Book Description
For 11-year-old David Lear, there is nobody quite like his mother. She can be so caring, so warm and funny, but there are times when her drinking sweeps her away and her affection gives way to verbal abuse and sometimes even violence. As her moods grow darker and more intense, David tries several times to run away from home, before he is finally sent away to boarding school.
At the beginning, it's an odd and unfamiliar place, an exclusive prep school in the New England hills, where the rules seem oppressive and hard for a boy to understand. David struggles to adjust and to find friends who will accept him despite the vestiges of an old physical handicap that still haunt him.
With elegant prose and a deep and personal understanding of the story, award-winning poet Anthony S. Abbott offers us his debut novel, a coming-of-age odyssey that novelist Jill McCorkle calls "a beautiful story, a story of hope."
As David slowly finds his footing at school, he must also contend with the legacy of his family. He sets out alone on a summertime journey in search of a father he hasn't seen in many years, a stepmother who loathes him, and a mysterious benefactress who pays for his schooling. Yet the most powerful and problematic character he must deal with is his mother, Maggie Hope, whose life has long since slipped from its moorings.
For David, the question is whether something similar will happen to him or whether he will manage, as he becomes a young man, to overcome his family's history of tragedy and find the strength to make his way in the world.
Customer Reviews:
Loved it, but am very biased towards Dr. Abbott to begin ..........2005-02-18
I really wish the whole world could know Dr. Abbott, the author of this book. He is this adorably handsome man with eyes that twinkle when he speaks and a laugh that can leave you smiling all afternoon. In his classes in college, I often had difficulty taking notes because I was so swept away by his expression of the English language. He is poetic in everything that he does, and this book is a great example of that.
David Lear, the protagonist of this tale, who reminds me a great deal of what Dr. Abbott might have been like as a boy, is a fantastic character filled with so many demons yet able to conquer them all. Almost like a Harry-Potter-for-adults, Leaving Maggie Hope takes us through David's adolesence and leaves us warm with the hope of what will come for this extraodinary boy.
What's even greater than the story, though, is the language that Dr. Abbott uses to tell his tale. It's simply breathtaking in places. I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who marvels in the magic of putting words together in beautiful ways.
Charming & poignant coming-of-age story.......2004-06-16
In "Leaving Maggie Hope", David, the young protagonist, witnesses a fight between his mother and stepfather that changes the course of his life. Instead of growing up in the bosom of his comforting, albeit troubled family, David is sent to boarding school while his mother, stepfather, and sister disperse separately to New York City.
He is troubled by a slight physical disability from his youth and "coping strategies" that set him apart from the other boys. As David negotiates through life in the rarefied environment of an East Coast boys' school, he learns that his is not the only family that is unraveling, and how to cultivate the assets that truly make him valuable as a friend and student. Under the surface of all his adjustments at school runs the distress caused by his mother's descent into alcoholism.
David is a character that almost everyone can relate to. He is the butt of pranks as well as the perpetrator of them. He is very smart, but has to learn to strive for the real value of education, rather than for the purpose of accumulating accolades. This story is so beautifully written (the author is a poet) that experiencing the language is as rewarding as the culmination of David's story. Enjoy!
Engrossing story of youth and longing and finding our place.......2003-12-03
The story of this young man, and how he comes to terms with some unique circumstances, as well as those challenges univeral to us all, will pull you in from the very beginning. This is one of those "read the 1st chapter, and you're hooked" books. I wanted to curl up with a quilt and a good cup of coffee and just not put it down. You'll find your own favorite teacher, your own best friend, your own worst enemy and your own heart at the heart of this story. I want to cast the movie version, and have high hopes for a sequel!
Customer Reviews:
Eh.......2006-12-15
While this book is an asset in learning about lesbian history it is seriously lacking in connecting ideas and seperating fact from oppinion. While some points are made well there are some that are so far off that they devalue what ever point the author was trying to make.
