Book Review

I have a friend who has written an important book.  Bob Davis' book The Mason's Words should be required reading for every Mason. Every Masonic Leader should read it and ponder it and see what it means for our Fraternity.

I have read many Masonic Books but I have never found one which ties the history of the ritual and the story of Freemasonry together so beautifully.

 Freemasonry as we practice it in the United States evolved from the Scottish Freemasons through the English to the Masons of the early Colonial times who brought it with them when they colonized the country.  In England it was William Preston who brought the teachings together unifying them into a ritualistic system of teaching and philosophy.  Davis takes us through these steps so that we can see how the ritual was developed.  He then shows how it spread in the United States through the Provincial Grand Lodge System and how, after the Revolutionary War, it was reconstituted as a Grand Lodge System with each state developing its own methods and rituals.

Codified in our country by Thomas Smith Webb, the "Father" of Freemasonry in this country; Webb and those he taught were responsible for spreading a uniform teaching. Men taught by Webb who were in turn teachers of "roving Ritualists" who travelled the country spreading the Mason's Words. It was unified to a degree by the Baltimore Convention into the fraternal system as we practice it today.

Davis, who is the Registrar of the Guthrie Oklahoma Scottish Rite is a 33rd degree mason who holds the rank of Grand Cross. His Masonic experience places him in the highest ranks of our fraternity and yet, when you meet him you see a true exemplar of the fraternity that "meets upon the level."  He has a deep and abiding love for our society and understands it purpose for existing in the modern world. He sees the problems which it faces and the discerning reader will be able to see pathways which need to be taken to strengthen and improve our fraternity.

Davis has spoken of Freemasonry as "a rite of manhood that connects young males to the collective masculine soul; to the spirit of being a man; and to the community of men. It is the traditional organizational venue for male role modeling and male to male communication."  (Understanding Manhood in America: Freemasonry's Enduring Path to the Mature Masculine - Robert G. Davis).

He suggests that our system has become "one-dimensional" with too much emphasis on memorizing words and says that "Perhaps it is time to recreate in our own time the indispensable intellectual component of Masonic dialogue which enabled the completion of Masonic philosophy by the end of the eighteenth century."

There is much in this book to be learned about our history and our ritual and our direction for the future.  Robert Davis has written an important Masonic Book which will open pathways of learning and thought for anyone interested in Freemasonry.  I salute him with a Toast!

Just Finished

The 2013 Pulitzer Prize Winners

Biography or Autobiograph

The Black Count

Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo

By: 

 Tom Reiss

By the author of the internationally bestselling biography The Orientalist, The Black Count brings to life one of history’s great forgotten heroes: a man almost unknown today yet with a personal story that is strikingly familiar. His swashbuckling exploits appear in The Three Musketeers, and his triumphs and ultimate tragic fate inspired The Count of Monte Cristo . His name is Alex Dumas. Father of the novelist Alexandre Dumas, Alex has become, through his son's books, the model for a captivating modern protagonist: the wronged man in search of justice. Born to a black slave mother and a fugitive white French nobleman in Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), Alex Dumas was briefly sold into bondage but then made his way to Paris where he was schooled as a sword-fighting member of the French aristocracy. He was only 32 when he was given command of 53,000 men, the reward for series of triumphs that many regarded as impossible, and then topped his previous feats by leading a raid up a frozen cliff face that secured the Alps for France. It was after his subsequent heroic service as Napoleon’s cavalry commander that Dumas was captured and cast into a dungeon–and a harrowing ordeal commenced that inspired one of the world’s classic works of fiction. The Black Count is simultaneously a riveting adventure story, a lushly textured evocation of 18th-century France, and a window into the modern world’s first multi-racial society. But it is also a heartbreaking story of the enduring bonds of love between a father and son. Drawing on hitherto unknown documents, letters, battlefield reports and Dumas' handwritten prison diary, The Black Count is a groundbreaking masterpiece of narrative nonfiction. -- from the publisher My "take" - This is an excellent telling of the history of Alex Dumas, A general in the French Revolution who was the inspiration for his son's (Alexandre) novel "The Count of Monte Cristo" as well as the Musketeer novels,   I found out that there was much I did not know about the French Revolution and the position of Black men in France which did not allow slavery until Bonaparte took power. I was also unaware that slavery was not a racial thing until it was Americanized but slaves could be of any race.   General Dumas was of mixed Black and white parentage and yet was able to rise to a Generalship. Not only was the book well written it kept my interest all the way through.  Reiss has done a masterful job of reconstructing a life of a person who died 200 years before he began writing.  I have to thank Don M for recommending it to me.  (And it was kind of neat to find out that it had won the Pulitzer Prize.

