Average customer rating:
- One of the most beautiful and important books ever written
- An exciting read with some lofty symbolism
- Too Much of an Object Lesson for Me
- readable, but superficial
- By far the best French African novel I have read
|
The Radiance of the King (New York Review Books Classics)
Camara Laye
Manufacturer: NYRB Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| African American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Morrison, Toni
| African American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| African
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
French
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Morrison, Toni
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Paperback
| Morrison, Toni
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Ordeal of the African Writer
-
The Dark Child: The Autobiography of an African Boy
-
Seven Arrows
-
Nervous Conditions
-
Half of a Yellow Sun
ASIN: 0940322587
Release Date: 2001-05-31 |
Book Description
At the beginning of this masterpiece of African literature, Clarence, a white man, has been shipwrecked on the coast of Africa. Flush with self-importance, he demands to see the king, but the king has just left for the south of his realm. Traveling through an increasingly phantasmagoric landscape in the company of a beggar and two roguish boys, Clarence is gradually stripped of his pretensions, until he is sold to the royal harem as a slave. But in the end Clarence’s bewildering journey is the occasion of a revelation, as he discovers the image, both shameful and beautiful, of his own humanity in the alien splendor of the king
Customer Reviews:
One of the most beautiful and important books ever written.......2006-07-27
Beautiful mystical and absolutely perfect.
An exciting read with some lofty symbolism.......2006-06-27
Clarence is a European with a gambling debt, who has been austracized by his countrymen in an ambiguous place in colonial Africa and without anything more than the clothes on his back. He is determined to meet the king, thinking that the monarch will certainly take him in as a "worldly" advisor. When initial attempts to catch the king's attention fail, Clarence is lead south by an old beggar and two young boys to await the king, who will be touring this area of his dominion. Time passes as Clarence waits, and as this happens our young and arrogant hero becomes a more humbled through a series of events deep in the forested South.
This story was intriguing to me, and it reminded me very much of Alejo Carpentier's "The Lost Steps" with the theme of a man arrogantly thinking he is capable of anything, but whose ignorance is exposed once he is taken out of the culture and environment he is accustomed to.
There is a twist in the plot of the story which surprised me, but I think some readers would see it coming a lot earlier than I did. There is a lot of symbolism that I completely missed until I read Toni Morrison's introduction after finishing the book. I wish I had read this for a book group because it would spark a great discussion!
Too Much of an Object Lesson for Me.......2004-03-30
Although Toni Morrison's introduction to this book raves about its unique character and its genius, to me the introduction is more about the deeply thoughtful mind of Toni Morrison and not about this book. I found the main character, Clarence, to be rather shallow and naive and uninteresting, which is why my interest was not able to be sustained throughout its narrative. I understand this work was published in 1954, which makes its author a revolutionary in even conceiving of it, but for me it is allegorical and is teaching an object lesson to white civilization about African civilization. And that lesson is hammered home on every page until finally there is an understanding reached. I think I get it.
Perhaps it's me, but I just can't read novels that are constructed in this way. They are too didactic, too unliterary. I'm sorry Mr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., but I am a lover of literature and I did not admire or enjoy this book. But I do appreciate its historical and sociological importance, and for that alone I gave it 3 stars.
readable, but superficial.......2001-06-19
Artistcally, Camara's novel displays many of the weaknesses of a young novelist's first work: too often lush images do not equate character development, enthralling scenes seem to be written for themselves without significantly contributing to the novel's overall construction or character development, and the conclusion seems to surrender to his inability to have a clear (moral or ideological) intention behind the very problematic quest of the hero Clarence. In significant ways, I doubt that Camara had a clearly articulated or organic vision for the novel or the main characters: one increasingly recognizes the colonizer's satiric portrait, but the depictions of the major African figures seem even more dismissively caricatured. Ultimately, this novel sits uncomfortably between a colonized and a nationalist mentality, between the coopted view of a Sekyi and the mature nationalism of Soyinka's great novel "The Interpreters." Granted, from an African point of view, Camara is seeking to explore the very unsavory history of a people's colonization, if not their romance with the colonizer's image, but Achebe does it much more astutely in "Arrow of God," but both pale in comparison to Cheney-Coker's stunning epic "The Last Harmattan of Alusine Dunbar."
