My feeling about the novel : JOURNEY TO THE EAST (MaryAnn and BiJon Sarma, ISBN 1-55212-755-9)

One friend of my husband sent him a book from New York. Since he does get time to read he gifted me the book. It is the novel, JOURNEY TO THE EAST by MaryAnn and BiJon Sarma, published by Trafford Publishing, Canada, Page 269, price US$ 18.95. I am not a good reader and believe me, I had a lot of trouble finish the book. From the simple English used in it, I had little doubt it was written by Bangalee writers. The story however is not that interesting, I mean to say, the type we normally expect from the western novels. There is no horror, sex, imaginary machines and robots. On the other hand it narrates a sad story.

There are numerous men around, but a young girl have absolutely no one. It is a story of thousand years ahead, when there is no relative because, there exists no family because there is no marriage. The writers disclose, the capitalists have ruined families such that they can hire individual person at less pay, such that the people cannot form resistance and for many other reasons. The government joined hands with them, because they know, the govt. is going to enjoy people's wealth after their death (who would inherit their properties ?). All seems so natural. Only a few weeks ago I came to know, Canada is going to introduce marriage between same sexes. In their novel the writers have mentioned of this possibility. Well, the Canadian government has given their explanation and some may find those logical. But after I finished reading this novel I am convinced to believe, the government is now approaching to that marriage-less, family-less goal for their obvious benefit.

Before our hero and heroine initiated their journey to the east the novel has made us to have our journey to the east. By our journey we come to know a lot about Indian culture and civilization. With my university degree I was aware of many of these information. But the way some of those have been presented in this novel have given me new insight. As a Muslim woman I have always hated the phallus worship and I still do. But after I came to know the logic why they worshipped phallus, I was amazed. Now I can no more hate them for their most logical (even though savage by today's consideration) act.

I am not a professional book reviewer (I am a house-wife) and I don't know how to write a review. My husband wanted me to write 'how I liked it' such that he could send it to his friend. And I just expressed what and how I felt after I went through the book.

Thank you.
Mrs. Mahmuda Begum
Banani, Dhaka.

Journey to the east is the journey of Gloria, who in 2800 ad usaed to live on womb hiring. The woman did not have family, because in the west by that time the system of marriage was abolished by the capitalists.
The capitalists abolished it because because when man and woman turned independent due to want of family they were to be paid less for sustainance, could be easily exploited and their wealth enjoyed after death (since there were no descendants). Gloria wanted to get rid of that hell and Thomas came in her help. In that help they wanted to get happiness of marriage and family, and for that reason they had to leave the country of the capitalists and set sail to the east.
In tghis metaphoric novel the writers have explained what was inevitable for the western society in the hands of the capitalists, who understand one and only one thing - their selfish interest.
I thank the writers for this nove.

...One friend of my husband sent him a book from New York. Since he does get time to read he gifted me the book. It is the novel, JOURNEY TO THE EAST by MaryAnn and BiJon Sarma... I am not a good reader and believe me, I had a lot of trouble finish the book. From the simple English used in it, I had little doubt it was written by Bangalee writers. The story however is not that interesting, I mean to say, the type we normally expect from the western novels. There is no horror, sex, imaginary machines and robots. On the other hand it narrates a sad story.

There are numerous men around, but a young girl have absolutely no one. It is a story of thousand years ahead, when there is no relative because, there exists no family because there is no marriage. The writers disclose, the capitalists have ruined families such that they can hire individual person at less pay, such that the people cannot form resistance and for many other reasons. The government joined hands with them, because they know, the govt. is going to enjoy people's wealth after their death (who would inherit their properties ?). All seems so natural. Only a few weeks ago I came to know, Canada is going to introduce marriage between same sexes. In their novel the writers have mentioned of this possibility. Well, the Canadian government has given their explanation and some may find those logical. But after I finished reading this novel I am convinced to believe, the government is now approaching to that marriage-less, family-less goal for their obvious benefit.

Before our hero and heroine initiated their journey to the east the novel has made us to have our journey to the east. By our journey we come to know a lot about Indian culture and civilization. With my university degree I was aware of many of these information. But the way some of those have been presented in this novel have given me new insight. As a Muslim woman I have always hated the phallus worship and I still do. But after I came to know the logic why they worshipped phallus, I was amazed. Now I can no more hate them for their most logical (even though savage by today's consideration) act.

