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.

Average customer rating:

Unquestionably one of the greatest novels of the 20th century
BEST and WORST book ever read!
la vie mode d'emploi
Written by a rich imagination
Perec User's Manual

Life: A User's Manual
Georges Perec
Manufacturer: David R Godine
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0879237511

Product Description

Life is an unclassified masterpiece, a sprawling compendium as encyclopedic as Dante's Commedia and Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and, in its break with tradition, as inspiring as Joyce's Ulysses. Structured around a single moment in time 8:00 p.m. on June 23, 1975 Perec's spellbinding puzzle begins in an apartment block in the XVIIth arrondissement of Paris where, chapter by chapter, room by room, like an onion being peeled, and extraordinary rich cast of characters is revealed in a series of tales that are bizarre, unlikely, moving, funny, or (sometimes) quite ordinary. From the confessions of a racing cyclist to the plans of an avenging murderer, from a young ethnographer obsessed with a Sumatran tribe to the death of a trapeze artist, from the fears of an ex-croupier to the dreams of a sex-change pop star to an eccentric English millionaire who has devised the ultimate pastime, Life is a manual of human irony, portraying the mixed marriages of fortunes, passions and despairs, betrayals and bereavements, of hundreds of lives in Paris and around the world.

But the novel in more than an extraordinary range of fictions; it is a closely observed account of life and experience. The apartment block's one hundred rooms are arranged in a magic square, and the book as a whole is peppered with a staggering range of literary puzzles and allusions, acrostics, problems of chess and logic, crosswords, and mathematical formulae. All are there for the reader to solve in the best tradition of the detective novel.

Customer Reviews:

Unquestionably one of the greatest novels of the 20th century.......2007-09-19

I first read this book when I was 17, and have reread it more than once; I loved it the first time, and it gets better each time. Perec can be a bit frustrating, and the book is not necessarily the easiest to get into, but if you give it time, by the end you'll be absolutely hypnotised. What I love especially is his attention to small things, everyday things, insignificant things: these are, after all, what make up life, and by portraying them with such loving care, Perec creates something very beautiful indeed, something like a love-song for ordinary life (though this is not to say there is no drama in the book - there is).

If you read Bellos's wonderful biography, a lot of things in the book become clearer, but you don't actually need to follow the various tricks and games (I hadn't a clue when I first read it, but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment). Another reviewer compared Perec to Glenn Gould; it would be equally apt to compare this work, I think, to Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier (so wonderfully performed by Gould): both take the basic elements and carefully show how they are things of profound beauty.

BEST and WORST book ever read!.......2006-07-24

This book is really a rare one. If you are not ready to spend a long time with a complex book, find another one. This book takes time and patience. But as stated in the title, I think this not only my worst but also my best read.

If you are to read the book, it is nice to know that Perec was a member of the Oulipo philosophical group in France, who believed in constrained writing. Constrained writing means that by adding a constraint, the story will be "easier" to write, because you have ruled out many options. In this book the story revolves around jigsaw puzzles and this is the main theme & constraint in the book. Each chapter is like a little piece: in itself almost completely incomprehensible, but the more pieces you see, it suddenly seems to make sense. Until you understand the even greater motif and (metaphorically) see that the sea you thought you were matching together was actually a painting on the wall.

The book is very intelligently written, and very enjoyable. But at the same time is it not written in a way to make it nice to read, but written to follow the set of rules constructed.

To summarize: if you are into COMPLEX but REWARDING literature - READ THIS BOOK!

la vie mode d'emploi.......2006-06-29

[This book still ranks as one of the greatest novels I've read, so I'm re-publishing the review I put on this site nearly ten years ago. The bracketed text has been added to the original review.] This is the second most fascinating novel I've ever read [my favorite was The Possessed by Dostoyevsky], the best one I've read in twenty [now thirty] years. If you revel in complexity, this book is for you. [Check out the edition of Perec's sketches for this book, published by the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris.] Perec prompts introspection on many levels. The plot(s) are some of the most intriguing anywhere. The human condition is probed to the greatest possible depth. Despite certain minor [really minor] infelicities, Bellos has done an excellent job translating, consistently capturing the atmosphere (and there is a lot of atmosphere) of the original. (The title is one of the few translating gaffes. The original French does not convey the image of a computer manual and the term "user's manual" was not in general use in English until after the novel was written.) Once you've read it you will be on the constant look-out for others who know Perec. [Read all of Perec and try Harry Mathews.]

