Marked Man

Average customer rating:

Another winner!!

Another strong effort by Lashner

You Have To Love Victor Carl

Victor Carl returns

Page Turning Legal Thriller

Marked Man
William Lashner
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000MG1Z9W
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Customer Reviews:

Another winner!!.......2007-09-23

When you read a William Lashner, it really comes down to whether its great or super-great. I've read 4 of them and each one is of a very high calibre. Smooth easy writing style, fun and interesting characters, and a twisting mysterious plot. Marked Man is right up there with the rest of his. Loved it.

Another strong effort by Lashner.......2007-07-29

Although John Grisham may be the most prominent, there are a number of other lawyer-turned-authors out there. Some are better than others, and among the best is William Lashner with his series of Victor Carl books. Carl is one of those lawyers who would be willing to be absolutely materialistic and ethically flexible, but his integrity always get in the way, leaving him perpetually broke.

In Marked Man, the sixth book featuring Carl, who this time starts the novel hung over and with no memory of the previous evening. This would be bad enough, but he has a lasting memento of his wild night: a tattoo on his chest with the name Chantal Adair. Unfortunately, he has no idea who Chantal is.

Meanwhile, he does have his legal work, principally dealing with Charlie Kalakos, a crook who wants to come in from the cold, and in the process, turn in a Rembrandt painting he had stolen. Carl tries to arrange a witness relocation package, but finds there a number of people who'd prefer Charlie stay missing, most significantly, his ex-partners-in-crime.

In a way, this is Lashner's version of the Maltese Falcon, with the painting taking the place of the black bird...or is it Chantal who is the treasure everyone is seeking? (The only Chantal that Carl can track down is a little girl who disappeared decades ago. Does it somehow link to Kalakos?) There is even a Joel Cairo-sort, an eccentric black market art dealer named Lavender Hill. But, of course, the parallels to Hammett's novel are limited, as Marked Man is also its own unique story.

At the heart of the story, as always, is Victor Carl, whose narrative keeps things entertaining at all times. In this book, he has to not only deal with business-related dangers, but also his own personal crises, as he begins to doubt if he will ever achieve success and as his partnership with fellow lawyer Beth Derringer undergoes problems. If you enjoy suspense fiction - especially involving the world of lawyers - William Lashner in general and Marked Man specifically, are highly recommended.

You Have To Love Victor Carl.......2007-06-28

A book should be reviewed on its own merits. Even if you think that a particular book is not up to the standards of an author's previous works, it doesn't mean that the book in question is unreadable drivel. Whether you believe this is one of Lashner's stronger or weaker efforts, its still an entertaining, well-written story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Victor Carl is a fascinating character. Many of us probably wish we could have a little bit of his rogue attitude. The story itself was multi-layered, well plotted, contains several memorable characters, and had a satisfying conclusion.

Lashner's writing style is easy to follow. When I put down one of his books it's because I have something else to do, not because I'm tired of reading.

Victor Carl returns.......2006-11-03

First let me say that I am a Victor Carl fan. That said, although very readable, this is not the best of the Carl books. I'm sorry but the new investigator just isn't as good as the old one. As usual, Victor bumbles his way through solving the crime but the characters just don't seem as realistic as Lashner usually delivers

Page Turning Legal Thriller.......2006-07-11

William Lashner has crafted a riveting thriller populated with one of the greatest and most entertaining cast of characters to ever appear in a book of this type. Victor Carl, the protagonist and narrator of the tale, is seriously flawed person in terms of character and motivation, and a lot of the fun in this book comes from his views on life. There are very few scenes spent in a courtroom, but there are a lot of behind-the-scenes dealings within the legal profession. Humor is in plenty of supply, and the book itself was hard to put down.

Hooray for William Lashner for delivering such a good read!

Average customer rating:

Get Extra Copies
True to the original, and yet radically fresh
Only for Those With Prior Knowledge
Marked
A FRESH VISION OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK: RECOMMENDED

Marked
Steve Ross
Manufacturer: Seabury Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1596270020
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Customer Reviews:

Get Extra Copies.......2007-08-11

Give this to the people in your life who would not normally sit down and read a book.

True to the original, and yet radically fresh.......2007-02-16

Readers familiar and unfamiliar with the Gospel according to Mark will both find much to appreciate in Steve Ross's retelling. He really internalized the story and then retold it from his perspective. This version will surprise many readers who have no interest in the Gospel, or who think they understand it and have dismissed it. It will also be of great use to people who love the Gospel, but need to re-learn some parts of it. Either way, I suggest reading Marked on its own, and then read through it again alongside a more widely used translation (like the New International Version of the Gospel of Mark, to see the parallels. This is a remarkable work. I hope to see more retellings of Scripture in the future.

