Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale

Amazon.com

A sermon arises out of silence, preacher and writer Frederick Buechner reminds us, and that silence is both an opportunity and a warning. An audience sits in the pews waiting, and each of those who sit there bring with them a long and complicated history. How will you reach them? How will you awaken them? "Tell them the truth," Buechner says in this brief and powerful book. The Gospel begins here, out of this silence: "It is life with the sound turned off so that for a moment or two you can experience it not in terms of the words you make it bearable by but for the unutterable mystery that it is." Out of this silence, he writes, the "real news comes, which is sad news before it is glad news and that is fairy tale last of all."

This series of lectures explores these three ways of seeing the Gospel: first as tragedy, as honest sorrow and suffering--this must be faced before anything else becomes possible. From this comes the comedy of new life: a child born to Abraham and Sarah in old age, Lazarus raised from the dead. This is the folly of the Gospel--what Buechner will ultimately call the fairy tale. Drawing deeply from the well of The Wizard of Oz and other stories, he reminds us in this final chapter that "there is a child in all of us," a child in touch with a truth deeper than the logic of tragedy. --Doug Thorpe

Book Description

A fresh, creative look at the underlying meaning of the Gospels that stresses the many dimensions of God's relationship to humanity.

Customer Reviews:

Most Excellent.......2007-09-15

Frederick Buechner - what else needs to be said. I am currently reading a little bit of this every Sunday morning to my congregation before I begin my sermon. I feel that sometimes the laity doesn't even know the questions to ask the clergy about how they preach the sermon, where it comes from, why that particular slant on a verse or thought.... So far, the readings have been well received. A marvelous book - real, funny, tragic and relavent.

A beautiful presentation of the Gospel.......2007-07-30

The title of this book is what caught my attention before I knew anything else about it. I knew that if it offered any defense to its title it would be worth reading. I was not at all disappointed and found its content both rich and colorful and the writing style as excellent as you could ask for. I would highly recommend this book for anyone open to a fuller picture of the gospel and especially to those going into the ministry who will be speaking the gospel--or telling the truth as Buechner presents it.

Written as motivation for preachers, this book is a necessity for all.......2007-03-28

Telling the Truth: The Gospel as Tragedy, Comedy, and Fairy Tale muses, like the title says, that the Gospel is equal parts tragedy, comedy and fairy tale and explains that the best way to understand the gospel is to understand it through the truthful experience of one's life. The Gospel is tragedy, Frederick Buechner, the author, explains, because it is bad before it gets better--Christ dies before he is ressurrected. The Gospel is comedy, he says in the weakest section, because of its unexpectedness, how unpredictable it is. The Gospel is fairy tale, he says in a very moving section, because it is so impossible. Thus, he says, preachers should not try to package or dwindle its Message--it truly is impossible. At the same time, it comes forth in our lives--in the tragedy and the comedy--and it is important to show its reality in that way. Using literary and biblical examples, Buechner crafts a reassuring, remarkable book.

A compelling and beautiful book.......2004-07-17

I still struggle to understand why on earth this author isn't as widely read, valued, commented and acclaimed as he deserves to be... It is perhaps, as he suggested, because he seems to be "too religious for the irreligious and too secular for the religious". Whatever reasons there may be, few other writers equal the quality of thought and writing of Frederick Buechner on "religious" matters (whatever that means!).

In this little book, Buechner tackles in a brilliant way the vital questions of the significance and the meaning of preaching the gospel, considering it as tragedy, comedy and fairy tale. The result is simply superb: an extraordinary convergence of elegance, good quality writing and fresh spirituality. It's the perfect introduction to his work, along with "The Alphabet of Grace".

Give him the chance to prove his qualities... he will speak to both irreligious and religious...still more, he will haunt you!

THE LITTLE OLD MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN.......2003-05-09

When I took a class in "Christian Mythopoeic authors" I had to give a presentation on an author not discussed in the class. I presented on Frederick Buechner. My focus was on his novel, On the Road with the Archangel. While preparing for this, I found myself reading seven of his other books. Once I picked him up, it was hard to put him down. One of the books that I read was Telling the Truth. I have recently had the pleasure of re-reading it.

Buechner is a shameless recycler of themes and material (King Lear references are found almost everywhere in his writings). Most of his books don't even break one hundred pages. Still, I'd rather sort through Buechner's recyclables than the seven course meals of a lot of other writers.

