Toads and Toadstools: The Natural History, Folklore, and Cultural Oddities of a Strange Association

Customer Reviews:

Fraught with Frogs and Fungi!.......2003-01-11

A real treat of a book. Morgan peruses various aspects of two subjects that are as different as chalk and cheese biologically, but are frequently linked culturally. Chock full of gleefully esoteric bits of knowledge, the author has done his homework. Even better than the research is that Morgan is his own favorite guinea pig for exploring the physiological effects of these organisms. There are many delightful moments where he dutifully reports in detailed, utterly deadpan fashion the effects of stuffing toxic bits of toad in his nose or sipping his own urine after consuming fly agaric mushrooms. The author's own illustrations are also phenomenal. I especially like the belly-up toad victim of overenthusiastic mating on page 54. It is strangely reminiscent of John Everett Millais' "Ophelia".

Interesting, beautifully illustrated.......2001-01-02

I was pleasantly surprised by this well illustrated work after I picked up a copy at the San Francisco Fungus Fest (where else?). The author points out that mushrooms and toads are linked in the mythologies of many different cultures, that both can be entheogenic (hallucinogenic), and both are credited with spiritual characteristics. He never does answer the central question - why are toads and "toadstools" so often linked? - but he gives you so much neat art and interesting mushroom/historical lore that you don't really mind.

Book Description

This award-winning series emphasizes the fascinating patterns in the natural world, enabling readers to discover their own place in the network of life.

Each book includes chapters on:

unique characteristics of the organism
senses
metabolism
reproduction and growth
food webs and food chains
fitting into the web of life

A classification chart for the particular plant kingdom, microbe group, or animal class of organism. A classification chart of the kingdoms of plants, microbes, fungi, or animals. A glossary, further reading list, and index.

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Great Chilren's Book

Good Mushrooms and Bad Toadstools (Rookie Read-About Science)
Allan Fowler
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Nonfiction | Flowers & Plants | Nature | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0516263633

Customer Reviews:

Great Chilren's Book.......2007-01-04

Great book, part of a great series....Introductory science book for early elementary students..wonderful "real" pictures. My 6 yo grandson loved it.

Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe (Green Guides)

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Mushrooms and Toadstools of Britain and Europe (Green Guides)
Gordon Dickson
Manufacturer: New Holland Publishers, Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
ASIN: 1859749240

Collecting and Studying Mushrooms and Toadstools

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Collecting and Studying Mushrooms and Toadstools
Alan Major
Manufacturer: Arco Reprints
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Collins Nature Guide: Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Nature Guides)

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Collins Nature Guide: Mushrooms and Toadstools (Collins Nature Guides)
E. Garnweidner
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

German | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Nonfiction | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Professional & Technical | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

Reference | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books

All German Books | German | Foreign Language Books | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0002199947

Book Description

This pocket-sized guide covers over 400 of the commonest species of mushroom and toadstool found in Britain and Europe. Each species is illustrated with a photograph and described in detail in the text, which includes information on colour, shape, smell, taste, time of year the mushroom is seen, and similar species. The guide is not arranged in complicated taxonomic order, but by shape for easy identification. This means that even the absolute beginner can identify mushrooms using this guide. Other features include additional helpful mushroom information at the back and a durable plastic cover.

The Color Nature Library Mushrooms and Toadstools

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The Color Nature Library Mushrooms and Toadstools
Jacqueline Seymour
Manufacturer: Crescent Books, NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O6ID2M

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The Color Nature Library Mushrooms and Toadstools
Jacqueline Seymour
Manufacturer: Crescent
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JJOLFC

Color Treasury of Mushrooms & Toadstools (How to Find and Identify Them)

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Useful Beginner's Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools

Color Treasury of Mushrooms & Toadstools (How to Find and Identify Them)
Annalaura Fanelli Uberto Tosco
Manufacturer: Crescent Books, New York
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000E7UQ30

Product Description

Mushroom hunting guide.

