Customer Comments

I stayed awake all night to finish this book, and I already knew how it would end! The author supplied the background information about the political situation, the countryside, and the people, so that the main storyline was fully fleshed out. The tiger and the humans all come alive and worthy of study and understanding. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent with the book.

The author skillfully segues between the early searches for 'Z' and his own modern search to learn the fate of the lost expedition. The unbelievable hardships suffered by the early explorers are vividly described, and it becomes clear that some of those hardships were caused by the unyielding character of the leader of the expedition. Although conditions in the Amazon remain similar, the author benefits enormously from modern inventions such as outboard motors, GPS, and improved communications. Yet he makes clear that modern expeditions still may become deadly obsessions. I could not stop reading this book until I reached the end, not sure if it might be published posthumously.

Before I had "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," I had "Joy of Cooking." While many of the recipes were not gourmet cooking, this tome had invaluable answers to almost anything I thought to ask about food. Where else could you find diagrams of meat animals, showing the main muscle divisions and explaining why that knowledge was important? Where else could you find recipes for things your mother always cooked and would never cook? I now own three different editions, including the latest. This book answered questions I never asked about the women who wrote and rewrote my earliest favorite cookbook.

This novel is an interesting fantasy spin on possession of humans by aliens. The title is a play on words, referring to the human 'hosts,' and also the host of invaders. The invaders are relatively benign, except for the little detail that the human's personality is usually destroyed. The protagonist of this book is a rare human who manages to remain a separate personality, coexisting with the invader, giving rise to entertaining issues regarding old and new relationships. The 'adult' designation is mystifying, as the content was no more spicy than that of her "Twilight" series for young adults.

Furst is a master at portraying ordinary people who do extraordinary things in the time just before and during World War II. The Dutch Merchant Marine Captain is willing to serve, but he only gradually learns the extent of the danger to himself, his crew and his ship. Characters play minor roles in various books, and then become the protagonist in another, tying many of his thrillers together. I had to read all of them!