Book Description
Now in paperback, the New York Times bestseller by one of rocks most provocative figures Scar Tissue is Anthony Kiediss searingly honest memoir of a life spent in the fast lane. In 1983, four self-described knuckleheads burst out of the mosh-pitted mosaic of the neo-punk rock scene in L.A. with their own unique brand of cosmic hardcore mayhem funk. Over twenty years later, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, against all odds, have become one of the most successful bands in the world. Though the band has gone through many incarnations, Anthony Kiedis, the groups lyricist and dynamic lead singer, has been there for the whole roller-coaster ride. Whether hes recollecting the influence of the beautiful, strong women who have been his muses, or retracing a journey that has included appearances as diverse as a performance before half a million people at Woodstock or an audience of one at the humble compound of the exiled Dalai Lama, Kiedis shares a compelling story about the price of success and excess. Scar Tissue is a story of dedication and debauchery, of intrigue and integrity, of recklessness and redemptiona story that could only have come out of the world of rock.
Customer Reviews:
Scar Tissue.......2007-09-06
Exactly what I was looking for, good book, good price, and took 5 days to ship as opposed to the 1 month it promised.
Brutally Honest.......2007-08-29
This is a fantastic read, and is very well written. Some very cool photos and lyrics are included. I spent the extra money to buy a hardcover version which is a good choice. The drug addiction and honesty that Anthony brings to that disease is worth the read alone. It is awesome he has found a way to deal with his addiction and keep writing and performing at an exceptional level.
truly inspirational book!.......2007-08-13
i was amased by this great reading. anthony isnt only an extraordinary performer but a very good writer. the moment i started reading it, i didn't let it out of my hands. fan or not of RHCP, you'll find this book entertaining.
Drugs, Women, Music and Drugs.......2007-07-25
For those who think they know the Chili Pepper story, or those that are new fans and are unaware of the beligerent lifestyle of the Chili's up unitl this decade, this book clears it all up. Discussed in a narrative voice, all the events and feelings are dictated by Anthony Kiedis and provide a real world connection to these superstars. His individual story as well as the group as a whole is shared in a way that makes them seem so human and makes anyone wonder, "how are these guys still alive, sane, and still making beautiful, boandary pushing music together?"
Never a dull moment!.......2007-07-15
All I can say is that I wanted to have a book to read over the course of about half of the summer and instead I read it in just a couple of days! It's heartfelt & candid. And its written through the voice of Anthony Kiedis rather than someone taking his thoughts and trying to put them in some dull, refined, intellectual way. Anyway, now I have to find something to read that won't bore me after reading this great book!
Average customer rating:
- touching
- A beautifully touching story about the relationship between brothers and between father and son
- It's your misfortune, ain't none of my own
|
A Small White Scar
K. A. Nuzum
Manufacturer: Joanna Cotler
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Westerns | Fiction | United States | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Siblings | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Special Needs | Social Issues | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Twins | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
Special Needs Children | Children's Health | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 006075639X
Release Date: 2006-08-01 |
Book Description
I had decided I would have a future.
Will can see his future stretch out before him. It's as clear as the plains that lead to La Junta and the first-place prize at the rodeo. He will become a man, a cowboy with a life of his own. But his twin brother, Denny, follows, bringing with him the memory of that small white scar. Ahead lies adventure; behind, responsibility. And on the road between, Will and Denny will travel together -- brothers united by blood.
Customer Reviews:
touching.......2007-07-02
Will and Denny are twin brothers and alike in many ways. They share the same birthday but Denny is developmentally delayed. They live and work on a ranch. Their mother died when the boys were young. It seems to Will that his father expects him to just look after Denny and never allows him to do really work on the ranch. Will decides to run off and join the rodeo. A twist of events happens when Denny follows Will.
A beautifully touching story about the relationship between brothers and between father and son.......2007-01-05
The summer of 1940 promises to be a dry one as a drought drags through Colorado. The lakes quickly shrink down to mud holes and the grass grows scarcer everyday, a definite danger to the Bennon cattle ranch. Fifteen-year-old Will Bennon could be a big help to his father; he has the skills and talents of an adult ranch hand. But his father insists on holding him back, hindering Will by forcing him to keep a constant eye on his twin brother, Denny.
Even though Will and Denny are twins, sharing a birthday is one of the few things they have in common. Denny has Down's syndrome; he can't read, can barely put on his shoes correctly, and needs almost constant supervision. Despite these obstacles, Denny can do many things. He collects the eggs from the hen house everyday, counting them as he goes. He can ride his horse, Scooty, though he often falls when dismounting. And he is always ready with a big smile to share.
But ever since they were born, and even more so after their mother accidentally drowned, Will has been weighed down with his brother's care. Will rather would be out helping his father with the ranch, using his riding and roping skills that he has practiced so diligently to be considered the man he wants to become. But his dad refuses to listen.
Believing his father will never allow him to be a man, Will takes his dreams a step further on his own. He must leave the Bennon Ranch. First, he will prove his ranching skills by entering La Junta Rodeo. There is big money to be made in the calf-roping and bull-riding events, more than Will could make in a whole year. Then he'd sign on with one of the other ranches, whichever one offers to pay the most after witnessing his talents at the rodeo. That would tide him over until the following rodeo season. Of course he wouldn't forget his family; he'd send money home to help out and eventually come back for a visit. But this was something he had to do, to get out from under his brother and start his own life.
A few days before the rodeo, Will sneaks away from the ranch riding his good friend and trusty horse, Deep. However, he doesn't get very far before he finds Denny following him. And it seems nothing will deter Denny --- not a rattlesnake bite, not the sudden thunderstorms, not the dangerously swollen river crossing. Fighting anger and resentment, Will finally allows Denny to ride along; somehow he will figure a way to get his brother home after the rodeo. What Will doesn't think about is how truly important his brother is to him.
