A View from the River: The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A537)

A View from the River: The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A537)
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A View from the River: The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A537)
Jay Pridmore , Hedrich Blessing , and Jay Pridmore
Manufacturer: Pomegranate Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
United States | International | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Photography | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Chicago River: An Illustrated History and Guide to the River and Its Waterways, Second Edition

The Chicago River: A Natural and Unnatural History (Illinois)

Millennium Park: Creating a Chicago Landmark (Historical Studies of Urban America)

The Plan of Chicago: Daniel Burnham and the Remaking of the American City (Chicago Visions and Revisions)

The Chicago River

ASIN: 0764913336

Book Description

There is no better way to see downtown Chicago---a dazzling canyon of glass, metal, masonry, and marble---than by taking the Chicago Architecture Foundation's River Cruise.

The Chicago River affords one of the best vantage points from which to enjoy this city's remarkable buildings and historic sites. The Foundation's open-air boats provide comfort and an unobstructed view, while its exceptionally knowledgeable and witty docents enrich the tour with commentary on Chicago's history and development, insights on how its world-class buildings came to be constructed, and stories of the visionaries who designed them. To round out this mix of visual euphoria and intellectual edification, there's a brief and fascinating overview of Chicago's dominant stylistic influences: the Chicago School, Art Deco, the International Style, and Postmodernism. The tour is a great way for visitors to learn about the city---and a source of fresh perspectives for those who live there.

Forty-three stunning Hedrich Blessing photographs convey the splendor and diversity of downtown Chicago's building---all featured attractions of the Foundation's cruise. The text, by longtime Chicago Tribune contributor Jay Pridmore, tells the story of Chicago's early history and reviews the significance of the Chicago River in the development of one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

96 pages. 48 full-color photographs including a map of the Chicago River area. Includes indexes of architects and buildings. Paperbound book, with flaps. Size: 8 x 10."

Pomegranate Soup: A Novel
Average customer rating:

Captivating

An Inspiring Story

Wish I had Read it Sooner!!

A delight to both to the palate and the mind

a heart warming story

Pomegranate Soup: A Novel
Marsha Mehran
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | British | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Orange Girl

Frangipani: A Novel

Blessed Are the Cheesemakers

Eating Heaven

Enslaved by Ducks

ASIN: 0812972481
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Book Description

Beneath the holy mountain Croagh Patrick, in damp and lovely County Mayo, sits the small, sheltered village of Ballinacroagh. To the exotic Aminpour sisters, Ireland looks like a much-needed safe haven. It has been seven years since Marjan Aminpour fled Iran with her younger sisters, Bahar and Layla, and she hopes that in Ballinacroagh, a land of “crazed sheep and dizzying roads,” they might finally find a home.

From the kitchen of an old pastry shop on Main Mall, the sisters set about creating a Persian oasis. Soon sensuous wafts of cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron float through the streets–an exotic aroma that announces the opening of the Babylon Café, and a shock to a town that generally subsists on boiled cabbage and Guinness served at the local tavern. And it is an affront to the senses of Ballinacroagh’s uncrowned king, Thomas McGuire. After trying to buy the old pastry shop for years and failing, Thomas is enraged to find it occupied–and by foreigners, no less.

But the mysterious, spicy fragrances work their magic on the townsfolk, and soon, business is booming. Marjan is thrilled with the demand for her red lentil soup, abgusht stew, and rosewater baklava–and with the transformation in her sisters. Young Layla finds first love, and even tense, haunted Bahar seems to be less nervous.

And in the stand-up-comedian-turned-priest Father Fergal Mahoney, the gentle, lonely widow Estelle Delmonico, and the headstrong hairdresser Fiona Athey, the sisters find a merry band of supporters against the close-minded opposition of less welcoming villagers stuck in their ways. But the idyll is soon broken when the past rushes back to threaten the Amnipours once more, and the lives they left behind in revolution-era Iran bleed into the present.

