Customer Reviews:
The problem is.................2007-09-15
Ayaan Hirsi Ali hits the world problem with terrorism today right on the head. The problem is not bin Laden, the problem is Muhammad and Islam. Read the Quran, and its all there. Islam must be changed. It is a "do or die" situation for us "ALL!"Eva-ChristSee this link for somme radical Christianity.
The Caged Virgin is a larger Metaphor than just Moslem Women.......2007-06-13
Now that Ms. Ali has finally arrived at the very gates of the belly of the Western cultural beast, she will begin to understand why America is so much loved on the one hand and at the same time loathed and despised on the other, and especially by the rest of the West. Not surprisingly, and for good reasons, many Americans harbor the same schizophrenic attitude about their own culture, as do outsiders.
The rest of the West too would like to remain forever as culturally crude and backward as we are - racist, anti-intellectual, overly pious, beer-drinking hell raisers -- but they lack the courage to be seen doing so. It takes a lot of gall to talk progressive on the world stage, as America does, while at the same time keeping your feet and sensibilities deeply mired in a brutal and regressive past. Most Western nations just do not have the stomach for, and find it undignified to engage in such openly raw hypocrisy. That is of course what so surprised me about the Dutch.
However, hypocrisy - arguably, the truest of American values -- is precisely the kind of problem that Ms. Ali is best suited to grapple with. "The Caged Virgin" demonstrates this with a flourish and with devastating effect. Ms. Ali's truths about Islamic treatment of women, is a devastatingly critique of Islam, a decidedly inconvenient truth for most Moslems. They squirm and call her names, issue death threats, but they know, as do we all that she is "dead on." Period. You can kill her if you want to, but the truth is out. We have seen the ugly side of the mind of Islam. The cat is out of the bag. This genie cannot be re-bottled whether Ms Ali is dead or alive.
When her honeymoon with America is over (and trust me, it will end). Ms. Ali will represent the same danger to reactionary and regressive forces here as she now does to the "prime movers" of Islam -- and as she eventually did in Holland. Equally, she will also make American liberals squirm as they did in the Netherlands. Bill Maher, America's resident liberal icon, held Ms. Ali at full arms length and was holding his nose at the same time when she appeared recently on his show, "Real Time with Bill Maher." It was uncomfortable for the first time seeing Bill uncomfortable.
As was the case in Holland, Americans also are likely to discover much too late, that, on the complex and intersecting grid of America's favorite chauvinisms, Ms. Ali is going to be a difficult bird to pigeonhole. Truth tellers can indeed be slippery creatures to put in a cage. Like the proverbial pea under the cup in "Three Card Molly:" now you see her, now you don't? Is she Ali or Magan? Is she liberal or conservative? Is she Muslim or Atheist? Is she feminist or just humanist?
The Dutch reaction to her after Theo Van Gogh's murder on the streets of Amsterdam, could easily be made into a bad American movie: First she was "their darling" so long as she was saying aloud what most Dutch were thinking and saying beneath their seething breathe. But then came the Muslim reaction, and Van Gogh's death, and Ayann became a decidedly "hot potato." What did the Dutch do? In classical American-like fashion, they found a technicality to retract her citizenship so as to better be able to deport her. When it was clear that she would move on to the U.S. anyway, they of course then restored it.
Can you belive that the Dutch government actually fell as a result of this self-inflicted nonesense - mostly out of sheer embarrassment, recrimination and hurt feelings in the aftermath of Ms. Ali's departure?
In America, a land where intersecting chauvinisms dictate loyalties and even structure identities, all truths (to parrot Al Gore's phrase) become "inconvenient truths." Before "Islamo-phobic America" starts dancing in the aisles at their good fortune on their new adopted hero, they should be forewarned that Ms. Ali's metaphors, especially that of a "Caged Virgin" has much wider range and application than just the ill-treatment of Moslem women: It can be generalized to include the victims of almost any kind of tyranny and oppression. It can be used as a staging ground against almost any form of tyranny - including racism, Christian fascism, or even reverse sexism. So hold the applause until the full measure of the woman has been taken.
I know that Ms. Ali is acutely aware, that as an Atheist, unlike in Holland, here in "religiously tolerant America," she can't be elected even to the position of dogcatcher, let alone as a Representative to the Congress as she was the case in Holland. However, if she should choose to sprinkle a bit of holy water on herself; dip her head in a bucket of water and mutter "Jesus loves you" five times, with no further qualitfications, she would be a shoo-in in for any office in almost every state in the Union.
Both the power and the beauty of this book as well as that of the metaphor of a "Caged Virgin" lies in the fact that it captures what happens to all victims of culturally sanctioned oppression and tyranny. The Caged Virgin, is indeed a universal metaphor for oppression.
Oppression is, always has been, and probably always will be first a mental game: The cage is always ones own mind. The mind is taught to interiorize the rules of society so that they eventually robotically work against ones own interests in the background. It is working to advance the interests of the oppressor, which are always disguised as an appeal to the larger moral standards of the community.
The bars to the cage are "sanctioned ignorance" fashioned and packaged as cultural, tribal or societal orthodoxy. The handmaiden of most "sanctioned ignorance" in most cultures whether "advanced primitive" or just "primitive," is religion. The purpose of the jail is preventive. It is to protect against, and outlaw even the possibility of future crimes -- as the powerbrokers of society defines them. The bars are thus a protection against "thought crimes" -- that is, against dangerous ideas. Virginity is a form of sexual innocence turned into a crime about sex before the fact. It is foolishness raised to a higher level; virtual nonsense obviously created in a sexually warped and repressed mind. As Christopher Kitchens noted in his book God is not Great, sexual repression and societal brutality always go hand-in-hand. You can't have one without the other.
Like the Dutch, the "head grunts in charge" of America's various chauvinistic cultural enterprises, do not yet know what to do with Ms. Ali: She is an African and thus has black skin; she talks like a white feminist but is avowedly too honest and to anti-racist to be one. She thinks and acts like an Atheist, yet she remains committed to those Moslem principles that still make sense. She lives in America, but cherishes her Dutch citizenship. What kind of bird is this? Can she be trusted on the complexly enforced grid of America chauvinisms? Does our culture have a (identity) jersey for her to wear?
Notice that the feminists - neither black nor white - have rushed up to meet her with a bouquet of roses. A Conservative American Think tank, "The American Enterprise Institute" has hired her, both to get her out of a difficult situation that had already begun to embarrass the Dutch, and to better quarantine her from normal xenophobic Americans. They too, it seems, wanted to get a better scope on what she smells like before fully embracing her.
