Customer Reviews:
Cirque Du Freak #11.......2007-07-09
I was very satisfied with the service from this vendor. The book arrived in the time frame promised and in good condition.
Great books.......2007-01-21
Sent on time product was what I ordered and expected. I am very happy with my purcase.
Cirque Du Freak #11 .......2007-01-21
Darren Shan is a wonderful writer and mygrandson and I love his books keep up the good work Darren you make reading great not only for young people but is old grandmas too Jan
Best Book Ever!.......2006-12-14
This is the best book ever. It's the best book out of all of the whole series. I am really upset. Darren is going to become the Lord of the Sahdows.
Lord of Shadows Book Review.......2006-11-04
If your searching for a comppelling, and entertaining book, then Cirque Du Freaks Lord of Shadows is the perfect book for you. Just like the previous 10 books in this series, there is a twist and turn at the end of every chapter. This book is about Darren Shan, a half vampire prince who is searchiing for Steve Leanord, his ex-best friend. Darren is out to kill him so that the vampires win the War of Scars. By doing this Darren will become the Lord of Shadows. The question is, is this a good thing? Evana, a witch who can see the future, tells Darren he will have too much power and kill all of the vampires and humans and even his own friends. However, Darren insists that he would never kill for the fun of it. Darren believes that it's possible to win the War of Scars and not be a endless killer. Evanna keeps telling him that it is impossible to change the course of the future. Will Darren Shan be able to kill Steve Leonard, win the War of Scars, and not turn into a insane killer? Read this amazing book that will keep you guessing.
Book Description
Fairy tales seem to be innocent stories, yet they contain profound lessons for those who would dive deep into their waters of meaning. In this book, Marie-Louise von Franz uncovers some of the important lessons concealed in tales from around the world, drawing on the wealth of her knowledge of folklore, her experience as a psychoanalyst and a collaborator with Jung, and her great personal wisdom. Among the many topics discussed in relation to the dark side of life and human psychology, both individual and collective, are: How different aspects of the "shadow"—all the affects and attitudes that are unconscious to the ego personality—are personified in the giants and monsters, ghosts, and demons, evil kings and wicked witches of fairy tales How problems of the shadow manifest differently in men and women What fairy tales say about the kinds of behavior and attitudes that invite evil How Jung's technique of Active imagination can be used to overcome overwhelming negative emotions How ghost stories and superstitions reflect the psychology of grieving What fairy tales advise us about whether to struggle against evil or turn the other cheek Dr. von Franz concludes that ever rule of behavior that we can learn from the unconscious through fairy tales and dreams is usually a paradox: sometimes there must be a physical struggle against evil and sometimes a contest of wits, sometimes a display of strength or magic and sometimes a retreat. Above all, she shows the importance of relying on the central, authentic core of our being—the innermost Self, which is beyond the struggle between the opposites of good and evil.
Customer Reviews:
Phenomenal look into the darkness.......2005-01-06
I love MLVF as an author, first of all. Her work is so concise and to the point, and absolutely eye-opening at all times. She not only sees really clearly, but is especially skilled at helping other people to. This book is one of my favorites that I have read by her. The other one is the one about dreams and death. This book is an exceptionally good look at how evil and the shadow operate and are expressed by the psyche. Also, whether or not you're into fairy tales, this book is still a great resource, in terms of psychology, creativity, mythology and cultural expression.
Average customer rating:
- Shadows on the Stars--Great Book
- Poorly Done
- As fantastic as its first part
- Book Two is amazing!
- The tradition continues in grand fashion!
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Shadows on the Stars (The Great Tree of Avalon, Book 2)
T. A. Barron
Manufacturer: Philomel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Wings of Merlin (DIGEST) (Barron, T. a. Lost Years of Merlin, Bk. 5.)
