Book Description
From an award-winning writer, an utterly charming, delightfully fractured fairy tale of a romance between two people old enough to know better.
When a storm tears a hole in Miss Eleanor Bannister's roof, the itinerant carpenter who volunteers to repair it is so capable and charming that he remodels Miss Eleanor's life. A retired schoolteacher in the town where she's always lived, Eleanor, at age sixty-nine, finds the sudden presence of Abel Brown in her life unnerving and unsettling --and after a time, irresistible. He shakes up her fixed ideas of who she is and starts her wanting something she never imagined for herself. Amid many complications, Eleanor and Abel proceed on the fractious course of their courtship, in a novel that is never less than captivating, witty, and pointedly clear-eyed.
Customer Reviews:
A Love Story.......2007-04-17
I thought this book was very sweet. Just when she thought she would live out the rest of her life alone, everything changed for Eleanor. This is a story of love and romance experienced by someone who never expected it would happen to her.
I wouldn't say it was the best book I have ever read but it will still touch your heart.
A Wonderful Book.......2006-02-27
It is rare that I rate a book 5 stars. I always keep in mind that 5 stars is perfection. Well, this book is as close to perfection as any reader might find. The characters are beautifully drawn, and fun to read about. Sometimes they say things that make the reader laugh out loud (a rarity). Ms. Sanford is another Eudora Welty. A very talented author. I will look forward to her next novel.
A Wonderful Book.......2006-02-27
It is rare that I rate a book 5 stars. I always keep in mind that 5 stars is perfection. Well, this book is as close to perfection as any reader might find. The characters are beautifully drawn, and fun to read about. Sometimes they say things that make the reader laugh out loud (a rarity). Ms. Sanford is another Eudora Welty. A very talented author. I will look forward to her next novel.
Oldsters have passions, too!.......2004-03-28
I found this book delightful, even though my husband calls me "little miss literary reader." The story was endearing and the craft was elegant in its unobtrusive, patient, modest way. I gave it to my mother-in-law and my status shot up with her. No violence, no profanity, no gratuitous anything; just fine story about small town lives.
Don't miss it!.......2004-01-21
I don't know if I've ever been treated to such a full, rich, endearing story in so few words! Only a couple hundred pages - and yet I felt as if I were visiting old friends for a long stay. I enjoyed this book immensely. But then, I'm rapidly approaching "Miss El's" age, so maybe that's why! :)
Book Description
There is more than one history of the world...
In a barbarous age in a world now forgotten, an extraordinary figure stood formidable on the European battlefield--a remarkable female warrior and strategist without equal...save one.
Dijon, the once-proud capital of Burgundy, has been pounded into near submission. The merciless soldiers of the Visigoth Empire stand hungrily at the gate, and at their fore, the beautiful, deadly Faris, unwittingly bred to tbe the instrument of a machine intelligence that seeks the end of humanity. The sun gutters weakly overhead like a dying candle, as the Wild Machines once again flex their dark, demonic power.
Ash, like her warrior twin, hears the Wild Machines' call--but unlike the Faris, Ash will not be their tool. For within Dijon's crumbling walls a fragile hope has bloomed: one who bears in her royal blood the ability to hold the dread Machines at bay. But defeating their dark plans will take a miracle--and ultimately, only Ash herself stands between Burgundy's implacable enemies and all humanity.
Lost Burgundy
The stunning conclusion to the remarkable true chronicles of Ash
Customer Reviews:
Last quarter of a terrific fantasy creation.......2004-01-26
Lost Burgundy is the fourth book in the "The Book of Ash." This isn't a series, as the books were all published simultaneously, and in the UK it was one 1100 page novel (the largest single-volume fantasy ever). I guess the publisher figured in the US we have short attention spans.
The whole sequence of four books is difficult to categorize. While labeled Fantasy, it includes science fiction, alternative history, and postmodern deconstruction. That, perhaps, is why several reviewers got annoyed with these books. They don't stay in one category. This is not a failure but a success; this work is a tour de force.
