Book Description
"Like everyone, I am born naked."
With this opening line of Naslund's compelling new novel, a very human Marie Antoinette invites readers to live her story as she herself experiences it. From the lush gardens of Versailles to the lights and gaiety of Paris, the verdant countryside of France, and finally the stark and terrifying isolation of a prison cell, the young queen's life is joyful, poignant, and harrowing by turns. As her world of unprecedented royal splendor crumbles, the charming Marie Antoinette matures into a heroine of inspiring stature, one whose nobility arises not from the circumstance of her birth but from her courageous spirit.
Marie Antoinette was a child of fourteen when her mother, the Empress of Austria, arranged for her to leave her family and her country to become the wife of the fifteen-year-old Dauphin, the future King of France. Coming of age in the most public of arenas, the young queen embraces her new family and the French people, and she is embraced in return. Eager to be a good wife and strong queen, she shows her new husband nothing but love and encouragement, though he repeatedly fails to consummate their marriage and in doing so, fails to give her the thing she—and the people of France—desire most: a child and an heir to the throne.
Deeply disappointed and isolated in her own intimate circle apart from the social life of the court, the queen allows herself to remain ignorant of the country's growing economic and political crises. She entrusts her soul to her women friends, her music teacher, her hairdresser, the ambassador from Austria, and a certain Swedish count so handsome that admirers label him "the Picture." When her innocent and well-chaperoned pilgrimage to watch the sun rise is viciously misrepresented in satiric pamphlets as a drunken orgy, the people begin to turn against her. Poor harvests, bitter winters, war debts, and poverty precipitate rebellion and revenge as the royal family and many nobles are caught up in a murderous time known as "the Terror."
With penetrant insight into new historical scholarship and with wondrous narrative skill, Naslund offers an intimate, fresh, and dramatic re-creation of this compelling woman that goes beyond popular myth. Abundance reveals a compassionate and spontaneous Marie Antoinette who rejected the formality and rigid protocol of the court; an enchanting and tenderhearted outsider who was loved by her adopted homeland and people until she became the target of revolutionary cruelty and violence; a dethroned queen whose depth of character sustained her in even the worst of times.
Once again, Sena Jeter Naslund has shed new light on an important moment of historical change and made that time as real to us as the one we are living now. Exquisitely detailed, beautifully written, heartbreaking and powerful, Abundance is a novel that is impossible to put down.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-10-13
Item was received in the specified amount of time and the item was as it was described.
Riveting!.......2007-10-09
I am an avid reader, and I love all Seda's books. Abundance had me hooked from the first line to the last. Beautifully written, each word was delicious! I couldn't put it down. I read Ahab's Wife with the same feeling of relief that there are still writers willing to seduce the reader with glorious words. I can hardly wait for more.
An Excruciating Effort in Tedium.......2007-10-03
How is it possible that there can be such diverse opinions on one book? It must be the reader...
And let me be the first to say that I am a very harsh critic. I don't adore everything I read and what satisfies me most is when an author gives the reader insight into a character's emotions.
Although Sena Jeter Naslund constructs beautiful sentences throughout this fictionalization of the life of Marie Antoinette she's certainly no storyteller.
I found this novel to be exactly how I remember history class, beyond boring. There is no life in these historical figures, the story is told only through the unfolding of historical facts. And it is a painfully long, 545 pages. My only pleasure is that I borrowed it from the library rather than wasting my money on a copy of my own.
If you are looking for a novelization of the life of Marie Antoinette, I would recommend The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson.
While you would have to suspend belief that such an account could exist, a hidden diary that details her life for nearly twenty years, you will be rewarded with insights into her heart and the deep feelings she has for her family and the people she loves.
Abundance- A Story of Marie Antoinette.......2007-09-21
This was an excellent read! There is evidence of lots of research in the retelling of the story. It begins when Marie is fourteen and on her way to marry Prince Louis. Through actual letters written to her mother in Austria, you are told about her inner feelings and frustration at not having her marriage consumated! It brings the French Revolution to life. You are able to see all the squandor, the poverty, the grandour, the arts, hear the music and smell the city. If you enjoy Historical Fiction, put this book on your list.
Mindless Drivel.......2007-07-31
Ms. Naslund has done the impossible - she's made Marie Antoinette boring! She is portrayed as floating aimlessly through her life while thinking kindly, flowery thoughts about everything from her handkerchief (which has too much lace and not enough fabric to blow her nose on) to her little plum colored shoes (that served her so well.) I promise you, when Marie Anotinette was standing on the scaffold, she was NOT trying to decide if the color of light is "more silvery or gold". By the end of this book I was ready to put my own head in the guillotine just to stop the pain.
If you want exceptional research and well-written biography, read Antonia Fraser's "Marie Antoinette: The Journey". If you want page-turning historical fiction, try Victoria Holt's "The Queen's Confessions".
Book Description
Making Plant Medicine is about making herbal medicine. This is a modern medicine making book and formulary with its roots in original herbalism designed for every medicinal herb gardener to cultivate the full potential of the plant-human relationship. Richo Cech tells very good stories based on his experience as a global wanderer, herbalist and medicine maker. In the context of his lifelong love of gardening, he has procduced this long-awaited book that is original, amusing and absolutely useful.
