Book Description
Some Christians have piled the status of the mother of Jesus so high that it rivals that of her Son. Others ignore the Virgin Mary entirely. Behind all of the images is a girl who grew up to be the mother of Christ. How did the first Christians view her? What were the commonly understood facts about the Blessed Mother's early life --- before the Annunciation? How did Mary, the mother of Jesus, become the Theotokos? Frederica Mathewes-Green opens up the Virgin Mary's early life, offering a window into her centrality to the Christian Faith in new and sometimes startling ways.
Customer Reviews:
The Lost Gospel of Mary is a welcome addition to Christian spirituality shelves........2007-10-06
Award-winning author Frederica Mathewes-Green presents The Lost Gospel of Mary: The Mother of Jesus in Three Ancient Texts, an examination of the theological and cultural questions as well as the historical background offered by three sacred texts. The first is "The Gospel of Mary", a story of the Virgin Mary's life from her conception to the birth of Jesus, written circa AD 150; the second is the oldest known prayer to Mary, found on papyrus in Egypt and dated to the third century; the third is "The Annunciation Hymn", written by the Syrian poet Romanos circa AD 520 and widely considered a classic of Eastern Christian poetry, still sung in Eastern Orthodox churches throughout the modern world today. Combined, the texts offer a wondrous spiritual viewpoint into the mother of the Lord. Written from the perspective of a devout believer, The Lost Gospel of Mary is a welcome addition to Christian spirituality shelves.
Read this Book.......2007-04-27
Like all of Ms. Mathewes-Green's books, this is a joy to read as well as nourishing food for the soul. If you come from one of the Protestant traditions (as does the author herself) forget everything you think you know about the tradition of Mary. This little gem will introduce you to a beautiful, new world.
Lost No More..........2007-03-31
This is a great introduction to the Eastern Orthodox teaching on the Virgin Mary. It is a pleasant read without boring the reader with academic theological terms and such. I would suggest this book for everyone interested in learning more about the role the Virgin Mary takes in the Eastern Orthodox faith.
Average customer rating:
- Great resource for information on the Emergent Church
- A needful, if confused and quite unfinished, conversation
- Decent introduction of topic
- Dialogue on Christ & Culture
- A little annoying, but mostly interesting...
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Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives
Leonard Sweet ,
Andy Crouch ,
Brian D. McLaren ,
Erwin Raphael McManus , and
Michael Horton
Manufacturer: Zondervan/Youth Specialties
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General | Christian Living | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Church Institutions & Organizations | Ministry & Church Leadership | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Sociology | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Emerging Church, The
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Becoming Conversant with the Emerging Church: Understanding a Movement and Its Implications
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A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN
ASIN: 0310254876 |
Book Description
A feisty, entertaining, and educational conversation about the shape of the church of the 21st century.
Customer Reviews:
Great resource for information on the Emergent Church.......2007-05-22
I have greatly enjoyed this book. The conversation format provokes thought and adds a level of depth and clarity that is rarely experienced (especially in books concerning the Emergent Church). Moreover, the different authors approach the topic from different views, which allows the read to see different sides of the issue and make a decision for him/herself. If you are curious as to what the key issues are for this topic/discussion, this is the book for you!
A needful, if confused and quite unfinished, conversation.......2007-04-11
Andy Crouch. Skeptical of postmodernism, Arminian, (but curiously) open to the New Perspective of Paul & Law, seeks recovery of baptism and eucharist as the enduring means of grace. "Postmodernism is encroaching consumer culture which we must overcome via service and sacraments".
Michael Horton. Reformed, dismissive of postmodernism as a determinant of Christian thinking, critical of 'low-church' theology, believes that justification by faith is Scripture's key question. "Postmodernism is the next bad thing in secular modernism which we must resist with truth and tradition".
Brian McLaren. Emergent, path-finder for a storied, multi-layered, 'refreshed' Gospel centered in Christ. "Postmodernism is the new world in which we must embody and communicate God's message."
Frederica Mathewes-Green. Eastern Orthodox, practical, down-to-earth in a mystical kind of way, offers a relational kind of atonement theology. Postmodernism is irrelevant to our role as God's healers and questioners."
Erwin Raphael McManus. Metropolitan, multi-cultural, urban jungle orientation, pitching an all-out-for-Jesus, never-give-up, all-it-can-be church. "Postmodernism is a radical God-starved jungle we must love and serve!"
The Church in Emerging Culture: Five Perspectives - a book examining different views on the relation between church, world, gospel and discipleship, in no particular order.
After a good introduction from Leonard Sweet (which some say was worth the price of the book alone - I'd agree, if the price was lowered...), Crouch and Horton locked horns from the start with McLaren on the issue of what postmodernity/ism is and much space was spent clearing the misunderstandings surrounding the word (McLaren even claimed Crouch was paying 'rhetorical hardball'). Crouch virtually ties postmodernism to consumer culture and Horton can't seem to take his eyes off postmodernism's negatives (labelling it 'most-modernism' given the impossibility of there truly being a radical break with the supposed modern past).
Crouch is non-Reformed evangelicalism at its 'safest' i.e. neither too liberal to earn Horton's wrath or too stiff to have his books shunned by pro-emerging folk. McLaren, as one might expect, took the postmodernism challenge best to both Horton and Crouch with his creatively worded 'yes-but' subversive poking at their (largely traditional) strongholds.
It's clear, though, that - unless Crouch and Horton don't mind rethinking their ingrained definitions (let alone value-judgments) of postmodernism - a lot of work still needs to be done to even get pomo emergent and 'modern' conservative evangelicals on the same page. To really 'connect' with people like McLaren, McManus, etc., folks like Horton/Crouch have to empathise far beyond what their present suspicions and arms'-length repudiation of postmodernity are allowing them. Criticism and the use of what's "tried and true", undoubtedly the favorite tool of theologians, isn't going to be very helpful here.
Naturally, Horton isn't pleased at the slightest shift away from established Reformed doctrine. He continuously red-flags (what he sees to be) false dichotomies and liberal theology by the others (especially McLaren and McManus). Horton's write-up, IMO, embodies precisely what many are frustrated about in the church : People are exploring new directions, asking new questions, even seeking new experiences but not only are the responses by conservatives not very different from decades ago, it seems like one could reprimanded for not thinking traditionally(!).
