price：$4.78
Alyson Books
Not yet published Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (3.25 Stars) 『The m/m version of Cinderella. Cute if you're looking for sweet escapism and spicy m/m love scenes. I don't have much to say about the story itself because it really is just the male version of a Disney tale--young man spends his days doing grunt work for his nasty boss and landlord, then a handsome hero comes along and sweeps him off his feet--but I must say that I was impressed with the quality of this book. I listened to the audio version, and the vocal performance was clean and very professional. The storyline is hackneyed and the sex is an awkward blend of pornish and clinical at times (this author overuses the word "penis"), but overall it's a pretty decent read.』
(An Officer and His Gentleman) 『This was an entertaining novel by Ryan Field, but it is not one of his best novels. The characters needed just a little more reality added, to make them better.』
(Implausible but a good read) 『I kept wondering if this tale was caught in some weird time capsule, since we have a protagonistic who is young, intelligent, a gifted chef, and even has his own car, but he is functioning as a virtual slave to his repulsive boss as if he has no alternatives in life. Now, of course, this is necessary to play out the movie upon which this novel is loosely based, but that's the bind the author has placed the protagonistic in.
At least there is one redeeming quality to the boss, he is an animal lover, for there is an ongoing drama between him and squirrels he captures but only to release again into the wild. That provided some attempt at making the character - otherwise rather mocking of an Italian-American accent - three-dimensional rather than a stock villain. Of course, the master-villain cliche is the master-villain always loves animals, but detests people.
When it comes to our chef, I have no comprehension for why he would be living in such circumstances as if he had no options, it makes no sense. One would think it's an attempt at self-abasement, perhaps over guilt at being gay, but that's not it because he feels damn fine about being gay. So there's a gigantic plot hole that never gets filled regarding the main character himself.
The officer in the title latches onto our hero real fast and they enjoy frequent sex and - well, that's it. Our officer is a bit on the kinky side, but nothing verging toward the S/M arena. It's more like he has his certain areas of appreciation just as our chef has a kink for food. But should these guys really be a love match? No, they have sex in common and it doesn't go beyond that.
The recipes are a nice addition. And a pleasant surprise, as it adds an unexpected development to a romance novel. I would expect a part two, where our hero finds himself a contestant on HELL'S KITCHEN.
』
(I wasn't disappointed) 『I read this author's book titled "Pretty Man" and loved it. So I was worried a second book wouldn't be as good. But I wasn't disappointed. It turned out to be not only just as good, but better. The subplot gets into cooking, which is the main character's passion in life. And the foods that are decribed actually made me hungry. But the best part of the book is the way the characters evolve and grow throughout the story. It's a book that's romantic, sexy and filled with love. I'm not much of a book reviewer and someone else could probably do much better. But I'd recommend this book to anyone.』 『
Brody Johnston, bad boy naval officer on extended leave from his post in Europe, can't take his eyes off innocent Chance's round butt and smooth legs. He is determined to get to know him better, and Brody is used to getting what he wants. Though they are complete opposites, Chance is ready to submit to all of Brody's sexual kinks and desires. And it never occurs to either one of them that they might actually fall in love with each other.
Ryan Fieldis the author of ten books published by Ravenous Romance, including the best-selling e-booksPretty ManandTake Me Always. His short story "Down the Basement" is included in the Lambda AwardwinningBest Gay Erotica 2009.
price：$4.78
Alyson Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (There I was, in black and white....) 『Reading about others, as if it was me. I am amazed how similar we all are. Joe has made that clear... Why do we separate when all of us have been thru the same ordeal? A shame, really....and something I have never thought about. Until now. I'm an International model, out since 19, loving family, successful...yet intamacy has been hard for me to achieve. After reading Joe's book, I see clearly why. Homophobic, "better than thou", player, tease....yeah, cool, but it doesn't work. In-authentic behaviour. I want to thank you for this, Joe....I am forcing myself into a gay therapy group. It will be hard to open up, but after reading your book, I'm sure I can swing it. I'm done w/ the isolation.... Thanks, and if ever you're in SoCal, let me know.
Fondly, Mitchell』
(Tons of truth and wisdom inside) 『What Dr. Joe lays out as a mature lifestyle surely should resolve many longstanding issues with being a gay man. Written in a caring and sometimes humorous manner, he lays out a whole system for healing deep-seated personal issues that affect our daily life and decision-making. It has definitely made a difference in my life!』
(A gay version of the 1950's ad campaigns to get married!) 『Hi!
I really thought this book would be a step in become more self-actualized and more emotionally autonomous and felt some of the book's content was exceptionally helpful. However, by book's end I couldn't help but feeling totally deceived and duped. All this was is an updated gay version of the 1950s push to get married. G-d forbid you're a single gay male BY CHOICE!!!
I also felt slighted and slightly offended as a single male at his advice about being single; as if it is freakish or a product of either being totally deceitful, promiscuous, or a down-right emotional cripple. He only listed ONE TERSE PARAGRAPH in the ENTIRE book about those who choose to be single, and even this was issued with a caveat to make sure that it is because of choice and not because of various reasons ranging from sexual abuse to not really living with integrity. How about practicing what you preach, Joe. Not everyone wants nor accepts this "happily ever after" line you try to sell as the ultimate "validation" of being gay. And it doesn't make us freaks, emotional cripples or players.
