Mantrapped

Book Description

Mantrapped is a dazzling new work that continues Fay Weldon’s critically acclaimed memoir, Auto da Fay, and tells the story of a woman down on her luck. Trisha is forty-four and at the end of her rope: creditors are coming and boyfriends have long left. Then, one day, on the stairs above her local dry cleaner, she bumps into the dashing Peter Watson, an editor for the local newspaper. After brushing past each other, they mysteriously and instantly swap souls. Peter looks down to see himself housed in Trisha’s much curvier form, and Trisha discovers she’s newly equipped with hairy legs and a six-pack. Mixing humor, imagination and insight, Mantrapped proves that Weldon is still the best at writing about the sexes.

Customer Reviews:

Actually an audio book.......2006-08-07

This was my first Fay Weldon novel. I loved it and will read more of her work as soon as possible. I was confused by the poor reviews it got but then I realized that the reviews are of the WRITTEN work; I had LISTENED to the audio CD. The autobiography portions are read by Fay Weldon herself, sharply contrasting the fictional portions read by Rula Lenska. This is a book that needs such clear distinctions.
Fay, it seems, is a comedy genius with regards to gender. My only complaint is the abruptness of the fictional ending. It strikes like an artillery shell and leaves her characters (and readers) crawling out of the dust, looking around, wondering what just happened. In my opinion it "unwrites" everything that came before, making the previous philosophical discussions about gender seem trivial. Hmmm..now that I think about it, perhaps it is a good ending after all.

too much work.......2005-04-15

I know of Fay Weldon, I figured this would be a "good read" -- and I was hoping for something better from her than the usual "chick-lit" clogging the shelves these days. I found myself skipping 5-10 pages at a time, not particularly caring what happened, until I finally decided to do something better with my time.

This book seemed to follow the idea of: "Tell them what you're GOING to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you just TOLD them." I felt I was reading the same thing, told 2-4-5-8 different times, and even skipping 10-15 pages, didn't seem to move the story... was there a story? Or was it just "ramblings from the writer's studio?"

If you've noticed how much Weldon has produced in her career, perhaps anything she churns out now is just deemed a "good literary work" simply based on her past performance.

If I have to "work" to get through a story, at least let me learn something, or experience something-- don't force me to try to make sense of what amounts to nothing more than meaningless gibberish, and call that "literature."

Walled Books........2005-02-01

As an avid reader, it's a rare thing for me to put down a book before I've read it right through to the end. I've always soldiered on with the hopes that even a less-than-riviting read might get better as it goes. Not only did I put this book down, I very nearly heaved it at the nearest wall. (Hence, "walled books".)

I did make it nearly half-way through Mantrapped before I surrendered. The constant switches back and forth between the story of Trisha and the autobiographical bits were, I felt, not delineated clearly enough. Often I could not decipher whether I was reading about Fay or Trisha. Even something as simple as a change in type-face might have been helpful. As the author mentions having been told before,I found there WERE too many characters introduced in rapid succession and, frankly, the little 'cast' lists and introductions of a new character by putting the name in bold face did not help me much.

Having never read a novel by Fay Weldon before (nor heard of her at all, frankly), I wasn't particularly interested in reading her autobiography. I admit I only read a little bit of the description on the dust jacket before thinking "Sure, this looks like a fun little read!" and picking it up. Had I read more of the description, the promise of some insight and glimpses into the life of the author still might have intrigued me enough for a read. Unfortunately I felt the end product was poorly executed. Perhaps if I'd heard of Fay Weldon before and was familliar with her other novels and her work in TV I might have been more interested in reading about them, but instead the frequent name dropping and listed writing credits were more of an annoyance.

In summary, although I'm sure I've made it fairly clear, I did not like this book. At all. But, fans of Fay Weldon may well enjoy it, I suppose.

Fay Weldon's latest novel is worth the journey.......2005-01-23

Fans of Fay Weldon will find MANTRAPPED gratifying. Others may find it trying. Half novel, half extension of her autobiography Auto da Fay, this book's typically atypical main plot concerns a soul switch in London between a down-on-her-luck, past-her-prime woman named Trisha and a vigorous, modern young man named Peter. Weldon alternates the tale of this unprecedented metaphysical event with digressions about her own past. "Novels alone are not enough. Self-revelation is required. Readers these days demand to know the credentials of their writers, and so they should."

Whether one considers skipping between novel and autobiography annoying will probably depend on how one likes Weldon's philosophical asides. Weldon has been writing --- ad copy, plays and novels --- for fifty years, and her observations about the changes in her profession are trenchant indeed. "It is not better and it is not worse: it is just different," she claims. But underneath her air of cynical resignation, one senses a nostalgia for the past, when men were Men (unapologetically inexplicable) and the vagaries of the human spirit were not so clinically explored. "Since Meg Ryan faked an orgasm in public, what is there left to be exposed?"

To return to the story of Peter and Trisha and the soul-switch, the mechanics of it are never quite explained. Peter lives with Doralee, an efficient, smart young magazine writer who secretly drinks tap water to decrease the likelihood of getting pregnant. It all starts when Doralee upends a vase on her bed, necessitating the cleaning of her mattress cover. "There was no time in her life for the agents of misrule; for accidents or inefficiencies, or cheap vases with not sufficient weighting at the base." Doralee sends the cover off to Mrs. Kovac's cleaners, along with a little black dress. But the buttons melt in the cleaning process. Mrs. Kovac sends it upstairs to Trisha, who has squandered a lottery fortune, and mends in exchange for a rent break. Doralee demands good service, and when her little black dress is late due to the melted mattress cover buttons, she sends the tractable Peter to pick it up. At the cleaning shop, Peter goes upstairs to fetch the mattress cover while Trisha is coming down, fuming at Mrs. Kovac's various presumptions. They pass on the stairs, and voila --- Trisha inhabits Peter's body, and Peter discovers himself stuck in Trisha's.

Weldon is a master of cosmic and comical sexual shenanigans. Despite the inherent difficulty in specifying which character is doing, thinking or saying what, she makes the most of the situation. (She finally resorts to using "the Peter body" and "the Trisha body.") After getting thoroughly drunk and trashing the cleaning shop, the two misfits return to Doralee, who naturally enough wants the real Peter back, but who nevertheless is not above making notes for a book about the subject that could make her career. She drags the childish pair from psychotherapist to priest, to no avail. Will the Peter body and the Trisha body have sex with each other, or with Doralee? How can they reverse a process they never asked for or understood in the first place?

I can't say I liked these characters, but liking the characters is never the point in a Fay Weldon novel. You come for the delicious, arch insights, the deadpan revelations, the quixotic observations of the things that nobody used to talk about. Now that orgasms are faked in public, the titillation of Weldon's prose may have lost some of its effect. But for this reader, it was still worth the journey.

--- Reviewed by Eileen Zimmerman Nicol

Customer Reviews:

I Know You're Not Supposed to Judge a Book by its Cover . ........2001-11-26

I know many people who did, in fact, read this book will be quite miffed at my stereotypical view, and I can already tell those readers that I excitedly hope to be proven wrong. However, the cover illustration to the book seems . . . well, very VERY tacky. I've yet to see any other romance novel featuring a cover picture featuring the author and her husband as the hero and heroine . . . as Shannon Drake, aka Heather Grahm has done with "Tomorrow the Glory." I realize the cherished family ideals behind the stunt, but I do feel that I have lost some respect for Mrs. Grahm for so cleary "Mary Sue"-ing in the initial illustration the book features. "Mary Sue" is a term coined in slang for a ficticious character based solely on the author, used to make the author sound better than perfect and have everything go according to their wishes in their own literary fantasyland. True, every reader usually find some inexpicable kinmanship with a particular character in a book which creates a more empathetic reading that cherishes the story as something you connect with and feel special about. Putting yourself in such a "Mary Sue" position as Ms. Grahm has done is something that has initially turned me off from reading this book. I like cover illustrations to be idealistic fantasy creations that personify the characters in the book, just to give an initial mental picture before reading. Now that I have Ms. Grahm and her husband penetrating my mind as utterly REAL models, I have lost my taste for the imagining of characters, and will sadly only visualize a pretentious author with an overflated ego and her husband instead of the actual characters.

Best Historical Romance Ever.......2001-03-18

I am an avid historical romance reader. Out of all of the books I have read (and there have been a lot) this is by far the best one yet! While reading this book I laughed out loud numerous times and even shed a tear or two. Most historical romances frustrate me because they are always based on some stupid secret, that if told, there probably would not have been any problems in the relationships in the first place. This book isn't like that. The problem is laid out in the beginning of the book and the secret is out. The rest of the book is about the love the main characters share and thier struggle to be together. Many obstacles attempt to come between the two lovers but in the end, their love wins out. Again this is one of the best books I have ever read and I STRONGLY recommend it to EVERYBODY!

A must read! Exciting and sexy! A real page-turner!.......1998-09-05

This was the first Civil War romance that I read. I was very impressed. You can't help but fall for Brent and hope for a love that was destined to be. Finally, two lovers who don't constantly fight their passions!

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Glory Today for Conquest Tomorrow
Robert G. Lee
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O2QQI4

Glory today for conquest tomorrow;: Significant sermons,

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Glory today for conquest tomorrow;: Significant sermons,
Robert Greene Lee
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, & the Hope for Tomorrow

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Critical eye on the past, hope for the future
Helpful in Fighting the Good Fight of Faith
An Engaging History
"Behold, I make all things new"
God in charge

The Resilient Church: The Glory, the Shame, & the Hope for Tomorrow
Mike Aquilina
Manufacturer: Word Among Us Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

ASIN: 1593251041

Book Description

Beginning with the earliest martyrs and ending with the twentieth century, The Resilient Church offers a fascinating look at the trials and triumphs of the Catholic Church over the past two thousand years. Fast-paced sketches of critical periods in church history give readers perspective on the challenges faced by the church today. Short selections in each chapter highlight some of the great heroes who influenced the course of history. Mike Aquilina does not shrink from the realities of the past, including badly behaved leaders and those who betrayed the Lord. Yet he also leaves readers with well-founded hope for the future: God remains faithful in every circumstance and fulfills his promise to remain with his church always.