If you've not read McLaren before, his essay should be a good first blush with his thinking (although maybe 'questioning' could be a better word). Via questions and reflections, McLaren came to (tentatively, I'm sure) conclude that the Gospel is narrative-formed, multi-layered, cumulative, performative, catalytic i.e. so much more than what tradition and churches have extolled it to be (hence, the annoyance many have with church). Typically emergent, McLaren counsels a spirit of inquiry, continuous seeking, asking, trial-and-error and rethinking as a way of proclaiming a Christ-centered Gospel in ever-changing situations.
In the midst of the Horton vs. McLaren encounters, Mathewes-Green and McManus were more or less cheer-leaders, questioners and one-line provocateurs (especially the former).
Interestingly enough, I found Mathewes-Green's write-up to be the most relaxing and inspirational. Hers was a good break, done in a subversive Q&A format, from the standard 'pop-academic cum evangelical' style of the first three. I'll never forget her line which went, "What might real rebellion look like? Standing outside an abortion clinic on a cold Saturday morning wearing really uncool sneakers and an uncool cardigan, praying."
McManus' essay read more like an inspirational for church growth and ministry and less a theological for-or-against towards postmodernity. Nevertheless, it's clear he's on the left of McLaren with statements like, "In modern times, Scripture have been demeaned into God's comprehensive encyclopedia...we have moved from a missiological hermeneutic to a theological hermeneutic and have lost the power of the Scriptures in the transition."
When all is said, though, this is a book whose gist I find hard to "grasp" and say I've truly understood. The novel format - where comments and questions from the co-authors are inserted within a presenter's essay - was both boon, as it depicted a 'real' conversation, and bane, as it was distracting. Tip: IGNORE the addendums until you've finished reading each section on its own.
Read Crouch and Horton for the best in time-tested theology and if you want some material for a largely cerebral "Intro to Postmodernism" lecture. Read McLaren and you could be quietly inspired to do something new, although you could have more questions than answers. Read Mathewes-Green and you'll want to pray. Read McManus and you feel like jump-starting the next urban crusade.
With such a spectrum of slants and priorities, this book is both a mindtrip and a minefield for learning - you'll learn a lot, but you may not be sure where to step next: Welcome to the new church/world(?)
Decent introduction of topic.......2007-01-10
The book gives five different perspectives, from five different authors, on how the church should respond to an increasing post-modern culture. It is in a sense a modern day discussion of H. Richard Niebuhr's classic text Christ and Culture. The five perspectives are introduced by Leonard Sweet with a four quadrant matrix. The matrix represents the church's response to cultural change on two axes, change in method/form/style and change in message/content/substance. The four quadrants are then described with the following four phrases: preserving message/preserving methods, preserving message/evolving methods, evolving message/preserving methods, and evolving message/evolving methods. The five perspectives then deal with each of the four options (with two taking up the first option of preserving message and preserving methods.
List strengths of book.
The main strength of the book is that it covers the topic very well, with good dialogue going back and forth between the five authors. The topics are discussed with great thoughtfulness and insight. I especially liked the use of the matrix mentioned above, in the introduction by Sweet.
List weaknesses of book.
While the book was very interesting to read it shared little practical advice for the church to actually engage the culture. The book would certainly have been strengthened with examples of theory that was shared by each author. Additionally, I found the chapter by Erwin McManus to be the weakest of the five perspectives, it seem almost incoherent at times.
Dialogue on Christ & Culture.......2006-08-17
Here are six individuals, actually five participants and one moderator/editor who tackle between themselves the topic of what does Christ do in changing, emerging cultures.
As reviewers have pointed out, salient to this dialogue is the method exhibited of each of five providing essay, then other four comment as it seems at will. The essayist than at the end responds to this sprinkled comments.
Of course, one of my confession would lean towards Horton, who certainly wins the day with his comments seeking return to text and history, rather than inventiveness and questioning always from our cultural arrogance stance.
Useful to see contrasts. Too much of McLaren. Would like to seen more "orthodox" participants in line of Horton.
A little annoying, but mostly interesting..........2006-07-07
Two comments have already been made, but I would like to reiterate. The light gray, italicized, 6 pt font used for interjections by other authors during an essay is hard to read. McLaren talks way too much, especially when he says the same thing over and over and takes EVERYTHING personally. He thinks his point of view is the only one worth having, and seems rather arrogant in his intellect.
Having said the few negatives, it is overall a good read. I would love to hear a more detailed view of what each author truly believes church should be like (which I know most of them have been published and anyone could read what they've written elsewhere). It also seems that the only real discrepancies are in their view of what "postmodernism" really is. As far as the actual workings of church, they could probably find a lot of common ground. But, they give very little actual advice on what church should be like.
Overall, it is an interesting book full of interesting ideas about the current culture. Leonard Sweet's introduction must be read to truly understand the rest of the book, but it gets a little too flowery at times.
Book Description
Why are modern Christians so indistinguishable from everyone else? Why don't they stand out in virtue and joy? How could the early saints pray constantly, fast valiantly, and love their enemies?
Today's Christianity has come untethered from its historic roots, says Frederica Mathewes-Green, yet we can recover its power by reviving this ancient, transcultural faith. Drawing on Christian writings throughout the early centuries, Mathewes-Green explores prayer, fasting, and alms-giving as aids to "theosis"?total transformation in Christ.
Customer Reviews:
Ancient Christianity Provides Help In Modern Times.......2007-07-14
This little book gives us a glimpse into what life was like for those living in the beginnings of the Church era and has much to say to those who seek a spiritual path relevant to today. Early followers of Christ were not looking for a quick fix to their lives, nor were they trying to find simple answers. This book shows the depth and richness of the Christian life when lived in it's fullness and is a recommended read for anyone looking to understand this ancient way of transformation.
Thought-Provoking.......2007-05-17
Mathewes-Green imaginatively compares the spirituality of a 21st century woman and a 7th century Christian woman. The comparisons are historically valid and thought-provoking. As soon as I finished reading it, I gave my copy to a retired college president who is wrestling with these issues as well.
Intro to Eastern Spirituality.......2007-01-04
Despite its small size, this book is packed with so much spiritual food, presented in an easy-to-read, understandable manner. I read it through four times in a row, and sent copies to friends who I thought would gain a lot from reading it. Some of those, in turn have bought multiple copies to give to others. Anyone who is interested in the spirituality that Christianity held from the beginning should have this book!
Great Intro to the subject of Spiritual Formation.......2006-12-06
I must say I was impressed with this little book on spiritual formation. The author has a very engaging writing style and wrapped her information in a loose story to keep it flowing and locate it in history. This is a wonderful introduction for anyone seeking to learn more about the ancient art of spiritual formation and how it might/should be applied today. It's a quick and informative read. The only real issue I had with it was that towards the end, the author sort of throws the baby out with the bathwater in regards to the use of sarcasm. With that one small critique, I recommend this book. It will bless you and make you think.
