Kaddish for a Child Not Born

Customer Reviews:

Good if You Don't Mind the Free Verse.......2005-11-17

I just read this book by Imre Kertesz, he has an accent over the second "e" but be sure you don't count the "e" in his first name because then it would be wrong and you might misprounce it if you were speaking to other people and that could happen because I was just talking to a man this weekend who mentioned his name except that I didn't realize until later that it was Kertesz because I think the man mispronounced the name or at least I think he did or else I had been mispronouncing it which could happen if I wasn't using the accent properly. He mentioned something about Kertesz and I kept expecting to find what he was talking about in this book except that I never found it in this book so it must be in another one of his books except that I don't know if any others besides "Fateless" has been translated into English although I suppose my friend could have read it in Hungarian if he knows Hungarian which I doubt he does. Did I mention that the title of this book is "Kaddish for a Child Not Born" because, if I didn't, I should because it's important to do so, or so I think. Anyway, I started reading this book and I had some trouble with it because the author (Did I mention that his name is Imre Kertesz?) has an interesting yet challenging style that comes across like someone who drank five cups of coffee speaking into a tape recorder for several hours and then giving the tape to his publisher (skipping the editor in the process) who had the entire rant transcribed into print and published without review (except for spelling of course because I would have noticed that I'm sure, or I think I'm sure) and all of a sudden we pick it up and listen to this uninterupted self-conversation. It gets really hard to follow at times and then you come across pearls of wisdom that you just have to underline partly because you don't want to have to go back to the beginning again to try and find it later. I probably underlined as much in this book as I have is a good Shakespeaean play although I certainly not trying to compare this to a Shakeperean play or even a sonnet. Anyway, I kept coming across these gems and touching stories that I underlined for later reference and I was glad that I kept reading this book non-stop just as the author seemed to have written it (non-stop, that is). Much, but not all, of it was how his childhood experiences in Auschwitz had affected him and a lot, but not all, of it was about how it affected his relationship with his once and former wife who ended up becoming a prescription-writing dermatologist or something like that. I had a hard time getting started on this book because it was sometimes 10-12 pages before paragraphs came to an end and I like to come up for air occassionally which is probably why I keep putting off reading "The Autumn of the Patriarch" that is, because of the pages-long paragraphs. Anyway, that's what I think about "Kaddish for a Child Not Born" or did I say what I think about "Kaddish for a Child Not Born" (I'm not sure I have yet) so if I didn't say then I will say that I found much to enjoy in this book but even though it's under 100 pages it seems long because it doesn't give a reader a time to take a break because it never stops and a lot of the words meander all over the place and often make you wish you could go back and get the author to talk about what he was talking about which he sometimes (but not always) does and then it ends.

Attention: Only read the new translation by Tim Wilkinson.......2005-10-15

Anyone who reads the poor first translation of Fateless and the shamefully bad translation of Kaddish cannot even get close to the true spirit of the original works.
Thanks to Tim Wilkinson English speakers can finally enjoy these excellent books.
Look for the titles "Fatelessness" and "Kaddish for an Unborn Child", both translated by Wilkinson. These new editions are at last worthy of the originals and the Nobel Prize.
(See also October 16, 2002 review by Marton Sass)
A movie based on the novel Fateless is also out with English subtitles; don't miss it, if you have a chance. Beautiful work.

New Camus.......2005-05-14

Sometime, last year, an article appeared in local newspaper listing few of the most influential European intellectuals of the times to come. One of them was Kertész. I was rahter sceptic about it, but that scepticism came from the lack of knowledge of Kertész's work. Up to that time I only read his short story that was, in my country, published together with Peter Esterhazy's, under the title "Same Story" which didn't impressed me much, at least not in the ammount necessary to confirm newspaper writings.

Some time has passed and I finally got hold of Fateless, then Liquidation and now time came for Kaddish...Suffice it to say that with each reading of Fateless, my oppinion of Kertész as a writer and intellectual changed. And it only grew higher.

Continuing his tetralogy which began with "Fateless" Kertész introduced a character (much of his own resemblance) of a writer/translator who, for the first time, tried to explain to his wife, why he cannot make himself to be part of the creation of another human being, and be responsible for bringing him into this world, giving him, automatically, so painful stigmata of Jewishness.

You should be warned that there is no story line in this book, at least not in the manner of Fateless or Liquidation. Kertész wrote Proustian kind of monolouge, almost stream of consciousnes which flows and flows as the lamentation goes by. But, since the times of Camus and his Siziphus there has been no greater existentialist work, though Kertész wouldn't call it like that. Questioning possibilites of existance, what of individual, what of the collective, Kertész has written major work of art, corresponding with poetry, philosophy, and sad fates of Holocaust survivors.

