Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

Amazon.com

This book features 366 essays penned from a woman's perspective. Sample topics include gratitude, harmony, self-nurturing, positive body image, the importance of scented linen closets, and many others. Each essay sports a pithy quote from (surprise!) the likes of Kahlil Gibran. Viewed uncritically, it's hard to argue with Simple Abundance's earnest admonitions to appreciate life, in all its messy imperfect excellence. And the fact that serenity and happiness are each in dreadfully short supply can excuse some of the treacly writing. But Breathnach sometimes lapses into what can only be described as her "Martha Stewart on Prozac" voice, and the results are aggravating to the extreme: "If you've been hesitant to strike up a reciprocal relationship with your guardian angel, don't be." Fans of guardian angels will greet these feel-good essays every morning with the rising sun, a cup of mint tea, and a bluebird chirping on the windowsill, and be happy. Skeptics will prefer their coffee very black.

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Practical Advice.......2007-10-08

While I had already figured out alot of the authors tips for living, I must say that this book is enjoyable and I found her perspective delightful. A great soothing and enjoyable read.

From a Unitarian Universalist.......2007-09-25

I love this book! I ordered it for my Mom as a pick me up. I think it's great to read something uplifting before bed. It is not a Christian devotional but it does have aspects that I think anyone can apply to their spiritual practice. This book can seem a tad like a giant Hallmark card but sometimes that's what you need, right?

A Perfect Start.......2007-09-02

What a perfect way to start the day! This book made me s-l-o-w down and cultivate the attitude of gratitude for all the simple - and oft overlooked - things in life.

Inspirational.......2007-08-16

A wonderful witty and uplifiting daybook!

Well written and fun to read.

Good to grow on!.......2007-06-18

This book is great support for any woman starting a new phase in her life, or who simply would like more awareness/info on who she is and what gives her life joy, beauty and meaning. I've gifted it to recently divorced and/or retired friends as they are in such a potentially productive time to "re-invent" their lives.

For the Love of Old: Living with Chipped, Frayed, Tarnished, Faded, Tattered, Worn and Weathered Things that Bring Comfort, Character and Joy to the Places We Call Home

Average customer rating:

Beautiful book
Great Book!
Love It or Hate It - I Loved It
FOR THE LOVE OF OLD: LIVING WITH CHIPPED, FRAYED, TARNISHED, FADED, TATTERED, WORN , AND WEATHERED THINGS THAT BRING COMFORT...
Not her best...

For the Love of Old: Living with Chipped, Frayed, Tarnished, Faded, Tattered, Worn and Weathered Things that Bring Comfort, Character and Joy to the Places We Call Home
Mary Randolph Carter
Manufacturer: Rizzoli
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Decoration & Ornament | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0847828476
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Book Description

This stunning volume focuses on the qualities of the old things in our homes (the patina of an old table, pewter dulled by age, old floorboards that creak) and how to live with and incorporate them into our personal aesthetic. Divided into chapters by the qualities of oldâpeeling, dried, tarnished, faded, chipped, frayed, rusty, and mossyâthis unique book not only pays tribute to furniture, textiles, china, silver and other accessories with these qualities but also shows us how best to preserve, adapt, and arrange them. Lavishly illustrated with beautiful photographs that highlight the warm colors and rich textures of wood and paint, cloth and leather, For the Love of Old also includes ideas and recipes for saving old items from the junk pile, preserving and caring for the old things you have, giving newer things a lived-in feel, and bringing an enduring personality to every home.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful book.......2007-09-03

This book is beautiful. It is a coffe table copy. One you want to use for display. I was drawn with interest to someone who sees beauty in such old things. The book is very unique. I'm glad I have a copy.

Great Book!.......2007-02-07

I loved Mary Randolph Carter's book American Family Style so much and this book seemed to me like a part two of that original book. Although this book wasn't filled with pictures of her family it was filled with the same warmth and comfort as the original. Even though it may not be filled with exactly the things I might put in my own home it is something I enjoy reading. You can tell the author truly LOVES these lost, rusty, beautiful things. I truly can appreciate that.

Love It or Hate It - I Loved It.......2007-02-01

Many, indeed virtually all, of the books we see on interior decorating show rooms set with furnishings that are either brand new or antiques that are pristine and beautiful. They are a very, very long way from those long ago college days when glasses came from empty jelly jars and none of the plates or silverware matched.

Ms. Carter's book is a celebration of the old, the frayed, etc. The individual table settings don't have to be all alike. They just need to be interesting, attractive, have a story to tell. I particularly liked her comments regarding silver, probably because I've gotten a lot of it from my mother and grandmother.