He preaches acceptance and maturing, but fails to take the same approach; preaching like so many of the generations before him, that only being with someone is the ultimate validation of one's existence, be they straight and now, thanks to Joe, gay.
I'm not at all against monogamy or even gay marriage, but that is NOT the sum total of gay existence. You would have thought he would have been a little more diverse in his advice.
Also, I too noticed that he would mention that a few of his clients would just up and leave and yet he cites it as something that is wrong with them. hmm.. I guess objectivity is limited only to those sitting on the other side of the desk, much in the same way as one would sit in a confessional. I guess it is still the notion of the Priest/Psychologist/Psychiatrist is always, always right.
I think the number one smart thing gays can do is to STOP believing the notion that someone else, (no matter how effective they may be) can give you a cookie cutter way of trying to improve YOUR life when they know nothing of YOUR life, YOUR situation and YOUR aspirations. Lumping all gays into one monolith and dispensing cookie-cutter, pop psycho-babble to refute Dr. Laura (whom he is careful NOT to name in his book--- so much for integrity) is exactly what he is doing. If it works for you, great! But be mindful of the reality that it is NOT for everyone!』
(Terrific Book) 『This book was very helpful to me, and I've bought copies for several of my friends. This is an informative, compelling book, one that I wish all gay men would read.』
(Not Helpful- Useless&Depressing Ramble) 『The catchy title must have been developed AFTER the book was thrown together. It reads as a collection of misc. snippets from the authors sessions describing his patients various problems. Kort rambles on&eventually you'll have to look back at the chapter start page to see what it was supposed to be about- Kort never leads to a valid summary in any chapter. So I read the book thinking that somewhere in all this verbage I'll eventually find 10 things to improve my life, but... there aren't any. Not only was it a waste of time&$, the book left me depressed after reading about all Kort's troubled clients. I shouldn't have bought&don't recommend it. It's poorly written&edited. There are no clear interesting / useful ideas presented.』 『
Openly gay therapist Joe Kort provides 10 powerful and positive steps gay men can take to isolate and overcome self-defeating behavior patterns, and move in healthier and more rewarding directions:
Take Charge of Their Own Lives Affirm Themselves by Coming Out Resolve Differences With Parents and Relatives "Graduate" From Delayed Adolescence Avoid-or Overcome-Sexual Addiction -Learn from Successful Mentors Who've Been There, Done That Take Advantage of "Therapy Workouts" Achieve-and Maintain-Rewarding Relationships Understand the Stages of Loves Commit to Their Partner
These solid and reliable "Top 10" life steps that have been most helpful to Joe Kort's clients in his 16 years of working with hundreds of gay men, are presented in an engaging and easy-to-understand manner and are supplemented by case histories from his practice. These are time-tested, practical decisions gay men can make in their search for emotional, sexual and personal fulfillment.
Joe Kort, MA, MSW, ACSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice in Detroit. In addition, he is certified as an Imago therapist and leads two biannual workshop retreats, For Gay Men: The Retreat of a Lifetime, which helps gay men recover from being a stigmatized population, and Getting the Love You Want Couples' Weekend, which helps couples communicate more effectively. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, the Institute for Imago Relationship Therapy and the National Council on Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity. His writings on gay and lesbian issues appear regularly inBetween the Linesnewspaper and theDetroit Free Press.
price：$4.78
Cleis Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A true classic) 『There aren't enough stars to rate Ann Bannon's work. First published in 1957, Odd Girl Out is a true classic from the golden age of lesbian pulp fiction and affords an insider's look into what it was like back then - but this isn't just some old-timey nostalgia piece. There is a reason why this book is still being read and enjoyed 50 years later, and it's quite simple: because it's a damned good book from a damned good writer.
The first in what would become Bannon's Beebo Brinker Chronicles (recently done as a play off Broadway, to much acclaim) this is a book to be savored and read again and again, just to see how a real master does it.
Victor J. Banis』
(A Riveting Must Read Novel) 『 I was wonderfully surprised how much I enjoyed this novel published originally in the 1950's and set on a college campus of the time. I should not have been, Odd Girl Out was the number two best seller the year it was published. It lead to four sequels and possibly more if the author had continued publishing. The book was published again in 1975 by a division of the New York Times. In 1983 and 1986 the entire series, which had become known as the Beebo Brinker Chronicles for it's most iconic character, was published by the legendary Naiad Press. Most recently Cleis Press has re-issued the authors five titles in deluxe editions with bonus introductions from the author. I especially enjoyed finding the author has a website that is delightfully rich in information on the series and related information.
As for the story, I ate it up! I did not want to put it sown. Of special interest to me was the excellent writing. Almost a raw quality to it that made the story real for me even though the setting was a decade before I born. Of equal interest was the two captivating main character. Beth and Laura were on a journey to themselves. Beth is a senior in college when the book opens in the Fall of the first semester. Beth is the female equivalent of 'the big man on campus', most folks know her, like her or admire her'. She appears to everyone to be self-sufficient and self-confident. Freshman Laura has a big-time case of hero worship for her roommate and sorority sister Beth.
