Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Adding my one star in hopes it will save one person...) 『...from wasting their time on this dreck. It's one of those books you slog through, hoping against hope that one of the meaningless coincidences will be unmasked, will turn out to be significant ("Woah! That was your father? Why, I almost eff-ed him in Greece!), that there will be some kind of twist, a revelation, ANYTHING. But nothing. Nothing but page after page of dull lists of dull activities ("She sponged down the counter. He washed the plates. She loaded the dishwasher. He washed the pot they had boiled the corn in. She put detergent in the dishwasher. He washed the knives. He placed the wine bottle in the recycling bin. She started the dishwasher. The kitchen was now clean.") I'm throwing my copy in the trash to prevent anyone from accidentally picking it up. If my fireplace weren't gas, I would toss it into the flames.』
(I gave it one star because I couldn't give it less) 『Characters were so one dimensional. If someone was "good" they were so good they seemed afflicted. The "bad" people were all exactly the same. The only character that I liked was the parrot. Has Ms Glass never heard that we readers hate, hate, hate when a new character is introduced in the last chapter?
The lady who picked this for book club ended up quiting, she felt we were narrow minded and homophobic. Out of twelve of us only a couple thought it was okay.
If you have trouble sleeping this is the book for you, it will put you right out...like a light.』
(book) 『Enjoyed the read. Found it a bit sad and without hope. Some would say it's realistic. Certainly a fine author. Will read Julia Glass again.』
(Used copies selling for $ .01 are greatly overpriced.) 『Horribly disjointed and disappointing, with a few well written paragraphs buried in lifeless minutia - details you never wondered about or cared to know.
Glass compared her novel "to a medieval altarpiece in which a "central panel--be it a picture of the annunciation, the crucifixion, or a martyrdom--is flanked by panels depicting portraits of the altarpiece donors.." Ha! Sounds a bit arrogant, doesn't it?
She obviously thinks her novel is a work of art and worthy of being compared to such. She obviously has an exaggerated sense of her own importance.
My first book by Julia glass and my LAST.』
(Flashbacks!) 『I purchased this book after reading a sample so I should have gotten something I would enjoy. Unfortunately, it wasn't til I got the full version that the shifting back and forth in time and then back and forth in generations started. I suffered through a third of this book and then gave up. Too hard to follow and not enough in the story to put up with the changing back and forth for me to want to continue. It is now in archive and incompletely read.』 『A New York Times Bestseller A National Book Award Nominee
In June of 1989, Paul McLeod, the recently widowed patriarch, becomes infatuated with a young American artist while traveling through Greece and is compelled to relive the secret sorrows of his marriage. Six years later, Paul's death reunites his sons at Tealing, their idyllic childhood home, where Fenno, the eldest, faces a choice that puts him at the center of his family's future. A lovable, slightly repressed gay man, Fenno leads the life of an aloof expatriate in the West Village, running a shop filled with books and birdwatching gear. He believes himself safe from all emotional entanglements -- until a worldly neighbor presents him with an extraordinary gift and a seductive photographer makes him an unwitting subject. Each man draws Fenno into territories of the heart he has never braved before, leading him toward an almost unbearable loss that will reveal to him the nature of love.』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Wonderfully Told Story) 『This was a fascinating book--by a great storyteller--about a man's transformation from male to female. The parts I loved best were when s/he did a private study of the different reactions s/he got depending on gender. (For example, as a male in search of new car, he was shown the engine. As a female, she was shown the cupholders and charged a thousand dollars more for the car.) When s/he started taking female hormones, s/he became more sensitive about everything, and at one point said "There were a number of times when I wish I had the male shield (of testosterone) standing between me and the harshness of the world."』
(She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders) 『Ordered this book to learn more about transgenderism. Jennifer Finney Boylan wrote from here personal experiences in a clear, yet entertaining manner giving me insight into this growing phenomenon.』
(Whoop? Whoop? Whoop?) 『In "She's Not There: A Life in Two Genders", Jennifer Boylan writes:
"I'd arrived at early adolescence having inherited my mother's buoyant optimism."
It's this same optimism that buoys the reader along as Jenny recounts the story of her self discovery, self acceptance and eventual pursuit for wholeness.
I have known some transgendered individuals during the course of my life. I've seen others in television specials, talk shows and movies. Although I have understood the condition intellectually, I have always found the issue somewhat alien and unsettling.
In this remarkable book, Jennifer Boylan discusses the extraordinary circumstances of being transgendered and explains them in entirely ordinary terms. There is no mystery, weirdness or perversion - just a human being on an incredibly difficult, confusing, courageous, and personal journey of discovery.
Boylan's prose is seemingly effortless - her voice hopeful and introspective, even when recounting times of deepest despair. She gives readers a real sense of her inner struggle, and makes us root for her all the way. A touching, thoughtful and funny book from a masterful storyteller.
