Richard & Philip: The Burtons : A Book of Memories

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Good but not a Chariot of Fire

Borders on hagiography

An Excellent Biography

Moving and Informative

Eric Liddell: Pure Gold : A New Biography of the Olympic Champion Who Inspired Chariots of Fire
David McCasland
Manufacturer: Discovery House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Chariots of Fire (Two-Disc Special Edition)

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Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God: The Life Story of the Author of My Utmost for His Highest

ASIN: 1572930519

Customer Reviews:

Good but not a Chariot of Fire.......2007-06-09

I fell in love with the movie "Chariots of Fire" when I was in college over 20 years ago. I also enjoyed the paperback of the same name. Recently I became interested in this true story again and found "Pure Gold" on Amazon.
This biography is slow-moving and tedious. I have never been to China nor do I have any interest in the Orient, so the setting of most of the book was not compelling. I was hoping that Eric's personality and dedication to Christian principles would pull me through when I was tempted to stop reading and give the book away.
I was inspired enough to finish it but "ho hum" is my response to the writing.
Maybe "Chariots of Fire" was a too "Hollywood-ized" version of the 1924 Olympics,(as Back Flash was to firefighting) but even if it was, I prefer it to this book.

Borders on hagiography.......2007-04-15

Eric Liddell is an interesting & worthy subject for a biography but this one isn't it. The author did extensive research in primary documents, interviewed people who knew Liddell personally, & created an excellent bibliography. Unfortunately, the writing style is corny & some of the passages are fictionalized, particularly ones regarding Liddell's relationship with his wife Flo. The author puts thoughts in their minds that he couldn't possibly know. He so over-romanticizes his subject that he becomes almost unreal. Liddell was a great athlete & a great servant of the Lord, but the author so idolizes him that he becomes a kind of plaster saint. The main problem with this book is that it is explicitly written to be "inspirational," & so the reader is reminded over & over again what a great Christian role model Liddell was. This gets tiresome. Don't misunderstand me -- I am not knocking Liddell here at all, only the author's mode of presenting him. A less didactic book would serve Liddell better. His own words & actions speak for themselves.

An Excellent Biography.......2005-08-24

Because of the surprise hit Chariots of Fire, the world knows the name Eric Liddell. Most people also know about the stand he made for his beliefs as he refused to run an Olympic race he was favored to win simply because the race was scheduled for Sunday. Those who have seen the movie know that it ends shortly after he wins an Olympic gold medal in an event in which he had barely trained. But in Pure Gold, a biography of Liddell weighing in at 333 pages, the race is complete by the ninety-eighth page. There is much more to Liddell than the movie portrays.

Eric Liddell is a man who was sold out to God. He regarded his own desires and his own comforts as secondary to God's. Raised as the son of a missionary, he grew up away from his parents, for in those days children were left in their native country to receive their training, often seeing their parents only once every six or seven years. There was a period of over a decade in Liddell's life where he was with his parents for only 100 days. Despite the seperation, he received strong training, primarily in the Bible.

While he grew both academically and spiritually, people also came to realize that Liddell had a gift for speed. He was fast. He was also uncouth, with a running style all his own. He would start like any other runner, but as he approached the finish line, he would throw his head back and his arms would begin to flail. Yet somehow, rather than slow him down, this gave him a burst of speed that often led him to victory.

Some of his exploits from his early days are famous, such as the time he fell in a 400-meter race, but managed to climb to his feet and work his way back into first place, making up a deficit of over ten meters. And as we know from the movie, he earned a position on the British Olympic squad at the 1924 Olympic Games where he came away with two medals, a gold and a bronze. He returned to his native Scotland a hero - far and away the best-known athlete in the nation. It was this fame that provided the springboard for his mission work. Despite being a shy and quiet man, he criss-crossed the country, speaking before hundreds of thousands of people, telling them about the Lord and encouraging them to give their lives to Him.

At the very pinnacle of his athletic success, Liddell laid it all aside to become a missionary to China, the country his father had served when Eric was a boy and the country he continued to serve to that day. Liddell counted his prestige as nothing and moved to the mission field. He served the rest of his life in China before his eventual death in a Japanese internment camp during the Second World War. It is this period of his life that so few know about, yet this is where we see Liddell at his finest. It is here that we see the power and effectiveness of a life that is sold out to God.