If America has not figured this out yet, a word of warning; stop sniffing: Ms. Ali is pure Kryptonite. She is dangerous to America's hypocritical health: She has learned how not to deal in lies, neither "little white ones," the standard fare of American culture, nor the larger "dark ones" that the religious Ayatollahs and American politicians are so good at dispensing. Except for her most passionate pursuit, saving, enlightening and empowering Moslem women, her views straddle all of the most sensitive lines of the American political grid - race, sex, and religion -- and in addition to speaking a number of languages, she is also politically bilingual: She speaks liberalism and conservatism with equal fluency. Once the Islamic dragons have all been slain, I have no doubt that American hypocrisy will be next on her agenda.
I guarantee it. This is one woman who will shake the conscience of America.
Welcome, to America, my African sister!
Ten stars.
Greatly informative.......2007-05-13
Much of this I'd read and heard of but this is the best first-person accounting. I'd expected some dubious complaints, found a riveting story of truth and facts and personal acceptances and growth.
an important and moving book.......2007-01-25
Ayaan Hirsi Ali, author of The Caged Virgin, sets out to explain the Islamic religio-cultural mentality of staking a family's and clan's honor on the virginity and chastity of the females. Her book also exposes the numerous brutal and misogynistic practices perpetrated against women in order to keep them submissive and preserve the group's reputation; these practices include female genital mutilation, culturally sanctioned domestic abuse, forced marriages (including child marriages), and honor killings. One of Ayaan Hirsi Ali's key points is that this religio-cultural mentality and these abuses are prevalent in Muslim immigrant communities in the West. Unfortunately, politicians, academics, journalists and law enforcement officials often turn a blind eye on the plight of immigrant women, operate on a double standard that is tacitly permissive of these "cultural differences", or simply do not work efficiently enough at assisting Muslim women who are in danger.
The author herself, born in Somalia, suffered forced genital mutilation as a child and fled an arranged marriage to a stranger; growing up she was also educated to despise infidels, particularly Jews. When she arrived as a refugee in Holland, she took up work as an interpreter among Dutch Muslims and saw firsthand numerous examples of the problems and traumas of Dutch Muslim women and also men. She then became an MP, in the hopes of implementing public policy that would assist immigrants. In her book, and in speeches and interviews that she has given, she criticizes a "multicultural" or "politically correct" approach to the immigrant communities, which allows those communities to operate entirely with their own separate set of values and not assimilate any conception of individual, universal rights and personal freedom. Community leaders are often quick to call any criticism of their cultural practices as "racist" or "intolerant", no matter that in Dutch society - and western society in general - some of these practices are outright criminal. Politically correct, multiculturalist politicians and officials would rather not "offend" these outspoken representatives of the immigrant community, even though by not causing any offense, they are ignoring the suffering of too many Dutch Muslim women and girls, who live on Dutch soil and are entitled to the government's protection from harm and oppression. The same scenario plays out in other European countries, as well, and might be taking root in the US; community spokespeople and heads of ethnic and immigrant organizations will be quick to use the language of western values and multiculturalism in order to direct attention away from the absence of such values in their communities.
All of these issues are discussed in the book, which is not written as a hateful rant or an angry diatribe. The author writes urgently and with feeling; these matters are understandably close to her heart, and should be of utmost importance to the world at large as well. Though in recent years she embraced atheism, she does not prescribe this as a course of action, and she does not write contemptuously of religious Muslims. What she urges is an age of enlightenment for Islam; she wishes for free thought, unhindered expressions of dissent, and a general promotion of the welfare of women, including their active participation as equals in the social sphere. She cites examples of Muslim women and girls in Europe who are yearning not to conform exactly to their families' wishes; they might want something as simple as dressing in a more western style, to choosing whom they wish to marry, what job to hold, how many children to have. The author sees in these women the promise of a reform for how Islam is still widely practiced. She hopes for the predominance of more modern and liberal interpretations of the Koran.
The book includes the script that Ayaan Hirsi Ali wrote for Submission, the film directed by Theo Van Gogh, who was brutally murdered by a jihadist for his audacity to use his personal right of free expression in order to criticize cultural abuses; the film focuses on passages from the Koran that have been used to justify various abusive practices against women. The Caged Virgin also includes an open letter to Muslim women and girls who come from strict, traditionalist families but who are seriously contemplating starting their own life and not conforming to their families' idea of what life for a woman should be like. Again, to make this clear, the author does not lump all Muslims together into one way of thinking or practicing their religion. She also describes her own family honestly and without bitterness; she will quite clearly write about the pain caused by her father's rejection of her, but also notes the times when, growing up, he complimented her intelligence and generally had more of a sense of humor than her mother. Her father was also opposed to female genital mutilation; it was her grandmother who arranged for it to happen, during one of her father's lengthy absences from home. She does not set out to portray all Muslim women as victims; she points out great courage and strength when she has observed those traits, and she also makes the important observation that women themselves police and enforce misogynistic cultural practices. Her concern also extends to how these cultural practices affect men - boys, for instance, who grow up in a household with an uneducated and abused mother, and men who enter marriage with no understanding of women.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali writes with courage, honesty, and clarity; she expresses her personal vision and does not shy from exposing abuse. She knows what is at stake here, from the personal lives of Muslims to the broader issue of peaceful co-existence with the west. She dismantles the arguments of politically correct multiculturalists without viciousness, only with steady persuasiveness. She is a necessary voice in public life and the ongoing struggle for personal freedom and individual values.
Courageous and highly readable .......2007-01-14
In this perceptive work, Ayaan Hirsi Ali explores a major problem of our times with admirable fluency and erudition. In the preface she points out the similarity in attitude towards the Soviets by leftists then and Islamic culture now by the adherents of multiculturalism. Because of the victim culture, those intellectuals refuse to criticize oppressive practices as Muslims are perceived to be victims of the West. For the same reason, Israel is fiercely condemned because it belongs to the West while the Palestinians get a free pass. She considers this wrongheaded and racism in its purest form, the idea of the "other" that must be shielded at all costs.
She asks the advocates of the multicultural society to acquaint themselves with the suffering of women who are treated as chattels. The notion of "group rights" are detrimental to Muslim women, and without emancipation, the socially disadvantageous position of Muslims will persist. She laments the fact that Muslim women are not listened to and calls for self-examination in the culture. Hirsi Ali also deals with the clash of cultures in Europe and examines the triangles of power in the Muslim world itself: the triangle of the strong leader, the clergy and the army, and the triangle of apathy, fundamentalism and refugees/emigration.