C.A.Wulff』
(Great Education) 『I picked this book up from the library as a throw out, but it ended up being an education. As a fan of Middlesex, this book gave another view into the transgender world. Really who does not want to know more about all types of alternatives. I love to read more about the more risque part of sex, such as BDSM, but this topic presented itself and really humanized the subject. I would recommend this for anyone wanting to know the real stuggles that a transgendered person goes through on their journey towards "transition".』
("Can't Not") 『From his earliest memories as a three-year old, James Finney was never without the awareness that he was "in the wrong body, living the wrong life." As a youngster, a teenager, a college student, a husband deeply in love with his wife and two children, and a professor of English at Colby College in Maine, Boylan countered that unsettling consciousness for several long decades with "an exasperated companion thought, namely, 'Don't be an idiot, You're not a girl. Get over it.'" This deeply human memoir tells how James never "got over it" and how at the age of forty-three he finally had sex reassignment surgery that completed his transgendering to Jennifer.
Boylan says that her journey caused her "an almost inexpressible degree of private grief." She discovered that gender identity was far more complex than sexual attraction, cultural expectations, cross dressing, extended therapy, biology, or even genetics. It was not a choice for a certain lifestyle. She tried mightily to "accept who I wasn't," knowing that transgendering from male to female would "mean only loss and grief" for many people. In that herculean but ultimately futile quest she was aided by having inherited her mother's "boundless optimism." She counted her blessings, and especially the "greatest years of her life" in marriage to Carol and their two children. James knew full well that finally transitioning to a female would cause his beloved Carol untold grief, loss, and a sense of betrayal, and that he would bear his own grief and guilt as a result.
In the end, Boylan describes her transgendering from James to Jennifer as more like an "erosion" or "forced conscription" than a decision. This story is a powerful one because of its transparency. Most people supported her; her sister has never spoken to her since she transitioned. As you would expect, her memoir is partly a plea for understanding, but even that is not compromised by polemical or partisan zeal. James transgendered to Jennifer "because I can't not." After all the explanations and anguish, she concludes, "What I have come to realize is that no matter how much light one attempts to throw on this condition, it remains a mystery" (248). At the end of the book Boylan offers thirteen questions for discussion and eight books for further reading. Her sequel memoir called I'm Looking Through You was published in 2008.』 『
The exuberant memoir of a man named James who became a woman named Jenny.
She’s Not Thereis the story of a person changing genders, the story of a person bearing and finally revealing a complex secret; above all, it is a love story. By turns funny and deeply moving, Jennifer Finney Boylan explores the remarkable territory that lies between men and women, examines changing friendships, and rejoices in the redeeming power of family.She’s Not Thereis a portrait of a loving marriage—the love of James for his wife, Grace, and, against all odds, the enduring love of Grace for the woman who becomes her “sister,” Jenny. To this extraordinary true story, Boylan brings the humorous, fresh voice that won her accolades as one of the best comic novelists of her generation. With her distinctive and winning perspective,She’s Not Thereexplores the dramatic outward changes and unexpected results of life as a woman: Jenny fights the urge to eat salad, while James consumed plates of ribs; gone is the stability of“one damn mood, all the damn time.” While Boylan’s own secret was unusual, to say the least, she captures the universal sense of feeling uncomfortable, out of sorts with the world, and misunderstood by her peers. Jenny is supported on her journey by her best friend, novelist Richard Russo, who goes from begging his friend to “Be a man”(in every sense of the word) to accepting her as an attractive, buoyant woman. “The most unexpected thing,” Russo writes in his Afterword to the book, “is in how Jenny’s story we recognize our shared humanity.” As James evolves into Jennifer in scenes that are by turns tender, startling, and witty, a marvelously human perspective emerges on issues of love, sex, and the fascinating relationship between our physical and our intuitive selves. Through the clear eyes of a truly remarkable woman,She’s Not Thereprovides a new window on the often confounding process of accepting ourselves.
price：$15.99
Adamant Media Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (A wealth of timeless knowledge) 『This book holds easily digestable nuggets of wisdom from one of the most influential men in history. This should be required reading in our schools』
(Wit and Wisdom Indeed) 『What can you say about this book.........other than it's a collection of timeless sayings and thoughts from the mind of one of America's original great thinkers. This should be required reading (in all formats)for high school students if for no other reason than to have them explore humor without 4-letter words. Once read, some of these bits of wisdom will stay with you for life. Enjoy and pass along. You will be a part of re-braining this country!』
(Sage Advice) 『Though Benjamin Franklin never suggests that all the words are his, his assembly of commonly used phrases and sayings provides the reader with material that will make them think. Do remember, that this doesn't read like a novel.』
(There are better versions than this one) 『So to start, there is a huge problem with this page. If you utilize Amazon's Search Inside feature for this version of the book it is actually showing you the inside of a different copy of Poor Richards Almanack. What you see is definitely not the inside of this book and I'll tell you why later.
Another problem with this page is the fact that people are reviewing the content of Poor Richards Almanack and giving you, the consumer, a history lesson on the book. But come on... the content of the book is pretty much a given. If you're not familiar with the Poor Richards Alamanack, then it's probably a good idea to check it out from a library before you buy it. You would want to own a copy simply for novelty's sake.
So onto the review of the actual product... This is a very poor copy in terms of quality (just like this review). This is just speculation, but it literally appears as if someone from the publisher went to the copy machine with an original copy of the book, pressed the "Enlarge 150%" button, photocopied the entire original book onto larger paper, bound it, put a cover on it, and sold it as the copy you see here. The black space you see on the cover is about the size of the margins within the book. This creates an obnoxious amount of white space around the paragraphs which in turn makes the book difficult to read. On top of this, some of the pages are slightly crooked.