I had never read a 'pulp' novel before but by reputation I was expecting a torrid bodice ripper where one person was preyed on by the other. Instead we have both women discovering a deep and over whelming attraction for each other. Neither fight it nor are repulsed by it - it is what it is. The physical attraction shared by Beth&Laura is passionately&beautifully depicted, and surprisingly erotic considering the constraints on publishers and writers at the time.
I don't want to give the plot away except to say that the ending is engaging, dramatic, well written and points toward a positive future for both. With each woman pursuing what she believes is right for her.
As a side note, the glance back at a time of oppression toward women that has thankfully receded was revolting and most fascinating was that it wasn't always men who were the oppressors.
This is a Keeper!
I am looking forward to reading the complete series -
Beebo Brinker I Am a Woman Women in the Shadows Journey to a Woman』
(Not high brow, but still good) 『This was a quick and easy read. The plot was simple to follow, but it did leave me wondering a couple times what was going to happen in the end. Some might say the storyline and characters were on a slightly unbelievable side, but one must also consider when it was written and for what type of audience it was written. Once those two items are taken into consideration I believe this book can be seen as an important step in lesbian literature. I recommend if you are interested in the history of lesbian literature and/or you like trashy romance kind of stuff.』
(A Fun Summer Read) 『I was looking for some kitsch to escape from my dreary law school textbooks and this was just the thing. Some of the cultural references are a little vague to the modern reader, but then again, I found it somewhat insightful into the "gay panic" of the fifties. I suggest buying two from the series, though. This was a quick read and left me bookless all too early.』
(Really interesting !) 『This story revolves around the two main charater Laura and Beth . Laura a very prudent girl having a crush on another woman(Beth) seemed to handle it. But since she's painfully obvious Beth took advantage of it and use Laura for her own pent up desires. But at the very end Beth think that she's straight let Laura goes.....』 『In the 1950s, Ann Bannon broke through the shame and isolation typically portrayed in lesbian pulps, offering instead women characters who embraced their sexuality. With Odd Girl Out, Bannon introduces Laura Landon, whose love affair with her college roommate Beth launched the lesbian pulp fiction genre.』
price：$3.62
Continuum International Publishing Group
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Sorry Carol but this book makes me sad =/) 『Feminism AND veganism? This would seem like the book of my dreams. But it wasn't.
I was looking for some really strong arguments backed with opinions and modern issues, but there wasn't anything like that in this book. In fact I'm sure that I could come up with better points in comparing animal exploitation to women's exploitation.
Though I do feel happy that this book was written and I respect Carol J. Adams for writing it.』
(Save the bunnies! (But let us kill our unborn babies)) 『This is the kind of book scientists researching the history of gender studies in a few centuries will go wild about. It captures in a nutshell all that is wrong and illogical in modern feminism, and contains the reason why feminism will soon die a natural death like all the other illiberal 'isms' of the past. The author is clearly a vegetarian and by definition pro-abortion, but does she realise that before the influence of feminism started twisting human morality, it was unthinkable for vegetarians to support abortion! No rational human being could honestly put the value of animal life above that of human life, unless their morality and ethics have been twisted by one or another 'ism'. We know this only too well from the horrible effects which Marxism and Communism had on otherwise good people. The end justifies the means for staunch believers in any 'ism'. Using the author's reasoning, one could just as easily claim that the widespread, unconditional granting of abortion is the reason behind the steady increase in woman child-murderers, abortion having given modern women a feeling that their lives and conveniences come before human life. I am a meat-eating supporter of abortion who knows that the killing of animals for food could not possibly be ethically worse than the killing of humans for convenience.』
(Thoughtful and intriguing) 『An obvious connection overlooked before Carol Adams came along to illuminate it for us.』
(A MUST READ for women who don't want to be treated like meat) 『Many feminists do not like to be treated like meat or like animals. I think this is because we all know, consciously or not, the extent and nature of animal oppression. Why have feminists for so long co-opted these animal metaphors to explain their own oppression, yet failed to see that these metaphors only work BECAUSE animals themselves are so oppressed?
Carol Adams is among the first to step forward and call for feminist attention to animal rights and meat eating. She makes points in this book which are revolutionary and, I believe, will be the future of feminism. The questions she raises about species are no less reasonable than questions other feminists have raised about race, class, gender, and any other facet of identity. Yet most feminists have refused to analyze human identity, and look at animals with the same eyes that many men look at women.
