Book Description
The love story of Emperor Jahangir and Mehrunnisa, begun in the critically praised debut novel The Twentieth Wife, continues in Indu Sundaresan's lush second novel, The Feast of Roses. Here, Mehrunnisa comes into Jahangir's harem as his twentieth and last wife. This time Jahangir has married for love, and members of his court are worried that Mehrunnisa could exert control over their futures. Their concerns are well founded.
Mehrunnisa soon becomes the most powerful woman in the Mughal Empire in spite of a formidable rival in the imperial harem who has schemed and plotted against her from the start. She rules from behind the veil, securing her status by forming a junta of sorts with her father, brother, and stepson -- and risking it all, even her daughter, to get what she wants. But she never loses the love of the man who bestows this power upon her....
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"The love story of Emperor Jahangir and Mehrunnisa, begun in the critically praised debut novel The Twentieth Wife, continues in Indu Sundaresan's The Feast of Roses. This lush new novel tells the story behind one of the great tributes to romantic love and one of the seven wonders of the world -- the Taj Mahal. Mehrunnisa, better known as Empress Nur Jahan, comes into Jahangir's harem as his twentieth and last wife. Almost from the beginning of her royal life she fits none of the established norms of womanhood in seventeenth-century India. Mehrunnisa is the first woman Jahangir marries for love, at the ""old"" age of thirty-four. He loves her so deeply that he eventually transfers his powers of sovereignty to her. Power and wealth do not come easily to Mehrunnisa -- she has to fight for them. She has a formidable rival in the imperial harem, Empress Jagat Gosini, who has schemed and plotted against Mehrunnisa from early on. Mehrunnisa's problems do not just lie within the harem walls, but at court, too, as she battles powerful ministers for supremacy. These ministers, who have long had Emperor Jahangir's confidence and trust, consider Mehrunnisa a mere woman who cannot have a voice in the outside world. Mehrunnisa combats all of this by forming a junta of sorts with three men she can rely on -- her father, her brother, and Jahangir's son Prince Khurram. She demonstrates great strength of character and cunning to get what she wants, sometimes at a cost of personal sorrow when she almost loses her daughter's love. But she never loses the love of the man who bestows this power upon her -- Emperor Jahangir. The Feast of Roses is a tale of this power and love, the story of power behind a veil. "
Customer Reviews:
Tami Abdullah.......2007-09-21
A wonderful book. It is hard to put down. Indu is a magnificent writer.
Seductive and intelligent.......2007-08-03
Sundaresan is talented in her craft. She completely seduces the reader with vividly intense writing. She is artful in explaining customs and traditions without being condescending. The reader is enchanted by her storyline of a strong willed woman from tenuous circumstances and follows her like a waft of smoke through Mehrunnisa's path.
The love story is universal, and everyone can relate to the desire and longing for both life and love that the main character pursues, in this case, in the second half of her life. This sequel follows the character and the challenges she continues to face. She is so well created, that we grow to love her, knowing her flaws and admiring her strengths.
Immediately upon finishing the first book, I hunted down this sequel, which was as richly fulfilling as the first book was. I found myself reading the book by this author at every spare moment.
Love, murder, political intrigue..........2007-05-18
The other online reviews of this book are very accurate. This book seems less character driven than The Twentieth Wife. It's quite heavy in descriptive detail, which is sometimes plodding. But, Mehrunnisa's story is fascinating. What's that quote about "nice women don't make history"? She became increasingly ambitious, at times blinded by it, but always centered on her husband's love. Love, murder, political intrigue - what more can a novelist ask for? I enjoyed this very much.
The Feast of Roses.......2007-03-24
This book made me aware of the interesting background of the Indian culture. I feel it was very well written with a lot of detail and information. However, at times there was too much detail and it slowed down the story. The author knows how to weave the facts with an interesting story. I would loan it to a friend.
Exotic Moghul historical novel.......2007-01-09
This book is wonderful, well written and atmospheric. The personal story of Nur Jahan and her rise to power through her marriage to Jahanghir 4th Moghul Emperor in 17th Century India. Indu Sundaresan draws us into another world so vividly: sandalwood and roses, rustle of silk, cool marble floors under our feet, tiger hunts, the intrigue of the Moghul court, the hidden power of the Imperial harem (the Zenana)the circling European powers looking for a foot in the door to the riches of India. This book is a perfect vacation or winter evening read by the fireside. I gave copies of both 20th Wife and Feast of Roses to all the teenage daughters and nieces in my life. Reading this book has prompted to me to search out more historical accounts of the Moghul Imperial rule in India.
