History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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.

Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso, the Thomas G. B. Wheellock Collection

Average customer rating:

flying colors for flying masks

Land of the Flying Masks: Art & Culture in Burkina Faso, the Thomas G. B. Wheellock Collection
Christopher D. Roy , and Thomas G. B. Wheelock
Manufacturer: Prestel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Private | Museums & Collections | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Mixed Media | Other Media | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Folk Art | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 3791335146

Book Description

The Thomas Wheelock Collection is the largest private assemblage of works of Burkina Faso art in the world. Now accessible to the public for the first time, this book reveals the country's enormous artistic range. Featured here are examples of the intricate and brightly colored masks for which Burkina Faso is best known, and which are used throughout the country in traditional ceremonies and celebrations. The collection also contains a multitude of other ceremonial objects such as costumes, dance ornaments, statues, instruments and pieces of jewelry as well as beautifully crafted everyday items including spoons, pots, baskets, stools and chairs. The pieces in this marvelously panoramic collection reflect a country rich in cultural diversity, tradition, and artistry.

Customer Reviews:

flying colors for flying masks.......2007-07-08

Although Burkina Faso lies between two nations, Mali and Cote d'Ivoire, whose art stands tall in the canons of African sculpture most sought after in the West, Burkina art has been given short shrift by museums, dealers and collectors, and in literature. As a result, long after important older objects had largely vanished from the lands of the Dogon, Bamana, Senufo and Baule, ancient masks, figures, and metalwork could still be
found in Burkina Faso. Author and collector Tom Wheelock had the good fortune to stumble upon this fact in the early 1970s. Persevering through chicanery and art market snobbery he assembled the largest collection of Burkina art in the world over the course of the next three decades. In this remarkable book, Land of Flying Masks, Tom Wheelock shares highlights from his collection in clean, bold images, with informative text and stunning field photography by Professor Christopher Roy, This is not a book of masterpieces- although there are more than a few- it is unique and long overdue survey of the traditional art of a single African nation lovingly rendered. Besides the flying masks one will find gorgeous baskets, stools, rings, hats, pots and musical instruments. A catalog with color thumbnail images and copious identifications takes up a substantial number of pages. For those of us who love African material culture in all its variety, particularly those passionate about the art of West Africa this book is an absolute must.

Average customer rating:

A fun read, sometimes incisive, sometimes downright wrong.
armchair analysis with lots and lots of words
Excellent Work by the World's Best Military Historian
A Fascinating Study of Military Command
War as the Extension of Policy By Other Means

The Mask of Command
John Keegan
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Intelligence & Espionage | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Strategy | Military | History | Subjects | Books

Military Science | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0140114068

Book Description

John Keegan asks us to consider questions that are seldom asked: What makes a great military leader? Why is it that men, indeed sometimes entire nations, follow a single leader, often to victory, but with equal dedication also to defeat?

Dozens of names come to mind...Napoleon, Lee, Charlemagne, Hannibal, Castro, Hussein. From a wide array, Keegan chooses four commanders who profoundly influenced the course of history: Alexander the Great, the Duke of Wellington, Ulysses S. Grant and Adolph Hitler. All powerful leaders, each cast in a different mold, each with diverse results.

"THE MASK OF COMMAND is as good as military history can get." (B-O-M-C News)

Customer Reviews:

A fun read, sometimes incisive, sometimes downright wrong........2007-09-30

The Mask of Command is a fun read with plenty of good ideas to go around but the casual reader needs to be very careful as Keegan sometimes gets things just plain wrong.

Take for example the essay on Grant, called "Unheroic Leadership". Analyzed as such because Grant subscribed to the idea of never leading from the front (mainly because leading from the front was both impossible and foolish by the beginning of the America Civil War), Keegan digs into what made Grant an especially fine general. While some of his finds are clever and his psychological assessment of Grant seems to hold water, his understanding of Grant as a particularly adept technocrat who adapted to the changing role of technology in the war is downright wrong.

I direct those of you who are interested in the truth to both Charles Dana's accounts of the civil war and to Lincoln's writings. Both of these men found Grant's use of the telegraph paltry and Lincoln was many times found wanting more information from Grant's camp. Indeed, Keegan assumes that Grant's use of the telegraph was a key ingredient to his unheroic leadership because he harnessed new technology to direct troops appropriately, but this is patently false as Grant despised sending telegraphs to anyone at all. It is much more likely that Keegan was sniffing the right path in declaring Grant as extremely proficient in his ability to surround himself with capable men such as Sherman and McPherson proved to be.

