This is a brilliant account of the history of the people of Pakistan. From pre-history to the modern-day creation of the separate state the author has provided to the Pakistani and to the world a fresh and new perspective about the roots and identity of this nation. The book blasts all fundamentalist mumbo-jumbo that has been the main content of all Pakistani history books and also all the anti-Pakistan venom that has been the main theme of all the history books written by non-Pakistani authors. It is the first well researched historical analysis of this region by well-recognised Pakistani intellectual. For some time there has been a difficulty in the procurement of The Indus Saga. I now have good news. A fresh new edition has just come out. It is by the NEHR GHAR PUBLICATIONS. Email address of the publisher is nehrghar@hotmail.com. The price of this edition is half that of the earlier publication while there has been no compromise on production or printing. Readers interested in knowing about the real and unbiased history of the Indus region which today comprises Pakistan can now order The Indus Saga at nehrghar@hotmail.com

I am probably the biggest fan of Aitzaz Ahsan's as it is... and after this book, I'm sure you will be too!

I have read the book and am deeply impressed by it. Now the Urdu version has also come out as "Sindh Sagar" It also contains the following excerpts from reviews of "The Indus Saga" by some well known authorities and analysts of the subject: The DAWN: (September 6, 1996) "The Discovery of Pakistan":(Professor Emeritus Ahmad Hasan Dani) Mr. Ahsan was deeply pondering the subject while he was in prison. He has come out with a new vision of the history of Pakistan - a vision that may be termed as the "Discovery of Pakistan". This deserves due consideration on the part of the historians in Pakistan as well as outside. A similar project for writing the history of Pakistan as a part of the golden jubilee celebrations has been undertaken by the National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research. On this occasion, I again submitted a long write-up to the Ministry of Culture stating clearly how the history of Pakistan, the "Indus Land", should be written. But being a humble historian of no great importance, my views have been 'filed' up in the Ministry. I am glad to note that Mr. Ahsan has come forward boldly on a theme which the Pakistani historians have so far hesitated to elaborate - a theme which has been my life's dream. If we have created Pakistan - a land which has deep roots in history - there must be the history of the land and of the people who have lived and laboured here. The future generations deserve to have a history of the country. I congratulate Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan on showing a way to the historians. While he has succeeded, I have stumbled and miserably failed to convey my opinion and persuade the bureaucrats to understand historical Pakistan in the manner in which Mr. Ahsan has so ably done in the present book.

Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Summer 1997) "The Indus Saga and the Making of Pakistan:" Susan K Hausman Questions and rejects many of the widely-accepted myths of subcontinental history; highlights the dichotomy between the Indus region and India; and shows the almost unbroken continuity of a distinct social and political order.

Journal of Comparative Studies of South Asia Africa and the Middle East (Vol. XVI No.1 (1996)): Professor Carl W. Ernst. Ahsan's own "journey" through the contemplation made possible by imprisonment would continue, he notes, in the jails of Sahiwal, Faisalabad, and Mianwali. He writes of the vision that unfolded to him "of myself as part of a magnificent continuum," something destined as an inheritance. He began to explore this vision through history and myth, writing the entire study during his jail terms. Disarmingly, he makes no claim as an historian, but presents his conclusions as the results of a journey of self-discovery. Although the primary importance of the parallel with Nehru is symbolic, The Discovery of India has been clearly on Ahsan's mind, and he quotes directly and indirectly from the book on more than one occasion.

It is by far the best mountaineering photography I have seen. I am amazed by what is in here as I know from personal experience how hard it is to photograph remote mountains. It is an effort to get to these locations and then to take all that equipment with you. Shiro has established himself as a pioneer in mountaineering photography.

I had the opportunity to meet Shiro's assistant Hiroyuki in Mendoza (Argentina). After listening to the troubles and hilarious tales they went through to get these picture, I appreciate the effort even more. Most of these pictures were taken from a Pakistani military plane - still looks great. The book is much cheaper now than it first came out. If you are an arms chair mountaineer or a high altitute climber this could be an inspiration you are looking for to get to the next level.

Stunning. Exactly what I'd been looking for. The only thing out there that gives an indication of what this place is really like. I will throw away my camera and pictures. I'm not worthy.

To say that the book is excellent would be an understatement. It is simply superb, and the quality of photos is truly amazing. All photos are colored and the quality of detail is unbelievable. I am a big fan of mountain photography, and this is one of my favorite books.