Telling the Truth is the printed form of lectures Buechner gave on what it means to preach the gospel. He argues that the gospel must be presented in terms of tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale.

The gospel is tragedy because life can be exceedingly dark. We spend so much time trying to pretend, and sometimes believing that everything is fine and dandy. Yet sin is real and it causes death. We all live under the horror of a death sentence that will not be commuted. We live in the valley of the shadow of death. To try and deny this is not to preach but to play games. Too many Christ-followers try to skip over this integral part of life.

The picture Buechner paints of Jesus' silence before Pilate is jarring. It makes me uncomfortable. It must have freaked Pilate out too. This silence and the silence before the preacher speaks are the personification of what the tragedy of the Gospel is. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wage of this "missing of the mark" is death.

The Gospel is comedy because God's provision for those who are his enemies is beyond the pale. It is in this hour of death--in the hour of our just execution--that God comes and gives us a life beyond all of our dreams and expectations.

The picture of Sarah's laughter at God's promise is the picture of our reaction when we first truly encounter the Gospel. A woman giving birth as she enters her second century of life looks easy compared to a God that we have slandered, rebelled against, ignored and even crucified loving us and redeeming us.

It is the hyper-reality of this comedy that makes the Gospel a fairy tale. We live in the drudgery of our everyday "real" lives. Yet the Gospel is more real than any of the fleeting, fading images that pass for our reality.

Buechner uses the picture of the Great Oz to convey the fairy-tale aspect of the Gospel. Just as Oz turns out to be a little old man behind a curtain, so the preacher's proclaiming of the wonder of the Kingdom looks insignificant, a lot of the time ridiculous, compared to the truth they bear.

The fairy tale of the Gospel is that all us, though seemingly frail and cowering behind the curtain of our lives, turn out to have power through Christ. The things we say and do while carrying the Gospel do indeed have eternal impact.

The Gospel must not be neutered by the understatement or ignoring of any of its elements. Sin has made our situation dire. God's provision has given us joy. The entire story offers us wonder.

I appreciate Buechner's Telling the Truth because he is creative in the making of his points. He paints vivid pictures. He does not soft-sell any element of his argument. This is a great book.

Book Description

Rarely have world writers of such variety and distinction appeared together in the same anthology. Their stories capture the range of emotions and situations of our human universe: tragedy, comedy, fantasy, satire, dramas of sexual love and of war in different continents and cultures. They are not about HIV / AIDS.But all twenty-one writers have given their stories--chosen by themselves as representing some of the best of their lifetime work as storytellers--without any fee or royalty.Telling Tales is being published in more than twelve countries. The publisher's profits from the sales of this book will go to HIV / AIDS preventive education and for medical treatment for people living with the suffering this pandemic infection brings to our contemporary world. So when you buy this unique anthology of renowned storytellers as a gift or for your own reading pleasure, you are also making a gift to combat the plague of our new millennium.

Customer Reviews:

What an amazing compilation! .......2006-03-08

Some great, some strange, some experimental, and some that may be better in the original language, but a fabulous cooperative effort by the greatest storytellers of our time. These works show the intricate complexity characteristic of a great short, and most illustrate that more effort goes into 5000 words than 50,000, or 500,000 in the case of Rushdie. (sorry, couldn't resist).

I can't pick a favorite. Some will stay with me forever, and a few have already faded in memory, but I am richer having read them all. Thank you, Nadine Gordimer, for this exceptional collection.

Sharing for a cause.......2005-07-13

Some writers, like musicians, go public about their caring about people and causes. They may not appear at a Live 8 concert, but when approached they can be just as generous. The result of one such approach is this highly enjoyable collection of "tales" told by well known authors from around the world. Nadine Gordimer, the initiator of the project, and 20 authors have donated a story each. The publishers, translators and designers have waived their fees and profits. The book was published simultaneously in several languages. All proceeds will go to HIV/AIDS education and treatment in South Africa.

