Thirty-three Swoons: A Novel

Book Description

Years after the end of her marriage and the death of her fathera talented perfumistCamilla Archers tightly reined existence is upended by her dreams. A man who seems utterly real begins appearing to her as she sleeps, a mysterious figure in a mask and tuxedo, offering up distorted versions of key moments in her life. So begins Camillas piecing together of the puzzle of her familys past. Traveling in memory and reverie back to Moscow and Paris between the wars, Camilla finds that she has been granted the chance to unknot her lifeif only shes willing to ask what the ghostly double who has infiltrated her dreams is wanting her to discover.

Customer Reviews:

Russian Sleigh Ride.......2006-07-02

Martha Cooley is a great young writer. Those readers expecting "The Archivist, Pt. 2" will be in for a surprise. She takes us for a Russian sleigh-ride through modern relationships, as carefully composed as the overtones of scent that rise from the page. It is an elegant production; well-presented and seductive.

Stand Back and Give it Some Air.......2005-08-14

Thirty-Three Swoons is a tightly constructed novel, but perhaps a little more space would have allowed Cooley's book to breathe. The narrative centers around Camilla Archer, a woman whose life has been put on hold by complicated relationships in life and death with her father, Jordan, and cousin, Eve. When the dream figures of Russian theater director Meyerhold and his mysterious doppelganger begin to manipulate her dreams and intrude on her decisions, she is brought into conflict with Eve's angry daughter Danny.

Cooley has a careful technique. She interweaves the lives of Camilla, Jordan, and Meyerhold in distinctive worlds, evoking the mysterious quality of perfumes and the theater, and making ties with them to memory and love. At times she has a lovely classical restraint to her prose, especially in descriptions that morph into themes: "And with the `orientals' - opulent scents such as amber and vetiver - Jordan created fragrances that were provocative without ever resorting to vulgarity...I think of Jordan's perfumes as secret passwords each wearer decoded on her own."

Yet Camilla's quest never grabs hold of your heart and pulls you along with it. The novel's basic conflict between children and parents is an old and tricky one, and Camilla's pent-up character gives little away. Less dialogue and description about the shop or what someone is wearing, and more about Camilla's emotional history with the people she loves would have strengthened the New York characters and Camilla's dilemma. Cooley's prose is powerful - sometimes it just needs to let loose and enjoy all the possibilities she has created for it.

Passes the smell test.......2005-07-27

In very different ways, I found Thirty-Three Swoons as satisfying as The Archivist, Cooley's excellent first novel. The structure is more complex and inventive, with a variety of voices - dream narratives, soliloquies, and traditional narrative - sustaining that curiosity - and frustration at unresolved tension - that propels the reader forward. I see this difference between the two novels as evidence of the writer's sensitivity to the need for different languages and structures to fit different subject matters. I also found the olfactory thread that runs through the book very fresh and a nostril-opener. The strands come together in a satisfying and unpredictable way, and the prose is often beautifully turned. How lucky can a reader get?

A Moderate Disappointment.......2005-07-06

As a translator of the author's truly wonderful first novel "The Archivist" into the Estonian I was thrilled when the publisher of the translation presented me with Martha Cooley's next work. However, from the start of the omniscient doppelganger's monologue in the first chapter I was struck by the artificiality of its tone and puzzled by the purpose of including the Vsevolod Meyerhold parts in the overall composition. It feels over constructed and the alien voice inserted in the interludes disrupts rather helps to make the tale a polyphonic one as probably intended. The connection to Russia's Stalinist past and its victims is strained and hardly justified from the point of view of the rest of the story, which in itself is masterfully told. The best episode on this plane is Stuart's make-up séance with Camilla who, on seeing her transformed image in the mirror, is shaken into better understanding of her father ("A man of feeling, fully alone.") The descriptions of Jordan's perfumes also constitute some of the best parts of the book. Still under the spell of "The Archivist" I wish the author luck in her future endeavors despite my criticism.

Business of living ..........2005-06-15

The perfume industry and theater make interesting backdrops to this haunting story. The heroine, whose parents are deceased dreams of her father as the business of living comes much too fast. An unforgettable novel.

