Amazon.com
Once upon a time, journalism profs duly instructed their greenhorn grads to seek out community papers and the obit pages as logical entrance points into the world of newspaper reporting. Working for cash-strapped local papers allowed novices to practice writing everything from hard news to lifestyle features. Obituaries, meanwhile, were a rung on the ladder of major publications, albeit the lowest. The musty, dusty obit pages also traditionally hosted aging reporters put out to pasture. Not any more, argues Marilyn Johnson in her unabashedly knock-kneed love letter to the obit pages, The Dead Beat. Today, august publications like The New York Times, England's Daily Telegraph, Independent, and The Economist, and Canada's Globe and Mail use exalted members of the fourth estate to turn out smart, hip tributes to widespread, almost cultish, acclaim. Why? Because, as Johnson persuasively demonstrates in her book, truth is almost always stranger than fiction and a well-written, deeply researched obit is not only a vital historical record but a damn fine read over coffee and toast. "God is my assignment editor," cracks Richard Pearson of the Washington Post and if that isn't more interesting than what's going on in your city council chambers, author Johnson and those working the so-called Dead Beat don't know what is.
As Johnson explains in free-wheeling prose, today's obit writers are virtual folk heroes with global Internet followings and their own conventions. With care and an ear for gentle humor, Johnson guides her readers through the surprisingly structured, labyrinthine obit scene, pausing to meet the writers while pondering both the essence of our being and why, in the right hands, the life of an average Joe can be just as riveting as the shenanigans of a high-flying playboy. And infinitely more resonant. Savvy J-school professors and their students are advised to take heed. --Kim Hughes
Book Description
Marilyn Johnson was enthralled by the remarkable lives that were marching out of this world—so she sought out the best obits in the English language and the people who spent their lives writing about the dead. She surveyed the darkest corners of Internet chat rooms, and made a pilgrimage to London to savor the most caustic and literate obits of all. Now she leads us on a compelling journey into the cult and culture behind the obituary page and the unusual lives we don't quite appreciate until they're gone.
Customer Reviews:
Includes Some Spirited Obituaries.......2007-10-01
This review focuses on just one obituary, that of Frank Zielony. First appearing in the OREGONIAN, it included the following: "Frank Zielony might have lived his entire life as a Polish farmer and brick maker like his father, in the plains of what is now the Ukraine. But in 1939, war came. Soviet troops showed up at 7 o'clock on a dark morning in early 1940 and told the entire village...that they had half an hour to prepare to leave the country. They were packed in cattle cars and deported to Siberia--among more than a million non-Jewish Poles forced into slave labor camps. That's how Frank...came to be cutting down trees and making railroad ties in sub-zero weather." (p. 122)
In commenting on the foregoing obituary, Johnson writes: "The story of Zielony's survival and immigration to the Pacific Northwest, and his life helping other Polish Catholics survive, was one of those great obituaries that are made to be reread. Dark and gritty, but suffused with spirit, it was written by someone inspired." (p. 123)
A Shining Star!.......2007-06-28
Brilliantly written, absorbing and full of incredible details, this book is one of the best non-fiction volumes I've ever read!
"I write about dead people!".......2007-03-26
It's difficult to imagine an entire book dedicated to telling the average reader about those folks who write obituaries for a living. This book, however, takes on that daunting task, and fully delivers, with information and humor. Those of us who don't do this kind of writing can't imagine that it is an intense experieance for the writer, especially those who sytrive to give the reader a close insight into the person who has died. We learn about the newspapers that contain the "best" obituaries, and also those writers who are considered at the top of this unusual pyramid. If you want to be informed, and entertained, about a very unusual subject, you can't go wrong with this book.
It's the stories, stupid.......2007-03-13
Marilyn Johnson proves that good stories are the product of good reporting. Her inquiry into the art of the obituary takes her to far-flung corners of the globe,and she gets the goods wherever she goes. Through her, we meet some of the finest obituarists on the planet, and we learn how they capture and tell the stories of lives great and small. This is a jewel of a book, joyfully free of typographical and grammatical errors. It has been written and edited with care, and it holds your attention from the first page to the last.
Short stories of the dead..........2007-02-19
Who could predict that the obituaries would become the most widely read portion of today's newspapers. Just as Mary Roach's "Stiff" explored what happens to your body after you're dead, Marilyn Johnson's "Dead Beat" opens our eyes to the written legacy that the obituarist leaves--essentially the short story of a life. There is an art to this, as revealed in some of the delightful excerpts in her book--the best obits don't just recite vital statistics, but rather spotlight the "specialness" (quirky habits, unusual talents, life-changing moments, etc) of the individual as gleaned from interviews with families and friends. I like the idea that the obit focuses the reader's attention on the life of one person, whether famous or not, and then demands an acknowledgement of the loss of that particular bundle of DNA, never to be duplicated. Full of wit and thoughtful exploration of a rarely discussed subject, this book is a real winner.
Book Description
what does it mean to be a conservative anymore?
With the Iraq war, the rise of Christian fundamentalism, exploding government spending, soaring debt, insecure borders, and an executive branch with greater and greater power, Republicans and conservatives are debating this question with more and more urgency.