Written by a rich imagination.......2005-12-16

It is possible to fall in love with this book. As an intellectual exercise it is a triumph as it is never stuffy and self important but infinitely compassionate, humourous and inclusive. Little touchs like the index of all the different stories contained in the book are delightful and enable you to dip back into a particular moment.
Life a User's Manual is a description of one moment in time. Perec takes you through all the rooms of an apartment block, leads you to scenarios and objects and then into their histories back through other stories and objects as if you were a ghost moving through time and space.
If you enjoy quirky eccentric characters that have been created with a rich original imagination this is the book for you. I would also recommend The Manuscript Found in Saragossa by Jan Potoki for further enjoyment.

Perec User's Manual.......2005-09-19

Book arrived in on time in excellent condition. I am very satisfied with this bookseller and highly recommend them.

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Mummefied Magnificence
Le Beau Monde

The Finest Houses Of Paris
Christiane de Nicolay-Mazery
Manufacturer: Vendome Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0865652171

Book Description

This is a true insider's view of the most elegant houses of Paris, home of the rich and famous generally seen here for the first time. No one could have better access than author Christiane De Nicolai-Mazery, whose family own one of the most beautiful medieval castles in France as well as a magnificent townhouse included in this extravagant book.

We are taken into a world of luxury and refinement beyond imagination: butlers setting a table for sixty in Baron Guy de Rothschild's palace, considered the grandest private house in France. Or a summer's day on the edge of Hubert de Givenchy's left-bank garden, where a table of six is set in eighteenth-century silver and porcelain. Visit the British Embassy, which still retains the décor and furniture of its erstwhile owner Paoline Borghese, sister of Napoleon. Tour the history-filled apartment of the Permanent Secretary to the French Academy. In some cases, the owners have refused to be identified, but that does not detract from the elegance of their interiors, the superb presentation of their food, or the fascinating descriptions of those who preceded them - including Madame de Stael, Proust's hero the Comtesse de Greffuhle, and a parade of now-departed bewigged grandees.

There have been other highly successful books on the great houses of Paris, but nothing this sumptuous or exclusive. This volume will seduce every Francophile, society watcher, and Paris lover, not to mention every decorator and party giver.

Customer Reviews:

Mummefied Magnificence.......2002-07-06

Don't let a fondness for Proustian luxe sucker you into purchasing this book containing mediocre photography and a text of perfumed flatulence. The ostensible purpose of the book is to reveal French urban, aristocratic taste as of the late twentieth century, or more accurately the taste of their designers (the usual cast of Henri, Renzo, etc.)and other arbiters of taste (Hubert, Alexis, Carlos, etc.). Certainly, there are more than enough interiors of the mummefied magnificence that comes from cocooning staggering numbers of objects in layer after layer of fabric (WARNING: Do not try at home. If you do not possess first-rate things and have access to the production from the best mills in Italy and France, you will achieve only The Old Junkshop look), but the pictures are uniformly fuzzy, muddy and printed on poor quality paper. Most maddening of all, the photography neglects genuine masterpieces (you cannot catch more than a glimpse, for example, of the incomparable Ingres portrait of Betty Rothschild) while devoting page after page to boring tabletop vignettes usually consisting of a few knicknacks and photographs of long-dead nobodies as children. In fact, the real purpose of the book is apparently to provide the author with a vehicle to boast about her ancestors (many of those same long-dead nobodies) and the elegant life they led. There is also a stench of moral decay most evident in the fawning description of Lady Mosley with an outrageous defense of British fascism before World War II. Mostly, however, the premise of the book seems to be that you are what you own, or more accurately what you inherit -- a concept so inherently ridiculous that even the owners of the homes depicted in the book had the good sense for the most part to insist on anonymity. If you truly want to revel in the atmosphere of things past, make yourself a cup of tea, find a hard biscuit and settle back in your recliner with the first volume of you know what.