The author provides a brief history of her early childhood in Somalia and her personal emancipation when she emigrated to the Netherlands and explains why she had to leave Holland for the USA. There is also an interview with prominent Canadian Muslim reformer Irshad Manji, a chapter on genital mutilation and 10 tips for Muslim women who wish to leave their oppressive circumstances. A full transcript of the documentary film Submission is included, the movie that led to the death of Theo van Gogh. Hirsi Ali claims that instead of empowering Muslim students through research and training, European universities have become activist centers to further the Palestinian cause.
She considers Muslims in Europe and around the world to fall into three broad categories: the terrorists and the fundamentalists that assist them, the tiny group of reformers that embraces the open society and the large number of undecideds who are caught in a mental vise, the painful contradiction between the harsh tenets of an intolerant religion and the values of the open society. She believes that the first victims of Muhammad are the minds of Muslims themselves as they exist in a situation of cognitive dissonance. Western cultural relativists flinch from criticism of Muhammad for fear of offence, preventing western Muslims from reviewing their own moral values.
This insightful work provides first-hand experience and knowledge of the particular worldview and serves as an appeal for clear thinking, enlightenment and individual liberation. Hirsi Ali nails it when she shows how various evils result from a belief based on fear. Although not flawless, The Caged Virgin is a torch of courage and reason in the darkness of oppression and brainwashing. The book concludes with bibliographic notes and an index. I also recommend Now They Call Me Infidel by Nonie Darwish, Because They Hate by Brigitte Gabriel, Menace In Europe by Claire Berlinski, While Europe Slept by Bruce Bawer and The Force Of Reason by the late Orianna Fallaci.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Resource.......2006-06-25
Leila Ahmed's "Woman and Gender in Islam: Historical Roots of a Modern Debate" is an outstanding contribution to the field of Middle Eastern Women's Studies. Ahmed explores and effectively dissects the many intersections between women, gender, and Islam. Her book is readable and makes an excellent sourcebook for those who are interested in the historical foundations of women and Islam.
Particular focus is placed on Egyptian women.
Everyone should read this.......2004-05-11
By far the best scholarly and historical work amidst the increasing number of books on this topic. Particularly interesting is the discussion of how Muslim caliphs adopted the Persian custom of having huge imperial harems. Of course, this is one of the aspects of "Muslim" culture that really tantalized the early Orientalists, as discussed by Edward Said in his book on the subject.
Good history book.......2002-10-01
This is a good book for anyone to read who doesn't know much about Islam. The author gives several chapters of in-depth history of the rise of Islam. It is interesting to read--not dry and boring like a lot of other detailed history books.
Brilliant and informative........2001-10-17
Leila Ahmed gives a brilliant and informative read about the history of women in Islam. Her book maintains both factual information along with anecdotal pieces which only enhance our understanding of the lives involved in the religion and politics of Islamic civilisations. While the book focuses on Egypt, it should be understand that Egypt is taken as a very typical regime with the exception of perhaps Morocco and Saudi Arabia as polar extremes. Ahmed clearly has a humanistic objective of equality in all her points, though never too harshly. The book carries a very clear picture of issues and can even help a lot of us consider what Western false concepts of female equality we truly have.
A serious work with no apologies for her feminism.......2001-07-25
This book was assigned reading in my NYU course about the Middle East. Written by Leila Ahmed, a professor of Near Eastern studies at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and the Director of the Women's Studies program there, it reinforced some basic information we studied from other textbooks, with a particular emphasis on women's role in Middle Eastern history. The book is well researched, with little-known documentation from pre-Islamic history on up to the present, citing what is known of ancient marriage laws and including literary writings and histories of some 19th and 20th Century women writers. Her particular feminist position is apparent throughout and there are no apologies for this. Often she writes about the veil and blames colonialism for using it as a misunderstood interpretation of women's subjugation.
The second half of her book concentrates specifically on Egypt and it was fascinating. However, I would have liked to see more about the other countries, especially as she got into modern times. I also would have enjoyed reading her insights about the changes and challenges occurring today. It is refreshing to see a serious work such as this written by an Islamic woman and I hope she continues bringing her skills in research and interpretation to the public. Recommended.
Average customer rating:
- Full of information on every aspect of running. A Must!
- Women are different than men!
- Great book for beginners and well-taylored to women
- Excellent choice!
- The best yet
|
The Complete Book Of Running For Women
Claire Kowalchik
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Running & Jogging
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Women's Health
| Personal Health
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Running & Jogging
| Individual Sports
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Women in Sports
| Miscellaneous
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Health Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Sports Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer
-
Runner's World Complete Book of Women's Running: The Best Advice to Get Started, Stay Motivated, Lose Weight, Run Injury-Free, Be Safe, and Train for Any Distance (Runner's World Complete Books)
-
The Runner's Handbook : The Bestselling Classic Fitness Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Runners (2nd rev Edition)
-
4 Months to a 4-Hour Marathon,Updated
-
The Nonrunner's Marathon Guide for Women: Get Off Your Butt and On with Your Training
Accessories:
-
Tanita BC554 Ironman Glass InnerScan Body Composition Monitor Elite Series
-
Luna Bars, Nutz Over Chocolate, 1.69-Ounce Bars (Pack of 15)
ASIN: 0671017039 |
Book Description
More women than ever are discovering the unique benefits of running -- for
stress relief, weight management, endurance, and self-esteem. Women's
bodies are not the same as men's, and though we can train just as hard and
with the same passion for excellence, we have certain special concerns.
Finally, there is a comprehensive guide exclusively for women who
experience the pure joy of running, or want to.
It's the simplest, fastest, most accessible way to fitness and good health known to woman. You don't need a partner, equipment, or even much time. Now, Claire Kowalchik, former managing editor of Runner's World magazine, answers every question about the overwhelmingly popular activity that builds endurance, melts fat, and even prevents illness. In this total running book for women, you'll learn:
- How to get started and stay motivated
- What to eat for optimal nutrition
- How to run during pregnancy and after menopause
- Why running is the most effective form of exercise
- How to prevent and treat injury
- What to wear -- from sports bras to running shoes
- How to prepare for everything from a 5K to a marathon
Authoritative and friendly, The Complete Book of Running for Women is a sourcebook for both beginners and long-time runners. Along with wisdom drawn from the author's personal experience, you'll find advice from the experts: coaches, exercise physiologists, nutritionists, doctors, and other women runners. Including question-and-answer sections and a complete list of resources, The Complete Book of Running for Women tells you everything you need to know to be off and running toward better health and richer living.
Customer Reviews:
Full of information on every aspect of running. A Must!.......2007-09-28
I have been running for about a year now but was getting discouraged so I picked this up at the library. It is an easy read and answers every question possible that you would have. This is a great reference guide, it gives information on how to buy shoes, strength building techniques, stretching exercises, to where various types of marathons are held as well as how to train for each level and type of marathon. I'm 38 and not sure if I really anticipate doing anything more than a 5K but I learned a ton through this book. I wish I would've had this a year ago.