Janet Sue Terry, author of the "Set Me Free" series, book 1 - "Possibilities", book 2 - Resolutions, and "Just Our Best Short Stories 2005". www.janetsueterry.com. CEO of Just My Best Book Publishing Company, www.jmbpub.com

Average customer rating:

Thirty-Three Swoons : a Novel
Martha Cooley
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTPD9A

Book Description

Is today's freak weather caused by ocean currents and global warming? Are electricity blackouts really the result of inadequate supplies? Or, is something momentous about to occur ...

The ancients said our ancestors came from the stars. They were right. Now Starpeople are coming back to awaken Mankind to their noble heritage and higher purpose . . . and, NO ONE will be LEFT BEHIND!

Customer Reviews:

Essential remembrance.......2004-07-24

Linda Tuck Jenkins, author of The Siriran Connection, provides not only an exciting hold-on-to-your-seat roller coaster ride of a story, but she affords a valuable service for some of her readers. She opens minds through story telling far more effectively than prose ever could and she triggers essential remembrance for those who are ready.

There are several levels on which the book can be enjoyed-simply as entertainment, if you like anunusual adventure, well-written, and compellingly told, and/or you can experience and inner awakening, as I did, if you are ready for it.

The world suffers from an insidious form of amnesia- one where you for forget that you forgot and dont even know that you need to remember something important. Readers who are attracted to this book have an excellent chance of discovering something surprising and valuable that they need to remember.

If you find these comments interesting, there's a good chance this book is for you.

Would make a great movie!.......2004-07-18

This is one of the better books I've read recently, and I loved the quick writing style -- did not feel it was choppy in the least. In fact, I was very impressed not only by the originality of the plot-- interwining science, ancient legends with spiritual concepts -- but by the structure of the book which complimented the plot perfectly. Part one, The Awakening, was the longest section, then part 2, the Quickening, was just that, quicker. And, finally, part three, Critical Mass was BAMM! I thought that was ingenious.

Finally, the spirituality woven through the story made the book for me. Granted, it would be a great adventure story without the spiritual philosophy, but the genre is Visionary/Metaphysical fiction. Readers of that genre expect spiritual/metaphysical content. I wonder if the reader who objected to the New Age philosophy thought the book was "normal" science fiction.

I've recommended this book to all of my friends, and wish someone would make a movie of it!

Original plot, choppy writing.......2004-07-12

The book starts out with good imagery and narrative, but meanders off into what struck me as the author's own metaphysical philosophical agenda. Then she would get back on track, until the next time she decided to expound on her own soapbox, much as Ann Rice did with "Memnoch The Devil". For the most part the chapters were well written, but toward the end details which I feel would have enhanced the story were glossed over. This seemed off, considering the redundancy of the theories of Earth's origins occurring throughout the book. In all fairness, I wonder if a heavy-handed editor slashed this manuscript to the barebones. It had the potential for a larger book, and most chapters bear that out. It was almost as though huge gaps were missing from some chapters, by the author not fleshing out the story or an editor unmercifully cutting out details. It would be interesting to know which it was; after all it appears to be the work of a new writer, so I expect forthcoming books to improve in their consistency. I will read the next book in this series, I liked the clever interweaving of science, religion and nature the author pulled off, that was very well done. Her aliens were original, probable and very likable. The government characters were true to type in the beginning, and then they went over the line too far too fast to be believable.

A Great Story of Hope.......2002-01-05

I loved the movie K-PAX, so rushed out to buy this book when I heard it had a similar theme. Well, this book is different (more of a New Age adventure than a K-PAXian psychological study) but just as compelling. I can't wait for the next book in this Starpeople series!

A Fantastic Read!.......2001-05-10

I could not put this book down! Okay, so you heard of the reincarnation theory. Well Linda Tuck-Jenkins takes it to another level as she introduces us to Starpeople, ancient aliens reborn as humans. In Starpeople: The Sirian Redemption, Starpeople have returned to earth to redeem themselves and fight the battle of earth's survival. A battle fought not with guns and ammunition, but with ancient chants and healing songs. This book tells the story of a seemingly ordinary woman who finds herself caught up in a race to stop the earth from destroying itself. Tuck-Jenkins takes the ordinary stuff of human life and reminds us how extraordinary it all is! Instead of the popular doomsday predictions of the new millennium Starpeople is bright light of hope, promising a future that many of us believe is on the brink. You'll find yourself rooting for the Starpeople and casting around in your own mind for traces of ancient memories. At the end of the Starpeople: The Sirian Redemption, I found myself smiling and hoping madly that there was already a sequel printed!