Ms. Carter has an artistic eye that sees art where other people see junk. She matches her eye with her photographic skills that enable her to show exactly what she means. It's a book to be celebrated by those of us who like garage sales, thrift shops and making that special find.

FOR THE LOVE OF OLD: LIVING WITH CHIPPED, FRAYED, TARNISHED, FADED, TATTERED, WORN , AND WEATHERED THINGS THAT BRING COMFORT..........2007-01-10

AN AWESOME, INSPIRING, AND COMFORTING BOOK FOR THOSE WHO LOVE THE OLD AND ECLECTIC LIFESTYLE. SIMPLY WRITTEN AND BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOS FIT FOR FRAMING. A GREAT RAINY DAY READ AND SUITABLE FOR THE COFFEE TABLE.

Not her best..........2007-01-09

I love her other books, I was so looking forward to reading this one over a long afternoon. I fell hook, line and sinker for her romance with flea markets and flea market treasures. This one looks like she took the leavings off the cutting room floor from her other books, packaged it nicely and called it good. Except it is not, good that is. Sorry but this stuff just looks like junk that I would not give a second glance to at a yard sale or flea market. And the price is so high!! Mutton done up as lamb.

The Joy of Sex: Fully Revised & Completely Updated for the 21st Century

Average customer rating:

Imagine Rombauer's The Joy of Cooking... and add sex to the mixture.
oldie but goodie
Contrarian View from a young guy
The Joy of Heterosexual, Monogamous, Married, Vanilla Sex
Loved it, Loved using it on my hunny!

The Joy of Sex: Fully Revised & Completely Updated for the 21st Century
Alex Comfort
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1400046149
Release Date: 2002-10-29

Amazon.com

The original Joy of Sex, published in 1979, became the lovemaking guide to intimate discovery and experimentation for a generation of adults. This updated, 30th-anniversary edition is a gorgeous, sensual book that will delight lovers, whether they're discovering sex or renewing passion. Purple print on pale pink and soft lilac pages lend a sensual air before you even start reading. Beautiful drawings (and a few color photographs) of young, smiling, coupling couples (heterosexual only) serve to graphically illustrate sexual positions and interactions. The facial expressions convey affection and tenderness as much as passion.

The nonjudgmental, gentle tone, aimed at both novice love makers and those looking to expand their sensual play, is lyrical and not at all sleazy. The updated content includes safe sex cautions and a section about AIDS. True, this new edition isn't updated enough to seem particularly "new" to readers who came of age with the original edition. The content is still exclusively heterosexual. Surprisingly, vibrators merit only one paragraph (while "foursomes and moresomes" get a full page), and lubricants are treated dismissively. But this book will appeal to a whole new generation of readers, and even readers who still own a lop-eared, 30-year-old Joy of Sex will find sensual sparks rekindled with this lovely new edition. --Joan Price

Book Description

Nothing compares to The Joy of Sex

Since 1972, more than 8 million people have come to this wise, witty, and uninhibited bestselling guide to lovemaking and found all they wanted to know about achieving greater sexual satisfaction. They have discovered how sex can be playful and imaginative, erotic and passionate, pleasurable and exhilarating. Now, with this fully revised 30th anniversary edition, The Joy of Sex promises to captivate an entirely new generation of readers.

Beautifully designed and lavishly illustrated, The Joy of Sex provides a fresh view of sexuality in the 21st century. Filled with provocative illustrations and 16 pages of new full-color photography, the updated text continues to discuss a wide range of subjects in practical detail while still maintaining Dr. Alex Comfort’s no-nonsense yet fun approach to matters of the libido. The Joy of Sex remains the most comprehensive sex manual on the market. From current concerns about health and practicing responsible sex to the risks presented by AIDS and other venereal diseases, Dr. Comfort contends with every aspect of our sexual territory. Above all, this remarkable book emphasizes the importance of a happy and relaxed sexuality in our lives.

Now more than ever, The Joy of Sex is for people who want to make their lovemaking richer and more exciting. Complete with elegant photographs and superb drawings that capture in full, frank detail the intimacy of the act of love, it is undoubtedly a contemporary classic.

Customer Reviews:

Imagine Rombauer's The Joy of Cooking... and add sex to the mixture........2007-05-24

On lilac folds, with a hint of retro in themes, Comfort incites us all.

oldie but goodie.......2007-01-24

this is a good basic to have in the arsenal. the tie-up, teasing trick is still one of the best ever. if one actually read the book, they'd get the hairy armpit thing - it's related to the section on the smell of your lover. take it or leave it, like everything in the book, it's just information. yes, it's hetero sex. no, it doesn't delve into anything extremely spicy - it's a starting point. most people don't start out right off with anal sex or whips and chains. those have their place as well, but this is not it. This is The Joy of Cooking of sex books - a basic starting point with enough so that you can know where you may want to seek more details. or not.

