Book Description
“Pelagia’s family likeness to Father Brown and Miss Marple is marked, and reading about her supplies a similarly decorous pleasure.”
–The Literary Review
In a remote Russian province in the late nineteenth century, Bishop Mitrofanii must deal with a family crisis. After learning that one of his great aunt’s beloved and rare white bulldogs has been poisoned, the Orthodox bishop knows there is only one detective clever enough to investigate the murder: Sister Pelagia.
The bespectacled, freckled Pelagia is lively, curious, extraordinarily clumsy, and persistent. At the estate in question, she finds a whole host of suspects, any one of whom might have benefited if the old lady (who changes her will at whim) had expired of grief at the pooch’s demise. There’s Pyotr, the matron’s grandson, a nihilist with a grudge who has fallen for the maid; Stepan, the penniless caretaker, who has sacrificed his youth to the care of the estate; Miss Wrigley, a mysterious Englishwoman who has recently been named sole heiress to the fortune; Poggio, an opportunistic and freeloading “artistic” photographer; and, most intriguingly, Naina, the old lady’s granddaughter, a girl so beautiful she could drive any man to do almost anything.
As Pelagia bumbles and intuits her way to the heart of a mystery among people with faith only in greed and desire, she must bear in mind the words of Saint Paul: “Beware of dogs–and beware of evil-doers.”
“Critics on both sides of the Atlantic have praised [Akunin’s] clever plots, vivid characters and wit.”
–Baltimore Sun
“Akunin’s wonderful novels are always intricately webbed and plotted.”
–The Providence Journal
Customer Reviews:
Stick with Fandorin.......2007-06-06
Not one of his best. No character grabs one's interest, and trying to keep track of the many players with their multiple, many-syllabled, sound-alike names takes one right out of the plot. Much better to wait for the next Erast Fandorin novel. Take a pass 'til then.
A sleuth in nun's habit.......2007-05-30
Boris Akunin is a well-regarded Russian author of suspense fiction, heretofore known for his Fandorin series, which concerns a part-James Bond, part-Hercules Poirot creation who nonetheless is strikingly original. SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG marks the beginning of a new direction for Akunin and fittingly introduces Mortalis, a new imprint of literary mystery and suspense fiction for Random House.
We quickly learn from the unnamed, omnipresent narrator that Sister Pelagia is a sleuth in nun's habit, wishing to devote her life to God yet feeling stifled by the requirements of the order and by the role of women in early 20th century Russia. In addition, she is quite adept at solving mysteries, a skill that she hides from all except her supervisory bishop, who keeps her abilities a secret not only to preserve the good sister's customary role but also to keep her in reserve as a secret weapon in the political skirmishes that were the hallmark of the time.
The bishop generally has his hands full, what with an inspector from the Holy Synod coming to meddle in local affairs, the gruesome discovery of two decapitated bodies, and the bishop's aunt being in a terrible state as a result of the baffling death of one of her white bulldogs, a special breed that she and her late husband had nurtured through generations. The perpetrator of the canine murder is quickly determined, even if the motive isn't, and the unforeseen nexus that connects this and other events is slowly but surely sorted out in a climactic courtroom scene in which the good sister has a starring role.
It should be noted that Russian literature tends to be the antithesis of, say, a James Patterson work --- why use one word when pages will do? --- and occasionally, as even Akunin notes with a nod and a wink through his anonymous narrator, things seem to wander off track. All is revealed in good time, however, and along the way Akunin drops nuggets of dry, subtle humor amidst social and political commentary. Those who take their mysteries with great spoonfuls of explosions and karate may find this book wanting (though it does, particularly near the end, have its moments), and there is enough political intrigue and metaphor to provide a satisfactory feast.
Lovingly translated by Andrew Bromfield, SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG is a welcome debut of a new series that hopefully will give Akunin the wider visibility in this country that his work deserves. And let's give some kudos to Random House as well for its brave launch of Mortalis. We'll happily look for more.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Akunin at his best.......2007-03-30
The Sister Pelagia mystery series may not be as effortless a read to take in as Erast Fandorin, but it's well worth the effort. While the White Bulldog may be have a plot that is slightly less dynamic than the one Fandorin fans are used to, it is a refreshing change of pace. The language is beautiful, the characters are engaging and the sleuth and her posse (bishop Mitrofani and Berdichervsky) are at least as charismatic as Fandorin and Masa.
The series (there are only three novels in it) picks up the pace in The Black Monk and positively goes berserk in the Red Rooster, but the provincial charm of the White Bulldog is very enjoyable too.
Most Russian fans of Akunin consider the Pelagia trilogy to be a more workmanlike and even series than Fandorin, which has its peaks and valleys.