By far the best French African novel I have read.......1999-08-31
This book is a wild trip. The main character is a white French man, living in an unidentified African setting (although the author must have been inspired by his Guinean background), who is totally broke. We don't know anything about his backgrounds, his reasons for being in Africa, or his prior professional occupations. Rejected by the French community, he is bummed. To get out of his misery, he wants to meet a mysterious African king, and apply for a position as advisor at the court. In his quest to find the king, the white man gives up his 'white' identity, and gets in touch with a variety of weird and fascinating characters: an old griot, two annoying boys, a mad village priest. During his journey, 'regular' situations rapidly degenerate into eery hallucinations.
One of the things I especially liked in this breathtaking literary masterpiece was that Camara Laye didn't emphasize human weaknesses of a white oppressor (like Oyono enjoys doing, although I like Oyono a lot); Laye didn't try to denounce Colonialism as a system either, like Cheikh Hamidou Kane or Pramoudya Ananta Toer have done (quite well, of course) - I think that a novel is not the most suited platform to do that: characters quickly tend to become boring academic abstractions rather than interesting people and the literary power of the work suffers. Instead, Laye gradually "forgets" the whiteness of his main character, emphasizing the humanity of all players.
Anyway, Camara Laye's "The radiance of the king" (I read the original French "Le regard du roi" - I can only hope the translation is just as good) is a truly unique book in style and content. Definitely a must-read!
Average customer rating:
|
The Radiance of the King
Camara Laye
Manufacturer: Fontana Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
ASIN: 0006124933 |
Average customer rating:
|
A Sudden Radiance (Carlyle King series)
Manufacturer: Coteau Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Anthologies
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0919926673 |
Average customer rating:
|
The Radiance of the King
Manufacturer: Vintage Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0020527306 |
Book Description
One thousand years after a devastating and chaotic series of nuclear exchanges, all that is left of the United States of America are scattered, warring tribes and small city-states. One of the latter is Pelbar—proud, civilized, and intolerant of change and new ideas. Rebels and troublemakers are sentenced to a year of exile at the massive midwestern fortress of Northwall, defending Pelbar against the fierce Shumai and Sentani tribes. Restless and brilliant Jestak is a visionary who has seen and learned too much in his distant travels to be content with life in Pelbarigan. During his exile at Northwall, he makes contact with Pelbar’s age-old enemies and risks all to rescue his beloved Tia from nomads armed with long-lost weapons from before the atomic holocaust. Jestak’s daring quest for love brings profound changes to his world.
The Breaking of Northwall is the first in a series of seven classic postapocalyptic novels about the Pelbar people. Williams’s fascinating and uniquely optimistic vision of an America long after a nuclear war has enthralled readers for decades.
Customer Reviews:
Books I've Read Several Times.......2007-06-18
The Pelbar Cycle are books that stick with you for a lifetime. I first read them in college almost twenty years ago and I just recently read the series again for the third time. The books are fun, adventurous, and a great summer read, but they also have an interesting moral center that makes me remember pieces of the narrative years later.
Great read.......2006-08-05
Though the book started of a little slow, the pace picked up and I couldn't put it down. It's a great story and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Superior Post-Holocaust Novel.......2005-10-26
Originally published over 20 years ago by the Del Ray imprint, this book and its sequels have now been reissued as trade paperbacks by the University of Nebraska Press. Set in the midwest of the Mississippi Valley (the Heart River of the book), millenia in the future after a nuclear war, this book depicts the emergence of new civilizations controlling large swathes of North America. The author develops several different urban and tribal cultures, all with distinctive features, uses a bildungsroman type of plot to expose the readers to the various cultures, and then ties them together with an adventure story - romance involving inter-cultural warfare. Written decently and with a good degree of imagination. This is a stand alone book. I suspect the author wrote this book and after its success developed the rest of the series which are more interdependent. The University of Nebraska Press deserves considerable credit for bringing out relatively obscure but worthy books like this one.
Great book/series!.......2004-08-18
This book (and the entire series) is excellent. I wish more had been written.
One thing to consider when starting to read is the time during which the series was written and published. The cold war was still in effect and the threat of global nuclear devastation was still prominent in the consciousness of a great many people.
This series explores a possible future several decades (or centuries) following such a cataclysm.
Put aside preconceived notions and enjoy the adventure. If you don't get all of the details at first, keep reading and everything will fall into place as you go.
I believe you'll appreciate the journey.
