price：$19.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Worse than Pay Day Lenders) 『As part of the Barchester series, it is unsurprising to learn that the two church parties are represented in this novel. On the High Church side are Lady Lufton and Mark Robarts, the vicar, the living at Framley having been the gift of the Lufton family. The other side, Low Church, consists of the Childicotes set of Mrs. Proudie and the bishop. Mark Robarts finds the rule of Lady Lufton lighter than that of Mrs. Proudie.
When Mark's sister Lucy visits the vicarage, Lady Lufton becomes fearful that Lucy will become too close to Lady Lufton's son Ludovic. Fanny Robarts, Mark's wife, is stalwart in support of her sister-in-law. She ridicules Lady Lufton's concerns.
Mr. Crawley is the rector at Hogglestock. Mr. Arabin arranges for Mr. Hogglestock's curacy at Hogglestock. The two men men have been school fellows. Lady Lufton wants Griselda Grantly, the daughter of the archdeacon and the grandchild of Mr. Harding and the niece of Mrs. Arabin, for Ludovic. Lord Lufton contrarily likes Lucy Robarts.
Trollope uses irony to put across his points. Frequently he resorts to classical allusions. Suffice to say that everything does not turn out as Lady Lufton desires at the beginning of the tale. There is richness to the story combined with much good sense. Trollope hits his stride in this volume of the Barset group.』
(Endless Optimism) 『About three-quarters of the way through "Framley Parsonage," the fourth in Anthony Trollope's remarkably entertaining Barchester Chronicles, two of the characters find themselves an unlikely couple, much to their surprise and mutual pleasure. And it suddenly occurred to me why I love this author's works as much as I do: it's the endless optimism. Yes, things always work out for the best in Austen and Dickens (for example), but in Trollope, when a character is caught off guard and overwhelmed by his/her emotions, so am I. The sense that unexpected, marvelous life changes are always a possibility, connects me to Trollope in a very strong way. Which is not to say that there's no edge to his writing, or no psychological complexity; far from it. In "Framley Parsonage," bad things happen to good people; but Trollope doesn't shy away from the idea that sometimes good people make bad choices...and must pay the consequences. In this way, Trollope's moral landscape seems to me more complex than Austen's and Dickens', less black and white. (Lizzie Eustace, the heroine of "The Eustace Diamonds" is a perfect example of this: she's an underhanded liar and thief, but we find ourselves rooting for her.)
Trollope introduces us to some new characters here, and brings back old ones, much to our delight; Mrs, Proudie is particularly welcome, in all her sanctimonious glory. If I have an objection to the plot of "Framley Parsonage," it's that the dilemma the lovers face too closely mirrors that of the ones in its immediate predecessor, "Doctor Thorne.". That said, my heart couldn't help but respond when the lovely Lucy Robarts suddenly found her dream of love coming true. I knew it was coming (even if she didn't), and yet the simplicity and honesty with which Trollope expressed her astonishment, disbelief and inexpressible joy brought tears to my eyes. Perhaps I'm just an old softie...but perhaps Trollope is just that good.』
(A Classic Series But a Great Writer) 『Dickens and Austen get all the 19th Century buzz and attention from modern American readers (and who can complain about that since they are always dancing on the heights of the novel) but American readers should spend a little time with the more pragmatic and never dull Trollope. Every one of his novels is filled with a world of detail and character that brings 19th century England to life (albeit in a fictional setting of Barsetshire in this case). No writer seemed to have as artful and practical a grasp on the importance of money, status and power and the ramifications of striving for these things on the individual and his society. Trollope's biting humor, endlessly wonderful characters and moral dilemas envelop the reader in his world. One can make a lifetime of going back to Trollope and his seemingly endless stream of novels and you will always be rewarded. Here in Framley Parsonage he continues the Barsetshire Chronicles in top fashion. This volume does not have as much biting humor as Barchester Towers (which I think remains his masterpiece, perhaps along with The Way We Live Now) but you will be richly rewarded for spending a little time with Mr. Trollope of whom Nathaniel Hawthorne stated that his work was "solid, substantial, written on the strength of beef." Trollope's Framley Parsonage seems as appropriate for our time as Trollope's with its themes of unscrupulous politicians and lending. This novel and the series it is a part of will reward.』
(Five stars from everyone!) 『Notice how every reviewer of this gem of a novel gives it five stars. Trollope, as these readers have each discovered, is perhaps the most under-appreciated of the 19th century master English novelists. He may not have DIckens' gift for memorable characters or the tragic sense of Thomas Hardy, but does he know human nature in all its complexity and folly. Each of his characters, from the purest young girl to the most dissipated wastrel has that combination of strengths and weaknesses that we recognize (one hopes) in ourselves. Trollope condemns no one unreservedly, while never wholly approving. And he does this all with an ironic distance, yet with a warm sympathy for his characters that is unique in this reader's long experience with master novelists. Finally, this skilled observer of ordinary people tells his story with a gift for the language that is equal to the greatest writers in English. Do not die without spending some hours with this genial chronicler of 19th century humanity.』
("Oh, why do I have to be ambitious?") 『The fourth of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, Framley Parsonage (1861) is a gentle novel filled with memorable characters, including many characters from The Warden, Barchester Towers, and Doctor Thorne (Barsetshire Novels). Mark Robarts, a young vicar with a devoted wife, has a comfortable situation at Framley Parsonage on the estate of the indomitable Lady Lufton. Her son, now Lord Lufton, had been a friend of Mark Robarts at school, and it was their friendship which resulted in Mark's position. Mark, though conscientious in his duties and grateful for his situation, is ambitious, however, anxious to expand his horizons beyond Framley.