Customer Reviews:

Useful Beginner's Guide to Mushrooms and Toadstools.......2006-07-19

Subtitled: How to Distinguish Them. This full-color, large format hardback features 102 mushrooms and toadstools. It is very useful guide for the beginner, as similar types are distinguished from each other with photos and description.

Mushrooms & Toadstools (Collins Watch Guide)

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Mushrooms & Toadstools (Collins Watch Guide)

Manufacturer: Harpercollins Pub Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 000220102X

Book Description

INTRODUCTION

Syria is one of the least visited, and least familiar, countries in the world. Jammed in between the vastly more popular tourist destinations of Turkey, Jordan and Israel, for many years it has been considered an unlikely destination by many travellers, scared off by a combination of safety worries, the yards of red tape that a visit required, a military government obsessed with internal security, and closed frontiers. Through much of the 1980s these fears were justified: Syria was cast as a supporter of international terrorism and broke off diplomatic relations with a number of Western countries, making it virtually impossible for many nationalities (including Britons and Americans) even to set foot there. But after President Assad voiced support for the allies during the Gulf War and helped to secure the release of the Beirut hostages, things started looking up as far as travellers were concerned; a steadily growing stream of Westerners have visited the country in the 1990s, drawn by the wealth of archeological remains, by the renowned hospitality of the people, and perhaps most of all by sheer curiosity.

Politically, modern Syria is a result of boundary drawing by the old colonial masters of the region, France and, to a lesser extent, Britain. The French took over in 1920, occupying the political vacuum left by the end of four hundred years of Ottoman rule, and separated their territory from British-administered Transjordan by drawing a ruler-straight line across the desert. During its 26-year rule, France did little for the country, governing it without the consent of the people and treating it largely as a barracks, and Syria approached its hard-won independence with an understandable lack of confidence: coup followed coup in the early 1950s, and then came the disastrous political union with Egypt, which broke up into a further period of political instability in the 1960s. Since 1971, however, the country has been ruled by a former airforce commander and Defence Minister Hafez al-Assad, the leader of a radical wing of the Ba'ath (Arab Socialist) party. Assad has treated dissent with bloody determination, killing thousands in the 1982 crackdown on the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood opposition group, but he has maintained power with unerring shrewdness, never letting his country lapse into the civil war and political anarchy that beset neighbouring Lebanon for much of the 1970s and 1980s.

Most Syrians are Arabs, though there is some degree of heterogenity - in Aleppo, for example, you'll find Armenian and Turkish speakers. The greatest concentration of non-Arabic speakers, however, is in the northeast, where Kurdish is spoken by those who dare - using the language has long been seen as a sign of dissent, particularly in the light of the Kurdish uprising in neighbouring Turkey. Syrians are divided more on religious than ethnic grounds: although the majority are followers of Sunni Islam, there is a large Christian minority (itself divided into a number of sects), plus a tiny number of Jews. President Assad himself is a follower of the Alawite religion, a curious branch of Islam followed in the mountains of the northwest, with the Druze and the Shi'ites making up the remainder of the non-Sunni Muslims.

Though a small country - about the size of Scotland - Syria's political isolation and high population growth reduce the amount and effectiveness of international aid, and the country is one of the poorest in the region, with huge disparities in the level of development. The rich, Europeanized urban elite of Aleppo and Damascus, most of whom have got where they are through government connections, live largely separate lives to the majority of the people. In the same cities, however, you'll find the familiar trappings of developing world poverty - shoe-shine boys out in force, begging, prostitution, and hawking of all kinds - while in the countryside agriculture is carried out using age-old techniques of irrigation, planting, harvesting and selling, with a proliferation of carts and working animals, and few modern machines. Many of the Bedouin, the traditional tent-dwelling nomads of the Middle East, have been forcibly resettled by the government in towns and cities, but some still roam the desert with their herds of goats and sheep, much of their lifestyle unchanged for centuries.

