Average customer rating:
- Painful but necessary reading
- Under Saturn's Shadow
- Understanding and appreciating men
- Short, hard hitting, and to the point
- One of the best books i ever read
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Under Saturn's Shadow: The Wounding and Healing of Men (Studies in Jungian Psychology By Jungian Analysts)
James Hollis
Manufacturer: Inner City Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Developmental Psychology | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Human | Sexuality | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Gender | By Topic | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Men | Gender Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0919123643 |
Customer Reviews:
Painful but necessary reading .......2007-08-28
I am total James Hollis fan. I have now read four of his books and have found them liberating. Visit his website for a clue for why he is so effective - he is not 30 years of age with limited life experience. He commenced his training only after he completed another successful career in academia. Most would have been content to have lived the life he already had. He has the life skills and experience to help us all illuminate our lives.
The book concerns the burden of being a man, exposing some of the constricting myths that have made manhood so painful. It is a book about men but not necessarily only for men - my wife read it too and found it very moving. It is enriched by the signficant store of Hollis reading in poetry and literature. It is not an easy fix and like anything worthwhile requires your concentrated attention. Further, it is only a beginning rather than an end. Hollis says it himself when he quotes somewhere Jung's description of the psychoanalytical endeavour - it can provide insight but then there must come endurance and courage. You can have a vision of what you would like to be but then comes the fidelity to make that vision a reality.
I would recommend this book highly.
Rob
Under Saturn's Shadow.......2007-02-19
Hollis hits the nail on the head. I found this book to be accurate on many levels and I will benefit from it the rest of my life. How I view my relationship with my father has changed and how I interact with other men will never be the same. This should be required reading for fathers of boys.
Understanding and appreciating men.......2006-10-12
Absolute must reading for anyone who wants to understand the meaning behind what boys and men do and the reason behind their behaviors. A must read for wives and mothers.
Short, hard hitting, and to the point.......2006-08-11
This book is roughly 135 pages. It covers a wide range of relatively complex ideas presented in a clear, well organized manner. Ever notice that when someone really understands something they don't need 300 pages to explain it?
This book challenged many of my ideas about my relationships with parents, my ex-wife, and my life choices (since childhood... I'm 36). I recommend it to anyone who is in this field or just on their own personal journey to have a greater understanding of men and their wounds / healing...
Enjoy
One of the best books i ever read.......2006-01-19
Between an ex husband that dove off the deep end and a son living with two strong women and without an appropriate father figure, I have been wondering both what makes men snap like that, and what consequence living without a father might have on my son. How to be a mother and a father to him, how not to hurt my baby in the way I see people around me, and myself, hurting and thus hurting others. I believe every mother and father should read this. It truly spoke to me, and I would not put it down until I was done with it some time early this morning. Written in a language everyone can understand.
Collected exerpts, almost quoted, that I found most enlightening:
Greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of the parent. So each man must examine, without the motive to judge, where his father's wounds were passed on to him. Either he finds himself repeating his father's patterns or living in reaction to them - in both cases a prisoner. (..)
When we ask such questions, father becomes more a man like us, a brother who has suffered the same ordeal. If we are caught up in hate we stay bound to that which wounds us. (..)
We all develop a provisional personality in reaction to childhood experience. We set off into life with this false self and make choices that further estrange us, and by midlife we suffer growing split between the asquired personality and the natural self. (..)
The crux of the middle passage is the requirement that a man (AND A WOMAN, I WOULD ADD!), whatever his reason or station, pull out of his reflexive behaviors and attitudes, radicallyreexamine his life, and risk living out the thunderous imperatives of his soul. (..)
Being a man (AGAIN, I WOULD SAY NOT ONLY A MAN) means knowing what you want and then mobilizing the inner resources to achieve it. It is extraordinarily difficult to know what one wants. How does one separate the inner truth from personal complexes and cultural directives? (..)
Most men (AND INCREASING NUMBER OF WOMEN WHO LIVE AND SWIM IN GUY'S WORLD) use their job to validate themselves, but they do not feel valued even when they have achieved success. (..)
No man may leave home or be in the world without suffering grievous wounds to body and soul. He must learn to say "I am not my wound or my defense against the world. I am my journey".
Book Description
Milan, 1497. The height of the Renaissance. And for Giacomo, servant of the famous painter Leonardo da Vinci, it's the most difficult time of all. His Master has been working on the Last Supper, his greatest painting ever, for nearly two years. But has he finished it? He's barely started! The all-powerful Duke of Milan is demanding that it be completed by the time the Pope visits at Easter. And Giacomo knows that if Leonardo doesn't pick up his pace, the Duke may invite a young genius -- Michelangelo -- to finish the painting instead. Which means that Leonardo won't be paid, which means that Milan's shopkeepers (to whom he owes massive amounts) will take drastic measures against him.
