Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (My favorite Book!) 『I bought this book years ago when I saw the movie adaptation, and as usual found the book to be even better than the movie. Being a born and raised child of the South, this book speaks right to my soul. The community of whistle stop might as well be Hooks, TX,(where I spent my childhood). The food, the relationships, all of it nourishes my soul like a glass of iced tea and pecan pie.
The characters in this book are so rich, Idgie, Big George, Ruth, Sipsey, Onzell, Ninnie, Evelyn, all of them have such a dynamic personality, Fannie could have written a whole book about each one of their lives(I wish she had). What I especially liked about the book is the attention she does give to each of the characters. By the time the book was over I felt like I personally knew at least a dozen of them, and was sad to say goodbye to them.
Fannie describes the communities in the book perfectly almost to the point that I could smell the train smoke mixing with the Fried Green Tomatoes. The book is funny, exciting, and truly has everything that a good book should have.
This is my favorite book of all time. I read it once a year, and it's fresh everytime I pick it up.』
(An Amazing Story) 『The story told here is a very beautiful one. I believe it should be required reading in every school. It is a beautiful story line and it is easy to feel for the characters. Fried Green Tomatoes is s a beautifuly written love/self-acceptance/self-impowerings story. The love between Idgy and Ruth was undoubtfully powerful. Eveyln is empowered by Ninny and learns to stand up for herself.』
(Good purchase!) 『I like the way the book came in just the way it was promise, arrived on time and good condition.』
(nice to find what you expect) 『the movie was shipped quickly, arrived in perfect condition as expected and was quite pleased overall.』
(My favorite piece of modern fiction) 『Extremely well written. Unique organization. I fell in love with the movie so I had to buy the book. When it arrived I couldn't wait to dive right into it. So I did. The book is so wonderful the characters are lovable. I found myself laughing out loud at some points (seriously in study hall I started laughing uncontrollably and got some raised eyebrows). I also cried out loud. My English teacher also recommends it. Although BE WARNED: Any bigots don't even buy it Ruth and Idgie are portrayed as lesbians. Funny, sad, all around page-turner. BUY THIS BOOK!』 『2 cassettes / 2 hours Read by Fannie Flagg
* Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Recording *
Here is a folksy and funny, endearing and affecting, southern-fried tale about two very special friendships - now available in Price-Less!
In a small town near Birmingham sits the Whistle Shop Cafe, a place alive with the hungry, the heartbroken, the righteous and the garrulous. The cafe is owned by sweet, patient Ruth, and by Idgie, irresistibly big-hearted and big-mouthed. Their story is remembered, years later, in the Rose Terrace Nursing Home. As elderly Cleo Threadgoode chats with her visitor - the over-stuffed, overwrought, menopausal Evelyn Couch - she casts a hypnotic narrative spell: honeysuckle vines and custard pies; births, deaths and marriages; sorrow and laughter; an occasional murder - and even the recipe for fried green tomatoes. And as the past reaches into the present, the Whistle Sop Cafe touches the one thing missing from her existence: life.』
price：$4.87
Bella Books
Not yet published 『Poking a sleeping bear with a sharp stick is foolish. Marty Edwards is about to be very foolish.
Investigative reporter Marty Edwards has found her niche: cold cases. She loves pouring over old notes, hunting down long-forgotten witnesses, and digging down through the layers of an unsolved murder case. But this time, Marty is digging where someone obviously doesn't want her. And that someone might also include the Brownsville Police Department. Why else would they assign Detective Kristen Bailey to baby-sit her?
Barely surviving two attempts on her life, Marty abandons Brownsville and the case. Danger follows her as the case turns red hot. With Detective Bailey along for protection, they race along the Gulf Coast, neither knowing who, if anyone, they can trust. The hardest part is learning to trust each other before it's too late for their hearts--and their lives.
You'll hit the ground running with this exciting race of life-and-death from Golden Crown Literary Award winner Gerri Hill.』
price：$1.50
MLR Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Fun) 『This book was a fun, fast, sexy read. Maxfield writes really good sex scenes, and as it turns out (this was my first book by this author), she's pretty good with a plot, too. I think I read this book in about 3 days. It is erotic, but the plot will keep you interested in everything that happens between sex scenes as well, and that is such a great perk in books with an erotic/romantic focus. My only complaint is that the vampires (including Notturno) could have been done better. They seemed a little bit flimsy. The only vampire that had any weight to him in this book was a very minor character indeed, and you meet him near the end, when Adin is held in captivity and nearly killed. Anyhow, this one was fun, so read and enjoy :) 』
(Emotionally void) 『This is the second novel of Z.A. Maxfield I have read and although I liked "Notturno" better than "Crossing Borders," again I have issues with Maxfield's writing. As other reviewers stated, this could have been a wonderful novel, as the premise is unique: Donte is a vampire trying to retrieve his journal detailing his love for his long dead lover from a professor of rare antiques (Adin). This is where the book falls flat. There is no heat between the two leads, Adin and Donte. I saw more chemistry between Sean and Adin than Adin and Donte. Plus all the secondary characters - too many. While I was interested in Santos' backstory and his past history with Donte, Edward and his lover's story seemed like a deliberate insertion (sequel, prequel?). There were too many subplots going on. The author should have focused more on explaining the attraction between Donte and Adin, rather than giving us more couples for future novels.