Lady Lufton, who rules with an iron hand, is appalled when Mark decides to spend a weekend with a "fast" crowd, one which he believes can advance his career. Young and naïve, he becomes the dupe of an aristocratic "con-man," an MP named Nathaniel Sowerby, who persuades him to help him out of a financial jam by signing a note for five hundred pounds (more than half Robarts's yearly salary), allowing Sowerby to draw funds on Robarts's name. In the meantime, Robarts's sister Lucy arrives at Framley Parsonage upon the death of their father. Lucy, a sweet ingénue in mourning, soon comes to the attention of Lord Lufton, but Lady Lufton has many more "significant" matrimonial prospects in mind for her son. As Robarts's financial miseries become more pressing, andas Lucy's disappointment in love increases, the scene is set for a final showdown.
Numerous peripheral characters, many of them known to readers of the series, add to the drama of the primary action. The implacable dowager Lady Lufton, wishing to maintain her family's social position, pushes Griselda Grantly, daughter of Archdeacon Grantly, as the Duke's suitor. The competition between the (Archdeacon) Grantlys and the (Bishop) Proudies for suitors for their daughters adds great comic relief to the story, and the internecine manipulations among the clergy provide gentle satire in a novel which seems to be remarkably domestic in its focus.
Trollope provides a full picture of Victorian life, representing many aspects of society, and though his view of the clergy has in earlier novels been a bit jaded, he is sympathetic to many of its representatives in this novel, seeing them as humans, rather than as types. A sweet novel, part love story and part social commentary, Framley Parsonage is charming, memorable for its characters and picture of Victorian England. Mary Whipple
』 『This Elibron Classics book is a reprint of a 1896 edition by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York.』
price：$8.48
University of Wisconsin Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The power of Speech Competition) 『Marguder has knocked it out of the park with this one. A must-read for anyone who has competed in speech competition or for anyone with a mother.』
(A brilliant, hilarious, heart-felt work of art) 『This is one of the most enjoyable, well-written books I have ever read. It's entertaining and deeply satisfying. First of all, the prose is hilarious, as the narrator (Rick) has a brilliant sense of humor and precocious insight into the other characters. But it also has an aching, heartfelt core to it, because for all of Rick's worldliness, he's still a naive teenager growing up in a stifling, unenlightened suburb. His family is broken, and he's buffeted by larger, darker forces. Rick goes on a great 4-month arc where he discovers who he is, despite his trying circumstances, and learns to "speak his truth" instead of hiding from who he is -- I found that journey very exciting as it concludes with an awesome climatic, realistic finale.
Pretty much every sentence is brilliantly crafted and not one single word is wasted, which makes this book a pleasure to read and hard to put down. I enjoyed the hell out of Sugarless.』
(Deliciously funny) 『The 1970s setting has a bearing on our understanding of some attitudes towards various aspects of this delightful story. Richard (Rick) Lahrem, high school sophomore, lives with his mother and step-father following his parents divorce. This new arrangement has meant a drop in living standards, and more importantly for Rick, status. But he consoles himself in his secret collection of Broadway musical LPs.
At school he is the sort of boy he thought no one really notices until his moving reading in speech class reduces two classmates to tears. He soon finds himself enrolled on the inter-scholastic dramatic reading team where he has an eight minute Dramatic Interpretation of Boys in the Band to perform. His immediate success leads to a new life and friends as he continues to win in the various stages of the competition.
Along the way he starts to learn about himself. He begins to realise he has a lot more in common with Boys in the Band than just a talent for drama, and is soon enjoying an intimate relationship with his adoptive speech tutor from a rival school, Ned. He also has to contend with his step-father and wayward step-sister, a relationship that becomes even more confusing when first his mother, and then his step-father are swept up in religious fervour. It all leads to potential disaster at the finals of his competition.
Sugarless is deliciously funny realisation of the coming of age of a well meaning and most likeable teenager. Rick narrates his own story and pulls no punches as he gives a frank account of events. It all adds up to a most entertaining and ultimately positive novel.』
(Perfection!) 『Perfect telling of a unique coming-of-age story written with enormous wit, heart and insight. Very funny and very moving!』
(Brilliant new novel) 『SUGARLESS is a brilliant new work that deserves a wide audience. Well-written and constructed, Magruder's book introduces a wonderful new character, Rick, who shares his thoughts and adventures with the reader. Avoiding many of the pitfalls of similar works, SUGARLESS is far from maudlin or heavy-handed. The characters are believable and the author perfectuly captures the look and feel of the 1970s, as well as a young man's thrilling and frightening exploration of his sexuality. Kudos for such a terrific story.』 『
Things look bad for Rick Lahrem, a high school sophomore in a cookie-cutter Chicago suburb in 1976. His mother’s second husband is a licensed psychologist who eats like an ape, his stepsister is a stoner slut, and his father is engaged to a Southern belle. Rick’s only solace is his growing collection of original Broadway-cast LPs, bought on the sly at Wax Trax. After he brings two girls in speech class to tears by reading a story aloud, Rick is coaxed onto the interscholastic forensics team to perform an eight-minute dramatic interpretation ofThe Boys in the Band, the controversial sixties play about homosexuality. Unexpectedly successful at this oddball event, Rick begins winning tournaments and making friends with his teammates. Rick also discovers the joys of sex—with a speech coach from a rival school—just as his mother, reacting to a deteriorating home environment, makes an unnerving commitment to Christ. The newly confident Rick assumes this too shall pass—until the combined forces of family, sex, and faiththreaten to undo him at the state meet in Peoria. James Magruder’sSugarlessoffers a ruefully entertaining take on the simultaneous struggles of coming-out, coming-of-age, and coming-to-Jesus.