A female Fr. Brown.......2007-02-13
In the midst of writing mysteries about detective Erast Fandorin, the author has also begun a new series. This one concerns a nun named Sister Pelagia, who is sent out by her Bishop to help solve mysteries and murders in a backward province of Imperial Russia. The action is fast, the plot never wavers, and the characters are all well-srawn. One interesting quirk to this story is that, when it is required, Sister Pelagia assumes the identity of her "sister", a widow who dresses and acts exactly as would an upper class member of the Russian nobility. I found the premise of this book fascinating, and the characters of both the good sister and her boss the bishop very believeable, therefore I am awaiting anxiously the next book in this marvelous series.
nineteenth century historical thriller .......2007-02-10
In Zavolzhsk, far from the home of the Tsar, Bishop Mitrofannii rules over the vast scarcely populated remote region instead of Governor von Haggenau. The Bishop has earned a reputation for solving unsolved mysteries, which he takes pride in accomplishing though he also knows who actually uncovers the truth. Now his elderly late Aunt Marya Tatischeva sends him a letter asking for his help as someone poisoned Zagulyai and Zadidai with the former dying in agony and the latter barely surviving. He decides to send his secret sleuth literature and gymnastics teacher Sister Pelagia to learn what happened and why to the white bulldogs.
Sister Pelagia travels to the home of Marya to investigate the canine homicide. Sister Pelagia quickly concludes that the target is the elderly woman, who is known for treating her dogs like pampered babies, but what the nun believes is the motive leads to several avaricious souls. However, other dogs are killed and the case takes a twist when two males are recovered from the nearby river with their heads removed. The Bishop directs Sister Pelagia to investigate the murders regardless of where it takes her, as he expects everyone to live morally and piously correct though he has some doubts with her switching identities from clumsy reticent nun to vibrant nimble Polina Lisitsina.
In some ways this is more a nineteenth century historical thriller than a mystery. SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG is a superior whodunit that uses the backdrop to paint a vivid picture of a remote part of Tsarist Russia. Readers will have to adapt to the names of the key characters, but will find it worth the time as the descriptions are terrific and the cast powerful especially the Sister and the Bishop, as irony and humor augment a fabulous story line.
Harriet Klausner
Book Description
Moscow, May 1876. What would cause a talented student from a wealthy family to shoot himself in front of a promenading public? Decadence and boredom, it is presumed. But young sleuth Erast Fandorin is not satisfied with the conclusion that this death is an open-and-shut case, nor with the preliminary detective work the precinct has done–and for good reason: The bizarre and tragic suicide is soon connected to a clear case of murder, witnessed firsthand by Fandorin himself. Relying on his keen intuition, the eager detective plunges into an investigation that leads him across Europe, landing him at the center of a vast conspiracy with the deadliest of implications.
Customer Reviews:
The Winter Queen.......2007-06-22
Erast Fandorin, a government clerk turned detective, makes for an unlikely but gifted sleuth in late nineteenth-century Russia. The latest Boris Akunin mystery spans the European continent and involves a major conspiracy. Akunins and his excitable and hard working character of Fandorin, bring to light the hero's naïveté and indignation over the crimes committed and the people involved. This is a book that hooks you slowly and rewards you at the end with writing that makes you wanting more.
Let's Make This Russian Import Welcome.......2007-05-27
"The Winter Queen," penned by Boris Akunin, translated by Andrew Bromfield, is part of the author's hugely popular, in its Russian homeland, Erast Fandorin mystery series, that is just now gaining some exposure in the West. It's well-written, light on its feet, quick-moving, reasonably original and pleasant reading. Let's make it welcome.
The series is set in the Russia of 1876-- to this reader, the ambiance of both time and place are excellently done, and indicate a lot of research. This entry also travels to London, where, once again, time and place were excellently done.
The plot concerns one Erast Fandorin, young Russian cop, born to a wealthier life but, unfortunately for him, son of an inconsiderate Dad, who's taking on his first case. A young Russian university student-- and our boy cop sure wishes he could afford to be a student-- of great means commits suicide, by a method our author is pleased to call American Roulette, and we know as Russian Roulette, before a pretty girl in a busy public park. Soon, the young student's university student friend, of even greater means, is murdered. Fandingo is off and running, sometimes literally. He'll meet swashbuckling Russian nobility, and villainesses beautiful, and noble, before he gets done wrapping up the anarchist, nihilist plot.
The surprise ending will involve one last nihilist blow: surprise endings are great, but some American readers may not be thrilled with this one, nihilism being much more to European tastes than ours. And here's a last silly complaint: the hero's name is quite a mouthful. Fandingo, of course, became Fandango to me, but what can you make of Erast, apparently Russian for Erasmus? What's wrong with Nicholai or Peter? Still, a nice read.
Hurrah for Boris Akunin!.......2007-05-04
Boris Akunin introduces Erast Fandorin in 'The Winter Queen', a murder mystery, yes, but much more, 'The Winter Queen sprawls across Europe from Moscow to London and back to St. Petersburg. Set in 1876, the book starts with a 'bang!' - literally, a university student blows his own brains out in the Alexander Garden.
This apparent suicide is the string upon which Fandorin begins to tug and an international conspiracy unravels revealing layer-upon-layer of delicious characters mostly of evil intent. Akunin's characters rarely are quite whom they seem to be at first.