Questions presented in this book are the questions of our generation, that should be answered before we should be allowed to venture further into field of rational understanding and emphatic social life.

Powerful, dense, best read after "Fateless".......2003-05-27

My four stars aren't meant to detract from this novella's favorable reviews. Rather, I'd like to suggest that readers tackle this work after they read "Fateless." There's allusions to this more accessible novel in the novella; the latter seems to me more the interest of a philosophically inclined reader's group. While "Fateless" can be read on one's own and grasped, I believe that "Kaddish" would be better suited for collective study and discussion.

It offers few of the pleasures of fiction. Rather, with its considerations of Adorno, Hegel, and Bernhard, and with its nods to the prose of Beckett, Camus, Sartre, and perhaps Kafka, it's more a meditation/fulmination than a novel with an easy plot trajectory. It offers food for thought, but may be rather indigestible if gulped in one sitting. This is more the type of work that Nobel laureates get rewarded for late in their careers; the popular acclaim granted "Fearless" by contrast would first gain an audience for this author, in my estimation.

Again, this is not to detract from Kertesz' achievement, but simply to point out that (at least in English), this compressed, concentrated message may better be shared if taken in smaller, diluted portions among like-minded friends. (My impression is that in the original Hungarian, the agglutinative nature of that language would make this an even heavier, more weighty lump of prose.) It would serve as a fitting challenge after you've all read and discussed "Fateless." As I suggest, this novel can be contemplated with profit by one's self; this smaller work is best divided, nibbled, and ruminated over bite by bitter bite.

A letter to the child not meant to be.......2003-04-02

Definition: Kaddish -- A prayer recited in the daily synagogue services and by mourners after the death of a close relative.

In this novel, or more appropriately novella (it's less than 100 pages), the narrator, a failed writer and a holocaust survivor, writes what is ultimately a love letter to his unborn child, his child not born. He begins by reflecting on a night some time ago at a writer's retreat in Soviet-era Hungary when perhaps he first started pondering the context of his existence with one obsessive question in mind -- "my life in the context of the potentiality of your existence" with "your" referring to his unborn child. This is not a question the narrator necessarily wanted to address, but he had little choice as if being pulled by his unborn child, being "dragged. . . by this fragile little hand . . . down this path." What has led to this point in life where he will never see the "dark eyes" of his own little girl or the "gay and hard eyes like silver-blue gravel" of his own little boy.

This is not a nice, linear narrative. Instead we enter a dense story full of stream-of-consciousness with all of the narrator's philosophies, emotions, obsessions, fears and contradictions. We learn about his failed writing career, his school experiences, his relationship with his father and, most importantly, his relationship with his wife (now his ex-wife), the backbone of the narrative. Of interest to note, the author's concentration camp is never addressed in detail but is only referred to indirectly. The effect is intensifying as the holocaust becomes an evil lurking in the darkness, driving the narrator in ways only partially observable.

Ultimately, the narrator evolves his obsessive question from questioning his existence the context of his unborn child's potentiality to "your nonexistence in the context of the necessary and fundamental liquidation of my existence." And while his wife has her theories on what is going on with the narrator's retreat into darkness, the narrator can only leave us with the facts as they are and the conclusion there is an inscrutable survival instinct in us that drives us to survive even when we want to die. And the results of our survival instincts can make for a messy life, including the inward retreating, the severed relationships and, in this case, a divorce and a child not to be..

Book Description

Term paper due tomorrow? Need to cram for a test? Or just looking for the best information about a favorite literary work?

Turn to "Novels for Students" to get your research done in record time. Brought to you by Thomson Gale--the world's leading source of literary criticism and analysis--this e-doc contains: author biography; plot summary; character analysis; an overview of the novel's themes, style, and historical context; a compendium of in-depth critical material; study questions; suggestions for further reading; and much more.

Why choose "Novels for Students"? Because no other source offers so much in such a compact package. Trust the experts: Thomson Gale--and "Novels for Students."

Average customer rating:
Kaddish for a Child Not Born.(Review)(Brief Article): An article from: World Literature Today

Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Classics | Comic | Contemporary | Literary
General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B0008H7X8M
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from World Literature Today, published by University of Oklahoma on January 1, 2000. The length of the article is 526 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Kaddish for a Child Not Born.(Review)(Brief Article)
Publication: World Literature Today (Refereed)
Date: January 1, 2000
Publisher: University of Oklahoma
Volume: 74 Issue: 1 Page: 205

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Average customer rating:

Kaddish For A Child Not Born

Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HJFN9C

Average customer rating:

Kaddish For A Child Not Born

Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HJFN92

Average customer rating:

The work of a genious

A Book That's Good Enough to Eat

Frodo Meets Caulfied

Quite Possibly the First Rat I've Ever Loved

Fan-tab-u-lous
Firmin: Adventures of a Metropolitan Lowlife
Sam Savage
Manufacturer: Coffee House Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Rat (Reaktion Books - Animal)

The Madonnas of Leningrad: A Novel (P.S.)

