Waiting for the Barbarians

Book Description

For decades the Magistrate has run the affairs of a tiny frontier settlement, ignoring the impending war between the barbarians and the Empire, whose servant he is. But when the interrogation experts arrive, he is jolted into sympathy for the victims, and into a quixotic act of rebellion which lands him in prison.

Customer Reviews:

Literature for the Post 9/11 Era.......2007-09-22

"Waiting for the Barbarians" seems like it was published in 2003 instead of 1980. It's an exploration of the psychic realities of living along the borders of a society that is bureaucratic, militaristic, terrorist-paranoid, and perhaps justifiable so. Perhaps.

And it's not simply political cant either. It has insight rather than just reaffirmation of typical beliefs. Coetzee questions everything and he knows more questions than most of us and dares to ask them too.

This is certainly a work for politicians and those in power, but it's a work for the rest of us too. I couldn't put it down.

So much depth to explore.......2007-08-02

To me, this is a book mostly about the strange and ambiguous nature of intimacy. Intimacy between people just as persons, between the sexes, between the torturer and his victim, between races, between present and past.

Coetzee points us to this in several places: here is a key one, where the magistrate is just beginning his strange, almost sexless relation with the half-blind girl: "I prowl around her, talking about our vagrancy ordinances, sick at myself. Her skin begins to glow in the warmth of the closed room. She tugs at her coat, opens her throat to the fire. The distance between myself and her torturers, I realize, is negligible; I shudder." But he washes her, caresses her - yet never has sex with her until near the end of the story, and in so doing destroys the relationship. It was founded on one kind of intimacy, one which did not break a surface, and also on another blindness, his, because it turns out the girl hated his care of her.

In the same way, he hovers between initially staying on the surface regarding knowledge of what the psychopathic torturers from the central Empire are doing to people, and breaking through into protest - which then destroys his comfortable life and his career and puts him on the run. Yet when the Empire's hounds have him in their power and could easily have killed him, they too hold back... perhaps it is just the thought of holding him available for the intimacy of further torture. The torturers feel that they gradually penetrate all layers to ultimately reach the truth...even when facts show them otherwise: the "truth" is meaningless, or the victim dies.

The one fully sexual relationship the magistrate has is really the least intimate..."in the middle of the sexual act I found myself losing my way like a storyteller losing the thread of his story." Intimacy is not to be found where one might expect it.

The "barbarians" (really just simple nomads) are seen by the Empire's citizens as completely alien - the closest they come to contact is when some are stripped naked and brutally, bloodily beaten in public. On the viewers' faces he sees "...the same expression: not hatred, not bloodlust, but a curiosity so intense that their bodies are drained by it and only their eyes meet, organs of a new and ravening appetite."

And again ..his excavations of ancient sites represent an attempt to reach an intimacy with the past - "In a heap of ashes I have found fragments of sun-dried clay pottery and something brown which may once have been a leather shoe or cap but which fell to pieces before my eyes."

This is a profound work, not one to take in fully at one reading. There is room for much contemplation on the theme of eyes and sight, the role they play: and on the idea of "belonging" - where does one feel at home, what is the emotional depth that stems from long acquaintance with a place, or way of life, or person. All really relate to the central concept of intimacy.

Timeless Classic.......2007-07-29

While this book is only 152 pages in length, it is written with a tremendous sense of authority and simplicity by Coetzee. The novel follows the last days of a civilian magistrate in the frontier outpost of an unnamed empire. We encounter the magistrate as the the Empire sends a military commander, Captain Joll (the only named character in the book)to help prevent the encroachment of the "barbarians". During the early course of the book, the magistrate comes to question both the real threat of the barbarians and righteousness of the empire -- while the magistrate was begin to reflect on this during the latter years of his life, this became more evident to him through his encounter with a "barbarian" girl after her torture by the military.

This book can be read as a reflection and allegory on previous colonial times but also is quite relevant for America today. The powerful messages contained in this book force the reader to reflect on any culture that is different than us and the way we perceive threat -- real or not -- in a modern world.
The beauty

Pain is truth; all else is subject to doubt.......2007-07-09

Twenty-five years, a couple of masterpieces and a Nobel ago, J. M. Coetzee wrote a short novel o large relevance. "Waiting for the Barbarians" is nowadays as important and urgent as when it was published. Little could the writer know in what chaos the world would be in the early 21st Century and that the events as close as the ones narrated in his novel were taking place in the name of freedom.