K. A. Nuzum has written a beautifully touching story about the love and animosity between brothers, and between father and son. Set in the ranching wild west, A SMALL WHITE SCAR will especially touch horse lovers and rodeo fans, with in-depth and heartfelt descriptions of galloping through fragrant fields of sagebrush and desperately clinging to the back of a bucking bull. And most can sympathize with the anguish of loving someone who drives you a bit nuts.
--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman, author of FINDING MY LIGHT and THE BLACK POND.
It's your misfortune, ain't none of my own.......2006-10-10
Cowboys are cool. They always have been and they always will be. It's just a fact of life, really. Like pirates, they capture the childish imagination (though we've yet to host an International Talk Like a Cowboy Day as of yet). Who wouldn't want to be able to say they could rope a buck, tame a steer, or ride a bull? It's kind of funny, then, that there aren't that many cowboy books out there for kids. You get the regular smattering of picture books, of course, and there's usually at least one non-fiction title published every year for the true fans. Chapter books, however, are less common than you might think. Thanks goodness for "A Small White Scar", then, eh? Part cowboy drama, part tale of brotherly love and hate, first-time novelist (and east Colorado native) K.A. Nazum gives this book her all. It's a nice voice and a nice book and I think that that's all there is to say about that.
1940. Colorado. The Bennon Cattle Company. Mesa de Maya. It's the only place Will Bennon has ever called his home and if he doesn't get out of there as fast as humanly possible he's going to burst into two. For fifteen years Will has grown up alongside his twin brother Denny and for the last seven he's had to "play nursemaid". Denny was born, as they say on the farm, "simple", but his devotion to Will knows no bounds. It shouldn't come as a surprise then that when Will lits out to rope some fame and fortune at a rodeo in La Junta, Denny follows with inescapable tenacity. Will's fighting his desire to escape Denny at whatever the cost and to help his brother as he's done all his life. To his mind it comes down to this: If he stays on the ranch he'll go stir-crazy and never make a name for himself. But does that mean hurting the person who loves him best in the whole wide world? Is it worth it in the end?
To Will, his father's admonishment to "Take care of your brother. Look after him", is the worst thing that could ever happen to him. "It took me a while to figure it out, but by the time I was twelve or so, I knew the only way I could ever escape the trap of those words was to chew my leg off just like a coyote would in order to free himself." So it's just bad luck that that leg happens to be Denny. The authorial choice of making Denny Will's twin rather than his younger brother interested me particularly. There's a reoccurring motif in the book where Will dreams that he and Denny have switched bodies and now he's the one with problems and Denny is in his own skin. Right from the start Nuzum is challenging the reader. She's throwing a great big There But For the Grace of God Go I in your face and I'm darned if it doesn't make the reader stop and think a while. I mean, it could have easily have been Will rather than Denny born with what I suspect might be (though it's never named) Down Syndrome. Which might be fairly impressive in and of itself, except that she manages to do it by page FIVE. Nicely played, Ms. Nuzum.
Nuzum also gets the flavor of the West down pat. You understand the lure of such a life and the desire that drives Will to be a part of it. The story of whether or not he can escape his job as his brother's keeper is completely understandable too. Will feels that his father ignores his other talents and sees him entirely as a babysitter rather than a cowhand. Fortunately his dad gets a say at the end of the book that shows a different point of view and, more importantly, he apologises.
So will kids read this book? I think so. Sometimes a book is only as good as its first chapter. We've all gone into bookstores and perused the first few lines of a story in an attempt to determine how exciting the book to come will be. Well this book has rattlers, killer coyotes, a near-death injury, bull-riding, a treacherous river, and a fight, alongside a good story and some fine writing. If that's not enough for a child reader you know, hand `em some fantasy and be done with `em. If, on the other hand, they're interested in some historical fiction with a bit of bite and a Western taste, "A Small White Scar" has their number. A smart debut.
Book Description
What is self-injury? Why would people deliberately hurt themselves? Why can't they stop? What can I do to help? These questions are asked and answered in Secret Scars, a revealing look at the addiction of self-injury. Self-injury is one of the fastest growing health problems among teenage girls today. Despite its prevalence, however, self-injury remains a behavior shrouded in mystery and misconceptions. Secret Scars is a groundbreaking book that demystifies self-injury by explaining it as an addiction. The author takes both an engaging and scholarly approach to help the reader understand the dynamics involved in self-injury. Not only does Turner share case histories and her personal struggle as a former self-injurer, she backs it up by citing studies, research findings, and clinical outcomes. Features defines self-injury as a treatable addictive disorder an important resource for parents, educators, and mental health professionals authoritative and accessible information about a growing health concern personal stories validate experiences and concerns of readers V. J. Turner is a pseudonym for a licensed clinical psychologist whose academic credentials include a Ph.D. and a post-doctorate fellowship. She has many years of experience working therapeutically with adolescents and patients with addictive disorders. She has written and published extensively, including academic journal articles, books, and assessment instruments in the field of psychology. She has had firsthand experience with self-injury before successfully recovering over seven years ago.
Customer Reviews:
Somewhat Helpful!.......2004-07-22
I am a practicing mental health therapist. I deal with adults and adolescence that have a history of or are currently dealing with self injury. This book offered some good insight into self injury and treatment options/tips when dealing with a person who self injurers. I was somewhat disappointed in the lengthy explanation of all the disorders. However, I am reading this book from a therapist point of view and not a person who is trying to recover.
Overall; I felt this book had some good insight but would have liked more focus on the treatment and outcome rather than the different types of disorders.
Book Description
A how-to on the ancient art of physiognomy, updated and practical. Rosetree's system of Face Reading Secrets ® is designed to open your heart, even as it provides knowledge with uncanny accuracy.
Customer Reviews:
Very informative.......2007-07-03
I ordered three face reading books to try to get as much information as I could. This book by far was the best. She adds a bunch of humor. This book is very well written and easy to read. I recommend this to all who are curious about what the face means. I am very pleased.