Book Description
When Ernest Hemingway committed suicide in 1961 he left four unfinished works--A Moveable Feast, Islands in the Stream, The Garden of Eden, and an untitled work on his travels in Africa. The edited versions that have come down to readers and scholars of Hemingway appear as distinct, disjointed texts that fit oddly into his oeuvre. Through extensive literary detective work Burwell has uncovered substantial evidence that Hemingway in fact designed the three published works as a trilogy, what she terms "his own Portrait of the Artist."
Customer Reviews:
Groundbreaking Study.......2005-09-28
This is the only in-depth scholarly work extant on the mass of unfinished books Hemingway left behind in 1961. Besides that, it is fluidly written, thoroughly documented, thoughtfully analyzed, and excellent in all respects.
It matters not whether or not the thesis -- that the posthumous works constitute a loose unified work -- holds up. To state it and explore it, as the author does, is to cast a lot of light on the very complex issue of Hemingway's last works and their difficult manuscripts. No one had even gone as far as to lay the groundwork for such a question before Burwell. Indeed it was doubtless necessary to proceed on some sort of hypothesis to go through these widely divergent manuscripts chronologically, as the author does, and to then present a coherent text of her own regarding her studies.
The author also has a great openness and sympathy for Hemingway and his tortured, insistent aestheticism. It shines through the entire work and raises it to a very rare level in modern literary criticism.
Book Description
Glen Duncan has been hailed by the Times Literary Supplement (London) as one of Britain's twenty best young novelists, alongside such writers as Hari Kunzru and Zadie Smith. His new novel, I, Lucifer -- shortlisted for the Geoffrey Faber Award -- is a satirical tour de force fueled by a scorching, hyper-intelligent wit that burns up the pages. The End is nigh, and the Prince of Darkness has been given one last shot at redemption, if he can manage to live out a reasonably blameless life on earth. As a trial run, he negotiates a month of "trying without buying" in the body of struggling writer Declan Gunn. ("Incarnation, the angelic drug of choice. Unlike cocaine, not to be sniffed at.") Luce seizes the opportunity to binge on earthly delights, to straighten the biblical record (Adam, it's hinted, was a misguided variation on the Eve design), to celebrate his favorite achievements (Elton John, for one), and to try to get his screenplay sold, but the experience of walking among us isn't what His Majesty expected: instead of teaching us what it's like to be him, Lucifer finds himself understanding what it's like to be human.
Customer Reviews:
Way too much work to read.......2007-08-23
You know how people just try way too hard sometimes? That was the feeling I got when I read this book. Duncan used 27 words when he could have used 3. Next time, just use the 3 words and save us 200 pages.
Bueno.......2007-08-23
Este libro es bueno, pero llega un momento en que se pone un poco aburrido, porque de pronto yo esperaba algo mas de el, espero que la película sea mejor.
ADD Anyone?.......2007-08-14
I, Lucifer was an uproariously funny novel that loses steam as it goes along. The first half of the novel reads like one giant one-liner, the laughs and sarcasm come so fast and thick, but the second half, reads more like an occasionally funny, morally awakening tale, which tends to fragment the novel somewhat. Regardless, I did enjoy the novel and even found myself liking the rather nasty Lucifer.
In it, Lucifer gets a second shot at Redemption provided he lives out a normal human existence, which he quickly adds a "try before buy" bargain into the mix. The story focuses on Lucifer living a human life as well as some disjointed anecdotes about Lucifer's life peppered in the mix.
As I said before, the book is very funny, but does settle down and become a little dull as the book progresses. Nevertheless, I did really enjoy it, even if it was very uneven at times. But, and this is a big one, the style of the book is "steam of conscious" so there are a great many times when Lucifer goes off on a several page long tangent in the middle of the story, like an ADD kid on amphetamines. So, if that style of writing really irritates you, you might not want to check this one out. But, if you can suffer through the narrative interruptions, it is a very original, interesting book, well-worth the read. Grade: B+
I had to laugh at some of these reviews.......2007-08-10
I really did get a good chuckle out of some of these reviews. This is not a novel for anyone who needs their fiction spoon fed to them or who can't track the point (which was part of the point). The former should stick to chick-lit and the pablum touted in Oprah's book of the month club, while the latter might enjoy curling up with Seuss or Silverstein. But anyone who's read Milton, Dante, or Blake and isn't a fundamentalist tight *$$ should get a huge kick out of this. It was hilarious fun and I recommend it to anyone who doesn't have to stop reading and rush to Wikipedia to find out who Raskolnikov was.