Only for Those With Prior Knowledge.......2006-02-16

As someone who is not Christian and only knows the basics of the New Testement (and doesn't know the difference between any of the gospels), I came into Marked with a lot of expectations. Having read about it in Newsweek, I expected the story of an outsider and to learn about a religion I don't know about. The book is without a doubt meant for Christians. No background is given on the characters, we're supposed to know that Jesus is who he is, that Simon is Simon, and the land is corrupt. I was left confused and slightly frustrated at several moments. Also, a lot of the drama just wasn't there for me. Since this is an adaptation, I guess the reader is supposed to be waiting for certain moments. It just didn't work for me.
That being said, there were some moments I enjoyed. The devil is great, and the pages that lead up to the crucifixition are better than The Passion any day of the week.
Recommended for the Christian graphic novel fan.

Marked.......2006-01-19

As an author who has tackled Gospel translation into the graphic novel format, I commend Steve Ross on a heart-felt effort to bring the book of Mark to life with a contempory feel. It's not an easy task by any means. But Marked is slightly problematic in a couple areas. One, if it was designed to be used as an outreach to the unchurched, I felt like the narrative was not very easy to follow, (if you were not "very" familiar with the work it was based upon, I.E. the Gospel of Mark, and in some places even if you were)! It was the same kind of feeling I had when I first saw the movie, 2001. Secondly, the artwork I would say drifts more toward abstraction in many parts of the story, more than solid storytelling...which is fine and works wonderfully in soome parts of the book, but leaves the reader wondering too much in others, (what the heck just happened there?).

If Mr. Ross's intention was to merely convey how this story personally speaks to him, then he succeeded wonderfully. If he intended to bring those not familiar with the story along for the ride, I'm afraid he might have left more than a few scratching their heads, (which could be good, if it leads them to the original work to find their answers).

Robert Luedke is the author of "Eye Witness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth" and "Acts of the Spirit".

A FRESH VISION OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK: RECOMMENDED.......2005-12-18

With my newly revived interest in old and new, well-done comic books-slash-graphic novels (think ASTONISHING X-MEN, think SANDMAN, think WATCHMEN, think SUPREME POWERS), I had to rush here to amazon.com for a copy of MARKED. I first saw it featured at novelist Chris Well's nifty blog. This re-imagination of the gospel of Mark sounded like something I should "taste and see."

It arrived on a Friday. I read it the next Saturday, in one sitting. Loved it.

Why?

MARKED is clever. It's got attitude. It's got gentle moments of compassion. It's got strong visuals that mix a bag of emotions together and toss them at you. It's got humor. It captures the essence of what the evangelist wrote: a very active Son of God, a very troubled world, imperfect followers, even more imperfect antagonists, wisdom, courage, mercy, grace, death, and victory over death.

I recommend it.

I dare you not to laugh at mad-eyed John the Baptizer and the running headlines that cover the main events of that prophet's activities--even as you'll be horrified (rightly so) by the front page spread of his demise and its timeliness given some of our recent front page news. I dare you not to be thrilled at some really fine creative moments, such as the Gadarene's encounter with the Christ or the incident of transfiguration on the mount. I dare you not to feel ferklempt over the incident of Christ's meeting with the leper. I dare you not to holler, "Cool!" every few pages. And do tell me if you've seen the resurrection handled anywhere quite like this, ever. I haven't. I had to actually stop and ...STOP. No, really, I had one of those blank moments of, "What?" And I had to think. I like when creative folk make me stop and think. I like when creative folk stir things up. Steve Ross achieves this with MARKED.

The Mir's thumb is way up.

Side Note: You can also play, "Find the famous person" with this. Can you find a great black leader? Can you find the is-he-dead-or-isn't-he rocker? Anyone else?

Shameless Gift Suggestion: Christmas is upon us. If you have a comic book lover in your family, of if you know a reader who needs to be slapped with a zingy graphical gospel that will whet their appetite for a visit to the original, or if you just love someone and want to thrill them, get this as a gift for that person.

A slightly different version of this review with helpful links to an article with Steve Ross and to Chris Well's Nifty Blog may be found at: http://mirathon.blogspot.com

Mir

A Marked Man (MIRA Single Title Hardbacks)

Average customer rating:

A hot mess.....
Has Cameron Ever Visited the South?
A gritty, sexy story.
Disgusting; won't read her again
steamy sex and deadly romance

A Marked Man (MIRA Single Title Hardbacks)
Stella Cameron
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0778323587

Book Description

When Max Savage opens his practice in a remote, seductively beautiful bayou town, he hopes it's the start of a new life. He's got his reputation as a skilled surgeon, his two brothers by his side and a fresh chance here in the sultry heat of Toussaint. But soon Max discovers he can't escape a past riddled with accusations of murder…or the faces of two dead women. Especially since another woman is missing, and he was the last to see her alive.

