Average customer rating:
- Her novels are brilliant, her short stories aren't quite... I still always recommend her!
- Talented writing, but the stories get redundant
- Beautiful Characters
- Good read but ....
- I wish each story was its own novel.
|
Homeland and Other Stories
Barbara Kingsolver
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Kingsolver, Barbara
| ( K )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Paperback
| Kingsolver, Barbara
| ( K )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
High Tide in Tucson: Essays from Now or Never
-
Small Wonder: Essays
-
Animal Dreams
-
Pigs in Heaven
-
Prodigal Summer: A Novel
ASIN: 0060917016 |
Book Description
With the same wit and sensitivity that have come to characterize her highly praised and beloved novels Animal Dreams and The Bean Trees, Barbara Kingsolver gives us a rich and emotionally resonant collection of twelve stories. Spreading her memorable characters over landscapes ranging from northern-California to the hills of eastern Kentucky and the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, Kingsolver tells stories of hope, momentary joy, and powerful endurance. In every setting, Kingsolver's distinctive voice -- at times comic, but often heartrending -- rings true as she explores the twin themes of family ties and the life choices one must ultimately make alone. Homeland and Other Stories creates a world of love and possibility that readers will want to take as their own.
Customer Reviews:
Her novels are brilliant, her short stories aren't quite... I still always recommend her!.......2006-11-06
Kingsolver, who has never written anything that hasn't awed me, manages to capture much of the very essence of the human existence in our culturally and socially backward world (and country). These stories, however, are not nearly as powerful and earth-moving for me as her novels (Prodigal Summer, Poisonwood Bible, Pigs in Heaven, etc..)
This is a collection of short stories that each deal with the frustrations that average people face in their desire to lead normal, quiet, decent lives. Frequently her personages are `different' in some way and their frustrations are compounded in economic, social, cultural and sometimes just personal ways. And the power of persistence, love, and respect is frequently what combats those frustrations. None of these stories are loud and angry, none are suspenseful or thrilling, but each is softly, powerfully moving and thought provoking.
I respond to Kingsolver because she presents her characters in ways that pull in the reader, leaving the reader as an ally, quietly rooting for the protagonist. I always recommend Kingsolver to other readers because she can enlighten you without you even knowing it!
Talented writing, but the stories get redundant.......2006-04-18
My sister and I are both big readers; my favorite novelists are John Irving and Anne Tyler, her favorite is Barbara Kingsolver. I decided to give Kingsolver a try, and decided to start with this book - her short stories - to get a taste, and see if it was worth my time to try one of her longer works.
The writing talent is certainly there, but I feel after reading this collection (and reading the summaries of Kingsolver's full length novels), I've already read enough to decide not to go further.
The similarity of subject matter becomes redundant after awhile. Every story (and - apparently - every Kingsolver novel) tells the story of a semi-lost woman (usually living in Arizona or Appalachia), each containing an element from the natural world as a metaphor for that confused woman's life. Kingsolver's naturalist interests are obvious; we get an Indian woman's God-like reverence for the stars, another character's interest in Geology, a child's interest in endangered species, etc.
We're also occasionally shamed into caring more for the environment, as Kingsolver does. The story "Extinctions" is a good example of what I mean, with the heroine's two children interested in whales and dinosaurs: "(Matt's) infatuation is not whales but dinosaurs - species that are already gone. It strikes her that by the time her sons are grown there will be little difference. Their own children will view whales as kinds of dinosaurs - mythical beasts - not something real, to mourn. They will never believe those huge, fishlike creatures moved through the seas in modern times, while people were driving around in Hondas and drawing money from bank machines." Now, I'm as Liberal as a hippie, and perhaps we SHOULD care more for the natural world than we do, but must I be ashamed that I don't, and shamed for owning an automobile and ATM card? I think that's a bit preachy, Barb. Subtle perhaps, but preachy.
With all due respect for my sister's tastes, I'll stick with my John Irving novels for the time being. I guess I like male protagonists from New England better than female protagonists from Kentucky and Arizona.