The contradictions keep mounting. Today's conservatives support the idea of limited government, but they have increased government's size, power, and reach to new heights. They believe in balanced budgets, but they have boosted government spending, debt, and pork to record levels. They believe in individual liberty and the rule of law, but they have condoned torture, ignored laws passed by Congress, and been indicted for bribery. They have substituted religion for politics, and damaged both.
In The Conservative Soul, Andrew Sullivan, one of the nation's leading political commentators, makes an impassioned call to rescue conservatism from the excesses of the Republican far right, which risks making the GOP the first fundamentally religious party in American history. Through an incisive look at the rise of Western fundamentalism, Sullivan argues that conservatives cannot in good conscience keep supporting a party that believes in its own God-given mission to change people's souls, instead of protecting their liberties. He carefully charts the arguments of the new conservatism, showing why they cannot work in today's America, why they fail the test of logic and pragmatism, and why they betray the conservative tradition from Edmund Burke to Ronald Reagan.
In this bold and powerful book, Andrew Sullivan criticizes our government for acting too often, too quickly, and too expensively. He champions a political philosophy based on skepticism and reason, rather than certainty and fundamentalism. He defends a Christianity that is sincere but not intolerant, and a politics that respects religion by keeping its distance. And he makes a provocative, heartfelt case for a revived conservatism at peace with the modern world, dedicated to restraining government and empowering individuals to live rich and fulfilling lives.
Customer Reviews:
Sullivan's recantation.......2007-06-27
Andrew Sullivan explains at some length, and with some digression, how
he became disenchanted with what he calls the fundamentalist wing of the
current Republican party. His brand of conservatism is Burkean; he considers that the prevailing ideology of the current administration is
not conservative at all, but springs from a tradition of literal evangelism. Some chapters are better than others. The chapter
on sexuality seems labored and occupies more of the book than it should. On the whole, it is an honest and thoughtful book and would be useful reading for people who shared Sullivan's early enthusiasms for the Rovian revolution.
Disappointed.......2007-06-24
Without question, Andrew Sullivan is one of my favorite writers. Even when I do not agree with his analysis of a situation, be it political or philosophical, I find him to be interesting, thoughtful, and passionate. And when it comes to the Bush Administration and the handling of Iraq and other facets of the conflict with Islamic terrorists, I have to say that a good deal of his attitude (though not, I think, development of ideas) has mirrored my own over the course of the past several years. So I was very much looking forward to reading his most recent book, The Conservative Soul. I am also disheartened to say that I was tremendously disappointed. Although there are some interesting nuggets of good ideas buried in the book, I find that on the whole it was sloppy, muddled, disorganized and -- I'm sorry to say -- not very well written. Although I would highly recommend that everyone read Sullivan's blog and essays, I would not recommend this book.
Honest & Direct.......2007-06-04
Great book! Andrew Sullivan spoke at my local library and he was loved by all. Had him sign this book for my collection.
Competing Definitions of Conservatism.......2007-05-18
Andrew Sullivan's book is a thoughtful, well-crafted critique of current Republican party conservatism. His view, essentially, is that what is currently termed conservative is, in fact, the promotion of a fundamentalist Christian agenda that is not conservative at all, certainly not the conservatism of his heroes, Reagan and Thatcher. He argues that "fundamentalist vs. conservative" is not a continuation, but a usurpation. He claims that a shift has occurred changing conservative emphasis from freedom to "remoralization."
Although this book is lucidly written and cogently argued, I reject its thesis that in order to return to true conservatism, the influence of the Christian right must be removed. The fundamentalist impulse in politics is in response to intolerant political correctness, the radical relativism of the Hollywood left, media elites, and the kook fringe left (now the base of the Democrat party). It is reasonable to believe in moral absolutes; Sullivan espouses values closer to libertarianism. The Republican party does not have to be "fundamentally religious" to believe that there is such a thing as right and wrong; it has always believed so.Conservatism is not based on theory but on practical observation of life. I surmise that Sullivan is one of the many today who confuse freedom of religion with freedom from religion. Freedom vs. Morality (p.128) is not freedom from morality. I don't agree with even mildly linking Osama Bin Laden with the American religious right, although Sullivan is by no means alone in this distorted view, Al Gore and many in the media do it too. Sullivan exaggerates when he draws a distinction between visions for America; no rational person wants to remake the U.S. in Iran's image.
This is not supposed to be a harrangue from me; I enjoyed the book. For the reluctant, you don't have to agree with everything he proposes to learn from this book. It is nonjudgemental in tone; you won't be offended.
Highly Recommended.......2007-03-24
This is one book that has had a huge influence on my political philosophy. Both the author and I grew up in conservative homes, grew up in Christian homes, and voted for G.W. Bush in 2000. Before I picked up the book, that's where the similarities ended.
Sullivan is truly a fascinating man. A homosexual, British, Catholic who voted for John Kerry in 2004. Sullivan lives with HIV and I say that only to say that it doesn't stop him from living life to the fullest, from speaking passionately about the America he still believes in, his adoptive country. That is where the differences begin. But as I read his book I felt his ideas resonate with me strongly.
The term conservatism has been taken over in the last 15 years or so and abused and Andrew Sullivan's mission is to take it back. If you lament what conservatism used to be, and dream of what it truly can be, this is the book for you. His main theme is that our politics should be a politics of doubt, that is, a realization that individual humans don't have all the answers for everyone else at any point in time. Thus the beauty of the freedom that has been written into our constitution here in America.
