Peter's Choice by Joseph Orbi

"Peter's Choice", is a disturbing new novel that will infuriate some readers and leave others with a renewed feeling of hope for humanity. This first novel by playwright Joseph Orbi spans 75 years, from World War II to the early 21st Century. It tells the story of two children of wartime Yugoslavia: Felix Ronnoco, an orphan adopted by a powerful member of the Vatican elite; and Damir Pavelic, son of Ante Pavelic, the Croat führer. Both men, whose lives intertwine in mysterious ways, must face the crimes of their elders and seek their own redemption.

"Peter's Choice" mirrors the controversy ignited by recent U.S. Government charges - reported in the New York Times and U.S.News & World Report - that Croat fascist war criminals had Vatican assistance in escaping Europe with plundered gold after World War II. But, though grounded in these controversial historical events, "Peter's Choice" is a complex mix of historical fact, magical realism, and fiction. Orbi moves deftly between present, past and future in telling this story of horror, love, intrigue and hope. Actual historic figures, including Pavelic, Monsignor Krunoslav Draganovic and opera singer Beniamino Gigli are central figures.

Orbi's purpose is not to take sides in the Balkan conflicts or to flay the Vatican. Rather, he explores the need to confront evil and seek redemption through knowledge and love. His characters are flawed but never two-dimensional. Damir finds a love that frees him from shame and which overcomes even terrible tragedy. Felix moves through a world of power and intrigue but ultimately confronts the same shame and evil. His reunion with Damir reveals the transcendent power of love and gives him a vision that leads to the book's prophetic and controversial climax

The complex plot and magical realism of the novel take it out of the realm of conventional historical fiction. Orbi is concerned with love and redemption and with the interplay between goodn! ess, beauty and evil. Love - both romantic love and a mystical, transcendent love - is the path to redemption for his characters. That path winds through horror, intrigue, and murder, but ultimately leads to light.

Beyond its controversial aspects is a book more important for its real literary merit and its insightful and ultimately hopeful exploration of the questions that all of us must face

In 1998 my vote for best book of the year goes to "Peter's Choice," by Joseph Orbi. In terms that anyone in this forum will understand, Joseph Orbi writes in English like Gabriel Garcia Marquez writes in Spanish. Although he will make many enemies with "Peter's Choice," the book is an incredible mix of fiction and history. It is simply a great book.

T.Ball

"Peter's Choice" is a riveting novel that will anger many because, in part, depicts some extraordinary relationships that are not supposed to happen, like that of an orphan boy and his powerful mentor, a man who rules the Vatican with an iron hand. At its most basic, Peter's Choice is the story of two boys, Felix Ronnoco and Damir Pavelic, son of one of the greatest mass murderers ever, Ante Pavelic, the President of the Independent Nation of Croatia during WWII.

Some of the historical characters in this amazing book include Ante Pavelic, Father Krunoslav Draganovic and opera star Beniamino Gigli.

Joseph Orbi goes after hypocrites with a vengeance, pointing out contradicitons found in the characteristics of Argentinians, Croats, and opera aficionados. His purpose is not to offend, but to make people think, and even to laugh at themselves.

Last, I found the book to be a beautiful love story, one that made me think and one that ends with an amazing and courageous prophecy.

There is hardly any significant fact about viruses that missed-out in this edition of "Fields Virology". Page after page, this sound all-inclusive reference doles out authoritative information on both viruses and viral syndromes. From taxonomy to etiology, metamorphosis to replication; the analyses of this text is grand. The same applies to its attached CD-ROM. Its practical outlook was intended to benefit both microbiologists and pathologists. Bernard Fields and his colleagues made their mark with this book. It is a great effort.
However, most botanist may not be pleased to know that little attention was paid to plant viruses. Again, many potential buyers may be demoralized by the rather high price that this virology-set demands.