In Book IV, Ash and her mercenary company are stuck in Dijon, awaiting a battle with both soldiers and bizarre physical forces. Elsewhere, the sun has ceased to shine. Ash's twin (or clone) is somehow responsible, and Ash alternates between feelings of revenge and humiliation. The wraparound story, correspondence between a modern author researching Ash, and his editor, is also changing in tone; the editor suggests the author has gone quietly insane, but the reader senses he hasn't despite his reality disappearing. There are elements of Phillip K. Dick in their tale, and it has slowly seeped into Ash's story as well.
While the denouement works, the epilogue feels out of place, almost as if it were written by someone less talented. Other than needing a stronger ending, this is a terrific series that deserves your attention, all four books of it.
Ash.......2003-06-02
I read the British omnibus edition, which I recommend over buying the four installments separately (Amazon UK has it.)
This is a top-class work of alternative history -- not the kind of alternative history that postulates a simple "what if", but an entire parallel universe.
Its strengths include excellent character development -- of secondary as well as primary characters -- and viscerally realistic battle scenes. Despite occasional anachronisms in the area of mentality, which I suspect are deliberate, Gentle clearly knows her medieval history. The plot moves fast and rarely falters; the final battle scene is unputdownable. Stark, brutal realism is one of the book's greatest strengths, but there are wonderful moments of humor as well. The medieval mercenaries are so appealing that, when the reader gets the casualty list at the end of the final battle, the sense of loss is genuine. And yet these individuals could scarcely exist in any other milieu.
I didn't find the framing device, the writer communicating with his agent, as gripping as the main story, but the postulate of subjective reality was interesting and seemed fresh in the context of alternative history.
The one thing that didn't work for me was the final scene, in which the historical characters are translated into the modern day -- this didn't make a lot of sense to me, and it didn't work for me on a characterization or aesthetic level. That, though, is only a few pages out of hundreds.
I was ultimately disappointed........2001-12-08
This series turned out to be a disappointment to me. This could be due to the fact that I was going into the series with a certain set of expectations and the books turned out to be focused in a different direction. I was expecting epic medieval fantasy: lots of battles, strong characters, and fast paced action. These are the reasons that I read more fantasy than I do sci-fi. A lot of sci-fi tends to lean on heavy character development and fleshing out ideas and concepts. In essence, this series of books could be classified as "medieval sci-fi." The last half of the series was mostly excruciatingly slow with nothing really happening for hundreds of pages. There were a couple of action scenes in there, especially at the ends of the books, but the rest of the time, the characters didn't seem to be accomplishing anything. This lack of action is what ultimately lessened my enjoyment of the books.
As in the previous three books, however, Gentle gives us strong, vivid characters and realistic surroundings. I actually felt as if I was trapped within the frozen city. Her descriptions are subtle, but effective and her characters interact with one another and react to their surroundings just as you or I would. The only thing that kept me turning the pages was a desire to see what the characters would do next (hoping all the while that they would actually DO something).
The ending of this final book in the series seemed strange to me as well. It is sort of an epilogue to both the story of Ash and the story of the historians of the wrapper story. The last twenty or so pages seemed kind of tacky. They seemed to weaken the overall story and I could definitely have done without them. I will say, though, that the ideas espoused in the wrapper story are some of the most unique story ideas that I've seen in a long time.
If what I've described sounds like something you'd enjoy, then you probably will. It's hard not to like the characters and Gentle's handling of them. You want to see them succeed and you feel for them when they don't. However, if you're looking for a fantasy book about mercenaries that's heavy on action, I'd have to recommend either Elizabeth Moon's DEED OF PAKSENARRION trilogy or Mercedes Lackey's BY THE SWORD. Though not as sophisticated as this series, the action is a lot more rousing and there are fewer slow places.
Final installment of the brilliant fantasy novel.......2001-07-22
This is the final part of "Ash: A Secret History" - an excellent fantasy novel by UK author Mary Gentle. The novel describes the life of Ash, a Joan of Arc-like mercenary leader. Ash is a young teenager, living in mercenary army camps at the end of the 15th century. She starts hearing voices in her head, giving her tactical advice on battlefield situations. When she becomes a successful battlefield commander, she forms her own mercenary army and gets involved in the protection of Burgundy against an invasion.