Annie Duhon knows all about nightmares that shatter life's dreams and the need to escape the past. But her fascination with Max grows, even when disturbing rumors start to surface and her darkest visions seem to play out in living color. Can she trust Max with her secrets and her deepest desires? Or is he the specter she sees when she sleeps--a killer stalking women with his cleansing fi re? Is she about to become his next victim?

The object of obsessive hatred, Max is a marked man who has unwittingly attracted danger to anyone he's cared about. Now he loves Annie, and knows with chilling certainty that he faces one last chance to unmask a killer before there's nothing left to fi ght for.

Customer Reviews:

A hot mess............2007-09-11

This was my first Stella Cameron book, and although I had thought it my last, maybe not. Some of the other reviews list other books that might be better, according to the reviewers. The only reason I finished this book was that I was ill and it was my last library book! Otherwise, I found it lacking in character development, alluding to past occurences but not fleshing them out at all. Key characters, such as Lil, are dropped in the middle of scenes to mess things up with no real explanation as to why they're there or who they are. Bobby Colbert shows up as a red herring and is dropped midway through the book with no explanation. Cyrus (the priest) and Madge (his assistant) are wandering through the book with hints as to a platonic love affair between them, but the thread is never wrapped up. Awkwardly written, confusing subplots, and a really silly, boring ending. Truly disappointing.

Has Cameron Ever Visited the South?.......2007-03-21

I found neither the plot nor the characters interesting, but the
reason I didn't finish the book is that the author really annoyed
me! I've lived in the south all of my life and have NEVER heard
a southernor pronounce the word "thing" as "thin." We say comin' and
goin' and fussin' and fightin', but we pronounce the "g" at the end
of "thing." Yes, in some parts of the south, it might be pronounced
"thang", but you can count on the "g" being pronounced. Shame on
you, Ms. Cameron.

A gritty, sexy story........2007-02-15

A MARKED MAN is a gritty, sexy, sometimes over-the-top story of jealousy, love, and lust/self-hatred. This is not a sweet but mildly mysterious romance and those looking for such a read should avoid A MARKED MAN. Mature readers who enjoy a sexy mystery with a wild character here and there, could be thrilled with the story.

***There is no rape scene in this book.

Stella Cameron

Disgusting; won't read her again.......2007-02-11

Newsflash to the author: rape/coerced sex is not erotic. It is a FELONY. Does this insensitive writer think that sort of thing is OK if the woman is "turned on"? This point of view is a slap in the face to crime victims.

I picked up this book - from the library; thank goodness I didn't pay money for it - and was looking forward to Cameron's return to Toussaint, LA, the town where she's set several previous novels. It lacked the intrigue, suspense and plotting of any of her previous work. After the above-referenced disgusting scene, I skipped to the last few pages to discover the villian, who was no surprise.

I'd give this zero stars if I could. Steer clear of this book if you're looking for a suspensful, sexy read. There are plenty of authors out there who know the difference between lusty and criminal, which I had never before imagined could be confusing.

steamy sex and deadly romance.......2006-11-06

New York plastic surgeon Max Savage flees the city after being acquitted of the murders of two of his former girlfriends. He needs to start over in a place as far from his current practice. Thus he opens up a facility in Toussaint, Louisiana. However, his past follows when a local female applying for work at his clinic disappears just after the interview. Local authorities suspect Max, but his alibi exonerates him though nothing can relive his mind that the nightmare has trailed him to this Cajun Parrish.

Annie Duhon arrives in Toussaint from nearby St. Martinville to start over as she has not recovered from a brutal rape that occurred ten years ago. She and Max meet with both attracted and interested, but she fears commitment not just because of the rape, but because she also she has visions that anyone close to her will soon die in an inferno. Still they go to her hometown for lunch not realizing this innocent lunch date places both in danger from each other's "stalker" as Cajun seer Wazoo warns them time after time.

Fans will appreciate the return to Toussaint home of several Stella Cameron romantic suspense thrillers (see A GRAVE MISTAKE). The lead couple is a likable pairing of two fearful protagonists, but Wazoo owns the plot with her often amusing asides. The suspense builds up as murders occur in between the explicit sexual interludes, which makes this more romance (some will insist erotica with notches on the penis) than a suspense thriller although there is plenty of tension. Though the culprit is obvious, Ms. Cameron's Bayou Bengal boosters will enjoy her latest steamy sex and death romance.

Harriet Klausner

KJV Prophecy Marked Reference Study Bible

Average customer rating:

Excellent Reference Bible.
Valuable addition to the prophecy literature.