ASIN: 039923764X |
Book Description
When young Tamwyn, determined to solve the mystery of the vanishing stars, seeks a vision in the mountains, he is confronted by a vision he never expected: From the place of the stars, dark shadows, omens of evil, are pouring out toward Avalon, posing a threat to the Great Tree's very existence. Tamwyn and his loyal troupe must split up: Elli to rush to the Lady of the Lake, Scree to heal with the Eaglefolks, and Tamwyn to journey to the Heartwood of Avalon itself to discover the portal to the highest branches and confront the very powers of Darkness.
Customer Reviews:
Shadows on the Stars--Great Book.......2007-01-12
You can feel every second of each page as the story goes. The characters were well developed so I felt like I knew them. It is easy to read except for some of the character names.
Poorly Done.......2006-12-10
Barron's book is immaturely written - despite the age and experience of the author. The characters are one-dimensional and annoying in their sexist interpretation: the women are nurturing, overly emotional, and nag the men constantly whereas the men are stolid protectors doing what they must do while trying to understand the irrational women they are surrounded by. The plot is thin and poorly laid out without any forethought, and the bad guys are humorous in their stupidity and greed. The author has been spending too much time on a role playing server for World of Warcraft.
As fantastic as its first part.......2006-08-12
T.A. Barron's imagination is truely great. This book is the 2nd of a GREAT Trilogy.
The first book (TGTA: Child of the dark prophetcy) not only introduces you to the main characters but gets them well started on their magical journey. This book continues that journey only with GREATER expectations, since this is the great auther of the "Merlin" series, you know there is going to be dragons, ooo yea.
Also the way this book ends litterally leavs you hanging, I mean I got a hold of the first 2 books in 2005 and I've been waiting since then for the third book to come out, thats how good this book is, I've read books before that stop in the middle of something just so that you would get the next one, but they are NO comparesson to this great book. You can litterally see everything he's describing.
T.A. Barrons writting is very poetic, gentle and descriptive all at once, combined with his vivid imagination, its a perfect 10.
You HAVE to read the 1st book in order to understand this world and the mission all these characters are on, you will be lost if you don't.
I recommend buying all 3 at once, and since the third one (TGTA: The eternal flame) is coming out on Aug 16th I believe, you have no excuse.
Trust me, you will want the books with you back to back, its an intense read, it will keep you on your toes and then some.
enjoy.
Book Two is amazing!.......2006-03-03
This book was amazing! Simply amazing. I loved every part of it. The strong characters were portrayed well, and I felt like I knew them like I had grown up listening to their tales. This book gave me so many different feelings, I was frustrated, sad, and happy, right along with the characters. This book is wonderful, and I'd recommend it to any reader, any age that could handle it. The best ages for this book would probably be 12 to until you lose your eyesight. There's no sexuality or foul language. This book was excellent and I can't wait for the third one in the trilogy to come out!
The tradition continues in grand fashion!.......2006-02-03
Back for the second installment of "The Great Tree of Avalon" series are Tamwyn, Elli, Brionna, Scree and Nuic. The voyagers we all came to know in the first book have now become a close-knit group ... until they discover they have to separate and go on their own journeys to save the great world of Avalon. Armed with Merlin's staff, Tamwyn ventures through the trunk of the Great Tree looking for his lost father, Krystallus Eopia, who he became separated from when he was young. Along the way he encounters mystical creatures, some new, and some old with a twist. Tamwyn battles everything on his dangerous climb from giant termites to fire angels to waterfalls-until he reaches Merlin's knothole, which gives him a close and exhilarating view of the stars. Barron describes this scene vividly, and it is my favorite moment in the book. It compares favorably to laying your eyes on the Colorado Rockies for the first time, or the Grand Canyon, or any other of life's great natural monuments. Not long after he finds the knothole, Tamwyn discovers the truth of his father and why the stars in the constellation resembling Merlin's staff have gone out. Elli, in the meantime, takes a crystal of elano from the Lady of Lake, and will dive into the world of Shadowroot, the dark side of the Great Tree. There she will battle the sorcerer Kulwych, to destroy the corrupted crystal of elano that he wields for his warlord spirit master Rhita Gawr. And as for the last adventurer, the eagleman Scree, he confronts his own kind to lead them away from the war in which they were enlisted to aid Kulwych. There is one surprise in Scree's quest he regrets learning too late, and it will forever haunt him. Barron's rich portrayal of the Avalon world is described with even greater detail in this new installment, and will give readers' memories a grand story to cling to for decades to come.
