Book Description
Told in a series of vignettes stunning for their eloquence,
The House on Mango Street is Sandra Cisneros's greatly admired novel of a young girl growing up in the Latino section of Chicago. Acclaimed by critics, beloved by children, their parents and grandparents, taught everywhere from inner-city grade schools to universities across the country, and translated all over the world, it has entered the canon of coming-of-age classics.
Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous,
The House on Mango Street tells the story of Esperanza Cordero, whose neighborhood is one of harsh realities and harsh beauty. Esperanza doesn't want to belong--not to her rundown neighborhood, and not to the low expectations the world has for her. Esperanza's story is that of a young girl coming into her power, and inventing for herself what she will become.
Customer Reviews:
Great Writing, But Lackluster Characters.......2007-09-22
The House on Mango Street tells the story of Esperanza, a Mexican-American girl growing up in a "ghetto" area of Chicago.
But instead of being your typical novel, this book is a collection of vignettes, each focusing on one specific character or event, with few of them mentioned in future chapters. And instead of being in a typical prose style, the book is more of a combination of standard writing and poetry together.
With the way the book is written, we are allowed a very intimate contact with Esperanza's mind. Sandra Cisneros blends that with a skillful use of metaphors to create a very detailed and personal world.
But that's pretty much what I like about it.
On the other hand though, I was very disappointed with who was telling the story - Esperanza. Despite the writing, I didn't really care for her that much.
Even worse was the Esperanza got very whiny towards the end of the book. For some reason I can't fathom, she simply decides to hate her house, insisting that it isn't her home. But even before that, Esperanza continually self-pities herself for a variety of things, falling into a boring humdrum of angsty teenage melorama. And then we have the (vaguely described) rape scene.
I didn't find the other characters very rememberable, either. Most of them just them were one shot characters who wouldn't affect the story at all if they were removed.
In conclusion, I think this is a good book to read, but not really that great as everyone else says it is. (It's a good thing that it's short.)
Horrible.......2007-09-07
This book is most overrated. Yes it is a great remark on culture and growing up Latino, but ignorance of simple writing styles and grammar is no excuse. Not to mention that the book is not even remotely interesting. The main character is confusing, rambles on, and Cisneros always tries to draw pity for her. This is the worst book I have ever read.
a classic young adult novel.......2007-09-03
I first encountered this book while scoring tests for an educational testing company... the first chapter was used as a prompt for a reading test. The kids saw the author's Hispanic name and jumped to the obvious conclusions... that the family is desperately poor and oppressed (and also many kids concluded that the family lived in the Southwest or even in Mexico, whereas Mango Street is in fact a real street on the North Side of Chicago.)
This is in fact very much a structured novel, even though it is written in an episodic and impressionistic manner: it is a classic coming of age story. The family is certainly not wealthy, and they go through crises like any other family --- but this is actually a fairly happy and average American family.
Disappointed.......2007-08-23
After reading the positive reviews on this book, I was disappointed. I found the book boring and a waste of my time.
I liked it.......2007-08-22
I had to read this in my English Composition class and I thought it was very good and interesting. The characteres and story are both well-told. Cisneros is a good writer and she doesn't bore the reader to tears like cough cough John Steinbeck cough. This was the first book by Cisneros that I read and I am interested in her other works. Hopefully they will be as good as hers.
Book Description
The winner of the National Book Award and now considered a classic, The House of Morgan is the most ambitious history ever written about an American banking dynasty. Acclaimed by The Wall Street Journal as "brilliantly researched and written," the book tells the rich, panoramic story of four generations of Morgans and the powerful, secretive firms they spawned. It is the definitive account of the rise of the modern financial world. A gripping history of banking and the booms and busts that shaped the world on both sides of the Atlantic, The House of Morgan traces the trajectory of the J. P. Morgan empire from its obscure beginnings in Victorian London to the crash of 1987. Ron Chernow paints a fascinating portrait of the private saga of the Morgans and the rarefied world of the American and British elite in which they moved. Based on extensive interviews and access to the family and business archives, The House of Morgan is an investigative masterpiece, a compelling account of a remarkable institution and the men who ran it, and an essential book for understanding the money and power behind the major historical events of the last 150 years.
