Black Powder War (Temeraire, Book 3)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Plunge into plenty of warfare and treachery
  • Eh
  • The quick and dirty review
  • Still wow...
  • dreary disappointment, just one long string of depressing battles
Black Powder War (Temeraire, Book 3)
Naomi Novik
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345481305
Release Date: 2006-05-30

Book Description

“A splendid series.”
–Anne McCaffrey

“Naomi Novik has done for the Napoleonic Wars what Anne McCaffrey did for science fiction: constructed an alternate reality in which dragons are real in a saga that is impressively original, fully developed, and peopled with characters you care about.”
–David Weber, author of the Honor Harrington series

After their fateful adventure in China, Capt. Will Laurence of His Majesty’s Aerial Corps and his extraordinary dragon, Temeraire, are waylaid by a mysterious envoy bearing urgent new orders from Britain. Three valuable dragon eggs have been purchased from the Ottoman Empire, and Laurence and Temeraire must detour to Istanbul to escort the precious cargo back to England. Time is of the essence if the eggs are to be borne home before hatching.

Yet disaster threatens the mission at every turn–thanks to the diabolical machinations of the Chinese dragon Lien, who blames Temeraire for her master’s death and vows to ally herself with Napoleon and take vengeance. Then, faced with shattering betrayal in an unexpected place, Laurence, Temeraire, and their squad must launch a daring offensive. But what chance do they have against the massed forces of Bonaparte’s implacable army?

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Plunge into plenty of warfare and treachery.......2007-09-16

For a long time now, I've been pretty disappointed in what passes for fantasy, that genre of fiction that deals with worlds more imaginative than scientific. I had devoured my fill over the decades, and now, well, everything was starting to read the same. But this summer I found out about Naomi Novik's ongoing series about dragons in an alternate Earth of the Napoleonic Wars.

Three books later, I'm still pretty happy.

Black Powder War picks up right where the previous novel, Throne of Jade left off. A Celestial dragon, Temeraire and his companion, Will Laurence, are still in China, dealing with the changes that Yongxing's conspiracy has wrought, in a brief prolouge, and then they are returning to England and the war in Europe. But a devastating fire on their transport strands them in Macao, and worse still, a message from the Admiralty to go to the Turks in Istanbul to carry three precious dragon eggs to England -- if they can dodge Napoleon's armies in Europe. But without a ship, how are they going to navigate the lands across Asia?

And conveniently too, a guide is available at the moment. Tharkay, half-Asian, half-European, is willing to take on the job, for a price of course. And he doesn't bother to hide his contempt for the English, or indeed, any Europeans either. With Tharkay, and his eagle in hand, Laurence and Temeraire set off across China and the Asian deserts to the subtle, rather byzantine politics of Istanbul, encountering bandits of both the human and dragon variety, and death from both hunger and lack of water.

But when they reach Istanbul, and the Turks, it's going to be a hard lesson in politics and the eastern way of thinking. For it seems that someone has lied to them, in a very devastating way... and there's still Napoleon and his Grande Armee marching to the east and the Russians.

I don't want to go much more into the story, as there is a lot that is covered, and I don't want to give away much more of the plot. I will say that there's hardly a dull moment in this story and the reader doesn't have much time to catch their breath between the varied adventures that Laurence and Temeraire and their crew go through. Along with the martial battles on the air and the ground, quite a bit of skullduggery and sneaking about at night, there are the intrapersonal conflicts as well, especially between Laurence and Tharkay.

There is also Temeraire's determination to change the treatment of dragons in England, where they are treated little better than semi-intelligent creatures, and what he saw in China. And while Laurence can't agree more, he's also far more canny in just how English society works, and fears for that the dragon is setting himself up for disappointment.


Too, the reader is in for a real treat with the antics of the feral pack of dragons led by Arkhady, and the unique twist that is given for the culture of dragons -- this was something that I found to be a very pleasant surprise and a masterful touch in world creation. Finally, there is a new character introduced towards the end, Iskierka, whom I suspect is going to make quite a mark in later novels in the series.

One of the reasons that drew me to the series in the first place was Novik's use of history and historical characters. In Black Powder War, she proves that she knows how to use these twists, and her depictions of warfare are especially chilling at times. Her writing style is certainly improving, and it shows. Her characters are finding their own voices, and proving that they are intricate, complex people.