Hard to start but then impossible to put down.......2004-03-09
Initially, I had a similar experience as the reviewer from Arizona: I tried literally 3 times to read this book but thought it was just too obtuse to figure out. But because Prof. Williams was my wife's English professor and advisor at college, and she held him in such high regard, I took another try. This time I stayed with it long enough and found that though the beginning didn't offer the quick action thrill of the start of the Star Wars movies, it led to a work that was far more substantial and satisfying in the long run than most anything else I've read.
I tend to like book series and rate them among my favorites because of character development, well developed and intriguing story lines or both. The Pelbar Cycle delivers both and is on the short list of books I've read more than once because of the messages and actions they contain. I had an opportunity to tell Prof. Williams how much I enjoyed this series, and why, and he seemed surprised that someone would talk to him about it. Humble man, very good writer.
My oldest son has read the series and liked it, now my youngest son is reading it and I may just read along with him so we can compare notes.
Average customer rating:
- Reprint collection; worth reading. 3.6 stars
- Lucifer's Hammer
|
The Rackham Files (Ing, Dean)
Dean Ing
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Racing
| Automotive
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Adventure
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
High Tech
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Motor Sports
| Miscellaneous
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Firefight Y2K
-
Flying To Pieces
-
A Deeper Blue (The Ghost)
-
Loose Cannon
-
Systemic Shock
ASIN: 0743471830 |
Customer Reviews:
Reprint collection; worth reading. 3.6 stars.......2007-07-24
This reprint collection collects two novellas and a short novel featuring Harve Rackham, Bay Area PI, bounty hunter and survivalist. "Inside Job" (2001), the most recent, is the earliest in Rackham's timeline -- but his timeline doesn't make sense, as "Inside Job" is a near-future piece, while the last, set about 10 years later in Rackham's life (but written first, in 1980), features a Soviet nuclear attack on the US!
Well, let's call it an incompletely-retconned alternate-history, and move on to the stories themselves, which are all worth reading. "Inside Job" is a pretty routine techno-thriller, featuring an attempted large-scale terrorist attack on San Francisco by dastardly Middle Easterners. The pages turn, and I enjoyed it.
The second novella, "Vital Signs" (1980), has Rackham the bounty-hunter hunting a savage ET hunter-killer, with a sweet twist ending. Slight, but nicely done.
"Pulling Through" (1983) , the only one of these I'd previously read, is a story of surviving a (then) near-future full-scale nuclear attack on the US, by the USSR. It was intended as somewhat of a didactic civil-defense preparedness message, the utility of which has (probably, and fortunately) mostly passed, but it still works pretty well as a story.
Ing is an underrated writer, imo. These aren't among his best works, but they're all competent or better commercial fiction, and well-worth reading if you're a fan of this sort of thing.
Happy reading--
Peter D. Tillman
Lucifer's Hammer.......2006-12-28
The Introduction, by Larry Niven, is worth the price of this book [IF you are a fan of "Lucifers Hammer" or "the Mote in God's Eye"]!
I had read 1/2 of what's in this Hardbound, in used ING paperbacks. But I was Delighted to get a "Keeper Edition" for Christmas!
Average customer rating:
|
[Van Trump travel file
Bernard Rackham
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Italy
| Europe
| Travel
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B0007KEWES |
Book Description
Over the centuries God has touched the earth with revival, lifting men and women into His presence in extraordinary ways. And in some epochs the divine hand seems to have rested on us longer and to have caused more profound changes in the church and the culture. Authors Towns and Porter have studied revival areas throughout history in order to identify the ten that seem to have been the greatest of all time.
Customer Reviews:
Revival comes by God's grace -- it can happen again!.......2003-04-12
Are you ready to be reminded of the faithfulness of God? Are you ready to be encouraged by stories of how God has moved? Are you ready to start praying for revival? Then read this book.
In addition to the more 'popular' revivals that most of us have heard of, such as the 'Great Awakening' or the 'Azuza Street' revival, this tells about less well known (though equally inspiring) revavals, such as the 1857 Layman's Prayer revival (which started in New York City) and the 1800 Cane Ridge Revival.
The important theme to grasp is that revival does not wait until the country (or city) is moral and pure, it comes in the middle of depravity, sparked by the prayers of a believing remnant. So the time is ripe -- let's pray!
From True to False Revival.......2002-10-25
True revivals of religion are measured in the impact they have on society as a whole. If people are not soundly converted to Christ, with absolute assurance from God that the Spirit is indwelling them in Power, you are whistling in the wind. I detect a pattern throughout this book that reveals what has brought us to the deplorable state of affairs in the modern church concerning true conversion.
