price：$5.10
Seal Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (it's not the book I had hoped for) 『I get it. Gender is variable. Next!
I really wanted to like this book. I have gender issues and I am not sure where they will end up, and I also have a wife who has her own anxieties about this. Reading the reviews of this book it would be a really good book to educate her (and me) about the trans issue and the ways in which partners are commonly affected by it. Now I don't want her anywhere near it. The book IS educational, and can be quite witty, but is also quite overwhelming, perhaps because so many issues are brought up all at once. The seven chapters promise different facets of this issue (social, biology, our experience, etc), but I struggle to recall how one was different from another. Many issues are covered throughout the book . . . but they are covered as an intertwined theme throughout the entire book instead of one at a time. If the themes were teased apart and presented in separate chapters, it would be far easier to take them onboard instead of constantly wondering what this repetition of "gender is a continuum" is supposed to be telling me that is different to the previous one? and the one before that? If the book fell apart into 3-4 page leaflets, we could get the entire message from any one leaflet
I also take issue, perhaps unfairly, with the usefulness of the text for others. I wanted myself and my partner to read this to gain insight into how being trans and/or TS may affect us and our marriage. I would hazard a guess that we are typical of the target audience, and the major reason for the book. However Helen and Betty's situation is far from typical. They both have hormonal issues that have made it somewhat easier to at least begin this part of their journey, and accept what it says about their own sexualities/genders. Betty is androgynous and never looked like a guy in a dress, doesn't need to hormones or surgery to pass. Helen is already open to gender variation. That's all fine - it's their life history and her story. But what of others (I hesitate to say "more typical") trans couples? What might we expect? There are offhand remarks here and there, usually distressing (all those separated trans women!), but no specific section (a chapter? There's a thought) on this area that deals with it comprehensively. A major absence since I would bet it is at the forefront of every readers mind.』
(Thought provoking) 『Anyone who is in a relationship dominated by transgenderism or curious as to what is it like, will appreciate the insights discussed. The author's candid and intimate thoughts on this most difficult subject are pertinent for both spouse and transfolk alike.』
(She's not the Man I married) 『Excellent resources for spouses, but Helen puts an excessive amount of reference to her own butch tendencies to cloud the veracity of her spousal feelings.』
(crossdresser) 『More of the same about My Husband Betty and would recommend for all crossdressers and SO's.』
(Another success for Helen Boyd) 『"Helen Boyd," again has published a fine book on a very complicated subject. Helen takes the slant of a "feminist," but with such care, dedication, humility, humor and consideration for "Betty," that I cannot find anything wrong with this book. Helen makes things "pop" with understanding and reality. I read this book cover to cover in just a few days and will re-read this book to improve my understanding of Helen, Betty and the TG community. Helen's writing flows over the surface like warm butter over a glass pan. I cannot wait for her next book! 』 『
Helen Boyd's husband, who had long been open about being a cross-dresser, was considering living as a woman full time. Suddenly, Boyd was confronted with the reality of what it would mean if her husband were actually to become a woman— socially, legally, and medically. Would Boyd love and desire her partner the same way? Boyd's first book,My Husband Betty,explored the relationships of cross-dressing men and their partners. Now,She's Not the Man I Marriedis both a sequel and a more expansive examination of gender in relationships. It's for couples who are homosexual or heterosexual, and for readers who fall anywhere along the gender continuum. As Boyd struggles to understand the nature of marriage, passion, and love, she shares her confusion and anger, providing a fascinating observation of the ways in which relationships are gendered, and how we cope, or don't, with the emotional and sexual pressures that gender roles can bring to our marriages and relationships.
price：$10.18
Arsenal Pulp Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Visual Feast) 『Chapman, Daniel L. and Brett Josef Grubisic. "American Hunks: The Muscular Male Body in Popular Culture, 1860-1970", Arsenal Pulp, 2009.
A Visual Feast
Amos Lassen
The American muscleman is part of out history, The "Hunk" has always been something looked for and chased after and we learn here that the male body has been used, promoted and exploited for over a century not just within our borders but all over the world. This book is a look at the history of the "Hunk" as seen in out culture from 1860-1970 and it is a beauty. Reading the book is akin to a smorgasbord. There is something for everyone and more than enough for all. The authors have brought together many of the best photographs of the male form---the he-man, the muscleman, the hunk, the gymnast, the wrestler and we see them as they have been used by the world of advertising. There are ads for everything with some of the most suggestive photos brought together in one volume. Each photograph is aptly described by accompanying text and the authors give us a wonderful introduction. There are nude photos as well as those of men who are fully dressed. Some of the men are immediately recognizable--Johnny Weismuller, Steve Reeves and Charles Atlas. Others are people we may never have heard of but they will make you wonder why. The book is conveniently divided into historical periods and what is surprising is that there is little different between the time periods. We get an amazing history of the male physique in a beautiful format and at a fair price. 』
(ANOTHER CHAPMAN WINNER) 『"American Hunks" is a bonanaza of vintage muscleman photos. With his inimitable flair and mischevious sense of fun, Mark Chapman and Brett Josef Grubisic have gathered hundreds of the best images from the world of the hunk, muscleman, he-man or gymnast/wrestler. The book presents over 100 years of male muscle images from sources as disparate as cement bags, shoe polish tins, Coke ads, cigarette packs and underwear, not to mention a wide variety of studio photos. Each image has a welcome paragraph to describe it. There are introductions by both authors, as well. Though there are some familiar photographs (due to their iconic nature), I was happy suprised to see hundreds of images for the first time. This volume is a must have for all fans of the male form and physical culture, all presented in excellent quality prints and with panache and wit. This is a keeper!』 『
The "American hunk" is a cultural icon: the image of the chiseled, well-built male body has been promoted and exploited for commercial use for over 125 years, whether in movies, magazines, advertisements, or on consumer products, not only in America but throughout the world.
