Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant, Book 2) [Paperback]

Bodie & Brock Thoene (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1989

She Had Escaped the Nazi Terror. But a Nation's Priceless Treasures Were Compelling Her to Return.

In Vienna Prelude, Elisa Lindheim risked her life helping others escape pre-World War II Austria. The climactic ending finds her safely in Czechoslovakia, but not for long. A million other lives are endangered, and she cannot still their silent cry for help.

Prague Counterpoint finds Elisa watching in horror as Hitler's forces sweep through her beloved Vienna and he directs his ambition toward the takeover of Czechoslovakia. As Europe slides irrevocably toward the brink of war, Elisa is torn between the Underground's lofty political goals and the safety of two little boys-. And underneath it all, her heart yearns for John. Will she ever see him again?

The Electrifying Sequel to VIENNA PRELUDE.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bodie Thoene is a writer about whom John Wayne once said, "She has that rare kind of talent that captures the people and the times!"

Born in Bakersfield, California, to a family of Irish and Jewish heritage, the fiery little redhead claimed from an early age she wanted to be a writer. Bodie's goal seemed impossible, however, when midway through grade school it was discovered that she had dyslexia, a learning disability that made it difficult for her to read. Her mother refused to accept that this was a problem they couldn't overcome, and together they worked with a young teacher until at last Bodie could read at grade level and above.

"Both my parents instilled their can-do outlook on life. Reading opened the world to me. I began to write stories of my own."

By the young age of fourteen, Bodie had a job as a stringer reporter for The California Newspaper. "They paid me fifty cents an inch for one article a week. The most I ever made was twelve dollars, but I felt rich!"

Bodie continued her college education as a Journalism-Political Science major in San Jose, California. She covered the Bay-area political unrest of the Vietnam era as an associate for U.S. News and World Report. Her career as a journalist seemed assured, but she says, "I thought to myself that there has to be more to life than writing about riots and peace marches."

Bodie married Brock Thoene during their sophomore year in college. They settled in Waco, Texas, where Brock attended Baylor University. It was here that Bodie began to write fiction out of the stories she gleaned from old Texas cowboys. The birth of their first child did not stop her from writing. "I held her with one arm and typed with the other!"

Publication of The Fall Guy catapulted Bodie into national attention and acclaim. Shortly after that she went to work for John Wayne's Batjac Productions and ABC Television as a writer and researcher, working with the top writers in the motion picture industry. Among those who work with her, she is known as one of the finest character and action writers in the business. Her work is currently featured in American West, Saturday Evening Post, and Smithsonian magazine, as well as other national publications.

Bodie's interest in Israel, which culminated in THE ZION CHRONICLES, stems from her days as a student. In 1978 she spoke to John Wayne about her hope to one day write a novel about the exciting events surrounding the rebirth of Israel. He encouraged her with his reply: "That's one you ought to do. It's the story of the Jewish Alamo!"

With the publication of the first book in THE ZION CHRONICLES The Gates of Zion she was awarded the Gold Medallion Book Award by the ECPA. size : 5.2 x 8

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Pub; Book Club edition (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556610785
• ISBN-13: 978-1556610783
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,459,972 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Series, June 25, 2008

By 

A. M. Green "Jump Fitness" (Tulsa, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant, Book 2) (Paperback)

A client of mine loaned me the first book in this series, but it had an old version cover. It is great historical fiction, but I could barely get my husband to pick it up because the cover looked like some kind of romance novel! I went in search of the second book in the series (this one) and found it now had an updated cover. Great! Now my husband can carry this on the plane without shame! :) This second book in the series is just as compelling as the first so while many sequels can be disappointing, this one is not.
Only negative - Wish the series was available for the Kindle Reader! Can you help with that, Amazon?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked on the series!, September 13, 2007

By 

J. Hitt "Brother Jim" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant, Book 2) (Paperback)

I'm not ashamed to admit it--I'm hooked on this outside-my-demographic novel series. I'm still a bit disillusioned with myself over it, too, so I guess I'll make a good reviewer for the books.

First of all, this is a series, so you don't want to start with this one--go to Vienna Prelude.

In terms of the series' strengths and weaknesses, I'd have to say all the main areas are genuinely strong. For example, the plot is consistently interesting, somewhat unpredictable and satisfying. The author knows how to throw in some amusing poetic justice here, some authentic moments of warmth and kindness there, and a few twists. The occasional 'Deus ex machina', such as at the end of Danzig Passage (volume 5) is endurable, especially considering:

characters--she shows a genuine love for her creations and allows them to act consistently; for example, in PC, Elisa is growing through stress, Otto is strong throughout, but perhaps a bit questionably characterized toward the end; Murphy is well-developed; Theo is good; others even in cameo roles are the kind of characters whom an actor could enjoy playing.

setting--the Thoenes have chosen a wonderful setting for a novel series, namely pre-WWII Europe, and it's treated well, enhancing the effect. Personally, I find few authors who can do this very well. Take the Victorian novelists, Dickens, Eliot, Thackeray, Austen, or take even Tolstoy--rarely do you find yourself feeling caught up in the romance of a certain setting--contrast Wuthering Heights, on the other hand, for a novel where setting is almost like another character; or the Great Gatsby or the Grapes of Wrath from 20th century Americana. Well, there are definite, if not 100% consistent touches here where you feel caught up in the places as well as the action. It's part of what makes you want to curl up with the books in a cozy armchair with a cup of coffee.

I should add something related to plot but not identical with it--the ability to create luminous moments of connection with the characters, which are even better than the plot itself. For example, just see what she does with Leah's cello in Prague Counterpoint. She has a light, natural touch in this respect, compared to even Charles Dickens, who can be a bit melodramatic and heavy-handed in his treatment of, say, a child's toy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When will we see a mini-series made of Theone's works?, May 5, 1999

By 

Megan Villa - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prague Counterpoint (Zion Covenant, Book 2) (Paperback)

Every family should have this series as a family heirloom. I felt like I lost a friend when I finished the book. You grow so close to the characters. I would be thrilled to see any of her book series made into a movie mini-series. I can't get enough of her work. I've never been so impressed with another author. I would love to meet Bodie and Brock. They are spectacular. I can't wait to finish the series. I can tell you one thing, It'll be on my bookshelf as a keepsake. If I can pry it out of the hands of friends and family who want to read them as well. - Megan Villa