Despite the country's political isolation, its unhappy colonial past and its resentment towards the West for its perceived support of Israel, the reputation of Syrians for hospitality towards foreigners is well deserved, and it is this which makes the country such a rewarding place to travel in, particularly if you go independently and make an effort to stray from the cities and the most popular tourist spots. You can actually cause offence by rebutting any friendliness extended towards you, and the most casual meetings can often lead to an invitation to take tea at someone's home. Rarely do such offers of friendship come with strings attached, and in most cases the warmth of the welcome you'll receive is entirely genuine.

Customer Reviews:

Criticism of this Book as Culturally Insensitive is Off-Base.......2004-04-02

I feel compelled to correct the unsubstantiated & unreasonable claim in another review that the authors of this guide have in any way disparaged the Syrian people or their culture. This is a quite useful book in almost all respects (chock full of maps, even for many out-of-the-way destinations). Typical of this guide's attitude: "Remember that most Syrians are unfailingly honest and courteous, and you shouldn't let a cautious outlook spoil your trip, or be tempted to read anything sinister into the genuine offers of hospitality you receive." The Rough Guide to Syria has been put together with a lot of care, and while it may not be the ne plus ultra, it is reliable, informative, and particularly strong in giving significant coverage to places throughout Syria.

Rough guide shows cultural insensitivity.......1999-12-03

I found the book very discouraging, and almost cancelled my trip altogether. The book does give useful information about archeological sights and how to get there. It is, however, full of misleading information about Syrian women, so-called cultural taboos, and why Syrians do certain things. The overall tone of the book is negative and condescending. I would certainly not recommend it if you are looking for positive cultural type information.

Excellent book with lots of information.......1999-04-10

Excellent guide. It starts with a section about health, visa, currency, local transport, etc. The actual guide is a 'walkthrough', like: "When you exit the mosque, you will see on your left..." It contains maps of major cities, covering restaurants and hotels too (with price indication!) Detailled maps for places of interest. Background info on persons, political issues and history.

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Songtime For Children (Sing-Along Songs as used on the Children's Bible Hour featuring songs in keys comfortable for children)
"Uncle Charlie" VanderMeer
Manufacturer: Singspiration Music
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Sunday School | Education | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000RAHTGG

Product Description

1975 Singspiration. Paperback, 40 songs.

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Sunday Sing Along Songs (Kidzup)

Manufacturer: Kidzup Productions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Books on CD | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1894281667

25 Sunday School Songs Kids Love to Sing Sing Along Music Cassette

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25 Sunday School Songs Kids Love to Sing Sing Along Music Cassette
Star Sing
Manufacturer: Star Sing Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

Music | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000KH94OG

Book Description

Jim Dine, originally linked with Pop art, has developed into one of the most remarkable draftsmen and preeminent artists of our time.

Customer Reviews:

Inspirational drawings.......2001-07-14

As an art student, I am fascinated by the way artists put media to paper, in the most basic way, and draw. In this book, 'Jim Dine: Drawings from the Glyptotech' we are shown the true art of drawing. By taking a pretty straightforward model, e.g. a statue, Dine renders something quite unique. How can one artist lay open the heart and soul of something so static as a statue? But, surprisingly, he does this with economy of line and media. The drawings show strength and depth and you are left with a knowledge of real people and their lives, in a two-dimensional sense. The text is concise and you immediately understand the points Dine is making in relation to his drawings. The reproductions of his drawings are exceptional. This book should be in every art students' (and artists, for that matter) bookcase as an essential reference point from where to start drawing. I have learnt so much from Jim Dine in this book that I just want to spend years exploring the art of putting down good lines on paper.

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Jim Dine Drawing from the Glyptothek
Jim, Ruth E. Fine and Stephen Fleishman Dine
Manufacturer: Hudson Hills Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

This book provides everything you need to know to keep your horse healthy and happy. Once you've got a horse, what exactly is it you've got. For example, if your horse were missing a single chromosome, he wouldn't even be a horse. But then, what would he be? What gives your horse is power, and when is he moving right or wrong? Can his dogs bark, and if he has a vocabulary, is he or isn't he talking?