Average customer rating:
- If you are familiar with "The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night", you may not enjoy this book...
- Great read!
- Above Average
- what the heck????
- Marjan
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Shadow Spinner (Jean Karl Books)
Susan Fletcher
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0689830513 |
Book Description
Every night, Shahrazad begins a story. And every morning, the Sultan lets her live another day -- providing the story is interesting enough to capture his attention. After almost one thousand nights, Shahrazad is running out of tales. And that is how Marjan's story begins....
It falls to Marjan to help Shahrazad find new stories -- ones the Sultan has never heard before. To do that, the girl is forced to undertake a dangerous and forbidden mission: sneak from the harem and travel the city, pulling tales from strangers and bringing them back to Shahrazad. But as she searches the city, a wonderful thing happens. From a quiet spinner of tales, Marjan suddenly becomes the center of a more surprising story than she ever could have imagined.
Customer Reviews:
If you are familiar with "The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night", you may not enjoy this book..........2006-09-19
"Shadow Spinner" by Susan Fletcher is a touching tale of courageous women, a sultan, his sins, and his reign. When the Sultan's first wife betrays him, he vows to kill each and every woman in the kingdom. So, on a dangerous killing spree, the Sultan marries a woman one day, and kills the bride the next. What are the women going to do? Some leave the kingdom in fear with the help of an outlaw name Abu Muslem... but one brave woman, Shahrazad, steps up to the plate and comes up with a clever plan. On the night after marrying the Sultan, Shahrazad tells a story to her little sister, Dunyazad, as the Sultan listens in. She stopped at a cliffhanger, and the Sultan, wanting to listen to the rest of the exciting tale, lets her live another day. By doing this every night, she saves the women of the kingdom and soon she becomes an inspiration to not only the country, but also a crippled young woman named Marjan. One time, while Marjan was with her Aunt to sell some jewelry to the women of the castle, she told a story to a group of children. When Dunyazad overhears, she brings Marjan to Shahrazad, so Marjan can help her find new stories. But when Marjan can only remember the beginning of an old tale, she must do something strictly forbidden- go outside the castle to see if she can find the old storyteller she heard tell the tale long ago. Will she succeed or will she fail Shahrazad and the women of the kingdom?
My favorite character was Marjan- she really spoke to me. The message she had to share was wonderful and everyone needs to take it to heart. Although I cannot share it here without giving away ending, I would recommend this beautifully written tale of overcoming obstacles in life- but only to a few people. Even though the author creates a wide range of characters and kept me wrapped up in its blanket of words until the last sentence of the Author's Note, I feel either you would love or hate this book. It requires an open mind, a love for stories, and knowledge of Indian customs. Having an Indian friend, I do have knowledge of some basic traditions so I could keep up... but after reading some other reviews, I realized that some people didn't and had a harder time with reading it. Others either Indian born or had a better knowledge of the stories this book was based on ("The Book of a Thousand Nights and a Night") hated it for its bad representation of it. Really, this is for a few select people in a group all to their own. I, being one of them, enjoyed this book, but you may not. Approach this with caution. I would recommend it for seventh graders up.
Great read!.......2006-05-04
This book was both spell-binding and educational. I read it to my 11 and 12 year old daughters. They could read it themselves, but I enjoyed it too. It has a mature theme, but it is handled well. It also has a subtle wisdom that is neither preachy nor heavy handed. Love is the greatest of virtues. Mercy is near the top, and hatred should be overcome.
Above Average.......2006-04-03
This book was okay. It kept my interest most of the time, but I didn't like the ending too much. It was exciting at times, and it was interesting how Shahrazad loved the sultan. Kind of weird though.
what the heck????.......2006-02-19
Don't waste your time on this book, there are more valuable ones out there. First of all, what has she DONE to the fabulous story of Shahrazad? Practically torn it apart and sewed it back together with very rough stitches. I read this book trying to get away from the stereotype some writers have of typical "weak" women (I am partial to strong heroines with wit) and therefore thought another retelling of Shahrazad would be just the thing.
