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Asbestos Toxicity
Fisher
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ASIN: 0824779584 |
Book Description
Originally published as Drug and chemical toxicology, v.10, no.1 and 2, 1987. Derived from the Asbestos Toxicity Symposium held April 1985, Miami, Fla. Six contributions on: biological effects, the toxicity of naturally occurring and man-made silicates, a unique lung model employing the bronchial lo
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This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Hazardous Materials, published by Elsevier in 2007. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
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The existing data regarding the quality of the environment in the asbestos mine of northern Greece (MABE) region related to the presence of asbestos are insufficient to determine the current pollution problem. In the present work, a first approach to this problem has been taken through a toxicity risk assessment. The environmental quality of an open air asbestos mine was evaluated over a long period of time by measuring and monitoring the concentration of asbestos fibres in air, soil and water. Air measurements were made to determine the concentration of asbestos fibres in the atmospheric air of the mine, the depositions and the nearby villages. The asbestos fibre concentration was also specified inside the building facilities of MABE. Analyses of soil, dust and water samples were carried out showing the presence of enormous quantities of chrysotile asbestos. The concentration of asbestos fibres in the atmospheric air was compared to older measurements that were taken at the same sampling points during the operation of the mine. The results of this work, in conjunction with individual researches that have been carried out in the past and with the evaluation of international standards of scientific and experience-based findings, provide a reliable framework with which to estimate the threat of MABE to its surrounding environment, and help to determine a basic criterion for the remediation and rehabilitation of the region. In addition, mathematical models based on human and animal studies were used to estimate the probability of a person developing cancer from breathing air containing asbestos fibres in the wider vicinity of the mine in order to define appropriate procedures for evaluating asbestos-related risk.
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Asbestos toxicity (Literature search)
Geraldine D Nowak
Manufacturer: Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine
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Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006WM6UO |
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Asbestos toxicity (SuDoc HE 20.7917:8)
Raymond Demers
Manufacturer: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Public Health Service, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00010BSD2 |
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- A useful (16-year-old!) analogy for selection
- Dawkins rich of mental image
- Unfair exploitation of nerds
- the origin of idiots
- Blind Faith
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Blind Watchmaker 1.2: An Evolution Simulation/Mac Version
Richard Dawkins
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
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The Blind Watchmaker: Why the Evidence of Evolution Reveals a Universe Without Design
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ASIN: 0393993418 |
Customer Reviews:
A useful (16-year-old!) analogy for selection.......2006-07-24
It astounds me how often Dawkins' detractors display a fundamental misunderstanding of his ideas. Dawkins never claimed at any point in "The Blind Watchmaker" that his software program of the same name constituted a perfect model of natural selection. It is a model of artifical selection, such as that which produced all the different modern varieties of dogs, and as such it demonstrates how selection acting on variation introduced by mutation can lead to increasing complexity and diversity. This it does admirably, even if there is nothing obviously "biological" about the biomorphs themselves. Dawkins can be forgiven his pride in his creation, I think.
A reviewer accused Dawkins of "never getting past" the arisal of a complete functional cell from nothing (the reviewer's words.) In fact Dawkins never made such a claim. Dawkins holds that life as we know it would have had to arise from a single self-replicating molecule, whose arisal is perhaps not overwhelmingly likely, but much more so than a complete cell.
The more I read into it, the more I believe that Darwinism is the only theory capable of explaining the complexity and diversity of life. I found the neo-Darwinian synthesis seductively easy to understand, staggeringly effective at explaining the way things are, and most of all, beautiful. My thanks to Dawkins for introducing me to it, if more through his books than through this software.
Dawkins rich of mental image.......2001-10-12
I actually read this book 5 years ago. It's a book full of imagination! Of the numerous scientific books I have ever read, this is the one that I will never forget. It evoked a series of mental images in my mind. Compare with many biology book burdened with citations and experimental data, this tiny book frequently provides fresh insights by using thought experiment in biological reasoning. I am looking forward to reading it again, with new surprse and definetely, enjoyment.