“The tale of adolescent sexual awakening in James Magruder’s Sugarless reads so true it feels like it should be thrust into the hands of every confused protogay teenager.”—Out Magazine
"In this fascinating 1970s coming-of-age story, playwright and translator Magruder introduces readers to Rick Lahrem, a high school sophomore struggling with his sexuality, his loneliness and his new stepfamily. His only solace is the Broadway LPs he buys at the local record store, but when he's coaxed into joining his school's speech team, he finally discovers something he's successful at and a group of friends who actually seem to care about him. Then one day, while record shopping, he meets Ned Bolang, a speech coach from a rival high school, and a sexual affair ensues just as Rick's mother is finding Christ, an irony not lost on the reader. Rick and Ned's relationship is nuanced and complicated: Rick views Ned as the one person who can make him happy, but is the older Ned exploiting his young lover? While this novel may be about a homosexual relationship in the 1970s, the story captures the struggles of teenagers, straight and gay, of every generation."—Publishers Weekly
price：$1.89
Cheyenne Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A must read for lovers of well document and well-written historical fiction, romance and a gay perspective) 『"Frost Fair" by noted author `Erastes' (Cheyenne Press, 2009) is a love story set against the backdrop of a frozen Thames River, and Dickensian London in 1814. This intriguing setting includes a carnival on ice, described by diarist John Evelyn as a "bacchanalian triumph," thus completing the atmosphere for a superb, period romance. Moreover, Erastes populates this `unique happening' with a fascination array of characters: a handsome, honest tradesman; a kindly and loving patron; and a glib, wealthy cad.
Fiercely Independent tradesman, Gideon Frost, is a talented lithographer and printer struggling to make ends meet (no pun intended), even if this means occasionally selling his body in the courtyard of venerable old St. Paul's Cathedral, or "Lad Lane." Beset by bill collectors, Gideon receives a lucrative commission from a wealthy gentleman-of-leisure, Joshua Redfern, who is secretly enamoured by this beautiful, young artisan. Unknown to Redfern, Gideon is equally smitten by him as well. Meanwhile, as a result of a "Little Ice Age" (c. 1770-1800), the Thames River froze solid to the delight of tradesmen eager to make a pound-or-two--Gideon included. It also attracted the curious of all classes, including one, Finbarr Thouless.
Now, one of the solid pluses of this novel is the well-developed cast of characters, and Finbarr Thouless is no exception. Delightfully `slithery,' he is portrayed as a two-faced, self-centred, foppish cad with a vitriolic vengeful streak. Moreover, given the fact that he exercises considerable sway over Redfern, it does not bode well for him and Gideon. I hasten to add that there is nothing formulaic about this story, for it offers several twists right up to the ending; which is both surprising and gratifying at the same time. That, however, is for the reader to discover for him or herself.
Of particular interest to me, as a writer of historical fiction, is the historically authentic depiction of the `frost fair.' This rare occurrence first came to my knowledge through Helen Humphries ("Frozen Thames"), who dramatized this phenomenon with colourful vignettes--including accounts of birds falling from the air cocooned in a coating of ice. Therefore, from my point of view a bit more descriptive elaboration would not have gone amiss. However, the story does move along delightfully with no unnecessary dawdling, whatsoever.
Not to be overlooked, either, is the stunning front cover art by Alex Beecroft--herself `no slouch' as a writer. Coincidentally, my next scheduled review will focus on her novel "Captain's Surrender."
"Frost Fair" is a definite read for those who enjoy well researched, and well-written historical fiction, romance and a gay perspective.
Gerry Burnie, Canadian history from a gay perspective series.
Journey to Big Sky』
(A Short Story with the Elements of a Novel) 『I prefer longer stories and knew that the double spacing meant that this was not really novel length. However I was pleasantly surprised that Erastes gave the reader a good story. The characters were interesting. the struggling, beautiful young man and the rich young man who met him and of course, a protagonist. Two men who secretly desired another.
There was a good plot which kept me interested.
Although my only complaint was that it is short and I don't like double-spacing to make a book.
Erastes writing saved it however...as I hoped and knew it would.』
(Silly and Lethargic) 『This book has lots of positive reviews, so it clearly suits some people's tastes. However, I personally did not care for it -- in fact, I threw in the towel with twenty pages left because I decided I'd rather do my laundry than deal with more trite cliches trying (vainly) to pass as narrative tension. Additionally, I found the author's research about the period occasionally short of the mark; in a couple spots dialogue intended to capture the historical period is actually completely anachronistic. In an historical novel, this is both careless and easily avoided.
Although parts of the novel truly stand out for their detail and richness of setting, overall, I found the characters so poorly developed as to be silly and the ensuing action lacking any sort of narrative propulsion. In the future, I hope the author will consider spending as much time developing his characters and plot as he does their historical staging.』
(London, 1814) 『Erastes. "Frost Fair", Linden Bay Romance, 2008.
