One Fine Day the Rabbi Bought a Cross

Book Description

On a pleasure trip to the Holy Land, Rabbi David Small looks in on the troubled son of friends. Young Jordan Goodman has embraced the extreme ideals of a controversial fundamentalist Jewish group. Now his newfound beliefs lead him to perform an act of dubious heroism that results in a murder charge. Can Rabbi Small show him the error of his ways . . . and save him from the murder rap?

Customer Reviews:

The Rabbi returns to Israel and.............2006-08-30

of course trouble finds him even there.

As this 9th volume of the Rabbi Small series opens the Smalls have just dropped their teenagers off at summer camp and decide on the spur of the moment to take an offer (one of several) to return to Jerusalem for a few weeks. Word quickly spreads through Barnard's Crossing of his departure and the Rabbi finds himself deluged with various errands, purchase a cross, check up on a son studying there etc. Before he even lands Rabbi Small finds himself being drawn in an international conspiracy, one that will bring him in conflict yet again with members of his own congregation, Orthodox Jews in Israel, the local police and Israeli secret service as he once again must extract a member of his community from trouble.

The charm of this series of cozies lies more in the characters and their various problems and points of view rather than in the mystery. More than half the book elapses before the corpse even appears and most readers will not have much trouble figuring out the crime. It is still a most enjoyable read and for anyone who has read any of the previous books, wonderful to see what the Rabbi and his family are up to now.

"Who Done It Easy To Follow".......2004-06-06

6/6/04 Although the "Rabbi"'s section on how where, why and how he & his wife decided to vacation in Israel were 'not the better part of the book' ,the 'plot of the mystery' was good(since the book is separated in several chapters into scenario re 'the Arab' vs scenario re 'the Rabbi')...copyright in 1987, the book unfolds 1. that the CIA,FBI also are not the only "big brothers watching" especially in melting pots such as the USA where all groups formed on their "commonality" try to keep an eye on the going ons of "those whom they prejudice to or paranoid of" with networks for "et al" outside the country for their reporting such finding,as one of author Harry Kemmelman's character states near the book's beginning "they didn't have to evaluate info,just gather it"; 2. of the ways possible that weapons are gotten into various sections of the world,and used often not by those who they were originally intended for and how an innocent person who has nothing to do with "foreign intrigue" ,turns out to be the victim(in this case the victim ,an American college professor,who naively agrees to deliver a letter (the letter has a map showing the whereabouts of 'a ton of weapons')accidently dies, in the course of events);he dies of as he had called the Dx on him in patientlayterms "Triple A" ('AAA' for Aneurysm of the Abdominal Aorta)ascerbated by being gagged and tied in the foreign land.The book leaves no questions unanswered about the Sabbaths in Israel ; (Fri-Muslim;Saturday:Israeli(Jerusalem) & Jews(Tel Aviv);Sunday:Christians),all whom must take a day off to observe one of the 3 days as "their Sabbath"....also that the weapons when found are given away vs being fought for(with no strings attached !).

An absorbing mystery.......2000-08-24

This Rabbi Small mystery is truly absorbing; I couldn't put it down. It's not only a mystery novel, but partly a spy thriller: you get two for the price of one. Rabbi Small and his wife spend the summer in Israel, where a professor from their home town is murdered and a boy from their home town (now attending Yeshiva in Israel) is blamed. The murder, it turns out, is connected with a Druze conspiracy to steal a PLO weapons cache--which naturally brings the Mossad and Shin Bet into the picture. Simply gripping.

At the same time, Harry Kemelman tries to use Rabbi Small as a foil to discuss the state of modern Judaism. He explains the Jewish customs which come up in his novel, by making Small explain them to his gentile friends--or argue about them with other Jews. And he doesn't just explain; he opines: Kemelman lets you know just what he thinks of ultra-orthodoxy, the "born again" baal-tshuvah movement, and a few other hot issues in modern judaism. American Jews especially are likely to enjoy the "home town" feel of the Rabbi Small mysteries.

Non-Jews may find it eye-opening to catch the glimpses of Jewish culture, religion and ethics. As a tiny example, Small reminds his wife not to appear interested at an Israeli shop, because it would be wrong to raise the shopkeeper's hopes and then dash them. In addition, there are all the other issues mentioned above.

Kemelman's explanations are at least as important as his plot, and there is a fair bit of it. You may find that a touch heavy-handed, but I think that Kemelman pulls it off pretty well. The book is really a gripping whodunit.