Someone wrote to me and asked to use some of my pictures for a song he had done.  I think it turned out well. Enjoy.  He had it set to "autoplay and I never use that so I have linked to it here.  You will have to go there to watch it.

Book Review

The Fourth Gospel: Tales of a Jewish Mystic by John Selby Spong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



View all my reviews

Book Review - New Computer, etc.

The Divinity of Dogs: 

True Stories of Miracles 

Inspired by Man's Best Friend 

by Jennifer Skiff

It took me a long time to get through this book.  It is not a page turner. It is a book to be savored slowly. True Stories of Dogs sent into lives to help in time of need.  Dogs who have been abandoned and mistreated and yet still show love so that one just feels that they were a part of the Divine and were sent into our lives to do His work.  These stories will (should) touch your heart and make you realize just how much having a dog can enrich and yes even save your lives.  Another reason it took me so long to read the book is because I could not get through two stories without a catch in my throat and a tear in my eye.  My heart went out to the children and adults whose lives were touched by these four legged saints sent to help.  I read it on my Kindle and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Last Friday I went to Des Moines to Haddock Computer and purchased a new laptop.  My old 13 inch would type and I could blog from it but...(there is always a but) I could not view Youtube on it and if I did it would crash and I would have to restart it.  I knew it was on its last legs and decided to bite the bullet and get a new machine. The computer folks at Haddock nicely transferred the files from the old computer to the new computer andI brought it home.  I did have to purchase a new copy of Microsoft Office. And I did have trouble getting that installed.  (Had a nice visit from a person in India who hooked up to my computer and took it over and got it fixed.  Now the only problem I have is that my Kindle will not communicate with the new hook-up.  I know the password but it still won't work.  I am wondering if I will be able to receive a book.  No matter I have a real book to read next.

It took all day on Saturday to accomplish my tasks and I stayed home on Sunday. My sister wrote today that she was approved to get a new van.  It sounds really nice.  Since she is in a wheelchair it is important for her mobility to have a vehicle she can get in and out of and drive.  Her old one had a lot of problems and was not really something she could rely on.  I am so glad there are programs in place to help her get the things she needs.

I had to spend two hours Monday night hooking up to the Internet again but finally made it and now I am tired.  I missed some programs but I can watch them on Mediacom On-Demand or Hulu.  And If I can't the world won't end. 

Take care and have a good rest of the week.  Hugs, j

Shadow of Night

  This is the second book in a trilogy.  You can read a review here.  The reviewer calls it overstuffed but entertaining.

It is a longer book than Discovery of Witches and does not move as "fast" but it takes place in Elizabethan London and Prague.  The vampire and the witch have travelled back in time from modern times in search of a manuscript and also to help Diana Bishop learn how to use her powers as a witch.  A "who's who" of that era populate the book and I did enjoy it.  It did engage me and I spent several hours in the middle of the night waking up and then reading the book.  If I woke up I picked it up and started reading.
Saturday I did not even turn on the TV but read all day and most of the night.  I like it when I can do that.

I have started a new Alexander McCall Smith book and I know I will enjoy that.  And Amazon is sending me Gore Vidal's Creation.  I may have read it already but wanted to have it and read it again.  I am going to have to get rid of some books as the "read" pile is getting out of hand.

At least I have a new book to look forward to.  A trilogy implies three books and so far there are only two.  The name of the third one or the publication date has not been announced but I have bookmarked the page and will be watching it and will pre-order it as soon as it is announced.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great week-end.

The Innocent

I finished The Innocent Wednesday morning.  

If it is by David Baldacci you know it is going to be a "good read" and this one was.

You can read a synopsis and some one line comments here.

One of the comments calls it a one day read. That is because you don't want to put it down.  It moves fast with good characters and a plot that draws you in and keeps calling you to the book.  Somewhat predictable if you have read other Balcacci books there are still twists and surprises that I was not expecting.