The book also ends with another 'bang!' to fortunately spoil what looked to be an all-too-happy ending.
Hurrah for Boris Akunin! He has now produced something like 11 Fandorin mysteries as well as the Sister Pelagia series and other novels. Akunin's fame has finally spread from Russia to the US. Very highly recommended.
A Russian Flashman without the self-deprecating wit.......2007-04-30
Boris Akunin is considered one of modern Russia's greatest authors in line with Gogol and Gorky. His mysteries are set in the late nineteenth century with all the pomp and circumstance that this era evokes. In this novel he begins at the fourteenth (and lowest) level of the elite and by the end has moved up to the ninth level, been awarded the medal of St.Vladimir, and married the daughter of a Full Privy Conselor (second level).
His rise to fame is as startling as anything that happens to someone in Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky, but it does come with a certain amount of assistance from some interesting side characters; as well as some timing right out of the 'perils of pauline'. In fact about the only thing that doesn't happen to him in this novel, is getting tied to a railroad track. He does though get tied up in a sack and thrown into the Thames River as well as being clamped into a chair and chloroformed. Bad guys are constantly letting him get away in some very imaginative ways.
Akunin has some fun poking at the state of the Russian Empire at this time as well as how the aristocracy looked at themselves as well as the world. The description of Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans and Russians leave you wondering how much is 'supposed' to be tongue in cheek and how much is opinion.
Lastly, it has a very "Russian" ending.
A+.......2007-01-10
I actually read this novel, as well as all the other novels by Boris Akunin featuring Fandorin, in Russian because it is my native language. I loved tham all. This book (in English translation) I bought as a gift for my English-speaking friends. They read it already and said they were impressed by this story and would read all sequences, which made me very happy.
Average customer rating:
- Curious and Entertaining
- READ A CITY IN WINTER!!!!
- Very Nice
- A Classic Tale
- A letter to Mark Helprin
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A City in Winter: The Queen's Tale
Mark Helprin
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Helprin, Mark | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0670868434 |
Amazon.com
Another ambitious and glossy collaboration between novelist Mark Helprin and illustrator Chris Van Allsburg, continuing the story of Swan Lake, their earlier book that recreated the ballet classic for children. Emulating Maurice Sendak's reinterpretation of The Nutcracker, both the earlier book and A City in Winter abound in winter season atmosphere and fairy tale magic. At the end of Swan Lake, the unnamed little girl who has heard the story of a prince and his beautiful lover Odette usurped from their kingdom by evil forces, realizes that she is the daughter of the pair, and the rightful heir to the kingdom. As the sequel begins, the girl is now an adult, restored to the throne as queen. She recalls her return to the city at age ten, and tells how the restoration came about.
Customer Reviews:
Curious and Entertaining.......2004-09-26
What a strange book this is! Part childrens' fairy tale (old school - bad things do happen to good people), part political satire, part fantasy, A City in Winter weaves an enchanting melody amidst its disconcordant environment.
I'm not sure who the target audience is - the illustrations and language make the book suitable for kids, while the bizarre characters and convoluted social system are friendly rejoinders against centralism and establishment.
One thing is certain - it is brilliantly written - a captivating book that takes little time to devour. The imagery is outstanding, the characters are engaging and enjoyable, and the plot moves along handsomely. For as short a book as this is, there is sufficient depth to make it worth more than one read.
READ A CITY IN WINTER!!!!.......2004-05-18
A City In Winter is a wonderful book. It's about a little girl who goes on an adventure to find the person who killed her parents. When she gets to the village, she meets two bakers who's names are Astrahn and Notorincus. They help her throgh the story. They told the little girl that if she ever got caught, to tell them that she's a yam culer. During the story, the little girl works in the yam kitchen and finally meets up with the tutor, that raised her when she was little. He knows that she is the queen and in order to keep her safe, he sacrifices himself to tell everyone that the queen is alive. Also in order for the queen to be safe, Astrahn and Notorincus ran up the stairs to the tutor's room. On the way, Astrahn is shot and can't go on. So Notorincus finished running up the stairs and kept the queen safe.In the end the little girl opens the door and everything and everyone gets silent, for they know that she is the queen.I thought that this book was a great book!!
Very Nice.......2002-04-25
This i must say is one of the most kickin books i ever read. the themes of good and evil are represented so fully in this book.The sequel to this novel is just as well recieved by me. If you really are reading this then i hope i have touched your soul and that you read this book. This is specificly to Mark Helprin, you are the coolest author i have read in so long.If you write anymore then you email me and i will read it as soon as i can find it. In other words you rule.
Peace out,
Joe
A Classic Tale.......2002-02-27
I loved this series by Mark Helprin. I'm a big fan of Winters Tale, and this was just as enjoyable. These are wonderful to read aloud to children, or to pass around and take turns with, as we've done with the Harry Potter and other series. Beautiful artwork, and thick shining pages make this book a keepsake, and a sumptuous pleasure to read. In this retelling of Swan Lake, all things are possible... you'll find yourself laughing one moment, tense the next, and always riveted. I also found the strong and triumphant female lead character refreshing, ..the story is told from her point of view, after all this has happened, a narrative to her not yet born child.
