'Music for the Third Ear' is a deceptively simple and quick book. But it lingers, it doesn't go away, and it keeps you thinking about it long afterwards. There are so many levels that meet or careen into each other... It is an extremely saddening book, with no happy ending, and barely a ray of hope. It is pessimistic, as many of the characters are sucked down into and feed on their own vortexes of hate or need. It is a violent protest about man's inhumanity to man, and what to depths our egocentricity allows us to stoop---Mette feels all she does is OK because she is childless; Mesud rides on a cloud of ethnic hate that becomes its own reason to exist and be nurtured; Dr. lo Schiavo has no qualms about removing love and trust in the name of 'charity' and 'humanity', and so on. The only truly innocent one is as always the child, who might be the eternal loser.

Susan Schwartz Senstad examines in unflinching detail the mingling worlds of Nazi Holocaust survivors and survivors of the atrocities in Bosnia. With a sensitive ear for the music of relationships, the fragile harmonies of faith, and the clashing dissonances of war, she creates characters who will not quickly leave your mind - babies held like bundles of laundry, a man with cigarette burn tattoos across his chest, a woman who can't bear to look at her ravaged body, the child Zero clutching his toy pistol.

The situations in which these people find themselves - and the situations they create from their own passions - echo like melodies heard faintly from a distant room; yet, when examined, seem to be coming relentlessly from inside one's own skull.

This is not an easy book, but one that I recommend for its clarity and for the overwhelming tenderness and respect with which Senstad draws her characters. The sensationalism of press coverage is firmly laid to rest as these complex personal histories evolve.

Music for the Third Ear is deeply touching and unforgettable... a miraculous first novel.

Susan Schwartz Senstad could not have written a more timely and powerful work of fiction. The book is about the aftereffects of the rape genocide/ethnic cleansing policies carried about by Slobodon Milosevij on a couple coming back from their ordeal who meet up with a child of Auschwitz survivors, looking to take them in and "fix" what happened to them. .... In this powerful intersection of the Shoah that could not happen again, with the one that has happened and is now being debated--like its predecessor--Schwartz Senstad understands the human need to rid ourselves of survivor guilt, the resilience of the survivors of the Balkans and of other atrocities, and the great silence that, for the victims, is often the only possible response to what has happened to them. In this short and powerful tale, the main character,Zhelijka, a Croation Catholic woman, endures deliberate cruel and constant mass rapes, until she becomes pregnant by an anonymous father. Zhelijka's soon-born son becomes the pivotal character in the story. She calls him "Zero" and despite her strong ties to her child, is finally forced to endure yet another horror--she allows her Muslim husband Mesud to put the child up for adoption. Ultimately, the rejected child re-enters the lives of the four adult characters, Zhelijka and Mesud and Mette (the first-generation holocaust survivor) and her Norwegian husban Hans Olav.A perfect book club book, which manages to transcend its sad moments with emotion writ large and beautifully, a la Alice Walker or Joyce Carol Oates. Destined for the Oprah show! Thanks to Picador, USA for publishing a paperback version that exceeds the beauty of "The Red Tent."

I've just returned from a vacation to the U.P. and I can't imagine having taken the trip without this wonderful guide. Almost every town and village in the U.P. is covered with detailed, honest, useful information. This is literally the only guide you'll need.

Frommer's, Lonely Planet, Fodor's and Baedeker's take note:
This is one excellent travel guide! More than hotels, motels, watering holes and restaurants, "Hunts' Guide to Michigan's Upper Peninsula" goes where other guides don't: into the hidden crevices of a community to ferret out little-known facts.The Hunts help you find local color as well as food and lodging. This book is for the traveler who is tired of the usual- or for anyone who goes to the U.P. for day trips and getaway weekends.. This is not a standard guidebook. It's quirky and interesting - and reads like a good magazine feature story. How about we send the Hunts to San Francisco or New Orleans or Savannah - to get the real scoop on those wonderful destinations?

This book is a "must-have" for anyone who wants to get the most out of any trip to the Upper Peninsula. After dozens of visits to the U.P., I had thought I'd pretty much covered it all... until I picked up this book. The Hunt's have apparently combed through every nook and cranny of the U.P. and present everything a visitor would need to know! Much reccommended!

This book was truly fascinating. I read it shortly after reading The Poisonwood Bible, which had sparked my curiousity about central Africa. The author and her boyfriend set out on a trip across Zaire with no real idea of how they would get to their destination, and ended up dealing with situations that were so far beyond my frame of reference that I could scarcely imagine them. The author generally writes well and conveys a good sense of the tribulations and frustrations - as well as some moments of optimism - they encountered along the way as they got an unusually close-up view of the people and culture of the country. My only quibble with the book has to do with the inordinate number of typos.

"East Along the Equator: A Journey Up the Congo and into Zaire" is an excellent account of a journey across Central Africa (in what was then Zaire) in the early 1980s. Winternitz and her companion traveled by river barge along the entire navigable portion of the Congo river, from Kinshasa to Kisangani. The Congo river barges are legendary among 'extreme' travelers. The end of Belgian colonization of the Congo meant the end of roads, making the river the only practical way to travel between Kinshasa and Kisangani. These river barges are (were?) floating villages, complete with markets and nightclubs populated by traders who make their livelihood onboard, as well as travelers going from place to place. From Kisangani the journey continues overland, to an eventual return to Kinshasa by air. In Kinshasa the pair are arrested and interrogated by the secret police after interviewing a politician opposed to president Moubutu. Winternitz gives an even-handed and interesting account of the journey, along with relevant history and background information. The book contains a good bibliography. This book was journalism when it was first published, and it is still worth reading today, as a document of the Congo under Moubutu.

"East Along the Equator: A Journey Up the Congo and into Zaire" is an excellent account of a journey across Central Africa (in what was then Zaire) in the early 1980s. Winternitz and her companion traveled by river barge along the entire navigable portion of the Congo river, from Kinshasa to Kisangani. The Congo river barges are legendary among 'extreme' travelers. The end of Belgian colonization of the Congo meant the end of roads, making the river the only practical way to travel between Kinshasa and Kisangani. These river barges are (were?) floating villages, complete with markets and nightclubs populated by traders who make their livelihood onboard, as well as travelers going from place to place. From Kisangani the journey continues overland, to an eventual return to Kinshasa by air. In Kinshasa the pair are arrested and interrogated by the secret police after interviewing a politician opposed to president Moubutu. Winternitz gives an even-handed and interesting account of the journey, along with relevant history and background information. The book contains a good bibliography. This book was journalism when it was first published, and it is still worth reading today, as a document of the Congo under Moubutu.

I'm always looking for books about Africa. The fact that Ms. Bickmore has never been to Africa was an initial turn-off. It's strange to me that she didn't travel there before using it as a setting for her book. So I think that her descriptions of Africa was what a well-read American would expect. From my limited travel in African (five trips to East and South Africa), I'd say she did that part pretty well.

As to the story itself, it's all about indendent women and the price they pay for that independence. Her three women all married (or committed) too young!

I've read this book several times over the last 10 years. This time, it had been packed away after a move and I hadn't seen it in quite a while. When I pulled it out of a box I was searching through for something else, I immediately sat down to read it again. I would love to pass it on to my daughter, who is 14, but I had forgotten about some of the more "romantic" scenes. Someday, though, I know she'll enjoy it as much as I have. This is just one of those books that you carry with you forever. Treat yourself to this one and you'll be glad you did.

This book is absolutely the best book I have ever read. I've read it about 5 times(both books)and I just love it. It's catching, you can't tear yourself from it until you're finished. You feel like your right there, living their lives and I cry everytime I read the sad parts. I recommend this book to everyone, read it, you won't be the same.

Mr. Hazony is a great writer. As a concise history of Zionism, this book is fantastic reading. However his thesis is unconvincing. Every time Hazony quotes Martin Buber to expose his hostility towards Jewish Statehood, Buber's words ring with near-prophetic wisdom and intelligence--the opposite of Hazony's intention, one would imagine.

Hazony's paints the struggle between the early Jewish Zionists and Jewish anti-Zionists to be in large part a petty war of egos. It takes 5 chapters before Hazony goes into the anti-Zionists feelings about the Arabs of Palestine in any depth. The Anti-Zionists central argument--that changing the demographics of Ottoman Palestine against the wishes of the Arab population is inherently immoral--becomes a footnote to Hazony's story. Needless to say, it's this factor which has poisoned relations between the peoples of the Middle East to this day.

Hazony's main thesis is that the Jewish anti-Zionist legacy never died, but remained vibrant, protected within the ivory tower of Jerusalem's Hebrew University, influencing politics insidiously by poisoning Israel's cultural life. Poisoning or influencing for the better? --you decide. Hazony provides the history.

My own belief is that 3 generations of war, countless deaths, and an immoral occupation of the West Bank and Gaza are sufficient factors to have created an Israeli ideology of Post-Zionism. You don't need a conspiracy theory about Hebrew University brainwashing everybody to account for that.