Part 1: Medicine Making
* drying and processing herbs
* making tinctures the easy way
* the mathematics of tincturing and solubility factors
* basic formulas for fresh and dry tinctures, including dosages
* vinegar extracts, glycerites, herbal succi and syrups teas, decoctions, herbal oils, salves and creams poultices, compresses and soaks
Part 2: A Gardener's Formulary
This section covers well over 100 herbs that are readily cultivated in North America. The listings include: conservation status, parts used, specific formulas, practical uses, dosages, contraindications and an overview of alternate species.
Since the beginning, the garden has been a haven of good values, both physical and spiritual. The act of gardening provides a balm for every wound. May your medicine be of the garden, and may it be of benefit to all.
Customer Reviews:
gift.......2007-01-11
I bought this as a gift for my granddaughter. It was exactly what she wanted.
Ever wondered about making herbal medicine? Here you go!.......2006-07-25
Cech writes a book I've been waiting for - something truly in depth that talks about tinctures in more than just a paragraph or so. While saying it's perfectly fine to make tinctures in the 'simplers manner' - and he explains how to do this - his reasons for making consistent batches with measurements for continued accuracy and control makes perfect sense. He brings up the merits many herbalists do regarding the benefits of alcohol as a medium - besides preserving the herbal properties better than other products in nature, besides working better to extract from most herbs over glycerine and ACV, and besides bringing up how alcohol is such a wonderful carrier of herbs or other substances through the bloodstream into the body, he brings up the important points on how little of alcohol is consumed when taking the standard tincture dose, and eases some common misconceptions. Several chapters are devoted to tinctures alone, through various ways of extracting, detailed information on straining, pressing, and sifting. Things I've never read anywhere else were in here, quite a treat considering all the herbals I've read out there.
But of course that's not all. Full chapters are devoted to glycerites and which herbs are best suited for them, Vinegar extracts, Teas and Decoctions, Herbal Syrups and Succi, Oils, Salves, Creams, Poultices, Soaks, and Compresses. The best herbs for each are given, with examples, and it's hard to walk away without being more confident than if you read other standard herbals briefly brushing over this important aspect of herbalism.
A true gem of Making Plant Medicine is the Herbal Formulary, which showcases over 500 herbs with each having it's exact best method of preparation discussed, as well as ratio. Before reading this, for example, I hadn't known Astraglus was best extracted in water with just a bit of alcohol to preserve as an unusual type of tincture/tea, rather than just a tincture alone. Tidbits about my favorite herbs makes this book priceless. It's backed with contradictions and use of each herb, and even packs more punch by delivering personal testimonials, dosages, and - of course - a full chapter devoted exclusively to the mathematics of tincturing. Marvelous!
Written in a straight forward, down to earth, and enthusiastic manner, it's hard not to get excited about herbs all over again when you read the stories of Richo and his family, their adventures with the herbs, and how complex our plants and bodies really are. A book that does not merely skim the surface in any stretch of the imagination.
Buy it!!.......2006-06-19
Richo is a wealth of great information for anyone looking to learn in depth details on plants and plant medicines. I highly suggest this book, especially if you are really interested in gaining a deep understanding of making plant medicines.
A Thorough and Comprehensive Fundamental Course in Herbalism.......2006-06-02
With relevant and interesting anecdotes, Cech describes the fundamentals of plant medicine making in this comprehensive book. Any beginning herbalist will appreciate how Cech covers the traditional/folk methods as well as scientific methods of making herbal medicine.
The love and respect Cech has for the plant world shine through. Reading this book is like being an apprentice to a knowledgeable and experienced herbalist of the highest caliber.
Okay, but NOT easy.............2005-06-25
Are you ready to begin making your own tinctures, vinegar extracts, herbal infusions and teas as well as other decoctions? Richo Cech, long time herbalist par excellence describes how to macerate, use various solvents or menstruum solutions, and create complex combinations or medicinal compounds. Although Cech clearly prefers an alcohol-based menstruum, he supplies formulas for other approaches for those who cannot tolerate alcohol.
I have found the formulas which don't require alcohol provided by James Green in THE HERBAL MEDICINE-MAKERS HANDBOOK easier to execute and less costly because they don't use as much fancy equipment and my husband will use them, but Cech insists that to make long lasting solutions you will want to use grain alcohol or a good brand of Vodka as well as the "proper tools". I use essential oils for various purposes, and dried herbs in teas, and in my experience both hold up at least one year. We use them so fast I can't speak to longevity or shelf life (At this very moment as I type, I have applied an oil mix to my right hand to relieve pain from various causes such as arthritis and carpel tunnel, and it is working fine). I suppose if you are making up batches for sale you might have more concern with preservation, but I wouldn't worry about using an alcohol based formula on a child so much as tinctures are mostly diluted in water. (Cough syrup is an exception).