Though at times Adams writes very academically and heavily, this book should be required reading for all feminists-- and for all people who believe that both women and animals in this culture are literally and figuratively fragmented, consumed, and turned into meat, the ultimate objectification. A book whose importance I cannot stress enough.』
(The Sexual Politics of Meat: ; An Ecofeminist classic) 『I first read THE SEXUAL POLITICS OF MEAT in 1990. I had just become a vegetarian. This book connected my feminist politics with my vegetarian politics. This book was a groundbreaking work in ecofeminist theory. Ms. Adams shows how a patriarchal society oppresses animals, women and the very planet Earth itself. She shows us how our dietary choices can be a resistance to the oppressive patriarchal status quo. This book continues to empower me. In 2004 this book is more relevant than ever.』 『An examination of the historical, gender, race and class implications of meat culture, making the links between the practice of butchering/eating animals and the maintenance of male dominance. This tenth anniversary edition includes a new preface by Carol Adams that answers the question she is most often asked: why did you write this book? Adams also discusses new developments in feminist thought and animal rights, and updates the statistics and information provided.』
price：$11.90
The University of North Carolina Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (May I Pour?) 『The author, E. Patrick Johnson, is to be commended for the end product of his research into the lives of black gay men of the southern United States! Through numerous interviews with men of varying degrees of "outness" he has recorded their stories, and grouped them in 7 primary subject headings. While they cover the full range from joyous to tragic, they all deserve to be heard, and Mr. Johnson has let them tell their stories. Now, it is up to us to read, and hear, those stories! It is a journey that will not leave you unmoved... you WILL take away a new heightened awareness of the issues facing these men, whether they are 19 or 90. Kudos to each and every one of the men who shared their lives and stories!』
(Sweet Tea) 『Thoroughly researched and completely engaging, "Sweet Tea" is a look into an overlooked minority: black, gay men of the South. The author spent time interviewing dozens of men - all natives who still call the South home -from all age ranges and transcribed the conversations. The interviews are eye-opening. The South is one of the most stereotyped and misunderstood regions of the United States and the personal histories these Southern men relate are illuminating. They are the stories of men who pursued an active gay lifestyle even while remaining part of their families, their communities and their churches.
One of the more unforgettable interview subjects is Chaz/Chastity, a drag queen whom the author discovers almost by accident in his own North Carolina hometown. There are several photos of Chaz scattered throughout the various sections of the book, as well as those of other subjects. The photos are intimate and touching, showing the breadth of these men's lives.
Another strength of the book is the author's own personal story: in the introduction, Johnson discusses his reasons for embarking upon this project and his own experience growing up in the South as a black, gay man. It's fortunate that Johnson wrote this book as it's an important piece of scholarship that deserves all the accolades it receives.』
(Bittersweet Tea) 『E. Patrick Johnson's new book SWEET TEA purports to dignify the lives of Black Gay men from the American South by allowing them to tell their own stories. Maybe that's what Johnson meant to do when he began research on this lengthy book of interviews. Unfortunately, he seems to have gotten sidetracked by his ego, his condescending attitude and his willingness to exploit other Gay men in the pursuit of a theatre career. His one-man stage show based on this book may be artistically valid, but the book itself fails as valid scholarship. Johnson stages a freak show in print of apparently inarticulate, self-aggrandizing sex and gender exotics, all friends of his or friends of his friends. After making them appear as unsophisticated and quaint as he possibly can, he lines them up for curious Straight folk to gawk at. Johnson's fondness for idle gossip, for using sexual slurs as endearments, and his ill-begotten warts-and-all style of editing(???)transcripts all reinforce the freak show aspect of his book. While some passages do convey warmth, wisdom, fortitude and personal empowerment, all too often they're undermined by frivolty, stereotype, sensationalism and braggadocio. If only that were the worst of it: Johnson's downplaying of Southern Black heterosexism is disturbing, his stated method of turning interview subjects into "performers" is manipulative, and his characterization of Black churches as vehicles for sex cruising is offensive! Black Gay identity deserves far more dignity than it gets in this overpriced volume. Sweet Tea is spiked with rotgut whiskey, and the flavor is more bitter than sweet. 』
(Hearing What is Not Usually Heard) 『Johnson, E. Patrick. "Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South", University of North Carolina Press A Caravan Book, 2008.
Hearing What Is Not Usually Heard
Amos Lassen
If there is any group in the GLBT community that we know little of, it is the Southern Black Gay male. I have never understood why this is so but I must congratulate E. Patrick Johnson for helping to fill that void. Incidentally he is now on tour with his one man show based on this book and bringing awareness to the matter. "Sweet Tea" (what a great title) is a detailed oral history of the subcultures of Black gay men in the South and it covers all milieus. Johnson interviewed sixty-three men to give us a picture of what it is like to be gay and Black. He uses a set slate of questions for all he interviewed and this is one of the two faults of the book in that there is little variety especially in the matter of faith issues. The other problem that I see it that Johnson did not follow up on some of the answers that he received that showed a new insight into Black gay life. I did like the way that the book is arranged by categories such as love and relationships, coming out, etc. It is extremely difficult for a Black man to claim both Southern and Black cultures as we read here and we are all well aware that racism is not dead. It is indeed difficult to find acceptance in rural areas of the Bible belt south and in many cases identities must be redefined. Those interviewed are indeed a cross section, Johnson interviewed men between the ages of 19 and 93 and we learn that there is a Black gay subculture in the South and we learn how this community is maintained, Here in Little Rock, for example, we were able to have a Pride celebration in 2008 because of a lack of volunteers. I was very surprised when I learned that there was a very successful Black Gay Pride festival especially since I knew nothing about the local Black gay community. I do not go out much in Little Rock and I do not recall seeing Black gay men when I did. The book reads wonderfully, almost as if it is a collection of stories instead of honest testimonies and thereby proves that in the South we know how to tell a tale. 』 『Giving voice to a population rarely acknowledged in writings about the South,Sweet Teacollects life stories from black gay men who were born, raised, and continue to live in the southern United States. E. Patrick Johnson challenges stereotypes of the South as "backward" or "repressive," suggesting that these men draw upon the performance of "southernness"—politeness, coded speech, and religiosity, for example—to legitimate themselves as members of both southern and black cultures. At the same time, Johnson argues, they deploy those same codes to establish and build friendship networks and to find sexual partners and life partners.
Traveling to every southern state, Johnson conducted interviews with more than seventy black gay men between the ages of 19 and 93. The voices collected here dispute the idea that gay subcultures flourish primarily in northern, secular, urban areas. In addition to filling a gap in the sexual history of the South,Sweet Teaoffers a window into the ways that black gay men negotiate their sexual and racial identities with their southern cultural and religious identities. The narratives also reveal how they build and maintain community in many spaces and activities, some of which may appear to be antigay. Ultimately,Sweet Teavalidates the lives of these black gay men and reinforces the role of storytelling in both African American and southern cultures.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (My sentiments exactly) 『This is an amazingly eye opening book for those who yearn to learn of the TRUE roots of American capitalism. Two prerequisites in order to enjoy this book: A) an open mind and B) an optimum outlook on change in society. Read this book and enjoy!』
(Few books truly change your life) 『This one changed mine. I urge all young women of color to read this book while you are still in high school or college. Do that for yourself. I urge all other humans to read it as soon as you can. It's the seminal work of bell hooks career, which continues to enlighten and enrich all of us. Unlike some other "classic" works, it deserves the designation, for it remains as timely today as it was at publication.
Her observations are wise. Her grasp of history is absolute. Her ideas stimulate intelligent and loving thought, conversation, and action. Read this book.』
(Here is where it all began) 『Those who would dismiss Hook's scholarship and arguments as substandard are truly threatened by the radical observations she makes about the world and black women's relationship to it and in it.
The "Clif Notes" version Hooks has been maligned for by her critics have been practiced openly by white feminists (and predominantly white groups) so I honestly cannot see what the criticism is about unless it is the particular ideas themselves and not the way they are phrased. Hook's work is radical because it forces readers to deal with the less than favorable aspects of American history.
Confronting the real truth about America and the way it has historically treated and maligned women of color (and how they moblized against this) can be a challenging read, but only if the reader comes in with a defensive mind, prepared to discount the work anyway. Individuals with an open mind should love the pages of this now-classic work.
I have always loved this book and it's practical insights on gender roles and a multifaceted approach to reproductive rights. Although Hooks is pro-choice, she reminds us that legalized abortion should be only one aspect of reproductive rights, and freedom from sterilzation abuse and full information on contraceptives is also important. It is a testament to Hooks and other activists that this paradigm has been adopted by the general feminist movement.
True women's liberation involves the liberation of all women from all artificially constructed notions about gender and ethnicity. While we as a nation have historically seen the civil rights movement as primarily for black men, and the feminist movement as being for white women, we have silenced and subjugated the black feminist who has one foot in each of these communities and is going to weave together her own experiences.』
(Exposing the Dynamics Behind the Devaluation) 『I love this book! I think she had done an excellent job on dissecting the classist, racist, sexist structures that have kept black and mixed black women at the bottom of all the racial/class/gender hierarchy. She wrote a chapter about how privileged white women historically used their racial and class privileges to block black and other women of color(mexican, american indian,puerto rican) from access to wealth, power, influence, and especially, upward mobility. They also blocked poor and working class white women(to a lesser extent, for they also have white skin privilege like their sisters)from realizing their potential. Privileged white women just want to preserve their privileges they obtain and keep other women from having them. White feminists tend to protect the status quo, mainly privileged white christian heterosexual men. For example, the Anita Hill case. It have brought far more changes in politics and, once again, white women have benefited more than black women(new 2001 Senate will have 13 women, all white). As for the antimiscegnation laws, I knew they were originally enacted to prevent white men to marry black women. If a lot of powerful white men were to marry black women and other women of color besides east asian and mexican women, white power will be gone for good. Which was the reason why American media didn't covered the royal wedding of the Prince of Liechtenstein and the black Panamanian woman. They do not like to see black women taking their cherished places as wives of powerful white men. Bell Hooks have done an excellent job on her book. I hope I look forward to see her publishing more of her works soon.
