Amazon.com
Reading a Christopher Moore novel is a little like eating a potato chip--it's hard to stop at just one. And you don't have to look beyond the titles to understand the allure; who could pass up a book called Practical Demonkeeping or Island of the Sequined Love Nun? Each of Moore's tales skewers a particular literary genre. In Coyote Blue he nailed New Age fascination with Native American religion; in Blood-Sucking Fiends: A Love Story he put a new twist on the classic vampire tale. The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove is a companion piece to his first novel, the hilariously twisted horror story Practical Demonkeeping, and readers of that book will recognize the setting, Pine Cove, California. In addition, Moore includes plenty of his patented weird sex, occasional gross-out death, several off-kilter but nonetheless affecting love stories, and some fabulous secondary characters such as Mavis Sand:
Mavis first began augmenting her parts in the fifties, first out of vanity: breasts, eyelashes, hair. Later, as she aged and the concept of maintenance eluded her, she began having parts replaced as they failed, until almost half of her body weight was composed of stainless steel (hips, elbows, shoulders, finger joints, rods fused to vertebrae five through twelve), silicon wafers (hearing aids, pacemaker, insulin pump), advanced polymer resins (cataract replacement lenses, dentures), Kevlar fabric (abdominal wall reinforcement), titanium (knees, ankles), and pork (ventricular heart valve).
In a nutshell, the plot revolves around a gigantic prehistoric lizard whose slumber deep beneath the ocean surface is interrupted by a radioactive leak from a nearby power plant. At the same time, a woman in Pine Cove hangs herself; the local psychiatrist (who has been prescribing antidepressants to everyone in town with gay abandon) decides the suicide was her fault and yanks everyone's medication; and an elderly black blues singer named Catfish Jefferson arrives to perform at the Head of the Slug saloon. Into this already strange brew mix one schizoid former B-movie starlet, a pot-head town constable, a bereaved local artist, a biologist tracking anomalous behavior in rats, a crooked sheriff, and a pharmacist with a bizarre sexual fixation on sea mammals, and you have a recipe for the kind of madness Moore does so well. --Alix Wilber
Book Description
The town psychiatrist has decided to switch everybody in Pine Cove, California, from their normal antidepressants to placebos, so naturally—well, to be accurate, artificially—business is booming at the local blues bar. Trouble is, those lonely slide-guitar notes have also attracted a colossal sea beast named Steve with, shall we say, a thing for explosive oil tanker trucks. Suddenly, morose Pine Cove turns libidinous and is hit by a mysterious crime wave, and a beleaguered constable has to fight off his own gonzo appetites to find out what's wrong and what, if anything, to do about it.
Download Description
"
The town psychiatrist has decided to switch everybody in Pine Cove, California, from their normal antidepressants to placebos, so naturally -- well, to be accurate, artificially -- business is booming at the local blues bar. Trouble is, those lonely slide-guitar notes have also attracted a colossal sea beast named Steve with, shall we say, a thing for explosive oil tanker trucks. Suddenly, morose Pine Cove turns libidinous and is hit by a mysterious crime wave, and a beleaguered constable has to fight off his own gonzo appetites to find out what's wrong and what, if anything, to do about it.
"
Customer Reviews:
Steve!.......2007-09-22
Moore's 5th novel takes us back to the town and surrounding area where his career kicked off, Pine Cove. A few of the main characters from Practical Demonkeeping return but the main stars of this one are fresh, eccentric and very enjoyable to read about. A stand alone novel, not a sequel to his first novel, reading this book before that one won't spoil anything!
It's the off season tourist wise in Pine Cove but a leaking pipe from a Californian Power Plant attracts a tourist even bigger than your normal American human one. When a fuel truck gets angry with him he must take refuge in trailer park to recover and wonder why she couldn't just have told him no! Meanwhile a psychiatrist decides to switch all her patients' drugs with placebos resulting in hilarious consequences for the town but great business for the Slug (town bar). The town rent a cop is addicted to pot. A former B grade movie star existing as a crazy woman is getting attached to her new neighbour in more ways than one. Throw in a nerdy guy obsessed with finding out why his microchiped rats fled town and the whole town suddenly getting their libido back and you've got one hilarious tale. You've got to get all of his books!
If you like the surreal eccentric character comedy novels also check out the authors Bill Fitzhugh (Pest Control's a great place to start), Carl Hiassen (Stormy Weather's as good as any other), Dave Barry (Tricky Business) and Max Barry (Syrup).
Putting humor on the scales.......2007-07-28
After Harry Leon Wilson died in 1940, American comic novels stopped being funny about people. They didn't stop being funny.
But if they were writing about real people, the fun ended in tragedy, so that we had the comitragic novels of Peter de Vries. Or they wrote about giant monsters of amorphous instincts and physiology, like Christopher Moore in "The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove."
This is, at least, funny. Some recent comic novels are either disgusting or puzzling without being fun.
Moore is a little puzzling. He appears to be making some point about psychotropic medicine, but I can't figure out what. And it is at least a little disgusting that his protagonist eats so many people.
Moore is a stylish writer and every chapter or two he gets off an amusing line. The plot is clever although Moore does have an irritating habit of forgetting what he wrote one or two pages earlier so that characters have to be in two places at once.
Ah, well, I cared enough about the poor monster to finish the book. I can't say as much about very many other recent comic novels.
Classic Moore.......2007-06-06
If you are a fan of Moore's other books, you will recognize some common characters. Set a little earlier than his "The Stupidest Angel", the book never disappoints. Outrageous characters, great story, and unbelievable laughter on each page. No one makes me laugh out loud like Christopher Moore.
