Book Description
"A TOUR DE FORCE"
- Los Angeles Times
"The story of Ivy Rowe, born near the turn of the century in the Virginia Mountain enclave of Sugar Fork, is told completely through letters that Ivy is forever writing family and friends...Lee Smith exhibits her own understanding and affection for the traditions of the Appalachians. She is at home with the down-home speech and ways of her characters. They come vividly to life, and none more so than Ivy, whose voice and heart and humor sustain Fair and Tender Ladies."
- Philadelphia Inquirer
"Because of Ivy's narrative ability and her zest for living, Fair and Tender Ladies opens for us like a flower with a gloriously unexpected center. There are unforgettable characters...Few readers will be dry-eyed as they watch this extraordinary woman disappear around that last bend in the road."
-Chicago Tribune
"These beautiful letters...display Ivy's soul up close, the way a just-caught firefly illuminates a jar. So real does she become that it is hard to believe that Ivy did not actually live to write her letters."
-USA Today
"This is about a moving a work of literature as has ever been written." ANNIE DILLARD
Customer Reviews:
ONE OF THE BEST OF THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-06-18
How I hated for this book to end! I LOVE Lee Smith's writings. She is truly one of THE BEST authors of our time. If you have not read her, PLEASE DO. She NEVER EVER disappoints.
This wondeful book is written in the form of letters by one Miss Ivy Rowe. The letters span the lifetime of Ivy. She LOVES to write letters and writes to friends, family, acquaintances. Ivy chronicles her entire life from a young teenager to her death (SOB!! -- yes, SOB!!) in these letters.
Ivy lives and dies in the Appalachian Mountain area. She lives through World Wars, ups and downs, feast and famine, good times, bad times, pain, sorrow, joy, happiness. Her letters tell all and tell all very, very well. You meet her family and friends all through her letters to various people. She is outspoken, kind, tough, sweet, loving, caring. Ivy's life was never easy, yet she handles every hurdle with common sense and humor.
At first it was a little slow going reading this book as her letters are written in true form of someone who lived in the early 1900's with very, very little education. However, Ivy is one of the lucky people who can read and write and loves to do both.
Her spunk, wit, and just IVY will make this one of your favorite books of all time. I loved the format of the book, it is different than any other book I have ever read. I know this is one book that I will not soon forget. Ms. Lee Smith has the outstanding talent of making her characters so life-like and totally people you believe in. How sad I was when this wonderful tale ended. This book also contained much history of our country and I believe I learned a great deal -- in a fun and interesting way -- about our country's colorful history.
Do yourself a favor and read this book and then read all of the other treasures that Ms. Smith has waiting for you. You will not be sorry.
Thanks!
Pam
Ramblings of an English major..........2007-04-02
_Fair and Tender Ladies_ tells the secrets of the soul of Appalachia. Tracing the life of Ivy Rowe from youth to old age through her letters, the book is an Appalachian masterpiece. Ms. Smith was supposedly inspired to write this book after coming across a bundle of letters at a yard sale. She claims not to have read the letters (after all, they were private!), but she felt a story like this should be told.
Here, Lee Smith tells the story of Ivy Rowe, rural Appalachia, the impact big business coal mining, love, hope, and life. If you know nothing of Appalachia, let this be your introduction. If you live there, let it be your celebration. If you are alive, let this story draw you along, softly whispering the story of your own humanity to you--one letter at a time.
great read.......2007-02-25
Our book club read this book and everyone loved it. We discussed it for 2 hours. I would highly recommend it.
Absolutely brilliant. Best book I've read in a long time........2006-07-19
Fair and Tender Ladies tells the lifelong story of Ivy Rowe, a woman growing up and growing old in Appalachian Virginia. The story is told totally through a long series of letters she writs to family, friends, lovers and acquaintances.
Ivy's life is one of abject poverty and hardship. Most of her siblings dies young. Her father is disabled through the majority of the book, Her mother is a tormented and exploited soul. Ivy has several chances to escape all this but the pull of place and family keeps her firmly entrenched where she is.
This out to be a thoroughly depressing book--instead it is a truly inspiring book. For, though objectively a person with virtually nothing, Ivy sees herself as uniquely blessed. The life force that carries her into old age is one that sees the glass perpetually as half full--her hardships are, to her eyes, less threatening and frightening than those she sees around her. She is essentially saved several times by people she dos not know or whom she has previously rejected. Though she is often exploited she does not allow those experiences to harden her heart.
This is not to say Ivy is soft or naive. She merely sees hard times as the burden of life and chooses to write her letters to make sense of it all where she can and merely record it if she can't.