If you are a gardener (or not) and are wondering how to preserve some of nature's bounty for medicinal (compressesses, salves, creams and other medicinal compounds) you might consider buying both books (Cech and Green) and conducting your own experiments, to see which approach works for you. This book has a dearth of illustrations, or else I would give it more stars.
Amazon.com
It has been said that one can see farther only by standing on the shoulders of giants. Ahab's Wife, Sena Naslund's epic work of historical fiction, honors that aphorism, using Herman Melville's Moby-Dick as looking glass into early-19th-century America. Through the eye of an outsider, a woman, she suggests that New England life was broader and richer than Melville's manly world of men, ships, and whales. This ambitious novel pays tribute to Melville, creating heroines from his lesser characters, and to America's literary heritage in general.
Una, named for the heroine of Edmund Spenser's Faerie Queene, flees to the New England coast from Kentucky to escape her father's puritanism and to pursue a more exalted life. She gets whaling out of her system early: going to sea at 16 disguised as a boy, Una has her ship sunk by her own monstrous whale, and survives a harrowing shipwreck:
I was so horrified by the whale's deliberate charge that I could not move. Then my own name flew up from below like a spear: "Una!" Giles' voice broke my trance, and I scrambled down the rigging. No sooner did my foot touch the deck than there was such a lurch that I fell to my face. I heard and felt the boards break below the waterline, the copper sheathing nothing but decorative foil. The whole ship shuddered. A death throe.
The ship dies, but Una returns to land to pursue the life of the mind. The novel's opening line--"Captain Ahab was neither my first husband nor my last"--also diminishes Melville's hero in the broader scheme of things. Naslund exposes the reader to the unsung, real-life heroes of Melville's world, including Margaret Fuller and her Boston salon, and Nantucket astronomer Maria Mitchell. There is a chance meeting with a veiled Nathaniel Hawthorne in the woods, and throughout the novel the story brims with references to the giants of literature: Shakespeare, Goethe, Coleridge, Keats, and Wordsworth. Although her novel runs long at nearly 700 pages, Naslund has created an imaginative, entertaining, and very impressive work. --Ted Leventhal
Book Description
From the opening line -- "Captain Ahab was neither my first husband nor my last" -- you will know that you are in the hands of a master storyteller and in the company of a fascinating woman hero. Inspired by a brief passage in
Moby-Dick,
Sena Jeter Naslund has created an enthralling and compellingly readable saga, spanning a rich, eventful, and dramatic life. At once a family drama, a romantic adventure, and a portrait of a real and loving marriage,
Ahab's Wife gives new perspective on the American experience.
This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.
Download Description
E-Book extras: ONE: An Interview with Sena Jeter Naslund: "The Ship of My Book"; TWO: Author's Note: "The Surprise and Pleasure of It"; THREE: Reading Group Guide: Discussion Points. The famous international bestseller is now a special-features-packed e-book. Inspired by a brief passage in Moby-Dick, Sena Jeter Naslund has created an entirely new universe - an epic-scale, enthralling, and deliciously readable saga, spanning the full, rich, eventful, and dramatic life of one Una Spenser, for whom "Captain Ahab was neither my first husband nor my last." Illustrated throughout by world-renowned artist Christopher Wormell.
Customer Reviews:
A True Reading Pleasure!!.......2007-10-02
Terrific writing, stunningly embellished with vivid descriptions and details, but easy to read. Subject matter is fascinating!
Ahab's fictional wife's philosphical musings and deep inner life.......2007-09-20
Ahab's Fictional Wife's Philosphical Musings and Deep Inner Life is a title that aptly describes this endless novel. The segments that were plot-driven, such as Una's adventures as a sailor and the mental illness of her first husband, were wonderful. Ahab, until now merely an icon, was infused with genuine humanity, and the story of their marriage was so well done. Life on Nantucket and the experience of sea captains' wives are vividly drawn. Naslund is a very good writer. It was all the stuff in between (Una's odes to her sewing needle, her effusive love affair with the seas, her genius despite her poor education, to offer just a few out of dozens of examples) that brings my rating down to 3 stars. Maybe this new writer was given a new editor. Someone should have blue pencilled about 200 pages of filler. Certainly Abundance is a much tauter production. This book might have been equally good.
Ahab's Wife by Sena Jeter Naslund.......2007-09-19
Ahab's Wife serves admirably as a companion book to Melville's Moby-Dick and having read both, I think I can safely say that if Herman Melville were to read Ahab's Wife, he would be more than happy with the duty and accuracy Naslund devotes to the period, the prose, and its homage to Melville's opus.
This is the life story of Una, the wife of Ahab - the peg-legged determined-bordering-on-insane captain of the Pequod in search of his white whale. The cover of the book depicts a Puritan-clothed woman on a harsh beach looking out into a rough sea, while further down the beach lies the broken hulk of an old ship. It creates images and ideas of a worrying woman left at home for years at a time to tend to house and children, while her husband is out braving the sea, fighting giants monsters in his man's world. One would think this a book about her everyday actions, her chores, her repetitive characteristics, and while this is part of the book, there is so much more going on in Una's life with her triumphs and tribulations, her loves and deaths, her dangerous adventures, and her happy times at home. This is what makes Ahab's Wife a welcome companion to Moby-Dick, for while Ahab's is a story of adventure and danger, Una's is just as much so.