Le Beau Monde.......2000-11-23

Though the title under which this book was released in France "Visite Prive" is perhaps more telling and appropiate for this volume, the homes included are no doubt among the finest to be found in that wonderful city. Most notably, the Rothschild's Hotel Lambert, is probably one of the finest homes to be found anywhere in the world. Truly a house fit for royalty for these kings of banking and bankers of kings. The home of couturier Hubert de Givenchy is another which exemplifies "French taste" and elegance even if we visit it in a more simplified state of grandeur then it was to be found some years ago before Mr. de Givenchy sold off a good part of his exceptional collection of antiques. Mme. de Nicolai-Mazery really brings these houses to life as she pays friendly visits to their inhabitants and informs as much about these notables of French society as she does about the houses they inhabit, many of which are truly family houses and have been handed down trough generations. All in all the book is a must for any lover of Paris and France as it illustrates French social life and culture in this cultural capital of the world. Highly recommended.

Living In Paris (New Edition) (Living In...)

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The Next Best Thing to Being There
Armchair and Reality Paris
Ah Paris
It's The Pictures, After All

Living In Paris (New Edition) (Living In...)
Jose Alvarez
Manufacturer: Flammarion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 2080304232
Release Date: 2006-09-05

Book Description

From the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame, the Place de la Concorde to Montmartre, life in Paris is charged with eleganceâfrom private homes and the varied architectural styles along its boulevards, to the quays of the Seine, winding streets, cosy bistros, and intimate restaurants. Gardens, including the Luxembourg and the Tuileries, provide an outdoor paradise in the heart of the city. Lavishly illustrated, Living in Paris includes an extensive guide to the capitol's best addresses; it is an inspiring resource for anyone who has strolled along the streets or dreamed of visiting the City of Lights.

Customer Reviews:

The Next Best Thing to Being There .......2007-02-13

Beautifully illustrated, this book takes you on a well organised journey through the main districts of Paris but also informs on a differnent asthetic level such as the essential spirit of this city as seen through its architecture and its culture. The grande old history from the baroque and ancient regieme onwards is elegantly sought out with a particularly interesting chapter containing old master craftsmen at their trades and where you might find them. This is a book that you can simiply sit down with and devour in a glutonous way. I found this book, when sitting in one of those well heeled, and gracious bookshops, that sell good coffee and deadly cakes! Long story short - Amazon to the rescue and I am now enjoying the glories of it's pages right from my armchair. For anyone who plans to visit Paris (like myself)and/or anyone who loves things of days gone by, and wants to do so in thier mind.... give this a look. It's cheaper than an airfare and nearly as good.

Armchair and Reality Paris.......2006-06-07

I bought this book when it first came out, as a friend was leaving that very day to go to Paris. It kept me going until I was able to make my first visit in 2003. I have made two more visits since then.

I still go back to it and tell friends about it. It is one of the best photographed Paris books that I own. It brings you and your armchair right into the best of it...and allows you to savor the beauty. Voila!!!

Ah Paris.......2001-04-25

I'm surprised the other reviewer only gave this 3 stars. I think the photograghy is sumptuous and the text is quite lovely. These are the spots I remember and go back to in my imagination.

It's The Pictures, After All.......1999-12-16

The photographs within these covers are gorgeous - it's a perfect souvenir of Paris. In fact, if you buy this, you can think about leaving your camera at home. The text, translated from the French (original title 'Art de Vivre a Paris') is a bit gushy, and you might wonder, as I did, how much has indeed been lost in the reinterpretation. Never mind. Living In Paris has been in and out of print, so when it's available, get it! It's still cheaper than taking 5 rolls of your own shots to the Fotomat. And these are the pictures you'll wish you had taken.

The Paris Apartment: Romantic Decor on a Flea-Market Budget

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Of no value
not what I expected
Loved it! Don't Miss the Best Tip...
Skip this book
WASTEFUL

The Paris Apartment: Romantic Decor on a Flea-Market Budget
Claudia Strasser
Manufacturer: Collins Design
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060391693

Amazon.com

If you love chandeliers, flowing draperies, and bric-a-brac--if you believe you were a Roman senator, a Gothic queen, or Madame de Pompadour in an earlier life or have fantasies of La Belle Époque or the Golden Age of Hollywood--The Paris Apartment is the decorating book for you. Claudia Strasser includes before-and-after pictures of real people's apartments, transformed from dark cracker boxes to intriguing showplaces. She gives shopping tips on finding the best furniture, how-to instructions on distressing and painting your flea-market finds, and ideas for choosing the period and colors that best suit your personality. Best of all, Strasser estimates the average cost of a no-holds-barred transformation to be $1,800 for an entire apartment, including furniture--less if you already have the furniture, are clever with your hands, are somewhat restrained in your taste, or live near the best flea markets. The Paris Apartment is the perfect combination of inspiration and instruction for budget-conscious glamour mavens on a budget.