Contrarian View from a young guy.......2006-10-03

I bought the hardcover edition of The Joy of Sex several years ago. This morning I picked it up and read it from cover to cover. I enjoyed it greatly. The new edition is beautifully printed with elegant line drawings and full color photographs. It preserves the quirky charm of the original edition, but this may be its biggest flaw.

Alex Comfort essentialy invented the modern sex manual when he wrote the first edition of The Joy of Sex in 1972. We can thank Comfort's pioneering efforts for the sagging shelves of sex books we enjoy in our bookstores today. Still, some of his advice sounds hopelessly dated. My favorite anachronism is a sexual position he calls the "Negresse." I'm not sure how that made it past the editors. Supposedly "completely updated for the 21st century," the book has a distinctly 70s feel. I find it charming, but some of the other Amazon reviewers don't.

Despite its flaws, this book deserves its status as an enduring classic. Comfort's approach to sex is humane and thoughtful. Reading his descriptions, you get the impression of a sensitive field scientist with a knack for philosophising about human nature. Other sex books get so wrapped up in the mechanics of sex and so enamoured with graphic depections of sex that they lose some of the human perspective. Comfort's book holds on to it tenaciously. A book with a wise and unbothered approach becomes even more welcome at a time when you can see images of every imaginable sexual act on the internet. There are better technical manuals on sex. Read Comfort's book for context and for beautiful drawings. Above all, read it to learn how take your time and savor lovemaking in all its varieties.

The Joy of Heterosexual, Monogamous, Married, Vanilla Sex.......2004-11-17

This is a how to manual for conservative couples who are already married, are completely monogamous, and yet seem to have difficulty understanding the basic concepts of penetrative sex.

If you're not heterosexual, this book has nothing for you.
If you're not in a monogamous marital relationship, this book has nothing for you.
If you don't believe that good sex always MUST be about love, this book has nothing for you.
If you are interested in sex that deviates from [...] intercourse, like vibrators (not a real [...]), S&M (not loving), [...] (icky), or oral sex (only a warm up to the real thing), this book has nothing for you.

The values in this book display a certain creepy outdated male bias where the only good sex is love sex and the only real sex is penetrative (even though the writer awknowledges that this doesn't get women to orgasm). Any other kind of sex is inferior.
If you already believe that, then this book is for you. If you think that there can be enjoyable sex without true love, marriage, and monogamy or good sex where the male isn't the focus of all orgasms, then pass this archiac manual by. It certainly isn't updated for the 21st century I'm living in.

Loved it, Loved using it on my hunny!.......2004-07-28

This was a nice, thoughtful re-make! enjoyed every page

The Joy of Sex: Fully Revised and Completely Updated for the 21st Century

Average customer rating:

the joy of sex

The Joy of Sex: Fully Revised and Completely Updated for the 21st Century
Alex Comfort
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 140004958X
Release Date: 2003-11-11

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

the joy of sex.......2004-02-20

The book was good, but reading was difficult because the print and photos where very small.

Sarah Ban Breathnach's Mrs. Sharp's Traditions: Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations Of Comfort & Joy

Average customer rating:

Inspiring
Simple pleasures for Simple Times
Preserving family memories
Old-fashioned family treasure!
Okay, but definitely nothing special

Sarah Ban Breathnach's Mrs. Sharp's Traditions: Reviving Victorian Family Celebrations Of Comfort & Joy
Sarah Ban Breathnach
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Customs & Traditions | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

ASIN: 074321076X

Book Description

The seeds for the ground-breaking Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach's hugely successful bestseller, were first planted in Mrs. Sharp's Traditions. In this revised, redesigned edition of her charmingly illustrated Victorian style- and sourcebook, Sarah introduces to her legions of new readers the old-fashioned pleasures of family, customs, and home.

Customer Reviews:

Inspiring.......2006-01-26

I found this book inspiring and full of practical and lovely ideas. Some of them are relatively easy to implement; others take a bit more effort/preparation. The holidays discussed are American. The book presents simple ways to make daily living special and to take note of holidays, seasons, and other occasions.

Simple pleasures for Simple Times.......2004-09-23

I love the noble simplicity of the Victorian age. This book is an invitation to experience simple rituals in your daily life. I especialy enjoyed the beautiful art work and many pictures. This book takes the reader on a gilded journey through the entire year with wonderfull passages describing a myriad of traditions and daily rituals for living. If you cherish the victorian tradition then you simply must have this book. Buy it new or used, read it, experience it, and pen a review to spread the joy, this truly is home.