The book contains a collection of photographs taken in Karakoram, a mountain range in northern Pakistan and India, and Hindu-Kush in Afghanistan. At the end of the book, all photos are annotated with thumbnail images and explanations relating to each image. Perhaps the only drawback of the book's design is that many photos span two pages, which isn't very nice because you can't see much near the book's binding. I would rather have this book in an album format, with each photo printed on a separate page.

If you like mountain photography, especially the Himalayas or Karakoram, then I would recommend you to buy "Over the Himalaya" by Koichiro Ohmori, published by Bookwise. I couldn't find it on Amazon, though.

Ali and Ripley's masterwork cannot be touched in terms of the completeness of individual descriptions, but this volume is amazing in that it draws together all the subcontinent's spp. into one book. Even so, the tome is too heavy to carry to the field. The taxonomy is updated, as is the species list. The colour illustrations are of a very high quality; my quibble is that the individual species are too small to be very useful. The maps are miniscule and that limits their utility; the use of two colours would have helped under the circumstances. Otherwise, this book is a long-awaited treasure.

Simply the best available guide to the birds of the Indian Subcontinent. Subcontinental birders have long awaited a comphrehensive guide to the birds of this region.

No other guide comes close in quality of drawings, text and range maps. Though too large and heavy to be called a field guide. It is still brought on trips to be reviewed after a day in the field.

We eagerly await the publication of this book as a true 'field guide'- that will be useable in the field.

This is the best one-volume book on the market at this time. It has very good illustrations and good species accounts that include excellent range maps. It is the only book of one volume that covers all the birds of the Indian subcontinent with this quality of illustration. The range maps are very good and there is an adequate amount of information about each bird. It's too heavy to take into the field on your trip to India, but it is an excellent reference.

In this warm and complex study of friendship, love, and roots, Kamila Shamsie focuses on the interrelationships of a group of vividly realized, upper-class residents of Karachi, particularly Raheen and Karim and their friends, only thirteen years old as the novel opens. Raheen has always regarded Karim, her one-time crib-companion and blood-brother, as her best friend, someone who knows her so well he can complete her sentences. Their parents, too, are close friends, and as the story evolves, we learn that Raheen's father was once engaged to marry Karim's mother, and that Raheen's mother once pledged to marry Karim's father.

The story behind the exchange of fiancées, though revealed as an intimate personal story, has wider implications, since it is tied, obliquely, to the ethnic unrest of 1971, when civil war broke out between East and West Pakistan, and Bangladesh came into being. Unaware of the conflicts which occurred before they were born, the children are also unaware of the reasons for the fiancée-switch. It is only after they have grown up, attended college, and gained new perspectives that this mysterious situation begins to haunt them, influencing both their relationships with their parents and their unique and special relationship with each other.

Acutely sensitive to language and story, Raheen, now 23, is writing about her damaged relationship with Karim in an attempt to understand it. Straightforward and perceptive in her thinking and speech, she conjures up imagined conversations from the past with a deft, often humorous touch. Precocious, articulate, and somewhat rebellious as a child, she is, as an adult, somewhat detached and even blase about emotional issues, including the continuing violence in Karachi. Karim, on the other hand, demands accountability. He is a map-maker, accustomed to evaluating and correcting what he sees. Ultimately, the two must map the past in new ways, filling in the uncharted territories of their lives, and creating new boundaries and borders.

The emotional resonance of this novel is enhanced by strong subordinate characters. The parents of Raheen and Karim are insightfully drawn, and their story, as it unwinds, shows the fragility of relationships and the insidious prejudices that can creep into people's lives. As the exchange of fiancées is revealed through the eyes of the participants, the reader observes parallel events in the lives of Raheen, Karim, and their friends. Major themes are illuminated in the small details of everyday life, rather than in great historical moments. Through unique observations and insights into human character, this rich, thought-provoking novel creates maps of the human heart, ultimately achieving a universality and depth one does not often find in novels of personal relationships. Warm and human, this is a novel to love. Mary Whipple

I have never finished a book in 2 1/2 days ever before. I was born in Karachi and must say I am biased but this book is fun yet intense. A love story set in a large urban not unlike any third world country with an educated population, which is yearning to leave it but can never forget it.