American Hunksis a fascinating collection of images (many in full color) depicting the muscular American male as documented in popular culture from 1860 to 1970. The book, divided into specific historic eras, includes such personalities as bodybuilder Charles Atlas; pioneer weightlifter Eugene Sandow; movie stars like Steve "Hercules" Reeves and Johnny "Tarzan" Weismuller; and publications such as the 1920s-era magazinePhysical Cultureand the 1950s-era comic bookMr. Muscles. It also touches on the use of masculine, homoerotic imagery to sell political and military might (including American recruitment posters and Nazi propaganda from the 1936 Olympics), and how companies have used buff, near-naked men to sell products from laundry detergent to sacks of flour since the 1920s. The introduction by David L. Chapman offers insightful information on individual images, while the essay by Brett Josef Grubisic places the work in its proper historical context.
David L. Chapmanhas written many books on male photography and bodybuilding, includingComin' at Ya!: The Homoerotic 3-D Photographs of Denny Denfield.
Brett Josef Grubisicis author of the novelThe Age of Citiesand editor ofContra/Diction: New Queer Fiction.
price：$2.30
Samhain Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (One of my favorite books in the gay romance/fantancy genre) 『Wow. I was hooked from page one. I love it when an author throws me on an emotional rollercoaster. A fast-paced story and unexpected plot twists. A must-read!』
Liam and Alec are two alpha males and their story is filled with drama and hope, tension and tenderness. This is the story of a romance that is a fun read. Alec has been marked as prey but he refuses to fall for Liam, a werewolf. However, he must turn to Liam for protection. Alec is attracted to Liam but he is not sure about a relationship with him. Alec has had an experience with a werewolf before Liam and he has been marked for death. Liam wants to protect Alec even if it means he must kill some with whom he once ran. This is because Liam has chosen Alec to be his mate. 』
(Engaging, fun) 『There were many things I liked about this book. The plot was fast paced and the writing was strong. The paranormal element of this story was very well done- it was very clear that the werewolves were *wolves*- with their own disinct body language and society- and not humans with the ability to shapeshift. I also found the characterization very strong, and the characters' actions- by and large- made sense to me.
Although this book has a bit of a 'fated mates' storyline, it isn't shoved down your throat the way it is in JL Langley or Christine Feehan's novels. I found Alec's reaction to the whole 'you're my mate' revelation quite believable- I really like that the book didn't turn into a gigantic sap-fest. Both of the main characters have seriously messed up histories and huge psychological issues that aren't going to be fixed in a few days time, and I'm glad the author didn't try to wrap everything up in a neat little package.
I had two issues with this book. The ending felt very abrupt- the story didn't feel like it was over, and it was honestly a bit jarring to have it end where it did. From what I understand, though, the author plans to write more books in this world, and so perhaps at a later date there will be more of a resolution (the main plot is resolved, I should point out, but several secondary plots concerning female characters- Sharon and Claire- are not).
My second issue was with the sex. While I bought into the romance, and loved Liam and Alec together... I didn't buy into the sex. I suspect the author is not all that familar with the mechanics of anal sex- there was far, far too little foreplay for the actual intercourse to be plausible, especially when the charactering bottoming was mostly unfamiliar with doing so. Rough sex is possible, but only with an appropriate build up (both Jordan Castillo Price and KA Mitchell write excellent rough sex without veering into BDSM territory). So while I'll read this story again for the romance, I'll be skimming over the bulk of the sex scenes (and this is quite disappointing for me, as the lead up to these scenes is very, very hot!).
Overall, this is a strong paranormal romance and I enjoyed reading it. I will definitely be buying more of this author's works.』
(disturbed me) 『I just read half the book, and don't plan on finishing. The character developement is very shaky in this book. Alec, main character, self discribed Top who a year prior to the start of the book was drugged kidnapped and marked to be dominated by power crazy wolves. He is a normal guy that lives as anti social min wage book shelver who only talks to one other coworker and reads books to young teens. He lives in constant fear and self doubt but doesn't do anything. Liam, other main character, Top Alpha wolf who loses control half the time when he is doesn't demand to be completely in control of himself and the sexual situation. Blah, story starts out sexy and interesting but falls into a awkward gay b-rated movie plot. I visualized the bad acting and everything. The characters really try to be likable, and any of their flaws might be lovable, but they don't make it. The plot goes from interesting, to disturbing, to silly. Again I didn't finish it, I keep flipping through it to see if it might get better. No luck yet. I would be interested to see what this writer also comes up with, because I really wanted to like the book.』
(Interesting story!) 『I have been reading a few e-books now and then and I came across this one. I have really been enjoying the m/m stories. Skye writes the story well. I was impressed and look forward to reading more of her books.』 『
Marked as prey, Alec refuses to fall for a werewolf. Until he's forced to turn to Liam for protection. Alec Ryerson carries a scar over his heart and scars on his psyche, ugly reminders of a nightmare that still doesn't seem quite real. Even a year later, he stays inside on full-moon nights and avoids most peopleuntil he meets the strange and beautiful Liam. Liam feels an undeniable pull toward Alec. However Liam is a werewolf; Alec is a human who clearly has trepidations about a relationship. Then Liam discovers he is not the first werewolf Alec has encountered. Alec has been marked for death by the murderous "quad," a group of twisted werewolves who prey on humans. Now the quad's sights are set on recruiting Liam's eight-year-old brother into their murderous pack. Liam will do everything in his power to protect both his brother and Alec from the wolves, even if it means calling in favors and killing those with whom he once ran. Because Alec, like it or not, is Liam's chosen mate.
