Amazon.com
A grim and jagged dystopian novel of the early Soviet Union, The Foundation Pit is a scathing indictment of the brutal and anti-intellectual soviet apparatchiki, their policy of forced collectivization, and the mindlessness of "New Soviet Man" rhetoric.
Customer Reviews:
A scathing classic from Stalinist times.......2007-04-09
Andrey Platonov (real name: A.P. Klimentov) is one of the least well-known of the "silver era" of Russian/Soviet writers. This generation, active in roughly the period 1917-1937, is particularly famous for its dystopian, satirical and magical realist criticisms, with such writers as Zamyatin, Bulgakov, Ilf, Paustovsky, etc. etc. However, with this novel, Platonov definitely deserves to take his place beside them, despite never having received the respect due during his life.
"The Foundation Pit" is an extremely cynical novel describing the hollow, opportunistic, brainless and hopeless lives of a group of workers creating the living space of the future, that is, a super-highrise in which all the proletariat will be housed. This project is already obviously impossible and never-ending, but things are only worsened by the fact that none of the people involved have any idea what they are doing or living for.
Written in an very simple and effective style (as one reviewer disappointedly mentioned, do not expect any flights of high-level prose here), Platonov demonstrates the futility of the grand projects of the Stalinist period, as well as the complete impossibility for regular people to make any sense out of the government ideology and propaganda. The book is extremely grim and cynical, and the pointless despair is detailed without any softening or moderation. This may at times make it hard to keep reading, especially when Platonov describes a small nearby farming town's collectivization of agriculture, which really consists of a series of completely arbitrary lethal disasters. Nevertheless, if you like and can handle harsh books, this is a certain must read. Knowing a bit about the background of the period it describes will certainly help with the enjoyment though, as then the blunt tone of the author will come into its own.
Soviet=USA... Bush is the New Saddam...etc read on..........2007-04-05
I love reading about the dystopian worlds from the writers of once 'terror-ridden' countries. They all remind me of modern day America. Of course today, in America, it is the best example of a dystopian society and if you read this book (and others like it) with a view to Bush's regime, you see alarming similarities ... of course you need to be politically and socially informed as to the great evil that exists in this country, from Bush's environment and energy policies, to his corporate, clerical fascism; whereby the role of the state is to maintain the corporate hegemony over all aspects of the culture. Genetically modified food in the hands of biotechnology companies is the great evil of the future... keep alert for it... check out doco "The Future of Food."
"Progress is a terrible thing when it is lead by Philistines." Herman Broch
detachment, alienation, and emptiness in a newly collectivised Soviet Union.......2007-01-15
The Foundation Pit, written by Andrei Platonov in 1930, profoundly reflects the socio-political transformation of the Russian society after the October Revolution of 1917, and the establishment of the new Soviet Communist State headed by Lenin, and ultimately consolidated by Joseph Stalin in 1928.
It is important to consider that the Foundation Pit was written in a period, between 1929-1932, when significant events were taking place such as the first Five-Years Plan and the establishment of the RAPP (Russian Association of Proletarian Writers). The former launched an intense program of collectivisation of agriculture for the development of industrialisation and the achievement of socialism, which eventually led to the famine of 1932-34. The latter came to dominate the sphere of literary affairs and ultimately, institutionalised the doctrine of Socialist Realism, which was the only literary approach required by writers as well as in the arts in general.
Platonov portrays the workers in the Foundation Pit as being initially optimistic in their ability to build a new society, although sacrificing their lives, through the struggle against the kulaks. However, the characters of the novel end up living in an alienated state. They eventually loose faith in the regime and in life, espeically when the little girl, Nastya, who represents to the workers a symbol of the 'new soviet man' dies. As human being have lost their significance, objects and animals acquire human characteristics in a mixture of ironic, comic and abstract elements. For instance, the Soviet regime is depicted in its absurd attempt to collectivise the land, the population and even the animals, the horses and the industrial bear, as in a fairy-tale or in a dream.
In the Foundation Pit the interaction of characters, objects and animals is mixed with the conflict between life and death on the historical Soviet background. Andrei Platonov shows not only the socio-political transformation in Russian society for the achievement of a new Communist State, but also the failure in educating the workers, the cruel means in pursuing this goal by the regime and the real conditions of the proletariat. The working class, striving to build a new State in which they initially believe, end up living a miserable life. They are neglected by the system and compelled to even abandon their own personal beliefs.
The characters, however, seem to be as children who follow the directives of the party until they realise that they can only rely upon themselves, developing a sense of responsibility for each other in the absence of a representative organ, the Union, which should take care of their interests. Historical events co-exist with fantastic elements as the collectivised horses and the industrial bear, which can happen only in dreams, Platonov's individual interpretation of reality recalls Anton Chekhov directive that, 'Life should be portrayed not as it is and not as it should be, but as it is represented in our dreams'.