London, 1814
Amos Lassen
In the winter in London when the Thames froze in 1814, merchants set up stalls on the ice and sold their goods at what was known as "Frost Fair". That was the last Frost Fair and the setting of Erastes' novel. Ironically or intentionally, the main character is Gideon Frost, a printer who has fallen upon hard times. His woes continue to mount throughout the book. Gideon does what he has to do to survive and it is not pretty. However with Frost Fair, he not only gets a chance to sell some of his prints but a chance at love as well--at least for a while. Just as quickly as Gideon's romance with an appreciative buyer begins, does a vindictive gentleman(as he called himself) appear. He is the kind of man that delights in the misfortunes of others as he weaves a web of lies and misunderstandings. Another character, a mysterious stranger, if you will, comes in and saves the day and the romance. The book combines historical fiction with gay romance and is a great read. This is the first book by Erastes that I have read but it is not going to be my last. 』
(Flawless) 『Erastes can do no wrong. This book was absolutely lovely. The characters, the setting, the story - all perfect. I love how the relationship between the main characters was portrayed in such a realistic way. All to often in m/m romances the relationships are unbelievable and unrealistic, but in Frost Fair, the characters struggle with their feelings, fight for their relationship, and get their happy ending - all in a believable way. This book was a pleasure to read. A definite add to any collection.』 『"The research behind 'Frost Fair' is impressive indeed...and the depiction of the winter carnival taking place on the frozen Thames is a delight." - Mel Keegan In 1814, the River Thames froze solid in one of the coldest winters on record; tradesmen and society all flocked to the Frost Fair - the last ever to be held on the ice. Against this chilly backdrop, the printer, engraver and fiercely independent Gideon Frost struggles; not only to keep his business afloat, selling his body to men when he must, but also to hide his growing attraction to a wealthy customer: the gentleman Joshua Redfern. Redfern is a man out of Gideon's class and very much out of his reach. When disaster strikes, Gideon is forced to make a decision which will affect his future: will he choose love, or independence? Frost Fair evokes a bitterly cold London winter as Gideon tries to find the heat of love in his heart and his life. Written by Erastes, author of the widely acclaimed "Standish" and "Trangressions", the latter the first in a new line of m/m historical romances published by Running Press.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Impressive Ideas) 『Camille's ideas are very original. The book combines philosphy, psichology, mithology, art, literature and antrophology to understand the basis of our society, specially the diferences between genders. The first two chapters are spectacular. After that, the book becomes too specific, but still worth reading.』
(Masculist review) 『I am pretending this book was written by a man. That's why I gave it three stars, which doesn't include the extra star or two women writers of non-fiction usually automatically get.
Depending on the author, reading their book can make the reader feel like he (the reader..that's right, HE) is being intelectually stimulated, while at the same time getting muddle-headed and confused. That is definitely the case with Sexual Personae. Oh well, I guess it's just me, but I like to have the material presented in a more organized manner. (maybe organized books are usually written by men, you know, the linear thinkers who always leave the toilet seat up).
But still, I found the book to be informative, at many levels - historically, artisically, philosophically..maybe not that great a source on psychology though. Paglia seems to take a gynocentric (woman-centered) view of men's psychology, like when she says that the reason men create is because of some issue they have with their mothers. (Testosterone's a driving force..what's the problem? No need to psychologize). Oh well, at least she comes out against man-bashing, and hateful feminist ideologues. In fact, those are the best parts of the book, where she speaks against these. Feminists hate her so much, they have sent her death threats (that must be their way of obtaining "equality").
[edit] Earlier I said Paglia's writing style is similar to that of Harold Bloom's. However, the more I read Bloom, the more I realize that each author is confusing in his/her own unique way. Paglia tends to write like she is having random racing thoughts, so it is sometimes hard to link sentences and paragraphs together; whereas Bloom's style is to take uncommon words only an academic would know, and use these to salt and pepper the text sentences which are, to use the best word I can think of, "convoluted" (yet somehow very astute).』
(Stunning) 『The pages of this book crackle with brilliance, audacity, egomania, exaggeration, wit, half-truths, whole truths, breath taking insights, razor sharp criticisms, etc. It is as much about the titannic intellect of Paglia as it is about art. Her feminism, deeply rooted in biology and nature, rather than absurdly elitist women's studies departments, is all you need to know about feminism that really matters. An amazing book.』
(The Attack of the 50 Foot Lesbian) 『Paglia is a hard read. She is everything you love to hate and as a practicing lesbian she stands out in the field of feminists railing against their vulnerabilities. Personally, I thought the interview she gave Playboy years ago was much much more telling.
She is 'absolutely miiltant' about much of her stand against various aspects of the Feminist platform of ideals. She supports the belief that strippers have ultimate power over hapless males, and that prostitutes enjoy their work. She maintains that the more a woman takes off her clothes, the more powerful she becomes, and that the bulk of oppression against 'erotic dancers' comes from the suit and briefcase class of rising woman stars who are repulsed by the realization that a woman with animal instincts finely honed can with no college training at all make as much money on a hopping weekend in a strip club as they with their pedigrees make all week in an office.
It is not a book for the weak of senses nor the uneducated. Camille Paglia is a professor of humanities and profess she does! She is a 'take no prisoners' crusader. Her book is her battle plan.』
(An Erotics of Art) 『Way back when Susan Sontag was still an important critic, she said, "In place of hermeneutics we need an erotics of art." Well, here it is.
The basic thesis of this book is simple, though its consequences are far-ranging. She maintains that aesthetic principles are rooted in the artist's perception of and ideas about nature, sex, and women, (which are inextricable because, as she says, "sex is a subset of nature," and women have always been identified as a kind of avatar of nature). Men are nature's exiles and subjects, and therefore have had to create science and art as protections against it. But art also serves as an important link to nature; much of it serves in a religious capacity. She maintains that the Pagan cults of earth-worship were not exterminated by Judeo-Christian monotheism, but were rather transmuted into aesthetics. This pagan strain in art is what she traces, from classical antiquity in Greece and Rome to its rebirth amid Christianity's domain in the Renaissance, and again in the so-called Age of Reason, where we know it as Romanticism. Paglia believes we are still in the Romantic age (and not the Postmodern), though we know it mainly in popular culture, especially Hollywood films and rock music. (Movie stars are frequently referenced, and she notoriously compares Lord Byron to Elvis Presley.) She also convincingly demonstrated that some of the most revered works of art are chock full of perversity, a fact to which we remain blind, even in our sophisticated, cynical age. Moralism, both conservative and liberal, is not only a constraining influence on the arts, but causes us to misunderstand them.
Needless to say, these ideas are not popular in the academic world. The brilliant first chapter is called "Sex and Violence, or Nature and Art" and it overturns the bulk of modernist and postmodern ideas about each of those.
