French or Foe?: Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France

Amazon.com

Let's face it: the French have gotten a bad rap. Mention that you're considering a trip to France and everyone will warn you about rude waiters, supercilious shopkeepers, and snooty concierges who won't give you the time of day--and worse, pretend not to understand your high-school French. Not so, says Polly Platt, author of French or Foe?; "The French are generous, exhilarating friends," but they are different--wonderfully so. The trick to getting along in France is understanding the culture and learning to accept it on French terms instead of your own. Though the book is designed primarily for people who will be living or working in France for extended periods, the lessons Platt teaches about manners, attitudes, and culture are invaluable for even those visitors just passing through.

Customer Reviews:

Best Friends We've Ever Had.......2007-07-05

As the relatively new kids on the geopolitical block, we Americans often misunderstand how the rest of the world operates, none more so than our amis ancien the French. I came across this book in a Genevan bookstore shortly after moving there and it has helped me immeasurably over the years. My Parisian friends have enjoyed and confirmed the truth and wisdom contained in its pages.

Who knew that approaching the French in a typically American way with a big smile and focus on the task at hand is considered disingenuous and rude? How amazingly different is the response I consistently get with a deadpan expression, proper greeting and speaking French first before getting down to business!

A whole host of helpful tips, from playing devil's advocate during an evening together, politically incorrect flirtation, and the customer not always being right, are covered here in a humorous and easy-to-remember fashion. Understanding builds the bridge to friendship. After all, the French have been our friends since before we became a sovereign country, even if it, as President Sarkozy has said, "friendship means accepting that friends can have different opinions."

Indispensible.......2007-05-28

The single most indispensable book for anyone planning on living in France for longer than five months.

More than a mere study of facts and procedures, "French or Foe" explores the worldview of the French that make all that they do comprehensible. Without reading this work, France is incomprehensible, and you will be confined to a social and hermeneutic ghetto.

Highly recommended.

Informational, educational and fun!.......2007-03-01

I am an American woman married to a French husband, and when I came across this book, I was unprepared for such thorough explanations of and insights into my husband's often inexplicable behavior. Polly Platt's book goes a long way in demystifying the French, and makes you laugh along the way. A great guide for anyone planning to visit or live in France.

Foreign Country Vacation prep a MUST.......2007-02-10

French or Foe is a well written book that is a thoroughly enjoyable read AND was of immense help in preparing us for dealing with our first trip 'across the big water.' Despite our having very limited French at our disposal, the understanding of the French - through this book- allowed us to not only get along, but to thoroughly enjoy ourselves (in contrast to an unprepared fellow American Travelor, at our motel, who appeared to be about ready for a straight jacket).

How to enjoy the French.......2007-01-26

This book is an excellent guide to people proposing to live/work, of just visit in France. While it is directed mainly to Americans, it would be equally useful to Australians, or anyone from any other culture. It explains the culture, and particularly the codes of behaviour that non-francophones find so baffling. There is a rather long, complex potted history section which explains much of the background to the code, but for the short-term visitor, just having knowledge of the codes and how to respond to them will suffice. Armed with the contents of this book, one should have a trouble-free time in France.

Enemies: How America's Foes Steal Our Vital Secrets--and How We Let It Happen

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Enemies
Bill Gertz deserves a truckload of Pulitzers
Eye Opening Book
Sobering look
Gertz Puts Another Ball Over The Left Field Fence

Enemies: How America's Foes Steal Our Vital Secrets--and How We Let It Happen
Bill Gertz
Manufacturer: Crown Forum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Intelligence & Espionage | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America

ASIN: 0307338053
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Book Description

It’s the great untold story of the war on terror.

Taking advantage of gaping holes in America’s defenses, terrorist organizations and enemy nations like Communist China, North Korea, Russia, and Cuba—not to mention some so-called friends—are infiltrating the U.S. government to steal our most vital secrets and use them against us. And most astonishing of all, our leaders are letting it happen.

In the explosive new book Enemies, acclaimed investigative reporter Bill Gertz uncovers the truth about this grave threat to our national security and America’s harrowing failures to address the danger. Gertz’s unrivaled access to the U.S. intelligence and defense communities allows him to tell the whole shocking story, based on previously unpublished classified documents and dozens of exclusive interviews with senior government and intelligence officials. He takes us deep inside the dark world of intelligence and counterintelligence—a world filled with lies and betrayal, spies sleeping with enemy spies, and moles burrowing within the FBI, the CIA, the Pentagon, and even the White House.