Book Description

The Paris Apartment is a popular shop in New York's East Village, where visitors can step back in time and immerse themselves in the beauty and romance of antique furnishings. Reflecting an unusual mix of design influences (Baroque, rococo, neoclassical and Art Deco) and personal taste, its style is luxurious, playful, and wholly original.

In The Paris Apartment, Claudia Strasser, the founder and owner of the shop, offers readers the quintessential guide to achieving this romantic Parisian look without having to spend a fortune. With easy-to-follow instructions and helpful advice, she shows readers how they can transform their homes into a living environment that reflects both their personal style and timeless French elegance. Laid out in the form of an entertaining diary, the book helps Francophiles define their fantasy home, find inspiration, select a color palette and use light creatively. She also includes instructions for making canopies and valances; advice on dyeing fabrics and restyling furniture; tips on budgeting; guidance on shopping at flea markets and auctions; and a glossary of terms. Color photographs throughout illustrate the ideas and techniques shown in the book.

As interest in the home experiences a resurgence, and as Americans become more careful about their spending, nesting has become the pastime of the '90s. People want luxury homes without spending a fortune. With its unbeatable combination of style and solid practicality, The Paris Apartment is a home-decorating guide to treasure and draw inspiration from for many years to come.

Customer Reviews:

Of no value.......2007-04-03

This book has no interest for someone interested in decorating. Very boring, not enough photos. A real vanity book.

not what I expected.......2007-03-31

this has been on my want list for a year or more, and I finally found a copy at my library. I am SO glad I didn't buy this. It is way, way too overdone for my taste, and in no way does it reflect any element of french style that I've seen. I'd consider myself a francophile, but even Versailles looks restrained in comparison to Strasser's layers upon layers upon layers. I'd hate to clean in any of these rooms. There are some good ideas, like the rinceau treatment of the warehouse room turned parlor, but they were largely hidden under swaths of satin and clutter. I'd hoped for more depictions of true french designs.

Loved it! Don't Miss the Best Tip..........2007-01-19

I loved this book and have shared my copy more than I can remember so now I just purchase them for my good girlfriends. Beyond the practical 'how tos'' for any budget, I love the greater message that Ms. Stasser reveals. Each of us can create a beautiful, decadent, relaxing area for ourselves. I chose my bathroom tub(I did the beading), a freestanding vanity (that I ventured to the flea market for!) and a private telephone area for just me with an old fahioned telephone table and comfy chair and cuddly chenille throw. Each area has a few very beautiful trickets, smells great and has lush fabrics. My kids prohibit the truly frenchie from existing anywhere else. But, I bought some french cds and the kids listen to them in the car! I LOVE my spaces - they are transcenant - truly. I have my piece of The Paris Apartment.

Skip this book.......2007-01-14

The photos in this book are artistic, but not informative or helpful. Lots of text on basic design pricipals--so no new information. Basic pictures--and more of them--would have saved this book.

WASTEFUL.......2007-01-09

NOT AT ALL WHAT I EXPECTED. THE WEBSITE IS MORE INFORMATIVE THAN THE BOOK. I VISITED THE BOUTIQUE AND HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE. EVERYTHING IN THERE IS BEAUTIFUL. HIGHLY RECOMMEND A VISIT BUT THE BOOK IS A TERRIBLE WASTE OF MONEY.

A Lady, First: My Life in the Kennedy White House and the American Embassies of Paris and Rome

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Review of shipping: Beware of buying this book from Amazon....
A Pleasure, and a Surprise
Terrific!
Product Review
Class from the past!