Women are different than men!.......2007-05-19
This book helped me understand volumes about myself. Who knew really how different our running needs are!
Great book for beginners and well-taylored to women.......2007-04-18
This book is exceptional. An easy read and gives you everything you'd ever think you'd need to know (and more) about running for a beginner woman runner. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and after completing it, I felt 200% more prepared to actually start training for lightly competitive races and a further developing racing hobby/career.
Excellent choice!.......2007-03-23
This book is really amazing I just do not know where to start, so I will make long story short.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is a beginner, is already a runner, jogger or wants to improve thier fitness level, loose weight or do a marathon. I have never received such precise information all summed up it gives you great advice on:
How the body functions, while running
How to improve your technics depending what goal you would like to achieve,
Why you should wear certain clothes in order to feel comfortable while running
All the advantages and disadvantes of certain technis etc.
What nutrition you should eat in order to keep you level and so on
And by reading all of this it makes more sense to me why I did not achieve certain goals and how to stay motivated to reach certain goals!
The best yet.......2007-03-14
I have bought many running books since I began running a year ago. I would have saved myself alot if I had ordered this one first. It is informative and balanced. I especially enjoyed the information on nutrition. Get this book first and save your money for a good pair of running shoes
Book Description
What happens when your Prince Charming turns out not to be so charming after all? In To Have and To Hold, bestselling author Jane Green offers a sizzling, highly entertaining look at romantic relationships after we say “I do.”
Alice knows she should be happy. A charming twenty-eight-year-old with a successful catering business, she’s always dreamed of a rose-covered cottage in the English countryside, filled with children and animals and home-cooked meals. Her favorite attire is comfy jeans, her best manicure features garden dirt under the nails. But when her teenage crush—the wealthy, dashing man-about-town Joe Chambers—wants to make her his bride, Alice is more than willing to play Cinderella to Joe’s prince. Never mind that he wants her to change—a diet, ice-blond highlights, stilettos, snooty gallery openings—and that he’s allergic to nature and kids. She tells herself she’s happy to sacrifice for love, and besides, with Joe’s stunning good looks and high-profile career at a top financial firm, every woman in London wants to be in her shoes.
But that’s just the problem. Despite Alice’s efforts to be the perfect wife, Joe soon reveals a penchant for being hopelessly unfaithful. When a notorious indiscretion with a female colleague forces Joe to transfer to New York, Alice’s life turns upside down. As Joe continues to sneak around, and her best friend’s beau offers a tempting glimpse of what real love could be like, Alice must decide how much Cinderella she can take before her deepest desires win out—and if she can summon up the courage to find real happiness on her own.
Delicious, witty, and packed with sparkling sex appeal, To Have and To Hold is an unputdownable read that will have you rooting out loud for its endearing heroine. A #1 bestseller in Britain, this latest tale from the beloved, utterly winning Jane Green proves that the search for true love doesn’t always end when someone dons a veil, and offers a lively, refreshing take on modern marriage.
Download Description
What happens when your Prince Charming turns out not to be so charming after all? In To Have and To Hold, bestselling author Jane Green offers a sizzling, highly entertaining look at romantic relationships after we say "I do."
Alice knows she should be happy. A charming twenty-eight-year-old with a successful catering business, she's always dreamed of a rose-covered cottage in the English countryside, filled with children and animals and home-cooked meals. Her favorite attire is comfy jeans, her best manicure features garden dirt under the nails. But when her teenage crush—the wealthy, dashing man-about-town Joe Chambers—wants to make her his bride, Alice is more than willing to play Cinderella to Joe's prince. Never mind that he wants her to change—a diet, ice-blond highlights, stilettos, snooty gallery openings—and that he's allergic to nature and kids. She tells herself she's happy to sacrifice for love, and besides, with Joe's stunning good looks and high-profile career at a top financial firm, every woman in London wants to be in her shoes.
But that's just the problem. Despite Alice's efforts to be the perfect wife, Joe soon reveals a penchant for being hopelessly unfaithful. When a notorious indiscretion with a female colleague forces Joe to transfer to New York, Alice's life turns upside down. As Joe continues to sneak around, and her best friend's beau offers a tempting glimpse of what real love could be like, Alice must decide how much Cinderella she can take before her deepest desires win out—and if she can summon up the courage to find real happiness on her own.
Delicious, witty, and packed with sparkling sex appeal, To Have and To Hold is an unputdownable read that will have you rooting out loud for its endearing heroine. A #1 bestseller in Britain, this latest tale from the beloved, utterly winning Jane Green proves that the search for true love doesn't always end when someone dons a veil, and offers a lively, refreshing take on modern marriage.
"Green is the queen of the chick lit literati—her books are just so damn readable.... For sheer enjoyment, To Have and To Hold can't be beaten."
GLAMOUR
"A deftly humorous and insightful take on modern marriage."
COSMOPOLITAN
"As ever, Jane Green whips up a sparkling morality tale that points the finger at bad boys and low rent romance."
THE INDEPENDENT
"A compulsive read, with women you can't help rooting for."
NEW WOMAN
Customer Reviews:
Pretty good.......2007-08-15
Short book but I liked it. I really wanted to slap Alice and be like OPEN YOUR EYES!!! HE'S A SCUMBAG!! It was hard to read because of my feelings on cheating and whatnot. But still a good book and I really liked the ending.
An interesting look into one woman's journey to self.......2007-06-05
To what extent will a woman go to preserve the illusion around her? How far will she drift from her true self before she begins to paddle back to shore? This is the story of a wife living a carefully balanced life--of contrived appearances and comfort on one side...fear and complacency on the other. By tipping that scale, she finds satisfaction and fulfillment.
Surprisingly poignant .......2007-05-22
This book was in my to-read stack for about a year before I ever picked it up. This wasn't because I didn't want to read it-it's just that of all the books by this author I have read I only really liked one of them (that was "Jemima J" which is very good actually) and found the others to be, frankly, quite badly written (especially "Mr. Maybe".) But finally I picked this one up, expecting it to be a quick, uncomplicated read. I was wrong.
This book is actually a very in-depth exploration of marriage and infidelity. I was honestly surprised at poignant and sweet it was. This isn't the story of a wife who finds who finds out her husband is cheating on her and falls apart, it's the story of a wife who catered to her husbands every whim because she was terrified of losing him and then found herself again. And it's not corny or lifetime movie-ish at all. Quite a feat really.
It took me several days to read this, and I enjoyed it. I recommend it.
Four stars.
A Daring Character Study.......2007-04-09
This novel starts out dark with a very unlikable character. By the end, you'll see what was motivating him and cheer as he changes.