Ok.......2006-11-15
Upon perusing the exuberant user comments about this book, and after reading said text, I was quite disappointed. The novella is good, but classic it is not. I was expecting a wonderfully innovative novella that made innovative use of language within the confines of a sharp, satirical story--especially after reading some comments that Mr. Platonov was maybe the great 20th century Russian writer. Instead, I found a rather simple allegory utilizing typical Soviet-propaganda and speech. It was good, and a very courageous novella to write, but a little too simple, not all that innovative, and well, it doesnt hold a candle to other Russian 20th century writers such as: Bely, Bulgakov, Nabokov, and Sologub--all true innovators of fiction, that also held a light upon Russian culture/government and revolution. Of course, comparing the work with the aforementioned authors is perhaps unfair. Still, it is an excellent read.
Out of fiction comes the most profound truths.......2004-08-18
If you believe that Mr Heller's CATCH 22 is the great American novel of WW2 in which the US military is depicted inter alia as another US enterprise and where the war itself is a black comedy of stumblings, errors, blunders, lies, and human folly writ large, then you will be similarly entranced by Andrey Platonov's FOUNDATION PIT. The latter manages to find comedy in possibly the bleakest circumstances of any political system in the 20th century - a considerable feat but which gives the book a power that exceeds that of say Solzehnitzin's more elaborate, more realistic efforts. Platonov writes - people had no wish to stay inside their huts - where they were at the mercy of their thoughts and feelings - so they walked about wherever there was some open space, trying never to lose sight of one another; at the same time they listened intently for some distant sound to ring out through the damp air and bring them comfort in the difficult spot they were in-page 92. Such writing makes one ponder not just existence under Stalin, but one's existence period, and before we in the first world feel too smug, we might consider the proliferation of medication to the very young to counter their anxiety, the almost insatiable lust to consume products, the laughable search for happiness amongst plenty etc etc. as THE FOUNDATION PIT has a universal reference, not just to the former Soviet system. We might ponder that it is the case that there are now two million prisoners in the land of the free and home of the brave, more prisoners than have ever been held at one time in any country in history. In THE FOUNDATION PIT, a bear serves as a most efficient and effective hammerer for a blacksmith and a little girl offers hope but doesn't survive. It is a comic novel, but it is black, black comedy indeed, one that the gods might have conceived.
Average customer rating:
|
The foundation pit
Andrei Platonovich Platonov
Manufacturer: Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
 Eastern European
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B0006CAJZS |
Average customer rating:
|
Foundation Pit
Andrey Platonov
Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000REVZH6 |
Book Description
Jack Vance is one of the giants of science fiction and winner of Edgar and Hugo Awards. The Dragon Masters was his first Hugo Award-winning novel, one of only 50 or more Hugo Award-winning novels, and thus a true sf classic.
Jack Vance has been central to the sf and fantasy worlds for half a century. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction says, "He has a genius of place." Like Zelazny and Bester, he has had enduring appeal because his work was forward-thinking and radical for its time. In The Dragon Masters, the first of ibooks' definitive reissues of his work, Vance develops several races of people and follows the life of a boy born into and growing up in a static, stratified society, in which he comes into conflict and is eventually driven into rebellion. "A Rebel Without a Cause" for an Alien world.
Customer Reviews:
Great long short story..........2007-07-01
Wonderful little story. The concept was wonderfully executed, these two species using genetically bred versions of each other, battling it out. Vance is just a very, very good writer is what it comes down to. I think this would make an amazing RTS videogame concept also... well ahead of its' time.
Definitely should have been extended out into a full novel or a series. I, like others, was left wanting more, which is why I give it a 4 and not a 5.
I liked it as a tiny paperback. But it's a little short for a $10 or $11 book.
Vance at near the top of his form: elegant, imaginative, baroque.......2006-05-19
Jack Vance is one of the greatest SF writers of all time, an SFWA Grand Master, an inimitable prose stylist, as individual a writer as anyone. He has won two Hugo awards and one Nebula, for two long novellas from the 60s. These are "The Dragon Masters" (1962) and "The Last Castle" (1966). (The latter won both awards -- the former having been published prior to the establishment of the Nebulas.) These stories have long been associated with each other, not just because they both won Hugos, but because they share certain themes, and because they have been published together as an Ace Double. This new book, called simply The Dragon Masters, brings these two stories together again.
Both stories are set in the far future, and they feature humans enslaving genetically modified aliens. In each, the plot turns on a war between the humans and the aliens. The two stories are quite cynical, and our admiration for the heroes is tempered by our natural antipathy for some of their attitudes and actions.
