History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Later Novels and Other Writings: The Lady in the Lake / The Little Sister / The Long Goodbye / Playback /Double Indemnity / Selected Essays and Letters (Library of America)

Average customer rating:

Outstanding in so many ways
Writing at its best - and it happens to be in detective noir
The best of Raymond Chandler
Classic American, cynical detective stories.
Priceless Solely for The Simple Art of Murder

Later Novels and Other Writings: The Lady in the Lake / The Little Sister / The Long Goodbye / Playback /Double Indemnity / Selected Essays and Letters (Library of America)
Raymond Chandler
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Anthologies | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1883011086

Amazon.com

Raymond Chandler is arguably the best American pulp novelist. His prose is so acutely visual, his characters so raw and intense that it is small wonder that all but one of his books have been made into movies. And his hero Philip Marlowe has graduated into American legend. Together with its companion volume (Stories and Early Novels), Later Novels and Other Writings forms the most complete Chandler collection in print. In addition to his later novels, this collection contains selected essays and letters, biographical information, and textual as well as explanatory notes. As an added bonus, the editor has included Chandler's screenplay to Double Indemnity, the classic Billy Wilder film adapted from James M. Cain's novel. You're able to compare the script to the finished movie and have the rare opportunity to see how one major crime novelist altered and interpreted another.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding in so many ways.......2007-02-24

First, let me say that there's a separate volume of Chandler's early novels. As much as I liked this volume, I actually enjoyed the earlier novels just a little bit more and suggest starting there. I started reading one story and wound up going through all of them in both volumes in the space of a few months. I also wound up reading and enjoying all the Dashiell Hammett stories, but I give Chandler a slight edge.

I won't try to list all the ways these novels are great and entertaining, but here's one thought that hasn't been mentioned in other reviews. Chandler is excellent at presenting a hero-character who has to worry about money and making a living. Indeed, Chandler makes this issue integral to the character's persona and to the plot line. Yes, the books are escapist in so many ways. Yet, in this respect at least, they are far more realistic than almost all of the fiction, and much of the non-fiction, these days.

Writing at its best - and it happens to be in detective noir.......2006-06-20

C-L-A-S-S-I=C HIGH/low notes. These stories are like a deck cards, all aces...... but there are way too few left. I finished "Little Sisters" (GREAT), "Farewell, My Lovely"- is recommended in the other half (earlier edition). The hook is Marlow. In times where many take the easy/cheap way out, I ride hard with Marlow. Marlow does it with style, humor, wit, grit, and nothing less than an all american: get the job done. But in a way that is the opposite his nemesis: the monopolies of power & money. Of course they admire and hate him. But it just doesn't get any better than Chandler. Need an excuse? Then read it for the wrting alone. The best!

The best of Raymond Chandler.......2005-12-05

This book, contaning Chandlers later works, is perhaps the best collection of Chandler you can find. Sure, does not contain the better-known novels - The Big Sleep and Farewell my Lovely - but it does contain The Long Goodbye, which is not only Chandler's finest, but a great novel by any measure.

Chandler lived a tough, hard-drinking life, and these later works came out of his mind with difficulty. But the quality of The Lady in the Lake and The Long Goodbye (The Little Sister is less memorable) make this collection essential.

In addition, the book contains some essays and letters, including Chandler's writing on the mystery genre, which will interest any budding suspense author.

In short, read this book! Read The Long Goodbye, then read it again. This is not just a great mystery, but it is also great literature.

Classic American, cynical detective stories........2005-05-12

Chandler is arguably the best detective story writer out there. If you expand this genre to all mystery writers, he would still be one of the best.

Detective stories aren't as common as they once were, but if you look at the offspring of the Pulp magazine once so popular, television, they are still as popular as ever. Chandler was one author who defined what a detective story was. This book contains four novels:The Lady in the Lake, The Little Sister, The Long Goodbye, and Playback. These are wonderfully entertaining stories that contain the archetypical hard-bitten detective, Philip Marlowe. After reading these stories you will forever see Marlowe in every detective story you see or read, from Magnum to the latest TV cop. How can you not love an author who sums up Modern American Capitalism with lines like these? "We make the finest packages in the world, Mr. Marlowe. The stuff inside is mostly junk." Or an author who in the early 50's, (50 years before the current 'Queers Dress Up' shows) so presciently wrote, "The queer is the artistic arbiter of our age, chum." Or his comment on a speech by a politician, "He did not bore us with any facts."
These books are not just riveting, fun reading, but full of thoughtful quotes like the above.