During the early awakenings Sound preaching was the rule, NOT the exception. As you will see in the chapters dealing with men like Wesley, Cartwright, Whitefield, Finney, the influence of revival was felt where it counted the most. Gin mills were closed down vain amusements lost their appeal, the crime rate was severely reduced, and people began to manifest the nature of Christ in their daily life! Surly a work of the Living God had taken place in the land.
How unlike the so-called revivals that took place toward the end of the ninetieth century under DL Moody & Charles Spurgeon where the mourner's bench was abandon and the protracted meeting became a thing of the past. People were TOLD they had salvation by merely acknowledging Christ as their personal savior, as though they could SAVE themselves by taking up a new resolution! Gone was godly sorrow that works true repentance unto salvation not to be regretted. GONE was the heaven sent assurance that comes from GOD alone when a soul takes hold of Christ in reality. And GONE was the Steadfast endurance in the faith described in Scripture as the `only' faith that saves the soul! (Rom2:7)
By the time the 1950's rolled around and the `mega' revivals started under Graham, Falwell, etc this notion was so entrenched into the mainstream that people were massed together in front of a podium and told to repeat a prayer that would guarantee their entrance into the kingdom for evermore. Is it any wonder why our society has become a decadent cease pool of immorality and the churches have lost any semblance of New Testament Christianity? When immoral behavior is condoned from the pulpits and the standard of conversion has fallen on its face, what else can be expected?
Overall the book is informative as a historical context. But counting the `revivals' of the twentieth century as `awakenings' of God can only be done from the `cheap grace' perspective. (from which the book is obviously written) To sustain true revival, that transforms society, requires Sound teachers holding forth the WHOLE Counsel of God, without compromise! The pervasive message of our day has done nothing but populate the lower regions with more lost souls who `think' themselves saved while living in bondage to sin. Until the Shepherds can awaken to the true heart of God and weep over the Lukewarm mess around them there's little hope we'll see Fire from heaven.
darn good read!.......2002-07-08
Can't say I'm terribly impressed with categorising revivals according to supposed 'greatness'. Nor the linking of unrelated revival movements under one general awakening when they simply occured within a decade of each other. However, this is a fascinating read - literally 'unputdownable'. I just had to keep going to the very end and was truly blessed by the many stirring accounts which leapt one after another from the pages. I especially liked the relatively lesser known revival-information, such as in Southern Baptist churches in the US in the late 60's. However, regarding one awakening which is closer to my home in Scotland, ie. the Lewis revival of 1949-52, there are several factual mis-statements. This revival was not in the New Hebrides, but in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, and Lewis is not a town, but an island, etc. Still enjoyed the book though!
tom lennie
Greatest Book on Greatest Revivals.......2001-07-04
Congratulations to Elmer Towns and Douglas Porter on their stirring accounts of the ten greatest revival eras. It is the best popular history of revivals I have seen, comprehensively surveyed and graphically described. I know of no other book which covers this vital information with such broad brush strokes enlivened with bright colors of specific events in each revival era.
It's hard to put this book down. Each chapter offers fresh gems on revival, each beginning with an arresting seminal quote from recognised writers on revival. Chapters cover these powerful revivals: The 1904 Revival beginning in Wales; The First Great Awakening, 1727-50; The Second Great Awakening, 1780-1810; The General Awakening, 1830-40; The Prayer Revival, 1857-61; The World War II Revival, 1935-50; The Baby Boomer Revival, 1965-71; The Pre-Reformation Revival, 1300-1500; The Protestant Reformation, 1517; Pentecost: The beginning of revival, A.D. 30.
This book is a marvellous resource on revival history. I recommend and use it in my History of Revival courses.
Dr Geoff Waugh, Christian Heritage College, Brisbane, Australia.
Book Description
This mouth-watering collection of more than 200 recipes showcases the best of traditional Southern cooking and storytelling. This is no ordinary cookbook, though it boasts plenty of old-fashioned recipes for cakes, pies, casseroles, and stews, submitted by people who hail from the Carolina mountains to the Low Country and even from locales around the world.