Unfair exploitation of nerds.......2001-06-24
I can just see hundreds of nerds transfixed behind their computerscreen googling over the one thing coming from another thing. All you need is a piece of paper and a pencil, and you can do the same thing. Dawkins does not use the computer well, neither does he explain his use well. A small change in a program, can give dramatic differences, a large change can give insignificant differences. There is no rule of small steppiness involved here, much as Dawkins likes to twist the regular meaning of words to have it be so. Also Dawkins has failed to simulate intelligence in the program. Much as Darwinists like to deny intelligent design, simulated intelligence is actually required for any lifelike computerprogram. That means a sophisticated use of the computer's randomizer function. In the computerenvironment only the randomizer has the power of decision. The rest of it works in a preordained fashion so to speak, one would get the same results over and over, if not using the randomizer function. Alternatively a sophisticated use of the computerclock would also work, if the clock strikes irregularly. Dawkins has cheated, because he has introduced symetry in the program. All the forms would look awful without symetry, all the forms just reflect the lifelike nature of symetry. If you buy this, you would support turning science into a commercial enterprise, and deny peer-review.
the origin of idiots.......2000-04-28
...Dawkins never claims his "biomorphs" to bebiological, their sole purpose is to show how small changes over aperiod of time can make huge changes in the end product; no more, noless. He turns trees (yes, just the shapes) into grasshoppers, and dragon flies, and satelites (yes, satelites, which are never claimed to be biological). His "quasi-biological forms" (see the forms?) do an excellent job of making his point, and you shall never convince this 'skeptic' otherwise.
Blind Faith.......2000-01-04
Perhaps this quote from Richard Milton will suffice to demonstrate the blind faith espoused in this book:
"Dawkins not only calls his computer drawings 'biomorphs', he gives some of them the names of living creatures. He also refers to them as 'quasi-biological' forms and in a moment of excitement calls them 'exquisite creatures'. He plainly believes that in some way they correspond to the real world of living animals and insects.
"Why is this an example of pseudoscience?
"In reality, the biomorphs do not correspond in any way at all with living things, except in the purely trivial way that Dawkins sees some resemblance in their shapes. The only thing about the 'biomorphs' that is biological is Richard Dawkins, their creator. ...
"The program he wrote and the computer he used have no analog at all in the real biological world. Indeed, if he set out to create an experiment that simulates evolution, he has only succeeded in making one that simulates special creation, with himself in the omnipotent role.
"His program is not a true representation of random mutation coupled with natural selection. On the contrary it is dependent on artificial selection in which he controls the rate of occurrence of mutations. Despite Dawkins's own imaginative interpretations, and even with the deck stacked in his favour, his biomorphs show no real novelty arising -- no cases of bears turning into whales.
"Most important of all, it is Dawkins, not blind fate, who chooses which are the lucky individuals to receive the next mutation and of course he chooses the most promising ones ('I began to breed ... from whichever child looked most like an insect.') That is why they have ended up looking like recognizable images from his memory. If his mutations really occurred randomly, as in the real world, Dawkins would still be sitting in front of his screen watching a small dot and waiting for it do something."
Does a Sighted Watchmaker exist? The difference with me is: I really don't care one way or another. But it happens that the evidence supports his existence.
The problem with Dawkinism, of course, is described by Behe: we humans tend to think that the contents of "black boxes" are simple: imagining that a system as complex as the first living cell could arise complete, by accident, for example. Dawkinists dare not go any further, as it would imperil their beliefs. But I don't have as much faith.
Book Description
To Libby Mason, Mr. Right has always meant Mr. Rich. A twenty-seven-year-old publicist, she’s barely able to afford her fashionable and fabulous lifestyle, and often has to foot the bill for dates with Struggling Writer Nick, a sexy but perpetually strapped-for-cash guy she’s dating (no commitments–really). So when Ed, Britain’s wealthiest but stodgiest bachelor, enters the picture, her idea of the fairy-tale romance is turned on its head. Libby soon finds herself weighing the advantages of Nick’s sexual prowess and tender heart against Ed’s luxurious lifestyle and unlimited retail therapy. But when the diamond shopping commences, Libby is forced to realize that the time for “maybe” is up.