Healthy Horses Seldom Burp! provides accurate, dependable coverage of horse shoeing and hoof care to skin and teeth, the purposes for bandages, the value of gelding, instructions for taking your horse's vital signs and a handy reference for annual health protection. In addition you'll find lively and enlightening information on how to detect and deal with everything from thrush, ringbone, sidebone, lameness to laminitis, strongles poison plants, inflammation, worms and colic.

Dr. Alice M. Blazer, DVM and certified acupuncturist explains all the medical conditions so well, both you and your horse will know why horses seldom burp.

Never stuffy, never pompous, never too technical, this book will be read again and again and will be the reference you grab everytime you have a question.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book for Inexperienced or Professional Horse People.......1999-08-01

When I first heard the title of Don Blazer's new book, "Healthy Horses Seldom Burp!", and knowing Blazer's off the wall sense of humor, I wasn't sure what to expect. I knew it would be interesting and I wasn't disappointed. I highly recommend "Burp" to anyone who owns, cares for, or is contemplating purchasing a horse. "Burp" is entertaining and informative. Blazer has a unique way of delivering material which is normally dry and way too technical. Some books on conformation, hoof ailments, nutrition, deworming, genetics...health topics, should include a box of "No Doze". "Burp" is not boring or dry and you don't need an interpreter to get through the book. Dr. Alice M. Blazer, a veterinarian and certified acupuncturist (also Don's Blazer's better half), provides health care and nutritional information to keep horses happy and healthy. Dr. Alice's natural use of humor to get the nasty technical mumbo jumbo to where it's understandable is refreshing. The Blazer's have collaborated to produce an educational book that is actually fun to read. I normally wait for books to become available on tape, and I intended to read the first chapter or two, but ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. Marilyn Short, Editor of The Alamo Area Horse Gazette

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I built this solar greenhouse

A complete how-to on building a geodesic greenhouse.

Building and Using a Solar-Heated Geodesic Greenhouse
John Fontanetta
Manufacturer: Garden Way Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Building Construction | Construction | Civil | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Geodesic Math and How to Use It

ASIN: 0882661612

Customer Reviews:

I built this solar greenhouse.......2002-03-20

The hubs were constructed according to the plans. A trench below the frost line was dug to create a dry earth frost barrier. All materials came from the local building supply, except the roll of greenhouse glazing plastic. The 25 foot dome was built of 2x2s cut from 2x4s. The dome stood five or six years in Idaho without any maintenance. I used 10 50 gallon drums filled with water and painted black for heat storage, and had tomatoes on the vine in December, though they had stopped growing when the daylight hours declined. A large snow while I was traveling took it down. Maintenance would have prevented this.

A complete how-to on building a geodesic greenhouse........1999-04-03

The authors take you through the process from choosing a site to other uses for the greenhouse like using it to help heat your home!

A very easy read and no exotic tools or techniques need to complete the project.

Book Description

Without God or His Doubles offers a sympathetic, but critical interpretation of the philosophy of Richard Rorty. Rorty is one of the most widely discussed of contemporary philosophers, but there exist few attempts to deal with the full scope of Rorty's writings in a systematic fashion. This book shows that the unifying theme that runs through Rorty's writings on epistemology, the philosophy of science, the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of language, and political philosophy is a quasi-religious conception of human creativity and human freedom. In other words, Rorty's attempt to avoid both realism and relativism is best understood in relationship to his claim that traditional philosophy has been god-obsessed. The animating spirit of Rorty's philosophy is to complete the Enlightenment project, to completely wean philosophy away from both God and the various god-doubles (Reason, Nature, Mind, Man, Science, Art). Rorty believes that a radical secularity will result in a kind of human emancipation and a heightened sense of human freedom. The book concludes with a critique of Rorty's proposal for philosophy and culture after the final departure of all the gods.