Chick-Lit with Heart.......2006-11-21
Jane Green has yet again produced an enticing romantic chick-lit novel. Alice, our main character, is the perfect trophy wife living in London. She has given up everything that she once called herself to be with her husband, including her dreams of living in the country with a large family. When event cause the couple to move to New York she finally gets her chance to live in the country (when they buy a house in Connecticut). As Alice spends more time in the country, a Joe spends more time in the city; Alice finds herself and what she most wants in life.
As far as chick-lit goes, I found this to be better than Bridget Jones, Edge of Reason. If you enjoy this genre of book, I can guarantee you'll love this novel.
Average customer rating:
- Mostly boring
- An Australian Journey
- enjoyable read
- no title
- An Excellent Choice - The Road from Coorain
|
The Road from Coorain
Jill Ker Conway
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Authors
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Historical
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Australia
| Australia & Oceania
| History
| Subjects
| Books
New Zealand
| Australia & Oceania
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Social Groups
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
United States
| Education
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Biographies & Memoirs
| Book Clubs
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside History Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Look Inside Nonfiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
True North: A Memoir
-
An American Childhood
-
When Memory Speaks
-
Written by Herself: Volume I: Autobiographies of American Women: An Anthology
-
A Woman's Education
ASIN: 0679724362
Release Date: 1990-08-11 |
Book Description
From the shelter of a protective family, to the lessons of tragedy and independence, this is an indelible portrait of a harsh and beautiful country and the inspiring story of a remarkable woman's life.
Customer Reviews:
Mostly boring.......2007-10-18
Jill Ker was born in 1934 in the west of New South Wales, Australia.She grew up on a sheep ranch.She had her share of troubles: her father drowned, possibly it was a suicide, when she was 11. At age 14 her charismatic elder brother died in a car crash. In her 20s her mother began to lose her mental balance. Jill studied history at the University of Sydney and at 25 went to Harvard.Her childhood on a sheep station has some interest, but the details of her unremarkable academic studies are tedious.She comes across as an introverted person who found it difficult to make friends.She had little fun in life: no jolly japes, no humorous anecdotes.Her self-centeredness and lack of humor make for dull reading.
An Australian Journey.......2007-10-07
This beautiful book tells the story of one girl's childhood on an isolated sheep farm in Australia; that girl would eventually end up as the first woman president of Smith College, one of the finest universities in the United States (part of the Seven Sisters). Before that, she studied at the University of Sydney, moving on to Harvard University in the States. Much like the movie, "My Brilliant Career," the story follows the harsh living conditions of her youth and her meteoric rise to success.
The part of the story that will speak to you most clearly, however, is that of the young girl with golden dreams who faces so much adversity and such little chance of escaping her isolating circumstances. Her father owned 30,000 arid acres in Australia and when the land succumbed to drought, he committed suicide; shortly thereafter, her brother was in an auto accident that resulted in his death. Faced with these tragedies, Conway's mother was overcome with depression and unable to help her daughter succeed. That Jill Ker Conway lets none of that prevent her from reaching a pinnacle of success that no one in her family or community in Australia could ever have imagined for her is the stuff of dreams.
enjoyable read.......2007-02-12
The wonderful autobiography entitled, The Road From Coorain, written by Jill Ker Conway is a must-read! Her engaging and rich detail gives an enchanting description of the Australian life-style from a very unique perspective.
Beginning in the 1930's, young Jill Ker lived with her tightly-knit family on a ranch called Coorain, Australia. Isolated in the desert and located far from Sydney, Coorain, has created an unordinary life-style for not only Jill but for her two brothers, Barry and Bob. Maintaining the remote Coorain is the family's only way to ensure stability and in the eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Ker; the significance of Coorain is considered more important than a formal education. Though, when the dreadful droughts of the arid terrain continue to spontaneously appear, life becomes awfully challenging and difficult for the Ker family. Suffering from famine because of the lack of crops and animals, Coorain becomes involved in a downward spiral. As a result, Jill as well as other family members, encounter the enormous struggle of overcoming the concept of death and sorrow. As Jill grows into a young woman, she faces unfortunate events that set her back, creating various obstacles as she journeys down the unpredictable road of life. Faced with challenges romantically, intellectually, and within the family ultimately affects her career and talents, though somehow Jill miraculously manages to succeed.
Choosing an academic career as a historian, Jill faced the constant struggle of chauvinism living as a young woman during the 1950's. Her passion and remarkable academic achievements clearly demonstrated her natural talent as a student. Unfortunately, the unfair privileges men had in contrast to women was a constant obstacle. Jill had potential and unlike some other women, had the possibility of attaining her high hopes and dreams. Her brilliance and intellectual capability distinguished her as an individual, though she was unfortunately not recognized with equality because she was woman. "But I received a blandly courteous letter thanking me for my interest. I was dumfounded. Milton and I had ranked first in our class and were to be awarded the University Medal jointly for our academic achievements. I could scarcely believe that my refusal was because I was a woman...I knew I was no more and no less intellectually aggressive than Milton and Rob. That left my sex and my appearance." Though Jill Ker faced multiple obstacles throughout her life, she clearly proves that hard work and perseverance is a powerful way to achieve one's goals.
This engaging autobiography is filled with compelling and descriptive prose. Beautifully written, Mrs. Conway eloquently yet succinctly expresses the many conflicts one can be presented in life. Given her natural gravitation towards the subject of history, she enlightens the reader with interesting historical backgrounds of the many places she has traveled. Her simplistic, yet thought-provoking perspectives maintain one's fascination throughout the course of the book. Every moment I spend reading it was enjoyable. Mrs. Conway's, informative yet concise style of writing kept me actively involved. Her marvelously written descriptions, gave me an excellent understanding of the rural Australian life-style: "On the western side the mountains' gentler hills sloped down to rolling countryside; valleys covered with rich black soil sheltered streams winding westward. The gentle slopes rising from each watercourse were crowned with orchards in blossom, while below the contoured patterns of spring crops burst in brilliant green from the dark earth. I liked looking at this scenery with the dew still on it, well before the heat of the day." This autobiography filled with endless drama, love, and the hardships of life, is a definite must-read!
no title.......2005-11-19
I related to and thoroughly enjoyed this book. Conway's descriptions of Australia are beautiful. She has written a follow-up book which I would like to read also. And on second reading, I feel more and more that perhaps her mother had some chemical imbalance, because she changed so drastically. Either that, or her repressed emotions after the deaths of her husband and her oldest son in the space of five years, led her to the bitter old woman she became.