Wonderful survey of lesbian history.......2005-06-21
I read this book when I was newly out and went through the "read everything remotely queer" stage. This is truly a gem. It is everything a work of history should be: engaging, informative and well-crafted.
I recommend this to GLBTQ folks who are lacking knowledge about our history, as well as people with an interest in women's studies and feminism. Good photos, too.
Empowering and Engaging.......2002-04-24
Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers is a fascinating work that traces the cultural history of lesbianism in the United States -- providing a broad and thorough overview of lesbianism's diversity, its relationship to feminism, and its evolving forms of resistance in relationship to the oppressions of the dominant culture. Perhaps what is most impressive about this book is that while it is an impressively researched and intellectually stimulating piece of scholarship, it is also an extremely engaging read. Faderman draws the reader into lesbian cultural history in a way that is never clinical, but compellingly human--under her treatment, the lesbian subculture emerges in all of its varied complexity, its celebratory subversiveness, as a fascinatingly rich and vibrant culture of historical, political, and sexual significance. This book is a marvelous introduction to lesbian culture and history . . . it is entertaining, empowering, and utterly engaging.
An important work.......2001-04-09
Lillian Faderman has written some of the best works on the lesbian experience throughout the ages, and "Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers" is no exception. She covers every facet of the subculture from the turn of the 20th century to the present day with impeccable scholarship, and her writing is engaging and highly readable. She examines everything from 1950's butch/femme, 70's lesbian feminism, and the resurgence of trendy "lipstick lesbians" with equal attention. This book is a must-have for every queer library, and is an important contribution to the cause of lesbian visiblity.
Interesting book.......2000-03-18
I'm taking a class in sexual communities history and this is one of the books I have to read. I've found it to be an excellent supliment for the class. The only thing lacking is that it sometimes will make a really great point, then a few sentences later make a completely off the wall one. Overall a great book, and if you're looking to learn a lot about lesbianism in the US...this is a wonderful book to do so.
Average customer rating:
- All African American Couples Should Own!
- Leave your Ego behind when you read this book.....
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Friends, Lovers, and Soulmates: A Guide to Better Relationships Between Black Men and Women
Dr. Darlene Hopson
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General | Beauty & Fashion | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Marriage | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
African-American Studies | Special Groups | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
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How to Love a Black Man
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The Sistahs' Rules: Secrets For Meeting, Getting, And Keeping A Good Black Man Not To Be Confused With The Rules
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SoulMates: An Illustrated Guide to Black Love, Sex, and Romance
Accessories:
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philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer
ASIN: 0671505610 |
Book Description
Are you looking for a special companion? Frustrated because you can't seem to communicate with the person you are with? Determined to meet someone whose vision matches yours? If so, Friends, Lovers, and Soul Mates is for you!
Filled with self-assessments, dozens of case studies, and an appendix of organizations, Friends, Lovers, and Soul Mates is more than just a relationship book for Black men and women. It is a guide you can use at any stage in your life, whether you want to figure out why you don't currently have a relationship or want to enhance your existing relationship. There is no magic wand to create the nourishing bonds we so desperately need and deserve, but with hard work and the guidance that you can find in this book, a healthy, nurturing, and loving relationship can be yours.
Customer Reviews:
All African American Couples Should Own!.......2003-03-05
This book is one that "ALL" African American couples should own. My professor used it as the main text in his class and it not only helps you understand yourself but your mate as well. It also gives you insight on why we behave in the manner in which we do, and provides exercises to help you sustain your relationships. The authors are African American Husband and Wife Psychologist who also practice what they've written.
Leave your Ego behind when you read this book............2000-11-03
I say that because in reading and understanding the husband/wife authors, you will become humble and start looking for opportunities to become more of a soulmate to your lover or friend. I agree that a person can indeed become jaded or exasperated with the "games" that men and women play on each other! Sometimes a person wonders how did their parents or grandparents ever get together! This book was one of the FIRST of the truly HELPFUL books in the Iyanla Vanzant, Maya Angelou, Dr. Ron Elmore tradition! This one has the benefit of a very intuitive and intelligent husband and wife team aiding you in the process ! A very good investment. May the reading and applying of the information bring about a healing and lifetime love for you! Peace -ed-
Book Description
What happens when a woman's best friend becomes something more? In these fiery true stories, women describe the explosive moment when their friend came into their arms as their lover, even for just one night.