What's not to love about a Moore Novel?.......2007-04-02
So far, I've read probably 2/3rds of Moore's offerings and I have to say, each one is thoroughly entertaining. Lust Lizard is no exception! Moore has the uncanny ability to take the most offbeat topics and turn them into great books.
In many ways, I feel the people of Pine Cove (Pine Cove is to Moore as Castle Rock is to Stephen King...a recurring locale where the unusual happens to ordinary people) are much like those kids from South Park where strange and unusal things happen and no one really questions the underlying idea of what's going on....but the characters just deal with the present crisis. No one in Lust Lizard really gets overly excited about the propsect of some ancient sea creature gobbling up Pine Cove denizens, rather the characters just sort of accept the "reality" and deal with it.
Moore has a strange sense of humor (well, strange to some at least) and if you have read any of his other books then you are quite prepared to pick this book up. Ever since reading Lamb, I've been on a non-stop tear to get through all of Moore's books. Its not that he's a modern-day literary genius, or that his works will be critically acclaimed as modern day masterpieces, its because they are pure entertainmnet and hard to put down. Honestly, every time I've ever read a review that says such and such a book is "non-stop hilarious, you'll laugh out loud" I rarely, if ever do. However, in the case of Moore's books, I find myself repeatedly laughing out loud (much to the amusement of those around me) and Lust Lizard was no exception.
In short, I loved this book and you will too!
hmm.......2007-03-23
Well I wouldn't say this book is for kids but it is truly amazing how much detail and whittyness went into this book. This book I could not put down! I finished it in two days! its truly funny and good.
Average customer rating:
- A good qualitative analysis
- Anecdotal (but not funny)
- Infidelity around the World
- EXCELLENT book!
- Unique & humorous perspective on cultural differences
|
Lust in Translation: The Rules of Infidelity from Tokyo to Tennessee
Pamela Druckerman
Manufacturer: Penguin Press HC, The
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Marriage
| Relationships
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sex
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Cultural
| Anthropology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Marriage & Family
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Parenting & Families
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Nonfiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Parenting Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Modern Love: 50 True and Extraordinary Tales of Desire, Deceit, and Devotion
-
Virgin: The Untouched History
-
The Other Woman: Twenty-one Wives, Lovers, and Others Talk Openly About Sex, Deception, Love, and Betrayal
-
Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic
-
Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Loss--and the Myths and Realities of Dieting
ASIN: 1594201145
Release Date: 2007-04-19 |
Book Description
An irreverent and hilarious journey around the world to examine how and why people cheat on their spouses; this global look at infidelity reveals that Americans are uniquely mixed up about being faithful.
It's an adulterous world out there. Russian husbands and wives don't believe that beach-resort flings violate their marital vows. Japanese businessmen, armed with the aphorism "If you pay, it's not cheating," flock to sex clubs where the extramarital services on offer include "getting oral sex without showering first." South Africans may be the masters of creative accounting: Pollsters there had to create separate categories for men who cheat, and men who only cheat while drunk.
In America, however, there is never a free pass when it comes to infidelity. According to our national moral compass, cheating is abominable no matter what the circumstances. But do we actually behave differently than everyone else? Pamela Druckerman, a former foreign correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, decided to delve into this incredibly taboo topic. She interviews people all over the world, from retirees in South Florida to Muslim polygamists in Indonesia; from Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn to the men who keep their mistresses in a "concubine village" outside Hong Kong.
Druckerman talks to psychologists, sex researchers, marriage counselors, and most of all, cheaters and the people they've cheated on, and concludes that Americans are the least adept at having affairs, have the most trouble enjoying them, and suffer the most in their aftermath.
Lust in Translation is a voyeuristic, statistics-packed, sometimes shocking, often hysterical, worldwide glimpse into the endlessly intriguing world of extramarital sex. It may be politically incorrect to say so, but who knew infidelity could be this fascinating?
Customer Reviews:
A good qualitative analysis.......2007-10-17
Despite the lack of quantitative data, Pamela Druckerman is giving an interesting perspective of what adultery is and means over the world. Even though the author's perspectives are a bit culturally biased (she is American), she points rightfully elements of culture, of sociology, of moral, of religion which explain at least what is considered as "cheating" or not.
The limits of this book lie in the fact that it sometimes fall into cultural cliches and a certain ethnocentrism. The author, a former Wall Street Journal journalist based in Paris (France), remains partially prisoner of her own culture.
However, this is a stimulating reading, which opens interesting perspectives for cross-cultural couples, but also our unformulated conceptions of what is a "good couple".
Anecdotal (but not funny).......2007-10-17
Pay attention to that one sentence from the Publishers Weekly: "Druckerman (the author) offers an anecdotal rather than a scholarly exploration of the international etiquette of adultery." What worse, and other reviewers noted that already, that anecdotal treatment is not especially interesting.
Infidelity around the World.......2007-09-01
In March or April, Lust in Translation received a glamorous review in The Economist and sparked my interest. It's an informative book about the cultural aspects of affairs... Pamela Druckerman somehow researches this thorny subject and presents rare insights into cheating in the US, France, Russia, Japan, Indonesia, China and South Africa.
Having had exposure to the cultures in the USA, France and Russia, I did not find the chapters about these three countries surprising. In a way, the book just confirmed what I already knew or suspected. In contrast, what goes on (or doesn't go on) in a Japanese bedroom was completely novel to me.