Beautiful Characters.......2006-04-14
Kingsolver's attention to the details of life shows itself again is this lovely collection. Great for reading in the bathtub, my favorite spot.
Good read but ...........2006-03-10
I am a huge Barbara Kingsolver fan, and the short stories are really good - but seemed somewhat unfinished to me...It could be that each of them could be a chapter in a different book...maybe that is a sign of good short stories...BUT regardless, the characters are complex, deep, and real...
I wish each story was its own novel........2005-10-26
A lovely collection of stories, as is to be expected of Barbara Kingsolver's fiction. The characters are rich and dynamic, and the stories are so well developed that I wish each one was a full-length novel. Well worth the read-
Average customer rating:
|
Foreigners in the Homeland: The Spanish American New Novel in Spain, 1962-1974 (The Bucknell Studies in Latin American Literature and Theory)
Mario Santana
Manufacturer: Bucknell University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
20th Century
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Latin American
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
General
| Criticism & Theory
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Caribbean & Latin American
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish & Portuguese
| European
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0838754503 |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from National Defense, published by Thomson Gale on April 1, 2006. The length of the article is 2512 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: A fragile fence: border patrol wages daily battle against smugglers.(HOMELAND DEFENSE)(Cover story)
Author: Stew Magnuson
Publication:
National Defense (Magazine/Journal)
Date: April 1, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 90
Issue: 629
Page: 30(5)
Article Type: Cover story
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Product Description
7-book set
Download Description
IT GIRL: Chloe St. John
MISSION: Bust an organized crime syndicate that's kidnapping women and selling them into the sex trade. And nab Manhattan's most wanted and elusive criminal mastermind....
Royal protocol flew out the window when real-life princess Chloe St. John went undercover to stop a sex slave ring. She'd do anything for the Gotham Rose spies â their leader was like a second mother to Chloe, boosting her self-esteem when all Chloe's real mom did was hassle her about regal etiquette while favoring her ne'er-do-well brother. But evidence suggested Chloe was up against the Roses' archrival, the Duke, this time. It was time to trade in her tiara for a semiautomatic and a Kevlar vest...and pray that the wardrobe change wouldn't hurt her chances at the charity bachelorette auction of the season!
Customer Reviews:
GREAT!.......2006-07-21
Vicki Hinze's characters are fully realized emotionally and jump off the page, full of life as they make their way through her precise plotting.
action-packed suspense tale .......2006-02-16
Gotham Rose member Chloe St. John, the Princess of Astoria of Denmark was engaged to attorney Marcus Sterling III, but he died in an explosion. However, Chloe knew the truth that her fiancé was setting her up for a kidnapping so she is not mourning her loss. Though Chloe has moved in with Architectural Restoration reporter Jack Quaid, Gotham Rose President Renee Dalton-Sinclair insists she attend his funeral to cut down the questions from reporters.
Afterward, Renee informs Chloe she has her field assignment for her. Apparently the international criminal mastermind the Duke runs an escort service that fronts a while slave market. They abduct young Russian women with no family ties to sell to willing buyers. Marcus somehow was tied to the group. Though it will upset another Gotham Rose member to be yanked from the case someone fluent in Russian needs to take over. Renee wants Chloe to be a "victim" of an abduction so they can trace the trail and capture the elusive Duke. Though she anticipates the danger the case will entail, neither she, her best friend Emma nor Renee come close to the reality.
The latest Gotham Roses thriller is an exhilarating action-packed suspense tale that never slows down from the moment that Chloe learns her assignment from Renee. The story line is fast-paced once the heroine prepares herself to be abducted and once done realizes how the best laid plans can go astray. Though some of the escapades seem over the top, fans will appreciate this strong look at surprisingly a real problem, the international slave trade.