Book Description

In this important and much-needed book, theologian, author, and teacher Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore writes about the struggle to raise children with integrity and faithfulness as Christians in a complex postmodern society. Let the Children Come shows that the care of children is in itself a religious discipline and a communal practice that places demands on both congregations and society as a whole. The author calls for clearer and more defined ways in which Christians can respond to the call to nurture all children (not just their own) as manifestations of God's presence in the world. Miller-McLemore raises and investigates questions that up until now have largely been left unasked, such as: What are the dominant cultural perceptions of children— including religious perceptions— with which parents must grapple? How have Christians defined children and parenting, and how should they today?

Customer Reviews:

A Feminist Theologicans Perspective of Childhood in Christianity.......2006-11-03

Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore explores childhood from a Christian perspective. She seeks the historical, theological perspectives of children in Christianity. The writing is simple and easy to understand. She does not write in deep theological terms that would be difficult for readers.

I did find much that what she said to be thought provoking. As one who works in children's ministry and blogs about children's spirituality, I was intrigued by much that she wrote. Throughout the text she offers some great questions to help adults think deeper about children and their spirituality.

She writes compassionately from a feministy theology perspective which influences her thoughts toward children as oppressed and forgotten in the church throughout history. This is a helpful reminder to us today. Most theological research has been done by men which has skewed their perspective on women. A woman who writes from her own perspective of a month is helpful for readers. She finishes her text with a series of questions for adults and parents to consider concerning the faith of their children. These are very helpful for all to explore deeper their children's faith and spiritual development.

Customer Reviews:

Fun and funny cookery for grits lovers and wannabes........1999-08-11

I loved this book! It's the perfect gift for a grits lover or someone who should be. The biscuit recipe is one of the best I've ever tried. And the Grits Au Gratin is out of this world! Also don't miss the Seven and a Half Layer Bars and Carrot Cake! Grits make these traditional desserts more moist and delicious than ever.

A great souvenir from a great Southern cook!.......1999-07-31

This cookbook would make a darling souvenir for anyone who enjoys novel recipes. Be sure to try the gooey butter cake. Everybody loves it, and you really can't believe it's made with grits. You'll also enjoy the witty cartoons. Really cute!

Grits for a Yankee.......1999-07-29

My daughter married a gent from Texas, and he is a "Grits Guy". Knowing nothing about grits I bought the book "Gone With The Grits". An eye opener for an oatmeal guy like me. Great and easy recipes, and even (to my surprise) tasty. If you need to know about grits, this is a fun cookbook to read.

You've made a believer out of a Yankee!.......1999-07-29

I used to think that grits were something they force fed you at Waffle houses throughout the south but after trying a few of Miss Pfeifer's recipes I'm a devotee! I especially liked the desserts and the Italian oriented dishes. I found most of the recipes were easy to follow though some like "Aunt Jane's Barvarien Torte" were a bit tricky but the end result was well worth it.

This is no masterpiece........1998-07-07

After trying various recipes from "Gone With The Grits," I can say that I was not just dissapointed, but also annoyed. Beware! Many of the recipes call for certain amounts of time to cook the dish or certain temperatures to cook at. Well you just about have to be a master chef in order to get some of the recipes to turn out correctly. Many times the dishes were too watery, too thick, burnt, undercooked, and so on. As for the quality of the recipes that turn out right, they are usually on the average side, with the very few exceptions being quite tasty (but loaded with fat and cholesterol). For those that go zealous about grits, you will probably find it acceptable. For those who moderately enjoy grits and are looking for recipes that please the mouth, go elsewhere. Besides the few good recipes in "Gone With The Grits," the only other reason to buy this book would be for the humorous cartoons throughout the book.

