The Black Violin: A Novel

Book Description

There were many musical souls adrift on that raft of silence that is Venice. There was the music of Johannes Karelsky.There was the music of Erasmus, the violin maker. And there was the music of war. But of that, the two men never spoke.

From the internationally acclaimed author of Snow comes a timeless tale of love and music set against the romantic backdrop of eighteenth-century Venice.

In 1797, the violin prodigy Johannes Karelsky arrives in Venice after fighting with Napoleon's army in the Italian campaign. After the war, he boards with an aged violin maker named Erasmus who created the legendary "Black Violin," which he forbids Johannes to touch because, as he says, "Once you have tasted it, you will never be the same again." Johannes becomes obsessed with the idea of playing this violin as well as finding the woman who saved his life when he was injured in battle.

Beautifully written and highly evocative, The Black Violin interweaves Johannes's quest for love and the history of this mysterious instrument in a narrative that is sure to resonate long after the last page is turned.

Customer Reviews:

A Black Parable.......2004-05-26

Johannes Karelsky was a violinist, so the book begins, and he was also a genius. After an all too brief period of notoriety as a child prodigy, Johannes ends up in the napoleonic wars, almost loses his life, and then meets Erasmus. Erasmus is a violin maker of the school of Stradivari, the last of his school. Johannes wants to write the greatest opera of all time. Erasmus wants to make the greatest violin ever made--the black violin. And both of them are strangely haunted by a mysterious womanly voice, the voice of Carla, perhaps the most beautiful voice of all time.

This is a short book, easily read in one or two sittings. It is powerfully written, in a simple, lucid style. It is a fable, a parable, not meant to be taken literally. Like any parable it can be taken on many levels. What does it mean to be a genius? What is the point of striving for perfection? What is the price of greatness? Will either man succeed? And if he does, what will it cost him? You will have to read the book to find out; and after reading it, you may want to read it again.

An absolutely first rate book which will get you to thinking. Is it a work of genius? I dare not say, but, I do recommend it. Highly. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

insight into the European Classical period of music.......2003-11-06

At five years old Johannes Karelsky heard a traveling gypsy perform in a violin and knew that is what he wanted to do. Two years later he is making the rounds of the late eighteenth century European courts receiving accolades as a great violinist though a child prodigy.

Almost a quarter of a century later in 1796 Napoleon drafts Johannes to serve on the Italian front. He is mortally wounded during a battle, but instead of dying a mysterious woman gives comfort by singing to him though the night. Somehow that visit gives Johannes the will to live because she and her voice serve as a reminder that he still needs to compose the greatest opera ever. Johannes remains in Venice residing in the home of Erasmus, a maker of violins. When Johannes sees the BLACK VIOLIN he has a deep obsessive urge to play with this exquisite instrument, but Erasmus warns him to look and admire, but don't touch. Will he use the violin anyway; will the woman who rescued him on the battlefield return; and finally what about the most beautiful opera in the world?

Though intriguing in terms of insight into the European Classical period of music, THE BLACK VIOLIN at times turns to syrupy in its bittersweet look at the Napoleonic Age in Italy. The key three characters are delightful in different ways so that fans of the period will appreciate this novella especially when it avoids the unnecessary sweetener.

Harriet Klausner

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ONE OF THE BEST OF THE MARTIAN SERIES

ARGGH! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Barsoom's fate rests with the lowly padwar Tan Handron

A Martian cliffhanger starring Hadron of Hastor
Fighting Man of Mars: (#7) (Martian Tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs, No 7)
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Space Opera | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Burroughs, Edgar Rice | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Burroughs, Edgar Rice | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Swords of Mars: (#8) (Martian Tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs, No 8)

John Carter of Mars - volume 2 - Warlord of Mars & Thuvia, Maid of Mars (John Carter of Mars)

Thuvia, Maid of Mars

The Chessmen of Mars

Warlord of Mars (Del Rey Books) (Mars (del Rey Books Numbered))

ASIN: 0345345118
Release Date: 1986-12-12

Download Description

Tan Handron from the realm of Gatho encounters a wide range of enemies in this science fiction thriller of the 1930's. He fends off green men, mad scientists, cannibal, spiders and white apes. The main character Tan Handron finds himself an unlikely hero in this pulp fiction classic. "A Fighting Man of Mars," is the seventh book in the Edgar Rice Burroughs Martian series. Please Note: This book is easy to read in true text, not scanned images that can sometimes be difficult to decipher. This eBook has bookmarks at chapter headings and is printable up to two full copies per year.