Taking romantic comedy to a hip, sparkling new level, Mr. Maybe is a classic tale of what happens to one girl when her heart and her head aren’t looking for the same thing. With a laugh a minute and a heroine whose struggles in the dating jungle will remind you of your own, Mr. Maybe is a story that will leave you smitten.
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On the heels of Jemima J, her successful American debut, Green now delivers the wildly funny story of two totally opposite guys, one lovelorn career girl, and the universal quest for a perfect mate.
Customer Reviews:
Predictible but fun, isn't that the point.......2007-05-07
Jane Green does not diappoint. Her novels are always fun and entertaining. I do think people "settle" and that is what the Libby was going to do until she realized that material things cannot make up for a boring life. Isn't it lucky for her that her soul mate ends up having money and a huge success to boot. OK, it is fiction. Don't we wish all stories ended this way??
different..........2007-04-02
This book is great! You are able to see growth in the main character. And in the end, you realize what is true.
Never underestimate the power of 'Maybe'.......2006-08-08
Mr. Maybe is a great take on the age old single girl conundrum of discovering The One. I was eager to jump into this title having read Jane Green titles before and they have been great.
Libby had given up on finding him, the elusive man to share her life with, and now she was ready to date without attachments. Well, that is until she met Nick. He was only supposed to be a fling. A man she could have fun with and not get have to deal with the mess of getting serious. Things with Nick get serious and he pulls away. Libby is left to face dating again and meets the most unlikely man.
Ed McMann is on top of his game. Widely revered in the business world and one of London's most eligible bachelors. There was no chemistry for Libby when she first met him but decided to go on the dinner date. From then on it was history, or so she thought. Libby's experiences draw upon her need to find what she wants in life rather than the expectations of what she thinks is right for her. This twist of self discovery is a welcome change in a slew of books that require the character to choose between the men in their lives.
I would have liked to see better character development in Libby's best friend Jules. The conflict that Jules has to deal with has greater importance than what the book allows for. Once Libby sees things through Jules' perspective, the conflict is dropped rather abruptly. I do understand it was necessary for plot progression, it would have been nice to have a wrap up for both couples as the book drew to a close.
As some of the other reviewers noted, the pace of the book was off slightly though this is not uncommon in books of this genere. Green is especially good at exposing the emotions of her main characters through her writing. That trait is definitely seen in this title. It is a quality that makes Mr. Maybe engaging and one of the top Jane Green books.
Mr. Maybe is a great read to explore the relationship quandary of "what might have been."
"Maybe" worth a read?.......2006-07-26
Having never heard of Jane Green I was intrigued to read what another one of Britain's top chick lit authors had to offer, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Libby Mason, 27, is the star of the book - a woman looking to ditch her PR career for a life of luxury - something she can never see her hot, charming 'fling' Nick providing. When her and Nick hit the brakes, Libby meets a potential Mr. Right - Ed McMann (yeah similar to McMahon, the US lottery guy), a rich investment banker that could provide Libby with the life she wants.
As time goes on, Libby has to struggle with what was missing from each of these relationships - passion & chemistry with Ed, security & luxury with Nick - and decide which one is more worth it to her. Each man is a Mr.Maybe, but Libby is willing to sacrifice something (her day-to-day happiness vs. her desire to be rich) to avoid being single for the rest of her life.
The book is a tad predictable in a lot of ways, but there are enough things you are wondering about as you go through that you'll keep on reading. Libby is an endearing character and dead-on with many of her thoughts. Even if you are not exactly like her, there are many actions she takes that will surely have a few readers shaking their heads and saying "Don't go there, I did it and it turned out bad!"
The writing is humorous - I wasn't splitting my sides but I felt a wry smile pop up here and there. The only problem is the pacing is a bit off - some parts feel rushed, others feel drawn out, and the ending wraps up quite quickly. The sub-plots unfortunately don't contribute much to the story, as Green has the predictable b-list characters: the best friend that understands absolutely everything, the snobby beast that becomes a 'friend', the nattering mother, the silent father...
