Book Description
The Fire Gospels takes place in the McCutcheon River Valley inWisconsin during a long-standing drought. Through characters like Grady McCann, a hardworking maintenance man at an old folks' home; his wife, Erica, a strangely evangelic Catholic; and Lucky Littlefield, the local weatherman turned preacher who enjoins his viewers to "pray for rain" at the beginning of each broadcast, The Fire Gospels tells in vivid detail the story of the drought and how the townspeople are seduced into believing that Lucky will pull them through their time of struggle.
Customer Reviews:
The Fire Gospels.......2002-11-23
I'd remarked one or two chapters in that THE FIRE GOSPELS was 'very pro-Christian.' I didn't mean that in a derogatory or sardonic sense, but boy did I eat my words anyway.
In some ways, it reminded me very much of Sheri Reynolds' THE RAPTURE OF CANAAN as well as THE SCHOOL OF BEAUTY AND CHARM (whose author currently escapes me). Similar veins of middle class Christians struggling with harsh dosages of reality.
Mike Magnuson's THE FIRE GOSPELS is very harsh indeed, and lambasts any assumption I made (and shouldn't have made) judging by the first few chapters that it had anything to do with belief. Rather, it slaps you in the face with the degradation of belief, the destruction of faith. I am left, having just finished the book, feeling empty and raw.
THE FIRE GOSPELS is quite thought-provoking and may not be exactly what you first think.
Good, more........2002-07-27
I agree with our reader friend from McCutcheon; the book is a tad on the short side. It strikes me that there is a lot going on in the text, maybe more than Magnuson was fully prepared to handle. Some of the thematic elements could have used a little more development. Overall, however, I believe that this story, a story about a couple facing marital issues and a town possesed and lead by a charismatic weather man who attains televangelist-style esteem, is one of a gothic and primeval nature set in a land sterotypically seen as a place of ham, cheese, and beer, hey.
The pending naturtal disaster which carries the story is, in concept, much like the work of main-stream novelists such as King or Chrichton. The difference is that Magnuson knows how to write -- and well. His treatment of the craft, on a level defined by the enjoyability of each individual sentence, is one which shows that the text itself is only a cloudy hint at the literary genius he could one day unleash on us.
Largely, this book is one that you could read quickly and enjoy, but is one worth reading slightly more slowly and marvelling at the time put into the formation of each line of text.
Not enough here to completely satisfy, but still very good.......2000-03-10
If it had been polished and fleshed out a little, it would have been a much better read. With its short length, I was able to take in the whole thing in a single sitting, and I wanted more. There is so much more life and detail that the characters in this story are give. I casn tell that there is a lo of thought behind this story, which raises it up a notch. It is a good book, but ends much too soon.
Mike Magnuson is the Man........2000-02-05
Having had Mike Magnuson as a prof @ Mankato State for the Comp 102 class, I had the opportunity to read a segment of "The Right Man for the Job" back when it was still entitled "The Cheese Stands Alone"...bought myself a copy as soon as it hit shelves. I picked up "The Fire Gospels" last night and read, literally, until I fell asleep. I'm only through the first 5 chapters, and I can't wait to get the f--k out of the office today and get back to this book. (Hey Mike! I wound up switching from Computer Science to Creative Writing!)
Fuel for the Fire.......2000-01-29
In Mike Magnuson's second book, he takes on the subjects of God, adultery, drunkenness, and smalltown celebrity--blasheming all four in the process. There is much in this book to offend; but much more to entertain, consider, and read over and over. Again, his images and language are the freshest and most vivid of any writer working today. When book burnings become fashionable again, the holier than thou powers that be will likely soak Fire Gospels in kerosene, torch it, and fling it into the pile of imitations to get the rest going. Magnuson would burn there with D.H. Lawrence, Henry Miller and Erica Jong. I am sure the author would glorify in the prominence, and he would likely lug in a keg a Leinenkugels and crate of marshmallows to light up the crowd.