Infused with the textures and scents, trials and triumph,s of two distinct cultures, Pomegranate Soup is an infectious novel of magical realism. This richly detailed story, highlighted with delicious recipes, is a delectable journey into the heart of Persian cooking and Irish living.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Captivating.......2007-09-18

Being of Irish heritage, I wanted to read this book from an outsider perpsective. It captivated me from the get go.

An Inspiring Story.......2007-08-19

Pomegranate Soup is the encouraging story about three Iranian women who escape before the Revolution and who do great things with their lives. I have read other stories about women living in Iran: Not Without My Daughter and Reading Lolita in Tehran. Both of these are are biographical accounts of the traumas women have gone through since the Revolution. Pomegranate Soup is a fictional story, but the author is Iranian, so this novel has a very real feel to it. So even through the Marjan, Bahar, and Layla go through some rough times in Iran, this book shows the positive things they do to improve their futures. I love the positive message this books sends about making lemonade when given lemons. It is nice to read an account about Iranian women that is uplifting and not discouraging. However, the other two book I listed are interesting and informative, and I encourage others to read those as well.

The recipes in this book are so good and I encourage everyone to try these. Marjan's character is so comforting because she is the oldest sister and the mind and hands behind the Babylon Cafe. She often puts her own needs aside to attend to her over emotional sister Bahar and to keep an eye of the energetic teenager Layla. Marjan finally learns that she does not have to be in charge of everything, but I will let you read the novel to figure this out.

Bahar is an emotionally sensitive character and you just have to love her. At first it seems she has been more sheltered than Marjan, but as the book progresses, we learn that she has gone through things that have made her the reserved person she is today. Through the story Bahar has many growing pains, but she is learning to become a stable woman.

Layla is the youngest sister and she has been haunted by the memories of the past, but she is also more carefree because most of her life has been spent in the UK. She is the only one of the girls who has ever been able to have the freedom to just be a teenager and come and go as she pleases, and this troubles Bahar a little bit. However, everyone loves Layla and as you read the book you will learn why. I thought it was clever how the author incorporated parts of the legend of Persian legend of Layla into the modern day character of Layla. I had never known that Eric Clapton's song about Layla was based on the fable of a man who is deprived of the woman he loves, so I learned something new.

This book is a true joy and it shows all the wonderful things that can happen to people who are willing to make the world a better place.

Wish I had Read it Sooner!!.......2007-08-12

The year is 1986 and the Aminpour sisters, Marjan, Bahar and Layla have traveled from their birth home, Tehran, Iran (via Lewishan, London) to the small village of Ballinacroagh, Ireland. The home they have left behind was at the height of revolution and unsafe for three parentless young women. They escaped with their wits, a few possessions and memorabilia, and a few bruises (inside and out).

The tight-knit family opens up the Babylon Café featuring Persian food to entice and enliven the senses of the villagers. They choose to open the restaurant on the Iranian New Year (first day of Spring) for luck. Traffic is slow to non-existent at first but soon they are attracting a lively array of patrons.

I fell in love with these three sisters and the quirky folk whose lives they touched and vice versa. Marjan Aminpour is the eldest at 27. She acts as the surrogate mother since the early demise of both their parents. She is a natural cultivator and food preparer. Bahar Aminpour is 24. She jumps into things quickly, including assumptions. At times she seems like a deer caught in the headlights. And if that wasn't enough she suffers from stress-induced migraines caused by always looking over her shoulder for the abusive husband she left in Iran. Layla is the youngest at 15. She is also the most beautiful of the three. Her natural cinnamon rose scent is an aphrodisiac for men who pass by. Within her heart she carries the hope of the future.

Between each chapter is a special recipe, thirteen in total and as you delve into each chapter you find further details relating to the recipe, cooking, and anecdotes on the spices or herbs used. So far I've only tried the baklava and red lentil soup (fabulous) but I'm collecting the ingredients to try more. I've also been inspired by Marjan's efforts into starting my own herb garden. What a great concept incorporating recipes into a novel.