The book begins, as all life stories should, with a birth, only Una's mother is all alone in a cabin and naturally it is a birth that almost kills her. Una's life is a harsh one in Kentucky and before she is ten, her mother sends her away to her aunt's. Una's father is a devout Christian, while Una is an atheist from a young age, choosing not to blindly believe in what her father tells her to believe. Her mother fearing for her life, sends her to the distant coast of New England to live with her aunt and uncle in a lighthouse. And so begins the next chapter in her life, with a different family, in a different place. With the arrival of two men who come to upgrade the lighthouse, she falls in love with both of them - even though she is still young - knowing that one will be her husband one day. At the age of eighteen, she leaves the island and the lighthouse for the mainland of Boston and then Nantucket getting by on simple work until she finds the same two men whom she loves on a whaling ship. Disguising herself as a young boy she joins the crew and experiences the whaling life of her future husband. It is here that she first sees The Pequod and meets Ahab, who by then is an old man but still respectable and honorable. Ahab is the one to marry Una to Kit when her existence on the ship, love for that man, and her femininity are all revealed.
A whale stoves in the ship and Una spends many days on a small boat with the remaining crew reduced to cannibalism - harking to the story of Moby-Dick as well as the story of the whale ship Essex, which was the impetus for Melville's story. It is on the return journey to Nantucket that the other love of her life dies tragically and her husband Kit essentially goes insane. Upon returning to land and leaving her husband due to his condition, Una's life slows down and her relationship with Ahab begins until their marriage and happiness together. It is here that the story of Moby-Dick truly begins and the reader gets to meet the familiar characters of the classic book. But while Ahab spends years away from home, Una's life goes on with the birth of a child and the struggles of her life. It is upon the return and meeting of Ishmael that Una learns of the doomed story of Ahab, his white whale, and his death.
The book could be considered technically over at this point, but this is the story of Una, who is still very much alive. The rest of her life is spent interacting with Ishmael and even meeting and interacting with the slave who fought for his freedom, Frederick Douglass. And while she never forgets her life with Ahab, she eventually finds another husband and in the waning years of her life is happy once more.
What makes Ahab's Wife a truly impressive book is not just its intended mimicry with Moby-Dick with the crossing over characters, similar layout of the book with many chapters and illustrations, and actual scenes involving the same location in both books such as the church with the pulpit carved to imitate the bow of a ship which the same preacher from Moby-Dick climbs the ladder to the top and scream of hellfire and damnation; it is the prose and how Naslund writes that truly emulates the style of Melville, making this a truly important work of literature deserving a place in the shelves with Melville, James and Hawthorne.
For more book reviews, and other writings, go to www.alexctelander.com
Comments about "Ahab's Wife".......2007-07-26
What awesome descriptions and captivating storyline! I couldn't put this book down! It makes me want to read "Moby Dick" again! I look forward to reading Sena Jeter Naslund's other novels. If they are half as good as the story of Una, I am hooked! I found that Una is so much like my daughter, and the author never met my daughter. Of course, this made the story even more interesting to me. The personalities are so diverse and very believable. I would recommend this book to everyone.
AHAB'S WIFE--WHAT A FABULOUS BOOK.......2007-07-10
Yes, dear ladies and gentlemen, I truly loved this book, despite what some of our colleagues wrote. I usually read true crime novels and biographies, so this story was truly quite a different one to read.
Once again, just fabulous.
Book Description
It all starts at birth: Baby mules are just a bit more precocious than other equine creatures. Of course, the most obvious physical advantage of the mule is those magnificent ears!
The Natural Superiority of Mules is a collection of essays, articles, and stories in celebration of all the unique qualities of these remarkable hybrids. Full-color photographs accompanying the articles illustrate the grace, strength, agility, and especially, the lovely long ears of these fantastic and fascinating creatures.
Sections include chapters on mule genetics and biology, mule training, mule history, and mule recreational activities. The book concludes with personal stories about the mules we love by the people who love them.
Contributors include:
* Robert M. Miller, DVM * Bill Loftus * Meredith Hodges * Loyd W. Hawley * Molly Chandezi * Jody Foss * Garry McClintock * Betty Robinson * Janet Lowe * and many more.
Mule lovers will be enchanted--and horse lovers just may be converted--by these tales of the stamina, intelligence, loyalty, and common sense displayed by the average mule.
Customer Reviews:
natural superiority of mules.......2007-10-25
I've only read the first few chapters so far. I've been a horse person all my life but never known a mule. So far i've learned a lot about these animals and had a few good chuckles as well. A variety of authors give their experiences and insights along with great photography. It could be a coffee-table book or an important addition to your library.
Beautiful book! .......2007-09-01
A wonderful "coffee table" book.. I enjoyed reading it, but did
find some statements comical, my seven mules aren't near as good as
the ones in this book.. Course, I still love them!
Wonderful Book for anyone interested in Mules!.......2007-07-23
Read it all the way through and then gave two copies to friends! Well researched and really interesting!!