Useful and Insightful.......2005-12-10
After reading The Power of Face Reading, I am shocked by the response from "Almost Useless". In her book Rosetree asserts that we all have various challenges as well as styles with which we excell at, and I think Rosetree does an excellent job of expressing our different styles for work, spending money, communication, etc. with great compassion and depth. This is not a "too positive spin on every negative interpretation"; it's more a realistic way of looking at our strenghts and weaknesses.
I also firmly disagree with "Almost Useless"'s assertion that some of the interpretations are "just inaccurate." I have done many readings after reading the book, for friends and people that I've just met, and everyone remarks how surprisingly accurate they are! Rosetree also points out that the traits of our face reveal our propensity for a certain style of being. We are all human and can choose to behave in other ways as we choose. Knowing what are preferences are can help us use them with more strength, and to also gain understanding for the strengths and propensities of others. Brilliant for relationships!
In terms of "putting it all together" for doing face readings, I found this to be no problem. Like I said, I started doing readings for friends and new people I met right away. Rosetree also explicity states to set an intention to be of service, and begin with the features that strike you the most, and then notice what you notice next and go from there. This is what I've adhered to and what has made my readings so successful.
Lastly, I would be cautious with the review titled "Gems for Tabliod and Intellectuals." I might chuckle at these having not read the book. Rosetree's book provides much more depth than these quotes reveal. The book shows us that there are many ways to be in the world, and the beauty is that we can choose. I find it powerfully useful to know my style preferences at my very core.
The best of the best!.......2005-12-03
I know this book. I know this author. Rose Rosetree is a woman of the highest integrity and she is a great force. She's been on this path for many years, researching ancient studies and particularly refining the hidden traits found in faces. Each one of her books is a gift. But the wisdom contained in this one, The Power of Face Reading, showers the reader with clues and tips on discovering the very essence of, say, co-workers, first dates, celebrities, politicians -- any person with whom you might come face to face. For those with a sense of wonder and a hunger to know more, this is an easy read.
Amazing insights.......2005-12-02
I found this book, like all the ones I've read by Rose Rosetree, to be witty, insightful, and very useful. When reading this book, keep in mind that reading faces isn't just a formula, which is a point that Ms. Rosetree makes. The whole face needs to be considered, since it is a reflection of the soul as a whole. I use face reading often, and it's amazing how accurate it is. In addition to the companion book WRINKLES ARE GOD'S MAKEUP, I strongly suggest reading AURA READING THROUGH ALL YOUR SENSES. Combining aura reading with face reading is a very powerful tool and provides a far more complete picture.
Almost useless.......2005-05-02
The author tries so hard not to offend anybody, that she puts too positive spin on every possibly negative interpretation and overemphasizes what would already be considered as a positive one. Also, I found the most interpretations just inaccurate. Examples from nose chapter:
short nose - workaholic
long nose - talent for planning and strategy
straight nose - you work systematically
arched nose - creativity
...
Ok, of course you are supposed to interpret everything and put it all together, eliminating contradictions on the way, but the book falls short on instructions how to do that. There should be a chapter titled "putting it together" where the author should explain the process of face reading: what to look first? how to determine basic information about a person and go from there? Instead the book focuses on details without giving you the big picture.
Amazon.com
Pastor and motivational speaker Robert H. Schuller is perhaps most renowned for his weekly "Hour of Power" church service, broadcast worldwide from the glass Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. In Turning Hurts into Halos, Schuller uses his storytelling skills and personal anecdotes to explain the spiritual role of pain and suffering. "Hurts" can ultimately make us stronger, more faithful people, crowning us with angelic halos, Schuller claims. He refers to his wife's recent heart surgery, his own brain surgery, his daughter losing a leg in a motorcycle accident, and the humiliation he endured after being wrongfully accused and sued for assaulting a flight attendant (he was acquitted). Through his personal pain and by helping others who have endured much worse shame and loss, Schuller has learned the value of holding onto hope, turning to God, and gaining perspective on one's pain.
Book Description
"Turning Hurts Into Halos and Scars into Stars" is Robert Schuller like you've never heard before. Though it echoes the extraordinary insight and encouragement you have come to count on from Dr. Schuller, never before has he written a book so personal, so moving. This book is about adversity. Tragedy. Suffering. Despair. But it's also about hope, joy, and the eternal victory in Jesus. This book is about the cross.
Customer Reviews:
Insightful Truth.......2004-04-30
In choosing to respond appropriately to suffering you ensure that the experience leads to something beneficial. Free will is involved in that decision. Dr. Schuller writes, "I promise you that there is gain in every pain." Our reaction to pain is crucial! That choice determines whether we will expeience the benefits associated with the suffering process.
Hurts do not endure permanently. Pain passes. Trials end. He tells us to view pain as a process not an event. God has a purpose for everything. People who have made significant marks are the ones who have responded successfully to adversity. Thank God Dr. Schuller is in that group and left this work and others showing us that we too can make our way through life's challenges.
Never be victimized again - only victorious!.......2001-03-07
Dr. Schuller's first chapter is so aptly titled! "Welcome To The Human Race" - we are all hurting human beings! What sets us apart is our ability to recognize that the hurt is not punishment from God, but instead a reality of our life on earth. Schuller takes his reader through a series of practical analyses of hurt, in much the same way that Elisabeth Kubler Ross taught us to move through the stages of grief. How heavy is the hurt? How hardy (what is its lifespan)? and, How healthy is this hurt? He reminds us frequently that we must constantly examine our priorities and renew our faith that with God, all things are possible. Not an easy road to take, but worth it.
The book is written in an easy to follow manner and uses real life illustrations of both the author's personal struggles with hurt and those of others who survived life's worst tragedies and came out of these fires strengthened and renewed. Had Dr.Schuller omitted his own experiences, this would be just another sampling of inspirational story gathering. But as the "father of possibility thinking" was feeling victimized, he realized that he "needed to delve deep into the meat and potatoes of handling hurts and get over that seductive, self-absorbing, pity-party reaction." And he shares the wisdom of his exploration with us in an easy to read format that time and again reminds us of Schuller's powerful commitment to God.