Customer Reviews:

ONE OF THE BEST OF THE MARTIAN SERIES.......2005-03-15

From the first page you will be hooked. This particular book was first published in installments around 1930, as was the custom with pulp fiction at that time. The series was more or less reintroduced during the early 1960s (that is when I started reading them) and has been around ever since. For a work to last that long indeed says something. I have to agree with the reviewer (Mr. Wallace) in that this is one of the better works of the series. Each page if filled with wonderful improbable action and the villians are endless. While John Carter is indeed a part of the story, the main character is one of his top warriors, Hadron of Hastor. Plenty of Damsel in Distress stuff here, and all good clean fun. If you have never read the series, suggest you do. If you have "out grown" the series, suggest revert back to the little boy or girl lurking deep within you and let him or her out. You won't be sorry. Recommend this one highly.

ARGGH! Clang! Clang! Clang!.......2004-04-12

This was the first of Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels that I read, and after having read several others, I consider this one of his best. The copy I had, which I found on my grandfather's bookshelf, was from 1963 and showed one guy--who could not have been from earth--hurling through the air toward another guy, dagger in hand. That cover hooked me. Inside was just as good as the cover--Martian apes, mad scientists, battles in the air, invisibility, kidnapped princesses--you name it, Burroughs put it in this book. Out of all of his Barsoom novels, I consider this one the best.

Barsoom's fate rests with the lowly padwar Tan Handron.......2003-08-28

The seventh book in the Martian series of Edgar Rice Burroughs, "A Fighting Man of Mars" is communicated to the author via the Gridley Wave (there is something rather quaint about the old convention of having a prologue purporting that what follows is true). Unlike the Tarzan series where ERB put his hero a series of similar adventures involving one lost civilization in the African interior after another, the Martian series offers up a series of heroes who have to rescue the woman they love. The titular character for this endeavor is Tan Handron, a Padwar of Helium who is in love with Sanoma Tora, daughter of Tor Haten, the Umak commander. Tan Handron is descended from a princess of Gatho, which pleases Tor Haten, who is only a minor noble, but Sanoma spurns the young padwar's love because he is poor. Tul Axtar, Jeddak of Jahar, is also interested in her hand, but before anything can be arranged, Sanoma is abducted by a mysterious flier and the chase is on.

"A Fighting Man of Mars" was originally published in six-parts in "Blue Book Magazine" during 1930 and appears to be rather different from ERB's earlier Martian stories in that for one the damsel in distress is not a Barsoomian princess. As Tan Handron pursues the woman he wants across Barsoom he encounters some of ERB's better villains (basically a new one for each installment in the series). As Handron deals with green men and white apes, spiders, mad scientists, and cannibals, he picks up a companion and uncovers a plot that puts all of Barsoom in danger and sets up the big climax.

This is one of ERB's better books, arguably in the Top 10 of his pulp fiction adventures mainly because of all the fantastic creatures, futuristic weapons, and deadly dangers he crams into its pages. With Tan Handron ERB has a hero who is more plagued by doubt that we usually find and I also appreciate that in the end our hero goes for a real relationship rather than some idealized notion of love from afar. "A Fighting Man of Mars" shows that ERB was a master of the serialized ("to be continued...") adventures.

A Martian cliffhanger starring Hadron of Hastor.......2003-06-14

This is one of the first science fiction/fantasy books I ever read and I couldn't bear to see it languish without a review. My copy (which originally belonged to my father) dates from 1931 and its story was originally published in six parts in the "Blue Book Magazine" from May to September 1930. It is wonderful to see these books reissued, as they are the progenitors of many, if not all of the heroic fantasy serials that take up so much room on modern bookshelves. Edgar Rice Burroughs (ERB) was the first and also (in my opinion) the best writer of multi-volume fantasies.

'Fighting Man' is the seventh book in ERB's Mars series and differs from most volumes in the series in that John Carter, gentleman of Virginia and Warlord of Barsoom (Mars) is only a peripheral figure.

The adventure is narrated in the first person by Hadron of Hastor, a warrior in the service of John Carter. Hadron's family is rich in honor but not in material possessions and when he falls in love with the wealthy Sanoma Tora, she snubs him. For months, the soldierly Hadron haunts the palace of Tor Hatan, Sanoma Tora's father, but his hope of winning her are vanishingly small until she is abducted one night by a mysterious flier.

