The author provides a first hand account on the civil war that ravaged Lebanon for more than 15 years. Having been a journalist for the British Times and now the Independent in London, he lived and reported from the part of the country that suffered most, West Beirut. Robert Fisk provides detailed analysis of the war, the politics, and describes the gruesome attacks and massacres on civilians by the Israelis and their allies. He witnesses the kidnapping of his fellow journalists and narrowly escapes it himself. He discusses both the Syrian and Israeli invasions of Lebanon. The author maintains, as humanly possible, objectivism as he reports on this war with no winners. Excellent reading. Cynical writing. Good history book for non-lebanese and for those with little knowledge on the war.

As he does so regularly for the English newspaper "The Independent", Fisk provides a brilliant account and analysis of Lebanon. He is particularly good on the misreportage of events by the Western media, and on the Israeli propaganda machine, and his account of the kidnapping of his friend Terry Anderson is superb. Reading this book leaves you both sad and angry. Good accompanying reading is William Dalrymple's "From The Holy Mountain," in which he interviews Fisk.

Robert Fisk has produced the most accurate book that describes Lebanon between 1975 and 1990. This is the most factual book that you will ever read about Lebanon.

This book is available and can be ordered immediately. The last edition was printed in December, 1996. It won first place in the nation by the National Federation of Press Women out of 1700 books submitted. The author, Helen Corey, has updated and included in this book all the recipes of her best seller The Art of Syrian Cookery. It also includes additional recipes and photographs plus a descripton of the mores of the people of the Middle East. One of the reviewers, Michelle Plummer, Professor of Nutrition of Indianapolis, In. writes "Recipes are bursting with flavor as Helen makes them easy to prepare with her fail-proof methods, adapting them to the American kitchen. She tells you what basic ingredients to buy and work with them for the most dazzling results. Considered one of the most popular teachers of Middle Eastern cuisine, Helen prsents elegant plate presentations allowing many cooks the pleasure of preparing vegetables, meats and desserts for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike".

"Helen Corey's cookbook Food from Biblical Lands and The Art of Syrian and Lebanese Video Cooking shows are classics. A learning experience as Helen's tiips and techniques keep you attentive through her preparation of every recipe in this 70 minute show. These authentic Syrian & Lebanese recipes are bursting with flavor as Helen makes them easy to prepare with her fail-proof mathods. She tells you what basic ingredients to buy and work with them for the most dazzling results. Considered one of the most popular teachers of Middle Eastern cuisine, Helen' s elegant plate presentations allows many cooks the pleasures of preparing vegetables, meats and desserts for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. I have tried other Middle Eastern cookbooks, but Helen Corey"s recipes are by far the best and have made me an expert in cooking these foods. MCPfood@aol.com, Professor of Nutrition, Sept. 9, 1999"

Each recipe is explained in detail and if an ingredient is uncommon she explains where to get it and what it is. She writes the recipes so that the end result turns out wonderfully. I grew up eating this food in Canton, OH and her recipes taste just the way the old Syrians would have prepared it. I was so happy to find a cookbook so true to the old world style. There are meat recipes as well as vegetable based cuisine, desserts, and even how to make the old Syrian cheese usually served with breakfast. It is a concise, great book and I wish more people knew how to prepare meals like this.

Having travelled a lot using the LP guides with no problems I can only recommend them... but even if your not planning a trip to Lebanon- this book is amazing as a reference to the region; making order out of the chaos of Lebanon's recent history in an unbiased and moderate historiography- unswayed by religous or cultural persuasion and remaining sensitive to Lebanon's unique history of generally fruitful co-existance and co-operation between some 15 different religous/cultural groups who inhabit and interpret such a dramatic and tiny country, especially in a region characterised by the sometimes not-so-happy collision between east and west. This is an extremely valuable guide for travellers, people with an interest in the Mediteranean and the Near East, or for that matter, any one of the 13 million Lebanese descendants living outside of that tiny piece of heaven. The section on Mount Lebanon was particularly good, though the author could have covered more of the awesome hiking trails and forest overlooking Beirut to be found in the Metn valleys (midway between Jenkins & Jousiffes Mt Lebanon & Chouf)... but no body's perfect!! :) This book is excellent and very well written- the authors deserve great credit.