As I said, the careful reader will find quite a few discrepancies and a little digging will result in Keegan getting caught with his pants down, but there is also much to like about the book - just be careful with it because Keegan isn't.

Three stars is a bit harsh, but four stars would be too much. 3 1/2 is about right.

armchair analysis with lots and lots of words.......2007-06-30

I didn't think much of this book. Keegan's character introductions at the beginning of each section are quite good. When reading about Wellington's adventure throughout the four days of the Waterloo campaign, I believed that Keegan had written a great book. Then I got to his analysis and comparison to Alexander. As I fought my way through these subsequent pages of boredom I kept asking myself the question, "who cares?" The whole premis of the book would be better discussed over a couple beers and then only by history nerds. I would not recommend this book to anyone in the military, specifically in combat roles, hoping to mine some leadership leasons. I would have given the book two stars except for Keegan's undeniable command of exciting history prose, which is unfortunately only evident in small doses throughout this book.

Excellent Work by the World's Best Military Historian.......2007-03-29

John Keegan's Mask of Command is another great book from a truly great author. This is not necessarily an easy read, though certain parts read like a gripping novel. I read the book 20 years after it was written and find it to be an excellent study in command despite only a few outdated references (Soviet Union, etc). I would like to see Keegan publish a revised edition with his insight on the challenges of today's commanders and heads of state who must combat terrorism more than the spectre of Nuclear Holocaust.

A Fascinating Study of Military Command.......2007-02-12

John Keegan's highly accessible study of "The Mask of Command" was written 20 years ago but continues to hold up as an excellent examination of military leadership for the general reader.

Keegan provides fascinating case studies of the leadership styles of Alexander the Great of Greece, the British Duke of Wellington, American General U.S. Grant, and Adolf Hitler as Fuhrer of Germany. The physically courageous and flamboyant Alexander is styled the "heroic" leader; the understated Wellington an "anti-hero"; Grant, a humble man who had known personal hard times, as "unheroic"; and Hitler, a highly skilled practioner of theatrical propaganda, as the "false-heroic" leader. The case studies are engrossing if inevitably simplified for brevity; Keegan has captured the essentials of each man and the associated lessons of leadership.

Leadership studies are a challenging topic. It should be noted that Alexander and Hitler were simultaneously military leaders and heads of state, while Wellington's and Grant's civilian leadership roles came after their military careers. Changes in technology and society have had enormous impact on military leadership. Leading from the tip of the spear as Alexander did was almost a requirement in his day but would seem foolishly exposed in our own. Wellington's hands-on tactical leadership would become impossible on the far larger battlefields of the 20th and 21st century. Grant's willingness to take casulties would likely be politically unsupportable now, as it nearly was in his time. Hitler's leadership was an aberation in more ways than one. Keegan gets well-deserved credit for producing such a concise and readable book on such a tough topic.

This book is highly recommended to the general reader looking for an introduction into the study of military leadership.

War as the Extension of Policy By Other Means .......2006-08-05

The Mask of Command By John Keegan
--Reviewed by Philip W. Henry, Rialto CA

The British military historian John Keegan ("The Face of Battle";" The First World War") has a knack for distilling military history into a few well-crafted paragraphs. He does so particularly well in "The Mask of Command" -a study of leadership styles among Alexander (The Heroic); Grant (The Un-Heroic); Wellington (The Anti-Heroic); Hitler (`The False Heroic') and contemporary leaders (The'Post-Heroic').

His point is to distinguish among military leadership styles based on the personality and initiative of the Commander.

In a particularly insightful chapter, Keegan dissects the Battle of Waterloo on an hour-by-hour basis, paying particular note to Wellington's characteristic attention to detail and stamina (he is said to have slept fewer than eight hours during the course of the weeklong battle).

The importance of Military Intelligence (the subject of another Keegan book) is especially vital in earlier conquests, when the gathering of intelligence depended largely on Scouts, as in the Civil War, and not on technology, as in America's latest adventures in World Domination.

The lessons of the past, as in all history, are available to the Current Political Leadership: if only they examine them.