Well, it turned out I was wrong and this book just had the stereotype I was looking to get away from.
If you want a strong heroine, if you've been disappointed by this book and how it portrays Shahrazad, go read Cameron Dokey's version (called "The Storyteller's Daughter). In all, that is a much more satisfying read.
Marjan.......2005-06-19
The story is good, a young crippled girl sneaking out of the harem to help Shaharazad, a brave queen telling tales to keep her and many other women alive. The characters are good, Marjan is a brave girl willing to risk her life for the hero that she admires, the queen that tells tales. The language is good. The words are written fluently and the reader is able to read it once without going over one sentence over and over again. The book is good! It is able to capture your attention with the very first few lines of her Auntie Chava's constant nagging. From reading the first sentence, I couldn't put it down. I stayed up late wanting to find out what happened to the crippled girl that helped the queen.
Susan Fletcher paints the settings with her words and is accurate to the last detail about women during Marjan's time and how they lived their lives. This book is perhaps one of the few GOOD fiction books written in this world.
Customer Reviews:
The most realistic and enjoyable I've read in almost 20 years.......2006-04-05
I have read, or tried to read, dozens and dozens of books about all aspects of Paganism and this was by far the easiest to relate to. It was as if I were sitting in my living room discussing these things with the author over a cup of coffee. I'm not saying that everything in it is 'gospel' (a point she makes early on in the book) but you would be hard-pressed to find a book better written. I liken her to the Hemingway of Pagans ... she's able to say a lot without having to use the volume of words so many others feel necessary. (It's almost as if so many other Pagan authors are just filling up pages to hear themselves speak.)
This is the book I gave my husband to help him understand what I believe and why. I have also shared it with friends who were interested. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Overall an excellent book, with a bad chapter on the gods..........2005-07-15
I thought this book was great--smart, funny, with savy advice. But I had a really big problem with chapter 3, titled "Deities" and subtitled "If you read only one chapter, read this one"--which i think is unfortunate--since the rest of the book is so good, and that particular chapter is full of misinformation.The problem starts when the author describes Kali as "dancing on the body of the half-dead Krishna" (p48). Kali never dances on Krishna but on Shiva (whose name sounds like the word for corpse). She warns against working with Kali because she is "terrifying" (p48). McLelland doesn't really have an understanding of how Kali is worshipped in India and focuses on the Kali of the tantric path, as apposed to say the Kali that Ramprasad loved.McLelland also warns us against Lilith because she "destroyed her children in order to fight her battles" (p49). I could be wrong, but I believe that in Jewish folklore, it was Yaweh who kills a hundred of Lilith's demon children a day as punishment. (Lilith kills other peoples babies) She also says not invoke her if you want to keep your image as a "sexpot"--but in Jewish folklore that is exactly what Lilith is--she suduces men in their sleep.The author also has some mixed up ideas about the Celtic Deities. She Calls Brigit a form of Dana (she's not, and its actually Danu). She says the Morrigan is three goddesses "the mother goddess Ana, the mother Babd, and the crone Macha". How many crones do you know who can beat a horse in a race while she is nine months pregnant? Sources are inconsistent about what three goddess make up the Morrigu--but one thing is for sure--the Irish did not divide the goddess into maiden, mother, and crone (that was a falacy perpetrated by Robert Graves). Their triple goddesses were made up of either three maidens, three mothers or three crones. and crones could always turn into maidens. Lugh is not a sun god (but everyone makes that mistake, can't fault McLelland here), the sun is a goddess in Ireland--Grian. Also she says that Gwydion is the son of Dana and associated with the Tuatha de Dannan--he isn't he is Welsh, and a son of the goddess Don. Then she goes on to say the Lleu LLaw Gyffes is another son of Dana--he's not nor is he son of Don, he is Arianrhod's son.Well maybe you think i am nitpicking, but since McLelland warns us about getting all our information from Wiccan books--I thought I should mention that this is not the book to learn about pagan Deities. I suggest you leave the new age section and head towards the mythology section.The beginning of the chapter on Deities is actually quite good, and the rest of the book is excellent--so I recommend it highly--just take the information on the gods with a grain of salt.