So as I've stated, the content is exactly like the original, but you can easily find a better version than this one. Unless the book was intended for people with impaired vision, there is no reason the original book should have been blown up and placed on 2 inch margins. I would steer clear of this version and find a better one.
As a side note, there are several versions of Poor Richards Almanack. Some have his quotes reorganized into categories and some versions have his quotes re-written into more modern language. And there is, of course, the original. For Christmas, I got my Mom the original as well as the one with the organized quotes. So I guess it's whatever your preference is. 』
(Gift-Returned (Poor Richard)) 『Given as a gift so have no input. Recipient did not care for the format of the book.』 『Benjamin Franklin borrowed liberally from those around him in penning this most illustrious of American almanacks. Franklin borrowed from contemporary almanacker Titan Leeds (whom Poor Richard's hoaxed by predicting his death) for format; he chose the title Poor Richard's after the English almanack Poor Robin's, and he used the name of Richard Saunders, the English editor of Apollo Anglicanus, as his pen name. Franklin's witty maxims and irrepressible humor, however, are all his own - presenting such unforgettable adages as Make haste slowly' and God helps them that helps themselves.'』
price：$7.68
Harmony
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (In 'love' with Wade) 『This man is hilarious! I read a couple of negative reviews and feel those people missed the whole point of his take on expensive clothes, I felt he was poking fun at himself. I have read all of his books and anxiously await the next one. His sense of humor is right on my frequency.』
(AMAZING!!!!) 『Was just an amazing read, the book has alot of simularities that mimic our lives. It was hard to put down and I cannot wait to read Wade's other books.』
(Great for City Slickers) 『Since I have always lived in the city I truly enjoyed the trials and tribulations of the author while living in an isolated wooded area. I found this book a lot of fun.』
(Best book I've read this year) 『Not only was this book hilarious but also inspirational for anyone that has a yearning to make a big change in their life. When I finished the book, I found myself wishing there were more chapters. I laughed so hard I had to read parts of it out loud to my family so they would know what I found so entertaining! Anyone who doesn't find this book a good read doesn't appreciate good humor.』
(Take a walk in other's shoes . . .) 『In one of my favorite books, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus tells the children several times that they need to walk in someone else's shoes before judging the person.
I have read 3 memoirs by Wade Rouse. That entitles me to say that I have walked in Wade Rouse's shoes whether they be Kenneth Coles or high fashioned waders. In his latest book, At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Scream, I have a strong sense of what it might be like to make the dramatic change he and his partner, Gary, made when leaving the big city in search of the simpler life.
This is not just a memoir. It is a beautifully crafted story. When I read each chapter, I didn't feel the effort of reading, rather, I felt that Wade was telling me his story. Each word leapt from the page and worked its way into my brain. I laughed until I cried and then I cried because I realized that life does not have to be as hard as I often make it.
I'm not sure I could ever channel Thoreau, but through Wade Rouse's writing, I imagine I have come very close. This book is an exciting adventure filled with smiles and laughs. The end reward, is how Wade's idea of letting go of the things that may not matter in life, influence where you dare to go with your own.
I recommend this book and suggest you visit his other books.』 『We all dream it. Wade Rouse actually did it.
Finally fed up with the frenzy of city life and a job he hates, Wade Rouse decided to make either the bravest decision of his life or the worst mistake since his botched Ogilvie home perm: to uproot his life and try, as Thoreau did some 160 years earlier, to "live a plain, simple life in radically reduced conditions."
In this rollicking and hilarious memoir, Wade and his partner, Gary, leave culture, cable, and consumerism behind and strike out for rural Michigan–a place with fewer people than in their former spinning class. There, Wade discovers the simple life isn’t so simple. Battling blizzards, bloodthirsty critters, and nosy neighbors equipped with night-vision goggles, Wade and his spirit, sanity, relationship, and Kenneth Cole pointy-toed boots are sorely tested with humorous and humiliating frequency. And though he never does learn where his well water actually comes from or how to survive without Kashi cereal, he does discover some things in the woods outside his knotty-pine cottage in Saugatuck, Michigan, that he always dreamed of but never imagined he’d find–happiness and a home.
At Least in the City Someone Would Hear Me Screamis a sidesplitting and heartwarming look at taking a risk, fulfilling a dream, and finding a home–with very thick and very dark curtains. 』
price：$1.50
Dreamspinner Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Great prequel) 『I loved this book. It is yet another story by Andrew Grey that completely swept me off my feet. Even knowing what was going to happen (since I'd read Love Means...No Shame, which takes place 20 years later) it more than kept my attention. Mainly because of its focus on the developing relationship between Len and Cliff. The setting on a small farm had just as much charm as the young Geoff's antics. The setting is 25 years ago, so there are a lot more obstacles for them to overcome than there might be today. Once they both get up the courage to admit to themselves what they feel for each other, though, they don't leave the rest of the world much choice but to accept them. The strength of their conviction was heartwarming.