I had picked up another Baldacci book at Books A Million in the "cheap" reduced price book shelf.. You know the ones which they are selling in 2012 which came out in 2009 and you can get the hard cover for less than a paperback.  I had not remembered the title but once I read  past the first chapter I realized that I had already read the book and was going to put it down.  However as I read I felt like I was meeting up with an old friend so I have decided to keep on re-reading it.  I don't usually read a book twice but I want to this one so I will read it next.  Lyndon is still "on hold" -  It just doesn't fit the idea of summer reading and since it is so hot right now I am not going out more than I have to so I will probably just stay in and read.

Thanks for stopping by.  Found this and I thought it was cute.  Enjoy

The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry

Well I just want to say that I haven't had a page turner like this for ages.  From the very beginning I was hooked.  I read most of the night last night, waking up several times with my head thinking about what was going to happen next in this book and read for a couple of hours, slept for an hour and was awake reading again.

The book is based on the premise that Christopher Columbus was a Jew who left Spain with the treasures from the Temple and took them to the New World (Jamaica) where they were hidden and protected by the Levite.

It is also a story of family dynamics between a father and his father and his daughter.  In the story there are also gangsters, Voodoo rituals, a trip to Prague and Cuba and of course, people get killed.  In the end Mr. Berry tells us what he had invented (surprisingly little) to move the story along and how much of it was based on historical fact.  I found it a fascinating read and I have a person in mind to loan it to.  It will make the rounds of my friends but it is going to have my seal put in it so that it will come back to me some day.

I have now switched gears.  I started Robert Caro's The Passage of Power  a book about Lyndon Johnson.  I think I have under-appreciated Johnson in the past and this is one way to increase my knowledge of this great man.  I started the introduction at supper last night and will take it with me to North Carolina.  It is only 604 pages,  since I have chosen not to partake of the side trips at Charlotte I imagine I shall have time to read.

I am looking forward to the trip.  Jon is going to take care of Lady Molly while I am gone.

Chris Kuzneski

 Chris Kuzneski is an American author who made it big in the United Kingdom and is now a best selling author in the US.  I discovered him with his book about King Ludwig II   - The Secret Crown.  Because of that book I became a fan of Kuzneski and have now purchased 4 more of his books which I have begun to read.  The first I read was The Plantation which begins with several abductions.  It is not a book for the squeamish as it is quite violent.  However it is well researched and it grabs the reader and takes you on  a roller coaster of an adventure to rescue the captives and wreak vengeance on the perpetrators.

Kuzneski self-published this book and sold it to his friends and was discovered by his (now) literary agent.

The Lost Throne is set in Greece (and St. Petersburg Florida and Russia) and moves back and forth between the various settings.  The books stand alone but have two recurring characters Jonathon Payne and David Jones,  former MANIAC's who are able to finish each others sentences, and are continually joking back and forth with a delightful repartee which takes some of the edge off from the violence. I have only read about 211 pages (there are 495).  Last night (Saturday) I read until 1:30 until I  finished The Plantation.  Today Bailey slept on my lap for about 2 1/2 hours while I read The Lost Throne.  I will probably read all week until I finish them. Then they will be up for loan.
No Miles today, he hasn't been around.  Have a great week.  Hugs, j

The Scarlet Lion

When I finished Elizabeth Chadwick's The Greatest Knight about William Marshal of England I was disappointed because I the rest of the story was still untold.  It left off in the middle of his life,

This knight who had served Henry, Richard and King John of England had much more to accomplish according to the on-line investigation I had been doing.

So I was pleased to find that the second half of the story was told in another book.  The Scarlet Lion picks up where The Greatest Knight leaves off and continues the story.  And it is just as well told as the first book.

Elizabeth Chadwick tells the story from the standpoint of the women in the Earl's life.  His wife the Countess who was his advisor, helper, confidant and deputy to run the estates when he was gone fighting.  It paints a picture of life in the 1200's when the stability of the lives could very well be dependent upon the whim of one person.  The king could make life easy or hard.

It was very enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good historical novel.  Elizabeth is working on a novel of Eleanor of Aquitaine.  I can't wait for it to come out.