I would have thought the letter format would wear after a while. It did not. It in fact created a sense of intimacy that enhanced the reading experience.
All in all, this is one of the best books I read in years. I was thoroughly enchanted throughout. I can only rejoice in the large body of work that lee Smith has for me to work through. If her other efforts are even a fraction as good as this book, I have a lot of great reading ahead of me.
Better than any history book.......2006-02-01
FAIR AND TENDER LADIES chronicles the life of IVY, written in letters spanning the decades of her life,(beginning as a small child) to her various loved ones. They are written in Appalachian dialect and sometimes, I had to read it again to make certain I got the meaning. After awhile however, your eye and your ear get in synch and it's much easier.
The book paints a portrait (a very accurate portrait) of life in rural West Virginia. It could have as easily been in Kentucky.
The mettle of this wonderfully human woman keeps her afloat. It's is ironic, funny, tender and engrossing; most of all totally believable..
Product Description
VIDEO TAPE. DOCUMENTARY ON THE WRITER, LEE SMITH. From Back cover: Signature: Contemporary Southern Writers presents successful writers in their mid-career, showing the range and brilliance. The programs include interviews and readings by the authors as well as numerous interviews with friends, editors, and critics. Produced by Kentucky Educational Television.
Average customer rating:
- Typical (Incredible) Kallmaker...
- Terrific story - full of love, tons of humor and adult issues
- Awesome Read
- One Degree Shy of Lame
- Who knew?!
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One Degree of Separation
Karin Kallmaker
Manufacturer: Bella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Lesbian | Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
Lesbian | Romance | Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
Lesbian Studies | Special Groups | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1931513309 |
Book Description
Big city girl in a small town - Liddy Peel has culture shock.
Marian Pardoo, Reference Librarian for the Iowa City Public Library, would be happy if the woman she's loved for years wasn't already married. Annoyed by the thoughtless out-of-town Liddy, she isn't prepared for the seething passion that erupts when Liddy careens into her meticulously controlled life.
Liddy has run two thousand miles from a devastating love affair. Now the idea of spending the sweltering summer watching the corn grow is driving her mad. Finding herself lusting after Marian the Librarian seems like yet another cosmic jest at her hopeless love life. The only thing that keeps her sane is the coffee.
In a town where everybody knows your name, the names of your exes, pets, and your third grade teacher, Marian is thankful that she and Liddy at least don't have an ex-girlfriend in common.
One degree of separation is too close for comfort.
Customer Reviews:
Typical (Incredible) Kallmaker..........2005-12-29
I have to admit to being a huge Kallmaker fan, so beware this review is already biased! This book is a great romance that takes place Iowa. I'm not really sure what made her place this one in Iowa. If you've ever been there, it seems like there is nothing but corn for miles and miles.
Liddy leaves California to recover from a rocky relationship gone bad. She heads to Iowa City - a place with a very high percentage of lesbians - to work on a research project for a popular writer.
Marian, the librarian, is also dealing with a failed relationship, but secretly falls for Liddy, her new next-door neighbor. Neither woman is ready to take the relationship plunge again, but their mutual friends and thier libidos have different plans for the duo.
Very hot. Very sexy. Be prepared for a VERY cold shower when this one is done. This book is solid proof of why Kallmaker continues to be one of the reigning queens of lesbian fiction.
Terrific story - full of love, tons of humor and adult issues.......2005-08-02
I read this twice already. One moment I am laughing out loud and a chapter later I am shaking my head in amazement at the depth of emotion the author gives us as experienced by the lead characters. My heart went out to them and the next chapter I would be applauding their ability to rebound from the blows life gives them.
You can't help loving the characters and all their complexities. These are well rounded people with many layers to them. As always the back stories for all the characters are original and entertaining.
Buy a second copy for a friend, don't lend it- you won't get it back !!!
I do have one comment to make about an earlier review. The reviewer didn't enjoy this novel as it wasn't epic historical fiction. I was confused, the reviewer was looking for historical fiction from an author known for hip modern romances with a good dose of humor. You wouldn't compare James Mitchner to Noel Coward, both are fantastic in their own genre.
Awesome Read.......2005-06-24
It took me all of 2 days to finish this novel. I couldn't put it down! Marian and Liddy are characters to be remembered. Karin Kallmaker's plot development is incredible. She keeps you on your toes with wonderful gossip between characters, as well as using the inner voices we've all become familiar with. I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a bit of lesbian humor, mixed in with the realities of life and love.