Preserving family memories.......2003-11-27

It is Thanksgiving Day as I write. I have used this book extensively over the past week as I write down the activities we will do as a family this holiday season. We are a family with young children (8, 6, 3, baby), so we are only now starting our family traditions. It is VERY important to me that the children have family memories to keep them reminded of their happy childhood. This book has been a wonderful keepsake. I have already started purchasing it for others, as it is beautifully written and breathtakingly beautiful. Do not hesitate to buy this book. It will enhance your library like few others. I am wishing for another book like this one, but have not found it yet.

Old-fashioned family treasure!.......2002-05-16

This book is wonderful to have and explore for those women and families with children who love to take time to enjoy simple, natural treasures and to observe old-fashioned family traditions. It is a wonderful source to find out WHY we celebrate some holidays in the ways we do and to take a trip down memory lane as you rediscover some of the older traditions you might remember your grandmothers or aunts or great-aunts observing. I am definitely adding it to my home collection to use with my own family. The only negative note I might have is that the persona the author writes with has some strange sayings "Dear Reader" this and "Dear Reader" that. A little annoying, but definitely not worth NOT getting the book!

Okay, but definitely nothing special.......2001-10-26

This book is okay, but nowhere near as good as the author's earlier works. Although initially intrigued by the "legends", those I checked looked stupid to me ... e.g., about how a pansy's petals tell the story of how a wicked queen mistreats her stepdaughters, with no positive (much less fairytale) ending, nothing remotely uplifting, no moral, etc. DEFINITELY not the type of thing you'd print to give with a pressed flower pansy, or other form of the flower. The recipes are equally impractical, since few people use suet in desserts these days.
And all the stories in the voice of the mythical Mrs. Sharp just seemed stupid and contrived. Although the premise was excellent, the book just didn't follow through.

Tidings Of Comfort and Joy: A Tender Story Of Love, Loss, And Reunion

Average customer rating:

Tidings of Comfort & Joy
Story of forgiveness and love
Excellent
wonderful reading
This book touches the soul and sweeps the heart in the story

Tidings Of Comfort and Joy: A Tender Story Of Love, Loss, And Reunion
T. Davis Bunn
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0785272038

Book Description

As the questions begin, an extraordinary story unfolds. A story of love and loss and caring, of separation and reunion. Of small acts of heroism in a distant and war-weary English village, now half a century ago.

As her grandmother shares this story with Marissa, the two discover that the most precious gift of Christmas is that of the present. And the season of giving is not limited to once a year.

Customer Reviews:

Tidings of Comfort & Joy .......2007-01-30

THIS BOOK SHOWS HOW IMPORTANT FAMILY IS TO ONE ANOTHER. ALSO, HOW GRANDPARENTS HAVE A GREAT INFLUENCE ON THEIR GRANDCHILDREN. EACH RELATIONSHIP IN A FAMILY IS IMPORTANT FOR GROWTH AND UNDERSTANDING OF AGING.

Story of forgiveness and love.......2005-12-04

Honestly, of the several Janette Oak fiction books that I've read, I haven't been particularly riveted by any. When I saw that T. Davis Bunn was associated with her writings, I was a little skeptical of how well this book would be written.

This is my first experience with T. Davis Bunn, and I am very satisfied. This book particularly touched me with characters who were refraining from the easy entrapment of bitterness and unforgiveness. Grandma, with who she thought was the love of her life, displayed emotions so close to what I felt with "my first love". Subsequently, she showed how important it was to give forgiveness to someone who had abandoned and hurt her so much.

I recommend this book to anyone who has ever been hurt in relationships where there was abandonment or a lack of committment.

I plan to read more of T. Davis Bunn's works.

Excellent.......1999-12-23

This book was so good it brought tears to my eyes. The autor was able to control my very thoughts.

wonderful reading.......1999-09-16

This was my first book from the author. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. The grandmother gave Marissa a wonderful gift of healing. Truely a wonderful book.

This book touches the soul and sweeps the heart in the story.......1999-02-04

This book was wonderful. As the story slowly unravels you get more attached to the characters. Definitaly worth reading.

Average customer rating:

Simple, basic, unchallenging -- if that's what you want...
An Unexpected Adventure Where Life Takes a Turn
This is such a cute story
So Predictable and Sappy
Don't Think, Just Read

Comfort & Joy: A Novel
Kristin Hannah
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0345483677
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Book Description

In this modern-day fairy tale, New York Times bestselling author Kristin Hannah gives us a very special gift: the heartwarming story of a woman at a crossroads, caught between two lives, who finds a second chance at happiness.