The Sanctuary by Raymond Khoury

"In the powerful new thriller from the author of the international bestseller The Last Templar, a geneticist and a CIA agent on a deadly quest to find the most dangerous book in the world discover a secret that has destroyed everyone in its path for centuries"

Khoury's book was basically a "good read" and I enjoyed it.  It kept my interest, for the most part.  I do have to admit that I put it aside from time to time to watch the enthralling political ads being run by the republican clowns running for president.  (They remind me of a large group of predator fish in a swarm biting each other in a frenzy of mayhem. ) 

I also enjoyed reading about some Masonic connections in the story including the Veiled Christ which I had to google.  It is a fascinating story and was fun to take a side trip.

If you want a book to read that is a thriller with a modern day setting but is rooted in history and is somewhat predictable as you read it I recommend this book.  (And Mike if you want it I will bring it down and loan it to you if you promise not to stay up until all hours reading it.)

This 'n That

  In our world and indeed for thousands of years the Bible has been elevated to almost a God in and of itself.  People seem to worship it rather than God and some people call it the inerrant word of God.  The problem is that is was written by men.  Men who had something to gain by telling a story in a certain way.

This book by Bishop John Shelby Spong takes the mystique away from this book and places it in a perspective that allows the believer and the non-believer both to better understand the book.

To begin with the Bible is not history. It is rather the telling of the Jewish religious story and it goes from a vengeful tribal God to one who embraces the entire world as Love.  It is a story not just for the Jewish people but one for the entire world and Bishop Spong takes all of the mystery and superstition out of the Bible and gives us an understanding of the book for today.  This is one of those books which I will keep and re-read and reference it over and over.  I highly recommend the book. It made me a better Christian by having read it.

I have been a General Hospital watcher for years.  There are a few things I am liking about it right now.  Just a few.  I am very grateful that I have a DVR and can record it and fast forward through much of it. I am through watching "Sonny"  - I just don't care about him. He is a thug after all with no redeeming characteristics.  The writers would like you to believe that he loves his children but it is all about control.  If he does anything for anyone it is because he wants something from them.  And the actor playing him half the time just phones in the performance.  As for Lulu and Dante, I am so ready for them to be over and done with.. She is also a controlling person..Perhaps that is why she doesn't like Sonny that much.

Luke is getting a raw deal, Elizabeth is delusional and headed for a fall.  Perhaps she will go nuts and have to go to the mental hospital,  Then Lucky can be stuck raising the kids.  You know I could go on and on about this crappy show and the only reason I still watch it is habit.  Perhaps it is time to break that one.

I hesitate to mention anything about health on here but I have been dealing with something that my doctor says is "going around" -  Suffice it to say he suggested Imodium AD to solve the problem. It seems to help but that is the reason I have been staying close to home.  I have a meeting on Saturday.  With luck I will get through it with no problem.

Miles is staying with me for awhile.  Jon is doing some Cadet teaching and working on papers and classes and is not able to be home much so he gets to visit Bailey, Cassie and me.   It is nice to have him around.  Thanks for stopping by - Hugs,  j

A New (to me) Author

My days and nights seem to be turned around.  I have not been sleeping well so I wake up and can't go back to sleep. Then in the daytime I nap  It is not conducive to being rested and productive.  It does however give me time to read. 


 I recently discovered Elizabeth Chadwick, an English author,  who writes historical novels with strong women as the main characters.  The first one I read was Lady of the English which is about two English Queens Matilda, (Daughter of Henry I and Mother of Henry II) and her stepmother Adeliza (Henry's widowed Queen.  Both women are "Lady of the English" a title given to England's Queen.


The novel is a unique form of learning about history.  I enjoy the stories and being able to imagine life as it was lived in earlier times.  They (the novels) give me a sense of 'being there" and actually participating in history.  I realize that it is historical fiction but it does give me insights into the time.  I enjoy it.  I can use my imagination and it has always been a genre which I like. 


The thing I enjoyed about Lady of the English is how these two women were able to play out on History and place Matilda's son Henry II on the throne after it had been usurped by Stephen.  Women were not allowed to participate in government and for these women to work behind the scenes to accomplish what they accomplished was something most of the HIStory books ignore.  That is another reason I find historical fiction worthwhile because if fills gaps in my knowledge.