Both believers and non-believers will find this book helpful as they search for the skills to cope with the hurts that come with divorce, death, destruction and our perceived failures. I liken it to Christian counselor Gary Smalley's teaching that we must learn to "treasure hunt" within a hurtful experience and find ways to bring acceptance and peace back to our lives.
This may be the ultimate gift book for a hurting friend!
Honest help for dealing with life's afflictions.......1999-11-17
I haven't been a big fan of Schuller's other books. The ideas were good, but there was too much "fluff" along with the "stuff." Hurts into Halos breaks the mold by grappling with the real-world issues which afflict us all. Schuller reveals his own struggles and how his faith in God provided practical guidance for navigating difficult waters. I'm giving copies to many friends for Christmas.
This is an extremely practical and enlightening book........1999-09-06
This thought-provoking publication authored by the well-known Dr. Robert Schuller certainly should stimulate the curiosity of its readers. But to round out their spiritual education, they will benefit from the perusal of "From Here to Greater Happiness or How to Change Your Life for Good" by Joel Marie Teutsch and Champion Kurt Teutsch. First printed in 1959, their book really started the consciousness revolution, including assertiveness training and the holistic health movement. It certainly changed my life-and that of everyone I love and know-for good.
The most comforting book I have ever read........1999-09-05
I as all humans have been hurt during my life and didn't at times know where to turn. One day at the library I was I felt, being lead to read this most spiritual book.I know I must continue to read it at different times in my life to give me the strength to go forward,and change the hurts to halo's.
Average customer rating:
- Innovation alone can't save this one.
- Tension neverending
- Not Free SF Reader
- A Book I'd Rescue From a Burning Building
- Masterly
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The Scar
China Mieville
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0345460014
Release Date: 2004-06-29 |
Amazon.com
In the third book in an astounding, genre-breaking run, China Miéville expands the horizon beyond the boundaries of New Crobuzon, setting sail on the high seas of his ever-growing world of Bas Lag.
The Scar begins with Miéville's frantic heroine, Bellis Coldwine, fleeing her beloved New Crobuzon in the peripheral wake of events relayed in Perdidio Street Station. But her voyage to the colony of Nova Esperium is cut short when she is shanghaied and stranded on Armada, a legendary floating pirate city. Bellis becomes the reader's unbelieving eyes as she reluctantly learns to live on the gargantuan flotilla of stolen ships populated by a rabble of pirates, mercenaries, and press-ganged refugees. Meanwhile, Armada and Bellis's future is skippered by the "Lovers," an enigmatic couple whose mirror-image scarring belies the twisted depth of their passion. To give up any more of Miéville's masterful plot here would only ruin the voyage through dangerous straits, political uprisings, watery nightmares, mutinous revenge, monstrous power plays, and grand aspirations.
Miéville's skill in articulating brilliantly macabre and involving descriptions is paralleled only by his ability to set up world-moving plot twists that continually blow away the reader's expectations. Man-made mutations, amphibious aliens, transdimensional beings, human mosquitoes, and even vampires are merely neighbors, coworkers, friends, and enemies coexisting in the dizzying tapestry of diversity that is Armada. The Scar proves Miéville has the muscle and talent to become a defining force as he effortlessly transcends the usual clichés of the genre. --Jeremy Pugh
Book Description
A mythmaker of the highest order, China Miéville has emblazoned the fantasy novel with fresh language, startling images, and stunning originality. Set in the same sprawling world of Miéville’s Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning novel, Perdido Street Station, this latest epic introduces a whole new cast of intriguing characters and dazzling creations.
Aboard a vast seafaring vessel, a band of prisoners and slaves, their bodies remade into grotesque biological oddities, is being transported to the fledgling colony of New Crobuzon. But the journey is not theirs alone. They are joined by a handful of travelers, each with a reason for fleeing the city. Among them is Bellis Coldwine, a renowned linguist whose services as an interpreter grant her passage—and escape from horrific punishment. For she is linked to Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin, the brilliant renegade scientist who has unwittingly unleashed a nightmare upon New Crobuzon.
For Bellis, the plan is clear: live among the new frontiersmen of the colony until it is safe to return home. But when the ship is besieged by pirates on the Swollen Ocean, the senior officers are summarily executed. The surviving passengers are brought to Armada, a city constructed from the hulls of pirated ships, a floating, landless mass ruled by the bizarre duality called the Lovers. On Armada, everyone is given work, and even Remades live as equals to humans, Cactae, and Cray. Yet no one may ever leave.
Lonely and embittered in her captivity, Bellis knows that to show dissent is a death sentence. Instead, she must furtively seek information about Armada’s agenda. The answer lies in the dark, amorphous shapes that float undetected miles below the waters—terrifying entities with a singular, chilling mission. . . .
China Miéville is a writer for a new era—and The Scar is a luminous, brilliantly imagined novel that is nothing short of spectacular.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Download Description
Nominated for the 2002 World Fantasy Award
A mythmaker of the highest order, China Miéville has emblazoned the fantasy novel with fresh language, startling images, and stunning originality. Set in the same sprawling world of Miéville's Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning novel, Perdido Street Station, this latest epic introduces a whole new cast of intriguing characters and dazzling creations.
Aboard a vast seafaring vessel, a band of prisoners and slaves, their bodies remade into grotesque biological oddities, is being transported to the fledgling colony of New Crobuzon. But the journey is not theirs alone. They are joined by a handful of travelers, each with a reason for fleeing the city. Among them is Bellis Coldwine, a renowned linguist whose services as an interpreter grant her passage -- and escape from horrific punishment. For she is linked to Isaac Dan der Grimnebulin, the brilliant renegade scientist who has unwittingly unleashed a nightmare upon New Crobuzon.
For Bellis, the plan is clear: live among the new frontiersmen of the colony until it is safe to return home. But when the ship is besieged by pirates on the Swollen Ocean, the senior officers are summarily executed. The surviving passengers are brought to Armada, a city constructed from the hulls of pirated ships, a floating, landless mass ruled by the bizarre duality called the Lovers. On Armada, everyone is given work, and even Remades live as equals to humans, Cactae, and Cray. Yet no one may ever leave.