This in itself would be enough reason to buy and look at this book! Yet, there are more grounds for spending your money on it. The stories, selected by the authors themselves, reflect some of the best of each author's writing. They convey diverse personal outlooks or describe real or imagined life experiences. We find John Updike next to Arthur Miller, Paul Theroux and Gabriel Garcia Marquez together with Amos Oz and Günter Grass... Several less known African authors, such as Njabulo Ndebele, share a spot with well known Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. In its totality, we have been offered a smorgasbord of excellent story-telling. It's a partial who's who of current world literature. The topics presented are as wide ranging as the authors' backgrounds and perspectives. Some are serious, some are funny or satirical. All excel in style and expression. This anthology is one to treasure, to pick up from time to time to read or revisit one of the authors. The ideal gift for yourself and others who enjoy a glimpse into the writing of some of the world's literary greats. [Friederike Knabe]

A Great Book for a Great Cause.......2005-01-23

It's bad form for a reviewer to suggest that readers go out and buy a book. The reviewer is charged with examining a book's content --- its soul, if you will --- without consideration for the commercial transaction that might actually put that book in someone's hands. However, TELLING TALES, a remarkable collection of short stories, demands a recommendation about purchase. After all, this is more than a book; it's a fundraiser.

TELLING TALES collects 21 stories by writers from around the world, including five Nobel Prize winners (Gunter Grass, Jose Saramago, Kenzaburo Oe, Gordimer and Gabriel Garcia Marquez); two National Book Award winners (John Updike and Susan Sontag); a pair of Pulitzer Prize winners (Updike and Arthur Miller); and three winners of the Booker Prize (Margaret Atwood, Gordimer, and Salman Rushdie). Toss in Woody Allen, Paul Theroux and several more extremely talented writers, and you have an amazing collection.

Each story was chosen by the author, and each was provided sans fee or expectation of royalty. All royalties and profits will be donated for HIV/AIDS preventative education and medical treatment for people in southern Africa, an area of the world devastated by the disease. Gordimer, a native of South Africa, is to be commended for bringing together such an esteemed body of authors.

The stories themselves run the gamut from comedy to tragedy and many seem to sparkle on the page. Miller's "Bulldog" (which is built around an incident that would be fraught with the perils of AIDS if it were set in the present) is filled with striking language; Marquez's "Death Constant Beyond Love" is a gem of magic realism; and Allen delivers laughs in the satiric "The Rejection."

TELLING TALES is both marvelously varied in terms of subject and style, and remarkably consistent in terms of quality. This is a great book for a great cause.

--- Reviewed by Rob Cline

Saving the World.......2005-01-13

Nadine Gordimer is not only an admirable writer, but an admirable person. Her altruism is shown in the gathering of material for this great book, with no thought of gain for herself. The stories are all excellent and thoughtfully chosen. There is so much to choose from, it must have been difficult to select. For readers interested in South Africa, I recommend A TELLING TIME by Glynnis Hayward(ISBN 1591295912),a gripping tale by a new South African author.

Some Fine Stories!.......2004-12-13

Nadine Gordimer has brought together here 21 writers, including herself, who "tell tales" without fee or royalty to help in the world fight against HIV/AIDS. As you would expect, most of these stories are terribly serious; they are about the awfulness of war, loss, sorrow and at least half of them are about death. These are not stories, however, about dying with AIDS; neither are they always about the death of people. (In fact, only one writer Margaret Atwood mentions the disease in an aside.) Jose Saramago's story is about the death of a centaur; the bulldog in Arthur Miller's tale probably dies from an overdose of chocolate, for example. About the only comic relief comes-- as we would expect-- from a very funny, brief story by Woody Allen called "The Rejecton" and is about a family's dilemma when their three-year old is rejected from a tony nursery school in Manhattan. The writers are from many countries and nationalities. Some of my favorite writers and stories are here: Gabriel Garcia Marquez ("Death Constant Beyond Love") who can create as much magic in ten pages as he does in novels hundreds of pages long; and Amos Oz's tale of a young Israeli whose parachute drifts into a power line ("The Way of The Wind"). Susan Sontag (The Letter Scene) makes profound observations about letter-writing while Christa Wolf in "Associations in Blue" shatters some of the positive notions most of us have about the color blue. For instance, she tells us that "the care packages that the Americans dropped in Afghanistan were blue and no longer yellow, so people could tell them apart from the yellow cluster bombs that they [the U. S.] were dropping at the same time.