Customer Reviews:

Critical eye on the past, hope for the future.......2007-08-23

As the author says in the Introduction: "This book is not a chronicle or even, strictly speaking, a history. It covers only a sampling of years from just a few spots on the globe." This being said, it succeeds in its goal of covering key events throughout the history of the Church from the early martyrs of Roman persecution through the priest scandals of our present decade. In between, we're reminded of or introduced to (depending on the reader's knowledge of history) key figures and events in the history of the world and the Church. For example, we're told of the earliest apologists, like Justin Martyr. Great intellects of the early Constantine-liberated Church like Ambrose, Augustine, and Cyril of Jerusalem. Also, the effects of the rise of Islam and its related persecutions of Christians leading to the First Crusade and the Spanish expulsion of Muslims. Then a jump to the split of Martin Luther and his followers, Henry VIII, and subsequent Protestant fractioning. Spaniards Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross give the Church hope as Protestantism rapidly spreads. During this time expansion in the New World and the trials and tribulations there, including poor treatment of the natives in too many cases, is highlighted. The appearance of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego leads to the conversion of millions just as many Europeans leave the Church for Protestantism. The French Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries led to severe anti-Catholicism and repression. This anti-Catholicism was very prominent in America as well, with much persecution of immigrants, particularly the Irish. Popes Pius IX and Leo XIII of the late 19th century saw the demise of the Papal States and the fight against Modernism. The spirituality of the 20th century was most influenced by Therese of Lisieux in her short, hidden life. World War II is explicated through: its chief villains (Hitler and Mussolini) who, aside from the tragic attempt to exterminate the Jews, killed many priest, nuns, and lay Christians, and; the popes who opposed them (Pius XI and Pius XII) through word (encyclicals and letters) and deed (particularly saving many Roman Jews). The latter part of the 20th century saw the influential Second Vatican Council and the popular and long-serving Pope John Paul II and his fight against Communism.

Undoubtedly, some will argue that certain persons or events should have been included, but were not. Yet the author does a fine job of covering a lot of ground in an interesting and accessible way. Certain insights sprinkled throughout the book are very valuable. For example, martyrdom in the early Church as a sacrifice and how it relates to Jesus' sacrifice and the Eucharist. Also, certain little known figures, like the interesting story of the first priest to celebrate Mass in the New World, are brought forth. The "Closer Look" sections at the end of all chapters but the last generally focus on a deeper treatment, usually of individuals, of the era covered in the preceding chapter (the story of the first Catholic bishop of Charleston, John England, is particularly fascinating).

The author, as the subtitle indicates, does not shy away from problems that have been caused by certain Church members but he does not dwell on them either. There will be "glory" and "shame" in an institution in which frail humans are involved. This is valuable insight for Catholics and non-Catholics alike, especially those with misconceptions about the Church.

In this relatively short book the author cannot go into great detail on any topic but does an excellent job of providing an overview of certain events. His discussion of the French Revolution stands out as an excellent summary of this era in European history. And the terrible persecutions of Catholic Americans leads us to appreciate the freedom we have to practice religion today. For the student of Church history or secular history it whets the appetite leaving the reader wanting more.

That being said, my main suggestion for enhancing the book would be a "For Further Reading" section at the end of each chapter. One can look to the footnotes, but these are not generally as helpful as would be a list of supplemental materials for the reader who wants to go deeper into a particular topic.

Philip Jenkins is quoted in the last chapter: "The best indicator that Christianity is about to experience a vast expansion is a widespread conviction that the religion is doomed or in its closing days." Then the author goes on, in an excellent one page summary, to show how that has happened throughout Church history, nicely wrapping up the book.

Helpful in Fighting the Good Fight of Faith.......2007-07-19

A great resource in the good fight of religious literacy. Minor points of clarification needed (e.g. page 86: the Church neither excommunicates nor condemns anyone; people choose to place themselves in a state of excommunication, and behaviors--not people--are condemned in the Church's eyes). An interesting exercise would be for a small group of adults to read this book alongside the index in the Catechism of the Catholic Church--looking up points in the Catechism where various people mentioned in Aquilina's book are quoted or referred to in elucidating doctrine. Again--a really great resource bound to be helpful for many adults seeking or recapturing the timeless truths of Faith.

An Engaging History.......2007-07-16

This pint-sized page-turner hits point after point of Church history and at the same time successfully invites the reader to view something of a Catholic family album. Aquilina's style is beautifully descriptive and reads like a script for the history channel. The breadth of topics make a great starting point for further investigation--not intimidating, but very satisfying.

"Behold, I make all things new".......2007-07-08

What a lovely book!

It could be subtitled "A brief history of the Christian world," but with much more reverence than Mel Brooks could muster. It is filled with interesting anecdotes that would appeal even to non-believers.