KJV Prophecy Marked Reference Study Bible

Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0310920647

Book Description

- The study Bible for Christians who want to know what God's Word says about the future (notes by prophecy enthusiast, Dr. Grant Jeffrey) - Four-color highlighted key themes: Prophecy, Holy Spirit, Salvation, and Temporal Blessings - In-text notes and articles provide clear understanding of crucial prophetic passages and concepts - Also available in the New International Version

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Reference Bible........2001-10-21

I am extremely satisfied with my recent purchase of this Bible.

The references to different aspects of Scripture are easily accessed. My particular interest of Scriptures relating to Israel, it's people and it's land and Biblical prophecies relative to Israel are there at your fingertips.

My only criticism is in relation to the `political correctness' of Mr. Jeffery's own writings in enclosed articles supporting areas of Scripture where he uses the term `Palestine' out of it's correct geographical and historical context.

Palestine being the regional name given to Israel and adjacent areas after the suppression of the second Jewish revolt by the Roman Emperor, Hadrian, in AD135. The original name being `Syria Palaestina' which eventually became anglicised into `Palestine' and which was subsequently replaced by Israel upon it's rebirth in 1948.

Mr. Jeffery uses the term `Palestine' incorrectly in some old maps and also in one area relating to Old Testament prophets who were around long before the term `Palestine' ever existed.

If you can live with this, or amend it even, this will be an excellent Bible to possess. In all other ways it is to be highly recommended. The ability to easily access so many different aspects of the Bible is remarkable and such an aid to understanding.

Valuable addition to the prophecy literature........1999-08-09

One practicle reason I like this bible is that it contains in concise form the important topics of the end times. The notes are focused on prophecy so you are not reading a book with one hand and looking up the verses cited with the other. The bible contains numerous articles, maps, charts and illustrations. The articles are particularly helpful and include topics such as: The Battle of Gog and Magog (I finally understand wshere this battle falls in the end time events), The Antichrist, The Seventy Weeks, The Tribulation etc.

Book Description

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

Customer Reviews:

For the most part, great!.......2007-10-01

Marked has all the great makings of a novel - great humor, well researched cultural background, and creativity. I'll admit, when I read the first few pages, I feared it would be one of those ridiculous stereotypical cheerleader main characters narrating the story - thank goodness that wasn't so! I found the idea of vampire finishing school interesting, and Ms. Cast pulled it off excellently.

So why didn't this earn a five?
First was the not-so-subtle insults to non-pagan religions.
Second was the fact that Zoey seemed like she was bordering on Mary-Sue-dom. It seemed to me that the author was stretching it a bit: she just happens to be Cherokee, she just happens to be the only one who has a magical cat, her boyfriend happens to randomly be the hottest guy in school (why did he find her so attractive? It didn't seem natural to me).
Third, I personally found the sexual scene in the beginning (and the heavy on going jokes) over the top. Still, it was nothing that made me feel completely uncomfortable.
Fourth? This is a minor thing, but Zoey's friends at the House seemed too set up/diverse to be a natural occurrence.

Fantastic new series .......2007-09-11

If you think you know what to expect from a PC Cast, then think again, this fantastic new series is unlike anything she's done before, so it looks like the addition of her daughter Kristin as a writing partner had a major impact. Remember the hellish days of the school cliques and being targeted by the most powerful girl in the school and lusting over the hottest boy? Well add to that you've just discovered you're a potential vampyre and you might have a tiny idea of the nightmare that is currently Zoey Redbird's existence.
In Zoey's world vampyres have always existed, they're just kind of weird and nobody wants to admit they know any. So when Zoey starts developing symptoms, she's packed off to the House of Night, a school where she'll spend the next four years of her life training to see if she'll survive the change from Human to Vampyre. It's never easy being the new kid, and when you've just been "Marked" as one of the most powerful fledglings in history you'd better make sure you keep your friends close but your enemies closer. Now if Zoey can just figure out who she's supposed to trust, then things would be a lot easier.
If like us you've been wowed by Stephanie Meyer's Twilight and Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires then here's another intense, addictive young adult series that will keep you reading well past your bedtime.

Great new take on Vampires.......2007-08-24

PC Cast and her daughter did a wonderful job of creating a new twist to the typical vampire story. This book was so good I could not stop reading and finished it in one day. I can't wait for the sequel to come out!! If you like vampire books this book is a must read.

Great Start to a New Series!.......2007-08-07

Zoe Redbird is not having one of her better days. She's trying to break up with her boyfriend, her best friend is driving her crazy, and now she's been Marked by a vampyre. Zoe enters The House of Night where, as she undergoes her change, she will train to become an adult vampyre. To top things off, Zoe discovers she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked by the vampyre goddess Nix. This is the first book in The House of Night series and wow, what a great beginning! This is aimed at teenagers but adult fans of all things that go bump in the night will also love it, especially if you're already a fan of P.C. Cast's adult novels. Zoe is a wonderful character who you root for through the entire book. The secondary characters are also fantastic, even the villains. Best of all, unlike some books which are co-authored, the chapters flow seemlessly from mother and daughter. There's also quite a bit of humor and I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading. One word of caution: there's one somewhat graphic sexual scene near the beginning of the book. It's all in keeping with the storyline, and what todays teenagers face, but I don't know if I'd feel comfortable recommending it to middle schoolers. The second book "Betrayed will be coming out in October.

