The Auld Sod: A Novel

Book Description

When thousands of Irish sailed to America to escape The Great Famine of the 1850s, most treasured among their belongings were memories of Eire . . . the auld sod, they called it. And, when the hallowed turf of The Old Course at St. Andrews is described in the parlance of Scots, it is revered as the auld sod. Echoes of these proud Gaelic voices come to life in the adventures of The Auld Sod.

Set in the British Isles of the 1920s, a good-natured Scot, a headstrong Irishman, and a disagreeable Brit collide in a rollicking tale of treachery and intrigue. Innocent lives are shattered by crimes of passion, but beneath the anguish of loves lost and friendships betrayed is a study in reconciliation. Men shaped by centuries of hatred, face an age-old dilemma . . . continue the barbarity of their ancestors, or embrace the more principled behavior found in their beloved game of golf.

Midst a rich tapestry of linksland, our characters advance the notion of golf as more than mere sport, but rather, the moral high ground. Within a cauldron of ethnicity and religion unique to Ireland, we find hope for an end to ancient conflicts. And, in full view of the frailties that make us human, The Auld Sod celebrates the qualities we hold most dear . . . love, honor, and the will to press on.

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Customer Reviews:

wonderful book.......2004-12-08

an interesting story with some history, some golf and wonderful characters. a very enjoyable book.

Amazon.com

Jack Whyte continues his long, thoughtful exploration of one of our most resonant myths, the legend of Camelot. The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis is the sixth book in his Camulod Chronicles, and it takes up the story just as Arthur makes the transition from boy to man. Whyte's focus, however, is on Caius Merlyn Britannicus. Merlyn, descended from Britain's Roman rulers, is one of the co-rulers of Camulod, a stronghold of civilization under perpetual threat from invading Saxons and Danes. Merlyn leads an eventful yet happy life: he has a loving fiancjée, Tressa; a fine ward, Arthur; a magnificent black horse, Germanicus; many allies; and grand plans for Camulod's expansion and Britain's safety. Merlyn's reflections on one campaign sum up his easy victories throughout the first half of the book: "It was slaughter--nothing less. One pass we made, from west to east, and scarce a living man was left to face us."

But even the mightiest ship must one day be tested on the shoals. The suspense gains momentum when Whyte breaks Merlyn free of his brooding, reactive role and propels him and his companions into danger. In despair, Merlyn takes a new, subtler tack against his archenemies Ironhair and Carthac ("And then I truly saw the size of him. He towered over everyone about him, hulking and huge, his shoulders leviathan and his great, deep, hairless chest unarmoured").

Whyte shines at interpreting the mythos of Camelot in a surprising yet believable way. He can squeeze a sword out of a stone without opting for the glib explanations of fantasy-land magic. The Camulod Chronicles, and The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis in particular, provide an engaging take on the chivalric world of knights and High Kings. --Blaise Selby

Book Description

Throughout the widely praised Camulod Chronicles, Merlyn Britannicus has been driven by one sacred dream--to see Britain united under one just, powerful king. In The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis, it is time for the Sorcerer to fulfill his promise--to present the battle-proven Arthur as the Riothamus, the High King of Britain. When Arthur miraculously withdraws the Sword of Kingship from the stone in which it is set, he proves himself the true and deserving king--sworn to defend the Christian faith against invaders, and to preserve Britain as a powerful, united force.

The Sorcerer has fulfilled his promise. The King is crowned, Britain is united--and the face of history and legend is forever changed.

Customer Reviews:

spectacular!.......2007-03-12

"A gigantic ball of flame roared from the pit with a concussive, deafening sound that sucked all the air in the room, it seemed, into its heart, then belched it out again in a terrifying rain of sparks and embers and great, whirling clouds of choking smoke."