Enemies stunningly reveals:

• The untold story of one of the most damaging enemy spy penetrations in U.S. history—and how the FBI bungled the investigation

• How Communist China’s intelligence and influence operations may have reached the highest levels of the U.S. government

• Why Russia has as many spies in America today as it did at the height of the Cold War

• How al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups use official identification, uniforms, and vehicles to infiltrate secure areas and carry out attacks

• How some thirty-five terrorist groups are targeting the United States through espionage

• A startling account of the many enemy spies the U.S. has let get away

• How a Cuban mole operated high up in the Pentagon for sixteen years

• The gross ineptness that led U.S. officials to hound an innocent man while the real mole operated right under their noses

• Why aggressive counterintelligence represents the only real defense against terrorists and enemy spies—and why the U.S. intelligence bureaucracy resists it

Delivering the kind of shocking new information that led Washington Monthly magazine to declare him “legendary among national security reporters,” Bill Gertz opens our eyes as never before to deadly threats and counterintelligence failures that place every American at risk.

America’s enemies, including terrorist organizations, are stealing our most vital secrets to use against us—and the U.S. government makes it shockingly easy for them to do so. Filled with headline-making revelations from acclaimed reporter Bill Gertz, Enemies reveals the frightening untold story of the War on Terror.

Also available as an eBook

Customer Reviews:

Enemies.......2007-05-16

I think this book is excellent for one who likes to write essays or research paper about national security. There are a lot of information I haven't even known before from other information sources. the content of the book is well organized, so easy to collect information what I need for my writing. The stories were real happened, so it made me be interested. I'm sure this book is good for you to achieve your goals to write essays or researchpaper as well as you enjoy reading many interesting real stories.

Bill Gertz deserves a truckload of Pulitzers.......2007-03-09

It will never happen, of course. Real investigative reporters who don't disguise their love and concern for the United States, folks like Bill Gertz and Bill Sammon will never gain the respect and votes of the Pulitzer Prize committee. They preserve their votes for people like Walter Duranty, who denied there was famine in the Ukraine and won a Lenin Prize in addition to his Pulitzer.

Gertz is concerned for America's safety. As he puts it "[u]ntil we fix the gaping holes in our defenses, America will remain highly vulnerable to our enemies." And after reading this book, if you weren't already worried, you will be.

Anyone who has visited a government office, whether to renew their driver's license, pay their property taxes, mail a package or whatever, knows that governments do not hire the cream of the crop. What happens when second, third and fourth rate people are hired by the CIA, the FBI and other security agencies?

Uh, you get second, third or fourth rate performance in situations where the stakes are very, very high: like the preservation of the nation's secrets.

Gertz details scandals resulting from the incompetence of the CIA and FBI. A Chinese woman has two lovers, both FBI agents. She's one of their prized informants - and a spy for the Chinese government. The investigation of her is muddled and she walks.

The FBI spends years persecuting a CIA agent suspected of being a spy. They have no real evidence, but the harassment is non-stop. Their big clue is the CIA employee's proximity to a partiular park. After three years, after a KGB defector is paid $7 million for information, the FBI learns that the spy indeed lives near the park in question: his name is Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent who has spied for the Soviets for years.

Gertz points out that literally every nation is spying on the United States - and that our agencies are horribly grossly incompetent to detect the spies and catch them.

This is a frightening book, but one that every concerned American should read.

Jerry

Eye Opening Book.......2007-01-03

This book brings to light the extent our enemies will go to get information they want. It also tells how often international agreements on arms and nuclear material are violated for money. While the United States has to try to work with many nations to broker some form of peace, the book shows there is no Nation we can fully trust. A good read for anyone interested in espionage and counterintelligence.

Sobering look.......2007-01-03

The title should be "The Enemy Within" as we seem to be our own worse enemy.

The priority always seemed to be telling the powers to be what they wanted to hear in order to preserve job security and personal career growth.

If we continue to keep the "head in the sand" attitude we will be in real trouble.

I urge anyone who works for a defense contractor or a government agency to read this book.

Dave C
Nashua , NH

Gertz Puts Another Ball Over The Left Field Fence .......2006-10-29

In his crisply written, well researched style Gertz hits another homerun with Enemies. Like a scientist looking at an iceberg Gertz has the contacts and skills to investigate the 80% that's hidden from the public, either through spin control or the bias of the press.

Gertz weaves together the threads of the fabric that China uses to blind the American public to the threat while it exerts far too much control over Washington with a combination of agents of influence, spys and those willing to look the other way when the Chicom campaign contributions come rolling in.

The follies of the FBI also play a large role in the book as Gertz unravels the bungled investigations and prosecutions which allowed so many spies to go free or with just a slap on the wrist. The bizzare goings on in the FBI's ranks where two senior agents are sleeping with a Chinese agent and feeding her information on other investigations. The belief inside the FBI that the mole must be in the CIA when it was really one of the FBI agents. The tragic loss of material from our nuclear labs.

This is a great but not pleasant read. Sadly thousands of our sons and daughters are likely to die as the result of the failure to recognize China as a major military threat with expansionist goals.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Note - The one star reviews are mostly by one review posters who do not appear to have read to book or perhaps posting from somewhere in the far east.