If you liked 'Love Means...No Shame' you will also like this prequel. If you haven't read Love Means...No Shame yet, maybe you should? I definitely recommend both books!』 『Len Parker is laid off during the recession in the early eighties and decides to go back to college at home in rural Michigan, where he reconnects with his best friend from high school, Ruby. He's overjoyed when she marries Cliff Laughton and overcome with sorrow when she dies an untimely death, leaving behind her husband and two-year-old son. Out of work again, Len finds a job at Cliff Laughton's sorely neglected farm. Cliff is still mourning his wife, struggling to raise his son, and has little enthusiasm or energy left for work. Len immediately begins to whip the farm-including the two Laughtons-into shape. Working side by side, Len and Cliff grow ever closer, but loving another man takes a lot of courage. They'll have to stand together as they face faltering business, threatening drought, misguided family, and Midwestern prejudices to protect what might be a lifelong love. Prequel to Love Means... No Shame』
price：$5.42
Bold Strokes Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Enjoyable read) 『I enjoyed this book a lot. Baldwin is great at driving the plot forward. The opening, which takes place in a small plane in some very hazardous Alaskan conditions, is very exciting and it actually gave me chills.』
(Baldwin Does It Again) 『No need to go into detail of BTI. The other reviews already do that for you. I'm simply going to encourage you to get it. You won't be sorry. If you love romance, the outdoors and turning pages, you'll enjoy Kim Baldwin's latest and greatest. Breaking The Ice will leave you yearning for more. Flight Risk, Whitewater Rendezvous, Hunter's Pursuit, Focus of Desire and many other exciting books await you. Enjoy.』
(A solid effort from Baldwin) 『The other reviewers provide a synopsis of the novel, so I'll not bother.
A good book by Baldwin. It touches upon several events in her own life, and as a result, the book works rather well. So why not five stars? That annoying habit in soooo many lesbian fiction novels of wrapping up a 250+ page book in less than two pages! C'mon, folks. Please, can authors not have some say in their works and provide at least 5-10 pages for a proper resolution? Doing so makes for a better, more satisfying read. Authors, you put your blood, sweat, and tears in your books; are proper endings and resolutions lost in the editing process? I'm not picking on Ms. Baldwin, not at all. This is a trend I've noticed the last few years in lesbian fiction, and it bothers me. As a reader, I invest my time in a novel, and I want my investment to pay off. The payoff isn't so great when endings are lopped off and removed. I want the whole enchilada, and I don't mind paying for it. I don't like an enchilada that's short on ingredients. And now that I've mentioned food, I'll go grab a bite to eat. Perhaps an enchilada?? Who knows.』
(Vivid depiction of Life in the remote Alaskan Arctic) 『This is a fascinating look at life in a remote Alaskan village. Bettles is the small dot located above the Arctic circle and when the land is not frozen is only accessible via the air. With twenty-four residents, all are dependent on each other for existence and entertainment.
Bryson Faulkner is forty years old and lives on her own in her remote cabin north of Bettles. She absolutely loves her life, when not ferrying goods or people to and from remote locations to Bettles or Fairbanks she can kick back and read and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. A native of Alaska she has followed the same career as her father. The one thing she would like to add would be someone to share it with. But in the remote location she has chosen her options are few and she isn't interested in settling for less than the right thing. Bryson is wonderfully self-confident, a good person and friends to all who know her.
Into her life crashes thirty-five year old Karla Edwards, an ER nurse from hot humid Atlanta Georgia. Karla's life in the last two months has been turned upside down and inside out, at this point there is nothing permanent or steady for her.
In other words they couldn't be more different. Outwardly at least.
The author gives the reader a good time bringing these separate elements together and blending them into a fun frozen treat.
If you like this book you will love the author's other stories - Force of Nature Whitewater Rendezvous Flight Risk 』
(Anything for Love) 『Ever a fan of Kim Baldwin, I was happy to get my hands on a copy of this latest book. This is the second recently-published book I've read that is set in Alaska (the other is `Warming Trend' by Karin Kallmaker). It seems funny to me that so often these books all pop up about the same time. Just shows you how small the community is that writes, publishes and reads our books.
The book is primarily about Karla Edwards, a woman who is looking for an anchor in the world after her mother dies and her girlfriend leaves. While looking through her mother's things, she discovers a sister she didn't know about. Her entire focus becomes finding her sister, and this Southern girl heads to Alaska without a plan. Her flight is delayed and she misses her final connection. While looking for a way to her final destination Karla gets off on the wrong foot with Bryson Faulkner, the pilot who ultimately takes her to meet her sister. Of course, it bodes will for the story that Bryson is like family to Karla's sister and they are consistently thrown together. As Karla's discovers a new life in Alaska, she struggles with what to do next. I couldn't imagine picking up my whole life and moving to the unknown, but I guess I'd be willing to do anything for true love.
Bottom Line - In the same vein as her other work, this latest from Baldwin has a solid plot, lovable characters and a great setting. I liked this book and am sure you will too. 』 『Nothing is easy about life above the Arctic Circle. Except, perhaps, falling in love.
Bryson Faulkner embraces the challenges that come with making a home in one of the most beautiful but unforgiving places on earth: the isolation of the endless wilderness, the harsh and unpredictable climate, the predators that lurk about her remote cabin, and even the most perilous dangers of all--those that await her when she takes to the skies as one of Alaska's most daring bush pilots. The only thing missing is a special woman to share it all with, but she's resigned herself to the fact that few people can thrive in such an extreme environment.