Satan is a whiner!.......2007-07-24
I don't read a lot of literary fiction. Very often I find it to be needlessly meandering, self-indulgent and overly autobiographical. Glen Duncan has received a large amount of praise for I, Lucifer, his third book. Duncan has been short listed for the Geoffrey Faber Award and named as one of England's best young writers.
In I, Lucifer God offers Satan a deal that he will receive redemption for his role in rebellion against God if he can lead a relatively sinless life in the body of Declan Gunn, a pseudonym for the author.
What follows is a very enjoyable 100 pages where Satan runs rife through London experiencing the human senses for the first time. Duncan strings together pump adjectives flowing into stream like sentences in which the color of a blade of grass is described like a fine portrait.
The book is framed as a kind of memoir where Lucifer documents his life on Earth and his experience among the living. He also recounts his version of biblical events and pretty much lets you know why God was such a bastard that had to be rebelled against.
The beginning is interesting, witty, fun and offers some insightful ideas on several Biblical events. The problem comes when Duncan runs out of plot and interesting situations for Satan to explore.
Satan's explanations turns more and more into whining and ranting about what a bad lot he had being one of God's angels. A movie deal Satan was trying to put together is forgotten about as he devotes himself more and more to whining.
What started out as a good concept faded and cooled like dying embers in a fading fire. A twist of some sort raises its head in the last 20 pages as Satan rather predictably faces his end as the story is quickly wrapped up.
I know that literary fiction doesn't have to be strictly plot based. That the experience of a literary book is supposed to be worth the trip, not the story as a whole. I understand that, but at the end of the day I wonder if they couldn't do better.
Book Description
This installment of the Modesty Blaise adventures finds Modesty and faithful friend Willie Garvin trying to get to the bottom of another of Seff's evil plots. When it is discovered that a disturbed young man named Lucifer has the ability to foresee the death of those around him, Seff recruits the boy into his gang and uses his powers of premonition to evil ends, extracting ransom from rich victims who have been told of their impending death. During the course of her investigation Modesty's cover is blown, and she finds herself trapped on Seff's island stronghold and must use all of her guile and brains to escape.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
A truly bizarre adventure in this case. Modesty and Willie are in Paris, and via a lunch date with Vaubois, Tarrant's French counterpart, they learn of a bizarre blackmail ring. Various officials and wealthy people are told they must pay a certain amount, or die. A very large percentage of these people have died.
It looks impossible, but it appears that you need ESP to do this, as lots of these people die via accidents or natural causes.
Tied up in all this is a guy who believes he is the devil, 2 insane puppeteers, and an international assassin, as well as Modesty's current flint, who is actually an ESP researcher.
It all ends in a mini-siege, with dolphins!
Not The One To Start With..........2005-11-22
While I love the Modesty Blaise series, this third adventure takes a bit more suspension of disbelief than others in the bunch, so I recommend you start elsewhere. (Best begin with the first novel "Modesty Blaise" and then #2, "Sabre-Tooth," then skip this and read the others before coming back to it.) Why? The concept of ESP figures largely in the plot, and if you have even a smidgen of doubt about it (and I have plenty), it takes too much credulity to fully enjoy the plot-- pretty silly by O'Donnell's standards. Of course, one reads these and the Bond books for escapism, but the farther they stray from reality, the more they become fantasies untied to the Real World... so give this one a pass the first time 'round and pick it up after you've read the other, better, Modestys.
"I wouldn't know, Johnnie. I don't know what it's like to be dead.".......2005-08-23
Modesty Blaise's good friend John Dall can't understand why Modesty insists on risking her life to try to save the life of a person with an incurable and debilitating mental problem. "You really think he's better off alive?" he asks Modesty.
"I wouldn't know, Johnnie. I don't know what it's like to be dead," replies Modesty.
That's good enough for me. :-)
"I, Lucifer" (1967) is the third book in the Modesty Blaise series of action thrillers written by Peter O'Donnell back in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. This is a series of books that I really love, and you may wish to take a look at my "So You'd Like To" guide here at Amazon.com about reading books by Peter O'Donnell.
Although I love this series of books I've decided to only give four stars to "I, Lucifer". The reason is that the supernatural plays a very important role in the story, and I'm too much of a skeptic to believe in such things. In addition, a major coincidence occurs that also reduces the believability of the plot in my mind.