Customer Reviews:
Comprehensive, interesting and relevant book.......2007-03-03
This is a great story told well. Chernow is an amazing researcher and a very good writer. I agree with some of the reviewers that the earlier parts of the book are better, but his description of the transformation of the capital markets in the late 20th century and the House of Morgan's role in this transformation is interesting and relevant. This book increased my understanding of the banking and investment banking worlds. My only quarrel is that, at times, I thought Chernow editorialized too much detracting from the story. Like many financial journalists, I got the sense that he is not a big fan of capitalism. Perhaps that's unfair, but if he simply told the story without some of his asides, the book would have been even better.
A book about the history of a family.......2006-12-14
This is an interesting book about the history of the Morgan family. It tends to drag on and is not as good as Chernow's other books about finance (notably Hamilton). I was expecting quite a bit more on JP Morgan and the book did not deliver in that way. Despite those two flaws the book is filled with such good information and is so well organized that it still deserves five stars I would just know you are not buying a book solely or even focusing on JP Morgan.
America's Gilded Age.......2006-11-10
Ron Chernow is good at writing in great detail while making his books interesting. "House of Morgan" is well documented as are all of Chernow's books. This book is the interesting story of big banking in the United States and abroad during the period of 1850-1900. Chernow goes beyond the earlier years of the J. P. Morgan empire to the present; giving an introduction to Morgan/Chase as we know it today. The early founder, Pierpont, was ruthless, secretive and rich. The book is a long one, and took awhile to read, but it was worth the time.
The history of JP Morgan par excellence!.......2006-10-26
A much more engaging and beautiful account on the life of the Morgan family and their banking legacy has been outdone by this work from Ron Chernow.
The book covers all aspects of the Morgan family and even discovers long forgotten family secrets. It dwells into the minds of these great capitalists and takes the reader deep into historic moments in American financial history. The overall grandeur and majesty of some of the most powerful men to have ever walked the earth, men who saved the U.S. from financial ruin, is evident in every page.
Read this one and you will love it!
In Depth, to the Nth degree.......2006-04-22
I read Chernow's awesome book on Rockefeller and expected the same from this treatment of America's first uber-bank. For some reason the narrative just seemed half as interesting as the Rockefeller book. This work primarily seemed to be lots of facts and figures and a historical timeline-- the interesting anecdotes and sidebars available in Rockefeller seemed to be somewhat lacking here-- either that or I've become jaded in what entertains me.
Overall it's certainly the definitive work on the subject to be sure, but I was hoping on a little more entertainment as the thing is a telephone book. And anyone can read a telephone book for a hundred pages-- 500 pages takes dedication.
Average customer rating:
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Furniture 2000: Modern Classics and New Designs in Production (Schiffer Design Book)
Leslie A. Pina
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Furniture Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
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| Antiques & Collectibles
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ASIN: 0764304968 |
Book Description
Many of the great modern classic furniture designs of the twentieth century are still in production and available to the public in America and abroad. There are also many recent designs destined to become classics, because they share many of the same qualities of modern furniture already in museum collections and sought after by collectors. This volume, with 600 color photographs and detailed captions of a representative sample of the best modern furniture available, is the first source book to focus only on designs that are currently in production, and to present them in full color. It is both a history of modern design and an international shopping catalog. The indexes of 250 designers and companies and the list of sources will enable the reader to locate each item for purchase or for additional information. This book will serve as an indispensable and handy reference for decorators, interior designers, architects, and collectors, plus acquaint the general public with extraordinary designs that are generally only known to the trade.
Book Description
Atomic Ranch is an in-depth exploration of post-World War II residential architecture in America. Mid-century ranches (1946-1970) range from the decidedly modern gable-roofed Joseph Eichler tracts in the San Francisco Bay area and butterfly wing houses in Palm Springs, Florida, to the unassuming brick or stucco L-shaped ranches and split-levels so common throughout the United States.
Customer Reviews:
Midcentury Modern Lover's Porn.......2007-05-05
Page after page of delicious midcentury modern yumminess. Unlike many architecture and design books, this one is actually well written.
Atomic Dressing.......2007-03-21
Eye candy of the past that we loved, environments we create from what we thought were futuristic but now an echo in the past. Great assortment of houses on display to tickle your midcentury fantasies that we can't afford now.
Mid Century Gem.......2007-03-05
I love this book! Every page is graced with mid century ranch homes lovingly photographed and described. If you have any interest at all in architecture, add this book to your collection.