Here is a listing of the recipes tucked within Pomegranate Soup's pages:

-dolmeh
-red lentil soup
-baklava
-dugh yogurt drink
-abgusht
-elephant ears
-lavish bread
-torshi
-chelow
-fesenjoon
-migraine headache remedy
-pomegranate soup
-after dinner lavender-mint tea

Marsha Mehran is a good story teller and her words are effortless, uncluttered and smooth. This is one of my favorite books this year. I enjoyed this book so much I wish I had read it sooner. This is the first book in a series Mehran plans to continue and I look forward to reading more about the Aminpour sisters and the Ballinacroagh crew. Reviewed by M. E. Wood. Full review at the Literary Fiction site at BellaOnline.com.

A delight to both to the palate and the mind.......2007-03-08

With unlikely characters in backcountry Ireland, (three Iranian sisters fleeing the Iranian Revolution and a haunting past). The author invites you to taste what it is like for the sisters escaping the far reaching dangers of what they left behind in Tehran and introducing a Persian Cafe to a steak and potatoes town in the late 1970s. The result is both comical and riveting. The author has a gift in depicting true country Irish dialect and the Persian recipes included are simple and an absolute delight to the palate. I read this book for a woman's book club and enjoyed it so much I bought three additional copies to give as gifts to friends and family who enjoy not only a good novel but the love of cooking and what warmth scrumptious recipes can bring.

a heart warming story.......2006-11-07

the kind of book u want to read when its snowing outside and ure snuggled up under a warm blanket drinking a hot sweet cup of chai....

Bungalow Basics: Porches (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A720)

Average customer rating:

Do NOT Purchase
Size DOES Matter!
This is a TINY book

Bungalow Basics: Porches (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A720)
Paul Duchscherer , and Douglas Keister
Manufacturer: Pomegranate Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Outdoor & Recreational Areas | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Bungalow Basics: Fireplaces
Bungalow Details: Exterior
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Outside the Bungalow: America's Arts and Crafts Garden
Bungalow Basics: Kitchens

ASIN: 0764928910

Book Description

Bungalows of the early twentieth century were pleasantly small, well designed, and affordable. The same can be said of Pomegranate's Bungalow Basics books. Each book in the series spotlights a different aspect of bungalows, those charming and efficient homes that came to epitomize the Arts and Crafts style in American residences. Douglas Keister's photographs capture the results of meticulous restorations, while Paul Duchscherer's text provides concise information about bungalow design and history.

Titles in the series: Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Dining Rooms, Doors, Fireplaces, Kitchens, Living Rooms, and Porches.

Customer Reviews:

Do NOT Purchase.......2007-07-30

I ordered the book to gain insight into renovating my 1920 cottage porch. A complete waste of money and time! If you are renovating look elsewhere for ideas and details.

Jeb

Size DOES Matter!.......2007-01-04

Although I have bought quite a few books authored by Paul Duchscherer and/or Douglas Keister, I was disappointed with the physical size of this book. It is only about 5 1/2" x 6 1/2" and much of the detail in the pictures is lost because of it. The print is also mini-sized and cannot be read without reading glasses for us "vintage" readers! (It IS, however, the perfect size for a Christmas stocking stuffer!)

I also had some problems with the constant referral in the first (and only) chapter in the front of the book to note the various 48 pictures throughout the book as the different type of porches were described. It was a constant flipping back and forth of pages to see Figures 15, 28 for this or Figures 4-5, 10, 13, 15-16, and 23 for that. The text was well-written but overall this book could have been so much better...

This is a TINY book.......2005-02-09

The size (approx. 6x6") makes the photos miniscule. Forget
using them for ideas - without a microscope.

Tiny in substance at 70 pages as well.

Content/size in no way justifies the price.

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Historical or Romantic Novel for Adults
Shadow of the Pomegranate
Incredible!