While I did enjoy the flashbacks when Donte talks about his lover in his journal, the rest of the 200 or so pages were tedious. The conclusion was not satisfying at all and the sex between Donte and Adin was tepid. I want to like Z.A. Maxfield's books, but so far...I cannot recommend her wholeheartedly.』
(Dull and Disappointing) 『The premise of the story sounds great! A man finds an ancient manuscript and the vampire who wrote it wants it back. That pretty much somes up anything in the story. The vampire asks for it back and the professor won't give it to him. Just like that! A vampire cannot get his own manuscript back from a human.
I found everything tedious about that back and forth. Even reading the wonderful and tender words of love...even when the professor had feelings for the vampire and even when he had feelings for Auselmo the vampire's true love....the professor kept the manuscript. It didnt' make sense.
Nothing connected or made sense in this story.I felt it lacked passion and any kind of climax or intensity. I found no connection with the professor or the vampire. I felt no heat between the two of them. There was nothing intense, compelling or interesting except the excerpts from the manuscript.
In short, I found it hard to finish. Dull and disappointing are the only words that come to mind.』
(Notturno by Z.A. Maxfield) 『I should plea forgiveness to Z.A. Maxfield. More or less one year ago she told me she was thinking to write a book with a dashing Italian vampire and asked me if I knew of a place that could be his Italian home. If I remember well she did me some inputs and I told her that San Sepolcro could be the right place. Then some months later she sent me a first draft and I checked the italian words, but really, she did the work all by herself and I didn't find any mistake. So you see my help was little thing and when she sent me a print signed copy I was really glad but it was not necessary. The book arrived more or less at the end of July and obviously I emailed back the author to thank her but since it was a print book, I saved it for a travel in train or plane, when I prefer to read a real book instead of my laptop. So I enjoyed the hand written dedica on the first page, and looked at how pretty the cover was and the book remained on my nightstand table till today (ndr I'm writing this post on a note book on my flight to Philadelphia).
Obviously as soon as I was seated on my sit I opened the book ready to enjoy some hours of dashing vampires and what was there on the second page? A printed dedica to me! OMG, Z.A. Maxfield dedicated the book to me and to another friend for all the world to see and I haven't even written back to ZAM to appropriately thank her, what did she think of my ungrateful behavior? So this long introduction is to let ZAM know that I'm really stunned and honored and deeply grateful.
Coming back to the story, it delivered what promised and I had my dashing vampire, Donte, and the vampire himself had a worthy partner in Adin. Actually on the contrary of the usual tale on the innocent victim fallen prey of the most erotic and dangerous vampire, here it's the vampire who seems to fall for the apparently innocent Adin, who has instead a naughty core.
Adin is a professor, but he is not the mousy type, he is an exerpt in ancient erotic manuscripts, and his latest discovery is a XVI century journal of two noblemen in a clandestine affair. Being Adin gay, the idea of that is even more appealing. At first Adin has a detached attitude towards the journal, he sees it like a piece of erotica and he is not interested in the personal lives of the men in it. But then he meets Donte: since Donte has sex with him and meanwhile sucks his blood, it doesn't take much to Adin to find out Donte's true nature. The man claims to be the author of the journal and he wants it back. Again the focus of the story is more the sex than the reason why Donte wants back the journal, and again Adin seems not moved by the situation, or at least not so much... it was good sex after all.
The the story takes a turn, Adin starts to read the journal and he finds out that it's not an erotic journal, but a love story. Like the nature of the jorunal changes in Adin's eyes, so does the mood of the book, and Adin himself, who claimed to not believe in love, and has always had one night stands or meaningless relationships, starts to wonder how could it be to have a real love like the one in the journal. And he is lucky enough that the man who lived that love is still here. The problem is, could that man loves another man so much?
The story is a full and classical vampire tale, and like that it has its high erotic mood, but it's a classy eroticism, even when the sex happensin an airplane lavatory. Both characters are good but strange enough it's Adin who comes out as the strongest, Donte is powerful and ancient, but he has the behavior of an artist, instead Adin is more the warrior type. And it's really strange since it's all a question of attitude, Adin is small and lithe and he always takes the submissive role during sex. Nevertheless I found him bigger than himself.』
(Didn't like it as much as Maxfield's other books) 『Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 5/10
PROS: - The intrigue starts on page 1. Approximately 10 lines in. And the story, especially near the beginning when you don't have much of an idea what's going on, is...intriguing. - The novel has an exotic feel to it. Donte is urbane and speaks with an Italian lilt, Adin behaves as though he has all the money in the world and can simply flit about from one place to another without a thought toward responsibilities or obligations, and many of the journal entries are glamorous despite their age and sensitive subject matter.