It covers all fields of virology. Perfect and wonderful ! Easy to understand. I really recommend this book to who is involved in biology

An alternative title for this novel could be Amayer's rut.
For that is the situation that the main protagonist in this novel finds himself in. Almayer is a European trader living in a
trading post somewhere in Indonesia or Malaysia with his daughter,a product of mixed marriage.
Almayer dreams of escaping to Europe after making himself wealthy and bringing his daughter with him also.
But as time drags on it becomes obvious that he is going nowhere with his life. He is not getting richer nor is he getting any younger. His own daughter ends up deserting him by eloping with a native who takes her to his own village.
Not being a pure European by blood she realizes that she would never be accepted as an equal among Europeans or the whites.
For this reason she chooses instead to live with the natives.
As for Almayer he remains as he was.
He is an example that one can find everywhere in the world.
Someone stuck in a situation going nowhere but always dreaming of getting out and changing his life.

Almayer's folly is a powerful beginning to Conrad's second profession, writing. Since the story was written so close to Conrad's adventurous youth (the spring for his most powerful works), it provides the rawest expression of Conrad's views. Almayer, the prototype of Tuan Jim, takes the "leap" when he marries the Malay captive for promised wealth. This transgression drops his character into contact with the cold truths of nature; truths which dispel any artificial illusions or meanings. For Almayer, these illusions entailed sucess and fame in Europe, a place that he had never visited but only heard about from his mother. Superficially, this journey towards inner truth involves a journey into the wilds of Borneo, but,like in future Conrad works, we quickly realize that the journey is inward into the pysche of Almayer. Overall, an excellent introduction to Conrad.

Loosely based on the life of a Dutch merchant, setting up a trading post along a river in the interior of Borneo, Conrad's novel 'Almayer's Folly' is actually about man's alienation from his environment and eventually himself.

Written during the heyday of western imperialism, when the great powers of Europe subjected the tropics to their rule, the tale of Almayer explores how the tropics actually devoured the individual westerner.

The main character of the book is a man obsessed. Chasing a dream, he completely loses touch with reality. Although on the surface it may seem that he is a white man gone native, Almayer hasn't got a clue what he is dealing with. He is blind to the schemings of his Malay wife and equally oblivious to the fact that his daughter is drifting away from him.

Admittedly, the book has 'orientalist' overtones but, then, Joseph Conrad is both a man of his time and a master of poweful prose, not a politically-correct scholar. The stereotypical mystique of Asia and the inscrutable oriental are exploited as a literary means to descend into the deeper levels of man's psyche. Just like the 'true heart' of Borneo and its inhabitants is hidden under layer upon layer of deceiving images, so is the core of each and every individual. The scariest place to travel is not the interior of an Indonesian Island, but the inner reaches of our own soul.

Almayer's Folly is one of the best novels ever written. Not only because of the author's masterful portrayals of character, but also due his astounding command of English. It is hard to believe that Conrad's first and second language were Polish and French: he only learned English as an adult. It is this combination of psychological understanding and extraordinary use of language that make him into a literary genius.

This book is really for the Soviet cognesceti since it does not have enough rigor and scholarship to qualify as a primary text. Nevertheless, it is a measure of the "through the looking glass" criminality of the Soviet experiment that the reader is constantly asking whether the author's account could be true. A quick read but "Caution-Thin Ice" Perhaps better to stick with Amy Knight, R. Conquest, Volkoganov pending corroboration.

Peter Deriabin served in Naval SMERSH, the Guards Directorate and the Foreign Intelligence Directorate of the KGB in Moscow and Vienna. His story of the "Saboteur-Doctor's" , Kirov's death, Stalin's murder by Beria, Beria's removal, and the Sled-Chast [special investigative unit]reveals what those serving in Lubyanka at the time knew of these events as they occurred. His version of Stalin's murder has never been told in print before this book. While some of the stories told originate from close KGB friends, others are supported by various authors and news account cited in the end notes, and Deriabin's own experiences. Deriabin provides new information about KGB officers known to many. The chapters about his defection Vienna are well documented. Joseph Evans, an experienced CIA clandestine service officer, worked with Deriabin for years and finished the book after Deriabin's death. This is a remarkable contribution to the intelligence literature with many new details of the KGB as it functioned under Stalin.

This is the memoir of a high ranking officer within the bodyguard administration of the Kremlin (Stalin's bodyguards). The author is the only know member of Stalin's bodyguards know to have escaped to the West. This book was published some 6 years after the author's death. The interworkings of the dark side within Stalin's Kremlin is detailed. The book mainly details the Stalin Beria relationship and the author's conclusions of how the ruthless Beria ultimately murdered Stalin. A very captivating and intriguing read, the book is filled with little known details of the Stalin era and fills in the gap where other books leave out. This book tackles the big issues-Stalin's death-by providing the knowledge learned by the author, who was there. Other works simply don't discuss this. As a memoir with an easy suspenseful read, history buffs must focus on the details throughout the work. The author does substantiate claims made. The author clearly shows how Stalin was losing his power and protection in the year prior to his death. Beria's behind the scene maneuverings and Stalin's own paranoia were responsible for much of the stripping of Stalin's protection. (The author even provides a list of those fired or executed during Stalin's last months in chapter 14.) Even on the pages of Pravda Stalin was reduced to Secretary from General Secretary-as Pravda had always printed-announcing that Stalin's position was weakening. It is these significant facts added to the author's own experiences that give new weight to Stalin's demise. As far as I am aware, other works have not mentioned this. Another example is the author's revelation that Stalin murdered his wife, and how he was almost removed as leader because of it. The author then reveals that Stalin ordered the executions of all the doctors who signed her death certificate (verified by other sources) to cover his tracks. That the gun used to kill her was Stalin's. It is these added details that give credence to the author's claims. He goes beyond other works. The author does not hesitate to address controversial areas. After reading the author's first book, The Secret World, first published in 1959, which is a complete autobiography of the author that details his extensive career in the KGB and the Communist Party, I understood the terror that Stalin spread through his reign. The author has written many books about Russia and has used his experience from within to share with his audience. A gripping account of great historic value. Highly recommended.

Much has been said on the subject of colonial racism, and this still leaves a bitter tang in the throats of most historicially learned people. Still, we don't need this book. Conrad's Heart of Darkness is placed in the context of his time, and even when skimming the novell, one get the image that it is an attack on the imperialism of that time. Firchow goes after the wrong novell.

An impressive and delightful read and an awesome work by a world-class scholar-author and educator. It is as comprehensive and thorough a critical work as we are likely to find anywhere, on any work of fiction, whether or not canonical. I'm a reader who feasts on literary and scholary criticism. Showing quite a bit of his lively mind and personality at work, Firchow's study of Heart of Darkness is a humbling and joyous reading experience.

Heart of Darkness has become a politically controversial book bringing the issue of racism into the foreground. Firchow counters the accusations of racism that have been made and defends his opinion of Conrad's book with solid arguments.

Ideas of Grandiosity.
I would suggest that the individuals mentioned in this book be interviewed for their version of the experiences. Then determine if this book has taken some "fictional" license. But wouldn't we all like to paint a fantastic autobiographical picture of ourselves especially if our lineage had someone truly outstanding in it.

Joseph Jaworski was a practicing litigator when he learned about the concept of the "servant leader." Inspired, he left his legal practice and created the American Leadership Forum (ALF), which trains corporate leaders in using the servant-leader model. Synchronicty, which recounts Jaworski's journey, aspires to novelistic drama, and in fact, Jaworski describes the tale in terms of the traditional literary hero's quest. While not exactly the labors of Hercules, anecdotes in which Jaworski talks his way out of a mugging and meets his wife by passing her in an airport are entertaining, but less informative than the author might hope. The book contains a lot of New-Age jargon and collective-consciousness sermonizing. Nevertheless, for managers who want to be something more - leaders - we [...] recommend Synchronicity not as a useful how-to, but rather as a business leader's inspirational biography.