Even better, it's the rare sort of whodunit with a complicated enough plot to keep your attention. Turning to the end won't help you; the mystery is solved, but there remain a few unanswered questions "for reasons of national security". I think that adds a satisfying realism.

Interesting descriptions of Israel and of the Jewish law........1998-12-25

I thought that this book was quite intersesting and enjoyable. I dont know if all the locations in Israel is as accurate.

Average customer rating:

beautiful
This is such an emotional read.......
This is such an emotional read.......
poignant
Weir's writing unique and undiscovered by most

One Fine Day
Theresa Weir
Manufacturer: Fanfare
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553563785
Release Date: 1994-01-01

Customer Reviews:

beautiful.......2006-09-17

Molly and Austin are beautiful together. Despite the neglect and misunderstandings in their past, when Austin has a disabling stroke, Molly becomes his carer. Together they learn their innermost fears, hopes and dreams. Incredibly moving and inspirational.

This is such an emotional read..............1999-11-29

As I've recently finished reading this book for the third time; it's hard to put into words what makes it so special.

Molly, must return to her soon-to-be ex-husband. He's recently had a stroke; he's a tyrant, a type A, a perfectionist. Molly dreads caring for him, but there's no one else to do it. For her very pregnant daughter's sake, she returns.

Austin, is helpless from the stroke. He's also very much in love--with Molly. He's been love deprived his entire life. As a result, he doesn't know how to love.

Molly and Austin find love, in this beautiful story. Or maybe, they already had it, and didn't know it. Maybe, it was a one-sided love. The layer after layer of storyline, adds to the depth of the book. This is a really perfect read!

This is such an emotional read..............1999-11-29

As I've recently finished reading this book for the third time; it's hard to put into words what makes it so special.

Austin, is helpless from the stroke. He's also very much in love--with Molly. He's been love deprived his entire life. As a result, he doesn't know how to love.

poignant.......1998-09-24

Touching, funny, engaging, sad and very human. It pulls readers right into the lives of its characters and never lets them go. I've read it twice and have cried my eyes out twice. The best thing about Weir is that her charcters aren't the typical gorgeous, beautiful-bodied cliches in other romance novels, her charcters are real and human and susceptible to life and its ups and downs, definitely something her readers can identify with.

Weir's writing unique and undiscovered by most.......1997-07-09

Though One Fine Day is probably my favorite book by this author. All of them are unique, uncliche plots with a lot of humor and chock full of the emotional ups and downs of our own lives. She can describe doing dishes and you find yourself comparing the way she put it with others who've read the same thing. Her publishers have not pushed her talents or something. Unbelievable how different her writing is and refreshing not to see the plot twists coming. Give her a try if you can find a used copy somewhere. Her newest, American Dreamer is GREAT

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My Favorite Childhood Story
Hunter's review
Beautifully-illustrated cumulative folk tale
Fell in love with the cute fox
Response to E. Bird review of 5/26/04 One Fine Day

One Fine Day

Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0020436203

Book Description

Awarded the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book of 1971

"One fine day a fox traveled through the great forest. When he reached the other side he was very thirsty." The jaunty red fox stole milk from an old farm woman, lost his tail under the annoyed woman's knife, and spent the day bargaining to get it back. This humorous retelling of a favorite Armenian folktale is a story small children will follow and "read along" with ease.

Customer Reviews:

My Favorite Childhood Story .......2005-11-06

It is with great pleaser that I review my all time favorite Armenian story which my grandfather used to tell me. Nonny Hogrogian did a great job of translating this story. The text is almost exactly translated. The illustrations are a perfect resemblance of Armenian characters. The vast fields remind me of the rigorous landscapes of Armenia. Nonny Hogrogian did an excellent job depicting the culture.
The story is cumulative, similar to There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly and Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears. It teaches a great lesson and is bound to be an all time favorite of many children.