Harriet Klausner
Excellent conclusion to the series.......2006-02-13
Vicki Hinze concludes the It Girls series with the revelation and capture of the Duke. The Duke is the mysterious person behind numerous crimes, including human trafficking. Chloe St. John is one of the Gotham Roses who takes on the assignment with her partner, Emma Bosworth, to go undercover to stop the kidnapping and sale of women. However, their cover is quickly blown and Emma later lapses into a coma after being injured while following up on the case. Chloe has numerous suspects, all of them close associates of herself or her family. Even her brother, Erik, is a suspect! Chloe also realizes that one of the Gotham Roses is a leak for the Duke and she is forced to question the loyalty of everyone. This book is non-stop action and intrigue from page one. The only caution I have is that it is easier to identify the multitude of characters if you have followed the series. The book can be read as a stand alone novel but many of the nuances can be lost and the cast of characters may be overwhelming. Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it a satisfying conclusion to the series.
Book Description
Once the Sith order teemed with followers. But their rivalries divided them in endless battles for supremacy. Until one dark lord at last united the Sith in the quest to enslave the galaxy–and exterminate the Jedi. Yet it would fall to another, far more powerful than the entire Brotherhood of Darkness, to ultimately realize the full potential of the Sith, and wield the awesome power of the dark side as never before.
Since childhood, Dessel has known only the abuse of his hateful father and the dangerous, soul-crushing labor of a cortosis miner. Deep in the tunnels of the desolate planet Apatros, endlessly excavating the rare mineral valued throughout the galaxy, Dessel dreams of the day he can escape–a day he fears may never come. But when a high-stakes card game ends in deadly violence, Dessel suddenly finds himself a wanted man.
On the run from vengeful Republic forces, Dessel vanishes into the ranks of the Sith army, and ships out to join the bloody war against the Republic and its Jedi champions. There, Dessel’s brutality, cunning, and exceptional command of the Force swiftly win him renown as a warrior. But in the eyes of his watchful masters, he is destined for a far greater role in the ultimate Sith plan for the galaxy–if he can prove himself truly worthy.
As an acolyte in the Sith academy, studying the secrets and skills of the dark side at the feet of its greatest masters, Dessel embraces his new Sith identity: Bane. However the true test is yet to come. In order to gain acceptance into the Brotherhood of Darkness one must fully surrender to the dark side through a trial by fire that Bane, for all his unquenchable fury and lust for power, may not be strong enough to endure . . . especially since deception, treachery, and murder run rampant among the Sith disciples, and utter ruthlessness alone is the key to survival. Only by defying the most sacred traditions, rejecting all he has been taught, and drawing upon the long-forgotten wisdom of the very first Sith can Bane hope to triumph–and forge from the ashes of that which he must destroy a new era of absolute dark power.
Customer Reviews:
Great story, new perspectives.......2007-10-04
This was the first book or storyline I've read that includes characters and ideas from such an old time period.
I loved it. I do appreciate good literature, character and plot development, but this book was more of a dark revenge kind of book, and the action was great. I loved reading about how powerful Bane was and about the rest of the ancient Sith order.
Highly recommended.
Insight into the workings of the Sith..........2007-08-18
This is an excellent insight into the basis of the dark side. Very well written, moves along, and very enjoyable. Hard to believe that this author isn't an established novelist. The descriptions are excellent and the style gives you a sense that your in the mind of someone that is undergoing transformation. I'm not sure why that 1 star reviewer is so bent out of shape with the violence. He mentions Vader as a likeable "antihero". I distinctly remember in one of the movies Anakin slaughtering mercilessly the younglings or toddler/child jedi off camera. In the fictional SW world, the sith are evil, and that's what evil does. All and all a worthwhile read and definitely not a waste of time.
o so thats how it goes.......2007-07-27
this book is great for hardcore star wars fans. it sheads new light on the Darth title and is a great read.
Two there should be; no more no less.......2007-07-11
Wow. This book was outstanding! I found myself not being able to read through the pages quickly enough nor being able to stop, so much so that I finished it in two days.
Considering this takes place some 1000 years before the events of A New Hope, I was a bit apprehensive being that there would be nothing but entirely fresh new characters and none of the staples of the movies (Han, Luke, Obi Wan, etc, etc), but THIS is what I was expecting Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader to be.