This novel gives a very gritty, realistic view of life in the 15th century. Right from the start the reader is confronted with the mud, blood, sweat and pain of the life of a soldier. Gentle is not afraid to hurt or kill her characters. Even though the story is brutal and often horrifying, it is always a compelling read.
"Ash: A Secret History" is presented as the translation of a manuscript, complete with footnotes explaining some of the archaic terms. The correspondence between Pierce Ratcliff, the fictional scholar who is translating the work, and his editor Anna Longman, is inserted between the chapters of Ash's life. This correspondence adds an entirely new dimension to the story, explaining some of the anachronistic expressions and some of the differences between Ash's version of history and our own. Another reviewer called this novel a combination of fantasy and scholarly mistery.
Mary Gentle, an accomplished scholar herself, acquired an MA in War Studies as part of the writing process of this novel.
"Ash: A Secret History" was advertised in the UK as "the largest single-volume fantasy novel ever", which is quite possibly true at 1100 pages. In the US, however, the novel was split into 4 separate volumes: "A Secret History", "Carthage Ascendant", "The Wild Machines" and "Lost Burgundy".
A great story with some authorial mistakes.......2001-03-27
Mary Gentle is one of my favorite authors - although she is not a comfort read she is a skilled historian and really catches the military aspects of her story line well. Ash's earthy language is no worse than I've heard from my Marines many times. The plot line is weakened, however, by the two concurrent story lines set in two different times. This is a literary device which is rarely successful, and it is unfortunate to see an author of Mary Gentle's calibre use it as badly as she does. The issues which are raised by the use of such a plot are important in the eyes of the author - I have to admit that I, as a reader, skipped entirely over the e-mails and "current documents" portion of the book. Ash is the hero. Let Ash take center stage. Okay, probability and time and interpretation of history are important - but not necessarily in this story. Further recommendation- Read Rats and Gargoyles and The Architecture of Desire. Strong author, strong story, some mistakes, but nothing much to take away from the overall plot. Ash lives!!!!
Customer Reviews:
Yeah, Surprisingly Good.......2004-12-03
I'll admit, I stole this book. I saw it on the bookshelf at my Dormitory and thought, "Hey, I'm kinda board, this looks interesting." I never thought that this book would be so great. I've never read any Shadowrun books before, and all I know about it is that it was an old RPG campaign setting that never really took of. (That doesn't mean anything, Planescape is the best campaign setting ever, but they discontinued it for quite some time) It is supposed to be a blend of Sci-Fi and Fantasy... yeah I know their pretty much the same thing, but still, it's refreshing to see that if there were once elves and orcs and other creatures, what would happen if they were still living with us throughout the future?
What's cool is the multi-genreness of this book. It's a basic hard-boiled detective novel, set in a dark future (i.e Bladerunner), with fantasy creatures and characters, (i.e Lord of the Rings). What else could you ask for? Character.
Character is the most important part of the story, and if anybody's taken a writing class they would know this, that the characters are what mak the story. You have to care for the character, actualy care if they die or not, if they fall in love or not, if they make it out of this with sanity intact or not.
Dirk Montgomery is a great character. From the mold of those Film Noir, Detectectives, which was then super injected with a tough, street smart, morally upright, drinker substatce, and painted with a broad spectrum of emotions.
The Minor Characters are great, and I don't want any spoilers, but you will care when they die... or not die... or something.
Yeah, pick up this book. It's a real good read that will have ou thinking afterwards, and looking for more.
Yeah this one is great.......2003-07-17
You gotta read it, 5 stars, it goes really fast and it's so exciting. Big conspiracy in this one. A little scary in places, even. The author-to-reader dialogue of Findley is precious. Unfortunately, Findley died in his early 30s of a heart attack. Don't be mistaken -- his novels, placed in this "mass market series" are real art.
A book unlike any other in Shadowrun.......2002-02-01
This is by far the absolute best of the Shadowrun novels. Non-stop action, adventure and a plot so full of twists and turns that it'll have you backing up a few chapters to try and find out where you've "heard that somewhere before".