Amazon.com

Porn-star-turned-performance-artist Annie Sprinkle presents an illustrated history of her 25-year career, documenting her transformation from ugly duckling to prostitute to porn queen to sexual healer, activist, and educator. Although she began as "an excruciatingly shy girl" selling popcorn at an adult theater showing Deep Throat, her playful and uninhibited nature was soon recognized. When the police closed the theater, she asked a spiritualist friend for a spell that might bring her a new job. "It was my first experience with witchcraft," Sprinkle recalls, "and I didn't really expect it to work. But did it ever! I hit the jackpot. Maybe it was just good luck, but a week later I was working as a prostitute." She was discovered by porn producers soon afterward and went on to make over 200 hardcore films before leaving the industry to develop her own public performances, the most famous of which was her "Public Cervix Announcement," in which she allowed audience members to view her interior using a speculum and a flashlight. Well-written, well-illustrated, and calmly outrageous, Post-Porn Modernist is a great introduction to an American original. --Regina Marler

Book Description

Fans catch Annie Sprinkle's performance pieces, rent her porn videos, attend workshops, follow her career in magazines, trade playing cards and erotic postcards Out Magazine called Annie Sprinkle a cottage industry. Funny, unorthdox, and shockingly erotic, Annie Sprinkle: Post Porn Modernist is Annie's scrapbook of her life as a pleasure activist, tracing her evolution from Ellen Steinberg to Annie Sprinkle, High Priestess of Porn. The most nakedly graphic memoir you will ever read, Post Porn Modernist is packed with personal mementos, before-and-after photos, diary entries and art projects. Here are Annie's newest writings and never-before-seen photographs along with classics: Public Cervix Announcement, Tit Art, 101 Uses for Sex, Cut-Out Finger Puppets, The Bosom Ballet, Pornstatistics, and the Transformation of Les Nichols, Annie's transsexual lover. Originally published by Art Unlimited, Amsterdam, 1991, Annie Sprinkle: Post Porn Modernist is a cult classic.

Customer Reviews:

Of *course* she's smiling . . ........2001-06-21

She's Annie Sprinkle! And she's done favulous work with this book. An autobiographical romp through the sex industry, Post-Porn Modernist is hilarious and touching. Most people (of those who have heard of her) think that Annie Sprinkle derived her nom-de-porn from her golden shower scenes in her early film, Deep Inside Annie Sprinkle, but Annie debunks that myth on page ten with her tribute to her namesake. It is, of course, wonderfully ironic that "Sprinkle" fits her career history so perfectly.

A mix of stories, photos and lists ("The Sprinkle Salon Guest Book," "101 Uses for Sex"), Post-Porn Modernist touches on a little of everything: the porn industry, AIDS, art, transexuality, burlesque. The section titled "Erotic Bible Reading" is especially fun. In it, Annie writes of such a reading she gave in which she read from the first book of Genesis. She says her personal favorite line was, "it was gooood."

Annie Sprinkle is a legend in the porn industry, and has used her experiences to further the lovely idea of sex positivity.

And it certainly is "gooooood."

An incredible , inspiring story of a true pioneer........2000-05-16

Annie Sprinkle (Ellen) has lived an incredible life, many of the highlights of which are included in this astonishing book. If you`re looking to be inspired, don`t miss out on Annie`s wisdom on all things sexual. A modern goddess - many thanks Ellen, I learnt so much from your book : Betty Dodson, David Ramsdale, Jwala etc Col

A porn legend laid bare.......2000-05-09

Annie Sprinkle is legendary in early porn and for good reason. This book will help you understand why. It was interesting all the way through and the woman has definitely lived an incredible life. You may not agree with Annie's views or lifestyle, but you should support her First Amendment right to do so. I have a problem with public tax dollars funding the NEA though. One man's art is another man's bird cage lining. Successful artists in any society/time period create what the public wants just like any other profession. So why are they eligible for a public handout? I don't consider what Annie does as art, but that's my opinion. She sure is the subject of a great story though!