One Degree Shy of Lame.......2005-04-07
I just closed the back cover of this novel. As far as literature is concerned, One Degree of Separation will not be a classic. I recently read a comment that Kallmaker is the lesbian equivilent of Danielle Steele. I have to agree ... not much for originality as far as writing style and cliches go, but the love-making scenes will make you get hot under the collar and below. :) If you're expecting nothing less than a fast read and nothing more than trite writing, you might consider this novel. If you're yearning for something REALLY good, pass this one up.
If you're looking for an EXCELLENT novel, you will definitely need to read Tipping the Velvet or Fingersmith by Sarah Waters instead of this mediocre book. Waters is literary and are her novels great!
Who knew?!.......2004-10-22
Karin Kallmaker has written so many books that I've started grouping them. There's the "intense, wrenching drama" stack, the "fantasy/sci-fi action" section and the largest of all "light, moving and laugh outloud funny." That's where One Degree of Separation belongs.
Living near a coast I can't say I've ever thought of Iowa as a great destination for a lesbian, but who knew Iowa City was wall-to-wall with a large community of lesbians? The characters and settings of this novel are so real I'm certain I'd find them at the Java House or Prarie Light any given Friday night. The dialogue is sharp, rapid fire and funny. The situations sometimes so real to life they'd be banal were it not for Kallmaker's skillful prose and deft humor. (Really, haven't cramps played a part in all our lives?)
My admiration for Kallmkaer's work began with her excellent Laura Adams works, then her more intense romances, like Substitute for Love and Watermark. But there is plenty of room in my life for her funnier, lighter work because in today's world it isn't often I can kick back, hang with the sisters, laugh and know in the end it'll all be okay.
Average customer rating:
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One Degree of Separation
Manufacturer: Bella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0739444999 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on August 18, 2007. The length of the article is 668 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: Manitoba's one degree of separation.(Columns)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication:
Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 18, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: a2
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Winnipeg Free Press, published by Thomson Gale on August 25, 2007. The length of the article is 657 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: Readers' tales prove we're well-connected; One degree of separation indeed!(City)
Author: Gale Reference Team
Publication:
Winnipeg Free Press (Magazine/Journal)
Date: August 25, 2007
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Page: a2
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
The aliens had arrived
with gifts, warnings, and an offer we
couldn't refuse...
Our choice was simple: we could be cannon fodder, or we could be...fodder. We could send our forces to fight and die (as only humans can) against a ravening horde that was literally feeding on its interstellar conquests -- or remain as we were -- virtually weaponless and third in line for brunch.
We chose to fight.
Thanks to alien technology and sheer guts, the Terrans on two worlds fought the Posleen to a standstill. Thank God there was a moment to catch our breath, a moment, however brief, of peace --
Now, for the survivors of the Barwhon and Diess Expeditionary Forces, it was a chance to get some distance from the blood and misery of battle against the Posleen centaurs. A blessed chance to forget the screams of the dying in purple swamps and massacres under searing alien suns.
For earth it was an opportunity to flesh out their force of raw recruits with combat-seasoned veterans. Political, military and scientific blundering had left the Terran forces in shambles -- and with the Posleen invasion only months away, these shell-shocked survivors might be the only people capable of saving the Earth from devastation.
If the veterans had time to lick their wounds.
Because the Posleen don't read schedules.
Customer Reviews:
Great addition, much better than the first.......2007-07-27
Ringo's second novel is much improved over his first, A Hymn Before Battle (Posleen War Series #1). The writing style is much more concise and the story flows more smoothly throughout. This is also a much longer book than the first, being 780+ pages in the mass market paperback. Similar to HBB, Gust Front starts out by setting up the scenario, with very little action in the first 300 pages or so, and ends with non-stop and intense action sequences that take up the last 400 or so pages. The title of the book refers to the billowing wind that comes before the storm, being a metaphor for the initial (and relatively small) alien invasion of Earth that takes place in this book. I don't know why Baen's publishing releases so many books with such retarded looking cover art, but don't let it scare you off. This book is better and more mature than you'd think by glancing at the cover. In fact, the cover doesn't even fit with the book at all and I doubt the artist read it.
Gust Front chronicles the initial alien probe into Earth that proceeds a much larger Posleen force that will assumedly come in a later book. The unprepared defenses of Earth are badly bruised and the people are brutally awoken to the threat as this relatively small force (maybe around 10 million) terrorizes the globe. The principle storyline here follows the actions of a number of heroes in the United States military as they attempt to stall the alien advance in Virginia and D.C. Old characters and new are nicely developed, with Mike O'Neil and his family playing a major role. The Posleen are also further developed here, where we learn more about their culture and get a glimpse at the thought patterns of a couple of specific aliens. Difficult alien words are used quite a bit, but Ringo placed a glossary at the end that comes in handy quite a bit. Subplots involving the other alien races and secret societies are hinted at but not developed significantly here.