Everything Karla Edwards thought she knew gets called into question when a series of events turns her comfortable and well-ordered life on its ear. Her partner leaves her, her mother dies, and Karla learns she has a sister in Alaska she never knew. She takes a leave of absence from her job as an ER nurse in Atlanta and heads to the far north, seeking answers and adventure. She finds all that and more when she crosses paths with a sexy bush pilot who opens her eyes to new possibilities. But can she open her heart as well and learn to trust again?』
Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Did not live up to the hype for me) 『There are many admirable things about the book, including beautiful language, gripping plot and interesting ideas on fragility and relativity of love, trust, faith and reason.
However I did not feel that these pieces come together to create a whole and believable picture. The crack in the relationship between Joe and Clarissa feels too abrupt and implausible. Clarissa's character is not developed or explained enough to support her reactions and conclusions, and on the whole many of the main characters' behaviors seem manufactured and flat.』
(Like all Ian McEwan books, the story is amazing. The micro-mass-market-sized print, however, not so much.) 『I am reviewing the product and in this case "product" is this particular edition of the book and primarily the print, itself. It seems as if the publisher simply wanted to sell a mass-market print at trade price. I looked though my trade paperbacks and the print in this one is far smaller and even smaller than most of my mass-market sized books. I am fine with it, but I was a bit disappointed. I love the book and would gladly give the content 4/5 stars, but I wanted to share my issue with the print size. In this case, it might be worth going hardcover or maybe even the visiting the library and passing on the purchase altogether. My eyes are not getting any younger:) 』
(How Rationalism Can Make You Seem Crazy) 『Interesting study of how a rationalist can get so caught up in solving his own problem, that he loses track and connection with the people around him.
If you an introverted thinker who ponders science and philosophy, this book will make you think.
And, oh, by the way, the book is a page-turning thriller at the same time.』
(From Oddly Enough to Disturbingly Familiar) 『He begins with an incident just weird enough to fascinate, but then explores the emotional fallout from that incident with the deft interior insight that characterizes his work in general. Movie critic Nell Minow once said that "The purpose of fiction is to give us a dress rehearsal to make sense of things," and this book is a perfect example of that. Key things this one helped me make sense of were how small decisions can have big repercussions, the tortured lengths we go to in justifying bad choices--but also the desperate motivation that loved ones can inspire.
Highly recommended for anyone who has someone to love--and wants to hold on to.』
(Well Crafted) 『Overview:
Some of the reviews of this novel are not terribly flattering. For example, Philippe Vandenbroeck, suggests that the author has an, "infatuation for little, but ultimately uninteresting tales of obsession", and that the flat and uninteresting characters are incapable of supporting the story to its conclusion. I couldn't disagree more. The characters and their interactions are dynamic, as evinced by the perturbations in their mental states and their interactions that result from the events of the book, their moods, mentalities, mannerisms, and motivations are different, unique, and contribute to their individuality. They each react and act in the various events surrounding the interactions between Jed Parry and Joe Rose in independent and realistic fashions, and their histories are detailed and involved in their decisions and their prejudices. The characters truly stand out as literary creations that the plot is dependent upon for its impact. Other characters, more poorly defined, less perfectly integrated, would have led, inescapably, to a more mundane conclusion and a book that wasn't worth reading, rather than the masterpiece that Ian McEwan has delivered.
A. Plot
The plot of the book is straightforward, and can be gleaned from the plot summary above the product details. In brief, a group of characters stumble upon a tragic ballooning accident, where a man dies. Two of the people who run to help are completely unaware of the change that their lives are about to undergo. Joe Rose and Jed Parry share a moment over the body of the fallen man, and Jed realizes that Joe Rose loves him. Jed Parry, an obsessively religious lunatic, begins to stalk Joe Rose, including calling him 29 times in a single day, and becoming increasingly unhinged in his pursuit of his love. This leads to a desperate face-off between the two and a final climax between Clarissa and Joe, of a fashion that may not be predictable.
While the plot is not unique, particularly developed, or intricate, it does move along at an appropriate pace. This was one aspect of the book that I appreciated. Unlike many authors, Ian McEwan doesn't feel the need to stretch his stories. They are born, they live the span of their life, then they end. They are not extended further than they need to be. This is actually quite a refreshing situation.
B. Characters
Many of the reviewers were flagrantly upset with the characters in this novel. They claimed that Joe and Clarissa were unrealistic, that their trust in one another was superficial. This was amusing, because this was, in essence, one of the main points of the entire book, and so many missed it. Fortunately, RBradbury451 caught it, and said, quite eloquently, "Ironically, the real love that the existed between the protagonist, Joe Rose and his mate, Clarissa, was consensual, and, by contrast, fragile, unsupported by religious sanction. Love can fail. Most of us have experienced, at one time or another, the failure of love. McEwan contrasts the rigid, tenacious nature of pathological love with the fluid and fragile nature of the real thing."
The increasing disattachment of Clarissa, the stubborn pernicity of Jed, and watching Joe fall apart into a state of mental disarray so great that he cannot even begin to do his job or lead his life is clear evidence of the author having set his mind into the situation and following it to its natural conclusions.