Book Description
Deep in the mountains of Transylvania, there lives the last representative of a dying breed, Felis catus vampirus, also known as the...Vampuss! When young tomcat Jonathan Harker calls upon the reclusive Count Scratchula, he's led to believe it's just another business deal. Little does he realize that the course of his nine lives will be forever altered. Based on Bram Stoker's horror classic, Shadow of the Vampuss is a dazzlingly-illustrated Gothic adventure that's both beautiful and bizarre. Featuring a diverse cast of feline characters, stunning cavernous façades and splendid Victorian costumes bring to life the famous story of vampire intrigue and bloodlust. Sharp, macabre, and darkly humorous, Shadow of the Vampuss is an extraordinary re-interpretation of the Dracula myth. Not recommended for underage kittens!
Customer Reviews:
A Good Read.......2007-08-12
This book is imaginative with vivid illustrations. I would recommend it to any cat lover.
Beware the Felis catus vampirus!.......2006-10-31
"So this is the infamous Pit Bull Pass, Jonathan thought even as he felt his tail fluffing out in alarm. He dug his claws into the leaves and began to sing in order to ward off his fear. But just as another long howl rang out almost beside him and the last rays of the sun vanished beneath the treetops, there was a loud rattle of chains and an oddly hollow clucking noise. Out of the blackness appeared a dark carriage drawn by two pale chickens and driven by a rat." - From the book
If you're familiar with the work of Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov--the creative force behind Prague's baba studio--you know how expertly these geniuses combine wicked wit, arresting images, and incisive observations (about either cats or humans).
In the macabre but oh so engrossing 92-page book Shadow of the Vampuss, Karen and Alex take us on a wild ride brimming with brooding atmosphere, vampiric sensuality, and gothic madness.
Beautiful costumes, shadowed corridors, gorgeous scenery, lavish illustrations, and anthropomorphic feline expressions make Shadow of the Vampuss a truly special book. Masterfully re-crafting the classic horror tale, Karen's Count Scratchula both intrigues and horrifies. I simply could NOT put this book down!
I'm not one to have nightmares (in fact, I can't think of the last time I had one), but after reading Shadow of the Vampuss--I had a nightmarish dream inhabited by vampiric cats! Ack!
Bloodlust, melodrama, and bizarre goings on--as the book cover says, this tale is not for under-age kittens!
However, fans of baba studio, cats, graphic novels, vampires, or classic horror, Shadow of the Vampuss does not disappoint, providing anxious amusement, a bit of dread, and an utterly fulfilling scary story.
And the story's ending? Purrrfect! (I want a sequel!)
(To visit the Vampuss, visit http://www.vampuss.com/ Check out the cool animated version of this tale!)
A unique mix of horror, puns, and our feline friends.......2005-11-23
This is the perfect gift for the cat-obsessed, whether that's you or someone else. Guaranteed, your gift won't be run-of-the-mill, no matter what your favorite cat lover has already collected!
SHADOW OF THE VAMPUSS follows, with wit and truly unique artwork, the classic tale of Count Dracula... rewritten to substitute cats for the humans of the original work. As an example, here's an early excerpt: "But Jonathan's ears lowered slightly as he added, `Unfortunately I must leave for Transylvania tomorrow morning.' He took a letter from his jacket. `Mr. Slaughter has asked me to renegotiate a contract on the old Whiskers Manor, right here in Kitby.'"
Some of the artwork is uncanny; for instance, the shrewd expression of Count Scratchula on page 84 is spot-on, and that goes for both human and felines. On page 74, the pose of Van Helsing is just so, from the point of his toe on the stair to the calculated curve of his tail... and page 26 captures perfectly the tilt of a feline head in every wrinkle. This may sound bizarre until you take a look at the artwork yourself--you'll see what I mean.
The publisher didn't stint on quality. Although the cover is a bit glossy, fine details abound: a scored spine prevents cracking, and there's a thick cover stock, a paper bookplate adhered to the inside of the front cover, smooth and substantial interior paper stock, full bleeds, and vivid color throughout.
If you're looking for a gift for your family member or friend who has everything and he/she loves cats, collecting unusual books, or a certain sly sense of humor, you're golden! It would also work marvelously as a book for older children. (And if you're a fan of both cats and the metaphysical, judging from a sample card included with the book, this publisher also produces some exquisitely detailed tarot cards--you guessed it, also featuring cats.)