A Great Primer for a Seeker of Orthodox Christianity.......2006-07-02
This is a well written, yet compact primer for one who is seeking a new Christian life in Orthodox Christianity. Frederica's writing style is easy to understand. She simply explains the facets of Orthodox Christianity in a way that allows the seeker to grasp the concepts of orthodox faith.
I would definitely place this wonderful book on any reading list of a one who is trying to find a new Christian home in a church that has not changed in nearly 1000 years.
Amazon.com
The wonderful title of this book gives a glimpse into its subject: a life at the crossroads of everyday life in America and the timeless rituals in a Christian Orthodox service. Full of information about this ancient church, Mathewes-Greene--author of Facing East and a columnist for Christianity Today--uses a style that is both quirky and intellectual, moving easily from the conversational ("this wasn't one of those woo-woo spiritual experiences where everything goes misty") to references to great Orthodox theologians and rich, Annie Dillard-like prose. One example is her brief description of a young man she saw in California who believed he was Christ: "This is just someone's boy, someone's dreamer, who grabbed a sheet out of the linen closet and walked out of the suburbs, a nice young man breaking someone's heart, lost and gliding over the beautiful Santa Rosa Mountains in a private plane of bliss." While bearing the hallmarks of a fairly recent convert to the faith (some readers will have to adjust to her celebration of orthodoxy at the expense of both Catholicism and Protestantism), the book makes a fine introduction to orthodoxy for contemporary readers. --Doug Thorpe
Book Description
Eastern Orthodoxy is one of North America's fastest-growing faiths, yet relatively few people understand this non-Western form of Christianity. At the Corner of East and Now helps the reader comprehend both the roots of this ages-old tradition and the passion with which it is practiced by its contemporary followers.
"An excellent invitation to Christians of the West to understand a tradition in which worship has neither beginning nor end."-The Dallas Morning News
Customer Reviews:
A Modern Walk down an Old Path.......2006-02-11
Several months ago I was handed a copy of At the Corner of East and Now: A Modern Life in Ancient Christian Orthodoxy by Frederica Mathewes-Green. As a Protestant Christian who has become interested in the Orthodox Church in the last year I was curious to read what this convert to the ancient faith had to say about it. She gives us a personal glimpse into life, both her own and that of her Church parish, as well as of the Orthodox Church from the time of Christ until now. Sandwiched between beautiful descriptions of the liturgy, she reflects on many aspects of common life and weaves them together into a continuous thread.
Mathewes-Green's writing is engaging: she draws the reader into the life of the church with her colorful descriptions and warmth. Along the way one becomes acquainted with her, her family, and the members of their church parish. Her writing is personal, passionate, and at times humorous. While this book is not intended to be a deep look into Orthodoxy there is a lot that can be learned about the history and traditions of the Church. In the back of the book is an article by the author titled "First Visit to an Orthodox Church- 12 Things I Wish I'd Known". To someone who is not at all familiar with Orthodoxy I would recommend skipping to this section and reading it first, as she essentially takes you through a service in the course of the book. This will give you a bit of familiarity as you walk through the liturgy with her. Each chapter reads like an essay, alternating between the Church service and vignettes from her life and the lives of those she has encountered as she walks out her faith in this world.
While I appreciate the love and affection that Mrs. Mathewes-Green has for the Orthodox Church, I found her descriptions of Protestantism to be rather trite and tasteless at times. Although I see many of the same problems in Protestantism that she apparently does, her portrayal of it seems to be condescending. In one chapter she describes a post-abortion ministry to prisoners. She went back and forth between the service there, with plenty of hype and tears, and the amazing stories of some Orthodox men tortured in Eastern Europe for their faith. I felt that it was not a fair contrast and was not sure why she chose to paint the two pictures together. I assume that many people who read this book will be Protestants who have a sincere love for the Lord, and if she is trying to convince us of the deeper faith of Orthodoxy, then it would have served her better to present it without making Protestantism out to be silly.
In the final chapter, she clears up something that I'd wondered about. "This is not to say that Christian believers of other churches can't possibly know Jesus...... But we are confident that everything needed for salvation can be found here: the fullness of faith, the sacraments and disciplines, the saints and angels. We frankly believe that this is the best place for anyone to be." I'm glad that she at least grants that we may know Jesus after all!
All that said, I would recommend At the Corner of East and Now to anyone interested in learning more about Orthodoxy. It is interesting and informative and an enjoyable read. Frederica Mathewes-Green succeeds in spinning the sacred and the mundane together into a single cord and she challenges the rest of us do do that as well.
Pleasant but not very informative.......2006-01-27
ON THE CORNER OF EAST AND NOW is a lightweight introduction to Orthodox Christianity and its worldview by Federica Mathewes-Green, wife of an Orthodox priest and noted commentator on contemporary religious issues. The book is geared toward non-Orthodox readers interested in the Orthodox faith who would be intimidated by more substantial introductions such as Bishop Kallistos Ware's classic THE ORTHODOX CHURCH.
The book is built around the Sunday-morning service. Each chapter begins by examining a portion of Matins or the Divine Liturgy before branching off into other topics. Some of the facets of Orthodoxy that Mrs Mathewes-Green discusses include the organization of the Church, the settlement of the ancient disputes in ecumenical councils, the use of icons, and the role of Mary. She also talks about other current religious trends, such as evangelical Protestant megachurch worship, Christian death metal bands, proselytizing, etc. A large part of the book is about life in her own parish, with characters readers may know from her earlier book FACING EAST. The narrative has a somewhat "feminine" tone to it with its emphasis on small-town (or, rather, small-parish) life, like the novels of Miss Read.
While some of Mathewes-Green's observations are interesting, and she is generally an entertaining writer, I think that the work ultimately fails as an introduction to Orthodoxy. There's just not that much here, and at the end the reader knows little more than if he had read one of the pamphlets a church keeps in the entrance. If you have a family member interested in Orthodoxy, they might not want to tackle something like Bishop Kallistos' book now, but taking them to an actual service would do more for them than handing them Mrs Mathews-Green's work.
A great way to communicate Orthodoxy.......2003-12-16
As an enquirer into Orthodoxy myself, I really enjoyed reading Mrs. Mathewes-Green's book. She finds a way to blend the ancient and mystical side of Orthodoxy with the contemporary and modern culture of our time and have it all make sense. There are so many little aspects to this book that make it so great to read. Green educates you about the finer points of the Liturgy and Orthodox worship, but she doesn't beat you over the head with it. She discusses her family's pilgramage into the Orthodox Church, but she does so within the confines of personal stories that deal with a specific topic.