Lonely and embittered in her captivity, Bellis knows that to show dissent is a death sentence. Instead, she must furtively seek information about Armada's agenda. The answer lies in the dark, amorphous shapes that float undetected miles below the waters -- terrifying entities with a singular, chilling mission. . . .
China Miéville is a writer for a new era -- and The Scar is a luminous, brilliantly imagined novel that is nothing short of spectacular.
Customer Reviews:
Innovation alone can't save this one........2007-09-12
Perdido Street Station was a great book. It was a very innovated fantasy story, and quite refreshing compared to other modern fantasy stories, by the likes of Salvatore and Rowling. However, The Scar, albeit very worthwhile compared to most other books in the genre, doesn't live up to its predecessor.
THe first half of the book is very good and original. Meiville surprises us with a brand new part of the baslag world, reminescent of something from "Waterworld"- a pirate city of boats that float secretly through the oceans. Then, he introduces several new races, such as the blood sucking Mosquito races. However, after about three-hundred pages, it becomes apparent that the story isn't as consistent as Perdido Street Station. For one, the idea that a floating city could survive secretly in the ocean and go unnoticed by a fairly developed world with effective sea-travel and airships seems unrealistic for me. I also find it strange that the very characters fleeing New Crobuzon in fear for their lives are the same that are desperately trying to escape the floating city and get back to it. Finally, Meiville's style gets annoying. He's a great worldbuilding, but a lackluster character developer. It becomes obvious that each of his characters talk the same way and have the same outlooks and reactions to the way things are.
I'm glad I read "The Scar" and it hasn't completely turned me away from Meiville, but after PSS I find "The Scar" to be a bit of a let down. The characters in PSS were changed by the end, but most of the characters in The Scar are just exhausted. I recommend the book over many, but I do feel a bit cheated by it at the same time.
Tension neverending.......2007-09-11
A marvellous book, giving a wide view of the world of Bas-Lag, while keeping the tension sky-high at all times. The plot twists and thickens in each page, and it's not until the very end that the full story is understood.
Highly recommended.
Not Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03
Take a peripheral character from Perdido Street Station. Throw her into a job that soon leads her into a fantastic floating city, that is on its own Moby Dick style quest.
War, crime, local politics, possibility swords, covert action and more combine in this epic.
A Book I'd Rescue From a Burning Building.......2007-08-15
It's hard to say something about The Scar that has not already been said by other reviewers, both professionally and here on Amazon. The novel is simply amazing, something I read again and again and which I feel I will never see the like of again. Already a few years old, the book stands the test of time and is endlessly entertaining and thought-provoking.
The most masterful aspect of Mieville's writing is his obsessive world-building, begun in Perdido Street Station. Rarely does an author develop such a lush world and yet leave so much left to explore, to pique the reader's interest--what is High Cromlech exactly? What are the "limb farms" of the Gengris? I love the mystery Mieville weaves into his world, the combination of the familiar and the alien.
His characters emerge with great versimilitude, from the inscrutable Doul to the sympathetic Tanner to the self-serving Bellis. The characters were all handled deftly, each equally intruiging and with equal depth. Each had their own voice and motivations, fears and desires. With such characters, Mieville also uses language and dialogue that helps the reader to view them. Idiosyncratic, distinctly British, foul-mouthed, the language is brilliant.
Mieville in The Scar takes a seemingly ridiculous notion--a floating pirate city--and not only makes it work, but makes it take on the true life of a teeming city. The adventure the citizens undertake under the leadership of The Lovers is quite fascinating, particularly the gruesome sojourn on the anophelli island. The last portion of the novel, in which the events become utterly surreal, had me quite riveted to the book. A lovely blend of the gritty real and high fantasy. A wild, undisciplined imagination in Mieville.
What can I say about The Scar? I love it and would recommend it to anyone. It makes me want to write, and that is the best compliment I can think of.
Masterly.......2007-06-24
The problem I had with Mieville, in PERDIDO STREET STATION, is that his characters were a bit distant, and that the book dragged on for maybe too long, and that the monster-hunting parts were... well, not very interesting. Rather boring, actually. But this novel is different.
It's not an emotional rollercoaster, and it doesn't need to be. Mieville's writing is superb, his setting imaginative. Bas-Lag is rich with everything done right. The pseudo-science/thaumaturgy is unique; the non-human races are original (yes, I know Mieville drew on certain sources, lifting names from mythology and all, but that's not the point); the characters are so real and *different* and interesting. I've to admit that for the better half of the book, I wouldn't have minded much if Bellis Coldwine and Tanner Sack, say, all got crushed under a rock. Given my experience with PERDIDO STREET STATION, I didn't intend to read Mieville for the characters, just for the brilliant, amazing, divine setting. THE SCAR, as such, surprised me as it goes on. The characters' emotions are wonderfully complex and subtle, and they act like real people. Authentic real people who breathe and live. None of the main characters, Tanner Sack (a Remade engineer) and Bellis, possesses special powers or are foretold in prophecies. They have to survive on their skills and wits, not escape certain death due to some silly inborn gifts or divine intervention. Even the more powerful, supernatural characters shine because of who they are rather than what they are. I enjoyed Uther Doul because of his personality, not because he wields a special sword; I enjoyed the Brocolac not because he's a vampire pirate (though that itself is worth mentioning) but because of the way he thinks, his frustration with the government of Armada. The Lovers are alien in their obsession with each other, and that too is portrayed with skill.
The ending (surprisingly hopeful, but as with all other parts of the book, done with finesse -- no melodrama here, no contrived catharsis, but something that's very believable) still leaves me awed. For all that I found Bellis a frigid woman, by the end of the book, I'm sold heart, soul, and all. I still don't empathize or sympathize with her, but her story touches me in a way few fictional characters can.