I feel very confident giving this book five stars for creativity and a high-quality execution. I know my mother-in-law is going to love her gift--and since she's an elementary school schoolteacher, I'm pretty sure her students each year are going to enjoy it as well!
Book Description
From Captain Kirk in the original series, to Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation
® and Captain Sisko of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
®, Star Trek has been the story of mankind stretched to the ultimate limits of strength, skill, and courage.
Now a new captain has joined the ranks of the Star Trek heroes. Mosaic tells the compelling life story of Captain Kathryn Janeway, commander of the Starship Voyager
TM.
Mosaic finds Captain Janeway fighting a desperate battle on two fronts: while she duels the Kazon warship in the gaseous mists of a murky nebula, an Away Team led by Lt. Tuvok is trapped on the surface ofa wilderness planet. Forced to choose between the lives of the Away Team and the safety of her ship, Captain Janeway reviews the most important moments of her life, and the pivotal choices that made her the woman she is today.
From her childhood to her time at Starfleet Academy
TM, from her first love to her first command, she must once again face the challenges and conflicts that have brought her to the point where she must now risk everything to put one more piece in the mosaic that is Kathryn Janeway.
Download Description
In her acclaimed novel Mosaic, Jeri Taylor, co-creator and former executive producer of the Star Trek: Voyager® television series, explored the previously unrevealed past of Captain Kathryn Janeway, filling in the missing chapters of Janeway's life with a compelling story of bravery, sacrifice, and personal triumph. Now, Pathways traces the winding roads that have led Janeway's fellow officers and closest friends to what may be the greatest crisis of their long journey home. A deadly encounter with hostile aliens has left Captain Janeway's crew separated from the Voyager and slowly starving to death in a disease-ridden alien prison camp. To keep up their determination as they plot their escape, the crew shares with each other the unlikely paths that brought them all to the U.S.S. Voyager¿ and the Delta Quadrant. These are the stories of the command crew of U.S.S. Voyager: of a fair-haired youth who seemed destined for greatness -- or disgrace; of a troubled, half-human woman who didn't seem at home anywhere in the galaxy; of a traveler and treasure-hunter who found the greatest prize of all; of a naive young man who lost his love in pursuit of his dreams; of a Vulcan who formed a surprising bond with a human woman of unusual courage and passion; of a child-woman whose boundless curiosity led to a strange new world of marvels and dangers; and of the man who is perhaps closest of all to Kathryn Janeway, the man whose unspoken love and dedication may hold the key to her survival.... They began as individuals, following very different pathways, but together, under the leadership of one remarkable woman, they have become one of the finest teams in the known universe, the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager.
Customer Reviews:
Must Read for Voyager Fans........2003-08-27
This is a great book by Jeri Taylor. (I am referring to the book and not the audio version). This is a great book. I bought it because of its front cover. Usually with episodes or other types of star trek books you find that it's centralized around 1 or 2 of the main characters. Since i had not read too many star trek books i was more interested in getting a book that covered more of the crew and this seemed the right one to get me started into Star Trek books. I enjoy the star trek shows, preferably TNG and Voyager, but also DS9 and TOS. Pathways is more of a book about the crew of Voyager. And not necessarily a novel with one big plot. There is a central plot from which the other sub-plots are spawned, but each character gets their chance to tell their "story", as it seems, in the main-plot. This is a great way to get all of the characters involved in an overall great book. I suggest you read this if you are interested in the VOYAGER series, but feel that you don't really know the background of each character. I would also recommend reading this if you want to learn more about any specific character on the cover.
Star Trek Voyager Mosaic.......2002-11-30
How wonderful to listen to the voice of Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) as she guides the listener through the events that created the enigma that is Janeway. The story begins somewhere in season two of Voyagers quest to return home from the delta quadrant and then leaps backward in time to provide insight and great back story into Janeways life. For Voyager fans, this is a must hear / read experience, it explains why Janeway acts and reacts the way she does, her isolation, her loneliness and her almost maniacal desire to save her crew, begin to make sense. Jeri Taylor wrote it with recommendations from Kate Mulgrew so its authority is beyond reproach. This book delivers a completely believable and moving story which, when read by Kate, at times had me misty eyed. Great stuff.