price：$15.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Alice's Trip Through the Mirror is More Fun Than Her First Adventure) 『One cold afternoon, Alice starts day dreaming about what the world might look like through the looking glass. Suddenly, the mirror begins to shimmer, and Alice finds herself in Looking-Glass House. At first, she is quite amused to find that the chess board is alive. But as she tries to wander out to the garden, she finds the pieces have grown to be life like. Soon, she finds herself a willing pawn in their game, attempting to make it to the eighth row and become queen herself. Along the way, she meets Tweedledum and Tweedledee, not to mention Humpty Dumpty and the Lion and the Unicorn. Will she make it to become queen?
While I enjoy Alice in Wonderland, I get a much bigger kick out of this book. Frankly, the way that things work in the mirror world are very creative. Alice running toward something and winding up farther away, for example. And there's my favorite, the White Queen screaming in pain before she is pricked by a pin.
Frankly, I'd forgotten just how much of this book was stolen by Disney for their movie. This is where you'll find the idea of an unbirthday, for example.
I think this book also makes better use of the dream state. Some of what happens to Alice seems more like something that has happened in my dreams, so I could really identify.
Overall, there is a coherent plot this time instead of just Alice moving from one strange thing to another. True, there's still that, but there is a purpose behind her wandering.
Overall, this is a fun but very strange romp through a dream state. It's wacky enough to entertain kids of all ages.』
(The Adventures Continue) 『Some will debate whether "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is the better of the two, or if "Through the Looking-Glass (and What Alice Found There)" is one of those instances where the sequel is better than the original. For myself, I think that Lewis Carroll (a.k.a Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) produced a work that so evenly matches its predecessor that readers have a difficult time remembering which characters and adventures take place in which story, and quite often people simply refer to the pair of them instead of the individual stories.
Published originally in 1871, six years after the first book, "Through the Looking-Glass" takes place six months later in terms of the time which has passed for Alice. As with the first book, there are themes which run throughout Alice's adventure. Mirror image is certainly a key theme, both in terms of things which appear the same as well as being the opposite. Alice travels through the looking-glass, much of these adventures take place on a chessboard, where the white and red pieces mirror each other. Tweedledum and Tweedledee are mirrors of each other. There are also mirrors between the second and first book, obviously with Alice herself, and then the use of games in each story, involving two colors and Kings and Queens.
The book opens with Alice talking to her cats and deciding to try to go through the looking-glass, which she does and then she finds the poem "Jabberwocky" which she has to read with the use of a mirror. From there Alice goes outside and as with the first story she is attracted by a garden in the distance, and as with the first book, there are obsticles on her way there. She then meets the Red Queen which results in her joining the game of chess as a White Pawn. The rest of the story is loosely based on her adventures in each of the squares as she eventually becomes a White Queen.
As with the first book, there are wonderful word play and logic games throughout the smaller adventures in this book. While there are certainly similarities between this book and the first one, including Alice's attitude at the end of each, Carroll makes it different enough that one doesn't feel as if they have read it before. The verses in this book are longer than the first book, and I would say that is to the advantage of this work. They are wonderful as well, starting with "Jabberwocky" and going on to "The Walrus and the Carpenter" and of course the other pieces recited by Humpty Dumpty and the White Knight, they are all wonderful. One can't go higher than five stars though, so there you are. 』
(Soso) 『Though this book is not much better than Alice's Adventures, the chess motif and theme does make the book much more interesting. With the bossy, dominant Red Queen and the quiet, kind, messy white queen, the book is a study in contrasts.
The interweaving of the Nursery Rhyme Characters and the frequent fish poetry references does provide more continuity and a sense of sequential events than Alice's first adventure. I also appreciated the linking of the cat at the beginning and end of the story.
It does still feel like Carroll did way too many opium pipes in his time.
(First written as Journal Reading Notes in 1999.)
』 『With illustrations by John Tenniel. This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1904 edition by Macmillan and Co., London, New York. Whereas much of the first Alice novel centered around a card game, Through the Looking-Glass focuses on a chess game of mammoth proportions. A social satire much like its predecessor, Looking-Glass contains some of Carroll's most memorable characters and best nonsense-verse ("Jabberwocky").』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great start to the series!) 『I originally purchased 'Riddle Of The Sands' and began reading it. It was a great novel but realized there was a previous novel so I stopped reading the second in the series and purchased the first. Unfortunately the book was not being sold by Amazon and eligible for Amazon Prime so I scoured the web and found it available at a local bookstore. I purchased the book and began reading it as soon as I got home. I could not put it down. I read it all in one sitting and loved every bit of it. Geoffrey Knight is great at creating true adventure that keeps you from putting the book down.』
(Wanna get some action?! Then buckle up for the ride of your life!) 『Any gay fan of Dan Brown or Clive Cussler should read this book today - it's a terrific, rollercoaster adventure ride full of steamy man-on-man sex and heart-stopping action sequences, and the best part is the story!! It's like a real bestseller, only the leading men are gay and out for action!