Joy Candellaro used to love Christmas more than any other time of the year. Now, as the holiday approaches, she finds herself at loose ends. Recently divorced and estranged from her sister, she can’t summon the old enthusiasm for celebrating. So without telling anyone, she buys a ticket and boards a plane bound for the rural Northwest.

Yet Joy’s best-laid plans go terribly awry. The plane crashes deep in the darkness of a forest. Miraculously, Joy and her fellow passengers walk away from the wreckage as the plane explodes. There, amid the towering trees, Joy makes a bold and desperate decision to leave her ordinary life behind and embark on an adventure . . . just for the holidays.

Daniel O’Shea has returned to the small town of Rain Valley, following the death of his ex-wife. Now he is a single father facing his son’s first Christmas without a mother. Six-year-old Bobby isn’t making it easy–the boy has closed himself off from the world, surrounding himself with imaginary friends.

When Joy and Bobby meet, they form an instant bond. Thrown together by fate, these wounded souls will be touched by the true spirit of Christmas and remember what it means to be a family.

Then a dramatic turn of events shows Joy the price of starting over. On a magical Christmas Eve she will come face-to-face with a startling truth. Now she must decide: In a time of impossible dreams and unexpected chances, can she find the faith to reach for the love she has found . . . and the new life only she believes in?

Customer Reviews:

Simple, basic, unchallenging -- if that's what you want..........2007-03-19

I am all for suspending my disbelief, but this book felt like a marginal effort by a marginal author to reach a mass audience looking for a warm, fuzzy, quick read about Christmas and love. Prose was overly basic, characters were underdeveloped. Best thing I can say about this book is that it was short.

An Unexpected Adventure Where Life Takes a Turn.......2007-02-19

Joy Candellaro a school librarian, is not very happy this Christmas season, that's for sure. In years past, Christmas has always been a wonderful celebration. But this year, Joy's life took a turn for the worse possible scenario when she catches her sister Stacey in bed with her husband Thom. A bitter divorce takes place after, and Joy has not been able to look Stacey in the eye since. And to make matters much worse, Stacey is pregnant.

When Joy comes home from work and finds her sister there wanting to talk it out, she can't bear it. She just needs to run away from it all-and she does. She turns around and goes to the airport, and on an act of spontaneity, buys a ticket bound for the rural northeast. Than the completely unexpected really happens. The plane crashes and explodes within a short period of time. Joy is unconscious for minutes, yet wakes up suddenly, walking away from the scene there. She ventures up the road to a fishing lodge owned by a father and son.

When she walks up to it, it appears to be closed down. But she knocks on th door anyway, and a boy, Bobby lets her in. He says they are no longer open really, but finds her a room anyway. She and Bobby become fast friends-and yet Bobby has a real chip on his shoulder as does his father Daniel who is not pleased that Joy is there. Reluctantly, he lets her stay there for the week, and while there Joy and Bobby bond. Bobby has lost his mother in a car accident, and is still grieving terribly. He is not happy with his dad, as he took off when Bobby was very little, and left he and his mother alone. And now all of a sudden, Daniel has to step in and be a parent to his son.

The story takes a twist when Joy knows she has to get back home to her "real life," even though she hates to leave Bobby, and actually Daniel too. He comes to like Joy in a kind of romantic way.

When it is time to go to Christmas Eve service, it is Joy's last day there before going home. It is after the service, that Joy has an attack of some sort, and passes out unconscious. The story then takes another turn from that point-and I won't tell as I don't want to give it away.

I highly recommend this book, even though the ending could have been better. The author could have written the ending differently than she did for the book to make more sense there-but the rest of it was really good and hard to lay down.

This is such a cute story.......2006-12-29

I sure am glad I bought this book at the grocery store a few weeks ago. The cover is so cute with this little flower wreath that I couldn't resist. An then I started reading right before Christmas and the character's trajectory completely helped me enjoy the spirit of the season.

So Predictable and Sappy.......2006-11-30

This book is my first introduction to Ms. Hannah's writing and I'm very disappointed. The writing is hokey, sickeningly sweet and syrupy. The "twist" was minor and didn't really impress me. I bought this as a travel read for the plane and couldn't wait to get back to my home airport to get my Read and Return 50% refund. If you're looking for mind candy that doesn't require a lot of participation on the part of the reader, Comfort and Joy is your best bet.