Aquilina aptly quotes G. K. Chesterton : "Christianity has died many times and risen again; for it had a God who knew the way out of the grave." This book deftly illustrates some of the different paths Christians have so followed their Master.

God in charge.......2007-07-02

Aquilina does a fantastic job of "tip toeing" through Church history and weaving together a meaningful and enjoyable "family story" which leaves one with a sense that through it all, God the Father is in charge,guiding his family through the highs and lows to their ultimate destination.

Tomorrow's Egypt: The Renaissance of a Nation and Its Glory

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Tomorrow's Egypt: The Renaissance of a Nation and Its Glory
Mahmud Kamil
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NP15G0

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Tomorrow's Egypt: The Renaissance of a Nation and Its Glory.
Mahmoud KAMEL
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MXAZKK

For the glory of young manhood and womanhood: Yesterday, today and tomorrow

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For the glory of young manhood and womanhood: Yesterday, today and tomorrow
Tracy Byers
Manufacturer: Berry Schools
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007FI19A

THE TOMORROW TAMER - And Other Stories: The Drummer of All the World; The Perfume Sea; The Merchant of Heaven; The Rain Child; Godman's Master; A Fetish for Love; The Pure Diamond Man; The Voices of Adamo; A Gourdful of Glory

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THE TOMORROW TAMER - And Other Stories: The Drummer of All the World; The Perfume Sea; The Merchant of Heaven; The Rain Child; Godman's Master; A Fetish for Love; The Pure Diamond Man; The Voices of Adamo; A Gourdful of Glory
Margaret (introduction by Clara Thomas) Laurence
Manufacturer: McClelland and Stewart - New Canadian Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GW45L2

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Tomorrow's Egypt;: The renaissance of a nation and its glory
Maḥmūd Kāmil
Manufacturer: Eastern Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Production & Operations | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007IUAYG

Book Description

The Yeerks possess a weapon that could be the biggest threat to the Animorphs yet. The anti-morphing ray transforms a person in a morph back to natural form. Unless they find and destroy the top-secret ray, the Animorphs could be expose for good.

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Animorphs: The Illusion #33

Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Animorphs #26: The Attack (Animorphs)

ASIN: 0439145953

4 Titles in Animorph Series - 30 31 32 33 - The Reunion - Conspiracy - Separation - Illusion

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4 Titles in Animorph Series - 30 31 32 33 - The Reunion - Conspiracy - Separation - Illusion
K. A. Applegate
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000N2526C

Product Description

4 Titles in Animorph Series - 30 31 32 33 - The Reunion - Conspiracy - Separation - Illusion

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A series of Joseph Campbell lectures recorded

The Myths And Masks Of God: Joseph Campbell Audio Collection

Campbell without blemishes

Myths and Masks of God: Joseph Campbell Audio Collection
Joseph Campbell
Manufacturer: Highbridge Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Campbell, Joseph | ( C ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
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Mythology and the Individual: Joseph Campbell Audio Collection (Campbell, Joseph, Joseph Campbell Audio Collection.)

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Man and Myth Joseph Campbell Audio Collection (Campbell, Joseph, Joseph Campbell Audio Collection.)

The Eastern Way Joseph Campbell Audio Collection (Campbell, Joseph, Joseph Campbell Audio Collection.)

Western Quest: Joseph Campbell Collection (Campbell, Joseph, Joseph Campbell Audio Collection.)

ASIN: 1565117344

Customer Reviews:

A series of Joseph Campbell lectures recorded .......2007-08-10

Born: 26 March 1904, Died: 31 October 1987, he was raised Catholic but had a fascination with Native American myths at a young age. He is well know for several books and "The Hero with a Thousand Faces" and different lecture series.

The Myths and the Masks of God include:

Interpreting Symbolic Forms
Using the Garden of Eden and the symbols including the two trees and a few beings, they are compared to earlier versions from societies 7000 BCE through 1900 CE. Concluding with "feel free to read any form you like into these symbols and realize it will be a symptom of you."

Mythic Vision

Experiencing the Devine

History of the Gods

The Religious Impulse

This series of lectures was given in the seventies and it is interesting to see how it holds up today. He brings a different vision for most of us when he compares a religion where we identify with God vs. having a relationship to God. Of course those that have followed Joseph Campbell Already have the concepts but find it useful to hear his thoughts and compare them to what we already know.

The nice thing about the lectures is that every time we hear them we get a different slant on what we originally heard or glossed over. Learn more www.jcf.org

The Myths And Masks Of God: Joseph Campbell Audio Collection.......2004-12-15

The subject of the question of if Joseph Campbell's attitude towards the christian tradition suffers from a certain sort of prejudice is a somewhat complicated subject in Campbell's body of work. As another reviewer has noted, Campbell's criticism of christianity is of its emphasis of facts... as a pose to the poetry... But I think Campbell himself would acknowledge ..or its a part of Jung's work.. who Campbell follows... that an emphasis of subject over object, or object over subject.. has more to do with psychology typology then truth.. That is God is about transcending the idea of God... Which is to say.. you can sort of argue that Campbell is right in his criticism and Christianity is right for talking about its valuing of a factual grounding as being one of the virtues of the Christian tradition... What I'm saying is that this is a complicated subject.. and in some way I think we have to try and understand Campbell's position in a historical perspective and what it meant in relationship to that historical perspective.. And anyway.. one can come to one's own positions on these sorts of things

Further.. this stuff is a little complicated for anyone who hasn't spent some time with Campbell... but on the other hand.. one of the virtues of a book on tape is you can always listen to it more then once.. So I don't think the issue of the complexity of the material should be taken as a strike against it.. if anything.. I'd argue that it adds to the value.. because it gives you a reason to listen to it again and again.. to contemplate it.. etc..