"Waiting for the Barbarians" is set in a time and place never identified which makes the novel sort of a universal version of a known time and place. But, at the same time, this distinguishes the book as both timeless and placeless. Coetzee writes, above all, about politics - even though for some he is talking about the human condition. As a matter of fact, both aspects are closely linked in this novel.

The main character and narrator is a man we only know as the Magistrate. He works for a certain Empire. Close to it there are barbarian tribes that rarely reach the border. The Empire suspects that the barbarians are preparing to mutiny. Nomads are captured and interrogated in the most ugly form, including violence and humiliation. Someone realizes that ''pain is truth; all else is subject to doubt.''

The Empire sees threat in everywhere and everybody. Just like a contemporary empire whose government invades countries and kills people in the name of what he thinks is right, disguising these events and something helpful.

"Waiting for the Barbarians" exploits the chain between human condition and politics. The narrative reaches the dark side of both. And however much the narrative can be called an allegory it is still to close to our reality for pretending that it is just fiction.

An Importand Book.......2007-06-20

I respect what Coetzee has done in this novel, and I imagine I will read more of him--I may even go back and reread the center section of this particular novel--but I don't believe I will become as smitten by him as so many others seem to be.

Coetzee uses several devices that work very well in the novel.

I have rarely read a present tense novel that did not seem gimmicky and somehow bombastic, but the tense works very well in Barbarians--so well I was often unaware of it. And the use of defamiliarization, even within an already exotic landscape, works very well. The power of that opening image: "I have never seen anything like it: two little discs of glass suspended in front of his eyes in loops of wires." Brings to mind the train wreck in opening of Robinson's Housekeeping. Perhaps it is the steel and glass (Robinson's train and Coetzee's sunglasses) these materials being common, yet essential hallmarks of civilization. Both books draw out the tensions between the idea of civilization and that inner human wildness. For Coetzee that inner landscape is full of darkness, desire, guilt. In Robinson's novel the wilderness is less violent, less bestial, but just as dark and unfathomed.

There is also a certain controlled nature behind both books. They share a level of abstraction in the narrative that place them near the realm of fable. Though I appreciate such things, I tend not to be as taken in by them. As with Robinson's book, I found certain sections of the book more compelling than others--those sections where the characters stood vivid and acting in their world. In Robinson's novel that included the last section of the book when Silvie and Ruthie come into their own. In Barbarians it was the central part of the book, the narrator's journey to repatriate the Native; when the character's inner struggle clarified into outer action, that emerged as the most engaging.

The narrator of Barbarians is never named. Nor is the place or the empire. The novel strives for universality. It could be any empire, the narrator could be any middling bureaucrat. And though I see the point of it, I don't find the device as compelling as real place and time. I compare the book to Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian, they share something of theme (empire, myth, nation, barbarity) but McCarthy's work is grounded in a particularly place and time (1850s American West). With this grounding, McCarthy avoids the intellectualization of the theme. If and when the reader recognizes the somewhat well worn, post-modern ideas of the novel (inner darkness, powerlessness in the face of circumstance, the nature of evil) the reader is not left to think about them, to examine them from a comfortable distance, but must instead, given the hyper-reality of Meridian, feel these themes on a gut level. In this way the ideas gain an emotional depth, even if they are somewhat familiar.

And just as personal preference, I did not like the narrator of Barbarians. I know why he had to be the narrator, but his laziness, his paternalism, his strange sexual tendencies, his passivity and guilt irked me. I was curious to see how he would act, how his desires and fears would drive him, but I never felt real empathy for him. Perhaps that would be different if I were a South African and it was 1980. But my reaction to the narrator is emblematic of my experience with the entire novel. I was engaged and curious, but I was never fully taken in.

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Excellent, product condition as described
Intelligence combined with clever writing
A great read for political hacks everywhere.