A letter to Mark Helprin.......2001-05-11
Dear Mr. Helprin,
Hi! I'm one of your fans. I'm a ten-year-old fourth grader. I have just read your book A City in Winter and I enjoyed it. I also liked the illustrations-nice choice to collaborate with Chris Van Allsburg. I loved everything about your book!
I can even summarize A City in Winter for you. Your story starts out with a queen writing to her unborn child about her difficult life. She writes about her grandparents being assassinated by an evil usurper when her mother was a baby, and the same usurper assassinated her own mother and father when she was a baby.
Until this Queen was ten years old she lived in the mountains as a simple country girl who barely knew a soul. Her tutor, or as she knew him growing up "Grandfather," told her about her real history when she was almost ten years old. When she discovered her history, she set out to find and free her rightful kingdom from the evil usurper who rules her people cruelly.
When she reached her kingdom she became a yam sorter in the palace that the usurper had conquered. In the middle of her time there her tutor came to her and gave her the message that the scholars in her kingdom had been waiting for a sign of her existence for ten years. The sign would be "a burning angel through a darkening sky." This sign would alert her Damavand army generals that they should assemble and it would give the people courage to rise up against the usurper. At the end of the book the Queen opens a door and looks out over her assembled troops, but what will happen to her next? Have you written or have you considered writing a continuation of this book? If you haven't, I recommend doing so because I found the ending a real cliffhanger.
I would recommend this book to anyone. Your writing is sculpted beautifully; you make me feel like I'm in the kingdom you write about. I'd like to find out more about your life and your writing.
Your fan,
Divina
Average customer rating:
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The Lion in Winter: A Play
James Goldman
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0812973356
Release Date: 2004-12-14 |
Book Description
Insecure siblings fighting for their parents’ attention; bickering spouses who can’t stand to be together or apart; adultery and sexual experimentation; even the struggle to balance work and family: These are themes as much at home in our time as they were in the twelfth century. In James Goldman’s classic play The Lion in Winter, domestic turmoil rises to an art form.
Keenly self-aware and motivated as much by spite as by any sense of duty, Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine maneuver against each other to position their favorite son in line for succession. By imagining the inner lives of Henry, Eleanor, and their sons, John, Geoffrey, and Richard, Goldman created the quintessential drama of family strife and competing ambitions, a work that gives visceral, modern-day relevance to the intrigues of Angevin England.
Combining keen historical and psychological insight with delicious, mordant wit, the stage play has become a touchstone of today’s theater scene, and Goldman’s screenplay for the 1968 film adaptation won him an Academy Award. Told in “marvelously articulate language, with humor that bristles and burns” (Los Angeles Times), The Lion in Winter is the rare play that bursts into life on the printed page.
Average customer rating:
- A mixed bag (three and a half stars)
- Not what I expected
- 5 stars for Lynn Kurland, no rating for the others
- Excellent Compilation
- Lynn Kurland's story was great, the rest not so great
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The Queen in Winter
Lynn Kurland ,
Sharon Shinn ,
Claire Delacroix , and
Sarah Monette
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Anthologies | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0425207722 |
Book Description
From four of today's most imaginative authors come four stories of love as pure as the driven snow that will warm the coldest of hearts.
USA Today bestselling author Claire Delacroix delivers an enchanting tale of a gifted seer who receives a vision of a man whom she was not meant to marry, but was meant to love.
USA Today bestselling author Lynn Kurland spins a story of a mortal man and an elven woman who endure both the mundane and the magical in their quest to remain together.
Award-winning author Sharon Shinn writes of a brave young woman who saves her sister's magically- gifted child, only to receive an unexpected gift of her own.
And newcomer Sarah Monette's romantic novella tells of a warrior maiden trapped in a deadly storm with the only man she ever wanted, whose scars she must heal if he is ever to want her.
Customer Reviews:
A mixed bag (three and a half stars).......2007-01-15
It seems that the people who read this anthology fall into either of two groups: romance readers who love Kurland's story and mostly dislike the other ones and fantasy readers who pick the book up for Shinn's story and don't know what to make of the rest.
The plots are neatly summed up in the book description, so I'll just give you my impressions.
"A Whisper of Spring": Sometimes the impossible is closer than you think.
I'm more of a fantasy reader, so Kurland's story was very nice, life-affirming, cozy, predictable and perfectly forgettable to me. No background building whatsoever. Maybe if it were a full-length book... Well, it's obviously a part of her Nine Kingdoms series, with another story published in the anthology "To Weave a Web of Magic" and a full-length novel "Star of the Morning" coming out in December 2006, so there's still hope. Three stars.
"When Winter Comes": Fight for the ones you love and you'll get rewarded.