You can read a synopsis of Lady of the English by clicking here and you can visit the web site of Elizabeth Chadwick to discover her means of research which involve re-enactment and consulting the Akashic Record) and find out more about her novels.  I have started a second one and am looking forward to her trilogy on Eleanor of Aquitaine wife of Henry II.  - It is 1:48 AM and since Bailey has gone back to sleep perhaps I will be able to also.  If not I will read a chapter or two.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hugs

John The Revelator by Peter Murphy

Peter Murphy's first novel is a delightfully written book which I savored reading. I related to the main character in some ways because I, too, was the child of a single mother and we did have some rough times.


John and his mother live is a small village and they scrape by.  The relationship changes over the course of the book and John becomes the caregiver as time takes it toll on his mother.

The writing in the book is wonderful. I mentioned that I savored it -  I always enjoy it when an author can make the characters come alive and draw such a wonderful picture as the following:

" What's for dinner?"
"Pigs feet and hairy buttermilk."
She spread the table cloth and set the Delph.  There were Polish cartoons on television, followed  by the Angelus' boring bongs.  My mother looked out the window and smoked while I ate.  Her green eyes went grey whenever it rained and her hair was braided halfway down its back.  After the washing us, she sat by the fire and read her Westerns.  Gusts sobbed in the chimney and the fire spat and crackled.
"Book any good?"
"Ah--
She slapped it shut, shook a Majors from the box and broke the fileter off.
"Too many descriptions. I know what a tree looks like.'

I am anxious to see if the author will produce future books.  If so I shall enjoy reading them.

Murder on Lexington Avenue

I started this yesterday.  Really got into it.  Woke up in the middle of the night and could not sleep so I read some more and finished it before I went back to sleep.  As a result today I had to catch up on napping.

Murder on Lexington Avenue begins with the discovery of a body (what else) It belongs to a rather disagreeable man who has a deaf daughter who is in love with her somewhat older (handsome of course) teacher. (The detective has a deaf son and the struggles of deaf people are intertwined throughout the story.)

As the story progresses there is the birth of a baby who no  one knew was on the way (except for the mother to be), another murder, and of course the solution to the murders.

It was a good read and I am glad to recommend it to those of you who like murder mysteries.  My aunt Fran and my mother both would have enjoyed it.  Oh and the nice thing was I got it for $5 in the bargain bin at Borders.

witches of east end

The author of this delightful first book in the series "lives in Los Angeles and Palm Springs with her family and is hard at work on the second book in the Beauchamp Family series."   I didn't notice that it was a series..


Damn


Damn  - a second book!   a series!


I have to wait for the next part of the story!


Damn.


I don't like waiting.  Especially when I have really enjoyed a book.  Now I shall have to look for an alert at her web site.  Perhaps Amazon will have a pre-publication offer and I can buy it and it will just come automatically (Although the last time I did that I purchased the book at Borders (love Borders) and had to return the one to Amazon..)


Be that as it may I found the writing in this delightful book about witches to be well crafted. (intended)  Three witches who are supposed to live and not use their powers because of an edict of the Council several hundred years ago but who are drawn back into the use of magic because of their needs and the needs of their friends.  Witches, vampires, zombies, ancient Norse gods..  All play a part in this book which grabbed me right from the start and kept me interested all the way through.


Just a sample:

If possible the house looked more impressive than it had at the party, with its vast open spaces empty of people.  The grand piano gleamed in the moonlight, and Bran opened the French doors so they could hear the sound of the ocean.  The house was so large, the main hall could hold an army, and the residential wing might as well have been in a whole other zip code.  Freya walked over to the bar cart and made Bran a martini, extra dry.  The bottled olives looked a little puny, but with a tap of her finger they turned jucy and plump.  She fed him the olves one by one and he downed the drink in one gulp.

As I said, I enjoyed the writing and the story and am looking forward to the next one.. Damn I hate waiting.

I Have a New Book - Story County (Repost)

The Ames Tribune has an article about Derek and his trip to Ames.   At 10am Saturday at the ISU Bookstore (in the Memorial Union) and 2 pm at Ames Public Library He will  have a presentation to share his book..  