Waiting for the Barbarians
Lewis H. Lapham
Manufacturer: Verso
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

History & Theory | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

U.S. | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Gag Rule: On the Suppression of Dissent and the Stifling of Democracy
Pretensions to Empire
Lapham's Rules of Influence: A Careerist's Guide to Success, Status, and Self-Congratulation
The Agony of Mammon: The Imperial Global Economy Explains Itself to the Membership in Davos, Switzerland
Money and Class in America: Notes and Observations on Our Civil Religion

ASIN: 1859848826

Book Description

With invective all the more deadly for its grace and wit, Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's magazine, presents a portrait of a feckless American establishment gone large in the stomach and soft in the head. This acerbic commentary on the insouciance of the monied ruling class concludes with a forewarning piece where Lapham looks at the fate of indolent ruling classes throughout history.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent, product condition as described.......2007-08-06

Perfectly satisfied with the transaction. The book condition was as it was described. Will recommend the seller without any hesitation.

Intelligence combined with clever writing.......2003-04-27

Lewis Latham has served for some time in the role of 'a voice crying in the wilderness'. I am often amazed of the breadth of his historical perspective and his currently 'unamerican' willingness, or rather eagerness, to reach below the surface of events and bring to light essences which an informed and engaged electorate need to be conscious of, but will rarely have the opportunity to consider if they rely solely upon the mainstream U S media for information. A Lewis Latham essay is like a trip to another part of the globe without the jet lag. This collection continues his excellent tradition and the truths contained within, while topical, are timeless in value. If you care about the world and our place in it, and you wish to be challenged to reconsider your assumptions about reality, reading Mr. Latham is a must.

A great read for political hacks everywhere........1999-03-18

Most political books are either so slanted and partisan they induce literary vomiting, or so bland and general they say nothing at all. This book is well written, well researched and just funny. Sarcasm in its highest form paralells the very literature it mocks, and this book succeeds in that. To anyone who enjoys the sport of Americna politics, or just wonders where this democracy-on-prozac is headed, I highly recomend it.

Esperando a Los Barbaros / Waiting for the Barbarians (Contemporanea / Contemporary)

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Esperando a Los Barbaros / Waiting for the Barbarians (Contemporanea / Contemporary)
J. M. Coetzee
Manufacturer: Debolsillo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Foreign Language Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Three Plays: St.James's Blues, A Bed for the Knight, Waiting for the Barbarians

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Three Plays: St.James's Blues, A Bed for the Knight, Waiting for the Barbarians
Carlo Ardito
Manufacturer: Amber Lane Press Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1872868282

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Waiting for the barbarians
Christopher Wiseman
Manufacturer: Fiddlehead Poetry Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Waiting for the barbarians: rare books and the new university in Canada.: An article from: Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada

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Waiting for the barbarians: rare books and the new university in Canada.: An article from: Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada
Bruce Whiteman
Manufacturer: Bibliographical Society of Canada
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Antiquarian & Rare Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: B00096QYEQ
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada, published by Bibliographical Society of Canada on September 22, 1996. The length of the article is 3644 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Waiting for the barbarians: rare books and the new university in Canada.
Author: Bruce Whiteman
Publication: Papers of the Bibliographical Society of Canada (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 1996
Publisher: Bibliographical Society of Canada
Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Page: 181-9

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Waiting for the Barbarians
J. M. Coetzee
Manufacturer: Penguin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Apartheid and the decline of the civilisation idea: An essay on Nadine Gordimer's July's people and J.M. Coetzee's Waiting for the barbarians

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Apartheid and the decline of the civilisation idea: An essay on Nadine Gordimer's July's people and J.M. Coetzee's Waiting for the barbarians
Paul B Rich
Manufacturer: University of the Witwatersrand, African Studies Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Penguin Readers Guide for Boyhood and Waiting for the Barbarians: Pack of 10

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Penguin Readers Guide for Boyhood and Waiting for the Barbarians: Pack of 10
Penguin Books
Manufacturer: Putnam Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Notes | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0147713048

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Waiting For The Barbarians
J.M. Coetzee
Manufacturer: VINTAGE (RAND)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Description

When her old friend Martha decides to get married in Las Vegas, Jessica Fletcher makes the trip to watch her walk down the aisle. But what are the odds that she'll be back two years later-to watch Martha stand accused of her husband's murder?