I would not necessarily recommend this book to an American cheated or cheating spouse. It is neither a self-help guide to appeal to the former nor a manual on how to have affairs to satisfy the latter. Nevertheless, if you are looking for an easy, interesting read and want to be culturally informed about the subject, this book is one of a kind. Just be prepared for your spouse's raised eyebrows and have an answer to the question "Why on Earth are you reading THIS book?"
EXCELLENT book!.......2007-07-24
As an American who lived in Japan for several years, I believe that Ms. Druckerman's observations of the culture surrounding marriage, courtship, and extra-marital affairs in Japan are very accurate. I also enjoyed reading the rest of the book, and found it to be well-researched, well-analyzed, and well-written. This book does not aim to be a self-help book; rather, it is more of a sociological perspective on a universal issue. The book's description of cultural differences and personal perspectives regarding infidelity are fascinating. Overall, the book is interesting and enjoyable to read, and I highly recommend it.
Unique & humorous perspective on cultural differences.......2007-06-30
I decided to buy a copy of "Lust in Translation" by Pamela Druckerman because way back when (mid 1980s), Pamela and I were US House of Representatives pages together. Other than an occasional email contact, I had not directly heard much from Pamela. I had read several of her Wall Street Journal articles over the years.
As someone who thoroughly enjoys reading about other cultures and people, this book fit my occasional non-fiction reading habits. I wasn't looking for anything "heavy" - as in, full of facts, figures, dates, or history. And, I certainly wanted to stay away from anything that seemed academic or dry.
It's fair to say that if you're looking for relatively creative non-fiction spanning several cultures that are not frequently bunched together or compared (including Hasidic Jews, French, and Chinese), you'll find it hard to put down this book.
In my opinion, Druckerman's writing style mirrors what you would expect from a former Wall Street Journal reporter. She mixes interviews, statistics, and commentary in a nearly seamless manner. In a sense, it's a collection of long articles - each relating to a different culture's practices and perspectives relating to infidelity.
There are many funny tidbits (using words you usually don't see in serious non-fiction) about how each culture covered refers to affairs in their language - often using slang terms. I laughed out loud a few times.
To me, the best contribution of the book is comparing the stereotypes regarding infidelity for each culture to how it is currently viewed within the culture. I was left surprised that anyone would share some of the details described in the book - even on an anonymous basis.
My overall conclusion is that this book falls into the category of "Truth is stranger than fiction." The way Druckerman handles this topic, it's possibly more funny than fiction, too.
Book Description
The allure of the Frenchwoman—sexy, sophisticated, flirtatious, and glamorous—is legendary. More than an eye for fashion or a taste for elegance, the French je ne sais quoi embodies the essential ingredients for looking and feeling beautiful.
With wit, whimsy, and wonder, British expatriate Helena Frith Powell uncovers the secrets of chic living in All You Need to Be Impossibly French, a cheeky guide to releasing your inner Frenchwoman. Delving deep into a mysterious realm of face creams, silk lingerie, and shopping- as-exercise, Powell reveals how French women stay impossibly thin and irresistibly sexy by achieving the maximum effect from the minimum amount of effort. Forget diet and inspiration books and style guides—this is all you need to embrace the wisdom of French living, and learn how to turn every day into la petite aventure.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Stories.......2007-08-28
Interesting stories, but of course not all of it is true. The author tells amusing tales of her "fish out of water" experiences with French women; it's a wonderfully interesting culture. That the French women never leave the house looking grungy seems to be the main focus of the book, however, as the author focuses mainly on the fact that Parisian women refuse to "let themselves go" once they're married or when they grow old.
I wasn't mystified and awed by the concept of women who wished to look put-together at all times, I was more interested in the bits about their love of art, intellectuals, celebrity, etc.
Still, this book was a great fun read and though it's a broad generalization, I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for a good afternoon book.
If this book doesn't "tweak" you, you are in bad shape.......2007-08-25
I am too old for all this but I enjoyed it no end. I bought three copies for my girls (they will truly love this book. I guarantee it) it makes one feel "alivea' again and it makes you want to go out immediately and purchase matching underwear.
don't waste your time.......2007-08-21
This book is not funny as many readers have said. It gets very boring in a number of chapters. It basically describes French women as self absorbed, jealous, shallow, and uppity. The author seems obsessed with her own looks and weight. She paints all other women in comparison with the French as ugly, frumpy, dispassionate, and totally out of touch with their sensual selves. If you are looking for a boost to your self esteem and you aren't French do yourself a favor and Don't waste you time with this one.
Amusing bit of froth, but that's all.......2007-06-13
This reads like a typical article in Cosmo (the Doxy's Digest) puffed up into book length. Frith Powell is witty, and occasionally sharp-eyed. She doesn't mince words about the Frenchwoman's self-absorption, competitiveness, and lack of interest in female friendships; these qualities come across as quite cold. But Frith Powell also blathers on obsessively about the Frenchwoman's thinness, disciplined cultivation of her appearance, "waxed legs," perfect haircuts, and all the other surface adornments whose fault is just that: they're surface. Frith Powell adds that Frenchwomen regard their intellects as further tools of seduction. Frith Powell's own intellect seems all over the place, as she adds a number of dubious (or sometimes just plain false)historical details about long-dead Frenchwomen to prove her theories. The writer Colette, for example, did not "dance drunk on tables" in her sixties. By that time she had severe arthritis and would have had quite a problem clambering up there. Nor did Colette "marry her son-in-law." She had an affair with her stepson, which is bad enough, but not quite the same. Frith Powell makes a number of other careless mistakes. If she was going to bring up these examples, she should have bothered to get them right.
entertaining light read- very true!.......2007-05-13
Helena Frith Powell's book is a lighthearted glimpse at how real French women live. It's fairly true to life. Having lived in France for 9 years, I felt like there were passages I had experienced myself first hand. I particularly like the part about getting fitted for fancy lingerie. The section on sex and adultery actually went way beyond what I had imagined it to be. Her vision really is very elite and she interviews some of the power players in French society, fashion and political life. I kept wondering how it might have been different if centered more on 'regular' French women.
Book Description
Lust isn't just a guy problem - it's a human problem. And unless we honestly confront it, lust will destroy our relationships and our lives. Joshua Harris, author of the runaway bestseller I Kissed Dating Goodbye, calls a generation bombarded with images of sexual sin back to the freedom and joy of holiness. This "PG-rated" book - straightforward without being graphic - speaks to those entrenched in lust or just flirting with temptation. Honestly sharing his own struggles, Harris exposes lust's tactics and helps readers create a personal plan for fighting back. Men and women will find hope in God's grace and learn the secrets to lasting change.
Customer Reviews:
A Book to Help our Children Live a Sexually Pure Life.......2007-09-08
Joshua Harris has written an excellent book on how to help our children lead a sexually pure life. Mr. Harris explains in part one of his book how our inborn lust is the source of our problems with sexual sin, and in part two he lists steps and disciplines to take to overcome our inborn desire to sin.
Part one lays out the problem with lust. Lust is an in-born part of every person to some degree, but is especially problematic in males. Undisciplined lust leads to all sorts of sexual impurity, deviancy, and sin. Mr. Harris explains that purely in the human realm, it is almost impossible to overcome sexual lust and sin. Yet, with a life devoted to the Lord and his will for our lives to be pure and free of sexual sin, Mr. Harris uses Bible scripture verses to show how sexual temptation can be overcome and disciplined with the result a life pleasing to God. He uses examples from his own struggles to reign in lust and also recounts other people's storys as abject lessons for us all to learn from. I could relate to the struggles, as lust is common to us all.
Part two then details how a person devoted to the Lord and determined to live a sexually pure life can achieve this goal. The emphasis is on having a relationshp with the Lord, and how this relationship and willingness to please the Lord can lead us to sacrifice our sexual lust on our personal altar in an act of worship. Therefore, the relationship with the Lord is paramount in overcoming sexual sin. For if there is no real relationship or a sense that the Lord is alive and active in the lives of people, then there will be little or no motivation to give up our lustful desires. Giving up our sexual lust is a sacrifice we do to please our King. With this basis, Mr. Harris then cites scripture to show how lust can be overcome through specific disciplines. He urges the reader to determine in what areas of sex is there a specific temptation to sin. He then urges the reader though various diciplines how to enact a plan to avoid tempation though avoidance of the triggers that lead to sexual sin.
The controversial subject of masturbation is discussed, and whether it is a sinful behavior or one that is allowed on a limited basis. I learned that masturbation is the end result of allowing sexual temptation to gain a foothold in our minds and how when overcome with lust, we indulge that lust with masturbation. Masturbation is an act of idol worship, with the idol being the sexual object or fantasy we hold in our minds. Therefore, masturbation is not the real problem; it is symptomatic of a mind that is consumed by sexual lust. Mr. Harris also deals with the issue of whether masturbation can ever be justified in the life of a devoted Christian.
Since print, television, movie, and internet media are profound sources of potential temptation and lust, Mr. Harris devotes a chapter to learing how to develop filters in our minds that automatically kick in and not allow us to welcome or engage the sexual media images. He devotes a chapter to tips on overcoming internet pornography addiction, as this is a tremedous source of temptation for both males and females.
Finally, Mr. Harris explains how with the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling in our hearts and minds, we can fall on the power of the Spirit to help us though times of temptation and bring final victory in this area of life.
I purchased this book for my sons to read, as I want them to be free of sexual sin in their lives. My father never taught me these lessons and disciplines and I want to be proactive in my son's lives to help them deal with the problem of lust.
This is an excellent resource for the Christian believer who wants to help himself and his children lead lives of sexual purtity. Sexual temtpations affect us all, and when indulged in can bring a life into complete destruction and ruin. Sexual sin is perhaps the greatest struggle that men will have in their lives, and this book will give specific strategies to win the battle over sexual lust.
Finally, this is not a book for the unbeliever. First, there is no relationship with God, thus no motivation to overcome the urge to sexual sin. Secondly, the unbeliever may see no need to resist lust, as he does not yet realize that undisciplined sexual lust will lead to problems, both immediate and long-term. When the unbeliever becomes ensnared in the problems of sexual lust, perhaps then he or she will seek the Lord as a solution to his problems. Then this book would be of great value.
Jim Konedog Koenig
Surprising..........2007-08-16
I found myself surprisingly enjoying this book. Timing in which I read books probably should be given into account as well though. I read it as I have been struggling with the expectations of myself in terms of sexuality as someone who is training to be an ordained minister. I don't know if I would recommend it to everyone, because I think that our humanity and sexuality is a gift from God. I don't like how sexuality is demonized within the realm of Chrisitanity sometimes, that is why I give this book four stars instead of five. However I would recommend it to people do want to change after having a history of being sexually active outside of marriage. I think that Harris takes a very strong Christ against culture approach in this book, which is not for everybody. Honestly, frequently these kinds of books make me angry but the way Harris framed this argument was really helpful to me at this point in time as I am considering what it might truly take for me to lead a life of chastity. The only other argument I think I really found convicing on this topic would be Richard Foster's in his chapter on chastity in Celebration of Disciplines.
