Book Description
In 1991, The New York Times Book Review called Taibo's book, Shadow of a Shadow 'riotous....a wild and mel-ancholy tangle of life.' Now the four dis-parate friends and domino players at its center are back. But as the title says, they come 'returning as shadows,' twenty years older, to combat the Ger-man Fascists stealing into their country at the start of World War II. Readers meet a cast of vivid characters, including a one-armed poet and Ernest Hemingway, the latter magically transported to Mexico while sleeping off a hang-over. All of these are seen through the eyes of a gifted writer sharing with his readers an imagination very much his own.
Book Description
A weaver of tales, a caster of spells, and a writer of rare imagination, Sarah Ash lends her unique vision to epic fantasy. In this captivating continuation to her story, the author of
Lord of Snow and Shadows revisits a realm filled with spirits and singers, daemons and kings.
Gavril Nagarian has finally cast out the dragon-daemon from deep within himself. The Drakhaoul is gone—and with it all
of Gavril’s fearsome powers. Though no longer besieged by the Drakhaoul’s unnatural lusts and desires, Gavril has betrayed his birthright and his people. He has put the ice-bound princedom of Azhkendir at risk and lost.
Emerging from his battle with the Lord Drakhaon scarred but victorious, Eugene of Tielen exacts a terrible price. He arrests the renegade warlord Gavril Nagarian for crimes against the Rossiyan Empire and sentences him to life in an insane asylum—for the absence of the Drakhaoul is slowly driving Gavril mad. But Eugene has another motive as well. He longs to possess the Drakhaoul—at any cost to his kingdom and his humanity. With Gavril locked inside the Iron Tower, three women keep his memory alive. His mother returns to the warmer climes of her homeland, where she foments the seeds of rebellion. A young scullery maid whose heart is broken by Gavril’s arrest sends her spirit out to the Ways Beyond. And even the emperor’s new wife is haunted by her remembrances of the handsome young painter who once captured her soul.
The five princedoms of a shattered empire are reunited. The last of Artamon’s ruby tears adorns Eugene’s crown. But peace is as fragile as a rebel’s whisper—and a captive’s wish to be free.
Glowing with the powers of light and darkness, Prisoner of the Iron Tower will astonish and enthrall you, as courtly intrigue collides with the fantastic—and good and evil become as nebulous as the outlines of a dream.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Imprisoned in an Asylum.......2006-10-18
Prisoner of the Iron Tower (2004) is the second Fantasy novel in the Tears of Artamon trilogy, following Lord of Snows and Shadows. In the previous volume, Gavril let the Drakhaoul destroy the Tielen army besieging Kastel Drakhaon and then rescues his mother from Swanholm. With help from Malusha, Gavril liberates himself from the Drakhaoul. Later Kaspar Linnaius, the Court Artificier, takes the terribly burned Prince Eugene away from the monastery of Saint Sergius.
In this novel, Gavril has lost his daemon, but the creature then possesses Andrei Orlova, Astasia's brother. Astasia returns to Muscobar with Count Velemir's ashes and discovers that the West Wing of the Winter Palace is aflame. The Tielens use her request to rescue the Grand Duke and Duchess as justification for the invasion of Mirom.
Emperor Eugene proposes to Astasia and she accepts. The Grand Duke agrees and gives Eugene the Mirom Tear of Ardamon. Now that all five Tears are possessed by Eugene, his jewelers reconstruct the imperial crown. After the fifth Tear is added, the crown glows red and a beam of red light shoots into the heavens. Following the imperial wedding, Eugene wears the crown for the first time.
With the formation of the New Rossiyan empire, Eugene begins to think about the defeat in Azhkendir. Gavril Nagarian still rules at Kastel Drakhaon. Eugene sends dispatches to the Northern Army.
In this story, a Tielen army once more besieges Kastel Drakhaon and Gavril surrenders himself to them rather than watch his druzhina die needlessly. He is taken to Mirom, tried and convicted for acts against the empire, and confined for life within an insane asylum. There his name is taken away from him and he is known only as Number Twenty-one.