Jessica's never been one to gamble, but she's willing to bet that Martha isn't guilty. Her husband was a high-rolling Las Vegas local with three ex-wives and plenty of jealous acquaintances. Joining Martha's defense team, Jessica combs through the man's past to find the real killer. But as the media attention grows-and Jessica is interviewed by the news anchors of "Court-TV"-the stakes are raised, and Jessica learns how to play for keeps.

Customer Reviews:

Jackpot Jessica.......2006-07-25

I have read several of the "Murder She Wrote" books and I must say that this is one of the most enjoyable and engaging stories in the series. Seldom has a mystery in this or any other series drawn me into the story like this one did. I really just can't say enough good things about this book!

One of the criticisms that have been aired about some of the books in this series was the lack of depth for many of the characters and in some of the stories this is certainly the case. This time however Mr. Bain was firing on all cylinders for not only are the characters colorful and believable they also make you either sympathize with them or despise them. It is rare for a book of this type to grab you so thoroughly that you really begin to care about what happens to some of the characters and get somewhat emotionally involved but this book had that very effect on me.

This is one of those books that tells the reader one story in order to explain what is going on with the main story and so a good deal of the book is a flashback to a wedding held two years before the main story begins. It is then that several of the Cabot Cove gang fly out to Las Vegas for the wedding of one of their former neighbors to a wealthy businessman. Among the visitors are naturally Jessica, Seth and Mort and from the very beginning Seth is sure that his old friend Martha is making a horrible mistake. (As a side note I would really like to know why Mort's wife has a different name in the books than the one she had on television.) It turns out however that for the most part Martha is happy with her new life, at least until her new husband is murdered and she is charged with the crime.

The main story revolves around the trial and Jessica's efforts to clear her friend. Along the way she wins a slots jackpot and gets taken for a ride by a gangster. She also meets a delightful little lady who plays the slots at every opportunity and like to go to the Vegas wedding chapels and take pictures of the ceremonies. She doesn't know the couples, she just like to go to weddings and her pictures actually provide Jessica with a vital clue.

Overall this is one of Mr. Bain's best efforts and despite the small part played by the quirky Cabot Cove gang this entry in the series is a definite winner. Jessica it seems is at her best when the pressure is on and the pressure is certainly on in this case.

Well written Murder she wrote.......2006-03-14

You Bet Your Life has Jessica Fletcher in Las Vegas to help investigate a murder and to get aquitted a friend of hers from Maine. I thought, for the most part, that this was a well written book, with accurate and interesting atmosphere of Las Vegas. Some threads weren't really tied together at the end, and anyone who commonly reads cozy Mysteries will quickly realize who did it, but, I still really enjoyed it. The trial unfolds interestingly, and the Las Vegas scene is well described.
I recommend this to cozy mystery lovers.

Jessica goes to help a friend charged with murder.......2003-04-29

Sitting down to read a Murder She Wrote book is like reading a letter from a dear friend. From watching the tv shows for so many years, I feel like I know all the regular characters. I can see them in my mind.

Jessica and some of her friends traveled to Las Vegas to watch their friend Martha marry Victor Kildaire two years ago. Martha had previously been widowed. Her first husband was a doctor in Cabot Cove. Dr. Seth Hazlitt isn't too fond of her new husband and the quickness of the wedding.

Now Jessica is traveling alone to Las Vegas. Martha has been charged with Victor's murder. Jessica does not believe she is guilty. She starts asking questions and getting information. She joins Martha's defense team and stays at her house. This gives Jessica more access to information. She is interviewed by Court TV.

Victor was a high-rolling Las Vegas local with three ex-wives and many people who were jealous of him. The suspects are almost unlimited. The three ex-wives were diverse and very suspicious.

Once again Jessica is assisting a friend and getting herself in dangerous situations. I enjoyed this book. It is always fun to read a Murder She Wrote book. It is definitely a cozy. I do prefer the ones set in Cabot Cove, ME, as I know most of the people in those. But this book was well written with a good plot and interesting characters.

Not having been to Las Vegas I can't say whether the setting was accurate, but it fit what I know about Las Vegas.