Editor Amy Rogers invited more than 100 contributors to tell their favorite stories about food. Included are some of the Carolinas' most beloved writers, as well as many first-time writers who have wonderful tales to tell about their recipes. Josephine Humphreys describes how to catch and cook blue crabs. Jill McCorkle shares her grandmother's recipe for making fried apple pies. Lee Smith acquaints us with "Lady Food." True-crime writer Jerry Bledsoe asserts that "Seafood Bledsonia" is better than any other fish dish you can imagine. There are even some offerings from songwriters, including former Carolinian James Taylor, who passes along his recipe for baked beans.
The book is divided into groupings such as Appetizers and Soups; Main Dishes; Vegetables and Side Dishes; Breads; Desserts; and Holiday Recipes and Other Specialties. Each recipe is accompanied by a story, telling where it came from, a firsthand account of how it became part of a family tradition, or a profile of the cook who submitted it. The stories are humorous, poignant, sometimes surprising, and always memorable.
Sprinkled throughout are little-known facts about the origins and background of time-honored Southern foods.
As this collection makes clear, the meals we prepare and share mean more to us than simple sustenance. Food is a touchstone of identity and culture, a link between one generation and another. No matter where you're from or what your tastes might be, this book will leave you hungry for home.
Customer Reviews:
You'll be surprised!.......2003-10-08
Reading "Hungry for Home" is a delightful experience - like visiting the Carolinas without paying for airfare and hotels, meeting many new people (the contributors of the recipes), and pleasing the taste buds without putting on the extra weight. I don't live in the Carolinas and I don't even eat shellfish, but this book has me looking for an opportunity to get there asap and experience some of the touching dimensions of this land. Not to mention get a bite of some of these dishes. The book offers a surprising global sampling from Vietnamese to Creole, West Afrian and Jewish. Author Amy Rogers has made a noble effort to address the urgency of hunger as a tragic reality of American life without robbing the reader of the joy she obviously takes in preparing and exploring foods of the region. Her dedication to representing the poignant and often funny voices and traditions of the truly diverse people of the Carolinas is also commendable -- from descendants of slaves to recent Asian immigrants, you'd be surprised! Of course, there are the expected down-home offerings like ham and fried chicken. But with this book, the food is just one-third the story. The other two-thirds come with the imaginative evocation of region and the individuals you meet in essays provided (by contributors) along with their recipes. The reader really feels the social connections offered by sharing selected dishes with others. After reading this book, I feel I have met a whole crowd of Carolinians. Next time I visit my sister in Charlotte, I will feel right at home.
Book Description
Now you can find the value of those dusty volumes, and even make money selling them. If you are searching for that out-of-print copy or the latest novel, the booksellers will help you. The format is simple and easy-to-use, and collectors everywhere swear by this book! This edition also features informative text about the Internet and how it has changed the second-hand book trade.
Customer Reviews:
Old Books That Are Not Too Old.......2005-03-04
This guide is for the in-between books. It is for books that are not so old that they would be very hard to find. It contains 25,000 listings of old books with current values. It also lists a directory of over 200 dealers and collectors who are willing to buy the types of old books listed in the guide.
Here are a few examples:
John F Kennedy, Profiles In Courage, 1956 1st ed. F/NF $150.00
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962 1st ed. F/NF $150.00
Woody Guthrie, Bound For Glory, 1943 1st ed. G/dj $65.00
How Old is Old?.......2002-05-24
When I purchased Huxford's Old Book Value Guide, I imagined that the books that were covered might be older than those written by Len Deighton and Marian Zimmer Bradley. There's lots of stuff from 1970 on, but coverage of genuinely old books is very sparse. The title of this guide is extremely misleading, but if late 20th Century books are your area of interest, you might find this useful. I didn't.
Hit or miss..........2002-02-14
This book does list values of 25,000 books as it claims, but it is incomplete in some very frustrating ways that have to do with how it was put together. The authors apparently contacted a number of book dealers and collected their 'inventories' into a database. These were then consolidated into the listing(s) of this book.
But what that means is that you find an extremely unsystematic selection of titles. You may find a $500 title that someone has been trying to sell for years right above a run-of-the-mill used-bookstore title selling for $15. You could find an author's second book listed, but not the first or third. As a lookup/reference tool is is hardly useful.
I once thought this book would be a nice supplement to the other collecting books that focus on more high-end titles... something to take along to yard sales and the like to see if the $0.25 book was 'worth' $50 or $0.50. Well, even with 25,000 titles you can imagine that many more books are not listed here. Far too often I would not find a listing but COULD NOT KNOW if the book was valuable or not... its non-existence in this book just means one of the selected sellers did not have it in stock. I also kept finding entries in the $25/$30 range - right at the point where it might be a collectable underlisted by that one store or just their overpriced junk. With only a single such listing to consider, I just couldn't know.