Some of the more memorable chapters in this book include the one where she discusses her experience at a Christian rock concert. The Orthodox Church believes that her worship is ancient, apostolic and should not be altered to suit the cultural climate of the times, yet at this event Green experienced a wilder and somewhat darker side to Christian worship that is very different that what Orthodoxy has to offer. I also liked the chapter where she describes her Christmas shopping venture with her daughter. Furthermore, I like the chapters discussing the Divine Liturgy ceremony of their particular parish, and the descriptions of all the different Church members. Since their parish is mostly a convert parish with few cradle Orthodox, it sounds like their worship is more lively and involves more participation than most Churhes that have mostly cradle Orthodox.
This is a great book to give to someone who doesn't understand what the Orthodox Church is, and how they approach worship and devotion. Green makes the material accessible, understandable, but also makes it educational and informative.
Better than her first book about her pilgrimage.......2002-10-17
I really like 'At the Corner' FMG really gives the reader insight and a sense of personal struggle, triumph and fulfillment in her second installment of her story of going into the ancient Church of Christ. With a wry sense of preception she tells us all the great and little details of an ex-hippie struggling with TRUE spirituality as she and her husband establish a Orthodox mission in small town America.
You will benefit from this book in your spiritual quest, whether Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant. It is simply a wonderful read, in fact I read it in 3 days, it was so interesting. Well worth it!
Excellent writing but some serious misgivings.......2002-08-19
This should be rated at least four stars-I gave it three stars for a reason. More on that later.
Mathewes-Green is fantastic in describing the everyday life in and around a small Orthodox mission parish. Her explanations of icons and Orthodox services are satisfying. The vignettes involving her children are amusing.
Having already read Facing East,I know that the Father Gregory in this book is actually her husband. Why she did not make this distinction in this book is unclear.
Now-to the reason behind the three stars. I am not a fundamentalist or an evangelical Christian,but I was very disturbed by her comments on the worship styles of these particular Christians. Her smug thoughts during a clearly evangelical post-abortion counseling seminar in a prison setting is appalling. I'm sure they would have plenty to say about the Orthodox style of worship. By the way,Ms. Mathewes-Green,I do feel the presence of the Lord in my Sunday services,even if I do have to shuffle pages in my hymnal. Cartoonish,Ms. Mathewes-Green? Perhaps you should consider the history behind such "cartoonish" worship styles of Pentecostalism and other worship styles of rural whites and African-Americans. And the part about such worship lacking theology just added to the public display of her ignorance. I understand that she believes that Orthodoxy is *the way* to worship,but such comments directed to other Christians is ridiculous.
Average customer rating:
- I have no idea what "Virgin" is all about,
- Another Winner....
- A.S. Byatt does it once again!
- A letdown
- brutal going
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The Virgin in the Garden: A Novel
A.S. Byatt
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Byatt, A.S. | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0679738290
Release Date: 1992-01-15 |
Book Description
The Virgin in the Garden is a wonderfully erudite entertainment in which enlightenment and sexuality, Elizabethan drama and contemporary comedy, intersect richly and unpredictably.
Customer Reviews:
I have no idea what "Virgin" is all about,.......2007-08-24
except to sell books. I cannot identify with any of the characters. Incredibly outlandish (another reviewer said "unpredictable" -- a real understatement). I picked the book up a discount retailer after thumbing through it. Set in Yorkshire, England, 1952/1953, it provided me memories of Robin's Hood Bay (the hike); the names of all the plants (interestingly, gorse was never mentioned -- did I miss that one?); and the petit point hassocks for the pews at St Bartholomew's. Hmmmm.
At the time Virginia Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway" was published, a critic said it would not be read in 50 years. I can't imagine "The Virgin in the Garden" being read 50 years from now, but with sequels, etc., it appears the author is hoping for lucrative movie deals, ala Harry Potter.
Another Winner...........2005-06-26
It seems as if it is impossible for A.S Byatt to write a bad or even a mediocre story. After this novel, she is one of my new absolute favorites and I have vowed to read everything this amazing author has written.
I began to read The Virgin in the Garden, and could not put it down. I was enraptured by the beautiful descriptions of the two contrasting "Elizabethian ages" and the characters. Frederica has to be one of the most despicable, and yet intriguing literary characters in years. My breath was also taken away by the story of Marcus Potter--a haunting, amazing character that will stay with you for days.
The way Byatt writes, she transports you to 1950s England and the lives of the Potters. I felt as if I knew these characters like family, and could almost sit down to lunch with them by the end of the book. Her style, timing, and subtle metaphors of passion and life are irresistible and amazing. This is truly a writer who will stand the test of time to become an icon in the likes of the Brontes, Jane Austen, and Kate Chopin.
I cannot wait to share this book with everyone I know. Highly, highly reccomended. Go to the bookstore or your local library, ignore the new glossy bestsellers that try and cheat you out of your money and instead pick up this gorgeous, powerful read that new authors cannot hold a candle to.
A.S. Byatt does it once again!.......2004-10-01
This is one of the best literary works I have read. I cannot fathom the bad reviews here. The story of the eccentric Potter family and the quirky works of their minds enthralled me from beginning to end. Frederica Potter is my favorite character in the book. She takes me back to heroines made famous by authors the like of Jane Austen. She is one of the most colorful characters I have ever read. All of the central characters are great. This novel chronicles the life of an eccentric family with subtle magic realism and palpable dark language.
This novel's setting floored me. Fifties Britain is described in such a way that made me feel as though I had been alive during those times. The Elizabethan backdrop is also mesmerizing. And I love the quirkiness and darkness in this book. A.S. Byatt is no doubt one of the best writers of this era. Hers is a voice you cannot help but love. She writes with beautiful prose. I have read her short-story collections and now this book and I cannot wait to read her other works. I cannot recommend The Virgin in the Garden enough.
A letdown.......2004-05-23
She obviously knows how to write. However, I didn't like or identify, or find interesting any of the characters. In addition she is very good at spouting out allusions, but most of them hindered the plot development instead of helping it.
After reading this I did not read the sequels.
brutal going.......2004-01-25
there's no music, as it were, in what a.s. byatt does: i have read three of her novels now and i'm, i think, in a pretty good position to judge her stuff as utterly pretentious and banal. read just one page of hers and compare it to a paragraph (a single sentence?!) of James Joyce. i am an english prof--hence all the lit allusions in this novel just kinda made me sick. she drops so many names/quotations you need an imaginary broom to sweep them away. dreadful dreck. you need something Englishy to read--investigate William Boyd or Julian Barnes. byatt is like a parody of good writing. only salman rushdie's fiction is more onanistic (though his criticism's pretty cool). byatt is the literary equivalent of Stevie Nicks! Icky!!!!
Average customer rating:
- delightful read!
- Great Audio rendition of Georgette Heyer's classic novel!
- A perfect read
- Possibly the best Heyer!
- FREDERICA Is An Extraordinary Heroine & An Outstanding Novel
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Frederica
Georgette Heyer
Manufacturer: ARROW (RAND)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0099465647 |
Book Description
Rich, handsome, darling of the ton, the Marquis of Alverstoke at 37 sees no reason to put himself out for anyone, that is, until the strong-minded Frederica, who seems more concerned with her family’s welfare than his attentions, catches his eye.
Customer Reviews:
delightful read!.......2007-04-10
Never read or heard of G. Heyer until recently and Frederica was my introduction to this most talented author. This a sweet and fun story about finding unexpected love in the midst of family upheveal. The dialouge is hysterical. I laughed out loud on several occasions. Buy this book...you will not be disappointed!
Great Audio rendition of Georgette Heyer's classic novel!.......2006-03-22
I've read all of Georgette Heyer's Regency novels, and I've listened to many audio books...including a few of Ms. Heyers!
However, I must say that this audio book, is one of the GREAT ones!! Clifford Norgate has an obvious talent for conveying emotions, while also utilizing diverse accents/tones to give Ms. Heyer's characters their own particular voices! He was even able to adequately portray the female characters' tones (which is often a quite difficult task for a male reader to successfully accomplish!). I found that I thoroughly enjoyed this audio novel...immensely!!! I even surprised myself with how well I could remember and anticipate the dialogue before it was spoken...even though I'd not read this novel in quite some time.
This is an audio book that I will treasure, and definitely re-"read" many times. I only wish that all of my Georgette Heyer favorites were as wonderfully rendered in their "audio versions"!
I greatly recommend Clifford Norgate as a "reader", and this book as a definite keeper!!! Frederica has always been among my favorite Georgette Heyer novels; and this version does it great justice!
A perfect read.......2006-01-21
Frederica is without doubt my favourite Georgette Heyer novel - and I like her novels very much! What makes Frederica so good? Simply that she has populated this book with wonderful characters, amusing dialogue, interesting historical setting and a love story which is gentle and fulfilling.
The basic plot is that Frederica, a rather managing girl with three brothers and one sister, all younger than her, is attempting to launch her beautiful sister Charis into society so that she can make a good marriage. Frederica enlists the assistance of her sort-of cousin, the Marquis of Alverstoke, in this - and he agrees to spite his sisters. Alverstoke is an uncaring, flighty rake who doesn't do anything for anyone else and is hugely selfish. Through his interaction with Frederica and her two youngest brothers, Jessamy and Felix, Alverstoke is brought out of his state of almost continual boredom and takes real responsibility for his adopted cousins.
The power in this story is the exquisite way in which Heyer portrays her characters. We are shown Alverstoke with all his faults, yet we also get glimpses into what makes him in some ways a good man - for example the honourable and fair way in which he treats his secretary, Charles, and in the way that he takes on responsibilities to his adopted wards in order to lessen some of the load on Frederica's shoulders. Although Frederica initially comes across as a woman without fault, as the story progresses we see her occasional blindness in dealings with her sister and her eldest brother Harry; Frederica wants Charis to make a good match but Charis doesn't want that for herself. As the story progresses Alverstoke becomes more responsible, more aware of the needs of others and more aware of the effect he has on them. He takes care to hide his interest in Frederica from society so that she is not teased about it. As for Frederica's feelings for him, we do not hear much of the story from her point of view but it becomes clear by things that she says that she considers him very important to her... until of course the end of the book when they become engaged and she discovers what it is to be truly in love.
There are many other sub-plots running along in the main story - the romance between Alverstoke's secretary Charles Trevor and Alverstoke's cousin Chloë Dauntry is one. The various men who offer marriage to Frederica because they see her qualities and the different way in which they are portrayed is great fun. But the central part of the book - the conversations between Frederica and Alverstoke - are a delight.
This is one of those books that you can read again and again and enjoy even more each time. Heyer has masterfully described the way that a bored rake, Alverstoke, can change his whole nature when he finally finds the right person, the woman who is a conversational match for him; I also think that her ability to gradually unveil the faults in her heroine, small that they may be, is also good - it's annoying to read books with `perfect' people as they are so unlike us.
Like all Heyer books, the historical setting, dialogue and description of places is perfect. This book is just a fantastic read in so many different ways - buy it!
Possibly the best Heyer!.......2004-02-21
I'm afraid bookjunkie said everything so perfectly and eloquently I have very little to add and yet I must add my voice to those who claim this as their favorite Heyer. In Frederica, you have an exquisite heroine - intelligent, humorous, well-looking but not a diamond, kind, and above all totally believable as a woman who could turn the world of an accomplished, arrogant, self-centered rake upside down. Heyer manages beautifully to make our hero, Alverstoke, all those things and yet absolutely marvelous at the same time. As usual, Heyer's secondary characters are perfection - interesting and amusing and so believable you feel she must know these people. This book is a must read for any regency fan - it is one of the best! An added bonus is that it hardly matters how much you pay for it - I don't think I could ever get tired of reading this book; I probably re-read Frederica twice a year: it never loses it's charm.
FREDERICA Is An Extraordinary Heroine & An Outstanding Novel.......2003-09-23
Georgette Heyer is able to pack more [physcial] tension into a story, which includes no more than a single kiss between lovers, than most of today's writers with all their well written, X-rated love scenes. She also creates some unique and extraordinary characters, and portrays them with depth and feeling. Her storylines are just as unusual as the characters she peoples them with. "Frederica" is no exception, and has become one of my favorite books by Ms. Heyer.
Frederica Merrivale travels to London with her beautiful younger sister Charis, her three younger brothers Harry, Jessamy and Felix, their way too overgrown and exuberant puppy Lufra, and their man-hating Aunt Scrabster. The Merrivale's parents are dead, and although Harry is the heir of Graynard, the Merrivale property, Frederica is the eldest sibling and the one who has assumed responsibility for running the estate and raising the family. At 24, she is bright, witty, and very attractive, although her loveliness pales beside Charis' angelic beauty. Their mother settled 5,000 pounds on each daughter for a dowry, and Frederica wants to give Charis a season in London to meet and mingle with the ton. She knows that her sister is so beautiful and unaffected that she is sure to make an outstanding match.