As soon as I began to read this book I was hooked! I loved how the book was very descriptive without being tedious, the four main characters are very likeable. The story is about the friendship between Raheen the narrator and Karim who seem destined soul mates even after Karim moves away and how they deal with being apart. Its also about the voilence in Karachi and how Raheen and her friends deal with it with the political troubles. I dont know if my review does this book justice but let me just say its a great book. Read it!

If you are not a Sindi, Punjabi, Hazara, Tajik or other enemies of the Afghans/Pakhtoon, this is a must reading for you.

This book is an extremely useful work for historical reference, perhaps the only one in its category extant. It can be called a magnum opus. The narrative of its writer is, of course, tinted heavily with his own emotion--and he has pointed this out to the reader himself when describing the nature of his book--therefore this aspect of the book may also be taken as a "historical reference", to its VIP author's attitudes, but otherwise has no value and is sincere, but very harmfully misleading to the unacquainted reader, about the true nature of the evil Pathan society and its ways, in the present time especially. The Pathans/Pakhtuns/Afghans were always a backward, turbulent society with a criminal culture, but they have changed drastically for the worse in the 44 years since this book was first written, mostly in the last 20 years or so.

This book is the most comprhensive book on the subject of the Pathans (Pukhtoon or Pushtoon. Written by the last British Governor of the North West Frontier Province, this book traces the geneaology of this unusual race. Recently the Readers Digest (July 2000) wrote a story on the connection with Alexander the Great. This is a scholary work so if you are looking for light reading this is not for you. At one time Afghan and Pathan or Pukhtoon/Pushtoon were synonymous. It was the fear of the Pathans of Pakistan joining with the Pathans of Afghanistan that led Pakistan to deny naming the province after the people for feaar of lending legitimacy to their cause. Winston Churchill fought here. So did Sherlock Holmes friend Dr. Watson. The fascination with ths area can be gauged by the number of National Geographic articles about this area. This book brings these people to life and gives them the honorable treatment they have earned. I should know, I am a Puktoon of the Yousafzai tribe.

What a beautiful book! I'm so glad I have it.

The recipes are easy to understand and so much fun. I've wanted a book to teach me Indian cooking for a long time, and this book is all I needed, because it has soooooooo many recipes! (Actually, it has *every* Indian recipe I've ever wanted and more.) =)

I wish you could see the inside, because it's so pretty - it looks really authentic and the pictures are so vivid and glossy - I can't believe it's so cheap!!! Oh, and it's got lots of tips and there's a little blurb about each dish that is sometimes quite funny (and always helpful). :)

Gulab Jamun and Butter chicken...two things I love in Indian meals but very hard to make..and I did it in following Taheras simple steps...I love it...now next try ....three variations of rasmalia....I love this book ..150 plus recipes...one can just go crazy ...and the steps ...so easy to follow....

I always find recipes hard to follow and what to really accompany my meals with....and it is even harder when you have an Indian man in your life who likes curries everyday ...but Tahera makes this book soo easy to follow that I wonder where she has been.
Her recipes are so easy and like her title says 'simple'. No fuss, no drama to make it look like I need to be a pro because even an amature can cook like a pro...that is what Tahera's recipes tell me about myself..and I love it.
Thanks Tahera.

Sources of Indian Tradition is to date the best compilation of primary sources from India's long intellectual, philosophical and religous traditions. It introduces the reader to seminal texts in the Brahmanic tradition, to ethics, metaphysics, and theories of state and society in Jainism and Buddhism, to ethics, treatises on art and culture, political theory and statecraft and philosophical and religious texts in the Hindu classical and popular tradition. It concludes with a look at the Indian Islamic tradition including the writings of Islamic rulers, ulama, sufis etc. Despite some omissions from the compilation (I would have liked a more in depth exploration of Indian epic literature, classical Sanskrit drama and poetry, the Sikh tradition and Urdu poetry), it is readable, engaging, thought provoking and will illuminate your understanding of one of the world's most fascinating civilizations.

India has one of the richest and most intricate cultures in the world. Imagine a book that compiled all the ancient sources of this culture into a single volume. This book is as close to that ideal as possible. This volume covers India from pre-historic times until the mid 18th century. It includes selections from the Vedas and the Upanishads, foundational Hindu texts; selections from important Jain texts; and selections from early Theravadan and Mahayanan Buddhist texts. It them embarks on an elaborate discussion of Hinduism, organized on the four goals of life -- *dharma*, *artha*, *kama*, and *moksha* (the section on *moksha* contains selections from the *Bhagavad Gita*, other scriptures, and the writings of mystics & saints). The last section of the anthology is a detailed treatment of the Muslims period in India, from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Overall, this is an invaluable sourcebook for anyone who wants to know more about the history of India.