If you know of a conservative or a fundamentalist, who is thick-headed, blindly passionate about their views, not willing to consider error in their own perspective or listen to sound reason, this is the book that just might break them down. So do be careful.
Other Information: It is a quick read with large margins and double-spacing and it is a page-turner. It is the kind of book you will want to pass on to your friends and family.
Average customer rating:
- ...HE will return...
- Better than Harry Potter
- To the One God
- Great build up for for the third book of this trilogy.
- Lost unless youve read the trilogy before this one
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Dragons of a Lost Star (The War of Souls, Volume II)
Margaret Weis , and
Tracy Hickman
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Dragons of a Vanished Moon (Dragonlance: War of Souls, Book 3)
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Dragons of a Fallen Sun (Dragonlance: The War of Souls, Volume I)
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The Second Generation
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Test of the Twins (Dragonlance: Dragonlance Legends)
ASIN: 0786927062
Release Date: 2002-03-01 |
Amazon.com
Dragonlance's dynamic duo--the inimitable Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman--continues to do no wrong, reviving the once-ailing world of Krynn with yet another solid book, the second in their War of Souls series. Which is not to say, of course, that Krynn itself is doing well. Far from it: as you might remember from the trilogy's debut, Dragons of a Fallen Sun, creepy Joan-of-Arc-type Mina is spreading the influence of her One God even further over the previously godless land. To top that off, the cursed magical shield protecting the Silvanesti crumbled with the death of the great green Cyan Bloodbane (who had been masquerading as an elf), and the hated Beryl has made a move on the Citadel of Light and the lands of the Qualinesti. And just in case you didn't read Fallen Sun, Weis and Hickman take great pains to bring you up to speed in the first chapter.
What follows in Dragons of a Lost Star is the satisfying resolution to most of these threads, although--like it or not--that means a lot of interplay among the elves. But a literally earth-shattering finale with Beryl in Qualinost amply makes up for it, and that's just the appetizer for the main dish: the true identity of Mina's mysterious One God is revealed at last. Throw in some typical Tas antics for good measure (you've got to love that Device of Time Journeying), and you can count on being left antsy for this trilogy's concluding installment. --Paul Hughes
Book Description
A mysterious force holds Krynn in thrall. A young woman, protected by her regiment of dark-armored knights, calls upon the might of an unknown god to bring victory to her army as it sweeps across the land. The souls of the dead rob the living of their magic. A dragon overlord threatens the very land the elves hold most dear.
Amidst the chaos, a band of brave and selfless heroes struggles against an immortal power that appears to thwart them at every turn. The encroaching darkness threatens to engulf all hope, all faith, all light.
The War of Souls rages on.
The New York Times bestselling hardcover now in paperback.
This latest title from
Dragonlance cocreators Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman is the sequel to the New York Times bestselling Dragons of a Fallen Sun. This paperback version contains a preview chapter from the upcoming conclusion to the trilogy, Dragons of a Vanished Moon.
Customer Reviews:
...HE will return..........2007-02-16
...HE will return..., May 10, 2001
OH MY RAISTLIN!!!... I mean, OH MY GOD!!! (...sorry, I get those two confused sometimes...) I just came back from Borders and I am in shock! Why Laurana? Why have practically all of the original companions had to meet such tragic demises? Oh, and I don't want to get off on a rant here but now that "The One God" has been revealed, Raistlin will HAVE to come back and destroy this pathetic immortal; and NOT to "save the world" (I say that dripping with sarcasm) but to show that HE should be the one to rule Krynn. Keep those pompous dragons in line and show Mr. Dark Elf (Dalamar)how to REALLY bring magic back to Krynn. Well, I'm done ranting; I guess that I now have to wait A WHOLE YEAR to find out when the best character in all of Dragonlance's history will return in all his glory!!!... thank you.
Better than Harry Potter.......2006-03-18
Dragons of a Lost Star was, as the title says, better than Harry Potter. It's many twists and turns make you instantly want to read more.
I was a big fan of the "One God" and Mina during the beginning but the twist makes you want to scream at the book.
Gerard and Tas are both a little different. Tas was put in the story to make it funny but I didn't like him at all, he was so stupid in his decisions. Gerard was Gerard. Nothing much more I can say, he was a Knight for both sides.
The ending is so sudden it's hard to cope...
To the One God.......2005-11-24
To the One God, its in you we thank for giving us Margaret and Tracy or should we look for another?
Once again we explore another fine addition to the Dragonlance volumes. The War of Souls is a fascinating ride to the return of the old world.
You will be thrilled to know that there is enough Tas in book 2 to keep you laughing and as always making sure nothing of your own has gone missing =)
Mina has returned and is proclaming and conquering in the name of the One God. Who is this one God whom grants powers beyond imgaination. Who is the God that causes men to fear and follow this Mina? The One God is none other than...ah read em!
Great build up for for the third book of this trilogy........2005-08-02
Let me preface this by saying that I am a Dragonlance fanatic that owns every book. This trilogy has brought back the return of the gods of Krynn, which is a terrific decision by Weis and Hickman, and one that was somewhat overdue.
It is also, in my opinion, the best set of books since the Raistlin chronicles. Every book built towards the ending superbly, and I would recomend this trilogy as one of the best in the series.