I am not a professional book reviewer (I am a house-wife) and I don't know how to write a review. My husband wanted me to write 'how I liked it' such that he could send it to his friend. And I just expressed what and how I felt after I went through the book.

Thank you.
Mrs. Mahmuda Begum
Banani, Dhaka.

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.

Rick Ridgeway brings a unigue perspective to the history and the present problems which face the country of Kenya and its wildlfe. Although the authors thoughts and comments occur during his "hike" through Keyna from the top of Kilimanjaro, Tsavo east & west n.p., to the Indian Ocean, this is more than just a travel book. We are introduced to many of the historic persons who shaped what is currently the national park system in Kenya. We are also introduced to those who presently hold important positions within this system. The book provided an excellent discussion of the important issues in regards to the balance of nature/wildlife, economic concerns, and the local peoples. I found the discussions of the Waliangulu (elephant people) an excellent example of the problem which not only faces Kenya but other parts of Africa as well. For those with interest in this part of the world, this book provides a refreshing point of view.

I recently returned from Kenya and Tanzania where I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and went on a safari across the Seregenti and neighboring parks. Reading _The Shadow..._ has me longing to flee my desk job for good and head back to the wilds of Africa. The book brought back memories of the trip of a lifetime, from the icy cold of the oxygen-starved summit of Kili to the vast plains of East Africa and my only regret upon reading the book was that my safari was in a car -- an amazing experience, to be sure, but I envy Ridgeway his chance to experience Africa and its wildlife from the "real" perspective, the one man has always occupied... on foot and thus always on alert.

The book is a must-read for anyone who has been to or is contemplating going to East Africa; Ridgeway does a great job of discussing the history of the region and, in particular, the precarious balance between man and beast. The history of the conservation movement and cast of characters Ridgeway introduces is a wonderful way to learn more about the area and the people and policies that shaped its development. It's the latter focus, however, that makes me recommend the book even to those who've never been and never will be to Africa, because Ridgeway's ruminations about the interaction between man and nature, about what wilderness means to mankind, and, unfortunately, what mankind is doing to the last pockets of true wilderness that remain strike a chord that reaches far beyond the scope of his 250-mile walk. As he points out, North America once was "another Africa" with megafauna roaming wild just as the elephants and buffalo still do in Africa and, if we're not careful, the African wildlife may well go the way of all the large wildlife which mankind has driven to extinction.

In one sense, it's a rather depressing book because at the same time I found myself caught up in the excitement, reliving the adventure and planning my next safari, there's a faint undercurrent of despair, as Ridgeway visits the Waliangulu tribal village and finds their way of life disappearing, as he roams through the Rhino Free Range Area where the nearly-extinct black rhinoceros population is protected. But, as Ridgeway quotes "To despair of the entire situation is a reasonable alternative. But the unsatisfactory thing about despair is that besides being fruitless, it's far less exciting than hope." The excitement, and even the hope, of this seasoned adventurer shines through throughout _The Shadow of Kilimanjaro_ as he strides through one of the earth's last truly wild places.

Rick Ridgeway's account of his trek from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean is interesting enough on its own. But it is the frequent sidetrips along the way -- into Kenya's colourful colonial history, it's wildlife management and parks policies, and it's current political climate -- that make this book such a compelling read. What is the best way to ensure the long term survival of Africa's wildlife? Who owns the elephants? Should hunting be permitted? How big do reserves need to be? Is there a future for tribes whose traditional way of life included hunting? How can the Kenyan people share in the revenue generated by tourism? Ridgeway touches on these and many other questions, taking care to let the reader see the personalities and the politics lurking behind the strongly-held views of the main proponents in the debates. Anyone looking for a good introduction to the challenges and opportunities facing Kenya today could do worse than starting here. I read this book before visiting the country and found it an excellent preparation for the trip and a great jumping-off point for further reading.

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.

Joseph Braude tries - in fewer than 200 pages - to offer a compelling, absorbing, and optimistic vision of Iraq's future. I think he does quite brilliantly.

