The Description Of A New World Called The Blazing World

Book Description

The first science fiction work ever written by a female. It chronicles the adventures of a lady who after being kidnapped finds herself in a different realm. In this incredible world, the animals are highly intelligent and can even speak. Cavendish has cleverly blended her feminist views with science fiction in this spectacular portrayal of a utopian land. Absorbing!

The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World [EasyRead Edition]

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The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World [EasyRead Edition]
Margaret Cavendish
Manufacturer: ReadHowYouWant.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Large Print | Formats | Books

Font Size 11 | Alternative Formats | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1425017851
Release Date: 2006-10-01

Book Description

The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World [EasyRead Large Edition]

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The Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World [EasyRead Large Edition]
Margaret Cavendish
Manufacturer: ReadHowYouWant.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1425023150
Release Date: 2006-10-01

Book Description

Book Description

For seventeen centuries a primal sorcery deemed too dangerous for use by humankind has been locked away by a powerful spell. But the Deep Magic is chained no more, and war again threatens a royal house. Theatana -- the insaneregal sister exiled for her treachery -- has escaped her prison, discovering within herself seeds of the blackest power which will help her ascend the throne she believes rightfully hers. And now she prepares to launch a merciless assault upon her own homeland...and her blood kin.

But there is one determined to thwart her: Ilarion, the true heir, who will pursue his mad aunt to the very point where the world itself stands on the brink of catastrophe. It is here where a tumultuous contest must be waged -- and a devastating power will be revealed.

Customer Reviews:

better than the first.......2004-02-01

ok, i loved dennis jone's "the stone and the maiden", he created a new world and it was wonderful, and it took my breath away.....i truly loved the first one, so naturally i got the second

would u beilve it was better than the first.

u leave off with the new dynast and dynastessa, with a newly born child]
in the second book, the boy is grown up and has a sister
he is a good sailor and ends up in a huge storm
would ya know it.....it leads him to a new world and place were things are ultimatly different and strange, and life is mostly cruel.
As well as the dynastessa's sister being imprisioned on an island.....a group frm the new world bombard it and take her to this new world.
then conflict starts with the new prince and the fugative.
they both get caught up in a war between sister and brother, ruling the island....where the brother is cruel...and the sister a young but wise ruler.....
both the prince and the fugative get caught on oppisite ends.....
if i tell u more i might give things away.....so i recomend reading this book to find out what is happening

great great book.
^_^

Excellent fantasy novel.......2003-04-18

If you love fantasy, then this is the book for you. Dennis Jones has an amazing way to take you on fantical adventures to different world. He blends magic with polotics and music to create a unique set of characters. Jones even throws in a funny twist. I would recomend you read this book.

Excellent fantasy novel.......2003-04-18

The Mask and the Sorceress: Book Two of the House of the Pandragore

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The Mask and the Sorceress: Book Two of the House of the Pandragore
Dennis Jones
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Canada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8UB7K

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Delighted

sublime taste with a caveat

One of the absolute best

A seriously flawed cookbook

NYC Gouret Vegan without the schlep into NYC

The Candle Cafe Cookbook: More Than 150 Enlightened Recipes from New York's Renowned Vegan Restaurant
Joy Pierson , Bart Potenza , and Barbara Scott-Goodman
Manufacturer: Clarkson Potter
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Middle Atlantic | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Vegetables & Vegetarian | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Vegan | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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The Mediterranean Vegan Kitchen

Sinfully Vegan: Over 140 Decadent Desserts to Satisfy Every Vegan's Sweet Tooth

Vegan World Fusion Cuisine : Over 200 award-winning recipes, Dr. Jane Goodall Foreword, Third Edition

Vegan with a Vengeance : Over 150 Delicious, Cheap, Animal-Free Recipes That Rock

The Complete Vegan Cookbook: Over 200 Tantalizing Recipes, Plus Plenty of Kitchen Wisdom for Beginners and Experienced Cooks

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0609809814
Release Date: 2003-07-22

Book Description

It's hard enough to satisfy choosy diners at a hot New York restaurant—imagine having to do it without using meat, fish, dairy, or eggs! The Candle Cafe has been doing just that for years, offering vegan food that has earned the praise of food critics, celebrities, and countless New Yorkers.

