The Courier

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: I really enjoyed reading The Courier by James W. Christian. Particulary interesting were the historical and present-day descriptions of Armenia, about which I knew virtually nothing before reading this book. These are interwoven with an exciting story of international intrigue. I also found the insights into the world of international development agencies to be of interest. Christian writes very well - the characters are well-drawn and the dialogue flows smoothly. It is easy to get pulled into the story and to care about what will happen next. The author clearly has done his homework. The descriptions of historical coins and other artifacts is most interesting. I recommend this book highly.

Rating:
Summary: An Accurate Account of 1995 Armenia from One who Knows.
Review: The Courier is an adventure story and a love story whose characters are well-developed and whose people, places, scents and sights are woven together to create a vivid picture of Armenia as it was in 1995. The author obviously liked Armenia and its people and he honors us with this novel.

The touches of local color--Yerevan's ancient streets, the vernesazsh, the Geghard wedding dance, the vistas from Garni Fortress and Lake Sevan--make this book particularly meaningful to Armenians and to anyone who's been to Armenia. And I loved the images the story conjured up of other places featured in the book--Diyarbekir, Mardin, Aleppo and Damascus.

But this book is first and foremost an adventure story that builds and builds, picking up pace until it becomes impossible to put down because the resolutions remain in doubt to the very end. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves exciting fiction and especially to Armenians who want to connect with their ancestral homeland as it was immediately after independence.

Rating:
Summary: Great International Intrigue!
Review: The Courier was a great read: well-written, international intrigue, a love story, and a wonderful chase through ancient lands. James Christian has captured the flavor of post-Communist Armenia-- radical change, corruption, despair--and added some fast-paced fiction. There's a bonus too-- fascinating Armenian history, vivid descriptions of the country and an insider's knowledge of how the United States' foreign aid program works (or doesn't). I highly recommend The Courier to anyone searching for an intelligent and exciting novel!

Rating:
Summary: The Courier
Review: The international story line of The Courier caught my interest immediately, and I could hardly put it down. Infact, I found myself reading into the AM and not getting my beauty rest.

The realistic portrail of post-Communist Aremenia juxtaposed its early history is particularly facinating. And on top of all the intellectual data, you get a fast moving love story wrapped around international intrigue. Jim Christian had written a fun read with plenty of action and facts, or what I call a "knowledge novel."

Rating:
Summary: a good read!
Review: This is a splendid story, well constructed and well paced. There is lots of interesting information about Armenia. The action is believable. The ending is savvy. It's not all stage settings as is so often the case with adventure novels. Great fun reading! Congratulations to this new author!

Rating:
Summary: The Courier
Review: This is foremost a touching love story nurtured within a fast paced and enthralling adventure story, drawn around very engaging and recognizable characters. It is complemented by an insider's knowledge of what it is to live and work within the Foreign Service. Set principally in Armenia, it packs a well-defined and eminently readable rendering of the country and its population, together with the scars and strengths arisen from its history and religion. As a bonus, when covering the activities of certain of its characters, the author provides erudite and detailed descriptions, as for example in dealing with numismatics and with airplane flying techniques. All in all, this is a book hard to put down once begun.

Rating:
Summary: The Courier
Review: This is foremost a touching love story nurtured within a fast paced and enthralling adventure story, drawn around very engaging and recognizable characters. It is complemented by an insider's knowledge of what it is to live and work within the Foreign Service. Set principally in Armenia, it packs a well-defined and eminently readable rendering of the country and its population, together with the scars and strengths arisen from its history and religion. As a bonus, when covering the activities of certain of its characters, the author provides erudite and detailed descriptions, as for example in dealing with numismatics and with airplane flying techniques. All in all, this is a book hard to put down once begun.

Rating:
Summary: Sucked me in.
Review: This is the first book I've actually taken the time to read since the birth of my second child. Why? Well, I've picked up others, but in trying to find time in my hectic schedule, they just didn't seem worth the effort. The Courier, however, grabbed me from the get-go, and I felt I *had* to make time to find out what happened to the characters. I enjoyed immensely the intrigue and adventure of the book, and learned a great deal about Armenia at the same time. Great read. I'm looking forward to James Christian's next book.