Brief Encounters with Che Guevara: Stories (P.S.)

The Criminal Life of Effie O.

There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Her Country's Children

ASIN: 1566891817

Book Description

"I had always imagined that my life story...would have a great first line: something like Nabokov's 'Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins;' or if I could not do lyric, then something sweeping like Tolstoy's 'All happy families are alike, but every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.'... When it comes to openers, though, the best in my view has to be the first line of Ford Madox Ford's The Good Soldier: 'This is the saddest story I have ever heard.'"

So begins the remarkable tale of Firmin the rat. Born in a bookstore in a blighted 1960's Boston neighborhood, Firmin miraculously learns how to read by digesting his nest of books. Alienated from his family and unable to communicate with the humans he loves, Firmin quickly realizes that a literate rat is a lonely rat.

Following a harrowing misunderstanding with his hero, the bookseller, Firmin begins to risk the dangers of Scollay Square, finding solace in the Lovelies of the burlesque cinema. Finally adopted by a down-on-his-luck science fiction writer, the tide begins to turn, but soon they both face homelessness when the wrecking ball of urban renewal arrives.

In a series of misadventures, Firmin is ultimately led deep into his own imaginative soul-a place where Ginger Rogers can hold him tight and tattered books, storied neighborhoods, and down-and-out rats can find people who adore them.

A native of South Carolina, Sam Savage now lives in Madison, Wisconsin. This is his first novel.

Customer Reviews:

The work of a genious.......2007-05-18

Sam Savage is a genious. There are few books that can be with you for your hole life, and Firmin is ONE OF THOSE books. A read with diferent levels, a masterpiece for all ages. A great fable, a good fun, an outstanding tragedy. Read.

A Book That's Good Enough to Eat.......2007-04-03

Sam Savage has come up with a very unique and enjoyable premise for his debut novel, with one of the most creative uses of fantasy to probably come along in ages. Firmin, a big-thinking rat who you'll totally love, grows up in a used bookstore in a run-down Boston neighborhood. Forced to eat old books after losing the battle for real food to his bigger siblings, runty Firmin somehow learns to read and absorbs a world of human knowledge. In a classic exercise of the "outside observer" literary device, we learn of Firmin's unique emotional longings and rat-like views of human society. With a human intelligence stuck in the body of a rat, Firmin lives a life of the imagination, based on scenes from his favorite books, and befriends a non-conformist struggling writer who is a real comrade in arms. This masterful book is full of whimsical humor, a true appreciation for classic literature, winning insights into humanity, and momentous sadness, as Firmin watches his human friends and his beloved neighborhood slip away. This is an outstandingly well-written story and is recommended for fans of insightful and empathetic literature, and offbeat new directions in fantasy. [~doomsdayer520~]

Frodo Meets Caulfied.......2007-03-08

An engrossing tale about, of all things, a sweetly cynical and most sympathetic rat who is a cross between Frodo Baggins and Holden Caulfield. He is befriended by a writer, Jerry Magoon, who is surely an autobiographical rendition of the author, and reminds one of Charles Bukoswki. A wonderful urban fantasy, even for those who hate the Boston Red Sox!

Quite Possibly the First Rat I've Ever Loved.......2007-02-13

From Firmin:

"This is the saddest story I have ever heard. It begins, like all true stories, who knows where. Looking for the beginning is like trying to discover the source of a river. You paddle upstream for months under a burning sun, between towering green walls of dripping jungle, soggy maps disintegrating in your hands. You are driven half mad by false hopes, malicious swarms of biting insects, and the tricks of memory, and all you reach in the end - the ultima Thule of the whole ridiculous quest - is a damp spot in the jungle or, in the case of a story, some perfectly meaningless word or gesture. And yet, at some more or less arbitrary place along the way between the damp spot and the sea the cartographer inserts the point of his compass, and there the Amazon begins."

I never thought I'd be moved by a rat. A rat! That most slithering, scheming of nocturnal creatures. They spread the bubonic plague, and who knows what else besides. They're dirty, they eat garbage and humans have a natural fear of them. They make my skin crawl. I didn't think a rat could ever move me nearly to tears.

Meet Firmin, a most unusual rat. He was born inauspiciously, as rats generally are, one of thirteen babies born to an alcoholic mother. The runt of the litter, he's the only one born with his eyes open, a fact that's significant. Firmin and his siblings are born in the basement of a bookshop. The room is packed, unsurprisingly, with books. His mother chooses one, in this case Joyce's Finnegans Wake, to shred for their bed. On this book Firmin cuts his literary teeth, and that's no exaggeration.

After weeks spent fighting for a spot at his mother's teats, constantly pushed aside by his bigger and stronger siblings, Firmin starts chewing on books:

"I must have put away whole chapters by the time I was old enough to toddle on wobby fours out of our dark corner and into the flickering bigness. I am convinced that these masticated pages furnished the nutritional foundation for - and perhaps even directly caused, what I with modesty shall call my unusual mental development."

Unusual, indeed. From a source of fiber to fill his aching stomach, books soon became more than a nutritional interest. Firmin trains himself to read (suspend disbelief, Savage makes it work). Soon he's digesting books in the metaphorical sense, consuming them at an ever-increasing rate. He reads everything, from fiction to philosophy and beyond. He can even tell an author by the way his or her books taste. In the outside world, rifling through garbage, he'll come upon a taste that reminds him of Emily Dickinson, or James Joyce, or any of the other writers whose books he's tasted. He comes to acquire a very discerning palate, one influenced by literature.

After a certain point he naturally becomes curious about what more there is in the world, so he explores tunnels through the building built by former rats. Eventually he comes upon the bookshop itself, and soon after he sees the owner, Norman, for the first time. Firmin grows to love the sight of the man, imagining he could bring him around to becoming a friend. But there's an obstacle. Firmin can't talk, so he keeps adoring him from afar, going so far as to retrieve a yellow rose from the streets (a rose stomped on by a rejected lover who's just broken up with his girlfriend), leaving it in Norman's coffee cup one morning. Rather than beguiling Norman, it frankly creeps him out. It starts to become obvious this friendship doesn't have a really great chance. But still Firmin looks upon the man with a misty-eyed sort of love and respect. At least until something happens that disillusions him and breaks his little rat heart.

Through Norman, Firmin (which rhymes with "vermin," of course, the author reminds us) meets a writer named Jerry, who lives in the same building as the bookshop. Jerry, coincidentally, has written a book with a rat as a main character. He's basically an aging, unsuccessful writer, but Firmin doesn't see that. He sees a struggling artist, trying hard to further his craft but only being beaten down by society. Jerry takes care of Firmin, taking him in after he'd broken an ankle on the streets, left to die the death of an anonymous rat. He nurses the rat back to health. They listen to music together, and share food. For a while they live a relatively happy life, though Firmin can see the unhappiness of the writer. He can see it in the alcoholism that reminds him of his mother, and in the periods of deep depression in which Jerry forgets the rat even exists.

Eventually things change, as they always do. The neighborhood falls further and further into disrepair, threatening Firmin's haunts and driving the bookshop into debt. Firmin himself ages, becoming less able to take his own tunnels in and out of the building, in order to find the bookshop and the places he's assured of finding exotic foods like popcorn and Snickers bars. But in the end, we have no doubt of the dignity, and difference, in this rat. He's struggled hard, and against overwhelming odds. He's loved, most often in an unrequited sense, and he's lost. Ultimately he feels despair, but also a sense of triumph. This is an educated rat, a rat who's fought and scratched his way out of the literal and proverbial basement. He's gone places, and seen things, and along the way he's read a whole lot of books. Firmin is a rat above the rest, and if you're not cheering for him by the end, and possibly swallowing down a big lump in your throat, then I would be very surprised.

I loved Firmin. Pure and simple.

"You laugh. You are right to laugh. I was once - despite my unpleasant mien - a hopeless romantic, that most ridiculous of creatures. And a humanist, too, equally hopeless. And yet despite - or is it because? - of these failings I was able to meet a lot of fabulous people and a lot of fabulous geniuses too in the course of my early education. I got on conversational terms with all the Big Ones. Dostoevsky and Strindberg, for example. In them I was quick to recognize fellow sufferers, hysterics like me. And from them I learned a valuable lesson - that no matter how small you are, your madness can be as big as anyone's."

Fan-tab-u-lous.......2007-01-04

Best book I have read in a long time. If you are from Boston or have lived in Greater Boston area, this read will be a real treat. :-)

Book Description

Defying the fate that claimed his evil predecessor, Raistlin opens the Portal to the Abyss and passes through. With Crysania at his side, he engages the Queen of Darkness in a battle for the ultimate prize--a seat among the gods.