I love Sharon Shinn, so I liked her story very well, though it started as slow as her novels tend to, which may be annoying to unaccustomed readers. The story is a spin-off of her novel "Dark Moon Defender", the third volume of her Twelve Houses series. Even though it can easily be read without knowing the series, I suspect that in order to get a better feeling of the political/social background it would be best to have read at least "Mystic and Rider" first. Four stars.
"The Kiss of the Snow Queen": I've no idea what this story was about.
Deveraux' story was the one in the lot I simply disliked and was bored by. It's not that it was badly written. I suppose that there may even be some readers who'll love it. However, the mix of Christian faith and Norse myths combined with the fairy tale of the Snow Queen and stuffed with both modern slang and medieval archaisms was... chancy, to put it mildly. I'm not usually bothered by such things (obviously, since I love Shinn's books), but some readers who are serious about their religion may even find it offensive. And if there was any romance at all, it was not between the hero and the heroine. Two and a half stars.
"A Gift of Wings": Love heals.
I've never read anything by Monette, so I was pleasantly surprised. The best story in the anthology, in my opinion. It was maybe too obviously a 'healing' romance, developed against a background of a 'whodunnit'. Intricate world building, very interesting characters. This story is a bit darker than the other ones. What some readers may not like about it is that the heroine is obviously the stronger partner and the hero does a lot of crying, sometimes coming across as seventeen rather than thirty, but, hey, he's entitled ;-) I think I'm going to give her novels a try. Four and a half stars.
In my opinion, this anthology is such a mixed bag that each person will find a different story to his or her liking, but never all of them.
Not what I expected.......2006-12-20
I just finished reading this book last night and am very disappointed. I bought this thinking it would be a nice read for the holidays. I love Lynn Kurland's story, of which I am a great fan and own most of her books. I also loved Sharon Shinn's story. However, the stories by Claire Delacroix and Sarah Monette were a great disappointment. The back blurb states these are "four stories of love as pure as the driven snow." Don't believe it. Two of the stories are dark, depressing and have only an inkling of "love" and zero romance. Don't get me wrong, all four are excellent writers, but please don't advertise something as a romance when it isn't. I have read more romances than I can ever begin to count, so I do know what I'm talking about. A collection such as this should contain the best the authors have to offer in order to encourage the reader to buy more books by that author. All this did was make me cross two authors off my to-be-read list. My apologies for the negative review, but I feel stongly about this.
5 stars for Lynn Kurland, no rating for the others.......2006-12-13
I got this book for the first story, "A Whisper of Spring" by Lynn Kurland. I love her writing, while the other authors here just aren't my style. I love the way Lynn's stories are all clean... the romance is real love, rather than sexual "chemistry." This story didn't disappoint me. The emotion and tension is there, even though not even a kiss can be found in its pages. It is a BEAUTIFUL story of two people who discover that the chance that they never thought possible, has been given to them... to be together.
Iolaire, an elfin priness, has been kidnapped by the evil Lothar of Wychwold. Her brother seeks out Symon, the mage king of Neroche, to help rescue her. The rescue is swiftly accomplished... but Iolaire cannot return to her home... and Symon finally dares to believe that maybe he can have her as his own.
Excellent Compilation.......2006-11-27
I bought this book for the Sharon Shinn story, as I am a big fan of her Mystic and Rider series, and this story ties up a few loose ends. I also enjoyed the other stories, but the real treasure was Sarah Monette's short story, A Gift of Wings. It's a beautiful story, and extraordinarily well-written, so I give this book 5 stars for not only living up to my expectations as far as Sharon Shinn's story, but also introducing me to an exceptional new author for me.
Lynn Kurland's story was great, the rest not so great.......2006-07-30
Lynn Kurland-*****-This was a captivating story with wonderful characters. Symon was great, a perfect hero. Iolaire was an adorable heroine, and when Symon found that she was not the "perfect-woman-on-a-pedestal" he found her more endearing. Not a dull moment anywhere in this one. Well done!
Sharon Shinn-**- Almost the entire story was about the two sisters, rather than about Darryn and Sosie. I also felt like I was reading a couple of chapters from some other book. And while this wasn't slow-paced, it wasn't that interesting.
Claire Delacroix-**-This one bordered on boredom as well and the only good thing in it was "Loki." Most of the story was about how the heroine, Gerta, and Loki come to care deeply for each other on a long trek, but in the end she's suddenly supposed to be crazy for Cai? We didn't even get to know him to find out why either, because the story just stopped.
Sarah Monette-*-There's much to be said for not liking weak heros. This was horrible.
Book Description
A princess always knows how to celebrate the holidays. There's Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, Chinese New Year, Saturnalia . . .to name just a few.
Then there's gift giving, the royal Genovian Fabergé advent calendar, hot chocolate with marshmallows -- oh, and all those fabulous holiday movies. How will YOU celebrate this holiday season? Mia and her subjects have a few ideas.
Customer Reviews:
Holiday Princess.......2006-03-11
I usually like Meg Cabot, but this book was a waste of my money. It is boring and not half as good as I expected of Cabot. The Princess Diaries Books, as oppose to the series, are just not worth it.