Average customer rating:

This book is 9 chapters long!
The Battle Is Joined.
action packed fun
High Interest, Amazing illustrations

Obi-Wan's Foe (Jedi Readers)
Jane Mason , and Sarah Stephens
Manufacturer: LucasBooks for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375826092
Release Date: 2005-04-02

Book Description

As a very special extension of our acclaimed and bestselling Step into Reading line, Star Wars Jedi Readers will feature photographs from Episode III and text that is carefully designed to help children learn to read. This Step 5 Jedi Reader will focus on Obi Wan Kenobi’s adventure from the movie!

Customer Reviews:

This book is 9 chapters long!.......2007-07-29

Although, this book is geared toward younger kids, I wouldn't say it's geared toward "younger readers". I bought it for my 5 year old (who will be starting kindergarten in the fall) thinking it would be a much simpler book than it was. If you're not intimately familiar with Star Wars, some of the words will be hard for you to pronounce - something to keep in mind since you'll likely be reading this book to your child. My son was very distracted that the colors of Obi-Wan's ship and Boga were WRONG.

The Battle Is Joined........2005-09-15

OBI-WAN'S FOE is a book written for young Star Wars fans that describes the final battle between Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and the Separatist military commander, General Grievous. Like all sci-fi books oriented towards young readers, there are some words in the book that the target audience might have difficulty in understanding. There are a few differences between this book and REVENGE OF THE SITH and the REVENGE OF THE SITH novelization, e.g. there is no mention of a giant metal windmill in the movie or novel. Those few discrepancies aside, OBI-WAN'S FOE does contain a treat that is difficult to come by: an illustration of what General Grievous looked like before he became a cyborg trained in the Jedi arts. Speaking of illustrations, those are what make this book so different from many of the other young reader STAR WARS books on the market. Most of STAR WARS books aimed at kids are full of pictures from the films. OBI-WAN'S FOE takes a different route and instead of being filled with digitalized pictures, is full of brilliant and exciting drawings illustrated by Tommy Lee Edwards. Overall, a fairly exciting episode from REVENGE OF THE SITH told in a way that young fans will enjoy that includes some great illustrations, including one of a pre-cyborg General Grievous.

action packed fun.......2005-06-08

"Obi-Wan's Foe" is a fast paced and enjoyable read. It primarily features the part of Episode III when Obi-Wan Kenobi faces General Grievous on Utapai. The young reader may be a bit disoriented to read that author Jane Mason tinkered with some of the plot details, so there are minor discrepancies when compared to both the film and Matthew Woodring Stover's novel. Perhaps being the only "Revenge of the Sith" book in the Jedi Readers that is not composed of film stills, Tommy Lee Edwards' original illustrations are beautiful. After combing through extensive Star Wars literature, I believe that this title features the only visualization of what General Grievous looked like before his cyborg surgery. To realize that Grievous looked scarier before his operation is by itself worth the $3.99 retail cost! While it will never win any awards, "Obi-Wan's Foe" is an entertaining and action packed book.

High Interest, Amazing illustrations.......2005-05-22

Kids will love this novelization of Obi Wan's adventures from Episode III. Novelizations aren't great literature but if you want your child to love to read - especially if you have a boy -- you want to keep his interest. On a side note, the illustrations are amazing. The blurb says the book includes photos but my son loved looking at Tommy Edwards' astonishing, realistic yet fantastical artwork.

Average customer rating:

Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods
Wonderful Treatment of the Facts
Must reading for all science students and teachers
The best of its kind
An outstanding book

Science and Faith: Friends or Foes?
C. John Collins
Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Science & Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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A Matter of Days: Resolving a Creation Controversy

ASIN: 1581344309

Book Description

Many believers worry that science undermines the Christian faith. Instead of fearing scientific discovery, Jack Collins believes that Christians should delight in the natural world and study it. God’s truth will stand against any challenge and will enrich the very scientific studies that we fear.

Collins first defines faith and science, shows their relation, and explains what claims each has concerning truth. Then he applies the biblical teaching on creation to the topics of “conflict” between faith and science, including the age of the earth, evolution, and miracles. He considers what it means to live in a created world. This book is for anyone looking for a Christian engagement with science without technical jargon.

Collins maps the entire interface between faithful biblical interpretation and questions of all sorts posed in the name of the sciences. Interesting, fair-minded, shrewd, and clear from start to finish, this will prove outstanding as a pastoral resource.
— J. I. Packer
Professor of Theology, Regent College

There is something here for just about everyone. Science and Faith is required reading for all who are interested in the relationship between science and the Christian faith.
— J. P. Moreland
Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

This is a highly significant book on possibly the most important subject confronting the church today—the neutrality of science. A delightful style makes it easily accessible yet the author never neglects important issues. It is the best book of its kind for decades.
— Ranald Macaulay
L’Abri Fellowship

Jack Collins is my kind of guy—a fellow MIT nerd. But he is much more: a brilliant scholar of biblical languages and a keen observer of the interaction between science and the Christian faith. This is a wonderful book, and I recommend it most strongly.
— Henry F. Schaefer III
Professor of Chemistry and Director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry, University of Georgia

Customer Reviews:

Faith is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.......2006-06-22

Many Christians worry that science undermines the Christian faith. Instead of fearing scientific discovery, Jack Collins believes that people of faith should study the natural world.