Frederica asks a very distant and unknown cousin, the Marquis of Alverstoke, to sponsor her sister's "coming-out" into society. Alverstoke is handsome, rich and spoiled. He has had many lovers, but has never had a close emotional relationship with a woman, including his sisters who constantly plague him with requests for money and favors. These women, wealthy in their own right, are unbearably overbearing and provide much comic relief. At first Alverstoke is flabbergasted by Frederica's request, and believes that she is just another female who wants something from him. Slowly and against his will, Alverstoke is charmed by the Merrivale family, and amazed at Frederica's total lack of selfishness and her efforts to raise her younger siblings. He finds a way to sponsor both Frederica and Charis and to give his sisters a "set down" at the same time.
Both young women are besieged by suitors after they are presented to London society. Alverstoke spends more time with all of them, especially with Frederica, as she struggles to manage the boys, her sister, her own love life, the estate in the country, and the family's future. Ms. Heyer uses her delightful humor often, especially in the dialogue between Frederica and Alverstoke, and in the scenes involving the younger brothers and their dog. All the characters are very well developed and they demonstrate growth and change throughout the novel. The Merrivale family members are quite endearing. Some exciting adventures accompany this delightful love story, set in Regency England. This is a novel you do not want to miss. Excellent!
JANA
Book Description
Join Frederica Mathewes-Green on a guided retreat—ideal for the Lenten season—through the classic Great Canon, a wise, ancient, Orthodox text that will enrich your experience of spirituality and prayer.
First Fruits of Prayer will bring readers of all denominational backgrounds into the prayer experience of first millennium Christianity through immersion in this fascinating text, a poetic hymn written in the eighth century. This extraordinarily beautiful work, still chanted by Eastern Christians every Lent, weaves together Old and New Testament scriptures with prayers of hope and repentance. It offers ancient ways of seeing Christ that will nevertheless feel new to most readers today.
This insightful book offers all readers an opportunity to walk through a classic text from the Christian East in a series of 40 prayerful readings, with accompanying commentary and questions for further reflection.
Customer Reviews:
Encouraging reading!.......2007-02-14
I have read the Canon of St. Andrew several times in the past. This book is helpful in causing a deeper dig within my own heart, to grasp the faith of the Ancient Christians! I expect that this book will begin to look worn, as the years go by, as well as a few other favorites on my bookshelf!
First Fruits of Prayer.......2006-03-18
This is a wonderful book to go through during lent, or for that matter, at any time of the year. There are 40 excerpts from the Canon of St. Andrew. Frederica Mathewes-Green links these selections with the scripture from the Bible that inspired them and includes a brief commentary on each verse.
This book makes one look at their own shortcomings and sins, but also shines the light of a loving and merciful God as the help and healer of our human spiritual ailments. I really am enjoying reading and being challenged by this book.
Great Lenten Resource.......2006-02-19
Eastern Christian thought, prayer and spirituality is not well enough known in "the West." The Canon of St. Andrew of Crete is a beautiful prayer, and Ms. Mathewes-Green does an excellent job in communicating these values in a way that those of us with a "Western" mindset can understand, appreciate, and find meaning in our lives. Great reading during the Lenten season.
Excellent Journey Through Lent.......2006-01-27
I don't intend so much to review this book (which I found excellent), as to respond to a couple of questions posed by the reviewer below, John Zxerce.
Mr. Zxerce seems to be looking at the theology of the book through a Protestant/Reformed lens. No doubt, if this is the case some of what he sees will seem strange, even foreign, to his understanding of the Faith. An example of this is his putting forth of several implicit or explicit "either/or's." But from an Orthodox perspective these are seen more as "both/and's." Salvation is found through "a Savior to be embraced" and "an example to be followed." One aspect of soteriology doesn't preclude or negate the other. Of course, one must "embrace" the Saviour before one can follow Him, but it the Orthodox mind the two are not radically separate. Salvation is a gift of God's grace, without a doubt. But that doesn't eliminate the need to live a Christ-like life. To put it in Western terms, righteousness is both "imputed" and "infused." It's not one or the other.
The ransom/redemption texts of Scripture that Mr. Zxerce quotes will fit just as well into the Orthodox paradigm of salvation as rescue, as they do into the Western understanding of the "substitutionary atonement," which of course the Orthodox believe, albeit not in the same way. Sin and death are definitely real enemies--I'm not sure how one could come away with any other idea after reading the Canon of St. Andrew. The difference between Orthodoxy and Protestant Christianity in this regard is the manner in which the two sides see those enemies being defeated.
It is important to remember that the Western "substitutionary atonement" model of the death of Christ isn't all there is. For centuries before that model became the dominant one in the Western Church, the Eastern Fathers (and many Western ones as well) held to the view that the Orthodox hold today. For further reading on this I'd recommend Mathewes-Green's earlier book THE ILLUMINED HEART and Matthew Gallatin's THIRSTING FOR GOD. These two books also contain references that point the way to deeper, more scholarly works on the subject.
Average customer rating:
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The Tlingit Indians (Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History)
George Thornton Emmons
Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | State & Local | United States | Americas | History | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0295970081 |
Book Description
Lieutenant George Thornton Emmons, U.S.N., was station in Alaska during the 1880s and 1890s, a time when the Navy was largely responsible for law and stability in the Territory. His duties brought him into close contact with the Tlingit Indians, whose respect he won and from whom he gained an understanding of and respect for their culture. He became a friend of many Tlingit leaders, visited their homes, traveled in their canoes when on leave, purchased native artifacts, and recorded native traditions. In addition to an interest in native manufacturing and in the more spectacular aspects of native life - such as bear hunting, Chilkat blankets, feuds, and the potlatch - Emmons showed the ethnographerís devotion to recording all aspects of the culture together with the Tlingit terms, and came to understand Tlingit beliefs and values better than did any of his nonnative contemporaries. He was widely recognized for his extensive collections of Tlingit artifacts and art, and for the detailed notes that accompanied them.
At the request of Morris K. Jesup, president of the American Museum of Natural History (which had purchased Emmonsís first two Tlingit collections), and on the recommendation of Franz Boas, Emmons began to organize his notes and prepare a manuscript on the Tlingit. During his retirement, he published several articles and monographs and continued to study and work on his comprehensive book. But when he died in 1945, the book was still unfinished, and he left several drafts in the museum and also in the provincial archives of British Columbia in Victoria, where he had been writing during the last decades of his life.