The Sorcerer Metamorphosis is an ingenius fiction of the Arthurian legend by Jack Whyte and it is the fifth book in the Camulod Chronicles series. It is about how Merlyn and Arthur return to their stronghold of Camulod but instead of peace and prosperity, they find themselves in the middle of a desperate war with their longtime neighbor and ally, the now distrought, Cambria! While Merlyn loses everything he ever cared about and morphs into a powerful sorcerer, Arthur fights in the war to learn how to become a man, a soldier, and a leader.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the previous books in the series and anyone who likes books on the Arthurian legend or just books about medieval warfare.

the Sorcere: Metamorphosis.......2005-10-17

book is great and most impressed with ordering and delivery, actually received in under 3 weeks

Book review.......2005-06-14

The book, The Sorcerer Metamorphosis, by Jack Whyte, is another adventure tale of King Arthur. With the ageing of Arthur, he is welcomed back to his home, Camulod. Arthur's arrival has been one step closer to his crowning of High King of Briton. Merlin has gone lengths to ensure the crowning of the true king, Arthur. The close families encounter troubles, and some friends don't make it. This book is a thrilling tale that is worth every star in gets.

This book is not up to par with the series..........2004-03-09

I have read with great enjoyment the other books in this series and I was really looking forward to reading "The Sorcerer" but boy...it is sadly lacking what Whyte put into the other books in this series. I had a hard time forcing myself to read this one because it is so slow moving and just plain boring. It seems as if Whyte lost his train of thought here or was himself bored with the telling of the Camulod tale. Either way, his editor needs a kick in the rear for letting this one be published as is.

For those who are reading the series and haven't yet gotten to this one I do suggest you read it just to keep following the story to the end but I finally resorted to skiming paragraphs/pages just to get through the really boring parts.

Very disappointing this book is.

Gosh - I just expected more..........2003-05-18

First off, I love the way Mr. Whyte writes. It's been a while since I last found a series of modern works worth reading, and the Camulod series really satisfies the true reader. The words fly through the brain effortlessly and the thousands of pages are turned with amazing speed. A good read, and that is no lie. But! After all that, I am gravely disappointed that Arthur was not given more attention. This book, and this series, just ended - WHAM! Halfway through "Sorcerer," I panicked. Arthur was still only 15. That was when I finally excepted that Jack had no intention of telling the actual Arthur story. He instead has told the events leading up to the Arthur legend - the story of the making of Camelot. He has left the actual Arthur story largely untold. I guess this is what he intended, and I will not blame him, yet I am left languishing for the actual tales of Arthur in his manhood. Maybe... just maybe... there will be another book after "Uther" ??? I can always hope... In any event, I am a Jack Whyte fan and promote his work shamelessly.

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The Sorcerer : Metamorphosis
Jack Whyte
Manufacturer: Penguin Books Canada, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HI526W

The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis (Camulod Chronicles/Jack Whyte, 6)

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The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis (Camulod Chronicles/Jack Whyte, 6)
Jack Whyte
Manufacturer: Forge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTK9OO

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The Sorcerer : Metamorphosis
Jack Whyte
Manufacturer: Penguin PB CA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJ4CAG

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Super Reader

scifi classic, redux

>>NOTICE= This book is also published as : RE-BIRTH

My 100-word book review

My First Experience with Wyndham

The Chrysalids
John Wyndham
Manufacturer: Penguin Books Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Adventure | Alternate History | Anthologies | General | Graphic Novels | High Tech | History & Criticism | Series | Short Stories | Space Opera
Similar Items:

The Day of the Triffids (20th Century Rediscoveries)

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Chocky (Puffin Books)

Trouble with Lichen

ASIN: 0140013083

Customer Reviews:

Super Reader.......2007-09-01

Here we have the book that most likely influenced John Wagner to some degree with Judge Dredd's Cursed Earth.

In this society there is much genetic deviation, and the chance of getting a baseline human birth is low.

Mutant or different children are supposed to be killed at birth, but this of course is not always the case, humans being what they are.

A group of such mutant children have developed superhuman abilities, and decide to flee. Far from being deformed, these children, by evolution, are superior to the 'norms', as standard humanity comes to be seen.

scifi classic, redux.......2007-07-28

I read this last in the summer of 1985, as required summer reading for school. It's intended mostly as an exploration of the ideas of racial purity, vs. evolution and mutation, using the characters (humans who have the mutant ability of telepathy) as the exploration vehicle. The story is set in Labrador, in Canada, following what looks like a rather destructive nuclear war, with the society that survives having some rather puritanical religious views on genetic purity. Back when I first read the book, I took the story as being rather one-sided, in favour of the mutants, but now I read it as more evenly balanced. John Windham was one of my favorite authors, back in the early 1980s, and I am a big fan of The Day of the Triffids, which I re-read back in 2004.