Imagine THE DAVINCI CODE meets JAMES BOND meets INDIANA JONES meets CHARLIE'S ANGELS and you've got a pretty good idea of the kind of territory you're about to tread. Correction: not tread, race through at a hundred miles an hour!! This book kicks off with a blast (literally) and doesn't stop, sweeping the reader on a whirlwind journey across three continents and countless clever edge-of-your-seat escapes.
THE CROSS OF SINS tells the story of five sexy action heroes - Jake Stone, Eden Santiago, Shane Houston, Luca DaRoma and Will Hunter - who, under the direction of Professor Fathom, scour the globe trying to find the clues that will lead them to an ancient statue. But it's a race against time, as a fanatical religious group will stop at nothing to find the statue first and destroy it.
This is pure escapism for a gay audience at its very best! And while the action is wild and often over-the-top, it never ventures into parody. Geoffrey Knight has constructued a fine blend of action, sex, plot twists and just a dash of humor which always works so well in this genre, keeping things light but never crossing the line into satire or comedy. These are masculine gay men tackling the kind of adventure you'd find in a Steven Spielberg movie!
Get ready to be whisked away in this tale of exotic locales, non-stop action and hard, sweaty bodies! This is my kind of hero worship!! I want to read the second book now!!』
(Explosive in many ways!!!) 『I normally stick to Urban Fantasy, but this actually drew my attention. From page one I was intrigued. I absolutely LOVED this book and wish the next one would be released already!
If you like tons of action, and I do mean ACTION in every sense of the word, then this is the book for you! I loved the way Geoffery Knight described the scenes and made you feel as if you were there. Damn do I wish I were there in more than one scene!
I've read hundreds of books where the author touches on same sex scenes, but there's always a female involved. This book didn't have that aspect. The great thing though, it's the story that rocks! All the guys have a specialty background. The plot is awesome! The dangers are deadly and filled with excitement.
I highly recommend this book for people who want substance to go with the sex scenes. I have already added Geoffery Knight to my author's to watch for!』
(Fathom's Five: The Cross of Sins by Geoffrey Knight) 『In the best James Bond or Indiana Jones tradition, the Fathom's Five are five handsome, skilled and clever gay men working for Professor Fathom as treasure hunter. Almost half the book is spent to introduce us to the five:
- Jake Stone, the newest member of the group, is a bit of a lonely wolf; he is "for hire", means that if you pay him enough, he will find everything you want. Jake is not a bad man, he is only used to take care of himself, and only himself. His only Achilles' heel is young Sam, a street kid he shelters in his New York loft.
- 19 years old Will Hunter is the spoiled and neglected son of an American diplomat; he has everything he wants in life, but it's never enough. Will is young, friendly and careless and in this moment he has nothing and noone important in his life (well he is only 19 years old!) and so he can play like if life is a big game.
- Shane Houston is your classical western hero, hat and horse and all of it. Always ready for an adventure, he faces every new challenge full front, caring very less for his own safety, but as an old fashioned cowboy, you can always count on him when you are in trouble.
- Dr Eden Santiago is the high head levelled of their group; he seems always in control, always ready to face every events. The less playful of the group, he is probably the one that has less open endings in his life and so, for this reason, he is the more reliable of all of them. Everyone can count on Eden, and loving him will never being an hazard.
- Luca da Roma is the most beautiful of all of them, he is beautiful like an angel, and in fact he has a very special relationship with God. Luca is an orphan and he was raised by three nuns in a remote Italian convent. He doesn't know who were his parents, but, after all, he hasn't had a bad life. When he was still a teen he went in Rome and he became the muse of a lot of artists, on the canvas and on the sheet, and as they took from him inspiration, he drank from them the love for arts. But Luca seems never to be happy, he has quite a mourning attitude and he seems in searching of something that always slips from his hands.
The new quest for this five heroes is to track down an ancient holy cross, a Renaissance artwork who caused the death of his creator since it was framed as sacrilegious. To recover the artifact our heroes as to find two stone tables and an ancient book, the three pieces together will led them to the treasure. But obviously they are not the only one in this hunting party, and their enemies know well how to hit them where it hurts, and I'm not speaking of body parts.
The book is really good in mixing fun, sex and adventure, playing all around the World, from Tonga to Italy, from Turkey to England. Our heroes, when not running away from gunshots and explosion, are involved in sexy escapades along a swimming pool or in poshy five stars hotel. There is a bit of "naughty" talk during sex, but it's never too much to ruin the sophisticated feeling that permeates all the book, and, on the other hand, the fun and careless sex helps to balance the adventure part, so that even a less adventurous reader will find it enjoyable and interesting.
All five heroes are enough developed that the reader could care for them, but from my side, my favorite is Luca, maybe since he is Italian. I have no problem to say that I will look forward to the following book in this new exciting series.』
(Just plain fun!) 『Fans of the action and adventure take note: Geoffrey Knight's Fathom's Five: the Cross of Sins starts with a bang and hardly lets up for a second. Readers will be propelled from the deserts of Turkey to the top of a double-decker London bus to the canals of Venice to the bowels of a volcano with barely a moment to catch their breath. Who has time to breathe, anyway, when the hero is sliding hell-for-leather down a lava tube in the belly of a volcano just barely ahead of a ton of molten rock? Not me, that's for sure.
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I picked this book up. Honestly, I had never heard of a "gay adventure soap opera," as Mr. Knight refers to his Fathom's Five series (and yes, this is the first of a series). Sure, I've read gay romances, but this is not a gay romance. This is Indiana Jones meets Doc Savage meets Charlie's Angels with a strong dash of DaVinci Code thrown in for good measure. And while that description may sound tongue-in-cheek, what it ultimately is...is fun.