Derek Anderson

The book is called Story County and the author illustrator is Derek Anderson.


When he was in my fifth grade class I called him "Crane" because everybody knows that a Derek is also a crane.  He called me "Birdie"  because a Jay is a Jay-bird.  I used Birdie for a password for a long time....(obviously it has changed) -  Derek was a very special student. His mother was an aide in the school and became a good friend and later we taught together at Edwards School.  Derek now lives in Minnesota but he comes back to Ames and most always he talks to kids about drawing and art and inspires them.  


On his Website you can read this story:

Author/Illustrator Derek Anderson drew the very first picture he can ever remember drawing when he was in kindergarten. It was a picture of the Easter Bunny. When he finished it, Derek gave it to the principal of his school who hung it on the wall of his office for the rest of the school year. Derek's fate was sealed. From then on, he knew he was going to be an artist.

Derek kept drawing and is now a New York Times Best Seller Illustrator and he has this new book out called "Story County" and as you can see from the picture above it is bright and colorful and it will appeal to youngsters of all ages.  It is all about friends, Farmer, Dog, Pig, Chicken and Miss Cow who work together to make a Farm. I think my favorite is Pig. Especially when Pig says, "I like mud.  Is mud a color?"  You can get the book through Amazon by clicking here.  


Oh, one more thing. Where is Story County?  Well I live there. Story County is the county in central Iowa where Derek grew up and where I live.  You can be at a farm like the one the friends built in about 5 minutes and see the pigs, and the cows and even some horses. Not too many chickens however.  A few but not many.  It is a great place to live and Derek has done a great job capturing it in his new book.  

Eternal Life - A New Vision

Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell.
click on book cover to read a review.

John Shelby Spong make a strong case for Eternal Life. But not as you might expect it to be. Not a nice little "place" to go to eternally sing songs of adoration to a Creator who needs constant adoration to justify his existence. Indeed he says (in one of the most profound statements I have ever read"

There is no supernatural God who lives above the sky or beyond the universe. There is no supernatural God who can be understood as animating spirit, Earth Mother, masculine tribal deity or external monotheistic being. There is no parental deity watching over us from whom we can expect help. There is no deity whom we can flatter into acting favorably or manipulate by being good. There are no record books and no heavenly judge keeping them to serve as the basis on which human beings will be rewarded or punished. there is also no way that life can be made fair or that a divine figure can be blamed for its unfairness. Heaven and hell are human constructs designed to make fair in some way the unfairness of life. The idea that in an afterlife the unfairness of this world will be rectified is a pious dream, a toe dip into unreality. Life is lived at the whim of luck and chance and no one can earn the good fortune of luck and chance.

This statement resonated with me. For many years I have questioned some of the basic ideas of the Christian Religion as practiced today. The idea that a loving God would require His son to die a horrible death on a cross to atone for the "sins" of the world does not sit with me. I have regarded much of the pious babbling of fundamentalist as just so much crap to gain prestige and control of their "flock" - I cannot and will not worship that "god". The God I worship is the one defined in I John 4:8 and the Jesus I honor is the one defined in the Book of John.

The one who said:

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

I can still remember the first time I read that statement. It resonated with me to such an extent that the feeling was almost physical. To that end I have tried to follow the Christ as exemplified by Jesus. I don't always make it - I "miss the mark" (sin) many times, but I do try.

Spong also says:

The power of love flows through all forms of life, but it ceases to institutional and comes to self-consciousness only in human beings. That power of love is also part of who God is for me. This means that the more deeply I am able to love, the more God becomes a part of me. This is why no religion can be in the last analysis ever really be about proper beliefs and proper practices. Those are only the artifacts of religious power. Religion has to to be about the enhancement of life through love. Religious rules are sacred only if they serve to enhance life. ... Every act, whether it be individual or corporate, must be judged as a right or a wrong based solely on whether it enhances or diminishes the life of another. If my action diminishes another, it also diminishes me. A diminished life is never the place where holiness will be found. Diminished lives will never be loving lives.

It is a very powerful book. It brought together some ideas that have been bouncing around in my head for many years. I recommend that you pick up a copy and read it for yourselves.