Overall, I thought this book was extremely pleasing, with rip-roaring action taking up the majority, and great character/scenario development taking place that should lead to very interesting future books. Highly recommended, can't wait to read the next.
Great!.......2007-03-09
Great characters involved in fast action military battles. Go for this one and the whole series!
Great Second Effort in the War Against the Posleen Universe.......2007-02-02
John Ringo's "Hymn Before Battle" was a none-stop introduction to the War Against the Posleen Universe that glued your fingers to the cover; and, "Gust Front" picks up where the first book left off - preparing to defend Earth from a certain Posleen invasion. "Gust Front" follows O'Neal as he returns to Earth and his youngest daughter Cally, who he left with his father when he went off world to fight the Posleen.
This book is as good as the first - possibly even a little bit better! The preparation for a Posleen invasion lead up to a worldwide battle to hold Earth for humans. The book spends most of its time in the eastern United States as O'Neal and the US Army struggle to hold the Atlantic seaboard. Ringo's description of the battle is intense and well detailed. There are number of new characters that stand out; from an artillery unit to the Army Corp of Engineers, the human face of battle is well represented.
While the book focuses on O'Neal and the American front, it spends some time documenting the battle against the Posleen in other areas of the planet such as Russia and the Khyber Pass. These vignettes are a nice interlude that fleshes out the human struggle against the Posleen.
Beyond the battles, we get to know Cally and O'Neal's father a bit better as he teaches Cally to take care of herself. We also learn more of the intrigue that is going on in the background on Earth as well as with the human "allies": the Indowy, the Tchpth, and the Darhel. We don't know where this is going yet, but Ringo is doing a good job of setting up how this will play out in the future.
Like "Hymn Before Battle", Gust Front contains a single story arc within the larger multi-book story arc of the series.
The aliens have landed........2006-09-21
In the second novel of the war against the Posleen, John Ringos has the humans continuing the preperations for alien invasion. But the Posleen arrive earlier than expected, and no one is really ready. The first three hundred pages are set over months of militery training, political infighting and buisness dealings over new technology rights. The next four hundred pages deal with the first major battle in America, Fredricksburg and north into Washington D.C. This part is slow, taking four hundred pages to tell of the battle that lasted three or four days. It is labourous and tiring for the Army fighting inch for inch against the more populous, stronger aliens. It is also hard for the reader to keep attention and interest of the somewhat monontonous battles that drag on forever. Sure, a lot of major changes happen in the novel; new heros emerge, old friends die, some heros experience loss that is difficult to bear. Mike O'Neal looses all individuality he ever had and becomes a John Wayne-like sterotype by the book's end. still, there are some biting satire that we come away with, like the political infighting that really dosn't matter in the long run. All in all, a uneven book; the first half being the better part. The balltes are at first interesting, but loose appeal quickly after the a hundred pages of the same thing. But I will still read the next book in the series to see how things are going for the humans.
Nasty Centaurs Try to Overflow USA's Plains........2006-08-02
I definitely enjoy sci-fi books, alt-his books, soldiers' war memories books and historical battles books.
Well believe it or not John Ringo's "Gust Front" is a tasty combination of all these genres and writing styles, as the previous volume in the series!
I've already read some books of what is usually known as "military sci-fi" and with the exception of Joe Haldeman's "Forever Peace" the rest of them range from "very boring" to "just so-so".
That is NOT the case with the present volume.
Mr. Ringo instills a strange sense of reality in all battle accounts (they really made me remember Lt. Wells "Give me fifty Marines not afraid to die" prose describing his Iwo Jima experience).
When he portrays the general picture of a battle or campaign they come so true as if you were reading Toland or Beevor or even Hastings.
In this second volume of the series, the energetic "Mighty Mite" returns to endangered Earth and continue his exploits.
Even if he still is the main character, the novel follows other characters' adventures expanding action focus and enriching the plot.
If you haven't read the first volume, I'll encourage you to do so in order to fully enjoy this tale.
The story is as follows: after Diess experience and having the best trained human troops entangled in planet Barhown, Earth is faced with the first Posleen's disembarkments.
Planetary and national Armed Forces are unprepared, short of training and with little or inexistent practice with new weapons and tactics.