The strange ship is armed with a weapon that disintegrates the metal of a pursuing flier, and the Warlord realizes that there is now a new weapon of mass destruction let loose upon the dying seas of Barsoom (it's hard not to adopt ERB's style after reading one of his books).

Hadron is promised Sanoma Tora's hand if he can rescue her. The Warlord dispatches the doughty warrior in search of his love, and asks him to keep an eye peeled for the new metal-disintegrator weapon.

Since this story was originally written to be serialized, there is a cliff-hanger at the end of every chapter. Hadron's flier is shot down by the terrible green warriors of Barsoom. He escapes and is trapped in a deserted tower by a man-eating white ape. He escapes, rescues a slave named Tavia from the green men and the two of them take to the air in Tavia's flier.

Unfortunately, they are forced to land in the demesne of a very paranoid tyrant. While Hadron is confined in the tyrant's Pit, he learns the secret of the invisible metal-disintegrating ray from a fellow prisoner.

Hadron, now under a sentence of death must escape to save both Sanoma Tora and all of Helium (John Carter's Barsoomian kingdom).

Our hero battles his way across the dead seas of Barsoom, evading or slaughtering cruel tyrants, mad scientists, formidably-tusked green warriors, etc. until the final reaches of chapter seventeen when he resolves all of the plot lines and finds his own true love (not who you might think).

'Fighting Man' has all of the color and breathless dash of its predecessors in ERB's Mars chronicles. It's okay to start your adventure on Barsoom with 'Fighting Man,' although I would strongly recommend beginning at the first volume, "A Princess of Mars." 'Fighting Man' can stand alone because ERB includes a long forward in which he describes the flora, fauna, principal races, and wars of Barsoom.

Average customer rating:

Two for one.
The mastermind of Mars and A fighting man of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: DoubleDay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Burroughs, Edgar Rice | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Llana of Gathol, and John Carter of Mars

Swords of Mars: (#8) (Martian Tales of Edgar Rice Burroughs, No 8)

ASIN: B0006W45M6

Customer Reviews:

Two for one........2006-06-11

This is a hardcover book published for the Science Fiction Book Club in 1973. It contains the sixth and seventh books in Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Mars" series. The book has a great painted cover by Frank Frazetta.

The Mastermind of Mars is about an American soldier in WWII who gets transported to Mars. He ends up as the assistant to a Martian mad scientist. He falls in love with a beautiful girl whose body was stolen by an old hag. Naturally, he goes on a quest to get her rightful body back for her.

A Fighting Man of Mars is about a native Martian who goes on a quest to rescue a beautiful kindnapped woman that he loves. That is a typical Burroughs plot, but there are a few twists here that keep it from getting too formulaic. The most intriguing variation on the plot is that he meets a different woman along the way, who may be a better match for him than the woman he set out to save.

These are both good examples of pulp fiction that should appeal to fans of ERB.

The Master Mind of Mars and A Fighting Man of Mars

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The Master Mind of Mars and A Fighting Man of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKERLQ

A FIGHTING MAN OF MARS - BALLANTINE U2037 - The Seventh Book of the Famous Martian Series

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A FIGHTING MAN OF MARS - BALLANTINE U2037 - The Seventh Book of the Famous Martian Series
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GR56U6

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A Treasure!

Men of Mars

Manufacturer: SFBC Science Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739465260