--By Philip Henry (Rialto, CA, Vietnam Veteran)

People of the Masks (The First North Americans, Book 10)

Average customer rating:

People of the Masks (The First North Americans, Book 10)
Consistent Entertainment
Worthwhile read!
Another good story of the possible past
another descent book

People of the Masks (The First North Americans, Book 10)
Kathleen O'Neal Gear , and W. Michael Gear
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Family Saga | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0812515617

Book Description

As the prophets have foretold, a child of power has been born unto the Turtle People of the Iroquois Nation. The Elders call him False Face Child, for he is the son of a powerful spirit. A living talisman, the child has inhuman eyes--black mirrors, ageless and deep--and all fear him.All but Jumping Badger, the most powerful war leader of the Bear People. He destroys an entire village to take the boy to use as a spiritual weapon. But his triumph is short-lived. The Bear People suffer terrible visions and hear the voices of the spirits. Strange ailments and mysterious deaths take them one by one.Though he is a seer, False Face Child is also a sad and lonely young boy named Rumbler. Twelve-year-old Wren befriends him and together they escape across the winter landscape of New York and Ontario with Jumping Badger close behind. He now fears the boy's power and seeks to kill him. Their only hope is to stay alive long enough to find Rumbler's legendary father, known only as The Disowned.

Customer Reviews:

People of the Masks (The First North Americans, Book 10).......2007-06-11

I've loved everything I've read by the Gears and I've read just about everything they have published. Wonderful interposing of fiction onto the facts! They use their expertise as anthropologists and as story tellers to combine what really has been found about North American Indians and interpose a very believable story onto it. They really make the past come alive! The inclusion of what has really been found by anthropologists adds tremendously to the books!

Consistent Entertainment.......2007-01-11

The Gears' continue to both entertain and enlighten with this latest in their series. The characters are as vivid and detailed as I have come to expect from this series and the environmental descriptions bring the reader to stand side by side with the characters. I continue to recommend this series to everyone I know who enjoys not only the past from an historical pov but also a darned good story!

Worthwhile read!.......2006-12-17

Once again this is another great book by the Gears. Although a work of fiction it provides insight on the culture and society of early Native Americans. Which I found well researched. Throw in a bit of the supernatural forces and you have another great book by this couple. I have enjoyed every book by them.

Another good story of the possible past.......2006-05-11

A huge surprise for me. I've always perceived the Native North Americans as a defeated people, on the brink of destruction (mostly because that was the way the today Americans presented the past). This book presents the unknown story of the florishing civillisations of the first Americans - as I've never seen it before. The tale is set in an farther past then that of the conquest - actually, in the period of the Viking discovery of the North American seashore (the Vinland, as they put it).
Two related nations, the Turtle and the Bear, covet the same power child - a dwarf boy named Rumbler, who is known as child of a forest spirit. But if the Turtle clan of "Paint Rock" loves and protects the boy, the Bear "Walksalong" clan - especially the war leader (not a little crazed by his own spirit-power) want the child to help them in war and hunting and will stop at nothing to have the boy.
They utterly destroy the boy's clan and kidnap him - but when warriors begin to die of unknown causes, the matrons of the Walksalong decide they don't want the child anymore and he has to be killed by starvation and cold.
Only a small girl stands by him and ultimately saves him, guiding him back to his relatives.
The fate of the Walksalongs, decided by a prophecy, comes true, despite their best efforts to reject it.
All the characters are profoundly human (or inhuman, in the case of the bad guys). That was superb writing (and the naive - sounding isn't so strong here as in "People of the Lightining"). I couldn't believe the power of this novel - and i'm hoping to get more of the novels of this series.

Highly recommended.

another descent book.......2006-03-15

this book and mist was for me probly the weakest out of all of the series of books. I got it because it was a gear's book but i had to force my why thought it.

Masks of Mexico: Tigers, Devils, and the Dance of Life

Average customer rating:

An attractive and valuable new reference on Mexican masks.

Masks of Mexico: Tigers, Devils, and the Dance of Life
Barbara Mauldin
Manufacturer: Museum of New Mexico Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Textile & Costume | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Folk Art | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0890133255

Book Description

Masks of Mexico is a state-by-state guide for collectors and general folk art enthusiasts to learn about the types of masked dances still carried out in Mexico's Indian and mestizo communities today. Close to one-hundred color photos of authenticated masks from the collection of the Museum of International Folk\ Art are presented, including finely carved pieces from the 19th century to simple face coverings made in the past ten years. The masked ceremonies are brought to life with documentary photos showing masqueraders acting out their roles.