Fathom's Five: the Cross of Sins has a large cast. Mr. Knight does a good job introducing all the characters so that each of the five protagonists is unique and distinguishable and each villain is more rotten than the next. With so many heroes, one might expect it to be hard to remember who is where and doing what at any given moment, but Mr. Knight keeps the plot surprisingly organized. I'm not going to enumerate each of the five members of the team, but I will say that they are all very likeable. Will, who is the youngest of the crew, has some maturing to do - of all of them, he's the most willing to boink anything moving - but that's what being nineteen is all about, isn't it? Yes, there is plenty of sex in this book, but except for young Will's escapades, it's not especially gratuitous. Each sexual encounter seems to have a meaning or a goal.
This novel has a very Technicolor cinematic feel to it. Mr. Knight describes the surroundings in such a way that the reader can clearly see the setting in their mind. Everything is larger and more vivid than life - the characters, the plot, the conflict. Moments of humor interspersed with the adventure lighten up the story a bit. Who knew that camels could add a comic touch or that it is potentially dangerous not to get dressed immediately after a shower? (Note to self: towels are not appropriate wear for a shoot-out; pack combat boots next time!) While this may not lend an air of realism to the narrative, it certainly adds to the pure entertainment factor.
Three separate cliff-hangers make the reader beg for a sequel to Fathom's Five: the Cross of Sins. Just a little patience will be rewarded, because the wait won't too terribly long - the next installation, titled The Riddle of the Sands, is due out in October. So my question is this: is it October yet? Because I really want to know what happens next. 』 『Somewhere in the world is a statue so sinful that a secret sect of the Church wants it destroyed at any cost. Somewhere in the Turkish desert, in the streets of London, and in the depths of Venice, are the clues to find it. And, somewhere in the hearts of five sexy, daring, thrill-seeking gay men, is the courage and die-hard determination to unravel one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
Meet Luca da Roma, an Italian model and expert in art, both ancient and modern; Dr Eden Santiago, Brazilian biologist, physician and genetic engineer; Shane Houston, a Texas cowboy and an expert in cartography; Will Hunter, a San Diego college student and football star, majoring in ancient history; and Jake Stone, an adventurer-for-hire from New York and the newest member of Professor Fathom's team of hot gay adventure seekers.
Together, they are Fathom's Five, traveling the world, solving ancient mysteries, uncovering priceless treasures, and getting into hot, sticky and sexy situations, while thwarting danger at every turn! From Venice to Vienna, from Tuscany to Turkey, from the South Pacific to the seas off Sicily, join in the heroic adventures, hunky sex and hot, high-octane action of Fathom's Five.』
price：$10.18
University of Massachusetts Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A Straight Book About A Gay Man) 『Stuart Weisberg has written a strong, clear, readable and straight biography of one of the most interesting people in American life today. Weisberg tells the story chronologically, identifying the players, clarifying the issues, and not rendering his own judgment. He quotes many of Frank's greatest lines, but provides enough details on Frank's ideology, personality and psychology so the reader can see the warts. Weisberg admires Frank but this book is not an example of hero worship. We see Frank the rude, the impatient, the gloomy, the slob as well as Frank the brilliant, the funny, the passionate, and the competent.』
(An Outstanding Biography of a Truly Unique Politician) 『First, a disclaimer. I was a source for this book. That said, the book is an extraordinary political biography that describes the life of an amazing politician, but also of an era. While the term, "the spirit of the sixties" has been trivialized over time, this book highlights the best of that decade by showing the genuine idealism at its heart. Moreover, this "spirit" is transcended to the degree that Barney Frank combined - and combines - the idealism of that era with a practical approach to politics. His goal was to have a measurable effect on the lives of poor people, who were then and are today, neglected by the political elites at all levels of government. This book shows how he did this and is a very valuable primer for those driven by results in public policy rather than scoring political points. Even to this day, in his very powerful position as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Frank remains true both to those ideals and to the practical approach to politics. Of course, the book is also peppered with endless examples of Rep. Franks wicked wit, which provides chuckles throughout.
Having proudly worked for Barney Frank, I can't claim to be objective about the book. But I can report on its accuracy, which is scrupulous. I was deeply involved with a particularly period in Rep. Frank's career and I could not find a single error of fact or even interpretation on things on which I had personal knowledge. I have to say, I was surprised by the candor I found in this authorized biography. This is a "warts and all" account that is very honest about some of Rep. Frank's personal struggles and, shall we say, challenging personality traits.
In the end, however, this is a story of a political leader who remains uncorrupted by the power he currently wields. He entered politics to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." Unlike many, he has stayed true to his original ideals and I believe the country is fortunate to have him at the center of our current economic travails.
』
(A great read) 『This is a very interesting biography of a captivating figure. Very well written and actually quite quick and easy to read. Would recommend to anyone.』
(A Legislator, a Politician and an Incredible Man) 『Weisberg, Stuart. "Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman", University of Massachusetts Press, 2009.