First of all, I must say that this is a terrific book. It is amazing in the way it shows how and why Israel will unfortunately not exist in the near future.

However, it does have a few problems, one of which I feel is cardinal. The first few chapters, in which Hazony presents his thesis, regarding the level of infiltration of "post-zionism" into modern Israeli society, namely its mainstream left (whether they admit it or not), are not intended for anyone who is not on the same side, politically, as Hazony himself. And therefore will not understand, what exactly Hazony's opinion on the matter, and why he sees this as "wrong" (if they will come to that conclusion).

Another minor problem is the way is idolizes Labor Zionism, particularly Herzl and Ben-Gurion. The way he presents them is a bit biased.

Overall this book is amazing, and a must to read for everyone who wants to really know more about Israel, and maybe to try and to something, if it's not too late.

The book is a must-read for any one who see himself as a true zionist. It describes the way anti- and post- zionism has evolved in the last 100 years - partly from zionism itself. It combines almost up-to-date description of frightening post-zionism in the Israeli society, with a very interesting view of the history of Zionism. Apart from the very important content - the book is also written very well.

Even if you can't visit the bakeries and restaurants of the Lower East Side (and you should) you can enjoy the ethnic flavors by reading Joyce Mendelsohn's book. Like the best historians, she tells stories of the past from a present-day perspective. New York is a city of remakes, architectural and cultural--Mendelsohn combines both. As a former History teacher, I recommend it for a good read.

Joyce Mendelsohn gives an excellent walking tour of the Lower East Side pointing out landmarks with interesting facts and accurate accounts of the rich history here. Anyone who lives on the Lower East Side or whose relatives came from the Lower East Side should read this book complete with period and modern photographs. I loved it.

This is an essential book for anyone who lives in or plans to visit New York City. The first 22 pages give a succinct but by no means shallow history of immigration to New York, beginning with the earliest slaves arriving in New Amsterdam in 1626 to the latest arrivals of Hispanics and Asians in the later years of the 20th century. The remainder of the book consists of four self-guided walking tours, each approximately 2 hours long, through 4 different neighborhoods of the Lower East Side. The description of each tour begins with directions for arriving at the starting point by public transportation--a helpful bit of information. Among the various sites on the tour are the birthplace of Eddie Cantor, the first municipal-built playground in the U.S., the place where Arthur Murry took his first dance steps, the library that Leon Trostsky used when he lived in NY in 1917, and the Wah Mei Bird Garden, where caged Asian song thrushes fill the morning air with song. The book is small enough to carry around easily. The index is especially good. The photographs, new and old, give a sense of the city both today and yesterday. This is a friendly book.

I will not spend a lot of time writing about how valuable a reference this is - the other reviewers on this site have already more than done it justice. Aside from the relative lack of material on early Zionism (also pointed out by one of the other reviewers), this book has most if not all of the relevant documents. I have only one major criticism (the reason I gave the book four stars instead of 5): the almost complete lack of information about the original sources. Apart from a one-liner preceding each document, no information is given regarding 1) the citation of the original work, including page numbers, where appropriate; 2) the language in which the original work was written; 3) if the work was not written in English, credit for the translation, the date thereof, etc. While these may not be of interest to the casual reader, to anyone doing research in the field, if only for a college paper, these details are critical. Furthermore, in an area as controversial as the Arab-Israeli conflict, the ability to trace documents back to the original and verify translations is everything.

The book is simply a collection of documents on the Arab-Israeli conflict, dating back to the British Mandate in Palestine. The editors included all the important papers such as the Balflour Declaration, the "White Paper," various UN declarations, and speeches made by both Arab and Israeli leaders. The latest documents it contains are those covering the Camp David meetings between President Clinton, barak, and Arafat near the end of Clinton's presidency. While it is not a history of the conflict (merely a collection of historical documents), it certainly can provide you with plenty of info on the subject.

Anyone who wants a truly honest vision of the Arab-Israeli conflict should consider this excellent 580-page Reader, last updated in 2001. It is divided into four sections each of which contains important writings from both sides (sometimes three or more) of the question and goes back more than a century.

The first, for example, runs from 1882 through the end of the British Mandate and includes 69 pages of writings, from the Bilu Group Manifesto, excerpts of Theodore Herzl's Jewish State and a 1905 French journal piece by Negib Azouri to the 1915 letter of Sir Henry McMahon to Hussein the Sherif of Mecca, the Peel Commission report, the US Special Committee on Palestine and the Partition Plan of the UN General Assembly.