What I love about Paglia is that she does not process art in a purely intellectual way, which is a temptation (or deficiency) for the critic, and would be suicide for an artist. She is keenly attuned to the spiritual aspect of art, and can articulate the experience of it with a lucidity that is frequently awesome. Paglia reasserts the primacy of aesthetics in an academic milieu which understands nothing except through ideology (called, in academe, "theory"). She also combines both Romantic and Classic sensibilities. She is clearly sympathetic to Romanticism, but much of Sexual Personae details the ways in which the Romantic desire for infinite freedom is inevitably thwarted by the reality of nature.
Paglia's criticism is at her best here in her chapter on Emily Dickenson, whom she calls "Madame de Sade", and who seems to have been misunderstood even by her admirers for over a hundred years. This is the book's final chapter, and it is so incisive and revelatory that it makes "deconstructive" criticism look like bloated, impotent sophistry. 』 『Is Emily Dickinson "the female Sade"? Is Donatello's David a bit of paedophile pornography? What is the secret kinship between Byron and Elvis Presley, between the Medusa and Madonna? How do liberals and feminists - as well as conservatives - fatally misread human nature? This audacious and omnivorously learned work of guerilla scholarship offers nothing less than a unified-field theory of Western culture, high and low, since the Egyptians invented beauty - making a persuasive case for all art as a pagan battleground between male and female, form and chaos, civilisation and demonic nature.』
price：$4.80
Kensington
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Well-written erotic short stories, but a few bumps along the way) 『In his latest anthology of gay erotica, Sean Wolfe presents eight stories (labeled as "Inch One," "Inch Two," etc.) pretty much covering every cliché you can imagine. There's the father who is abusive because his son looks nothing like him (and he suspects isn't his), the hazing at a frat house that turns into an orgy, a college athlete who keeps his grades up by having sex with his professors, the powerful politician who has to take extrememeasures not to be discovered as gay, the prison guard who is having regular sex with one of the inmates, two guys who meet on an online hookup site don't anticipate the potential danger they may be in, the junior executive on his first international assignment who is seduced by his aggressive client, and one hustler who befriends another with a bad drug problem.
For erotic short stories, they are written rather well, but the verbose Mr. Wolfe can't help himself by (in the foreword to the book) trying to tie them together as some grand demonstration of the power of the individual to influence and change others in society, alluding casual sexual encounters to the challenges facing the new presidential administration. And, in that vein, he tries to tie many of the individual stories together, by having characters overlap into different scenarios, which detracts from the stories, in my opinion. I also have a bit of a problem in the depictions of barebacking, even in fantasy stories, at a time we surely know better. But, overall, a pleasant distraction for a fan of gay erotica, and I give the anthology three condom-clad stars out of five.
- Bob Lind, Echo Magazine』
(What Man Want) 『Wolfe, Sean. "Eight Inches", Kensington Books, 2009.
What Man Want
Amos Lassen
Sean Wolfe is one of my favorite erotic authors simply because he writes intelligent erotica. I can't wait to read the two novels that he is working on. "Eight Inches" is his latest collection of gay erotic short stories and he is usual self in the way that he gives us provocative and sexy writing that arouses. He is unquestionably the master of erotic gay writing. In "Street Smart" a young man gets sex education on the street when he meets a handsome young hustler and he also learns about love. This is an explosive story. Another story, "Frat Frenzy" tells of one of the wildest and sexiest initiation ceremonies I have ever read about and the initiation is only the beginning of some very hot escapades. A college athlete uses his sexuality and sexual talents to maintain his GPA but he also learns about pleasure from one of his professors in "Head of the Class". Wolfe knows what kind of erotica we like and that is what he gives us in this new collection. Each story is a combination of intelligence and sophistication. This is one collection you do not want to miss. 』 『Sean Wolfe knows what men want. In his anthologiesAroused, Taboo,andClose Contact,he delivered smart, sophisticated tales of intensely erotic escapades. Now he goes one step further, with a collection of eight interconnected stories that explore the very nature of desire-how it shapes us, drives us, brings us together. . .and just how far we're willing to go to satisfy it. . .
A teenage runaway gets an education in the ways of the street, and the heart, from a gorgeous young hustler in "Street Smart." In "Head of the Class," a college athlete who's used his sexual talents to keep his grades up learns all about pleasure from one of his professors. The exclusive Kappa Lambda Phi fraternity includes a mind-blowing initiation that's only the beginning of their debauchery in "Frat Frenzy." And in "DudeSearch" two men who frequent an online site specializing in random hookups agree to meet-and are completely unprepared for the fireworks that explode between them. . .
As compelling as they are explicit, these stories offer more than instant gratification. They're funny, touching, intimate, and complex-and of course, incredibly, irresistibly hot. . .
price：$95.00
Routledge
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Gender Outlaw) 『This book is interesting to read, but I would not have chosen to read it, had I not had to read it for a class assignment.』
(Comments on Gender Outlaw) 『The subtitle of the book is, "on Men, Women and the Rest of Us." Bernstein's book is not just about a man becoming a woman, but it puts into doubt the whole sex/gender system. Bernstein does not use the term, "biological sex," but refers to all gender identity as "gender": biology does not have any primacy. She pokes holes in the binary gender system by questioning why one has to be one or the other of these, or even remain stable in one gender. This "fluidity" is different from ambiguity, in which it is not clear at a given moment which gender one is. This book is liberating for those who feel they might not fit in no matter what kind of operation they had.
As the New York Times says, instead of being hostile about gender liberation, Bornstein is sweet, sincere, lucid. Her sometimes anthropological point of view is useful in lifting up age-old cultural assumptions about gender and orientations in a section she jocularly calls "The Rulebook." Gender can be assigned, attributed, there can be gender roles or an experienced identity. Bernstein suggests fifteen other models in addition to the usual gay, straight or bi- orientations. The list is fascinating, including: multiple partners models, differently-abled bodies models, reproductive models, models based on sex act preference...leading up to the heading of sex without gender.