More impressively still, Mieville manages to convey all his ideas in a way that doesn't, in my opinion, disrupt the flow of the story. Armada's politics, the concept of mining probabilities, the forms of magic shown in this novel, the cultures, the different races: they're all intensely fascinating. You can wax rhapsodic about Tolkien and Middle-earth all you like, but I for one think Bas-Lag makes it pale in comparison. Innovative ideas and well-crafted speculative anthropology outweigh constructed languages, as far as I'm concerned.
The only thing that might stop some people from enjoying Mieville is that his prose is dense and often full of arcane vocabulary. But if you like that kind of prose anyway -- or you don't, but are willing to get past it -- then Mieville is peerless. While some fantasy novels make me ashamed to be a devotee of the genre, Mieville makes me proud and gives me hope that one day, academics will start taking genre fiction seriously.
Book Description
There are no bruises to yellow and heal, no gaping wound to point to. But, in spite of their invisibility, emotional wounds are a very damaging form of abuse. Whether caused by words, actions, or even indifference, emotional abuse is very common-yet often overlooked. In this helpful guide, Christian therapist Gregory Jantz examines why emotional abuse is so common and damaging. He reveals how those who have been abused by a spouse, parent, employer, or minister can overcome the past and rebuild their self-image. This new expanded edition of Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse now includes: strategies for dealing with the verbal abuser; self-check quizzes with each chapter; keys to rebuilding relationships; letters from survivors of emotional abuse; new information on spiritual abuse; a biblical plan for healing.
Customer Reviews:
Emotional Abuse.......2007-04-07
The topic of emotional abuse is one that must be addressed in our time. Physical abuse is highlighted quite often but not emotional abuse. Everyone should read this book. It will change the course of many lives.
Realization.......2006-01-01
This has been such a great book for me. It was such a big eye opener for me. I knew that my life as a child left me scarred, but without any physical signs of abuse I felt that maybe it was all in my head. It was hard to read and realize that the emotional abuse I have suffered still has a great impact on me today. I loved how they spoke of God and seeking Him in your road to recovery. This book is so well written and it's easy to understand. It has identified the different types of abuse and I can see the type I myself have suffered from. Even if you have never suffered emotional abuse I would still recommend this book.
Healing the Scars of Emotional Abuse.......2003-05-21
This book is an excellent resource to help a person recognize the difference between criticism and emotional & verbal abuse. Criticism is normally given IN LOVE, there is an enormous difference between criticism & abuse. This book will also help anyone who was previously in an abusive relationship to be able to recognize some of the common traits all emotional abusers and potential emotional abusers exhibit and steer clear of another abusive relationship. I even found instances in my own life where I was the one doing the controlling through emotional abuse & have been able to discontinue that behavior through self examination & prayer. Excellent book!
outstanding in this category!.......2002-09-24
I've been reading a lot of self-help books, but have rarely been so moved to recommend them to others. I found this one uncommonly wise, kind, and helpful and sensible--you come away
with a grounded, helped feeling...hopeful, too. I'm not crazy about the word "empowering," but this book is empowering, I think. If you're looking for help in this area, this book is worth reading. (I know Bill Blass used to say in those magazine perfume ads that he didn't like people (women) who thought they could be helped by self-help books--remember?--but I don't care! This is a truly good one!) If you are in pain and you suspect past emotional abuse might be a factor contributing to it, please check this book out. You might even be moved to pass it on to friends--I am already plotting to purchase additional copies!
Souls are Unisex.......2002-04-06
Laying open oneself to another is an act of love unlike no other because it is an intentional removal of the protective layers through which self insulation protects us from the world and the misinterpretation which can result in pain, or worse, hardening of the heart. Unlike hardening of the arteries, hardening of the heart affects many more people than just the person to whom it happens. Hard boiled hearts do not permit entry, obviously, without gently and delicately trying to crack through the outer shells to reach the tasty treasures within that can be had only with this special, nurturing mission - a revival of the heartbeat necessary to pulse within the rhythm of other harmonious lives through which synchronous melodies are obtained rather than the discords of chaos, all too common. Symphonics or the ability to hear the music that inspires falls mainly to those who are not tone deaf and are never gender related. While there may be fewer men than not because of the nature of the environment in which they live, it is through the rare artist of empathy that the ungodly sounds of the earth are cultivated, even in a godly world where god may have been left behind. While we tend to think that, for example, it is children, or lovers who are left behind, it is actually God who has been left behind in a world where the respect of God has been sorely challenged, or ignored. In these times of Godly distrust where men are so eager to rely upon themselves, possibly to the exlusion of God, everyone suffers because it is a derivative illness whose ripples are far reaching. The obligation to attend to our souls to prevent this outcome is imperatitve and critical to preserve or revive the souls so damaged, so in pain, and so hardened. The ability to realize that what stalker's remove, other stalker's can return is an important facet of this book where being open to either is the main business of life.
Book Description
Janis Joplin was the skyrocket chick of the sixties, the woman who broke into the boys' club of rock and out of the stifling good-girl femininity of postwar America. With her incredible wall-of-sound vocals, Joplin was the voice of a generation, and when she OD'd on heroin in October 1970, a generation's dreams crashed and burned with her. Alice Echols pushes past the legary Joplin-the red-hot mama of her own invention-as well as the familiar portrait of the screwed-up star victimized by the era she symbolized, to examine the roots of Joplin's muscianship and explore a generation's experiment with high-risk living and the terrible price it exacted.A deeply affecting biography of one of America's most brilliant and tormented stars, Scars of Sweet Paradise is also a vivid and incisive cultural history of an era that changed the world for us all.
Amazon.com
To call Janis Joplin the Judy Garland of the Woodstock set is in some sense a fair characterization. The brassy, carnal, extravagant, and ultimately pitiable queen of psychedelic rock is indeed a cultural icon. And while Joplin reveled in her own ballsy, boozy legend, its needy, inebriated, real-life equivalent was a shadow that darkened her short life and, in the decades since her 1970 drug-induced death, has come to eclipse the party-girl persona.