It's all down to Giacomo, and whether he can come up with a brilliant solution. And if he does, will his Master go for it? After all, Leonardo still doesn't seem to trust him. He refuses to teach Giacomo how to paint; he won't help him find his parents; nor will he discuss the significance of the medallion, ring, and cross that Giacomo was carrying when Leonardo found him. But with the secret arrival of a powerful stranger, Giacomo is about to discover much more than the answers he has been looking for. And he will also receive an invitation to help arrange a meeting that could change his life. . . and the future course of history.
With more twists and turns than a spiral staircase, this thriller is as unique as its two heroes -- the most celebrated artist who ever lived, and a young man without a past, who will stop at nothing to find the truth about his life.
Customer Reviews:
Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-09-24
Leonardo da Vinci hasn't worked on the fresco of the Last Supper in two years. His supporters are most unhappy with his progress. Payments for da Vinci have stopped, but that does not stop the da Vinci household from running up debts all over town.
The shopkeepers are starting to refuse more credit on his accounts.
The Duke of Milan and da Vinci have a history of playful disagreements. However, the Duke makes no secret that he's asked the rival artist Michaelangelo to town. With threats at his doorstep and the Pope coming to the chapel in the near future, da Vinci gets to work.
LEONARDO'S SHADOW shares the story of the creation of the Last Supper through the eyes of da Vinci's servant, Giacomo. Grey spins a wonderful tale of historical fiction for anyone who's interested in the Italian Renaissance.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel
Why won't Da Vinci finish The Last Supper?.......2007-09-18
Giacomo is the servant of the great Leonardo Da Vinci. Several years ago, a mob was chasing him through the streets, convinced he had stolen someone else's possessions. That night, Da Vinci saved Giacomo's life. Ever since then, Giacomo has served Da Vinci faithfully and almost comically. Whenever anyone even hints that they are insulting his master, Giacomo is right there defending his honor, although it is most unsuitable for him to speak to his superiors.
His greatest ambition is to paint and learn from his master. But Da Vinci seems reluctant to teach him. Giacomo spends his days waiting on Da Vinci, hanging out with his small circle of apprentice friends, and bugging his master to finish the painting The Last Supper. Why won't Da Vinci finish the painting? The Da Vinci household has been buying food, clothing, and art supplies on a credit basis only, but the business owners are beginning to be impatient for actual money. More importantly, the Duke of Milan is most impatient for him to finish the work. Why, any day now, the Pope will visit. The Duke is hoping that the Pope will be impressed with the painting enough that he will remain an ally to the city of Milan against the French. But there may be no peace if the painting is not completed on time!
But Giacomo has much more on his mind. Who are his parents? What was in his knapsack that the mob was angry about? Is he, indeed, a common thief? Will he ever learn to paint? How will he and his master eat with no money? Is the master hiding secrets from him? Can Giacomo discover them?
Giacomo is no ordinary servant, you will soon see . . .
I loved this book! It was funny, educational, and fast-paced. Giacomo is a lively character that boys will relate to easily. It has just the right amount of details--enough for us to be able to enter Giacomo's world but not enough that it overwhelms the story. This tale is full of suspense, intrigue, and hidden secrets just waiting to be discovered. Once I started it, I just couldn't stop. This is unusual for me. To tell you the truth, it is hard for me to find time to read. During my lunch breaks at the library, I eagerly opened Leonardo's Shadow to see what trouble Giacomo would get into today.
With all of the interest in secrets societies and The Da Vinci Code, this book practically sells itself.
A Trip Back in time!.......2007-08-26
Giacomo has no recollection of his past since the day he fell from the top of Milan's Cathedral. Thank goodness Leonardo da Vinci was there to rescue him from the fall as well as the mob chasing him. That is how Giacomo came to be Leonardo's servant...pure chance.
Leonardo da Vinci is contracted by the Duke of Milan, to paint the most amazing mural that eyes will ever behold; The Last Supper. It has been almost two years since the first brush stroke, and not many more have been made since then. The Duke grows tired of waiting and warnes da Vinci that the painting must be done by Easter for the Pope, and if not then he will hire Michelangelo to finish the Last Supper. The Duke also lays threat to Giacomo, and if the information is not reported to the Duke within a week, who knows what lay in wait for poor Giacomo.
Giacomo seeks answers from his Master, regarding his past, his parents, and the three items he had the day Leonardo saved him. But to no avail his Master will not speak. There are secrets hidden that will surface all in due time. When the carriage bearing the same emblem as the medallion Giacomo has passes in front of him, he grows even more curious of his past.
Can Giacomo betray his Master to the Duke in hopes of saving himself from a beating as well as find the answers he most desperately seeks? Or will he be true to Leonardo da Vinci and suffer the consequences? Giacomo seeks many answers throughout this book, come and discover what secrets he may find.
Mr. Grey captivates me with the extraordinary characters painted in this book. Leonardo's Shadow was an experience in the life of Leonardo da Vinci's servant that I am sure not to forget. All through this book there were twists and turns that will keep you biting your nails and on the edge of your seat.