A Mule Owners darn Good Read!.......2007-07-08
John Hauer is a hero of mine and this book is one of the best ideas (and as I understand this man history) one of hundreds that really works well. It is a collection of anecdotes, historical facts and wonderful photographs and prints. It's also a monument to the great American Mule Culture that mule owners around the world have come to admire and respect. My only criticism is that the brief to each of those contributing could have been specific, and then their contribution proof read to weasel out the repetition about mule reproduction etc. But all in all a nodal piece of modern mule related literature.
Wonderful, Magnificent, Mules.......2007-03-18
I love this book!!! It is a unique collection of personal stories, essays and historical articles in celebration of the unique characteristics and qualities of the mule. It describes in detail there intelligence, sure-footedness, agility, strength, endurance, disposition and natural cautioness. The one trait that I loved the most about mules was there "Endearance". Actually there is no such word but the book says there should be. It is a descriptive of the way in which many people react to mules: they often want to hug and even kiss them. I found that term to be more than true! Mule Lovers will be captivated by this book and horse lovers...well...they may be converted.
Book Description
From the acclaimed author of the national bestseller
Ahab's Wife comes an inspiring, brilliantly rendered novel of the awakening conscience of the South and of an entire nation.
Twenty-year-old Stella Silver, an idealistic white college student raised by her genteelaunts, is not prepared for the events of 1963 in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. At first, she keeps a safe distance, but the mounting tragedies send Stella reeling off her measured path. She plunges into the midst of the conflict, setting off a series of changes -- in herself, her relationships, and her future -- as dazzling and powerful as the civil rights movement itself.
This inspiring novel weaves together the lives of blacks and whites, racists and civil rights advocates, and the events of peaceful protest and violent repression to create both an intimate and epic tapestry of American social transformation. Filled with the humanity that is the hallmark of Naslund's fiction, rich in historical detail and evocative in the way the best fiction should be, this novel goes beyond tragedy to redemptive triumph.
Download Description
"E-Book extras: ONE: Promise of the Past: An Interview with Sena Jeter Naslund; TWO: The Facts behind the Fiction: Key Dates in the Civil Rights Movement; THREE: Reading Group Guide: Discussion Points. From the author of the critically acclaimed Ahab's Wife comes a stunning novel set in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1960s. A sweeping canvas and multi-dimensional, fully realized characters add up to a remarkable, brilliantly rendered, important new work. From the acclaimed author of the national bestseller Ahab's Wife comes an inspiring, brilliantly rendered new novel of the awakening conscience of the South and of an entire nation. Written with the same scope and emotional depth as her previous award-winning novel, Four Spirits is set in Sena Jeter Naslund's home city of Birmingham, Alabama, a city that in the 1960s was known as Bombingham. Naslund brings to life this tumultuous time, weaving together the lives of blacks and whites, civil rights advocates and racists, and the events of peaceful protest and violent repression, to create a tapestry of American social transformation.
Customer Reviews:
Required reading to understand the South.......2007-02-19
I read this during a period when I lived in Montgomery, Alabama (I'm from NJ), so I was interested to learn a little bit more about the events of 1963 in Birmingham-- otherwise I might not have picked up this large volume . The story takes on the whole year of the church bombing-- the death of Kennedy, the restaurant sit-ins, the violence-- the casual violence, like the murder of a black boy by eagle scouts, that has been lost from our national snapshot-memories. It's rare for a large book with many viewpoints to enthrall me as much as this one but despite its length, I finished in about two days. Though many characters' stories are woven into this tapestry-- and the short chapters make the long book read very fast-- it's easy to keep them straight, and to care about them all, and there is a central arc in the story of Stella, a young white woman whose coming of age coincides with the awakening of social conscience of a city. After I put this book down, I felt as though I'd traveled in time and lived in a year before I was born. How the author inhabited so many souls so convincingly-- black, white, young, old-- is masterful. The writing is sharp, often poetic, sometimes humorous or magical (the unfaithful school administrator who is taunted about death by the skeleton poster on the wall), and often transcendantly beautiful. The book is filled with vivid characters like Lee, a young Klan wife with an awakening conscience, Christine, a black night-school teacher whose anger leads to courage and then to love, Cat, crippled by a rare disease yet daring to teach nightschool in a black college and dream of handicapped access, Agnes, a middle-aged student in the school and her WWII veteran husband TJ, whose love is so pure they sleep "cuddled up. " The interconnections feel inveitable. The shifting points of view add perspective rather than interrupting the flow-- for example, a bomb scare at the integrated-teaching nightschool is depicted both from inside, from the point of view of a loving husband watching, and from the point of view of the husband and then the wife of the Klan couple responsible. The book doesn't soft-sell the violence and ugliness of many Southerners of the period but it also shows the immense courage and honour of many blacks and whites of the time. Darl, at one point Stella's fiance, is cold about Kennedy's assassination-- and comes to think of Kennedy as a hero, and to wish there were a float honoring those who died for civil rights, who were also honoring their country. Authentic (the author lived through these times), heartbreaking and inspiring, this book should be required reading for everyone who wants to understand the South, and America.