Ms. Gordimer reminds the reader that five of these writers, herself included, won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Additionally, I noticed a couple of Booker Prize winners as well. I do not know how Ms. Gordimer selected the writers she included. I would have expected, however, to see selections by Toni Morrison-- Ms. Morrison because she is black, a woman, a Nobel Prize winner herself and, most importantly, as good a living writer as there is; and Mr. White because he is gay, HIV positive, the winner of literary prizes as well, and has been writing stories about AIDS for nearly twenty years now.

Telling Tales and Other New One-Act Plays

Average customer rating:

Good for Small Scenes

Telling Tales and Other New One-Act Plays

Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140482377

Customer Reviews:

Good for Small Scenes.......2000-06-14

This compilation was very interesting. It lacked a little in the plays with many characters. If you are looking for a book of one acts to use for directing experience or for intermediate acting experience, then I highly recomend this book.

Average customer rating:

A Pagan should know what a waxing moon looks like!
Pure Enchantment for both Scholar and Mystic
Amazing Insight Into The Faerie Realm
cute...but!
A Cut Above

Fairy Ring: An Oracle of the Fairy Folk
Anna Franklin
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0738702749

Book Description

Between the Worlds.

They inhabit the enchanted realm of dreams and legends, often crossing the threshold between this world and the Otherworld. They have been called the Little People, the fae, or the People of the Hills. With the ability to bestow great gifts if favored or wreak household havoc if angered, fairies have long been much loved and much feared in the Celtic lands.

Listen to the wisdom of the Little People as they speak through the cards of The Fairy Ring. This new oracle will enchant with its evocative artwork as it enlightens with insightful readings. The full-sized guidebook includes fairy lore, upright and reversed card interpretations, and nine unique card layouts.

Many fairies are seasonal creatures, so the cards of The Fairy Ring are divided into four suits: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter. This motley assortment of fairies-from helpful brownies to ghostly banshees to the ethereal Morgan le Fay-appear on the cards in the suit of the season in which they are most likely to be seen. Eight additional cards celebrate the ancient Celtic solar and pastoral holidays, long considered to be auspicious days for working with the fae.

The gateway to the Otherworld stands open. Cross the threshold and enter the Fairy Ring, where the gifts and guidance of the fairy folk await you.

First Runner Up for the 2003 Coalition of Visionary Resources (COVR) Award for Best Sidelines/Gifts--Interactive Category

Customer Reviews:

A Pagan should know what a waxing moon looks like!.......2007-08-05

Others have described this deck so I won't repeat them. I give this deck 4 stars mainly for the artwork, which others may or may not like as art is so subjective. I've had this deck over a year and a half and bought the creators' previous deck, The Sacred Circle, well before that. Many of the problems I had with Sacred Circle's artwork are gone from this deck. The Fairy Ring's artwork is much more refined and perfected. The models fit their parts much better and the blending & distorting of images creates a much more surreal and integrated world. If you don't like the artwork, don't buy the deck (the same advice as with any deck really).

This deck reminds me of Brian Froud's Fairy Oracle, which I also own, in that it's more of a large, mostly random list of various fairies. As far as I can tell, there's no real reason why each fairy was assigned to a particular seasonal court or given a number. For example, why is Brownie in the Spring Court and a number three? Traditionally Spring would indicate something like renewal or rebirth and three symbolizes fertility. You'd really have to stretch the meaning of the card to fit with that symbolism. The card could easily fit into the other seasons and other numbers as well. I can similarly find no reason why certain fairies are court cards as opposed to lower numbers. This is my biggest problem with the deck. Probably a lot of beginners won't miss the symbolism, but it also makes it much harder to remember specific card meanings. And it gives less depth to the cards.

As a Pagan, I am drawn to the emphasis of the seasons, nature, and the eight festival cards, especially. Perhaps that is why I wish the four courts did have more seasonal impact. As I said in my title, it bothers me to no end when basic symbolism is wrong though. For example, the Boggart card has a waxing moon in the background. The description of the card indicates it's supposed to be waning and that phase of the moon is totally supposed to correspond with the meaning of the rest of the card. An identical mistake appeared in the Sacred Circle deck, which makes me think the creators simply have no idea what the moon's phases look like - a rather telling error from someone claiming to be Pagan for 30 years and to be a High Priestess. Makes you wonder what else they got wrong.

Pure Enchantment for both Scholar and Mystic.......2007-06-22

When I first saw this deck it took my breath away.