A Legislator, a Politician and an Incredible Man
Amos Lassen
Unless you live in a vacuum you know who Barney Frank is. He possesses one of the most masterful minds in the United States Congress and he is a wonderful legislator. He has principles but he compromises, he will fight for something but only in the fairest of ways and he is funny and smart and well respected. When Stuart Weisberg's biography of Frank arrived I was surprised at the size of it. Over 500 pages tell the Frank story and Weisberg has done quite a job. His research is amazing and he writes with ease about one of our most brilliant politicians. Even though this is a biography it reads like a novel and we are made privy to the incredible person that is Barney Frank. Weisberg has based his book on interviews with more than 150 people as well as more than 25 hours of interviews with Barney Frank himself. We learn all about Frank and get a complete look at his life including his New Jersey childhood, his Harvard years and his tenure in the politics of Boston through his rise to national political prominence. It surely has not been easy for Frank to be openly gay and in the national spotlight and his scandal with a male prostitute was highly publicized. But Frank has opened doors for us and fought for us and been there for us even during the time when his own future was unsure. He is, above all, a liberal and his influence is widely felt. Frank has never been a really private person and now Stuart Weisberg puts it all out there for us and he does so in an extremely readable way. This is quite a book about quite a man written by quite a man. 』 『In a survey conducted by Washingtonian magazine, Barney Frank was rated the smartest, funniest, and most eloquent member of Congress. A mainstay in the House of Representatives since 1981, he has come to be known for his talent as a legislator, his zeal for verbal combat, his imposing intellect, and a quick wit that both disarms and entertains other lawmakers. Most recently, as chair of the Financial Services Committee, he was instrumental in crafting a compromise bill to stem the tide of home mortgage foreclosures, as well as the subsequent $700 billion rescue plan. Based on interviews with over 150 people, including more than twenty-five hours with Frank himself, this biography reconstructs for the first time his life and career, from his working-class childhood in Bayonne, New Jersey, to his years at Harvard and in Boston politics, through his rise to national prominence. Stuart Weisberg captures Frank in all his quirkiness, irreverence, and complexity. He also examines his less appealing side his gruff exterior, his legendary impatience, his aversion to wasting time. Weisberg reveals the pressure Frank has felt as the most prominent openly gay politician in the United States, one whose career was nearly derailed by a highly publicized sex scandal involving a male prostitute. Above all, this book shows Frank to be a superb legislator a pragmatic politician who has dedicated his career to pursuing an unabashedly liberal agenda and whose depth of intellect and sense of humor have made him one of the most influential and colorful figures in Washington.』
price：$3.62
UPNE
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (great clarification) 『This book is an excellent clarification of cross-dressing versus trans-gender. It investigates personal accounts of TG transition M2F and F2M including some personal accounts and problems encountered. I found it most useful to explain why SSS and similar X-dressing support groups discourage transitioned persons from participating. Until reading this book I had no idea there were such limits. X-dressers and Trans people have different objectives which are mutually exclusive.』
(Profound Insights) 『The individuals that Lori quotes obviously have suffered much, longed for acceptance and struggled with their own understanding of gender. Some are sad, some defiant, some exuberant. Each voice tells a different story. From stone butch lesbian to genderqueer to intersex individuals to crossdressers to transitioning MTF and FTM to non-transition MTF and FTM to transmen to femme lesbian, butch, Dyke, soft butch, every variation and more has a chance to speak. They tell of the twists and turns that the developing fetus can take where perhaps the brain and the body don't quite follow the same path, or perhaps the body only only strolls along a path, not quite sure if it wants this one or that one. They tell of birth and doctors who are overly fast at making a decision without consulting that person whom the decision would affect the most. They tell of children praying for God to correct his mistake and give them the bodies that fit their minds. They tell of parents, teachers and peers mostly hostile to their true self, policing the gender binary, enforcing a rigid interpretation and what is allowable and what is not. Then they talk of puberty, with it rush of hormones and changes, which mostly just makes things much, much worse. They talk of family, jobs, friends, bathrooms, laws, love and intimacy. They talk of their own self-doubt, of their own sense of identity. And each one has their own story and their own path.
And through it all Lori organizes and comments and analyzes, always with sympathy and insight and wisdom. So in the end you see how society fears transgressions against gender norms and fights to maintain the status quo, how society uses ridicule, sarcasm, hate, bullying, put-downs, cruel humor and fear to enforce the gender binary, but how really the rigid gender binary doesn't make any sense biologically or culturally, how the rigid gender binary is a denial of our true selves.
Lori talks about how transitioning isn't really about transition from being one thing to being another thing, it is really about changing society's perceptions so that society can perceive our true form.
And Lori shows us a vision of a society where we don't have to fear the unknown, where a person can be free to be attracted to that kind of person they are attracted to. Where they can express whatever form their gender identity takes, whether it is highly masculine, moderately, slightly, not at all **and** at the same time highly feminine, moderately, slightly, not at all.』
(Eye opening) 『What a great resource. Enlightening and well written and very understandable. The best book on gender I've found to date.』
(A Great outlook of the Trans world) 『Lori Girshick has done a terrific research job and has explained a very dificult topic in a very simple, sensitive and easy to understand manner. She starts from the very basic definitions and goes all the way to the most intricate aspects of being transgender. Her interviews are very thorough and goes a long length describing the hard and difficult world of transgender people both male-to-female and female-to-male. And by using 150 subjects, she was careful to include everything under the transgender umbrella. This book does not miss any detail and is what I consider a very complete account of everything transgender.
Skilled writers like Ms. Girshick are needed to add light and educate the world about these very and easily misunderstood concepts.
Caroline (Carrie) Cotten』
(Transgender Voices) 『It has been argued that the transexual is the last minorityand it's a statement that's hard to refute. As Lori B. Girshick, in her brilliant book "Transgender Voices: Beyong Women&Men",points out to be fully human means accepting both your female and male natures.
Ms. Girshick asks many questions in this book such as what is the relationship between gender identity and sexual orientation? Many of the answers were an identification of androgeneny. But as Girshicks point out, this terms has multiple means.