This biography is well-written, inspiring and highly-recommended. It presents Liddell as he really was and helps the reader understand the foundation for his life. It portrays Liddell in his strength and in his weakness, through joy and sadness. It portrays the consistency of a man who lived in the same way when the eyes of the nation were upon him, or when he stood only before the eyes of the Lord.

While Chariots of Fire has done much to bring Liddell to the public eye, and while it presented the man accurately, it tells less than half the story. However, the race which forms the climax to the movie can well be seen as a metaphor for Liddell's life. He finished the race of life the same way he had finished so many races long before - with his arms flailing and his head turned to the sky, enraptured purely with the joy of running.

Moving and Informative.......2003-02-27

I had always admired Eric Liddell from what I knew of his story from the movie "Chariots of Fire." This thoroughly researched and well-written account of his entire life (only a couple of chapters focus on the time surrounding the '24 Olympics) moved me to tears several times. He lived an honest and committed life--one that is inspirational for those of us coming after him. I highly recommend this book.

Customer Reviews:

Must reading for any student of film........1998-11-02

This book explores film reality and the art of film-making. A book like the one, that Inez Hedges wrote, is useful in understanding movies that explore the edges of our souls. For example, the movie 'CRASH' has been described as disturbing, yet when viewed using the guides Ms Hedges develops, the disturbance is seen as a reflection of ourselves. Her book includes a bibliography. While short, only 160 pages, her ideas are expressed compactly, yet readable. Would recommend this book to any director, producer or film society. The average film goer may find this book a difficult read.

My only complaint is that the book did not explore the subjectiveness/objectiveness of films from the 1980's in depth that would intice the reader to explore those films which are more readily available as videos. While I understand Ms Hedges reasons to comment on the early masters and pioneers of film, a wider audience could have been served by detailing newer films too.

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Breaking the frame : film language and the experience of limits.
Hedges Inez.
Manufacturer: Indiana Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQRDIW

Average customer rating:
Breaking the Frame: Film Language and the Experience of Limits.
Inez Hedges
Manufacturer: Indiana Univ Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQC2JW

Book Description

This Christmas collection is unique it's not just another Christmas book but one that features most of the popular holiday songs ever written; All I Want For Chritmas, Christmas Lullaby, Christmas Time Is Here, The Christmas Waltz, Have Yourself A Merry little Christmas, I'll Be Home For Christmas, It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!,SleighT Ride, There Is No Christmas Like A Home Christmas and Winter Wonderland make the contents of this wonderful folio. There is a play-a-long CD for you to learn the songs in a performance venue or just for fun!

Book Description

Four masked men -- thieves, rivals, and friends from the tough streets of Charlestown -- take on a Boston bank at gunpoint. Holding bank manager Claire Keesey hostage and cleaning out the vault was simple. But career criminal Doug MacRay didn't plan on one thing: falling in love with Claire.

With a tenacious FBI agent following his every move, Doug imagines a life away from his gritty, dangerous work. A life centered around Claire. But for Doug, that new life is just one final, perfect job away....Racing to an explosive climax, Chuck Hogan's brash tale of robbery in all its forms is an unforgettable odyssey of crime, love, ambition, and dreams.

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"The men wear masks. Their guns are drawn on the bank manager. She nervously recites the alarm code, and the tumblers within the huge vault fall. The timing and execution are brilliant. It could be the perfect heist. But as the huge sum of cash is stolen, so too is one man's heart -- and that man is the Prince of Thieves... Charlestown, a blue-collar Boston neighborhood, produces more bank robbers and armored car thieves than any square mile in the world. In this gripping, intricately plotted thriller, Claire Keesey, the branch manager for a Boston bank and one of an influx of young professionals chipping away at the neighborhood's insularity, is taken hostage during a robbery. She is released, but Doug MacRay, the brains behind the tough, tight-knit crew of thieves, can't get her out of his mind. Tracking her down without his mask and gun, Doug introduces himself, and as soon as he and Claire meet, their mutual attraction is undeniable -- as are the risks of a relationship. Meanwhile, Doug's crew pulls off another audacious, meticulously planned job. Frustrated by their ingenuity and brazen ambition, FBI Agent Adam Frawley begins to zero in on Doug and his pals -- and against his own better judgment, he, too, develops more than a professional interest in Claire. Under pressure from Frawley's ever-closer investigation, Doug imagines a life for himself away from bank robberies and Charlestown. But before that can happen, the crew learns that there may be a way to rob Boston's venerable baseball stadium, Fenway Park. It's a magnificently dangerous and utterly irresistible opportunity -- yet for Doug, pursuing his former hostage may be the most dangerous act of all... Chuck Hogan's brash tale of four men -- thieves, rivals, friends -- being hunted through the streets of Boston by a tenacious FBI agent, and the woman who may destroy them all, is a spectacular, stylish, heart-pounding thriller. "

Customer Reviews:

Not Very Suspenseful or Involving.......2007-08-13

PRINCE OF THIEVES is well written, but I agree with the Publisher's Weekly Review that this book is a rather long-winded affair with largely unsympathetic characters.