An Excellent Choice - The Road from Coorain.......2005-09-22
I'd recommend the The Road from Coorain anytime. I thought Jill Ker Conway's description of Australia was wonderfully descriptive. I felt I was there as she described her life in the bush as well as the city. Her ability to convey her feelings and her understanding of her situation growing up in a less than idealic life came through the pages as each situation developed. The book left me admiring her strength of character and understanding.
Unlike a book I recently read about the life a a political figure, I found Jill was able to touch on the emotion and struggle that life had dealt her and potray an understanding of the impact on her life. Definitely worth reading.
Book Description
"I think it is the most eloquent of female dances, with its haunting lyricism, its fire, its endlessly shifting kaleidoscope of sensual movement."
With these words, Wendy Buonaventura explains her own fascination with Arabic dance. Her book is a unique celebration of the female dancers of the Arab world, and their impact on the West. She explains the origins of this ancient art, which has survived in the face of commercialism, religious disapproval and changing times.
Focusing on the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, she shows how Arabic dance came to be influenced by Western ideas about art and entertainment. But the influence was two-way. In the heyday of "Orientalism," Arabic dance exerted a powerful influence on the Western imagination-on such writers as Flaubert, such artists as David Roberts and Jean-Leon Gerome, and such imitators as Colette and Mata Hari. Their fascination was often based on common fantasies about the women of the Middle East. Yet, as the book's sumptuous illustrations show, this obsession also produced wonderfully evocative images. At the turn of the century, the genre also had an impact on fashion, theater and popular entertainment.
Customer Reviews:
For the Bellydance Afficionado.......2002-11-17
Lots of colour pictures ... past & present ...including old paintings, quotes & accounts of the people who actually watched belly dancing...& then tried to describe it!
For those just starting out to find out about Bellydancing & such enthusiasts,there are some pictures of famous older dancers, past & present .. Samya Gamal, Fifi Abdou & Sohair Zaki.
More like a collection of cameos than a real in-depth exploration of the Art Form, or Elucidation of the styles & Expression... but it IS a good coffee-table book & nice, informative read .
FOr the Pictures, if Nothing Else.......2002-07-04
I can't speak to the accuracy of Wendy Buonaventura's history of belly dancing, though I found no evidence of the most controversial complaint, that she fails to note the role of European Orientalists in fabricating our notions of Middle-Eastern dance. In fact, she discusses this very thing at length.
The treasure in the book is the collection of paintings. Where else can you see Dinet's gorgeous watercolors? I had never even heard of him. Are the pictures accurate? I suspect they are. Are they representative? Of course not. Like Gauguin in Tahiti, the Orientalists saw what they wanted to see.
Inspirational, but Flawed.......2001-07-26
Wendy Buonaventura obviously loves raks baladi ("country" or folkloric belly dance) with a passion. As sometimes happens with authors passionate about a subject, she unfortunately treats her opinions as facts upon occasion. As a dancer, I love the glorious Orientalist pictures, early 20th-century photos and fascinatingly slanted accounts from Western travellers, and I love her feelings for the dance. It's a beautiful book to peruse, and you can get some marvelous ideas for theatrical costuming from it. But like the Orientalists she reviews, Buonaventura presents an exotic and monolithic Middle East, where Egypt represents this entire diverse region and where nothing changes over time. She also perpetuates the popular myth that this is a *women's* dance, whereas in truth both sexes dance at private functions, and in both Egypt and Turkey, men historically performed as well. (Western tourists just weren't interested!) Read this for its lovely artwork and, if you're a dancer, for a feel-good spiritual connection with earlier dancers--but if you're interested in the subject of dance history, do some further research. And if you are involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism, PLEASE don't use this book for costume documentation. Egyptian clothing pre-1600 was very, very different.
great pictures but..........2000-08-29
The quality and quantity of pictures in this book is wonderful and there is also some good information but unfortunately all the information is not very accurate and there are even many things that are not true. As a book this is nice to watch but as this book has become "a bible of belly dance" when other more accurate documents have been hard to find I can't rate this higher because readers tend to believe everything that is written here.
Or, Belly Dancing for Dummies! A Good Resource and Accessory.......2000-07-26
"Serpent of the Nile" is a wonderful book for anyone with an interest in Middle Eastern Dance, which is currently gaining tremendous popularity in the West. The author traces the art of 'Beladi,' what we now refer to as 'belly-dancing' from its origin to how it has changed over time. There is a lot of very interesting information in here, written concisely and accessibly, even for those of us who are not overly concerned with history; such as the need for male dancers to entertain the public when women were forbidden to do so, how the patriarchal nature of Arabic society affected Beladi, and how the Westerners exoticised and perhaps even corrupted the original form of dance. But the beauty of this book lies in its stunning pictures, a treat for the eyes! Photographs of sculptures, paintings and engravings of dancers and musicians fill the pages and make it an ideal coffee table book. A wonderful resource.
Average customer rating:
- The Crossroad
- Sequel to the postcard
- A fitting end indeed
- Blindness Mended by Love
- Very enjoyable read
|
The Crossroad (Amish Country Crossroads #2)
Beverly Lewis
Manufacturer: Bethany House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Historical
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Romance
| Literature & Fiction
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Missions & Missionary Work
| Evangelism
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Romance
| Fiction
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Fiction
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Lewis, Beverly
| ( L )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Regency
| Historical
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Postcard (Amish Country Crossroads #1)
-
October Song
-
Sanctuary
-
The Redemption of Sarah Cain
-
The Sunroom
ASIN: 0764222120
Release Date: 1999-11-01 |
Book Description
A Captivating Tale Set in the Heart of Amish Country!
After the dramatic conclusion to his discovery of a long-lost postcard, journalist Philip Bradley simply cannot forget the Amish people he met while on assignment in Pennsylvania particularly Rachel Yoder and her young daughter, Annie. Rachel's cheerful outlook, in spite of her blindness, and her appealing, uncomplicated lifestyle beckon Philip amid the high-paced existence of his New York career.
Philip's newfound knowledge of the true reason for Rachel's loss of sight spurs him on to uncover what he can about the possibility for a cure. In Lancaster County, Rachel has her own ideas about the way her vision might be restored, and it doesn't include the local healer
and his black box. Now, Rachel firmly believes the God she serves is the only One who can grant her sight, but as the memories of the trauma she suffered begin to resurface, Rachel questions whether she can bear the agonizing road to recovery.
Drawn back to Lancaster County over the Christmas holidays, Philip struggles with the vast gulf separating him from the beautiful Plain woman. Rachel has suffered unbearable heartache; will his growing affection for her only bring more of the same? Or must Philip and Rachel sacrifice a future together for the sake of all they know and love?
Customer Reviews:
The Crossroad .......2007-08-23
This was a great book well written. I could not put it down I read the whole book in one day. I Love Beverly Lewis books. I had read one and I am hooked I am now in the process of trying to get all of her books to read.