The overlarge physical size of the book also seemed unwieldy to me. Combined with the sense of slap-together technique and a look at the number of other "Huxfords" listings, I frankly feel that it is just an attempt to grab a piece of the growing 'collectibles' market.
If this is your taste............2001-10-24
I am sure this book is excellent for antiquarian/rare book lovers, but I like popular authors with books 20-30 years old too, and those seem to be lacking in this guide a bit. Unless you are a professional book dealer, you will not fetch these prices on the internet, it is flooded with booksellers and the worth of a fine book seems to be waning. But all-in-all it is a good guide to go by when looking up older hardbacks.
Boof Refference or Book Prefference?.......2001-09-26
If you know your books fairly well to begin with, then this book will be at times, helpful. If you are looking for a way to bone up on collectibles, you may just be discouraged. A lot of very noteworthy books are left out, which leaves the reader to wonder if a little favoritism may be going on with the Author. Overall, I still had to rate a solid 4 for good effort in organizing a generally helpful refference guide to the new and seasoned book hound. For the money, it's a go.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
It has been said that food defines a culture. For the French, food is an integral part of their coveted tradition, and Susan Herrmann Loomis's new book On Rue Tatin embraces both. As a young, recent American college graduate, Loomis left the U.S. for France to attend one of the oldest French cooking schools, La Varenne. Her intent was to immerse herself in French cooking with the aspiration of becoming a food critic. Working as the French equivalent of an apprentice, she quickly became intimate with the ways and traditions that define the French culture, specifically its cuisine. On Rue Tatin ("On Tatin Street") is a descriptive narrative of Loomis's first several years in France, her encounters with the local people, and the bonds she formed, as well as recipes she gathered during her time there.
Following her formal culinary training, Loomis returned to the U.S. and met the man who would become her husband. After the couple's first son turned 2, they moved to France where Loomis was determined to launch her writing career focusing on unique aspects of French farming cuisine. She and her husband eventually purchased an old monastery in Louviers in the Normandy region of France. One of the more humorous and memorable stories she shares concerns the landlord of the small rental that they occupied for a year while her husband remodeled the monastery to livable conditions. During that year, the wife of the landlord believed them to be CIA agents and chose to keep a cold distance from the family. Meanwhile the French police suspected them of dealing drugs.
Every recipe featured throughout this memoir comes with an interesting, anecdotal story, and is very much representative of traditional French cuisine. Gateau au Chocolat de Mamy (or Mamy Jacqueline's Chocolate Cake) is a dense, almost death-by-chocolate confection, but served alone or with a fresh fruit coulis, it will bring a smile, as will the sweet explanation of its origin.
Loomis describes experiences and people with much detail, sometimes several times over, and her prose allows the reader to imagine the tempting smells and vivid colors of the countryside. You may find yourself wishing to see pictures of Loomis's home and the quaint village where she lived, but perhaps that was Loomis's intent--she wants to tempt and challenge you to experience the beauty and foods of Louviers and the Normandy region for yourself. --Teresa Simanton
Book Description
Susan Loomis arrived in Paris twenty years ago with little more than a student loan and the contents of a suitcase to sustain her. But what began then as an apprenticeship at La Varenne Ecole de Cuisine evolved into a lifelong immersion in French cuisine and culture, culminating in permanent residency in 1994.
On Rue Tatin chronicles her journey to an ancient little street in Louviers, one of Normandy’s most picturesque towns.
With lyrical prose and wry candor, Loomis recalls the miraculous restoration that she and her husband performed on the dilapidated convent they chose for their new residence. As its ochre and azure floor tiles emerged, challenges outside the dwelling mounted. From squatters to a surly priest next door, along with a close-knit community wary of outsiders, Loomis tackled the social challenges head-on, through persistent dialogue—and baking.
As fresh ingredients abound in this rural haven, along with a reverence for the kitchen,
On Rue Tatin includes delicious recipes that evoke the essence of this region, such as Apple and Thyme Tart and main courses including Duck Breast with Cider and Braised Chicken in White Wine and Mustard.