The last thing to be said is that Campbell is at his best as a lecturer.. Sure, his books are great.. but there's a whole other dimension to the man that is really only to be captured in his lectures.. on tape.. and In my view.. this is the best way to take in Campbell..

Campbell without blemishes.......2001-06-15

In the editorial review printed below from some audio magazine, the reviewer accuses Campbell of having anti-Christian biases. If anything, Campbell cuts Christians too much slack in this series of lectures. Here Campbell explores the reasons for the decline of Christianity in our culture, and concludes that the problem lies in organized religions tradition of emphasizing the Christian mythology as historic fact. Campbell claims that this diminishes the effect of Christian symbolism, because when we discover scientific evidence that proves the mythology could not have been actual fact, we abandon the underlying truths the mythology was meant to illustrate. Campbell calls this a problem of reading poetry as prose, of reading metaphor as fact. This is the only thing in this series that could be remotely considered anti-Christian, and then only by a myopic pinhead. Anyone--Christian or otherwise--whose head wasn't firmly embedded in the nether regions of his or her anatomy would realize that this line of thought was liberating rather than negating.

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Wonderfully detailed book!

Good illustrated and easy to follow recipes

Authentic Japanese Cuisine for Beginners: A Step-by-Step Guide
Sabi Shinojima
Manufacturer: Japan Publications Trading
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Japanese | Asian | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Harumi's Japanese Cooking: More than 75 Authentic and Contemporary Recipes from Japan's Most PopularCooking Expert

ASIN: 4889960880

Book Description

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO MAKE TEMPURA BUT BEEN DISMAYED BY THE RESULT?

In this handy full-color guide, you will discover the simple steps that professional chefs use to attain the perfect texture for every dish and bring out the full depth of flavor for each ingredient.

The seventy recipes in this volume are presented in full color, supplemented by full-color photographs of four, five, or more of the steps needed to prepare the dish perfectly. The key step-the professional's touch-for recipes is highlighted for quick reference.

Organized by method of preparation, the recipes include simmered dishes, elegant soups, rice dishes, noodle platters, custard-style egg dishes, seafood dishes, deep-fried and pan-fried dishes, and crisp marinated vegetable dishes.

Fundamental techniques of Japanese cooking, such as making stock, blanching vegetables, steaming rice, handling dried foods, and grilling fish, are included in each section, with illustrations for every step.

With its easy-to-use format and mouthwatering recipes, this book is an essential tool for every kitchen.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderfully detailed book!.......2006-09-08

This book is perfect for those looking for authentic Japanese cusine that is not overly complicated and has reasonably easy to find ingredients. This book covers all sorts of Japanese food and not only gives a detailed picture explaining how to use certain techniques, but also gives helpful hints along the way to help the reader understand WHY certain steps are made in the cooking process. (such as why you cook certain vegetables with rice in the water or with vinegar water)

I'd have to say the only drawback to this book is that it is so short, if only it was longer!

Good illustrated and easy to follow recipes.......2005-12-10

The instructions are detailed with great photos to illustrate what the dish should look like. One of the best Japanese recipe books. Some ingredients are hard to find in the States.
(Reviewed on 12/9/2005)

Book Description

This guide is designed to help everyone from dealers to laypeople quickly establish the approximate production date of most twentieth century manufactured items. By relating the information in this book to the various clues provided by the object you are trying to date, it should be possible to narrow down the time frame of possible production, in many cases, to within several years of manufacture. Visit our website for sample chapters!

Customer Reviews:

Date just about anything Made in the 20th Century.......2006-04-15

Starts out with basics, such as patent numbers/dates, dates U.S. coins were introduced, seal of approval dates, and much more. Moves on to US Mail (dates zones, then ZIP codes were introduced). When telephone styles and area code usage began. On to inventions of all sorts (e.g. such diversified things as the ballpoint pens and escalators). Dates the initial production of materials, for example aluminum or stainless steel; the china and glass groups include brands and dated marks. A "made in" section refers to the country of manufacture, both American and foreign items. A cartoon character section dates numerous trademarks. This is followed by dated brand name logos. And it goes on and on with useful dating information. A must for all collectors and dealers in collectibles.