>>NOTICE= This book is also published as : RE-BIRTH.......2007-07-10

While looking for more books by this writer, I found a copy of "Re-Birth".
The words are exactly the same!
Watch that you don't buy a copy if you already have this one.

My 100-word book review.......2007-05-16

The Chrysalids has my vote for best novel by John Wyndham; I loved it as a teenager and still find it an excellent story, as fresh and evocative as ever. Set in the future after an apocalyptic war has ravaged the earth, this is about a group of unusual children, who find themselves dangerously at odds with the fundamentalist community into which they have been born. As well as being a tale of adventure and survival, The Chrysalids is also about difference, and what happens when society draws an arbitrary line between normal and deviant. Watch Thou for the Mutant!

My First Experience with Wyndham.......2007-04-16

When I was 12 years old I found a copy of "the Chrysalids" in a park under a tree, it had obviously been forgotten, and no one was around to claim it. It is an old puffin classic edition published in the 1970's. I had not heard of John Wyndham, but was intrigued by the cover which had a black and white line drawing of a rooster with two heads attacking another rooster.

I read the book, and found it to be so engaging and wonderful that I then went out and bought any John Wyndham book I could find, not an easy task, most of them were out of print at the time, so I searched as many second hand book sellers as I could find. Needless to say, most of my Wyndham books are very old and worn looking, and they are definately well read, as I have read most of them several times, yet they are my most prized collection in my book shelves.

There are many reviews here that talk about the story line and plot, so I will not go into these, I just felt as though I needed to honour this book in some way, as "The Chrysalids" was not only the first John Wyndham book I read, but also my introduction to the genre of science fiction, therefor it holds a special place in my heart.

A great read, I highly recommend this book.

Average customer rating:

Chrysalid

Manufacturer: McClure Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000I6LBLI

Average customer rating:

The Chrysalid Years
Abigail Freeman
Manufacturer: ASPEN (Authors Self-Publishing Enterprise)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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Chrysalids
John Wyndham
Manufacturer: Penguin Books Canada, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CK1ZV

The Chrysalids, The Day of the Triffids NOTES

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The Chrysalids, The Day of the Triffids NOTES

Manufacturer: Coles Notes, 1980
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H7THIW

Average customer rating:

The Chrysalids: A novel approach
Diana Cruchley
Manufacturer: School District #35
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007BLRZ4

Average customer rating:

RE-BIRTH (originally The Chrysalids)
John (pen name of John Wyndham Parkes Lucas Beynon Harris) Wyndham
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H65EIA

The Chrysalids & Survival: Classic Radio Sci-Fi (Dramatised)

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The Chrysalids & Survival: Classic Radio Sci-Fi (Dramatised)

Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B000MRNU9O

Average customer rating:

THE CHRYSALIDS.

Manufacturer: P/B
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HFZZ3A

Average customer rating:

The Chrysalids

Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000B9RVIE

Product Description

"John Wyndham takes the reader into the anguished heart of a community where the chances of breeding true are less than fifty per cent and where deviations are rooted out and destroyed as offences and abominations"

Book Description

The friends and family of a drug or alcohol addict are often left out of the recovery process. The timeless wisdom of the Tao has been adapted to gently change those who are suffering into peaceful, healthy, self-confident humans, ready to fully rejoin life in a serene and harmonious way. The author's personal understanding of the recovery process and Taoism culminate in this essential guide to self-rehabilitation.

Customer Reviews:

A Classic Spiritual Book.......2006-10-04

I first read this book with a different book cover back in 1992 (14 years ago) it is still as fresh and enlightening today. It is written almost like Zen prose that flows from the author's heart and head. A great book for those recovering from whatever - it is profound, compassionate, full of loving acceptance and peace. (It is also a good book even if you are not recovering from anything.)

The book will lead you to inner peace with yourself; or at least give you a road map to get there with a little effort.