Stayed with me..........2007-01-31
I read this book months ago and it returns to me almost daily. The characters were complex and compelling yet human and natural. The story was comprehensive and multifaceted but clean and organized. Jeter Naslund's historical details are, by all accounts, very factual and well-researched. A fabulous read that I highly recommend.
Amazing writer, amazing reader.......2005-04-19
As wonderful a writer is, the reader Isabel Keating is astounding in her range of voices as she brings characters so alive. This was a very difficult audio to finish as after 12 tapes you just wanted it to go on and on.
Naslund extols uncommon courage during civil rights movement.......2005-03-13
"Four Spirits," Sena Jeter Naslund's majestic, reflective and somber recreation of a pivotal period during the civil rights movement, reminds us that once upon a time, unknown moral giants lived amongst us. While inspirational giants such as Martin Luther King, Jr., served as our national moral compass, anonymous men, women and children -- some of whom would become martyrs to the cause of racial justice -- transformed King's lofty rhetoric to concrete reality. Their individual acts of conscience placed them at enormous risk, yet they summoned, from the depths of their personal convictions, the courage to act on principled belief.
Naslund's novel interweaves the lives of the foot soldiers of the movement; she unflinchingly exposes their fears, ambivalences and doubts about personal valor, the efficacy of non-violence and the possibility of creating a society based on racial egalitarianism. Each character has an integrity and a wholeness, a core set of values, which make them not only understandable to us, but believable. "Four Spirits," therefore, is a work that is much greater than the sum of its parts. At its best, the novel is an evocation of the spirit of possibility that animated African-American and white men, women and children to sacrifice everything for an idea whose very nature exemplifies our national purpose. As the characters grapple with their own demons, ranging from profound personal loss to serious character weakness, Naslund effects a gripping narrative of a city, Birmingham, Alabama, locked in the grip of the greatest social movement for change in the twentieth century.
Stella, who survived a horrific childhood automobile accident that claimed the lives of her family, describes herself as "somebody who wanted to change...to live more fully." She longs for a "broader" scope for her life and discovers it in the movement. She befriends the wheelchair bound Cat Cartwright, who in turn finds the inner resolve to become a freedom fighter. These two college-aged white women become colleagues with the defiant Christine, a single-mother of three, who eagerly seizes the opportunity to teach citizenship classes in the evening at an African-American college experimenting with an integrated staff. Their leader, the charismatic Lionel Parish, unsuccessfully attempts to exorcise his sexual appetite while calmly exercising leadership under the most extreme circumstances. All share an unspoken idealism; each discovers the strength to resist evil non-violently.
"Four Spirits" is far from a flawless work. A talented writer, Naslund often permits her admiration of a neatly turned phrase to interfere with her narrative; the novel suffers tends to be overwritten. Some pivotal characters, such as the Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, have important roles early on and then inexplicably disappear. Other characters, especially the nefarious Klansman Ryder Jones, are caricatures. The semi-illiterate Jones, for example, not only violently abuses his wife but is a bungling bomber. His evil is lessened by his abject stupidity. Naslund also permits one of her characters (a child during the movement) to reflect on the early 1960s as an adult. This unwelcomed change of tense disrupts the narrative and unfairly gives us access to only one character's subsequent evaluation of the period.
Nonetheless, "Four Spirits" demands attention. Its uncompromising perception of racism and its equally stirring remembrance of uncommon courage remind readers that the genuine giants of the civil rights movement were regular citizens, who, for reasons both personal and political, felt as if the entire history of the nation would pivot on their actions. Their linkage of thought and deed, of conscience and commitment, in Naslund's sure hands, are moving tributes to what the United States should be.
ought to be required reading for ALL Americans.......2005-01-19
I just finished reading Four Spirits last night, on - quite fittingly (and, incidentally) - Martin Luther King Jr. Day, 2005. It was NOT a difficult read, nor a slow one...perhaps four evenings? Unfamiliar with Ms. Naslund's writing until quite recently, I had finished Ahab's Wife, found it amazing, and quickly purchased Four Spirits, settled in for a good read before the winter fire, and immediately saw that I was headed for a powerful lesson in American history - one that I should have already been taught, having been raised in Montgomery, Alabama in the 60's. My childhood was comfortable and overly sheltered, though, and I was for a large part unaware of the large scale of atrocities that so many, many innocent people suffered for the name of justice and freedom. This fine novel, in delicate vignettes, guides the reader - quietly at first, then boldly into what is horrific and, as always with tragic history, certain and unstoppable in its events - through and past a series of happenings that are excruciating to read about (and this, from the safety of distance - god help the ones who truly suffered), shameful from this side to know, but necessary to understand so that this world can be changed into the better place it needs to be today. I for one am fuller for having read this book, and have shared with my teenaged sons some of the knowledge that I learned from its pages. Thank you, Ms. Naslund, for what turned out to be a fine, if at times difficult, education.