After setting up the rules, Bornstein enthusiastically dismantles them. Are there solid definitions of male and female? In addition to the usual two sets of chromosomes there are five other sets. If gender equals what hormones you have, you could buy your gender at any pharmacy. In addition, she tells us several times that in some other cultures it is normal for someone born one gender to assume the gender of the other. She mentions more than once that a gender transformation often accompanies the process of becoming a tribal healer or shaman.
Bornstein namedrops many people of transgressive gender that you can look up - many of whom have written books. In addition, she provides a fascinating bibliography. Her questions are possibly the most interesting part of the book. "Do you `feel like a man'? Do you `feel like a woman'?" she asks. "What does a man feel like? What does a woman feel like?"
There are many other considerations like gender and politics, oppression, etc., but the list is too long for a short review. There is a play included which I did not think was very good although parts were interesting. Nevertheless, I would enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone interested in transgressive gender issues. 』
(Food for Thought) 『You know this is not a subject that I know a whole lot about...though I do profess some interest and curiosity about the reasons why people choose gender reassignment surgery. Mostly I was interested in exploring the why's and if's about gender and the myriad of choices and ways of being that people encounter and deal with or embrace in their lives. I wasn't sure what to expect...and I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this book, but I've finished reading it and it's time to write down my thoughts about it. First and foremost, this is a book that doesn't just rehash the same debates one sees nearly everywhere these days about how little Tommy can play with dolls and Sally can play with cars or how Molly can be a doctor and Biff can be a nurse...this goes beyond what's considered politically correct or "allowable" excursions outside the comfort zone of the tribe. In Gender Outlaw Borenstein really tries to examine why we need gender at all and how gender is really determined in today's societies, she looks both backward and forward with regards to this issue in a way that is both informative and entertaining. Gender Outlaw is a strange blend of biography and gender theory written with a theatrical flair. The author is really not looking to redefine gender so much as she is looking to toss it out altogether, in favor of a gender model that is more dynamic and fluid. Now for what I didn't like about the book...well, I do understand that the author is an artist and performer at heart, but I read because I LIKE to read and while I like most of what I read to be entertaining and informative, I DON'T like to have to struggle to read it because the author thought it would be interesting and creative to create columns and make the reader have to read from side to side skipping about on the page. There is a serious lack of continuity in the format of the text that makes it a bear to read. Everything does not have to be performance; everything does not have to be art. Sometimes a book should just be a book. Outside of that, I enjoyed reading Gender Outlaw, I think the author wanted to reach the mainstream and this book is certainly readable and accessible to the general public...now if we could just get them to read it and open their minds to the ideas presented. Borenstein certainly got there with me, as I had no quarrel with the gender I've been assigned, but it certainly gave me lots of food for thought and I'll probably never think of gender the same way again. I give it a 4 stars (3.5 really, but since Amazon doesn't allow½ stars, I'll settle for 4, round up instead of down).』
(Gender Outlaw) 『I so wish I had read this book at 30 years of age. I so wish everyone would read this book. Kate Bornstein is right. There simply is no gender. Anima, animus. Sometimes we do need to have our ideas challenged. I am happy to have had my old ideas changed by this book. It seems to have given me answers for so many vague questions I had in my mind. Valuable book for heterosexual ppl and homosexual ppl. Valuable book for ppl.』
(AMAZING.) 『This is an amazing, amazing book. It's easy to read, engaging, and the tone is casual but the content is rich and nuanced - both accesible and intelligent. If you only read three books in your life, this should be one of them. I'm not exaggerating.』 『Gender Outlawis the work of a woman who has been through some changes--a former heterosexual male, a one-time Scientologist and IBM salesperson..."』
price：$10.00
Beacon Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Building Big does a great job explaining civil engineering concept!) 『This book is outstanding! It's informative, yet easy to read. I have used it as the textbook for my high school engineering class for two years, and the students love it!』
(Great Book) 『I bought this book for my 6 year old son who is an avid builder. I knew that the text would be above his head, so I read the book before giving it to him so I could summarize the paragraphs for him. He asks to look at this book every night and loves it. This is not a picture book as it has a lot of text, but the pictures are well done, and he has gained some basic building concepts that he uses with his Legos and blocks. He likes to look at the book about how they build a structure (he is really fascinated by the Hoover dam and Petronas Towers) and they we look online at the completed pictures. It's a great book for older children (or if you want to take the time with a younger child to explain it) and I recommend it.』
(A Great Gift for Someone Who Loves Architecture) 『I gave this book as a gift to someone who loves and understands architecture. He found it most interesting. It contains many facts that are not generally know about large, historical structures.』
(A BIG success) 『David Macaulay takes the reader on a tour of some of the really big civil engineering structures of our time. Building Big has sections on Bridges, Tunnels, Dams, Domes, and Skyscrapers. Each part of the book describes the design and construction of from four to ten outstanding examples of the structure highlighted. The examples in each category are described in chronological order with some going back to the time of ancient Rome. The drawings that accompany the text are excellent at focusing on the details and techniques described. The integration of text and graphics is wonderful. In each case, Macaulay describes the design objectives, the interplay between the structure and the environment, and the engineering solutions used to bring the structures into being. This is a wonderful book for anyone interested in structural engineering and design. I have not seen the related PBS video series, but I can say that the book stands on its own very well. Highly recommended.』
(Awesome) 『Macaulay fans are going to be amazed and impressed by this, his best book yet. It's a companion to the PBS series that's better than the films! A must see and better yet, must buy.』 『Why this shape and not that? Why steel instead of concrete or stone? Why put it here and not over there? These are the kinds of questions that David Macaulay asks himself when he observes an architectural wonder. These questions take him back to the basic process of design from which all structures begin, from the realization of a need for the structure to the struggles of the engineers and designers to map out and create the final construction. As only he can, David Macaulay engages readers" imaginations and gets them thinking about structures they see and use every day— bridges, tunnels, skyscrapers, domes, and dams. In Building Big he focuses on the connections between the planning and design problems and the solutions that are finally reached. Whether a structure is imposing or inspiring, he shows us that common sense and logic play just as important a part in architecture as imagination and technology do. As always, Macaulay inspires readers of all ages to look at their world in a new way.』 『David Macaulay's hit PBS series by the same name cannot take you as far as this book does into the wonders of the constructed world: dams, domes, skyscrapers, tunnels, and bridges. It's also a trip through time, transporting you, for instance, from Rome's Ponte Fabricio (built in 62 B.C.) to the 1930s Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to France's Ponte de Normandie across the Seine, which was the longest bridge on earth when completed in 1994. Some of the wires that so ingeniously hold up the Golden Gate are depicted in their intricate engineering context--and at their actual size. As you pore over Macaulay's crystal-clear text and profuse illustrations, the mental fog lifts and you get a sense of what a marvelous act of imagination the bridge is.