CONS: - The tenderness and intimacy expressed in the journal entries, given the eventual fate of Donte's first lover, are tragic. Overarchingly so. - The dialog is crisp and realistic, for the most part, but it lacks the spark of other Maxfield novels I've read. - The sex is mostly removed; that is, it occurs in dreams, Adin orgasms simply because Donte is feeding on him, etc. To be fair, though, it isn't possible for the characters to have too many intimate, one-on-one encounters because Donte is absent so much of the time. - I didn't find Donte very likeable at all, and I didn't understand why Adin falls so hard for him. Sure, vampires are sexy, so the physical attraction makes sense, but I didn't see anything remotely attractive emotionally in him--except for his journal entries, in which he professes undying love for someone OTHER than Adin. Donte's mostly a jerk, and Adin is so blasted forgiving and understanding; I wanted to see him blow up at Donte and at least voice some of the frustration I knew he was feeling (because it's there, in the exposition of his thoughts). - The final make-up scene seems sudden and anti-climactic. They're arguing and hurt and angry with each other and it's never going to work out because there's no trust and Donte couldn't possibly love anyone else and there are just too many obstacles...and then Donte is inexplicably THERE and they're in forever love and the story's over.
Overall comments: This isn't a BAD book; but it's not near as good as the other Maxfield books I've read (Crossing Borders and St. Nacho's). There's certainly an interesting story here, but if you want to LIKE the characters, I think you'll be disappointed in this one.』 『Antique document expert Adin Tredeger thought finding a pristine five-hundred-year-old homoerotic journal was tough. Wait until he finds out the man who wrote it wants it back. Donte Fedelta isn't above using the vampire playbook to get what he wants, but Adin has a few tricks of his own.』
price：$6.38
The Crossroad Publishing Company
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (a very studious read) 『What a disappointment! So many other fabulous yoga books out there written in a friendly and nurturing way with beautiful illustrations. In this book the illustrations are accurate but there is no beauty. That is also how I felt about the writing. If you just want an intellectual approach to yoga this book might do the trick. I think yoga deserves so much more.』
(Good introduction to Pranayama) 『Being a relatively new yogi, I found this book to be extremely helpful. It'll be nice to read some other books on the subject eventually, but this book had enough detail to satisfy me for the first year of beginning practice. It was required reading for the yoga teacher training and it made a nice addition to the lessons that we received. Even though pranayama is traditionally taught one on one, having written material to refer to was very helpful. After watching BKS Iyengar on youtube, what was described in the book and what he did on video were very different things. Much like anytime you read something and the see it.
I think you must think of this book as almost like a cook book. Just because you read the recipe, doesn't mean you truly know what the food is supposed to taste like. The recipe book helps, but it isn't a true representation.』
(for advanced yoga students and teachers) 『This book deals with a very detailed and in depth description of pranayama practice. It is an invaluable document for those who are interested in learning more about yogic breathing practice. In this edition the type is really small (7pts) which is tiring to read.』
(Highly detailed classic for serious practioners) 『I teach meditation and I am educated in biology, biochemistry and psychology. I am also a student of world religions and a yoga practioner. During my graduate school years, I was also a Teaching Fellow in Physiology and I teach workshops on pranayama and biofeedback. Therefore, I think my opinion has some weight in this arena although I realize there are more serious yoga practioners who have more in-depth knowledge than me. My purpose in sharing this information is to provide context from my review. I hope this is useful.
This book is incredibly detailed and goes deeply into respiratory physiology, muscles, practices and the details of pranayama practice. There are clear explanations, however, many people may find them to technical without a biology background or the desire to take this information in slowly.
There are many good diagrams and photos in the book that any practitioner will find helpful. In some cases, they are unique in the yoga literature in some way and I can't imagine not having this book on your shelf if you are serious about the practice of pranayama.
While this is not the most colorful or modern looking text, it certainly packs a lot of information into a small space. It is also written by someone who has travelled this road and understands it both technically and from the inside. In short, it is an authoratative text on this subject.
A lighter book along the same lines which I have also read is the Science of Breath. For beginners, this title might be more appropriate. However, any practioner at any level will eventually want to own this book.
』
(Perfect!) 『This book is a treasure to me. It teaches a safe means of progressing through all of the variations of pranayamas. If all of the advice is taken, there will be no problems in this area of your personal practice.
This is only one part of the yogic path, though. The rest needs to be in place for this to be effective. For that I rely on Yogani's Advanced Yoga Practices book. It gives step by step, safe instructions utilizing the techniques of the Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, as well as other great works. I highly recommend it to any serious yoga student.
I am so glad to have found "Light on Pranayama". I am somewhat of a beginner to the serious practice I've undertaken, but with this book I feel confident that I will succeed. Thank you BKS Iyengar.』 『
In this classic yoga best-seller a world-renowned yoga master shares the techniques of breathing together with a comprehensive background of yoga philosophy. B. K. S. Iyengar is a legend who has practiced yoga in a unique way, and today "Iyengar Yoga" is taught around the world by certified instructors.
price：$6.38
BenBella Books
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Who? What? WOW!) 『I could not put this book down, it's like a bag of potato chips; once you start, you can't stop. The importance of this book is in the title "Queers in History", what made them famous, infamous, was not just their sexuality but their sense of purpose. But did their sexuality play an important part in it? Most likely because what drives gay, straight, bi people are their goals in life, and their decisions in life are made emotionally, what they feel, what they need, what fuels their passions.