A Realistic Look At The Modern Movement............2004-07-14
I'll admit I'm a bit disenchanted with most of the books I find on Wicca. I'm very skeptical that once again, I'll hear the same information rehashed with slightly different wording. Sound familiar?
So when I sat down to read this book, I found myself pleasantly surprised! McLelland does an excellent job of being honest about the strengths and truths of the modern craft movement in the US. I feel that perhaps a little more nationwide focus would have helped, but she's from Salem and it's one of those witchy hot spots, so I can understand her focus on it.
I like the fact that she does bring up the stereotypes, with but with a slightly different twist. We're not talking about point hats and black cloaks here-this is sexual predators posing as High Priests and egotistical High Priestesses that she's talking about. Granted, most of us have met someone who fits one of those descriptions. One reviewer here states that we don't need to talk about those things, again. I disagree! Of course we need to talk about them!
They are out there, and people need to know. If you've lived in small town "x" all of your life and never connected with anyone who claims to be a HPS of 20 years with a successful coven under her belt....then that's going to sound amazing and interesting to you. And I'd hate to see you end up scrubbing that woman's floors in return for her "magickal knowledge" because you didn't know better.
I've seen it happen within my own circle, so I know those people are out there. And besides, isn't knowledge the best defense?
There is some very solid information in this book, both for the beginner and the more advanced Pagan. As someone who runs the only public circle in my hometown, her tips on meeting with the media (what to say and what not to wear!) were wonderful. There is some great information on how to safeguard your wallet by learning how to tell legitimate Pagan charities and non-profit organizations (those to whom contributions are tax deductible) and those with questionable backgrounds and missions.
Then of course, the things that mark you as a beginner. I had to smile at those, because they are very common amongst the persons who come to my circle. I've heard them all (and was guilty of a few myself in my starting days)!
I loved the fact that McLelland was not afraid to clean out her own broom closet about certain things, like witch wars. We've had taken part in things like that when we really should have minded our own business. Big props to her for being so honest about it! This book is filled with anecdotes about McLelland's years in the Pagan community, and that makes it very easy to read. You feel a connection with her as you learn about the mistakes she'd made (while reliving some of your own, perhaps?).
This is one of the best books I've found recently. It's a no frills, honest look at the modern Pagan movement. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to know a little more than what the correspondences for the color magenta are, and the new way to cast a circle.
Bravo to Ms. McLelland for what has become one of my most recommended reads and references!
Focus on Salem, MA.......2004-05-04
I thought McLelland is much to focused on Salem, MA, for a book of nationwide interest. Yes, it's a "Witch City" tourist trap, and yes, it does get a lot of media attention on Halloween, but no, her local gossip is not relevant to 98% of American Wicca. Her advice to Wiccans not to go to Salem on Halloween and parade for cameras is good. There is a lot to like in the "Out of the Shadows" too. There is advice on how to meet the media, what to say and wear. Another chapter deals with legal issues that a Wiccan might face at work, and considerations about church deductions and the IRS. One chapter identifies 3 things that Wiccan beginners say which immediately identify them as beginners. One was not to say that your ancestor was burned for witchcraft in Salem. The other 2 beginner identifiers she lists, "grandmother witch" and "shaman training" are indeed wide spread beginner faux pas. The chapter on witch wars was a little shallow, although kudos to McLelland for fessing up and admitting her own part in one some years ago.
Overall it's a pretty good book, and will be useful to someone who wants an overall survey about Wicca. It is good too that some of the skeletons in the closet are hung out to wither away in the sunshine of public knowledge.
