contenders

The Gemini Contenders
$7.99
This suspenseful novel begins in the early years of W.W.II and carries through three generations. A young Italian man of a wealthy influential family is witness to his entire family murdered by the Nazis, and later to find priests are behind it. The British, knowing his value come to the young man's rescue, where they then begin his training regiment. He ends up residing in America. Decades go by; I new life is started; he thought the past was behind him, but he would be wrong. All these years a secret has been guarded and it is up to his two twin sons to find the truth.

At times the line between good and evil becomes fuzzy. The secret has to do with lost documents doubting the scriptures. These lost documents could bring chaos to the church and in enemy hands would be and ideological weapon. The Germans got involved for power and riches. One can't help seeing the comparisons to the "Da Vinci Code" in this novel that was written three decades earlier. Even so, it is an interesting and well written story, but beware.

Wish you well
Scott

The Contender
$6.99
Robert Lipsyte's novel, The Contender, is written for pre-teens and struggling students. The story is about Alfred Brooks, a young Harlem teen who works at a grocery store and discovers boxing through Donatelli, a successful coach. Until then, Alfred has dropped out of high school at 11th grade to work a dead-end job at family owned supermarket in Harlem. It's not until his friends Henry and James get in trouble that he decides to take up boxing with Donatelli who sees a contender much like the film, On the Waterfront starring Marlon Brando as a man who could have been a contender. Alfred's story can relate to the youth today and it's not so much about winning as it is about getting in shape and striving for something. Alfred begins his journey to be a boxer by training himself with Donatelli's help and belief in him to be the next contender despite all the risks of physical damage. It's not until Alfred starts striving to become a boxer that he becomes more alive in character and somebody to root for in life.

The Contender (Cliffs Notes)
$4.99
A multicultural perennial favorite by Robert Lipsyte, The Contender is a moral tale that emphasizes the importance of the fight rather than the prize, the quality of the struggle over the outcome. Hence, becoming a contender is what Alfred Brooks learns to do as he literally fights young boxers and figuratively braves the inner struggle of peer pressure.

Contenders
$16.98
For a set recorded between 1976-1978, "The Contenders" sounds remarkably fresh & up-to-date, but then good music is always going to be well received! Produced by Don Dixon, the sound is crisp. Contenders' wonderful harmonies enliven the disc throughout, bringing to mind bands like Eagles or Poco whose harmonies were at the heart of their sound. My favorite track is the pop explosion "Silver Cup" with bassist Steve Runkle's high-pitched vocals and the band's harmonies bolstering this unique melody, "What kind of story -- what kind of alibi did I leave behind? I came to a halt on the road to freedom, a four way stop on the road I was on." DesChamps Hood's bluesy "Chain of Emotion" packs a gospel wallop on a tear-in-your-beer melody designed to milk the quarters from the jukebox. The guitars interplay delightfully on "Dim the Light," "She might be drinking with your best friend's wife, next time you look it's something special, next day you notice she's the light of your life." "Talk" is a flat-out old-style rocker, "Everybody likes my new girl friends a lot better than I do." The last three tracks were recorded after the release of the original LP that comprises most of this disc. "Volcano" has another great fluid melody that approximates a country-jazz. "Contenders" is a wonderfully strong set from one of the great bands that should've been. Don't miss this one! Enjoy!