This book sheds alot of light on the Sith. Not their beginnings entirely, but how they were before they were wiped about a milennia prior to the movies we know and love. A time when the sith were about as abundant as the Jedi.
Darth Bane starts from meager and quite tragic beginnings, but that's what usually makes for the most interesting villains, isn't it? Of course, Bane can be a villain OR a hero depending on how you're looking at it.
Lots of insight to the Sith is provided in this book. What makes them tick, basically. Of course we know from our exposure to the Sith in the films that they're fueled by power for power's sake, Karpyshyn really takes a deeper look at it.
Basically, this is one man's journey to the peak of his power and how, by sheer force of will and cunning, he changes the outcome of a war and the future of his kind. The events of this book pave the way to the Sith we loved to hate in the star wars films.
Betrayal, murder, revenge, war. He should have a sith name more like Darth Bada$$ =) I can't wait until the sequel comes out. Maybe we'll even get a whole series of Sith based books and get to see how Palpatine starts his rise in the order of the Sith.
Can't recommend this one highly enough, especially after reading the somewhat disappointing Star Wars Allegiance.
The rise of Darth Bane..........2007-07-10
Darth Bane: Path of Destruction takes a different - and refreshing - approach to storytelling in the Star Wars universe. Most novels follow the heroic exploits of well-known and loved Star Wars heroes - Luke, Han, Leia, Lando, etc. This novel details the rise of one of the founders of the modern Sith order, where there are only two, a master and an apprentice. Darth Bane is a character hinted at to a limited degree in the expanded universe material. In this novel, his rise to power over the Sith order and control of it's future is laid out, events which affect the Sith up until the time of the movies, where there remain only a master and an apprentice.
The novel is, as one would expect, darker than other Star Wars novels. It vividly depicts the harsh and ruthless philosophy of the Sith, where innocents suffer and the powerful rule by brute force, as well as cunning and trickery.
Darth Banes life starts out mundane, but by the end of the novel the destiny of the Sith is forever changed. His transformation into THE Dark Lord of the Sith is complete and his apprentice is found, leaving the door open for future novels.
It was quite interesting to read a novel that had a darker theme than most Star Wars novels. And it was refreshing to read about characters from the expanded universe that I've enjoyed for years now. Exar Kun and Naga Sadow (both Kevin J. Anderson creations, I believe), among others, are mentioned in the novel. Planets and familiar locations for the comics and video games are mentioned, too. Given the amount of expanded universe material involved - from comics to books to games - the novel does a great job of tying the previously hinted at material together and fleshing out, so to speak, the character of Darth Bane.
If you like Star Wars novels and are looking for a storyline with a darker tone to it, then don't pass up this novel. There are Jedi and heroes of the light side in the novel, but they take a backseat to the main story of the rise of Darth Bane, the founder of the modern Sith order.
Book Description
“Two there should be; no more, no less.
One to embody the power, the other to crave it.”
–Darth Bane, Dark Lord of the Sith
On the run from vengeful Republic forces, Dessel, a cortosis miner, vanishes into the ranks of the Sith army and ships out to join the bloody war against the Republic and its Jedi champions. There, Dessel’s brutality, cunning, and exceptional command of the Force swiftly win him renown as a warrior. But in the eyes of his watchful masters, a far greater destiny awaits him.
As an acolyte in the Sith academy, studying the secrets and skills of the dark side, Dessel embraces his new identity: Bane. But the true test is yet to come. In order to gain acceptance into the Brotherhood of Darkness, he must defy the most sacred traditions and reject all he has been taught. It is a trial by fire in which he must surrender fully to the dark side–and forge from the ashes a new era of absolute power.
“A solid space adventure [that] charts the evolution of an antihero almost as chilling as Darth Vader.”
–Publishers Weekly
Book Description
Explore C.S. Lewis's life, works, and the world of Narnia the fun and easy way.
Curious about C.S. Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia? This plain-English guide provides a friendly introduction to the master storyteller and Christian apologist, revealing the meanings behind The Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters as well as his other works. You'll also discover why Lewis went from being a confirmed atheist to a committed Christian and how he addressed his beliefs in his writings.