In "The Dragon Masters", humans have almost been eradicated. Those that remain are mostly slaves of aliens, modified for special uses; except on one planet, where a few remain free. Indeed, these free humans have captured some aliens and radically modified them for their own uses. The hero, Joaz Banbeck, is a very Vancean hero, dour, misogynistic, intelligent but resigned. He has determined that the aliens are due to return, and he tries to organize a defence while dealing with a foolish enemy in the next valley, and also with the reclusive humans who live underneath the ground. The story works its way to a logical and rather bitter and uncompromising conclusion. The science is not terribly plausible (though I can think of ways to paper over the worst bits), but the description is good, and the action is sound. The story moves well and fascinates. And the prose is enjoyable as ever with Vance, if perhaps not tuned to the highest pitch of Vancean elegance.
In "The Last Castle", a group of decadent humans have returned to a long-abandoned Earth and set up an effete society in several "castles". The labour is performed by various genetically conditioned alien races. For example, the Phanes are beautiful elfin creatures sometimes used as sexual playthings. The Peasants perform menial chores. And the Meks are a hive-like species used to maintain the technological underpinnings. The Meks have finally revolted, and using their control of the technology, they have destroyed all the castles, until only the strongest, Castle Hagedorn, remains. The story turns on the ineffectual attempts of the humans to resist -- most are too concerned with their "honour", unable to sully themselves by any hint of labour, to put up a real resistance. Others refuse to kill aliens for what seems an arguably just rebellion anyway. Only a few see that the only hope for humanity is to regain a semblance of a work ethic and to cast off the decadent ways of the aristocratic society. The prose and characterization here is more effective than in "The Dragon Masters", but I thought the plot resolution less convincing.
This is an extremely welcome reissue. It is worth noting that the text is based on that of the Vance Integral Edition, the result of a wonderful project to create, in 44 volumes, a corrected edition of all of Vance's work, under the supervision of the author himself.
Exciting, and also thought provoking SF.......2006-01-21
This review refers only to the Dragon Masters story. I picked up recently an old ACE paperback of this, and having not read Vance before, was really pleased. The "novel's" (actually a novella in length) action all takes place on the distant and desolate planet Aerlith. The planet, or at least the part that interests the reader, is occupied by two groups of men living in two different valleys. One group led by Joaz Banbeck live in Banbeck Vale. Joaz rules like a Renaissance prince. His interests are varied and intellectual, but he's no fop either, and can be ruthless as occasion warrants. Nearby is (the ironically titled) Happy Valley, ruled by Ervis Carcolo, a courageous but often stupid and impulsive man. At the time Dragon Masters was written (1962), you had a Cold War in full chill. The parallel between East and West is obvious. Also on the planet is a mystic group called the Sacerdotes - who represent a future Church of some sort. And "out there" - the Basics, a lizard like race that runs itself on science - they also strike the reader as Nazi-like in their harvesting of humans.
Banbeck fears a return of the Basics, and urges Carcolo to also prepare. Both leaders have on hand armies comprised of dragons. Getting the difference between the various dragon types is difficult at best. But once battle is joined, you don't seem to mind as much as you keep turning the pages. Interestingly, the Basics are themselves related to the very dragons the humans have subdued, probably as a result of long-ago (and improbable) defeat they suffered at the hands of the humans. But Carcolo is deceitful, and as a result an unnecessarily divided humanity faces a dicey situation beneath the hovering enemy ship. What happens? Read and see. Oh, and the Sacerdotes also, despite themselves, have a role to play.
Overall, I like Vance's ability to draw you into an action packed story, while at the same time say things about the human condition that are as timeless as something you might find in the Bible or in Myth. And that's good writing, whatever the genre.
All the strengths of classic SF, and many of the weaknesses........2005-09-20
Science fiction changed forever when the Viking probe landed on Mars in 1976 and sent back color pictures. No longer could SF writers set their stories among the "canals" of Mars, or have colonists romping across the planet without spacesuits. Much previous SF had also contained elements of fantasy, including epic family sagas or unrealistically fantastic depictions of other planets. At the same time, fantasy began to emerge as a separate genre, led by the sword and sorcery epics of Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson.
The Viking probe's real science and the rise of fantasy drove SF into the new level of scientific depth that permeates the genre today. However, old-school SF, like Jack Vance, still offers the mix of science and the fantastic that dominated science fiction before the mid 1970s. _The Dragon Masters_ features genetically engineered dragons and the remnants of the human race fighting for survival on a barren planet. This 1962 Hugo Award-winning SF classic has been reissued in a "Definitive Edition" single volume, along with _The Last Castle_, a novella that was the other half of the 1966 Ace Double of _The Dragon Masters_.
This novel has all the hallmarks of classic SF: a fascinating world with a strange semi-human race, intricate backstory detailing the colonization, a technologically superior alien antagonist, human application of science in the breeding of battle dragons, and a climax that forces the human characters to ponder their role in the universe. Vance has clearly worked out the intricate details of the colonists, the semi-human sacerdotes, and the countless types of bred dragons. These elements seem scattered as the plot moves through the immediate conflict between two settlements of colonists, but they all converge in the climactic final battle.