At the same time, Caramon and Tasslehoff are transported to the future. There they come to understand the consequences of Raistlin’s quest--and Caramon at last realizes the painful sacrifice he must make to prevent his brother’s success. Old friends and strange allies come together to aid him, but Caramon must take the last, greatest step alone.

The step into the Abyss.

Customer Reviews:

:) Luved it! :).......2007-02-21

This book was a great ending for the Legends trilogy! It is beautifully written and touches your heart. I got really scared when Caramon and Tas went into the future and saw Caramon's corpse. The world couldn't end! But I luved the ending, where it teaches a valuable lesson: there is good in even the most evil people.

Test of the Twins (Dragonlance Legends, Vol 3).......2007-02-20

Loved the book, LOVED it, but very very disappointed that the saga doesn't continue forward from this spot. There are other books that pick up later on (much later) but naturally I'd like to see a smooth segue' into the next segment of this same tale. Oh, well...the series and this book are still well worth reading.

Not what I thought.......2006-01-06

This book wasn't what I had in mind and I was sorely disappointed in it. I thought this book was going to have a twist to it and that Raistlin was going to be persuaded into the good side by Crysania at the end or that he was going to turn back to were he left her. I also think that the author should have gave Raistlin some love and caring at the end. I was touched by how Margaret Weis wrote that Raistlin was blinded by tears, but I was also wondering why he didn't just go with them at the first place. I think that there should totally be more love and a bit less death.
Besides this point about Raistlin, the book was OK, but I don't think it was better than the two others. I have to give props to the painter of the cover though; his paintings for Margaret Weis' books are spectacular and make everything more realistic. The conclusion was strong with emotion, but to me, it wasn't the best conclusion to fit the other two incredible books.

Saving a soul.......2004-10-20

Test of the twins, the concluding novel in the Dragonlance Legends trilogy, is the story of "saving a soul". The story is, in my opinion actually the concluding novel in the six volume series compiled of both the Dragonlance Chronicles and the Legends. The novel effectively and entertainingly ties off nearly all of the loose ends and left me with a distict feeling of completeness.

In the author's own words, the book is about "saving a soul". The reader is, and was in previous editions, led to believe that it is Raistlin's soul that needs saving, however it is notl; it is his twins'.
Caramon, the twin, is the one who needs saving. He is Raistlin's opposite and keeping with the theme of the series, his soul must be saved by the light in order to balance the evil of Raistlin.

The authors also do a reasonable job of dealing with time travel. The pebble, Tasselhoff, is superb in his role and is easily the "best" character in the series, with Fizban coming a close second. Fizban in his limited role, almost seems as a kender himself.

About the only part of the novel that I did not like was the limited definition of magic. The term casting of a spell means nothing more than it says, more details are needed.

I would recommend this novel and series to anyone looking for an easy, fun, engaging read!

THE BEST!!!.......2004-06-06

The Legends Trilogy- the Time of The Twins, the War of the Twins, and Test of the Twins, is the sequel to The Chronicles Trilogy- Dragons of Autumn Twilight, Dragons of Winter Night, and Dragons of Spring Dawning, which brings to life the ultimate battle between Good and Evil in the magical World of Krynn. The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. The authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have truly outdone themselves and have presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work and RA Salvatore's The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies. Duty, honor, bravery, magic, dragons and heroes are all about. One should seriously start thinking about maybe turning them into movies...

DragonLance Legends Volume 3: Test Of The Twins

Average customer rating:

DragonLance Legends Volume 3: Test Of The Twins
Margaret Weis & TRacy Hickman
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KKF3CA

Average customer rating:

Yum

Best in a crowded field

This book makes a great gift . . .

Fun-facts and mouth-watering kitchen ideas for pizza aficionados everywhere

superb compilation of pizza knowledge, will make a great gift

Everybody Loves Pizza: The Deep Dish on America's Favorite Food
Penny Pollack , and Jeff Ruby
Manufacturer: Emmis Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Pizza | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Dining | Food & Lodging | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Art of Pizza Making: Trade Secrets and Recipes

American Pie: My Search for the Perfect Pizza

Pizza: Slice of Heaven

Getting Your Slice of the Pie: A Definitive Source for Prospering in Pizza

The 50 Best Pizzas in the World

ASIN: 1578602181

Book Description

Everybody Loves Pizza is a celebration of America’s favorite dish — its history, its versatility, its staying power. It delves into where pizza came from, where it’s going, and what it means to American culture. Thanks to food writers, pizza insiders, and ordinary, pizza-loving Americans, it also reveals where to find 540 top-notch pizzas across the country, plus recipes from the familiar (Pepperoni or Barbecue Chicken Pizza) to the adventurous (Shrimp Pizza with Tasso Ham, Goat Cheese, and Spinach or Prosciutto Pear Pizza).

Customer Reviews:

Yum.......2006-10-08

This book is a cross between a history book and recipe book. Although it doesn't have that many recipes it is very interesting, all the recipes are tasty and the pictures in this book are great. There is also a restaurant guide in the back.

Best in a crowded field.......2006-04-07

I'm not a pizzeria owner or a book reviewer, just a guy who loves pizza. It seems like there are a lot of books about pizza out there these days, but this one covers more ground and is more entertaining than the others. There's no New York snobbery going on here - just a clear-eyed, authoritative approach to all styles. This book gives equal time to Chicago, New Haven, California, NYC, and all the others.

And the photos make me hungry.

It's strong on the history of famous indies and pizza chains, and the recipes look good - and they throw in a lot of fun blurbs here and there to keep things moving along ("best pizza moments in movies," "ten great pizzeria names," even a funny sidebar on "Seinfeld"'s apparent obsession with pizza).

There's a top ten list of the best pizzerias in the country, and I can't say I totally agree - where's Zachary's in Oakland? - but I guess that's the point of these things. Besides, the directory of 500+ great pizzerias has all of my favorite local (and national) places.

If you buy one pizza book, make this the one.

This book makes a great gift . . ........2006-01-07

I gave this wonderful book as a gift for the holidays, and plan on giving it for housewarming and birthday gifts in the future. It is a fun read, and a sure crowd pleaser. Everyone can find something in this book to like - the recipes for someone who loves to cook, the pizza restaurant listings for your favorite traveler (there is a restaurant in every state!), and the history of pizza for the non-fiction readers. It has wonderful photographs and illustrations, and will make you want to order pizza for dinner.

Fun-facts and mouth-watering kitchen ideas for pizza aficionados everywhere.......2005-11-06

Beautifully illustrated with color photography throughout, Everybody Loves Pizza is part cookbook, part restaurant guide, and part trivia fun book all about the delicious and popular food of pizza! Chapters look at the origin of pizza in Italy and its evolution in American culture, featuring recipes from expert chefs, from Barbecue Chicken Pizza to Prosciutto Pear Pizza, Rosemary Red Onion Pizza, and much more. A directory of 500 top-notch pizzerias in the United States fills out the best locations for traveling gourmets to visit rounds out this "must-have" book of fun-facts and mouth-watering kitchen ideas for pizza aficionados everywhere.

superb compilation of pizza knowledge, will make a great gift.......2005-10-06

Everybody loves pizza is a real pleasure -- it takes a light-hearted but thorough approach to pizza, with plenty of history, restaurant reviews, stories of pizza personalities, and recipies. Will make a great gift for all the pizza lovers among us.

Book Description

"This book is an important contribution to improving the health, well-being and care of our closest animal companion, the dog. No one with a dog should be without this book." —From the Foreword by Dr. Michael W. Fox

The Holistic Dog Book addresses your whole dog and all the ways you can bring a more natural approach to your dog's care. Whether you're interested in essential oils, homeopathy, natural diets, herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage or emotionally satisfying training, you'll find what you need to make well-informed decisions about what's right for the both of you.

Customer Reviews:

great book!.......2007-08-26

this is a great book for someone who is interested in alternative medicine, but knows little about it (like me). before I purchased this book I had purchased another book about cat & dog homeopathy that while very comprehensive, was not very easy to understand. this book however, very clearly and concisely explains the "who, what, when, where, and how" of not only homeopathy, but also alternatives including (but not limited to): herbology, aromatherapy, chinese medicine, accupuncture, etc. The book takes the approach of trying to convince someone slightly skeptical (again, like myself) of the merit and value of these therapies, and it does a very good job! in addtion to those topics it also covers nutrition and general health (lightly), and tackles everything with a good dose of common sense. very informative, and well written. highly recommended!

Excellent book that covers all areas of having a healthy dog!.......2006-02-05

I would consider this a very strong complimenting book to go with Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

This truly is a "Holistic" book, encompassing all areas of sharing your life with a dog. Denise Flaim delves into topics like nutrition, training, communication, vaccinations, allergies, Traditional Chinese Medicine, cancer and "finding the perfect vet" (to name a few). This book is also crammed pack full of herbal remedies and essential oil healing therapies. And at the same time, I find her writing style to be friendly and encouraging--not judgemental of the reader for picking one thing over another. And at the same time, encouraging the reader to find the "right balance" for you and your canine companion.

I do not plan to practice healing through herbal and essential oil therapies on my own, but I do plan to seek out a holistic vet who will offer me these options for treating conditions and ailments of our canine friend.