Product Description

Though he is best known as the creator of Tarzan, Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) began his writing career in 1911 with a tale called Dejah Thoris, Martian Princess. Thus his 11-book Barsoom series, featuring John Carter, Warlord of Mars, was born. With this exclusive omnibus, the third in our series, the SFBC gathers three more of these classic tales, adventures set on a brutal world where fierce green warriors roam the dead sea bottom and red men rule a civilization of decaying splendor. A Fighting Man of Mars: When a nobleman's daughter is abducted at the point of a gun that can disintegrate metal, it portends great danger for the empire of Helium. To rescue the woman he loves and locate the source of the gun, Hadron of Hastor must run the gauntlet of giant Martians, man-eating apes and a xenophobic city where he is sentenced to The Deatha place of roiling horror that will carry him to the weapon's mad inventor...and a surprising twist of fate. Swords of Mars: John Carter hires on as bodyguard to Fal Sivas, a scientist who steals ideas from other inventors and then has them killed. Sivas' greatest inventiona spaceship run by a mechanical braincomes in handy when Carter's wife, Dejah Thoris, is taken hostage on a moon of Mars. There, inside a castle built of precious gems, the Carters' fates may be sealed...unless they can foil invisible foes, cannibalistic cat-men and a powerful guild of assassins.Synthetic Men of Mars: In a vat on an island in the Toonolian Marshes, a grand experiment has gone awry. Ras Thavas, the Master Mind of Mars, has learned the secret of growing humans from a single cell, but now these invulnerable warriors have taken control and cloned an army to conquer the world. As John Carter and young warrior Vor Daj discover, the only thing worse than a monster that cannot die is a giant writhing mass of thema grotesque mutation that will grow to consume everything in its path. Jacket art by Michael Whelan.

Customer Reviews:

A Treasure!.......2007-08-27

I have read all of the books in the Barsoom or Mars series, many times. I read a great deal and there are very few books I would read even twice, let alone 6 or 8 times. I have given them to others of all ages, male and female, and I have never yet heard someone say they didn't love these books! I highly recommend them to anyone! They contain no sexual situations or cursing so they are suitable for children and teens but the stories are imaginative and well written so that even adults will find the books hard to put down. There are 11 books in the Mars series and about 5 books in a Venus series that are equally fun to read. The first book in the Mars series is called A Princess of Mars. Start there and let the journey begin!

11 Titles in Martian Series - A Princess of Mars - Gods of Mars - Warlord of Mars - Thuvia of Mars - Chessmen of Mars - Mastermind of Mars - Fighting Man of Mars - Swords of Mars - Synthetic Men of Mars - Llana of Gathol - John Carter of Mars

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11 Titles in Martian Series - A Princess of Mars - Gods of Mars - Warlord of Mars - Thuvia of Mars - Chessmen of Mars - Mastermind of Mars - Fighting Man of Mars - Swords of Mars - Synthetic Men of Mars - Llana of Gathol - John Carter of Mars
Edgard Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000TBRG8O

Product Description

Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.

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A Fighting Man of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: Ballantine 01527
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: B000H8KB9K

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A Fighting Man of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J5MY2S

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A Fighting Man of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QWYUZ8

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A Fighting Man of Mars
Edgar Rice Burroughs
Manufacturer: Ace Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000J5J3KO

Customer Reviews:

An amazing motley of comedy and action.......2002-08-28

This book is incredibly hilarious. The only way to duplicate it would be to mix Monty Python's humor with Robert E. Howard's pulp adventure fiction. Action-packed and with several side-splitting one-liners that never fit the time zone but the meld seamlessly with the humor, this book will keep you entertained every time you read it.

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More Adventures of Samurai Cat

Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0812552490

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More Adventures of Samurai Cat
Mark E. Rogers
Manufacturer: TOR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KTJBG0

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Enhanced with full-color photographs of 150 plants

Native Plants for High-Elevation Western Gardens
Janice Busco , and Nancy R. Morin
Manufacturer: Fulcrum Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1555914756

Customer Reviews:

Enhanced with full-color photographs of 150 plants.......2003-09-15

Native Plants For High-Elevation Western Gardens by horticulturalist Janice Busco and Nancy R. Morin (Executive Director of The Arboretum at Flagstaff, Arizona) is an informed and informative guide to native plants which is especially appropriate for gardeners and horticulturalists who live in regions of the American West at altitudes of 4,000 to 12,000 feet above sea level and higher. Offering basic information, advice for growing and nurturing, and enhanced with full-color photographs of 150 plants selected especially for their low-maintenance requirements and popularity, Native Plants For High-Elevation Western Gardens is an authoritative and practical catalogue which is especially recommended for high-altitude gardeners who need reliable information and advice on selecting what to plant.

