Beyond Peleliu

by Peter Baird

Book Overview

On the eve of World War II, two unlikely people get married: Tom McQuade, a relentlessly driven medical student, and Virginia Russell, an exotic mind-reading magician. The war destroys the McQuades'... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1893660125
• ISBN13: 9781893660120
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Ravenhawk Books
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

captivating, personally touching and thought provoking

Who feels the consequences of our choices? Certainly not just ourselves, but our children, grandchildren, friends, acquaintances, co-workers and those that could have been all of those things to us. These consequences sometimes beg to be acknowledged, but mostly they become a part of us and everyone involved, for better or for worse. In Peter Baird's novel, "Beyond Peleliu," readers become aware of the influences that four generations have on one another and those that surround their lives. Tom McQuade lost his parents early in his life but the influence they had on him was nearly insurmountable. His drive to become a doctor, a surgeon, became his purpose. He fulfilled that purpose and excelled. World War II took him away from his young wife, a Christian Scientist, magician, and dedicated mother to their son David. The island of Peleliu took away a part of his being and purpose. The decisions he made in the throes of war would affect his life but it was the influence of his own decision that influenced the lives of those around him in ways he could never have imagined. When Tom returns to civilian life and for the next fifty years, all whom he loves are affected by his decision. Will David be able to break the cycle? This book is about finding one's self, admitting to your mistakes, growing and learning from life. It's about a war, a deadly childhood disease, politics, law, physicians, and faith. It is about the interactions we crave, those we regret, and those that never got to be. This novel is captivating, personally touching and thought provoking, and very well written. The plot is tight and obviously well thought out. The characters are alive, with beating hearts and busy minds, drinking problems and human desires. I could not put it down and suspect that every reader will feel the same. I certainly hope so. Review by Heather Froeschl

Amazing Story

Beyond Peleliu's characters are rich, they are vibrant, they are rounded and they are terribly flawed. In other words, they are real. The story centers on a father and a son who both measure themselves by their professional success and who both "succeed" in neglecting and hurting those who they love, and who they need, the most. We watch these characters' lives come full circle as the helpless little boy and the all-powerful father reverse roles in a climax that is both stunning and heart-wrenching. As I read the book, I was exhilerated by the characters' successes, crushed by their tragedies, angered by their self-inflicted mistakes and always hopeful for their resurections. But, above all else, I cared about them and I needed--really needed--to know what was going to happen to them. The story, and the characters, were ever-present in my thoughts long after I read the last page. This is a great book.

A fascinating page-turner

"Beyond Peleliu" is a wonderful novel, rich in detail, with characters you really feel you know. It is not a typical "lawyer book." The story, which covers three generations, skillfully melds war, medicine, magic, and complex relationships with a dramatic courtroom story. Peter Baird is a great storyteller who kept me turning the pages as fast as I could. When I finished the book, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

High Praise for Beyond Peleliu

If you are looking for an intelligently written novel that is both riveting and insightful, you should read Beyond Peleliu. The author, Peter Baird, explores many facets of human behavior and misbehavior primarily through the lives of a physician and his son, who does not follow in his father's footsteps but becomes a wealthy trial lawyer. The book is great on two levels. First, it is a great story. For me, that's the most important requirement for a good novel. Second, it raises some profound issues about human behavior. For example, why do people with so much talent and potential do things that are so self destructive? Beyond Peleliu is a provocative, well-written book that features characters that all of us can relate to. I highly recommend it.

I remember

Being the daughter of the Author allows certain priviledges. One of which is that I had the pleasure of reading the "official" beginnings of this novel. I remember receiving a bulky envelope in the mail, containing a loose leaf stack of type written pages, which was Peter's finished manuscript. I read it--none stop--beginning to end. I was impressed by the depth of the story. I could immediately envision this novel being published, being picked up and made into a screne play... I knew this was a story worth knowing and that many others would feel just as I did (even though they weren't related!). Months past... and I hear that Peter has made some changes to the novel, and that it is going to be published, and that it has a different title... and my response to this was "I need to read it again!". So, I did... I received another bulky envelope--this time with a bound stack of pages inside--and I read the first page (which was different) and I got chills. This first page transformed the novel into something even more real, more personal, more moving than it was before. I continued on reading the book (after calling Peter and telling him my reaction and impressions about the first page)... and I was swept into the world of the McQuades once more... affectionately listening and watching (reading) the story unfold, from a more personal viewpoint.... It's been ann amazing experience... witnessing the process of manuscript to publishing. But an even more amazing experience is in the reading and absorbing the story of the McQuades... because all of us have the effects of war running through our families---from generations ago and through those to come. This novel imparts an awareness of this fact... and so it is that this story becomes personal to all who read.