Collins first explains that science is controversially defined, but that it is best viewed as "a discipline in which one studies features of the world around us, and tries to describe his observations systematically and critically." (pg. 34) In his definition of faith, Collins lauds a statement by C. S. Lewis who said, "Faith ... is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods. For moods will change, whatever view your reason takes." (Quoting C.S. Lewis, pg. 38)

Finally he shows their relations and explains what each has concerning truth.

Collins also delves into the public debate, teaching his readers how to think critically about Darwinist arguments. In a chapter entitled, "Culture Wars and Warriors," he critiques the arguments of Darwinists such as Barry Lynn and Eugenie Scott. Lynn, he observes, aims to "mold your emotional reaction" to design proponents by comparing them to "fundamentalists" and proponents of "astrology." Lynn's misrepresentations draw attention to the need for "education that fosters sound critical thinking and keen awareness of rhetoric." (pg. 335) Next Collins scrutinizes the arguments of Eugenie Scott:

"First, she wants you to think that she speaks on behalf of science and scientists--you can see that from how she uses "we." Second, she wants you to think that your religious values--"whodunit" and "ultimate causes"--are safe with her version of science. And third, she uses a harmless definition of evolution that almost no one can be bothered about." (pg. 336)

Scott had defined evolution as simply "change through time" and the notion that living organisms "have shared common ancestors and descended with modification." (quoting Scott, pg. 335) But Collins had already explained that "Neo-Darwinism claims to have discovered, not just that `these [lifeforms] have transformed and differentiated,' but how they did so: namely by `an unpredictable and natural process of temporal descent with genetic modification that is affected by natural selection, chance, historical contingencies and changing environments.'" (pg. 272) Thus, if theists "believe that God `controlled' the process of evolution, they would do well to define `controlled.'" (pg. 272)

Collins' book is worth reading for any person attempting to obtain a realistic understanding of the relationship between science and faith.

Wonderful Treatment of the Facts.......2004-07-02

John Collins has done an exceptionally good job at tying together the world of science and faith. The high degree of training he has received in both science and Biblical languages is evident. The discussion on the Genesis days and how they relate to the age of the Earth/universe was especially enlightning, i think his interpretation will go a long way in the future. What about the issue of plant and animal death before the fall of Adam? Well he offers great insights to this controversial issue as well. All in all a terrific book, i highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in science faith issues.

I also recommend The Case for a Creator by Lee Strobel as well as A Matter of Days and The Fingerprint of God by Hugh Ross for excellent treatments of the science/faith issues.

Must reading for all science students and teachers.......2004-03-29

Dr. Collins has his undergraduate and first graduate degree from MIT, and his Ph.D. is from the university of Liverpool. Professor Collins produced an excellent balanced book on Intelligent Design (ID), which unlike most books in this area he looks at both the science of ID and the implications of this field for theology. Chapter 20 "Cultural Wars and Warriors" is an excellent refutation of the foolish claims of Eugene Scott and her organization. Collins shows why ID is critical for theology and why Fundamentalist Darwinism is lethal for theism. In chapter 17 he answers some common objections to ID, and shows why professional science organizations, such as the National Association of Biology Teachers (of which I am a member, even though I teach biology at the college level), are so hostile to this world view. As a scientist, the most useful part of the book was from page 217 to the end. The first part covered theology which I did read very carefully, due to lack of interest and knowledge in this area. The 2nd half was well worth the price of the book and highly recommended.

The best of its kind.......2004-01-23

This is a jewel of a book--carefully argued, insightful, and well informed in natural science, theology, and Biblical exegesis. While it has many assets for anyone interested in the dialogue between science and Christianity, what stands out in my mind is its treatment of the relevant Biblical texts. Collins' knowledge of the nuances of Hebrew is staggering. I find his treatment of the ever-controversial "days" of Genesis 1 to be especially satisfying. I suspect that his arguments will be widely considered, and highly regarded, in coming years.

An outstanding book.......2004-01-21

Jack Collins is my kind of guy - a fellow MIT nerd. But he is much more: a brilliant scholar of biblical languages and a keen observer of the interaction between science and the Christian faith. This is a wonderful book, and I recommend it most strongly.