Made in the 20th Century; A Guide to Contemporary Collectibles

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Made in the 20th Century; A Guide to Contemporary Collectibles
Larry Paul
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MUG02A

Book Description

A private retreat, a place to welcome friends and neighbors, a showcase for our most treasured possessions and memories -- each person's home is as different and unique as they themselves are. We live in and through the space we call our home; it is a space that defines and expands our sense of self, of who we are and of the world around us. In the revolutionaryhome design manual Zona Home: Essential Designs for Living, world-renowned interior expert Louis Sagar, using his decades of experience as one of the most innovative and influential lifestyle retailers in the world, reveals the best ways to create the ideal living environment and provides a creative interpretation of how the natural and sensorial world can be brought into the home.

Rather than viewing the home as just a place to hang your hat or to sleep off the stresses of the day, Zona Home offers suggestions for turning your abode into a vibrant, vital space that provides a comfortable haven from the trials of the outside world. Over 200 beautiful full-color photographs compliment a text woven from Sagar's reflections, anecdotes from Zona's history, and abundant practical information, providing a fantastic sense of the myriad possibilities for designing a home based on the inimitable style created by personal experience. The book is divided into four sections, which cover everything from conceptualizing your ideal home to fulfilling the real needs of your current living space.

Feeling at Home:
Key concepts of the basic Zona philosophy ("Creating a Sense of Welcome" and "Bringing the Garden Inside," for instance) and describes the principles of comfort that will determine the kind of home you want to make.

Learing to See:
How to develop personal style with the help of natural materials and a deeper understanding of your home's architectural environment.

Hitting the Road:
An introduction to new sources for collectibles, and a stirring evocation of travel's importance as an inspiration for your homes evolving decor.

These sections are packed with honest, helpful features relating to all stages of home development, including "A Checklist to Plan for Your Ideal Home," "Making Visual Potpourri," "Decorating Your Walls," "Building Collections" and "At Home with Technology," that offer concrete solutions to hard-to-solve problems such as what to do with "too much stuff."

Sagar shares many of his trade secrets, acquaints readers first-hand with the numerous domestic and international craftspeople that Zona works with to create its definitive aesthetic, and provides a core list of titles that no home should be without. Throughout his career Sagat has bucked short-lived trends and emphasized quality, hand-crafted pieces and natural materials and the importance of the natural, textural, sensorial in the creation of a successful living space. From buying at antique shows to using rock salt and peppercorns as decorative elements, Zona Home contains unique, useful information that everyone can use.

Customer Reviews:

An extraordinary gem........1999-07-10

Everyone has heard that the truest and most durable beauty lies within. Zona Home confirms it. This book about interior design for living spaces is a remarkable gem. In 208 pages everything is touched on from a personal design theory to some practical "recipes". Nothing is left out. The author warms to his true love of texture and contrast, elements of earth, air, fire and water, scent, sound and discovery. He goes on to topics of travel, gift giving and buying antiques. The ideas he presents revolve around the beautiful object, a simple lifestyle, and the search for a spiritual center. With the author's Zona approach your living space does not change at the whim of popular style. You can return to this book many times and always find more. I fact you may not need any other book about decorating.

Although Louis Sagar ran a beautiful store in Manhattan's Soho district for seventeen years, Zona Home is not a push for sales but presents ideas and frees the beholder to create interiors from his or her own life.

A lot of meaning can be taken from the lifestyle choices a person makes but it's often assumed that to have a planned design for a living space one must spend a lot of money. Sagar shows that choices of simple objects from ones own life and travels are an important part of letting our surroundings express who we are.

The book relies heavily on photographs for it's comfortable appeal. The photos are well selected and express a spirituality without shouting it. The effect is serene but not droning. They are full of detail but not overwhelming and project the book's message of beauty with character, not a slick polish.

The text is peppered with many quotes from notables including G K Chesterton, William Carlos Williams and Joseph Conrad. Unfortunately the author also quotes himself in his own book. This lapse can be forgiven however, because the book is a work of art that "casts a spell". A delicious "travel" book presenting us with beautiful, exotic and unusual places that could be our own homes.

Average customer rating:
Zona Home: Essential Designs for Living
Louis Sagar
Manufacturer: HarperStyle (HarperCollins)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MANQ1I

Book Description

15 laser-cut stencils include depictions of a lion, giraffe, rooster, elephant, dog, cat, rabbit, and 8 more.

Customer Reviews:

Sturdy and Cute.......2007-05-13

These stencils are cute and very sturdy. Basically the cover you see is the front of a folder. A large envelope is glued inside the folder, which contains 3 8x10 sheets of platic stencils. They are not hard plastic, but flexible. They can stand up to repeated use by a 4 year-old and six year-old.
The designs are great. Can be used with crayon, pencil, marker, or paint.

Book Description

This book provides a comprehensive account of the culture of modern Italy. Specially-commissioned essays by leading specialists focus on a wide range of political, historical and cultural questions. The volume provides information and analysis on such topics as regionalism, language, social and political cultures, the Church, feminism, organized crime, literature, art, the mass media, and music. Each essay contains suggestions for further reading on the topics covered. The Cambridge Companion to Modern Italian Culture is an invaluable source of materials for courses on all aspects of modern Italy.

Texas and the Far West (North American Historical Atlases)

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Texas and the Far West (North American Historical Atlases)
Rebecca Stefoff
Manufacturer: Benchmark Books (NY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0761413456

Let's Do (Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction)

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Great for book clubs!
Great Book!
Beautiful characterizations, compelling stories
Honest, Poignant, and Downright Hilarious

Let's Do (Katherine Anne Porter Prize in Short Fiction)
Rebecca Meacham
Manufacturer: University of North Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1574411853

Book Description

In the nine stories of Let's Do, various calamities strike ordinary Midwesterners, who cope with a mixture of good intentions and ineptitude. Balancing humor with painful clarity, author Rebecca Meacham pulls readers into the lives of characters who struggle with and more often against--change.

"Rebecca Meacham has one of the freshest voices I've encountered in a long time. Blatantly wise, she creates stories that are deliciously subversive, brave and outrageous, reminiscent of a young Alice Hoffman. As the lives of her characters get derailed, they move with the damaged grace of walking through broken glass on tiptoe. This is a writer whose words speak with emotional resonance about the resilience of the human heart--a beautiful, authentic talent who knows that when you turn life upside down, you get good measures of both trouble and laughter, a lesson the very best writers recognize early."--Jonis Agee, Judge

"The characters in Let's Do are the kind of people we don't want to be--drunks, stalkers, lonely ex-wives and husbands, grieving Parents, all decent people who do indecent things and Rebecca Meacham writes about them brilliantly, with empathy, intelligence and a scathing sense of humor. This is a terrific debut, by a fearless, hugely talented writer."--Brock Clarke, author, What We Won't Do

"The world of Rebecca Meacham's Let's Do is as brilliant as a diamond. Even the simplest actions--a walk across a snowy landscape, a visit from a sister--shine with unexpected light, and lives that at first appear to be simple are full of angles and refraction, showing greater complexity than we might have dreamed. Meacham's vision is complex, her characters rich and memorable, and the impact of her stories is dazzling."--Erin McGraw, author, The Baby Tree

Customer Reviews:

Great for book clubs!.......2005-07-10

Our book club selected this book, and it contained a wealth of interesting topics to discuss. We had one of our best discussions yet! Rebecca Meacham is a fresh new writer with wonderful talent. I highly recommend Let's Do!

Great Book!.......2005-02-26

This author brings each character in each story to life. It was like I knew them myself. The book was great and I highly reccommend it to anyone. I can't wait to read more from this new author.

Beautiful characterizations, compelling stories.......2005-02-09

I am not normally a fan of the short story genre -- usually short stories are all about plot or Some Grand Idea, and you have to let them go just when you're starting to get interested. Rebecca Meacham's stories are full of beautiful, knowable characters who draw you in from the first sentence and allow you to sit down, stay awhile, and learn something about someone who is, at least a little bit, just like you. Each story is complete, complex and satisfying, if sometimes heartbreaking and even devastating. It's the details about the characters that make the difference...the wry humor of a pregnant art teacher trying to hide her growing tummy while fending off possessive parents, the woman who is so nervous about socializing with her neighbor who has just lost a child that she rationalizes fixing a "quick Beam and Coke" before the party starts, the awful detail of an anorexic teenager planning every minute of a day. Meachem's insight into such vastly different human beings is amazing. I can't wait for more.

Honest, Poignant, and Downright Hilarious.......2004-12-23

Let's Do is hands-down one of the best collections of short stories I've come across. The characters were described as people "we don't want to be" and yet, each of them evoked a measure of empathy as I read. The way they spoke and the things they thought were incredibly honest--a testimony to Meacham's talent. There is a frankness to her prose that is endearing. She isn't afraid to probe the raw spots of people's characters, however uncomfortable it may be. At the same time, the collection has its share of hilarious moments: thoughts and actions and mis-guided intentions that made me laugh out loud. This was a great holiday read. Enjoy!

Slave Emancipation In Cuba: The Transition to Free Labor, 1860-1899 (Pitt Latin American Studies)

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Careful analysis of a complex process

Slave Emancipation In Cuba: The Transition to Free Labor, 1860-1899 (Pitt Latin American Studies)
Rebecca Scott
Manufacturer: University of Pittsburgh Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Slavery & Emancipation | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0822957353

Book Description

Slave Emancipation in Cuba is the classic study of the end of slavery in Cuba. Rebecca J. Scott explores the dynamics of Cuban emancipation, arguing that slavery was not simply abolished by the metropolitan power of Spain or abandoned because of economic contradictions. Rather, slave emancipation was a prolonged, gradual and conflictive process unfolding through a series of social, legal, and economic transformations.

Scott demonstrates that slaves themselves helped to accelerate the elimination of slavery. Through flight, participation in nationalist insurgency, legal action, and self-purchase, slaves were able to force the issue, helping to dismantle slavery piece by piece. With emancipation, former slaves faced transformed, but still very limited, economic options. By the end of the nineteenth-century, some chose to join a new and ultimately successful rebellion against Spanish power.

In a new afterword, prepared for this edition, the author reflects on the complexities of postemancipation society, and on recent developments in historical methodology that make it possible to address these questions in new ways.

Customer Reviews:

Careful analysis of a complex process.......2004-09-16

Professor Scott makes exemplary scholarship look easy. Having just finished William Freehling's "Road to Disunion: Secessionists at Bay 1776-1854", a brilliant exposition of the sociopolitical history of the U.S. antebellum South, I wanted to see how another nineteenth-century New World society, also heavily invested in slavery, ended the institution. I was gratified to find one of the most carefully written modern histories I have ever read. Using clear, direct prose, Scott effortlessly renders nineteenth-century Cuba's variegated social geography, its tortuous legal gymnastics, and the complicated social and racial tensions that determined the course of emancipation. In the process, she disassembles previous explanations of why Cuban slavery devolved as it did: for instance, she demonstrates that slavery was not antithetical to technological advancement or intensified capitalist organization of sugar production. Her detailed treatment of the role and nature of Chinese indentured labor--its relationship to slavery; the economic, ethnic and social dimensions of the opportunities it offered plantation owners and managers--comprises a breathtaking glimpse into the grim polyethnic logic of plantation profits in the New World, even as it demolishes theories that the presence of Chinese laborers reveals the fatal weaknesses of slave labor in Cuba. Indeed, one of the enduring themes of the period is the bewilderingly hybrid nature of Cuban plantation labor during the transition away from slavery. At any given sugar mill, one might encounter slaves (both African and Afro-Cuban), Chinese indentured laborers, autonomous gangs of Chinese contractors, prisoners, free wage-earners, tenant farmers and Spanish soldiers all breaking their backs to harvest and process the cane. One is also left with a clear picture of the dramatic geographic differences--the huge and technically advanced mills of Matanzas in the west, Havana's distinctly urban dynamic, the east's rebellious and racially mixed smallholders. Add to this the turbulent military and colonial contests that shaped, and were shaped by, the process of emancipation, and Professor Scott's achievement becomes even more astonishing. Throughout all this, she smoothly incorporates illuminating quantitative analysis (in the form of dozens of tables), and poignant personal dramas as slaves persistently participated in the processes that would determine their freedom.

Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Landscape Wars of the American West

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Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Landscape Wars of the American West
Rebecca Solnit
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 067976660X
Release Date: 1995-10-31

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Rebecca West. A Life
Victoria Glendinning
Manufacturer: Alfred A. Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NUGKPG

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Murrieta (CA) (Images of America)
Marvin Curran , Loretta Barnett , and Rebecca Farnbach
Manufacturer: Arcadia Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

In the 1870s, the Spaniard Juan Murrieta and his business partners found green pastures for their sheep in the Temecula Valley, where Native Americans had lived for centuries in southwestern Riverside County. The Spaniards owned 52,000 acres consisting of two Mexican land grants, the Temecula and Pauba Ranchos, until the partnership dissolved. Murrieta stayed on his 1,000-acre ranch until 1884, when he sold his land to a developer who named the new town site Murrietaville. Two years earlier, the Southern California Railroad opened a line into the Temecula Valley. In 1900, a girl named Hale Sykes was born. With her box camera, she documented the growing town as she saw it from her home in the Fountain House Hotel across the street from the Murrieta Train Depot. In the 21st century, the city of Murrieta numbered more than 85,000 residents.

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Temecula (CA) (Images of America)
Loretta Barnett , Rebecca Farnbach , and The Vail Ranch Restoration Association
Manufacturer: Arcadia Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

In the far southwest corner of Riverside County, a center of commerce grew in the 19th century near the junction of the Temecula and Murrieta Creeks. A stop along the Southern Emigrant Trail and Butterfield Stage route brought a few travelers to Temecula who liked the place and stayed. A cattle baron grazed his stock in the rich pastureland and dominated the economy until the mid-1960s, when an investor bought the land to build a planned community. Today Temecula is the home of over 90,000 people. Old Town Temecula celebrates its frontier past, and the Temecula Wine Country entices visitors to take a taste. The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians operates a casino and resort near Rancho del Paisano, the former home of the author who created Perry Mason, Erle Stanley Gardner.

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REBECCA WEST: A Life
Carl Rollyson
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684194309

Amazon.com

Rebecca West was a prolific English literary star, producing a stream of essays, reviews, novels, and non-fiction journalism. In the 1920s she established herself as one of Britain's most influential critics, cultivating friendships with literary figures from George Bernard Shaw to H. G. Wells, with whom she began a torrid affair when she was 19. Her sweeping study of prewar Yugoslavia, Black Lamb and Grey Falcon (1941), has been resurrected to some acclaim since the war in the Balkans. Beyond that, her literary reputation has never been elevated to the canon. Rollyson's exhaustive biography examines the strange life and the amazing output of an independent woman whom Wells called "Panther."

American Voices from the Opening of the West (American Voices from)

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American Voices from the Opening of the West (American Voices from)
Rebecca Stefoff
Manufacturer: Benchmark Books (NY)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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