Talking of dreams, magical moments with animals, following hunches and coincidences, dealing with the pains of personal history, talking about life as if it were an adventure story of wonder and self-discovery; you could say this is no way to write a book about business leadership. But thank goodness Joseph Jaworski, with the help of friends and a visionary editor, had the courage to do just that. Because the result is as profound as it is compelling. Dialogue is at the heart of Joe’s leadership philosophy, and the style and integrity of his writing is such that it draws the reader’s mind into just that state. His words are no dry treatise, they leave the page and make a direct emotional connection. Some day, more books will be written this way, and the world will be wiser for it.

I am arrived in America two years from Pakistan. Meteorology is a big hobby in Pakistan. Everybody talk about weather.I was leader of a club in my home of Karachi. This Balsama book is a very good book. There are not so many amateur meteorology books in Urdu .I am happy Balsama writes a book that is simply for person who has not good English.Do not be a fool for silly reviews that say Balsama book is bad. They do not know. The silly reader from Minneapolis says that Balsama is wrong that a meteorite is meteor that reaches earth's surface. Balsama is correct. I read it in my dictionary. Is my dictionary wrong reader in Minneapolis? Pictures in book are very good not bad. And what is this crazy talk of thistles and conifers. If this makes you mad buy a garden book. If you like the weather, buy the Balsama book.

I have been looking for a long time for a good and thorough book that explains all about weather and does so in a way that is easy to read for someone who is not a scientist. I am just a weather enthusiast and want to learn more about this fascinating topic. I completely enjoyed reading this book, "WEATHER BASICS" by Balsama and Chaston. It made the science of weather "come alive". Great chapters on hurricanes, tornadoes, thundertorms, winter weather, etc. etc. Excellent pictures with the chapters as well. I learned a lot. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys weather and wants to learn more, plus have an excellent reference book on all the various weather topics.

Both my kids and I loved this book, "WEATHER BASICS". It was a birthday present and although I never wrote a book review before, I feel compelled to recommend this book. We all learned much about meteorology, and I especially liked all the helpful pictures and graphics in this book. I highly recommend "WEATHER BASICS" by Messrs. Balsama and Chaston. I finally got a weather book worth saving!

This is a great book because of it's entertaining way of teaching about some of the more interesting aspects of paleo-anthropology and anthropology in general. The author did an excellent job of researching his subject having consulted actual anthropologists. He obviously researched African politics and culture as well to make his characters believable. I also found it refreshing that many of the African characters were both positive and protagonists.

Some of the ideas about the development from primate to Homo Sapien in terms of social, physical, and emotional development were very intriguing. To give an example, I found the idea of early Neandertals and different versions of humanity living concurrently and interbreeding to be fascinating. To think that we picked up, as modern humans, many successful traits from "evelutionary dead ends" such as the Neandertals is really captivating. Forgive me for overusing my language, but i really enjoyed this book!

If no other reason, read this book for it's easy way of introducing scientific ideas about the origin of Homo Sapiens and their evolution. This book is a way for people who are scared of science to find out how enjoyable science can be. Enjoy!

Mankind's Beginning in Conjecture

This is a great book because of its entertaining way of teaching about some of the more interesting aspects of paleo-anthropology and anthropology in general. The author, Petru Popescu, did an excellent job of researching his subject having consulted actual anthropologists. He obviously researched African politics and culture, as well, to make his characters believable. I also found it refreshing that many of the African characters were both positive and protagonists.

Some of the ideas about the development from primate to Homo Sapien in terms of social, physical, and emotional development were very intriguing. To give an example, I found the idea of early Neanderthals and different versions of humanity living concurrently and interbreeding to be fascinating. To think that we picked up, as modern humans, many successful traits from "evolutionary dead ends" such as the Neanderthals is really captivating.