』
(Useful but rudimentary; like a cliff notes to other thinkers) 『The phenomenon that is bell hooks is both interesting and necessary. She has popularised political discussion, extending her hand outside of accademia in powerful ways. So why the single star? Because in evaluating a book like this, it is iimportant to evaluate the originality and rigor of a writer/scholar's work. bell hooks is wonderful at one thing: paraphrasing original thinkers, and that is simply inexcusable. Original feminist thinkers on race (many of who hooks shamelessly borrows from) are Toni Cade Bambara, Michelle Wallace, Hazel Carby, Toni Morrison, Angela Davis... there a long list, and bell hooks does not hold up to them under any kind of scrutiny. Her often true assertions are superficially considered and her clumsy prose resembles that of a beginning idealogue, not a careful and crafty writer/thinker.』 『In this classic study, cultural critic Bell Hooks examines how black women, from the seventeenth century to the present day, were and are oppressed by both white men and black men and by white women. Illustrating her analysis with moving personal accounts, "Ain't I a Woman" is deeply critical of the racism inherent in the thought of many middle-class white feminists who have failed to address issues of race and class. While acknowledging the conflict of loyalty to race or sex is still a dilemma, Hooks challenges the view that race and gender are two separate phenomena, insisting that the struggles to end racism and sexism are inextricably intertwined.』
price：$17.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review ("Live all you can; it's a mistake not to.") 『While Henry James' favorite of his own novels, The Ambassadors (1903), in my opinion as well as E.M. Forster's, doesn't quiet live up to the genius of The Wings of the Dove (1902) or even the earlier The Portrait of a Lady (1881). The familiar James themes are all there--the American abroad, American reactions to European culture, exploration of the terrain of the life unlived--but missing is the truly ecstatic prose and characters with remarkable psychological depth that distinguish the finest of James' works.
The narrative follows "ambassador" Lambert Strether to Paris in pursuit of his widowed fiancée, Mrs. Newsome's, son Chad--whom she believes to be romantically involved with an undesirable woman. Strether's mission is to extricate the wayward youth and return with him to Massachusetts directly. Once in Paris, however, Strether falls under the spell of the city and finds Chad refined ratherthan corrupted by its influence and that of his charming companion, Madame de Vionnet. The summer wears on with little correspondence between Strether and the Newsomes waiting at home. Impatient to see her son returned and suitably married, Mrs. Newsome sends yet another envoy, Chad's cynical sister Sarah Pocock, to confront the errant Chad and a Strether whose view of the world has changed profoundly. In the end, it is Strether who prevents Chad from returning to America.
The highlight of the text is certainly Strether's speech to Chad's friend Little Bilham in Book Fifth, in which he gives voice to his new sense of things: "Live all you can; it's a mistake not to. It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you have your life. If you haven't had that what have you had? Do what you like so long as you don't make my mistake. For it was a mistake. Live!" It is an expanded vision of life, an affirmation that seems an appealing climax to Strether's confrontation with the realities of his circumstance. The sentiments of Strether's speech, however, are tested in the remaining two-thirds of the narrative.』
(An unconvincing conversion of an American mind) 『The Ambassadors, by Henry James is a book that straddles the styles of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It concerns the plight of the ridiculously-named Lambert Strether, sent from America to Paris to recover the wayward son of a wealthy family. Strether, who, by his own admission, is a failure, looks forward to his marriage (which I found unbelievable) with his boss, the matriarch of the family, if he is successful in bringing Chadwick home. However, while abroad he succumbs to the unemployed, carefree lifestyles of the Americans in Paris of which number Chad is included. Although a third person narrative, all events are filtered through the somewhat dim-witted Strether. Despite very difficult passages with almost endless parenthetical clauses, and such sentences as "...the greatest divergence from which would be precisely the element of any lubrication of their intercourse by levity," the interested reader will become aware of the reality of situations well before Strether. Strether's conversion from American idiot to bohemian is unconvincing. He finds Chadwick "improved" without being able to explain why (Strether is impressed that Chadwick knows how to enter a box seat at a theater - that about sums up the best Strether can say about the young man), he quickly befriends Miss Gostrey without reason (H. James admit that Gostrey is mostly a device to allow for explanation where Strether fails), and is charmed by Madame de Vionnet despite an obviously illicit affair. It takes Mr. Strether endless amounts of thought to figure out the simplest things. This novel has little reward for the persistent.
The introduction by Kyle Patrick Smith in this Barnes&Noble version is nevertheless insightful.』
(The Audiobook is Easier) 『The audiobook version of The Ambassadors makes the famously dense prose of Henry James easier (but not easy)to wade through. Most of the book consists of scenes in which two of the several principals meet to discuss the basic situation: whether or not a young New England manufacturing heir, Chad Newsome, can be persuaded to leave Paris--and his paramour, Madame de Vionnet--and return to his Mom in America.
Everyone else is some kind of ambassador. Most prominently, Lambert Strether is Mom's fiancee and first ambassador. When he succumbs to the charms of Europe and Madame de Vionnet, more insulated ambassadors race over from America--Mom's daughter, Sarah, and son-in-law Jim--to try their luck, ineffectively, as it turns out, with the wayward Chad.
The role of ambassador becomes more nuanced as various characters from Europe and America assume the role with each other in subtle ways. Strether, the most deeply explored and self-aware character, demonstrates an inner-ambassadorian way of managing his own conflicts and divided loyalties.