Keith Stern's book is not just a historical look at homosexuality but it brings to the forefront what is the common denominator of us all, the search for our own "place in the world". I highly recommend this book as a gift to all your straight, gay, bi, transexual friends and as a book to place on the coffee table to start lively conversations at any social gathering.』
(Pulls History out of the closet) 『Fascinating book. Well written. Stern pulls History out of the closet. This is an interesting and informative read whether you are gay or straight.』
(Everything You Need To Know) 『Stern, Keith. "Queers in History: The Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Historical Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgenders", Benbella Books, 2009.
Everything You Need to Know
Amos Lassen
Keith Stern has done an admirable job compiling his encyclopedia and his lists are comprehensive even if his suggestions for further reading are no where near comprehensive and even a bit far from elementary. I do not consider the Alyson Almanac to qualify as a good source. Nor do I think that if you want to know more about Tennessee Williams that Maria St. Just's "Five O'Clock Angel" is the place to look--Williams did write his memoirs and there are several other biographies about him around. Otherwise I have no real complaints. The book is exhaustive and somewhat picante but it is not by any means definitive or scholarly. For what it is, it isn't bad and more than 500 pages about gay people can never be a bad thing. 』 『Queers in History is the first comprehensive biographical compendium of important historical and contemporary figures who were/are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. From Egyptian pharaohs, Catholic popes and Abraham Lincoln to Bishop Gene Robinson, Neil Patrick Harris and Angelina Jolie, Queers in History brings these figures, from their work to their sexuality, to life.
The hundreds of people whose stories appear in this book are some of the most intriguing personalities of their times: actors and actresses, writers and musicians, businessmen and politicians, scientists and soldiers. But this irresistibly readable encyclopedia intended for gays and straights alike doesn't just report those details that get left out of the standard biographies; it reveals a fascinating picture of queer society and culture throughout recorded history, from the homosexual shudō tradition practiced by samurai in Japan to the modern struggles for equal rights in America. Sir Ian McKellen offers a foreword.』
price：$5.11
University of California Press
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Too many errors, factual, historical, literary...) 『It's hard to take this work seriously when it's so full of errors. The author became a self-proclaimed Brazilianist overnight and it shows. A good ethnography requires more than what went into this work, although it's an interesting topic and a great job of anthropological showboating.』
(a gripping ethnography) 『Giving birth to a healthy human being and watching it grow into personhood is something most Americans take for granted. Many cultures the world over see the concepts of `personhood' and `human-ness' very differently than we view them here in the U.S. Americans would likely see granting responsibility to a neonate his/her own will to live or die as a form of abuse. This culture-bound perspective lies in stark contrast to societies that grant (often out of economic necessity) the newborn the agency to determine for his/herself the right to live or die.
The book Death Without Weeping by Nancy Scheper-Hughes and the article "When Does Life Begin?" by Lynn Morgan explore the ideas of `human-ness' and `personhood' from two different perspectives. The examination of both works leaves me to ponder the stark contrast between my own culture and that of the Alto de Cruziero, as described by Hughes, while begging the question of whether babies of the Alto are pre-social persons.
Lynn Morgan's article attempts to highlight the oftentimes subtle and arbitrary distinction between `human' and `person.' She argues that humans are biological beings while persons are humans that have been socialized into their culture. By Morgan's definition, a person has a socially recognized moral status and by virtue of certain rites of passage, assumes rights and responsibilities in society. Additionally she describes a pre-social person as a living being that must endure said rituals and steps to become a person. Unlike Morgan's cross-cultural survey, Hughes describes one society, the poverty-stricken region of the Alto do Cuiziero. The women of the Alto face an astonishingly high infant mortality rate. Perhaps that economic-based reality figures prominently in the notion that, unlike here in the U.S., the neonates are seen as pre-social persons with the right (and responsibility) to determine whether they will live or die. In the minds of Alto parents, the neonates are born into the world having already made the decision whether or not to live. Any weak or otherwise unhealthy baby is said to have, "Come into the world with an aversion to life" (Hughes: 368). The weak or ill babies are "too under demanding, too willing, and too likely to die" (Hughes: 386). Says one Alto mother; " I think that if they were always weak, they wouldn't be able to defend themselves in life. So it is really better to let the weak ones die." (Hughes: 369). Hughes suggests that babies are born knowing that their life will be difficult, even if they survive the first year or so when they are finally seen as humans. Says another mother of the Alto, " If she died, it was because she herself, on seeing what was ahead, what was in store for her, she decided to die." (Hughes: 370). Perhaps the babies are presumed to know that it will be easier on their families if they die early on. Since the parents face staggering poverty and blight, it is clear that certain economic factors control the allocation of love as a resource. A compelling reality exists for all mothers in the poor shantytown according to Nancy Hughes: "part of learning to mother on the Alto includes knowing when to let go of a child who shows that he wants to die." (Hughes: 364). Hughes clearly believes that the relationship between mother and child in the Alto is based largely on a culture of poverty. She addresses the concept of "Mother Love" as being learned behavior--and not biological instinct- that enables the women of the Alto to cope with the inevitable deaths of many of their young. It is difficult to definitively answer the question of whether babies are `person' or `human' because different cultures view and define various social statuses differently. Lynn Morgan states: "the infant must `prove' itself worthy of personhood; first by managing to survive, then by exhibiting the vigor and health of one destined to become a functioning member of the community. If it survives and thrives, it is ready to pass through the social birth canal, to be ceremoniously welcomed as a person into the community." Other than a physical evaluation upon their birth, the babies of the Alto do not have the luxury of proving their survivability to their parents. If seen as not healthy or strong enough, they do not receive the resources of care necessary to survive. Morgan also states: "Social birth gives the neonate a moral status and binds it securely to a social community." The so-called social birth of Alto babies occurs simultaneously with their biological birth. Unlike in the U.S., they are pre-social persons born with the knowledge and the agency to decide if they live or die.』