Great book for men and women of God..........2007-07-26
My brother recommended this book to me when we were on a trip. I read through it in no time because of the helpful information inside it that applies to godly men AND women's lifestyles in the 21st century.
Mr. Harris stresses on the facts of necessity of accountability and the understand of the grace of God to be freed from the lust in our society today.
He tries to refrain from going into detail on the stories about other peoples experiences in their problem(s), which makes this book much easier to read if you have a wondering thought process that gets you into trouble.
I enjoyed this book tremendously and it has opened my eyes in more ways to keep pure for Christ.
This is not just your ordinary lust book.......2007-05-19
This book targets sin issues from the core and why they are bad. I would recommend this to any follower of Christ.
Same book as "Not Even a Hint" .......2007-03-10
I think Joshua Harris did a great job with his "Not Even a Hint" book, which is why I turned to this one for further insight... However I found (upon reading the first page!) that it's pretty much the same exact book as "Not Even a Hint" so although this book is probably great, since "Not Even a Hint" was great, don't bother with this one if you've read the other. Compare the tables of content online if you don't believe me!
Customer Reviews:
Form and function united.......2007-09-29
The LXX is a unique body of literature. When the Jewish scholars translated their Scriptures into Greek (c. 350-250 B.C.), they had to utilize existing Greek vocabulary, and assign to it Hebrew religious concepts. In doing so, they sometimes influenced the understanding of that Greek vocabulary for their readers. In other words, the meaning of a Greek word in Thucydides/Plato may not match the way the word is used in the LXX. Therefore, the generally excellent Liddell-Scott should be supplemented with this exquisitely produced volume. I can not say enough positive about the printing and binding standards of the German Bible Society. Most lexicons are a pain on the eyes, but this one is a joy to use.
BUY THIS!.......2006-09-10
This is the companion to Stuttgarts Septuaginta. It is an excellent lexicon. It has the highest quality Greek font. It is very informitive. And is nicely bound. Another fine book out of Stuttgart, made like books used to be made. Thank God for such gifts to man!
Nothing else like it........2006-01-06
I do not regularly read the Septuagint, but there are times when a passage from it is helpful for work in the New Testament. At such times the last thing one wants is to encounter an unfamiliar vocable or a vocable that has a twist in meaning different from the usual New Testament meaning. Such words are not likely to be found in other Greek lexicons. For such times this work is very helpful. It is not exactly a concordance to the Septuagint, but does give several passages where the word is used, sometimes indicating the list is complete for all occurences. It is spendy, but a very good resource. Put it on a wish list and wait for someone to buy it for you.
Book Description
Parents, teachers, and librarians are often puzzled by the seemingly endless choices for reading material for young people. What’s good, what’s trash, what’s going to hold their interest? Nancy Pearl, America’s favorite librarian, has read widely in all the genres and happily points the way in Book Crush. Divided into three sections — Easy Books, Middle-Grade Readers, and Young Adult — Book Crush makes wonderful reading connections by theme, setting, voice, and ideas. For horse lovers, Pearl recalls the classics (Black Beauty, Misty of Chincoteague), but in a creative twist connects Mr. Revere and I to the list. For middle-grade readers, she explores updated retellings of Greek myths and the best coming-of-age stories. Young adult readers get to know chick lit and much more. For those adults who feel stuck in a rut with Caldecott and Newberry winners and the ubiquitous Harry Potters, this fun, informed book offers new ways to stimulate young readers.
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing.......2007-08-24
As Nancy Pearl makes clear in her introduction, children's and teen books aren't her specialty, and it shows. She lumps books into only three categories (!) for ages 1-18: babies to age eight; 8-12; and 13-18. Those are huge ranges; most books for an 18-year-old are not suitable for a 13-year-old. So good luck figuring out which one is actually for your child's age and reading level. She gives little information beyond author, title, sometimes the illustrator, and a line or two about the book. She doesn't give number of pages, publisher, date of publication, etc. I assume it didn't take her long to throw this together. I know she has a lot of fans, and I find her books for adults well-informed if cluttered. But this "guide" is truly disappointing.
Excellent for teens.......2007-06-26
My daughter is at that tough age for books... too old for kids books and too young for adult books. And the world of Young Adult books is a bit bewildering. This book helped her find some great summer reads - it was worth every bit we paid for it. One recommendation: 13 Little Blue Envelopes
A Must for Teachers & Librarians.......2007-06-18
Professionals who work with children and teens will find Nancy Pearl's latest book a treasure. Parents, grandparents, doting aunt's will discover a bounty of books to purchase or suggest to the children in your life. Seattle librarian Nancy Pearl tells about her favorite books from childhood and today with contagious enthusiasm. Every school and public library should have a copy at hand.
Wonderful guide.......2007-06-14
I'm always looking for good information on books for my granddaughters...Book Crush: for kids and teens is the best I've seen.
Lame and Disorganized.......2007-06-13
I picked up this book because I am doing research on what young people read and what people think they should read. I heard rave reviews about Nancy Pearl's book Book Lust, so I picked this one up. It is terrible. There are far too many categories with lame titles and themes like "Dragooned by Dragons" and "Cry me a River". The bold book titles in the middle of the paragraph make it hard to find what book she is talking about and is terrible formatting. Her writing leaves something to be desired. This book is more about breadth than depth and if you actually want to know what a book is about then back away. Its just a kitschy version of the Dewey Decimal System.
Book Description
This book from a pastor associated with Promise Keepers will help men understand the power of sexual temptations and show them strategies for overcoming them.
Customer Reviews:
When Good Men Are Tempted (updated version).......2007-08-06
This updated version (07/07) of When Good Men Are Tempted covers a subject that is not normally covered in Christian Books: sexual sins. The author does not preach; this is a first person account of fighting sexual temptation.
Rather than feeling isolated in sins or temptations of a sexual nature, this reader felt like a "normal" Christian fighting a battle that other Christian men are also fighting.
Is masturbation a sin? (you hope not, right?) What does the Bible say about it? Ever bring up the subject at Bible study? Ever heard a sermon on the subject? Probably not. This book has a chapter to cover the "M" word.
Subjects that are difficult to discuss with your pastor (or wife) are discussed in this book along with the accounts of great men of the Bible who failed when tempted with sexual sins. Yet there is victory. The author gives the reader a Bible based, prayer based, Christ based plan for victory over sexual temptations.
In a world that is becoming more and more sexually explicit, Christian men need a plan to overcome the world's temptations; I feel that this book, When Good Men Are Tempted, gives us that plan
great reading.......2007-01-11
This is the best book i've ever read I would recommend it to anyone who is serious about his relationships and jesus.
WINNING THE BATTLE OF TEMPTATION .......2006-01-29
Pastor Bill Perkins produced a high quality book on why men succumb to sexual temptations and how they can win the battle against lust. The book begins with an outline of the struggles encountered by men with respect to temptation. The author explains why naked women look so beautiful and in particular, why other women look better than our wives. He explains why men often succumb to lust and why it can be very addictive.
The author comes up with practical suggestions that should help men comprehend the immense power of sexual temptation and how to overcome them. One major step forward is to admit the problem if lust has taken control instead of hiding it. Despite men falling victim to lust and temptation, the author explains that God still loves us and is ready to assist in overcoming the problem.
Among the insightful solutions the author suggests is for men to cultivate buddyship, whereby men develop a strong relationship with a small group of other men, where they share their problems, open up and reveal the secrets that may be bringing shame and guilt to their lives. Together as buddies, and with the help of earnest prayers, they can be helped to overcome the problems with lust and temptation.
I, however, see the possibility of some women readers getting the impression that Christian men see women as sexual objects. This would be unfortunate as the author's message is clear and directed to a particular audience, men, focused on helping those men afflicted with lust and temptation to overcome this menace and not in any way to degrade women.
The author uses a simple writing style that makes the book readable and makes the reader understand the temptations that men are subjected to on a daily basis. The author provides an honest and insightful presentation of why good men are tempted and how they can overcome this problem. The book is recommended reading by all men.
Comments from a Pastor of Men's Ministries.......2004-04-08
Aa a Pastor of Men's Ministries, I frequently have men coming to me for advice because they are struggling with the issues outlined in this book. Sadly, often is the case when these men are not willing to fight but simply give in to their temptations without realizing the consequences of their actions. Bill Perkins does an excellent job of outlining the steps needed to insure victory.
One of the highlights of the book was author Perkins full disclosure in graphic terms of his own vulnerabilities and the battles that he fought to overcome temptation. Often in ministry, you do not hear of this type of transparency and therefore, the ministry leaders credibility becomes questionable. Throughout the book, the author speaks with the authentic reality of what a man's man deals with in daily life to be able to put the Lord first and the seriousness of His commands.
As a result of the impact that I have seen in my own life and many of the men in our church, I can heartily recommend this book for everyone. This statement includes the wives and significant others who will need to better understanding the temptations that every man is subjected to in a world that has become hostile to a fully devoted follower of Christ.
Good Guidelines For Winning The Battle.......2004-01-27
After reviewing the deeply flawed "Every Man's Battle I mentioned that I would read another book with the same theme of sexual purity. To that end I purchased "When Good Men Are Tempted" by Bill Perkins. It is an honest and often disturbing look at the subject. The book claims that "Bill Perkins details a plan for sexual integrity - one that works. He shows men how to achieve a purity that will preserve the sanctity of their marriages, the security of their families, the vitality of their walks with God, and the strength of their relationships with their brothers in Christ."
The book begins with an attempt to understand the struggle men face. Perkins shows why naked women look so good and why other naked women look even better than our wives. He speaks of the addictive cycle of trying to repeat "young love" or our first sexual experiences. We want to be able to relive the original excitement we felt during those often illicit experiences. He illustrates these concepts with the example of Samson.
The author's solution to this problem surrounding lust is simply to raise the white flag. We need to surrender to God and admit the problem rather than run from it or try to hide it. Lust, he says, cannot be overpowered, reformed or starved. It needs to be dealt with and dealt with now! To be dealt with it needs to be dragged into the light so we can deal with the shame and guilt. We need to admit specific sins to God and ask Him for His forgiveness.
The close of this section contains a chapter regarding families of origin. This chapter is confusing and often left me confused as the author discussed the codependent roles we assumed as part of our families and how this leads to problems with purity later in life.
Having admitted the struggle, we are now able to find freedom. To do this we must choose our master and count the cost of the one we will choose. To cease a lifestyle of lust the cost of continuing needs to be higher than the cost of quitting. We need to see that continuing in a lifestyle will have consequences in our relationships with our families, our spouses and most importantly, with God. We need to realize that God can fix us and that He wants to fix us. As He fixes us He will help us discover the new men we are through Him. Through Him we have a new perspective, new presence and new power. With these we can now begin to break the addictive cycle that continually leads us to sin. The practical suggestions the author provides are: memorize Scripture, call on God and find what rituals lead us to sin and learn to break those rituals.