As a touch of whimsy, she has at the end of the book a letter written by a gentleman to the Royal Society that seeks to prove that dragons are far too inept to understand mathematics. There is also an excerpt from the next novel, Empire of Ivory, which if proves to be true (the author warns the reader that the book is still in the writing stages and could change), promises to be particularly devastating.

These novels do need to be read in order, as the author does not provide either a synopsis or any backtracking in her story to fill in the blanks. They are also rather important blanks, so try not to skip anything.

All in all, I'm hooked on this series, and I am looking forward to the next volume, due in late September. So much so that I've preordered my copy...

3 out of 5 stars Eh.......2007-08-07

Maybe if the publisher contained this initial trilogy in one book it would've been a little better, but the story didn't seem as enchanting or engaging as His Majesty's Dragon. A lot of waiting around. The preview for the next book looks promising though.

4 out of 5 stars The quick and dirty review.......2007-07-19

- Not as good as the first book
- Better than the second

It's a good read and continues to layout the foundation of where the Temeraire world will go. I know I can't wait for more :)

5 out of 5 stars Still wow..........2007-07-08

Third in the series (After "Temeraire - His Majesty's Dragon" and "Throne of Jade"), it's also the least accessable, possibly the best researched, and still absolutely brilliant. There's a lot of down and not much up in this book, but all that means is a lot of looking-forward to the next book.

I'm already looking at the date the next book will be released, and debating if it would be worth it to spend the money for the hardcover...

2 out of 5 stars dreary disappointment, just one long string of depressing battles.......2007-06-29

after the exuberance of the first book in this trilogy, His Majesty's Dragon, I found the 2nd book (Throne of Jade) to be a boring series of political arguments and this 3rd book to be a boring series of weary battles. OK, the feral dragons lightened it up a bit, but it was, overall, a depressing book with no satisfying resolutions. The author is obviously more interested in keeping the franchise going than in pleasing her readers or taking care of her characters. Enough already! If I hadn't fallen in love with Temeraire enough to keep slogging on, I would never have finished this book. Buy it used!
The Black Raven (Dragon Mage, Book 2)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Another good installment
  • Duality, dweomer, detail...
  • Raven Review
  • could be better
  • Beautifully written....
The Black Raven (Dragon Mage, Book 2)
Katharine Kerr
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0553579193
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Amazon.com

The Black Raven is Book Two of The Dragon Mage and the 10th volume of the Deverry series, a fantasy epic consisting of three interrelated quartets. As Katherine Kerr says, the past and the present are woven together in these novels, and the final volume will link with the first to reveal an overall design akin to a Celtic knot threading back and forth upon itself. This is a strange, pseudo-Celtic world in which reincarnation is a reality and past lives forever affect the present in surprising and unexpected ways. So, while The Black Raven can stand alone, it is advisable that readers begin with the first book, Daggerspell.

In this complex novel of civil war, sacrifice, and power, what impresses most is that Kerr uses an epic canvas to tell a strongly characterized and very human tale of hatred and destructive evil, and of the consequences of past malevolence on both the heroine Lilli and the Prince Maryn. By keeping the narrative tightly focused around a small number of characters, and by maintaining strict limits on the rather elaborately conceived elements of magic and the supernatural, Katherine Kerr ensures that her fantastical history does not overwhelm the more personal and affecting dimensions of the tale. The result is a polished, emotionally involving, and powerful novel in which even the dreams of a dragon may come evocatively to life. --Gary S. Dalkin, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

For the devoted followers of the dazzling Deverry and Westlands cycle, Katharine Kerr continues the magical epic saga she began in The Red Wyvern.

The Black Raven

Her latest tale shifts effortlessly between the shattered lands of the Rhiddaer and Dun Deverry itself. At the historic end of the Civil Wars, Lilli, newly apprenticed to the dweomer, fights with her untried powers to save her beloved Prince Maryn from evil.  Centuries later, in the city of Cerr Cawnen, the old evil awakens yet again when the sorceress Raena schemes to destroy Rhodry Maelwaedd, her bitter enemy during life after life. But her malice will draw the intervention of astral powers--and unleash the ravaging rage of Rhodry's guardian dragon. Only another untried dweomer can buy safety for the city and the berserker himself--and only at a most fearsome price....

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Another good installment.......2005-09-14

If you liked all the others, you'll like this one too. The story is finally moving a little again and it's a nice change.