Don't Think, Just Read.......2006-11-24

I just finished reading this book, didnt take me that long. I found the story fasinating and really captured my attention and made me want to continue reading on. When I got to the second part where she finds out the truth, I went back to reread most of the conversation parts and its like all of a sudden I'm like Joy, putting the pieces together.
I guess to read this book, its pretty much just an enjoyment. I mean for me, the ending was pretty much how I imagined it to be so if you do too much thinking into the logic and reality, it pretty much spoils it. So Im trying not to overthink the whole possibilities of what mightve happened there.

More Joy of Sex(Completely Revised and Updated)

Average customer rating:

joy with the joy of sex
DELIGHTFUL
A voice from the Seventies
A great book for the beginner!

More Joy of Sex(Completely Revised and Updated)
Alex Comfort
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0671740768

Customer Reviews:

joy with the joy of sex.......2007-05-14

This is a great book it is classy and informative

DELIGHTFUL.......2001-03-29

I really like the way this author covers the issues of sex and sexuality. He delivers his message with well written and easy to understand information and covers not only the physical side of sex but the mental side of it as well. I found this book to be very informative and covers everything from multiple partners, positions, alternative lifestyles, lack of sexual interest to offering wonderful advise on how to spice up your lovelife and make exploring your partners(private parts) alot more fun and understanding. My partner and I read this book together and although it's a little outdated, we found it very educating and fun to read.

A voice from the Seventies.......1999-10-21

Right... the 'Joy of Sex' covers mainly the technicalities and the author doesn't go on very much about psychology etc, although it shines through. 'More Joy' is heavily about psychology, on the contrary... it may have been necessary when the book was puslished (early seventies) and may be again necessary now... the book clearly shows its age... and if his views don't agree with your personality (he does get preachy at times) the book is not for you.

A great book for the beginner!.......1998-03-31

This book is particularly helpful for anyone who is inexperienced in sex and sexuality. Alex Comfort, M.D., D.Sc, covers all aspects of physical and mental interaction which surround sex. He is very informative on the mechanics of sex, kind of a how-to, and addresses issues many other authors shy away from such as alternative lifestyles, sex therapy, and swinging.

For anyone who has their fair share of experience it may not be particularly informative in regards to positions or new ideas to spice things up, but there is a lot of content that deals with sexual problems and special needs that may be kept on hand for future reference.

The book is beautifully illustrated, which may be much better than explicit photos that have the potential to make people uncomfortable if they are not open to adult materials. Most of the illustrations are black and white and show the same couple throughout the entire book. The only thing I did not care for was the male model used (he reminded me of a seventies porno star).

Overall, I feel it would be extremely beneficial to individuals, or couples, with little practical experience or beginners who are exploring who they are with their sexuality and what it is they want from a partner.

Average customer rating:

True love?

Incredible Story

Good Tidings...

Please read this book - it will stay with you for

tender and beautiful

Comfort and Joy
Jim Grimsley
Manufacturer: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Gay | Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
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Dream Boy: A Novel

WINTER BIRDS: A Novel

Boulevard

Leave Myself Behind

The Tin Star

ASIN: 1565123964

Amazon.com

Question: What could be more terrifying than bringing your significant other home for Christmas? Answer: Bringing home your significant other of the same sex. From the start, it's clear that Jim Grimsley's vision of the holidays holds as much darkness as it does light. Ford McKinney first lays eyes on Dan Crell when he's singing carols at the hospital where they both work, the mournful minor-key tones of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" seeming to broadcast "the sadness of Christmas" in contrast to the lights and decorations around them. Their attraction is immediate, but the couple must face down several obstacles. For one thing, Dan is a hemophiliac who's HIV-positive. And Ford, a rich doctor from a prominent Savannah family, doesn't even think of himself as gay. That the two manage to meet, date, and fall in love is something of a miracle in itself--perhaps the only one that can sustain them through the season of miracles.

Comfort and Joy alternates scenes of Ford and Dan's courtship with their trip to North Carolina to meet Dan's family. Like any couple anywhere, they argue about money and their families; unlike some couples, they also argue about Dan's health and Ford's reluctance to kiss. In chronicling their history, however, Grimsley gets at something fundamental: the strange mixture of love and hate and anxiety at the bottom of every relationship, gay or straight. "You're really not as bright as I am and that's a problem," they both think, being "honest" with themselves, then wonder: "Why do men stay together?" The easy answer, of course, is that they love each other. The more complicated one is that, in living together, they've begun to dream the same dreams, breathe in rhythm, lay down "crevices" inside themselves in the shapes of each other. This, Dan thinks, is enough: "enough, without words, to keep them silent about the fact of their hates and their fears, their deep concerns about each other, and the certainty that one of them would die first and neither of them knew which one it would be."