The storyline gained momentum throughout and seldom had lulls of needless filler. It is also good to see the exchange from the heroes of the lance to the next characters that come to the forefront in the war of souls.I love the lance heroes but think that every avenue had been explored to further thier story, but that being said I would never wish that they be written out of future novels.
I became engrossed in the story and finished this book very quickly. I cannot wait to read the third book to see how the story plays out.
Lost unless youve read the trilogy before this one.......2005-04-10
It is a good rounded book that "tries" to keep you guessing. Most people said they couldnt figure who "The One God" is but it tells you at the end, i figured out way before then, but i guess that i picked up on all the signs. Its a good sequal to the one before this because it carries on where the first one left off (Dragons of the fallen sun I beleive it was called).
Average customer rating:
- Extremely disappointing
- Sayuri's Review
- a tragic tale with a new twist on the vampire legend
- Looking for something more frightenly disturbing than just a vampire novel? Look here.
- A Quick Read if Nothing Else
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Lost Souls
Poppy Brite
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
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Binding: Hardcover
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Customer Reviews:
Extremely disappointing.......2007-08-22
I found this story to be too confused and busy. It meanders between characters until it brings them all together later on in the book, but it just seems like the brief moments of actual "action" are just huge build-ups of anticipation with an anti-climatic little *pop* of dénouement. In short, nothing's happening to keep me interested! The characters are fantastic, the author's descriptive powers are beyond compare, but there's just no story there.
I tend to like a good vampire fic to keep me shivering for a night or two. This one has kept me groaning night after night trying to finish it for almost three weeks (an exhaustively long time for me to finish a book). Ghost, Steve, Nothing, Christian, and Brite's version of the Stygian triplets are all rich, wonderful characters. Now if only she'd done something with them....
Disappointing, especially after all the good I'd heard about this author.
Sayuri's Review.......2007-03-27
I love this book. It was probably one of the best I have ever read. Brite made me sympathize with all of the characters and the story had me on edge for such a long time. I couldn't put it down! Her characters were so deep and developed that I felt as though there was no true villan to the book because every character has their good and bad side. It has also made me curious about Brite's other short stories about Ghost and Steve, and I would love to see this turned into a movie WITHOUT being butchered because it is such an amazing story that I feel many, many people should read about, at least once. Go out and buy it! You'll want to keep it after you read it, trust me!!
a tragic tale with a new twist on the vampire legend.......2007-02-06
Firstly, I should say that this book is a great read, especially towards the end of the novel, where it is less aimless and more structured in plot. It was hard for me to put it down and keep from finishing it. The book is aptly named "Lost Souls" because it is a very tragic tale, with all of the main characters and some ancillary ones "lost" to some degree or another.
To me, the genius of the novel was the characterization of Nothing, one of the main characters in the story. He's born in tragic circumstances, unloved, and therefore seeking love and acceptance, without a purpose in life, without family, and very amoral. He's one of the tragically lost characters of the novel, and, as Ghost does, who is another character of the novel, you can't but to feel sorry for Nothing, to have empathy with him.
But all of the characters, as I've mentioned, are lost in some way: Ann (tragically bounced about as an object of lust and love), Steve (unable to find himself in life), Ghost (unable to fit in due to his "gift"), Nothing, whom I've mentioned in detail, and even the vampires themselves. Christian, one of the vampires, is, like the humans in the story, lost and alone - which is probably why he has such a connection with Nothing. The other vampires who follow Zillah, the leader, are lost too, aimlessly living a life of blood, sensuality, and hedonism.
There is a new take on the vampire mythology in this book, which I found to be very, very interesting. There are different types of vampires described in the novel, each with their own characteristics. It makes it a very unique read.
The style of writing is very vivid, very descriptive, and simply quite beautiful to read - except for the lame comparison of semen to altars. It's just weird, to me. Yeah, I can see a spiritual connection of sorts, but not in the way it's expressed in the words of the author.
The only reason I didn't give this a five out of five review is the amoral, sexual imagery that is depicted in the novel. It reminds me of the latter novels by Anne Rice. Like her novels, there is this complete focus (99.9 %) on male homosexuality - no, or little, lesbianism, which I find ironic coming from women writers. Every man is gay or bisexual. It's like revisionist history applied to human sexuality. It's pure fantasy, just like vampires, and completely unrealistic. Not every man is gay or bisexual. It's unrealistic and annoying to read. It's a dream, wishful thinking, nothing more. The sexual imagery is degenerate and amoral. What else can you say about sex between men and boys and incest? Is this normal now? The other thing that detracts from the novel regarding the sexual imagery is how it follows, as does Anne Rice, a formula for a modern day vampire character: the must be male and, invariably, gay, or at least bisexual, and completely amoral. They've reduced characterization to a stereotype, a caricature. The sexual imagery is portrayed not in a tragic light, but as "normal." All sexuality in novels like this is so extremely overt, in your face like a car crash. Nothing is left to the imagination. There is no subtlety. It's about as sensual as porn or a street walker.
I would describe this novel as something like neo-Gothic. Like Gothic novels, it has the grotesque (vampires, extreme sexuality, etc.), loss (Nothing's youth and innocence, Steve's love loss, etc.), death and murder, madness (the vampires, especially Zillah), vengeance (Steve's vengeance on the vampires), hedonism, and other dark imagery. It's definitely worth reading if you can get past the extreme, albeit unrealistic, images of male sexuality and incest.