4 out of 5 stars Duality, dweomer, detail..........2001-09-11

This is the second book in the Dragon Mage series, which chronicles the fortunes of the inhabitants of Deverry and those of the Northlands and Westlands in various centuries.
I found this sequel to The Red Wyvern slightly unsatisfying, but still an absolute charm of a novel, with the kind of detail a fantasy trainspotter like me thrives upon. Kerr does feudal villages and castles and fantasy/history exceedingly well; her characters are multidimensional and challenging - particularly the women, which I believe is deliberate: the men tend to be more distant - romantic figures or even caricatures - which I suppose might annoy you if you are a man. But this is quite unashamedly a book from a woman's point of view: for instance, when the men go to war the action of the novel tends to stay with the women left behind. This works very well indeed: it's not a feminist treatise, just an honest authorial perspective.
In The Black Raven, we meet my favourite Lillorigga again, this time on the horns of a different dreadful dilemma, torn between her good, honest, loving, considerate, brave, strong, boring husband-to-be and the not altogether natural charisma and charms of the importunate Prince Maryn; working with dangerous magic to unravel a deadly curse on the Prince at the expense of her health and not entirely free of the spectre of her evil dead mother.
But it's Niffa who takes my fancy in this one. Just coming into the awareness of her psychic abilities and hounded by Raena, the misguided sorceress with little conscience and too much power for her own - or anybody else's - good, Niffa mourns her murdered husband and is comforted by the family ferrets, unaware that her pain and persecution is a repetition of that of Lillorigga and her mother, doomed to continue, cycle upon cycle, in different incarnations, until, presumably, the battle between the supernatural forces which blights the lives of the inhabitants of Deverry and, centuries later, Cerr Cawnen, is resolved.

4 out of 5 stars Raven Review.......2001-03-04

As a fan of this Katharine Kerr series in its entirety I found this book to be a must read, and one that I could not put down. Her style of writing has remained as easy to read and all engrossing as when she first began the series. This last series though has tended to focus on fewer time-line scenarios than her previous books. While in after-thought I find this a little tedious (the book mainly revolving around the Llilorigga-Maryn, and Rhodry-Raena story-lines) you can tell that the story is coming to some grand conclusion which makes it worth the read!If you have read the series from the beginning it is a little disappointing compared to the excitement of the initial Daggerspell series, but we are still comparing greatness to not-so-exciting greatness! Its not a book to be read out of sequence, start with Daggerspell and from there you can't go wrong!

3 out of 5 stars could be better.......2000-07-08

This book was ok...but definitely not what she could really do. Compared ot Daggerspell, this one didn't really outshine the rest. As I read each one, it got better and better, therefore I expected this one to be the best so far. But the Red Wyvern was like the climax...I hope the rest of the books don't turn out to be like this one.

5 out of 5 stars Beautifully written...........2000-04-16

As a reader of fantasy novels for many years I rate Ketherine Kerr's series very highly. The Dragon mage series is her best yet. As many of series decline with quality (most notably Jordan - sorry if this offends anybody!) Kerr's books just get better. I was totally captivated by the book and am looking forward to the remaing couple of books in the series. Katherine if your reading this can you speed them up? :-)
Black Dragon: A Novel
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Black Dragon: A Novel
    Christopher Hyde
    Manufacturer: William Morrow & Company
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0688108970
    Giraffes, Black Dragons, and Other Pianos: A Technological History from Cristofori to the Modern Concert Grand, Second Edition
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Entertaining but overwhelming
    • most comprehensive and accessible piano history book written
    Giraffes, Black Dragons, and Other Pianos: A Technological History from Cristofori to the Modern Concert Grand, Second Edition
    Edwin Good
    Manufacturer: Stanford University Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    PianoPiano | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
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    ASIN: 0804733163
    Release Date: 2001-03-15

    Book Description

    This lavishly illustrated book treats the history of the piano from its invention in 1700 to the present in terms of its technology. Looking at the technologies of design, materials, and manufacture, and focusing its description on specific existing pianos, it describes the changes in pianos from the earliest days to contemporary instruments.

    This revised edition incorporates the results of recent research that increases knowledge of the work of Bartolomeo Cristofori, the inventor of the piano; changes perceptions of how eighteenth-century pianos were made and used; adds to the available information about the important contributions of the Steinway Company; and describes the most recent changes to the piano.

    The first edition of this book received the Otto Kinkeldey Award of the American Musicological Society as the best musicological book in English published in 1982-83.