There are four suit cards (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) and eight fairy festival cards (Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Midsummer, Lughnasa, Herfest, Samhain and Yule). The suit cards total 13 and are numbered Ace through nine, with a Lady, Knave, Queen and King card.

The cards themselves are digitally done on the computer and are simply gorgeous, featuring real life models in a collage from the fairy realm.

A book, "Guide to the Fairy Ring" is included with the set, and contains a wealth of information on each fairy and festival. It describes the appearance of the card, gives a detailed description of the fairy, divinatory meaning (including the reversed meaning) and details on working with that particular fairy. The author also includes her recommendations on working or not working with certain fairies (due to their dangerous natures).

What I love about this deck is that it contains a wealth of information on fairy folklore, and I have used this book more than I can count now when doing research for articles [...].

The deck does come with several example layouts which each use between 5 and 13 cards, but I've found that a simple 3 card reading works best for me as there is so much information in the book to read about each card.

I personally have trouble reading the deck as some of the fairies who may look scary actually are quite good, for example, the Tiddy Mun, Knave of the Spring suit, appears a bit frightening, yet actually represents success and satisfaction. So I wouldn't feel really comfortable reading for someone else in a professional setting until I memorized the meaning of each card. However, I greatly enjoy them for my own personal use.

The Fairy Ring is a deck of pure enchantment and magic, and I would highly recommend it to both the scholar interested in the well researched folklore and the mystic interested in connecting to the realm of the fey.

Amazing Insight Into The Faerie Realm.......2007-05-31

These cards have more than lived up to the good reviews on this site. I have used them several times and have not only gotten accurate readings on other people but also helped people out in making good choices and decisions. I recommend this deck to anyone interested in a "different" kind of tarot deck. I will be using this deck along with my Faerie Oracle deck from Brian Froud for many years to come.

cute...but! .......2007-04-05

I was given a set of these cards by a friend who knows how much I appreciate the Sacred Circle Tarot by Anna Franklin. Unfortunately, the Fairy Ring oracle cards are not even as half as good as the Sacred Circle Tarot who is not only beautiful but also gives extraordinary messages when used in combination with the book it comes with!

The 'art work' of these cards is cute, but the messages of the cards are...not useful at all! And this is being kind! This deck is a cute past-time for those who like to play with the Fairies, and to be honest I believe the author and creator of the deck has just done that - gone off with the fairies!

Satisfaction guarantee...good for a laugh but not to be taken serious!

A Cut Above .......2006-10-13

I am so impressed with this set. Anna Franklin's scholarship is in depth and accurate (I've been a fan of Katharine Briggs for nearly thirty years so my standards are high) and Paul Mason's skill with the illustrations are very unique. I find more within this set the more time I spend with it. However, I am not comfortable "using" the fae folk to answer my human questions for some reason, so I am more or less using the deck as a part of my pathway to faery, and draw a card each day to notice how that energy manifests (or not) in my world that day. I also do love her guided meditations into contact with the various fae. I knew about this set long before I finally purchased it this past summer. Now I wish I hadn't waited so long, but in any case, I am very glad I got this. Since I find their work so well done, I am now getting their Sacred Circle Tarot for actual divination work. In conclusion, though there are many books on faery out there, and more appearing every day, I would say this one stands alone in the way you can learn from the book and meditate on the cards. Highly recommended!
Dawn Killen-Courtney, author of The Trollton Chronicles fantasy series.

Telling Tales: Sources and Narration in Late Medieval England

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Telling Tales: Sources and Narration in Late Medieval England
Joel Thomas Rosenthal
Manufacturer: Pennsylvania State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Telling the Tale: The African-American Fiction Writer's Guide

Average customer rating:

Valuable Tools for AA writers!
Great source for upcoming novelist.
Excellent writing guide
Review - Telling the Tale
Angela tells it like it is about the craft of writing

Telling the Tale: The African-American Fiction Writer's Guide
Angela Benson
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425170543

Book Description

Finally, a writing guide for the African-American writer that's as inspiring as it is instructive.

In this one-of-a-kind guide, Angela Benson offers step-by-step guidance for black writers--from getting started to revising complete drafts--for anyone who has a tale to tell. Featuring tools, techniques, and illustrative examples from the best black writers of our day, this book will help writers learn to:

find their own style
create characters readers will care about
capture voices from their community
write natural-sounding dialogue
mine personal experience for detail
weave a compelling story
Includes exercises, worksheets, examples, and step-by-step instructions, as well as inspiring advice
and more...