Sequel to the postcard.......2005-09-09
The sequel of the Post Card. From an ordinary post card to a life of two people who are from different worlds. Read to see how they are brought together.
A fitting end indeed.......2005-05-14
This book is the perfect sequel (and conclusion) to the story of Rachel Yoder and Philip Bradley.
It left no end untied, no strings hanging, and basically ended on a very high note.
What more can I say? Read it!
Blindness Mended by Love.......2004-10-31
An amazing read and a real page turner. Philip has to return to New York and the hustle and the bustle. Rachel learning to cope with her blindness and her mother's urging to visit with the local healer and his black box.
Philip while home begins to research about Rachel's self-inflicted blindness and how to bring her eyesight back.
He returns to Lancaster county for Christmas to see if he can help Rachel regain her sight. And to see if the feelings he has for her are reciprocated. Trying to bridge the gap that has separated them is no easy task but Philip is willing to try anything. Among the people he tries to live but finds it very hard.
Rachel's parents aren't much help either. Trying to keep their daughter safe from outsiders they practically shun him.
Philip and Rachel are relucent to see where these feelings could lead them and unsure of how their two worlds could mesh together. Neither share with each other what is in their hearts. Until a visit with a friend shows Philip that he need to tell Rachel everything he feels for her.
Very enjoyable read.......2002-11-17
This pair of books about a traditional Amish family and a modern man was an enjoyable read.(The Postcard and The Crossroads) Lots of human interest, a little mystery, and insight into another culture.
Book Description
The bestselling author who made mincemeat of political correctness in Thank You for Smoking, conspiracy theories in Little Green Men, and Presidential indiscretions No Way to Treat a First Lady now takes on the hottest topic in the entire world–Arab-American relations–in a blistering comic novel sure to offend the few it doesn’t delight.
Appalled by the punishment of her rebellious friend Nazrah, youngest and most petulant wife of Prince Bawad of Wasabia, Florence Farfarletti decides to draw a line in the sand. As Deputy to the deputy assistant secretary for Near East Affairs, Florence invents a far-reaching, wide-ranging plan for female emancipation in that part of the world.
The U.S. government, of course, tells her to forget it. Publicly, that is. Privately, she’s enlisted in a top-secret mission to impose equal rights for the sexes on the small emirate of Matar (pronounced “Mutter”), the “Switzerland of the Persian Gulf.” Her crack team: a CIA killer, a snappy PR man, and a brilliant but frustrated gay bureaucrat. Her weapon: TV shows.
The lineup on TV Matar includes A Thousand and One Mornings, a daytime talk show that features self-defense tips to be used against boyfriends during Ramadan; an addictive soap opera featuring strangely familiar members of the Matar royal family; and a sitcom about an inept but ruthless squad of religious police, pitched as “Friends from Hell.”
The result: the first deadly car bombs in the country since 1936, a fatwa against the station’s entire staff, a struggle for control of the kingdom, and, of course, interference from the French. And that’s only the beginning.
A merciless dismantling of both American ineptitude and Arabic intolerance, Florence of Arabia is Christopher Buckley’s funniest and most serious novel yet, a biting satire of how U.S. good intentions can cause the Shiite to hit the fan.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding pointed (and poignant) satire.......2007-04-25
I knew that _Florence of Arabia_ wasn't going to pull punches from the opening paragraphs, describing -- with only minor changes to the emblem -- the actual location and appearance of the Saudi Arabian diplomatic residence on Chain Bridge Road in McLean. I know because I drove by that residence scores of times in the eight years that I lived in the DC area. And while the satire gets broad at time, I wonder if it could ever exceed the ludicrous reality of Middle East society and politics, both internal and international.
More importantly, _Florence of Arabia_ makes you care about the characters and care about the reality as well -- again, rare traits for a satire, which usually struggles just to keep you amused and often fails when it becomes didactic or polemic.
This is an excellent work, in all sense of that phrase. And speaking of phrases, I continue to be haunted by this one: "One way or the other...we're all working for investment bankers." Read the book. ..bruce..
Funny! Scary!.......2007-04-05
The premise of this exceptional book is silly - send an American woman to a moderate Middle Eastern country to start up an Oprah-like gab-fest for the veiled ladies of the Middle East, rile them up by showing them what they are lacking, and let them lead the revolt to free the Middle East of tyranny, mullahs, and Sharia. This is funny stuff and it actually makes sense. But there are men - American government official? - working behind the scenes, pulling the strings, stirring the pot. What begins as a funny romp of cultural clashes ends as a searing yet plausible expose of who really runs the world. For anyone interested in what is going on in the world today, and anyone that likes a good conspiracy - this is a must read.
Junk food that is junk.......2006-11-29
I love good ice cream. My waist line demonstrates that. And I love reading comic and satirical and politically incorrect literature. My bookshelves attest to that. Ever buy a half gallon of cheap ice cream? It has a delightful picture on the box, carefully sculpted and glistening pleasure, but when you open it up, the flavor and texture are corn starch and wax. And the next time you open it, there's some weird congealed stuff in the corner that looks like, well, like things we cannot mention here. So although the box is labeled ice cream, and the picture promises fun and frivolity, and it was in the freezer next to real ice cream, the actual product is something far removed from what ice cream should be.
This book is like that. It feels like a comic novel, with comic characters, funny names, and snappy dialog. It has many paragraphs that are clearly supposed to be funny. I can imagine someone, somewhere laughing aloud at this; maybe the author and his friends. Yet never was I thoroughly engaged, and only on a couple of occasions did I even chuckle. That is not to say there is not some clever writing in here. There is. It's just that the wit is surrounded by mountains of tedium, and the occasional flashes almost startle with their rarity. This book was apparently written at breakneck speed, and it shows. The super-hero team, who become passionate lovers, outsmart, outshoot, outwit and outrun hordes of enemies, Muslim, French and American. Until the big discovery at the end. Yawnnnnnn..... I was just glad to close the book.
Buckley Persuades Like No One Else.......2006-07-11
I sought this book because Buckley is my favorite author. I began with "Thank You For Smoking" and then read all of his works. Until this tome, only "Little Green Men" matched the superb wit and wordplay of TYFS.
This may be Buckley's best work yet. While I read it for the laughs, this novel is both informative and persuasive on the political circumstances of the middle east. Moreso than any editorial or talking head, this book demonstrates both the madness of the sheiks and playboy princes of the middle east, not to mention the mullahs, but also the futility of western intervention.
In the final analysis, this book may stand alongside Gulliver's Travels in the annals of great satire.
Brilliant, and I can't wait for Buckley's next work.