    Reviews of the First Edition

    “If you have ever looked under the lid of a piano and wondered about the technical how and why of it all, this is the book to sate your curiosity. . . . Good’s vigorous prose breathes life into the technology . . . and brings forward the people involved, with humor and sensitivity.”

    —Los Angeles Times

    “This is a fine book. Accurate technical description, an abundance of photographs and drawings, and a very readable text complement a provocative thesis.”

    —Technology and Culture

    “Intriguing reading. It turns out that the story of the piano and its evolution . . . is rife with human interest, at least when Good relates the details.”

    —Keyboard

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Entertaining but overwhelming.......2005-02-26

    The author is erudite, reflecting his long career as an academic, the writing lively, but this history of the piano has so much detail--references, footnotes abound--that it is exhausting to read. It's a decidedly layman's "technological history", (engineers will not be satisfied) and only a few B/W pictures appear, but the indefatigable author, himself a pianist, has an undeniable enthusiasm for his subject.

    5 out of 5 stars most comprehensive and accessible piano history book written.......2004-04-15

    I ended up using this book for a research paper and in doing so I found that this book is the most detailed and comprehensive of any book written about the piano's history and development that I've seen. This book resolves many conflicts other sources seem to have with each other with a full explanation of the issue at hand. This book is truly well-written, following logical transitions from topic to topic, and well-reasoned arguments based on the available evidence. Rich in detail, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn about the truly remarkable transition from a primitive, 4-octave, wooden-framed harpsichord substitute to a refined, 7 and a third octave, iron-framed marvel that exceeds all other instruments in complexity and both dynamic and pitch range.
    The Black Dragon (Dragon Series, Book 2)
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Black Dragon (Dragon Series, Book 2)
      Allyson James
      Manufacturer: Berkley Sensation
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 0425218449
      Release Date: 2007-11-06

      Book Description

      Scorching new romance from the author of Dragon Heat.

      When Saba Watanabe is attacked by white dragons in human form on the streets of San Francisco, the only man she can turn to for help is the dangerously seductive Malcolm, a black dragon who once made Saba his love slave. But it's Saba who must use her rising powers to save Malcolm-and all of his kind.
      Battletech 29:  Black Dragon (Battletech)
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Long Live the Combine!
      • Good book,but not enough Mech battles
      • BOOK GOOD BOOK GOOD
      • Long live the Kanrei
      Battletech 29: Black Dragon (Battletech)
      Victor Milan
      Manufacturer: Roc
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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      ASIN: 0451455282

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Long Live the Combine!.......2000-08-18

      This book was a fantastic book. It has a lot of great qualities, The further development of Theodore Kurita and Ninyu Kerai, more of Camacho's Caballeros.Subhash's death was dramatic and he died for a cause but I would have rather he didn't die. It also has some of the best villians, Hohiro Kiguri and the Black Dragon Society. All in all this is a great book that shows the inner workings of one of the most powerful of the Successor States.

      4 out of 5 stars Good book,but not enough Mech battles.......2000-02-10

      This book had an all around good plot, but it didn't have any good mech battles until the end. Most of it was just talking.

      5 out of 5 stars BOOK GOOD BOOK GOOD.......1998-06-30

      Victor Milan did himself proud when he created the Caballeros in Hearts of Chaos and they've come clear to Black Dragon getting wilder all the way. However Subhash dying was a definite minus and Franklin Kurita should have been expanded upon but this is still a first class book

      5 out of 5 stars Long live the Kanrei.......1997-10-31

      Camacho's Caballeros are an endearing bunch. But the parts I really liked is the development of Ninyu Kerai's character. I've been fascinated with this nekagami-trained ISF operative. Now he comes into his own, becoming a more multi-faceted character instead of a cardboard thug. The role of Franklin Sakamoto was also nicely done. These small things reward Battletech readers who take the trouble of actually completing as much of the series as possible. I'm just sorry Sun-Tzu Lao is now the new First Lord....I'd hope it was Theodore.
      Tea With the Black Dragon
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • OH, The Potential
      • Oolong tea
      • An intrigue of a little story
      • One of my faves
      • A Forgotten Treasure
      Tea With the Black Dragon
      R. A. MacAvoy
      Manufacturer: eReads.com
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