Looking for something more frightenly disturbing than just a vampire novel? Look here........2007-01-12
This book is beyond anything I ever read.. I just finished this book. While I'm more used to Anne Rice's more classic vampire stories, this one just puts me over the edge. I did miss the vampires in Rice's stories, but this one is just different. It kept me on the edge for sure, while Rice's script can sometimes get dull and boring. There are a lot of suprising and disturbing parts in this novel that is definately not for the weak mind. It left me page turning though and kept me with interest. Although like a previous reviewer it's hard to sympathesize with some of the characters, unlike with Anne Rice's novels, but I suppose this is why it's considered a horror story. But I found the characters too self centered except for maybe the character Ghost and maybe Christian later on (I almost felt sorry for him when he was killed *spoiler, sorry*). Another thing that was annoying was that it seemed so stereotypical on the gothic scene...and always has something about [insert popular gothic band here]. It's enjoyable for what it's worth though, and will definately look for more Poppy Z. Brite novels as this was my first.
A Quick Read if Nothing Else.......2006-10-17
When I first read the summary of Lost Souls I knew I had to get this book. So, on what would end up being an long journey, I phoned my local second hand book stores and after going to three finally found one that actually had a copy (despite the others that were 'supposed to have one, miss, sorry'). I couldn't wait to read it, and in two days I'd finished the book.
Now, perhaps it was because my sights had been set so high, or perhaps I expected a well written novel when there was none, but 'Lost Souls' disappointed me severely. As another reviewer said Nothing, the main character, is possibly one of the most selfish characters I've come across. I'm fine with selfish characters, I myself loved Lestat of the Vampire Chronicles, but only when they're well written. We're meant to sympathize with him but I found it impossible to do so. He is honestly a selfish teenager and even while reading this when I was a teenager I wanted Nothing to come to some revelation. I found the only character I felt bad for in the novel died early on. While the rest of the novel was supposed to be tense, or possibly filled with horror, I found I was flipping through without a true care as to what happened to the main characters. There were a few moments of suspense but nothing too frightful. In all honesty, the book reminded me of the countless horror stories that fill writing websites [...]
Overall, I would say it's worth a read if you've nothing else to do and are craving any type of vampire story. Just don't expect too much.
Customer Reviews:
Just Like Home.......2005-11-17
This is an excellent resource for the novice.
I do not have a lot of time to read a lot of recipes just to get a good soul meal but this book is truly God sent.
If you need a meal without all of the fuss this book is for you.
Not scratch enough........2005-09-12
The book is misleading as a lot of the stuff she uses to make her food I don't consider to be scratch. I was disappointed in the book although some of it was good.
Not quite there yet..........2005-07-29
As one who cannot resist any cookbook reminiscent of a nostalgic trip back to Grandma's kitchen - any Grandma - and any ethnicity, I had to get this book. While there are plenty of the old-fashioned recipes you would expect, the complete lack of pictures is disappointing.
The layout and style is of the fund raising type you find at your local church group or club, which is fine, but I'm spoiled enough these days by newer technologies to want pictures of the finished recipes.
RECIPES FOR THIS BOOK.......2002-02-05
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE RECIPES FRO THE SWEET POTATOS PIES BECAUSE GRNNY CAN COOK YEAH I WAS WATCHIN HER TO DAY
Simple Goodness.......2001-07-31
This is a plain and simple little book. There are no color photos and no outlandish dishes that you will never try. This book is about good, honest and hearty food. It's an excellent first cookbook and makes a fine addition to a serious cook's collection as well.
Average customer rating:
- Well, I am a fan of Weiss & Hickmann so...
- Not as good as Weis and Hickman's previous novels
- Engrossing but ultimately unsatisfying
- A Dragon Story and Much More
- Great Addition
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The War of Souls Trilogy Gift Set: Dragons of a Fallen Sun, Dragons of a Lost Star, Dragons of a Vanished Moon (Dragonlance Series)
Margaret Weis , and
Tracy Hickman
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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The Soulforge (Dragonlance: The Raistlin Chronicles, Book 1)
ASIN: 0786930020
Release Date: 2003-09-01 |
Book Description
This slip-covered gift set contains the three New York Times best-selling titles that make up the epic War of Souls trilogy: Dragons of a Fallen Sun, Dragons of a Lost Star, and Dragons of a Vanished Moon. Authored by Dragonlance saga co-creators Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, these titles each hit multiple best-seller lists upon initial release.
Customer Reviews:
Well, I am a fan of Weiss & Hickmann so..........2007-07-08
Great books. I have to admit that vol. 2 was a bit slow and dull at first but vol. 1 and 3 and most of vol. 2 made up for this. Didn't much care for the lovestory between Silvanoshei and the dark knight Mina so all this about Silanosheis love that wasn't returned is a bit dull for me (yes yes, I am a guy). But all in all I would rate this as a 5 star product. Another great story from Weiss & Hickmann.