Gircheck is not the first to address this subject of gender idenity and sex reassignment. Dr. Renee Richards, pediatric opthalmologist and tennis coach to Martina Navratilova wrote about beginning life as Richard Raskind in "Second Serve". Famed trael writer, now retired, Jan Morris wrote about her transformation from James to Jan in "Conundrum".
Still, the subject of the transgener is one that is urually not addressed because it remains uncomfortable for many. Yet anyone who has been rejected by family or friends for any reaon will relate to the pain that endures.
Ms. Girshick's profound book deserves wide distribution and study especially by those who usually avoid this senstitive subject. The book has a few faults but too minor to mention. I hope the book will be read and more reviews posted.』 『In this extraordinary book, based on 150 in-depth interviews, Lori B. Girshick, a sociologist and social justice activist, brings together the voices of sex- and gender-diverse people who speak with absolute candor about their lives. Girshick presents transpeople speaking in their own voices about identity, coming out, passing, sexual orientation, relationship negotiations and the dynamics of attraction, homophobia (including internalized fears), and bullying. She exposes the guilt and the shame that "gender police" use in their attempts to exert control and points out the many ways transpeople are discriminated against in daily life, from filling out identification documents to gender-segregated bathrooms.
By showing us a variety of descriptions of diverse real lives and providing a thorough exploration of the embodied experiences of gender variant people, Girshick demonstrates that there is nothing inherently binary about gender, and that the way each of us experiences our own gender is, in fact, normal and natural.』
price：$20.95
Louisiana State University Press
Usually ships in 3 to 5 weeks Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Loved this book, have read it several times!) 『While reading this book, I hated to see the pages nearing the end! How I wanted to be with the author on some of her interviews- extremely interesting and readable!』 『In Telling Memories Among Southern Women, Susan Tucker presents a revealing collection of oral-history narratives that explore the complex, sometimes enigmatic bond between black female domestic workers and their white employers from the turn of the twentieth century to the civil rights revolution of the 1960's. Based on interviews with forty-two women of both races from the Deep South, these narratives express the full range of human emotions and successfully convey the ties that united-and the tensions and conflicts that separated-these two mutually dependent groups of women.』
price：$19.98
Bruno Gmunder Verlag Gmbh
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Shot like a god...) 『Whenever I'm buried in paperwork and swamped with too much of the everyday crap that we all have to deal with at our jobs, I try to remember some of the fantastic perks of being an EDGE editor. I get to travel to fabulous places, largely for free; I get to try fantastic new products months before they're in stores; and at the top of the list, I get to sit back at my desk and flip through coffee table books filled with incredibly gorgeous naked men- and get paid for writing about it!
When it comes to naked men, there are few photographers who capture their beauty as well as David Vance; if he shot the photos, it doesn't matter whether I'm being paid or not- I'll still spend an hour flipping through the pages. And drooling. Vance has the ability to not only select models with the most incredible physiques, but to capture them in moments that convey much more than simply superficial sexiness; his shots radiate energy and tension, express subtle emotion, and tell a story.
The story of Heavenly Bodies is elegant in its simplicity, expressed in the book's title. Among the more than 100 pages are photographs of nude men who appear as if they'd be more comfortable, or at-home, in the heavens. Men born of angelic parents, these are the guys of fantasies- perfect in every way... or at least on the page of a book.
Heavenly Bodies is divided into two sections, or `books': Earthly Beauty and Celestial Beauty. The differences between the two are subtle, and for most intents and purposes unimportant; the former could be considered more modern and `grounded,' the latter more influenced by the Italian Renaissance, with slight religious overtones.
The volume is beautifully presented, and like all coffee table books from Bruno Gmunder, features high-quality printing, and a simply, stylish format. 』
(Beautiful Photography of the Human Male) 『This book exhibits some of the most beautiful male aspects of a man's body. They are done with taste and class and I highly recommend the book to all those persons learning to love their body and appreciate the diversity of our brothers!』 『David Vance seeks to make his models appear like Greek statues - and succeeds with brilliance. Every picture is a piece of timeless art that you want to blow up and hang on your wall. More of the incredibly successful "Timeless" (2006) with one essential difference: "Heavenly Bodies" is shot in full color!』
price：$29.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Hey Jude) 『This is classic Thomas Hardy--a likeable hero allows himself to be ruined by the opposite sex and the hard realities of life written in very descriptive, poetic language of bygone years. Jude, the hero, is a very humane, decent sort of man who although poor, aspires to become educated and enter the priesthood. He is self-taught and disciplined and seems to be well on the way to achieving his goals at the college when he meets a crude pig farmer girl and becomes intimate with her. She tricks him into marriage and immediately they have major problems and part. Jude then sets out for college only to meet his cousin and erstwhile soul mate, Sue. Sue is quite a character, a bizarre mixture of feminist, scholar, teacher, flirt, rebel, and self-absorbed fool. She is on an emotional roller coaster and takes Jude with her. She toys with Jude's affection and that of an older school master, leading them both on although she is repulsed by physical contact. She marries the schoolmaster only to suddenly want Jude back and leaves her husband. She and Jude then begin an unmarried life together and produce children, as well as taking in Jude's son by his wife. Their life is full of problems and ends with a tragedy involving the children. Through it all Jude remains a likeable, moral character of sorts who tries to accept his lot in life and shoulder responsibility, only to be dashed down again and again.
I could not help to like Jude, as I also liked Tess in Hardy's other similar novel. Jude is hurt by his propensity for the wrong women as Tess was hurt by men of low morals. I found myself getting annoyed by his love for selfish Sue and hoping he would get away from her before it was too late.
