Customer Reviews:
Dazed and Delighted by a Different Dazai .......2006-07-13
If you've read "Setting Sun" or "No Longer Human" by Dazai and think you've got him pigeon-holed, read this fine collection of his short stories and think again. This is Dazai in a very different key. While the darkness and nihilism characterizing his better known novels still hovers around in the background in these tales, overall they sparkle with a sharp and sprightly sense of irony, satire, and humor that is appealing--this light also gives the shadow contrast and depth, making it less overbearing but more disturbing in a way.
There is a good variety among the stories themselves, too. Some are semi-autobiographical pieces somewhat in the vein of the good old "I-novel", some are funny stories with a bite, one story more typical of Dazai deals with postwar Japan's sense of meaninglessness and loss, but most are retellings of classical or premodern tales East and West but with a twist--including reworkings of vignettes by Ihara Saikaku and Ueda Akinari as well as a take on the Gospel story through the distorted psychology of Judas. All of the stories are intriguing, and O'Brien's translation brings them to life, capturing Dazai's nonchalant and talkative tone in these stories rather well. And they are important too in giving the non-Japanese reader a much fuller sense of the range and artistry of one of twentieth-century Japan's best writers.
The stories included are: "Memories", "Undine", "Monkey Island", "Heed My Plea", "Melos, Run!" "On the Question of Apparel", "A Poor Man's Got His Pride", "The Monkey's Mound", "The Sound of Hammering", "Taking the Wen Away", and (of course) "Crackling Mountain".
A NIhilistic version of Japanese famous folklore.......1998-02-22
"Otogizoshi," a nihilistic anthology based on some Japanese famous folklore by famous novelist, Osamu Dazai. Crackling Mountain, Kachi-Kachi yama in Japanese is originally rather cruel and abuserd falklore, in which a naughty badger kills an old lady and a rabbit revenges for her in cruel way. Here a rabbit is described as a young and capricious woman and gives new lights to this rather absurd and cruel Kachi-Kachi Yama stories.
Customer Reviews:
Knights But Not Templar.......2005-02-25
Templar history, the real history not the fervid imaginings regarding the Holy Grail and such, is a truly fascinating tale worthy of sustained study. But as the previous reviewer has observed, however, all of the tales in this collection are instantly forgetable as they are trite in conception and poorly written. They have the collective depth of creative writing exercises in a first year class. I threw my copy away.
An okay anthology.......2003-01-02
I've been a fan of Katherine Kurtz's work for a long time now and look forward to each of her books as they come out. I enjoyed most of the stories in the first two Templar anthologies, but I'm afraid I can't say the same about this one. The stories were well written, but just didn't seem to catch my attention. Twenty-four hours after reading the book, I can't really remember any of the stories that I read in any amount of detail.
For those who read all of Ms. Kurtz's books, I would suggest getting it out of a library or buying a used copy, if you must own it. I hope that if she does any more of these anthologies that the stories are better.
Average customer rating:
- Great science fiction that borders on the profound
- Deep Fun
- Adventurous look at philosophical precepts, with humor!
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The Great Time Machine Hoax
Keith Laumer
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0441302688 |
Customer Reviews:
Great science fiction that borders on the profound.......2004-02-15
I've always been fascinated by the idea of time travel, so this book's title fairly jumped off the shelf of a used book store I frequented back in college. Don't let the title, The Great Time Machine Hoax, fool you. This isn't some piece of second-rate science fiction that winds up reneging on its promises of adventures through time; the essence of the "hoax" can only be found in the writing itself. I wouldn't call this novel incredibly visionary, either, but it does provide much food for thought in terms of the philosophy of science.
Of course, you can just read the novel for the story itself and get your money's worth. Laumer mixes plenty of wit and comedy into the adventures of our main characters. As the book opens, Chester W. Chester IV has been legally declared the sole heir of his quirky great-grandfather's estate; unfortunately, the back taxes that have accrued over the full century of legal wrangling over the will seem to do Chester more harm than good. In order to raise money, he is forced to close down his Wowser Wonder Shows circus. Case Mulvihill, the man running the circus, is determined to find a way to save the business, and he focuses his attention on the giant computer in Chester's great-grandfather's house. Chester's ancestor had poured the bulk of his money and the last quarter century of his life into building the Generalized Non-Linear Extrapolator; basically, the idea was to connect an ungodly amount of memory to the processor and input all the knowledge known to man into the machine. Of course, actually making use of all this information is the proverbial rub. Chester and Chase visit the house and start asking the computer questions. Eventually, Case tests the machine by asking for realistic looks into the distant past. This is where the trouble starts. The two men, and the female named Genie the computer creates to be their guide, wind up trapped and separated in time, in eras ranging from that of cavemen to a future society based on philosophy and science. For Chester, rescuing his friends and getting back home safe and sound stands as a true challenge indeed.
I think the writing in this novel is a tad bit uneven at times, but this is a quick and entertaining read blessed with both comedy and insight. By far the most fascinating section to me was Chester's reeducation in a future academy. A lifetime's worth of learning is packed into a single year, and Laumer takes the opportunity to introduce some truly thought-provoking ideas about mental and physical education, the mastery of mind over pain and boredom, and the making of a man in his most enlightened and nature-attuned form. Some of the philosophy proffered here borders on the esoteric (the starting point and unofficial school "motto" is "Is-not is not not-is") yet much of it seems to merit consideration in the reader's own approach to life.
Keith Laumer's 1963 The Great Time Machine Hoax is just very good science fiction. It offers a rousingly good story that anyone can enjoy, yet it goes beyond the surface to mine for a few nuggets of intellectual ore in the ground of the human mind. This is the kind of novel that can give birth to a love of science fiction in the mind of someone new to the genre.
Deep Fun.......1999-11-20
If one were to lift the edge of the cosmic consciousness and find a chuckle underneath it would be entirely congruent with Laumer's approach to the human condition. While dealing with the big issues of human evolution, civilization and the nature of time and matter "The Hoax" manages to be extremely humorous and cognizant, in a down-to-earth way, of the motives and passions of humans. I read this book when it came out (about 30 years ago) and while it is not quite as well written as I remember it, the concepts and synthesis are powerful and the humour is classic.
Adventurous look at philosophical precepts, with humor!.......1997-08-10
I first read The Great Time Machine Hoax some years ago because I was 'into' SF. I have since returned to it several times because of Laumer's interest in philosophical precepts concerning the nature vs nurture controversy. Using a delightfully acerbic tone, Laumer turns a modern wimp into an actualized man by placing him in a futuristic academy dedicated to improving all his inherent physical and mental capacities to their ultimate state of perfection. Laumer makes us wonder if it is possible to attain self-actualization through operant conditioning and pain avoidance/pleasure seeking. Would these techniques benefit society? These are the issues I like to ponder. Of course, the hero returns to save the beautiful girl and his best friend. What makes Laumer unique is his humerous portrayal of the stupidities of modern man, particularly our vanities. Fans of Keith Laumer's "Retief" series will be greatly entertained by this novelette. Fans of social commentary, a la Mark Twain's 'A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court', will be at home in this book. A great light read, with room for thought if you like. One of my favorites
Product Description
A Galaxy Science Fiction novel. In 2064, Chester W Chester inherits his great-grandfather's estate: a million credits liability in back taxes; a mangy and defunct circus; a white elephant of a Victorian mansion; and the old man's invention--a computer called GNE (Genie for short), an idiot savant that had the world's knowledge stored in its memory but hadn't the foggiest idea what to do with that knowledge. At least that's what Chester thought--until he made the mistake of trying to operate the computer without having read the instruction book.
Product Description
First pocket Book edition #50156. colorful cover art.
Product Description
Chester W. Chester, IV, Sole surviving heir of eccentric millionaire-inventor Chester W. Chester I, has entered into his inheritance: a semi-moribund circus; a white elephant of a run-down neo-Victorian mansion furnished with such hot items as TV sets shaped like crouching vultures; the old gentleman's final invention, a mammoth computer whose sole value seems to be as scrap metal; and one more thing-a million credits in back taxes. Either he comes up with the million credits, or it's up-the-river for Chester for a long, long time. That's why Chester is desperate enough to use the Generalized Nonlinear Extrapolator (Genie for short) to perpetrate one of the biggest entertainment scams of all time-The Great Time Machine Hoax (But he should have read the instruction manual.)
Average customer rating:
- A Man, A Can, A Plan.
- Easy Enough for a Man
- Not For My Guys!
- Easy, Fun coking
- Great book for beginners
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A Man, a Can, a Plan : 50 Great Guy Meals Even You Can Make
David Joachim , and
The Editors of Men's Health
Manufacturer: Rodale Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Quick & Easy
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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A Man, a Can, a Microwave: 50 Tasty Meals You Can Nuke in No Time (Man, a Can... Series)
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A Man, a Can, a Grill: 50 No-Sweat Meals You Can Fire Up Fast
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The Healthy College Cookbook: Quick. Cheap. Easy.
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A Man, A Can, A Tailgate Plan: 50 Easy Game Time Recipes That Are Sure to Please
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A Man, A Can, A Plan, A Second Helping: 50 Fast Meals to Satisfy Your Healthy Appetite
ASIN: 1579546072 |
Book Description
A Man, A Can, A Plan, inspired by an article in the most popular mens magazine, Mens Health, is a cookbook that presents 60 simple, inexpensive recipes featuring ingredients guys have right in their cupboardscanned food. Great and healthy food can be had for a low price and minimum effort, and A Man, A Can, A Plan lays it all out, in pictorial, easy-to-follow steps, for the culinary-challenged. It features special sections on cooking for her and cooking for the morning after for dudes with a lady on their minds, and its special lay-flat design makes it incredibly practical for countertop use. Author David Joachim received the 1999 James Beard Award for Steven Raichlens Healthy Latin Cooking, so he knows his stuff and makes it accessible to beginners and experienced guys as well. Get your can openers ready to rumble!
Customer Reviews:
A Man, A Can, A Plan........2007-09-28
The book is exactly what it says it is, but be warned, the recipes are actually nutritious. I was expecting something including more potato chips, M&M's and cold, left-over big macs.
The meals are easy to construct: they can be done in little more than one wreck and a lap or two. (If you're watching a particularly good race you may want to organize the ingredients after the first wreck and put them together and nuke them after the second.)
If you pretend the recipes are not good for you they seem to taste better.
(Hints, are also given to impress the ladies when they stop by!)
Easy Enough for a Man.......2007-09-27
Bought this for my nephew who is a freshman at college. Full color pictures of all recipes and very basic ingredients. He liked it.
Not For My Guys!.......2007-09-19
The cost of buying ingredients to prepare some of the recipes are about the same as two meals at a fast food restaurant. My two college guys say, "Why bother with messing up the kitchen"?
Easy, Fun coking.......2007-09-13
I bought this cookbook for my son, he read it immediately and began picking out recipes. This will be heavily used and with ease. Love the Book!
Great book for beginners.......2007-09-04
I bought 2 of these books for my daughter who is in college and living in an apartment. They are simple, quick recipes for someone who doesn't want to have to eat out all the time, who wants to save money and make a real meal. I liked that they are also low fat recipes as well. Now, they are probably not as tasty as what you can really do with real chicken instead of canned - or with lots of training and time, but that's not what these books are for. If you want gourmet recipes and cooking tecniques, look elsewhere.
Book Description
In this companion to her successful introduction to cat behavior Think Like a Cat, Pam Johnson-Bennett, the award-winning author and feline behaviorist, shows how adding another cat to your home does not have to be the start of a kitty apocalypse. Although cats are often misunderstood as natural loners, Johnson-Bennett shows how to plan, set up, and maintain a home environment that will help multiple cats—and their owners—live in peace. Cat vs. Cat will help readers understand the importance of territory, the specialized communication cats use to establish relationships and hierarchies, and how to interpret the so-called “bad behavior” that leads so many owners to needless frustration. Offering a wealth of information on how to diffuse tension, prevent squabbles and ambushes, blend two families, or help the elder kitty in your family, Cat vs. Cat is a welcome resource for both seasoned and prospective guardians of cat families large and small.
Customer Reviews:
Wish I'd read this book sooner..........2007-10-07
Even if you don't have a fighting situation on your hands, you will learn something valuable about cats from this book. Such sensible, practical advice and very welcome.
I recommend this book to all my cat parent friends.......2007-09-29
This book has opened my eyes and has given me a new perspective on feline behavior. She explains the behavior of a cat to a T and gives expert advise on keeping the peace in a multicat household. Too many times have I seen cats dumped because their human guardians fail to realize their natural behavior. Cats are too often punished for behavior that is completely natural to them (ie. scratching). She explains de-clawing alternatives and gives great insight on litterbox issues. I highly recommend this book.
Lots of Useful Information.......2007-08-23
I found this book to be both informative and entertaining. I thought I already knew a lot about cats (having them for about 15 years), but even I learned quite a few little tidbits I did not know. And Pam informs you of all this information with a sense of humor. Great little read for anyone interested in cats.
Author has too much time and money, and obfuscates with the best of them.......2007-07-30
While there is some useful information in the book, my opinion is that I understand cats as well as this woman, which is to say nobody really understands them very well at all.
As an example, every cat of hers (3) gets its own litter box in its own space. And you must sift and scoop each box a minimum of twice a day. And no automated boxes, God forbid! She makes a good point that you're not as on top of any medical issues with an automated box, but the same thing is true with your kids, and you don't keep them in diapers! Another example is clearing off vertical spaces for your cats, or get cat trees. I have neither the space nor the time for this kind of nonsense, nor do most of the cat owners I know. Especially the space!
The other thing that annoyed me was the tendency to over-complicate some of the issues: "it could be this ... or that ... or ..." to the point where it's not even helpful. More important, making a major production out of processes like bringing a new cat into the environment. Operation Enduring Freedom this ain't! Yes cats are complicated little animals (aren't we all), but they take their cue from how much nonsense you're willing to tolerate from them, and if you make a big production out of things, they will certainly push that envelope.
For someone new to cats, this could be a good book, but if you've already had cats successfully for some time, save your money and trust your instincts.
Foresee the problems.......2007-05-26
Up until now I had not much use of the advice contained in the book as I have only one cat. However I am now well informed in case I decide to have more purring around me. The book is well written and informative. In my opinion it is a good reference book. Well worth having. For some funny cat stories consider the series of Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 2. For more books with cats check the series:
Sunset (Warriors: The New Prophecy, Book 6)
Average customer rating:
- Blooms and Baskets
- Very realistic looking flower designs, great patterns
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Blooms and Baskets Gems of Summer: Gems of Summer
Emily G. Senuta
Manufacturer: American Quilter's Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Baskets
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Applique
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Quilts & Quilting
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Textile Arts
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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Birds 'n Roses (Applique Masterpiece)
-
Artful Applique: The Easy Way (That Patchwork Place)
ASIN: 157432716X |
Book Description
This award-winning quilter and teacher shares with her readers a dozen exquisite flower baskets to applique. These versatile patterns can be combined to make the featured quilt called Gems of Summer, or you can mix and match the blocks to make wallhangings, pillows, clothing, throws, valences, or whatever comes to mind. The author provides step-by-step guidance for selecting fabrics, making freezer-paper or contact-paper templates, needle-turn applique, appli-piecing, reverse applique, cut-away applique, and basic embroidery. Four medallion quilt settings with yardage and instructions are presented to best display the beautiful basket blocks. AUTHORBIO: A seamstress since the age of 14, Emily tried her hand at numerous needle crafts before discovering quilting. A move to Kansas in 1974 provided her an opportunity to teach quilt classes, and she now designs and lectures as well. REVIEW: A reader from Colorado Springs, CO states, "This is a beautiful book with several patterns for detailed applique. The instructions are straight-forward and easy to understand. Several setting ideas are included. The flowers are beautifully detailed. This is the book I've been looking for! If you want to make a stunning quilt this is the book to buy."
Customer Reviews:
Blooms and Baskets.......2001-12-18
This is a beautiful book with several patterns for detailed applique. The instructions are straight-forward and easy to understand. Several setting ideas are included. The flowers are beautifully detailed. This is the book I've been looking for! If you want to make a stunning quilt this is the book to buy.
Very realistic looking flower designs, great patterns.......1999-01-26
Try Emily's method for echo applique. Use this technique when you want to highlight a shape or pattern piece. You can stitch the narrowest little border using this technique. Great job, Emily.
Average customer rating:
|
Crafts Supply Sourcebook: The Comprehensive Shop-By-Mail Guide for Thousands of Craft Materials (Crafts Supply Sourcebook)
Margaret A. Boyd
Manufacturer: Betterway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Canadian
| International
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Decorative Arts
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Directories
| Catalogs & Directories
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1558705066 |
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding source book.......2000-04-29
more categories than the human mind can imagine! Tons of addresses and web sites to contact.
Amazon.com
Whether you're a dollmaker or rubber stamper, a ceramist or metalworker, a knitter, quilter, weaver, or just about any other type of craftsperson (even a scrimshander or tattoo artist!), you'll find all kinds of sources in The Crafts Supply Sourcebook. Organized alphabetically by craft, this excellent reference is divided into two main sections: general arts, crafts, and hobbies; and needlecrafts, sewing, and fiber arts. Within each category are alphabetical listings of sources, complete with addresses, phone numbers, descriptions of what the companies offer, what their catalogs cost, and whether discounts are available. The final section lists associations, publications, and display suppliers. Just browsing through some of the listings may give you ideas for interesting crafts to try, and now you'll know exactly where to get the supplies.
Average customer rating:
|
Make it with Style: Slipcovers (Make It with Style)
Judy Petersen
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Textile Arts
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Needlecrafts
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
| Crocheting
| Cross-Stitch
| Embroidery
| Knitting
| Lace & Tatting
| Needlepoint
| Needlework
| Patchwork
| Quilts & Quilting
| Sewing
Household Hints
| How-to & Home Improvements
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Decorating
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Upholstery & Fabrics
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0517882418
Release Date: 1998-09-29 |
Average customer rating:
|
Eugene Delacroix: The Graphic Work a Catalogue Raisonne
Loys Delteil
Manufacturer: Alan Wofsy Fine Arts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
History
| Subjects
| Books
| Africa
| Americas
| Ancient
| Arctic & Antarctica
| Asia
| Audiobooks
| Australia & Oceania
| Europe
| Gay & Lesbian
| Historical Study
| Large Print
| Middle East
| Military
| Military Science
| Russia
| United States
| World
Delacroix, Eugene
| ( D-F )
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Museums & Collections
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Arts
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1556602529 |
Books:
- Duane's Depressed : A Novel
- El pajaro del alma
- Emma in Love: Jane Austen's Emma Continued
- Fifth Life of the Catwoman
- First Love & Look for My Obituary: Two Novellas
- Fugitive Shoes (Five Star Expressions)
- Gambito de Caballo
- Granta Magazine 74: Confessions of a Middle-Aged Ecstasy Eater
- Greetings from Cutler County: A Novella and Stories (Sweetwater Fiction: Originals)
- Hail Mary Corner
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Comprehensive Natural Products Chemistry : Enzymes, Enzyme Mechanisms, Proteins and Aspects of NO Ch
- Ferdydurke
- History: Fiction or Science
- History: Fiction or Science
- Felicidad De Mexico
- What Great Paintings Say - Old Masters in Detail
- Doug Aitken: Alpha
- Balloons And Other Fun Things Lowly Worms How Where Why Book#3
The Setting Sun
Blue Bamboo: Japanese Tales of Fantasy (Japan's Modern Writers Series)
No Longer Human
I Am a Cat: Three Volumes in One
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman