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Healing Power of pets

Every Review Of Twenty Are All 5 Stars - The Book Is Great

A fine balance of personal anecdotes and scientific info

Well rounded information on pets' extra-sensory abilities

A reader from WI

The Healing Power of Pets: Harnessing the Ability of Pets to Make and Keep People Happy and Healthy
Marty Becker
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Alternative Medicine | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

ASIN: 0786868082

Book Description

From Dr. Marty Becker, co-author of the bestsellers Chicken Soup for the Pet Lovers Soul, and Chicken Soup for the Cat and Dog Lovers Soul comes a groundbreaking new book that reveals the stirring stories and medical miracles behind the healing power of pets. Pets and people have been living together for thousands of years, but as pets have moved indoors, there have been extraordinary changes in the relationship. In the last twenty years, medical research has increasingly proven the healing effect pets can have for the ill, the elderly, the stressed-out, and the emotionally disengaged. Research shows that people with pet companions have fewer doctor visits and recover more quickly from severe illnesses. In The Healing Power of Pets, Dr. Marty Becker, resident vet on ABC-TVs Good Morning America shows readers how pets can prevent, detect, treat, and in some cases cure a variety of maladies, from arthritis to asthma, and from Alzheimers to depression. Pets decrease cardiovascular risk factors, motivate their sedentary owners to exercise, and help people deal with chronic pain. In addition, the book offers heartwarming true stories of pets who have enrichedeven savedtheir owners lives to reveal the lasting physical, emotional, and social benefits of the human-animal bond. For those of us who have always believed that pets enhance our lives and make us better human beings, Marty Becker drives the lesson home with compassion and wit. Our beloved animals never had a better friend. Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D. Dr. Becker steps confidently and competently into the animal-human arena, adding a strong voice for the healing powers of animals. Susan Chernak McElroy, author of Animals as Teachers and Healers

Customer Reviews:

Healing Power of pets.......2007-01-06

The book arrived in an excellent condition at the promised time.
As this was a present for a friend it was greatly appreciated
Susan

Every Review Of Twenty Are All 5 Stars - The Book Is Great.......2005-05-08

I am a dog lover in particular and a pet lover in general. Pets definitely have healing powers. The interaction between human and pet is healthy. In terms of my love for a dog the benefits are extensive. This book is scientific and gives the evidence that proves the healing power of pets. It is not speculation. As you read the book you will learn of the many ways in which your interaction with pets will maintain and enhance your good health.

A fine balance of personal anecdotes and scientific info.......2003-11-16

The fact that this book was written by a co-author of "Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul" (a book that I loved) is one of the things that made me pick it up. However, "Healing Power of Pets" is more than a collection of animal anecdotes. There's a lot of good, solid scientific information woven in, too. Dr. Marty Becker, a veterinarian who has worked with Animal-Assisted Therapy programs, cites numerous studies which show that people who are bonded with their pet(s) lead longer, heathier lives.

On page 74, for example, he refers to a 1995 study conducted by Erka Friedmann, a professor at the Department of Health and Nutritional Studies at Brooklyn College. She recruited 392 patients who had suffered heart attacks and were part of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial. Of these, 87 owned dogs and 282 did not. A year later, only one of the dog owners had died, while 19 of the non-dog-owners had passed away. In other words, people who own a dog are far more likely to be alive a year after having a heart attack.

Why is this? Many reasons are given in the book: dog owners get more exercise, they take better care of themselves because they feel responsible for the dog, they relax while petting the dog, they are less lonely because of the dog, etc. Other studies have shown that the act of stroking an animal's fur lowers the human's blood pressure like a form of meditation.

As a Jewish educator reading this book, I could not help but reflect on the fact that, compared to the general population, far fewer Jews have pets. In the Orthodox and Hasidic communities, especially, it is rare to see a dog in the house. One reason is because dogs were used to track and kill people during the Holocaust and other persecutions, so they have bad associations for many Jews. I understand this. Still, I found myself wondering how many of those 282 non-dog-owners in the Brooklyn College study were Jewish. (Brooklyn has a high percentage of Jews.) Are we allowing Old World fears about dogs to deprive us of a valuable form of therapy?

The pet doesn't have to be a dog, however. Cats (of which I have ten!) are equally therapeutic. So are other species, such as birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. Even watching a tank full of fish can help a person to relax. The important thing is the Bond between the animal(s) and the human(s). Reading this book confirmed in a scientific way what I have always believed in my heart: this special Bond is a healing gift that God designed into the very fabric of creation.

Well rounded information on pets' extra-sensory abilities.......2003-02-11

Dr. Becker and Danelle Morton describe the positive effects that animals bring into our lives. They focus mostly on dogs and cats in this book and only briefly touch on other pets such as birds or rodents. They combine individual testimonials concerning animals assisting sick humans with data from researchers who study animal behaviour, and interviews with therapists who use animals for therapy. He sites several examples of nursing homes that have resident pets trained to assist in therapy sessions and discusses how these animals bring joy to lonely and/or ill elderly. More importantly, Dr. Becker details the type of pet best suited for a particular personality or illness.

He candidly points out that pets are not for everyone; that sharing your home with an animal requires great commitment and sometimes expense. He outlines the required care, loving and guidance needed. For me, this was the most important point in his book.

This book is well written, easy to read and absent of technical jargon. This book is not a treatise of recent scientific research on the subject of animal behavior or the use of animals in therapy. Most of the heart-warming stories are testimonials rather than solid scientific data, but anyone who truly shares a bond with an animal will appreciate these stories.

I recommend this book for anyone thinking of getting a pet, who already has a pet, or who simply loves animals. I particularly recommend this book to folks who see animals only as a commodity or worker/helper/hunter. It's an enlightening book.

A reader from WI.......2003-02-08

Marty Becker has written a very readable, informative book. He confirms what many people have believed to be true for a long time; that animals are good for us. He provides many examples of how animals are emotionally good for us as well as physiologically (they help to lower our blood pressure, cholesterol, lessen feelings of physical pain, decrease feelings of social anxiety, etc.). The information he shares is based on his personal experiences, the experiences of others, as well as information from various studies which have been done. After reading the book, I felt even better about the relationships I myself have with the animals that share my household. I am looking forward to utilizing his suggestions found at the end of the book to further strengthen "The Bond" I have with my pets, as well as sharing this book with others in order that they too can further appreciate the gifts our pets give us on a daily basis to make our lives even better.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

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Old Favorites in Miniature
Tina M. Gravatt
Manufacturer: American Quilter's Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0891458085

Book Description

Miniatures are taking the quilt world by storm, and this second book by Tina Gravatt provides just the selections of patterns and 'know how' you need to jump into this area of quilting yourself. Tina provides patterns and instructions for making the 19 stunning quilts which are pictured in color at the front of this book. REVIEW: The comprehensive listing of pieced quilt designs from the early 1830s to the 1970s includes illustrations and sources for more than 4,000 pieced patterns.

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Surprisingly Simply Quilts: From Australian Patchwork & Quilting Magazine (That Patchwork Place)
Martingale & Company
Manufacturer: That Patchwork Place
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564776670

Book Description

Add beauty and brilliance to quilts without all the work! Great fabric and color combinations are the key to gorgeous quilts, and this collection of patterns proves that easy and eye-catching can make the perfect quilting team.

• Choose from over a dozen projects that require no templates—truly quick and easy to complete

• Patterns feature a variety of styles, including several scrappy designs

• Quilts come from some of Australia's best and brightest designers, now hotter than ever in the United States

Book Description

Published on the occasion of his retrospective at the Casino Luxembourg, Jim Shaw's Everything Must Go is the first catalogue to incorporate examples of the full range of the artist's profoundly original and idiosyncratic work. A survey of his career from 1974 to the present, Everything Must Go showcases his obsessive cultural cataloguing and the depth of his colorful, eccentric interior world. From the massive 170-piece multimedia work My Mirage, which traces the roller-coaster life of a white-bread American named Billy-a work that brought him international recognition-to Thrift Store Paintings, Dream Drawings, and Dream Objects, Shaw has consistently created a fantastic visual narrative that references myriad heterogeneous sources, moments of personal history, and fragments of our collective cultural consciousness. His highly individualized "outsider" perspective, which is situated in contemporary art discourse, as well as his focus on mainstream American culture have established Shaw as a seminal figure for young artists in Europe and the United States. Includes an extensive interview with Shaw by Mike Kelley.

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A unique depiction of time, place and family

Riveting

Exquisite Combination of Truth and Compassion

Exellent Book

good book, that's it-

A Blessing over Ashes : The Remarkable Odyssey of My Unlikely Brother
Adam Fifield
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: B000IOF0D0