_The Dragon Masters_ also has many of the shortcomings of classic SF. The characterization is paper-thin. Huge sections, including all of Chapter 2, are devoted to political backstory. The various battles, which take up three-quarters of the novel, are depicted from a distant, unit-level perspective. The narrative lists how many dragons of each different type went where, but it never shows the combat up-front through the eyes of a character.
Over forty years after it was written, _The Dragon Masters_ stands as a well-developed and solidly written example of the classic SF style that mixed elements of science and fantasy. It isn't as scientifically rigorous as modern SF, and it isn't as detailed as modern fantasy, but its middle ground between those extremes offers an accessible read for modern fans of either genre.
two great stories from a great writer.......2004-07-28
The Dragon Masters is great reading. you never know how is going to end. The battle sequences are presented with ability and you feel like you are in the middle of the action. Like always with Vance, he manages to create human and alien cultures wich are believable and at the same do not resemble or copy any culture we know. The thing about this story is the sense of decadence and fatality of humanity. It is suppose to be in the far away future after a great and destructive war, and it appears like the once powerful humans wich controlled a lot of planets under their rule are now just a group of a few tribes living in the small valleys of a harsh planet. An alien race comes to this planet every time its home planet orbits near, and they use its technical superiority to enslave humans. What to do? How do we face such an enemy? Is it true there are no humans elsewhere? But besides the alien menace, the tribes engage in war between them. Are doomed the humans because they can not stop fighting each other? This is a story about hope, about defeat and about the uncertainty of the future.
Finally I want to make a WARNING: if you have not read this book and you do not know any specific details about the story, avoid reading the backcover. I can't understand why, but the publisher reveals the greatest plot twist in the story. I never read this kind of information because I want to be surprised in my reading. After I finished reading this book I read the backcover and I couldn't believe what they said.
Also in this book is another story: The Last Castle. I'm only going to mention one thing. You've got to read this because of the human culture depicted here. To see those men handle the extreme situation in which they are is at the same time hilarious and stressful.
One last thing. It is true that after you finish reading these two stories you wish they were longer, but not because there is a lack of charachter development or because something is missing, but because they are so damn good.
It is good to know that in the middle of all the garbage fantatstical stories that are published today (Jordan, Eddings, etc) there is great SF and F to be found, there is always Jack Vance.
Book Description
An intimate story of the author's own faults and doubts and questioning, and his ongoing struggle to live the four steps to spiritual freedom, form the basis of this literate, well-conceived spiritual guidebook. Thomas Ryan outlines the four steps to spiritual freedom: Know Who You Are; Live Your Calling to the Full; Let Go of Results; and Daily Re-Dedicate Your Life to God.
This wise and passionate book is full of practical examples and instructions and includes numerous quotations skillfully blended within the text, from Jungian psychology to Zen, from modern-day popular authors to historical spiritual personages. This book explains and demonstrates contemplative prayer, eastern meditation, and Christian meditation; teaches an ongoing focus on both attention and intention in spiritual life; includes the practice of communal prayer as well as individual prayer. For anyone on a spiritual path in the midst of daily life and work, Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom offers carefully and lovingly delineated guideposts along the way.
Customer Reviews:
Freedom to "let go".......2004-02-19
Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom is an authentic and beautifully written book. Fr. Ryan's style brings the journey to spiritual freedom within the reader's grasp. One of the concepts that stayed with me is the idea of letting go of what others and the "world" think you should be to find what makes you unique. When you are who you were meant to be and live the life you were meant to live, from integrity and in harmony with the universe, you will feel the presence of God. As daunting as this may seem, Fr. Ryan makes it real by disclosing experiences from his own life and the lives of others who have inspired him on his own spiritual journey. This book resonates with honesty and sincerity as I could relate it to various experiences in my own life. It is a book that I didn't want to end.
Grace and Freedom.......2003-11-20
Fr. Ryan's book Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom is a beautifully insightful reflection on the challenge to find freedom for our souls as we journey with God. The many stories about himself and others that he incorporates throughout the chapters breathe life into his ideas, resonating deeply and memorably because they are so real. I was particularly struck by the spiritual director's wise counsel: "Learn to be at home in the mud!" I felt that Ryan offered a thoughtful balance between practices such as prayer that strenghten our faith and the sheer grace that is the root and source of our spiritual freedom. Most meaningful and captivating to me was the second step to freedom, "Live Your Calling to the Full." Never before has anyone given me such a strong impression that desire should be a central aspect of the way we seek and answer God's call. Indeed, there is not only freedom but great joy in contemplating that God uses our desires to direct and guide us. I read Ryan's book twice; I am aware that I could easily go back to read it again and still learn from it. My friends are buying the book and discovering the same thing. This is a rich resource for people who want their spiritual lives to grow and be renewed.
A 20-minute a day retreat.......2003-11-17
Some of my most concentrated reading time happens on Metro (subway) as I travel from home to work and back again. I read Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom that way. It was like having a 20-minute retreat every day. I looked forward to each day and the new insights as well as tough questions that could force growth.