C. Setting
The story is set in England, in something less than a modern time. It could, for example, be set in the 1960's. It is unlikely to be completely contemporary, as we have knowledge of the dangers of stalkers and obsessive personalities. Although the First Appendix would suggest that the events related probably take place closer to the 1990's, a time frame that is partially consistent with the references toward the Human Genome Project (whose reference is strange, as the majority of this project was spearheaded by the US Government, in competition with J. Craig Venter's company, Celera). The time is ambiguous, perhaps to defocus our attention from this aspect of the story, as it is less important than other elements, refocusing our attention instead on what is said, rather than what is not said.
D. Theme
The major obvious theme here is obsession, but that is not the story that Ian McEwan is really telling. The other obvious theme here, as stated by RBradbury451, and the author himself, was that the intrusion of psychopathology into what is one of mankind's most beautiful experiences is tragic and disturbing.
Many have commented on these rather obvious themes and in so focusing, have missed the deeper significance of small events. For example, Fairly Literate, suggests, "there were also minor inconsistencies in the text eg joe claims to have lime-flavour ice-cream in the restaurant, but when he relates the incident to the police it is apple-flavour."
Indeed, this is symptomatic of an underlying current in the story about the narratives of man. The religious overtones of Jed Parry's letters. The aggressive atheism of Joe Rose. The scholastic focus of Clarissa on whether or not Keats has written to Severn, a fairly minor event in the life of the man, but of overwhelming importance to her personally. All of these things, along with the greater story at hand, point us in the direction that Mr. McEwan really wants us to go.
How much of our memory is reliable? How much of what we know to be true is? Joe knows that he has an obsessive stalker. Clarissa knows that he does not. Joe knows that he ate apple flavored ice cream in the restaurant, and he also knows that it is lime. He knows that the two men in the restaurant are there to kill him, while the police know that their intended target is someone else. Jed knows that Joe loves him, and look where that takes things. How much do you know that isn't true? What do you actually know, actually remember, and what is the result of a narrative, constructed to make events have an explanation when they otherwise would not? That is McEwan's point here, I think, along with the corrupted intrusion of an undying possessive love by an otherwise unsuccessful person.
E. Point of View
The point of view is almost entirely a retrospective from Joe Rose, after most of the events in the book have taken place. While this, prima facie, rules out the possibility of Joe Rose dying at the hands of his mentally beseiged, would-be-love, it becomes obvious from the disembodied recall that this is not necessarily the case. The interesting exception to this is the chapter which is the perspective of Clarissa-through-Joe, wherein we see his understanding of her feelings and her motivations. The point of view in this case contributes significantly to our understanding of the situation, particularly as it develops into a curious case of whether Jed Parry is even real.
F. Aesthetics
The disembodied recollections, the focus on specific and extreme details, and the , combine to suggest a master's hand in the framing of the story. The point of view is almost exclusively Joe's, and his increasing distance from his lover, along with the chapter where he provides his lover's point of view, contribute to the feeling of persecution that Joe begins to exhibit. This persecution, the doubt, all weave together to create a masterful atmosphere of paranoia. Is Parry real? Is he really dangerous?
Conclusion:
With good characters, whose actions are surprisingly dependent upon their pasts and their respective mentalities, this is a character study that actually works. While the plot is neither incredibly complicated nor intricate, it is worth reading, both for what is here as well as what is not. The length is not excessive, the characters are interesting and defined. Those who are reticent to explore a story of a dark, undying, and inappropriately passionate love probably would do well to avoid this book. Those who are interested in happy endings probably shouldn't look for one here. But, if you are interested in a well-crafted story, heavy in subtext and worth reading and thinking about, you may want to give this one a try. It is worth it, I think.
A-
Harkius』 『Science writer Joe Rose is spending a day in the country with his long-time lover, Clarissa, when he witnesses a tragic accident--a balloon with a boy trapped in it is being tossed by the wind, and, in an attempt to save the child, a man is killed. As though that isn't disturbing enough, a man named Jed Parry, who has joined Rose in helping to bring the balloon to safety, believes that something has passed between him and Rose--something that sparks in Parry a deranged, obsessive kind of love.
Soon Parry is stalking Rose, who turns to science to try to understand the situation. Parry apparently suffers from a condition known to psychiatrists as de Clerambault Syndrome, in which the afflicted individual obsessively pursues the object of his desire until the frustrated love turns to hate and rage--transforming one of life's most valued experiences into pathological horror. As Rose grows more paranoid and terrified, as his treasured relationship with Clarissa breaks under the tension of his fear, Rose realizes that he needs to find something beyond the cold reasoning of science if this love is to be endured.
With the cool brilliance and deep compassion that defined his best novels (The Comfort of Strangers, The Innocent), Ian McEwan has once again spun a tale of life intruded upon by shocks of violence-and discovered profound truths about the nature of love and the power of forgiveness.
』
『Joe Rose has planned a postcard-perfect afternoon in the English countryside to celebrate his lover's return after six weeks in the States. To complete the picture, there's even a "helium balloon drifting dreamily across the wooded valley." But as Joe and Clarissa watch the balloon touch down, their idyll comes to an abrupt end. The pilot catches his leg in the anchor rope, while the only passenger, a boy, is too scared to jump down. As the wind whips into action, Joe and four other men rush to secure the basket. Mother Nature, however, isn't feeling very maternal. "A mighty fist socked the balloon in two rapid blows, one-two, the second more vicious than the first," and at once the rescuers are airborne. Joe manages to drop to the ground, as do most of his companions, but one man is lifted sky-high, only to fall to his death.