Wonderful book on Ranch Homes.......2007-02-20
As a subscriber of the "Atomic Ranch" magazine, published by the same authors of this book, I had high expectations on its content, which were more than fulfilled, as i simply loved the book. It highlighted many homes that have been previously published on the magazine pages, but it had many others that I have not seen before in print, probably from the earlier issues I missed. The photos are superb, the book format is so elegant and perfect for Coffee Table display and the content is just wonderful. From Amazon, I have also purchased the Alan Hess book on Ranch Homes and the one from Katherine Samon on decorating Ranch homes, but "Atomic Ranch" is by far, my favorite of those three.
Mid century modern for the real world!.......2007-01-26
I have purchased many books on mid century modern style to get ideas for my remodeling project and while they were full of excellant examples of the style the biggest part of them only showed examples of high dollar showcase homes. (example: Frank lloyd Wright's creations) While they are beautiful they are far beyond my means and impractical for my life style. Atomic ranch fills the gap of real world affordable design and livablity that I was seeking. I have gotten many great ideas from Atomic ranch that I will likely use in my own home remodel. The book is excellant to browse, to read, or to use as an example when conveying your ideas to contractors or builders. Atomic ranch is a joy to any fan of serious modern, mid century, googie, or boom generation cold war living and style!! I can't recommend it more. Nuff said.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
-
History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
-
History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
-
Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
-
Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
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They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies
ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
Modern Real Estate Practice in Pennsylvania has set the standard for real estate education in the state since its first printing in 1975. This text offers the most current information, helpful illustrations and an easy to read format that has made this the most comprehensive and up to date principles text tailored for Pennsylvania. Appendices include a math review, sample exams, and the complete licensing and registration act. Topics covered include:
* Real Property and the Law
* Land Use Controls and Development
* Environmental Issues in Real Estate
* Legal Descriptions
* Interests in Real Estate
* Landlord and Tenant Interests
* Forms of Real Estate Ownership
* Transfer of Title
* Title Records
* Principles of Real Estate Contracts
* Principles of Real Estate Financing
* Pennsylvania Real Estate Licensing Law
* The Real Estate Business
* Real Estate Brokerage
* Agency in Real Estate
* Ethical Practices and Fair Housing
* Listing Agreements and Buyer Representation Contracts
* Sales Contracts
* Financing the Real Estate Transaction
* Appraising Real Estate
* Closing the Real Estate Transaction
* Property Management
Book Description
Here's a unique resource that examines in detail the techniques and methods available to create countermeasures against anti-jam, over-the-air communications. For the first time, you get a practical resource that is focused on showing you how to design and build jammers specifically targeted at spread spectrum, anti-jam communications. Moreover, you find assistance in evaluating the expected performance of jamming systems against modern communications systems, and discover the best waveform to use to counter communication systems designed to be effective in jamming environments.
Customer Reviews:
No expert but I liked it.......2005-11-18
I am not an expert in this field but it came in quite handy while trying to classify the security and sensitivity of certain standards tech.
Book Description
This extraordinarily sensitive and insightful portrait of religious life centers on Philippa Talbot, a highly successful professional woman who leaves her life among the London elite to join a cloistered Benedictine community. In This House of Brede was the basis of a 1975 made-for-television film starring Diana Rigg.
Customer Reviews:
I have read this book over 20 times.......2007-06-08
My first copy of this book was a used paperback that was given to me when I was about 10. I read it and read it until it was falling apart. (I was excited when I found a hardback copy in a used bookstore a few years ago.) To this day, (30 years later) I still love this book. I can pick it up and read it cover to cover, or just open it and read from that chapter. I am not a very spiritual person, but there is just something about it that keeps me reading.
Shining Serenity.......2007-06-07
Even though I am not a Christian, I have loved this book for years. Something about it makes me pick it up every now and again so that I can slip back into the serene and comforting atmosphere of Brede.
Rumer Godden has woven an intricate story about an odd subject - contemplative nuns! - and, instead of following a strict chronological order - follows the development and growth of many of the nuns. Many of the nuns - and even the non-nuns - struggle with their own personal crises and flaws. Dame Philippa learns to be patient and to overcome the tragedy of her past. Abbess Catherine learns to lead, to reach out to people, and to trust in herself and in providence. Sister Cecily accepts her own beauty - both of body and of soul - and takes responsibility for it rather than turning away from people and hurting them. Mrs. Scallon learns to accept her daughter's decision and in some ways even appreciates it. Penny and Donald put their priorities in order and strengthen their marriage. Dame Agnes learns to be less critical and more loving; she acknowledges the worth of others. Dame Veronica confesses what her pride has compelled her to do and finally tells the truth. Dom Gervase recovers his confidence and can go back into the world. Each character is developed with love; each character is different (although a surprising number of them seem to be extremely well read); each character grows. We feel with them through their tears and smiles, sorrows and joys, despairs and yes, even triumphs - although the triumphs may be on a quieter scale than one finds in most other novels.