Sunday Reading

I spent the entire day reading this book. Here are excerpts from a review:

Becker, James - 'The First Apostle'
Paperback: 576 pages (July 2008) Publisher: Bantam Books ISBN: 0553819720

This is an utterly spellbinding book. The plot is stunning and breathtaking and leaves you racing to the end to find out if your suspicions are correct. Mine were. I was left shattered and stunned at how everything turned out.

The book, which is extremely well-written and uses a clever mixture of fact as well as fiction, opens with the gruesome crucifixion of a prisoner in the days of the Roman Empire....

Having set the scene in a way that is sure to capture your attention, Becker switches to a modern-day situation and a murder in an old house in Italy. ...

A devastated Mark Hampton rushes back to Italy and takes his friend Chris Bronson, a policeman, with him for support. They become immersed in trying to unravel the secrets inside the house and finding out who the intruders were, as well as what they wanted. Their search has them digging around in the history of the house as well as dodging the mafia, being labeled as murder suspects, and learning about an ancient Christian cult called the Cathars. Their search eventually leads them to Rome and is ultimately connected to the death of the mysterious old man held prisoner at the start of the book.

I absolutely loved this novel! It is particularly interesting as the author has carried out a vast amount of historical research, in order to get his facts straight. In places the degree of realism is such that it is hard to see when the facts end and the fiction starts. The book throws a huge, dirty question mark at the beginnings of early Christianity and has the potential to make you look hard at yourself and the truth of what you have been brought up to believe. Who are 'The Liars' mentioned on the stone above the Hampton's fireplace? Are they still lying today?

Amanda C M Gillies, Scotland
August 2008

I totally enjoyed reading this book. It was fast paced and kept my attention all day. I read until around 5:30 and went out to get supper and then came back and watched Nova and Desparate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters and then finished the book.

I used to do that when I taught and thing got too much for me. This past week was one hell of a busy week and I needed the reading break. I am still in awe at the number of people who have been checking this little place on the internets out. Thanks for stopping by. ARTYAL, Hugs. j-bear

Atlantis Prophecy

"A remarkable first novel. RAISING ATLANTIS grabs hold of you from the first page and pulls you into an astonishing world of scientific fact and fiction, suspense, and good old-fashioned adventure. Thomas Greanias is a superb writer who knows how to tell a tale with style and substance. Thoroughly entertaining.
Nelson DeMille, bestselling author of The General's Daughter, The Charm School and Night Fall



"RAISING ATLANTIS is a wonderfully honed cliff-hanger--an outrageous adventure with a wild dose of the supernatural. A thrill ride from start to finish."

Clive Cussler, bestselling author of Sahara and Lost City

ATLANTIS PROPHESY

The adventure begins with a mysterious military burial at Arlington National Cemetery and a shocking legacy that has explosive implications for America's existence. Archaeologist Conrad Yeats discovers in his father's tombstone the key to a centuries-old warning built into the very design of Washington, D.C. Major monuments along the National Mall are astronomically aligned and are about to "lock" with the stars at a date foreseen by the Founding Fathers. Along with Serena Serghetti, a beautiful Vatican linguist with secrets of her own, Yeats explores the hidden world beneath the capital in a deadly race to save it. America has a date with destiny, and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

While I was at the Red Cross meetings in San Diego, Knight Companion Reece Harrison shared that he had read this book and that it was full of Masonry. He had picked it up in an airport bookstore. So I went upstairs to my room and used my Internet connection (which I had paid $10 a day to have - darn cheap hotel) to access Amazon.com Found out that there was another book that went ahead of this one and ordered them both. (And of course I had to order yet another one which is still coming) - when I got back from San Diego I finished the book about Augustus that I was reading and I got these two books which I had now in my hot little hands and I began to read them.

I read the first one in a day. It was a page turner and I enjoyed it immensely and was a little disappointed that there really wasn't a Masonic connection there. I needn't have worried. Prophesy has Masonic references all through it and I just finished it. Then on the last page I discovered that there is to be one more book in this series "The Atlantis Revelation" - It will be in hardcover.

The quality of the Prophecy book is not really well put together. I found pages started to fall out of it but I didn't lose any of them so if somebody wants to borrow it I will loan it out. The Web Site for the book is here. And I understand that there will be movies. So if you are tired of waiting for the new Dan Brown book pick these up.