Having read this book cover to cover many times for several research papers, this book contains more than enough information for even the diehard fan of Indian history. Hay has compiled the best of the most significant Indian and Pakistani leaders, both Hindu and Muslim alike to make sure the reader can attain a complete picture of Gandhi and Nehru's India. This is one of my all time favorite resource and reference books on India and I recommend it to anyone interested on the subject.

Well written. Well researched. A must read for all.

Taboo is a result of extensive research carried out by an eminent social scientist and human rights activist in Pakistan. Dr. Fouzia Saeed has been a prominent figure on the NGO-scene in Pakistan and is attributed with setting up an organization called 'Bedari' (awakening) which was the first ever NGO set up to address the lack of basic human rights for women. With this background, her book comes as yet another groundbreaking feat. In Taboo, she studies the lives of the people of the Shahi Mohalla in Lahore. Shahi Mohalla is a place inhabited by a community of entertainers, dancers and musicians. This community is known for providing all forms of entertainment and traditionally its forte has been in providing sexual services to clients who visit the Mohalla. It is a place which has been a source of mixed feelings for all that know about it. The Mohalla has always been well guarded under layers of myths and perceptions.

Dr. Saeed's work has been the first definitive step towards sifting out the myth and creating a factual account of what life is all about in the Mohalla.

The inspiration for this research is totally relatable. In the opening chapter, Dr. Saeed touches upon the association of dance and music with prostitution in our society. In her own words, she talks about how she had to tackle with this association as an annoying obstacle to her desire to learn and master various classical and folk forms of dance. As a woman she had to face discouragement due to one of the most clichéd terms in our society- 'achay ghar ke ladkian yay naheen karteen' (girls from good families do not indulge in such activities). This obstacle set her on a quest and she spent considerable effort in penetrating this uncharted domain of social sciences in Pakistan. The book is a result of this extensive research.

An interesting and integral characteristic of the book is its non-judgmental treatment of the people of the Mohalla. Dr. Saeed has worked on studying these people as individuals living in circumstances that are unique. She has interacted with these people not to find answers to whether they are good or evil or how they can be eradicated. Rather, she has focused on studying their life with an objectivity that is essential for any scientific work. This approach has resulted in her work being real and factual. It is neither sympathetic nor degrading towards the subject and thus free of any myths or perceptions. She has reported what she has seen and left it to the reader to form a judgment if they cannot live without one.

Reading through the book, amidst all the scientific objectivity, one does see traces of Dr. Saeed's background as a human rights activist. These traces always appear in the appropriate context and make the reading experience worthwhile. Leaning on her background, Dr Saeed asks some very valid questions in the book. Questions which go right to the core of how we as a society manage to live with our double standards. As an example of these questions and reflections, Dr Saeed asks why is it that a woman who is a prostitute is branded as an evil person while her customer is let go with a slight slap on the wrist (sometimes not even that!!!). She asks as to why traditionally, prostitutes are blamed for sexual misconducts in the society and not those who pay for their services. So, the book uses the case of the women in the Mohalla and manages to find parallels between women in the Mohalla and women anywhere else in the society. With this approach, Dr. Saeed points out the inherent exploitation of the 'weaker' sex that prevails in our society.

After presenting her interactions and experiences with the people of the Mohalla, Dr. Saeed sums up her work in the last chapter. Here she sums up her entire work to reflect the immense social pressures that women face in our society. The setting is perfect and Dr Saeed plays a listener to a conversation between a 'normal' girl and a girl from the Mohalla. Reading the conclusion in the words of two people who can be seen as characters in the story of the status of women in our society, proves to be a treat. All I can say is that I understood and agreed with each and every word of it. This discussion is presented as a session of self-realization where a young girl from the 'normal' part of the society talks to a girl of the Mohalla and through their exchange of ideas they come to conclusions about their similarities and how they are part of a bigger system and have almost similar roles to play. This session is very enlightening and makes one think about how things are for the women in our country.