The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan: The Literary Tradition

Average customer rating:

Fantastic
Long time T'ai Chi student
Highly Recommended with Five Stars
nice early translation
Great for Wing Chun Practitioners Too

The Essence of Tai Chi Chuan: The Literary Tradition
Benjamin P. Lo , Martin Inn , Susan Foe , and Robert Amacker
Manufacturer: North Atlantic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0913028630
Release Date: 1993-01-21

Book Description

A handbook of the classical Chinese literature on which the art of t'ai chi is based. First English translation of the classic texts of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. This is required reading for practitioners of every style.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic.......2007-06-09

Great for any Internal Martial Art's practitioner, this book can be understood on a different level as your level of understanding increases. This book is one for beginners and experienced IMA practitioners alike.

Long time T'ai Chi student.......2007-01-06

A wonderful little book of thoughts and peoms to go with T'ai Chi. It's title is extremely apt. I would recommend it to all who love T'ai Chi

Highly Recommended with Five Stars.......2006-12-20

Great book! It showcases the Tai Chi Classics from centuries of martial masters.I highly recommend this to all martial artists.

nice early translation.......2006-10-15

The tai chi classics are essential study for any halfway serious student of tai chi, martial arts, or life in general. There are now many translations of the classics - when this one was published there were few or none.

The nice thing about this version is that the translators let the words speak for themselves. Most others include commentary by the translators (which is, ultimately, their own opinions, and may or may not be helpful). Here you let the words sink in, you ponder and reflect, and gradually gradually develop your own sense of these important ideas.

Great for Wing Chun Practitioners Too.......2005-03-14

I found that this book contains the best writings on Wing Chun available. It was recommended to me by my teacher's teacher. I know it's about Tai Chi concepts but the astute Wing Chun practitioner will benefit immensely from it. No it doesn't show any forms. It's not a "how to" book. It's a "learn deeper things about what you already know" book.

Average customer rating:

A challenge and a mystery.
At the Coalface of Postmodernism
an enthusiast's choice
a review
Best "Robinson Crusoe" book.

Foe: A Novel (King Penguin)
J. M. Coetzee
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Robinson Crusoe (Norton Critical Editions)
Wide Sargasso Sea: A Novel (Norton Paperback Fiction)
Robinson Crusoe (Penguin Classics)
Age of Iron
In the Heart of the Country: A Novel

ASIN: 014009623X

Customer Reviews:

A challenge and a mystery........2007-06-24

This much studied novel offers the reader mysteries wrappped inside enigmas throughout the second half of the book. This could be a frustrating book to any reader who wishes to finish a book totally understanding all that they have read and feeling that all the pieces came together into a whole complete wrap-up at the end.

Coetzee takes Daniel DeFoe's Robinson Cruso, and deconstructs it to the extreme by offering an alternative tale that preceeds the writing of the novel. Coetzee tells the story of Susan Barton, a brave and handsome woman who leaves England to find her abducted daughter in Brazil. After two years of fruitless searching and poverty she tries to return to England , however Portuguese mutineers take over the ship and put her adrift in the Caribbean/Western Atlanta, where she eventually lands on an island inhabited by a Robinson Cruso and a mute slave, Friday.

The first half of the book is a wonderful straight forward narrative, written in letter form from Susan Barton to the novelist Daniel DeFoe. However it is the second half of the book that may be more challenging as Coetzee explores the gulf between reality and the perception of reality as expressed by a single observer. Then this perception of reality, which may become a narrative, is contrasted with that story as it is developed by a storyteller or as it is contrasted with alternative views of the same events.

This leads folks to identify this novel as a prime example of post-modern literature. We are offered the opportunity to explore a story that was not heard, in other words - the experiences of Susan Barton are completely written out of the story of Robinson Cruso. But before we feel too sorry for Ms. Barton, we are given example after example of how she fails to understand the African slave man, Friday. Who's story is the right story? We side originally with Susan Barton, a most appealing character. Yet in part 2 of the novel we soon see that she is less and less a reliable narrator and we soon find that she is talking in metaphore.

Daniel DeFoe, probably the best known novelist of his time, was constantly in debt. Susan Barton hides in his home while DeFoe hides elsewhere. During this time a girl begins to follow and haunt Suan Barton. She says she is also Susan Barton and she is the daughter of Susan Barton. The adult Susan Barton tells her that she is 'father born' and that she is really not her adult missing daugher in Brazil. We come to realize that the young Susan Barton is the narrative DeFoe is writing about Susan's life and the young girl goes not match Susan's perception of reality. We come to realize that DeFoe is learning that Susan will be his 'foe' in trying to develop the story and therefore distance from her is required for his creative process.

In the end this novel combines a range of narrative styles, including converstaional and letter styles. We are sometimes not sure of the narrator, especially in the final pages. Issues around power and race, power and gender, colonialism, and the creative process all twist together. Coetzee honors the creative process and the necessity to edit out those voices that will not enhance the final work of art - yet here he offers a fine creative product in which at least one edited voice is allowed to speak for herself, at least in the Coetzee novel.