The final section focuses mostly on building accountability relationships with other men. Every man needs ally himself with a small group of men who can help him win the battle against lust by holding him accountable. There is a small section about sex and ideas for spicing up a sex life, followed by a chapter detailing some "tools for tight corners" that can be used in a moment of weakness.
The book is written in a personable way that leaves the reader feeling like he has had a personal chat with the author. Perkins admits his own weaknesses, leaving the reader comfortable admitting his own. Perhaps the greatest strength in this book is the emphasis on the "why" of sexual temptation. Having an understanding of the reasons behind temptation gives a solid perspective on how to deal with it. The author does not attempt to blame our lust on Satan, but emphasizes that our sin is ultimately our own and we need to deal with it. If the emphasis on the "why" is the strong point of the book, I would suggest that the "how" is the weak point. It may be, though, that I am looking for a magical key to stopping sinful behavior. Still, as with Every Man's Battle I am left hoping that God truly can remove this sin, rather than just masking it and helping us deal with it time and time again.
In the end, this book does a far better job of dealing with the subject than "Every Man's Battle" and it receives my recommendation.
Book Description
What to read next is every book lover's greatest dilemma. Nancy Pearl comes to the rescue with this wide-ranging and fun guide to the best reading new and old. Pearl, who inspired legions of litterateurs with “What If All (name the city) Read the Same Book,” has devised 170 thematic reading lists that cater to every mood, occasion, and personality. These annotated lists cover such topics as mother-daughter relationships, science for nonscientists, mysteries of all stripes, African-American fiction from a female point of view, must-reads for kids, books on bicycling, “chick-lit,” and many more. Pearl's enthusiasm and taste shine throughout in this lively and informative illustrated guide.
Customer Reviews:
Great book about great books.......2006-08-22
For an avid reader like myself, it's often tough to know what to read next. In this book, Nancy Pearl helped me get quite a few suggestions.
The book is helpfully broken up into little chapters about different genres or subjects, such as Action Heroines. I found it great, because if I'm not interested in that particular subject, I can just skip to the next section.
The only thing that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars was that the summaries about the books are way too short. I really couldn't tell whether I'd like the book or not until I had come and read a few of the book's reviews on Amazon.
All in all, this is a marvelous book, chock full of great suggestions for the casual and avid reader. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
To be skimmed - eclectic but certainly not all- inclusive.......2006-04-03
I love books about books. Nancy Pearl also loves books and books about books, and compiles here a long list of favorites. She provides short- summaries of the books. She has a long list of categories in which she does this, but many of the categories I most care about including those in the realm of politics, religion, philosophy, poetry are not listed at all. She has a broad taste but to my mind a bit light. Nonetheless going down the lists one can find new suggestions for reading.
No one can read everything.
And some people who are great readers have much narrower focus than this work.
But this work does have valuable suggestions , and there should be something for almost everyone in it.
A book to be skimmed and not chewed and digested.
Nancy Pearl: A woman after my own heart!.......2006-02-25
If you love books, are a compulsive reader and, most important, are not a book snob, you will love this list by librarian Nancy Pearl. See also the Nancy Pearl librarian action figure (she raises her finger to shush noisy visitors). I have not read all the books mentioned in Book Lust, and she has not read all the books I adore, but there is plenty of common meeting ground--and a lot of good ideas. Read it. Enjoy. I liked it so much I immediately bought "More Book Lust".
A great read in itself.......2006-02-17
Nancy Pearl gives the reader an enticing framework of topics through which she tells us her favorite reads. Readers can be opened to whole new and creative themes for reading and will be delighted when they see their own favorites listed among Nancy's choices. The real dilemma: Continue reading Book Lust to the end or put it down while you run to get the recommended book(s) that strike your fancy?
A Disappointment.......2005-11-25
I usually love books full of suggestions of other books to read, but this one was really just a massive list of books arranged into somewhat random categories. It was impossible to tell from what she said which of the books I would actually enjoy reading. (Amazon lists and reader reviews are much more helpful.) Also, from those of the books she recommended that I had read, her taste is too all-inclusive for me. She seems to love everything, a lot of which I don't think is very good.
Customer Reviews:
Not as great as later books.......2007-09-11
I enjoyed this book but didn't find it as interesting as Ms. Rule's later works (e.g. Small Sacrifices, Stranger Beside Me). Perhaps it is because the investigative/legal aspects of the case were relatively trivial. It could also be that Ann's writing has improved but who am I to judge?
In any case, if you have read her later books first, you'll still like this one, but lower your expectations a bit.
Joel
Lust Killer.......2007-06-27
I am a huge fan of Ann Rule's work and this is another good read....I couldn't put this book down. Rule does not disappoint with this book or any other of her books for that matter.
lust killer.......2006-11-14
The book was good. Just read it. If you know Ann's writting then you won't be disappointed at all. If this is your first time reading Ann, then hang on. Ann is able to take you to where horror lives. Her descriptions of the killings and killers are intriguing. The worse part is this is all true crime. Ann having the back ground in law enforcement is how this author is able to get so detailed. I won't write about what's in this book because you just need to read all of Ann's books. This may not be helpful but, you know what. I got started on Ann because I picked the book up and just started to read it. Now, go out there and read !!!
Early Rule Work Gives Detailed Account Sexual Deviant.......2006-09-08
Before serial killers were even "serial" (generically referred to as "mass murderers"), Jerome Brudos was collection women's shoes and undergarments. And when that wasn't enough, he collected the women themselves!
Ann Rule does a great job of detailing the crimes of sexual deviant Brudos as he escalates from stealing women's undergarments off clotheslines to raping his victims' lifeless bodies repeatedly. His crimes are so demented that even seasoned detectives (and true crime readers!) blanched at the things Brudos had done to his victims and his lack of remorse when confessing to them.