A Lady, First: My Life in the Kennedy White House and the American Embassies of Paris and Rome
Letitia Baldrige
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142001597
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Book Description

Letitia Baldrige is the woman best known as Jackie Kennedy's social secretary during the White House years. But in this fascinating memoir Baldrige reveals a career sparkling with a host of other achievements: embassy work in an era when women rarely were given jobs overseas, becoming the first female executive at Tiffany & Co., and founding one of the first companies run by a female CEO. In her amazing life story Baldrige shares her perspective as a White House insider: the hilarity of young Jackie's antics on foreign diplomatic visits, the terror of the Cuban missile crisis, and the heartbreak of President Kennedy's funeral. Stylish, chic and always polite, Baldrige reveals the determination that has made her a success and brought her the admiration of women around the world.

Customer Reviews:

Review of shipping: Beware of buying this book from Amazon...........2007-03-18

I placed my order for this book on Jan 28th, and it said it would be here around March 23 (which I thought was too long, but was willing to wait). Today I got an e-mail saying it would be further delayed and will not arrive until May 9th! This looks like a lovely book, but you're better off getting it at your local bookstore! :)

A Pleasure, and a Surprise.......2006-08-05

I've always enjoyed Ms. Baldridge's books, and this was no exception. I was expecting, knowing nothing about it beforehand, that it would be yet more nostalgia about the Kennedy White House. Thankfully, it wasn't. That period of her life occupied part of the book, but not even the major part. Actually, I enjoyed most the part about her time working for Tiffany & Co. It's great bedside reading.

Terrific! .......2006-05-29

I had this on my shelf for several years before finally reading it--and now I regret waiting so long! This is a captivating story told by someone uniquely placed in several high-level positions: aid to David & Evangeline Bruce in France; aid to Clare Booth Luce and Henry Luce in Italy; and chief of staff to Jackie Kennedy. In addition to this, Ms. Baldrige was the first woman executive at Tiffany's, and held a high level position at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. But what really endears her to the reader is Ms. Baldrige's way of telling hilarious stories on herself--the things that go askew during a dinner party, for example. She took her work very seriously, but is modest enough to tell stories on herself that can make one dissolve in laughter. I came away from this book with a higher appreciation of all that she has done. She is very likeable!

Product Review.......2005-09-06

The product arrived in excellent condition, within the specified time period, and I am very happy with it.

Thanks

Class from the past!.......2003-07-02

Oh! how I wish I had a life like Tish Baldridge's! She is a gutsy and classy lady and I admire her for that. I loved to read that book because it goes to show that dreams come true when we put the energy and efforts for them to materialize.

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A Valuable Contribution To The History Of Architecture.

The Great Houses of Paris
Claude Fregnac
Manufacturer: Rizzoli Intl Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670349720

Customer Reviews:

A Valuable Contribution To The History Of Architecture........2000-08-07

The Great Houses Of Paris is an exquisitely illustrated history of the grand town houses known as "Hotel Particuliers." They are considered to be the equivilent of the Italian Palazzi. This work examines their rise and near fall from the Middle Ages, through the Second Empire. All of them are now Historic Residences. Size was not a crucial criterion for these sumptous town houses to be designated "Hotel Particulier," but, rather an owner's rank and wealth. This work is most successful in tracing the social and political history in which these mansions survived. Indeed, many notables graced the grand salons, such as Thomas Jefferson, And Madame De Pompadour, and with this book we can get a glimpse into the past and how these people lived. Today, few of these grand houses remain in private hands, and many have been turned into luxurary apartments.

Book Description

When eleven-year-old Henrietta arrives at the Fishers’ well-appointed house in Paris, she is prepared to spend her day between trains looked after by an old friend of her grandmother’s. Henrietta longs to see a few sights in the foreign city; little does she know what fascinating secrets the Fisher house itself contains.
For Henrietta finds that her visit coincides with that of Leopold, an intense child who has come to Paris to be introduced to the mother he has never known. In the course of a single day, the relations between Leopold, Henrietta’s agitated hostess Naomi Fisher, Leopold’s mysterious mother, his dead father, and the dying matriarch in bed upstairs, come to light slowly and tantalizingly. And when Henrietta leaves the house that evening, it is in possession of the kind of grave knowledge usually reserved only for adults. One of Elizabeth Bowen’s most artful and psychologically acute novels, The House in Paris is a timeless masterpiece of nuance and atmosphere, and represents the very best of Bowen’s celebrated oeuvre.