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      ASIN: 1585861979

      Book Description

      Martha Macnamara knows that her daughter Elizabeth is in trouble, she just doesn't know what kind. Mysterious phone calls from San Francisco at odd hours of the night are the only contact she has had with Elizabeth for years. Now, Elizabeth has sent her a plane ticket and reserved a room for her at San Francisco's most luxurious hotel. Yet she has not tried to contact Martha since she arrived, leaving her lonely, confused and a little bit worried. Into the story steps Mayland Long, a distinguished-looking and wealthy Chinese man who lives at the hotel and is drawn to Martha's good nature and ability to pinpoint the truth of a matter. Mayland and Martha become close in a short period of time and he promises to help her find Elizabeth, making small inroads in the mystery before Martha herself disappears. Now Mayland is struck by the realization, too late, that he is in love with Martha, and now he fears for her life. Determined to find her, he sets his prodigious philosopher's mind to work on the problem, embarking on a potentially dangerous adventure.

      Download Description

      Martha Macnamara knows that her daughter Elizabeth is in trouble, she just doesn't know what kind. Mysterious phone calls from San Francisco at odd hours of the night are the only contact she has had with Elizabeth for years. Now, Elizabeth has sent her a plane ticket and reserved a room for her at San Francisco's most luxurious hotel. Yet she has not tried to contact Martha since she arrived, leaving her lonely, confused and a little bit worried. Into the story steps Mayland Long, a distinguished-looking and wealthy Chinese man who lives at the hotel and is drawn to Martha's good nature and ability to pinpoint the truth of a matter. Mayland and Martha become close in a short period of time and he promises to help her find Elizabeth, making small inroads in the mystery before Martha herself disappears. Now Mayland is struck by the realization, too late, that he is in love with Martha, and now he fears for her life. Determined to find her, he sets his prodigious philosopher's mind to work on the problem, embarking on a potentially dangerous adventure.

      Customer Reviews:

      3 out of 5 stars OH, The Potential.......2007-06-01

      Several people told me to read this book and I did, but, I must admit to a bit of disappointment.
      The story line was original and the plot worked but it didn't have the flesh to it. It wasn't satisfying at all. I understand that the next in the series is better but this one fell a bit flat for me.
      Also the constant description of the physical attributes of the main characters got to me a bit. I would love to see it re-released but with much more about the Black Dragon and much more interaction between the characters. I didn't hate it, but I expected much more from it.

      5 out of 5 stars Oolong tea.......2007-02-02

      I read this book as a teenager. The story was so compelling that I have never forgotten what it was about.

      I bought as many copies as I could and gave them as gifts to my nieces and nephews... they loved the story as much as I did.. but they still think I am insane for giving them all the same book.

      ...."wait until they find out there is a part 2" .... (cue mad scientist FX)

      4 out of 5 stars An intrigue of a little story.......2006-07-17

      This little book is a quick magical read. I agree with the reviewer who said, "It very nearly defies description". It is unlike anything I've ever read, very original. While having said all this, and yes it was delightful, there were a few things that threw me out of the story. The daughter's storyline somehow didn't "fit" with the tale, even the action scenes seemed wrong somehow. And there were just so many unexplained things about Oohlong, and no follow-up. Where do they go from here? It was just a bit too strange for me. But beautiful nonetheless.

      5 out of 5 stars One of my faves.......2006-03-14

      A fairly short read, Tea with the Black Dragon is a marvel in how it intertwines magic and realism in a modern day setting. The lead characters have a magical charm and real world quality that hold you within the story.

      Take a cup of adventure, a cup of mystery, toss in a zen master that is unaware of her lightness of being, and mix with an ancient Oriental dragon. Bake for a couple hours at medium heat in the afternoon sun with a pitcher of lemonade and you have a day-off well spent.

      5 out of 5 stars A Forgotten Treasure.......2005-01-03

      This is one of the books I share with people I really like. It very nearly defies description. The closest I can come is to say that I know magic when I see it, and this is magic. Mayland Long is an enigmatic oriental gentleman who just might be the human incarnation of a Chinese Dragon. Martha MacNamara is a fiftyish woman who plays fiddle in an Irish jig band, and she just may be the Zen master that Mayland Long has been waiting for. Together, they unravel a mystery that makes San Francisco of the nineteen-eighties seem as sinister and magical as any land ever depicted in a fantasy novel. Tea With the Black Dragon was written twenty years ago, so the computer technology is severely dated, but that doesn't really detract from the story. If you're anything like me, you'll be so swept up in this book that you won't notice anyway.