Please understand that these questions of rebuilding Iraq are far deeper and ultimately of greater consequence than your position on this war. In the end, it means little to Iraqis whether you love or hate Bush or Blair. And thankfully Mr. Braude is wise enough to realize that his personal views on the conflict, now that the war is a reality, are not of surpassing importance. What will indeed matter greatly to the destiny of Iraq, its talented, beleaguered people, and the entire Middle East is whether American society and the world mobilize and commit themselves to compassionately rebuilding a thriving New Iraq. And Braude gracefully describes what that New Iraq must look like. It must do justice to the startlingly unique culture of that great land. And it must unleash the marvelous collective talent of Iraqis - a freedom-starved, proud people who have waited - truly voiceless! - for economic and political justice to reach their shattered homeland. The New Iraq offers a vision for success in all areas of the rebuilding - from the reconstituted Iraqi military to the cinema - without losing sight of Iraq's unique cultural, religious, and economic institutions that have (miraculously) survived the Ba'ath nightmare.

Saddam Hussein offered the people of Iraq a brutal police state, a fascist ideology, innovations in fear and torture. He almost succeeded in grinding the Arab world's most multiethnic society into dust. But Saddam Hussein is the past.

In the near future, many societies from across the globe will be uniting with Iraqis in an historic state building effort of almost unprecedented scope and importance. Joseph Braude's book, in my opinion, is a terrific starting point for their humane and historic discussions. Finally, some optimism and a sense of mission! A vital counterweight to the cynicism and fatalism in the air today. I heartily endorse it.

As a fellow Iraqi-American, I thank Joseph Braude for writing his excellent book, The New Iraq. I bought my copy and read it cover-to-cover with glee and rapt attention.

Not only does Braude write well and demonstrate the fruits of deep research, but he also engages the reader with humor, vivid stories, and cultural insights that lead the reader to the heart of the Iraqi people. From the amazing stories of Tanukhi, the medieval judge and storyteller, to the resillient adventures of ingenious modern Iraqi businessmen, Braude weaves a delightful tapestry in The New Iraq.

As an Iraqi-American, Braude's love for the Iraqi people and their culture is evident. It's also evident that Braude is an appreciator of the best of America and is an ambassador who bridges the gap of understanding between Americans and Iraqis. He has degrees from Yale and Princeton in Arab and Islamic studies and has lived in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and throughout the Middle East. With the media coverage focusing so much on the details of war, the punditry of retired generals, and the mechanics of invasion, Joseph Braude's The New Iraq takes a step back to admire the past, present, and potentially bright future of the Iraqi people.

As an Iraqi, I want Americans to learn more about my people. I believe, as Joseph Braude does, that it is essential for Americans to engage the people of Iraq who have lived in Saddam's shadow for years. "This book is not about Saddam Hussein," writes author Braude. Indeed, this book is about the exciting yet underreported and repressed accomplishments of the Iraqi people - a people who have the potential to build a great country. In the introduction to his book, Braude offers a call to action for Americans and others throughout the world in the public and private sector to join in supporting the rebuilding of Iraq. Braude calls on Americans to contribute their talents and energies toward one of the Middle East's most talented peoples. As Braude argues in his introduction, rebuilding Iraq after the war will benefit not only the people of Iraq, but also the Middle East and the world. The transformation will take time, Braude warns, but the benefits are immense. I am so proud of the idealism, balanced with a practical streak, that 28-year old Braude radiates.

In rebuilding Iraq, Americans will show my brothers and sisters in the Arab world that the U.S. is serious about bringing civil society and the best of our values to the Middle East. Read Braude's The New Iraq for inspiration.

After reading Joseph Braude's The New Iraq, I am now inspired to find ways that I can help the people of Iraq build the country of their dreams. Now that the war is over, rebuilding Iraq is the top priority. Those who want to understand Iraq's past and where Iraq might be heading ought to read The New Iraq. Braude sets a positive course for the future, packing his prose with exciting stories, anecdotes, and cultural flavor (I loved the chapter on Iraqi cinema and entertainment!). The "Teachers and Judges of Truth" chapter paints a compelling portrait of the kinds of change that will be needed in Iraq's legal and educational system, so that the country can one day bloom into a democracy. This book is a winner.

I read this book 14 years ago and loaned it out to someone because it was so good that in parts I laughed out loud and at parts felt my heart in my throat nearly ready to cry. Although todays Turkey has changed considerably, the books description of the Turkish people remains valid. The short stories are ones anyone can relate to that has visited a foreign country for any extended time period. Read the book, go to Turkey or vice versa. Unless you are narrow minded and demand other countries to be as 'enlightened' as the US you'll appreciate all of what Turkey has to offer.