Not as good as Weis and Hickman's previous novels.......2007-06-05
First let me start off by saying that I did enjoy these books. But I enjoyed the previous books more. The Chronicles Trilogy was the first set in the Dragonlance world and I must say the best. It all sort of went downhill from there, albeit a long hill with a small angle but still downhill. I really thought that with The Second Generation and Dragons of Summer Flame that led up to The War of Souls Trilogy, that there would be a "rebirth" (if you will) of the Dragonlance Series. But sadly that wasn't to be. An IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: I have been led to believe that the writers, Weis and Hickman, actually have very little creative control over the Dragonlance Series. I believe that these books are meant to be companions to the world of D & D. I enjoy reading not throwing dice to see how much damage I do. As such, maybe they threw dice to see how the storyline would unfold. I don't know.
The Good:
The story is great. The action is great. Tas the loveable and unlikely hero is back. There is a lot of action and intrigue to keep you interested. The whole trilogy is one big twist after another.
The Bad:
I'm afraid there may be more bad than good...but only just. The number one problem, and it is SERIOUSLY BAD, is the typos. Did anyone actually proofread this book? I mean seriously it is bad. By the middle of Dragons of a Lost Star (second book in the trilogy), I was almost ready to call it quits just because it was so hard to make any sense of it. Misspelled words...bad punctuation...missing words...extra words. Just really, really, really bad. They need to fire whoever edited this book.
Now about the problems with the stories themselves. POTENTIAL SPOILER
My best advise to the readers about these books and this goes for pretty much ALL of the Dragonlance novels: Don't get attached to ANY character because they ALL die. The writers spend 3 books building a character and getting them developed then kill them. Why would you do that? Take a lesson from R.A. Salvatore or Terry Goodkind and keep your main characters ALIVE. It's what keeps readers coming back for more. If Salvatore had killed Drizzt after his first trilogy, Salvatore's career as a writer would have been a lot less eventful. Same goes for Goodkind's Richard in the Sword of Truth books.
Let's see who has died along the way to The War of Souls. Keep in mind these are MAJOR CHARACTERS!
Sturm Brightblade, Tanis Half-Elven, Caramon Majere, Raistin Majere, Tika Majere, Alhana Starbreeze, Crysania, Goldmoon, Laurana, Palin Majere, Riverwind, Steel Brightblade, Tanin Majere, Kitiara Uth Matar (who needed more development), Berem the Everman (death was justified), Flint Fireforge, Tas Burfoot (dead but brought back) and I'm sure there were others but I think you get the picture. And again these were major characters. Why even bother developing them if they are so expendable? Heck, I wouldn't even bother being creative with the names. Maybe I can write a Dragonlance novel. "Here is Sam. Sam is an elf. Sam has to overcome insurmountable odds to save the world. Sam overcame the insurmountable odds and saved the world. Now Sam is dead." There, I just wrote a whole Dragonlance novel in five sentences.
What was the point of "The Second Generation" and "Dragons of Summer Flame"? They introduce new characters and then killed them all. Stupid.
Summary of my review:
These books have a great story, great plot, and great characters who will all die. Or if that sentence had as many typos as these books...Thes books have great story great plot and grate charactrse woh will all dye.
Engrossing but ultimately unsatisfying.......2007-05-13
I have been a long-time fan of Weis and Hickman and their Dragonlance books. They have an uncanny ability to write engrossing stories full of conflict and angst and failure that somehow still come together at the end on a note of acceptance and hope. In general, the characters end the stories as better people than they started them as, and the price the characters pay is redeemed by what they gain by the end. I looked forward to this new series. The story is certainly engrossing -- I found it hard to put the books down, even during the darkest and bleakest points in the story. But unlike their earlier works, Weis and Hickman don't manage to wrap this one up well. Several story lines end abruptly, as if Weis and Hickman just ran out of steam on them and gave up. More important, almost none of the characters end the story having learned anything important. The sacrifices made by the characters remain unredeemed at the end. I was left disappointed and unsatisfied. Go ahead and read the story -- it is well written. Just be prepared to feel incomplete at the end.
A Dragon Story and Much More.......2007-05-08
What makes this series so fascinating are the set of characters, especially the kender, who adds just the right amount of comic relief, and the freshness that comes from a vivid imagination on the part of the authors. You won't feel like you've read anything like this before.
Great Addition.......2007-03-27
I've been working on the first book of the three and so far I'm enjoying it as much as all the other Dragonlance Novels I've read. If you love the Dragonlance novels, you won't be upset with this pick.
Customer Reviews:
NO JOKE!.......2005-09-04
For those that do not believe or think that this is impossible, think again. Any book by Dr.Baldwin is a MUST READ if you are interested in, or are going to attempt Spirit Releasement. After learning all I can about this subject and participating in, and cunducting therapy sessions, I can say that it's TRUE. After my clients failed to accept my suggestion therapy, I took to sprit releasement and you will not believe the amazing things that have taken place. Is it real? All I can tell you is that spirit releasement WORKS! Yes, this work is years ahead of it's time, but when is it the right time? That time is now as we seem to be moving on a tide of planetary changes in human consciousness. GET IT, READ IT.
Quite Interesting!.......2005-08-21
I just finished reading "Healing Lost Souls", and I must say that I'm not really sure how I feel about this subject. The ideas it contains are quite new to me, and I will need to take some time to digest them...
In this book, the author discusses his findings (as well as the findings of other professionals) that people on earth can be impacted by the attachment of earthbound souls, "dark force entities" &/or extraterrestrials (ET's). The idea being that when there is a weakness in our auras, it's easy for these non-physical entities to enter into our physical being, and impact our lives in quite significant ways.