Yet, despite these personal crises, the book has an overarching serenity, possibly because all the nuns are devoted to the same end - praising their God - they all have vocations. Godden's writing, rich with detail, unstinting in her choice of words, leads us through the days and seasons and years of the contemplative life, so that we, the readers, also experience the garden in the garth, the moor hens in the dingle, the fresh air and the cries of the seagulls from Brede's tower, as well as the liturgical cycle in the church.
At the end of the novel, I, like Philippa Talbot, am likewise sorry that I must leave This House of Brede. I put it back on the shelf - but I know I can pick it up again and re-enter the enclosure doors, and again recover a measure of peace.
A smart novel about choosing the religious life -- without preachiness.......2007-03-10
Nuns. Scary creatures for some of us, conjured out of our dim pasts of grim schooldays, where these black-clad figures were objects of mystery and whispered gossip. Or figures of humor, such as The Penguin in the film The Blues Brothers, wielding a metal yardstick with fearsome accuracy. For those looking for scandal, convents have always been rumored to be hotbeds of lesbian vice, where devotion to god was really devotion to something else. But they still tend to be figures that tend to pass understanding, and usually leave confusion behind.
English author Rumer Godden wrote one of the best books in fiction or nonfiction about a monastery, and the women within, that can be found in literature. After reading
Stephen Murray's review of the
film of the same name, I knew it was time to take down my copy from the shelves and give it a rereading.
Brede Abbey is an abbey of Benedictine nuns, located in a small town in the English countryside. It is here that Philippa Talbot comes to try her vocation as a nun -- and she is anything but the sort of person that one would think to be a nun. For one, she's in her early forties, a widow, and a successful career woman in her own right, with a smart flat in a fashionable part of London, money of her own, and a lifestyle that most would envy. Now she's about to give all of that away -- literally -- and enter a world inhabited by women, dress in clothing that lacks any chic, take on deprivations and forgo luxury and in exchange for what? Philippa's co-workers and friends are shocked, and think that she won't last in this world that seems to be more of the past than the England of the 1950's.
Through Philippa's eyes, we see that the enclosed world of the nun is both familiar and strange. Both large events -- the passing of the aged Abbess and election of a new one, nuns entering and sometimes leaving the abbey -- and little ones -- the change of the seasons, the everyday work and prayer, the humbling of the human spirit for a greater good -- are shown in all of their emotional glory. Other nuns tell their own story, from Sister Julian with her hunger to change the world; Dame Veronica who hides some terrible secrets; Dame Agnes the community's scholar and Dame Veronica's rival; Dame Maura the musician, and young Cicely who comes to Brede as a homecoming. And then there is the outside world that appears -- visitors, family members, letters and five very unusual novices from Japan and the shake-up of Vatican II.
While Godden doesn't always tell the story in chronological order, it is presented to the reader in a logical way. It's more of a string of events and personal observations rather than a straightforward story with plot and climax. Instead, we get to see personal stories and conflicts, the inner world of the various nuns, each one written up with elegant prose, and have all of our misconceptions of the monastic life gently brushed away. For Godden is careful to present her nuns as individuals, with ambitions, pride, joy and the overwhelming need to find solace and a certain peace in the endless devotion to prayer.
Most of all, I found Philippa to be a very human person, full of her own pride, full of dread and still drawn to the religious life, and harboring some pretty shattering knowledge of the past herself. This isn't a story of sudden miracles that have mysticism and a new age feel so common today, but gentle tugs and some surprises as people are refined into more compassionate and loving human beings, able to give without expectation of reward -- one of the hardest tasks for anyone to do.
Over the years I have reread this novel several times, and each time, I get to learn and see something new. It is anything but what is called 'chick-lit' today, and it certainly isn't light reading. Yes, there is humor, but it is more of a joyful sort than anything based in sarcasm. And to balance that, there is some heartbreaking sorrow. Godden is also careful not to be preachy in her work, instead letting the characters speak for themselves and their choices and mistakes.
Loyola Classics has reprinted this novel in a new edition, with some explanatory notes on some of the more obscure words and ideas, a selection of questions for group discussion and a biographical note about the author. An introduction by Phyllis Tickle sets the tone for the novel, and helps to lead the reader into this story. The type is a little large, making this a hefty little paperback and some of the italicized type is goofed up into a san-serif font that is jarring to come across, but it is a nice edition for all that.