After a long and courageous fight, our Chihuahua finally went to eternal rest one week ago today. During his 13 years, he was consistently put on drugs like cortisone, prednisone and antibiotics to relieve him of symptoms like skin allergies, anal gland problems, nasal congestion, etc. All of which finally manifested into Inflammatory Brain Disease. I am finally realizing that I probably could have prevented most if not all this by providing a more nutritious diet. I believe in the philosophy that symptoms are just what we see on the surface of a more fundamental problem and by using drugs like these to provide temporary comfort does not always address the root cause.

I borrowed this book from my library, but now after reading it cover-to-cover, I will purchase a copy to go along with Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Between these two books, and a partner relationship with a good holistic vet, I am better prepared to make decisions about our companion's health and happiness.

The Holistic Dog Book:Canine Care for the 21st Century.......2003-04-21

Brilliantly done! Not since Dr. Pitcarin's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats has there been a more concise and comprehensive book on holistic health care for our companion animals. Page after page is written with enthusiasm and true understanding of what holistic health care is all about. Ms. Flaim's book is very well researched and packed with valuable information from the nation's leading experts. If you have never used holistic care or you have done so for years there is information in this book for you. The Holistic Dog Book: Canine Care for the 21st Century is a "must have" for your reference library.

Excellent Holistic dog care for the 21st Century.......2003-04-10

Ms. Flaim gives you all the information that you would need to make an informed decision about holistic care for your dog. Holistic care does not replace Veterinary medicine, but can be a very valuable source of help, according to Ms. Flaim. Everyone who owns an animal should read "The Holistic Dog Book".

A must have for any dog owner.......2003-04-10

This is a wonderfully informative book filled with many options on health and training. It captures the reader with the use of natural, herbel and emotional management tools for your canine. It was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone who owns a dog.

Average customer rating:

Don't buy for the values, but for identification

Does not have all 1990's

A Great Little Book

Barbie-The Whole Story Please

Collector's Guide to 1990s Barbie Dolls: Identification & Values
Maria Martinez
Manufacturer: Collector Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Dolls | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Popular Culture | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Toys | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Collectibly Yours Barbie Doll 1980-1990: 1980-1990 : Identification & Price Guide

Contemporary Barbie Dolls: 1980 And Beyond (Contemporary Barbie)

The Barbie Doll Years: A Comprehensive Listing & Value Guide of Dolls & Accessories (Barbie Doll Years)

The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book: Identification and Price Guide

Warman's Barbie Doll Field Guide (Warman's Field Guides)

ASIN: 1574320688

Customer Reviews:

Don't buy for the values, but for identification.......2004-10-05

Ok, Let's get the negatives out of the way:
1. This book is seriously incomplete. No Skipper, No Kelly, No Ken.
2. Does not cover the 1990's decade. Only covers 1989 to part of 1997.
3. The only description provided is year, name, Item # and an inflated price guide value

BUT
The reason you buy this book is for the pictures. This is THE best book for identifying Pink Box Barbies from 1989 to 1997. She provides two pictures for every doll, a full length picture from straight out of the box and a close-up of the face. And when you have a nude barbie found on the 50 cent table at a garage sale, the face is all you have to identify it. This is a valuable resource for Barbie resellers as an identification tool, but you may as well ignore the over-inflated price value. These are Pink Box Barbies, not Exclusives.

Does not have all 1990's.......2003-09-25

If your looking for a book that would have Barbie, Skipper, ken, stacey, Kelly and friends. This is not the book you want.
It doesn't even have all the 1990's barbie dolls, it is only from 1980 to 1997. It Only has Barbie, Friends and no family.

A Great Little Book.......2002-10-10

The author of this book gives us exactly what she claims to offer. Concise illustrations of the regular "pink box" Barbie dolls of the 1990's. There are other wonderful books featuring the older Barbie dolls but the regular dolls from the 1990's are frequently left out. The full body and close up shots have been helpful in identifying my recent thrift store finds. The author provides us with issue dates and stock numbers and approximate values at date of publication. The specific head and body markings are unfortunately not included.

Barbie-The Whole Story Please.......2000-04-30

Maria Mmartinez-Esguerra has written a book about Barbie in the 1990's and that is fine for those who began collecting in that decade. However, to really learn about Barbie and her history, I don't see the purpose of this book. A reference for one decade will be lacking because Barbie was born in 1959. That is a lot of history and the years between have told the story much better than this book.

Book Description

Aging in Place: Designing, Adapting, and Enhancing the Home Environment gives you a complete examination of current trends in adaptive home designs for older adults. As an occupational therapist, designer, architect, planner, social worker, community organizer, or gerontologist, you will explore innovative home designs and studies for creating environments that offer optimal living for aging adults. Complete with diagrams, floor plans, and tables, Aging in Place helps you to improve the quality of life for the elderly by offering them these state of the art designs that provide independence and dignity.