Book Description

This is the story of the carved wooden bow decorations that once, when sea traffic took place exclusively in wooden ships and under sail, adorned almost every stem. As a result of an inclusive international documentation project of the Deutschen Schiffahrtsmuseums, nautical historians Hans Jurgen Hansen and Clas Broder Hansen present this work. Some 100 illustrations show the variety of figurehead types.

Customer Reviews:

Nice pictures, little information.......2007-02-01

This small (i.e., thin) book was a bit disappointing. It does have some very nice photos, but I was disappointed in the lack of textual content. For some of the images there was little or no useful information. If you are just interested in seeing pictures of a variety of old figure heads the book is fine. As someone interested in the history of ship bow figures I found the limited amount of detailed content disappointing.

Customer Reviews:

Quilt & Relax.......2007-07-12

I loved this book! Not only are there clear instructions on several quilt patterns, I just love the anecdotes included on each page. There were testimonials and poetic lines and just great thought provoking thoughts included. I recommend this kind of book to anyone looking for a smile.

A great choice to try different styles and techniques.......2000-04-09

Oxmoor Publishing and Leisure Arts present a collection of projects with the same great appeal quilters loved in their earlier publication, "Quick and Easy Scrap Quilts". This new title includes 21 quilts and a table runner plus embellishment for a shirt and note cards. It is geared to tops that can be completed in a relatively short time working individually or with friends wanting to participate in a fabric exchange or a quilting retreat. As the editor says, projects geared to helping you relax and quilt.

Both applique and piecing projects include a variety of styles--traditional, country/homespun, contemporary, and whimsical-appropriate to the skill level of beginners and more experienced sewers. For example, pieced quilts feature homespun plaid log cabin blocks, traditional patterns like Rail Fence, Birds in the Air and Sister's Choice along with Depression era baskets and a contemporary, colourwash Courthouse Steps. For those wanting more of a challenge, there is a lovely traditional Tree of Life quilt that includes suggested quilting designs.

Those who like applique may use traditional methods or try any of the soft-edge, fusible web or freezer paper techniques that may appeal to beginners or those in a hurry. A colorful double four-patch top has a folk art border of soft edge applique held down by a utility stitch of floss or pearl cotton. Note cards and garments are embellished using fusible web. A 1920s era Day Lily quilt is finished using a hand or machine buttonhole stitch. For traditionalists there is a stunning red and green hand appliqued Princess Feather top that also includes a suggested hand quilting design pattern.

The last 21 pages give helpful information on fabric preparation, cutting and sewing techniques, quilt construction, binding and quilting, hanging sleeves, and care and cleaning.

Average customer rating:
Relax and quilt (For the love of quilting)

Manufacturer: Leisure Arts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Textile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0848718178

Average customer rating:

Screw Feng Shui!

Funky, yes -- practical, no

funny as heck!

Decorating with Funky Shui

Heavily invested in fun

Decorating with Funky Shui: How to Lighten Up, Loosen Up, and Have Fun Decorating Your Home
Jennifer O'Neil , and Kitty O'Neil
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Feng Shui | Stress | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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American Junk

ASIN: 0740741993

Book Description

Decorating with Funky Shui encourages you to dig out all those wild and crazy pieces you've been hiding. So c'mon, gather up all those snow globes and let the disco ball sparkle in your living room. Let your rooms tell people who you really are-if you dare.Your home should be a reflection of your own personality, not a hodgepodge of mass-produced whatnots from a "big-box" chain retail store. Inspired by the popular Chinese art of feng shui, this lighthearted book takes you through the "Fun-damentals," the four directions to make your house yours, all yours: Find the playful center of the room: It can be a random garage-sale treasure, that cool mannequin you didn't think you could find a place for, or the tarnished tuba you inherited from Grandpa. That one goofy, unusual, or chic conversation piece can become the star of your room. Brighten up with color: Not everything has to match your boring beige sofa. Rooms without color lack flavor. Enlighten up: Fun, dynamic lighting can brighten a room in more ways than one. Candles add coziness; Christmas lights sparkle year-round. A string of hot-pepper lights can spice up a cool room. Abundance through abundance: The souvenirs you pick up during road trips. Your collection of vintage milk-bottle caps. All the Pez dispensers you can't bear to part with. If you've got 'em, flaunt 'em. Artfully display your collections-whatever they may be-to show them off.Decorating with Funky Shui encourages you to stretch your imagination to find a style that's uniquely you.