Worst of all Posleens has sent greater forces than expected catching humankind out of balance.
The novel explores three different levels of conflict: political decisions, military decisions and galactic intrigues.
This is an action packed story with a very smart plot. Well written and even if it is a step in a series it is a whole tale by itself.
"Gust Front" is a high quality sci-fi novel deserving to be read by every true buff! Do not let the series pass by!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Average customer rating:
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GUST FRONT
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQIBVS |
Customer Reviews:
Centaurs Are Coming!.......2006-10-05
I definitely enjoy sci-fi books, alt-his books, soldiers' war memories books and historical battles books.
Well believe it or not John Ringo's "Gust Front" is a tasty combination of all these genres and writing styles, as the previous volume in the series!
I've already read some books of what is usually known as "military sci-fi" and with the exception of Joe Haldeman's "Forever Peace" the rest of them range from "very boring" to "just so-so".
That is NOT the case with the present volume.
Mr. Ringo instills a strange sense of reality in all battle accounts (they really made me remember Lt. Wells "Give me fifty Marines not afraid to die" prose describing his Iwo Jima experience).
When he portrays the general picture of a battle or campaign they come so true as if you were reading Toland or Beevor or even Hastings.
In this second volume of the series, the energetic "Mighty Mite" returns to endangered Earth and continue his exploits.
Even if he still is the main character, the novel follows other characters' adventures expanding action focus and enriching the plot.
If you haven't read the first volume, I'll encourage you to do so in order to fully enjoy this tale.
The story is as follows: after Diess experience and having the best trained human troops entangled in planet Barhown, Earth is faced with the first Posleen's disembarkments.
Planetary and national Armed Forces are unprepared, short of training and with little or inexistent practice with new weapons and tactics.
Worst of all Posleens has sent greater forces than expected catching humankind out of balance.
The novel explores three different levels of conflict: political decisions, military decisions and galactic intrigues.
This is an action packed story with a very smart plot. Well written and even if it is a step in a series it is a whole tale by itself.
"Gust Front" is a high quality sci-fi novel deserving to be read by every true buff! Do not let the series pass by!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Average customer rating:
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Gust Front
Ringo John
Manufacturer: see notes for publisher info
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UEEFY8 |
Book Description
The author of this book shares her own midlife journey-its ups and downs-with such honesty and insight that you will surely identify with and benefit from the discoveries she has made along the way.
Customer Reviews:
A great help for midlife crisis.......2000-10-09
Joyce helps us face the dark corners of our hearts -- the places where we would rather not go. But, in doing so, she brings us into a light more bright than we ever thought possible. Using her suggested guided visualizations and journaling suggestions makes the experience more powerful, too. The visualizations can even be done by yourself. Don't rush through this book. Take your time and really enter the cave. I found Jesus waiting there for me.
Dear heart, Come Home.......2000-02-15
My faith-sharing/prayer group used this in our weekly meetings.Our group ranges from 53 to 73, so we were all in different stanges ofour mid-life. Joyce's book seemed very "dark" and only one person could actually relate well to the contents. However, I felt it prompted more sharing within the group than other books we've used. The idea for group meetings were excellent. I also purchased the audio tape to go with this book which was excellent (5 stars). Great mediations and the chants are a great way to begin your reading or the evening's activity.
Disappointing if you are a faithful Roman Catholic.......1999-08-17
This book does not contain the gifts of the Catholic faith, but instead is a new age spiritual treatise of total, unqualified tolerance. What comes to mind is the old phrase "if it feels good, do it".This is exactly what is wrong with society. Too much of doing one's "own thing". Nothing about obedience and belief in what will strenghten us through mid life is contained in the book. Do not read this book if you are looking for the answer to your mid life crisis.One thing about reaching fifty is that you can cut through the mustard and see a hidden agenda under a guise of honesty.This book will not lead one to their home, but farther away into confusion.
Honest,courageous, self-disclosing journey through mid-life........1997-10-24
This is Joyce Rupp at her best. The wisdom of living a heart-centered life is the fruit of this book. Any woman or man looking for a guide to lead them through the middle years "naming" the losses, bringing forth the images which help all of us to find our way with dignity, grace, and ah yes! humor, will treasure this book and pass it on to their closest friends. Highly recommended.
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- Godric: A Novel
- Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits
- I'm Not Scared
- Imagining Argentina
- In Case We're Separated: Connected Stories
- Inside the Hornet's Head: An Anthology of Jewish American Writing
- Interview with the Vampire: Anniversary edition (The vampire chronicles)
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