Susan Barton is not the only unheard voice. Friday is said to be mute but we are unsure of this through much of the book. We are unsure of his past, his loss of voice, and the range of actions he takes - many of which are ritual and not clear to Susan or the reader. The passage where Friday opens his mouth and the ocean winds and surf are heard would appear to be a comment on the fact that words, despite their power, have limitations, they approximate reality, they are not perfect mirrors of reality.

Read this book with a friend since you will want to discuss the ambiguities with someone.

At the Coalface of Postmodernism.......2006-03-16

Foe "establishes itself as a prior, more original text" (Krupat 1992:9) to Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe. The primary difference is that, in Coetzee's "prior" text, a young woman, Susan Barton, is washed ashore on Crusoe's island following a mutiny. She becomes the real narrator of the story -- and the story she tells is radically different to that which the original Robinson Crusoe narrates. Not only that, but her man of Letters, Foe, finally takes her story and writes her out of it, giving it shape as the present Robinson Crusoe. I shall offer my own, original interpretation of the book.

The first section may be autobiographical -- perhaps charting the author's inner journey from modernism to postmodernism. It describes the island, windswept and desolate -- unlike Defoe's original rich setting. Barton is a "livewire" who is concerned that Cruso has "narrowed his horizon". She is concerned about his "indifference to salvation". However, Cruso is quite content to lose himself "in the contemplation of the wastes of water and sky" -- rather than constructing doubtful meanings for the past, present, or future.

The second section enters into many of the problems of narrative and history. It takes place after Barton's rescue and return to England. Cruso, unable to bear the loss of his island, dies on the return journey. Barton seeks a publisher for her story (Foe), and corresponds with him. But Barton's mind is beset with problems as to how, or even whether, her story should be told. Is the story important after all? Whose story should be told? Is she distorting its content? What should she do with Friday, who is unable to speak? In fact, even when she gets into his clothes, she is unable to understand him.

The third section apparently contemplates theories of truth. Bearing in mind J.M. Coetzee's training as a computer scientist and linguist, I shall draw on the structure of computer languages. "The trick I have learned," says Foe, "is to plant a sign or marker in the ground" (this might refer to the main program). "I shall have something to return to" (one returns to the main program after a subroutine). "The more often I come back to the mark . . . the more I am heartened." The implication is, perhaps, that a life ultimately becomes its own meaning.

The fourth and final part of the novel is a short one, and may represent an attempt to paint reality beyond words and reason. There is a confusion of dream-like imagery. Barton says that God "wrote a Word so long that we have yet to come to the end of it." That is, it would seem impossible to confine truth to words or narrative, or to any enclosed system of meaning. In the closing scene, "a slow stream" comes from the mute Friday. "It runs northward and southward, to the ends of the earth" -- perhaps implying that the inflence of truth is inevitable, regardless of what narration may do to it.

The novel has been described as "an archetypal postmodern novel". In fact it takes one to the "coalface" of postmodernism. It leads one carefully through each of the many deconstructing questions about meaning. This is no textbook on postmodernism, nor even a representation of the same. This is to observe a postmodernist at work, and this makes the book unique.

Krupat, Arnold. Ethnocriticism: Ethnography, History, Literature, 1992. Berkeley: University of California Press.

an enthusiast's choice.......2006-01-27

J.M. Coetzee is clearly an enigma of a man as well as a hell of a writer. I read this book for a college lit. class and ended up extracting a great topic that I based my thesis on. Definitely a great (and short) book, but far from "light" reading. Also, I would highly recommend re-reading the orginial Robinson Crusoe to fully appreciate this book.

a review.......2005-12-07

Coetzee is a South African writer who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 (not for this book); the first author to win two Booker prizes, and is known for his novels that look at race issues. This novel is a retelling of Robinson Crusoe as an "archetypal postmodern" novel. It operates on many levels and there have been 100s (1000s?) of academic journal musings written about it's many allegorical, literary and philosophical permutations about race, colonialism, feminism, creativity. I found it to be in such rarefied air that it was a blockage to an enjoyable story. For a didactic novel it is gold.

Best "Robinson Crusoe" book........2005-04-18

I had to read Robinson Crusoe and Foe for my English 101 class, mainly due to the fact that I have/had to write a Compare and Contrast essay on the two. I can safely say that Foe is by far a much better title than its predecessor. Why, I ask myself. I think it's because of the old-style grammar back then, it's just difficult to get into.

Foe on the other hand, starts off right in the beginning with adventure. It's no snooze. I love this book.