The Third section runs from the Camp David Accords to Madrid, including statements from various commissions, the Arab League Jordanian Crown Prince Al-Hassan Bin Talal, and Lebanon and Israel's 1983 truce agreement. Also included is the Hamas charter, the Palestine National Council political resolution and declaration of independence of 1988 and Iraqi speech of Saddam Hussein as well as a 1991 U.S. letter of assurance to the Palestinians.

The Israel-Arab Reader's last section includes many Arab documents on Oslo and runs through 2001 statements by the Palestinian negotiating team and former President Bill Clinton.

It is hard to argue against reading important original documents, and forming your own opinion. Once you do, you will see many of the factors that have shaped the current Middle East as well as international and U.S. policy. Alyssa A. Lappen

In 1909, just after the end of his term as President, Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Africa for a year long safari.The trip was a major undertaking ; hundreds of porters were needed to carry his baggage. Roosevelt's son, Kermit came along, taking photographs which are reproduced in the book. Roosevelt and company bag hundred of animals. It appears that all hunting rules were suspended for the ex-president. Roosevelt and son are soon blasting away at anything and everything that comes into view. British East Africa is described in terms that make today's politically correct readers wince. Attitudes have changed dramatically in less than one hundred years. It is odd to hear Roosevelt describe parts of Africa as a "white man's country," suitable for large scale settlement by Europeans. The book bogs down and I was unable to read it without skimming through some parts. The descriptions of marching through wilderness and chasing after game on foot and on horseback seem to go on forever. There is a lot of great infomation here even if it is necessary to become your own editor by skipping though tedious parts.

This book gives you the genuine flavor of safari 80 years ago.

Not being very good with a gun, having little outdoorsman skills, and not being in the best shape of my life, reading this book was better than being there. If I was there, I would miss the animals, I would be too tired to enjoy it, and besides all of that, Africa is not as it was 100 years ago.
I have just begun to reread this book, and I don't know how many times this is. I enjoy it each and every time I pick it up.

This was a terrific book! If you like Dee Henderson's books, you'll love this first book by LK Malone. I finished it, and then read it again! (I've only done that about 2 times before!) This is one of those books that won't make it to ebay, it's staying in my library! Get your own copy, you won't regret it!

Giselle, the daughter of a high-ranking navy captain, has lived on secure military bases around the world, isolated and protected. Until Raz comes into her life, and touches her heart in a way no one else has. After Raz saves her life from terrorists, Giselle realizes she's fallen in love. Unfortunately, Raz has a dark secret that he can't share. When Giselle stumbles across it, she will do anything to escape, except she isn't quite sure who or what she's running from, as anyone and everyone seem to have a hidden agenda. Giselle travels around the world and back to Italy in his romantic supense novel. A GREAT read for male or female. Made me wish I could have a man like this!

LK Malone did a superb job weaving twist after mind-bending twist into this masterful piece! It has been a long time since I've read a book cover-to-cover practically without blinking! The plot is moved along quickly and does not leave the reader hanging.

This is pretty much the definitive English-language guide for tourists. You'll see people toting it along at all of the major historical attractions - with good reason. Like most Eyewitness guides, it is incredibly user-friendly. This book has it all - useful maps, readable background facts, helpful travel tips. My favorite feature is the list of the top ten sites. My only complaint is that the maps do not include the business districts - a serious oversight for the business traveler. Nevertheless, no one should go to Istanbul without a copy of this book close at hand.

The only book, or map you need to take when visiting Istanbul and surrounding areas. Great directions how and where to find ferries and just really great general travel information. Recommend it after using it this past Christmas.

This book was great. It was short but had all the major information on attractions, lodging, restaurants and travel. It was small enough that I didn't mind carrying it around everywhere also. I really liked the suggestions (for example, you may want to go somewhere friendly for your first Turkish bath, as it can be rather intimidating. Their suggestion was friendly and nice). We were short on time, so the highlighted attractions were really nice too. And it had suggestinos on navigating through some of the larger attractions, like Topkapi Palace (it's huge) or putting together attractions that are near each other (Blue Mosque and Hippodrome). The lodging descriptions were quite accurate, nice hotels were truly magnificent and well-described. The pictures were very pleasant, lots of pictures but generally relevant. Also, the food guide was great, because you have to enjoy the wonderful food in Istanbul. It described local specialties, what's in season and a detailed restaurant price and location guide. Also, the maps were very clear and very well done. All-in-all, a great guide, and that if very useful in Istanbul.