To her great credit, author Alice Echols reconciles the two faces of Joplin in this ambitious, thoroughly readable biography. She does so by tracing Joplin from her youth as a natural-born libertine in dreary Port Arthur, Texas, to her emergence as the sole female rock superstar of her era--a period when beneath-the-surface sexism hampered Joplin's progress even while women's liberation was being widely touted. The author does not shy away from sordid sex-and-drugs episodes, and there's plenty of raw material---the singer was promiscuous, bisexual, and, at various times, an alcoholic, a speed freak, and a junkie. Echols, however, elevates this biography above run-of-the-mill rock profiles by painting her subject against an elaborate and ever-changing cultural backdrop. Here is Joplin the aspiring folksinger, the white-picket-fence wannabe, the wayward daughter, the hit-and-miss recording artist, and, finally, the ill-starred spirit with nothing left to lose. --Steven Stolder
Customer Reviews:
the best Janis biography.......2007-09-10
This is my fourth biography I've read of Janis' and by far the most well-written and informative. Instead of being filled with personal judgements and opinions it seems to document the happenings in Janis' life and the lives of those around her in a very easy to follow manner. Lots of history about other San Francisco bands and connections in the music world. Photos are great!!
An Overdose Janis.......2006-04-03
Oh Lord, won`t you buy me a Mercedes Benz, my friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends," Janis Joplin sang so outragedly, if it would be seriousness and not satire (knowing very well, that, occasionally, some wishes are not fulfilled). Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends," - that does not matter anyway and applies to God (if there is one) not as an argument: Proof of it is clear to find. Janis Joplin has slaved away and lived, intensive as a lunatic -- this has not changed the mind of God to let her get 100 years old. Perhaps it was not God, however, who set forcefully a final stroke to this style of protesting impudently (Oh Lord, won`t you buy me a colour TV, ...I wait for delivery, each day until three"), it seems, that Janis arrived at the dead end, because she once took pure, separate heroin (her main dealer was just on holiday). Oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town, I'm counting on you Lord, please don't let me down, prove that you love me, and buy the next round..." There was not any next round, after she had taken this song ("Mercedes Benz") in the studio - a capella - the instruments should get mixed the next day. But in the night of October 4th 1970 Janis Joplin died. Eric Burdon commented: "Janis did not die of an overdose heroin. She died of an overdose Janis"
Times are a Changin'.......2005-01-03
I found this book to be quite interesting on the level of an historical and cultural analysis of Janis's life. Echols manages to write an objective biography on Joplin that does not get too sentimental or depressing, as have other biographies on Janis. This biograpy provides one with an education on the late 50s/ early 60s (on the level of history and lifestyle); however, it is not as personable as other biographies. Overall a very good book.
Brilliant biography and counterculture history.......2004-12-16
This brilliant book is both a biography of Janis Joplin and a cultural history of the 1960s. Scars Of Sweet Paradise is a very thorough and in-depth look at Joplin's life and times and at the same time an exploration of the quiet suburban life versus the lure of the counterculture. The bohemian underground, unlike some idyllic portrayals of it, had its share of cynicism and destructiveness.
Much of this book deals with this evolving underground as it relates to the music, gender relationships and the merger of art and commerce. It is the story of a generation's restless and reckless life on the edge, from which Janis and many others never returned. The author conducted over 150 interviews and spent 5 years on research to produce this comprehensive work on Joplin and her era.
The Janis that emerges is a complex, multi-faceted personality that inspires admiration and sadness. The story begins in Port Arthur where Joplin's early life is described, including her first exposures to rock and folk music. It follows her to college and her first taste of the bohemian life then on to her first visit to San Francisco and eventual return to Port Arthur.
She went back to SF and her career began to take off. It is fascinating to read about the colourful personalities that she mixed with in San Francisco: the friends, the lovers and the musicians. Echols is a skilful narrator, seamlessly blending Joplin's moves and her relationships with the rise of her career. There are plenty of quotes from contemporary musicians that really illuminate this mythologized period in history.
My only minor complaint is that the author does not seem to share in the excitement as Joplin finally makes it big with Big Brother an the Cheap Thrills album - this story is just given clinically as part of the larger narrative. The various bands, Big Brother, Kozmic Blues and Full Tilt Boogie, are discussed in detail, as well as the recording process of each of the major albums: Cheap Thrills, I Got Dem Old Kozmic Blues and Pearl. The personalities behind her success, like Abert Grossman and Linda Gravenites, are sympathetically portrayed.
Echols explores Joplin's influence on various performers and notes that the heavy metal crowd picked up on her style but that she didn't directly inspire any clones. Ultimately, Janis appears as a brave, wild and very vulnerable human being who was quite likable, if somewhat volatile. There are 35 black and white photographs and the book concludes with a discography, copious notes and an index. Almost scholarly in its depth, Scars Of Sweet Paradise is yet a gripping read that will please her fans and all who are interested in the 1960s counterculture and the evolution of rock music.
Excellent.......2003-11-14
Alice Echols skillfully weaves the cultural nuances of the complicated '60s with the life and times of the great Janis Joplin. Informative and painstakingly researched. This book is far superior to Myra Friedman's overrated "Buried Alive," which is a vast pile of stinky doo-doo rather than a definitive biography. Avoid "Buried Alive" and get this book instead.
Book Description
Have you been hurt by past disappointment, fear, rejection, abandonment, or failure? When pain from the past lingers in your life and causes emotional scars, you need to understand that God wants you to be fully healed.
Healed Without Scars is filled with contemporary and biblical accounts of those who have emerged victorious from life's tests and trials. For years, author David Evans has helped people from all walks of life learn how to live in victory. Let him guide you to a joyful life of wholeness in Christ as you discover that you can be healed without scars!
Customer Reviews:
Revolutionizing!!.......2007-06-11
This is one book that once you pick up, it will very hard to put down. The revelation and clarity given will change your life forever! You will NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN! I highly recommend this book to anyone that's ever been dealt life's share of problems that have never confronted their issues. This book is great for anyone preparing to start a new beginning.