Lindsey Elder's series of true-life erotic stories includes the anthologies Early Embraces, Early Embraces II, Early Embraces III and Beginnings. She lives in Los Angeles and is on the lookout for your story.
Customer Reviews:
Mostly T&A.......2006-11-08
My book oddly enough looks different. Its all pink and different picture. Better in my opinion. Anyhow, as far as the book... well it is lacking terribly. I am a stickler about love stories (especially lesbian and sometimes gay ones.) But mostly every story in this is just a 1,2,3 kick formula. Girl Meets Girl. Girls realise they are lesbians. Girls do it. Move on to next chapter. That's it basically. There are a few stories that are pretty good, but nothing on the tier of the ones i've read in love shook my heart. Even on the t&a department its pretty bland.
Basically it just wasn't what i was looking for. I wanted something that was sweet, loving, and maybe a little kinky at the right spots. not just something that says, "I'm a feminist now give me nipple!" There are a few nice stories in this. It's barely worth buying. But be prepared to do a lot of skimming. Also my biggest problem about series like this is that well... if you really like one... you only get a taste. but o well.
Reassuring - but not for bisexual women!.......2005-06-27
As a straight woman - who also happens to be bisexual - I was anxiously looking forward to sampling this book's contents. I was drawn by the title, "My Lover, My Friend" which rekindled for me memories of my own experiences.
As someone who has also struggled to resolve my own same-sex yearnings, I was looking forward to reading about other women's journeys - to see if any of them had taken paths similar to my own. I suppose I was also seeking some reassurances as to the choices I had made. And, in my wildest dreams, I was hoping that the book might offer some advice for me and other women - such as how to balance our enjoyment of women with other aspects of our normal heterosexual lives.
As background, this book is a series of first person accounts by women who eventually find companionship with a close female friend. As such, this message flies in the face of conventional wisdom which warns us that "love ruins friendships." And in the case of woman-to-woman intimacy, I would think that the potential for irreparably harming one's friendships is even greater.
In my own case, after fruitlessly exploring other avenues, I eventually found success when I violated this same tenet - and started to view my friends (some of whom were my closest) as possible lovers. To say that this took a while to pull off would be an understatement. But afterwards, not only did I not lose my dearest soul mates - our friendships are now much stronger than ever before!
I guess I didn't realize it when I selected it, but this book is mainly about women who are lesbians. Even so, I was surprised to discover how much different it means to be bisexual - and how so little of this book proved useful to me.
Although the erotic portions of the stories were tastefully written and mildly arousing, the life situations of the authors had a remarkable sameness - which made the outcomes almost painfully predictable. Most of the subjects lived in - or near the fringes - of the lesbian community. Some of the women weren't lesbians to begin with (and several had been previously married). But almost all of the friends (or best friends) who assisted each woman in her transition - were already lesbians! (Hey, where's the surprise or discovery in that?)
Besides the seemingly preordained nature of each story's outcome, there also seemed to be an underlying (monochromatic) message saying that once you sleep with a women - that you eventually need to marry her (or at least commit yourself exclusively to her).
I found myself admiring those individuals who managed to find true love with someone of the same sex - and who then had the conviction to pursue a relationship with them for numerous years. But sexuality for me (and my friends) isn't nearly so black and white.
For me, being bisexual means that I acknowledge the strong attraction I have for other women. But that doesn't mean that I want to give up my traditional heterosexual life -- in order to fulfill it!
In all fairness, this book is probably very reassuring to those women who want to become lesbians.