The novel's prose is workmanlike at its best, but Grimsley's understanding of the human heart is deep and rich. His book refuses easy answers and stereotypes; for example, the mysterious trauma in Dan's childhood stays in the background, where it belongs. A lesser writer would have chosen to make its revelation the book's climax--the epiphany that explains Dan's character--but Grimsley knows that childhood pain is only one of many things that make us who we are. Such is the difference between fiction that seeks to tell us who we are and fiction that knows what a mystery we are at our core. Comfort and Joy is not just a book for gay readers: it's a book for everyone who's ever been in love, who's ever had a family, who's ever wanted to find some kind of refuge from the world. --Chloe Byrne

Book Description

Ford McKinney is a devastatingly handsome, successful doctor, raised in an old Savannah family among good breeding and money. His longtime boyfriend, Dan Krell, is a shy hospital administrator with a painful childhood past. When the holidays arrive, they decide it's time to go home together. But the depth of their commitment is tested when Ford's parents cannot reconcile themselves to their son's choices, and Dan's secrets are exposed. Comfort and Joy is a poetic and finely-wrought novel that explores the difficult journey two men make toward love.

Customer Reviews:

True love?.......2006-11-26

Comfort and Joy is a beautifully written story centred on Ford, a tall handsome and wealthy young doctor, and his boyfriend Dan, a hospital administrator. Although shy, Dan is confident with his sexuality, whereas Ford is self-conscious and reluctant to concede he is gay. I addition to getting used to living together, they face the problem of acceptance of their co-habiting by their respective families. The story lingers on their developing relationship, and Grimsley succeeds in conveying the depth of their feelings for one another, along with the troubling doubts, and the angst created by parents' attitudes. Comfort and Joy is a beautifully told warm and moving tale.

Incredible Story.......2006-01-20

Let me start by saying that I'm a big fan of gay fiction; however, that doesn't mean that every book in that genre is going to earn 5 stars. The connection between Dan & Ford is incredible. They deal with the same issues that normal gay relationships go through (insecurity, confidentiality, etc.) and for once, no one has to get beat up or abuse drugs. Ford's need to constantly be around Dan while dealing with his own 'coming out' issues is something that many of us can relate. If you like gay romance, this will definitely not disappoint.

Good Tidings..........2005-03-24

Originally published in 1999, I'm surprised I didn't get around to reading this book earlier. I enjoyed Grimsley's other books, particularly "Winter Birds" and "Dream Boy." I think this is one of those books that I thought I had read some time ago and forgotten. I think I also figured it was a Christmas book and didn't want to read it "out of season."

It is a Christmas book, sort of. Ignore the reviews that say "this is what happens when you bring your significant other home for Christmas." Trust me, that's just a plot device. The title refers to the chorus of the carol, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." In a nutshell, Dan, a shy hospital administrator, takes Ford, his goodlooking pediatrician boyfriend, home for the holidays. Dan's family is poor, Ford's is rich. Dan is completely out, Ford is still closeted. Dan has hemophilia and is HIV positive, Ford is completely healthy. These differences escalate into conflicts as the book moves back and forth between the present and flashbacks of their developing relationship.

Though the book is set at Christmas, in fact, Christmas is an excuse for Grimsley to write a meditation on why men stay together.

From the book:

"And they would wonder, without words, without sound: Why do men stay together? It is easy to understand why they f*ck, but why do they stay together, what is the answer? Why do they live in the same house, share meals together, argue about money and parents, why do they have pets, plant begonias, bring home birthday cakes? Where are the children, where is the sense of permanence, what is the tie that binds?

Yet they slept peacefully, side by side, and the body of one became adjusted to the rhythm of the other, and the breathing of one slowed the breathing of the other, and they dreamed in tandem and shared fragments of each other's dreams, and they grew more like each other day by day, not in personality but in the fissures of the brain, because, seeing the same things every day, day after day, they laid down crevices in themselves that were the same shape, that were the same events written into memory, and this was enough, without words, to keep them silent about the fact of their hates and their fears, their deep concerns about each other, and the certainty that one of them would die first and neither of them knew which one it would be. The certainty that one of them would leave first, and that only by waiting could they learn which of the two."