In itself, the accident would change the survivors' lives, filling them with an uneasy combination of shame, happiness, and endless self-reproach. (In one of the novel's many ironies, the balloon eventually lands safely, the boy unscathed.) But fate has far more unpleasant things in store for Joe. Meeting the eye of fellow rescuer Jed Parry, for example, turns out to be a very bad move. For Jed is instantly obsessed, making the first of many calls to Joe and Clarissa's London flat that very night. Soon he's openly shadowing Joe and writing him endless letters. (One insane epistle begins, "I feel happiness running through me like an electrical current. I close my eyes and see you as you were last night in the rain, across the road from me, with the unspoken love between us as strong as steel cable.") Worst of all, Jed's version of love comes to seem a distortion of Joe's feelings for Clarissa.
Apart from the incessant stalking, it is the conditionals--the contingencies--that most frustrate Joe, a scientific journalist. If only he and Clarissa had gone straight home from the airport... If only the wind hadn't picked up... If only he had saved Jed's 29 messages in a single day... Ian McEwan has long been a poet of the arbitrary nightmare, his characters ineluctably swept up in others' fantasies, skidding into deepening violence, and--worst of all--becoming strangers to those who love them. Even his prose itself is a masterful and methodical exercise in defamiliarization. ButEnduring Loveand its underrated predecessor,Black Dogs, are also meditations on knowledge and perception as well as brilliant manipulations of our own expectations. By the novel's end, you will be surprisingly unafraid of hot-air balloons, but you won't be too keen on looking a stranger in the eye.』
price：$5.12
Brisk Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Just a routine romance) 『Noel Carpenter always knew that she was adopted and had no interest in meeting her birth mother, so she is naturally surprised when she receives news from a lawyer that her mother has died and left her a bed and breakfast in Rehoboth Beach. Noel truly enjoys teaching third graders in Baltimore and has no interest in a B&B or Rehoboth, but goes there to see her inheritance and decide what to do with it. Toni Hooper would like to buy The Sandpiper, but she doesn't make enough money on her salary as a handywoman and Noel isn't willing to cut a deal that will help her. Instead, Toni finds herself working for Noel to make improvements so that the home can be sold. Toni has a reputation for being the town playgirl and Noel has just been dumped by her partner of ten years, so, when there is a physical attraction between them, there's nothing to stand in their way of having a sexual relationship. Both women start out thinking that will be enough, but, as time passes, each begins to have deeper feelings. Neither knows how the other one feels and their lack of communication makes the situation difficult. If they can't overcome that, they will never be able to work out the other obstacles to their relationship.
This is a routine romance. Two women are trying to overcome obstacles so that they can be together. Neither character shows much depth in the beginning and since they agreed to be just sex buddies, that's basically what the book consists of, one scene after another of them getting together and ending up in bed. Eventually more begins to develop, but the story never becomes compelling. There are a number of questions raised in the book that don't really get answered and the characters don't really seem to fit the parts they're playing. There are too many scenes where one of the women jumps to a wrong conclusion and goes off the deep end only to turn around completely before the page is over. The most distracting thing about the book is the way Meagher switches dialogue from one character to another and makes it difficult for the reader to tell who is speaking. She often starts a paragraph talking about one character and then has the other one talking, but without using the name to indicate that. The reader frequently has to double back to pick up the thread of what is happening and try to figure out what the flow of the story is.
Meagher is a very capable writer, as she has proven in other books, but this one doesn't come up to her normal style. It's not a bad book. It's not memorable either. This one is OK for a few hours of entertainment, but it probably won't become a permanent part of your library. If you've never read any of Meagher's books, this isn't the one to start with.
』
(Winner) 『Susan X Meagher's novels, her stand-alone novels to be exact, are among the few lesfic novels I pick up without checking what they are about. Seeing she has a new one out makes me smile and that's pretty much all I need to know.
Her latest doesn't disappoint. I had to really exercise self-control to not read through the night last night and instead enjoy the second half on my commute today.
The characters are lovable and 'real', the dialog has a decidedly 'real' feel to it (y'know, no moments of asking yourself 'Who the heck talks like this??'), the story feels, yes, real. There were a couple of teeny instances, one in the beginning, and one in the middle, where I had a hunch of how the story would end/resolve, but that didn't take away any pleasure in getting to the end.
For Meagher, the book is very thin at roughly 270 pages, so I have to admit I was a wee bit disappointed when opening the envelope, but on the other hand, in lesfic world, 270 pages are epic ;) Funnily enough, there is one point in the story where I'm pretty sure most other lesfic authors/publishers would have stopped this story, and I'm so very glad Meagher is not one of them. It's why I like her work so much. She doesn't stop when things get interesting.
The writing felt more tight though, and you can see where she cut pages or left stuff out in the first place. I'm not saying that anything is off in regard to the flow of the story, but rather you notice differences in comparison to her other work. The book is much more focused on the two main characters. Where, for example, in other books you would have met the main characters' families, you just get to know them through the main characters here. I know there are people who complain that her work is too detailed, that there are scenes that don't add to the story, etc. I am, obviously, not one of those but still I can't say that I really missed anything here. I wouldn't have minded those additional scenes, but all in all, this book just works the way it is.