Customer Reviews:

First cookbook I turn to when I want something new!.......2002-05-11

For variety and interesting dishes, this is one of the best cookbooks I've ever seen. The flavor mixtures are creative, the recipes simple and the ingredients are common enough that they are usually in my frig or cupboard. My husband (a bit of a gourmand) and my 6 year old daughter have loved everything that I've made from the book. I bought a used copy for $10, which turned out to be autographed by the two authors. My only wish is that 1) it was printed in a spiral-bound version, and 2) the authors produce a second book soon.

This cook book has great recipes and is a great read........1999-05-20

I love this cook book. I love reading it. I love cooking from it. If you are looking for something different to read or to cook, this is the book for you. The Black Bean soup is the best I have found. The layered meat loaf is wonderful. The authors' commitment to good food and good community is inspiring, and reminds me of the role food - its preparation and its consumption - can play in making the world a better place.

very sloppily edited.......1998-11-08

Mistakes galore-i.e. in one recipe 5 ounces of sliced wild mushrooms makes 2 cups and in another 1/4 pounds(sic) makes 8 cups. The recipe for veal glace is given as page 000, indicates that the vein can be pulled from a cooked shrimp and so it goes.

An outstanding assortment of recipes. Good for any occasion.......1998-10-20

The book allows a person to prepare a special meal for two or a formal dinner for twelve. It can accomodate both kids and adults alike. Also, with its multi-cultural recipes you can enjoy different meals and never get bored with the food you are preparing. In addition to good food and easy to follow directions, you get a story behind some of the influences that have shaped the both the restaurant and the cook book. I would highly recommend this cook book to anyone. It would make a fine addition to anyone's cooking reference collection.

Book Description

The origins, traditions and symbolism of patchwork in clothing and quilts are explored from multi-national examples over the past 500 years. This classic book now in its first English edition traces quilts across Europe and Asia and through the growing textile industry of North America. Color and black-and-white photographs show beautiful applique and Amish quilts as well as crazy-quilts, bridal and friendship quilts and more. Examples represent historical and contemporary prize-winning designs. The author provides an extensive bibliography in hopes that it will foster more extensive research into the interesting background of patchwork art. Quilt collectors, dealers, and makers, as well as textile artists and designers will find interesting explanations of the designs. They will also find inspiration for their own work in this beautiful book.

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Packed with ideas for restoring or installing a floor in any room of the house

Flooring: The Essential Source Book for Planning, Selecting And Restoring Floors
Elizabeth Wilhide
Manufacturer: Ryland Peters & Small
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Do-It-Yourself | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Floors | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1841729981

Book Description

Few other features can coordinate or define interior spaces as well as a carefully chosen floor. Elizabeth Wilhide offers a rich fund of inspiration and sound advice for all floors in your home--modern or period, urban or rural, sumptuous or simple. With its 400 full-colour photographs, 100 how-to illustrations, and directory, "Flooring is a comprehensive and practical volume devoted to this important element of the home. -Packed with practical information about buying, maintaining, restoring, and installing your floor. -A great value paperback at $19.95 (CAN $29.95).

Customer Reviews:

Packed with ideas for restoring or installing a floor in any room of the house.......2005-12-08

Elizabeth Wilhide's Flooring: The Essential Source Book For Planning, Selecting And Restoring Floors is packed with ideas for restoring or installing a floor in any room of the house. Packed with illustrative photos of a range of settings and uses, Flooring discusses wood qualities, finishes, maintenance, and styles ranging from glass and metal floors to traditional wood. From differences between new and old wood to sealing and treating a floor, Flooring offers insights into not just choices, but maintenance after installation.

The Flooring Book: The Essential Source book for planning, Selecting and Restoring Floors

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The Flooring Book: The Essential Source book for planning, Selecting and Restoring Floors
Elizabeth Wilhide
Manufacturer: Murdoch Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0864116934

Book Description

In this ambitious and imaginative study, Margaretta M. Lovell analyzes the large body of accomplished, sometimes startling, often brilliant work of American artists drawn to Venice's ragged splendor in the last century. Including major works by such diverse and talented painters as James McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, and Maurice Prendergast, these richly varied paintings portray sleepy canals, architectural monuments, and scenes of picturesque everyday life while they also reveal surprising aspects of American culture.

A Visitable Past: View of Venice by American Artists 1860-1915

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A Visitable Past: View of Venice by American Artists 1860-1915
Margaretta M. Lovell
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OPVRZI

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