Perhaps a little trite.......2004-05-04
First the negatives: McLelland's descriptions of modern Wicca include many of the stereotypes she says she is trying to dispel. Well, hers are not the stereotypes of black robes and pointy hats, but they include priests demanding sex for rituals and arrogant priestesses. Sure, there is some truth in all stereotypes, but do we really need another rehash of the worst ones about Wicca? In addition she is much to focused on Salem, MA, for a book of nationwide interest. Yes, it's a "Witch City" tourist trap, and yes, it does get a lot of media attention on Halloween, but no, her local gossip is not relevant to 99% of American Wicca. Her advice to Wiccans not to go to Salem on Halloween and parade for cameras is good. One page included a mistaken lecture on the Old English pronunciation of "Wicca." She apparently read it somewhere, because I've seen the same mistaken rant elsewhere recently.
There is a lot to like in the "Out of the Shadows" too. There is advice on how to meet the media, what to say and wear. Another chapter deals with legal issues that a Wiccan might face at work, and considerations about church deductions and the IRS. One chapter identifies 3 things that Wiccan beginners say which immediately identify them as beginners. One was not to say that your ancestor was burned for witchcraft in Salem. It is my personal gripe that she goes along with the current Salem Chamber of Commerce denial that there were any actual Witches who were victims at the Salem trials. Several of those convicted admitted that they were "witches," but their names have been scrubbed from the current CofC denials. She escapes with a quibble over the definition of "witch." She's probably right though, that living in Salem she probably hears it a lot more than is credible. That again is more applicable to her local area than the rest of America. The other 2 beginner identifiers she lists, "grandmother witch" and "shaman training" are indeed wide spread beginner faux pas.
The chapter on witch wars was a little shallow, although kudos to McLelland for fessing up and admitting her own part in one some years ago.
Overall it's a pretty good book, and will be useful to someone who wants an overall survey about Wicca. It is good too that some of the skeletons in the closet are hung out to wither away in the sunshine of public knowledge.
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.
Average customer rating:
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In Frankenstein's Shadow: Myth, Monstrosity, and Nineteenth-Century Writing
Chris Baldick
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Theater | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Baldick, Chris | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Horror | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0198122497 |
Book Description
This book surveys the early history of one of our most important modern myths: the story of Frankenstein and the monster he created from dismembered corpses, as it appeared in fictional and other writings before its translation to the cinema screen. It examines the range of meanings which Mary Shelley's Frankenstein offers in the light of the political images of `monstrosity' generated by the French Revolution. Later chapters trace the myth's analogues and protean transformations in subsequent writings, from the tales of Hoffmann and Hawthorne to the novels of Dickens, Melville, Conrad, and Lawrence, taking in the historical and political writings of Carlyle and Marx as well as the science fiction of Stevenson and Wells. The author shows that while the myth did come to be applied metaphorically to technological development, its most powerful associations have centred on relationships between people, in the family, in work, and in politics.
Average customer rating:
- Greek Mythology plus teenage angst
- Modern teens meet Greek Gods
- Very Witty and Smart
- I lika dis book
- A chapter book for summer reading for the grandkids!
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The Shadow Thieves (Cronus Chronicles)
Anne Ursu
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Siren Song (Cronus Chronicles)
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The Secret Country (Eidolon Chronicles)
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The Titan's Curse (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 3)
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The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Book 1)
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The Wall and the Wing
ASIN: 1416905871 |
Book Description
See that girl, the one with the bright red hair, overstuffed backpack, and aura of grumpiness? That's Charlotte Mielswetzski. And something extra-ordinary is about to happen to her.
Oh, it's not the very cute kitten that appears out of nowhere and demands to go home with her. It's not the sudden arrival of her cousin Zee, who believes he's the cause of a mysterious sickness that has struck his friends back in England. It's not her creepy English teacher Mr. Metos, who takes his mythology lessons just a little too seriously. And it's not the white-faced, yellow-eyed men in tuxedoes, who follow Charlotte everywhere.
What's so extraordinary is not any one of these things....It's all of them. And when Charlotte's friends start to get sick one by one, Charlotte and Zee set out to find a cure. Their quest leads them to a not-so-mythical Underworld, where they face rhyme-loving Harpies, gods with personnel problems, and ghosts with a thirst for blood.