This spring I went through an illness that was a new and disturbing experience for me. Reading this book helped me to consider recovery ... and how much of my old schedule and patterns I want to recover and which it is time to let go of. The questions about passion and living as centered in what God wants rather than the more noisesome demands of everyday have been enticing me to take stock. This book is a perfect companion for those seeking renewal, regeneration, or recovery of meaning.
Excellent book, easy read.......2003-11-15
Excellent book for anyone who takes their spiritual development seriously, or for those who desire to develop ongoing spiritual practices. Fr. Tom Ryan's examples from his own life, and those of people he knows, help illustrate the impact serious spiritual reflection and practices can bring to discovering meaning in life. Can also be used for self reflection, or a book club, with the questions Fr. Ryan uses at the end of each section.
As a lay person with a regular spiritual practice for some time, Fr. Ryan's book helped me step back and look at what is essential in my practice. It also gets to the heart of what is important in simple language.
The last chapter provides guidance on specific practices, in the Christian traditions.
This book was life-transforming for me.......2003-11-14
I savored this book-forcing myself to read only a little bit each day when in effect I didn't want to put it down. Father Ryan writes/instructs with gentleness humility, and great compassion, honestly sharing his own life's experiences and faith processes.
His book is theologically respectful of the teachings of the Church while inviting us to understand how good aspects of other faiths can help us to create a deep, personal and meaningful relationship with God. The anecdotal stories of others' personal "dark nights of the soul" often spoke so directly to me that I was able to work through many of my own hang ups that were interfering with my personal relationship with God and with others.
I have not often had success in centering prayer/meditation but Father Ryan's "Four Steps to Spiritual Freedom" enabled me to meditate and reflect on my life and my connection to God in a way that I have not been able to do before.
This prayerful book, allowed me to achieve a real breakthrough in my life, in my faith and my ability to pray in a more meaningful, deeper and mature level. It brought me through a difficult time in my life. I continue to refer to various passages and to reflect on them.
Book Description
Slow cookers have been rediscovered by a whole new generation of busy people. The reason is quite simple: imagine being able to throw some wholesome ingredients into a cooker, close the lid and come home to a hot, satisfying meal at the end of the day. A perfect mealtime solution! However, every memorable meal begins with innovative and creative recipes. In
Delicious and Dependable Slow Cooker Recipes, you will discover mouthwatering recipes that allow you to create outstanding meals with a minimum of effort. This extensive collection of over 175 recipes contains a wide range of dishes from starters to soups, beef to seafood, and even desserts. Whether you're serving a weekday meal to your family or entertaining special guests, there's a recipe here to delight and satisfy everyone.
Here are just some of the delicious and dependable recipes you can enjoy: Spicy Artichoke Dip, Peppercorn Pâté, Creamy Corn Chowder, Mulligatawny Soup, Classic Beef Stew, Sauerbraten, Saucy Pork Chops with Cranberries, Chicken in Onion Buttermilk Gravy, Mussels in Lemongrass Tomato Broth, Turkey and Sausage Chili, Tomato Mushroom Lasagna, Cider Baked Beans, Hot Breakfast Cereals, Double Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, Apricot Almond Pudding.
over 175 recipes for everything from appetizers to desserts
more than 50 full color photographs
helpful pantry notes
vegetarian recipes
extensive tips and techniques for foolproof results
make ahead ideas
recipes for every occasion
Customer Reviews:
The Chicken and Dumplings are delicious!.......2007-10-03
I just checked this book out from the library and now have about 2 dozen sticky notes stuck on the recipes I want to try. I just made the chicken and dumplings and it was delicious. After perusing most of the recipes however, I am wondering how on earth my slow cooker will save me any time. Most if not all of the recipes that call for meat instruct you to brown it in oil in a skillet first. Also, the C&D recipe required me to precook the veggies in the oil too. So if you are looking for time-saving recipes for your slow cooker, this is not the book for you. Next time I make the C&D I will not brown the chicken first and I will probably just nuke the veggies for 2 minutes first. This will result in a lower fat dish with less prep time and mess. I did see a new generation slow cooker at BB&Beyond that offers the cook the option of placing the insert on the stove burner to pre saute meat and veggies and then placing the insert back into the cooker to finish the process. It was expensive at $100 but this is an option that's out there. But back to this book, another thing I really didn't like about it is that most of the vegetarian main dish recipes included eggplant. What's with that? We are trying to cut back on meat in our diet, but eggplant? (upon marrying my husband I was forbidden to ever serve eggplant). So if you are looking for a variety of veggy only recipes, look elsewhere unless you like eggplant.
don't buy!.......2007-03-19
This book was a big disappointment. I've tried two recipes, each with terrible results and cannot recommend the book. Rice Pudding with Cherries and Almonds turned into a curdled, browned mess. Grits `n' Cheddar Cheese were not much better, encrusting the crock in a thick, layer of burned grits. Each recipe recommended cooking on high for 4 hours but was overdone in under 3. Both recipes called for eggs, which, after mixed, rose to the top and cooked separately from the rest of the dish. I honestly think these recipes were not tested by their author. Buyer beware!