But for those like me who want to satisfy that same-sex hunger -- while not being totally consumed by it - this book, unfortunately, was not very helpful.
Average customer rating:
- I couldn't not believe this woman.
- Love is blind and obviously he was!
- I'm on the bandwagon
- If I Cud Rate It more
- Good Read
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Between Lovers
Eric Jerome Dickey
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Dickey, Eric Jerome | African American | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Cheaters
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Sister, Sister
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ASIN: 0451204689
Release Date: 2003-05-06 |
Book Description
Eric Jerome Dickey is "at the top of his game" (Detroit News and Free Press) with a hip, sexy, and wise novel that brings a new twist to the game of love...as a woman torn between two lovers-one male, one female-becomes the center of an emotional storm of anger, passion, and exhilarating excitement.
Customer Reviews:
I couldn't not believe this woman........2005-11-14
I couldn't believe this woman. Talking about wanting your cake and ice cream too. WHOO!! I felt sorry for the brotha and then this crazy woman dogging him out. I swear. As you can tell I had strong feelings for these characters and you will too. Great BOOK!! This was a roller coaster ride and I felt the ups and downs. Definitely a keeper. Put this one on your bookshelf. That means BUY IT.
Love is blind and obviously he was!.......2005-11-09
This is the third book that I have read from this author and I must say, while his style of writing is funny and witty and at times a real page turner, i just could not like the character Nicole in this book. I thought she was highly selfish which was evident when Aayana told her to "close the circle" and she decided she didn't want to share her two lovers with one another even though she continuously begged them to give her the best of both worlds.
I personally thought that the extent of the hero's love for her was his major weakness as most guys would have told her 'sayonara' from the get go and at points I felt like kicking him for trying so hard to get her back.
I liked the fact however that Dickey showed the varying aspects of the relationships with their parents as this made the situation a little more real.
The best aspect was the whole concept at the end where it showed 'true love means letting go'.
Really and truly not one of my favorites and one that I would never read over.
I'm on the bandwagon .......2005-09-28
I'm read almost all of EJD's books Sister Sister, Friends and Lovers, Cheaters, Milk in My Coffee, Liars Game, Between Lovers, Thieves Paradise, The Other Woman, Naughty or Nice. The first book I read was Cheaters and it got me hook then I went back and read all of the other books in order (I just finished Naughty or Nice and I've stared Drive me crazy). So, I fell in love with Cheaters and after reading the next couple of books I started to get board, they all were written the same and talked about the same things, until Between Lovers, I'm back in love. This book (like all his books) is deep; he goes in to the minds of both men and women and says what everyone else is afraid to. This book talked all about how crazy people get when they are in love; we stop thinking for ourselves and get rapped up in someone else, at some point we all have to get shaken out of our daze and make choices for ourselves. Yes, I'm recommending the book. Don't borrow it Buy It!
If I Cud Rate It more.......2005-08-05
This book is so good. If I could rate it more I would. The first sentence tells me its going to be good.It was a bit of a drag in the beginning but wow it was amazing. The only thing is that I wish it would have ended differently. But the ending was just as good. Another winner 4 EJD
Good Read.......2005-07-20
I like this book. It was slow at first me though, Jerome is a very good writer never the less. I felt in the beginning of the book he did too much describing. He described everything and the background of EVERY thing, and it just throws the reader off as you wait to find out whats really even going on in the story. BUT once you get past all that, it turns into a wonderful book. The story between the three characters is very oringial and a bit weird. But he tells the story beautifully, and you really feel for the chracters. I definitely recommend!
Product Description
A sexy novel brimming with the steamy voices of three desparately intertwined lovers.
Average customer rating:
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Between Lovers
Sheri-D Wilson
Manufacturer: Arsenal Pulp Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
20th Century | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
United States | Single Authors | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1551521245 |
Book Description
Sheri-D Wilson, whose unparallelled writing style is rich with erotic jazz, infused with a sharp feminist sensibility, and laced with a dangerous wit, is back with Between Lovers, her fifth collection of poetry and her strongest to date.