Chandler also is must-reading for his understanding of criminality, venality, human nature, Southern California, Movies, American culture and American relationship dynamics. I hate to use the word "classic" to describe stories that are just so plain fun to read, but I find it hard not to.

This volume also contains a screenplay, Double Indemnity, and a few essays and letters. The essays "The Simple Art of Murder", and "Writers in Hollywood" should be required reading for anyone interested in 20th century culture, movies, and literature. Just a few tidbits more. Chandler on English Mystery Writers - "The English may not always be the best writers in the world, but they are incomparably the best dull writers." Chandler on boredom - "There are no dull subjects, only dull minds." Chandler on critics - "The average critic never recognizes an achievement when it happens. He explains it after it has become respectable."

My only criticism is that the plots are contrived and sometimes complicated. But such criticism is like complaining that the Mona Lisa would be a fine painting if only it were of a different size.

Chandler is simply wonderful, funny, cynical, and yes, - respectable.

Priceless Solely for The Simple Art of Murder.......2005-01-18

While Hammett may very well have carried the modern hard-boiled mystery forward into the light, Chandler defined it. Of the two, I think I prefer Chandler most. Chandler better than anyone else set the standard for the genre, and laid down the rules to which all the great mystery writers of today rigorously adhere. Here, in brief, is the mystery writer's credo:

'But down these mean streets must a man go who himself is neither tarnished nor afraid.'

As Chandler remarked in his classic essay, The Simple Art of Murder, Hammett rightly deserves the title of Founder of the modern mystery because he succeeded in giving murder back to the kind of people who commit it. So what kind of person goes up against the kind of people who committ murder? Chandler responds with Exhibit A: Philip Marlowe.

Chandler's Marlowe resonates in my favorite mystery romps, the Spenser series, and the archetype also finds its way into more than a few 'Good Cop' dramas.

I enjoy the escapades of Philip Marlowe simply because the wry cynicism, coupled with the tough moral fibre to get to the bottom of any affair and see justice (or at least some sort of closure) served, makes for truly fascinating escapist reading. Each of the books in this collection, as in the collection preceding it, amply deliver on this score.

If you happen to acquire this masterpiece, never let it go. These are classic books, and will never become dated. I personally prefer The Long Goodbye to The Big Sleep, and found the former a longer and more satisfying read. In every story of both collections, there is to be found a depraved tapestry of gilded greater Los Angeles society, quite literally ripped from the headline news of the day. Most mystery fans will love the idea of an honest man in a thoroughly dishonest world, on a righteous quest for justice.

Once you get this triumph of American literature in your hands, mix your favorite drink, disappear to a quiet place with a comfortable chair (with good lighting), and enjoy the Great Master at work. If only more writers could write like this, then I would not need cable TV...

Average customer rating:

Chandler worthy of hype.
THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA
One Of Chandler's Best!
Good but Over Praised
Keep It Coming, Ray

The Lady in the Lake
Raymond Chandler
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Hard-Boiled | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0394758250
Release Date: 1988-08-12

Book Description

A couple of missing wives—one a rich man's and one a poor man's—become the objects of Marlowe's investigation. One of them may have gotten a Mexican divorce and married a gigolo and the other may be dead. Marlowe's not sure he cares about either one, but he's not paid to care.

Customer Reviews:

Chandler worthy of hype........2007-07-17

A 2007 summer reading list mini review.

I recently read a book celebrating the 100th birthday of Raymond Chandler. In the book, many current detective writers tell Phillip Marlowe stories and then explain the effect that Marlowe and Chandler had on their careers. The praise was glowing, and I picked up Lady in the Lake, to see if it was warranted. After the first chapter, I had an inkling the praise was justified. After the second, I knew.

The story of a Marlowe trailing an executives missing wife is excellent, but it is Chandler's use of language in dialogue that is amazing. The following exchange happens late in the book when a desk clerk uses the word whom and the crusty cop with Chandler is taken aback:

Degarmo spun on his heel and looked at me wonderingly. 'Did he say, "whom"?'
'Yeah, but don't hit him' I said. There is such a word.'
Degarmo licked his lips. ' I knew there was,' he said ' I often wondered where they kept it. ...'

The wise cracking atmosphere through the maze of dead bodies and corrupt officials is why I like Marlowe so much. And while there have been so many imitators through the years, I am amazed how fresh and innovative Chandler seems in comparison. Chandler and Marlowe are definitely worthy of all the acclaim.

THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA.......2007-06-20

Phillip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler's classic noir hard-boiled private detective forever literarily associated with Los Angeles and its means streets gets a little off-track when he goes to the mountains in search of the inevitable exotic/diabolical 'missing woman' (as here, usually with a hidden past). Sure there is plenty of sparse but functional dialogue, physical action and a couple of plot twists, particularly around the identity of the various `dames' of the piece that caught me off guard but the plot line lost energy as it gathered steam trying to get up those mountain passes. Give me those background oil derricks churning out the wealth while looking for Rusty Regan in Big Sleep or the run down stucco flats in pursue of Moose's Velma in Farewell, My Lovely any day. Still, as always with Chandler you get high literature in a plebian package. Read on.

One Of Chandler's Best!.......2006-08-07

Raymond Chandler has always been known for his eloquent prose, and the masterful way he creates his settings, but many hard-core mystery fans have not loved the fact that he can sometimes sacrifice the disciplined, mathematical puzzle for creating an experience. Not so in "The Lady in the Lake", which offers a vivid portrayal of Marlowe, gritty depiction of 1940's southern California, and a riveting mystery that buttons up neatly at the climax. This book is a fabulous guide to another reality which will provide hours of entertainment.

Good but Over Praised .......2006-06-14

Raymond Chandler certainly has a flair for terse dialogue and hardboiled metaphor, as well as knack for quick-sketching believable characters. But the active Philip Marlowe is the presence in THE LADY IN THE LAKE that kept this reader on the case. Reason: For me, narrators who seize the initiative are better in mysteries than narrators who are saved by dumb luck or the deus ex machina of improbable intervention.

But let's be honest. Hasn't Chandler been surpassed by others writing in this genre? I read very few mysteries--only three in the last three years according to my Amazon.com reviews. But two of these mysteries show Chandler's limits. For example, NIGHT TRAIN (Amis) certainly surpassed this book in sparkling dialogue and metaphor. And, TELL NO ONE (Coben) has characters that are just as well drawn while its plot (admittedly farfetched) is just as surprising but never hard to follow.

What THE LADY IN THE LAKE says to me is that an above average author can write to make a dollar and still do good work. I suppose the key is to work within a genre. Then, the genre keeps a middling author from overreaching, while making him mind his Ps and Qs. Such discipline enables a modest talent, like Chandler, to produce something beloved and lasting.

Keep It Coming, Ray.......2006-03-02

I'd agree with just about everybody, this is great stuff by a master. He creates the atmosphere, he gets the style, he's got an endless supply of similes and fabulous bad quips, and of course the characters are terrific. Where this one resides in the canon doesn't interest me too much-I'm just glad he wrote more than Hammett did.

What's amusing is that his plots are so complicated that he sometimes loses control of them, most notoriously in TBS. Alcohol probably contributed here. [[SPOILER ALERT: In this one, I couldn't figure out why Talley was apparently at the scene of Florence Almore's death (to steal the slipper), when in fact he'd been hired later by her parents to investigate her death. And then by the end Talley has entirely disappeared from view; we didn't even need him, really. I mean, the bit with the slippers was a bit of a contrivance anyway, I'd say.]]

Some of the major plot turns are pretty obvious in this one, also, but that didn't really bother me. Overall it's so entertaining; these are just nitpicks. When I read Chandler, I feel like I'm home. The only problem is, reading him always makes me yearn for a shot of Jameson, and that's not always a good thing.

The Lady in the Lake, The Little Sister, The Long Goodbye, Playback (Everyman's Library)

Average customer rating:

Chandler reigns
A nice way to begin Raymond Chandler addiction

The Lady in the Lake, The Little Sister, The Long Goodbye, Playback (Everyman's Library)
Raymond Chandler
Manufacturer: Everyman's Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Hard-Boiled | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375415025
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Book Description

(Book Jacket Status: Not Jacketed)

Creator of the famous Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler elevated the American hard-boiled detective genre to an art form. Chandler’s last four novels, published here in one volume, offer ample opportunity to savor the unique and utterly compelling fictional world that made his works modern classics.

The Lady in the Lake moves Marlowe out of his usual habitat of city streets and into the mountains outside of Los Angeles in his strange search for a missing woman. The Little Sister takes Marlowe to Hollywood, where he tries to find a sweet young thing’s missing brother, uncovering on the way a little blackmail, a lot of drugs, and more than enough murder. In The Long Goodbye, a case involving a war-scarred drunk and his nymphomaniac wife has Marlowe constantly on the move: a psychotic gangster’s on his trail, he’s in trouble with the cops, and more and more corpses keep turning up. Playback features a well-endowed redhead who leads Marlowe to the California coast to solve a tale of big money and, of course, murder.

Throughout these masterpieces, Marlowe’s wry humor and existential sense of his job prove yet again why he has become one of the most recognized and imitated characters in fiction.

Customer Reviews:

Chandler reigns.......2006-01-21

I first came across Chandler when I heard the Coen brothers interview and discovered that 'The Big Lebowski' was written in the style of a Chandler novel (name itself being derived from 'The Big Sleep'). This alone interested me enough to buy and read The Big Sleep.

Six novels later, I'm still reading Chandler novels, and still finding each and every one different, interesting and intriguing. The main character Marlowe is a wisecracking detective, wary of women - whom he obviously mistrusts - except for the "bad type of women", for whom he does not particularly care. He is also a complex, intelligent man, often an altruist who goes to some extraordinary lengths for his clients, even when he's not paid.

Novels are usually set in 30's/40's Hollywood and Bay City (which is since called something else), and are especially nostalgic, if you've lived in the surrounding areas.

Chandler's writing is funny and unique - the stories - all told in first person, are written so that the reader is both aware of Marlowe's conscious thoughts, and at the same time, when the ending or some pivotal point in the story arrives - is not. This point is not easy to describe, but it works extremely well - the stories are always amusing, captivating, and suspenseful.

I will easily recommend any Chandler novel for anyone interested in mysteries, as well as to those that enjoy unconventional styles of storytelling.

A nice way to begin Raymond Chandler addiction.......2004-05-10

If you don't already have a bookshelf full of Raymond Chandler, Ross McDonald and other excellent mystery writers of those times this is a fine start, three good, solid novels to take up the shelf space of only one. I'd easily give every Raymond Chandler novel he ever penned 5 stars and these are no exception. You won't go wrong reading Chandler mysteries and you won't go wrong with this compact edition of three great books in one.

Gilda Joyce and the Ladies of the Lake (Gilda Joyce)

Average customer rating:

Just as funny as its predecessor
Even better than the first Gilda Joyce book!!!!
Gilda... not such a nice girl
Couldn't stop reading this Gilda!
This Psychic Investigator Rocks

Gilda Joyce and the Ladies of the Lake (Gilda Joyce)
Jennifer Allison
Manufacturer: Dutton Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0525476938

Book Description

Zany Gilda Joyce leaves her wacky disguises at home but brings all of her psychic and investigative skills with her as she sets out to investigate a mysterious death at a Catholic girls' school. Is Our Lady of Sorrows really haunted by the ghost of Dolores Lambert? Or is the student body suffering from group hysteria? Solving this mystery will put Gilda in more danger than she ever imagined--and will take all of her brashness, bravery, and smarts.

Edgar Award Nominee
NYPL Books for the Teen Age, 2006

Customer Reviews:

Just as funny as its predecessor.......2007-08-01

I'm glad I found this series about the same time that Harry Potter and the Underland Chronicles came to an end, or bereavement and withdrawals would have been even more severe than they already were. GILDA JOYCE, PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR was funny, clever, and original, and its sequel is just as good.

Gilda is one of those rare characters you just love to read about. If there was no plot to this book at all, I think it still would have warranted at least three stars. Ms. Allison has hit a goldmine with this character, and I for one hope she spins the series out as long as she can. I don't think this is the sort of series that can possibly be too long.

Now, on to the actual book. Our Lady of Sorrows is NOT a school Gilda wants to attend, despite its prestigious reputation and the fact that she's earned a scholarship there thanks to her mother's boyfriend's influence. But when she finds out there's a mystery there...a mystery involving the ghost of a drowned girl and a mysterious society calling themselves the Ladies of the Lake, she knows she just HAS to attend, even if it means wearing a bright pink uniform identifying her as a freshman and dealing with a classful of weird girls, not one of whom (except maybe fake-rebel, ghost-seeing Tiara) might be a potential friend.

It's a great story, but even more than that, it's a Gilda Joyce story, and that makes it automatically hilarious even when it's sending chills up your spine.

Rating: Masterpiece

Even better than the first Gilda Joyce book!!!!.......2007-01-22

This was such a fun book. It flows nicely and keeps a great pace throughout the story, no slow, dragging parts. Allison has done a fabulous job creating believable characters. It's got a slight spooky factor without being super scary. However, the main characters are in high school, therefore the content is probably more appropriate for 7th grade and up. I can't wait for the next Gilda Joyce book!

Gilda... not such a nice girl.......2006-12-06

This book was moderately entertaining, but certainly not as good as the first book in this new girl detective series. Gilda is back in Detroit this time and attending a new school - Our Lady of Sorrows - that is haunted by the ghost of a former student. The mystery surrounding a dead student is actually pretty good, and Gilda uncovers a lot of clues
by searching around and asking questions. The problem is that Gilda is a freshman in high school, and she's investigating the 'case' as though she was a police officer -going around late at night in unsafe places, talking to parents at their homes, questioning teachers and administrators, etc. You definitely have to enter the realm of the unbelievable to enjoy the story. I noticed too that this book was less children-oriented than the last one. The first book featuring Gilda seemed suitable for about 5th grade and higher, but this book seems geared for a much higher grade level. Some of the language and the way in which Gilda talks back to her mother and (perhaps) stepfather sets a bad example for younger readers. I didn't remember Gilda being so contentious in the last book, and her character is certainly more harsh and unlikeable in this installment. I would recommend the book, but caution readers that if you enjoyed Gilda in the first book, she may prove less than appealing in this one.

Couldn't stop reading this Gilda!.......2006-07-27

The Ladies of the Lake is a terrific book. Especially during the last third of the story, I couldn't put it down, and I don't have that reaction to many books - even adult novels! Gilda's gutsy, never-back-down reactions to the many complications in the excellently detailed plot are both fun and completely realistic. This is a kid who is up to the challenges of facing the world - a character both entertaining and comforting to young readers facing pressure from peers and school. Besides the insightful treatment Allison gives the dangers of social cliques, she addresses some pretty complicated moral and family issues in this book convincingly and with humor; quite an accomplishment, in my opinion. Gilda's interactions with Barry Squib, Mrs. Joyce's new boyfriend, are priceless. If I were a pre-teen again, this would be one of those books I would read over and over. I felt challenged, entertained, and comforted by Gilda's navigation through her adventures. This is not to be missed - a very exciting read.

This Psychic Investigator Rocks.......2006-07-12

When Gilda Joyce's mom suggests a private school, Gilda is less than thrilled. She enjoys going to school with her best friend, Wendy. Why would she even consider a snotty, upper class, private girls' academy? Trying to be civil--after all, her mom's boyfriend has greased the wheels for her entrance--Gilda agrees to check it out.

Our Lady of Sorrows is worse than Gilda expected. The only thing that can convince her to attend would be a good mystery. While on a tour of the campus, a mystery is just what she finds. As a "psychic detective," Gilda decides to go undercover to find out what really happened to Delores Lambert--the freshman who drowned in the school's lake three years earlier--even if it means wearing a ghastly pink uniform.

At Our Lady of Sorrows, Gilda makes new friends and enemies, and the ghost of Delores seems to haunt them all. What starts out as a mystery soon grows into something much larger, and more dangerous than Gilda ever expected.

Gilda is smart and sassy, yet she happily marches to her own beat. The concept of the "psychic detective" is fun for kids and creates a great opportunity to pull kids in to another great series. With all of the paranormal/magic series out there for kids, it's interesting to see a new character who deals with the unusual while existing in an otherwise "normal" world.

While this is a good pick for most kids, some parents may not care for the use of mildly explicit language (d***; a**) or for some ethical choices Gilda makes, especially toward the end. Fortunately, Gilda comes through in more ways than one.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
7/11/2006

4½-Balloons / 5-Stars for Amazon

Average customer rating:

Hauntingly Beautiful
Ladies of the Lake
Like the Grail, a treasure worth the quest
A Refreshing Perspective on a Tired Story
RECOVER FORGOTTEN TREASURES

Ladies of the Lake
Caitlin Matthews , and John Matthews
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 1855380455

Book Description

Ladies of the Lake portrays nine of the women in Arthurian legend. These are the Ladies of the Lake in whom the ancient Celtic Goddess is fragmented and reflected.

Customer Reviews:

Hauntingly Beautiful.......2007-06-22

It's funny how each of the Ladies of the Lake I read about I see myself in! I just fall in love with each one as I discover deeper truths about myself and the nature of the Goddess in this one, yet manyfold, form. I haven't even done the meditations yet, as the book says to read through first. The author really brings the Goddesses to life with real research and her own speculation. If you really want to experience the magic of Avalon or the power of women in the Arthur mythology, then this is the book for you.

Ladies of the Lake.......2004-02-25

I was VERY disappointed in this book. The authors' seams to be fixated on condemming religious belifes other than thier own. I was looking for more of a book about the ledgends. In this book you will recieve a lesson on the authors'new meanings... they have apparently devised their own meaning to words like "MYTH" and how a myth is really a truth. I would suggest other books on the subject. This book is NOT reader friendly and suggests that it's readers are inferrior and all other books on the subject are incorrect and distasteful.

Like the Grail, a treasure worth the quest.......2002-06-26

Like the Grail, the reward this book offers is apparently not available to all, judging from the variation of reviews. Personally, I found the painstaking research and revelation of parallels between various historical sources enlightening in the extreme. Through the work of John and Caitlin Mathews, the reconstruction of truths long lost to us comes to us as a precious gift. If ever there were a literary representation of "racial memory," this book must have at least a strong claim on this title.
I have been fascinated by Arthurian legend since my youth, but have never appreciated it before as I do now as a consequence of reading this wonderful work. If you can apply your intellect and your spirit in synergy and not in conflict, I suggest that you might find as much treasure in this book as I have.

A Refreshing Perspective on a Tired Story.......2001-12-05

I have always had an interest in mythology and Arthurian legend and have found that few books really touch on the individual personalities or archetypes of the women of Arthurian legend beyond the usual over dramatized stereotypes of "Morgan = Evil sorceress, or confused seeker", "Morgause = "Malignant Manipulator, Power-monger", "Guenevere = Insecure Harlot".

"Ladies of the Lake" give these women back the power taken from them by traditional legend and modern retellings and allows the reader to see them in a richly spiritual and human light. I found that like book "The Goddess in Everywoman", each "lady" carries attributes that most women can relate to in some form or another. There are 9 attributes examined:
1. Energizer
2. Measurer
3. Protector
4. Initiator
5. Challenger
6. Deliverer
7. Weaver
8. Preserver
9. Empowerer

I for one am pleased to see a book such as this that gives a fresh look at women who have been underrated in many tellings of Arthurian legend. While many books will touch upon the aspects and strengths of each of Arthur's many knights, this book gives the same, long awaited look at the women of the legends. I love many of the retellings of the Arthurian legends, such as the "Mists of Avalon" and subsequent books in the series by Marion Zimmer bradley and this book seems to give a lot more insight into the personalities and spiritual arttributes behind the traditional ladies.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in Arthurian Legend or who want to know more about the women of the Arthurian legend from a unique perspective.

RECOVER FORGOTTEN TREASURES.......2000-06-13

I first encountered the poetic Celtia of John and Caitlan Matthews when I read THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CELTIC WISDOM back in the early 90s. Since that time I have tried to get my hands on everything they have written, either together or individually. By a wide margin, LADIES OF THE LAKE is my hands-down, favorite Matthews' gem of Celtic handiwork.

Like most people, I was introduced to the world of Avalon through stories of Arthur ... gallant and handsome knights, damsels in distress, a table in-the-round, a magical, Holy Grail and a quest for the immortality of the Soul. But while these stories were fiercely entertaining, they were particularly one-sided, one-dimensional and often succumbed to simple-minded, patriarchal and wholly Christian clichés to explain away the underlying magic of a much older system of beliefs about the nature of the world and the Soul. At every important juncture in these timeless stories of adventure, courage and faith, stood a woman - but the focus of most of the written accounts remained strictly on the male protagonists. We reveled in the male "hero's journey", while the stories of the women remained untold. In a nutshell, the voices of these pivotal women had effectively been silenced. Why? What was their story? Why did Morgan do what she did? How could Igraine accept such a fate? Could the struggle for Guinevere's love truly have toppled a kingdom?

With the publication of THE MISTS OF AVALON and its two prequels, Marion Zimmer Bradley made a valiant attempt to answer these questions. But it wasn't until I read LADIES OF THE LAKE that I comprehended the full depth and power of the symbolism underlying the Arthurian Ladies. From the remnants of the past, Caitlin Matthews has pieced together a beautiful tapestry of ancient symbolism and feminine power that holds as much value today as it did when Avalon was a place and not just a legend. This book is a must have for anyone who desires a soulful understanding of the Celtic mind.

Book Description

Yet another moving and beautiful tale from the Legends team of author Kathy-jo Wargin and Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, The Legend of the Lady's Slipper is a suspenseful tale of a young maiden's run through the forest in an attempt to save the people of her village.

"Dashing through the forest, with starlight at her heels," Running Flower is a testament of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. You will remember her story whenever you see delicate pink and white lady's slippers carpeting the ground of a northern forest. Add The Legend of the Lady's Slipper to your collection and let it enchant you for years to come.

Kathy-jo Wargin: As the author of many poems and stories for children, Kathy-jo Wargin aims to help young readers notice the most intricate details of a story by adding the nuances that create magic and wonder in a good tale.

Kathy-jo Wargin (Nelson) was born in Tower, Minnesota and moved to Grand Rapids at the age of seven, where she attended and graduated from Grand Rapids Senior High School in 1983. Her love of music took her to the University of Minnesota-Duluth to study music composition.

Her transition to writing books was a natural step, and in each story, her goal is to make the words carry a rhythm, just as if they were written for a musical piece. As well, her love for children and her desire to expose them to vivid written descriptions, inspire her to write with great attention to the nuances of a story, opening their minds to see all the possibilities in a scene or situation.

Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen: The art of Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen captures his lifelong connection to nature and wildlife. Brimming with passionate details and brilliant color, his paintings have been published in several books. His talent for mural painting can be seen in several museums, including Fort Mackinac on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

Born in the Netherlands, Gijsbert studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in Holland and immigrated to the United States in 1976. In 1993, after 17 years as the Art Director for the Michigan Natural Resources Magazine, he ventured out on his own as an artist and educator.

His highest professional achievement comes from being selected numerous times into the internationally renowned Leigh Yawkey Woodson Birds in Art exhibition, held in Wisconsin. Traveling to schools in the Midwest, Gijsbert shares his love of painting and wildlife rehabilitation. Gijsbert and his wife Robbyn, give nature tours at their home outside Lansing, Michigan where they live with their two daughters, Kelly and Heather.

Customer Reviews:

remarkable.......2001-06-21

the Wargin- vanFrankhuyzen team have done it again. This book is absolutely gorgeous to look at. And when you're done looking and can sit down to read it, it will fill you with such emotion. Their "Legend" series contiues to get better. I can't wait to read the next one. Until then, I will keep pulling their books out at my daughters bedtime and we will both enjoy them.

Tidings of Joy (The Ladies of Sweetwater Lake #5) (Love Inspired)

Average customer rating:

a very powerful story of love and faith
Tidings of Joy
Very Inspirational!
A Christmas visit to Sweetwater
A Ladies of Sweetwater Lake romance

Tidings of Joy (The Ladies of Sweetwater Lake #5) (Love Inspired)
Margaret Daley
Manufacturer: Steeple Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Steeple Hill Love Inspired | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0373873999

Customer Reviews:

a very powerful story of love and faith.......2007-04-24

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Tanya Bolton has a lot to deal with. Her husband, Tom, was recently killed in a prison brawl, leaving Tanya and her physically handicapped daughter, Crystal, to pick up the pieces. As if that wasn't enough, something is bothering Crystal, turning the once cheerful and driven young woman into a silent and morose child. If money weren't so tight, Tanya would never think of renting the room above the garage to a perfect stranger with everything else she has to worry about.

Chance Taylor is fresh out of jail for a crime he did not commit and hides a secret about Tom that could hurt Tanya even more. He is in Sweetwater to pay a debt he believes he owes Tom and to make up for past mistakes. What better way to do so than by renting Tanya's little apartment? The last thing Chance needs is a romance with the widow of his prison-mate and one who in spite of all the troubles she faces still retains a very strong faith in God. Chance gave up on religion a long time ago but it could be Tanya is exactly what he needs.

In Tidings of Joy, my second book by Margaret Daley I've read, once again I find she is not afraid to tackle sensitive subjects in her novels. This time the issue we face is bullying. Bullies come in all shapes and sizes, but generally have the same reasons for their actions. Through this story, Crystal is suffering at school because of the fact she is stuck in a wheel chair. Chance too had to face his own bullies when he was in prison, though not as much focus as we see with Crystal is put on his previous circumstances.

The growing relationship between Tanya and Chance is beautifully done. We see her hesitance to get involved with someone new, made all the more difficult because of the fact that she loved Tom deeply, even knowing what he did to put him in jail. Not to mention she has Crystal to think about and is unwilling to do anything that may hurt her. Chance struggles with the fact he was close friends with Tom in jail and therefore has no business being attracted to Tanya. His circumstances are even further explored as we learn why he was in prison and the other, deeper internal agonies he faces every day. This actually comes to play a key role in the latter half of the book.

There were really only two things I didn't really like in Tidings of Joy. Throughout the novel, we learn of Crystal's talents in artwork, specifically portraiture. This is very important to her, making up a large part of her personality and is a skill she got from her mother. But Tanya was harassed mercilessly about it as a child and she spends far too much time bemoaning the teasing about her pride and joy she received growing up. So because of Crystal's enjoyment of the same activity, Tanya is convinced Crystal should keep her artistic ability to herself to prevent the same thing happening to her. I felt this was way overdone and did not need so much focus placed on it. My only other issue was I thought Chance kept his Big Secret about Tom from Tanya for far too long. There were plenty of other issues throughout the story that could have provided the necessary conflict to their relationship.

In spite of my two minor complaints, Tidings of Joy is a very powerful story of love and faith. We all need love in our lives and faith, too, is important. Tanya's strong devotion to God and her church brought her over many hurdles she could never have conquered on her own. Chance too needs faith and when he comes to accept God into his life once more, his true healing can finally begin.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, April 2007. All rights reserved.

Tidings of Joy.......2007-01-31

I wish, wish, wish this book would be recommended reading for all junior high and high school students. The manner in which Margaret handled the bullying issues in the story were excellent. Very touching story by a master in the craft of fiction. Heartwarming characters that stayed with me long after I finished the book. BRAVO, MARGARET!!!

Very Inspirational!.......2007-01-10

I love the Steeple Hill Love Inspired Series of books. Margaret Daley is one of my favorites who writes regularly for LI. She alaways tells a good story with faith and Christian love all tied into it.

A Christmas visit to Sweetwater.......2006-10-29

The characters of Margaret Daley's "Tidings of Joy" immediately absorbed me into their lives. Chance--recently released from prison for a crime he didn't commit--comes to Sweetwater to pay back the debt he feels he owes to his cellmate Tom who saved his life. Tanya, Tom's wife, is struggling to make ends meet as a single mom while battling her own fears and guilt over the past. Crystal, Tanya's teenage daughter--paralyzed in a riding accident and now wheel chair bound--battles not only the normal insecurities of growing up, but bullying and prejudice at school.

Chance's struggle to understand how God could allow him to go through what he did, and his difficulty believing he can be a welcome part of a community once again, is understandable and written with both sensitivity and realism.

This is the final installment of "The Ladies of Sweetwater Lake" series, but you don't have to read the earlier books to enjoy this one. I hadn't, but the secondary characters in "Tidings of Joy" were such a special part of Chance and Tanya's story that I want to go back and read each of their stories as well.

A Ladies of Sweetwater Lake romance.......2006-10-19

Life has been hard for Chance Taylor. He was sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. He has been released, but now he has to start over. However, he can't escape his past. Tanya Bolten has had her own problems to overcome. Her husband, Tom, died in prison, leaving her with a daughter to raise. Tanya needs the money, so she agrees to rent her garage apartment to Chance. She never wanted him to become part of her life, but in spite of her better judgment, she begins to depend on him.
Crystal, Tanya's daughter, is confined to a wheelchair. Crystal is a talented, lovely young girl, but a few of the kids from her schol have been harassing her. In addition, some of the townspeople don't want Chance in their town. Tanya tries to defend him, but Chance has a secret that may destroy their blossoming relationship.
This is a tender love story about two people struggling to overcome their past and live a normal life. Bullies come in all sizes. Whether it's kids in school picking on a girl in a wheelchair, or adults determined to drive someone out of town because he's different. Margaret Daley has done a good job of making us aware of the problem. You'll see the hurt, feel the pain, and be warmed by the love as Chance, Tanya, and Crystal learn to rely on God and on each other.

Light in the Storm (The Ladies of Sweetwater Lake #3) (Love Inspired)

Average customer rating:

Light in the Storm (The Ladies of Sweetwater Lake #3) (Love Inspired)
Margaret Daley
Manufacturer: Steeple Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Romance | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

Steeple Hill Love Inspired | Series | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0373873077

Average customer rating:

The Lady in the Lake
Raymond Chandler
Manufacturer: New Millennium Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1590070941

Book Description

Elliott Gould, who played Philip Marlowe on the screen, performs Lady in The Lake - a gritty, well-plotted Raymond Chandler mystery set in '40's City of Angels, California. The archetypal private eye - the original - is here solving a crime of passion? of mystery? of intrigue.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books