Telling the Tale also includes helpful exercises, worksheets, and tips to show African-American writers how to perfect their craft.

Customer Reviews:

Valuable Tools for AA writers!.......2007-10-07

As a budding African American writer myself, this book was like a breath of fresh air!!! Ms. Benson outlines everything so simplistically and leaves nothing to the imagination. This book is thorough and easy to read. The exercises are very helpful. I'm not quite finished with the entire book, but I have enjoyed it so far. Thanks, Ms. Benson, for looking out for the underdog!

Great source for upcoming novelist........2005-02-07

I thought this book was very helpful. She gave some useful tips on keeping your characters in order by charting their names and relationships with others. She also suggests that the writer interview the characters as if they were the subjects of a magazine or newspaper article. This book can be read before or during the novel writing process.

Excellent writing guide.......2005-01-27

This was a great book to use as a writing guide for aspiring writers. It was an easy read with simple steps to accomplish the major goal of writing a novel. I am a true testament that completing the exercises are helpful. After following the guidelines in the book, I completed my first novel. I'm now a published author, and I credit my success to this book!

Review - Telling the Tale.......2002-03-07

I think Ms. Benson did a fantastic job of outlining an approach and a structure to writing. She didn't tout this as "the way to do it," but simply as a way that has worked for her. I also think the exercises included in each chapter helped drive home the point being made. Good read for aspiring writers, as well as writers looking to hone their craft!

Angela tells it like it is about the craft of writing.......2001-04-14

Angela Benson, romance and inspirational author, gives here a blueprint for African Americans who want to be successful in writing. Why a fiction writing guide for African Americans? Ms. Benson says "As minorities in American culture, blacks are in a postiton to provide social commentary on the system, the way things are". That said, she strongly stresses how important it is as a minority to understand how the majority operates.

To that end she offers section on plot, character development, POV, revisions, dialogue, and a host of exercises to hone your craft. With this guide anyone, no matter what color, gets an excellent view of the ins and out of writing fiction that is believable and marketable. Don't Guess, Research- this chapter is invaluable in that she makes the point that one should make the library a place with which to be familiar and to make the librarian a close friend. Think you can get everything from the Internet? Think again. Minute details such as dates and particular events can give your story authencity or show you up as being careless.

Book Description

The stirring sagas of gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, enchanted weapons and fantastic beasts from all six Celtic cultures -- Irish, Scots, Welsh, Cornish, Manx, and Breton -- are retold from ancient times in a major new collection for a modern readership.

Customer Reviews:

Ellis scores well again!.......2000-06-10

Peter Beresford Ellis is obviously a scholar, as he collects together many stories and histories and presents them in a very readable style (though, as another reviewer has said, if you intend to read this aloud you should practice the names a few times in advance).

This text is quite different that Lady Gregory's _Of Gods and Fighting Men_, as it is less a retelling of ancient myths than an attempt to show the historical sides of the various families. Still, it is quite filled with legend, and a good read.

Share it with your children at bedtime!

A well-presented piece of Celtic Reconstructionism!.......1999-09-01

Peter Beresford Ellis has taken several Christianized sources for various Celtic myths and retold them as they might have sounded before the Christian influence appeared. If you're looking for translations of Celtic stories, this isn't the book for you; it is decidedly Reconstructionist in nature and not a historical retelling. The author's approach, however, is quite scholarly, and he makes a concerted effort to seperate the different Celtic cultures, each one represented by six distinct myths, which makes it easy to focus on your own family heritage. His writing has a biblical feel, a bit like a formal storyteller. For this reason, I believe The Chronicles of the Celts would be a good addition to the library of parents who are attempting to raise their children with a respect for their ancestry and their ancestor's gods. They are good stories, some of which contain references to sex and violence, but in the same inexplicit way the Bible does. (Remember "And Adam knew Eve..." And "David slew Goliath" ?) Each contains several life lessons. The women are strong and respected, the men are honorable yet with emotion, and the gods aren't petty and cruel. Their formal nature makes them good to read aloud at family celebrations of Celtic Holidays.

Note: You may want to learn to pronounce the Gaelic names before reading aloud. Some of them can be tricky the first time, but it's not necessary to enjoy the book.