I first came across Scotch and Holy Water when I was a student in Alanya, Turkey, in 1994, and fell in love both with the country and the book. Unfortunately, the book belonged to someone else in the program, and I was never able to find a copy in the States until now. The stories inside are some of the funniest and warmest portrayls of a people you'll ever see, and Tumpane's wry (and self-deprecating) style of writing and living comes through on every page. If you have any interest in Turkey, read this book.

My husband and I first moved to Izmir, Turkey in 1996 and we both read "Scotch and Holy Water". We were still living in a hotel and had not yet experienced the country and very little of the people. I laughed through the whole thing and couldn't wait to see the places he wrote about. I read it again about two years later, we were still there, and it was even better. I couldn't believe how true the book was. It was like he was writing our story. Even forty years later not much was different. We did not live on a military compound and ended up moving to a very small village outside the city. We are very adventurous people with little fear of what kind of trouble we may get into getting lost. And we were lost MANY times!!! Learning the language was very important to really enjoy it. The people are wounderful and warm. Everyday there was something new that would crack us up. They have a very different type of logic. We will go back again one day.

I highly recomend Scotch and Holy Water even if you have no interest in Turkey. It is a great Read. He did a great job of bring out the realness of the country and the everyday living of the people as Turks and foriegners.

A courageous trip in search of identity of a woman's inter and intracultural challenges. Growing up in an affluent Egyptian family where the British and European culture was "fashionable", she was confronted by the changes of the revolution, political turmoil and nationalism and its confrontation to the European imperialism. Leila Ahmed is courageously and insightfully analysing changes that influenced a whole generation and challenged her to search for answers. She travels in time from Egypt to England and finally as an immigrant in the US. She objectively and sensitively tries to unwind the entangled conflicts of politics, religion, and culture, through her personal experiences. As an Egyptian immigrant woman, although from a different generation, I have learned from this book about the modern history of Egypt and identified with some of her experiences as well. This is an eloquently written book and a fascinating journey!

In this book Dr. Leila Ahmed present an intriguing account of various phases of her life beginning with her childhood in Cairo to her journey to the United States. As an immigrant faculty myself, I can sense her story sincerely. The story which comes from her heart and, will certainly, resides in the hearts of the readers.

Although the book is designed as an autobiography, she masterfully analyses the critical social and religious issues and incorporates them immaculately into the main story. Especially, her outright distinction between the "oral" Islam, practiced and passed on to her by the women around her, and the "official", textual, man-made, Islam is indeed creative. I believe Dr. Ahmed has earmarked on an important mission of repairing the prevailing militant view of Islam in the west by unveiling the face of a true, pacifist, Islam.

I love this book. It tells a story of a woman withstanding constant challenges in her life, her journey across different cultures in search of indentiy and a place in this world, the story of simplicity and real values, and the story of honesty and integrity. The breadth of knowledge demonstrated by the author and her command of the English language, as a non-native speaker, are quite extraordinary.

A courageous trip in search of identity of a woman's inter and intracultural challenges. Growing up in an affluent Egyptian family where the British and European culture was "fashionable", she was confronted by the changes of the revolution, political turmoil and nationalism and its confrontation to the European imperialism. Leila Ahmed is courageously and insightfully analysing changes that influenced a whole generation and challenged her to search for answers. She travels in time from Egypt to England and finally as an immigrant in the US. She objectively and sensitively tries to unwind the entangled conflicts of politics, religion, and culture, through her personal experiences. As an Egyptian immigrant woman, although from a different generation, I have learned from this book about the modern history of Egypt and identified with some of her experiences as well. This is an eloquently written book and a fascinating journey!