Rule also gives readers a glimpse into the effects of a perverts crimes on his family; specifically, Brudos wife, Darcie. This young lady was tried and convicted by neighbors and others simply on the grounds of "guilt by association." Despite suffering the humiliation of her husband's crimes, coping with the stress of knowing these things occurred within feet of her backdoor where her children played, and figuring out how to start over as a single women with no income and two small children, she was charged as an accessory based on blantant lies of gossipy old bitty who's sister lived next door to the Brudos'. Fortunately, a jury did not convict and Darcie was reunited with her children to begin their lives again.
A very interesting read. A bit tedious in places, but overall an excellent piece of true crime.
Oregon - - Where Killers are Born?.......2006-05-29
Kind of makes you wonder, huh? This book, in my opinion, is the best Ann Rule book I have read so far. I've read about 5, I believe. Wow! Talk about horrific! Jerome Brudos was one sick puppy! Ted Bundy and Gary Ridgeway were absolutely terrifying in their own right, but Jerry Brudos was horrific! I won't give away the story but I would never want to meet him in a dark alley, that's for sure. By seeing his picture, he doesn't look like a killer, he just seems like the guy next door.
Ann Rule does a fantastic job in her writing of this book.
I have grown up in the area, Oregon, where Ann writes about and she is very accurate in describing the surroundings. The details she writes about are gruesome, yet true, and kept me spellbound till the very end of the book.
I'm sure people are starting to wonder if Oregon is where killers are born. I know, of course, it isn't but it sure seems like a lot of them come from this area. Makes one kind of scared who live here.
Ann Rule, you did a tremendous work on this one!
Customer Reviews:
Great read, even for a comic newbie like me.......2007-09-22
This is really something I could say is a Graphic Novel without smirking. I'm no veteran when it comes to comics, but I've lent it out to a few people I know that are, and they rave about it as well. It's very much like a Fear And Loathing influenced cyberpunk tale of journalism in a future that, for all its random technical advances, is still populated by people and therefore still plagued by the same kinds of problems we face today.
Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03
A couple of people are Lusting for his Life. There is a dog with no balls, his ex-wife, a dog of a different sort who is just a head, and his editor, The Whorehopper, still wants work.
Spider has gained notoriety for doing some good in the whole people who want to be aliens thing, and this helps him here.
He also manages to throw in a couple of good rants.
The Adventures of Outlaw Journalism Continue.......2006-05-24
Fresh off the introductory story found in Transmetropolitan Vol. 1, Ellis settles down in this second collection and really finds his stride. The distinctive art style Darick Robertson brings to the table continues to evolve as well, and throughout a wide range of moods and topics, both the writing and the art keep a remarkably steady grip on the situation.
That's some challenge, considering the manic insanity Spider Jerusalem represents, wandering through a post-post-postmodern Gomorrah like The City. In this volume you'll find Spider confronting the evils of Editors, Popularity, Assisants, Television, Ex-Wives and Religion, all in his ususal, shoot-first-and-ask-questions-of-the-survivors style.
Particularly noteworthy in this collection is the introduction of the Filthy Assistant Channon Yarrow, the incumbent President known as The Beast, and a touching story about people who literally outlive their place in the world, and what happens afterward.
If by the time you've finished this book, you're not after the rest of the series, then there's truly no hope for your tiny mammalian brain.
i love transmetropolitan.......2006-02-08
while the first book of the series introduced us to spider jerusalem, this one shows how much @ss he actually kicks. i have yet to read the other nine books following this one, but im definately going to end up getting them all. if they would ever make a movie about this series, then they better use an indy cinema. this is too good for hollywood. i hope they dont though. get this one second. of course you should read them in order! thats why the volumes have numbers!
for those who need someone to be angry for them.......2005-07-29
Transmetropolitan centers around a columnist who acts, even while he seems sober, like Hunter S. Thompson on a bender. With a the insanity that statement alone would put in your mind the futuristic world he inhabits is almost as insane. Always entertaining and at times, for some out there, offensive know this: even though this self rightous journalist is without much regard for those around him he will hunt the really bad people in soceity with his trusty bowel disruptor.
Books:
- The Malloreon, Vol. 2 (Books 4 & 5): Sorceress of Darshiva, The Seeress of Kell
- The Misfits
- The Nanny Diaries: A Novel
- The Nature of Alaska, 2nd: An Introduction to Familiar Plants and Animals and Natural Attractions (Field Guides - Waterford Press)
- The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy (National Book Award for Young People's Literature (Awards))
- The Photoshop CS2 Book for Digital Photographers (Voices That Matter)
- The Power of One (Young Reader's Edition)
- The Sight (Warriors: Power of Three, Book 1)
- The Speed of Trust: The One Thing that Changes Everything
- The Spinner's Companion (Companion)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The 50 Greatest Yankee Games
- History: Fiction or Science
- Thin-Film Deposition: Principles and Practice
- Amagansett
- Cartier Collection: Collective Work
- History: Fiction or Science
- Daily Bread: A Daybook Ov Recipes and Reflections for Healthy Eating
- Visualizations: The Nature Book of Art and Science
- 1,337 Spot Illustrations of the Twenties and Thirties
- LIVING By the Seat of My Pants! Inspirational Exploits, Splinters and All
Island of the Sequined Love Nun
Practical Demonkeeping
Coyote Blue
Bloodsucking Fiends
Fluke: Or, I Know Why the Winged Whale Sings