Book Description
How did Sherlock Homes come into possession of a true Stardivarius? Who was the one true love of the great detective's life? And what shattering disappointment left the detective with feelings of overwhelming melancholy? As Holme's great friend, Dr. Watson, sets out to answer these questions and recount the thrilling "lost" adventure of Holmes's attempt to rescue the love of his life from a mad King Ludwig of Bavaria, his own life is threatened by a figure in a familiar Inverness coat and deerstalker cap.
In this extraordinary novel, Sena Jeter Naslund, author of the critically acclaimed national bestseller Ahab's Wife, brilliantly reweaves the colorfully cryptic, fog-enshrouded world of Sherlock in Love is at once a rewarding entertainment and a remarkable homage to the greatest sleuth in literature.
Customer Reviews:
The Opposite of Masterpiece.......2005-07-18
This is, by no means, a good or great pastiche. And, without question, it isn't even in the same league as much-finer and more accomplised efforts by the likes of Michael Chabon, Mitch Cullin, and Laurie R. King. Even Caleb Carr's somewhat lackluster Holmes novel is a more valid effort than this one. Masterpiece? No, sorry. However, if one reads this novel without any knowledge of Holmes, Watson, the Conan Doyle canon, or the handful of fine Sherlock pastiches that are out there, it probably wouldn't be so bad. Otherwise, you'd be better served to engage yourself in Laurie R. King's very enjoyable Mary Russell series, Mitch Cullin's haunting and beautifully written A SLIGHT TRICK OF THE MIND, Nicolas Meyer's classic THE SEVEN PERCENT SOLUTION, and Michael Chabon's wonderfully realized novella THE FINAL SOLUTION.
masterpiece.......2005-06-04
This is good writing. Better by far than what Caleb Carr, Mitch Cullin or Michael Chabon have recently done with Sherlock.
Sooooo disappointed.......2002-11-19
Initially, I was excited to read this book. Though not a Sherlock Holmes fan per se, I LOVED Ahab's Wife and am always on the lookout for books that take common "folklore" and look at it from another perspective (e.g. Wicked by Maguire). Anyway, though the beginning dragged, eventually I got into this book and was happy to read along to its conclusion. But at the end (which luckily came quickly - a fast read), I said to myself, "so what?". There were themes of feminism and magic and friendship that weren't well-developed. But I guess that is good - otherwise the book would have been longer and I might have just put it down.
LAME!!.......2001-08-13
An elderly Dr. Watson is trying to reconstruct events from his late friend Sherlock Holmes's past. What follows is an absolutely insipid romance(and barely one at that). The object of Holmes' "desire" is one of the more ridiculous characters to be introduced into the world of Holmes pastiches. My God, this book was so confoundingly stupid, I am having trouble finding the words to write this review. If you desperately want to read bad Holmes fiction, read The Last Sherlock Holmes Story, it's horrid, but at least the author had some sense of literary style. If all you really want is a quick, cheap, Holmes with a woman fix, there is a whole world of fanfiction out there, and its all free, baby. But if you want to read about Holmes having a meaningful relationship with a female, have a go at _The Beekeeper's Apprentice_ by Laurie R. King and the novels that follow. And I resent some remarks made by one of the reviewers about the LRK books. You can't just group them with all the other romances out there!!! But this is neither the time nor the place to get into the subtleties of Sherlockian factions.
Abyssmal, wooden and trite; The Waste of a Grand Premise.......2001-07-03
Rather than read this book, the prospective reader is advised to re-read The Seven Percent Solution by Nicholas Meyer. "Sherlock in Love" is perhaps the worst Holmsian pastiche that this reviewer has ever read. The author has no feeling for any of the historical periods about which she attempts to write. Unfortunately, the author has not been able to carry any sort of an authorial voice like that of either Conan Doyle or his, wonderful alter ego, Dr. John Watson. This is an extraordinary disappointment. A fine premise is lost in poor execution.
Average customer rating:
- Worth sticking with
- Slow at first but quite Interesting
- Top-notch SF/Horror
- Bien.
- You love it or hate it
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Parasite Eve
Hideaki Sena
Manufacturer: Vertical
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Birthday
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Parasite Eve
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The Crimson Labyrinth
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Parasite Eve 1
ASIN: 1932234195
Release Date: 2005-10-01 |
Book Description
It was this novel, together with Koji Suzuki's Ring series, that begun the J-Horror boom. A pageturner about the rebellion of mitochondria, it became the Japan Horror Novel Award's first winner and the inspiration for a videogame that was a stateside hit.
Customer Reviews:
Worth sticking with.......2007-06-27
Most of the action in this book takes place over the last few chapters. Sena spends a very long time explaining quite a bit of biology so at times it reads almost like a textbook or maybe lecture notes. Stick with it though because it gets very interesting once the plot starts moving.
Slow at first but quite Interesting.......2006-12-16
That's the main reason I did not give this a 5/5 rating is due to it's slow start. However, once it gets going, it is a good book. If you aren't much of a romantic though, it's not really for you because it is somewhat of a romance/sci-fi novel. Quite a well thought out story if our Mitochondria could actually do that...
Top-notch SF/Horror .......2006-02-22
Having played the two "Parasite Eve" videogames, I was very happy to finally read the original novel upon which the games were based (the games are actually sequels to the book, taking place in the US and involving new characters). Hideaki Sena's debut novel is a strong science-fiction horror story, but it might not be for everyone.