Amazing Woman With an Amazing Tale (Pun Intended).......1999-05-29

The first thing I noticed was Annie's smile on the cover. I think, "Hey, wait a minute...this book is about sex. Why is she smiling?" In other words, I'm in the puritanical Southern United States and sex isn't something not to be ashamed of...especially if it's not performed solely for your spouse...and as a duty.Annie's outlook is a positive, healthy approach to sex, though some will debate that, I'm sure. I had my girlfriend buy the book for me as a birthday gift and have been fascinated by it ever since. It's common sense sexuality, with just a twist of kink. Annie liberated my stodgy thinking about sex and I'm grateful for it!

Annie Sprinkle is a true Pioneer!.......1998-08-03

Annie Sprinkle has proven herself to be a true pioneer within the porn industry. She pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable and in doing so made people notice her. I witnessed her "Public Cervix Announcement" and it forever changed my thinking towards sex and sexuality. This book is a compendium in text and photo of her accomplishments. As a pioneer who pushed the boundaries of taste as far as sexuality is concerned, she loosened up Americas inhibitions and in doing so made a place for herself in the world of sex and porn. Annie Sprinkle truly is/was a post porn modernist in every sense. This book will let you vicariously see her career through her photos and words.

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Post Porn Modernist
Annie Sprinkle
Manufacturer: Art Unlimited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 9071161188

Book Description

"Murphy's skillful storytelling and optimistic spirit give even the grimmest moments of her difficult life story levity in this hopeful, spunky sister to Angela's Ashes."- Publishers Weekly

Maura Murphy's memoir of life in Ireland and beyond resonates with the people, places, and struggles of an almost forgotten generation. Born "chronically ugly and cross as a briar" into a poor, rural homestead in 1920s Ireland, Maura faced adversity from birth. She grew up in the bogs of the Irish countryside and left school at fourteen for Dublin, working in service there until her marriage to a hardworking but hard-drinking womanizer. Poverty stricken and hoping to find a better life for her five young children, she left Ireland with her family for 1950s Birmingham, England.

But life doesn't always change when places do, and Maura's fear that she'd be "waked" at Doyles bar upon her death is funny but dead serious. Her voice is feisty and fearless, and she needed to be all those things to survive an extraordinary series of privations and abuses. And now, seventy-five and having survived her childhood, recovered from cancer, and left her marriage of fifty years, Maura has finally recorded the story of her life. Don't Wake Me at Doyles is the compelling account of a life set against by bad odds and worse luck: a memoir of survival and success in the face of the limits of class, education, nationality, religion, gender, and even health.

A fearlessly honest writer, Maura invites us into her world, through her destructive marriage, and the birth of her nine children, and towards a life-or-death choice that would change her forever. Told with biting wit, Don't Wake Me at Doyles is a personal story of one woman's endurance, and the remarkable memoir of an ordinary woman's extraordinary life.

Customer Reviews:

No More The Illiterate Fool.......2006-07-27

A memoir of true grit and brutal honesty ! Maura Murphy, born in rural Ireland in the 1930's, takes us through her life right up to the current century. You get a true story of suffering, strength and survival. Through a loveless marriage of physical and mental cruelty, rearing nine children, miscarriages, evictions, fighting cancer & maritial separation, the story is told with honesty and one cannot help but being drawn in. It is true that many women have suffered in the same way and accepted their lives as is, but Maura had the courage to write it and this has to be acknowledged. This is not another Angela's Ashes and should not be compared to it. It stands alone as a testimony to times gone by. The diary inclusions from her family remind us that there are more people involved and provide a welcome glimpse from their perspective to give a more rounded view. Ok there are glimpses of self-pity attached but there are also acknowledgements of failings...which allow for a balanced view. Memoirs are a personal account and are a glimpse of how one human being sees their life from inside their own head.It is a personal account of a personal story. Engaging and I would encourage you to read it.