In short, this is one of the best books on the inner lives of women, and a great psychological drama that blasts most of the stereotypes about nuns and the work that they do. If you're getting tired of the literature that is being dished up today, try on this classic and be prepared for an insightful study of human nature.
Recommended.
Fantastic........2006-07-30
This is a book I checked out from the library and ended up buying a copy for myself just to OWN it. It's wonderful. It's a very simple book...another reviewer called it a quiet read and it certainly is. But I enjoyed all of it...looked forward to reading it every night and was so sad to finish it. I wanted to know what happened NEXT! I think this book is better than Black Narcissus, also by Godden, although they are both enjoyable. The characters in this novel are wonderfully developed and not to be too "cute" but this book was sort of respite in itself.
Brede.......2006-06-27
In This House of Brede is the story of 96 magnificent women and the 1500 year old culture they swim in and perpetuate. It is, true, about the life of a Benedictine abbey for women and the struggles of several novices and fully professed nuns to fulfill themselves as women and as religious women. It is, however, also about leadership and how it is lived. Abbess Catherine, who has leadership thrust on her, stands up to it and shines. Her growth is beautiful. Philippa Talbot, who was a high powered executive before entering the abbey to escape leadership, has a painful growth toward realizing that she cannot escape it if God wants her to use her gifts. Cecily, a beatiful and gifted musician, has to fight to enter Brede and then to grow out of her misguided experiences as a daughter of a manipulative and bossy mother. She has to discover her own strength and the ways she does it is fascinating.
There are some typographical errors that could have been corrected by decent and loving copy editing but they are annoying rather than catastrophic. I love this book.
Karen
Book Description
Every architect dreams of a perfect client, and every client dreams of a perfect architect. Alas, these relationships don't always work out to everyone’s expectations. But when they do—when there are shared ideas and the communication flows—the results can be spectacular. The New Modern House features forty new buildings where the synergy between the right designer and the right client resulted in works that surpass everyone's expectations.
The book is divided into five thematic chapters—conditions, materials, environment, budget, and aesthetics—and each contain eight case studies. These include Rafael Viñoly's Piano House in New York; Sean Godsell's Peninsula House in Australia; and Ahadu Abaineh's Tree House in Ethiopia, among others.
Beautifully produced, The New Modern House captures these noteworthy designs with a wealth of color photography, plans, and drawings, and makes an ideal book for anybody dreaming of the perfect house.
Customer Reviews:
Very pretty to look at, but practical?.......2007-07-18
I was somewhat disappointed as a current homeowner and builder of a new contemporary home, I (like many people) was trying to get ideas. This is more of a text book for architecture students, showing them the far reaches of art. Very little ideas could be had as far as conceptually and practicly speaking...
Mielda mano que loquera !!.......2006-08-09
Me encanto este bendito libro ! Ya que se lo compre a mi pana full RICKY !! SI CHICAS RICKY !!
2 meses mas tarde..... BEST SELLING BOOK OF THE YEAR !!
JE JE .. kkkkkkkkk
MODERN ARCHITECTURE.......2006-04-08
Mr. Jones really needs to give his photographer a bonus because his images really make this book, not that the text is not well thought and out and researched. Most of these homes are just spectucular, I love the use of glass, steel, and rich woods, it's so clean and elegant. You really come away with a new appreciation of current architectural styles as you puruse this wonderful book. Frankly, I could not live in many of these homes, but all of them radiate beauty and inovation. Highly recommended, if for no other reason than to get some ideas for your own home, uh, but you better have some stock in Apple.
Contemporary and very different modern designs by top designers and firms .......2005-08-11
Contemporary and very different modern designs by top designers and firms are the profile of Will Jones' The New Modern House, which packs in color photos of all kinds of structures, from seaside homes to complex, multifaceted layouts for flat landscapes. Accompanying discussions survey architectural intentions and design options, but it's the photos which capture attention.