Keeps your attention.......2007-08-06

As far as vampire books go, this one will keep your attention. Its such a different take on vampires...can't wait for the next book

Marked for Death (The Lost Mark, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Solid introduction, strong series potential
Overall above average
Frustrating at times, but overall a fun book.
I couldn't finish it.
A Tough Read

Marked for Death (The Lost Mark, Book 1)
Matt Forbeck
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 078693610X
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Book Description

Marked for Death begins a new epic trilogy set in the world of Eberron, Wizards of the Coast's newest D&D® campaign setting. Author Keith Baker's proposal for the exciting world of Eberron was chosen from 11,000 submissions, and he is the co-author of the Eberron Campaign Setting, the RPG product that launched the setting. The Eberron world will continue to grow through new roleplaying game products, novels, miniatures, and electronic games.

Customer Reviews:

Solid introduction, strong series potential.......2007-09-04

As these things go, Marked for Death is a solid introduction to the intriguing world of Eberron and Matt Forbeck admirably maintains a tricky balance between establishing a coherent narrative while serving the marketing purposes these efforts more typically represent. The plot hinges on the appearance of a lost dragonmark, the Mark of Death, one of the thirteen powerful birthmarks which themselves represent one of the primary concepts that sets Eberron apart from Forgotten Realms and other more familiar fantasy settings. Forbeck does a good job of streamlining the many expository asides while keeping the action-oriented story moving forward at a steady pace.

The large cast of characters is an engaging bunch with plenty of grey area between the "good" and "bad" guys that gives the story an extra bit of dramatic weight. Some of the action gets a little repetitive towards the end as the bearer of the lost mark finds herself in and out and in and out and in and out of jeopardy, but Forbeck ultimately makes it work on the strength of his characters and the strong appeal of the Eberron setting itself.

Overall above average.......2007-07-25

I'm an avid forgotten realms reader, and recently started purchasing novels from the Eberron world. The concept of the world is very different from FR and I must say it's a very refreshing change. I have purchased every Eberron book published to date and am looking forward to finding the time to catch up on my reading.

Marked for Death is the first book in The Lost Mark trilogy and the premise of the story is the lost 13th dragonmark, the Mark of Death. The 2nd and 3rd books are titled The Road to Death and The Queen of Death.

I just finished reading the first book, and found that it was very attention grabbing from start to finish. This is probably in no small part due to the short chapters in the book (the book has 64 chapters with an average of about 6 pages per chapter). The chapters usually end with a cliffhanger that makes you want to continue reading the next chapter. I'm usually very busy with my job, and only have about an hour to read at night if I'm lucky, but I found that I did not want to put this book down (at the expense of my sleep).

The story itself is action packed and introduces many of the special features of Eberron without becoming overly drawn out due to excess detail placed on these features. The journey through the Mournland also gives readers who are new to Eberron some insight to that area of the world, as well as introducing the concept of the warforged. The characters are also very diverse, with some undead, knights of the Silver Flame, the changeling, shifter, warforged etc etc. We also get to see clashes of character and principles among the characters, which is nice. The action and battles are also well written, and the reader can easily follow action that is taking place in multiple locations at the same time (ie. the arena scene towards the end of the book). Another great plus point is that the main characters are actually vulnerable and a few of them actually meet their end in the course of the story, unlike certain series' where main characters dying take a number of chapters, and then other characters keep thinking of them etc etc.

On the minus side, a couple of things irritated me slightly. Firstly, as most reviews have pointed out, the repetition of the kidnapping got a bit boring after a while, but I believe the circumstances were reasonable and fairly well written. Secondly, there are quite a large number of grammatical errors/typos which takes a bit away from the enjoyment of the story, but these are few and far between when compared to those in the City of Towers (the first Eberron book published). And finally, I notice the writer refers to warforged as 'it' rather than 'he' or 'she', and while this is a perfectly reasonable classification given that the warforged are basically machines, the concept of warforged gender had been introduced in the Dreaming Dark trilogy (Pierce and the other warforged) and I feel a maniacal overlord with the name 'Ba*****' should be referred to in a particular gender rather than as an 'it'.