Every chapter of this book gives you a glimpse into the life of the most unusual shadowrunner to hit the streets yet. A man of complex history and complex ideals. The most amazing thing is that as the book continues, nothing happens that shouldn't. No cheap cop-outs to solve a complex situation. No easy victory. No characters begin to act in a way that is unlike their established demeanor. Everything is so well thought out and planned and executed perfectly. When you turn the last page, you'll know the smell of the every allyway and the sound of an HK Assault rifle fired from a moving vehicle. And you will miss reading about characters who are gone.
I'm going to check to see if the follow up book, " House of the Sun" or something, is in stock. I've been told that it is almost just as good. If you can find a copy of 2XS, you will have found the best of a great thing.
Yeeha!!!.......2000-08-23
Woah Dirk Montgomery is the best shadowrun heros. If you like action mysterious plots and investigations, this book's for you. And you'll laught too. Nigel Findley is a real clown heh heh.
Wow! a real excess!.......1999-04-05
This bokk has it all: tough heroes, monstrous enemies, and an unpredictable plot, all in the fantastic world of Shadowrun.
Amazon.com Reviews
Sylvia Weinstock designs beautiful cakes. Sharing that opinion are Oprah Winfrey, Donald Trump, and several Kennedys, among other clients of Weinstock's New York cake business. In Sweet Celebrations, Weinstock and coauthor Kate Manchester show readers how they can produce similar edible fantasies--bedecked beauties for all occasions, from weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries to bon voyages, bar mitzvahs, and baby christenings. Readers wanting to learn or refine cake-decorating skills, or those interested in this ever-evolving craft, will welcome the book.
Beginning with basic cake, filling, icing, and wash (syrupy soak) recipes, Weinstock then presents fundamental and advanced cake-designing techniques, including sugar dough work, flower and ribbon creation, and piping methods of all kinds. She then offers 24 cake projects of her own design, each illustrated in color, with detailed blueprints for their construction. Of these, readers will doubtlessly be most entranced with Weinstock's signature flower- and fruit-wreathed marvels such as her Peach Rose Wedding Cake and Marzipan Fruit Cake, but other Weinstock classics, including the Hatbox Cake, the "lace"-covered Cornelli Heart Cake, or the Clown Cake (perfect for children's parties), will prove equally tempting. Weinstock offers a level of difficulty notation for each cake so readers can choose their projects wisely and advance as their decorating skills develop. Not the least of Weinstock's success is due to her commitment to producing cakes that taste as good as they look, further cause for celebrating with her special creations. --Arthur Boehm
Book Description
In Sweet Celebrations the woman InStyle called "New York's reigning cake diva" shares her recipes, designs, techniques, and tips in a gloriously illustrated book.
Bon Appétit called master baker and decorator Weinstock "the Leonardo da Vinci of wedding cakes," and her stunningly original creations have graced the celebrations of Oprah Winfrey, Ted Turner, and Whitney Houston. Her repertoire includes not just grand, romantic, floral wedding cakes but cakes appropriate for all of life's festive moments. Now she shares her expertise with bakers who want the perfect cake to commemorate that very special occasion.
Sweet Celebrations includes cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, bon voyage send-offs, victory parties, and more. Graded according to difficulty, there are cakes for the beginning as well as the experienced decorator. Present your favorite graduate with a richly bound pile of books, welcome a newborn with a delectable stack of pastel-colored blocks, or serve the charming cottage cake at a housewarming. Each of the featured twenty-four cakes is shown in full color, with complete step-by-step instructions for baking, assembling, and decorating. In addition there are many inspiring photographs of the fabulous cakes Weinstock has created for clients around the world.
The book provides recipes for cakes, frostings, and fillings, as well as detailed illustrated instructions on decorating techniques. Sweet Celebrations is a must-have volume for home and professional bakers who want to make and serve cakes that taste as good as they look.
Customer Reviews:
Not impressed.......2007-09-13
I bought this book because I wanted scrumptious cake recipes and in my opinion the food network has better tasting and less tedious cakes. The chocolate cake in my opinion was too blan not rich and decadant as expected and the buttercream frosting was good but I've had others that were just as good and didn't require as much work with the egg whites.