Buttons and Foes: A Mandy Dyer Mystery (Mandy Dyer Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

My first experience
Mandy Buttons up Another Murder Case!
Great series!!
Mandy's back
entertaining amusing amateur sleuth novel

Buttons and Foes: A Mandy Dyer Mystery (Mandy Dyer Mysteries)
Dolores Johnson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Minotaur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312283962

Book Description

In another fast-paced and funny frolic, dry cleaner extraordinaire Mandy Dyer takes the mystery out of making a fortune by collecting rare buttonsIn the latest Mandy Dyer mystery, the intrepid drycleaner is reunited with her right-hand man, Mack; Betty-the-bag-lady; and Nat, wonderboy reporter. When one of Mandys favorite customers meets a suspicious end, Mandy decides to hire her own private detective. The gumshoe turns out to be a disreputable guy she stood up in high school who has since been transformed into Mr. Clean. Will the truth come out in the wash? Will this case get all sewn up? Or will everyone button their lips and let Mandy get the starch knocked out of her?

Customer Reviews:

My first experience.......2005-04-28

This was my first experience with Mandy Dyer and what a great one! I was totally wrapped up in the story about all these buttons and come to find out a big secret!

Now that I have read the rest of the Mandy Dyer's I do have to say I'm a bit disappointed in the Stan Foster character, all through the series there wasn't much development with him and now it seems Ms Johnson wants to get rid of him all together. Hopefully she won't do this with Mandy's next beau.

Mandy Buttons up Another Murder Case!.......2003-06-27

In this 6th book in the Mandy Dyer mysteries series involving a dry-cleaner who helps solve mysteries, Mandy finds herself as the proud new owner of a bunch of old clothes. It seems that a long-time customer has left them to Mandy after her death, and Mandy struggles to determine why this customer left her such a large bunch of ragtag clothing. During her search through the bags of clothes, Mandy discovers that sewn on several garments is a huge collection of buttons, some of which may be valuable. Thinking of the suspicious nature of her deceased customer's death and the potential value of this button collection, Mandy envisions a possible murder plot. Mandy sets out to determine if homicide was the case of death, and who the killer could be. Also included in this mystery is a possible new love interest for Mandy (she finally has broken off her relationship with Stan, the old cop boyfriend from previous novels) that sparks old feelings from the past.

I enjoyed the latest book in this series and was surprised at the killer's identity. The information regarding button collecting was interesting, informative, and added nicely to the mystery. I also was happy to see that Stan was mostly absent in this case, as he was not a supportive character for Mandy's inquisitive nature. This is an excellent book to read even if you have not read previous books in the series.

The first book in this series is "Taken to the Cleaners".

Great series!!.......2002-10-19

I love this series. Dolores Johnson is one of the few authors I will buy in hardback. I like her humor, her characters and the mystery she creates. I rank her with Laurien Berenson,Rhett MacPherson, Susan Cooper Rogers, Edie Clare..... I can't wait for the next book in the series. Thank you, Ms. Johnson, for introducing another love interest for Mandy. (I never did like Stan). Don't pass up this fun series.

Mandy's back.......2002-08-09

I've been waiting a long time for BUTTONS AND FOES, the latest Mandy Dyer drycleaning mystery, and I wasn't disappointed. BUTTONS AND FOES is a fun mystery with a treasure hunt thrown into the mix, and this time Mandy bumps into a potential love interest who promises to add a bit of steam to the series.

Good work, Dolores Johnson! I can't wait for the next Mandy book.

entertaining amusing amateur sleuth novel.......2002-08-08

Mandy Dyer, owner of a Denver dry cleaning company, is surprised to inherit two trash bags filled with clothing no one would want. In her will octogenarian customer Thelma Chadwick left the bags of clothing to Mandy. More of a shock than the bags to Mandy is how Thelma died. The elderly woman fell down the stairs leading to her basement. Considering that Thelma never used the stairs because of her arthritis coupled with the fact that the deceased complained about a prowler leads the successful amateur sleuth to conclude that someone killed her friend.

Mandy notices the odd variety of non-matching designer buttons sewed onto the dresses. Wondering if there is value to the buttons, Mandy makes inquires into button collecting, which turns out to be a very popular hobby with several local clubs. Over the objections of her plant manager Nat Wilcox she also begins investigating Thelma's neighbors and her dearly departed customer's sleazy California relatives.

The latest Mandy Dyer investigative tale is an entertaining amusing amateur sleuth novel. The story line is fun though the audience will need to overcome the hurdle (shared by most sub-genre books) of why Mandy would conduct any inquiries into Thelma's death especially when the dry cleaner's life seems threatened. Still, readers will want to take that leap because BUTTONS & FOES showcases Mandy at her inquisitive best and provides a new romantic entry for the heroine. With this novel and series, Dolores Johnson takes her audience to the cleaners, which fans will welcome the spin.

Harriet Klausner

Average customer rating:

Practical advice on an issue that's always emotional

A Solid Effort!

An important job and business practice guide.