Hunter's review.......2005-05-18

One fine day a fox ran through the woods on the other side he was thirsty. The fox saw a bucket of milk. There was some milk left but not much. An old lady getting wood saw him, and she cut off his tail. The lady yelled at the fox. The fox said, "Please give back my tail." The lady said, "Give me my milk!" The fox began to sob. He went to a cow. I'll give you milk for some grass. The fox went to the field. The field said give me water. He went to the stream for water and the stream said get me a jug. He found a girl. The girl said get me a bed and you can have my jug. He found a bed seller; he wanted an egg. He found a hen; the hen wanted some grain. He found and a sales man. He and gave the fox some grain and he got the milk. Was the lady still there? I recommend this book to all

Beautifully-illustrated cumulative folk tale.......2004-09-15

An old woman chops off a fox's tale after he greedily laps up her milk. In this cumulative folk tale, the sheepish, tail-less fox must barter with man and beast to obtain milk to repay the old woman to get his tail back. The illustrations beautifully capture the penitent and forlorn character of the fox throughout his journey. The gentle hills of the eastern European countryside spread across the pages, evoking quiet rural life. This book won the Caldecott in 1972.

As a folk tale that never reveals its setting, this book really doesn't address its apparent Armenian cultural origins. The only clue as to its cultural origin is the costume of the characters: the old woman's babushka, the peddler's fez, and the miller's apron. For children, and perhaps others, this may simply read as "old-fashioned." Comparing and contrasting this with other folk tales - particularly other cumulative folk tales - from other cultures might bring these subtle cultural aspects into sharper focus for children.

Fell in love with the cute fox.......2004-08-23

Follow poor Fox on his short-lived journey to get back his tail.
After drinking the milk of an old woman, a young fox gets his tail cut off. He then has to go through many people, animals and even a few non-living "things".
Will the poor fox ever find an end to his colorful journey to get his tail back and go play with his friends?

Response to E. Bird review of 5/26/04 One Fine Day.......2004-08-20

The abovementioned reviewer of One Fine Day has missed several fine points Nonny Hogrogrian's book possess. The books repetition of themes and jaunts of the fox are the charming and educational elements that captivate an early reader or storyteller.

The illustrations are not a modern version of Patricia Polacco. If the reviewer were familiar with the ethnic similarities of Hogrogrian's characters to Polacco's, wide and unique differences exist. Hogrogrian's characters are classic to her numerous illustrations in other books. She uses her Armenian background to give character and emotion to her drawings.

The story is a familiar one and a fable used by other writers. Hogrogrian's touch through her unique illustrations make it a winner.

The above mentioned reviewer concludes his review by stating, for a Caldecott winner, Hogrogrian's book is "small and unassuming". I would have to disagree and encourage the reviewer to not bypass the less flashy and "fab" words that exist in so many books today.

How fortunate for children everywhere, that the Caldecott Award panel chose to not overlook the quiet beauty and unique character illustrations in selecting this classic book a winner.

Average customer rating:

Very funny book
Not getting props Stateside
good to the last drop
a perfect read
Honing his skills

One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night
Christopher Brookmyre
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802139809

Book Description

Like a highball mix of Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiaasen, Christopher Brookmyre hits you hard and fast. Now Brookmyre is back with his most lethal book yet: One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night. Gavin Hutchinson had it all planned out. A unique "floating holiday experience" on a converted North Sea oil rig, a haven for tourists who want a vacation but without the hassle of actually going anywhere. And what better way to test out his venture than to host a fifteenth-year high school reunion, the biggest social event of his life, except no one remembers who Gavin is. That, and his wife has discovered his philandering ways and plans to leave him with a very public announcement in front of his assembled guests. Throw in a band of mercenaries who crash the party even though they aren't on the guest list, and you have a wicked farce of a thriller from one of the most original voices in mystery fiction.

Customer Reviews:

Very funny book.......2007-05-06

It's got a bit of everything: blood and guts, sharply observed social situations, distinct characters at cross purposes, and a few set pieces that are for falling on the floor and dying of laughter.
When some British mercenaries take over a floating hotel hosting a ten year high school reunion, thinking that the assembled group is a bunch of rich investors, things happen. Mistakes are made. All to the benefit of the reader.

Not getting props Stateside.......2006-03-07

True to his roots, Brookmyre uses his fair share of Scots slang and colloquialisms. As an American reader, I found the Scottish language bits easy to pick up and had no problem integrating the Scot-centric words into the general flow of the narrative.

That said, this is a great and really funny story. If you like Tim Dorsey, Christopher Moore, Robert Rankin, Carl Hiaasen, Elmore Leonard, or any other screwball hip writer, this is the stuff for you. Anyone else pooh-pooh-ing on this novel probably reads Grisham or Clancy for a laugh.

good to the last drop.......2006-02-17

I have tried a number of the authors that other amazon folks have recommended as being "as funny as Christopher Moore" (whom I have loved ever since finding a proof copy of Coyote Blue at a flea market for $1) but so far this one is the best. The characters are fleshed out and funny, lovingly eccentric, the action is not predictable, and best of all the ending is creative and not just a blood bath. The beginning is a bit bloody, but hang in there for a great ride with a wonderful bunch of characters you would love to party with. Lots of fun, and the man can write.

a perfect read.......2005-06-26

I find it disappointing that many people use mayhem generally. And it never really seems to get worked into the plot satisfactorily. Thankfully, there is Christopher Brookmyre to remedy this situation. Mr. Brookmyre chooses his words with crisp, dramatic, and killingly comedic perfection. I wish I were someone who has yet to read this book. I think the last time I laughed out loud this often was when I read either another title by this author (although this one is my favorite) or maybe Naked by David Sedaris. I have bought this book several times to give to friends and family. Decommissioned oil rig as leisure fantasy world...off the coast of Scotland.... sigh.

Honing his skills.......2003-11-23

Brookmyre is one of the few authors who can make me laugh out loud. This was the second of his books that I read and (forgive the cliche) I could hardly put it down. He always has a semi-political message, but he masks it under some really funny adventure. The scene where the ex-cop starts gets involved in the story is truly genius. He has a talent for making you care about his characters. People do occasionally die in Brookmyre's books, but he stays well away from really bringing you down. This book will make just about anyone happy -- it's a great book for a quiet evening at home but won't tax you too greatly if you're looking for a holiday read.

George and Martha One Fine Day (Book and Cassette Edition)

Average customer rating:

A book to last a lifetime!!!!!!
A sly and touching book about friendship
FANTASTIC

George and Martha One Fine Day (Book and Cassette Edition)
James Marshall
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0618049363

Book Description

Five new episodes in the friendship of two hippos: "The Tight Rope," "The Diary," "The Icky Story," "The Big Scare," "The Amusement Park."

Customer Reviews:

A book to last a lifetime!!!!!!.......2005-07-30

I can remember my mom reading me this book over 25 years ago..... I memeorized it before I could even read! When I did learn to read it I never put it down. I now have the opportunity to read my original book to my 7 month old son. I still love reading it and having it read to me. As a child this book taught me valuable lessons and characters I would never forget. my favorite line at the end is ," So I see , said George". A book that has stayed in my mind mind for over 25 years thats an inspirational book. It doesnt have to many pages for youngsters and it is easy to read for children learning how. I gave this book 5 stars because If i could keep this book since I was tiny then it must be something special..... a book like this reminds me of my childhood that's why its so important to read to children... loving lasting memories of their parent sharing time with them to read . A WONDERFUL PURCHASE for any family!

A sly and touching book about friendship.......2004-09-15

This book, subtitled, "Five Stories About Two Best Friends," follows George and Martha, two hippopotami, through stories called "The Tightrope," "The Diary," "The Icky Story," "The Big Scare," and "The Amusement Park." The stories follow a day in the life of George and Martha and remind us how powerful friendship is and that being a good friend takes effort. Specifically, George and Martha learn the importance of unconditional support, respect for privacy, and consideration of others' feelings and also discover that practical jokes have consequences. While each story can be read separately, the final stories blend together with a surprise ending. Each story is told in five pages or less and the text is very easy for beginning readers, with common words, short sentences, fewer than ten lines per page, and large serif type. More advanced readers will continue to remain challenged by some longer words. Although the stories are brief and the language simple, Marshall uses the rhythm and phrasing of the text to create a strong emotional response and sophisticated humor. With understated narration punctuated by short (often terse) snippets of dialog, the stories are meant to be read slowly and savored, with pauses for giggles and snickering. The overall effect is dramatic, with suspenseful moments at the end of most pages. Each page of text is accompanied by an illustration and each story, as well as the book as a whole, is introduced by an illustrated, hand-lettered title page. The illustrations are cartoonish black-line drawings filled in with pink, yellow, green, and orange, with George and Martha in appropriately weighty masses of gray. The texture of the brush strokes and pencil lines is visible, emphasizing the hand-craftedness of the drawings. Both children and adults will enjoy the sly tone and touching themes of the stories.

FANTASTIC.......2004-03-16

I loved this sweet book. It reminded me of myself and my own family. It made me and my children laugh out loud! Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

"The times were out of joint."
Beautiful (despite its obvious debts)

One Fine Day (Virago Modern Classics)
Mollie Panter-Downes
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140161198

Customer Reviews:

"The times were out of joint.".......2004-11-09

The novel "One Fine Day" by Mollie Panter-Downes is set in July 1946 in the small British coastal village of Wealding. When the novel begins, the Marshall family--Stephen, Laura, and their daughter Victoria--begin their daily routine. Life in the village has been irrevocably changed by the war. Every family has suffered some sort of loss. Some sons and husbands will never return, and yet those who survive must pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and find a way to carry on.

The Marshall family has much to be grateful for. Stephen returns home from the war in one piece, and yet both Stephen and Laura are plagued by both inner emotional questions and external domestic difficulties caused by the social changes the entire country faces. Somehow, the war years have stolen their lives--Laura and Stephen realise that the period to have other children has passed forever. The house, which was once so beautifully managed with such seeming ease is now locked into permanent deterioration. Their stalwart gardener, Chandler was killed in Holland, and the maids left to pitch in with the war effort. The Marshalls are now faced with managing a great house without servants. Many of the local gentry are selling and moving. For some, the decision to leave is an acceptance of a great change, but for others, it's a fresh start in a new country.

The novel traces the movements of Laura Marshall as she completes her daily errands. Laura encounters many local figures during her day--the gypsy who is "like a letter without a postmark, no clue given as to how far or how long he'd traveled" and the tragic war widow whose impending second marriage indicates she has "chosen certainty." The empire is fading and there are traces of the war everywhere--from the German prisoners of war who remain, to the rarity of sweets. Each person Laura encounters becomes part of the tapestry of her emotional adjustment to the challenges she has to face. There is at once a tragic sense of loss in these pages, but also optimism for the future. This sublime, exquisitely beautiful novel examines Laura's thoughts, her acceptance of aging, the recognition of all that she must be grateful for, and the certain knowledge that "there would always be an England." I recommend this marvelous novel wholeheartedly. It's a forgotten gem--displacedhuman

Beautiful (despite its obvious debts).......2004-09-18

This is one of the finest novels to emerge from the Second World War, and greatly deserves to be back in print. Mollie Panter-Downes's debts in this "day in the life" of a family (a father, daughter, and, most crucially, a wife) in a small village outside of London during the year after the cessation of war activities was clearly influenced by Katherine Mansfield's great story "At the Bay" and--even more saliently--by Virginia Woolf's MRS. DALLOWAY, in form, content, and tone. (Key phrases like "The war is over," here as in Woolf uttered by a wealthy woman past her sexual prime in relief, are directly taken from the Woolf novel.) But despite its derivativeness this is a masterful little novel, and should be accorded a special placed in the literature of the 1940s. Mollie Panter-Downes really could write, and her characters really come alive off the page. The descriptions of the English countryside on a hot day when the world seems still even though the class structure is forever changing are something to relish.

Average customer rating:

A powerful narrative and mood-filled color artworks

One Fine Day: A Radio Play
Elizabeth Van Steenwyk
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Customer Reviews:

A powerful narrative and mood-filled color artworks.......2003-07-27

The collaborative effort of author Elizabeth Van Steenwyk and illustrator/artist Bill Farnsworth, One Fine Day: A Radio Play is a distinctive and unusual picture book that presents a radio play of how the Wright Brothers changed the world at the beginning of the twentieth century, with their historic first flight. A powerful narrative and mood-filled color artworks combine to showcase One Fine Day as a distinctive and memorable accounting which is enthusiastically recommended for all young readers of all ages.

ONE FINE DAY THE RABBI BOUGHT A CROSS -- BARGAIN BOOK

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ONE FINE DAY THE RABBI BOUGHT A CROSS -- BARGAIN BOOK
HARRY KEMELMAN
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000JD2H68

1998 Sampler Quilt Calendar Complete Instructions & Patterns (One Fine Day)

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1998 Sampler Quilt Calendar Complete Instructions & Patterns (One Fine Day)
Jeanne Kimball
Manufacturer: Oxmoor House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Spiral-bound
ASIN: 0848716019

THE BLACK PRINCE: White Girl, Fine Girl; Miss Yellow Eyes; The Girl with the Flaxen Hair; The Bright Day; Fever Flower; The Way of a Man; One Summer; Joshua

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THE BLACK PRINCE: White Girl, Fine Girl; Miss Yellow Eyes; The Girl with the Flaxen Hair; The Bright Day; Fever Flower; The Way of a Man; One Summer; Joshua
Shirley Ann Grau
Manufacturer: Signet Books - New American Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000BMZ1E2

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