This is one horror novel that really gets under your skin, and the final third of the novel is filled with many graphic, scary moments. To put it one way, imagine if Dean Koontz and Michael Crichton decided to team up and write a book together.
Sena's background in Pharmacology is evident here--the scientific jargon is at times overwhelming (even to me, and I have a biology degree!). This fact will turn off some readers. As to the complaint that the book is too gruesome--come on! Are we forgetting about Clive Barker's early stories/novels and the splatterpunk craze?
If anything, PARASITE EVE's release in English is a welcome step into bringing over more Japanese literature to America, whether it is horror, science-fiction, or contemporary. It just seems appropriate since many American writers are translated into Japanese, but not vice-versa.
I enjoyed PARASITE EVE. It's a different kind of horror story, and kudos to Vertical for bringing it to these shores.
Bien........2005-12-30
I preordered this book a number of weeks ago and finally received it and I wasn't disappointed. I know nothing about the video game and to be honest am not particularly interested in the video game, but the novel's wonderfully inventive and incredibly entertaining.
What the hell is up the the first reviewer, "K. Jasmin "Catjazz",??! What an irritating, useless review. It's riddled with gramatical errors and I have no idea what the hell it's talking about.
You love it or hate it.......2005-12-23
To be frank, if you don't like romance, you probably won't enjoy this book, despite it's science fiction overtones. Fans of the movie know what to expect from the typical Japanese horror, however, for the open minded: a good read.
Average customer rating:
- Comunicación con los bebés por la magia de las señas
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Lenguaje Por Senas Para Bebes: (Baby Sign Language Basics)
Monta Briant
Manufacturer: Hay House
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Baby Einstein: Las grandes mentes comienzan desde la cuna: Guia para padres: Great Minds Start Little, Spanish-Language Edition (Baby Einstein: Guia para padres)
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ASIN: 1401906397 |
Book Description
In Baby Sign Language Basics, parents will learn 60 baby-friendly American Sign Language signs. Baby-specific signing techniques, songs, and games are included to make learning fun and easy, and also open up two-way communication quickly. Baby Sign Language Basics is the perfect baby sign language book for new parents. After all, what parent doesn’t want to know what their baby is trying to tell them? (And the book is even small enough for the diaper bag!)
Customer Reviews:
Comunicación con los bebés por la magia de las señas.......2006-06-26
Este libro está escrito en una manera facíl de entender y excelente en su presentación de la materia sobre el uso de las señas para los bebés. La información presentada es excelente para todos los padres. Compartiendo las señas con los bebés ayudará en el desarrollo linguístico, social y emocional. Este libro es organizada en una manera facíl de usar para ayudar los padres a ser maestros de señas para sus bebés. Este libro está usuando las señas del Lenguaje de Señas Americana (conocido como ASL). Este libro presenta mucha más información que fue presentado en el libro original de las señas escrito por las doctoras Linda Acredolo y Susan Goodwyn, "Gestos del Bebé", y el Programa de Baby Signs(R)cual son 80% de las mismas señas de ASL y solamente 20% de señas adaptadas para que seán mas facíles para las manitas del bebé. Este libro es perfecto para toda la familia y especialmente para madres en espera. No es necesario haber tenido experiencia con el aprendizaje de las señas antes de empezar con un programa de señas para los bebés. ¡El uso de señas es facíl y divertida! Los beneficios para los bebés y sus familias son fantasticos. La magia de la señas, como utilizando la lectura y la música en la vida cotidiana de los infantes, en realidad sea un regalo perfecto para cada bebé
en esta tierra y por el mundo.
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Warriors in Politics: Hindu Nationalism, Violence, and the Shiv Sena in India
Sikata Banerjee
Manufacturer: Westview Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0813336996 |
Book Description
In theorizing about the link between violence and the politics of nationalism, most scholars have rejected the idea that primordial hatred between different ethnic and/or religious groups residing in close proximity will inevitably lead to conflict and the call for a ethnically/religiously pure nation-state. Rather, conflict tends to occur when humans manipulate social, political, economic, and ideological factors to construct nationalist identities and movements. The "manipulation" perspective is the underlying theoretical framework of Warriors in Politics which uses the Mumbai riots of December 1992 and January 1993 to analyze the brand of nationalism created and disseminated by the Indian political party Shiv Sena. While the theoretical and empirical research of others is an important part of this study, interviews conducted by the author when she lived in Mumbai during this tumultuous period as well as her own theorizing on the links among masculinity, militarism, and nationalism, provide an excellent analysis of the factors-economic, political, and ideological--that converge to transform the simmering discontent of the politics of nationalism into violent conflict.
Customer Reviews:
DELICIOUS!.......2002-05-03
This book is wonderful. La Casa Sena restaurant in Santa Fe is absolutely incredible--their food is so delicious.
I highly recommend this cookbook.
NEIGHBOR.......2000-08-02
John Harrisson is my neighbor and he and his wife are ALWAYS cooking SOMTHING evrything he asks me to try is supurb!
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