Working Relationships: The Simple Truth about Getting Along

great tool for anyone who works with people

Working Relationships: The Simple Truth About Getting Along with Friends and Foes at Work
Bob Wall
Manufacturer: Davies-Black Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Communications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business Life | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Human Resources & Personnel Management | Industries & Professions | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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The Everything Leadership Book: The 20 Core Concepts Every Leader Must Know (Everything Series)

ASIN: 0891061339

Book Description

Being able to build effective relationships is at once the most important factor and the most frustrating challenge in creating success and satisfaction at work.

Customer Reviews:

Practical advice on an issue that's always emotional.......2006-03-04

The simple truth is that being good at what you do simply isn't good enough if you can't work with people. Technical abilities may get you promoted into a management position, but it takes interpersonal skills to keep you there. Bob Wall explores first, what makes work relationships successful and what makes them fail. He then provides some common-sense steps you can take to improve work relationships that aren't working.

The most effective way to improve work relationships, says the author, is to learn to distinguish between personal and professional relationships. A professional relationship exists solely for the purpose of getting work accomplished, while personal relationships can have many purposes. In personal relationships there is an assumption of equality, while professional relationships are often hierarchical. Conflict at work is often based on miscommunication. We are often blind to how our behavior affects others, while we are very critical of the faults of others. When there isn't adequate communication, we often stereotype others as "aggressive jerks" or "incompetent" without understanding the issues or perspective of the other.

To confront conflict at work, you must first understand that most people honestly mean well, but often fail to understand how their behavior and attitudes affect others on the team. Unless someone tells them about it, how will they know they should change? This is true of your own behavior as well. You must be willing to listen to how others are affected by your behavior on the job.

The easiest way to begin fixing problems at work is to agree on goals, roles and procedures. The most common source of problems in teamwork is ambiguity. The team should begin by asking themselves:
· What goals are we going to accomplish?
· What role is expected of every team member?
· How will we coordinate our work with each other?

A Solid Effort!.......2001-06-02

If you’ve been at loggerheads with a co-worker, calm down and read this. Bob Wall takes a close look at why the ubiquitous “personality problem” persists at work. His conclusions boil down to basics: Co-workers mix professional and personal relationships, confuse organizational roles and expectations, and simply clash due to dislike or incompatibility. He offers a number of familiar solutions to workplace conflict, advising you to pick your battles, agree to disagree and consider the possibility that you might be at fault. Not exactly rocket science, but Wall’s book is fresh, easy-to-read and reader-friendly. We ... recommend this book primarily to supervisors, who will find the dissection of professional relationships useful in managing your sometimes-hard-to-understand employees.

An important job and business practice guide........2000-05-04

This practical, important business books offers specific advice for users interested in business advice and enhancement. Bob Wall's Working Relationships presents facts on how to get along with friends and foes alike in a business setting. From building professional relationships and understanding different personality types and their motivations to handling complaints and requests, this provides an important job guide.

Working Relationships: The Simple Truth about Getting Along.......2000-01-24

This book is both practical and insightful. I could easily relate the situations described to my own. Mr. Wall provides down-to-earth and effective solutions to at-work problems that have the potential to ruin the day, the week - and sometimes the job! The principles can be applied to personal relationships as well.

great tool for anyone who works with people.......1999-12-13

I found this book to be an enjoyable read as well as a great resource for solving problems at work. It has some great excersizes to do and believe me they do work. This book is a must to own for anyone who needs help with a situation or problem at work .

Friend and Foe: The Gnomes and Kobolds of Tellene

Average customer rating:

Friend and Foe: The Gnomes and Kobolds of Tellene
Paul Wade-Williams
Manufacturer: Kenzer & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1594590214

Book Description

This book of Friend & Foe presents a new way of detailing player character D&D® races detailing two races that are naturally opposed to each other in one book.

Within this sourcebook you will find complete descriptions for the culture, society, military, and religious beliefs of two well known but often misunderstood races gnomes and kobolds.

As well as providing a wealth of background information, there are also new feats, spells, and prestige classes, allowing you to play either race to their fullest potential.

Friend & Foe contains invaluable information for both players and Dungeon Masters alike.

Being small doesn¹t mean you can¹t think big.

HackMaster: The Combatant's Guide to Slaughtering Foes
Average customer rating:
HackMaster: The Combatant's Guide to Slaughtering Foes
HackMaster Development Team
Manufacturer: Kenzer & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Hackmaster: The Hacklopedia of Beasts, Vol I

ASIN: 1889182222

Book Description

Driving your enemies before you and hearing the lamentations of their women! This thoroughly researched and finely detailed reference work includes everything you ever wanted to know about the masters of the art of Hack. It also includes detailed information on 8 new fighter group character classes, 19 new fighter quirks and flaws, over 17 new fighter skills, 15 new talents, and much, much more.

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