Average customer rating:

A Tale of the I Ching: How the Book of Changes began by WuWei

Wise and inspiring

A Tale of the I Ching: How the Book of Changes Began (I Ching Wisdom)
Wu Wei
Manufacturer: Power Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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I Ching Readings: Interpreting the Answers

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I Ching Wisdom: Guidance from the Book of Changes

I Ching Life: Becoming Your Authentic Self

ASIN: 0943015472

Book Description

This whimsical tale takes us on an enchanted journey back in time to the origins of the I Ching in ancient China. It is the story of Tan, the village ne'er-do-well who becomes the first disciple of the great sage emperor, Fu Hsi, to whom the I Ching is attributed. As Fu Hsi opens the heart of the I Ching to the young disciple who sits at his feet, so the reader is exposed to the inner workings of that great book of divination. Readers the world over say that the marvelous story of A Tale of the I Ching opens the I Ching to them as never before.

Customer Reviews:

A Tale of the I Ching: How the Book of Changes began by WuWei.......2007-02-12

The author knew how to explain the I Ching to a person who is completely ignorant in philosophy .

Wise and inspiring.......2005-10-29

This is a wonderful little book. In a way it reminds me of Celestine Prophecy in that it tells an uplifting, heart-warming story that teaches and inspires. As it says on the cover, it is truly,"An Enchanted Journey into the Origins and Inner Workings of the I Ching." I loved the way it describes the relationship between the great sage Fu Hsi and his young student Tan. We see how the teacher elevates the awareness of his student with a profound and ineffable love, in the tradition of all great Guru/disciple relationships.

Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling: Illustrated by Incantations, Specimens of Medical Magic, Anecdotes and Tales

Average customer rating:

Interesting but flawed
Stereotypical rubbish
gypsy sorcery and fortune telling
gypsy sorcery and fortune telling
Gypsy Magic Source

Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling: Illustrated by Incantations, Specimens of Medical Magic, Anecdotes and Tales
Charles Godfrey Leland
Manufacturer: Book Sales
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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Gypsy Magic: A Romany Book of Spells, Charms, and Fortune-Telling

ASIN: 0785804404

Customer Reviews:

Interesting but flawed.......2002-11-16

This book is interesting in that Leland apparently did collect snippets of Romany folklore which have the ring of authenticity and much of which has probably fallen into obscurity by now. Most of the really interesting material can be found in the first half of the book. The rest of the book is, unfortunately, composed of Leland's personal ruminations concerning how magic and prophecy/fortunetelling isn't "real" and how the apparent results of these can all be explained away. In fact, it rather sounds like he's trying to convince himself that magic is mere superstition or self-delusion, rather than the reader :) There is also a lot of outdated Victorian garbage that can basically be summed up as, "hmm, the more primitive races and the uneducated and foolish are likely to believe this is all really true, when in fact more 'civilized' people know better." Keeping in mind that the Victorian era saw the beginnings of anthropology as a field of study, one should not take Leland's ideas about "civilization" versus "primitive" too seriously, and instead focus on the interesting and, I've no doubt, authentic charms, practices, and spells recorded here.

All in all, this has a lot of probably now-vanished folklore in it, but Leland should not be taken as an authority on either the Romany or their magical/divinatory practices, due to his obvious biases which will become apparant to the modern reader.

Stereotypical rubbish.......2002-04-29

This book does little more than propagate the myths and stereotypes of the alleged sorcery "Gypsies" or the Roma perform/ed. One would do much better to go to the Patrin website and see what the Roma are really about.

Leland does himself, and the Gypsy Lore Society (of which he was president) a great disservice. However you must remember that this book was written in the 19th Century, and has to be viewed in the light of the thinking of the time.

It cannot be seen as historically correct in any way.

gypsy sorcery and fortune telling.......2001-06-02

this holds extensive knowledge and overviews of many romany cultures, from beginning to end, an excellent and compelling and informative read and referencebook.

gypsy sorcery and fortune telling.......2001-06-02

this book holds extensive knowledge and overview of many romany cultures, from beginning to end a compelling and informative read and reference book.

Gypsy Magic Source.......1997-09-04

Gypsy Sorcery & Fortune Telling is a great collection of early gypsy information. Ever wonder why a gypsy wore what he/she did? What talismans they possessed? Everything from spells to charms are within. No just from a North American point of view, this text introduces you to other gypsies from around the globe. A great collection for those who are intersted in strange material. Add it to your shopping cart for some informational facts of an unexamined phenomenon.