Middle East Hijinks.......2006-05-26
In a country where the man at the helm is an ex drug fiend alcoholic, we're spreading liberty to people who want nothing more than to blow us up, and medicare is closing its doors to the elderly... you just need to escape.
Mr. Buckley one ups standard escapism - he keeps the horror of real life and saturates it in witty comedy, dialogue and situations.
You're still escaping from the terrible times we exist in... but he makes plenty of worthy references to keep us anchored.
This book is a quick, sinfully sweet read. Pick up a newspaper, read the Middle East news, and then pick up Florence.
It's a roadside bomb of pure genius!
Average customer rating:
- a classic
- one of my favorite books
- Esp for anyone who has lost a parent when they were young,
|
In Another Country (Contemporary American Fiction)
Susan Kenney
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Fiction Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0140074074 |
Customer Reviews:
a classic.......2003-03-01
I have read thousands of novels in my life and I think this must be one of the top five. Written with an intensity of feeling that is both painful but uplifting, this book says more about what matters in life than any other work with which I am acquainted. I have reread it half a dozen times and keep extra copies to give as gifts. It is easily obtainable through the internet and at used book stores. I promise you will be rewarded in inumerable ways if you seek out this work of sublime genius.
one of my favorite books.......1999-12-21
This book was very moving. It makes you laugh and cry at the same time. The main charactor is easy to empathize with and the writing is superb. I wish it wasn't out of print because it is such an enjoyable book.
Esp for anyone who has lost a parent when they were young,.......1999-03-21
Knowing that I had lost my father in an accident when I was 8 my friend recommended the book to me. The author sadly really did lose her father when she was 12.
I could identify with so much -- I felt the writing was excellent.
I also really, really liked her book called "Sailing". It was constructed and written so very well. I wanted to see if the author has since written any more books and was sorry to see this book out of print.
Book Description
Feminist Geneaologies, Colonial Legacies, Global Movements provides a feminist anaylsis of the questions of sexual and gender politics, economic and cultural marginality, and anti-racist and anti-colonial practices both in the "West" and in the "Third World." This collection, edited by Jacqui Alexander and Chandra Talpade Mohanty, charts the underlying theoretical perspectives and organization practices of the different varieties of feminism that take on questions of colonialism, imperialism, and the repressive rule of colonial, post-colonial and advanced capitalist nation-states. It provides a comparative, relational , historically grounded conception of feminist praxis that differs markedly from the liberal pluralist, multicultural understanding that sheapes some of the dominant version of Euro-American feminism. As a whole, the collection poses a unique challenge to the naturalization of gender besed in the experiences, histories and practices of Euro-American women.
The contributors present sustained studies of feminist movement that challenge post-cold war capitalist processes of re-colonization that further exacerbate racial, heterosexual, class and gender hierarchies. The volume maps the anatomy of feminist movements and organizations, and examines the resources they provide for envisioning feminst democratic practice. Issues of consciousness, agency and identity are crucial in understanding these processes. The essays collected hree define new modes of thinkinjg, of organizational self-reflection, of political engagement, and of reimagining the social world.
The authors suggest ways of re-envisioning comparative feminist analyses, revisiting analytic categories such as colonialism, imperialism, the nation-state, heterosexual patriarchies, and racialization--re-definining, if not transforming, feminist politics and scholarship.
Contributors: M. Annete Jaims, Honor Ford Smith, Ayesha Imam, Vasanth Kannabiran, Kalpana Kannabiran, Ella Shohat, Gloria Wekker, Geraldine Heng, Amina Mama, Annanya Bhattacharjee, Evelynn Hammonds, Kavita Punjabi, Paula Moya, M. Jacqui Alexander and Chandra Talpade Mohanty.
Customer Reviews:
Resourceful and Thought-Provoking.......2002-12-20
This is a challenging book, but as an edited volume, can be read slowly. A familiarization with writings on the distribution of global capital would be helpful, but if you don't have that background, the introduction to the book outlines some of the major points.
As a Ph.D. student, I am constantly citing the articles in this volume: one on sexualized flight attendant uniforms in Singapore, one on tourism being based on heterosexuality, another on mati work (which roughly translates as sex work), one on the role of the cinema in shaping ideas of gender and nationhood, and one on how the concept of "sovereignty" applies to Native American politics in the US.
From my own experience as a TA, I agree this volume is very difficult for most undergraduate students, but this is because they lack the vocabulary to understand what they are reading and to discuss it critically. The book would work well in a class that is focused around globalization and transnationalism, or in an honors level seminar.
this is a long winded book that could be 200 pages shorter........1999-03-22
This book is required by several Women's Studies classes around the country. I feel it is too wordy and hard for many students in undergraduate programs to understand. The main issues in the book are hidden behind a large academic language that not all students understand. The points made in the book though, are valid ones.
Alexander is Amazing.......1998-11-23
By focusing the feminist eye on the transnational and "post-colonial" nations, Alexander offers an opening. . .a way to experience other cultures and transcend our own social locations. Her argument reveals that just because a nation is no longer under direct colonial control, it does not mean that the effects of the colonial mindset have diminshed. We all hold inherited ideologies about what we are. . .but that does not necessarily put us in a victim position. We all have agency, however we exercise this power in different ways. An amazing book that should be read so that the experience of feminism will be seen as what it really is, and not bounded by our ideas of "Women Power" residing in the white, middle-class agenda.
Books:
- The Comic Toolbox: How to Be Funny Even If You're Not
- The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Nonsmokers Using the Easyway Method
- The Essential Bible Companion: Key Insights for Reading God's Word
- The Feast of All Saints
- The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists
- The Girl Who Walked Home Alone: Bette Davis, A Personal Biography
- The Gospel According to Jesus: What Does Jesus Mean When He Says, "Follow Me"?
- The Honorable Imposter/The Captive Bride/The Indentured Heart/The Gentle Rebel/The Saintly Buccaneer (The House of Winslow 1-5)
- The Librettist of Venice: The Remarkable Life of Lorenzo da Ponte Mozart's Poet, Casanova's Friend, and Italian Opera's Impresario in America
- The Lizard King Was Here: The Life and Times of Jim Morrison in Alexandria, Virginia
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary
- History: Fiction or Science
- A Dictionary of Maqiao
- Animals as Teachers and Healers
- Business and Legal Forms for Photographers
- History: Fiction or Science
- Foundations of Earth Science
- Waterfalls of Grand Teton National Park
- Black Majesty The Life Of Christophe King Of Haiti
- Student Problem Solving Guide for use with Complete Business Statistics
Infidel
While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within
Murder in Amsterdam: The Death of Theo van Gogh and the Limits of Tolerance
Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror
The Force of Reason