Frustrating at times, but overall a fun book........2007-07-20

Forbek's first attempt at the Eberron campaign setting was pleasing. The plot line is great and should lead to highly pleasing follow-up novels. The characters are very entertaining, and while they are extremely stubborn (and frustrating), you'll find yourself really getting to know them and caring about what happens to them. The fight scenes are intense and well-done, with brutal injuries being handed out left and right in realistic and gory detail. While many of the previous reviewers have complained about the repetitious nature of the plot, with Espre being captured time and again, it actually worked rather well for this novel. Warforged followers of the Lord of Blades (who we met in the Dreaming Dark trilogy) play a large part in this novel. They take on a much more human aspect, with emotions and sensitivity to pain, that they lacked in Keith Baker's trilogy.

***spoilers***

Kandler's step daughter, an elf named Espre, turns out to be a very special (and highly sought-after) girl because of the appearance of the lost 'Mark of Death' on her back. The plot gets going when forces from Karrnath appear to capture her out from under the noses of Kandler and a group of knights of the silver flame (who were also out to find her). As Kandler, his shifter friend Burch, and the knights set out to rescue her, they end up trekking through the Mournland and encountering all kinds of foes. They are able to track down and overwhelm their enemies time and again only to have a sneaking shifter named Te'oma re-kidnap her every time. It is sort of funny how every time Kandler has Espre in his arms once again and you think he surely won't allow her to be captured again, something bizare happens and Te'oma is there to take advantage. Frustrating at times, but it keeps the story going at a very quick pace.

The cover art is somewhat confusing, displaying blatant inaccuracies about the characters and their roles, but that shouldn't really bother anyone.

Overall, I really liked this book and look forward to reading the next.

I couldn't finish it........2007-04-10

There are some redeeming parts, the action is fast paced and the descriptions are usually well written, but it's all down hill from there.

I made it about 100 pages into this book before putting it down in frustration. The authors tendency to have completely ridiculous and forced dialog drove me batty. I kept thinking "Now why would they say that? This makes no sense." For example, in the middle of life or death situation when asked a question a Vampire exclaims "ah straight to the point, refreshing!". What? Refreshing?! You wonder if maybe he expected small talk.

In another, after a large battle in a village where a group of vampires kidnaps a mans daughter one of the vampires waits around just to tell the heroes not to follow. As if the man isn't going to pursue his daughter? What in the hell? There is no situation I can imagine where this would be a reasonable expectation. I could almost see the villain holding up his pinky Dr. Evil style.

A Tough Read.......2007-03-28

This was a really tough read for me. The characters are flat, and the story is predictable from beginning to end. I had planned on reading the whole Lost Mark series, but after this book the fate of the Lost Mark will have to remain Lost.

Marked Women: Prostitutes and Prostitution in the Cinema (Wisconsin Film Studies)

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Good history, great politics!
study of the diverse portrayal of prostitutes in movies

Marked Women: Prostitutes and Prostitution in the Cinema (Wisconsin Film Studies)
Russell Campbell
Manufacturer: University of Wisconsin Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0299212548

Book Description

Julia Roberts played a prostitute, famously, in Pretty Woman. So did Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, Jane Fonda in Klute, Anna Karina in Vivre sa vie, Greta Garbo in Anna Christie, and Charlize Theron, who won an Academy Award for Monster. This engaging and generously illustrated study explores the depiction of female prostitute characters and prostitution in world cinema, from the silent era to the present-day industry. From the woman with control over her own destiny to the woman who cannot get away from her pimp, Russell Campbell shows the diverse representations of prostitutes in film.
Marked Women classifies fifteen recurrent character types and three common narratives, many of them with their roots in male fantasy. The “Happy Hooker,” for example, is the liberated woman whose only goal is to give as much pleasure as she receives, while the “Avenger,” a nightmare of the male imagination, represents the threat of women taking retribution for all the oppression they have suffered at the hands of men. The “Love Story,” a common narrative, represents the prostitute as both heroine and anti-heroine, while “Condemned to Death” allows men to manifest, in imagination only, their hostility toward women by killing off the troubled prostitute in an act of cathartic violence.
The figure of the woman whose body is available at a price has fascinated and intrigued filmmakers and filmgoers since the very beginning of cinema, but the manner of representation has also been highly conflicted and fiercely contested. Campbell explores the cinematic prostitute as a figure shaped by both reactionary thought and feminist challenges to the norm, demonstrating how the film industry itself is split by fascinating contradictions.