Customer Reviews:

The Moment before Adulthood .......2007-09-28

This is a charming saga of young Henrietta, 11, on her trip through Paris, changing trains and sent to stay with a grandmother's friend. She finds herself in the middle of a classic family drama involving Leopold, another child also at the house who turns out to be the love-child of a yound woman who lived there during a Paris stay some years ago. As the family's pathetic attempt to cover this up unravels, Henrietta--who is at that Carol Gilligan moment of moral clarity before sexual motives unfold in her own experience--finds out for herself what motivates the adults in the House.

A surprising ending occurs, that some of you will like in this book primarily about women, and others will find a deus ex machina.

Beautiful prose style, somewhat stifling plot.......2006-02-20

This is my first experience reading Elizabeth Bowen. Her prose style is terrific- flowing, evocative, and deep. But rather than a comedy of manners, this is something of a *tragedy* of manners, as nearly all the female adult characters wallow in self pity and paralysis, often for fear of expressing their feelings to the people they (should) care most about. The callousness with which the children are treated is appalling as well. So while the art of description is magnificent, I can't help but be thankful I don't live in the stifling world Bowen has created.

Between Romance and Convention.......2005-09-27

Magnificent! An altogether more mature novel than The Last September, leaner and richer at the same time. It is one of those books one wants simultaneously to speed through for the sake of the plot, and to linger over for the elegance and economy of the author's style and acuteness of her psychological insights. The Anchor edition serves it ill, I fear, by printing the revealing but otherwise excellent essay by A.S. Byatt as a preface rather than afterword, and by implying on the back jacket that the narrative is focused on the child Henrietta who, though brought to brilliant life, turns out to be a peripheral character. So one is at first confused by the shifts in viewpoint and authorial tone which are one of Bowen's strengths. And her subtlety in teasing out questions of personal identity between the competing powers of romance and convention is a delight from start to finish.

Highly recommended, although not perfect (how is that?).......2003-05-17

The House in Paris is my first encounter with Bowen's work and definitely won't be the last. She is a beautiful writer with occasional unidiomatic lapses which are compensated for in stunning paragraphs elsewhere. The scenes and characters come alive; the best way I can describe it is that they are "intensely lived." Bowen is never on autopilot. In particular, I found the scenes where Karen visits her aunt & uncle in Ireland and the scene in which Henrietta meets Mme. Fisher very evocative and enthralling despite the lack of anything much happening. Bowen also has a surehanded dramatic technique when needed.

I did find some weaknesses, which is why I give the novel 4 stars (but then the "degree of difficulty" is high). I don't ever find the romance between Karen and Max to be accessible; Bowen's portrayal is intentionally inscrutable. Though only nine, Leopold seems to think and speak like an adult. In general, I don't agree with Bowen's much praised portrayal of either child.

All in all, a very worthwhile, often intense novel.

This book is inspiring and thought provoking........1999-04-18

The House in Paris is about making choices.

It starts by introducing the reader to 11 year old Henrietta who passes through the House in Paris while on her way to visit her Grandmother in Mentone. We are later introduced to Leopold. He is a nine year old boy, going to visit his mother in the House in Paris, whom he has never met. The house belongs to Madame Fisher and her daughter Naomi.

The story then goes backwards, we find out how Leopold came to be. His mother had a tryst with Max while being engaged to someone else. Leopold's Father Max was Naomi's Fiance, whom he would have married had he not killed himself. I will not give the ending away, but the threads of the story come together and everyone has a connection to the house. Bowen's descriptive style of writing is evident throughout the chapters. I can guarantee readers that they won't want to put this book down. You wish the story wouldn't end.

Average customer rating:

Lobe-Isherwood

How cliche, but ooh la la!

Did not like!

Disappointed......

Hilarious!