jumping on the bandwagon.......2006-04-11

seriously disappointed by what is clearly an overated memoir. Whilst sympathetic, I can't help feeling that the on going victim role that Maura displayed throughout the book - whilst feeling some empathy, I can't help feeling she has enjoyed playing the victim to herself and her family for years and years. I wonder who the real victims are? There are numerous working class women who go through the same difficulties and who are not from Irish decent - again I suspect jumping on the Irish bandwagon which is a shame as I am sure there is a real story to tell which would be far more interesting....

What a Page Turner.......2006-02-22

Memoirs don't usually do it for me but my sister INSISTED I read this. She usually has good taste so I agreed... Brilliant. Couldn't put it down. You don't have to be Irish to enjoy Don't Wake me at Doyle's. The poverty the Murphy's suffered was excrutiating , but a real leveller! Maura Murphy has a truly wicked sense of humour. I nearly felt sorry for her husband by the end (she sticks the boot in now and again) but, hey, he shoudln't have knocked back so much of the "blonde in the black skirt". Great read and very funny. My fav read since Davinci Code.

A star now in heaven.......2006-02-20

It is a very sad fact that in inviting reviews of books that not all will make a smile as wide as that of the many that clearly understood and felt the real life struggle endured by my mother and our family. This book is an insight into the lives of many irish women of that time and the many positive and supportive reviews that have been received are a testimony to that. My mother passed away suddenly last october having endured many illnesses. Her fragile body was finally laid to rest and her pain and suffering no more. The Boston lady suggested that the book was not a book that irish people would be proud of well that is her opinion. If stars could be returned she deserves her back as the words behind her review are ill tempered and in respect of my mothers charachter without substance. My mother was a strong true irish women who had the strength to tell the story of so many like her. She received incredible support both from home and across the globe evidenced by the many personal tributes received following publication of the book (and since her death) from women who also suffered in the same way. She is much loved and deeply missed by her family. Thank you to the many people who read and understood the journey we appreciate your words of support. To those who did not thank you for taking the time to comment anyway, I trust you enjoyed a life less deprived as youngsters than ours and i pray that your life will always be so comfortable. Carmel Murphy Lynch

Gutsy Memoir Loaded with Laughs.......2006-02-08

I do not usually write public reviews but the Boston lady's entry entitled 'Dribble' [sic] has needled me. It cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged: it gives a terribly misleading account of Maura Murphy's remarkable memoir, 'Don't Wake Me at Doyles'. Mrs Murphy speaks with honesty and courage about a life undermined by extreme poverty and hardship, both in Ireland in the 40s and 50s and in England in the 60s. Her story is unique for its fearlessness, frankness and humour. She is speaking out for a generation of women silenced for so long by the might of the Catholic Church, incarcerated by patriarchy and oppressed by poverty. She is brave enough to acknowledge that her religion forbade birth control which resulted in nine much-loved children. The author comments on her state of perennial pregnancy in terms of the Church and her faith but she does not say she regrets giving birth to them. On the contrary it is clear the family's love and loyalty is what binds them through their difficult times. Mrs Murphy did not visit the priest for medical advice! This is a preposterous misreading of her words. Mrs Murphy's dilemma over her life-saving hysterectomy was one of ethics and religous faith, not of medicine. Mrs Murphy is clearly a proud Irish woman, a serious Catholic (why else would she have sought a priest's blessing?) and, quite obviously, a proud wife and mother. Her amazing wit and humour underpins the narrative and these are just some of the reasons for cherishing 'Don't Wake Me at Doyles'. This book is unique and awe-inspiring. Open your minds and hearts and buy this book. It is an education!

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Don't Wake Me at Doyles : A Memoir
Maura Murphy
Manufacturer: Thomas Dunne Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTDBSA

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