The Shadow of the Pomegranate
Jean Plaidy aka Eleanor Hibbert
Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Katharine, The Virgin Widow
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Murder Most Royal: The Story of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard
The King's Secret Matter
The Queen's Secret: A Novel (Queens of England)

ASIN: 0399139672

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Historical or Romantic Novel for Adults.......2005-01-18

I have read many of the novels by Jean Plaidy. Of all the ones that I have read, this is by far my favorite. Probably part of the reason it is so good is that there is so much basic plot and material there to work with. She does do a great job of capturing the personality of Katherine of Aragon and the basic history of the period. You learn a lot about the history of the time in a very entertaining way. I think this is a fantastic historical or romantic novel for most adults.

Shadow of the Pomegranate.......2001-04-02

Plaidy creates an incredible tale of deceit and trust. Katharine of Aragon meets and weds Henry the VIII of England and the two have what seems to be a marriage made in heaven. However, all is not as it seems. Will Katharine only be a pawn in the relations between her husband and her father who is the King of Spain? All of England and especially the King desperately await the birth of a healthy son from Katharine. As luck would have it Katharine suffers a series of miscarriages. Will she ever give birth to a son for her husband? Plaidy does an excellent job of keeping her readers in suspense. The character development is well done. Plaidy expertly displays both good and bad characteristics in all of her characters which allows the reader to relate. Well worth the read.

Incredible!.......1999-05-24

After reading this book, I find it almost impossible to wait while I search for the out of print ones that came before it and after it. She really weaved this plot ingeniously and brought out the personality of Katharine of Aragon.

Garden Of Pomegranates: Skrying on the Tree of Life

Average customer rating:

The living Golden Dawn in Regardie's work
And I thought Freud was full of hot air.
Very complicated read
Level headed mysticism
'Pomegranates' is a charmer . . .

Garden Of Pomegranates: Skrying on the Tree of Life
Israel Regardie
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Judaism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Reference | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Magic | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Alchemy | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Middle Pillar: The Balance Between Mind & Magic: formerly The Middle Pillar
Tree Of Life: An Illustrated Study in Magic
Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites & Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order (Llewellyn's Golden Dawn Series)
The Art of True Healing: The Unlimited Power of Prayer and Visualization
Mystical Qabalah

ASIN: 1567181414

Customer Reviews:

The living Golden Dawn in Regardie's work.......2007-05-27

Dr. Israel Regardie's work reconciling psychology and ceremonial magick is invaluable to understanding the process of initiation into the Golden Dawn tradition. Regardie was one of the last living Adepts of the Order of the Golen Dawn {Stella Matutina} and published "The Golden Dawn" system of magick to ensure the teachings and psychotechnology would survive with each passing generation. He was one of the most prolific occult authors of his time and arguably the sole renewer of ceremonial magick. Taking up the motto, "Ad Majoram Adonai Gloriam," 1934, he joined Stella Matutina, the successor to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Regardie acquired the bulk of the Order's documents, renewing the work of the Golden Dawn.

Dr. Regardie states in 'A Garden of Pomegranates,' "...it is essential that the whole system should be publicly exhibited so that it may not be lost to mankind. For it is the heritage of every man and woman--their spiritual birthright." Therefore modern occult organizations claiming lineage from the original Golden Dawn and its curriculum of ceremonial magick indisputably owe their existence to Regardie's legacy.

Regardie discusses in this work Qabalistic exercises of the Golden Dawn system; the symbolism of each path on the Qabalistic Tree of Life and their pathworking correspondences with the Tarot and angelic evocation; the evolution of Adam Qadmon and the mythos of Genesis; the concept of progressive initiations in the Golden Dawn system while pathworking with Qabalistic archetypes and motifs; and much more. Regardie's exegesis of Qabalistic symbolism & archetypes in "'A Garden of Pomegranates" is indispensable to any student or Adept of the tradition. Dr. Regardie's works including "'A Garden of Pomegranates" are required reading for any student of the Western Mystery Traditions.