Mr. Grey deems Leonardo's Shadow: Or, My Astonishing Life as Leonardo da Vinci's Servant a fantasy book for Young Adults, but I enjoyed it very much. It could easily be enjoyed by adults as well. I think Christopher Grey deserves 5 hearts, because I know a lot of research and heart went into this book.
15th Century Milan, Italy comes alive for you.......2007-07-19
Giacomo is a servant boy without a past. But he's not just anybody's servant. He is Leonardo da Vinci's servant.
Master daVinci rescued Giacomo when he was only eight, and he as been a servant to the great painter since. But now it has been two years since da Vinci began work on The Last Supper, and as far as Giacomo can tell, virtually no progress has been made. While creditors come pounding on their door, the Duke of Milan harasses Giacomo and his master, and the great Leonardo da Vinci holes himself up to work on who-knows-what. Will Giacomo find the answers to the many questions that plague him?
This fascinating "historical thriller" gives life and breath to Milan at the end of the fifteenth century. Based on an obscure servant mentioned in Leonardo's Notebooks and plenty of gaps in Leonardo da Vinci's life, Grey weaves together a riveting story of what could have been in the years leading up to the completing of Leonardo's masterpiece, The Last Supper.
I know very little of this time period or of Leonardo da Vinci's works, but I now find myself wanting to know a great deal more. I couldn't quit turning pages from the first chapter. The only thing that made me want to put down the book was the continual references to art pieces. I need to find a picture of the piece so I really know what he wrote about.
One thing I especially enjoyed was that a reproduction of The Last Supper is on the hardcover of the book, without so much as a book title marring its surface so I could flip to it time and time again as he referred to aspects of the painting.
If you aren't into art, you will be.
Armchair Interviews says: Hands down, this is a great read for young and old alike.
BEST HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK EVER.......2007-07-01
this is an AMAZING book. this is about the life of Leonardo da Vinci while he was painting the Last Supper. told through the eyes of Giacomo, his servant, this is a captivating story you won't want to put down. Its very intreguing, exspecially the ending. I actually read it in two days because it was so good! (but i didn't finnish all my work and got yelled at!)
Book Description
A first-of-its-kind exploration of black men and depression from an award-winning journalist
The first book to reveal the depths of black men’s buried mental and emotional pain, Standing in the Shadows weaves the author’s story of his twenty-five-year struggle with depression with a cultural analysis of how the illness is perceived in the black community—and why nobody wants to talk about it.In mainstream society depression and mental illness are still somewhat taboo subjects; in the black community they are topics that are almost completely shrouded in secrecy. As a result, millions of black men are suffering in silence or getting treatment only in the most extreme circumstances—in emergency rooms, homeless shelters, and prisons. The neglect of emotional disorders among men in the black community is nothing less than racial suicide. John Head’s explosive work, Standing in the Shadows, addresses what can be done to help those who need it most.In this groundbreaking book, veteran journalist and award-winning author John Head argues that the problem can be traced back to slavery, when it was believed that blacks were unable to feel inner pain because they had no psyche. This myth has damaged generations of African American men and their families and has created a society that blames black men for being violent and aggressive without considering that depression might be a root cause. The author also explores the roles of the black church, the black family, and the changing nature of black women in American culture as a way to understand how the black community may have unwittingly helped push the emotional disorders of African American men further underground. As daring and powerful as Nathan McCall’s Makes Me Wanna Holler, Standing in the Shadows challenges both the African American community and the psychiatric community to end the silent suffering of black men by taking responsibility for a problem that’s been ignored for far too long. Additionally, Standing in the Shadows gives women an understanding of depression that enables them to help black men mend their relationships, their families, and themselves.
Customer Reviews:
u become aware of the great black syndrome..........2006-09-15
First you gotto get over the Black Power talk and the fact that all of the author's heroes are black. Then he tells you how white society was bad to him, but then the good part comes in. He introduces you to a world were irrational behaviour and poor social skills are to be blamed on mental health. How the racial stigma has contributed in the form of stress to have the black male become emotionally unstable. Wow. that's good. The reading was all worth it after the first two chapters.
The authors eloquence and style are impressive. This is no mediocre man writing on one more reason blacks haven't made it. He has some very powerful personal experinences and you will relate to him in many ways. I rated it a 3 but I DO INDEED RECOMMEND YOU READ IT. For those of yo interested in social issues, black empowerment issues, and mental health issues this book IS A MUST!
Private Battles.......2004-10-09
John Head lived the "American Dream": supportive wife, 2.5 children, fantastic job, great home, tennis buddies, family, friends... his list of blessings was long enough to make most envious; yet fulfillment and contentment were just beyond his grasp, sitting on the other side of depression.
He was trapped in the cell of depression, and no matter how hard his family and friends tried to break him free of his imprisonment, they failed. This was a battle John's loved ones could not fight for him. This was John's war; all others had to take a supporting role.
John Head's life is literally an open book in STANDING IN THE SHADOWS. In order to help African-American men-and those who love them-win the fight against depression, John Head reveals his revelations, struggles, failures, successes, and strategies for dealing with depression.