(This book in NOT a representation of life in Brazil!!!) 『As readers, people should always be careful about the way they write a review of a book such as this: it is not in any way shape or form a representation of "life in Brazil." It is a representation of what life in some, I repeat, some poorer areas of Brazil can be like... but even so, being originally from Brazil and having traveled in my country, I can give anyone a million examples of poor or people who live under the poverty line, who are loving, decent, clean, concerned with the well-being and protection of others first before their own. I despise it when people file anything under the "generalization" category about other countries, and Brazil seems to always get a bad wrap in this sense. Brazil is an amazing country, culturally rich and diverse, geographically gorgeous and varied, and when speaking of a country with 186+ million inhabitants, how can anyone generalize under any one specific term about this or that factor? Not all mothers -- by a very very long stretch -- in Brazil fit the mode portrayed in "Death without weeping," and hope to have made that absolutely clear here: misinformation of this kind is absurd, and using the subhead "The Violence in Everyday Brazil" even more irreponsible from such a noted author.』
(Classic Modern Ethnography) 『Scheper-Hughes not only crafts a thorough, complex ethnography, but she takes a risk by putting a piece of herself into it as well. Here is the introduction I wrote for a term paper about this book:
Anthropologist Nancy Scheper-Hughes covers rough territory in Death Without Weeping, an ethnography about sugar cane workers in Northeastern Brazil. In chapters eight and nine she discusses the concepts of maternity and infanticide in a manner that dissolves their seemingly diametric natures and exposes an enigma of conflict and confluence inherent in their layered reality. But how can we contrast our established notions of maternity and infanticide with Scheper-Hughes' statements about them in a context that is emically true to the population her research is based on? Some things about maternity might seem clear: positive maternity encompasses nurturance and doting love, while negative maternity suggests neglect and even murder; yet Scheper-Hughes brings into question commonly held notions about the biological necessities and cultural expectations of maternity that reveal contradictions, blind alleys, and misleading parochial assumptions. This ethnography about the sugarcane workers of the Alto do Cruzeiro slum in the town of Bom Jesus, Brazil causes us to re-evaluate our understanding of maternity in the face of established cultural and biological contexts, and invites a more detailed, elemental, philosophical gaze. The observations made in Death Without Weeping force us to retreat in search of a neutral ground free from the biases we may hold about `American' or `Brazilian' maternity, and abandon our fear of naivety by asking, what in fact is maternity, and what do we know about it?
A gripping book, a masterful ethnography.』
(Routina) 『This book doesn't tell us anything we don't already know. Also it tries to interpret events. Anybody with internet access can read about favelas of Rio and the "parallel government" that rules the shanty-towns.
In fact, at least two groups in Rio give tours of these slums. And you will find things quite peaceful (the tour operators have not been injured in over 15 yrs of giving tours).
In a word: it's all about (drug) money.』
『When lives are dominated by hunger, what becomes of love? When assaulted by daily acts of violence and untimely death, what happens to trust? Set in the lands of Northeast Brazil, this is an account of the everyday experience of scarcity, sickness and death that centres on the lives of the women and children of a hillside "favela". Bringing her readers to the impoverished slopes above the modern plantation town of Bom Jesus de Mata, where she has worked on and off for 25 years, the author follows three generations of shantytown women as they struggle to survive through hard work, cunning and triage. It is a story of class relations told at the most basic level of bodies, emotions, desires and needs. Most disturbing - and controversial - is her finding that mother love, as conventionally understood, is something of a bourgeois myth, a luxury for those who can reasonably expect, as these women cannot, that their infants will live. The author also wrote "Saints, Scholars and Schizophrenics: Mental Illness in Rural Ireland".』
price：$3.92
Alamo Square Distributors
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Accurate, Honest and Factual) 『For all those seeking the truth as to what is really said about homosexuality in the scriptures, this books is a must read. The author totally blasts out of the water the misconceptions and deception fundamentalist often associate with homosexuality and the Bible.This work could be used for discussion groups or as a gift for an individual who is confused by what they have been told.』
(Good for Understanding, Bad Conclusions) 『Helminiak provides conclusive arguments for the Revisionist camp. Unfortunately for him, Thomas E. Schmidt in his "Straight&Narrow?" shows that Helminiak's arguments are weak at best. He tries to draw cultural lines that aren't there and obscure facts with "semantic truth." The fact is, someone who has very little experience in the original languages tried to jump into a major textual study with only beginners Greek and Hebrew. Schmidt's book refutes Helminiak and Countryman's conclusions while still showing, "Yes, Christian can be compassionate, loving, and still reject homosexuality as a practice and a sin." I have a close friend who is homosexual and we have been friends for years now. I believe and have shared with him that the Bible condemns homosexuality. We debate and clash with beliefs all the time, but we walk away with a hug and a "hope to see you again soon." It is amazing what compassionate people can accomplish together. My only regret is that the church has for so long been callous and un-compassionate that I fear all argumentation might be lost to the wayside due to "tolerance and acceptance" stemming from broken people. God forgive us, we have sinned; help us to truly live for You and You alone. Help us to be compassionate. Help us to stand for truth.』
(It will really open your eyes!) 『This book was a wonderful read! Forget everything you've heard about what the Bible says about homosexuality because this book will really open your eyes and make you think. You won't be disappointed and you'll want to share it with your friends and family! If everyone read this book, I think the world be a much more friendly and hospitable place...』
(An Absolute Must-Read) 『Since its initial publication in 1994, this slim volume has become THE must-read book for anyone seeking to reconcile being gay and being a Christian.