Charlotte and Zee learn that in a world overrun by Nightmares, Pain, and Death, the really dangerous character is a guy named Phil. And then they discover that the fate of every person -- living and dead -- is in their young hands.
In her dazzling debut for young readers, Anne Ursu weaves a tale of myth and adventure, danger and magic that will keep readers engrossed until the very last secret is revealed.
Customer Reviews:
Greek Mythology plus teenage angst.......2007-08-15
My son loves books with Greek Mythology in them (Lightening Thief, Corydon, etc) so I picked this up for him. And since it was lying around, I decided to read it, and I'm really glad I did. I love a good villain with personality and Philonecron is loaded with it. He's been banished from the Underworld by Hades and is plotting his revenge. To start with, he creates twelve Footmen from clay and his own blood. Then he treats them like beloved children - lining them up to recieve their tuxedos and making them close their eyes for the surprise. They are a little slow on the uptake and Ursu writes "He never would have believed it before, but inbred, mindless loyalty does have its drawbacks."
Charlotte can talk her way out of anything and her cousin Zee is a chivalrous athlete. They both need to channel the other's talent to defeat Philonecron and rescue the stolen shadows of their friends. It is an exciting finish, with a harrowing voyage through the Underworld and a Mega Mall.
Greek mythology, lots of humor and excitement, I'm off to read the sequel.
Modern teens meet Greek Gods.......2007-05-17
See that girl, the one with the bright red hair, overstuffed backpack, and aura of grumpiness? That's Charlotte Mielswetzski. And something extraordinary is about to happen to her.
Thus starts the story, THE SHADOW THIEVES. At first I thought this book was yet another take on the popular UNFORTUNATE EVENTS.
Boy, was I mistaken! This tale follows Charlotte and her cousin Zee, who comes to visit from England. Weird things start happening with his arrival. Kids start falling ill. A very cute kitten appears out of nowhere and demands to go home with her. And what's with those white-faced, yellow-eyed men in tuxedos, who follow her everywhere.
I thought this story had a clever way of combining Greek mythology with two modern day kids. The story kept my interest and I found myself looking up some Greek characters. I have to admit, my knowledge of Greek mythology is rusty after all these years. The author does a great job of describing the underworld, the immortals, and the fate of those who die. I'd like to see some of these Gods in our world--which I'm sure the author will do with her follow-up book.
Very Witty and Smart.......2006-10-21
An excellent book filled with witty ideas like cerberus being a hound dog puppy and Charon having a family to feed. I particulary loved the ending. It was a truely excellent book. My only suggestion is for Anne Ursu to continue this series.
I lika dis book.......2006-10-12
I thought that this book was very good. The fact that it says that when you die you go to Hades I thought was very original, but if you are very religious you might not like that so just try to remember that its fiction and not in any way real. I also thought that the book was very funny. It can get a little confusing with all the mythological creatures, but it has a little thing in the back that tells you the names of the creatures and some info on them. I really liked the epilogue.[...]
A chapter book for summer reading for the grandkids!.......2006-06-16
OK, I'm not a kid. In fact, I am a 65-year-old grandmother.
That said, I am also looking for a summer read for the various DGC's who stop by for a chapter or two most afternoons. You know, front porch, fan breeze, iced tea and soft drinks, sometimes a store-bought cookie or two. Or even a homemade something-or-other, if the older DGC's want to make one, then eat it.
This is it. They'll LOVE it!
I like the idea that the story can stand by itself--no cliff-hangers here. Especially since we're going to have to wait a year for the next volume, then another year for the third one. (Harry Potter, anyone?)
Then, the humor will definitely appeal to my pre- and early-teen DGC's--it did to me! Having worked many years in bureaucracies (as we all do, these days) Hades was very familiar, and more apt than most kids are likely to realize!