Transporting readers to a world whose cobblestone lanes shirk commercialism in favor of cherished tradition,
On Rue Tatin provides a touching glimpse of the camaraderie, exquisite food, and simple pleasures of daily life in this truly glorious corner of Normandy.
Customer Reviews:
A French Lifestyle.......2007-09-19
I took a cooking class with Susan when she made one stop in California. I learned alot and so I read this book to see how she ended up in France. It was a delight. It made me want to pack up and visit the town where she lives. I loved reading of the people who live there and the recipes she shares. Very enjoyable.
Interesting story not told very well.......2007-08-22
This is not a cookbook, but a memoir with a scattering of recipes. The story is a familiar one: American becomes enthralled with France (or Italy as is often the case), manages to buy and restore a delapidated country house, and lives to write about it. It is hoped that the proceeds from the sale of the resulting book will defray the costs.
I am sure that Susan Loomis is a nice person, but she is a mediocre writer. Her tale is written in a self-absorbed style that just detracts. The writing is ponderous and irritating.
not about a cooking school.......2006-12-17
Very disappointing, the only good thing in it is the food. It's terribly condescending and author's ego is all over the place. But the most annoying part is that while it claims on the back that this is a book about a cooking school and anyone about to open a small business should read it, this is not the case at all. She only talks about the school a bit at the beginning and then we are just left with her life, her view of the French, which is not very exciting, and an awful lot of adjectives.
Excellent reading.......2006-10-12
Having been a student in France in the 1970s, this book brought back a lot of good memories. Ms. Loomis is an excellent writer and tells a good story making me feel like I was there. I could easily imagine all of the situations and think any person with an interest in France or cooking would enjoy the book. It'll be kept in my library to reread in the future.
France for enthusiasts.......2006-08-31
A pleasant summer read that tells the story of the author's move to the French countryside and establishment of a cooking school. There are several stories: her development as a professional cook, the refurbishment of the historic building that became their home, the family's integration into a small French town. I often wished for more detail--it is not a very long book for so many fascinating topics. She includes an appealing mix of recipes; I marked several as something I want to try.
Book Description
A stone's throw from Paris and renowned for its temperate climate, Normandy is a French region with something for everyone. Rich in culture, history, nature, and hearty cuisine, it attracts an increasing number of visitors and countless foreign homeowners. Its beauty and charm has seduced great artists and writers such as Monet in Giverny and Victor Hugo in Villequier.
Share in the relaxed Norman lifestyle by sauntering along the beach in Deauville, stroll along riverbanks and forests in springtime. Normandy is famed for its gardens, and many are open to visitors, who can stroll the cloistered grounds of a monastery, or watercolor at Giverny.
Discover that there is no such thing as a typical Norman home: locals invite us into their half-timbered houses, thatched cottages, or slate-roofed residences. Catch a glimpse at the end of a pathway of a medieval chateau with turrets or a Renaissance manor with mansard windows and balconies.
No Normand table is complete without Calvados, Camembert, Cotentin oysters, hard cider, butter, and crème fraiche.
Regional artisans still practice traditional Normand crafts, including lacemaking from
Alencon, majolica from Vieux Rouen, and the region's famous armoires and clocks.
Living in Normandy includes an indispensable guide with an extensive list of the region's best restaurants, hotels, brasseries, bed and breakfasts, as well as stores, boutiques, antique dealers, and tips on where to sample the famous local products.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful overveiw of Normandy.......2006-03-22
Whether you are planning a trip to Normany or just interested in the architecture and lifestyle of this beautiful region of France, this is the book for you.Living In Normany showcases both the upper and lower regions from the dramatic shorelines to the interior country side. There are many descriptive color photographs of incredible houses and gardens as this book takes you on a tour of the entire area.This book also covers Hotels,restaurants,small museums,parks and gardens. Living in Normandy is one of the best and most beautiful books I've seen that covers this part of France.
Average customer rating:
|
Alan Magee Retrospective
Alan Magee
Manufacturer: Graphis
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Illustration
| Commercial
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Arts
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Painting
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Design
| Computers & Internet
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1932026096 |
Book Description
Alan Magee began his career in commercial illustration in the late 1960s working for such publications as Time and New York. A decade later he was concentrating exclusively on large-scale personal paintings that at once drew on and superseded this early work. Magee's meticulously photorealistic renderings of prosaic objects from stones to carburetors to doorways brought both critical acclaim and popular success, and his work has received awards from the Society of Illustrators, the National Academy of Design, and many others. His technical virtuosity, tempered with a subtle wit, constitutes a unique variant of trompe l'oeil style that indeed "fools the eye" while exploring deeper meanings. From his early illustration work, to his sublimely beautiful stones, to his surreal sculptural montages, every phase of a rich career is covered here in splendid detail with lavish color illustrations throughout.
Average customer rating:
- A story of Hollywood's silent screen era
- Unknown Masters of the Silent Screen
|
A Silent Siren Song
Al P. Nelson
Manufacturer: Cooper Square Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Movie Directors
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0815410697 |
Book Description
Traces the journey of Harry (1877-1956) and Roy Aitken (1882-1976), two brothers from the Wisconsin farmlands who pioneered the studio system of Hollywood's Golden Age.
Customer Reviews:
A story of Hollywood's silent screen era.......2001-05-21
In A Silent Siren Song: The Aitken Brothers' Hollywood Odyssey, 1905-1926, Al Nelson and Mel Jones effectively collaborate to tell a story of Hollywood's silent screen era as represented by Harry and Roy Aitken, two of film history's most innovative movie makers and their cadre of the great directors and stars of the day. This notables ranged from D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, and Mary Pickford, to Lillian Gish, Mabel Normand, "Fatty" Arbuckle, and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. A Silent Siren Song traces the Aitkens' brothers rise from small-time film distributors to the captaining of a genuine movie empire and the production of silent era classics from the Keystone Kops to "Birth of a Nation". This is an impressive, informative, and very welcome contribution to personal and academic film history collections.
Unknown Masters of the Silent Screen.......2000-12-31
You have heard of Warner Brothers. Have you ever heard of the Aitken brothers? Probably not, but their innovations in the motion picture business before talkies helped make Hollywood what it is today. They are often left out of the movie history books, so that even silent film fans may not know who they are. This need no longer be the case. _A Silent Siren Song: The Aitken Brothers' Hollywood Odyssey, 1905 -1926_ (Cooper Square Press), by Al P. Nelson and Mel R. Jones, provides a biography of the brothers, who produced more than 2,500 films, including some legendary ones.
These were, amazingly, Wisconsin farm boys. They knew they wanted to do something more lucrative and exciting than milk cows, and in 1905 when Roy went to a nickelodeon in Chicago to see _The Great Train Robbery_, he sent for Harry to come see it, too. They saw that movies were a business with a future, and set up their own nickelodeon. _A Silent Siren Song_ wonderfully traces the arc of the brothers' career, buying nickelodeons, then running a film exchange to rent films to other peoples' nickelodeons, then distributing films to Europe, then producing films themselves. They helped the careers of Fatty Arbuckle, Charlie Chaplain, the Gish sisters, and many more famous stars, but they knew to promote their directors as well. Their most famous director was D. W. Griffith, and he made for them the first superpicture, _Birth of a Nation_ in 1915. A smash success, it was followed by _Intolerance_, a critical success, and an expensive commercial flop. The Aitkens, for many reasons detailed in this careful book, could not survive as outsiders in Hollywood, and returned to Wisconsin.
Harry and Roy were happy when they were on top and unembittered when they had to head back home. This book shows just how innovative they were. Besides making the first superpicture, they established worldwide branches for film distribution; they were the first to use public relations and full-page ads for films; they engaged the finances of Wall Street to make movies. An engaging, revealing work, _A Silent Siren Song_ gives us back some film history we lost in letting us meet the Aitkens. It is a happy overview of movie production, distribution, and display when the movies were just beginning.
Books:
- The Second Life of Samuel Tyne
- The Things She Does at Night
- The Watermelon King: A Novel
- The Wished-For Country: A Novel
- The Year of Jubilo: A Novel of the Civil War
- Theater, Aristocracy, and Pornocracy: The Orgy Calculus (PAJ Books)
- Three Star Fix
- Two Murders in My Double Life
- Variations on Night and Day
- Victory: An Island Tale
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Christmas Kisses: Mackenzie's Magic/ Silver Bells/ A Wild West Christmas
- Atlas of Clinical Ophthalmology
- The Facts On File Dictionary Of Chemistry
- To Green Angel Tower, Part 1
- Wolf Kahn Pastels
- A Small Place in Italy
- You and Your Deaf Child: A Self-Help Guide for Parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
- Robert Bechtle: A Retrospective
- The Surreal Calder
- Vascular Endothelium: Responses to Injury