I'm not going to tell you how good of a touristic guide this is, because you don't need a book to tell you that Lebanon is beautiful. If all you people who know nothing about the middle east, and how the conflicts came about, and how the wars that happened there within the last half century occured get this book. This book I believe, has the most realistic, unbiased, and totally true account of the crisis thats plagued the middle east since WWII. It goes into much detail, and outlines many sides of the story. It is extremely beautifully well told, and I'm incredibly indebted to this author, and I hope she publishes a book entirely dedicated on the war. The book also contains many beautiful pictures concerning then and now pictures that will literally blow you away. There are so many misconceptions about Lebanon its drives lebanease crazy. But gradually Lebanon is making a come back to what it originally was. The paris of the middle east.

I returned to Lebanon after many years away. This book had everything! My family (who have never left Lebanon) were also amazed by the detail and accuracy of the book (even the cost of a Taxi from Homs to Beirut to within 50 cents US). Insightful and straightforward. Arranged very well. There is very good detail, even on places that the Ministry of Tourism is scant on. Highly recommended!

I have read this book and looked at the pictures for so long that I feel as though I have been to Lebanon. It not only shows some of the beautiful cedar trees and sights, but also the everyday lives of people and the food (the best thing in Lebanon). I highly recomend purchasing this book for a family member, friend, or even a gift to yourself.

Promote the Real Lebanon, give this book to all your family members and friends. It is a marvellous gift to keep and show.

On the seventh day God rested and slept. In a dream he saw what was missing, a place absolute artistry which would be haven for him and those who appreciated the mysteries. He woke up early the next morning and proceeded to toy with his artistic ideas. And there was Lebanon. A symphony, written early at the dawn of time, carved by a lover-God a gift to all the lovers who would populate this earth. The Authors

Arz, the tree, very frequently mentioned in the Bible, put together in a story to present the most fascinating picture of the holy land before Christ set foot on.

A the highest peak in Lebanon, stand majestically the Cedars or Arz from whose wood boats and coffins were made for the pharoahs of Egypt. Arz has the most unsual and moving story ever told.

A very interesting story of a young boy and his family struggles in Lebanon. This book gives true meaning to the word "FAMILY". It will touch your heart!

I don't know what else to say about this book except... it's simply brilliant! I haven't read anything so brilliant in ages! It's probably even the most brilliant thing I've ever read! (And I've been reading Kundera and Marquez and Nietzsche and Proust and Sarte lately..). The wit, the dark humor, the absurdity, the directness, the daring... It's just.. breathtaking! If you relate in any way, or are merely interested in any of the issues raised in this book; or even if you don't relate--if you're simply human and you're conscious of and cherish what that means, don't hesitate for a second! JUST GET IT NOW!... It's amazing!!!

This is an extraordinary book. I read it in a swoop. The language, imagery, and sheer passion of the writing held me rapt. I am half Lebanese, I was raised in Lebanon and since the Civil War I've lived in many countries. Like Alameddine says, I no longer "fit" - this is true of so many people who have come to America and I don't think there's a single novel that writes so beautifully, so disturbingly, so deliriously about the sense of dislocation one feels when one is "of" one country, yet "in" another. Aside from this, as a novel pure and simple, this is an extraordinary book, poetic, charged and utterly riveting. A must read for all.

This book is the best book I have read in a long time, a true masterpiece. It is the only book I began rereading right after finishing it. Both heart-achingly sad and hilariously funny, It shines through with a remarkable wit. Comparing and contrasting the Lebanese civil war and the AIDS epidemic in the US was very effective. This is a must read book for everyone.

In a world where good role models are few and far between, Robin Higgins sets an extraordinary example. Because of her dual roles as wife and fellow Marine, Robin Higgins' story provides a unique insight into the psyche of both a desperate hostage family and a soldier trained to save one of her own. I was constantly amazed at the delicate mental and emotional balancing act she successfully kept up for the entire time her husband was held captive.

Robin's powerful and insightful recounting of her husband's story is extremely timely, as Col. Rich Higgins' fate in Lebanon holds lessons for the peacekeepers now in Iraq. Like the U.N. weapons inspection team in Iraq today, Rich's team sought to enforce peace in a land where war is a way of life. And like lead inspector and fellow Marine, Scott Ritter, who was recently accused by Iraq of spying, Rich was distrusted because he was an effective leader.

It was an honor and a pleasure to serve as editor of this book.

This is a story about a courageous woman torn mercilessly between her love for her hostage husband and her love and duty to her country. Above all, this is a love story and tragedy of epic proportions...involving not one American hero, but two. In her unrelenting efforts to free her husband from the bonds of terrorists, Robin Higgins went through the Halls of Power, confronting presidents and kings, winding through mazes of red tape, promises, and stone walls. At the same time, as a Marine Corps officer, loyal to her leaders and her country, she had to conduct herself with dignity and grace. Never once did she waver--even in the maddening days following the brutal murder of Colonel "Rich" Higgins. This book is her story...and his...and in gripping detail, Robin recounts this Patriot story. The reader will find it quite difficult to finish this book without anger at the feeble efforts to free the colonel, and without being in awe of the courage of Robin Higgins--a true patriot and heroine.