I've nothing to add to the others reviews, because you've said all. I can only add that I've read this book for the first time when I was fourteen and today, that I'm 46 years old, I've read it again experiencing the same emotions! Now I want publish all that I found on the web: all the books and articles and the links to buy them and have more informations too!
You can find informations on the author and his masterpiece "The rivers ran east" on... and here an abstract follows "Leonard Clark [1907(1905?) - 1957)] was perhaps one of the greatest of all twentieth-century explorers. He did not believe in big expeditions and elaborate paraphernalia - he was a man who carried his own belongings and charged ahead. This same trait enabled him to perform extraordinary feats of military intelligence and reconnaissance in difficult and dangerous areas during World War II. Clark attended the University of California, then joined the army, attaining the rank of colonel. During the war, he spent many months in China behind Japanese lines organizing guerrilla activity. His post-war expeditions began in Borneo, and over the years he made trips to Mexico, the Celebes, Sumatra, China, India, Japan, Central America, South America, and Burma." He passed away in 1957 at the age of 49, while on a diamond-mining expedition in Venezuela"
He wrote:
A wanderer till I die [1937] very rare
An article on National Geographic magazine - September 1938
Among the big knot lois of Hainan: wild tribesmen with topknots roam the little-known interior of this big and strategically important island in the china sea [1938]
The Rivers ran east [1953]... - translated in italian by Garzanti...
The marching wind [c1955]...
Yucatan adventure [1959]...
Alle sorgenti del fiume giallo [1996 ] italian edition...
I hope I've found something interesting for all!

Leonard Clark was my uncle, and the new edition having been released, I have recently re-read The Rivers Ran East.

I found this book to be most incredible, not simply for the storytelling, but more importantly for Len's foresight into the value and preciousness of the South American rainforest. While he was admittedly not an environmentalist, he was truly a man ahead of his times in that respect. His appreciation for and finely detailed descriptions of the flora and fauna of the Amazon River basin are extremely topical and perhaps even more pertinent today than when he wrote the book. Among all else, he identifies specific native tribal practices and forest herbs as remedies unknown by Western medicine; as with many other products of the rainforest, these hold great promise and yet remain unresearched. Furthermore, his anthropological descriptions of the Amazonian natives capture a culture that now, just 50 years later, has largely been transformed to modern society and lost.

Purely on a swash-buckling adventure-tale level, the book is priceless: this is a real-life Indiana Jones! Len's hair-raising stunts, death-defying experiences, and encounters with Amazonian headhunters hit the reader one after another with nearly a breath in between.

Altogether five of Leonard's books were published: A Wanderer Till I Die (1937), The Rivers Ran East (1953), The Marching Wind (1954), Explorer's Digest (1955), and Yucatan Adventure (posthumously in 1958). All five make for fascinating reading. Many of his books were translated into Italian, Japanese, and other languages. My mother was Len's younger half-sister and I inherited her collection, which includes first editions in English of all five, as well as several of the translated versions, for example, the Japanese edition of The Marching Wind. In addition to The Rivers Ran East, The Marching Wind has also recently been republished and is now also available on Amazon.com. Beyond his books, articles by Len were published in National Geographic, Life, Literary Digest, Field and Stream, Popular Science, and American Weekly. The family still receives inquiries from time to time about possibly make a film based on one of his adventures, but none has been produced to date.

All of Len's books except for A Wanderer Till I Die were written after World War II. However, it was during the war that he perhaps made his greatest - though unpublished - contributions. Leonard served as an officer in the OSS, spending a good portion of the war in the China-Burma-India corridor conducting intelligence work in the Yellow River valley. Near the end of the war, he was stationed on Formosa and accepted the first (unofficial) surrender of the Japanese there. He earned the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, and the Order of the White Cloud with Ribbon, the highest honor given by the Chinese to the foreigners who served them.

All of Leonard's works are fact, not fiction, and he is very highly regarded in our family as a military hero and quintessential adventurer. After the war, he built a log cabin near Fresno, California that I visited as a child. I remember Len as a large, quiet, gentle man who liked to tease us children, smoke his pipe, and take long contemplative walks in the woods with my mother. Yet he also embodied a sophistication, powerfulness, and seriousness that I sensed even as a child.

Len was born on 1/6/1907. He died on 5/4/1957 under mysterious circumstances while exploring for gold and diamond mines on the Caroni River in Venezuela. You will find a fairly extensive biography in Current Biography, Volume 17, No. 1, January 1956, although this does not cover his last years. In addition, my father devoted 20 pages in our family history to Len. For more information, please feel free to contact me.