An Unexpected Favorite Cookbook!.......2005-12-18
I first got this book at my local library and, when several recipes were surprisingly delicious and effective, ordered both of Finlayson's books from Amazon. These are not "dump everything in the pot" to return home to a gloppy mess recipes. Finlayson has adapted traditional recipes for use in a slow cooker, with good results. I tried her recipe for cassoulet (which, using classic French cooking method, traditionally takes 3 days) and it turned out quite well. As with any cookbook, there are some standout recipes and a few that are less appealing, but in all this book has become a favorite and piqued my interest in using a slow cooker. I am now intrigued by a couple of other slow cooker cookbooks: "Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker" and "The Gourmet Slow Cooker" which have gotten even more favorable reviews than Finlayson's book. (In closing, one Amazon reviewer notes the absence of an amount of water for split pea soup - my edition does have the water amount, so I'm guessing it has been corrected.)
So, why bother with the crockpot?.......2005-11-27
Almost every recipe calls for browning meat in a skillet prior to adding it to a crockpot. When coupled with the warning not to store partially cooked meat in the fridge, one wonders who the book is for. If you have time in the morning to stand at the stove in a business suit and brown a pot roast prior to running to the office, these recipes will work for you. But if you are looking for quick cooking recipes, you will be disappointed by this book
tested .......2005-08-27
I have tested one recipe from this book so far and it was absolutely delicious: chicken with 40 cloves of garlic.
Average customer rating:
|
Collectanea Alexandrina
J. U. Powell
Manufacturer: Ares Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0890053731 |
Customer Reviews:
One of the best smocking books I've purchased.......2000-06-04
I really was more than pleased with this book. It contained so many innovative and creative ideas to use in smocking. Most smocking books contain the usual baby and childen's clothing along with other heirloom items. I teach English Smocking and use this book as a resource for all my classes. It gives people great ideas to build on and many of them can be used for ADULT garments which won't look like maternity clothes. I get new ideas every time I go back to it. It's only drawback is not using more creative fabrics and colors, but if you can get past that, the ideas are refreshing. I recommend it highly.
Book Description
Adventurous sewers have embraced the style again, experimenting with new methods and materials and inventing fresh effects. Exciting original designs all appear in color photos. “A showcase of smocking combined with decorative stitches and embroidery...filled with beautiful projects....Very good diagrams and instructions on how to smock for the beginner.”—Doll Crafter
Customer Reviews:
Good overview of uses for smocking.......2003-03-17
If you are a beginning smocker looking for instructions and patterns, this is not the book for you. BUT if you are an experienced smocker looking for new applications and help in adapting patterns to insert smocking, this book is very good. Many innovative ideas for adding smocking to you sewing. Nice photos of projects.
Average customer rating:
- Splendid on Mozarts alchemy but how is illumination as such?
|
The Magic Flute: Die Zauberflote. an Alchemical Allegory
M. F. M. Van Den Berk , and
M. F. M. Van Den Berk
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus
| Composers
| Classical
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Opera
| Musical Genres
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Theory
| Theory, Composition & Performance
| Music
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Magic
| Occult
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Sociology
| Religious Studies
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 9004130993 |
Book Description
This volume demonstrates for the first time that Mozart's opera Die Zauberflöte is an enactment of the alchemical opus magnum, in the form of a chemical wedding. Towards the end of the 18th century, alchemy was still a prominent mystical current within the Order of Freemasons of which Mozart and his librettists were members. The central part focuses on the opera's alchemical structure, whereas the historical and mythological backgrounds are also dealt with extensively. The book comes with 3 CD's offering a rendition of the integral opera, in contrast to the common practice of leaving out major parts of the libretto. The Magic Flute is a fascinating journey of discovery, an initiation into Initiation. With complete original libretto and over 100 pictures.
Customer Reviews:
Splendid on Mozarts alchemy but how is illumination as such?.......2005-02-26
Van den Berk is here the forerunner who cuts a path through the thick forest which would otherwise not be viable. Proving anew and definitely that the opera is an 'alchemical' one is what he does, which he is very sure about, and may be proud of. He does so by interpreting the diverse characters, symbols and processes, as well as the totality of them, as illustration of the 'magnum opus', the great work of the alchemists. And this within and from the lives and context not only from the makers of this opera, Mozart and his librettists, members of the 'illuminate' version of Freemasonry. But still more, and this is a really fascinating part of the study, from the history of mythology of which alchemy grew as one branch. So we learn among many other personalities and symbols from Pamina as salt, Tamino as sulphur, and Papageno-Papagena as mercury and hermaphrodite. And not less from the processes of transformation which all these undergo, resulting in the definitive 'chemical' wedding (the sacred marriage), through the phases of nigredo (blackening), albedo (whitening) and rubedo (reddening). Everything is shown in the most convincing details, from classical Greece and old Egypt to the Rosicrucian works of the 16th Century. From Isis and Osiris to Mozarts visit to Pompeji, and the history and meaning of the etchings which accompanied the publication of the opera. With detailed insights into Mozart's membership of Freemasonry, his personal views about what it stood for, and the way this influenced his musical and theatrical creations. With most insightful explanations of 92 very adequate illustrations. So to me indeed this is a monumental work.
I add hastily that the book is a pleasure to read, because Van den Berk is a master in letting the reader make the discoveries together with him. Although possibly not every part is to any reader of the same interest, it is clear that one enriches oneself very much by following the author throughout the whole book. Particularly if one is also interested in the evidence which proofs the theses of the author. Van den Berk has a strong intuition and at the same time a thorough feeling for scientific and historical proof, and always lets the later support the former.
And be sure the map he sketches does not contradict the innumerable hard facts for one moment! So I have to conclude that this work offers a lot to many people, not the least many suggestions for further studies in the field, and much inspiration for every reader, also those with a more personal interest in the various subjects, themes and topics related to Mozart's Zauberflöte.
I wish this book in the hands of many, and thank the makers of it for their inspiration and knowledge, particularly the author himself through which all this value comes through us.
Now I will continue with some questions which remain to me unsolved. To my opinion the richness of this book cannot be underestimated very much! Although the author is very well aware of many themes there are also aspects which he does not give very much attention. I mean the path of illumination itself.
To me the experience or realization of illumination is important as well as the path from and to it. I can refer to illumination in the works of Jacob Boehme which have well influenced the authors which according to Van den Berk also inspired Mozart, particularly the famous Oetinger of whom a book was found in Mozarts library with a very interesting part about music! And I can also refer to illumination in the Buddhist tradition. While I experience the book of Van den Berk as 'scientifically' impressive, why does not deal he with the core itself of his subjects - namely the path from and to illumination - that intensively? Of course it is very likely that he does this indirectly so why not also directly?
But let me first acknowledge some other characteristic of this book which has impressed me very much: the author everywhere adds to his conclusions the way he has found them, and this is very inspiring. It tells us we ourselves could also find what we seek, if using our means in the right way. So the book itself is a splendid illustration of going one way, be it only that of detailed 'scientific' mythological and historical research (including important aspects of human psychology).
I add another point, which for me touches the core. To me illumination in the Western tradition of alchemy has everything to do with the so called union of the opposites of which the union of the opposite sexes is the most important example, also called 'androgyny' which is an important topic from classical to modern times (see my book on "Androgyny in Christianity, particularly in the works of Jacob Boehme" 1986; extenxive summary in English at http://www1.tip.nl/~t770268/androgsum.html ). As this includes the relation of sexuality and spirituality - the role of the union of the sexes at all levels, even as symbol of spiritual illumination! - it would be important not to forego this tradition and its implications, particularly when the subject is central to it, and to the Zauberflöte it surely is. For example: how is the relation in the opera between sexuality at lower and at higher levels and how has it come through in the course of the reception of the opera?! This is again a core theme Van den Berk's book puts on the scene of our attention, and although he himself does not elaborate upon it very much, it is very important as well and will hopefully be seen by many readers. The relation of sexuality and spirituality is of great importance to the history of the West, not only through the churches, through theology and mysticism, and not only through alternative traditions like Gnosticism and alchemy in which it flourished abundantly, but also in the philosophical presuppositions of Western culture as such. It is not by chance that the theme of the Zauberflöte is a core theme. Whereas it is a great merit of this book of Van den Berk to have proved this with regard to the roots of the Zauberflöte in alchemy and Freemasonry, it would be a great accomplishment if the much broader implications of it - I repeat: a core theme of Western culture - from now on would be elaborated upon more fully. Again: that Van den Berk with his book touches upon such a fundamental theme to our Western culture and spirituality, and so makes possible a more thorough study of the latter, to me is a great advantage and a great merit. It makes even comparisons and discussions with other cultures more near and better possible. Not a small value.