Customer Reviews:

An attractive and valuable new reference on Mexican masks........1999-04-27

The author assigned herself the task of publishing a representative sample of masks from the many Mexican states with strong traditions of mask use, drawing from the previously underdisplayed collections of the Museum of International Folk Art, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The book brings together a number of interesting photographs of masked dancers, to augment the excellent mask photos. Some of these have appeared in other books on Mexican masking, accessible or inaccessible, others are fresh and new, to the reviewer at least.

In terms of the actual masks, a number of these are rather old, attractive or uncommon, rarely seen or described in books or exhibits; some others are not so old or rare, but nevertheless very interesting. A minority of others are familiar from other standard reference works, and add little to this volume. Their inclusion follows from the goal to present the broad spectrum of Mexican masking.

On the other hand, there appear to be virtually no decorative masks among all those illustrated, which is a credit to the excellent scholarship of the author. Indeed, she has taken great care to identify the carvers, the towns, the estimated age, and the indigenous traditions of each mask, to the extent that this could be documented. The estimated ages are refreshing in their modesty, in contrast to the florid attribution of great age to any demonstrable wear, that one so commonly encounters in books about masks.

Customer Reviews:

Man as Art, a visual feast.......2000-06-19

Man as Art is a stunning pictorial essay of face painting in Papua New Guinea. It's coffee table size format and razor sharp photographic resolution make the pictures breathtaking. The colors are vibrant and the lighting is outstanding.

Northwest Carving Traditions (Schiffer Reference Book)

Average customer rating:

beautiful
An incredible journey into the NW Native culture.

Northwest Carving Traditions (Schiffer Reference Book)
Karen Norris , and Ralph Norris
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Folk Art | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0764307991

Book Description

Native art on the Northwest Coast is very much alive and increasing in both artistry and volume. Over 400 color photographs of old and recent artwork have been selected with the collector in mind. Totems, drums, rattles boxes and canoes join the many masks displayed here. Many pieces are shown from several sides and the back to give a complete picture of the work. Master carvers as well as younger artists are featured. The text guides readers to better understand the complex society, its artwork, and current values.

Customer Reviews:

beautiful.......2001-09-02

Beautiful documentation of the pacific northwest style. The book gives a thorough history of the people, their lifestyle, inspirations for the work, and breakdown of the style and symbolism found in the carvings. The photos are clear and detail is sharp. There is a wide variety of subject and style shown throught the illustrations. Highly recommended

An incredible journey into the NW Native culture........1999-10-22

I have read and looked at many books about Northwest native art and culture but this book quickly overshadowed all the others I had read. It is a book filled with incredible photographs and a thorough explanation of this ancient culture. This book is history, beauty, a visit to the past, a visit to the future... a visit to now....it is a visit to extraordinary talent, it is a visit to a people whose imagination and reverence for nature and life could be an example to all of us in today's fragile world.

This not just another coffee table book..this is a must have for every person who loves art, who loves nature and who loves beauty. It is a walk with Northwest Native artists who talk to us through the words and photographs of Ralph and Karen Norris.

Average customer rating:

Not just a Halloween story

A revealing, unusual take on Halloween fun.

Dance by moonlight

Behind the Mask
Yangsook Choi
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Fiction | Multigenerational | Family Life | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Halloween | Holidays & Festivals | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Asian & Asian American | Multicultural Stories | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Can You See What I See? Once Upon A Time (Can You See What I See?)

The Polar Express

Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids: A Story a Day from December 1st through Christmas for Kids and Their Families

Los Gatos Black on Halloween

Snowmen Pop-Up Book

ASIN: 0374305226
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

Halloween is coming. “What are you going to be?” the children ask one another. Kimin says he will be his grandfather. “Going as an old man is not very scary,” they tease. What the children don’t know is that Kimin’s grandfather was a Korean mask dancer. And Kimin doesn’t know that the mask holds a secret for him.

With vibrant illustrations, Yangsook Choi joins Korean and American folk traditions in her story about a boy who finds a link to his grandfather, behind the mask.

Customer Reviews:

Not just a Halloween story.......2007-06-06

Kimin, a Korean-American boy, finally decides to dress as his grandfather for Halloween. But this is more than a mere Halloween story. It is a touching look at how the American Kimin finds a connection with his Korean grandfather, as well as the remarkable role the grandparent held in their cultural ancestry. He had been a mask dancer, the significance of which the author's note briefly explains. Beautifully painted replicas of masks and glimpses of clothing and decor carry the feel of Korea though the book.
An exquisitely executed book.

A revealing, unusual take on Halloween fun. .......2006-12-10

Yangsook Choi's BEHIND THE MASK tells of a different kind of Halloween in which Kimin says he's going as his grandfather - not a fun prospect to the other kids. But Kimin is Korean and his father was a Korean mask dancer, holding some surprises for his grandchild's choice. Kids in grades 2-3 will find it a revealing, unusual take on Halloween fun.

Dance by moonlight.......2006-10-31

Around early October, children's booksellers and librarians perform synchronized shudders as an influx of bad Halloween titles swamp bookshelves everywhere. You can't get away from them. Will the parents walk off with the repugnant tale of a little witch who just wants to be loved or something ironically sacchrine involving a boy who learns to share his candy? Whatever the case, the sheer piles of Halloween-inspired dreck is heady. With that in mind, a book like Yangsook Choi's, "Behind the Mask" comes across as a breath of fresh air in the midst of all this garbage. Choi tells a measured tale of a boy's wish to have the best and scariest costume for Halloween and throws in a good measure of Korean history and culture along the way. Consider this book the antidote to all the colorful horrible Halloween books that end up clogging the kiddies' brains.

Kimin has a problem. A Halloween problem. He has no idea what to dress up as this year, and his mom isn't being much help. All she's done is suggest that he look through his grandfather's old belongings stuffed away in two heavy boxes. Kimin is aware that his grandfather was once a famous dancer in Korea, but he's just uncovered a hitherto buried memory from when he was younger. When he was very little, Kimin spied on his grandfather late one night, only to find that the beloved relative had transformed his own face into something horrific. Now, going through the old boxes, Kimin discovers a scary mask that is EXACTLY the face the boy thought he saw that night. Now everything is clear for Kimin, and better still, he's found his new costume. His choice of disguise comes off as a hit with the other kids, but when Kimin accidentally bruises his family's priceless family heirloom it's his mother he'll have to explain everything to in the end.

Choi makes certain to end her book with a useful Author's Note at the back, explaining fully what a Talchum, or mask dance, really is. Now I'm not entirely certain why great Korean-American picture books are more plentiful than picture books from many other cultures these days. Maybe it's just my own perception, but when you've such high quality titles like Linda Sue Park's, "The Firekeeper's Son" and "Bee Bim Bop" alongside, "The Have a Good Day ?", by Frances and Ginger Park, you begin to take notice. This is by no means Choi's first book for children, but for those of us who are unfamiliar with her work, it makes for an ideal introduction. The story itself is intriguing. I was particularly interested in Kimin's repressed memories of seeing his masked grandfather and how that played into the plot. The last image in this book is of the boy asleep under the formerly "scary" mask, which gives the story a lasting feel of comfort. For me, the illustrations were touch and go. Some of them, like Kimin staring longingly out his window on a dark creepy night, have a wonderful tone and feeling to them. Others, like group shots of children on the playground, come across as two-dimensional and flat. By and large these illustrations carry the story along well (though my husband pointed out the Charlie Brown-ish shirt on the cover as a touch distracting).

For those amongst you who might want to pair this title with another dance inspired picture book, consider, "Little Sap and Monsieur Rodin" by Michelle Lord. Both books use similar illustration styles, but while one speaks of traditional Korean dance, the other concentrates on the dancing style of young girls in Thailand. The two together would make for an eclectic storytime. Original, interesting, and fun, this book is bound to garner itself some well-deserved attention.

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African Punch-Out Masks
A. G. Smith , and Josie Hazen
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0486279332

Book Description

Children will experience the magic and excitement of Africa with these exciting punch-out masks. Features 6 masks, including a hyena mask, a Bateke mask and Bakuba dance mask — all ideal for parties, Halloween fun scouting programs and much more. No scissors needed for assembly.

Carnival in Venice: Photographs Celebrating the Art of the Mask

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Carnival in Venice: Photographs Celebrating the Art of the Mask
Gerald Hoberman
Manufacturer: Gerald & Marc Hoberman Collection
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1919939229

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