The author also describes his way of helping these entities move on - a therapy called SRT - where the experience is treated as real (no matter how off the wall it sounds), and the entity is spoken to in a calm, nice but firm way, where it's explained that they are disturbing this persons life & need to move into the light.
Other topics such as past life regression therapy & the history of exorcisms is also included.
Examples are included throughout where the conversations between therapist & non-physical entity are noted, and the change in that persons life after such sessions are completed is discussed.
I would highly recommend this book to those who are interested in the paranormal, as well as to therapists who are unsure how to proceed with certain patients - as 1 or more of the therapies discussed here may be of help. One word of caution though, and open mind is a must!
Book Description
The first in-depth history of the involvement of African-Americans in the early recording industry, this book examines the first three decades of sound recording in the United States, charting the vigorous and varied roles black artists played in the period leading up to the Jazz Age.
Applying more than thirty years of scholarship, Tim Brooks identifies key black artists who recorded commercially in a wide range of genres and provides in-depth biographies of some forty of these audio pioneers. Brooks assesses the careers and impacts, as well as analyzing the recordings, of figures including George W. Johnson, Bert Williams, George Walker, Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, W. C. Handy, James Reese Europe, Wilbur Sweatman, Harry T. Burleigh, Roland Hayes, Booker T. Washington, and boxing champion Jack Johnson, as well as a host of lesser-known voices.
Because they were viewed as "novelty" or "folk" artists, nearly all of these African Americans were allowed to record commercially in their own distinctive styles, and in practically every genre: popular music, ragtime, jazz, cabaret, classical, spoken word, politics, poetry, and more. The sounds they preserved reflect the actual emerging black culture of that tumultuous and creative period. The stories gathered here give a previously unavailable insight into the early history of the recording industry, as well as the racially complex landscape of post-Civil War society at large.
Lost Sounds also includes Brooks's selected discography of CD reissues, and an appendix from Richard K. Spottswood describing early recordings by black artists in the Caribbean and South America.
Customer Reviews:
No library shelf should be without it.......2005-04-03
A few pages into this book, one realizes the title is a double entendre. The recorded sounds documented here - which include popular music, ragtime, jazz, cabaret, classical, spoken word, politics, poetry, and more - are not merely "lost" in the sense that their existence has been uncelebrated. They are also in danger of being lost to us forever if immediate steps are not taken to preserve the fragile materials upon which they live.
Additionally, U.S. copyright laws have made it nearly impossible for anyone to reissue them as CDs. According to the author, there were approximately 800 recordings made by African Americans prior to 1920, the majority of which are still intact but half of which are owned by successor corporations like Sony and BMG who will neither reissue them nor allow anyone else to do so. Which explains why the majority of this material ends up being released overseas.
The book documents more than 40 artists chronologically, assessing their work and skillfully placing their biographies within the context of a complex and tumultuous era. It covers the famous (Bert Williams, Eubie Blake, Fisk Jubilee Singers) and a host of lesser-knows. The Discography provides a listing of CD reissues (if available) for each chapter, plus web sites where you'll most likely find them.
While seemingly an exhaustive tome, the author himself reminds us it's intended to stimulate preservation and future research: the final chapter "Miscellaneous Recordings" examines unissued recordings, "custom" noncommercial recordings, rumored but unconfirmed recordings, records by artists sometimes misidentified as black and more, in the hopes that future research will turn up more information.
Though massive at 656 pages, the book is highly readable and entertaining, very well organized and indexed making it easy to zoom in on particular aspects of interest. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the era of early recording in general, or African American studies in particular, and feel no library shelf should be without it. It's a wonderful resource for interdisciplinary studies.
A colorful look at a forgotten era.......2005-01-20
What a delight this thick book is, and what a challenge to describe adequately in a few sentences.
"Lost Sounds" is a detailed look at an aspect of the American music industry that is not just forgotten; it seems never to have been fully appreciated -- the early years of recorded music, with an emphasis on the essential contribution made by African American artists. The book has been praised as a unique reference work, and it is that; but it is also a rich history of late 19th- and early 20th-century American popular culture, as well as a collection of poignant personal stories of the entertainers who created it. Along the way, the book offers a primer on recording technology. And, although these accounts of once-popular performers and their now-unfamiliar careers and music are not in the least preachy, they do constitute a carefully documented examination of a key -- and painful -- era in American race relations.
Author Tim Brooks is himself an unobtrusive character in these adventures, the modest yet sympathetic researcher who has come along a century after the fact to ferret out the information, breathe new life into it, and in many instances save it from oblivion.
All of which makes "Lost Sounds" not only an extraordinary good read, but also an exceptional good deed.
Average customer rating:
- A pleasure to read
- A CLASSIC WOMANIST MANIFESTO!
- A Portrait without Air-brushing
- If My Soul Be Lost: LOVED EVERY LETTER!