Average customer rating:
|
Creative Lives: New York Paintings and Photographs by Maurice and Lee Sievan
Leslie Nolan , and
Francis V. O'Connor
Manufacturer: Museum of the City of New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Graphic Arts
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Printmaking
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Painting
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Photographers, A-Z
| Photography
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0910961085 |
Book Description
The cityscape paintings and documentary photographs of Maurice and Lee Sievan rank among the best representations of New York City at mid-century. Although skyscrapers, subway and el infrastructures, and the visible effects of the Great Depression were dramatically altering the face of the city, the Sievans chose not to depict the city as a world-class curiosity. Instead, his paintings and her photographs conveyed a passion for lesser-known neighborhoods and ordinary New Yorkers going about day-to-day activities. Maurice's lyrical scenes of working-class housing, parked cars, and unremarkable shopping areas in the outlying borough of then-suburban Queens are memorable for their painterly brushwork and moody atmosphere. Lee's photographs of horse-drawn vehicles, trolleys, street urchins, and pedestrians stand out as an illuminated portrait of everyday Manhattan life. This catalog, with its generous selection of color and duotone plates, examines their two careers, which spanned the 30s through the 60s. It also offers a new example of the dynamics of husband-wife artist relationships in the fine tradition of Stieglitz-O'Keeffe and Pollock-Krasner.
Average customer rating:
- The Man Who Was Artie
- HOLLYWOOD GREATS.
- Great read, great life, great legs!
- the man who is a real boy
- One Helluva Ride
|
The Boy with the Betty Grable Legs
Skip E. Lowe
Manufacturer: Belle Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Television Performers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Gay
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Gay & Lesbian
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Gay & Lesbian
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Look Inside Entertainment Books
| Trip
| Specialty Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Back Passage
ASIN: 0964963582 |
Book Description
This book recounts the fascinating life of one of Hollywood's dearest entertainers and well know cable talk show hosts, Skip E. Lowe.
Customer Reviews:
The Man Who Was Artie.......2003-02-07
Okay, I'll admit it. I bought Skip E. Lowe's memoir with the idea that it would be a horrendous hack-job full of celebrity groveler and rampant name-dropping. Needless to say, I was floored when The Boy with the Betty Grable Legs turned out to be a compelling autobiography written with panache and a good deal of humility.
Lowe's book is difficult to put down. Lowe does well to balance his personal tragedies (Lowe seemed to attract molestation the way flowers attract bees) with his career as an entertainer. While his brief mention of his part in BLACK SHAMPOO is akin to Orson Welles skipping over CITIZEN KANE, Lowe's book manages to stand tall on its own shapely legs. (ISBN: 0964963582)
HOLLYWOOD GREATS........2003-01-18
HE TELLS WHAT HOLLYWOOD IS ALLBOUT. HE WRITES GREAT AND TELLS WHAT HIS LIFES ALBOUT.
Great read, great life, great legs!.......2002-12-25
This book is a great journey of someone's life. Skip E. Lowe is a true show business character--as much a part of the town as the Holllywood Sign and the billboards of Angelyne. His life is filled with pathos and happiness. From cover to cover the book is a pure joy. You'll find yourself wondering who could possibly play Mr. Lowe in the movie that undoubtedly will come from this fabulous life memoir.
the man who is a real boy.......2002-11-18
LOVE THIS BOOK IT TAKES YOU EVERY ALL OVER THE WORLD AND FEEL LIKE I WAS THERE.ITS SO GOOD LOVE IT THANKS FOR THE JOURNEY .. WHAT A LIFE.
One Helluva Ride.......2002-05-23
I picked up Skip E. Lowe's book on the recommendation of a friend, but had no idea that I was in for such an amazing read. In addition to having some unforgettable stories to tell, he is able to share them with complete emotional honesty, which provides surprisingly human insight into this larger-than-life world in which he has lived. I recommend this as a "must read" to all who are interested in learning about the Golden Days of Hollywood, the truly fascinating character once known as Sammy Labella, and the ups and downs of an unconventional life. By relating his madcap adventures and the lessons he has learned, Skippy does the best job I've ever seen at creating a road map for the road less travelled.
Books:
- The Gift Bag Chronicles: A Novel
- The God Who Begat a Jackal: A Novel
- The Inquisitor's Guide: A Medieval Manual on Heretics
- The Journey of Ibn Fattouma
- The Laws of Invisible Things: A Novel
- The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Gift Set
- The Red Sea Terror Triangle: Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, and Islamic Terror
- The Second Coming of Mavala Shikongo: A Novel
- The Secret Goldfish: Stories
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Top Secret Restaurant Recipes: Creating Kitchen Clones from America's Favorite Restaurant Chains
- The Malloreon, Vol. 1
- Regulation of human RNA polymerase III transcription by RB family members :
- Ruthenate and Rutheno-Cuprate Materials: Unconventional Superconductivity, Magnetism and Quantum Pha
- The Ocean of the Soul: Men, the World and God in the Stories of Farid Al-Din Attar
- The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business
- The King Ranch Quarter Horses, and Something of the Ranch and the Men That Bred Them: And Something
- Orgasmatron: The Heavy Metal Art of Joe Petagno
- Revolution of Forms: Cuba's Forgotten Art Schools
- The Blue Edge of Midnight
Envy (New York Review Books Classics)
Moscow to the End of the Line
The Fierce and Beautiful World (New York Review Books Classics)
We (Twentieth-Century Classics)
The Master and Margarita