Clark,an American who helped engineer the resistance to the Japanese occupation of China, goes looking to the source of gold flowing to Spain from the new world. He finds the key in the archives of Spain. He travels alone into the interior of the Amazon river basing seeking the gold source. His guide abandons him the first day into the trek, leaving Clark armed only with his wits and a .38cal revolver. The story takes you into the vicious lifes of the head hunting Juarvo indian natives,..even as friends, they are deadly. To say more would give away the story. The reader gets a stark education of the ways of the not so primitive South American jungle inhabitants. Add to the mix a young Italian lady on a shadowing river boat, who is all to eager to assist him. But , in his quest, or demise. The book should be labelled as addictive to anyone who likes to read fast moving, hair raising non-fiction. REVIEWER NOTE: "The Rivers Ran East." is such a fantastic story that when it was published, no one took it seriously. Finally, two expedientions were mounted to follow Clark's footsteps. The first found that the indian resistance was even more formidable than Clark had reported and turned back. The second team found the gold, it is the richest gold strike in history. Their claim is said to the to be the "most expensive real estate on earth."

Steven Lloyd has written a book that should be required reading by anyone who wants to succeed in business, relationships, selling or, life! If you want to do more, be more and have more; read this book!

In 'Selling From The Heart' Steven Lloyd has created an inspirational, fresh and yet practical approach to selling. These techniques really work, not only in business but in day to day life situations too!

It is so refreshing to read a work from an author that is successful at what he does and has the writing and communication skills and abilities to teach others how to do it too! Steven Lloyd and his remarkable book will take you from theory to practical, from observation to action! This book needs to be required reading for every serious student of sales, marketing, management, and life!

I just finished reading your book KIJABE, and wanted to applaud you for your honest and intriguing novel on the history of your family in Africa. I really liked how you juxtaposed the court story, your romance, the journals of your grandfather, and the local histories. I am an avid reader (and actually picked up your book from the Westlake Library) and I am always curious for unique books that give new perspectives to life and peoples relationships. I think Kijabe was just that. I know it was your first attempt at writing, and I hope you continue to grace the paper with your pen, as I think your style will continue to improve through the years.

Katie Conlon

ps. I would love to hear more about your story if you wouldn't mind sharing what parts were true, and where things stand now.
I'm fascinated by that kind of stuff. I'm actually a student and I study international relations ( I was in Switzerland for school last year) so real life antidotes are always helpful. thanks.

To portray the issues and crises of a Diaspora culture in East Africa is one thing, but to write about them using the tools of various genres is quite another. Pally Dhillon has written a story about the clash of divergent cultures, of diametrically opposed religious beliefs, of the political and social struggles of a man who journeyed across the Indian Ocean to help build a life, a family, and a society. Kijabe is an impressive effort.

Borrowing devices from popular genres--from murder mysteries and love stories, from political thrillers and the well-known rags-to-riches motif--Dhillon tells the story of his grandfather, a poor Sikh emigrant who went to Kenya to work for the railroad industry, operated by the British at the beginning of the twentieth century. This is the same man who became one of Kenya¹s most powerful political figures, and whose mysterious death serves as the beginning of the book.

Kijabe is the fictional account of Dhillon¹s life-long research into the life of his ancestor. The history and culture underscoring the narrative greatly enrich the reader¹s experience and keep the story from falling into the trappings of genre fiction. But at the same time, the aspects of genre writing keep the story from becoming mired in its own attempt at historical accuracy.

Though this is Dhillon's first novel, it would be difficult to discern from the text. He writes with clarity and ease, with strength and power. Substantial portions of the book are devoted to the journals of his family's patriarch, but not to the extent that one voice dominates the tale. The complexity of the story requires a glossary of terms and an Appendix of Characters at the end to assist the reader¹s enjoyment. A small explanation of the nature of Sikhism and a concise history of Kenya reside at the end as well. For those who enjoy reading about the histories of far-away places, genealogy, sex, murder, and corruption, Kijabe is a book worth reading.

John Stoehr

Kijabe is a remarkable story of the three faces of East Africa - Black, Brown, White. The people from different backgrounds got together for a common aim; the development of the dark continent. The love story is unique in itself, involving people from differing religious and cultural beliefs. The religious verses, the stanzas from poets and sayings of politicians are a wonderful opening at the start of each chapter. I was absorbed in thought by reading the beginning of each chapter. Kijabe is a wonderful book carefully written by Pally Dhillon. It will bring joy for generations to come.