Altogether this is a good book, and unlike a lot of writing set in the UK, or coming from the UK, Libby is an almost entirely believable character with a relatable personality - and its the characterization of the book that makes it readable and enjoyable. Be warned though...some fairly graphic love scenes tend to spring up that I was definitely not expecting!
A good, light, read regardless!
Predictable Maybe?.......2006-06-26
This book was very predictable. The author wrote very interestingly about life in England when your single looking for Mr. Right or Mr. Maybe. The pompous, rich Englishman was described very well. I would say that the publishers of the paperback should of used a different picture for the cover, since holding the book to read at work was a little embarrassing. People thought I was reading a real trashy romance novel.
Average customer rating:
- I miss the old Lestat...
- My least favorite of the series
- Farm Enchants
- Absolutely the Best of Anne Rice
- not one of her best works
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Blackwood Farm (The Vampire Chronicles)
Anne Rice
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Memnoch the Devil (Vampire Chronicles, No 5)
ASIN: 0345443683
Release Date: 2003-09-30 |
Amazon.com
In the past few years, many fans have sworn off Anne Rice, flinging her later novels against the wall with cries of "First draft!" and "Never again!" But these same fans may want to take a chance on her Southern gothic Blackwood Farm, a fast-paced and erotically charged, though uneven, novel of the Vampire Chronicles. Blackwood Farm has an unusual flaw: it isn't long enough. Many of its triumphs and tragedies demand more development than they receive. Motivations are sometimes unlikely or unexplained, and the ending is far too rushed.
Blackwood Farm introduces Quinn Blackwood, the sexy, eccentric young gentleman who becomes both a vampire and the heir to the Blackwood estate. All his life, Quinn has been haunted by Goblin, a doppelgänger no one else can see--or believe in. But Goblin is real, and he is becoming maliciously tangible, strengthened by the blood that Quinn unwillingly drinks. Quinn's only hope of liberation from his increasingly dangerous doppelgänger is to find the legendary vampire Lestat. But Lestat has vowed to destroy any vampire who sets foot in New Orleans....
Blackwood Farm features characters from both the Vampire Chronicles and the Mayfair Witches series, but this self-contained novel makes a good entry point for newcomers to Anne Rice's fictional world (however, Vampire Chronicle virgins really should start with Interview With the Vampire, the first in the series and arguably the finest vampire novel of the 20th century). --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
In her new novel, perennial bestseller Anne Rice fuses her two uniquely seductive strains of narrative -- her Vampire legend and her lore of the Mayfair witches -- to give us a world of classic deep-south luxury and ancestral secrets.
Welcome to Blackwood Farm: soaring white columns, spacious drawing rooms, bright, sun-drenched gardens, and a dark strip of the dense Sugar Devil Swamp. This is the world of Quinn Blackwood, a brilliant young man haunted since birth by a mysterious doppelgänger, “Goblin,” a spirit from a dream world that Quinn can’t escape and that prevents him from belonging anywhere. When Quinn is made a Vampire, losing all that is rightfully his and gaining an unwanted immortality, his doppelgänger becomes even more vampiric and terrifying than Quinn himself.
As the novel moves backwards and forwards in time, from Quinn’s boyhood on Blackwood Farm to present day New Orleans, from ancient Athens to 19th-century Naples, Quinn seeks out the legendary Vampire Lestat in the hope of freeing himself from the spectre that draws him inexorably back to Sugar Devil Swamp and the explosive secrets it holds.
A story of youth and promise, of loss and the search for love, of secrets and destiny,
Blackwood Farm is Anne Rice at her mesmerizing best.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
In her new novel, perennial bestseller Anne Rice fuses her two uniquely seductive strains of narrative -- her Vampire legend and her lore of the Mayfair witches -- to give us a world of classic deep-south luxury and ancestral secrets.
