God's Memory

God's Memory #1

by Michael Landsberg

President Charles Taylor enjoys a life of wealth and privilege after the unprecedented terrorist attack carried out by people in his own retinue.
Aaron Rothfeld, the head of a mighty financial clan, uses the President as a pawn in a grandiose game for the ultimate power.
Rich, talented Zoe Stafford is blinded by the desire to avenge her mother, who was killed in the attack.
Zakhar, Zoe’s father and a veteran of the Soviet-Afghan war, is living out an empty, pointless life in which only hatred and violent reflexes remain.
Four different lives. Four strong, unconventional people. Their paths are destined to cross, leading them into a bloody war whose outcome could change the world.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Amazon

347 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 4, 2012

Reviews

[Gabriel Boutros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part I of God's Memory centers around Zoe, a woman in her early twenties whose mother and step-father died in the September 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City. Actually, Zoe would disagree with me, because she is certain that the destruction of the Twin Towers was an inside job by the US government, acting under the control of something called The Family, which is the kind of shadowy, behind the scenes power that one can often find in books about conspiracies. One of the main problems I had with the book is that I had no idea why Zoe didn't believe that Middle Eastern terrorists were responsible for the attack, nor how she knew that an ultra-secretive power behind the throne like The Family existed. She is shown as very passionate in her convictions, and succeeding in convincing many people to follow her, but since we're never told the basis for her beliefs I have no idea why she becomes any more popular than the average rabble-rouser with access to the Internet. (Minor spoiler alert: About two-thirds of the way into the book she receives an anonymous call telling her about a man who wishes to speak to her because he was involved in the secret planting of bombs in the towers in the weeks leading up to the attack. She is very excited at the prospect of getting this evidence, but this merely demonstrated that she had no reason to believe the attacks were an inside job in the first place, since she had never seen any kind of evidence before.)

Beyond this gap in logic, what makes the book not as entertaining as it could have been is that there is hardly any real dialogue, there are only diatribes. Zoe (as well as the duplicitous President Taylor, or the shadowy Rothfeld) never speaks to other characters, she only makes long-winded speeches at them. The result is that Zoe and all the characters are very two-dimensional, existing only to represent specific points of view that the author uses to get his message across, while never feeling like real people. This message is that we are all dupes to governments, the media and unseen powers that mislead and misinform us. While that is not a bad message to have in a thriller, the reader is hit over the head with it over and over, with little nuance or self-questioning by any of the characters, so that it feels like reading a political tract rather than a novel. All this is too bad because the prose is strong and clear, and if more time was spent on fleshing out the characters or making the story a little less obvious, it would have been a much better book.
I'm moving on to Part 2 now.

[Greg Tymn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I put this book down after a couple of hours attempting to give it a fair shot. It could be cultural, but the novel started with a very misogynistic encounter between a man and a wife. I'm rarely shocked any more, but I really couldn't believe that an author today would be so indulgent as to rationalize spousal brutality, even if only a fantasy. Beyond this poor start, the characters were stereotypical, Ludlumized. The novel might be interesting for 13 year old boys, but most adults will move away from this book in a hurry.

Pass.

[Jim A · Rating 3 out of 5]

The two parts to this novel have been combined into one, which is the edition I read.

Yet another conspiracy theory novel regarding the takedown of the WTC, masterminded by the 'Illuminati'. I gave it three stars because of the way the author tied it together for the end game. Otherwise, there was nothing to make this stand out. Too many 'sermons' by the author making for some boring reading in places.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought Provoking

What an interesting, provocative story. God's Memory is a story that is almost too scary to imagine, yet just scary enough to be based on truth. A spellbinding thriller with an almost unbelievable ending. Certainly worth taking the time to read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Tixie Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m unsure exactly what to classify this novel as; literary, thriller, philosophical.. it’s a combination of all three tightly woven together. I did find the characterization at times felt a little flat, and their reactions didn’t seem plausible – but just when my attention was starting to wane, the author brought it back with a flash of brilliance. The political backstory adds that extra layer and complexity that this book needed. It’s excellent.

I’m not a military lover (in the sense that I’m ignorant of terminology and protocol) but Landsberg made the actions authentic and I could visualize it all.

I disagree that the novel is ‘crap’ (as one reviewer states), far from it. Landsberg shows us the stark truths of those that only wish for revenge. He shows us the consequences of bitterness, but also that dark side of us that we try to keep hidden.

This is a worthy 4 stars.

[Edward Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book got my interest from the beginning, but then {spoiler alert} the person who I had thought was the main character ended up dying. That was disappointing. And then it happened again, and then again. It left me wondering what the point was in developing and focusing on characters who don't even make it to the end.

But it was still good enough to keep reading, and even when it felt a little preachy, the writing was still good enough to maintain my interest. I'll add part 2 to my TBR list. (I have no idea what God or his/her memory has to do with anything, but maybe I'll find out in the sequel.)

[Shel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in a two-part story of the lives of a group of characters, tracing the far reaching consequences of a terrorist attack instigated by President Charles Taylor’s own people. These are all familiar feeling characters that reflect the author’s depth of research and writing ability.

Tackling issues of violence, anger, control, loneliness, and power, author, Michael Landsberg, blends philosophy and history to create a thought provoking and fast-paced suspense.

‘God’s Memory, Part I’ is a well-written and totally engaging action-packed novel. I devoured it!

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so sure what God has to do with this tale of spies, terrorists, and assassins. The action jumps from America to the Middle East to the Ukraine and walks the halls power, politics, money, and the backroom boys who watch the watchers. What the book does offer is insights into the nature of public relations and media manipulation and the way in which public opinion is manipulated. It takes a while to figure out who all the players are and how they interact before the plot gets truly interesting.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gods Memory Part 1 is one of those books you come across and think will I or wont I, well take my advice and give this book a try. The author has a way with keeping your attention with just the right levels of intrigue and suspense combined with really well written characters made for one the best thrillers I have read in a long while

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow, this book had everything: cardboard characters, poor grammar, typos, a storyline that requires way too much suspension of disbelief for the average reader etc. Unless you are a conspiracy theorist who believes that the Illuminati is running the world, leave this one alone.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stereotype reinforcements

Uses poorly developed characters in a conspiracy theory reinforcing plot line to put forward a communist utopia. It's time I won't get back to read something worthwhile.

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frightening

The scariest of conspiracy theories and one that has a certain amount of probable truth. Let us pray that this possible end is right

[emily heuser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

contains mind blowing twists. everything from politics to theology to the future And past of mankind. who but control, one at a Time.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conspiracy theorist will love

Might even be the route we're on. Great plausible history. Great interaction between characters. Who could ask for anything more.