This is a dark, despairing kind of novel, stark in its realism about human nature and the consequences of wrong choices and going against the norms of society. Yet, it is a good read and is highly recommended.』
(lazy publisher) 『The edition of "Jude the Obscure" that I believe you're seeing on this page -- the Signet paperback, with the two horses on the cover -- first came out in '61 and hasn't been touched since then (except to add a bibliography in 1980). There is a helpful 11-page afterword by Al Alvarez, but that's it. Signet has just been reissuing and reissuing the same thing for over four decades.
With the Signet, though, there are no footnotes; you're just getting the bare text. That means that you'll have zero help with Hardy's rustic or ecclesiastical terms, not to mention the abundant Latin.
In short, get this one: Jude the Obscure (Oxford World's Classic), in which said defect is remedied. And unlike the Signet, in which the text has adjusted to reflect modern spelling and pronunciation, the Oxford's World's Classics is Hardy's original text as he saw it published.』
(Obscure is an understatement) 『I very much enjoyed the beginning of the novel. However, toward the end, things became a little too dark. I'd been warned that it was Hardy's darkest, but was still unprepared for the plot twists. Hardy's word choice, foreshadowing, and imagery were very entertaining, but the plot was unenjoyable towards the end. Character motivation also was rather abstract. I had to read this book for my Eng102H class, and if I had picked it out for pleasure reading, I would not have finished it. It was obscure to say the very least.』
(Sound and Fury) 『I found the first part of the book to be pretty interesting; here is a nonconformist couple bucking the weight of Victorian mores and standards to live life according to their inner callings--actually, to live life in a way that's much taken for granted today--and I wondered what Hardy would do with them. I was pretty certain he wouldn't write a polemical celebration of nonconformist freedom like, e.g., D.H. Lawrence. Though this is my first Hardy novel (I don't count having read Return of the Native in high school or watching Roman Polanski's "Tess"), I'd read enough of his poetry to conclude he had a dark and gloomy side, mournful and fatalistic, an unerring instinct for turning things toward misery and loss...So there was a bit of suspense for me to see what Hardy would do with these free spirits of his who more or less reflected worldviews of his own.
Well, without getting into the grisly details (in an effort not to spoil any of the plot's surprising twists), let's just say that in the second half of the book Hardy pulls out all the stops and sets Jude and his true love Sue down a path of unremitting grief, loss, and bewilderment. Hardy appears to be shooting for drama on the scale of Greek tragedy, with Jude confirming as much by likening himself to Agamemnon. The problem for me is that this story--two individuals clashing with the mores of Victorian England--is just not a stout enough framework to hang all the extreme emotions and heavy drama that Hardy unleashes. Jude and Sue have, as a couple, simply flouted Victorian morality by getting divorces and living together; and Jude, individually, had the gall to think that he, a working-class lout, could gain entry into the hallowed halls of English higher learning. I kept wondering why they didn't just pull up stakes, forsake small-town life and move to London where people wouldn't care as much. But Hardy turns it all into a transgression against cosmic law (at least that becomes Sue's view of things), requiring cosmic revenge through a tragic turn of events--again, like Greek tragedy.
The problem for me is that Hardy's made it pretty clear in the first part of the book he thinks societal norms about marriage and class are hidebound, stifling, and absurd. For the first part of the book they're mere social constructs that are worthy of scorn and rebellion; then they suddenly become eternal values, the violation of which results in awful, tragic consequences.
I wondered if Hardy was just making fun of Victorian morality, skewering its self-importance by inflating it to the inappropriate level of high tragedy. But Hardy is too believable a dramatist for one to conclude that all the howling and agony are there just for sport. The drama may be more than the situation justifies, but it's compellingly and artfully written. The moral of the tale seems to be, then, that those who flout society are doomed to a tragic end. Or maybe just that this particular couple was doomed to a tragic end for flouting society. Either way, I find it pretty unconvincing.
It's too bad that Hardy couldn't have drawn more on the satirical in his writing; it appears he had a wry sense of humor. One description of marriage (between Jude and Arabella): "The landlord of the lodging...had doubted if they were married at all...till by chance overhearing her one night haranguing Jude in rattling terms, and ultimately flinging a shoe at his head, he recognized the note of genuine wedlock; and concluding that they must be respectable, said no more." Hardy also seems to be giving a bit of a wink with names he uses: "Sue Bridehead" for the most reluctant bride on earth; "Sarcophogus College" for one of the dreary, morbid schools at Christminster; "Mildew Lane" as the address of gloomy lodgings in which Sue stays; and "Temperence Hotel" where Jude and Arabella are anything but temperate.
But these instances of humor are mere blips on the screen in "Jude". Hardy seems determined to cast his story in terms of sin and retribution, drenched in misery and anguish. It seemed overplayed, hence unsatisfying. 』
(Weird) 『This book was okay, as in it kept me reading, and it was sad. However, it reminded me too much Breaking Dawn, fourth book of that dreaded Twilight series. The women in both these books go from one spectrum to another and that's just too irritating for me to read (but this book was more tolerable than Breaking Dawn, which just plain sucked).』 『Now considered his best work, Thomas Hardy's novel about a stonemason excluded from the privileged world of learning by class, and his relationship with an emancipated woman, scandalized the late Victorian establishment and marked the end of his career as a novelist. This new Penguin Classics edition reprints the original 1895 edition and includes Hardy's "Postscript" of 1912.』
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