All this takes place in slow motion over the course of three downloads. James structures each scene, or dialogue between two principals, by leap-frogging from the beginning of the scene to it's end, then back-tracking to reveal the middle. This seems to be consistent with his means-justifying-the end theme, in which the interesting thing is not how things wind up (which is unresolved in The Ambassadors), but how they get there.』
(The failure to enjoy) 『A wealthy US family sends its `ambassadors' to Paris in order to convince an heir to abandon the `life of a pagan' and return home to run the family business. The theme of Henry James's impeccably written and extremely polished prose is what Nietzsche called the `right or the wrong conjugation': to live or to be lived. `One lives in fine as one can. Still, one has the illusion of freedom; therefore don't be like me, without the memory of that illusion. Don't at any rate miss things out of stupidity. Live!'
For Henry James, people lived in `the corruption of Europe' with its `femmes du monde'; people were lived in the US. It is the Catholic (live like God in France) against the Protestant ethic (`I seem to have a life only for other people'). We are far away here from the Calvinist lesson of `Daisy Miller' who died because she didn't respect the supreme respectability of her class.
The novel advances extremely slowly, is full of suggestions, hints, (mis)understandings and fluctuating feelings. Direct confrontations are subdued to the extreme, and end with a laugh. The novel has another typical characteristic of James's stories: it's all about `thoroughbred' people, sublime members of the high society. They are presented in a superlative style: prodigious, exquisite, graceful, supreme, transcendent, precious, admirable, beautiful, bright, lovely, magnificent, splendid, brilliant, wonderful ...
With its essential message, this novel is a classic masterpiece. Not to be missed. 』
(The Ambassadors) 『This is surely one of the great works of literature. The style may seem at times slow going, but it rewards the patient reader with its rich, sensitive portrayal of characters and the varied effects of the old world charm of Paris on New England visitors. It is suspenseful thoughtful and brilliant in its depiction of social interactions.』 『Concerned that her son Chad may have become involved with a woman of dubious reputation, the formidable Mrs. Newsome sends her 'ambassador' Strether from Massachusetts to Paris to extricate him. Strether's mission, however, is gradually undermined as he falls under the spell of the city and finds Chad refined rather than corrupted by its influence and that of his charming companion, the comtesse de Vionnet. As the summer wears on, Mrs. Newsome comes to the conclusion that she must send another envoy to Paris to confront the errant Chad, and a Strether whose view of the world has changed profoundly. James' favourite novel and one of the greatest of his late works, "The Ambassadors" is a subtle and often witty exploration of different American responses to a European environment.』 『The Ambassadors, which Henry James considered his best work, is the most exquisite refinement of his favorite theme: the collision of American innocence with European experience. This time, James recounts the continental journey of Louis Lambert Strether--a fiftysomething man of the world who has been dispatched abroad by a rich widow, Mrs. Newsome. His mission: to save her son Chadwick from the clutches of a wicked (i.e., European) woman, and to convince the prodigal to return to Woollett, Massachusetts. Instead, this all-American envoy finds Europe growing on him. Strether also becomes involved in a very Jamesian "relation" with the fascinating Miss Maria Gostrey, a fellow American and informal Sacajawea to her compatriots. Clearly Paris has "improved" Chad beyond recognition, and convincing him to return to the U.S. is going to be a very, very hard sell. Suspense, of course, is hardly James's stock-in-trade. But there is no more meticulous mapper of tone and atmosphere, nuance and implication. His hyper-refined characters are at their best in dialogue, particularly when they're exchanging morsels of gossip. Astute, funny, and relentlessly intelligent, James amply fulfills his own description of the novelist as a person upon whom nothing is lost.--Rhian Ellis』
price：$1.50
MLR Press
Usually ships in 24 hours 『A long-defunct gay activist group seems to be threatening radio shock jock Jay Plankton. As The J-Bird, the man's hate-filled rants offend Strachey deeply. Among the subjects Stevenson tackles in this series entry is homophobia in modern police services like the NYPD, where coming out carries more than its usual share of costs.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Should I rate this a two-star?) 『Blend together Filet Mignon, Licorice, and Tres Leches and what do you get? Something disgusting. That's kind of how I feld about this one. Cheap Filthy Pulp Fiction. Did I enjoy it? Sure it was entertaining, but I probably won't read Poppy Brite ever again.
I must have really missed something. Also, I felt the author was young and inexperienced at writing. Too many words were over used. For example, "Insouciance". I mean, come on. Get a thesauraus. Insouciance can't be the perfect feeling for everyone all the time.
There are no characters that you love. I mean who? Steve and Ghost? Maybe you'll connect with those two beer drinking bisexual homophobes, if you like eighties grunge lit. Personally, the book's ending could have ended the lives of those two and been just as satisfactory.
I guess in short, if you like grunge, vampires, repetitive words, filth, partying, and eating people...Then you'll love this book...maybe. I'm not saying don't read it. I am just saying maybe something else?
』
(Never trust 5-star reviews.) 『I'd picked this book up based on the glowing reviews I'd read; today, as I finished reading it, I wished I'd read the 4-star and below reviews here on Amazon before I ever bought the thing.
Once you get past the prologue, the idea seemed like it had some real merit. However, as the pages wore on and the plot was bogged down by annoying teenage angst, (I'm not far past those years myself, so what does that say?) I felt myself losing interest in the characters' plights. I didn't really have sympathy for anyone except Ghost, and even then I didn't care for him too much.