OUTSTANDING!.......2001-04-25
This is a must for any Voyagaer fan. This explains many of the unknown events in Capt. Janeway's past. It shows us why she is the most "human" of the Star Trek Captains yet.
A must.......2000-08-07
I am an all out Kathryn Janeway fan, and was disappointed when she did not share her story in Pathways, but this almost makes up for it. Jeri Taylor is an amazing author, and I have nothing but praise for her Voyager books. She had a very little ammount of info to work with, and she created a masterpiece with it. But, I said almost because there were somethings that I would have liked to have seen in Mosaic that weren't there. I think that if she had done a complete work on Kathryn's childhood it would have been wonderful; but also about 1,000 pages long. It is a must for every Voyager and Janeway fan.
My review of Star Trek Voyager Mosaic.......1999-10-20
It was great I like to listen to it before I go to bed at night. I love to hear Kate Mulgrew speak and be able to change her voice for different characters especially Kes.
Book Description
Celebrate special moments such as weddings, anniversaries, Christenings and birthdays with a cake as memorable as the occasion.
Well-known novelty cake designer Lindy Smith offers a comprehensive guide to making a range of beautiful celebration cakes, and guides the reader step by step from baking and carving to icing and adding special finishing touches.
A clear techniques section introduces the wide range of equipment available to today's cake maker, and explains how to make sponge, fruitcake, fondant, buttercream and other recipes required. The 15 projects have easy-to-follow illustrated steps revealing how to create and decorate the cakes. Handy tips for short-cuts and creative variation ideas throughout allow you to tailor each cake to your timescale and taste, resulting in bespoke cakes for any occasion. Handy templates and cutting guides are provided to ensure professional results every time.
Customer Reviews:
Easy Guide.......2007-06-08
This book is amazing it is the next best thing to a video. I have already tried one of the cakes and am working on another.
wb
Well worth it!!.......2006-11-28
I received this book as a birthday gift from my husband. It was well worth the purchase price. This book has fantastic step by step instructions and photos that make what might seem like challenging projects more approachable for the novice cake decorator.
I am a pastry student and have used ideas from this book to help me deisgn projects for class. I feel that this book will add a great deal to my repitore of decorating skills on future projects.
I am very pleased with this book. :O)
Beautiful Book, Great Ideas!.......2006-08-20
From geometric to whimsical to out and out gorgeous, the cakes in the book are a great inspiration to decorators at all levels. The recipes are British, but the decorating ideas are universal and the work is beautifully precise and clean. The step-by-step instructions are really well photographed and easy to follow. I just with the book were longer! I want more!
Not A Book For Beginners.......2006-07-14
I loved the pictures in this book, great cakes, but I'm a beginning cake decorator, several cakes in this book seemed a little difficult to me, besides the pictures, didn't really care for this book at all. "The Essential Guide To Cake Decorating" was a lot better for me!!!
Beautiful cakes without the intimidation.......2006-03-06
I am new to baking and this book has completely inspired me. It is packed with so much information, that even I feel confident enough to make one of the beautiful designs featured in this book. There are plenty of pictures to walk you through the process and to unlock your own creativity. Another great thing about this book are the matching cupcakes. Those will come in handy for times when I'm feeling creative but do not have time to make an entire cake. I'm looking forward to purchasing more of Smith's books.
Book Description
Find the remote control. Pull off your kids' socks. Open and close the refrigerator door. Bet you never imagined your dog could accomplish such feats!
In this fun, easy-to-use trick-training guide, longtime trainer and cofounder of Canine University Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz shows you how to teach your dog all sorts of great tricks that will strengthen your bond and bring you both endless enjoyment. From simple beginner moves for young pups to complex tricks for super-smart pooches, there's something in here for everyone-including tricks that teach your dog how to:
Shake, wave, and give high fives
Play scared and be brave
Fetch his dinner bowl
Retrieve your keys, mail, and phone
Ring a bell to go outside
Put away his toys
Whether your dog's a natural-born ham or a shy guy, these tricks will bring out his best-and help you be the best trainer you can be. Tackle any of these fun tricks, and people will soon be singing your pup's praises!
Customer Reviews:
The BEST dog trick book ever.......2007-09-15
I've purchased many dog behavior and trick books over the years. This little gem is definitely the best trick book. My golden and I have had many great times learning some of the tricks. Easy to follow and the progressive technique makes great sense. I'm amazed at how fast he can learn following the simple directions. Patience and consistency as always is the key.
Tricks.......2007-08-28
This is a very good book. It has may good points about tricks and teaching your dog.
Great Book.......2007-06-08
This was a great book. Easy to follow steps. Needs more pictures. A DVD to go along with it would be better.
my first dog book.......2007-05-13
For me this book was very helpful..about 5 or so months ago our family came accross a lost puppy so we tried to find her owners but couldnt...I knew we couldnt just give her up so we addopted her and I set myself out to raise her right. It was hard looking for a good book because I've never owned a dog and i dont know the basics...but after looking long and hard I decided I'd go with this...this book is truely helpfull the book doesnt just show you how to train your dog but how to raise her from the roots like potty training and dicipline. To me its not just a trick book its a helpful tool in you and your dogs life.
Certainly worth the read.......2007-04-26
I bought this book to train my two year old Jack Russell. The author uses repeated training methods that are easy understand and most were simple enough for my dog to learn when I would execute them properly. Since my dog is very trainable by nature most of the tricks were worth the effort. The book offers easy to very difficult tricks which is helpful for the novice dog handler. While reading toward the end of the book I began to feel inadequate since I knew my dog wouldn't ever begin to work through the show stopping tricks that might be appropriate for a circus act. All in all I recommend buying this book if you'd like a handbook type reference to train you dog in a humane manner.
Book Description
This new book is an excellent reference for the multitude of ceramics items marked "MADE IN JAPAN" that were exported between 1921 and 1941, after Japanese manufacturers used the "NIPPON" mark and before the "MADE IN OCCUPIED JAPAN" mark. The 350 color photographs show hundreds of household ceramics arranged in an easy-to-find alphabetical order from ash trays to wall pockets. The Price Guide makes clear that this is an excellent field for collectors priced out of other fields. Here are many humorous and novelty designs in planters, cookie jars, pitchers, teapots, cups, creamers, sugar bowls, vases, pincushion holders, lamps, dishes and salt and pepper shakers. When considering items marked "MADE IN JAPAN," expect the unexpected!
Customer Reviews:
"MADE in JAPAN" Collectibles.......2007-06-14
I collect older (collectible) MADE IN JAPAN items and therefore I have quite a few books on the subject. This book is not complete but quite helpful. Photos are nice.
Many different volumes have been written on this subject. Infact, I own 3 other books on this subject.
When "Made in Japan" collectibles were issued there were sooooo many different items sold, that it would be impossible to include all of them in just one book. The author tried and did a good job though.
A must for antique hunters!.......2000-06-14
I thought this book was great, it helped me to spot just what I was looking for in the antique shop.
Average customer rating:
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New Interior Design: Collidoscope
Nigel Coates
Manufacturer: Collins Design
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Design & Construction
| Home Design
| Home & Garden
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Decoration & Ornament
| Interior Design
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ASIN: 1856693880
Release Date: 2004-12-28 |
Book Description
The book is designed to give a stimulating idea of the current direction of international interior design by Nigel Coates, one of the foremost practitioners in the field. The author has selected approximately 30 international designers whose work he thinks is especially interesting. The book will then present a selection of work by these designers in such a way that the relations between different designers (both the differences and similarities) are brought out as well as broader themes in current interior design.
While each project selected will be featured over a series of pages, the same project may crop up at various other points through book. The purpose of this is to draw comparisons between each project by letting them cross over into one another's territory. Hence `Collidoscope', the provisional title of the publication. As such, it should work both as a sourcebook with reference to current tendencies in design and to the ideas that underpin them. It will foreground the designers yet raise challenging differences and overlaps between them.
Average customer rating:
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Diseno Fotografico
H. Marshall
Manufacturer: Editorial Gustavo Gili
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Graphic Arts
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
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General
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Spanish
| Foreign Language Nonfiction
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
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| Arte
| Arte, arquitectura y fotografía
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Artes Gráficos
| Diseño Gráfico
| Arte, arquitectura y fotografía
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No-Ficción
| Libros en español
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| Automotriz
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| Crimen y Criminales
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| Feriados
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ASIN: 8425214432 |
Book Description
This classic paperback is available once again--and exclusively--from Harvard University Press.
This book is the story of the life of Nisa, a member of the !Kung tribe of hunter-gatherers from southern Africa's Kalahari desert. Told in her own words--earthy, emotional, vivid--to Marjorie Shostak, a Harvard anthropologist who succeeded, with Nisa's collaboration, in breaking through the immense barriers of language and culture, the story is a fascinating view of a remarkable woman.
Customer Reviews:
Very inteA very interesting book on the lives of !Kung Sun (Bush People)...........2006-02-22
The book is written by Shostak a woman, about Nisa also a woman, and that makes it more appealing because it deals with a lot of women issues. I know that Marjorie Shostak is now dead and Nisa is dead too. When you live with the author and the person she is writing about all this time it suddenly becomes a part of your life and you begin to mourn their death. I really admire Nisa and all these !Kung women and how courageous they live but I also know they don't live according to this book anymore. Long a go they changed their lifestyles.
What was Nisa all about, and did I like it?.......2006-01-20
Nisa is an autobiography of a young girl who is part of the Kung tribe. I feel that this book was a very easy read, and some parts of it were interesting but others weren't.
The Kung people have many cultural customs and traditions, such as a woman should give birth alone and in silence, or you shouldn't drink your mother's breast milk if you have a younger sibling. But, Nisa is sort of a rule breaker, or as we would call her, a rebel. Nisa had three husbands, I think. Now, many women in America have had multiple husbands so it's not that big of a deal but along with Nisa's three husbands she has at least 17 affairs, or as they called them lovers. When her husband would go out to hunt for two or three nights another man would sneak to Nisa's hut and they would make love until her husband came back. Many times Nisa got caught, and many times she didn't.
Nisa sometimes had reasons for leaving her husbands, but one of them she just didn't like. The Kung have something that is called a tribe headman. This man decides whether it is ok to get a divorce or not. One of the times Nisa didn't even go to the tribe's headman she just went back to her mother's village. Another time Nisa's husband, who was the father of her children died. Nisa cried and cried, but eventually she got over it. Nisa's next husband was a different story. He beat Nisa all the time, sometimes her back even swelled up. Nisa went to the headman to tell him that she wanted a divorce, but he gave her husband another chance. The next time Nisa went with bruises and the headman told her that she could divorce her husband.
Nisa got pregnant many times, but actually only had 2 kids, one girl and one boy. The Kung people believe that women can have miscarriages in many different ways. For example, they Kung believe that, if the child is not wanted by the mother of father that god will take it away from them. Another way is if the mother is hit or injured while she is pregnant the baby may leave her. Nisa miscarried for many reasons. A lot of the time it was because it wasn't her husband who caused her to get pregnant, it was one of her lovers and it was hard for her to tell her husband, so she just kept lying. Another time Nisa's 3rd husband got very mad at her and hit her with a stick, which made it seem as if the baby wasn't wanted.
Like I said before, I thought that Nisa was a very easy read, but it was still very informative. I really enjoyed how each chapter had a little bit about the culture, and a little bit about Nisa and how she fits in with her culture. Because the book was like that, it made it easier to stay interested because it wasn't 20 pages all about the same thing. I thought it was kind of cool that Nisa was a rebel, because if Nisa just followed all her customs it wouldn't be a very interesting book to read. Nisa seemed like she was very intelligent. She knew how to work her way out of trouble, how to cover up things that she knew she did wrong, and most of all how to lie. I never said that she was necessarily intelligent in a good way. If I were to compare this book to The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, I would say that I enjoyed this book more. I think this is because The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down had whole chapters about the war and their trip to America but I was more interested in Lia herself. That's why I liked Nisa so much, the book was more about her then the culture.
I recommend Nisa to people who are interested in autobiographies, but ones that are also about other cultures. I think this book offers a wide range of topics and is a very good book to debate this book. If I were to rate this book I would rate it 4 stars, because it kept me interested yet it was a very easy read.
Dense, informitive, sad, and often moving.......2005-02-01
Majorie Shostak's account of her anthropology trip to Africa's Kalahari Desert examining the rituals, lifestyles and existence of the !Kung tribe is not to be read like an expanded version of a National Geographic article. It is written with academic rigor and precise examination of a !Kung woman Nisa. The majority of the book is told through Nisa's words which are translated into English with as much accuracy possible by Shostak. Shostak prefaces each chapter with a more general description of the events of Nisa's life which follow. The !Kung have such a different life style than Westerners, so naturally the story telling methods Nisa uses are a little unfamiliar. There is much more repetition of certain phrases and ideas that some of us might find excessive. If one can get past this they will soon see what an expert Nisa actually is. Also it is a tribute to Shostak that she didn't slice up the narrative to make it more accessible for Westerners.
The book in begun with an extensive introduction, about 40 pages. Although at first this might feel over detailed and cumbersome, it is a necessity to read it before jumping into Nisa's narrative because some of the actions taken might seem unfathomable without a better understanding of !Kung life. For instance, when Nisa describes stealing and hoarding food for herself as a child, we might feel she is extremely selfish. But after reading the introduction we understand that in !Kung life there is virtually no private property. Imagine being a young child and having nothing of "your own." I think we all would have stolen to some extent. Also during the time the book was written there was a struggle within the anthropology communities as to whether these "field work" expeditions we're even worth taking. There were many who thought that the "white man" was so engrained with his own cultural sense of morality that any attempt to interpret or understand someone different would be wasted time. So it is possible that in parts of the long introduction Shostak was justifying to her academic circle why it was important that she did go to see another kind of life.
After the introduction is over, we move into various important events in Nisa's life, described by Nisa and prefaced by Shostak. Although these interviews were not given chronologically they are presented in as workable a series events as possible. We are taken first through her childhood in which Nisa's mother has her second child and no longer allows her to breast feed because it is believed that once her younger brother is born, it is his milk. We are then taken, to various cases of childhood problems. The `Discovering sex' chapter is worth noting, children go away and as Nisa says "play sexually". Although the parent's sometimes mildly scorn this, they remember how important is was for them in developing as sexual beings, so they pretty much look away. I think that our incredibly sexually conservative and private culture could learn something from this. It shouldn't necessarily be discouraged for children to discover certain aspects of themselves, and have sexual feeling, (we should stop pretending as if they don't!)
We are then taken through trial marriages; theeseoften "fail", because the girl married is too young. The most important events in a !Kung woman's life are first menstruation, marriage, and childbirth.
Another chapter worth noting is most clearly illuminates why Shostak's expedition into the Kalahari was so vital to understanding !Kung life. The chapter entitled 'Change' accounts the arrival of the very different Christian cattle herders. The Hero brought, (among other things), permanent villages, alcohol, western religion, tobacco, etc. Although some people might consider some of these things "civilization", (and I would not count myself among this crowd), the sad truth is that !Kung culture is dieing. More and more are forsaking the old way of life for the much more stable continuous food source. And even if the corrupt regimes they live under exploit their way of life to promote tourism, they are being stifled the the exact same regimes. Nisa's generation is the last link to the nearly completely un- westernized !Kung life. Without Shostak's magnificent book we would have a much harder time understanding this beautiful nomadic way of life.
One of the amazing thing about this book, unlike many other cross cultural examinations, is that it doesn't concentrate on some of the "shocking" taboos that might have made it a bestseller, (just under Tom Clancy). It instead just tells the story of a woman. One does not finish it and say, "wow they're different they need Jesus." One feels a connection to Nisa, and we realize not that we are different but that we are more similar than we would know or like to know. This also shows us that they're clearly are universal human emotions. Nisa goes through, love, hate, guilt, grief, regret, resentment, fear, happiness, etc, just like every human being! To go through it is to be human. Even in a culture totally different than ours these emotions are still there. In an age where we feel like we must "spread democracy", like we're spreading humanity, it is all the more important to realize that the same humanity exists whether or not they are infested with corrupt corporate puppets. I would recommend this book to anyone who feels lie they want to know more about other societies, and ways of life, in a more in depth format.
We have two wonderful women to thank for this powerful book on !Kung life, or !Kung life as it should be.
enjoyable reading.......2002-03-03
This book is a very enjoyable reading but the reader should be warned not put too much trust in Nisaýs words. This is not hard science. Nisa might have had an agenda of her own. She might have been careful enough to tell Shostak only what she wanted to hear. Shostak, after all, have been paying her for those interviews, and if Nisa hadnýt fulfilled her expectations then she would have been fired. Donýt we all tell our bosses what they want to hear? The author admits she interviewed many other women but somehow she didnýt like what she heard and decided to drop them. Maybe Nisa was the only one who was smart enough to manipulate Shostak into continuing to employ her by twisting her stories to make them sound spicier.
It is quite unfortunate that the reader can only guess what were the exact questions asked by the author. My guess is that the story was heavily manipulated by those questions. The excessive sexual content of the stories may be nothing more than reaction to Shostakýs blunt questions about sex. In the Epilog of the book Shoskak admits that her reputation among the !Kung was that of a woman who only cares to talk about sex.
It is quite unfortunate that the book focuses too much on the sexual experiences of !Kung and doesnýt reveal much about their psychology. Even their sexual life is described rather superficially. We learn nothing about the courtship process among those people. The reader may get the impression that a !Kung woman will have sex with anyone who brings her meat.
One cannot blame Nisa if she exaggerated in her stories. She did it for food. It was up to Shostakýs to find a way to collect as much accurate information as possible. Unfortunately, I was left with the impression that she lacked the necessary skills and experience for the job.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the book. It has its own charm. I hope my criticism will not prevent anyone from reading it because it has a lot to offer. The reader can still learn a great deal about the life of the !Kung and maybe something about the way our ancestors lived. This book is highly recommended for all who are interested in human evolution and psychology.
Not bad, but ultimately dissapointing........2001-12-08
If you are interested in !Kung, San, or other Bushmen peoples, you should definitely read this book. It is a highly informative account of the !Kung way of life. On the other hand, if you are looking for a great story, stick to Harry Potter. Nisa's commentary usually goes like this: "We lived and lived until I did this and then I did that again and the result was bad again." This is simply a characteristic of the !Kung oral tradition, but it will not appeal to many Western readers. I'm not just saying this because I think the !Kung language is inadaquate; in fact, story telling is probably very entertaining to the !Kung themselves. Something is lost in the translation.
One reviewer mentioned that the !Kung are a primitive culture. I have to whole-heartedly disagree with that statement. The Kung have a highly developed culture. Their food production method is "primitive", meaning that it has largely been replaced by agriculture/domestication/industry in most cultures.
One of the points that turned me off was that Shostak's study is partly an attempt to justify, or at least explain, the Feminist movement (she admits it). Here she is mistaken. The !Kung do not represent a historical ideal. The !Kung are NOT what "we once were." Granted, they share a common FOOD PRODUCTION method as my ancestors, but that does not necessarily mean that they lived like my hunting and gathering ancestors.
In the end, this book is unsatisfying because Shostak cannot confide in Nisa. She says that, at the end of her stay, she could still not trust Nisa. Gift giving attempts were not reciprocated and she questioned the truth of Nisa's accounts. Some might find this interesting, but it left me feeling like I had been cheated in some way.
Books:
- The Great Bagarozy (Dedalus Europe 1998)
- The House of Whacks: A Novel
- The Judas Field: A Novel of the Civil War
- The Linwoods: or, "Sixty Years Since" in America (Hardscrabble Books)
- The Marx Family Saga
- The Plato Papers: A Novel
- The Polish Complex: A Novel (American Literature (Dalkey Archive))
- The Promise of Rest
- The scorpion god;: Three short novels
- The Smallest People Alive
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