Average customer rating:

Storytelling and Reality - A Wonderful Blend
From an adult male!
Double Crossing
Double Crossing is a gem!
This is the kind of book I've loved since I was young

Double Crossing
Eve Tal
Manufacturer: Cinco Puntos Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0938317946

Book Description

The future for Jews in rural villages of Russia in 1905 held little promise. Stories of pogroms seeped through the countryside, and the czar was conscripting soldiers because of rumors of war and revolution. Benjamin Balaban, a poor but very devout Jew, determines to flee to America. He will take Raizel, his almost-12-year-old daughter, and once they are settled he will send for his wife and other children. Raizel doesn't understand the reasons for leaving. How can her village be dangerous? It's full of magic and the stories and poems that her grandmother Bubba tells her. But go she must. Her odyssey with her father across Russia and Europe and on to America is full of adventure, adversity, and hardship. She desperately misses her family, but she retells Bubba's stories to keep her memories alive. Finally, they board a ship for America, but a terrible storm makes Raizel and her father sick. All their food is stolen, and Benjamin won't eat non-kosher food. At Ellis Island, his long beard and earlocks, his peasant clothes, his deep cough, and emaciated frame get them turned away from America. Raizel, though, is now determined to get back to America and the hope of a new life for her whole family. She must convince her father that he'll have to give up his orthodox food and traditions and put on the clothes of his new country. Both Raizel and her father will have to leave everything behind to make their final crossing to America.

Eve Tal was born in 1947 in New York City. After receiving her BA from Oberlin College, she moved to Israel in the early 1970s. She lives on Kibbutz Hatzor with her husband and three sons. She has published four picture books in Hebrew, as well as scholarly articles in children's literature journals.

Customer Reviews:

Storytelling and Reality - A Wonderful Blend.......2006-03-20

In 'Double Crossing' Eve Tal has done something remarkable; she has combined the cadences of storytelling/almost of a fairy tale with the reality of living in a Jewish shtetl in czarist Russia at the turn of the century. With wonderful dialogue, lovely stories and vivid descriptions, Ms.Tal allows us, through her heroine Raizel, to truly feel both the warmth and fear that were part of Jewish life in czarist Russian. She brings alive the pain of separation, the pain of the choices Jews had to make to survive. I think it is something of a disservice to label 'Double Crossing' a book for young adults. It is absorbing, instructive and just plain enjoyable for all ages.

From an adult male!.......2006-03-13

This book seems sequestered into the young adult niche, but I loved it. Picked it up because of its cover; read the first page and did not stop till the end. It is a beautiful story, told with rhythm and pulse. The most enlightening book I've read regarding the late 19th and early 20th century trek of Jews from the pale to the new world It might bother more orthodox jews because of its emphasis on assimilation, but as someone without the cultural past, it was mesmerizing.

Double Crossing.......2006-01-14

I really enjoyed Double Crossing. I kept thinking of my own grandmother's journey to America. I know very little about her experience, but I think they came from approximately the same area and were close to the same age. I was impressed by Eve Tal's story telling skills--I felt I was there, witnessing a part of my history that was lost. The story renewed my awe and respect for the courage of our ancestors in leaving everything they knew to face an unknown country--and the pain of leaving their loved ones behind, unable to communicate with them for long periods of time.

Double Crossing is a gem!.......2006-01-14

Raisel, the main character of Eve Tal's novel, is a gifted story teller, as Tal herself is. Tal weaves folktales throughout the novel to push the story forward. Raisel finds comfort and strength in those stories, and in her talent to tell them. And she grows into a very confident young woman by the end of the novel as a result of all that she has learned during her journey across the ocean from Russia to America.

Tal paints a vivid picture of an anxious young immigrant who ultimately sets goals for herself that you know, in the end, she will realize.

This is the kind of book I've loved since I was young.......2005-12-23

This beautifully written story brings to life fully human characters, child and adult, as well as the distant time and places in which their struggles occur. It will resonate with any readers who have immigrant ancestors or who have themselves made the journey into a new culture, trying to absorb enough of the new to function while maintaining enough of the old to feel in balance, finding themselves changed in ways they never expected.

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