Holiday Princess.......2005-12-26
We're either approaching or all ready knee deep in the holiday season, depending on your point of view. Many of us feel overwhelmed by this time of year, but don't worry, Princess Mia is here to rescue us.
With her usual flair, Ms. Cabot has penned an amusing guide to all the holidays and variations thereof celebrated in the Christmas season around the world. Despite the light tone, this is actually a very informative book. I guarantee that unless you have studied holidays in depth, you'll learn something and enjoy yourself while doing it. Most of the characters we've come to love in the other Princess books contribute to this volume; Lily, Grandmere, Michael, Mr. G, Mia's mother, friends, baby brother, and of course, the Princess herself. If you just need to take a break from the onslaught of chaos, then no matter how old you are, grab this book and smile.
Amanda Killgore
Princess Mia's take on celebrating the holidays.......2005-12-16
Back again with another addition to the Princess Diaries series, Princess Mia invites us to share the holidays with her and the family in her witty rendition of what happens during the holidays. Loaded with advice from everyone closely associated with her, each chapter is also laden with her own views and excerpts on how things really are.
From holiday etiquette on everything from addressing cards to purchasing gifts for others, to what's fashionable to eat, there's something for everyone in this little book (that is, if you're into being a princess and all). Mia is hilariously objective in her comments about her family's take on things, and Meg Cabot cleverly does this by putting all of Mia's comments in red, so you can't mistake her thoughts.
One of the highlights of the book is Mia's chapter on Christmas around the world. Throughout the chapter, there are dozens of countries, complete with folklore, tradition, and how this particular culture spends their holiday season --- a very useful and informative tool for the student who has to do a book report (hint, hint). It's all there. There might even be some countries listed that no one has ever heard of, or ever thought of, that celebrate their own version of Christmas.
Additionally, there are explanations on which movies are best to watch during Christmas, recipes to make, and the real story of truths and myths of what Christmas really means. Finally, it's a wrap with an in-depth guide to Kwanzaa and, of course, the symbolization of Happy New Year, complete with a listing of how to say it in 60 different languages!
Although we won't be in Genovia with the royal princess, she made sure we knew enough to have lasting memories, as if we were. Happy Holidays everyone!
--- Reviewed by Belinda Williams
Great Holiday How to book.......2005-10-26
I have all of Meg Cabot's Princess Diary books, I even have the release dates marked on my calendar, so I was first in line at my bookstore this morning to buy this book.
In this book, Princess Mia, her family and friends share their Christmas memories and customs. There is even a section on Christmas cards, and how to say, "Happy New Year" in a lot of languages.
Great book to learn about Christmas customs and such.
``Katrina
Celebrate the Holidays With Princess Mia and Her Pals.......2005-10-25
To be a good Princess, one must be diplomatic, and educated in everything regarding the countries and principalities surrounding one's own charge. This includes knowing how to celebrate every winter holiday, from the well-known Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, to the often unspoken about Yule, Chinese New Year, and Saturnalia - just to name a few. But this is not all that a good Princess must know. A good Princess must also be up on gift giving - what exactly is the right present to give to a guy you're not dating, but hope to be dating soon? Then there's those fabulous holiday movies - including some very unconventional holiday tales; and all of this is rounded off with a nice hot chocolate with marshmallows. This year, spend the holiday with Princess Mia, and her band of closest friends, from Lilly to Michael, and Tina to Paolo, as they give you the lowdown on all things Christmas, from how teenagers in other countries celebrate the holidays, and how to say "Happy New Year" in every language known-to-man.
I have purchased and read every PRINCESS DIARIES HOW-TO BOOK, but HOLIDAY PRINCESS instantly took the prize as my favorite installment in the series. Perhaps it's my love of Christmas that made it my favorite; or maybe it's the fact that I love reading about how the PRINCESS DIARIES gang is spending their holiday season. Either way, HOLIDAY PRINCESS is a fun-filled book that will keep everyone on their toes for the holiday season. Cabot has created an informative guide that features style tips, shopping solutions, and much, much more that will get everyone through the Christmas rush; and each tip is accompanied by a marvelous illustration by Chesley McLaren. Overall, this is a must have book for all PRINCESS DIARIES fans, as it will quickly win a place in everyone's heart this holiday season.
Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper
Average customer rating:
- Wonderful story of life within a working floating liner!
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Queen Mary: Her Early Years Recalled
C. W. R. Winter
Manufacturer: W W Norton & Co Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General | Ships | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Passenger | Ships | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0393023516 |
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful story of life within a working floating liner!.......1999-02-08
Bare bones account of life on a great liner. Comming up in the ranks of the merchant marines is depicted well. The officer humbles himself alongside his ship Queen mary. It shocked me because it was such a relaxing informative read. A book that depicts what only an officer aboard a liner could ever have known From nights in the Pig and Whistle to just about every event behind the seens. Just a wonderful experience.!!! *Also: I am a liner buff- please contact me about collecting, buying items, big or small!!