Overall, the book is a very interesting read and for those who are interested in learning about people and social issues that challenge us, it is a must-read. The book is also a source of enlightenment as it sheds light on the life of a group of people that has always been looked at from a safe distance. For all of us who wanted to know everything about the Mohalla and were afraid to ask, Dr. Saeed took the initiative and dedicated a considerable amount of her scientific work in researching and learning about these people. And not only that, in her reporting of the lives of these people, Dr. Saeed went on to ask some serious questions about the state of affairs for women in general.

Taboo is a result of extensive research carried out by an eminent social scientist and human rights activist in Pakistan. Dr. Fouzia Saeed has been a prominent figure on the NGO-scene in Pakistan and is attributed with setting up an organization called 'Bedari' (awakening) which was the first ever NGO set up to address the lack of basic human rights for women. With this background, her book comes as yet another groundbreaking feat. In Taboo, she studies the lives of the people of the Shahi Mohalla in Lahore. Shahi Mohalla is a place inhabited by a community of entertainers, dancers and musicians. This community is known for providing all forms of entertainment and traditionally its forte has been in providing sexual services to clients who visit the Mohalla. It is a place which has been a source of mixed feelings for all that know about it. The Mohalla has always been well guarded under layers of myths and perceptions.

Dr. Saeed's work has been the first definitive step towards sifting out the myth and creating a factual account of what life is all about in the Mohalla.

The inspiration for this research is totally relatable. In the opening chapter, Dr. Saeed touches upon the association of dance and music with prostitution in our society. In her own words, she talks about how she had to tackle with this association as an annoying obstacle to her desire to learn and master various classical and folk forms of dance. As a woman she had to face discouragement due to one of the most clichéd terms in our society- 'achay ghar ke ladkian yay naheen karteen' (girls from good families do not indulge in such activities). This obstacle set her on a quest and she spent considerable effort in penetrating this uncharted domain of social sciences in Pakistan. The book is a result of this extensive research.

An interesting and integral characteristic of the book is its non-judgmental treatment of the people of the Mohalla. Dr. Saeed has worked on studying these people as individuals living in circumstances that are unique. She has interacted with these people not to find answers to whether they are good or evil or how they can be eradicated. Rather, she has focused on studying their life with an objectivity that is essential for any scientific work. This approach has resulted in her work being real and factual. It is neither sympathetic nor degrading towards the subject and thus free of any myths or perceptions. She has reported what she has seen and left it to the reader to form a judgment if they cannot live without one.

Reading through the book, amidst all the scientific objectivity, one does see traces of Dr. Saeed's background as a human rights activist. These traces always appear in the appropriate context and make the reading experience worthwhile. Leaning on her background, Dr Saeed asks some very valid questions in the book. Questions which go right to the core of how we as a society manage to live with our double standards. As an example of these questions and reflections, Dr Saeed asks why is it that a woman who is a prostitute is branded as an evil person while her customer is let go with a slight slap on the wrist (sometimes not even that!!!). She asks as to why traditionally, prostitutes are blamed for sexual misconducts in the society and not those who pay for their services. So, the book uses the case of the women in the Mohalla and manages to find parallels between women in the Mohalla and women anywhere else in the society. With this approach, Dr. Saeed points out the inherent exploitation of the 'weaker' sex that prevails in our society.

After presenting her interactions and experiences with the people of the Mohalla, Dr. Saeed sums up her work in the last chapter. Here she sums up her entire work to reflect the immense social pressures that women face in our society. The setting is perfect and Dr Saeed plays a listener to a conversation between a 'normal' girl and a girl from the Mohalla. Reading the conclusion in the words of two people who can be seen as characters in the story of the status of women in our society, proves to be a treat. All I can say is that I understood and agreed with each and every word of it. This discussion is presented as a session of self-realization where a young girl from the 'normal' part of the society talks to a girl of the Mohalla and through their exchange of ideas they come to conclusions about their similarities and how they are part of a bigger system and have almost similar roles to play. This session is very enlightening and makes one think about how things are for the women in our country.

Overall, the book is a very interesting read and for those who are interested in learning about people and social issues that challenge us, it is a must-read. The book is also a source of enlightenment as it sheds light on the life of a group of people that has always been looked at from a safe distance. For all of us who wanted to know everything about the Mohalla and were afraid to ask, Dr. Saeed took the initiative and dedicated a considerable amount of her scientific work in researching and learning about these people. And not only that, in her reporting of the lives of these people, Dr. Saeed went on to ask some serious questions about the state of affairs for women in general.