Go buy it and enjoy yourself!』
(One of her best, a new favorite) 『I'll admit, right off, I love this writer&think this may be 1 of her best. It has certainly become a favorite of mine.
The Legacy is set in a smallish vacation town, built around tourists&B&Bs. A new, though reluctant, owner of one meets a local handywoman/player who would love to own the same one.
Susan takes us inside their relationship as it ebbs&flows, struggling through assumptions, misperceptions&self-doubts.
Wonderful, complex characters&relationships beyond just the main pair. I believe you'll find it a very enjoyable read.
price：$8.23
Prometheus Books
Usually ships in 3 to 5 weeks Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Groundbreaking!) 『This book isn't what it seems- it isn't anything like a new translation of the Bible with women's perspectives in mind. It is a collection of varied and insightful early feminist Biblical criticism. Groundbreaking and a must-read for anyone interested in women's studies or open-minded Christians.』
(The Woman's Bible) 『missing pages, older version is okay, this new one the 1999 one has the missing pages』
(Unfinished Business) 『This is the book that got Elizabeth Cady Stanton booted out of the official women's movement of her time. Woman Suffrage was by no means the only work left undone at the time of her death. Stanton knew how damaging the Bible was to women. What most people do not realize is that her co-authors also knew about the Goddess and the fact that she preceeded male gods by thousands of years. They stuck to the "scriptures" as the best ammunition and they also cleared ground for women who wish to move beyond. This book is an excellent foundation for any intellegent woman who is also interested in religion. Still radical after all these years.』
(A great Biblical commentary that has stood the test of time) 『Stanton and her cohorts wrote The Women's Bible over 100 years ago and yet these commentaries are still as pertinent and valuable today as they were at the time they were written. She and others run rings around many of the tenets of organized religion, often disproving them with the very Scriptures on which they are founded! A great read for anyone who seeks equality for women in organized religion as well as those who wish to see a radical visionary (even by today's standards) at work in the 19th century!』 『American feminist leader and suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton was also an outspoken critic of the Bible because the scriptures often portray women as inferior and have been used by men to justify unequal treatment of women in society. The 1870 revision of the Authorised English Version of the Bible prepared by an all-male committee from the Church of England so greatly dissatisfied Stanton that in response she courageously decided to compile a commentary by prominent feminists on the many Bible passages that refer to women. The result was "The Woman's Bible", a fascinating book that explores, among other things, the documentation that Jesus believed in equal rights for men and women; the ignorance, arrogance, and hypocrisy on the part of the church hierarchy; and the slaughter of women who were slaves, wives of drunkards, or were believed to be witches. The insight that Stanton and her fellow commentators provide into biblical writings and into the minds of women of her era is enlightening and serves as an inspiration to today's feminist movement.』
price：$1.48
AuthorHouse
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (The best part of this book is the cover) 『I was so excited to order this book and couldn't wait until it was delivered thanks to all the 5 star reviews. What a waste of anticipation. Thought the writing was simplistic, the characters one-dimensional, the pacing stilted, the sex cringe-inducing...I tried to like it but just couldn't. Hours of my life and $10 of pay never to return.』
(hmmmmm....) 『From all the good reviews I read, I thought i was in for a gem~ how wrong I was.... The most bad thing about this novel is that it doesn't focus on the relationship between the two main characters, Kendall and Tina, however it takes them each at a time, how they grow up and discover there sexuality, The only good thing about this is that it does have a happy ending *which I love* but all in all not what I was looking for. examples of novels I liked are Lynn Galli's Novels.』
(I loved every second of it!) 『Once I read the title to the book, I was hooked! I loved this book. I don't usually read, but something about this novel made me question just that. It had me since the first pages and I have to say I couldn't put it down. I started to get upset because I was almost finishing it, and I wanted the story to continue on longer. Other than that I recommend it 100% to anyone.』
(A MUST READ- TRUST ME, YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED.) 『I PERSONALLY WAS REALLY PONDERING IF I SHOULD READ THIS BOOK OR NOT, BUT LET ME TELL YOU- I AM SO HAPPY I DID SO, I AM A LESBIAN, BUT THAT IS NOT THE REASON WHY I READ THIS BOOK, ANYONE, BI, LESBIAN, STRAIGHT, ANYONE CAN READ THIS BOOK- IT HAS ALOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS, I READ IT IN TWO DAYS AND FOUND IT SO HARD TO PUT DOWN, ITS A REAL PAGE TURNER, TRUST ME, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IF YOU LIKE GOOD BOOKS AND PAGE TURNERS- CAUSE THIS IS EXACTLY IT.』
(explosive) 『I loved the book. I had my doubts, but OMG I loved it. The twist and all, it was like I knew them personally and the feelings they where feeling. I WANT MORE』 『Tina Jones is alluring and outspoken. Kendall Long is sexy, yet delicate. Whether separate or together, these stunning best friends tend to cause quite a stir among the male population. An innocent fall, however, propels their friendship to a new plateau -- one where each is compelled to explore and confront her sexuality. She Slipped and Fell alternates between each characters' point of view, for only Tina and Kendall can decide whether or not their friendship, and love, is strong enough to endure the humility that is oftentimes associated with being different. Will Tina and Kendall risk stepping outside of their comfort zone into unfamiliar territory, defying society, God, and their families, in their quest to discover who they truly are?』
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