Will iconic images recorded in the grooves of an ancient vase unite the Holy Land or rip it further apart?

THE VASE

A novel by Mark M. DeRobertis

Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian potter, descended from a long line of potters. His business is run from the same shop owned by his ancestors since the day his forebears moved to Nazareth. The region's conflict saw the death of his oldest son, and rogue terrorists are in the process of recruiting his youngest in their plot to assassinate the Pope and Israeli prime minister.

Professor Hiram Weiss is an art historian at Nazareth’s Bethel University. He is also a Shin Bet operative on special assignment. With the help of fellow agent, Captain Benny Mathias, he plans to destroy the gang responsible for the death of his wife and only child. He puts a bomb in the ancient vase he takes on loan from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.

Mary Levin, the charming assistant to the director of Shin Bet, has lost a husband and most of her extended family to recurring wars and never-ending terrorism. She dedicates her life to the preservation of Israel, but to whom will she dedicate her heart? The brilliant professor from Bethel University? Or the gallant captain who now leads Kidon?

Harvey Holmes, the Sherlock of Haunted Houses, is a Hollywood TV host whose reality show just flopped. When a Lebanese restaurant owner requests his ghost-hunting services, he believes the opportunity will resurrect his career. All he has to do is exorcise the ghosts that are haunting the restaurant. It happens to be located right across the street from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.




Thursday, May 9, 2013

The Rolling Stones, live

Well, I reviewed a movie this week, so I should say something about the Rolling Stones concert that I went to last night. My brother  had an extra ticket for the "tongue pit" as they call it at Stones' concerts, and we got there early enough to be in the very front, "on the rail" as they say. It's the best seat in the house, and even though I'm not particularly a Stones "fan" I have no problem admitting the truth -- that they put on a great show, and Mick Jagger, one year shy of 70, performed, danced, and moved like he was still 18. And I'm not exaggerating. The energy he displayed while fronting this legendary band was nothing short of amazing. Since I'm not a die hard fan, I didn't know all of the songs they played, but they played enough of their classic hits to make me feel at home. Get Off My Cloud, Satisfaction, Brown Sugar, Jumping Jack Flash, Sympathy for the Devil, and Midnight Rambler were among them. So the show was flawless, and the guest appearance by John Fogerty and Bonnie Raitt, though not particularly my cup  of tea, was a pleasant surprise. But it was Jagger, of course, who made the show great. And my being in the front row made it even better.
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