- fresh, honest, and strong
|
If My Soul Be Lost: A Self Portrait
Dr. Nandi S. Crosby
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0719959152
Release Date: 2007-02-14 |
Book Description
Dr. Nandi S. Crosby currently works as a tenured university professor of Women's Studies and Sociology. If My Soul Be Lost chronicles her experiences growing up in a emotionally troubled home, as the daughter of an addict, as a female correctional officer in a maximum security prison for men, and it examines her struggles with sex and pregnancy prior to the age of 15. From a feminist perspective, the author discusses how she emerged as a successful scholar, activist, and writer. As a seasoned African American sociologist from the lower working class, she was able to unabashedly link the politics of sex, race, and power to generate this compelling story, written with the cacophony and verve of written-for-stage poetry.
Customer Reviews:
A pleasure to read.......2007-07-25
I enjoyed every moment of this nostalgic ride back down memory lane. Dr. Crosby is telling it like it is, without pretense or exaggeration. Well done my sister and keep em coming.
Antoine C.
A CLASSIC WOMANIST MANIFESTO!.......2007-04-21
This is the best biography that I have ever read. Dr. Crosby pens sheer passion and political poetry as she describes her awesome life. This hynpotic book defined, validated, and soothed all of the pain and isolation that I have ever felt as an African-American womanist. It also expertly exposed rabid colorism, sexism, and elitism in Egypt. This book is a masterful gift to womanist word singers and wounded African-American female souls...
[...].
Dr Crosby: Thank you for penning this masterpiece!
Alicia Banks
A Portrait without Air-brushing.......2007-04-08
Dr. Crosby's self-examination of feminism, class divides, and sexual power struggles in "If My Soul Be Lost", was an amazing and raw journey to read. I find it very inspiring for someone to bare all, while keeping the context intact. No melodrama here. For me, it was a chance to think even more critically where I fit, as a feminist, as a gay, white male, and as a professional who is looking for more. Excellent national debut, what a beautiful portrait.
If My Soul Be Lost: LOVED EVERY LETTER!.......2007-03-23
If My Soul Be Lost encapsulated everything that I think, breath, and feel as an educated, young, feminist, black woman. Thank you for writing an inspiring self-portrait that provides a place for me as well. Few contemporary works are able to accurately and poignantly depict the realities that many young black women face as this text has. So intensely profound I read it in one sitting . I cannot say much more but that I loved every letter of it....
fresh, honest, and strong.......2007-03-21
A well-written piece, that will/does capture a portrait of many lives. She reminds you over and over again, that she is still becoming a whole person, which is something most forget. Dr. Crosby speaks to every women/man struggling to create themselves from the inside out. This book kept my attention, with humor and a well-captured, well-executed sadness. She uncovers feminist concepts and ideas we all question, but "no one ever says so outloud." I recommend this book to anyone who has ever questioned their journey as a women, but most of all as a women.
Book Description
Help and Hope for a Widow's Heart
In the weeks and months following the loss of her husband, a widow may be numb with shock--or feel overwhelmed by a wide range of heartrending, and at times conflicting, emotions. Regardless of her response, she needs to know that she can and will make it through this difficult time. And she needs to know that--no matter how it feels--she is not alone.
More than two decades ago, author Lois Mowday Rabey experienced firsthand the confusion and devastation that follows a husband's death. When Your Soul Aches is an intimate collection of inspiration and insights born of that journey through grief. Every woman who has been rocked by the loss of her partner will find relief in Rabey's vulnerable and touching account of her real-life experiences and those of dozens of other widows.
Every widow's pain is unique. So are her circumstances and her experience. Yet she shares many questions and concerns with other women who have lost their husbands--ones that may be best addressed with the help of those who have previously walked through the fire.
Such is the help found in the pages of When Your Soul Aches. Written by a widow who remained single for ten years while raising her two daughters, it offers invaluable guidance to women facing the painful emotions and difficult challenges of widowhood.
Compassionate, empathetic, and wise, this book gently encourages those grieving the loss of their husbands to be honest about their feelings. At the same time, it offers real hope that life, though forever changed, can be sweet and good once again.
Customer Reviews:
Widow at 32.......2007-06-01
I have been a widow for 7 years now and this book has really helped me. I have a friend that was recently widowed and I am giving this book to her today. I've read many times over and it has really helped me to know that I am not alone and that the feelings I have are normal. I felt so alone until I read this book.
When Your Soul Aches.......2007-02-01
I myself have only skimmed through this book, but I have personally given it to 6 women so far who have lost their spouses - including to my step-mother. They have ALL spoken many times how this book gave them such peace during a very difficult time. They have all said too that they read the book over and over. I have recommended this book to friends to give as well, and they get the same response. I have asked the people that I have given it too what did they think was the best time to read this book and they have all said to wait at least a month after a death. Anytime after that it is very helpful!
Rays of Hope.......2006-08-22
After loosing my husband of 40 years to cancer in January of this year, I read many publications that were supposed to help me in the process of grieving and getting on with my life. They were well meant and did offer some comfort, but this book truly touched my heart and was the most helpful of all.
As Ms. Rabey recounted her own loss and subsequent journey to remake her life, her words described what I was feeling. She writes with great understanding and empathy; every woman's loss and grieving process is uniquely their own. In retrospect, she offers answers to many of the questions that haunt those who are in variouis stages of grieving and healing. I found courage and hope for my own journey in this wonderful little book.
From someone who knows.......2005-09-16
This book comforts and makes you feel like you are not alone, because you are not. I have given it to other women who have lost their husbands and they have been blessed by it as well.
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