Good Books?

Inspired by gingaloca's thread, I thought I would ask if anyone had any good book recommendations. I just bought The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky. If you haven't read Crime and Punishment by him I suggest you do so immediately.

Helter Skelter - Vince Bugliosi
All the President's Men - Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstien
When Heaven and Earth Changed Places - Le Ly Hayslip

I just joined a book club where I a book a month for $9.95. This month I'm looking forward to receiving The Blood of Lambs by Kamal Saleem

Synopsis:

Quote :

Kamal Saleem began training for jihad at the age when most American children are learning to read. At age 7, he completed his first assignment in Israel, and by his late teens, he was recruited by the PLO, trained as a terrorist and eventually sent to the United States on a mission that abruptly ended when a car crash—and some caring doctors—opened his eyes and changed the way he viewed the West. It is Saleem’s unique perspective as a former terrorist that makes The Blood of Lambs such a chilling and compelling read. A memoir of his indoctrination into jihad and his escape, it’s also a provocative and eye-opening insider’s exposé that sheds light on the hidden agendas, tactics and mind-set of radical Islamic terrorists.

Festus wrote:

I just joined a book club where I a book a month for $9.95. This month I'm looking forward to receiving The Blood of Lambs by Kamal Saleem

That sounds really interesting. Let us know how it is, I may have to add it to the list.

Festus wrote:

I just joined a book club where I a book a month for $9.95. This month I'm looking forward to receiving The Blood of Lambs by Kamal Saleem.

That does sound good!

I got the book today in the mail, and am well into it. FASCINATING!

I'm over halfway through this book. It's riveting, eye-opening and chilling. I believe it should be a MUST READ! I'll give more details later.

Festus wrote:

I'm over halfway through this book. It's riveting, eye-opening and chilling. I believe it should be a MUST READ! I'll give more details later.

Sounds like an interesting book.

I may need to put this on my summer reading list.

Annie Oakley wrote:

I may need to put this on my summer reading list.

Agreed. I think I'll be adding it. Couldn't find a cheap used copy on Amazon though, must be pretty new.

Ja'far wrote:

Annie Oakley wrote:

I may need to put this on my summer reading list.

Agreed. I think I'll be adding it. Couldn't find a cheap used copy on Amazon though, must be pretty new.

It is. I got it for $9.95, though, in my book club. It's SO worth the full price though. I'm close to the end.

I will say this, I believe that EVERYONE should read this book. If you want a military-style perspective, it's there. If you want a religious perspective, it's there. I am more firmly committed to my theories of how terrorists are able to recruit so successfully, especially Radical Islamic terrorists, than ever before.

And now, I look at our culture differently as well. Not in a negative light, per se. But in how vulnerable our very strengths make us.

I've finished the book, and I HIGHLY recommend it. The author grew up in a devout Muslim family. He chronicles his early religious studies that his mother taught in his early life. Several events/circumstances lead the author to joining jihad @ the age of 7. Before he'd left his teens, he was a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood. Eventually, he winds up in Saudi Arabia, where he secures money for the Brotherhood. Then, he comes to the US, where events completely turn his world upside down.

The book skips back and forth between the now and then. He also makes a lot of observations about America, and the fact that what we've been thinking we've been fighting in other countries has kept from within our borders is naive, and why.

He also makes some pointed comments about American foreign policy, and Americans perceptions of the Muslim faith.

I won't spoil the book. I really hope some of you do take the time to pick it up and read it. I'd love to see a discussion some time!

Festus wrote:

I've finished the book, and I HIGHLY recommend it. The author grew up in a devout Muslim family. He chronicles his early religious studies that his mother taught in his early life. Several events/circumstances lead the author to joining jihad @ the age of 7. Before he'd left his teens, he was a leader in the Muslim Brotherhood. Eventually, he winds up in Saudi Arabia, where he secures money for the Brotherhood. Then, he comes to the US, where events completely turn his world upside down.

The book skips back and forth between the now and then. He also makes a lot of observations about America, and the fact that what we've been thinking we've been fighting in other countries has kept from within our borders is naive, and why.

He also makes some pointed comments about American foreign policy, and Americans perceptions of the Muslim faith.

I won't spoil the book. I really hope some of you do take the time to pick it up and read it. I'd love to see a discussion some time!

Sounds very interesting. I'll check half.com and see if it's on there, if not, I'll be heading to the library.

I just placed my order for the book. Gringa, you can always borrow mine when I am finished, if you can't find a copy.

Annie Oakley wrote:

I just placed my order for the book. Gringa, you can always borrow mine when I am finished, if you can't find a copy.

Thanks! I might just do that!

Festus wrote:

I'm over halfway through this book. It's riveting, eye-opening and chilling. I believe it should be a MUST READ! I'll give more details later.

I got the book yesterday. I agree with Festus. It IS riveting and eye opening. It's made me consider a few things in a new light.

Truly...more of you need to read this. It's so fast paced that you'll want to finish it (and try avoiding household and yard work, like me ) as soon as possible.

Who else is in for reading this? I think gringa gets my copy next, but I'd be willing to send it to someone else, if you're interested.

Annie Oakley wrote:

I got the book yesterday. I agree with Festus. It IS riveting and eye opening. It's made me consider a few things in a new light.

Truly...more of you need to read this. It's so fast paced that you'll want to finish it (and try avoiding household and yard work, like me ) as soon as possible.

Who else is in for reading this? I think gringa gets my copy next, but I'd be willing to send it to someone else, if you're interested.

I might, depends on if it's one sided or not. Let me know.

Judge Roy Bean wrote:

Annie Oakley wrote:

I got the book yesterday. I agree with Festus. It IS riveting and eye opening. It's made me consider a few things in a new light.

Truly...more of you need to read this. It's so fast paced that you'll want to finish it (and try avoiding household and yard work, like me ) as soon as possible.

Who else is in for reading this? I think gringa gets my copy next, but I'd be willing to send it to someone else, if you're interested.

I might, depends on if it's one sided or not. Let me know.

This book isn't "sided" at all. It's written by a former terrorist, and is bluntly, brutally open. He doesn't so much take any sides politically, as he simply puts out there what he lived. It's not a political book. It's a biography, and an attempt to open the eyes of Americans...those on all sides.

As Festus said, it's not one sided...it's not US left or right-winged at all. It simply tells the story of a former terrorist. From how he became one (wow...wait to you see how that plays out) to what he does around the world and how he comes to the US. It also tells the story of what changes him (again....wow!) and somewhat about what his life is like now that he has revealed his past.

Awesome, I was thinking it would be a political book. I'm very interested in reading it now!