Please read this book - it will stay with you for.......2004-11-13

This was the second Jim Grimsley novel I have read, and it sent me searching for more books authored by him. In "Comfort and Joy" we meet Danny and Ford, two gay men who fall in love. The story is about making a relationship work, coming out to family and friends and remaining an individual while growing as a couple. The characters seem real with real emotions, and Danny and Ford remind us that love is not about being straight or gay, but about being human. The author handles the love scenes in a beautiful and sensitive manner, which makes for a very touching book.

tender and beautiful.......2004-02-09

i loved this book. i truly cared about the characters.

it is a tender and affecting love story. the issues in the book--gayness, hiv status, money, childhood trauma, etc--are dealt with deftly but not heavyhandedly. the characters struggle with them; they are not the point of the story. there are several threads, large and small, left unresolved, which actually adds to the overall sense that this story is true to life, since life doesn't wrap itself up so neatly most of the time. the sense of place is great.

by the way, this book centers around christmas time and takes its title from a carol, but it is not a "christmas book"--read and enjoy anytime, whether you celebrate christamas or not.

Average customer rating:

Nothing wrong with body hair

EDUCATTIONAL

An updated edition of a classic sex guide

More writing and talking about sex, than how to do it

not bad

The New Joy of Sex (The Joy of Sex Series)
Alex Comfort
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Sex Instruction | Sex | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Marriage & Family | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0671778595

Amazon.com

First published in 1972, The Joy of Sex quickly became a milestone in the literature of sex and love, selling millions of copies. Witty, wise, uninhibited, its daring combination of words and illustrations opened the floodgates to the frank and exuberant discussion of sex that was the first hallmark of the sexual revolution. Now, at a time when understanding of sexual issues ranges from confusion to fear, Alex Comfort gives us a completely revised edition of this classic, proving beyond a doubt that sex is still joyful.

Book Description

The classic best-seller that is still the standard in its field. Illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing wrong with body hair.......2004-09-09

I am a 40 year old guy who has Dr. Comfort to thank for his suggestions in "Joy of Sex" that women should not shave their armpits. Too many people who should know better have made the mistake of equating armpit hair with body odor and this simply is not the case. My partner of the last 15 years has never shaved any of her body hair and has always been attractive to me.
She used to feel uncomfortable about it sometimes and was considering shaving for the first time in her life and then read "JoS". Combined with the text of that publication and fully realizing how much I appreciated her natural look made her much more comfortable and at ease with herself. This book was informative and entertaining in what may be called an "old fashioned" way but hey it was written in the early 70's. If there is a criticism it may be that some of the sexual intercourse positions may be unattainable for lesser endowed men which fortunatley I don't have to worry about but all in all was a wonderful read and I would advise anyone and everyone of legal age who has even the slightest interest in sex to read it and even for those of us who are vastly experienced, it could still provide some very interesting advice and ideas.

EDUCATTIONAL.......2004-07-03

This book filled me with smarts on the subjact matter of sex. I'm thrilled to have read this here book. my net book to read will be Battlestar Galactaka or the Return of the Kings.

An updated edition of a classic sex guide.......2003-09-17

As a forty-something year old guy, I'm just as interested in sex as much as the next guy (or woman), so naturally I do sometimes wander to the Relationships section at the local book emporium and check out the guides on lovemaking. Yes, there are many such books out there (Anne Hooper seems to have made a good career for herself with her own series of "how-to" guides!), but the late Alex Comfort's The New Joy of Sex is by far the best.

Updating his 1972 bestseller for the 1990s as a result of the AIDS crisis, Comfort supplements his always helpful advice from the 1970s edition with new sections in which he discusses safe sex, the importance of sharing and respecting a partner's needs or fantasies. Even better, Comfort uses language that is both informative and pleasing to the ear. He also avoids being overly clinical; knowing how most people talk about sex, he doesn't shy away from using colloquial [phrases] when referring to genitalia. Best of all, Comfort advises his audience that sex is something very human and essential to any meaningful relationship, so it should indeed be a source of joy.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with photos by Clare Park and drawings by John Raynes, The New Joy of Sex should be read at least once by any couple seeking to enhance their relationship.

More writing and talking about sex, than how to do it.......2003-02-10

I picked up this highly priced book for my collection of "sexual techniques" books. I wont go as far as saying that its terrible, or that its wonderful.

I thought that it had way to much writing in it, just random talking about history of sex and other stuff like that. It needs to have more about how to go about doing the possisions etc.

The pictures are all drawings, other than a few in the beginning, but the drawings are old looking and a little dull.

One good thing that I found about the book is the slang that they used in it though. It is hard to find a book that uses slang terms rather than the correct way. I have quite a few sex books, and this is the only one that goes far enough to use [modern phrases], rather than, "vagina" and "penis". I mean, come on, we all know that most people in bed dont use the term "vagina".

If you are looking for more of a history on sex, get it. If you want detail, pass it up.

not bad.......2002-09-08

seller had said that the book was almost new. but, it had a tear in the back cover. however, the transaction was good.

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