Helminiak makes his case incredibly well...he goes through the Scriptures step by step to reveal and discuss the historical context and the meaning behind them.
I cannot say enough good things about this book, but if you are gay and Christian, RUN to your nearest bookstore or order a copy online immediately. It is a very easy book to read; Helminiak is not writing to scholars here but to ordinary citizens. And his conclusion that the Bible says NOTHING about homosexuality is breathtaking, and he backs it up with Scripture all the way.』
(Excellent points) 『This book points out what I have believed for decades; the Bible has been transalated and retranslated so many times over the millenia a lot of it is open to spin and interpretation. Whether the Bible condemns or condones homosexuality is largely irrevelent to me as the whole book is simply a bogus replica of a host of pre Judeo-Christian myths, cultures, and beliefs and in the 21st century serves as a means by which Christian bigots can base their hatreds.』
price：$4.20
Delta
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Weird ending) 『I liked the story, although it seemed more like the outline to a great novel yet to be written. It was just too short. The only thing I didn't like was the sudden strange ending that was unrelated to the relationships between any of the main characters.』
(Amazing book. You will want to read it more than once!) 『I loved this book. It is one of the top ten gay and lesbian novels of all times. I was shocked to learn that Amazon was instituting a new anti-gay policy and censoring it from search lists. Hopefully people can still find this gem.』
(I am so glad I found this book!) 『What a beautifully written book! I read it for my book club. I had heard of James Baldwin, but had never read anything of his before. I loved the depiction of Paris - the sleazier, decadent life underneath the beauty, and the depiction of the bars and the sad characters that Giovanni hung out with. The depiction of the main character's feelings for Giovanni and for his fiancee were just amazingly written - some of the best writing about feelings of love that I have read - the positive and negative. Heartbreakingly sad. Everybody in my book club LOVED the book - I think it is one of only two books which has received a 100% thumbs up from us all!』
(Boring and Pretentious Book) 『well here is what I have to say: Don't read this book just because you like reading about queers, because it is not going to hold your interest. This book is written very pretentiously. It is about a self loathing bisexual closet case who despite his best instincts ends up with his fiance instead of the man that he should have stayed with. Anyhow, overall I give this 2/5 stars, not recommended!!!!!!!』
(Read it... but not for the plot.) 『No assistance or convincing is required for one to acknowledge that Baldwin is indeed a very gifted writer. However, in GIOVANNI'S ROOM, it is less evident as to whether or not he is a great novelist. While his ability to describe complex emotions and deeply depict the political nature of courting and romance is superior, the plot suffers as the book progresses. Giovanni is an incredibly charming and likeable character upon his introduction; however, as soon as he forms a relationship with David, the protagonist, there seems to be a shift in the development of his character (or is it a regression of his character?), after which he remains rather unlikable and someone for whom you do not feel empathy.
As a result, the romance between Giovanni and David suffers throughout the book - and the capriciousness of David's sexuality calls into question the legitimacy of his love for Giovanni. This is disappointing to readers who are looking for a love story - even a tragic one. For who wants to read a love story where the love isn't assured? I think the plot needed more time to allow the reader to fully accept and digest the magnitude that these two men, supposedly, feel for each other.
The ending of the book, including the crime that Giovanni commits, seems irrelevant and forced - as if Baldwin was merely trying to come up with a legitimate way to end the story. This is perhaps my biggest complaint with the book. Again, the plot moves too quickly while characters change dramatically, all of which lead the reader to feel as though the plot is implausible.
Finally, the book is littered with various French phrases and short sentences which add no substance to the book, but seem to exist merely as a way for Baldwin to flex his knowledge of the language - as if somehow this will give the story's setting extra legitimacy (which it didn't need). I have a background in French and was able to understand most of this superfluousness, yet still found it rather annoying and distracting.
Many have suggested that David is rather unlikable; personally, I find his character to be the most honest and authentic, as well someone to whom I can relate. Through David, Baldwin hits the nail on the head when depicting the complexity and despair homosexuals feel when they are simultaneously involved with partners of both sexes. And while the honesty of David's emotions, with respect to both Giovanni and Hella, may be unattractive to some readers - it's clarity and accuracy cannot be ignored.