Chapters include:

Historical Survey {Golden Dawn magick & mysticism, Qabalah}
The Pit {Practical Qabalah, Yoga, & Magick}
The Paths {Sephirot and the Tree of Life}
Adam Qadmon {Human spiritual evolution and Qabalah}
The Literal Qabalah {Application of Qabalah in magick and initiation}
The Ladder {the "Ladder of Lights," the composition of the soul, and initiation}

Cross reference "A Garden of Pomegranates" with
Tree Of Life: An Illustrated Study in Magic, and Middle Pillar: The Balance Between Mind & Magic: formerly The Middle Pillar...a prerequisite for any serious student of the magick of the Golden Dawn.

And I thought Freud was full of hot air........2007-05-03

Why occultists do what they do, I have no idea. This stuff boils down to Gnosticism. Philosophically, Gnosticism boils down to the elimination of the subject object relationship. The cabalistic tree of life is symbolized by the menorah. The light of the candles symbolizes the light on the tree of life when one becomes illuminated. Those who are illuminated are called "illuminati." And "Lucifer" is the god of these men because they identify the bearer of light as "light bearer." Hence, the worship of Lucifer. Ultimately, like in Genesis, they believe that the tree of life will open their eyes and they will be like gods. And so, it turns out that Genesis, not Israel Regardie, is able to shed light on this hermetic nonsense. It is unfortunate that Israel Regardie's mouth wasn't hermetically sealed since he had nothing important to say. It is also unfortunate that his ears where anxious to listen to Lucifer rather than Jesus Christ. But, such is the path of the fool.

Very complicated read.......2005-10-21

This book is excellent on the topic of the Kaballa but it is a very complicated read if someone doesn't have a varied background in many different kinds of cultures and their different beliefs. The book will use examples and relate things to the different cultures but won't explain what it means. For example, it may say that something is related to Shiva, but won't tell what Shiva is. (Shiva is from Hinduism) So, if you don't have an understanding of HInduism, you won't know what is being talked about. Keep a dictionary by your side while reading this book!

Level headed mysticism.......2005-04-23

In what is certainly an oxymoron for the genre, Regardie introduces the associative language of Kaballah and Tarot without manipulating the reader through false promises of enlightenment. His thumbnail character assessments of various figures in the history of occult literature are variously incisive, inspiring, and cautionary. The structure of the book easily permits the volume to double as a reference. There is no better guide for the curious.

'Pomegranates' is a charmer . . ........2003-12-21

( revised 5/31/'04)

--Note: the five stars is for Regardie's original content, and not necessarily for the content provided in this edition, in footnote or otherwise, by the Cicero's...--

A charming book, especially for the western magic afficianado, as Regardie was. . .

However, for the beginner, let him or her be steered DIRECTLY to Regardie's primary qabalistic masterpiece, 'The Art of True Healing,' where basic western qabalistic magic is applied to marvelous and practical effect. The Marcus Allen edition is quite suitable, and but little modifies Regardie's original text.

However, with that said . . .

Regardie gives a useful list of some qabalistic books in an essay from a now out of print title, 'Foundations of Practical Magic.' Hopefully, this volume will be soon reprinted.

It may be useful for some to note that Regardie, in later years, did not have a particularly high regard for 'Pomegranates,' at least in its earlier edition. It may be even more useful to note, that in his final years, he felt that 'The Mystical Qabalah' book by Dion Fortune, was the best basic introductory book on the subject of qabalah; especially, apparently, for those interested in pursuing the Golden Dawn material.

I rather enjoy the original printing of Llewellyn's edition of 'Pomegranates,' released in the mid-80s. It was much more portable than this edition. It including the original essay he wrote for the 70s edition/reprint. However, it is now out of print.

I'm such a fan of Regardie's however, that I will probably get this edition also. Especially since the Cicero's, like Pat Zalewski, were apparently friends of Regardie.

Now doubt Regardie's effort is more useful in any edition, than the many glitzy/flashy qabalah books that have leaked onto the market, obscuring the subject for some looking for the western magic view on the subject. That is to say, being from Regardie, 'Pomegranates' would still be useful, with or without any comments by the Cicero's.