Book Description
Reveals the hard edge of this skating star.
Customer Reviews:
A STUNNING BOOK.......2000-07-03
As one of the critics says; this i s indeed a pageturner... However, there are numerous faults facts in this book. Among them includes that the film IT`S A PLEASURE was a Fox film. Wrong, it was produced by International and released by RKO. Several critical comments on her films are stolen from among others Leslie Halliwell, a notable filmcritic and the ONLY bible for moviebuffs until internet movie database came along. Stories of Sonja and Tyrone are also way over the top; the talk they had in the dressingroom - how did Leif Henie and Raymond Strait get hold of t h a t? Leif was still in Norway at the time. However. There are several items that distinguish this biography; the stories by Sonja`s secretary Dorothy Stevens in particular... It is true that in creating the ice-skating star Sonja Henie, her father created a monster. But in the long run Sonja suffered from it. She was never taught to be a normal person. And indeed: She gave Norway a place in the sun and donated with her third husband Niels Onstad the Henie-Onstad ArtGallery near Oslo. U should visit it if u came to Norway. All of Sonja`s medals and trophies are in a well-guarded room and photos etc from her films are displayed in a huge basement. It must never be forgotten that she gave our nation a great deal - indeed giving the community of Bærum a home for retired people. U WILL see this reading this book that she was a trouper - a woman who was taught to fight and be competetive. And everything she tried her hands on - became lucrative.
Hell on Ice.......1999-10-30
I know and have known quite a people who worked with Sonja or were as close a friend as she would permit and this book seems to confirm all that I've heard over the last 40 years. I met Sonja in 1963 in Pittsburgh at the opening of the Pittsburgh Arena. Despite all her shortcomings as a person, there was something about her that fascinates me as a skater and as a person. Anyone interested in skating should read this book.
Facinating book!.......1998-12-30
For those who loved to watch Sonja Heine, this book is a must, showing her amazing rise to fame, volatile temperment and unbelievable perserverance. You won't be able to put it down from start to finish.
Average customer rating:
- The Stuart Queen Elizabeth
- The story of "Europe's grandmother"
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The Winter Queen: Elizabeth of Bohemia
Carol Oman
Manufacturer: Phoenix Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | British | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Elizabeth I | Royalty | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
General | Royalty | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Elizabeth I | ( E ) | People, A-Z | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Czech Republic | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | England | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | Germany | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1842120573 |
Book Description
With wonderful accounts of the Shakespearean England from her youth to Restoration England to which she returned, this is the rags-to-riches story of Elizabeth of Bohemia. "It is as easy to read and absorbing as a novel, and has the advantage of scholarly documentation."--Times Literary Supplement.
Customer Reviews:
The Stuart Queen Elizabeth.......2002-10-28
Recent English royal biographies, perhaps following the success of Fraser's "Mary Queen of Scots," remain fixated on the Tudor era, Elizabeth I in particular, with less frequent mention of Mary Tudor or Mary Stuart, and/or perhaps Henry's wives. The romance of the Stuart queens, however, didn't end with Mary Queen of Scots - it reached its apogee with her grandchild, Elizabeth Stuart, Queen of Bohemia. Married to the hapless Frederick, Elector Palatine, in 1619 she and her young family were brought to Prague as the newly elected (and Protestant) King and Queen following the deposition (defenestration, to be exact) of the previous Catholic regime. In power for little more than a few weeks, they were chased back into Germany after the disastrous Battle of the White Mountain, following which Elizabeth languished in exile in Holland for the best part of the next 40 years. Oran's 1930s bio is the standard work on Elizabeth - she pays particular attention to the life of a woman in the 17th century European court: hobbies, clothes, sports and the ubiquitous letter-writing. Elizabeth turned the damsel-in-distress cliche on its head, being a furious rider and outdoorswoman as well as a supple European politician and skilled linguist. Despite competition with the other women in the Stuart family (e.g., Charles I's and II's respective wives), it was Elizabeth's genes that won out - under the Act of Succession, every English monarch since 1713 has been required to prove an ancestral link to the Winter Queen. Classic biography and a useful bridge between Antonia Fraser's four Stuart books (Mary/James I/Gunpowder Plot/Royal Charles) and C.V. Wedgwood's numerous 17th century histories (e.g. Thirty Years War, Montrose).
The story of "Europe's grandmother".......2002-03-27
Elizabeth, the daughter of King James VI of Scotland and I of England, was widely acclaimed as the most beautiful princess in Europe. Her hand was sought by many, but James selected the Protestant prince of a small German state, Frederick of the Palatine, to counterbalance the intended match of his eldest son with the Catholic royal daughter of either France or Spain. It would prove to be a true love match, as well as a political disaster.
This history follows the eventful life and tumultous times of Elizabeth of Bohemia, known as the Winter Queen for the brief duration of her husband's reign. The research is solid, the writing scholarly yet engagingly annecdotal. The narrative is particularly strong: settings are described with unusual care and color, and telling bits of cultural detail help evoke a sense of time and place.