Frederica de Laguna, eminent ethnologist and archaeologist with long personal experience with the Tlingit, was asked by the museum to edit The Tlingit Indians for publication. Over the past thirty years she has worked to organize Emmonsís materials, scrupulously following his plan of including extracts from the earliest historical sources. She also has made significant additions from contemporary or more recent authors, and from works unknown ton Emmons or unavailable to him, and has given the ethnography greater historical depth by presenting this information in chronological order. She has also added relevant commentary of her own based on her encyclopedic information about past and present Tlingit culture.
With the help of Jeff Leer of the Alaskan Native Language Center, an expert on Tlingit, she has provided modern phonetic transcriptions of Tlingit words whenever Emmons has given native terms in his own idiosyncratic and inconsistent versions of Tlingit.
This major contribution to the ethnography of the Northwest Coast also includes a meticulously researched biography of Lieutenant Emmons by Jean Low, an extensive bibliography, and thirty-seven tables in which de Laguna draws together and tightens Emmonsís materials on topics such as census data, names of clans and houses, species of plants and their uses, native calendars, and names of gambling sticks. Illustrations include numerous photographs and sketches made and annotated by Emmons.
This volume will be invaluable to anthropologists, historians, and the general public - including the Tlingit Indians themselves, to whom it is dedicated.
Book Description
The Classic Story of a Family's Pilgrimage
into the Orthodox Church
Veiled in the smoke of incense, the Eastern Orthodox Church has long been an enigma to the Western world. Yet, as Frederica Mathewes-Green discovered, it is a vital, living faith, rich in ritual beauty and steadfast in integrity. Utilizing the framework of the Orthodox calendar, Mathewes-Green chronicles a year in the life of her small Orthodox mission church, eloquently illustrating the joys and blessings an ancient faith can bring to the worshipers of today.
Customer Reviews:
Started slow....but a wonderful surprise overall.......2007-09-12
I confess: when I first started reading this book, I was very turned off by all the chit-chat about the goings-on of people in the author's church and life. For instance in the first few pages, we meet "Basil," who says things like: "Ya taking inventory?" as the little church body sets about converting a rented room into an Orthodox sanctuary.
I also thought, at first, that author Mathewes-Green was treating her faith very lightly -- too lightly -- almost as if she was making fun of it. She takes us through one particular service this way: "Basil's son, Michael, then leads us in chanting forty 'Lord, have mercys,' running the words together Byzantine style: 'Lord have mercyLordhavemercyLordhavemercyLordhavemercy,' he intones."
Shortly after, we read: "At this point the booklet instructs the worshippers to make a prostration. We fold where we are standing, dropping to our knees, a process that takes longer for some than others. ... A prostration is a shuffly process. ... Another prostration here. More shuffling."
I must say, I was thinking: the audacity!
But I kept on reading. And I was shamed. Humbled. And then hooked. Author Frederica Mathewes-Green sure showed me a thing or two about faith. Hers, and the faith of those around her, shined brightly and compellingly to this seeking-heart Protestant.
There are many moments throughout the book where I was stunned by the beauty of God and of her love for Him and of the treasures within Orthodoxy. I will not share them here -- I want you to discover them for yourself, like I did! And I wound up caring very much for all the "characters" that make up her life: would that I, too, could find such a family!
All in all, I do highly recommend this book. It will take you inside the life of Orthodox believers -- through their services, fasts, feasts, faith, fathers...in a way I have not yet seen another book do. This may be as close as you can come to "being there" without actually having attended Orthodox services.
Yet another American Orthodox conversion story with a Protestant evangelical feel.......2007-07-18
I give this book two stars for the author's sincere account of her conversion to Orthodoxy. Unfortunately, if you have little attraction to conservative, American Protestantism, this book may not draw you to Orthodoxy. Yes, the author has converted to Orthodoxy, but a conservative, Protestant ethos pervades the book. (Actually, this book is really part of a genre, written by conservative Protestants who come to Orthodoxy because they feel their previous faith-traditions have not been conservative enough). The result is that Mathewes-Green gives facile and rather uncharitable critiques of feminism and Anglicanism, and her exposition of Orthodoxy tends to be doctrinaire. I am deeply interested in Orthodoxy and occasionally attend the Divine Liturgy, but the ex-Protestant converts in the congregations sometimes put me off with their exclusivist and over-zealous approach...I am far more comfortable with the "cradle" Orthodox from traditionally Orthodox countries. One can't of course expect Orthodoxy to be incredibly progressive and liberal, but the Protestant fundamentalist "baggage" that so many North American converts bring to Orthodoxy can stifle a breadth of vision.
Deeply Personal, Very Human, Very Important.......2006-10-25
I think this book is very important to anyone interested in the Orthodox Church. It's not the only book you'll want to read, but it supplements the other great books out there in a unique and important way.
This book is not a treatise on Thology or practice. There are a number of good books available to cover these topics. Instead, it's a personal memoir. It tells the story of a woman, a family, and a congregation as they come into their faith and tradition. There's the feel of conversation over a cup of coffee here as Mrs. Mathewes-Green talks in an engaging and humorous style about the experience of discovering a faith and building a church. It takes something that can be very intimidating - the discovery of an ancient and deep faith and tradition that is very alien to modern American culture - and makes it very human and very accessible.
If you want to get right into Theology, History, Spirituality, and Practice, Read Biship Kallistos Ware's "The Orthodox Way(Spirituality)," "The Orthodox Church (History)," Clark Carlton's "The Faith (Theology)" and some of the other great books available. These are all important. The most important piece of exploring Orthodoxy, however, is to "come and see." Experience the worship and life of the Church. It can be intimidating at first, however. But Mathewes-Green makes it so much more accessible. Give it a try!
Interesting, yet disappointing.......2006-06-12
At first glance in the store, this book fueled my interest in the Orthodox Church. Further, the easy style of writing made me feel very comfortable. However, upon purchsing the book and diving-in, I was soon put-off my the author's frequent caustic remarks about the Episcopal Church, my own denomination. Not only did these remarks add nothing to the book, but simply showed that the author still has unresolved issues of her own concerning the denomination she left to join the Orthodox Church. These put-downs simply took away from her work and credability.
While her account of falling in love with the Orthdox liturgy and the "truth" she found in this denomination, nothing is said about ortho-praxis, or the "right-practice" of the faith. I hear about a lovely liturgy with an actient tradition behind it, but nothing about what her church is doing to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned. In other words, I was left with the sense that the Orthodox church was a lovely museum piece with little active engagement of the Gospel in the broken world in which we live. "Faith without works is dead," and I'm left with an impression that the Orthodox church is lovely and old, but dead. While it is my hope that this is not the case, one would not know it from simply reading this book.