Welcome to Blackwood Farm: soaring white columns, spacious drawing rooms, bright, sun-drenched gardens, and a dark strip of the dense Sugar Devil Swamp. This is the world of Quinn Blackwood, a brilliant young man haunted since birth by a mysterious doppelganger, "Goblin," a spirit from a dream world that Quinn can't escape and that prevents him from belonging anywhere. When Quinn is made a Vampire, losing all that is rightfully his and gaining an unwanted immortality, his doppelganger becomes even more vampiric and terrifying than Quinn himself.
As the novel moves backwards and forwards in time, from Quinn's boyhood on Blackwood Farm to present day New Orleans, from ancient Athens to 19th-century Naples, Quinn seeks out the legendary Vampire Lestat in the hope of freeing himself from the spectre that draws him inexorably back to Sugar Devil Swamp and the explosive secrets it holds.
A story of youth and promise, of loss and the search for love, of secrets and destiny, Blackwood Farm is Anne Rice at her mesmerizing best.
Customer Reviews:
I miss the old Lestat..........2007-08-20
I was so excited for this novel, but upon reading it, I found it dissapointed, though I didnt want to admit it because I try to relish everything Anne writes. However, my favorite character perhaps in the history of literature, Lestat, was utterly wasted here I felt. I was truly sad for it. Oh well, at least I can always go back and reread (yet again) the older Vampire novels.
My least favorite of the series.......2007-07-14
I enjoy most of Anne's characters but after being introduced to Merrick (which I liked and enjoyed)I guess I expected too much. I could not bring myself to be even remotely interested in the character Quinn, he seemed to similar to Louis but with an even more depressing back story , but yet no where near as interesting. Also I was very excited to find the Mayfair witches and the Vampire Chronicles were being brought together, but quickly realized I perfered them separate as something is just lost in the translation of the characters.
Farm Enchants.......2007-05-24
What a triumph! What a beautiful and fresh novel! I am so amazed with where Anne started and where she has come. One of the biggest criticisms I've heard about Anne Rice is that her writing regarding the vampires has changed drastically since Interview, Lestat, and Queen - in other words, Anne's style has changed, as have the storylines and the characters' personalities and traits. Well, thank God for that! I fell in love with Anne's first three novels, but what a tragedy it would be were she were still writing the same stories with the same characters who have not grown and learned. The fact is that people change. Thus, her characters have changed and grown, and they have asked the hardest questions about life and death - and love. She created characters without conscience who were animalistic in their quest for blood - and now, these same characters feel responsibility for love, life, and humanity. Isn't that the hope for us all? Don't we all want redemption? After all, even the immortal aren't immortal.
Yes, Lestat began as a self-centered, arrogant, narcisistic fool whom we loved. But, I would hope that through time, Lestat would mature and learn from the great experiences he has been through over the past 30 years. And, he has. Lestat, the "brat price," has learned to love and to be loved. What a gift! Thank you Anne for these beautiful books!
Absolutely the Best of Anne Rice.......2007-02-20
Reading this book for my third time. I find that Anne Rice hadn't at all lost her touch. I loved the southern style of life that Quinn lived. I think Aunt Queen was a wonderful character showing alot of love for Quinn in grand southern style. I never found the book boring nor do I critise the romance of Quinn with both male and female. Goblin was an added feature that I wouldn't have expected at all. What a book covering Blackwood, Mayfair Witches, Taltos, and Lestate all in one book. Anne went out with a big hit on her hands as far as I am concerned. Wish she were still writing these wonderful books of which I have read them all. Thank you Anne for bringing me such joy in reading your books.
not one of her best works.......2007-01-08
"Blackwood Farm" is more a novel of the supernatural and ghosts until near the end, where the vampires appear and begin to have more of an impact on the story, although Petronia and a few others influence Quinn's life and unlife before Lestat and Merrick play their part. The main focus of the story is Quinn and the Blackwood family.
"Blackwood Farm" suffers from, in my opinion, one of Rice's faults: longwinded narratives. It's not exactly boring, just too bloody long telling the tale. Writing for the sake of words on a page doesn't make for a good novel, just a long one. Even I learned about compression in college writing! Unlike other novels by Rice, the main protagonist of the story, Quinn, is an odd character and yet, at the same time, boring. He's not interesting or captivating like Lestat, Louis, Merrick, Pandora, Marius, Armand, or even Vittorio.
Another fault I found in the book is that some of the characterizations border not on the archetypal, but come off as being stereotypical, full of generalizations and lacking a truly dynamic and unique personality, which is necessary in any writing. All of the men from the Talamasca seem the same: old British men, educated, charming, etc. There's not much to distinguish David Talbot from Sterling Oliver. There are other stereotypes: the poor woman with numerous kids, living in a trailer with broken, rusted cars in the yard - the stereotypical hillbilly - and, of course, the lone, intellectual gay bachelor.
The scene in which Quinn is turned into a vampire is comical, among other things. It comes across as contrived, an attempt to be creative that just ends up weird. It's not sensual or fascinating. It's just bizarre. From "Memnoch the Devil" onward, most of Rice's vampire novels have been filled with what can arguably be seen as amoral imagery and characters - grossly exaggerated sensuality and a fixation with male homosexuality (Why no women?). This was not the case with "The Vampire Lestat," "Queen of the Damned," "Tale of the Body Thief," "Pandora," Vittorio," and even latter novels like "Merrick," to some extent.
There are some entertaining and wonderful parts in the novel. The romantic in me loved the end. I'll not spoil it here. The ending is worth reading the entire novel just to get to it. But there is a death of a somewhat major character at the end, too.
Rice boasted of not allowing an editor to touch her work. Let me give you a couple of examples in the novel that any good editor would have picked up: Lestat has a wad of thousand dollar bills (The $100 is the U.S.'s highest denomination and has been for some time.) and there is mention of gladiators ALWAYS fighting to the death (This isn't so. They were extremely valuable to their owners, if they had owners, and didn't always fight to the death). These aren't exactly important, but annoying to read, especially the money error. And there is a weird illogical thread regarding the dangers of pregnancy with Mona Mayfair and Quinn Blackwood. This is the stated reason that they can't be together. Does birth control not exist in Rice's fictional world?
Let me add this: I love Lestat. He's one of my favorite characters in literature. I love that he's the embodiment of us all: flawed and perfect, beautiful and monstrous, spiritual and profane, wounded and broken, yet strong, sorrowful, yet happy, full of love and wonderment. He's vibrant, complex...well...alive. If he were to never return, I would miss him.
Sycophants, without the capacity for any sort of criticism, will no doubt praise this novel (as they did "Memnoch"). Let me state for the record: I love Anne Rice's novels - most of them, anyway, especially the early ones. She's one of my favorite authors, and has been for a number of years. Whenever I want to read something wonderful about New Orleans or Louisiana, where I haven't been since I was a child, I can pick up some of her books, and her ability to paint a picture of other places in the world and in time - beit Pairs or elsewhere - are second to none. But this novel is simply not one of her best. It's somewhere in between the good ("The Vampire Lestate," "Pandora," "Vittorio") and the wretched ("Memnoch the Devil" and "The Vampire Armand"). Contrary to what some people may think, Rice is capable of writing a bad novel. Even Hemingway was accused of bad writing. Why should she be any different? Is she a greater writer than him? Nothing created by men is perfect, including art, science, or politics. We are flawed, and the works of our hands are destined to miss the mark. If you want to read a good Anne Rice book, go read the earlier stuff. There are no incestuous ghosts, vampires drinking menstrual fluid, hermaphrodite vampires and those whose sexual appetites are inclined towards young boys, misunderstood devils, and general pseudo-religious, pseudo-Catholic, pseudo-New Age "mambojahambo" in those earlier novels.
Lastly, to those who do not appreciate the diversity of opinions - and that's just what I've given, no more, no less, to those who cannot read negative criticism, who label it slander or libel - both legal terms, to which this post and most, if not all, others here do not even come close to crossing that threshold, to those who despise the free flow of thought, writing, and exchange of ideas - hallmarks all of a democratic and civilized society, to those who think that using this venue to post negative statements amounts to using it as a "public urinal," I have but one simple reply: don't read my posts.