The book is certainly worth a read, and its impact and value must be measured in the context in which it was written. It is/was an overwhelmingly progressive novel, and no doubt a contribution to `gay' literature (if that's how you wish you classify the novel; I do not). However, this book being published today would hardly turn an eye. Read it to understand Baldwin, read it to understand the timeframe, read it for a glimpse into the complexity of homosexual relationships, read it to enjoy Baldwin's outstanding writing abilities - but don't read it for the plot. 』 『Set in the 1950s Paris of American expatriates, liaisons, and violence, a young man finds himself caught between desire and conventional morality. With a sharp, probing imagination, James Baldwin's now-classic narrative delves into the mystery of loving and creates a moving, highly controversial story of death and passion that reveals the unspoken complexities of the human heart.
price：$1.85
Tutis Digital Publishing Pvt. Ltd.
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Enchanting (in a dark sort of way)) 『It is a good read and an excellent story. Venus in Furs is a classic that should be read more often; the story captures your attention to the point were you just don't want to put it down. However, it is not for those with closed minds or those who are faint of heart (or unflexible morals).』
(Romantic Reader) 『The novel draws themes and character inspiration heavily from Sacher-Masochs own life. Wanda von Dunajew (the novel's central female character) was modelled after Fanny Pistor, who was an emerging literary writer. The two met when Pistor contacted Sacher-Masoch, under the fictitious title of a noble Baroness Bogdanoff, for suggestions on improvement of her works, to make them suitable for publication.
The framing story concerns a man who dreams of speaking to Venus about love while she wears furs. The unnamed narrator tells his dreams to a friend, Severin, who tells him how to break him of his fascination with cruel women by reading a manuscript, Memoirs of a Suprasensual Man.
This manuscript tells of a man, Severin von Kusiemski, so infatuated with a woman, Wanda von Dunajew, that he requests to be treated as her slave, and encourages her to treat him in progressively more degrading ways. At first Wanda does not understand or relate to the request, but after humouring Severin a bit she finds the advantages of the method to be interesting and enthusiastically embraces the idea; though at the same time, she disdains Severin for allowing her to do so.
Severin describes his feelings during these experiences as suprasensuality. Severin and Wanda travel to Florence. Along the way, Severin takes the generic Russian servant's name of "Gregor" and the role of Wanda's servant. In Florence, Wanda treats him brutally as a servant, and recruits a trio of African women to dominate him.
The relationship arrives at a crisis point when Wanda herself meets a man to whom she would like to submit, a Byronic hero known as Alexis Papadopolis. At the end of the book, Severin, humiliated by Wanda's new lover, ceases to desire to submit, stating that men should dominate women until the time when women are equal to men in education and rights.』
(A Different Sort of Shock Treatment) 『L.v.Sacher-Masoch's Venus in Furs can be described as a sort of Sade-lite told from the point of view of the "victim," but with a twist--where Sade's characters were unwilling, the protagonist of this tale begs for mistreatment, and he gets it, over and over again. I quite enjoyed the story, though it was light on the sex compared to my expectations. In fact it has me a little disappointed his extensive works are rather obscure other than this novella. The book itself, like most of the new Penguin Classics, is very handsome, but a little prone to damage as any other paperback.』
(The roots of Masochism) 『The term "Masochism" was named for the author of Venus in Furs, Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, who wrote his own personal fantasies in a semi-autobiographical novella. I read this book in one night and could not put it down. The beginning and middle were entirely gripping as a young man, who has always feared women, is enveloped in his love and obsession for a woman he feels embodies Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. A sickly erotic relationship develops as the couple fall in love where the young man begs his Venus in furs to be his master and treat him like her slave. As the novella continues, the masochistic relationship develops to a point where I felt a little disinterested and somewhat turned off and frustrated by the loss of passion and affection in the name of self destruction. However, this tale tells of love in a way that many are curious about yet never glimpse. I study Art History, especially Symbolism, and having done a lot of research about Gustav Klimt, I have noticed many interested and fascinating parallels between Klimt and the narrator on their view of women as being a dangerous siren and overpowering being. "Venus in Furs" captured me with its type of twisted erotica meshed into deep love and powerful emotions. At the end I understood in a very impressing way the story behind the painting introduced at the beginning of the novella that subsequently was its close, the painting of a semi-nude Venus in furs with a whip standing over her pathetically devoted lover.』
(Classic text with richly illustrated ideals and a complex plot, although not explicitly realized. Recommended) 『Severin von Kusiemski is a European nobleman who has always fantasized about and found pleasure in pain and submission, a condition that he terms suprasensuality. In his memoir he recounts an affair with Wanda von Dunajew, a woman of voluptuous, cruel sexuality. He asks to become her slave and submits to increasingly degrading treatment--until Wanda meet a man to whom she wishes to submit. A classic text, Venus in Furs has a writing style that may not appeal to all readers: the narratives delves deeper into desires and relationships than action and sexual acts and has an airy, self-indulgent tone. This narrative voice, however, creates an intimate view of "suprasensuality"--a sort of masochism that predates (and originates) the term, and the ethereal style allows Sacher-Masoch to build up and break down the ideal of the cruel mistress. Worth reading for concept and significance alone, the text is softly seductive and swiftly readable. I recommend it.