Outstanding.......2007-06-08
Upscale - Gives great ideas for cake suggestions. This book will be a great working tool and assist me in my every day work as Sr. Mgr., Meetings and Special Events, specializing in Weddings, in a 5 star 5 diamond property.
...still glad I have it.......2007-05-21
Most of the comments are true...the author is keeping most of her secrets and does not give intructions for most of the cakes pictured. I like the book anyway because the cakes are beautiful, I admire Sylvia Weinstock as a cake decorator. Oh, before I forget...the hazelnut cake recipe is worth the price of the book, it have a very sophisticated flavor and the fillings and buttercream recipes are well detailed and delicious!!!!
Sweet Celebrations.......2007-05-02
I Love this book. I purchased this book along with 4 other cake books;
this is the best book by far.
I recommend this book to everyone... I found the only recipe I'll ever need inside this book for Yellow Cake, White Cake, and the best frosting recipe's ever!!!
Some pretty photos, poor instruction, disappointing recipes.......2006-12-26
As a cake decorator of moderate experience - buttercream, fondant, some gumpaste - I have to say this book is not at all helpful. Instruction is either absolutely basic or so poorly illustrated you can't figure it out. All four recipes I tried were failures, though I am a baker of some experience. Dry cakes without flavor, and fillings so rich they were unpalatable. Any of Colette Peters' books are far better for decorating ideas and recipes, and Scott Clark Wooley's "Cakes by Design" has far superior instructions for gumpaste flowers.
Book Description
Unfortunately, most pets live to only 50 to 60 percent of their life expectancy. The primary reason for this is that our culture traditionally treats illness and disease with toxic medications instead of focusing on preventing the problems in the first place. Many health problems can be avoided by this simple, logical 8-week plan from widely published veterinarian Shawn Messonnier, D.V.M., which includes: -Safe, effective parasite control to rid your dog of worms, ticks, and fleas -The latest natural and conventional therapies -Feeding your dog naturally for optimum vitality -Natural supplements to boost your dog's health and longevity, including antioxidants and enzymes -Healthy exercises for your dog that you both can enjoy -How to wean your pet off potentially harmful drugs 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog is a program that can be easily implemented and integrated into conventional therapies. Written by an acknowledged expert, this book is full of practical regimens and sound veterinary advice to prolong and strengthen the life of your pet.
Customer Reviews:
Good for newbies to natural dog health.......2007-01-31
This is a very basic book, which isn't to say it's bad, just lacking a lot of detail and explanation. There's very general information on choosing a vet (wk 1), parasites (wk 2), diet (wk 3), supplements (wk 4), disease treatment (wk 5), exercise (wk 6), drugs (wk 7), and grooming (wk 8). I don't believe grooming and exercise warranted their own chapters, but it was interesting to see what he recommended as dietary supplements for specific disorders.
One thing I didn't agree with at all was Dr Messonnier's recommendation that all pets, regardless of age and condition, be given dietary supplements. Giving puppies supplements can seriously harm their skeletal growth, especially when fed a commercial diet. Giving supplements to any dog for anything but a specific purpose is just a waste of money.
For a new puppy or dog owner this book may be useful as a guide toward building a good foundation, but other sources should be utilized as well (including Messonnier's "Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats"). For someone who is already well-versed in natural pet care: pass this one up.
Rational Approach.......2006-05-29
Many of the pet care books on alternative care and feeding are biased in one directional only. Only home cooking or only BARF is recommended and everything else is the wrong approach. In Dr. Messonnier's book I found it to be the most logical approach yet. Conventional therapies are recommended IF necessary and alternative modalities are recommended to do the least harm to the animal. I've read many of the other authorities, Dr. Pitcarin, Wendy Volhard, and Lonsdale but in this book I feel finally a logical approach. The recommendations take you from visiting your vet for a thorough check up and blood work, to diet recommendations, vaccination discussions, grooming concerns, herbal remedies (although not in detail). This is a great springboard for someone with a dog that they want advice on a healthy path to begin their dog on to improve their health with the least amount of harm to the dog due to over vaccination or over use of antibiotics. An easy read - be assured you'll learn something.