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The Just-So Woman (I Can Read Book 3)
Gary Blackwood
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0060577274
Release Date: 2006-11-07 |
Book Description
The Just-So Woman likes everything to be just perfect. In the morning she wakes up before the rooster crows. She does her chores. She feeds the cat. Then she fixes breakfast. That is how she likes things done, and so that is how she does them every day—until one day when nothing goes just the way she expects, and she learns that sometimes "just so" isn't the only way things can turn out just right.
Customer Reviews:
Simply delightful..........2006-12-05
The Just-So Woman must have everything just right; nothing can be out of order or untidy. So, when Just-So Woman has a bad day, she must learn to deal with the problems that arise. Any-Way Man is just the opposite of Just-So Woman, untidy and unorganized, yet much, much happier.
Author Gary Blackwood has done an outstanding job of writing an interesting book for young readers. THE JUST-SO WOMAN teachers young readers that sometimes it is okay if everything is not `just so.' THE JUST-SO WOMAN also gives young readers a taste of what life might have been like in the past, when the things that were needed could not just be purchased from a store, but had to be made.
THE JUST-SO WOMAN is a delightful tale, sure to entice children to read more. Written with perfectly understandable language just right for emergent readers, THE JUST-SO WOMAN is informative and a good addition to the I Can Read! collection.
Product Description
"Welcome to Blackwood Farm: soaring white columns, spacious drawing rooms, sun-drenched gardens, and a dark strip of the dense Sugar Devil Swamp. This is the world of Quinn Blackwood, a brilliant young man haunted since birth by a mysterious doppelganger, a spirit known as Goblin, a spirit from a dreamworld that Quinn can't escape and that prevents him from belonging anywhere. When Quinn is made a vampire, losing all that is rightfully his and gaining an unwanted immortality, his doppelganger becomes even more vampiric and terrifying than Quinn himself." As the novel moves backward and forward in time, from Quinn's boyhood on Blackwood Farm to present-day New Orleans, from ancient Pompeii to nineteenth-century Naples, Quinn seeks out the legendary Vampire Lestat in the hope of freeing himself from the specter that draws him inexorably back to Sugar Devil Swamp and the explosive secrets it holds.
Customer Reviews:
Better than expected.......2006-02-05
I have been reading Anne Rice for at least 10 years, and am familiar with The Vampire Chronicles. So, since that series ended and the new vampire series began, I've naturally read those also.
I think this one is the best out of the new vampire tales. I was beginning to feel a little disheartened by Anne's prior attempts and wondered if she'd lost her touch. But then this book came out and I was hooked again.
This book is a ghost story and a vampire story sort of rolled into one. The main character, Quinn Blackwood, tells of his life at Blackwood Farm and how he first encountered a spirit he calls Goblin. Goblin looks exactly like Quinn, and as Quinn ages, so does Goblin. At first, Quinn is intrigued by Goblin and they sort of devise their own way of communicating, or at least being able to understand one another.
As time goes on, Quinn soon tires of Goblin.. but Goblin doesn't tire of Quinn. And in fact he seems to be gaining strength and is able to do things he could never do before... especially after Quinn is turned into a vampire himself.
Amidst all this, Quinn meets and falls in love with a woman named Rebecca. As he becomes enmeshed in his feelings for her, he tries to further distance himself from Goblin, and in some respects, his life at Blackwood Farm. While doing so, he attempts to seek out Lestat, of course being aware of his powers and hoping that he will somehow be able to help him shake Goblin once and for all.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Product Description
Title: 6 Anne Rice Novels, Hardcovers - Vittorio the Vampire, Merrick, Blood and Gold, Blackwood Farm, Blood Canticle, Christ The Lord
Binding: Hardcover
Publication date: 1999-2005
Average customer rating:
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Blackwood Farm
Anne Rice
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000OP99IK |
Average customer rating:
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Blackwood Farm
Anne Rice
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY3RTY |
Average customer rating:
|
Blackwood Farm
Anne Rice
Manufacturer: Chatto & Windus
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKJQ94 |
Average customer rating:
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Blackwood Farm
Anne Rice
Manufacturer: ALFRED A. KNOPF
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O5VUAA |
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