The relationships between Elizabeth and her many family members are vividly drawn. Most poignant among these were her strong sibling attachment to her oldest brother Henry, her passionate but disappointing marriage to the moody Frederick, and the sense of betrayal she must have suffered when her father all but abandoned her. She survived war and endured exile -- not only from Bohemia and her husband's hereditary Palatine, but also from England. Neither James nor his successor Charles I acknowledged her as a queen, or permitted her to return to England.
Students of history might be interested in Elizabeth's descendents, which, in 1938, included the ruling sovereigns of Denmark, Great Britain, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Roumania, Sweden, Belgium, Bulgaria, and Italy. By any measure, this is an impressive family saga!
Customer Reviews:
I like this play.......2004-06-29
Foo bar, baz!
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The Lion in Winter (Penguin Plays)
Tell us what you think. Write a review of this item and share your opinions with others. PleAmazon.com cares about children's privacy on the Internet. But we also care about freedom of expression and the exchange of ideas in a safe environment. That's why we've created this separate form for those under the age of 13. When children under 13 submit reviews for their favorite items, we won't ask for names or e-mail addresses, but we'll still enable them to share their opinions.
The Lion in Winter (Penguin Plays)
Tell us what you think. Write a review of this item and share your opinions with others. Ple
What an absolute JOY to read such biting dialog........2003-12-09
I just bought a new copy of this play and I am so very, very happy that I did. I dashed through it and then reread my favorite parts. I hadn't read it in many years, but my respect has really grown for the playwright's wit and imagination. What an absolutely wonderful play. Of course, I love the film, but it was great fun to see how the play moves rapidly and the dialog is so biting and bitter at times. I agree with all the reviewers. Buy this play because it is a classic play with ripping dialog.
True Art.......2003-02-25
I recently completed a production of this fine play where I played Geoffrey, Duke of Aquataine. I have done a lot of play and this without a doubt is the most well written. Goldman does not waste a single word in the play.
The Modern Middle Ages.......2002-04-25
This play about the famously disfunctional family of England's Henry II is perhaps the most devestating family drama this side of "Long Day's Journey into Night".
For those who want a real epic, it can - but doesn't have to - be read as a sequel to Jean Anoilh's "Becket". Personally I found that this adds to the tragedy.
It opens during a fictional family Christmas get together that is combined with a historical meeting between Henry and France's young King Phillip. Henry's persistent humiliation of his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, through his string of mistresses has prompted her to hurt him in the only way available to her - by systematically destroying his relationships with their sons. Now Henry - although not old yet - is no longer a young man. The fact that a potentially dangerous Phillip - who has a legitimate axe to grind with Henry - is no longer a child forces them to realize that their familial intrigues have set their boys up for both internal and external disaster upon Henry's death. They make a real effort to save both their shattered marriage and their shattered children, but it may already be too late ...
The main tragedy, of course, is what Henry and Eleanor have done to their children. Richard is admirably brave but has had much of his compassion beaten out of him and replaced with brutality. Geoffrey's great sense of humor has been blasted in the bud, and his fustrated capability of love makes a weapon of an intelligence that would have been an asset to anyone who would have shown him the slightest affection in return (it's worth noting for those who don't know the family's subsequent history that given the condensed time of the play, Geoffrey would presumably have died in a fatal tournament accident soon after the action of the play - making him even more poignant). John, the youngest son of Robin Hood fame, is somewhat mishandled - his failure had much to do with Richard's prior mismanagement and lousy historical timing rather than his own faults, and the ruthless streak that doomed Geoffrey's son Arthur (who isn't in the play) as well as his general competence in many instances (he would later rescue Eleanor from a siege in a manner that would have done Richard proud) doesn't really come across - but in an otherwise excellent play Goldman can be forgiven for bowing to popular opinion in one case.
An accurate depiction of the dynamics of the Plantagenet family, "The Lion in Winter" is also a timeless study of what constitutes a healthy family.
A Lion in Winter. A Lion in my Heart........2001-10-16
I have to say Iam in love with this book. I know every line by heart. I saw the movie frist. Also a A+++++ movie. I don't know, something about it.It somehow just gets under your skin. Anyone who loves history. Or just just great works of writing should have this little book.
Books:
- Sniper on the Eastern Front: The Memoirs of Sepp Allerberger, Knight's Cross
- Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (Caldecott Honor Book, BCCB Blue Ribbon Nonfiction Book Award)
- Space Wolf: The First Omnibus (Warhammer 40,000 Novels)
- The Aeneid
- The Annotated Alice: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass
- The Black Jewels: Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood / Heir to the Shadows / Queen of the Darkness
- The Bloody Crown of Conan (Conan of Cimmeria, Book 2)
- The Confident Coach's Guide to Teaching Lacrosse: From Basic Fundamentals to Advanced Player Skills and Team Strategies (Confident Coach)
- The Lorax (Classic Seuss)
- The Mad Scientists' Club (Mad Scientist Club)
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