The bad guys are always a major element in a Modesty Blaise story. In "I, Lucifer" we meet Seff and his wife Regina, two elderly puppeteers who turned to crime when they could no longer find work due to the closure of the vaudeville theaters. Unlikely villains, but they are described as being so evil that one feels a chill running down one's back.
Seff and his wife have developed a diabolical way of threatening people and demanding protection money. But they happened to have René Vaubois (a friend of Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin) on their list of targets, and he refused to pay when threatened. And René happens to be together with Modesty and Willie when a gang tries to kill him, to set an example for the other targets.
This is the start of a long and complicated story. First Modesty and Willie have to find the bad guys, then they suffer a major setback, and then we are led to the exciting final confrontation.
The high point in this book, in my opinion, is when Modesty and Willie are forced to fight a duel to the death against each other. Of course, I can't reveal what happens, but as usual Peter O'Donnell has created a story with many twists and surprises. And, as usual, the very special relationship between Modesty and Willie is an important and appealing part of the book.
This book introduces Stephen Collier, a recurring figure in several of the later Modesty Blaise books. I have mixed feelings about Stephen Collier, and am never really sure about what it is that Modesty sees in him.
One final point I'll mention is that the paperback edition of this book contains a couple of typographical errors not present in the original hardcover edition. Amazing as it sounds in our post-PC era, the text of books must have been manually re-entered back then when a book was copied from hardcover to paperback.
In conclusion, a great Modesty Blaise adventure, but not one of my favorites because of the emphasis on a certain supernatural ability of one of the characters in the story.
Rennie Petersen
Nobody does it better!.......2005-01-01
I'm a long-time big-time fan of the Modesty Blaise books. O'Donnell does a nifty job of combining action/adventure with humor and drama. This title is my sentimental favorite probably because this is the one in which the recurring character of sharp-witted, self-professed coward Stephen Collier is introduced. Collier is the Everyman we can identify with, who allows us as readers to partake of the action and observe Modesty and sidekick Willie Garvin's antics without pretending in any way to be their peer. Like Collier the reader is a passenger on this wild caper - you may hold your breath at times and burst out laughing at others. This book has all the hallmarks of a Blaise/Garvin outing: Ingenious villains, a Garvin girl story, wit, wonderfully detailed combat sequences -- if you've never read a Modesty Blaise book, no need to begin at the beginning because this book easily stands on its own and is thrilling enough to induce you to read the others.
Best of a good series.......2000-10-27
I loved the Modesty Blaise tales when they came out in the Sixties and seventies. All were good. I loved the interaction between Modesty and Willie. (By the way, anyone else notice the similarities with Skilly and Two-knife in Jerry Pournelle's stories of Falkenberg's Legion?) The other characters, including Modesty's and Garvin's love interests, were also interesting and well drawn, (although some of Willie's girls were a bit over the top). I Lucifer has one of the more interesting plots; a young man who can predict death with almost 90% accuracy, and thinks he is Satan, and the villains who take control of him for monetary gain. O'Donnell always had good villains for Modesty and Willie to foil, and this tale takes all their wits and skills. A good action spy-thriller with a horror/occult twist...
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I Love Lucifer
Larry, Christopher Soper
Manufacturer: E-BookTime, LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Historical | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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Farmhouse
ASIN: 1598242997 |
Book Description
Jody Kirk is a thirty-something investment banker who discovers that the good things in life can be taken away as quickly as they come. Jody lived the good life with the money, the girl, the job and the reputation. But, on a dark and dreary day he loses everything, including his self-respect. So, he does whatever anyone else would only dream of doing in this situation to get his former life back. And what he does will not only shock you but rock your very foundation when it comes to faith, God and the American Dream. "I LOVE LUCIFER" is written by the award-winning former journalist Larry Christopher Soper. He is also the author of the critically-acclaimed novel FARMHOUSE. "I LOVE LUCIFER" explores the depths of sorrow and is a gut-wrenching tour-de-force of the most savage territory, the human soul.
Customer Reviews:
Lucy & Lucifer.......2007-01-05
Interesting read as a character tries to make sense of the apathy and emptiness he feels while tring to make a life out of the rubble of the world of empty addiction. People die, choices are made and Mr. Soper navigates our narrator through the debris. From time to time he check in with his foundation of faith, Catholicism and with his id, who comes to him in the guise of Lucille Ball...and others.