Customer Reviews:

Good history, great politics!.......2007-05-18

Campbell not only is a good scholar, he also manages to not offend sex workers with this book. While perhaps not his intent, his remarks reveal an enlightened and progressive view towards sex workers' rights. Thank you!

study of the diverse portrayal of prostitutes in movies .......2006-05-02

"The representation of female prostitution in the movies takes place in a complex, dynamic field in which the forces of male fantasy and patriarchal ideology...merge or collide...." The merging and colliding have given rise to 15 identifiable images of the prostitute--siren, comrade, nursemaid, junkie, baby doll, and martyr, to name some. Campbell--senior lecturer in film studies at a New Zealand university--reviews numerous films mostly from the 1950s on for their portrayals of prostitutes according to one of these images; or sometimes portrayed with a mixing of images though one is usually predominate. In many cases, the images are general labels, or are loosely applied, rather than stereotypes. With changing mores regarding sex, gender dissonance, the bent of "free-market capitalism" to cater to popular culture, and the "interests of female spectatorship [and] varieties of feminist discourse," the character of the prostitute in movies is fluid. Sometimes, a prostitute is even portrayed as virtuous and contrasted with society's moral hypocrisies and sexual ambivalences. And at times, the prostitute represents society's unmet needs and muddled yearnings. Campbell's wide-ranging study based on numerous films in the genre of movies with characters of prostitutes over the past several decades since strict gender roles have been breaking down and formerly taboo subjects have been treated more openly is a benchmark in this area of film studies.

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Emissions Trading and Business

Manufacturer: Physica-Verlag Heidelberg
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 3790817473

Book Description

Emissions trading challenges the management of companies in an entirely new manner. It does not only allow for a bigger flexibility in management decisions concerning emission issues like other marked based environmental policy instruments. Furthermore it changes the code by which environmental policy steers management decisions from hierarchical to monetary information. But is this change transmitted and mirrored in management decisions, processes and structures? And, how do they change? When flexibility is given to the companies they have several opportunities to react. Moreover different institutional architectures of emissions trading schemes are possible and have been implemented, like in the US, the UK or the EU. The 24 contributions discuss theoretically and empirically in four parts the following subjects: 1. Institutional design, decision making and innovation, 2. Investment and management strategies, 3. ET and business administration, 4. Effects of ET schemes existing and being implemented.

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Brave and richly-textured memoir
Port Wine Stained
Interesting and Entertaining
"Marked For Life" is beautiful
Could not put this book down

Marked for Life: A Memoir
Joie Davidow
Manufacturer: Harmony
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Kissed by the Angels

ASIN: 1400047412
Release Date: 2003-06-17

Book Description

Attractive and successful, Joie Davidow presents a confident face to the world. But her carefully applied makeup conceals a secret she has kept for decades. She was born with a port-wine stain, a purple mark that covers most of the left side of her face, including her eye. Tormented as a child, shunned as a teenager, she thought of herself as deformed and ugly until, in her second year of college, she discovered cosmetics that would allow her to hide the mark on her face. She learned to paint on a mask that made her appear normal, if not downright beautiful. Suddenly she was no longer “the girl with the big purple mark.” Behind the mask she was safe, protected from the astonished eyes and unkind remarks of strangers. Her deception was her freedom, but it was also her imprisonment, a threat that never left her. For most of her life she feared that a hot, humid day, a strong wind, an errant tear, or even a fervent embrace would destroy the face she had so painstakingly created, revealing her shameful secret.

While hiding behind the mask, she became a newspaper editor, then a magazine publisher. She sat front and center at runway shows in Paris, London, Milan, and New York. She was an authority on all things glamorous, appearing frequently on television. But alone at night, she washed her face and saw a disfigured woman in the mirror.

Marked for Life chronicles Joie’s coming of age with a facial difference and a family who tried to deal with the purple mark by denying its existence. It is the story of Joie’s search for a man whose love she could trust despite her marked face, and her passion for the man who loved and accepted her.

It is the story of how she refused to be defined by the stain that disfigured her and how, finally, she came to realize that, despite being “marked for life,” she is really just another face in the crowd, no different from anyone else.

Written with honesty, wit, and a true storyteller’s gift, this book will resonate with all of us who have at times felt that we, too, were secretly marked and somehow different from the rest of the world.

Customer Reviews:

Brave and richly-textured memoir.......2006-04-10

As others have observed, this is a hard book to put down, and worthy of your attention. I happened to be doing research on the lives of people born with birthmarks, but I got much more than I bargained for in this book. In short, Joie Davidow is someone I admire and not merely because of her courage -- she's quite a writer. Highly recommended.

Port Wine Stained.......2004-04-07

Who would imagine that a memoir about a rare form of birthmark commonly referred to as a "port wine" mark would be impossible to put down? Joie Davidow's lover during college chose her over a "certified genius" girlfriend from his hometown. Joie Davidow may not be "certified," but she certainly demonstrates creative genius. In writing about the stigma of growing up with a dark purple "handprint" over half her face, Ms. Davidow also manages to mirror the larger "print" of civilization and its consideration of who passes the "test" for perfection. For example, Ms. Davidow, then a young teen who hates being asked, "What happened to you?" asks an elderly woman why she has a number tatooed onto her arm. The book tells about growing up Jewish in a small mostly non-Jewish town where one isn't to make a "big deal" over anything, including the purple mark; what this means is that she is not to show her feelings about anything. When she first falls in love, her father makes that a very big deal. He (...) stops speaking to his young and rather innocent daughter (other than to insult her), another "mark for life" in terms of her relationships with men. Her training as a singer is also fascinating. If all of this sounds rather heavy and intense, the reader should know that Ms. Davidow has a wonderful and subtle sense of humor. Her writing sings.