Product Description
Life is an unclassified masterpiece, a sprawling compendium as encyclopedic as Dante's Commedia and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and, in its break with tradition, as inspiring as Joyce's Ulysses. Structured around a single moment in time 8:00 p.m. on June 23, 1975 Perec's spellbinding puzzle begins in an apartment block in the XVIIth arrondissement of Paris where, chapter by chapter, room by room, like an onion being peeled, and extraordinary rich cast of characters is revealed in a series of tales that are bizarre, unlikely, moving, funny, or (sometimes) quite ordinary. From the confessions of a racing cyclist to the plans of an avenging murderer, from a young ethnographer obsessed with a Sumatran tribe to the death of a trapeze artist, from the fears of an ex-croupier to the dreams of a sex-change pop star to an eccentric English millionaire who has devised the ultimate pastime, Life is a manual of human irony, portraying the mixed marriages of fortunes, passions and despairs, betrayals and bereavements, of hundreds of lives in Paris and around the world.
But the novel in more than an extraordinary range of fictions; it is a closely observed account of life and experience. The apartment block's one hundred rooms are arranged in a magic square, and the book as a whole is peppered with a staggering range of literary puzzles and allusions, acrostics, problems of chess and logic, crosswords, and mathematical formulae. All are there for the reader to solve in the best tradition of the detective novel.
Customer Reviews:
Unquestionably one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.......2007-09-19
I first read this book when I was 17, and have reread it more than once; I loved it the first time, and it gets better each time. Perec can be a bit frustrating, and the book is not necessarily the easiest to get into, but if you give it time, by the end you'll be absolutely hypnotised. What I love especially is his attention to small things, everyday things, insignificant things: these are, after all, what make up life, and by portraying them with such loving care, Perec creates something very beautiful indeed, something like a love-song for ordinary life (though this is not to say there is no drama in the book - there is).
If you read Bellos's wonderful biography, a lot of things in the book become clearer, but you don't actually need to follow the various tricks and games (I hadn't a clue when I first read it, but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment). Another reviewer compared Perec to Glenn Gould; it would be equally apt to compare this work, I think, to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (so wonderfully performed by Gould): both take the basic elements and carefully show how they are things of profound beauty.
BEST and WORST book ever read!.......2006-07-24
This book is really a rare one. If you are not ready to spend a long time with a complex book, find another one. This book takes time and patience. But as stated in the title, I think this not only my worst but also my best read.
If you are to read the book, it is nice to know that Perec was a member of the Oulipo philosophical group in France, who believed in constrained writing. Constrained writing means that by adding a constraint, the story will be "easier" to write, because you have ruled out many options. In this book the story revolves around jigsaw puzzles and this is the main theme & constraint in the book. Each chapter is like a little piece: in itself almost completely incomprehensible, but the more pieces you see, it suddenly seems to make sense. Until you understand the even greater motif and (metaphorically) see that the sea you thought you were matching together was actually a painting on the wall.
The book is very intelligently written, and very enjoyable. But at the same time is it not written in a way to make it nice to read, but written to follow the set of rules constructed.
To summarize: if you are into COMPLEX but REWARDING literature - READ THIS BOOK!
la vie mode d'emploi.......2006-06-29
[This book still ranks as one of the greatest novels I've read, so I'm re-publishing the review I put on this site nearly ten years ago. The bracketed text has been added to the original review.] This is the second most fascinating novel I've ever read [my favorite was The Possessed by Dostoyevsky], the best one I've read in twenty [now thirty] years. If you revel in complexity, this book is for you. [Check out the edition of Perec's sketches for this book, published by the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris.] Perec prompts introspection on many levels. The plot(s) are some of the most intriguing anywhere. The human condition is probed to the greatest possible depth. Despite certain minor [really minor] infelicities, Bellos has done an excellent job translating, consistently capturing the atmosphere (and there is a lot of atmosphere) of the original. (The title is one of the few translating gaffes. The original French does not convey the image of a computer manual and the term "user's manual" was not in general use in English until after the novel was written.) Once you've read it you will be on the constant look-out for others who know Perec. [Read all of Perec and try Harry Mathews.]
Written by a rich imagination.......2005-12-16
It is possible to fall in love with this book. As an intellectual exercise it is a triumph as it is never stuffy and self important but infinitely compassionate, humourous and inclusive. Little touchs like the index of all the different stories contained in the book are delightful and enable you to dip back into a particular moment.
Life a User's Manual is a description of one moment in time. Perec takes you through all the rooms of an apartment block, leads you to scenarios and objects and then into their histories back through other stories and objects as if you were a ghost moving through time and space.
If you enjoy quirky eccentric characters that have been created with a rich original imagination this is the book for you. I would also recommend The Manuscript Found in Saragossa by Jan Potoki for further enjoyment.
Perec User's Manual.......2005-09-19
Book arrived in on time in excellent condition. I am very satisfied with this bookseller and highly recommend them.
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