Amazon.com

A cross-cultural meeting between Middle America and Cambodia, A Blessing Over Ashes is an unusual story that combines classic coming-of-age events with the sad history of a young refugee from the devastated Cambodia of the last decades. Soeuth--the refugee--came to live with the Fifield family at the age of 14. Adam, the family's eldest son, narrates the story in conversational slang; reading this book is like listening to an old friend tell his surprising life story. Beginning chapters alternate between Adam and Soeuth's childhood, and the differences are striking, often disturbing: afternoon shopping trips contrasted with work camps, cultural events with exchange students compared with starvation and severe beatings. As they attend school together (Soeuth tutoring Adam in math) and fish (Soeuth successfully with his bare hands, Adam unsuccessfully with rod and reel), they become somewhat closer, but throughout the book there is a sense of distance from Soeuth, a feeling that he is not communicating deeply with anyone. Both boys move through their lives--Adam as a reporter, Soeuth as a mechanic--experiencing relationship troubles, cross-country moves, career frustrations, a marriage, and other fairly standard events. After years believing his Cambodian family dead, Soeuth discovers many relatives are still alive and struggling, and he is able to establish contact with them, which sadly seems to bring more responsibility and guilt than satisfaction. Ending the book on a humorous note, a conversation about a fortune teller and his prediction for Soeuth's life is a hopeful glimpse into what the future may bring now that his two worlds have been brought together. --Jill Lightner

Book Description

On a snowy winter's night in Vermont, eleven-year-old Adam Fifield and his family awaited the arrival of his new foster brother, Soeuth, a fourteen-year-old refugee from the killing fields of Cambodia. Scrawny and terrified, Soeuth was mute for days, warily retreating into his room despite the Fifields' numerous attempts to make him feel welcome. But for Soeuth, whose young life had been plagued with fear and violence, it would be months before any place could feel like home.

In this rewarding memoir, Adam Fifield recalls the months and years that followed his first meeting with Soeuth. He describes the boy's amazing physical prowess, his sense of humor, and, juxtaposed against his own typically American coming of age, the horrific details of Soeuth's early years. But even more compelling is the story of Adam and his brother's journey to Cambodia to meet the family Soeuth once thought dead. What awaits them on the side of the globe will both reunite Soeuth with his lost family and cement the relationship he has forced with his new one.

Customer Reviews:

A unique depiction of time, place and family.......2001-08-01

There are dozens upon dozens of books on the killing fields of Cambodia out there...this one is different, because it tells the story of Adam and his Cambodian foster brother, Seouth. I was drawn to this perspective and enjoyed Adam's writing style very much. His descriptions and use of language are effective at getting emotions across without being sentimental and sloppy. At the end of the book, Adam and Seouth travel to Cambodia, and Adam made me feel as though I was there with them, riding a motobike down a dusty road, taking in the sights and sounds of an unfamiliar culture. Many books do not emphasize how poor the people of Cambodia are in a tangible way...Adam does this beautifully. If you are interested in how historical events affect individuals or have brothers or sisters, this book could change how you look at the world and reaffirm your relationships with others. (P.S...you might cry and laugh! I did).

Riveting.......2001-07-25

I particularly recommend "A Blessing Over Ashes" for anyone interesed in 20th Century Southeast Asian history, as it puts a painfully personal face on the wars in Cambodia. But even for those who know little about this era, I would recommend it as a compelling story of one person's experiences as a member of two very different families. It is a story of personal identity, and it is a story of our common humanity. Are we defined by race? Blood? Experience? Where, in the end, does Soeuth belong? How can he reconcile his divergent experiences as a Cambodian and as an American? Much of this book is tough going. Soeuth and Adam's visits to the ghostly "re-education centers" are almost unbearably sad, and reminded me of some of the observations Philip Gourevitch makes of Rwanda in his work on another place, another genocide, another year, "We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families." "A Blessing Over Ashes," is as honest a book as I have ever read.

Exquisite Combination of Truth and Compassion.......2001-03-27

Biographies written by journalists often offer rare treats. This one is no exception. Adam Fifield takes the extraordinary circumstances that brought a young Cambodian boy into his family and tells us how they became true brothers. This book will open your heart and your mind and stay with you for a long, wonderful time.

Exellent Book.......2001-03-18

This book gives vivd description of Vietnam War also it has very exciting and intersecting scence which make you whant to keep reading more tmo find out what well happen next.

good book, that's it-.......2001-02-02

The book is about an american family who adopts a Combodian boy who suffered a lot, an lived a very different reality from them. The book is told by one of the american brothers. It is a very good book but I think it was quite "descriptive". I think the end could have been better. It seems as if the author leaves you in the middle of the story, as if he did not know how to end it. I enjoyed it, and it is not a "heavy" book, but not excellent for my taste.

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