As I read STANDING IN THE SHADOWS, I could see how men suffering from depression could identify with John's struggles and hopefully seek help. As the wife of a diagnosed manic-depressive Black man, I could identify with the stories of John's family struggles. At times, Mr. Head became preachy on issues such as the role that racism plays in depression in African-American men and the stigma many Blacks have against admitting and treating mental illnesses, but otherwise this is an excellent book that is very informative and personable.
Reviewed by Deatri King-Bey
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
Average customer rating:
- Not so thrilling technothriller
- My favourite B-2 is on flight again in this book
- Dale Brown does it again
- Great Book
- A Good Combat Book!
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Shadows of Steel
Dale Brown
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Men's Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
War | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Men's Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
War | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0425157164 |
Book Description
In an electrifying novel ripped from today's headlines, Dale Brown takes to the skies to deliver a covert battle in the Middle East-a battle that America can't afford to lose.
"A superb storyteller." (W.E.B. Griffin)
Customer Reviews:
Not so thrilling technothriller.......2005-03-23
In "Shadows of Steel", It's the "United States Air Force of Patrick McLanahan" v. Iran. Having previously duked it out with Soviets, Red China and a KGB mole, maverick flier McLanahan is tagged to fly stealth missions into Iran. The covert war is spurred by Iran's defacto nationalization of large pieces of the Persian Gulf and their acquisition of an ex-Russian aircraft carrier (betcha can't guess the name). Obviously the Iranians will have none of McLanahan's airborne warfare, but they get help from some allies in America - liberals, bureaucrats and a pissed-off Navy Admiral who's around to remind us that inter-service rivalry is alive and well in the future of Brown's books.
This was a middling novel. Like most of Brown's books, its hampered by its need to get the look, sound and feel of air combat. Unfortunately, we get so much data, there's no room for the story, or even the idea that the book has a plot. "Steel" never feels like it's working towards something - instead it's basically a sting of scenes with flight jargon, political back-talk and scheming villains. Even the feeling of being in the pilot's seat is spoiled - our characters engage in the same easygoing dialog that you expect to hear from people schmoozing on the ground but never from people strapped into a high-performance fighter jet flying over enemy territory. The realism is debatable, but its drag on the plot is painfully obvious. Some howlers however aren't so much technical but fall into that realm of he human conscious for which there is no on-line directory. For all pretensions of being a maverick, McLanahan is a textbook hero, while a thinly veiled versions of real-life liberals make this less a technothriller than a high-tech Alan Drury novel. I should have realized something was wrong when Brown created as a love interest, a beautiful Saudi female soldier - this from a country where women aren't aloowed to drive or show their faces.
My favourite B-2 is on flight again in this book.......2004-05-28
Shadows of Steel was my fourth book from Brown's Aeoro techno thriller. This time, the story took me to the mid east...after the B2 had its experiences in South East Asia (Sky Masters). The story is very good and I really enjoyed reading it. But damn! I felt myself sitting as a CO Pilot with Patrick in B-2 again..! Although it's not that heavy thriller written in previous 'Sky Masters', But Brown is still genious with story writting! He is still the best Pilot! So everyone who is in flight enthusiast, don't miss it!
Dale Brown does it again.......2003-04-23
Alright,
this was the very first book of Dale Browns' I have read. Now, I have 5, with another 5 on order.
This book is excellent. This one talks about the B-2 Bomber, and modifying it. Although I recomend you read Sky Masters first, you can read this before Sky Masters, like I did. This one has Patrick suiting up on a B-2 and going to fight the Iranians.
Great Book.......2003-01-23
This is a Very good Book, this is my Third Dale Brown book and i love this one .. the plot is very good, the Flying action is out of this world, I think this B-2 bomber is a favorite from the autor, this book is a must read if you like Dale Brown.
A Good Combat Book!.......2002-03-09
This was a typical Dale Brown scenario.The Islamic nation of
Iran is dominated by the radical Mullahs. Iran is beginning to arm up with modern weaponry and in doing so becoming a threat to every nation in the Persian Gulf.The Unites States becomes a victim of the newly armed Iran. Dale Brown hero Patrick McClanahan becomes the American saviour. The Stealth bomber is
used as the weapon of choice in this book. There are several good battles between America and Iran.You are treated to the
Stealth bomber at it's finest.A good actuion book that you will
enjoy.Buy it.
Customer Reviews:
Witty and Romantic... YUM!.......2004-08-20
This is another great entry into the golden chronicles, with new characters introduced who are entirely lovable in themselves.
Old favorites make an appearance, as they continue to do throughout this series. Wonderful Jamie and Haughty August come through the town and we have some brillant scenes between the two of them along with the duel threats that come whenever August is involved. (are you sensing the infatuation? My favorite character! Mandarin of Mayfair is his book)...
So we have a great pair of new lovers, and continuing relationships with our favorite people who haven't made the perfect match yet.