Book Description

Tariq Ali tells us the story of the aftermath of the fall of Granada by narrating a family sage of those who tried to survive after the collapse of their world. Particularly deft at evoking what life must have been like for those doomed inhabitants, besieged on all sides by intolerant Christendom. "This is a novel that have something to say, and says it well."—Guardian

Customer Reviews:

An Islamic family must make tough choices in 15th century Spain.......2007-10-08

This novel is the tale of a Muslim family living in Spain at the end of the 15th century. The military victory of the Catholic kings over Islam was confirmed centuries ago, now the Church hierarchy wants to eliminate the last vestiges of Islam on the Iberian peninsula. As a tale of a family living in turbulent times, this novel is outstanding. The characters are well developed and their interactions complex and believable. The story revolves around a well-to-do family living in SE Spain in the midst of growing pressure of the Catholic church. There are several threads to the story which are well woven together. We learn a great deal about the history of the family, the hopes and dreams of the youth, the mistakes and regrets of the older members. Hanging over everything is the threat of the Catholic Church. The head of the family, Umar, weighs the best course of action for him and his family. Should they convert to Catholicism, should they leave Spain and everything they've known and built, or should they fight a battle which they have no hope of winning?

There are several strengths to this book. First, I thought that an English language story in which Muslims are portrayed in a favorable light was a great idea. This book was published well before 9/11 and the GWOT, but it is even more relevant today as we are constantly bombarded by images of Muslims as fanatic terrorists in the US media. The impact of this tale would have been much higher, however, had Ali not used this story as a vehicle to make an anti-Catholic, anti-West rant. Had Ali been able to get past his own narrowminded prejudices, this could have been an alltime great novel. The Muslim-Catholic tension in the story is simply black and white - Muslims are proud, peaceloving, thoughtful heros, the Christians are all racist, murderous, religious bigots (sort of the inverse of Fox News). A more nuanced, morally balanced plot line would have, in my opinion, served much better. Second, the real strength of this story is in the character development. All of the characters were complex and realistically portrayed. The interplay between the characters was well done. The pacing of the story itself is a bit slow and the first half of the book is more about character development than plot. One serious weakness of this novel is that it is not historical fiction in the best sense of the term. That is, it really isn't much of a history lesson about the era or the people. You really aren't going to learn much about the era (although that was not, in my view, Ali's goal in any case).

The bottom line is that this is a good, if imperfect, historical novel about life in 15th century Spain from an Islamic perspective. Ali is clearly writing about the 20th-21st century in this book through the lens of the turbulent 15th century and trying to put a favorable image onto the Islamic culture for Western readers. Definitely worth a look if not uniquely outstanding.

Key word here being "fiction".......2007-05-09

I have to say that I admire Ali's intellectual vigor and his propensity to instictively take the weaker position on any issue , which makes him a formidable debater and iconiclastic speaker. And in that light, "Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree (Islam Quartet 1)", is an interesting exercise in championing history's perrenial under-dog, Islamic culture. No doubt also that Ali's strong anti-Western bias plays a rather strong, albeit silent role in this work.
A rather more interesting book might cover the rapid Muslim conquest in the 8th century of Syria, Palestine, and the North African coast from Egypt to Morocco, followed by a permenant imposition by force of Islamic culture on what had previously been a largely non-Arab, Christian base. From this staging area, Iberia fell quickly and the subsequent Umayyad invasion into Gaul (France) was halted by the Frankish army under the military commander, Charles Martel in Tours (NW France) in 732 a.d.
Had this invasion suceeded and conquered the Frankish army, Europe would have had very little defense against the invaders and Western history would have been quite different indeed.
From my vantage point, the great debater and rationalist Tariq Ali comes off as intellectually disingenuous at the very least in this work, for forcing such a hamfisted position. He exploits the West's ability to only half-remember it's own history. And he typifies the Islamic position of only remembering the glories of it's own history.
So let's recap:
West = Crusades = Inquisition = Bad.
Muslim Culture = Peaceful = Enlightened = Good.
Shame on the West. Shame on the bloodthirsty, barbarian Christians for treating the peaceful, culturally superior Muslims so badly.