Discover
* How his life influenced his writings
* His friendship with Tolkien and the Inklings
* The parallels between Narnia and Christianity
* His use of allegory and symbolism
* Resources for further exploration
Customer Reviews:
Reacquainting Myself with Lewis.......2006-04-23
I read "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" when I was 9. I think two years later I read, "The Last Battle." I enjoyed both of them. For a long time, I forgot about Narnia, but when the movie version of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" came out, I started thinking about Narnia again. I saw the movie and thought it was quite faithful to the book, as I remember it.
Wagner's book helped me reacquaint myself with Narnia. He also showed me levels of symbolism in Lewis' books that I never saw before. In addition, Wagner talks about the other works of fiction and non-fiction that Lewis wrote. One of the most famous works of fiction by Lewis outside of the Narnia series is "The Screwtape Letters" which is a series of letters from one devil to another on the subject of tempting humans. After reading Wagner's introduction to the book, I really want to read "The Screwtape Letters."
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about C.S. Lewis and his books.
A celebration of recognition.......2005-09-14
Being rather fond of both the novells and the essays of C.S. Lewis reading books on his work often turns out to be a rather disapointing experience. However interesting to a certain extend, most of them do not catch the reader, dryasdust as they are written.
"C.S. Lewis and Narnia for Dummies" is a good exception to that rule. Taking advantage of the proven "For Dummies" concept Wagners enthousiasm for the work of Lewis really is contageous. Appearantly Wagner has read a lot from Lewis. Without falling into the trap of being to over-detailled he uses his knowledge about Lewis to draw the big lines and add just enough extra information to make it interesting for other "fans" without alienating those for whom even "The Lion, the Wich and the Wardrobe" is a totally new experience.
For me, considering myself as a lover of most of the work of Lewis, "C.S. Lewis & Narnia For Dummies" was a celebration of recognition. I can not judge for those who are not into Lewis yet - I do not dare to call them dummies - but I can imagine for them this book is appealing to get lost in the wonderful fantasy world of Lewis or even try one of the many essays Lewis has written. At least they won't be frightened by a writer who is to seriously. Wagner obviously likes to make a little fun about himself making it more pleasant to follow his argumentation. I couldn't read the book without a smile.
"C.S. Lewis & Narnia For Dummies" is a book only to be surpassed by the original work of Lewis himself. In the light of the actual interest for fantasy in general and C.S. Lewis in particular consider this book as a must if you are not familiar with Lewis yet. And if you are, there is a good chance that you will enjoy this book as much as I did.
Glimpse of Greatness.......2005-07-20
This is a well written and thoughtful introduction to C.S. Lewis. The author walks you thru the life and accomplishments of C.S. Lewis (Known as "Jack" by his friends and admirers).
I plan to re-read the Narnia books, then I will explore some of Jack's other writings.
The second half of the book explores The Chronicles of Narnia, and then discusses some of the deeper writings of C.S. Lewis.
For anyone who wants to better appreciate the writings of C.S. Lewis, this is a great place to start.
I really enjoy using this book as a guide to better understand C.S. Lewis and his life's work.
This book would make an excellent Christmas gift !!
Books:
- Hotel Honolulu: A Novel
- Hunger Point: A Novel
- In the Skin of a Lion
- Jakob von Gunten (New York Review Books Classics)
- Killing Mister Watson
- Learn to Play Go: A Master's Guide to the Ultimate Game (Volume I) (Learn to Play Go)
- Lighthousekeeping
- Lithium for Medea
- Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper: A Novel
- Mademoiselle Benoir: A Novel
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- History: Fiction or Science
- Celtic Women's Spirituality: Accessing the Cauldron of Life
- The Hinterlands: A Mountain Tale in Three Parts
- The Successful Child: What Parents Can Do to Help Kids Turn Out Well
- Too Big for Diapers
- Applied Numerical Methods with MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists
- A Field Guide to the Birds: Of Eastern and Central North America
- Under a Wing: A Memoir
- The Legacy of Leon Walras
- How to Manage One Million Dollars or Less