Customer Reviews:

A thoughtful presentation on design and adaptation........2002-01-09

This fascinating book provides a complilation of articles centered around the issue of individuals residing where they want, despite disability & illness. It begins by proposing that universal design, rather than specialized design, can be cheaper & more convenient for people with certain disabilities. Furthermore, universal design eliminates the distinction between people with or without disabilities.

Each article enhances one's perspective on design adaptation. Through a program implemented by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, we are shown the importance of follow-up visits. These insure that the recommended modifications are implemented correctly and that the client can incorporate them appropriately. Another study suggests re-evaluation of existing ADA accessibility guidelines for toileting grab bars. Current configurations appears to be most appropriate for non-ambulatory transfers & not the semi-ambulatory transfers that are predominant in the aging population. This results in increased dependancy. We are also given an international perspective on the use of modifications in old age homes in India.

An additional article reveals, counterintuitively, that older adults in specialized living situations, such as retirement homes, report a better sense of quality of life than those who live in their own homes. Unsurprisingly, those in nursing homes reported the lowest quality of life. A discussion follows regarding the disengagement of residents in nursing homes & the possibilities of adapting the environment to correct this.

The book concludes with a perspective on implications for occupational therapists. With their abilities to assess functional capacities of the elderly who may have chronic or progressive disorders, they may be in a better position to design modifications than the traditional architects, engineers, interior designers &/or urban planners.

This book offered a thoughtful presentation on the design & adaptation implications for our aging population. One realizes that there is much more knowledge to be attained to optimize the home environment for our aging adults. Aging In Place is a good place to start.

Book Description

6-1/2 inch tall, full color, posable figure comes with a 4 inch tall photographer, 4 backdrop scenes, and several `photo` accessories. Packaged in collector`s display box w/ window.

Book Description

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s ideas--his call for racial equality, his faith in the ultimate triumph of justice, his insistence on the power of nonviolence to bring about a major transformation of American society--are as vital and timely as ever. The wealth of his writings, both published and unpublished, is now preserved in this authoritative, chronologically arranged multi-volume edition. Volume III chronicles the Montgomery bus boycott of 1956 and Dr. King's emergence as a public figure who attracted international attention. Included is the galvanizing speech he gave on the first day of the bus boycott, transcribed from a fragile tape recording and published here in its entirety for the first time. Also included are his remarks to an angry crowd after the bombing of his home and his powerful speech at the 1956 NAACP convention. King's words from this period reveal the evolution of his distinctive blend of Christian and Gandhian ideas and show his appreciation of the broader significance of the Montgomery movement, a protest that revealed the "longing for human dignity that motivates oppressed people all over the world." The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. is a testament to a man whose life and teaching continue to have a profound influence not only on Americans, but on people of all nations.
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Papers Project at Stanford University was established by The Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Inc., in 1984.

Customer Reviews:

Another book on MLK? Yes -- and perhaps the best one yet.......2000-04-06

I reviewed this volume for the Southern Communication Journal and found it to be one of the most comprehensive historical compilations to address the American Civil Rights movement. Kudos to Carson for undertaking such an ambitious project. In an age of sensationalism and revisionist histories, Carson and the rest of the King Papers Project have shown that accurate documentation, rather than speculation, yields priceless insight into King and the Montgomery bus protest, a key event in the American Civil Rights movement.

This volume combines letters (to and from King), speeches, newspaper articles, and other texts to illustrate the King's depth. We see his religious upbringing, as evidenced in the influences of Ghandi and Christianity; his talent as a minister and an administrator, suggested by the National Baptist Convention's invitation to serve them as their president; and his intellectual aptitudes, shown in the strategy he employed in the Montgomery protest. His decision to move toward incremental change (with full equality as a long-term end) is a major reason why the Montgomery movement succeeded. Had he opted for an all-or-nothing, now-or-never approach, he would have encountered greater resistance, and the movement might have ended while achieving little or no progress. Instead, he lobbied for minor changes in an effort to gain momentum for the larger movement -- an approach dismissed by more radical members of the African-American community. For its insights into King the preacher, King the scholar, King the strategic activist, this text is a valuable addition to the legacy of arguably the most influential American of the last century -- and likely the most influential one never to serve as U.S. President.

Average customer rating:
The Papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. Volume III. Birth of a New Age, December 1955-December 1956.
Martin Luther, jr. King
Manufacturer: Univ. of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

King Jr., Martin Luther | ( K ) | Authors, A-Z | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000N2EOC0

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books