Empress Astasia gets permission for Elysia Andar to return to Smarna. Despite Tielen occupation, Smarna is rapidly becoming a thorn in the side of the empire. When Elysia finally arrives in Smarna, she finds herself in the midst of a rebellion. When students demonstrate before the Old Citadel, the Tielens fire on them and kill a student; open insurrection is now inevitable.
Magus Linnaius searches the locked archives at Saint Sergius's monastery and discovers some forgotten information about the banished daemons. He also discovers more in Kastel Drakhaon and interviews Kiukiu about the casting out of Drakhaoul from Gavril. Linnaius then overwhelms her mind and gets her to lead him to Malusha.
The title and Gavril's confinement remind one of The Man in the Iron Mask. The context, however, is quite different. This novel has demons!
Recommended for Sarah Ash fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of political intrigue, demonic possession and exotic magic.
-Arthur W. Jordin
The plot thickens..........2006-10-14
Sarah Ash continues to develop the intriguing world of New Rossiya in "Prisoner of the Iron Tower," the second installment in the Tears of Artamon trilogy. Prince Eugene is now emperor of a fledgling New Rossiya (made up of the five countries introduced in the first book). At his side is Astasia, who, due to her brother's death and the uprising in her country, agrees to marry Eugene because she sees no other options. Eugene takes Gavril, now a regular human since his daemon has been cast out, prisoner in an attempt to find out how to gain Gavril's former power. A rebellion against the new empire in Gavril's former home country of Smarna and the introduction of some new characters from a far-off country who have an interest in Artamon's Tears and the Drakhaouls round out the story.
"Prisoner" gives us some needed history about the Drakhaouls, their origins, and the events that led up to the possession of the Nagarian family. There's also a great amount of characterization in this novel that was lacking in the first book. Many of the main characters are developed further, the most intriguing being Eugene and Astasia and their personal relationship. The story line is still the main focus, though, with a bit of a slowdown in the early half of the book.
One thing that bothered me was the lack of characterization for Kiukiu. Since she's the love interest of the main character, you'd hope that she has more spunk, cleverness, or at least some common sense. But she seems painfully childish and naive and, due to her one-track mind, gets into a lot of situations that could have been avoided. Despite everyone's warnings, and her own knowledge of what's happening, she chooses to think that Linnaius won't play her false. It's really annoying, because I find it hard to believe that Gavril, who is very politically and personally savvy, would want someone who, well, isn't.
Other than that, a solid read and one that kept me hooked. Highly recommended.
This entertaining and complex fantasy continues........2006-08-11
A great follow up to book one of this trilogy!
Well written and easy to read, I found this book had just about everything one could ask for in a good (bordering on great) fantasy story; that being love, deceit, unexpected twists and turns, creatures and people with special talents and of course a liberal dose of magic sprinkled through out the entire novel.
The Pros:
a.)There was substantial character development through out the entire series, and not just the main characters. The good guys had some faults and the bad guys usually had a few redeeming traits.
b.)Multiple, complex and convoluted story lines; just when things seem to be leveling out something else happens to reshape the scheme of things
The Cons:
Only one, that being; I found it easy to get a little confused at times because of the number of twists and turns that occurred, especially in the third book.
All in all a good book and an extremely interesting and complex fantasy adventure. Recommended!
4 and ½ Stars.
Book Description
Long ago, before the days of myth and legend, our worlds belonged to them. Now they want them back. . . .
Captain Kirk is stunned when the Federation receives an urgent plea for help -- from the Klingon Empire. A mysterious starship has invaded Klingon space and resisted all their efforts to destroy it. Establishing contact with the stranger's ship, Kirk discovers that it is only the vanguard of a vast alien fleet obsessed with conquering the Klingons, the Federation, the Romulans, and all who dwell in the space that was once their own.
The Invasion has begun. . . .
Download Description
Long ago, even before the days of myth and legend, our worlds belong to them--now they want them back. Captain Kirk is stunned when the Federation receives an urgent plea for help from the Klingon Empire. A mysterious starship has invaded Klingon space and resisted all their efforts to destroy it. Kirk discovers a fleet obsessed with conquering all who dwell in the space that was once their own.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable, and not too superficial........2007-04-17
The concept behind this book is one of the better concepts for a Star Trek book, and it is reasonably well-written. I'm not generally a fan of Diane Carey's writing style, but she generally is fairly good at character development, pacing, and other aspects of writing, and this book is no exception, and she (mostly) restrains herself here in her tendancy to use exotic, unusual, admittedly original but generally just plain wrong use of the language. There are a few instances in this book, but none too severe, and not too many of them. One of her better efforts.
another good one.......2004-12-25
I really enjoyed this one...and you certainly don't have to read the other three to get the pay off from this one...though I may eventually. I loved seeing how Kirk's reputation is with the Klingons and how people from other cultures can see others. The Villians are certainly interesting, and I am certainly curious how others in ST universe deal with them. Though you do have to wonder, are they really villians? or just missunderstood? hmmmm...
Was Glad I Did...........2004-07-20
Not being a TOS fan, I had no intention of reading this book, but I wanted very badly to read the DS9 and Voyager books of this series. Having found the entire series on ebay for the price that I could get one book on Amazon, I got them all. So I started with the first one, this one.
I am now very glad that I did. This book started off fantastic with the almighty Klingons scared to death of what they saw and experienced. Kept my attention throughout the book as the Klingon General begged Kirk for assistance and offered great insight into exactly how Kirk would handle such dire situations, his ability to lead and his diplomatic flare. I especially enjoyed how the book described the Klingon's views of Kirk as well as the Furies.
This is a story of Kirks successes and failures, because in this book he does both. Definitely a worthwhile read for fans and non-fans alike.
Star Trek #79 Invasion! First Strike - A great series!.......2003-12-08
"First Strike" leads off the first crossover series in Pocket Books multiple lines of Star Trek fiction. Credit for this incredible, time and space spanning series goes to its concept creators, John J. Ordover, Pocket Books head Star Trek editor and Diane Carey, the author of this novel.
As a whole, this series is great for the first of its kind in Star Trek fiction; individually, this first story a fairly good one, keeping in good faith with Diane Carey's writing style. The stories premise, plot setup, execution and pacing are all in synch making for an interesting and quick read. As I've noted over the years, when Diane Carey writes novels in the original series, she's in her element more so than any of the other series.
The cover art for this novel is fairly creative and serves well in informing the reader of what period of Captain Kirk and crew you're dealing with.
The premise:
"Across time and space comes a fury...!" A quote directly from the cover and yes, it is an extremely accurate and telling statement. For many years the Federation has dealt with the Klingon Empire from either open war or cold war but never has the Federation received a call for help from them. That is exactly what they receive and the Federation sends their very best to deal with whatever the situation may be.
The Klingons have found themselves dealing with a massive starship that they're unable to destroy. Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise come on the scene and discover that this ship and its leader, Vergo Zenner are but the mere vanguard of a massive invasion fleet that is headed to reclaim what they believe to be there territory since time before memory and that territory happens to encompass the Federation, Klingon Empire and the Romulan Star Empire.
What follows from there is an extremely interesting and intriguing tale that is also a bit rare in Star Trek fiction where it deals more with Captain Kirk as the negotiator. Of course, when comes time to revert to the creative combat leader that he is, he steps right up to the plate.
I highly recommend not only this first book in the series but the entire "Invasion!" series as whole. {ssintrepid}
"One of the Best Trek Books".......2002-11-24
Bully for the way Diane Carey developed the characters in this book. OK, everyone knows what Captain Kirk is like, but she really delved deep into his personality, showing what drives him and how he percieves himself in the the world of Starfleet. Klingon General Kellen and Vergo Zennor of the Furies were flat out awesome. Kellen is the most rational, even-keel Klingon you'll ever meet, until the Furies appear in our part of the Galaxy, then he goes into full-blown Klingon mode of "Shoot! Kill! Destroy!" Zennor seemed in a tenuous situation through the entire book. While the Furies dogma says with absolute certainty this is the part of the Galaxy where they were banished from, Zennor keeps demanding more proof before deciding if they should go to war with the Klingons and the UFP. All the while Kirk is doing what he can to negotiate a solution, but Kellen and his fleet are ready to blast the Furies to hell. I also loved the way Kellen perceived Kirk. At the beginning of the book, he has a lot of respect for the man, even though he is an enemy. But the more he talks to the Furies, that respect goes out the window. I dug his one observation, "This Kirk was no Kirk." The story was excellent with many, "Oh ****" moments and some really cool battle scenes. I look forward to reading the rest of the "Invasion" series.
Customer Reviews:
The basics from several master cake decorators.......2007-08-17
Many different techniques from the best of the best. Whether you like whimsical or realistic, there is much to learn.
You'll find mostly gumpaste/flowerpaste technique, but don't expect the chunky "cookie cutter" look. This detail is as fine as it gets.
Great for those who want to "rest those weary wrists" as it shows a beautiful alternative to classical piping.
International School of Sugarcraft: New Skills and Techniques (International School of Sugarcrafts), Vol. 3.......2007-04-11
Great ideas and instructions.
Great for chefs and people who love to bake pastries!.......2007-02-18
This book is amazing...! It is filled with detailed step-by-step descriptions, images and drawings of cake decorations, so as to make it very easy to make at home. It is inspiring!
Look Good..........2007-01-18
The sugarcraft Vol. 3 I really like it and it gives great tips.
Informative.......2006-07-27
This book is informative, but I'm not sure a novice decorator would find the instructions easy to follow.
Book Description
Dog and cat owners are becoming increasingly concerned about the saftey of processed pet food and the possible side-effects of over-use of antibiotics and hormone treatments. This new edition, thoroughly revised and updated, covers Natural Rearing, herbal medicine and disease prevention.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant for companion animal care........2007-05-16
This book is terrific. It provides a general guide to companion animal care (In a natural way ofcourse), and then lists ailments and accompanying herbal remedies. Easy to use, easy to understand. Suitable for practitioners and animal lovers. If you have a pet then you should buy this book.
Herbal Handbook.......2006-08-19
Well this book is mainly only for the use for dogs. I was thinking it's be more like a herbal/ailment glossary. You know, about what's wrong with your pet and what herb to use for it. It does have that in the book but very little and it's got more literature in it than I had wanted.
the complete herbal book for the cat and dog. .......2006-02-19
This book is an excellent source of almost forgotten and useful information. I am constantly going back to reread sections and have bought it for my farming, animal loving daughters.
good overall idea, BUT..........2006-01-30
First I will give the author due credit for her general ideas on natural rearing, caution of over-vaccination, recommendation of a natural raw diet and advice to provide plenty of exercise, sunshine and love.
With that said, some of her suggestions are iffy at best:
The suggestion to not spay and neuter is very ignorant. Overpopulation in dogs and cats leads to euthanasia, homeless pets, pets with bad homes because they were given away to anybody, etc,etc. There is no side effect of spaying and neutering that even comes close to being as harmful to our pets as the side effects of overpopulation.
The author recommends burying meat in the backyard as a healthful alternative to freezing.
She recommends feeding grains with the raw bones, so that the grains can protect the stomach/intestines from any sharp bone fragments. To expect that to work is just silly, and dogs do not need grains in their diets.
She recommends feeding dried fruits,specifically including raisins, but raisins are toxic to dogs!
She recommends red raspberry leaf for pregnant females but this has been scientifically proven to cause a higher fetal mortality rate, and it induces uterine contractions which is not always a good thing.
She does have some good advice, but I wouldn't blindly trust all of the information contained in this book. Natural rearing is best for your dog, but definitely do your own research and make your own informed decisions.
A thankful reader.......2005-10-22
I had bought two of Juliette's herbal books for cats and dogs when I read another book by a different author who had recommended Juliette's books specifically. One of our cats had developed a strange problem where his fur ceased to grow in a large area on his left flank. The spot started out small but gradually grew large and larger until a spot several inches in diameter was mostly fur-less on our cat. Our vet ran a number a tests which came up negative and we even ran tests twice. Our vet said he didn't know the cause of the problem. We had our cat for years and he is an indoor cat fed typical dry cat food (Whiskas), as are all our kitties, and we also give our cats canned tuna fish frequently, as well as chicken breast, turkey breast and beef occasionally. We didn't think his problem could be diet-related. Our other cats are very healthy and our vet even remarked on their coats saying they were the most beautiful he had seen. We tried some things the vet suggested, including giving our cat vitamin E supplements and even cod liver oil but nothing helped the problem and it just seemed to get worse over several months. I searched around the internet trying to find informataion on a possible cause of his condition but found nothing really. I thought perhaps his problem could be a thyroid condition. When I consulted Juliette's book, she recommended seaweed, garlic or raw egg yolks for thyroid problems. As I already had eggs in the house, I decided to try those first. I mixed raw egg yolk into my cat's tuna fish and fed that to him on several days and then we noticed that his fur looked like it was growing back. I worried about feeding him too much egg yolks as I didn't want him getting too much cholesterol so I ceased feeding the egg yolk after about a week but his fur continued to grow back until it was all the way grown back and he seems fine now. I'm thankful this book helped us find a way to help our cat. It was worth the price of the book just for the help with that one problem, though I will continue to consult the book in future if my cats need any more treatment for any future ailments. Juliette seems very knowledgeable about natural and herbal remedies. I bought her book "Common Herbs for Natural Health" and used some of her recommended treatments on myself as well with very good results.
Average customer rating:
|
The complete herbal handbook for the dog and cat
Juliette de Bairacli-Levy
Manufacturer: Arco Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Veterinary Medicine
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Animal Husbandry
| Agricultural Sciences
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0668065788 |
Average customer rating:
|
The Complete Herbal Handbook for Dog and Cat
Juliette De Bairacli-Levy
Manufacturer: Faber and Faber Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Alternative Medicine
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Cats
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Dogs
| Animal Care & Pets
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0571137075 |
Average customer rating:
|
Tomart's Price Guide to Garage Sale Gold
Manufacturer: Tomart Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Reference
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
jp-unknown2
| Specialty Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0914293478 |
Average customer rating:
- The Jewel in the Crown of Neoclassicism
|
Pavlovsk: The Palace and the Park, the Collections
Manufacturer: Alain de Gourcuff
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Specific Styles
| Building Types & Styles
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Building Types & Styles
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Private
| Museums & Collections
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Painting
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Japan
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Russia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 290983803X |
Customer Reviews:
The Jewel in the Crown of Neoclassicism.......2001-09-27
Any potential buyer would be well advised to ignore the other review, which denied me the pleasures of this two-volume set for too long. While intended for the connoisseur or scholar, it has plenty of eye candy for the aficionado of glossy picture books and shelter magazines. Pavlovsk is the jewel in the crown of neoclassicism. Roughly contemporaneous with Monticello, it reveals Jefferson as a semi-talented, rustic amateur. By contrast, the buildings and park of Pavlovsk were designed by Charles Cameron, perhaps the greatest architect of the period. Pavlovsk's owner, the Empress Maria Fyodorovna, combined unlimited resources with exquisite taste and real talent as an artisan. The results are admirably documented in this two-volume set. Outdoors, vistas to delight from every vantage point; inside, one ravishing interior after the other, all filled with furniture, art and objects of the finest quality and often great historical interest. Best of all, the set captures the unique spirit of Pavlovsk. Opulent enough for a royal residence, the palace was nevertheless built on a sufficiently modest scale that even the twenty-first century reader can imagine himself or herself living happily ever after in its rooms and green spaces. A must for the library of any serious student of the decorative arts and architecture of the eighteenth century.
Book Description
This new collection by best-selling fantasy artist Boris Vallejo has never before been published in book form and includes a rare selection of Vallejo's private work not yet published in any format. The lavishly illustrated book brings the artist's exotic women, sinewy men, and fantasy worlds to life in over 110 full-color paintings. There are images of stunning winged women and muscled men fighting ferocious beasts, as well as strange alien worlds filled with metallic spacecraft and colorful citizens. Renowned fantasy author Nigel Suckling offers insight into Vallejo's work with fascinating and informative extended captions.
Customer Reviews:
Bellfest.......2003-05-31
The amazing world of Boris Vallejo is condensed down into this picture book of god like bodies and fairytail fantasy scenes. Shown are some of his movie work, clothing ad work, Franklin Mint and his most favorite subject, his wife, Julie Bell.
There are some comedy moments of his works as well, including a portrait of the then president of the United States, Bill Clinton. He explains that some of his works have been described as too relvealing esspecially of his wife Julie. But as the pictures show when one gets over the fact, they are quite beautiful.
A book mainly for the older reader, artist or Vallejo fans only.
Beautiful Artworks.......2000-12-14
I love this book because it has lots of beautiful paintings from the author. I like this book more than the Titans. The artworks from Titans doesn't stand out or look as clean as the ones from in this book. This book has pictures ranging from mythical beings and animals, to futuristic designs. The disadvantage about this book is the non appealing art cover and its high price. Overall, it's an excellent reference book.
Perfection. All out perfection........2000-07-21
I have no idea what the person from dallas is talking about. I loved this work of Boris. I espsecially loved the Sections on the mythical beasts, and women of wonder. This is my best Boris book yet. I challenge any artist to match boris in the worlds of magic and fantasy. A definate must for all boris and fantasy fans.
Another classic album from a master.......2000-04-21
Born in Lima, Peru, Vallejo got an early start in his art education at the age of fourteen while studying art at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes on a scholarship. The talented little boy grew up to be the titan of art, responsible for breathtaking art featured on fantasy book covers, movie posters, album covers and motion picture ads along with his own portfolio books such as this one.
Dreams is another fabulous book, a sure collectible for any fantasy and art fan, I know that he started my own passion of art as my father, a gifted artist in many fields has always made Vallejo and other artists books available to me, inspiring me to follow art as well. This fabulous volume is chock packed with stunning women, glistening warriors, beasts and monsters, enchanted lands and wicked creatures that can only emerge from the cocoon of Vallejo's imagination. This a marvelous book in a glossy hardcover jacket that looks at me proudly from my shelf among other volumes by Boris, Julie Bell, Milo Manara, Chris Achilleos, Serpiri and many others who stir my creative juices.
- Kasia S.
I expected more.......2000-04-09
Everyone who likes fantasy art would be satisfied of this book. I like Boris' works. It contains veriety of pictures that prove his great imagination. From exotic women to horrible monsters with their fighting tools. I expected to see more drawing works of him but I found only one. Many works in the book are great and some are not. However, if you are the fan, you must have it.
Amazon.com
The son of a German mother and an Irish father, Hugo Hamilton grew up in Dublin in the 1950s wearing "lederhosen and Aran sweaters, smelling of rough wool and new leather, Irish on top and German below." His family spoke both German and Irish, but English was strictly forbidden--even uttering a few words of the cursed language was enough to earn an often brutal punishment from their father, a staunch Irish nationalist. His father maintained that "your home is your language" and insisted that they be a model Irish family and an example for others to follow. Hamilton and his siblings were not even permitted to play with children who did not speak Irish exclusively--a particular problem in a country where English is the primary language. Ironically, he was taunted mercilessly for his German heritage and children jeered him with cries of "Eichmann" and "Heil Hitler." He was even put on "trial" once by a gang of kids who sentenced him death by snowball firing squad. This confusing quest to discover his identity and to gain an understanding of his family history is at the heart of The Speckled People, a profoundly touching and beautifully written memoir.
His parents' secrecy concerning their own pasts only exacerbated his frustration, forcing Hamilton to cling to fragments of information gleaned secretly from hidden photographs and buried family relics. Written from the perspective of a child, Hamilton captures his feelings of confusion, guilt, and fear convincingly and with much humor and insight. Full of poetic passages, sharp observations, and the kind of subtle epiphanies that are best expressed by a child, the book is a joy to read. "When you're small you know nothing and when you grow up there are things you don't want to know," he writes. This memoir is Hamilton's attempt to reconcile the two. --Shawn Carkonen
Book Description
The childhood world of Hugo Hamilton is a confused place: His father, a brutal Irish nationalist, demands his children speak Gaelic at home whilst his mother, a softly spoken German emigrant who escaped Nazi Germany at the beginning of the war, encourages them to speak German. All Hugo wants to do is speak English. English is, after all, what the other children in Dublin speak. English is what they use when they hunt down Hugo (or 'Eichmann' as they dub him) in the streets of Dublin, and English is what they use when they bring him to trial and execute him at a mock seaside court. Out of this fear and confusion Hugo tries to build a balanced view of the world, to turn the twisted logic of what he is told into truth. It is a journey that ends in liberation but not before this little boy has uncovered the dark and long-buried secrets that lie at the bottom of his parents' wardrobe. In one of the finest books to have emerged from Ireland since Patrick McCabe's THE BUTCHER BOY and Seamus Deane's READING IN THE DARK, acclaimed novelist Hugo Hamilton has finally written his own story.
Customer Reviews:
Can't put it down.......2006-11-18
Memoirs are almost always interesting but this one is like nothing else I had ever read. Truly touching and endlessly interesting, this book has something for everyone. If you have ever felt like an "outsider" you will appreciate Hugo's plight. Can't stop ready it. It was a joy until the very last page.
wow!.......2005-04-28
okay... this book is absolutely gorgeous - It is sweet,deep,and dark...an original story. it reads like a beautiful poem -i am so happy to read a new book by an author who writes so well... thank you, Hugo!
Every curse falls back on its author.".......2005-01-07
This is a magnificent story of the author's growing up in Ireland.It takes place mainly after WW2 and until the mid-seventies.The son of an fanitically nationalistic Irish father who doesn't want to give up the past, and a German mother who is haunted by her past of growing up in Nazi Germany.
The author shows us the tremendous pressures of trying to get along when you are different from others in your community and country.This problem exists everywhere and we learn that it also occurs even in Ireland.This family lived with it as a central issue at all times and no matter how hard they tried,they could never get away from it.I don't think I have ever read a book that so clearly defined the issues and struggles that had to be faced.
Not only has the author described the struggles his family faced he also gives us a great deal of insight into the culture,thinking,perceptions,anguish,and the effect that the past has on the personality and feelings encountered when one is different.
Ireland is a very fascinating country and like no other.One never ceases to be amazed by what one learns by reading about its history and its people;and this book is no exception.
Several lines that really struck me were:
"Some things are not good to know in Ireland."
"We serve neither King nor Kaiser."
"My father says the Irish can't live on imagination forever."
"He doesn't want the song about immigration to go on forever."
"Ireland unfree shall never be at peace."
"Maybe there was no failure in Ireland,only bad luck,and
maybe there was no bad luck in Germany,only failure."
"Nelson's head was on the ground and the dust of the empire
was all around."
"When you're small you know nothing and when you grow up there
are things you don't want to know."
And finally,one that sums up the story:
"I'm walking on the wall and nobody can stop me."
The author's skill in the use of language is a whole order of magnitude higher than so much we see today;but still in a class with several of his Irish compatriots.What wonderful stuff this small country produces.
Between languages.......2004-10-01
I found The Speckled People after encountering a fascinating article by Hugo Hamilton on the "Loneliness of Being German". Similar to the article, the book immediately struck a chord with me. Those living within and without their own language will find a special connection to this book. Language as the identification of "home" and "country" and "language wars" are explored here in a rather exceptional way - through the voice and outlook of a growing child. Like a patchwork quilt the vignette chapters of the book come together for the reader to form an exquisitely drawn portrait. Hamilton's family is pictured against the backdrop of their Irish reality of poverty and want in the fifties and sixties. Complexities are accentuated by his dual identity as a child of an Irish nationalist father and a German mother who left Germany after the war.
While The Speckled People is an intimately personal chronicle of his youth, Hamilton's story has significance far beyond the autobiography genre. There are advantages and challenges in using the language of a child. On the one hand, experiences can be conveyed in a direct and innocent way. Johannes (Hugo) has not yet learned to query all he observes: "When you're small you know nothing". He is a sensitive and perceptive child who intuits that there are more untold dramas in the family. "You can inherit a secret without even knowing what it is." On the other hand, it may be difficult to maintain the language as the boy's capacity to analyze and reflect becomes more pronounced with age. Hamilton succeeds admirably in keeping his style consistent even where he integrates numerous events from the wider world as they become relevant to the young boy. As you settle into his style, the narrative becomes deeply absorbing.
The experiences of life under Nazi rule as part of an anti-Nazi family, continue to haunt his mother. Her painful memories are conveyed to the son in small doses, like selected scenes from a black and white movie in which she had a part. Nonetheless, she is homesick for her native country and all things German. Books, souvenirs and toys arrive regularly resulting in outbursts of happy laughter. Johannes records his mother's mood swings expressed through either laughter or primarily mental withdrawal and silence.
His father feels more Irish than anybody around them. He insists on preserving Irish culture and on "freeing" the Irish people from British influences. His children become "his weapon" against the enemy. He forbids the family to speak English. The children tend to "live" in German as their mother has difficulties speaking Irish. The Irish language has to be protected even if it means losing business. This can mean that cheques are not accepted from people who cannot spell Ó hUrmoltaigh - Hamilton in Irish. The language is your home, "your country is your language", he insists - it identifies who you are. The pressure on the children to speak German and Irish at home sets them apart from people in Dublin at the time. There, English was the preferred language. The children suffer from this enforced isolation. The neighbourhood bullies, responding to their otherness and German identity call them "Nazi", "Hitler" or "Eichmann". They attack them whenever the opportunity arises. While Johannes repeats to himself and to his mother "I am not a Nazi", he does not defend himself against the assaults. One of the rules of the house is to adopt a form of pacifist resistance, the "silent negative " and not to become part of the "fist people". As Johannes grows up, he understandably rebels increasingly against these strictures. In the end, he discovers his own way out of all the identify confusion, his anger and pain.
The Speckled People is a memoir like no other. Any comparison with other Irish memoirs would seem inappropriate to me. While Hamilton chronicles his childhood and growing up, themes and issues beyond the personal play a fundamental role. In particular his exploration of the complexities of "language" as "home" and "country" gives this book added richness and depth. [Friederike Knabe, Ottawa Canada]
Almost an Angela's Ashes.......2003-12-08
The cover picture and the packaging are obviously attempting to ride on the coat tails of the phenomonal success of "Angela's Ashes." Which is okay in this case, because there are many similarities, and also because this book is almost as good. Almost. It's very close. Which is to say: it's still better than just about any other memoir you could get your hands on. This is a most charming, most intuitive, most page-turning read. I loved it. You probably will too.
Books:
- RUDYARD KIPLING SOMETHING OF MYSELF AND OTHER AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL WRITINGS
- San Remo Drive: A Novel from Memory
- Sextravaganza
- Slo Mo!: My Untrue Story
- Stone Song: A Novel of the Life of Crazy Horse
- The Adventures of Lucky Pierre: Directors' Cut
- The Big Book of Bible Bloopers: A Lighthearted Look at the Misquotes, Misconceptions, and Misunderstandings of the World's Bestselling Book
- The Book of Proper Names: A Novel
- The Complete Enderby : Inside Mr. Enderby, Enderby Outside, the Clockwork Testament, Enderby's Dark Lady
- The Crimes of Charlotte Bronte: The Secrets of a Mysterious Family : A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Twentieth-Century American Architecture: The Buildings and Their Makers
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherap
- Remote Sensing by Fourier Transform Spectrometry
- The Guy Not Taken: Stories
- Sketching and Rendering of Interior Spaces
- The Geography of Urban Transportation, Third Edition
- The Gifted Kids Survival Guide II
- In Praise of Black Women, Volume 1: Ancient African Queens
- Stolen sweets: The cover girls of yesteryear, their elegance, charm, and sex appeal
- Shakespeare's Flora & Fauna