In books about building, the whole art lies in the details. Macaulay gives you a glimpse into the minds of the designers, too: in making a tunnel under the Thames River in London, Marc Brunel was inspired by shipworms, "the scourge of the Royal Navy," mollusks who used shieldlike shells to bore holes through timber "and then had the audacity to create a rigid lining in the wood with material they excreted." Though the poor workers who created Brunel's tunnel shields had to brave fiery explosions of methane gas and vile fumes from centuries of sewage--and as Macaulay rather rudely puts it, "Brunel's shield now seems a bit like a platoon of creakingStar Warsrobots leaning against each other for support as they inch their way nervously through the muck"--the construction did the trick. That tunnel begun in 1825 is still part of the London Underground subway system.
Macaulay can construct a sound sentence: a child can grasp his celebration of the art of engineering, and a grownup can read him with childlike glee.--Tim Appelo』
price：$23.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Good Content; Poor Presentation) 『The stories are wonderful, but the pages were made of cheap paper and there were no illustrations. It is good for your library. but not a book for a child to handle or to give as a gift.』
(Parables of Nature) 『We have only read one of the parables and even though the language is written in a more formal style, the parable was interesting and has a lot of room for discussion about life. We look forward to reading more.
Homeschool Mom Amy in TN』
(Great!!!) 『An exceptionally great book. What a blessing it has been to use it in my teaching of nature to my children and Sunday School class.』
(Beautiful stories with a beautiful message.) 『These stories illustrate wonderful lessons for young readers, something sorely missing in much of children's literature today. I enjoy them as much if not more than my children.』
(A challenging gem...) 『First let me clarify that I am commenting on the story, not the edition. For what it's worth, I have the edition by Yesterday's Classics and it is nicely done.
These stories are challenging, rich and complex, as they seek to uncover God's craftsmanship in the natural world, how the seen teaches us about the unseen ("the creation declares the glory of God....") The writing and vocabulary are quite sophisticated. We homeschool and I would recommend the book as a read aloud, no earlier than the third grade all the way through adulthood. I am enjoying reading it with my daughter as a jumping off point to discuss the nature of God. I find the book challenging and enjoyable as an adult. It's a great book to glean ideas from and stretch their intellect, imagination and understanding.
Ambleside curriculum has it slated too early in my opinion....my child is bright, but in first or second grade this would have gone right over her head.』 『This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1909 edition by J. M.Dent&Sons, Ltd., London. This edition contains all 29 parables by Margaret Gatty.』
price：$15.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Well . . .) 『I couldn't help but get the idea that Chesterton had a good idea, but fluffed the execution because he couldn't think of enough "queer trades" (i.e., jobs new to the economy that no one else had ever made a living at before). Is it a satire on technology--surely in 1905 there must have been hundreds of these new jobs happening all the time--typists, for example, or auto mechanics. The book starts off well with the adventure of Major Brown, and in fact the opening tale made me think that THE CLUB OF QUEER TRADES must been a tremendous influence on Agatha Christie's MR. PARKER PYNE INVESTIGATES (I don't want to give many spoilers, so I'll leave it at that, but Parker Pyne/Ariadne Oliver fans will see right away where Christie got her charming idea from 25 years later.) I think Christie did it better, but GKC scores points from me for thinking of it first.
Swinburne (the narrator) tells the stories of Rupert and Basil, the two brothers, but he was unable to differentiate them significantly, and I wonder why he even bothered creating a brother for Rupert? I'm not getting any Sherlock Holmes/Mycroft Holmes one brother is a genius vibes here, both of them seem equally equipped for sussing out the truth.
By the time you get to the story of the "wickedest man in England" (Aleister Crowley? If so, a significantly early appearance for Crowley in fictional form) and how he maintains his reputation as a wit, it's still cute, but the next story about the house agent takes a one-paragraph anecdote and blows it up to novella size through sheer padding. Same with the old lady imprisoned in the basement, and as for the dancing professor, I didn't understand how that fit into the club of queer trades, except that Basil forced the Museum to pay the professor money, and that was so implausible I was throwing the book against the wall.
I'm reading the "Hesperus Modern Voices" edition, with Gilbert Adair's skillful introduction. He ALMOST persuades me that GKC was a postmodernist on the order of Borges... too bad you then have to read the six stories that follow, for they contradict Adair at every turn. Sapphire sky my a**!』
(Funny and quick romp, though not his best.) 『G.K. is witty, and even his weaker works will still make you laugh out loud. This book is no different, a parody of the classic Sherlock Holmes type deductive reasoning. They are really several sub-stories that all merge together for a fitting conclusion, involving the queerest trade of them all. A lot of G.K.'s familiar themes are here, such as emphasis on atmosphere as opposed to details, and how things seemingly ridiculous not only make sense, but are actually necessary. Probably not the best place to start with his works, but if you're a fan these short stories will not disappoint.』
(Clever and Entertaining) 『This is a nice collection of stories, all well done in Chesterton's infectious style. There are little bits of social dogma stuffed into the margins, but the stories are primarily amusements.
One odd note - this edition of the book contains some very strange artifacts - noticably occasions where the word "die" is substituted for the word "the". Almost as if it were translated from German and somebody missed a few articles. There were several other instances, which I've forgotten, but the number of errors in the text is surprising. The binding is also not vey sturdy - it's pretty clear that this Elibron Classics edition has been rapidly put together and not intended to last through more than one or two readings.』
(Join the club) 『G.K. Chesterton always had a knack for making ominous situations that turned out to be... pretty normal. And that's what "The Club of Queer Trades" is all about, a string of Sherlock-Holmes-style mysteries that spoof the elaborate deduction process. And show readers some of the bizarrest jobs Chesterton could think of.
The book introduces us to Basil Grant, a judge who came to realize that law and justice aren't the same thing, and who ended up giving sentences like "Get a soul" before leaving the courtroom. Then his detective brother Rupert introduces him to Major Brown, an army officer who suspects that his neighbor is plotting to kill him. It isn't too surprising, since there are pansies spelling out "Death to Major Brown."
But with his deductive processes, Basil reveals the bizarre truth behind the Major's problem: an adventure company which is part of the Club of Queer Trades, a "society consisting exclusively of people who have invented some new and curious way of making money."
Throughout the stories, he, Rupert and the narrator encounter other people who have found weird ways of making a living: an ex-lieutenant who seems to be telling tall tales, the "the wickedest man in England," an Essex vicar who was kidnapped by men disguised as old ladies, a dancing professor who has apparently lost his mind, and finally a lady being imprisoned in a basement who flat out refuses to leave -- and it may have something to do withBbasil.
Only the guy behind "The Man Who Was Thursday" could pull off a book like "The Club of Queer Trades," or a concept like the club itself. And as an added humorous twist, this book is apparently meant as a sort of spoof to the Sherlock Holmes mysteries -- Rupert is sort of Holmesian in his elaborate deductions, but he never gets it right.
These are some of Chesterton's frothier stories, but he still peppers his stories with little moral and philosophical moments ("they have not merely no notion, they have an elaborately false notion of what the words mean"), but never enough to bog down the light banter and funny action scenes. And there are moments of Chesterton's prose that are pure poetry ("... a mystic, elvish, nocturnal hunting").
Basil himself is a bit of a know-it-all, but at least he's a funny, slightly offbeat one, and perfectly at ease with talking to a tied-up criminal about Darwinism. His brother Rupert introduces himself as being a detective, but gets more and more upset as the book goes on, until he desperately grasps at the idea of a villainous milkman giving "secret signs."
"The Club of Queer Trades" is a deliciously quirky little book, and leaves readers wishing that they could hear a few more tales of these wonky jobs. Definitely worth employing.』
(Awful Disappointment for Chesterton Fans) 『These six stories are completely missable for fans of the "Father Brown" tales. The "detective" here is Basil Grant, and he's omniscient and uninteresting-- he has no detecting to do since he just seems to "know" what's going on long before his dopy pals Rupert and Charles Swinburne.
I'm a big fan of the Holmes and Raffles and Thinking Machine stories, as well as all of the Father Browns. But these clunkers have no place in any canon of Victorian or post-Victorian detective/crime fiction.
Give this a miss.』 『Chesterton's brilliant wit here satirizes the popular conception and methods of a master sleuth--such as Sherlock Holmes--giving the reader a series of entertaining and unforgettable stories. "Funmaking of the most fantastic kind".--New York Times.』
price：$13.50
Amber Quill Press, LLC
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Pretty good overall) 『Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 7/10
PROS: - Both guys are essentially tops, but they're so into each other that they figure out the logistics of sex pretty quickly. Some of the sex scenes are also very tender. - Mark's calm, disarming responses to Nolan's snarky comments about how different the two men are made me smile. - There's a coming out scene that's a little painful because of people's reactions to the news, but I couldn't help cheering at the character's courage in finally facing the truth about himself. - One of the guys makes a big mistake and the other one confronts him about it. There's stupidity and some fallout from that, but the problem is solved fairly quickly, which I was glad about. Sometimes disagreements in real life really are left unresolved for weeks or days or years on end and simply fester as a result, but other times they're resolved the next day, and I was happy to see the characters working out their issues so quickly.
CONS: - In some instances the characters' thoughts aren't examined in much detail. For example, Nolan gets some shocking news early on and Mark says something hurtful to him based on an incorrect assumption, but Nolan's offense at Mark's insinuation is barely explored. - One character is a total weakling at one point and does something really stupid. It's not unrealistic or anything, and like I said above, it's resolved quickly, but I cringed as I was reading it and kept thinking, "No, no, no...bad idea. BAD idea."
Overall comments: A decent read with a fairly good romance and fairly good sex. Not outstanding, but if you like simple stories that focus on relationships as opposed to complicated plots, you'll probably enjoy this.』 『(Gay / Contemporary) Mark Harrison has exactly what Nolan Daniels wants--his signature on a sign-in sheet. Even better that Mark is gay and seriously good-looking. Nolan's got these one hundred hours of community service nailed, just as soon as he nails the handsome doctor. It's his pride that takes a hit when Mark rejects his advances in no uncertain terms. What else did Nolan expect from a man of privilege? Certainly not that Nolan would want Mark more than he wanted Mark's signature. Mark's the good boy who always plays by the rules, always does what's expected of him...and secretly chafes at the restrictions of his straight-laced life. Now he's faced with the leather-jacketed bad boy who arouses the closeted Mark more than he wants to admit. A man he can't resist. A man who helps him admit other things about his not-so-perfect life. It's time to take a stand. Time to burst the protective bubble each has built around himself in his own way. Little do they realize that moving forward could also cause them to lose each other and the love that has grown between them.』
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