Something about the writing style also turned me off the book a bit. Too flowery, I guess; there are only so many times you can use "spider" as part of a verb or an adjective. There was definitely a fixation on the various flavors of saliva, which, for me, comes across as more silly than erotic. Bits of the dialogue also sounded too eloquent to be a character speaking -- it was more an extension of the narrative. Also seemed like instead of painting a whole picture of a person or place, the descriptions focused on only a few things. (Kudzu, dust, hair, sweat, dark roads, iron railings, that sort of thing.)
I can't really say much about the Goth culture, since it was before my time and outside my interest, but from what I could tell, it sounded like more of a caricature. According to this book, all you need to know is that everyone is stick-thin, has razors scars and crazy dye jobs, wears heavy make-up and black clothes, smokes clove cigarettes, and listens to mostly Bauhaus and maybe some Cure or REM. While I'm sure there were people like that, that description doesn't do the then decade-old genre much justice. (Mostly goes for the music; we get three or four bands, but apparently there were dozens by the time the story takes place.)
I won't go into the incest or bi/homosexuality, except that it struck me as odd that the only 'normal' relationship ended with rape, or, in the prologue, pedophilia. Apparently there's no such thing as a platonic relationship, either. If everyone wasn't hooking up with everyone in the predominantly male cast, then it wouldn't stand out so awkwardly.
And I thought it was funny when Ghost said something about having the punctuation at the end of his band's name to keep it from sounding silly. "Lost Souls?" had the opposite effect for me.
All in all, it read like a teenager's first novel. Better quality than many, I'm sure, but still not something I'd go out of my way to read. If you want to give this book a shot, don't go in with a cynical mind or high expectations.』
(Haunting and lyrical.) 『The first time I read "Lost Souls" by Poppy Z. Brite, I was 20 years old. My life had taken a definite turn for the worse. I was homeless, penniless, and sleeping on a stranger's couch. One day, a new friend of mine handed me a copy of this book and said, "You need to read this. Right now. Put down the video game and read." And that beaten up old copy of this book has been with me ever since. The characters are well defined, and one feels so deeply for them. Nothing's search for a place to belong is something that resonated with me on a very basic level. Ghost's innocence and visionary optimism touched me. And Steve's tortured psyche reminded me that everyone makes mistakes, and that those mistakes do not necessarily make one "evil."
This is, and always will be, one of my favorite books. I recommend it for anyone who embraces their darker side, even if only a little.』
(I'm not a drippy-black-eyeliner-goth fan girl...) 『but I still think this very well may be the best vampire book ever written. I picked this up just recently for a re-read. The first time I read it (when it came out) I could not put it down, sacrificing sleep to finish it. Sixteen years later, it took away a whole Saturday. Strangely, XM radio played a song that I had been listening to while reading it in 1993. I'm not saying the book has mystical radio tuning powers, but thought it was interesting nonetheless.
Say what you like, but the pacing, the solid feel of the language, the evocative descriptions (without being overly flowery), and the strength of the visceral imagery make this book astounding. Tired of the toothless vamps of Twilight? Sick of the slick, swooning heroines of paranormal romance novels? Here's the antidote.
There has been nothing added to the modern vampire canon that can come close to this book.』
(These Are Definitly Not Your Typical Vampires) 『Lost Souls was my first Poppy Z. Brite novel and is one of my favorite books if not my favorite. I absolutely love Poppy Z. Brite's work, she is so unique and such an amazing writer! Brite really knows how to write without pulling any punches, she isn't afraid to write about the dirty details. This novel is about vampire and I've always loved vampires but for me the best part of this book was Ghost. Ghost is really what made this book for me, there was just something about him that really drew me in even though he is one of the only non-vampire characters. This book is incredible, there aren't many writers today of Poppy Z. Brite's caliber.』 『In the French Quarter of New Orleans the Mardi Gras celebrations conceal a different group of pleasure-seekers. For Zillah, Molochai and Twig, the party has been going on for centuries, fuelled by sexual frenzy, green Chartreuse and innocent blood. Born in horror and brought up in suburban Maryland, Nothing has always suspected he's different from other teenagers - and when he has his first taste of human blood, he knows he is right. Ghost is the singer of the band Lost Souls. When Nothing is drawn into Zillah's fatal circle, Ghost has to decide whether to save the boy - or abandon him to his bloody birthright. "Lost Souls" is a dark, decadent and delicious work of fantasy from the mistress of modern horror.』
price：$1.50
Dreamspinner Press
Usually ships in 24 hours 『After his boyfriend breaks up with him, fashion photographer Caleb Moss finds himself alone in Los Angeles looking for work and friends. He finds both in a group of aspiring musicians, who offer help through their connections. But while building a strong friendship with Scott and Chris, a startling sexual tension flares to life among the three men, and Caleb is afraid the new friendships will fall apart. It won't be easy for Caleb, trying to find his way when Scott and Chris invite him into their relationship. They face criticism from their friends, but they'll struggle to stay together because they have discovered a three-fold love.』
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