The food at the Candle Cafe expands the horizons of vegan cuisine, proving that the healthiest food can also be the most flavorful and satisfying. From delectable appetizers like Quesadillas stuffed with Portobellos and Red Peppers and Tofu Satay with Coconut-Peanut Sauce to classic dips like Hummus and Babaganoush, veggan cooking never tasted this good. Even the soups are special—Spring Vegetable Minestrone Soup is filled with fresh flavor, and Butternut Squash Soup gets a kick from toasted pumpkin seeds. Hearty, satisfying sandwiches and main courses like Barbecued Tempeh-Chipotle Burgers with Grilled Pineapple, Porcini Mushroom Stroganoff, and Indian Eggplant Curry are infused with delicious flavors from around the world. For dessert, treats like Chocolate Mousse Pie and Lemon-Tofu Cheesecake with Blood Orange Glaze are creamy and indulgent.

With helpful tips on cooking beans and grains, a full glossary of ingredients, and plenty of color photographs, The Candle Cafe Cookbook is a treasure trove of vegan recipes that have been drawing crowds and raves for years.

Customer Reviews:

Delighted.......2007-07-21

The Candle Cafe book is just what I needed. I am trying to pass the Veg Soc Diploma, and need to construct a dinner party menu for 4 people. I want to make a vegan meal, and the recipes in this book look fairly easy to make, colourful, and there are lots of tips. The one thing which would have really helped me, would have been some menue suggestions. However I am looking forward to trying out all the dishes. Thanks,

sublime taste with a caveat.......2007-06-18

After reading many of these reviews, I realized that I wasn't crazy! While the taste of the recipes I've made so far have been sublime (the tofu satay and the roasted veggie panini on ciabatta were heaven!), I agree that some of the recipes make an awful lot of sauce, or the ingredients amounts are incorrect.

For example, someone mentioned the Aztec Salad. Yes, it took almost two hours to put together, but the tempeh and roasted tomato dressing flavors were worth it. However, the marinade looked like way too much liquid (and like other reviewers, I couldn't afford to waste too much agave nectar!), so I just cut it in half. The quinoa part of the salad did make too much, so I wonder if I had halved the quinoa, it would have been a better balance (couldn't really taste the corn or beans or peppers). I also found the Chana Masala to smell amazing, but a little dry. The herb farm dip called for a whole onion, which was waaaay too much (my eyes watered when I opened the food processor's lid!).
However, if you are experienced in the kitchen, you can recognize these issues, and counterbalance them by tweaking the recipes. It is a shame that there was not better editing, but the book really isn't that expensive (on Amazon ;)

Overall, I have had good success with these recipes, and the flavors are truly amazing. Fresh and interesting, the recipes are far from dull! I can't wait to make the tempeh burgers with mango ketchup and grilled pineapple this weekend! I have just learned not to try these recipes out on anyone other than family before a test run. I heard about this cookbook after visiting the real Candle Cafe in NYC, which is definitely not a hit or miss! Buy this cookbook for its creative, amazing flavors, but be prepared to alter some recipes.

One of the absolute best.......2007-02-11

I own over 40 vegan cookbooks and this is in my top 3.

A seriously flawed cookbook.......2007-01-04

Did the reviewers who gave this cookbook 5 stars even try making any of the recipes?! There is no way "Candle Cafe" merits a flawless rating! Many other reviewers have pinpointed this book's numerous shortcomings: inaccurate measurements, hard-to-find ingredients, faulty directions. I totally agree and would further emphasize that THIS IS NOT A LOW MAINTENANCE COOKBOOK. "Ingredients found in any grocery store"? How many run-of-the-mill grocery stores carry agave nectar or umeboshi paste? "Quick and easy recipes" for "busy mothers on the go"?! Candle Cafe's recipe for seitan steaks requires cooks to soak wheat dough in the fridge overnight, wash and rinse said dough multiple times over the course of 2 days, boil it in broth for 2 hours, and then marinade the steaks for 2+ hours. Honestly, the average main course in this book takes at least an hour to prepare (this is coming from someone who's tried her hand at at least half of these recipes).
The one recipe worth having in this book is seitan piccata; and I would recommend checking out this cookbook from a local library to copy it for free. If you're looking for a practical but delicious vegetarian cookbook, try one by Deborah Madison ("Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone" or "Vegetarian Suppers.") For great vegan recipes (including a really fast homemade seitan recipe) look for "Vegan with a Vengance" by Isa Moskowitz. "Candle Cafe" totally isn't worth the money. Anyone who tells you otherwise is either a friend of the author or someone who hasn't tried making any of these recipes.

NYC Gouret Vegan without the schlep into NYC.......2006-12-16

I can't say enough. The book is terrific and easy to follow. As would be expected, some of the more complicated menu items have more complicated recipes (duh). With a reasonable amount of effort, the ordinary home cook can enjoy these vegan gourmet delites without the schlep into NYC.

The only recipe to completely stump me is the homemade seitan...hope to get that one figured out soon.

Average customer rating:

Read Marley & Me Instead

I'm a cat person, not a dog person, but...

Very Offensive

a whiny and self indulgent green acres with the ghosts of dogs

Bedlam Farm

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure with Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me
Jon Katz
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Dogs | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Essays | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Animal Behavior & Communication | Zoology | Biological Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books
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A Dog Year: Twelve Months, Four Dogs, and Me

A Good Dog: The Story of Orson, Who Changed My Life

Dog Days: Dispatches from Bedlam Farm

Running to the Mountain: A Midlife Adventure

Katz on Dogs: A Commonsense Guide to Training and Living with Dogs

ASIN: 0812972503
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Book Description

“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can’t really be held responsible for what they do. But we can.”
–from The Dogs of Bedlam Farm

When Jon Katz adopted a border collie named Orson, his whole world changed. Gone were the two yellow Labs he wrote about in A Dog Year, as was the mountaintop cabin they loved. Katz moved into an old farmhouse on forty-two acres of pasture and woods with a menagerie: a ram named Nesbitt, fifteen ewes, a lonely donkey named Carol, a baby donkey named Fanny, and three border collies.

Training Orson was a demanding project. But a perceptive dog trainer and friend told Katz: “If you want to have a better dog, you will just have to be a better goddamned human.” It was a lesson Katz took to heart. He now sees his dogs as a reflection of his willingness to improve, as well as a critical reminder of his shortcomings. Katz shows us that dogs are often what we make them: They may have their own traits and personalities, but in the end, they are mirrors of our own lives–living, breathing testaments to our strengths and frustrations, our families and our pasts.

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm recounts a harrowing winter Katz spent on a remote, windswept hillside in upstate New York with a few life-saving friends, ugly ghosts from the past, and more livestock than any novice should attempt to manage. Heartwarming, and full of drama, insight, and hard-won wisdom, it is the story of his several dogs forced Katz to confront his sense of humanity, and how he learned the places a dog could lead him and the ways a doge could change him.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Read Marley & Me Instead.......2007-08-23

This man buys animals and then punishes them because he doesn't understand their nature. Dogs are pack animals and there can only be one alpha dog, one beta dog, etc. He gives away his dog Homer because his other dog Orson takes over the role of alpha dog and Homer falls in line. He buys sheep and donkeys without first understanding their needs either in care or diet. He is looking for emotional bonding with these animals, but he is not willing to bond to them, nor any human member of his family. He blames his emotional problems on his father, but he is a 56 year old man. You are an adult now Mr. Katz, get over it. This "book" is more of a journal of his self-indungent complaints. I quit half way through the book with a very poor opinion of this man. Sell the farm, Mr. Katz and invest in some good psychotherapy, or read Marley & Me to see what real dog-human bonding looks like.

I'm a cat person, not a dog person, but..........2007-05-23

Some dogs, including Jon Katz's, deserve 5 stars.

As a future farm-owner, and possibly even a dog-owner, I'm following Katz' adventures in his memoirs with a large amount of glee. He's not afraid to take pratfalls on the public page, and he has a really large heart. Not to mention he's a great writer, and he had me following this memoir out to its conclusion in about two days!

You don't have to love dogs, sheep, or donkeys to appreciate Katz's writing and his perspectives.

Excellent material, and I'm looking forward to his new book coming out in about a month.

Very Offensive.......2007-03-31

I've lived in the area that Jon Katz writes about my entire life and it's quite obvious to me that he has absolutely no clue what he's talking about. Not only does he speak about people in the area like they're all ignorant idiots, making comments about "the locals," he manages to blatantly lie more than once. He seems to be under the impression that there aren't any purebred dogs in the area, which is one of the biggest loads of crap I've ever heard of in my life.

Not only is his attitude about the AREA offensive, but even his attitude about dogs is offensive. Entirely forgetting his previous book, A Dog Year, where he threw things at his dog Orson and terrified him into submission, he seems to think that a dog is incapable of love and has a quite obvious belief that a dog's life is of less worth than that of a human being. I don't know how anyone who has read these books can let him keep a dog, considering his attitude and behavior. Then he has the gall to say that no one loves their dogs like he loves his. Moreover, these books, which are supposed to be about dogs, are not. They are about him studying himself through his interactions with his dogs, a self-worship that is rather disgusting.

The only reason I gave this book two stars instead of one is because despite his sheer idiocy, he is a good writer. The writing is fluid and almost has a dream-like quality. He's really one of the best writers I've ever read. If only he weren't such an jerk...

a whiny and self indulgent green acres with the ghosts of dogs.......2007-02-20

If you are reading this for the dogs, be prepared to be horrified. Katz's track record with dogs in past and future books, including this one, is not good. His care is little short of abysmal. Here, Katz buys a farm in the country, the better to cash in on dog writing, border collies and herding being trendy and hot, something people will be sure to spend money on, particularly if the book has a nice cover.

But this is a fundamentally dishonest work. He writes books about himself, disguised as dog books. Here he admits he doesn't much like dogs, except his own (and we see how he cares for those). He doesn't worry about their care (they run down the highway beside his farm, fodder for cars and trucks). His training: screaming and throwing things, etc, is pretty close to abuse. But he believes the dogs are there to make him a better human. This farm is the great experiment to rehab him. The dogs pay the price. If the dog is an easy one, like Rose, or his past labs (which were trained by someone else) he gets along with them, until they get sick. Then they get the quick needle. If they are troubled dogs, he gives them away or euthanizes them. Even Orson his "soulmate and forever dog" gets the needle, after being driven nearly insane by renovators at the farm. But that's the next book. He lives apart from his wife because his needs come above his families'. He complains his sister isn't interested in his life, but he admits he doesn't care to be interested in hers, which largely revolves around her dogs. He says how jealous he is that she will drive to pick up a needy dog, but won't drive to see him. This is a grown man, mind you. He buys a farm and fills it with animals, fodder, of course for his writing, but whines constantly about having to care for them, the cold, his barn chores, dogs being dogs (eating donkey poop) etc, and just about everything else. He believes in doublespeak, thinking that if he talks about how he loves his dogs,that's what people will believe, in spite of the litany of neglect, abuse, and disinterest in dealing with anything but easy dogs. When a dog becomes too much trouble, he justifies his neglect or abuse by saying he wants to keep dogs in the proper perspective in his life. Or they're gotten rid of. The dogs arre there to make a quick buck from, and when they develop a problem, they disappear one way or another and he gets a new one with lightning speed. He needs to keep those dogs coming for the next book on the assembly line.

After several hundred pages of whining, this book ends with seven of eight sentences beginning with "I ". With Katz, it is all me, me, me. If you want to read a book by a self-indulgent, self-centered and selfish man this is your book. He'll be happy to take your money. Don't fall too in love with the poor dogs, though, because they never last. You won't find any old dogs on Katz's farm. Don't expect to find a kinship with Katz, either, given he admits he doesn't like other dogs, dog people, dog activities or sports. But he gets testy if you don't like his books.

By the way, they're making a movie about Orson -- too bad that the dog didn't live to see it. Look for him not in the movie, but under a headstone, a victim of Katz' farm renovations. The "dog room" got renovated, courtesy of your royalty dollars. But when Katz left Orson loose to continually deal with a flood of renovators brushing past him, he didn't understand why the dog's aggression increased in a herding dog bred to protect his property and left to fend them off by himself. So farm got renovated; the dog got a new "dog room" six feet under. Hey at least the farm looked nice when they went to make the movie about the dog, and that's what was important to Katz.

Do yourself a favor, and also end the revolving dog door on Katz's farm by passing this tripe by.

Bedlam Farm.......2007-02-20

This was the first of Jon Katz's books that I was introduced to. I am hooked! I have read the all of his "dog" books now and love each of them. His ability to share his life, his journey, and the transitions that he has made are an inspiration to me. This book is a treasure and I highly recommend it.

The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure With Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me

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The Dogs of Bedlam Farm: An Adventure With Sixteen Sheep, Three Dogs, Two Donkeys, and Me
Jon Katz
Manufacturer: Villard Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000T9NSMY

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Scott 2003 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World G-I (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 3 Countries G-I)

Manufacturer: Scott Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Stamps | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Scott 2003 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World C-F (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 2 Countries C-F)

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Scott 2005 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World J-O (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 4 Countries J-O)

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Scott 2002 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World S0-Z (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 6 So-Z)

ASIN: 0894872850

Book Description

More than 23,000 value changes have been made in Volume 3. Stamps of the German area lead the way with more than 13,000 changes, followed by the Indian area with 1,600 value changes, Hungary more than 1,500 value changes and Great Britain with more than 1,000 value changes. Volume 3 contains listings for countries of the world G-I.

Scott 2003 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World G-I (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 3: Countries G-I)

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Scott 2003 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue: Countries of the World G-I (Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol 3: Countries G-I)
James E. Kloetzel
Manufacturer: Scott Pub Inc Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Stamps | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0894872974

Book Description

A guide to identifying genuine Navajo weaving. Compares Mexican-made and Navajo-made rugs. Illustrated. Bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

Deceptive ad. This is a booklet, not a book.......2007-09-26

While there is some useful information in this stapled brochure, it is not a book. Customers need to read the detailed information on page size and number and think about what they're paying for.

If you plan to buy a Navajo rug, you need this book!.......2007-08-03

This book tells it like it is: how to really tell if that rug that fellow wants to sell you is the real thing or a knock-off ... and there are a lot of fakes "out there." The writer also tells you how to buy a good Navajo rug ... what to look for in quality of wool, coloring, weaving expertse, condition, etc. It's worth the money.

Amazon.com

From 1991 to 1994, Keith Richburg was based in Nairobi as the Africa bureau chief for the Washington Post. He traveled throughout Africa, from Rwanda to Zaire, witnessing and reporting on wars, famines, mass murders, and the complexity and corruption of African politics. Unlike many black Americans who romanticize Africa, Richburg looks back on his time there and concludes that he is simply an American, not an African American. This is a powerful, hard-hitting book, filled with anguished soul-searching as Richburg makes his way toward that uncomfortable conclusion.

Book Description

In “the most honest book to emerge from Africa in a long time” (USA Today), a black american correspondent for the Washington Post reports on the horrors he witnessed in Somalia, Rwanda, South Africa, and other troubled African nations-and reflects on his own identity. Map; updated with a new afterword.

Customer Reviews:

disturbing.......2007-03-29

this is a very disturbing and frightening account. While I agree with the authors premise of "straight talk", I do not agree with the pessimism.
I grew up in Africa and it has its own unique beauty. Africa is not for everyone though, black or white, only certain people can appreciate it. Africa has many problems, and many of them cannot be blamed on western or European nations. They are africa's problems so africa must find its own solutions. I agree with the author that african dictators have committed terrible atrocities to their own citizens

Richburg seems to focus on the extreme negative sides of Africa, rwanda war, somali civil war, war in the congo. But they were people in other parts of Africa who were equally shocked and revulsed by those wars. I am african but I do not think even I could manage to keep myself together if I had seen 3 different civil wars in three years. You do not have to be a non-african to be affected.

Basically you cannot make generalizations about Africa. In my whole life in africa( more than 25 years) I have never seen anyone killed, never, I have never seen anyone fire an AK47. Petty theft is a part of life that you get used to, what do you expect when folks live on less than $1. just keep your wallet in your front pocket. And if you do not want burglers to rob your home just have a large family with plenty of extended relatives- too much to handle for burglers, life goes on.

I disagree with the authors pessimism because around 80% of all african countries have mulitiparty democratic elections. Liberia elected africa's first woman president. Africa is largely entering its second round or phase of multiparty democracy as the terms of most two term presidents have ended. Malawi, tanzania, zambia, south africa have all entered this phase. Nigeria is about to have its first transition from one elected leader to the next.

It is known there is a stigma about africa amongst many of African descent. Because of the "poverty" and lack of development many would like to distance themselves and not be associated with Africa. I can understand that, its a personal choice. But I think that is what is at the heart of this book. This book is very anti-african, for a man who spent 3 years in Africa and did not integrate well with africa and felt like an alien- well I think that says alot.

A must read.......2007-03-02

I read this book when it first came out. It is a fascinating, gripping and honest portrayal of the author's experiences in Africa. Some of the images it painted in my mind are still with me, such as the scene of the bodies flowing down the river from the upstream genocide.

Africa is a big enough and important enough place that everyone should read this book to get a dose of the reality that is Africa.

I noticed a strange thing with the few critics that did not like this book. Every single one of them resort to psycho analyzing the author. They theorize that he is traumatized and not in his right mind, or he is suffering from self hatred and self doubt and that, more than his actual experiences, explains the book. To me it is certainly ok to dispute or disagree with an author if you don't like his book, but is it necessary to attack his mental health if you dont't like what he reports? It reminds me of the tactics of the Soviet Union where dissenters were declared mentally ill and put into institutions. What is it about all these folks who are offended about his reporting on conditions in Africa that make them want to attack the author's mental health? One of the reviewers even went so far as to call him a "murderer" and "traitor". One reviwer who even claimed to have been a friend in college used the mental health approach to undermine his work. Some friend!
When I read the book I saw a brilliant reporter at work and detected not a hint of mental illness or psychosis. Read the negative reviews for yourself and help me get a grip on this strange approach to critisizing this book....I've never seen anything quite like it....at least not since the decline of the Soviet Union. Is this a new trend?

A brilliantly-written book that bravely bucks conventional wisdom.......2007-01-17

Richburg's book is both immensely important and immensely readable. His command is majesterial. He marshalls facts and personal experiences to substantiate the twin arguments that are at the book's core: (1) that modern-day Africa is a place of almost unimaginable violence and dysfunction, and (2) that black American identity has wrongly tried to establish an unquestioning affinity with that troubled continent.

Truth is always in short supply, particularly at the nexus of race, identity and global politics. Richburg's book speaks with a precision and intelligence that inform, provoke and ultimately enlighten his readers. Highly recommended.

"There but for the grace of God we go"-excerpt from the book.......2006-10-26

It's one of the best and most gripping book I've read. It's a very vivid account of someone on the ground of what really happened in Africa in the early nineties. ..very honest, passionate , and angry.

I must admit, in the first few chapters I thought, here's a very intelligent black man whose circumstance shielded him from the discriminating lot in America. As you read on, you would come to admire this man for coming out victorious, successful and grateful amidst the discriminating environment he grew up with.

I've recommended these books to my friends-regardless of whether they think America owes them anything or not.

A Black Man confronts his worst fears, his identity:.......2006-09-16

Keith B. Richburg was the Washington Post's Africa bureau chief from 1991 to 1994. In his memoir "Out of America" Richburg's tale of Africa is interesting. He describes himself as a man torn between two worlds. First he copes with living as a black man with Euro-centric tendencies and second, he refers to him self as a black man who doesn't quite fit in an Afro-centric world.
Many reviewers have labeled Richburg a self hating black man because of some of his statements. Many Blacks who've read the book were offended. I guess some of his views could be construed in a negative manner when perceived from a racially myopic standpoint, and I quote, "Thank God my nameless ancestors, brought across the ocean in chains and leg irons, made it out alive. Thank God I am an American." To properly ascertain why Richburg made this comment the reader has to comprehend the horrors that he's witnessed. A Case in point: the atrocities in Rwanda. In chapter 5, "Thy Neighbor's Killer," in reference to the Rwandan massacre Richburg states that, "I first saw the bodies floating down the Kagera River from Rwanda into Tanzania. They floated down the river and over the Rusumo Falls." What has to be ascertained is that during the 1994 campaign the Hutu massacred the Tutsi. Belgium lost control of the territory and the Tutsi were in league with the Belgians while the Hutu became second class citizens. The Hutu in a jealous rage perceived that the Tutsi were the enemy and in a sense they were since they represented the years of sanguineous oppression that the Hutu experienced, which sparked their recalcitrancy or insurrection. However, this doesn't justify the Hutu's barbarous acts.
The overall point that Richburg was making was that he's glad he wasn't involved in this gravitas situation. I think most people would have the same response if they had experienced this atrocity.

In chapter 3, Richburg takes a journey through Somalia. He begins his tale quoting a U.S. intelligence official, "Somalia has ceased to exist. And right now, nobody cares." Richburg covered the 1992 atrocities in Mogadishu which lead into the United Nations' mission "Operation to Restore Hope" which was a complete failure. Later the U.N. succeeded in alleviating the famine conditions in the country. But in the end the U.N. retreated and the country has been in a state of entropy ever since.
Moreover, Richburg delves into the issue of economic strangulation. His inquiry was, "why has East Asia emerged as the model for economic success while Africa has seen mostly poverty, hunger and economies propped up by foreign aid?" And Richburg's answer, "corruption is the cancer eating at the heart of the African states. It is what sustains Africa's strongmen in power, and the money they pilfer, when spread generously throughout the system, [this] is what allows them to continue to command allegiance long after their last shred of legitimacy [is] gone." One particular case was Zaire president Mobutu stashing nearly $10 billion in overseas bank accounts, while ripping off state-run corporations. The African people are not receiving the funds necessary to run their countries. According to the World Bank,"Africa is home to the world's poorest nations." African children's mortality rate is abysmal. Children are most likely to die before age five and most adults don't make it beyond age fifty. The book gives many answers, unfortunately the answers given are uncomfortable ones, and may not be what the reader wants to read. But the bottom line is that the truth hurts.
Also, the book briefly alludes to Liberia's late 1980's free fall and the maniacal Valentine Strasser's ascension to power. The fact that in 1993 African American leaders such as Coretta Scott King, Jesse Jackson and Louis Farrakhan attended a summit meeting between Africans and African Americans organized by the Reverend Leon Sullivan (who is an anti apartheid activist) leaves something to the imagination.
The question that was raised during the summit was a legitimate one. How come black leaders are so quick to call for social change in America under white suppression but waffle around the issue when it involves black suppression on black people in African countries? It's just something to ponder on, but remember be circumspect when contemplating on the issues brought up in this book. Don't read this with a reactionary point of view. You'll do yourself a deserves then.
This book should be read by a wide readership because it is so thought provoking. Many Blacks need to take an internal journey of the self and contemplate the true meaning of ethics and justice, then and only then will all Africans taste freedom.
Richburg succeeds in taking the reader through his personal journey, but if you are looking for an academic perspective then look elsewhere because this is his story, his experience. If you want to learn more about Africa this book will lead you in the right direction, but academia it is not.

Out of America: a black man confronts Africa.(Book Review): An article from: Critical Arts

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Out of America: a black man confronts Africa.(Book Review): An article from: Critical Arts
Bhekimpilo Sibanda
Manufacturer: Critical Arts Projects
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from Critical Arts, published by Critical Arts Projects on January 1, 2002. The length of the article is 1271 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Out of America: a black man confronts Africa.(Book Review)
Author: Bhekimpilo Sibanda
Publication: Critical Arts (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2002
Publisher: Critical Arts Projects
Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Page: 67(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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