This book is ultimately a simple story about a bank robber who wants to get out of the business. PRINCE OF THIEVES begins with him robbing a bank in the Boston area, and then developing a romantic relationship with a teller at that very bank. In an unlikely plot development, the FBI agent investigating the crime is also romantically interested in the woman, creating a dangerous love triangle of sorts. Meanwhile, the bank robber has to disentangle himself from the grip of his dysfunctional partners in crime, who don't want him to leave.

Hogan's writing is good, but verbose, with lots of stylish dialogue and description of details that don't really move the plot foward. I found myself skipping over quite a few paragraphs as I went along. The characterization is also oddly flat -- the bank teller, in particular, is not really fleshed out that much as a person. As a result, it's not entirely clear why the bank robber and FBI agent are so infatuated with her, which makes many of the romantic scenes unconvincing.

PRINCE OF THIEVES has some great prose, and does pick up speed toward the last fifty or so pages. But I found that book lacked momentum and I wasn't really engaged by it. So if you're looking for a fast moving page-turner, my advice is to go elsewhere.

Very good read.......2007-08-08

I almost didn't buy this book due to Publisher's Review comments and would have miised out on an excellent book. Enough character and plot to warrant the novel label as opposed to the usual wham bam thank you mam' mystery thriller.

The endng is heartbreaking and shows a very clear understanding of what makes people human.

Fast-paced, compelling story.......2007-07-25

I couldn't put this book down. I can hardly wait for the movie version. The author has a gifted way with words. His characters are believeable, as is the dialog. Young actors will be clamoring to play the tough Boston criminals, who think they can realize their dreams if they can steal enough cash to buy their way out.

The love story is a bit weak, but not completely out-of-step with the ideal of Catholic youth. Claire Keesey is the good girl from the good family, the kind of girl a straight guy would want to marry. Recovering alcoholic, Doug MacRay, wants to lead a clean and sober life, put his criminal nature to rest, and leave Charlestown with Claire; after one last big job.

Great Book.......2007-07-15

This is simply the best crime novel since "Mystic River" which is by another local, Dennis Lehane. It's an easy comparison. A a quartet of lifelong friends having been successfully robbing Boston area banks and getting away with it. They're all from Charlestown, a sister community with major similarities to Mystic River's supposed South Boston.Things get complicated when the female bank manager who is robbed inadvertantly attracts both the robbery mastermind and the FBI agent determined to bring them in.This is a book with a lot of character development, a zippy pace and a clear insight into this clannish Irish neighborhood. I couldn't take my nose out of it and heartily recommend it all around.

fun character driven thriller .......2007-07-13

They entered the Boston bank wearing masks with guns ready to be used. They point their weapons at the terrified bank manager demanding that she open up the vault. Stunned and frightened that she will die Claire Keesey provides the numbers to the criminal to open the vault. The thieves escape, but the leader takes Claire hostage, but once they are free he releases her.

The brilliant strategist Doug "Prince of Thieves" MacRay can not forget the trembling Claire. He wants her so sans mask he manages to meet the still traumatized bank executive. As they begin to date Doug, and his team pull off another bank job. FBI Agent Adam Frawley is in charge of the investigation, but though frustrated with the impudent robbers, he begins to think Doug is the mastermind and his Charlestown buds are the team. However, even he wonders if he wants Doug to be the bad guy because he is attracted to Claire too while the Prince of Thieves plans a final job before settling down with the woman he loves; he plans a walk off robbery of Fenway Park.

Although Doug spends an inordinate amount of time internally debating whether he should give up his vocation for love as his muses slows down the action, readers will appreciate this fun character driven thriller especially the dark caper scenes. The triangle consisting of the banker, the robber, and the detective is brilliantly devised as each seems genuine and their interactions plausible. The support cast enhances the locale or the understanding of the lead trio. Fans will enjoy Chuck Hogan's PRINCE OF THIEVES wondering who will be left standing with the girl.

Harriet Klausner

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Prince Of Thieves
Chuck Hogan
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000K6J2GM

Kevin costner is Robin Hood Prince of Thieves

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Kevin costner is Robin Hood Prince of Thieves
Simon Green
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MPOG7Q

Kevin Costner is Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves a Novel

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Kevin Costner is Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves a Novel
Simon Green
Manufacturer: Berkley Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ND5FHC

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THE PRINCE OF THIEVES
LJ J YNX
Manufacturer: CASSELL & CO LTD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RZDHOY

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The Prince of Thieves
J.J. Lynx
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GLU52Q

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Reviews from Professional Review Sites

Prince of Thieves
Tamelia Tumlin
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1424189969
Release Date: 2007-07-23

Book Description

She stole his ring… In order to save her son's life, Cheyenne Lawson must get arrested, and soon. When a customer leaves an expensive heirloom on her table, she seizes the opportunity to steal it, hoping to get caught. She does, only to find out it belongs to a very sexy Arabian prince with a trust issue. Now she must pay for her crime in a way she never expected. Then she stole his heart… Prince Kareem bin Ishmail doesn't want a wife, but with his small desert country on the verge of financial ruin, he needs one, at least a temporary one. When a lovely waitress steals his family ring, he seizes the opportunity to solve his dilemma by giving her a choice: life in prison in his desert country or a temporary marriage. With the sultry Arabian nights and her soft, sensuous kisses, he suddenly finds himself wanting to make their marriage a more permanent one. Will the charming, spirited thief steal his heart too?

Customer Reviews:

Reviews from Professional Review Sites.......2007-09-01

Review from the Romance Studio

Prince of Thieves

Ms. Tamelia Tumlin has created a great first novel; her plot is fresh and appealing and her cast of characters gripped this reader's interest as well as evoked a myriad of emotions. There were many surprising actions throughout this story, and I appreciated the trials not only Cheyenne, but also Kareem, had to face.

This is an interesting book which I am sure you will greatly enjoy. Ms. Tumlin, in my opinion, has a grand future with her storylines. I believe this author could become addictive! See what you think!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Sweet
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Reviewer: Brenda Talley
August 27, 2007

GhostWriter Reviews

Prince of Thieves

AUTHOR: Tamelia Tumlin

I am not normally into love or romace stories, but this one had class, and I enjoyed it very much. This author has written a fine book, with a wonderful plot, unique and perfectly woven. I give this book a Giant thumbs up! I really enjoyed this book and would read it again and again.

Reviewer: Tabitha
ISBN: 1-4241-8996-9
Rating: 5 stars

From Romance Junkies Review Site

Author, Tamelia Tumlin has penned a sweet and emotional love story of opposites attracting. Cheyenne is an independent woman who has had few breaks in life. She is an admirable woman in her values and willingness to do anything for her child. Kareem is a wounded soul whose mother has left a damaging impression. He is sexy and arrogant as any prince should be; making demands and expecting them to be followed without question. When Cheyenne comes into his life, the chemistry is immediate. PRINCE OF THIEVES is an emotional and sweet love story that should appeal to fans of "sheikh" stories; this is a wonderful debut novel for author Tamelia Tumlin.

Prince of Thieves
Author: Tamelia Tumlin
Blue Ribbon Rating: 4
Format: PRINT
Reviewer: Scarlett

From Christian Romance Author Linda Strawn

If you love romance, intrique, and humor, then you will love this book! I found it to be a fast paced read with plenty of emotional conflict as one American girl struggles to make ends meet and seek help for her young son, while on the other side of the world, an Arab prince struggles to save his country and overcome past hurts. When the prince and his entourage pay a visit to the U.S., these two worlds collide. It is during this chance encounter, that the two determined individuals discover a temporary solution to their problems. The measures they take go against their better judgement but at the time they see no other choice. Both their worlds are turned upside down as their so-called temporary fix becomes not so temporary. You will love the charactors in this book. Tamelia did a great job bringing them and their surroundings to life. To me, this wonderful story was a mixture of While You Were Sleeping and Romancing the Stone. If you love chic-flick movies like these and are a romantic at heart, then you will love Prince of Thieves! Great job Tamelia!!!

From Fallen Angel Reviews!