The writing is good. There's enough suspense to prickle the neck, but not so much as to give nightmares to the littlest ones. (I wouldn't give Neal Gaimon's CORALINE to a really sensitive child, for instance, and I hae me doots about several others . . . .) On the other hand, have you SEEN what cartoons are like on TV these days? Sheesh.
I suspect that many conservative Christians will have great trouble with the premise of the book--that the Greek version of the afterlife is the 'real' one, but remember, this is fiction!
I think kids ALWAYS understand the difference, if one explains.
Average customer rating:
- fantastic story
- Fabulous Read!
- Captivating debut...
- Highly recommended read...
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Shadows of the Keeper
Karey E. Brown
Manufacturer: Outskirts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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A Wish In Time
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On the Prowl
ASIN: 1432700529 |
Book Description
I've awakened from a horrific crash to a churlish highlander, I swear stepping right off the cover of my paperback. Poor thing, you mock? Ha! These are no highlanders, but rather thirty-six hundred year old Forest Lords legend bound to protect me. Furthering my insanity is the tall gorgeous Elf obsessing I master sword fighting. Did I mention discovering I can manifest flame from my hands? A real boon when surrounded by chauvinistic testosterone.
They prepare against Lumynari hunting you.
How could I forget? Shadow seeks some Keeper's power to avenge her exile and eradicate mortals. Yeah, right.
Keer'dra!
Forgot tinsy detail. An erotic male voice--major anger management issues--now resides in my head. If he looks as velvety as he sounds, he so can be the strawberries on my cheesecake!
Emily--grrrr! The foolish mortal fails to comprehend my Lumynari brethren assassinated her three millennia ago, and will do so again. I, Prince Dezenial, son of Shadow and Hades, am now cursed. Assist in the capture of the Keeper, or answer my father's calling and become the Dark Prince, Overlord of gargoyles--guardian of mortals--guardian of the Keeper? For Emily isn't just the Keeper, she's my soulmate.
Customer Reviews:
fantastic story.......2007-05-06
Though the story line was not quite what I would have expected, I was delighted with the unusual nature of the characters. The heroes of the story were quite unique, and the heroine, as stated before, was no damsel in distress! My kind of story. I had a little trouble at first immersing myself into the book as I am not accustomed to this type of fantasy/romance and the sub-plots were not immediately revealed, but once I did, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in 48 hours! It was that good! I am anxiously awaiting a sequel.
Fabulous Read!.......2007-04-15
Karey E Brown has given us a heroine that every woman can relate to AND be proud of! Be prepared to fall in love with people and places you never imagined and don't be surprised if you are caught laughing out loud! Kleenex and a reading lamp are optional but highly recommended!
~H~
Captivating debut..........2007-03-12
Not just another modern woman stepping back in time kind of romance. No damsel in distress here! The twists and turns of numerous plots and how they tie together as well as the cast of strong characters makes for a fabulously fulfilling read. Get ready to enjoy the sunrise--you won't be able to put this witty, laugh-out-loud debut novel down! I loved Emily's sarcasm. I am torn, however, as to which lead male was my favorite--they both had moments when I wanted to choke them, and when they made me cheer! Ghosts, Elves, Gargoyles, Stonehenge..Demons..whew! Seems like a mouthful--nope...just like cake ingredients...it's all deliciously blended!
Highly recommended read..........2007-03-06
The advance buzz on this book has been huge - a first attempt for an author I hope we will hear a lot more from...makes for a fabulous read:)
Average customer rating:
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The Shadow of Atlantis 1940
Colonel A. Braghine
Manufacturer: Kessinger Publishing, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1417976780 |
Book Description
With 25 Illustrations.
Books:
- Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice
- CPT 2007 Professional Edition (Cpt / Current Procedural Terminology (Professional Edition))
- CREATIVE LICENSE, THE: GIVING YOURSELF PERMISSION TO BE THE ARTIST YOU TRULY ARE
- Dark Fire (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 6)
- Desperados: Tie-In Edition
- Devils on the Deep Blue Sea : The Dreams, Schemes and Showdowns That Built America's Cruise-Ship Empires
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- Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood
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