Down to the nitty gritty:
Jennifer Britewell is a lovely heroine & her kindness to the man who has lost his memory is entirely believeable and in keeping with her proven nature.
As he struggles to regain his memory and they are threatened by savage strangers who desire her home (which is slightly decrepit but very scenic)they are thrown together and romance developes.
One of the marvellous things about Patricia Veryan as an author is the very believability of her settings. Without boring one with the visitors guidebook, or banging us over the head with the history of a place, she manages to imbue her books with the very feel of the environs.
Windswept Cornwall descends into your living room as you read this book, and Jonathon & Jennifer are wonderful.
Romances are always incredibly touching & leavened with gentle humor:
"Jennifer, please stop! My beautiful... dearest girl... I cannot bear to see you cry."
At this, her eyes opened very wide. "You-you're weeping, too..." she gulped.
"I know," he said. And lost to everything but her grief, added with a tender smile, "You hit me in the eye."
heh heh
ABSOLUTELY BRILLANT. Read all her books. Veryan is the best regency/georgian author.
One of the best so far.......2000-02-10
I really liked this one. I thought the plot was better developed than the others I have read in this serise (Books 2&3). It was amazing really, the plot kept thickening and thickening until I thought she would never be able to pull it out but she did manage remarkably. Only the fate of Jennifer's family was left out. I enjoyed the main love interests in this one as well. I do tend to go in for tortured lovers but they were really a solid pair. I thought that the superstions of Cornwall made a nice background to the story and were a pleasent change from her usual settings. This book also answerd some questions I had after a previous book. All-in-all a good read but I would definitely recomend reading it in order in the Serise.
Average customer rating:
- a [...] mystery that is different
- Shady side of business dealings make for great reading
- Great Book !!
- Couldn't put this one down
- Great Read!
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In the Shadow of Stone
Rob Kaufman
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Gay | Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
Gay | Mystery & Thrillers | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1419607448
Release Date: 2005-06-22 |
Book Description
Jack Fontaine, summoned to his estranged sister Dana's deathbed, gets an odd request from her: hold onto a videotape she's made for her only daughter, Jenna, and allow her to watch it alone on her 18th birthday. Jack feels the tug of family ties and agrees to keep the video safe. Unfortunately, at the time of his sister's death Jack is confronted with a host of other issues endangering his job at one of the top ad agencies in Boston. When Dana's videotape is seen by the wrong eyes and the hidden fortune revealed on the tape is stolen, the entanglements between Jack, his lover Marc, a slick corporate recruiter named Cory, and Todd, a childhood neighbor of Jack's who also works at the agency, hold the clues to finding out what happened and who lurks In the Shadow of Stone.
Customer Reviews:
a [...] mystery that is different.......2006-04-23
Like the other reviewers I also read through this book straight through and agree with their comments. I did feel uncomfortable towards the end with some of the improbable twist and turns. The one about one of the evil doers having grown up next door to Jack's sister and husband was a bit much. Otherwise the book is original and well written. I normally am uncomfortable with flashbacks, but they are seamless and brilliantly done in this book.
Shady side of business dealings make for great reading.......2006-02-06
A well-conceived and written novel of romance, suspense and shady business dealings, "In the Shadow of Stone" introduces Jack Fontaine, a self-made gay man who is somewhat estranged from his family, except for his sister's daughter Jenna, and is a successful advertising executive who is in a rewarding but ethically-challenged relationship with one of his firm's copywriters. Jack's orderly life starts to unravel when he is summoned to the deathbed of his sister, who entrusts him with a video tape that is to be held in safekeeping for her daughter's 18th birthday. Shortly thereafter, it becomes apparent that a comment made by his lover Marc at work has resulted in their relationship being known, which threatens his job and makes him second-guess the wisdom of continuing the relationship. What follows is a painful revelation that Marc was actually sent to the firm to "bring Jack down" and, although he now insists he fell in love for real, Jack does not know whom to trust.
Definitely original and engaging story by a talented author. Much recommended, 5 stars out of 5.
Great Book !!.......2006-02-01
This book has it all. Romance, love, mystery, deception, betrayal, redeamption, and a whole lot more. It is the story of a man who makes a pledge to his dying sister and must, through a series of unfortunate and sometimes hateful events, redeem his promise and in the process, redeem his understanding of the human spirit. Tightly and tensely written, this gripping story will not permit you to put it down until the final page. And even then, you will yearn for more. Fortunately, Mr. Kaufman has provided himself the opportunity to write a subsequent novel about the same protagonist. If he does, I will line up to buy it and read it. This is a good book. READ IT!
Couldn't put this one down.......2005-10-19
I LOVED this book. Right from the beginning the story grabbed me. I actually stayed up all night so I could see what happened... and it was well worth it! The characters were so well developed that after awhile they were like real people to me. Between the characters, the storyline, the suspense and emotional drama, I couldn't put the book down. I can't wait for this author's next book.
Great Read!.......2005-09-23
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. From the very start it caught my attention and kept me going right to the very end. A wonderful first book from this author. I hope he writes more in the near future. After reading "In the Shadow of Stone," I would not hesitate to buy his next book.
Amazon.com
I was hesitant to explore this book for fear that I would find another text that falls prey to stereotypical constructions of male deities in orthodox religions, but positive experiences with D. J. Conway's other books spurred me on. I'm glad I didn't pass it up. Conway makes a courageous move, breaking down misconceptions shrouding the true nature of the ancient pagan god, and revealing the importance of balancing the aspects of the Goddess with those of her companion. If you're hesitant to embrace the male aspects of paganism, this book may change your mind and open the door to a balanced and complete spiritual growth.
Customer Reviews:
God/Goddess- balanced and blended in Man and Universe.......2004-07-04
This is not a trivial, "new age", potboiler- it is a book of deep spirituality. Conway has succeeded in showing the proper, traditional interrelation of Goddess and God. Of course, she also points out the patriarchal distortion of the male and female roles in the mainstream Western religions, which no doubt explains the attacks she has drawn from both Fundamentalists and academics that reject the whole matriarchal/patriarchal approach to history. It should be noted that Joseph Campbell raised the same points about western distortion and imbalance in religion.
I cannot think of a better book for focusing on the natural balance of male-female energies in the universe. Conway shows that the true, original God was a complex deity, as opposed to the sterile, one-sided, authoritarian idol that was erected in his place. The original God is examined in all of his aspects: divine child, lover and consort, lord of creation, lord of the forest, hero and warrior, trickster, judge, lord of the waters, etc. The examination of his role as sacrificed savior (long before Christianity) is especially interesting. It is enlightening to find that the concept of double birth is symbolized in Dionysus. He who seeks and finds a true spiritual path is granted a second birth- or is "born again." These are not separate, distinct, non-overlapping aspects of different "gods", but are all aspects of the one. Indeed, it is shown that even in individual human beings, not only do we all contain these various aspects, but we also contain all the various aspects of God AND Goddess, for each person is fundamentally both male and female to some extent.
As for accusations of errors in the supplemental appendix', anyone can use a bad source now and then. Agrippa's three books are full of such errors, yet no one dismisses them. Just take a look at the excellent and extensive bibliography- Conway is a true scholar of understanding and depth.
Maybe inaccurate, but worthwhile.......2003-07-02
A friend gave me this book and I'm glad she did. I don't know if the specifics are inaccurate or not (as other reviews have mentioned), and to be perfectly honest, I don't really care. For me, this book was a chance to look at masculine Divinity without instintively associating it with christianity. I was raised catholic and every time I saw the word "God", it brought to mind all of the negative things I associated with christianity (disregard of women, Spanish Inquisition, etc.). But this book finally allowed me to view christianity in the context of other spiritual paths and realize that it no longer has any power over me. It's simply a path that isn't right for me. In my opinion, this book is interesting, thought-provoking, and a good place to start becoming more familiar with the masculine Divine, despite any inaccuracies that exist. It can inspire you to delve deeper into the areas that interest you and hopefully discover your own truths.
Inspiring............2001-07-16
Although this book was inspiring, and opened me up to the various possibilities of the God in my personal magic and worship, I found a major flaw in this work. I have always thought that Wicca (as this book undoubtably is)'s only anomosity towards Christianity was claiming that it was "the one true and only right way". That its God was "the true God". And here is a clearly Wiccan author, speaking confidently about her God as "the true God". The Christian God, as is any other God, is only a single way to view the divine---certainly not a "false" image. I am a Wiccan, and I find her comments offensive. I am only surprised that more people haven't mentioned this in their reviews,
Horrible!.......2000-11-19
I bought this because I was so glad to finally see a book about the God, but this book is a farce. Wicca is a religion that says, "All gods are one god," etc. and we are supposed to be supportive of other people's religions. So what right does Conway have to bash the Christian god and say that he is not real??? She says her book is about "the true god." Isn't that what the Christians say, that theirs is the only true god? How is what Conway says any different, and yet she bashes the Christians! I am glad to see this book out of print and hope it stays that way. Janet and Stewart Farrar's book The Witches' God is so much better.
I'm my own Grandpa.......2000-09-06
I, too, was very excited to see this book title. There is indeed a dearth of good pagan books about the god aspect. Hopefully, this is something that will change in the future. I totally agree that we are in desperate need of books on the masculine divine. That does not mean we should just meekly accept whatever dross is shoved our way with the title "Men's spirituality" stamped on it.
I don't know if choppy quite covers some of Conway's scholarship in this book. I was frankly surprised as I have read other books by DJ Conway that are positively excellent. I hope this is the exception to her work. A few of the problems I encountered were the following: poor scholarship of pantheons, the throwing in of various deities at the end of chapters with the acknowledgement of a sentence and the reference to some gods as "evil."
As to the poor scholarship of various pantheons, let us look at page 49 where she is discussing Middle Eastern pantheons. I would like to note here that Sinn/Nanna or Nannar is the Mesopotamian God of the Moon. Sinn is Assyro-Babylonian and Nanna or Nannar is Sumerian. Inanna/Ishtar is the Mesopotamian Goddess of the Morning and Evening Star(Venus). She is also a Goddess of fertility and sex. Inanna is Sumerian and Ishtar is Assyro-Babylonian. Finally Shamash is the Mesopotamian Sun God. Shamash is Assyro-Babylonian. His Sumerian counterpart is Utu. Okay then let's look at page 49: "Sinn...said to have been born to Inanna or Nanna, Queen of Heaven.[how can Sinn be born to his Sumerian self(Nanna)???]Sinn was the father of the Sun God Shamash and the Goddess Ishtar.[How can he be the father of his own mother???]" This sort of sloppy scholarship is found throughout the book. It was very frustrating and really annoyed me the more I read.
I gave this book two stars because it is about the Masculine Face of God which is a subject much neglected in modern paganism. Hopefully, we will someday have a better selection of books.
Book Description
A deadly mystery draws Kitty Pryde and her fire-breathing friend Lockheed from Astonishing X-Men to the shores of Japan. Ninjas and dragons will be the least of their worries! Featuring art by legendary X-Men artist Paul Smith and written by Age of Apocalypse scribe Akira Yoshida! Collects X-Men: Kitty Pryde - Shadow & Flame #1-5.
Customer Reviews:
Solid.......2006-05-05
This story doesn't break any new ground for the character; however, it's easily the best solo Kitty Pryde story since probably Alan Davis' stint on Excalibur. The art by Paul Smith is excellent and comes off as both classic and modern but not in any way old fashioned (although some scenes in the last chapter came across unclear). If status quo changing events can't happen to X-Men outside of the parent title(s), then a solid adventure story staying true to the character's history and personality is as good as we can ask for -- that's what this story gives us.
Dragons, Japan, and not another X-Man in sight!.......2006-03-29
In this surprisingly good, masterful solo miniseries, Kitty Pryde is given a chance to shine. Often in the past she's been pushed into the background, but this miniseries not only lets her show what she can do, it allows her to do so without another X-Man in sight.
When she receives word that Lockheed the Dragon's long lost love is in Japan and might be in trouble, Kitty and her dragon set off to the rescue. But, she's barely been in Japan for a few hours when she's buried in X-Files type conspiracies, ninjas who might just be trying to kill her, and a plot with more twists and turns than a wicked rollercoaster.
Too often, Kitty is `teamed up' with a more popular character, and other than a flash back sequence that takes all of one panel, that is not so here. The art is delicious. Paul Smith used to draw X-Men back in the 80's when Kitty was a young teen. He knows the character and here has transformed her into a wonderful young woman. The writing has just enough humor to make it fun without being campy, and enough twists and turns of plot to make you feel like reading the whole graphic in one setting.
A wonderful, delightful, all ages book that anyone can enjoy.
You can also read this with or without knowing X-Men continuity.
Highly recommended to everyone!!
5 to offset idiot below me.......2006-03-06
Please, John Q, for the good of humanity, get hammered on New Years Eve and plow into a phone pole. If you honestly think Kitty Pryde is a piece of unamerican propaganda, you should end your miserable life now, as you have no clue what comics are.
I recommend this book to anyone who is a Kitty Pryde fan.
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining & impressive.......2000-06-11
I used to read Deathlands when I was a teenager, but when I "matured" I graduated to science-fiction. Deathlands seemed stuck in a rut. I was very glad to find out that Deathlands is finally growing up too and SHADOW WORLD is an impressive entry into science-fiction. Even though it deals with a parallel world situation, it was so unexpected to find in a Deathlands novel I was surprised...and entertained. The writing was excellent too. If the series can keep up this kind of quality I'll start reading it regularly again!
Interesting change of pace.......2000-05-20
This was the first Deathlands I've read in a long time and the only reason I picked this book up was because it was being compared to the Outlanders series which I prefer. I liked it much better than the last Deathlands novel I read, but except for the more sci-fi plot it wasn't very similar to Outlanders. It was interesting, well-written and held my interest most of the way through. My main criticism is that it was very light in the area of characterization, at least compared to Outlanders. But overall it was a nice change of pace from the usual Deathlands formula.
Best Series!.......2000-04-27
I have been reading Deathlands since the very beggining, and although some in the series have taxed my patience and have almost bored me to tears, something always makes me get the next book in the series.. I found Shadow World to be entertaining and highly imaginative of the author..A book worth reading
More than your usual Deathlands..........2000-04-10
While some of the recent books have tried to put their own unique spin on the Deathlands universe I think it's safe to say that many of them failed to varying degrees. This entry in the series is guaranteed to be unlike any other Deathlands novel you've ever read, that is unless you also happen to read Outlanders. In this case that could be why it is so good, in fact you'd almost swear at times that you were reading Deathlands much superior spin-off. It's definitely a Ryan story through-and-through with many of the major characters merely putting in a appearance, also as mentioned by previous reviewers Krysty's new psi-power was definitely a major misstep. However the flair and the pace of the story overrode these concerns for me and hooked me through to the (all too abrupt) end, which happens to leave the door open for certain characters to re-appear in future novels, which I sincerely hope they do. All-in-all it's Deathlands more science fiction than it has ever been, and in this reviewers humble opinion it's all the better for it.