Customer Reviews:

Screw Feng Shui!.......2006-07-07

Are you tired of all those decorating books (and shows) that insist we must rid ourselves of all our treasured items that we've spent so much time collecting? I know I am. I've tried the whole feng shui thing and it just doesn't fit my personality. I'm through trying to fit the mold of some organized, bland, neat freak. It's just not going to happen. This is a lighthearted book with some really great photos. It's not meant to be a "real" decorating book, I think. It just reminds us to have fun with our beloved stuff. Lots of wide open space might be great for energy flow, but for some people,like me, the emptiness just leaves a cold feeling. If you feel the same way, then this is the book for you.

Funky, yes -- practical, no.......2004-11-17

Decorating with Funky Shui is a fun book, no doubt. It's fun to read and look at, and I was thoroughly entertained by the kitsch and the collectibles. But I have to say that beyond the few good ideas in the book, it's not a very practical decorating strategy for families with babies, small children, or rambunctious pets.

I love the idea that you can decorate with stuff you accumulate and can't toss out, but I can't see myself collecting so much stuff in clusters and having to dust my decor. Imagine the intricate work involved! And with pets, forget it.

In theory a great, fun book. In reality, only if you're single or not sharing a space and have the patience to clean all these objects and spaces.

funny as heck!.......2004-08-14

This book should be featured in the Humor section as well as the Home Decor section - it's that funny. A wonderful blend of wit and vision - beautiful to look at, and with chuckles on every page. Great to keep around on your coffee table for guests to browse, or to give as gifts to friends who always have a lot of stuff around. A must!

Decorating with Funky Shui.......2004-07-27

The antidote to unhappiness-Decorating with Funky Shui.

This is a jewel of a book, as beautiful as it is funny. I love all the tongue in cheek tips. For your bedroom: "A single white rose bud in a glass vase represents chastity--so you don't have to." It's a humorous look at making your house a home that really represents who you are and how you like to live. Since reading it I've taken out several of my collections that were under the bed and in the closet (like Kitty & Jennifer recommend) and displayed them as beautiful objets d'art in my home. I'm feeling better already--and I bet I'll be happier this year just because I can find stuff. If you know a friend who needs more fun and less work or has clutter instead of collections (don't we all) buy this book for them today. Highly recommended!

Heavily invested in fun.......2004-07-22

I loved this book! It is well written, fun and funny to read. I was happy to have suggestions for what to do with my extensive "lady bug" collectibles. Now I have them prominently displayed in a variety of areas throughout the house. I love the idea of not following traditional decorating rules. The pictures were great - colorful and creative! I especially enjoyed the "have a nice day" photos. The cookie jar reminded me of the exact one from my Mother's kitchen. Keep writing ladies!

Decorating with Funky Shui: How to Lighten Up, Loosen Up, and Have Fun Decorating Your Home

Average customer rating:

Decorating with Funky Shui: How to Lighten Up, Loosen Up, and Have Fun Decorating Your Home
Kitty O'Neil Jennifer O'Neil
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MU832K

Book Description

The myths and realities of the "swinging sixties" provide the backdrop to this unique and beautifully illustrated book, which accompanies an exhibition at Tate Britain. In an age when Britain was undergoing rapid social and cultural change, aesthetics were also being transformed, resulting in new departures in the form and content of British art. Unlike previous books on the subject, Art and the 60's: This Was Tomorrow explores the blurring boundaries within art of the time and its evolving relationships with other cultural forms.

The work of artists David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Richard Hamilton, Peter Blake, David Bailey, Colin Self, Eduardo Paolozzi, and Allan Jones, among others, is examined alongside developments in the media, photography, popular culture, architecture, and advertising. Art and the 60's is both a history of British art in the 1960s and a portrait of an era. AUTHOR BIO: Chris Stephens is a Tate curator and author of Barbara Hepworth Centenary and Gwen John and Augustus John. Katharine Stout is a Tate curator.

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