Paris Hangover
Kirsten Lobe
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comic | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312355688
Release Date: 2006-03-21

Book Description

A glamorous fish-out-of-water first novel, Paris Hangover stars Klein, a just-escaped New Yorker with trunk-fulls of fabulous footwear but without the significant relationship shed really expected and longed to have by now, in her mid-thirties. Fleeing a live-in lover and their sleek TriBeCa triplex as well as a career in fashion, Klein starts over in Parisin a tiny walk-up in the 6th that she had to lie (in broken Franglais) and write a bad check to get, only to discover that, among other things, Parisian apartments dont come with kitchens. Living out of her ten piece luggage set (Louis Vuitton, natch), Klein plunges into the mysterious world of French men and dating. She muddles her way through: the sexy Renaud, the prototypical Frenchman; dating three men named Jean simultaneously; and one completely wrong Monsieur Married Man, who wants Klein for his very well-kept mistress. Set against a backdrop of knowing references to Paris and its unique manners and mores, Paris Hangover is a very satisfying modern romance.

Customer Reviews:

Lobe-Isherwood.......2007-09-16

Since taking off from Tegel ensconced in an ancient paperback of "Goodbye to Berlin" I've been looking for a repeat experience - saying farewell to an extraordinary city with a gift-wrapped miniature to hand. At Orly last week I finally had my wish. Lobe is a seriously good writer, so don't be taken in by the "chic(k) lit" cover. Not a paragraph, in fact barely a sentence of this brilliant 'Year-in' novel fails to be original, witty and engagingly modest at the same time. Her archetype American (Wisconsin) ingénue finds by degrees that the language barrier is the least of her cultural problems, with a resulting voyage of self-discovery (City of Light) that is a pleasure to witness. Austen, the Fieldings (both), yes even the Swan of Avon - make way: a splendid, up-to-date addition to classic romantic fiction (the 'taming' sub-genre) with just the right amount of character development to ensure a good, extended shelf-life. Chapeau ... et bravo!

How cliche, but ooh la la!.......2007-08-24

Firstly, for the reviews in the negative due to "too much sex, little substance about Paris"....WHAT did you think you were buying? A travel memoir?? Anyone can read the back cover explicitly explaining this book was more about one woman's search for a FRENCHMAN and the guts to move somewhere....well, foreign. I found Loeb's writing style hilarious...although, like some others, it started to wane a bit towards the end, however I thoroughly enjoyed this as a time passing whirlwind (decadant) trip through Paris. It's refreshing to find a novel NOT about your typical 21 year old's study abroad time on daddy's dime, and while this book is full of frivolous parties and casual sex, it's also much more 'adult' than many novels of the same genre. Overall, very good and worth its price.

Did not like!.......2007-03-23

So pretentious and full of herself! I purchased this to read on my trip to Paris and nearly threw it out. If not for her references to significant Paris monuments and some of the cultural nuances of the Parisians, I would have tossed this and given it only one star. I'm not terrible serious or prudish, however her writing really seem contrived in order to shock you.

Disappointed.............2007-02-05

I hate to be negative about a book....but.....
I also have to admit the book started out great. It was laugh-out-loud funny. Especially during the flight from NYC to Paris with her cat.
Shortly after that, it appeared to lose it's steam and my interest.
I did finish it...but I had to struggle.
If you're into those stiletto heels, looking for Mr. Right by romping in bed with every male that comes along (and sometimes two)and you're fine with reading a novel that lacks any "substance" with a main character that should have "shallow" for her middle name.....then this book is for you!

Hilarious!.......2007-01-21

I felt like I was living in Paris! I could feel her frustration, joy, anxiety and lust as each day unfolds.

Average customer rating:

Perfect!
My daughter loves these books.

Madeline's House
Ludwig Bemelmans
Manufacturer: Viking Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0140950281

Book Description

Madeline's three most popular adventures in complete, unabridged miniature editions, are packaged in a replica of the famous "old house in Paris that was covered with vines." The attractive box includes Madeline, Madeline's Rescue, and Madeline and the Bad Hat and has a convenient carrying handle so children can take Madeline with them wherever they go.

* A Puffin Boxed Set
* Full-color illustrations
* Ages 3-8

Customer Reviews:

Perfect!.......2007-10-07

These books are perfect for little hands. I grew up loving the Madeline stories and now my daughter does too! A winner!

My daughter loves these books........2001-10-12

I was a little hesitant to buy these for my daughter, but my wife loved these stories as a child, and now my 3 year old loves them as well. She has the famous beginning memorized and wants to read all 3 books every night before going to bed. I'm not sure of the necessity of buying the books in this form, they are paperback and small, but my daughter can carry all 3 around easily and can hold the books on her lap, unlike some of the large hard backs.

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