      Jeff Edwards, author of "Torpedo: A Surface Warfare Thriller"
      Black Dragon
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • Excellent, exciting book - good read
      • excellent
      • Superb should be a movie
      Black Dragon
      Dov Silverman
      Manufacturer: Grafton
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      ContemporaryContemporary | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      HistoricalHistorical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
      ASIN: 0586073566

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars Excellent, exciting book - good read.......1999-10-06

      Not only is this book well written, but also it provides much insight into life in 19th century Japan. Silverman has obviously done his homework. From what I know, the history is solid, and the fictional technique makes it very engrossing.

      5 out of 5 stars excellent.......1999-09-30

      A continuation of Dov Silverman' 1st. book. Fast reading and exciting. Great writer.

      5 out of 5 stars Superb should be a movie.......1999-09-30

      One of the best my wife and I have read on Japa
      Henry & The Kite Dragon (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards))
      Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
      • A Wonderful Book!
      • lucybgucy
      • Beautiful!
      Henry & The Kite Dragon (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards))
      Bruce Edward Hall
      Manufacturer: Philomel
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      1900s1900s | Fiction | United States | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      Asian & Asian AmericanAsian & Asian American | Multicultural Stories | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      FictionFiction | Values | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Asian American | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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      ASIN: 0399237275

      Book Description

      Everyone knows that kids from Chinatown don't go to the park when the kids from Little Italy are there. They're rough, they're big, and they don't like Chinese kids. That's okay-Henry doesn't like them, either.

      But what Henry does like are kites. He loves them. Even more, he loves to help his friend Grandfather Chin make them, and fly them over Chinatown and the park. But when Tony Guglione and his friends from Little Italy keep throwing rocks and destroying their beautiful creations, Henry and his friends decide enough is enough!

      In this touching story based on true 1920's events, two rival groups of children representing two different cultures come face to face, and when they do, they find they share much more than just the same sky.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book!.......2006-06-30

      Henry and his best friend Thelma Fung live in Chinatown, New York and help a kind old man make kites. However, Tony Guglioni and his gang of friends of Little Italy, who don't like Chinese people, keep destroying their kites with rocks. Finally, Henry has had enough. He gathers his friends and meets Tony's gang head-on. But there may be more than one reason they are throwing rocks...

      With a realistic, non-violent ending and gorgeous paintings, this book is a amazing, unique read. Review by Sarah

      5 out of 5 stars lucybgucy.......2005-10-09

      This is a really good children's book. The story is interesting and enlightening and the illustrations are beautiful. Both parents and children will enjoy this book.

      5 out of 5 stars Beautiful!.......2004-07-20

      The illustrations in this book are beautiful--sweeping, lush paintings that are contemporary and classic at the same time. A nice break from all the "cartoony" books for children out there. A nice message, too.
      Black Tortoise, Red Raven: The Sequel to White Tiger, Green Dragon
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Black Tortoise, Red Raven: The Sequel to White Tiger, Green Dragon
        Simone Marnier
        Manufacturer: iUniverse, Inc.
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback

        ContemporaryContemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
        LiteraryLiterary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
        MetaphysicalMetaphysical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
        Visionary FictionVisionary Fiction | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
        Similar Items:
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        ASIN: 0595390595

        Book Description

        Black Tortoise, Red Raven, the compelling sequel to the novel White Tiger, Green Dragon, continues to weave a captivating tale as it follows the courageous pilgrimage of a young woman scholar as she travels the length of the Yangtze River.

        Scholar Li, the daughter of Tu Ming and Shen Tao, flees a revolution in eastern China and travels west with a caravan of rug merchants. A Taoist intellectual and master of the tantric arts, the teenager encounters spiritual masters from unfamiliar traditions during her 1,500-mile expedition toward the foothills of the Himalayas. As she journeys to the Red Raven Temple, her spiritual understanding grows and she learns important life lessons from yogis, “crazy Zen” practitioners, Muslims, Buddhists, and Jews. Just as she is about to reach her final destination, Li's life is forever changed when she encounters an extraordinary stranger who bears an uncanny resemblance to a historical figure.

        Black Tortoise, Red Raven not only opens the doors to personal growth and spiritual understanding for Li; it will also lead anyone who has a receptive spirit, open mind, and loving heart on the same journey to finding their true purpose in life.

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