A must-read for all Muslim apologist/revisionists and all self-flagellating Westerners.

Those poor innocent little muslims, Oh the inhumanity!.......2007-05-06

If this is a novel, then how come all those Koolade-drinking reviewers are treating it as factual history?

We are expexted to actually believe that those poor little muslims were so innocent, while the bad, bad Christians tried to stop them from instituting their great sharia law, as they are trying ever so slowly now in Europe and here in the US of A?

If you love islam so much, try to live in saudi arabia for six months! Really live there, not just as a tourist in a hotel!! Then come back and review a book like this!!

A pleasure.......2007-01-27

Not historical fiction with a message but a story of the times with the truth: Moorish Spain at one point was the height of knowledge, culture, art, architecture and most important of all, religious tolerance and understanding. The Muslims ruled fairly in contrast to Isabel and Ferdinand, so loved for their gift of ships to Columbus, who when they finally defeated the Moors at Granada promised the Moorish people that they could retain their religion and lifestyle and culture. But the greedy and dark forces of the (at that time) troubled Catholic Church convinced the royalty to go back on their promises. The twisted and sadistic bishops started to destroy the culture of the Moors by burning their books (the same approach used with the Mayans in the New World) and reducing their promised freedoms. And so the story begins.
The members of a Moorish family who has lived outside Granada for many generations faces the new day with all the possible options; fight, flight, death, assimilation. The story is very well written, the characters real, the sense of time and place well set. The story is not slanted towards Moors=good, Christians=bad, although a quick look at those times in Spain one could easily make that argument. Instead the author pursues not religious credos but the challenges of individuals balancing the conflicts between their beliefs, their hearts, their ethics, orders from their superiors; the easy, the hard and the difference between right and wrong and the void between.
It is a great book, I liked it on several levels, it was the first Tariq Ali I read; I went right and got another.

Beautiful trip through history.......2006-08-18

I thought this book was a beautiful trip through history. It is well written and takes you on a journey through a man's life and gives you a great picture of what his life was like under the pomegranate tree...

Average customer rating:

A great gift
much more than the taste of my childhood
Best (Pomegranate) Recipe Collection Ever
juicy!
Great book

Pomegranates
Ann Kleinberg
Manufacturer: Ten Speed Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Fruits | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

History | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Fig Heaven: 70 Recipes for the World's Most Luscious Fruit
The Berry Bible: With 175 Recipes Using Cultivated and Wild, Fresh and Frozen Berries
The Sweet Potato Cookbook
Apple Cookbook
Very Blueberry

ASIN: 1580086314

Book Description

The culinary and mythological virtues of pomegranates have been extolled in art and literature since the time of the ancient Greeks, and these days the fruit is enjoying the spotlight as one of the hot new culinary trends. Famed for its tart, refreshing juice and for its symbolism of royalty and fertility, the pomegranate is guaranteed to perk up almost any meal. Whether an integral part of a dish's composition or adding a bit of color and surprise as a garnish, pomegranates bring beauty and stimulating flavor. POMEGRANATES offers the natural and cultural history of the pomegranate throughout the world; gives tips on how to buy, eat, and use this delectable fruit; and then dishes up a comprehensive collection of 70 pomegranate recipes. More and more people seem perfectly happy to wrestle with this amazing fruit to experience its hard-gotten but ultimately satisfying taste treasure.

Customer Reviews:

A great gift.......2007-06-11

I bought this cookbook as a gift for my mother.

Pomegranates grow wild here but all to frequently the question is what to do with them. When I found this book I felt that the question had just been answered. I was surprised at just how many recipes there were just for pomegranates and my mother was delighted. We haven't tried any yet since the picking season is not for a few months but we are looking forward to trying them out.

If you have a friend who loves pomegranates or love them yourself then just reading this book is a real treat. If pomegranates grow where you live as they do here, by all means, buy a copy and you will never wonder what to do with them again.

much more than the taste of my childhood.......2006-11-13

I've always loved the flavor of pomegranates so when I was introduced to this cook book I was excited to try some of the recipes. Pomegranates are tasty but Kleinberg makes magic. This book offers an incredible selection of recipes that are delicious and present beautifully. At the risk of sounding irreverent I confess that the pomegranate becomes irrelevent. It is the wonderful recipes that Kleinberg offers us that has made this one of the most used cookbooks in my kitchen.