The book itself is the story of one anthropologist, Ken Lauder, a Californian "beach bum" type hiding out from responsibility, in far off Kenya. In the course of his existence in Kenya, he makes a big discovery that could rock the anthropological world: a possible living "missing link." Ken and his friend, a local African with connection, are in the process of exploring their discovery when a civil war breaks out in Kenya and everything turns into chaos. The better part of the text explores what the field of anthropology is like (according to a fiction writer who did some research), what life in Africa is like and particularly the volatile politics of small African nations, and Ken's erstwhile existence after being abandoned in the African wild. While Ken is abandoned in the wild, he is befriended by a protohuman that Ken nicknames "Long Toes." Ken and "Long Toes" form a father/son relationship that forms the core of the book.

If no other reason, read this book for its easy way of introducing scientific ideas about the origin of Homo Sapiens and their evolution. This book is a way for people who are scared of science to find out how enjoyable science can be. Enjoy!

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan

I bought this book two years ago at a "dollar store" during an ice storm which left us without electricity for two weeks. There wasn't much to do so I bought this book thinking it probably wouldn't be too great; I mean I spent three bucks on it at the dollar store. But, I hoped it would ward off the boredom. I didn't get to start reading it until a month ago and was I ever surprised. This is a great book! As the last reviewer stated, it's a great way to teach science through fiction. I had never put too much thought into how humans evolved. I have even found myself watching The Discovery Channel to find out more about the protohumans.

The book 360 Degree Selling covers two of the most important areas in the selling of biotechnology products, use of clinical trial data, and disease state information. This information is exactly what today's physicians most want from pharmaceutical sales people. Additionally, the book has great information on relationship selling and physician personality styles, and a very extensive section on territory management. I highly recommend this book to anyone in pharmaceutical sales, I know it has helped me to be more effective in my sales presentations.

360 Degree Selling-How to Sell Biotechnology Products is one of the best books of its kind. With 24 pages of selling, using clinical reprints, it supplies the representative with crucial ways to use third party selling. The book also leads the representative to use the many web sites available to supplement his/her presentation with the latest and most pertinent information for the physician. Furthermore, it shows how the representative can best utilize his/her Time & Territory Management and Routing techniques. Last, but not least, it teaches the importance of maintaining physician contacts and using phyician personality and prescribing profiles to tailor presentations to individual physician's wants and needs.

Great book! My company recently purchased this book for our entire specialty sales force. I have followed the principles and techniques outlined in the book, and I can see a difference in my relationships with my physicians. This book concentrates very heavily on relationship selling, and the publisher provides a free 360 Degree Relationship Selling Strategy report from their website. It is really great, I don't know of any other selling book that provides this type of service, it's like getting the book for free. I am recommending that my company purchase this service for our sales force. Thank you Black Dog!

This book reads a lot like watching a soap opera, or a Lifetime movie. In fact that might be a good way to characterize it: the made for TV movie of Kennedy books. That does not mean, however, that it is not enjoyable. It is an easy and entertaining read, and a great introduction to this famous, or infamous family. The best that it has to offer is the parts about the third generation, which cooperated with the authors and granted them interviews. However, in the rush to seek an explanation for why the young ones turned out bad, the authors blame everything on Senator Ted Kennedy, which is not quite fair to a loving father and uncle, and a legislative giant, who is passed off in this book as a moron who rides his family's coattails. This book is a good read, but not a one-stop place for information.

This book is by far one of the most telling stories about the Kennedy dynasty I have ever read. Having read Thomas Reeves profile of Jack Kennedy in "A Question of Character" I found that "The Kennedy's" gives much more information on the inner workings of the Kennedy family. I especially enjoy the stories of old Joe Kennedy, how he made his fortunes, and his political power. The book is very well done, and I recommend everyone interested in politics, real politics, to read.

An excellent account of the Kennedys from the beginnings up to 1984, when the book was written. This book gives you a blow-by-blow history of the family and the kids. I found it most interesting learning about the little known real story of Camelot. There has been so much written about the Kennedys but the authors did some serious research and told some never before written stories, such as the JFK's back problems and Rosemary's retardation, also stories about the Kennedy kids and their drug problems. Quite informative and thorough, this book is excellent history.