Prince of Thieves

Author, Tamelia Tumlin has penned a sweet and emotional love story of opposites attracting. Cheyenne is an independent woman who has had few breaks in life. She is an admirable woman in her values and willingness to do anything for her child. Kareem is a wounded soul whose mother has left a damaging impression. He is sexy and arrogant as any prince should be; making demands and expecting them to be followed without question. When Cheyenne comes into his life, the chemistry is immediate. Prince of Thieves is an emotional and sweet love story that should appeal to fans of "sheikh" stories; this is a wonderful debut novel for author Tamelia Tumlin.

Reviewed by: Scarlet
Angel Rating- 4 angels

Coffee Time Romance

Prince of Thieves is every woman's fantasy of being whisked away by a handsome prince to live in his royal palace. What a wonderful story about how two people who were both betrayed can find away to move on from their past to find a passion, and a love that simply will not be denied. This book pulls at your heartstrings, and you want so badly for the main characters to end up with each other and find their happily ever after. This is a story for everyone, and is well worth reading. I can highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever dreamt of their very own Prince.

LeeAnn
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Rating: 5 cups

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The prince of thieves (A Pyramid book)
J. J Lynx
Manufacturer: Pyramid
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007I0MS0

Prince of Thieves (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Gamebook, No 18)

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Prince of Thieves (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Gamebook, No 18)
Chris Martindale
Manufacturer: TSR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0880385960

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Prince of Thieves (Legendary Lovers)
Saranne Dawson
Manufacturer: Lesco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PJKYO8

Customer Reviews:

Mediocre and naive, at best.......2005-04-17

Such absurd statements such as, "Let us consider that you have $100,000, and that that amount is exactly what you require to fulfill your dream. At the present interest rates, your money, in a very safe term deposit, will earn approximately $9,000 each year." If this were true, no one would be investing in the economy and inflation would be out of control. By "very safe", I think more like a savings account with 1% return. The book is also full of lists with no explanation of the items or terms.

VERY beginning must read.......2000-08-25

This book was great, in my opinion, because i have NO clue.I'm sure for anyone w/ more business operation knowledge it lends less assistance.

I was glad to find a extreme basic book that gets me up to speed and lets me know the basics before i move into the next and intermediate level reading on this topic.

It's cheap - and it presents information that COULD change your mind or confirm your ideas ... good investment :)

Yow to Open your Own Restaurant...A Loser of a Guide.......2000-06-04

This is a very skinny book written by two men who obviously have restaurant experience, but who have very poor writing/communications skills. This book is not a guide to setting up the spreadsheets necessary to open a restaurant. It is doubtful that the authors even know how to open up Lotus or Excel. The amount of essential items left out are humongous. Watch yourself! Not a recommendable expenditure of any money whatsoever on this crummy attempt at producing a useful "book". Rating: eight onions.

Yow to Open your Own Restaurant...A Loser of a Guide.......2000-06-04

This is a very small book written by two men who obviously have restaurant experience, but who have very poor writing/communications skills. This book is not a guide to setting up the spreadsheets necessary to open a restaurant. It is doubtful that the authors even know how to open up Lotus or Excel. The amount of essential items left out are humongous. Watch yourself! Not a recommendable expenditure of any money whatsoever on this crummy attempt at producing a useful "book". Rating: eight onions.

Authoritative and complete; A must read!.......1998-12-11

From myths to realities; This authoritative book covers all the planning, organizing, and operating procedures which are necessary and crucial to a successful restaurant venture.

While many people desire to build the restaurant of their dreams, there are important issues that need to be considered if success is to be achieved. Too often sheer determination is not enough. This business relies on too many individuals for one person,(you), to see things right. This book provides the insight and information necessary to provoke serious thinking regarding whether or not to actually pursue the dream of restaurant ownership.

This book contains several anecdotes of real life situations as well as charts, explanations of record keeping, and financial statements. My favorite parts involve the exhaustive lists of what one should seriously analyze, research, and consider before beginning the venture process.

However, heed this caution; This book may in fact dissuade you from ever opening your own restaurant. But if you decide to go ahead with your dream, this book is just what you need to help prepare you for the realities of this time engrossing, yet rewarding business.

Average customer rating:
How to Open Your Own Restaurant: A Guide for Entrepreneurs
Richard Rudnick, James Ware
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Dining | Food & Lodging | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OJ20AA

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