Best (Pomegranate) Recipe Collection Ever.......2006-11-08

I actually use this book year-round, even when pomegranates aren't available at the grocery store. The author does tell you how to keep and store them, but if my whole house were a freezer, I couldn't store enough to last all year. The author lives in the Middle East, where pomegranates are plentiful, and has been a food critic and columnist for a long time. Those two qualifications probably make the difference in this book. I find a lot of pomegranate recipes are just some dish some American who recently discovered pomegrantes found out they taste good in. Kleinberg, on the other hand, went hunting down traditional uses for pomegranates in the cultures where they're a staple of the winter diet. The recipes are totally flawless (in the sense that I haven't yet found a mistake that would ruin the recipe), and everything I've tried, I've loved. There is SO much more to do with pomegranates than just toss them over desserts and salads to make them look pretty. But I didn't know that until I got this book. She even uses pomegranate juice and syrup (which you can buy at the store if you don't want to make it fresh yourself)!

juicy!.......2006-11-08

what a stunning and luscious book this is! for both the experienced entertainer as well as the novice, ann's book supplies delicious and elegant recipes that will impress any guest. and it makes such a beautiful gift and addition to anyone's coffee table. Brava, Ms. Kleinberg!

Great book.......2006-11-06

As this is a delicious and very healthy fruit I enjoy cooking with it. And with this in mind, the book came in very handy. The recepies are easy to follow and the combinations of ingredients are very surprising and creative. I highly recommned this book to pomgranates lovers!

The Reliance Building: A Building Book from the Chicago Architecture Foundation (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A661)

Average customer rating:

The Reliance Building: A Building Book from the Chicago Architecture Foundation (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A661)
Jay Pridmore
Manufacturer: Pomegranate
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criticism | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Reference | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Rookery: A Building Book from the Chicago Architecture Foundation (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A660)
Marshall Field's (A Building Book)
The Auditorium Building (Building Book s.) (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A687)
The Merchandise Mart (Building Book s.) (Pomegranate Catalog)

ASIN: 0764923072

Book Description

Daniel H. Burnham & Co.'s glass-covered Reliance Building, built in 1890-1891 and then extended to fifteen stories in 1895, is a granddaddy of today's skyscrapers. The enormous flat and projecting bay windows invited abundant natural light, and the steel-frame structure, covered with twelve thousand pieces of white terra-cotta decorated with Gothic-style elements, was unique in office building construction. By Jay Pridmore, photographs by Hedrich Blessing. Published with the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

Average customer rating:

Great Scientific Book on Pomegranates

Pomegranate
Gregory M. Levin
Manufacturer: Third Millennium Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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The Incredible Pomegranate

ASIN: 1932657738

Product Description

Within this book are the results of many years of research by Dr. Levin and many others as to the botanical characteristics of the pomegranate. From fruit characteristics, to breeding procedures to the differences in many varieties; with notes from around the world. With the pomegranates fortunes on the upswing because of the numerous health benefits now associated with the fruit, this is a must have book for plant breeders, researchers and general horticulturalists. The juice of this fruit is gaining fame in many areas of the world. Producers cannot grow enough to supply demand at this time but plantings are expanding rapidly. This is the first scientific book devoted exclusively to the culture and breeding of Punica granatum, the pomegranate.

Customer Reviews:

Great Scientific Book on Pomegranates.......2006-12-31

A great book for the person studing and researching pomegranates. Has a lot of information about the pomegranates of Central Asia and pomegranates in general. The information contained in this book came from years of work by deciated scientists. From pomegranate breeding to culture and charactoristics this book has it all.
The average gardener will find this a little too scientific in places but overall will be able to garner some very good information. The scientist will find the book a valuable resource.

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