Further, while the author uses a very reader-friendly style, there are times you think she wishes she had the talent of Anne Lamott to convey her faith at a no-bones heart-level. The author can't quite pull that off.
While an enjoyable read about a woman's story of coming to the Orthodox church, it has a few serious flaws which detracts from the picture she would like to paint.
Wordy but Worthwhile.......2006-03-06
This books shares a year in the life of an Orthodox mission church from a first-person perspective. It is certainly not a weighty theological treatise, and though a bit "chatty" at times (especially the first half of the book), it provides the reader a good look at an Orthodox congregation in action. If you want to know about the doctrines and apologetics of Orthodoxy, this is not the book for you.
Average customer rating:
- Still dead
- Incredible!
- Simply beautiful...
- 4 1/2 stars; almost perfect
- Still Life
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Still Life
A.S. Byatt
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | Classics | Contemporary | General | Historical | Humor | Letters & Correspondence | Middle | Old | Poetry | Renaissance | Shakespeare | Short Stories
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The Virgin in the Garden: A Novel
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Babel Tower
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A Whistling Woman
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Possession: A Romance
-
The Shadow of the Sun
ASIN: 0684835037 |
Book Description
Frederica Potter, "doomed to be intelligent'' plunges into Cambridge Universty life greedy for knowledge, sex and love. In Yorkshire her sister Stephanie has abandoned academe for the cosy frustration of the family. Alexander Wedderburn, now in London, struggles to write a play about Van Gogh, whose art and tragic life give the novel its central Leitmotiv. In this sequel to
The Virgin in the Garden, A.S Byatt illuminates the inevitable conflicts between ambition and domesticity, confinement and self-fulfilment, while providing a subtle yet incisive observation of intellectual and cultural life in England during the 1950s.
Customer Reviews:
Still dead.......2005-06-29
Unbearably pretentious.
In a failed attempt by the author to appear intellectual, the book is poorly written and at time incoherent.
Incredible!.......2005-06-17
I finished this novel just last week; and I must say that it is a beautiful, incredibly thought provoking novel.
Byatt's characters are some of the best developed that I have seen in a very long time. Frederica was one that I partially despised, and yet was intriguing because of her life choices. I also loved the development all across the board of supporting characters.
It is also an exquisite metaphor for the intertwining of lives; as well as the stages of life. Everything flows along with Byatt's choices of words and her ties of "intellect" are wonderfully done without being too over the top.
It is a true art however, to be a writer that makes their readers laugh and cry in the same book. The ending made me cry real tears, and it is a book that you think about days afterwards. Few writers possess this gift, but Byatt does it spledidly.
This novel does take a little longer to get through, as it is so thought provoking and poignant. However, it is well worth it as you will be rewarded by having a true novel instead of one that tries to sound deep but comes across as trite. I HIGHLY recommend it for the perfect summer read during a vacation or just when you have some time...
This book will become a classic someday. It is a truly rich and absolutely amazing masterpiece of words!
Simply beautiful..........2004-12-27
Having read The Virgin in the Garden, I couldn't wait to read the second part of this so far wonderful series about the Potter family. Still Life centers on Frederika, Marcus and Stephanie and their struggles with their Yorkshire upbringing and their thirst for all things intellectual. Stephanie has abandoned the life of academia and opted for a family of her own. She is somewhat content with her life, but things fall apart for her after a tragedy ensues. Marcus has some struggles of his own. He does not know his place in the world. Does he belong in Yorkshire, or should he do what his sister Frederika did? She goes to Cambridge to quench her thirst for knowledge. What transpires is a story about various intellectuals and the changes in their respective lives. There are various twists throughout this novel.
Still Life, like The Virgin in the Garden, has beautiful, flawless language that you cannot help but devour in one sitting. I love A.S. Byatt's writing. Hers is a voice that I cannot get enough of. This trilogy is literary, thought-provoking and lyrical. It is difficult to write a review about it without giving some piece of imperative information about the plot. It is something you have to read and later discuss with friends or book club members. I cannot wait to tell friends about this amazing novel. Still Life is a literary marvel. I am still thinking of Frederika, such a memorable character. This is a truly superb story by an obvious master storyteller. I recommend Still Life, but I advise readers to read The Virgin in the Garden a whirl before this one.
4 1/2 stars; almost perfect.......2003-04-20
This is a breathtaking novel. I was not that enthusiatic about The Virgin in te Garden but this book was amazing on every level. I love the development of these characters (who seem very real, very Known to me). Frederica is especially well developed. Her intelligence and lack of self-knowledge are an endearing package. I personally love the intricate explanations of ideas- it is refreshing to read about things that I think about and yet have never found elsewhere. My only real probelm with the book is that the author's voice intrudes too much; it isn't necessary to me to be AWARE of the fact that this is a novel. Byatt almost wants us to be aware that this is fiction when I would always rather be in that pleasant state of believing in the fiction. But overall, I couldn't put this book down; what happens at the end is shockingly sad. I wonder what book 3 in the series will bring.
Still Life.......2003-02-15
Byatt's use of words, language, create beautiful mental images. I've never run across an author who is able to "paint" with words. I didn't like Frederica Potter, introduced in the first novel of Byatt's four-book series, A Virgin In The Garden. I didn't sympathize with her. I didn't understand her cold, passionate, intellectual personality. By the end of Still Life, I desperately cared for her. The third book, Babel Tower, disturbs me. That's a different review. Still Life is superior to A Virgin In The Garden. I couldn't put it down. If you're a Byatt fan, don't miss these novels. The seem to be more unwieldly than Possession, but Byatt's genius is all there.
Books:
- The Man of Her Dreams The Woman of His!
- The One that Got Away: My SAS Mission behind Enemy Lines
- The Power of One (Young Reader's Edition)
- The Pursuit of Marriage
- The Rising Tide: A Novel of World War II
- The Secret
- The Secret: Unlocking the Source of Joy and Fulfillment
- The Stolen Woman: Florence Baker's Extraordinary Life from the Harem to the Heart of Africa
- The Temptress
- The Time Traveler's Wife
Books Index
Books Home
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- Art, Culture, and Education: Artful Teaching in a Fractured Landscape
- 504 Decorative Vignettes in Full Color
- Abandoned on Bataan: One Man's Story of Survival
First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew
The Sign of the Cross: The Gesture, the Mystery, the History
The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation
The Open Door: Entering the Sanctuary of Icons and Prayer (Pocket Faith Series, 4)
Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy
