Customer Reviews:
Seven Stars!!!.......2004-03-26
Great European Novel, The language is Croatian, not Serbo Croatian. Town and country he is writing about is Zagreb and Croatia. The characters are unfogetable (Boba, Kyriales and others). I read this book about 100 times during the past 24 years. Make yourself a favour, read it slowly! Enoy!
Too little known about Krleza.......1999-08-09
Unfortunately, only two novels of Krleza's have been translated into English, which does not even come near to doing justice to the volumes of novels, stories, plays, poems and essays this multi-talented writer has produced. The reviewer below is incorrect in saying Krleza is "almost" in the class of Andric. Krleza far surpasses Andric, and this can be sensed in "The Return of Filip Latinovicz." I highly recommend this and esp. "On the Edge of Reason."
Power of croatian literature.......1999-05-15
Just another great classic from the hand of the greatest coroatian writer.Like his early works, this book represent a modern style in his best way. A must read!
an excellent, imaginative novel.......1999-04-13
The early 20th century Croatian novelist Miroslav Krleza is far less well known in this country than, say, Bosnian novelist Ivo Andric or Croatian journalist and novelist Slavenka Drakulic, but reading this excellent book convinces me that he is far superior to the latter and almost in the class of the former. "The Return of Philip Latinowicz" tells the story of an aging and doubting painter who returns from cosmopolitan Europe to his small Croatian home town, both to retreat from current problems and to confront lingering uncertainties and resentments from his youth. The atmosphere, as the reader from the Netherlands writes, is wonderfully Dostoevskian in places; the characters are drawn unforgettably (at times with humor, at others with pathos); the story moves slowly at the beginning but becomes a sort of psychological thriller by the end. This is a very impressive book that deserves wide readership.
Protoexistentialist masterpiece.......1998-10-21
This novel, rammed with ideas, bulging with imagination, shows fierceness and intensity of feeling characteristic of a slavic temperament. The Croatian writer, although sharing certain similarities with russian giant Dostoyevsky, has created a radiating, mind-boggling existential drama, soaked in regional folklore, yet, deeply resonating with universal verities.
Amazon.com
Magic and mayhem, politics and personal sacrifice weave a sophisticated tapestry in this first in an epic fantasy series from award-winner David B. Coe. Once, the magic-wielding Qirsi fought the Eandi clans for control of the Forelands. Defeated by a traitor, the Qirsi have been uneasily absorbed into Eandi society, serving as councilors to the powerful, but they are still mistrusted. Now a Qirsi faction hopes to subvert the rules of ascension to the Eandi throne. Tavis, a young noble in line for the kingship, becomes a target of the conspiracy and finds that he must turn to an unlikely source for help--a powerful and enigmatic Qirsi who may be more than he seems.
The opening chapters take the time to develop the politics, history, and customs of the Forelands. The patient reader will be rewarded with adventure, betrayal, love, and hope set against a well-realized blend of epic events and the beginning of Tavis's personal hero-quest. --Roz Genessee
Book Description
For 900 years, since the Qirsi War, the Forelands have enjoyed relative peace. The Qirsi leaders, Weavers whose powerful magic could bend to their will not only the elements but also the thoughts of others, were all killed. The rest of the pale-skinned Qirsi were scattered throughout the realm. They were no longer a threat without their multi-talented leaders.But though most Qirsi live normal lives, and some even serve lords as advisors, all is not well in the realm. There is a Weaver in the Forelands again, secretly sowing seeds of rebellion against the physically hardier but unmagical Eandi.Lord Tavis of Curgh, raised to succeed his father as duke, and engaged to the beautiful Lady Brienne of Kentigern, seems bound for greatness. But just as his life seems complete, he is accused of a horrific act. Little can Tavis know that the Weaver is using him as a pawn in a vast plot.Now, only a Qirsi gleaner can help Tavis survive his doom, reclaim his good name, and prevent a devastating civil war in the Forelands.
Customer Reviews:
Wasn't bad, but wasn't great either.......2007-02-08
This is my first review of a book, but wanted to add some stuff that I thought about it. I won't rehash the plot line, just want to point out some things that I didn't like much. First off what I liked:
I liked the world and the whole "duke" system for ascension to the throne.
I like the character of Tavis, not making him such a nice person was very good.
I liked most of the characters in the book and I liked the style of writing, didn't really get bored with the book at all.
Now what I didn't like:
The Qirsi, they were a different race, but didn't even have their own language (maybe it will be in explained in the next book), actually they seem little different, with the exception of magic, to be like humans.
The duchess leading the charge in the battle, just didn't make much sense nor did the fact that they could talk to the dead on certain nights. If that was the case, why not just go there and ask her who killed her, like Tavis did.
Overall, it wasn't a bad book and it was a nice read, but not one that I would re-read again.
Different! I like different........2006-12-26
You think you are off into an ordinary fantasy and blam, David B. Coe hits you upside the head with something new. This series is as much a story of human prejudices as it is a good guy / bad guy story. You may not like the antagonists, but you can understand their motivations. Not only is this a good story with solid character development, but it is also though provoking.
Lots of prediction and no emotion........2006-11-07
It would be an exaggeration to call this book awful or bad; however it would also be an exaggeration to call this book great. There was nothing particularly terrible about this book; it was like a cup of tea without sugar, still warm and tasty, but vastly lacking in the enjoyment aspect. The characters you read about stay on the page, they do not jump out at you and make you care or truly enjoy their adventures. It is unfortunate but your heart will not thump faster with anticipation and excitement as you turn those pages.
The story has been tried and true: a naughty, arrogant character goes through a life changing experience and becomes good; there are those who doubt him and those who believe his new self. There is a war brewing, and everyone cannot see who the bad guy is, even though he practically has a long curved mustache that he tweaks and makes "bwahahaha" evil laughter sounds (so to speak). You just want to say come on guys he is right there look, look there goes the bad guy. But alas, all the characters stay miraculously blind to the evil ahead even though it is quite predictable.
No humor, no spice, pg-13 type scenes (that is not particularly a problem), character's actions are driven by the need of the author to keep things moving and not the actual plot. Because at times after reading a certain passage, one may ask why would the characters do that? Or if there was a purpose to the actions it was overshadowed by the lack of spice /emotion through out the entire story, this book is not well known or popular and maybe those are the reasons why, who knows, all in all the suggestion is go to the library if you are still interested.
A Tale of Daggers Before Swords.......2006-07-09
This series is kind of a hidden gem that most fantasy fans don't know about. At times it's a rough gem, but it's a gem none the less. It reminds me a lot of Martin pre-Sword of Storms paperback. I'd talk to my friends that were into Jordan and Goodkind, the typical mainstream at the time, and they would have no idea who he was. Now, one novel later, everyone knows who Martin is. I hope that's the future for David B. Coe.
Don't mistake me, this series is not another epic once-in-a-generation-tale like "A Song of Ice and Fire", but its very good. Its interesting in a way that lots of fantasy series aren't. There are no elves, dwarves, or other high fantasy baggage. Instead we have the two people, the physical Eandi and the magical Qirsi. There are great battles, but there aren't many. Instead we have plots and counter plots. We have a conspiracy that has every noble thinking his advisor is his enemy. And in the middle of this we have our main characters Grinsa and Travis, and they aren't perfect, they screw up, they get annoyed by each other, but they keep working against our bad guys. The world is highly thought out, both politically and the geography, the characters are fleshed out, having obvious relationships with other characters in the world that have history beyond the pages, and the magic is rigid and easily explained while still being worthy of note.
The best thing I can say here, is I'm personally glad I picked up the first book when it came out. It was a chance thing. I was looking for a new name I hadn't heard of before, and, boy, did I find one. Coe is good. He does have some problems with his structure, an over reliance on exposition that can get annoying at times when he's catching up on events in earlier novels, but his books flow. And the plot of this series is complex, especially in the second novel where you have three parties each looking to catch and kill the others, all hunting through the land. A great game of cat and mouse.
Final Thought: It's a political novel over a war-based novel that deals with racial issues in a "who can you trust" setting. If you're interested in something like that, then pick it up.
I've Been Drawn Into the World of Fantasy Science Fiction.......2006-07-05
I picked up this book at the library on a whim. I'm writing my own book and thought this one would help me develop my story. Otherwise, I've never been much into fantasy or science fiction novels.
Well, let me tell you, I liked this book so much that I checked out from the library the next 3 books in the series...and now I'm eagerly awaiting the fifth and final book, "Weavers of War". Hurry up, Mr. Coe! I want to see what happens to Grinsa, Celeste, Tavis, and all your other characters!
Yes, there are a lot of characters, and I had to page back a couple of times to refresh my memory of who I was reading about, but by the end of Book Two, I had them down pretty good. What blew my mind was how masterfully Coe wove all the different characters' stories together to make a smooth-flowing, effortless read. Book Five promises to bring all our characters together for the ultimate finale, and I'm sure Coe won't disappoint! I've decided that this 5-book series needs to be added to my home library for my children to read someday.
I am now sucked into the fantasy/science fiction genre and plan on reading Coe's future books to see what he'll bring to the table (or bookshelf) next.
Book Description
Since 1992 Russell Jeavons has owned and cooked at a unique restaurant in an old cottage in one of South Australia's prized wine districts. It is famous in part because it's only open on Friday nights, but moreso for its fresh, simple food cooked entirely in Russell's wood-fired brick ovens. His pizzas are renowned throughout Australia, with fine regional ingredients artfully combined atop classic, thin, wood-oven cooked crusts.
Russell's Pizza is the kind of place where friends and family gather to eat within sight of the golden, glowing kitchen; where the garden is equipped with warming braziers and outdoor fire pits for chatting, relaxing, and munching. It is an atmosphere that many of us covet for our own homes—an outdoor space where we can come together on cool nights for warmth, fun, and good food.
The first part of Your Brick Oven is a step-by-step guide that takes readers through the stages of building an oven, from choosing the site to firing up for the first bake. Part two explains how to cook in the oven with invaluable tips for brick oven cooks, with recipes for sour dough bread, thin-crust pizzas, traditional roasts, fruit tarts, and sinful cakes and pastries.
Customer Reviews:
Would not be my first choice.......2007-09-20
Not what I hoped it to be. Not detailed enough to build a brick oven based on this book. The Bread Builder is a better book which I would recommend.
Your Brick Oven.......2005-11-16
Whenever you see photos in glossy magazines of beautiful people in stylish clothes sitting round in dappled sunshine, laughing and sharing good food and wine, do you wonder why your life's not like that?
Well now Russell Jeavons (of Willunga's `Russell's Pizzas' fame) paints us into a far earthier picture with `Your Brick Oven: Building it and baking in it' (Wakefield Press). The book is a step-by-step guide to exactly that and it has the immediate effect of making you want to turf the lifestyle porn, grab a bag of cement and work up an appetite.
The central feat of the whole process is the construction of the oven whose domed cavity maximises the storage, convection and efficient circulation of heat from the wood fire. The dome is perhaps the most elemental yet complex of all structures. Versatile too: from humble dwellings like the igloo and yurt to St Peter's Basilica; from the utopian Millennium Dome to the tower of the Hiroshima prefecture building. But it also echoes the hemispheres of the planet, the upturned bowl of the sky, and bears more than a passing resemblance to our craniums.
For these reasons alone, it seems well worth taking up Jeavons' challenge to build one with your own bare hands. A dome in the backyard - I'd like to suggest - will put you in touch with both the chequered history of human endeavour and the cosmos. Better still, build several and have spy satellites - or Earth Google - mistake your place for Pine Gap.
Jeavons establishes a compelling connection between the ancient development of the brick oven and the evolution of courses from starters to desserts. Conservation of heat and fuel is the key. When the oven is `soaked', it reaches the sort of temperatures needed for things like pizzas. As it starts to cool, it's ready for baking bread, and roasting meats and vegetables, til, right at the end, it's cooled enough to bake cakes and tarts. The book provides us with mouth-watering recipes for all these treats and more.
Instructional and atmospheric photographs, clear diagrams and stunning book design all further contribute to a slender volume that is educational, inspirational and easy on the eyes.
Stephen Atkinson
Adelaide
South Australia
Disapointing.......2005-08-28
This 84 page book is evenly divided between intstructions on how to build a brick oven and recipes for baking in it. I have not tried the recipes. I made an impulsive purchase of this book because I have been interested in building a brick oven for some time. I mistakenly thought that I would gain some insights and practical tips that were missing from The Bread Builders by Daniel Wing and Alan Scott. I did not. There is, in my opinion too little detail in this book to actually construct a quality oven.
Book Description
Chasing an irresistible mystery across the globe, journalist Georgie Anne Geyer conducted exhaustive research into the little-known puzzle of how cats came to occupy their unique position in the lives of humans. Treated with the tenacity, resourcefulness, and narrative instinct of a seasoned foreign correspondent, the investigation yielded unexpected answers-and posed tantalizing new questions. The result is a remarkable book, bound to delight and amaze cat- fanciers and adventure- seekers. It was Geyer's curiosity about her own cats that inspired her to study the history of human-feline relations and especially cats' exalted status among the ancients as royal or sacred beings. Her quest spanned the earth. In Egypt, Geyer learned of the cat-goddess Bastet and of the cat's role in the transmigration of souls. In Myanmar she saw Leonardo DiCaprio, Ricky Martin, and the other incongruously named cats of the Nga Phe Kyaung monastery, trained by the monks to jump through hoops. She even met a family who dutifully guards the heritage of the Japanese bobtail, cultivating the line in-of all places-rural Virginia. Richly illustrated with photos of Geyer's journeys and historical cat images, When Cats Reigned Like Kings also presents a Family of Cat section that describes the origins and characteristics of the 38-40 recognized modern cat breeds, including photos of each.
Customer Reviews:
Not Up to Expectations.......2006-04-08
Considering the august reputation of the author and the number of pages, I expected a much more scholarly discussion on this subject. I was disappointed to wade through so many personal stories of her cats performing typical cat antics. While cute to a degree, less would have been an improvement so that the real topic could shine through. The title promises much more than is delivered. Too many cutsie remarks and exclamation points detract.
Some fascinating information is included, and that did keep me reading, but one has to excavate for the good stuff. The interviews and descriptions of the places traveled are interesting and worth the time. Exploring some additional cultures would also have been appropriate.
However, I commend Geyer for adding to the anecdotal nonfiction shelves about felines.
Whle the book is not a total waste of time, be prepared for a lot of fluff if you're looking for the real story.
When Cats reigned like kings.......2006-02-25
I very much enjoyed reading this book since I am very much a cat person. I have a special interest in cats since I work at an egyptian museum and have done quite a bit of research on cats especially the Egyptian cat goddess, Bastet. I love the way Georgie Geyer humanized the cat and the research she put into the book. Not to mention the wonderful humor and the warmth in which she portrayed the cats. I loved seeing the cats in a different perspective and traveling with the author to unusual places that I probably will never see.
When Cats reigned like Kings .......2005-09-22
This book is superb and the service from Amazon could not be equalled.
When Cats Reigned Line Kings: On the Trail of the Sacred Cats.......2005-08-02
I do not know if it was because I am a cat lover, but I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history. Ms. Geyer is an interesting author and has written a real page-turner. I thank her for making information which could have been dull bright and interesting. I now know more about the origins of my own beloved cats.
A fascinating read! .......2005-01-19
Back in November, I read an excerpt of this book in Geyer's column and thought: I've got to get this!!
This book is well-written, and hooked me right from the beginning. Geyer's interest in the human-cat relationship takes her and you the reader to Egypt, Burma, Japan, and Thailand, plus her descriptions of the main cat breeds is helpful and informative. There are two sections of pictures, one section showing her own two cats the late great Pasha and her current cat, Nikko, as well as photos from her various travels. The second set shows the breeds of cats discussed in part two and all have a high 'aawwww' factor. Plus there is an appendix chronicling the evolution of the human-cat relationship throughout the world. All in all a great read!
Book Description
An ideal gift book for the boy in every man.
This stylishly designed history of the best toys from the sixties to the eighties is filled with absorbing facts and stories and specially commissioned photographs. Boys' Toys is the ultimate tribute to the cars, planes, trains, and games that enriched millions of boys' lives—and to the men who continue to remember a childhood filled with play.
Among the many toys represented are:
-Action heroes like GI Joe and Action Man
-Movie and television tie-ins from Star Wars, Dr. Who, and Lost in Space
-Automobiles from Matchbox, Hot Wheels, and Corgi
-Computer games from Atari, Apple, and Commodore
-And many more!
Like a nostalgic stroll through holiday catalogs of the past, Boys' Toys is sure to fire the imagination of men of any age.
Book Description
Six sturdy pre-cut stencils depict the hardy bluebell, swamp rose mallow, Virginia creeper, jack-in-the-pulpit, black-eyed Susan, and lady's slipper. Perfect for use by youngsters or in art and craft projects.
Customer Reviews:
especially nice wildflower stencils.......2002-06-28
There are six wildflower stencils here, cut into heavy laminated paper. All are disconnected stencils, having separations between elements; I think this style is particularly effective in wall or furniture stencilling. The stencils are: jack-in-the-pulpit (5 inches high and 3 inches wide), lady's slipper (5 inches by 3.5 inches), black-eyed susan (5 inches by 3.5 inches), swamp rose mallow (4.5 inches by 3.5 inches), bluebell (5 inches by 2.5 inches) and Virginia creeper (4.5 by 3 inches). The jack-in-the-pulpit, swamp rose mallow and Virginia creeper are pictured on the cover, left to right. Depending on your project, you might want to shrink these basic designs, but you can't beat this price for getting some good basic stencils. They are also a nice size for preschooler art projects.
Absolutely lovely!.......2001-04-13
This sturdy little book from Dover contains six wildflower stencils. They're precut and easy to remove, and clearly labeled. I used them on some cupboards I put together, and they look fabulous. My favorite is the virginia creeper, though the exotic jack-in-the-pulpit runs a close second. Also included are a lady's slipper orchid, a black-eyed susan, a swamp rose mallow, and a stand of bluebells. One of the best books in this series.
Average customer rating:
- A pretty uncomfortable book . . .
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Home.Work: Setting Up an Office at Home
Fay Sweet
Manufacturer: Conran
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 General
| Interior Design
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Remodeling & Renovation
| Home Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Decorating
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
Decoration & Ornament
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1840911557 |
Book Description
In this age of telecommuting and advanced technology, working from home has never been more appealing. Yet fashioning a home office is anything but simple. Now, whatever your space and budget, the perfect home office can be yours. Full of creative solutions to common problems, this imaginative guide takes you through the logistics step by step. Assess your needs, identify available space, devise a decorating scheme, convert an entire room or part of another room (such as the kitchen)...all without breaking the bank. Large-format color photographs, floor plans, case studies, and ingenious tips solve storage, furniture, and lighting dilemmas. You can even learn time-management skills and exercises to keep you fit and alert, once you're ensconced in your new quarters! Whether you're already working at home, planning on moving your office there, or simply need room to catch up on work from your day job, make your home work pleasurable as well as productive.
Customer Reviews:
A pretty uncomfortable book . . ........2002-01-05
It's interesting to compare this treatment of the subject with Neal Zimmerman's _At Work at Home,_ which I also read recently. While Zimmerman concentrates on creating "livable" working spaces at home, which are not always elaborate or expensive, either, Sweet seems to have a thing for cold, bare, "industrial" environments with square, hard-looking chairs, exposed rivets, and shiny metal gooseneck lamps. Is this a British design thing, I wonder? It's an interesting take, I suppose, but if I could afford a professional designer to set up my own office at home, I'd pick Zimmerman in a second.
Average customer rating:
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Oh My Goth! Presents: The Girlz Of Goth!
Voltaire
Manufacturer: Sirius Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Illustration
| Commercial
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Pop Culture
| Graphic Design
| Design & Decorative Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Figure Drawing
| Instructional & How-To
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Artists, A-Z
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Graphic Novels
| Comics & Graphic Novels
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
ASIN: 157989061X |
Book Description
Voltaire, the creator of CHI-CHIAN and OH MY GOTH, releases the first-ever collection of pin-up artwork from his uniquely twisted mind! Revisiting popular characters from previous comics/animation and introducing dozens more, these richly detailed images burst off of the page, opening a door to worlds populated by sultry succubae, sexy androids, and spooky sirens.
Customer Reviews:
oh my goth.......2004-09-24
I can't believe no-one has reviewed this yet. I love Voltaire's music (on Projekt) and this short little graphic novel belongs on any goths book shelf or coffee table along with similar items like tim burton's 'meloncholy death of oyster boy', brandon neil ragan's 'the grey garden', and the "lenore" books ny roman dirge. cute and spooky
Book Description
From the civil rights revolution to the halls of power, the life story of a truly larger-than-life figure, Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
A number-one Washington Post bestseller, this memoir is the unforgettable story of a life and its times. As a student in Atlanta, Vernon Jordan had a summer job driving a white banker around town. During the man's afternoon naps, Jordan passed the time reading books, a fact that astounded his boss. "Vernon can read!" the man exclaimed to his relatives. Nearly fifty years later, Vernon Jordan, long-time civil rights leader, adviser and close friend to presidents and business leaders, remembers the sweeping struggles, changes, and dangers of black life during the civil rights revolution.
After attending a predominantly white college in the Midwest and graduating from Howard University Law School, Jordan dedicated himself to the civil rights movement. He led the drive to register black voters in the South and was president of the National Urban League, one of the great civil rights organizations of the era, where he was instrumental in integrating American businesses and providing economic and social support to the expanding black middle class. He survived a white racist's assassination attempt and later became a pillar of America's legal, corporate, and political worlds.
But Jordan's life was shaped in his early years, and this book is also a moving testament to the family whose support and courage provided the framework for his achievements. Vernon Can Read! chronicles a life of courage, pride, sacrifice, style, and accomplishment.
Customer Reviews:
A Piece of History.......2007-03-31
A fantastic book detailing the magnificent journey of a tremendous American! This book is packed with historical facts about the lives of Black people in America. Vernon Jordan was born in 1935 and although he did not live through slavery, he certainly lived through the Jim Crow days. However with a good father and a strong mother, he didn't just survive - he flourished. Yes, Vernon could and did indeed 'read'. The names of people mentioned in this book are dizzying. This man dealt with a wide range of people in his career.
I loved the potent messages that came through with great clarity. Such as "never expect defeat before making an honest effort" pg.2 or pg. 277 his beliefs in concerted efforts..."each person or group using their abilities, contributing what they can to move things forward." I must also mention how happy I was to note Jordan's love for the women in his life; his mother, his invalid wife Shirley - who died at age 48, and his daughter Vickie - the apple of his eye.
A good read, but leaves something out.......2006-08-12
I also never heard of Vernon Jordan before the Lewinsky scandal. I am very glad I read this book. It is a shame that many Americans never heard of his interesting and enlightening story about coming of age in the civil rights era. That seems to me to be the theme of this book, that the civil rights era opened the doors to places of power not dreamed of before, if only one had the ambition and the character to find them.
Like a few other reviewers, I also wish that the author revealed more about the period between when he was in charge of the Urban League. This period is when he made his contacts with very many powerful people in charge of corporations and institutions, received a fellowship at Harvard Business School, and started on his way to become a 'power broker'. I guess if you read between the lines the corporate/foundation contacts made him beholden to the business community, and then retiring from the Urban League to work for a powerful Washington law firm gave him a 'power broker' title. But its not really enough to make the connection, is it? And what about those Bilderberg meetings, Vernon? We would like to know more.
A peek inside an extraordinary mind........2005-06-28
Read this book. Mr. Jordan not only provides insight and anecdotes about many events and individuals in American civil rights history, his words also give us a glimpse of the workings of an incredible mind. His memoirs are filled with stories and recollections proving that desire, determination and accountability to self and others are crucial for success in any of life's endeavors. Simply stated, I'm inspired.
We need the Unauthorized Biography........2003-11-03
This book is an unfortunate piece of near puffery: much form, much superficiality, little substance. But what does one expect from a Power Broker? Truth or Dare?
In keeping with the unwritten Power Broker Creed, Mr.Jordan reveals very little about the inside mechanations that made him who he is (as opposed to who he was). That is to say, the book speaks volumes about those life experiences that made Vernon Jordan the moderate civil rights leader he was years ago, but says exactly nothing about the transition from that leadership role, to the man who had the president's ear (not to mention the man who kept his secrets)and the ear of the REAL powerful people in this global econonmy: the corporate mavens for whom Vernon was (is?) paid handsomely to dish out advice and counsel to.
We never hear in any detail about how Jordan quietly but persistently accumulated the power he achieved and, indeed, what motivated him in this pursuit. And no, I was not interested in any Monica dirt: Monica and the whole presidential thing, was (and is) beside the point when it comes to a rigorous Jordan analysis. That whole episode merely served as a template (and not a particularly good one) for the kind of back scratchery at high level that Jordan has been doing for years.
But then again, what does one expect? People like Jordan (and mind you, I am a big fan of his)live by the aforementioned unspoken creed: power is best accumulated and exercised quietly. Thus, one does not reveal the secrets of the kingdom to just any average reader (by the way Vernon, what really does go on at those Bildeberg confrences?).
We will not get the whole unexpurgated version of Jordan's life until some biographer decides to swim against currents and put one together.
Those of us interested in reading something much more telling than Jordan's superficial telling of the story of his life will have to wait. Just as we similarly anxiously awaited biographical treatments of other quiet power brokers in the Clark Clifford, Tommy "the cork" mode (the wait is soon over for those of us interested in Tommy the cork and, thanks to the same author, was over several years ago for a good analysis of Clifford's life. CLifford's own biography, Counsel to the President, left much to be desired, too).
As a high school to college level autobiographical treatment of the life of an important figure in post-world war II america, Vernon Can Read suffices. As anything deeper, it does not.
Vernon can certainly Read, but what Vernon wrote certainly leaves alot to be desired.
This book should be in every African American's home.......2003-03-07
I listened to the unabridged audio cassette version of Vernon Can Read! This is a wonderful book. It has many dates and events in African American history of which Mr. Jordan contributed to, experienced and/or witnessed. These events are not only significant in the life of Mr. Jordan but also in the history of African Americans. The book is well written and easy to read and/or listen to. I told my five year old son about the experience of young Vernon Jordan and Mr. Maddock. It was inspiring to my son and we often listen to that portion of the tape while driving home from school. Mr. Jordan wanted the book to inspire his children and grandchildren and I suspect that it has. The book has also inspired my son. I highly recommend this book.
Books:
- The Richest Family in the World: Family Secrets
- The scissors sharpener and other missionary stories
- The Shunra and the Schmetterling
- The Sonnets CD set (New Cambridge Shakespeare Audio)
- The Truly Needy And Other Stories (Pitt Drue Heinz Lit Prize)
- The Victoria Reader: A Treasury of Timeless Stories
- The Watermark: A Novella
- The Winds Of Time and other stories
- The Wrath of Dionysus: A Novel
- Touches the Sky: A Novel
Books Index
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