Deathlands just gets better and better.......2000-04-01
I've been reading this series since 1986, when 'Pilgrimage To Hell' came out under Jack Adrian instead of Axler. Out of all the titles that have come out since then, I find 'Shadow World' to be one of the most entertaining. The story starts off with Ryan Cawdow and crew escorting a family through cannibal infested area. After getting involved with a confrontation with one of the 'cannies' (cannibals), Ryan looses his beloved Steyr rifle to one of the lunatics. Ryan and Co then embark on a vendetta for the loss of the family's father and for the retrieval of his rifle. At the same time these events are happening, a gateway opens in the town of Moonboy. The gateway unbenounced to the inhabitants of the town leads to an alternate earth where the nuclear exchange never happend. Instead a population time-bomb went off on that cold January day. Now, in the future this alternate earth has a staggering 100 billion inhabitance. Through the gateway appear amored soliders who decimate the towns inhabitants for the exception of one prospector who flees. The prospector runs to the next town, where entertains the inhabitants with the tales of the soliders that appeared from this mysterious gateway. The cannies overhear this story and make a deal with the prospector to attack the soliders and divy up the spoils (armor, laser rifles etc.) As Ryan and friends track the cannies to Moonboy, Ryan inadvertanly gets captured by the soliders and taken away to a dredfully overpopluated earth. What does Ryan learn about this strange new world? Does he ever return back to his own reality? What happens to the cannies? Read this entertaining book and find out
Book Description
The horror! Gay and lesbian fiction with a twist!
A bone-chilling anthology of gay and lesbian psychodrama, Shadows of the Night brings you face to face with the best in queer fear, breaking through to the dark side of fiction. Short stories that are equal parts haunting and disturbing tremble with tantalizing prose that's inventive, imaginative, and provocative—pulp fiction with a twist. An acclaimed collection of authors gathers at the place where fiction meets fantasy and swaps stories of murder and mayhem, savoring every lurid detail.
Edited by novelist Greg Herren, author of Murder in the Rue Dauphine and Bourbon Street Blues, Shadows of the Night introduces you to the doomed and the damned, including a gay travel writer with a one-way ticket to horror; a murdered lesbian who plots bloody revenge from the grave; a young gay man's fear of Jewish vampires; a gay serial killer with a taste for necrophilia, and much, much more!
Shadows of the Night boasts a collection of contributors that reads like a Who's Who of gay and lesbian, including:
Lambda Literary Award winners Victoria A. Brownworth, J.M. Redmann, William J. Mann, and Lawrence Schimel Lambda Literary Award nominees M. Christian, Jess Wells, Greg Herren, and Therese Szymanski National Book Critics Circle member Richard Hall Novelists William J. Mann, Quentin Harrington, David McConnell, Marshall Moore, and Carol Rosenfeld and Greg Wharton, publisher of Suspect Thoughts Press and editor of the web zines suspect thoughts: a journal of subversive writing and Velvet Mafia!
Shadows of the Night is a collection of horror stories that will satisfy your blood lust for dark fiction.
Customer Reviews:
Buy it for Greg Wharton's story, "First Cut".......2004-06-15
This is an interesting collection, similar to the Queer Fear series. As with any collection of stories there are highlights. I particularly liked the marvellously neurotic lesbian mindspace of Carol Rosenfeld's rabbit tale. Greg Wharton's gruesome "First Cut" is enough to make any reader wince, focussing as it does on bloody details.
Longer and more brooding in this collection is Marshall Moore's "Sic Gloria Transit." Some wonderful language in this piece ("...suburbs metastasizing themselves out of city cores")
Worth buying for these stories alone.
Wow! Queer horror at its best!.......2004-02-13
I can't even begin to say how much I enjoyed this book. Some of my favorite writers contributed to this book, and I discovered some new writers I'd never heard of before--and will be watching out for their other work!
Beginning with a Richard Hall story (I'd never heard of him), the book's quality just keeps on building--until the final, a novella by Victoria A. Brownworth, whose journalistic writingsI have always enjoyed....great job!
Books:
- Understanding A Raisin in the Sun: A Student Casebook to Issues, Sources, and Historical Documents (The Greenwood Press "Literature in Context" Series)
- Undoing Depression
- Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook
- White Tigers: My Secret War in North Korea (Ausa Institute of Land Warfare Book.)
- With Our Own Eyes: Eyewitnesses to the Final Days of Amelia Earhart
- Witness of the Stars, The
- World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
- 50 Best Girlfriends Getaways North America
- 500 Teapots: Contemporary Explorations of a Timeless Design
- A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Books Index
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