Interesting and Entertaining.......2003-10-25

Ms. Davidow is an avid storyteller who has bared her soul to allow us the opportunity to examine the life of someone living with a port wine stain. The birthmark is secondary to the obstacles that probably faced many Jewish women growing up where she did and when she did. I applaud her for her honesty and trust. As someone who has also grown up with birthmarks I can appreciate the pain she has felt, the stares she has endured, and the longing to "be normal" that is evident in her story.

Great book; Great person.

"Marked For Life" is beautiful.......2003-10-12

Marked For Life is "about" a stigma as much as Moby Dick is about a whale; it is surely the central problem, but it is the journey wherein lies the story. The body and its frailties, its betrayals, and its reflection, for better or worse, on our selves is everyone's existential lot, and the pathos in the narrative both gives one perspective, and becomes a real life metaphor for the paradoxes we all live; experiencing pleasure and creative expression through our physical beings while conversely being confined, by gender, appearance, and longings that both drive us and make us want to scream to the void: "I am not this body!"
The "mark" has even broader implications as the author searches for ways to conceal as well as integrate the "problem" as she grows, reflected in the myriad ways the mark is gazed by different people in her life, parents, doctors, lovers and society itself over time and personal growth. The greatest irony of the story is that Ms Davidow is actually quite beautiful, as well as brilliant, but it is the refrain of the book:"If I had been born in another time, another place..." which reminds us of the fragility that physicality burdens us with, and how lucky we are to be here now.

Could not put this book down.......2003-10-08

MARKED FOR LIFE is one of those books that stays with you for a long time. I could not put it down once I started reading it. It is much more than just the story of someone with a port wine stain--it is a story about the growing pains that we all feel in life and the attempts we make to fit in. I recommend this book to anyone who believes that real life stories are more interesting than any fiction. Joie is a talented storyteller and you can't help rooting for her throughout this touching and well-written book. I especially recommend this book for all young women. A must read.

Marked for Mercy (Ridgeline Mystery Series #1)

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Controversial subject woven into great story
Dramatic telling of clash between "mercy" and principle

Marked for Mercy (Ridgeline Mystery Series #1)
Alton Gansky
Manufacturer: Chariot Victor Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564766780

Book Description

ASSISTED SUICIDE.

MURDER.

RIDGELINE, CALIFORNIA WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.

Dr. Gates McClure suddenly finds her quiet life and medical practice turned upside down when Dr. Norman Meade, an old acquaintance, arrives to assist a dying woman commit suicide. Then a man is found murdered--and the evidence points toward Dr. Meade.

As Gates searches for answers to the murder, she's also forced to take a hard look at her Christian faith and what she believes about assisted suicide. Complicating matters is her relationship to Dr. Meade. The man she remembers from med school wasn't a killer. . . .

Alton Gansky, author of By My Hands and Through My Eyes, explores a story behind today's headlines in the first Ridgeline Mystery. Alton brings an eclectic background to his writing, having worked in such fields as accounting, advertising, and architecture. Today he is the senior pastor of High Desert Baptist Church in Phelan, California, where he resides with his wife and three children.

Customer Reviews:

Controversial subject woven into great story.......2002-10-28

Marked for Mercy is a good solid mystery with compelling, likeable characters. It also treats the issue of euthanasia fairly, showing both pro and con perspectives. The author and main character are prolife, as am I, so I was happy that the prevailing thought was that euthanasia is wrong.

Since reading A Ship Possessed and Vanished by the same author, I hurriedly ordered everything Gansky has written. Normally I do not particularly care for mysteries. I have to admit, when you apply Gansky's talent to the genre, you can't lose.

The first two books of his that I read (mentioned above) were centered on religion and had a strong Christian message. Marked for Mercy was more of a mystery where the main character, a very ethical female physician, happened to be a Christian. If you're looking specifically for Christian fiction, this might not enthrall you as much as Gansky's later books, but if you like mysteries and good writing, this will do very nicely!

Dramatic telling of clash between "mercy" and principle.......1999-07-25

If you can ignore a few typos, including one on the first page, the story is surprisingly good. The volatile subject matter (euthanasia) is examined with respect and intelligence on both sides, and drama builds when the two opposing factions clash and must rethink their positions. Excellent characters, good dialog, very creative situations, entertaining, and personally challenging.

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