To describe the sexual desire to receive pain, Krafft-Ebbing created the word "masochism" from Sacher-Masoch's name. Krafft-Ebbing's research is now out of date, but the word is still in use. Likewise a lot has changed since the book's publishing, but Venus in Furs remains an early exploration of masochistic desires and a sadomasochistic relationship, and is in some ways foundational and in some still relevant. Severin idealizes Wanda: replacing the statue of Venus, iconographed in a painting, she becomes the archetype of the merciless woman. Naming and describing his own suprasensuality, Severin creates an ideal also for the submissive man, who fetishizes the paraphernalia of powerful women, who falls in thrall at a women's feet, who submits to degradation and abuse--and finds pleasure in it all. The lovers often discuss the causes and boundaries of their relationship, and Severin's narrative pauses frequently for introspection and artistic descriptions. All told, Venus in Furs is both portrait and exploration of a sadomasochistic relationship. Some of these aspects are outdated and some may not ring true to the reader, but in Sacher-Masoch's text they are both archetypal and real, a strong fictional entrance into the topic which still readable, relevant, and thought-provoking today.
Two aspects, however, alter this view of the novel. First, the writing style sometimes glosses over the essential content of the relationship. Sacher-Masoch spends plenty of time on motivation and lead up, but little on actual action--sexual aspects, both intercourse and sadistic/masochistic scenes, are brief or absent. Although hardly surprising (especially given the content and publishing date), this deficiency restricts the text to the theoretical. The characters and desires--although well crafted--are rendered somewhat insubstantial. The writing becomes dreamlike, detouring often and only ghosting over action, and this style is somewhat inaccessible. Secondly, Wanda and Severin's relationship takes a dramatic turn in the second half of the book, changing the characters and also the sadomasochistic relationship. This change is more of a complication than a drawback. It muddies the idealized view of the characters and desires, but also creates a plot--granting the book a direction and purpose greater than simply illustrating ideals.
All of this in barely more than 100 pages: Venus in Furs moves swiftly through even its languorous introspection, and packs a lot into a very small space. The book is worth reading both for the early concept of masochism and a sadomasochistic relationship and for its characters, plot, and unusual narrative voice. The novel does read like a classic, but remains accessible to a modern audience. Personally, I wasn't blown away by this book but I was generally impressed and glad to return to one of the literary "sources," as it were, of the topic. On that basis I was pleased, and I recommend the book.』 『
Severin is a young Galician nobleman with a secret; he can only love a woman with a ruthless heart, who will rain her whip upon him in a shower of bloody kisses. When he meets Wanda, the wealthy and beautiful widow living in the apartment upstairs, he wonders if she might be the one to help him realize his darkest desires. But Wanda is better than she ever dreamed possible at domination—and soon Severin realizes he is powerless to escape what he has begun. Here, fantasy and reality writhe together in a ceaseless, fraught embrace. First published in 1870, the author defined—and unwittingly gave his own name to—that sexual proclivity we know as masochism in this understated, charged erotic classic.
price：$5.12
Plume
Usually ships in 24 hours Core2Duoノートレビュー 's review (Excellent) 『Excellent book. Good for all couples to read. Reminds us all that a commitment is more than a one time ceremony.』
(Bored out of my mind.) 『Savage is so self absorbed and concious of who he might offend it's as if he is writing for his family and friends. He doesn't take chances with his writing, playing it safe for the most part...the rest is just boring. His other book, "The Kid" isn't much better. I will not buy a book by him again.』
(Loved it) 『I loved this book. It talked gay marriage from every angle without being preachy. It was done with Dan Savage's usual humor. I thoroughly enjoyed it.』
(Another Awesome Book!) 『Dan Savage has done it once again! Savage has a way of writing just as you would think he would talk.... with a lot of puns and funny humor. I found myself unable to put this book down and it was easy reading but made me stop to think every few chapters. I would definitely recommend this book!』
(Part memoir, part treatise, but definitely all Dan.) 『Given my fixation on gay marriage as of late, and my increasing respect and admiration of Dan Savage, when I found out he wrote a book on the topic, how could I not pick it up? Largely a memoir about Savage and his boyfriend's debate over whether to marry, The Commitment maintains Savage's usual level of sharp wit and keen insight, resulting in a book that not only greatly entertains but also provides a lot to think about and even some quietly moving moments. For sheer hilarity, nothing may beat the disastrous diaper rash story, but what really makes The Commitment such an effective read is the story of Savage's family and their differing takes on the idea of gay marriage, all leading up to a powerful story about Savage's young adopted son. It's a wonderful read, one that reminds us that the most important aspect of gay marriage isn't politics, or gender, or sexuality, or children - it's the human desire for love and affection, a public declaration of one person's love for another. An outstanding book, not only for its richly entertaining world, but also for its all-too-important message. Highly recommended.』 『In a time when much of the country sees red whenever the subject of gay marriage comes up, Dan Savage—outspoken author of the column "Savage Love"— makes it personal.
Dan Savage’s mother wants him to get married. His boyfriend, Terry, says "no thanks" because he doesn’t want to act like a straight person. Their six-year-old son DJ says his two dads aren’t "allowed" to get married, but that he’d like to come to the reception and eat cake. Throw into the mix Dan’s straight siblings, whose varied choices form a microcosm of how Americans are approaching marriage these days, and you get a rollicking family memoir that will have everyone—gay or straight, right or left, single or married—howling with laughter and rethinking their notions of marriage and all it entails.』
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