ultimately stopped using this one and didn't even bring it with me on the trip. The Unofficial Guide has nearly double the pages of this book and none of it is filler.

In closing, this is not a bad guidebook for Washington, DC. Most of the basics are covered competently and I'm sure a lot of people have used it and been satisfied. Once you read the Unofficial Guide, however, you'll realize just how much useful information is left out of the Frommers Guide.

Right to the Point.......2007-01-16

This book is full of information that you will use, not just wordy passages to fill the pages. It's a pretty quick read and in my 30 day stay in DC I used it almost daily.

This was the first time I used a Frommer's guide and I will definitely choose Frommer's again for other places when I plan to visit.

This book, accompanied by a Streetwise Map of DC, is all you will need to make the most of your time in the nation's capitol!

Great Book On The Washington D.C. Area.......2006-12-23

FROMMER'S WASHINGTON D.C. 2007 is a great book on Washington, D.C. and its surrounding suburbs, discussing all of the historical sights, museums, and some interesting shopping, but giving very little space to the malls in the suburbs. However, even if you're not going to visit Washington in the near future, anyone who says that they're a loyal American will really get a lot out of this book.

Average customer rating:

Ho hum
This is a Strong Effort by Pelecanos
Pelecanos is so . . . very good
A wonderful book
Very good

The Night Gardener
George Pelecanos
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316156507

Book Description

The haunting story of three copsone good, one bad, one brokenand the murder that reunites them in a showdown decades in the making. Gus Ramone is good police, a former Internal Affairs investigator now working homicide for the citys Violent Crime branch. His new case involves the death of a local teenager named Asa, whose body has been found in a community garden. The murder unearths intense memories of a case Ramone worked as a patrol cop 20 years earlier, when he and his partner, Dan Doc Holiday, assisted a legendary detective named T.C. Cook. The series of murders, all involving local teenage victims, was never solved. In the years since, Holiday has left the force under a cloud of morals charges. Cook has retired, but he has never stopped agonizing about the Night Gardener killings. The new case draws the three men together, re-igniting the love, regret, and anger that once burned between them, and old ghosts walk once more as they try to lay to rest the monster who has stalked their dreams.

Customer Reviews:

Ho hum.......2007-10-11

I could tell you half the book again like others reviewing this, but my best advice would be save your money!!!!

I did stay with it but it wasn't easy, I kept thinking something will happen.....(psst, It never really does)

Sorry but HO HUM

This is a Strong Effort by Pelecanos.......2007-09-20

Many people consider THE NIGHT GARDENER to be the best crime novel of 2006. While I wouldn't go quite that far, I think this book is a very fine effort by Pelecanos.

While THE NIGHT GARDENER is about the search for a serial killer, it is not a typical serial killer book. This is not a fast-paced, tightly plotted suspense novel. Instead, Pelecanos takes his time in telling the story, and focuses a great deal of effort on developing a rather large number of characters and subplots. This requires a certain amount of patience on the part of the reader, but it is well worth it, since nearly all the characters in this book are believable, realistic human beings.

The ending of the NIGHT GARDENER will not please everybody. Needless to say, Pelecanos does not resort to a cheap Hollywood ending here. But I found it a satisfying way to close the novel.

Overall, THE NIGHT GARDENER is a very good book, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys slower paced, character-driven crime fiction. The only other Pelecanos book I have read is RIGHT AS RAIN, and I thought this book was far better than that one.

Pelecanos is so . . . very good .......2007-08-21

Structure, pace, fully developed characters built around descriptions which flesh out well in the reader's mind, superb dialogue comparable to the late great George Higgins, strong plotting and an ending which satisfies. The urban DC setting can well be appreciated outside the Beltway; his stories
are not just for area readers.

A wonderful book.......2007-08-20

This is one of the best books I've read this year. Pelecanos has yet to let me down.

Very good.......2007-05-18

Just finished this book and found it to be very good, I'll definitely read more of this author's books, if he has any. My comments:

1) Very well written and easy to read.
2) Well written characters. The characters are what makes this book worth reading. You are drawn to them and they are well fleshed out (as another reviewer said below, the crime seems to be an after thought.)
3) Good description of the nitty gritty of life in the DC area.
3) However, too much drama; I'd rather he focus more on the crime than the protagonist's family life. It just takes away from the story, IMHO.
4) Two story threads. I didn't really care about the minor thread. It was nicely tied together at the end (artistically if I may say so), but it just detracts away from the main story.
5) Even though most people could guess the ending, the crime was never solved by the protagonists, it was just given away on the last page. Too bad, but it's an unusual ending. You could say it was a surprise ending that way for people who expected the crime to be solved. I think it could have ended better.
6) A little jumpy as it jumped from one thread to another and you really didn't know how they were connected (they weren't really connected together).

Conclusion: I would still recommend the book because it was well written. There are many "best sellers" out there which are a struggle to read, but this one drew me along. It's a good book when I can't put it down and will trade sleeping time for reading time and I did for this one. I will now look for other books written by this author.

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