Healing Is Possible!.......2005-07-11
I heard about this book when I was listening on the Christian radio station; Bishop Evans shared his own testimony with regard to the book and it was his testimony that made an impact on me to purchase the book. We know from the Bible that healing is possible but sometimes we need to hear a witness share with us today how God's promises are for us even today! It is unfortunate that so many of us, who are Believers in Jesus Christ, have suffered with abuses of many forms in our lives. We have suffered so many hurts; disappointments; fears that interfere with our faith walk of freedom that comes in Jesus Christ. Yet, here is a book that reiternates the promises of God and God's ultimate motivation, which is love, that we can be healed from our scars. God is able to take that which was meant to destroy us and use it to rebuild us into vessels He can use for His glory as we become instruments of blessings to others because God was faithful to us. If you've been hurt...It's now time to be healed! Healed Without Scars is the promise of God that He is still (even today) the God who heals because His desire is that we be all that He desires us to be...Blessed to be blessing!
uplifting.......2005-07-08
This book really helped me experience the depth of God's love and his interest and willingness to help me be healed and made whole. The author walks you through the steps of healing.
Scarred No More.......2004-12-05
Bishop David G. Evans' book begins where most books end. Many authors have insights into how we can modify our behaviors or how we can manage our emotions, but Healed Without Scars explores the WHY behind our behaviors and emotions. Too often I have found myself treating symptoms only to find myself always having a new set of defeating circumstances to deal with in my life. Healed Without Scars goes beyond the surface aspects of life and helps the reader explore the depths of the human soul, all to bring about freedom.
Bishop Evans offers hope on every page, while taking the journey with the reader towards personal wholeness. There is no way to read this book and not have the tools needed to be healed and free. Bishop Evans balances his personal experiences with his brilliant handle on the Word of God and delivers the Truth on a level that Christian and Non-Christian alike can understand. He explores topics such as the child-father relationship, the importance of faith and praise during the hard times, and the power of forgiveness. Whether you have had issues with abuse, betrayal, addiction, or just everyday pain from life, this book will give you the answers to all of your questions, AND will position you for your healing.
I am eternally grateful for this book..and to know that I can truly be healed without scars.
A candid and straight forward approach to true healing and d.......2004-12-01
Bishop Evans is a gifted writer who reaches out to you personally from the pages of this eye-opening book and takes you beyond your mask and brings you face to face with life issues that we typically cope with but seem never to be completely delivered from.
He has been able to articulate and give me resolve to emotions that I have found difficult to express. I've cried, I've reflected, and I've come away with a better understanding of myself, and those who have been in my life and their impact on me, and mine on them. I've learned to take my portion of responsibility for the aftermath of choices forced upon me and those I've willingly made.
Bishop Evans' own personal experience with his father, the chapter regarding pastor/parishioner relationships and the eloquent way that he relates the prodigal son's father to our Savior standing in the pathway of all our lives with outstretched arms waiting on our arrival helped me to drop some weights that I did not realize were still affecting me; and at the same time has given me expectations for a brighter future with a God who loving accepts me, is watching every step I make, and is waiting for me as I come closer and closer to my final destination in Glory!
Book Description
Written by a former physician and recent widower, this warmly practical book guides the bereaved through the grief process and explains how to live after the death of a spouse.
Customer Reviews:
Exceptional .......2007-05-01
I so appreciated this book and found it to be very, very helpful and insightful. I have given it to several others who lost spouses and each has thanked me and gotten additional copies for their family. My f-law gave a copy to his daughter so she would understand what he was going through following the death of my m-law.
It is now part of the resource library for Faith Hospice in Dallas to help spouses who have lost loved ones. Good for surviving spouse AND those around them trying to help and understand their grief.
Mediocre essay instead of a book.......2007-04-06
of little value to me in my grief over the loss of my wife. would not recommend it at all.
A little helpful........2007-03-23
It does give a good overview of his grieving process. A lot of religion. At a time like this, you might want more religion, or less. That depends upon the reader. It does offer some hope for the future of a widow/er. Some of it I don't agree with, but overall, it does offer some comfort.
"Telling It Like It Is".......2006-08-01
Dr. Mabry waited long enough to gain some perspective before he took in hand to share the journey from grief to wholeness. He left enough bread crumbs of hope along that path to help any who come behind him in the numbness of sorrow and pain. His practical suggestions about what to do on special days shared with the lost loved one, the clothes that must be dealt with, and the way one can face the future without the guilt of being "unfaithful" the lost spouse will be of invaluable worth to all who walk alone for the first time. Any sufferer who struggles to regain one's balance will find "The Tender Scar" to speak with the authority of experience.
A Special Book for A Special Need -- The Ideal Gift.......2006-07-28
I love the title of this well-crafted book. There is no greater understanding of the tenderness of a scar than from a physician. It's with the same tenderness and compassion that Dr. Richard Mabry writes about the death of a spouse. He has lived and breathed the content of this book--yet handles this delicate topic with care for the reader.
From his own loss of his spouse, Richard has created a valuable resource for anyone in this special life situation. Often it's difficult to know what to say or what to give someone who has lost a spouse. Here's the perfect gift. The person might not read it immediately (or they might) but the text will be something that will help each reader turn to the comfort of Jesus in the midst of their recovery.
This book is a valuable resource for any pastor or counselor or funeral director. As they read the book, it's a way they can understand and reach out with help to the people in their path. Also this book is another tool which they can give as a practical help. I hope THE TENDER SCAR will be a book which will stand the test of time. I highly recommend it.
Books:
- Shadowrun: Street Magic (FPR26004) (Shadowrun)
- Shadows in the Starlight (Changeling)
- Smoke and Mirrors (The Smoke Trilogy, Book 2)
- Starman (Wayfarer Redemption)
- Straken (High Druid of Shannara)
- Succubus Blues
- Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism
- Tales of the Cthulhu Mythos
- The Bridesmaid Guide: Etiquette, Parties and Being Fabulous
- The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order
Books Index
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Tommyland