"Patriot Dreams" is the most gripping true story I have ever read, and I am a voracious reader. From the opening page, you will vicariously enter the inner world of Robin Higgins, and experience the tragic death of a true American hero.

Rich Higgins was a Marine lieutenant-colonel who saw himself as a peacekeeper and a protector of the nation he loved. His duties in Lebanon required him to be unarmed, and he accepted those conditions as part of the job.

Unfortunately, the Hezbollah did not respect his show of good faith. What happened to Rich and his ever-faithful wife, Robin, will give you the deepest understanding of the contemporary Middle East and the ineffectiveness of our government in protecting its citizens in that area.

"Patriot Dreams" is written with an understated passion that sweeps the reader along; I was unable to put the book down until I finished the last word.

Robin Higgins is an extraordinarly powerful writer. Her work combines the best features of a novel with a strong dose of reality therapy. You will be both wiser and better informed as a result of this read.

The author was a student at North Shore High School when I taught there, and I can, without qualification, vouch for her good character and loyalty. When she introduced me to her husband, Rich Higgins in 1982, he was a major, and she was a captain. You would, as I did, recognize that he was a product of the best of our culture--strong but humane, highly intelligent without conceit, loyal without fanaticism.

Rich Higgins will be mourned, but he must never be forgotten.

Sonia Uvezian has written yet another landmark cookbook, her best yet. I am familiar with many books on eastern Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cooking, but none compare to this revelatory and loving volume in which the author brings to life a cuisine and a culture in the way only one who was born and reared in the region could. Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen recreates a time and place inaccessible not only to most Americans, but even to most eastern Mediterraneans. It evokes the world of Uvezian's Lebanese childhood and is a rich portrayal of how people lived once upon a time, a happy time, not too long ago. A masterpiece of culinary instruction as valuable for its authentic and inspired recipes as for its exceptionally informative text, this extraordinary work is an essential guide for anyone who enjoys cooking and reading about eastern Mediterranean ingredients, markets, traditional utensils, scenes of daily life, views of mountain villages and the sea, ancient temples, mosques, and monasteries. I found the content of these illustrations at least as impressive as their inherent beauty. Anyone can make the dishes described by following the author's clearly written recipes, which are almost always based on readily available ingredients. Some of the best cooking I have done-ever-resulted from this wonderful book.

I am so impressed with Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen that I have ordered several copies as gifts for friends and relatives on my Christmas list. I strongly recommend that you buy two copies for yourself, one for your kitchen and the other for your night table. My thanks to Sonia Uvezian for a truly remarkable cookbook.

I love eastern Mediterranean food, especially Lebanese, but had always been better at eating it than cooking it. This book has changed that. Not only do the recipes produce fantastic results, they are not at all difficult to make and require no special expertise, equipment, or hard-to-find ingredients.

I really enjoyed reading about how the cuisine has evolved over so many centuries and found the author's personal insights and memories as well as the fascinating stories, quotations, and proverbs very helpful in placing the recipes in a cultural context. The information on ingredients is a revelation and far better than anything I have seen elsewhere, and the menu suggestions are super! Also, the many evocative period illustrations relate beautifully to the enlightening text.

"Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen" is a truly unique and exceptional cookbook that is amazing in its scope. It is a must for every family of Lebanese or Syrian descent and indispensable for any lover of good food. Whether you actually cook from the book or simply read it (I strongly recommend you do both!), an inexhaustible fund of knowledge and pleasure awaits you.

Uvezian's timeless classics, The Cuisine of Armenia, Cooking from the Caucasus, and The Book of Yogurt, turned me into a passionate cook. But as wonderful as those three volumes are, this one is even better. In fact, Recipes and Remembrances from an Eastern Mediterranean Kitchen is surely one of the finest cookbooks ever written. I could go on singing its praises, but to appreciate what a great book it really is, you must read its illuminating text, see its fascinating period illustrations, and try its magnificent recipes, which, in addition to those from Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan, include some superb Armenian ones not found in the author's previous works. I can't recommend this masterful volume highly enough!

The work stands above anything written by any contemprorary historian or journalist covering the Middle East. The questions, eye witness accounts, insights, and volume of information is overwhelming. Whereas Robert Fisk paints a dark portrait of the Israelis, he doesn't pull any punches describing the Palestinians either. Heroes and victims all using words and deeds to muddy the water in their favor. Nobody leaves this book without a profound sense of the depth of differences and issues necessary to address before any peace can really be achieved in the Middle East.

Robert Fisk is a journalist but also a historian and an extremely talented writer. He has lived in Lebanon for 23 years now, not just to cover the stories there and throughout the Middle East, but because it is home to him and because he cares deeply for the Lebanese people. This is apparent in his book. Unlike just about all other books on the subject, Pity The Nation covers the war from a far more personal perspective. Mr. Fisk lets you know exactly what all the bombs and artillery shells did to normal people when they fell on their neighborhoods. He also gives an unprecedented view of the every day life of a war correspondent; the hardships, the horror, the fear, and even the boredom.

If you're a blind supporter of Israel, the PLO, any of the Lebanese factions, Syria, or even the US government, be prepared for some unpleasant truth!

But whatever the case, do read this book. You won't find this level of detail in ANY of the other popular books on the subject.

Robert Fisk(Beirut correspondent for "The Independent) was recently the target of death threats and vicious emails for his honest and unbiased reporting from the Middle East.
"Pity the Nation" is a readable and riveting account of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and the consequences of the same for the Palestinians, Lebanese and the rest of the Middle East. This is essential reading for understanding the current situation in the Middle East, and all the more timely considering the current US posture towards Iraq.

Jean Sasson's debut historical novel, Ester's Child, is truly "a searing drama you'll never forget". Her three years of research paid off. It is a must read for all and is quite timely as conflict continues to brew in the Holy Land.

Sasson bought a new understanding to an ancient and complex situation. By using a German, an Arab and a Jewish family she cleverly presented three sides. Her characters are multi-dimensional and very convincing. I found myself wanting to meet them. They are all greatly missed. They continue to be with me as I read the newspaper about the conflict. Her novel put faces on all of the people we see in the news and read about in the newspaper.

Sasson wrote with sensitivity and compassion. It is clear that she has an obvious love for the people in her novel.

With a college degree in history I seek out historical fiction. Ester's Child is a new all time favorite read. I believed it was impossible for her to surpass the Princess trilogy, but she did (and I still strongly recommend them, also).

With great anticipation I look forward to Sasson's next novel!

Ester's Child, Jean Sasson's latest book and first attempt at fiction is a must read for anybody who is interested, baffled, and confused with the on-going and never-ending conflict between the people of Israel and Palestine. I have read most of Ms. Sasson's other books, all of which are nonfiction. How she was able to make the switch from writing nonfiction to fiction leaves me in awe of this incredibly talented author. Ester's Child can only be described as an epic, but unlike other sweeping historical novels, Ms. Sasson is economical in her use of words. There is not so much as a wasted sentence in the entire novel. And in spite of a large cast of characters, each one is memorable. Joseph and Ester Gale, Demetrius Antoun, Christine Kleist, and Jordan Gale evolve in Ester's Child as believably real people, living real life dramas. I will always think of them whenever I pick up a newspaper and read of the latest human tragedy in that dark and bloody ground. Likewise, there must be real people in both the Israeli and Palestinian camps who will recognize themselves and others in these characters.
If it is true that the pen is mightier than the sword, then Ms. Sasson wields one of unusual power. And if ever there was a book that should be made into a movie it is Ester's Child. I hope Stephen Spielberg reads it. I hope Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat read it, too.

I am an avid reader, reading at least one book a week, along with numerous magazines and newspapers. After 9/11, I wanted to know EVERYTHING about every reason listed telling us why certain Muslims feel they have a valid reason to attack America and Americans. I searched to find various books on the issue of Jews/Arabs and this book caught my attention. The current violence in Israel led me to buy ESTER'S CHILD by Jean Sasson. As I read this book, I was astonished at how little I really knew about the Jews & Palestinians who live in Israel. Why is this not taught in school? It creates such understanding to know the history of this age-old conflict, yet Jean Sasson teaches history in the most interesting manner--in the pages of a well-written and wonderfully compassionate book--without even trying.

Honestly, I cannot believe that this book is not required reading in high schools and universities. This is the kind of book that gets young people to reading!!! Young people are going to be running governments in just a few years and they need to know how people FEEL who live these events...

Wake up world! We must understand the history of these conflicts before we can stop them!!!

After reading this book, I felt compelled to buy everything by this author and I am starting PRINCESS when I finish this review.

I now have a new "favorite" author, JEAN SASSON.

Thank you Jean for this extremely compelling book... I encourage every one who reads this review to buy this book, absorb this book. You will be glad that you did...