The authors created enough suspects so that you could not easily figure out who did it.

I highly recommend this book and the whole Murder She Wrote series.

By Far the Best.......2003-04-15

This is quite a step forward for this series of mysteries. The writing is better than it has been. The mystery is intriguing in that it is told with great detail with regards to the defense team's efforts to prove Jessica's friend guilty. Throughout the book, I kept thinking that perhaps she WAS guilty and that added to the pleasure of reading it. I hope the following books in this series are as well written and as intricate as this one!

Good mystery read!.......2002-10-29

I enjoyed this jessica fletcher mystery. It brings to life Las Vegas and the gambling world. There is also the courtroom setting and a behind-the-scenes look of being part of a defense team. In my opinion, the jessica fletcher mysteries are getting better and better. Keep up the good work.

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Murder She Wrote: You Bet Your Life
Jessica; Bain, Donald Fletcher
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000LNMC2A

Damned If We Do... (Renegade Legion)
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Hard to find but a goos SF warstory

Damned If We Do... (Renegade Legion)
Peter L. Rice
Manufacturer: Fasa
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Frost Death (Renegade Legion)

Monsoon (Renegade Legion, 5604)

ASIN: 1555600999

Customer Reviews:

Hard to find but a goos SF warstory.......1999-11-29

I have re-read this book at least 4 times, not because I have nothing to read, but because I like the story. A bit dry in places, but somehow always holding your attention. This is the best of the three books Rice wrote for the Renegade Legion Series. If you like David Drake or S.M. Sterling who will probably also like this book. Recomend.

Damned If We Do: Contradictions in Women's Health Care.(Brief Article): An article from: Pacific Affairs

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Damned If We Do: Contradictions in Women's Health Care.(Brief Article): An article from: Pacific Affairs
Nancy Waxler-Morrison
Manufacturer: University of British Columbia
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B00092TC6C
Release Date: 2005-07-28

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Pacific Affairs, published by University of British Columbia on June 22, 1993. The length of the article is 450 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Damned If We Do: Contradictions in Women's Health Care.(Brief Article)
Author: Nancy Waxler-Morrison
Publication: Pacific Affairs (Refereed)
Date: June 22, 1993
Publisher: University of British Columbia
Volume: v66 Issue: n2 Page: p309(2)

Article Type: Book Review, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Treating adolescents and children with antidepressants: damned if you do, damned if you don't part 1--what we know and what we don't know.(Essential PsychopharmaStahlogy): ... Educational Updates (PsychEd Up)

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Treating adolescents and children with antidepressants: damned if you do, damned if you don't part 1--what we know and what we don't know.(Essential PsychopharmaStahlogy): ... Educational Updates (PsychEd Up)
Stephen M. Stahl
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000GEISW2
Release Date: 2006-06-19

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Psychopharmacology Educational Updates (PsychEd Up), published by Thomson Gale on January 1, 2005. The length of the article is 959 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Treating adolescents and children with antidepressants: damned if you do, damned if you don't part 1--what we know and what we don't know.(Essential PsychopharmaStahlogy)
Author: Stephen M. Stahl
Publication: Psychopharmacology Educational Updates (PsychEd Up) (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Page: 6

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Treating adolescents and children with antidepressants: damned if you do, damned if you don't part 2--what we should do.(Essential PsychopharmaStahlogy) ... Educational Updates (PsychEd Up)

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Treating adolescents and children with antidepressants: damned if you do, damned if you don't part 2--what we should do.(Essential PsychopharmaStahlogy) ... Educational Updates (PsychEd Up)
Stephen M. Stahl
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000GEISWW
Release Date: 2006-06-19

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Psychopharmacology Educational Updates (PsychEd Up), published by Thomson Gale on February 1, 2005. The length of the article is 770 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Treating adolescents and children with antidepressants: damned if you do, damned if you don't part 2--what we should do.(Essential PsychopharmaStahlogy)
Author: Stephen M. Stahl
Publication: Psychopharmacology Educational Updates (PsychEd Up) (Magazine/Journal)
Date: February 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Page: 6

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Damned If We Do: Contradictions in Women's Health Care