Average customer rating:
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I Lucifer
Peter Odonnell
Manufacturer: FAWCETT CREST
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WUGKOI |
Average customer rating:
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I, Lucifer
Chuck O'Donnell
Manufacturer: Doubleday & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0000CNMJR |
Average customer rating:
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Atlantis Adventure: Original Trade Paperback
A. F. Gagne
Manufacturer: Lost Continent Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
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Action & Adventure
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
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General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Historical
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Alternate History
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
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ASIN: 0972747214 |
Book Description
A romantic adventure set 9,000. Two lovers Tanos and Melia flee the aftermath of the Trojan War, cross the Atlantic, and become guests of the fabled civilization of Atlantis. Arriving before its destruction, they find its fate directly entwined with their own destiny -- and the destiny of the ancient Americas. No other Atlantis novel presents so much Atlantean-related research!
Average customer rating:
- Ok, but needs work...
- Kind of iffy
- Not Just Recipes
- Vegetarian Dining
- A GUIDE FOR LEGUME LOVERS
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Almost Vegetarian: A Primer for Cooks Who Are Eating Vegetarian Most of the Time, Chicken & Fish Some of the Time, & Altogether Well All of the Time
Diana Shaw
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
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General
| Special Occasions
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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General
| Vegetables & Vegetarian
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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Natural Foods
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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The Essential Vegetarian Cookbook: Your Guide to the Best Foods on Earth
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Almost Vegetarian Entertaining: Simple and Sophisticated Recipes for Vegetarians, Nonvegetarians, and Everyone i n Between
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Vegetarian Times Vegetarian Beginner's Guide
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The One-Dish Vegetarian: 100 Recipes for Quick and Easy Vegetarian Meals
ASIN: 051788206X
Release Date: 1994-10-25 |
Book Description
A spirited, reliable, nondogmatic primer with more than 130 recipes for the ever-growing number of people who are eating and cooking semi-vegetarian fare. Offers everything from Chunky Lentil Soup with Parmesan to Peach Scone Cake--all served with an abundance of practical information and advice.
Customer Reviews:
Ok, but needs work..........2007-02-28
I have now made several of the recipes in this book, and have found many of them to be lacking in some way. Most take WAY more prep time than is quoted. Many of the recipes end up bland tasting. I've taken to having my mother, who is a great cook, review the recipes and give me spicing hints. Also, I'd like to echo the person who said the recipes lack liquid. The Minestrone Soup turned out like a stew; hardly any broth. The Chicken and Lentil Stew had NO liquid. Beware: if you make the Stuffed Grape Leaves, you'll need double the amount of leaves quoted to use all your stuffing.
On the plus side, some of the recipes turned out great and very tasty. The Pumpkin Risotto was excellent and the Chicken and Lentil Stew was tasty even though it wasn't really a stew. I love all the cooking definitions and the vegetable guide. Those were really useful.
Overall, don't make these recipes for the first time to impress someone. The recipes are great bases, but you'll need to make it more than once to figure out what to add and do differently. Don't buy this if you don't know how to adjust recipes. The guides and tips throughout the book were very helpful to a relative newbie in the kitchen like me.
Kind of iffy.......2007-01-05
I do not own this book, but I did look through each chapter when I found it in the store. I have to say I was slightly disapointed. The meals looked like they'd be nice, but several of the ingredients I did not find to be college student friendly, whether i was due to price or just availability. They also seemed to take up a lot of time, which unfortunately won't work for everyone either. So while I am sure this book would be great for someone with a steadier schedual and time to prepare a nice meal, I don't think it would work out for someone who spends a lot of time running about.
Not Just Recipes.......2006-07-15
I love this primer. It is more than just a book of recipes. It has directories of vegetables and fruits along with their peak season, storage method and life, as well as suggestions on how to showcase and cook them. There is also information on types of beans, rice, vingegars and oils. I've never liked to cook nor properly learned how. This book will make a handy reference. Oh yes, and the recipes are great!
Vegetarian Dining.......2006-03-23
I borrowed this book from my son at Christmas and was so pleased with the recipes and helping comments about eating vegetarian or almost vegetarian, that I bought it for myself. I have tried some of the recipes and they are very good. I recommend this book to anyone looking to eat light.
A GUIDE FOR LEGUME LOVERS.......2004-04-12
Here's a guide for the increasing numbers who are opting to be vegetarians - most of the time.
Many of the recipes that call for fish or poultry can be prepared with legumes instead. And, these dishes are not bland but tasty as well as nourishing.
Included is a Fresh Vegetable Directory, containing descriptions of vegetables and how to select them in the market. You'll never confuse scallions and shallots again!
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