My Best Friend is Healthy.......2005-08-22
I purchased many books in hopes of helping my 8 year old Schnauzer/Jack Russel mix return to good health. I feared that she was slowly dying, due to many "scary" symptoms including blood in her feces. After reading Dr. Messonier's book "8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog", and following his advice, I can thankfully say that my little Stella is totally healthy. In fact she is better than new--doing things she has not done in years!! I credit Dr. Messonier for saving her life. His book was the only one that gave practical, precise information on how I could help her. Stella says "Thank you, Dr. Messonier!", and so does her Mom and Dad!
I love this book!.......2003-10-27
I have been trying to get information about raising my dog holistically.There isn't much information out there for a novice like me. Then, I read this book, 8 Weeks To A Healthy Dog.It has all the information that I was looking for in one place. It has recipes for home cooked diets,what supplements to give and where to find them, and how to make life better for an aging pet.
I will keep this book always within reach and refer back to it often.
Easy to follow advice for all dog owners!.......2003-10-08
This is a great book that is a quick read. I found it to be full of common sense ideas on how to incorporate traditional vet care and the newer ideas of integrative holistic care. It is broken down into one week sections that are simple to follow. Each week focuses on a specific item in the process. The chapters are filled with examples from Dr. Shawn's practice that help to reinforce the theme.
I highly recommend this book to all dog owners! It is an easy guide that will walk you through the steps to a healthier and happier pet. Combine this with Dr. Messonnier's other book, "The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats", which is an excellent reference book for all pet owners.
Average customer rating:
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Granite Ware: Collectors' Guide With Prices, Book II
Vernagene Vogelzang , and
Evelyn Welch
Manufacturer: Wallace-Homestead Book Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
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| Home & Garden
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How-to & Home Improvements
| Home & Garden
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| Buildings & Construction
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| Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating
| Decks & Patios
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| Design & Construction
| Do-It-Yourself
| Electrical
| Estimating
| Furniture
| Green Housecleaning
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ASIN: 0870694588 |
Book Description
Sun Valley "style" has emerged out of the melding of the extraordinarily beautiful scenery of the area, a love of outdoor living and recreation, and the unavoidable influence of the chic movie stars and millionaires who call it home. Sun Valley Architecture and Interiors exemplifies a blend of simple elegance and a refreshingly unpretentious spirit that permeates this Idaho paradise--and that spirit has profound effect on the lives and homes of its people.
Customer Reviews:
American Skiing and Architecture.......2006-07-27
"Sun Valley is an oasis between desert and lava of the Snake River Plain, an isolated haven and difficult place to reach from just about anywhere. It is wedged between surrounding peaks of Sawtooth, Smokey and Boulder Ranges with a high desert climate."
For anyone living in Sun Valley, the history at the beginning of the book will be of interest. Then, if you have ever been skiing in Sun Valley, this has interesting historical pictures. Golfing and fishing are also of interest.
In regards to the beautiful architecture in this book, you may notice the abundance of open space and walls of windows. Living inside, you feel a sense of communion with nature. Garden showers and retreat rooms are an essential. Modern log cabin styles contrast with the more traditional mystique of old-world adventure.
The homes do not seem overly opulent on every page. There are some quaint pictures of decorating with quilts and small porches with aging chairs. The retreat style homes have a cozy country feel and there are even pictures of restored trailers.
There is a gorgeous kitchen complete with rows of copper pots and a huge island. Fireplaces, libraries, lush gardens, modern art, fishing lodges and barns all mingle nicely together. The picture of the kitchen in the fishing lodge is amazing in detail. Now that is what I call a sink on page 205.
~The Rebecca Review
Diverse House Styles, None Look Inexpensive.......2006-07-08
Sun Valley has long been a vacation area for the rich and famous. It is large enough that houses don't have to be next to each other, each home can have its own surroundings out of sight of the neighbors. Further, each home can be constructed to meet the desires and requirements of the individual builder. There is no standard architecture like you find in many communities. Here is an ultra modern concrete and glass structure, there is a 'log cabin' but not the simple one room cabin the pioneers might have had. Somewhere else there is a converted barn, here is a house decorated with oriental art, more common is a western Americana theme. There are some homes that are not too large, and there's one that's 19,000 square feet that houses a private art collection of some 650 pieces.
All in all, a spectacular set of photographs beautifully printed that shows some of the best in the valley. My one complaint is that I would like to know who owns these homes. Pure curiosity I know, but I'm certainly curious.
Average customer rating:
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A Taste for Pop: Pop Art, Gender and Consumer Culture (Cambridge Studies in American Visual Culture)
Cecile Whiting
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
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Criticism
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Pop
| Schools, Periods & Styles
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Pop Culture
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ASIN: 0521450047 |
Book Description
When Pop Art paintings depicted Campbell soup cans or comic-book scenes of teen romance, did they stoop to the level of their mundane sources, or did they instead transform the detritus of consumer culture into high art? In this study, Cécile Whiting declares this issue fundamentally irresolvable and instead takes the question itself, along with the varied answers it has generated, as the object of her analysis. Whiting presents case studies that focus on works by four artists - Tom Wesselmann, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Marisol Escobar - who are closely associated with the Pop Art movement. Throughout her engaging analyses, Whiting unravels the gendered overtones of their cultural manoeuvrings, noting how the connotations of masculinity as attached to the seriousness of high art, and the presumed frivolity and caprice of a feminine world of consumption repositioned cultural frontiers and reformulated the relation between sexes.
Book Description
Advance praise from Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO, NAACP
"Herein breathes the universal genius Benjamin Banneker — mathematician, astronomer, diarist, and sage.
Biographer Charles Cerami mines the available data, eschews the apocryphal, and renders his subject human. Captured completely is the flowering genius of a largely home-schooled boy wonder, exhibiting mathematical wizardry while devouring the Bible, Plato, Epictetus, and virtually every other extant tome. The fabled memory that could have reproduced LEnfants plan for the entire District of Columbia becomes palpable and real.
We understand how the pragmatic farmer who was imbued with Quaker ideology endured decades of ignominious racism with overt equanimity while haunted by incessant night terrors. We comprehend the heroism of the man whose very existence refuted Thomas Jeffersons notorious public denial of black intellect in Notes on Virginia when, speaking truth to power, Banneker launched an anti-slavery epistle at the ambivalent and duplicitous Jefferson. We are enraged at the account of arsonists setting fire on the day of Bannekers funeral to the small, rustic log cabin where the genius had labored in solitude among his instruments, papers, and books. We are grateful to Charles Cerami, who has resurrected the spirit of a neglected giant and gifted us with a biography nearly two centuries overdue."
"Like Benjamin Banneker, Charles Cerami presents the product of his research in a modest yet compelling manner. Cerami engagingly writes about both Banneker the genius and Banneker the man-a thought-provoking read." —Raymond G. Dobard, Ph.D., Professor of Art, Howard University, and coauthor of Hidden in Plain View: A Secret story of Quilts and the Underground Railroad
Customer Reviews:
The Best Biography on Benjamin Banneker.......2006-08-03
This biopic of Bejamin Banneker (Ben Bey) is very revealing and gives the reader a look inside of Banneker's personal life (even though some of it might be merely educated guess work regarding his intimate relationships). Some conjecture and innuendo is tossed around a bit irresponsibly but overall one of the best if not the best work on Ben Bey. This has to be one of the first books about Ben Bey that mentions his hereditary extraction (Malian & Fulani). I didn't know upon Banneker's expiration his house and most of all his works were burned to ashes by his racist enemies. Depriving the world of a first hand look into his accomplishments. Cerami also explains the close friendship of Ben Bey and Benjamin Franklin in detail. I believe Charles Cerami portrays Ben Bey and his scientific genius better than all the biographies before it.
Astronomical.......2002-12-09
Benjamin Banneker:Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot, by Charles A. Cerami has expanded our knowledge of this renowned 18th century African American. To those familiar with the contributions of blacks to American society, Benjamin Banneker's accomplishments are well known. He was a free black man, son of an African, his grandmother, an indentured servant from England. He built a wooden clock using a pocket watch as a guide. Later on in life, he parlayed his scientific and mathematical skills into the creation of an almanac. He then went on to become an integral part of the team that surveyed the area that was to become the nation's capitol. He wrote letters to Thomas Jefferson critical of the latter's racist views, and even received a response. The author covers this ground well. We are aware of how stunning Banneker's achievements are, given that he was a black man living in a nation where the vast majority of black people toiled in slavery. Even a free black was a degraded, stigmatized creature in white eyes. The author, however, lifts Banneker out of this limiting context to elevate him into the company of truly original thinkers. Thus, Banneker becomes more than a brilliant black man who rose above his station to live the life of the mind, a pursuit which, if he were white, would not have garnered much attention. Banneker made an assertion that no one had made up that point (at least not with his degree of logic). He speculated on the existence of life on other worlds. The author presents an excerpt from Banneker's writings as proof that this humble black farmer was far ahead of his time. Indeed, such a revolutionary thought would not be adopted by scientists as a credible theory until well into the 20th century. Charles Cerami's work is of monumental importance because now we have a new insight into the depth of Benjamin Banneker's intellect. Hopefully, this book will be so widely read that Banneker's role as the man who memorized the plans to Washington, D.C. will not be his ultimate achievement in the popular imagination. Hopefully, scientists, historians and lay enthusiasts will recognize the significance of Banneker's thinking in regard to the possibility of life beyond our precious, little world.
Astronomical.......2002-12-09
Benjamin Banneker:Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot, by Charles A. Cerami has expanded our knowledge of this renowned 18th century African American. To those familiar with the contributions of blacks to American society, Benjamin Banneker's accomplishments are well known. He was a free black man, son of an African, his grandmother, an indentured servant from England. He built a wooden clock using a pocket watch as a guide. Later on in life, he parlayed his scientific and mathematical skills into the creation of an almanac. He then went on to become an integral part of the team that surveyed the area that was to become the nation's capitol. He wrote letters to Thomas Jefferson critical of the latter's racist views, and even received a response. The author covers this ground well. We are aware of how stunning Banneker's achievements are, given that he was a black man living in a nation where the vast majority of black people toiled in slavery. Even a free black was a degraded, stigmatized creature in white eyes. The author, however, lifts Banneker out of this limiting context to elevate him into the company of truly original thinkers. Thus, Banneker becomes more than a brilliant black man who rose above his station to live the life of the mind, a pursuit which, if he were white, would not have garnered much attention. Banneker made an assertion that no one had made up that point (at least not with his degree of logic). He speculated on the existence of life on other worlds. The author presents an excerpt from Banneker's writings as proof that this humble black farmer was far ahead of his time. Indeed, such a revolutionary thought would not be adopted by scientists as a credible theory until well into the 20th century. Charles Cerami's work is of monumental importance because now we have a new insight into the depth of Benjamin Banneker's intellect. Hopefully, this book will be so widely read that Banneker's role as the man who memorized the plans to Washington, D.C. will not be his ultimate achievement in the popular imagination. Hopefully, scientists, historians and lay enthusiasts will recognize the significance of Banneker's thinking in regard to the possibility of life beyond our precious, little world.
Benjamin Banneker: Surveyor, Astronomer, Publisher, Patriot.......2002-01-11
I can't believe the genius of Benjamin Banneker, the man. I always knew his name through his famous letter to Thomas Jefferson. In the pages of this fascinating biography, I discovered his excellence in so many professions, especially astronomy. His speculations on light and stars were revolutionary and opened the door to modern astronomy. He is a true American hero.
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- Enter Sandman
- FCAT Preparation and Practice Grade 12 Student Edition (The Language Of Literature)
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- I Know Some Things: Stories About Childhood by Contemporary Writers
- In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd
- Isabelle the Navigator
- Italian Fever: A Novel
- Junior's Leg: A Novel
- Kaddish for a Child Not Born
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