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Damned If We Do: Contradictions in Women's Health Care
Dorothy H. Broom
Manufacturer: Allen & Unwin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Feminist Theory | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Public Health | Administration & Policy | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Emergency Medical Services | Allied Health Professions | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1863730540

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Damned if we do, and damned if we don't
Brumsic Brandon
Manufacturer: s.n.]
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

There’s no such thing as an easy divorce. But knowing what to expect and being prepared to cope with the emotional, legal, and financial complications of a divorce certainly lessen the pain.Divorce For Dummies, Second Edition helps you minimize the stress and strain of divorce by cutting legal costs and knowing everything you should ask your attorney and expect your attorney to ask you. This reassuring guide covers everything you need to know about divorce, including:

Preparing financially for your divorce
Putting your divorce in motion
Telling your kids
Division of assets and spousal support
Child custody and support
Hiring and working with an attorney
Negotiating on your own behalf
New laws covering common law marriages, homosexual partnerships, and parents

Complete with a directory of divorce Web sites and tips on how to move on, this is the resource you need to survive your divorce and thrive in your new life.

Customer Reviews:

Divorce for Dummies.......2007-03-13

I found this book very interesting. I am not divorced nor married, but the book provides a wealth of information to know before entering into marriage. Protecting oneself is key and I feel Divorce for Dummies opened my eyes to what I did not realize.

Covers Many Topics.......2006-04-19

This book hit on many topics and is a good reference book to use throughout the various stages of your divorce. Touches on a wide variety of things and generally answers some questions you might have. Some advice in this book I did not see in other divorce books such as what to do about debt in both of your names. Outlines what to do about credit card debt in both names as well as mortgage debt in both names. Mortgage debt is harder to get out of your name even if your spouse is awarded the asset. You are both still liable for mortgage debt until it is paid off or refinanced. Even if your divorce decree says that your former spouse is responsible for paying it. Book tells you how to communicate with credit card companies in regard to protecting your credit.
This book is worth reading because you will probably learn at least a few things you did not previously know.

thorough, reliable.......2005-09-18

Divorce for Dummies is a thorough overview of the divorce process and ways to make it easier and less expensive. I know the authors from interviewing them for my Internet radio show, [...] and other articles, and I know they are very careful in the resources and information they present. I also believe they really do have the consumer's best interest at heart.

As a consumer educator myself, I know some of the information -- especially related to finances -- is crucial. I've talked with so many people over the years who have been burned because they thought everything was taken care of with the divorce decree. Unfortunately, that's not the final word on how things will work out! That is especially true with regard to credit. If you have joint accounts PLEASE read their warnings or you may likely get stuck with your ex's bad credit for years.

Even if you have a great divorce attorney, he or she won't have time to cover all the topics in this book with you, so I recommend it to make sure you're well-informed. One more caveat -- make sure you get the 2nd edition of this book, which is the most recent!

OK for general information, not for individual states.......2004-05-31

I prefer books that are state specific such as Texas Family Law Guide, Louisiana Family Law Guide, etc.

Good overview.......2003-07-25

Overall this book covers a lot of important topics with regards to the whole divorce process with good explanations and definitions. While some areas could have gone into more detail and perhaps provided some worksheets or step by steps guides, I don't think any (critical) issues were left out. While some other books I've seen stated the obvious and left you thinking "well duh"...this book had good information throughout.

Fighting modern evils that destroy our homes: A startling exposure of the snares and pitfalls of the social world, vividly depicting how homes are wrecked ... etc. : a crusade for the purity of the home

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a fascinating collectible

Fighting modern evils that destroy our homes: A startling exposure of the snares and pitfalls of the social world, vividly depicting how homes are wrecked ... etc. : a crusade for the purity of the home
Frederick Scott Miller
Manufacturer: P.W. Ziegler co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Social Psychology & Interactions | Psychology & Counseling | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

Divorce | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0008C2O9K

Customer Reviews:

a fascinating collectible.......2005-04-13

This is an amazing chronicle of the morality of the early 1900s. Tons of wonderful drawings, insightful dialogue.

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Divorce for Dummies
John; Reed, Mary Ventura
Manufacturer: Hungry Minds Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JGSRQE

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