K2 is an endlessly fascinating. Beautiful and cruel, savage and mighty, mysterious and far away - seen by few and successfully ascended by even fewer - it draws and repels simultaneously.

Robert Mantovani does a superb job on the magnificent photographs, all in color, beautifully sharp and clear. The vistas and detail take your breath away. A special commendation goes to Patricia Lovicetti, the Graphic Designer. At [item price], it is a bargain at twice the price. It is a BIG book (10" x 14"), so it will need a place of honor on the coffee table.

Most of the text is from Kurt Diemberger's previously published "Endless Knot" (though this fact is not mentioned in the book). However, the pictures are well captioned and informative. Mr. Diemberger is a legend, the only man living with two first ascents of 8,000-meter mountains to his credit. He is also is among the elite few who have successfully ascended and descended K2, though at terrible personal cost. (See "Endless Knot")

This book would be a terrific gift to a climbing enthusiast or just as a wonderful indulgence to yourself!

If you've read all the classic historical books of ascents on K2 except this one, your library is incomplete. The power of this book is in part within it's outstanding photography and also has to do with how well it pulls so much information together. This is a complex mountain but the information is presented clearly such that one feels more comfortable with the different sides of the mountain and their challenges to the climber.

-although the text may just have suffered in the translations. If you want to see the single best collection of K2 photographs I've ever seen, and I have them all, this is the book for you. A bargain at anything less than about $250.00, it's bound and published beautifully (at least my copy was!)

This is a truly touching book about two women overcoming their pasts and loving each other. As a child, Macy has a crazy mother who runs away for a few days with the butcher whenever things get tough around the house. Macy and her first love, Maybelline discover their love for each other. Macy lives through the loss of her first love by living in her house and taking care of her while attending nursing school.
Dotty grows up in a house with her abusive father and horrid older twin brother and sister, Bell and Ray. Macy runs away after a fiery car crash involving her brother and sister on the day after her sixteenth birthday. She starts to work at the motel she stays at and meets Lila, a woman who sleeps off her peppermint schnapps and painkiller everyday, on the bus there. The two become friends of a sort, with Dotty looking after the ever-drugged Lila. At the amusement park nearby Lila is on a roller coaster car that is flung off the tracks into the sea, and drowns.
The two women meet while Dotty is painting the house Macy lives in, and falls off the ladder, shattering her hip. Macy the nurse helps her through her hospital stay, and moves into her house afterwards to help. They are forced to learn that their lives intertwine when Dotty's twin brother and sister come looking for her...
A very compelling read. I could'nt put it down, and I'm definitely looking forward to another from Amy Schutzer.

This lyrical, beautifully wrought love story between two women, Dotty and Macy, kept me involved long after I'd read the last page. They are trying to make a true, meaningful connection for the first time in their lives, after escaping homes tainted by abuse, mental illness, and catastrophe. Macy (who has taken on the role of home nurse and lover, a role fraught with peril) feeds Dotty just a few too many pain pills. As the issues between Dotty and Macy come to a head, they confront their pasts. This was my favorite part of the novel, a lovely suspense fed not by "What comes next" but by "What happened? Who are these people?" To me, it's the difference between eating a homemade chocolate cake, where you savor every bit, and rushing through a Hostess cupcake because you're late for work. Their pasts unfold as unique mosaics combined with the perfect amount of the surreal. As they confront their pasts, they confront their issues in the present through a deep, almost Jungian exploration of their inner selves. The novel asks hard-to-answer questions. Can they possibly break the patterns they've established to form an equal partnership, make a true connection? But that question is the universal question--can we break free from our pasts?--and so I keep coming back to it, months after having finished the book. I strongly recommend this novel.

When Dotty falls from a ladder, she is brought into the hospital where Macy works. Macy lives at the house Dotty was painting. Macy becomes Dotty's nurse after she leaves the hospital, and the two embark on a love affair. The past histories of both women creep back into their lives and threaten to destroy what's being born. Schutzer's circular and nonlinear story is full of potent writing and moving descriptions of the past pain and vivid silences both women have endured. And the surprise connection between Dotty and Macy is beautifully crafted. Schutzer's style reminded me a bit of Scott Heim, but not as dark. Any reader who's a fan of such emotionally charged works as Emma Donoghue's "Hood" and Alison Green's "Half-moon Scar" will adore this novel. This is one of my favorite novels of 2000!