Seamlessly matching word with sound, these poems fly off the page with lyrical beauty and a rhythmical electric charge that transports you into Sheri-D's surreal world: an empowering, sensual place where one can discover what it means to be a woman in the twenty-first century.
In this collection, Sheri-D's language is brilliantly alive with the wit, charm, and playfulness she is known for. She reaches into the soul's dark abyss and finds that what makes us different is what makes us the same.
Just what does it mean to be human? Sheri-D Wilson traverses the extremes of the human condition, as she examines the many entendres of what it means to be Between Lovers.
Book Description
"This is a most helpful book about the challenge and opportunity of leading others in public prayer. Kent Borgaard invites the reader into an open and honest critique of prayers he has offered in a lifetime of ministry, with the hope that all such prayers include all hearers and quicken our intimacy with God. It is a valuable workbook for all who seek to effectively lead the church in worship. It is a creative work." Richard L. Spleth Regional Minister Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Indiana
Average customer rating:
- Entertaining Underdogs
- One of the funniest "Military" science fiction I've ever read!
- Combines tongue-in-cheek space opera and revolution
- Read this book!
- Outstanding!
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Rats, Bats & Vats
Eric Flint , and
Dave Freer
Manufacturer: Baen
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 0671318284
Release Date: 2001-08-28 |
Book Description
Chip Connolly was a conscripted grunt in trouble: stuck behind enemy lines with a bunch of cyber-uplifted rats and bats. Rats with human speech, but with rat priorities: sex, food and strong drink. And the bats were revolutionaries planning to throw off the human yoke -- with high explosive. Then there was the girl they'd rescued. Rich. Beautiful. With a passionate crush on her "heroic" rescuer. Her entourage was a screwball Alien tutor, and a cyber-uplifted lemurlike pet galago with delusions of being the world's greatest lover.
Of course things only got worse. Seven rats, five bats, a galago, two humans, a sea-urchin-like alien and an elderly vineyard tractor without brakes...against several million inimical aliens. He was going to die.
Mind you, not dying could be even more terrible. That girl might get him.
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining Underdogs.......2007-08-28
A human colonized planet learns from a race of friendly starfarers that their home is in the path of a conquest fleet of a race of "insectoids". The friendly visitors offer to help humanity fight off these would be conquerors but things never quite seem to work out right. Partly this is because the technology of the invaders is generally superior to that of the humans. Partly this is because the other side is heedless of casualties. In great measure, though, human losses are due to the corrupt leaders of the planet and its military.
The leaders are a privileged class. They rule the planet for their own benefit and most of the soldiers are "vat grown" to act as serfs and/or cannon fodder. They are aided by genetically enhanced bats and rats with artificially enhanced IQs. None of this, however, seems to be enough to face the enemy.
One Vat, along with his rat and bat companions, becomes cut off behind enemy lines. In his efforts to get free, he learns to befriend the uplifted animals conscripted to serve beside him and, in doing so, create complete chaos for the enemy. He also learns that not all enemies are as bad as they are cracked up to be and neither are the allies.
This is a comedy posing as an adventure story. As long as it is not taken too seriously, it is lots of fun.
One of the funniest "Military" science fiction I've ever read!.......2006-03-28
My husband picked this up after telling me "any random book printed by Baen is good" - and, of course, because it has "rats" in the title . . . He read it and laughed his way through it and insisted that I read it, too, to which I agreed readily enough. I won't recap the story, but I will say it is a hoot and a half! The rats are hedonistic Shakespeareans; the bats are revolutionary Irish; and the vats are hapless humans who are just along for the ride. And, of course, you have the land-owners, who have the money - throw in the evil bugs from outer space and the benevolent aliens who are providing the technology to defeat them (or are they?) and you have a mix that is sure to please anyone who likes military science fiction, space opera, or just plain silliness. HIGHLY recommended!!
Combines tongue-in-cheek space opera and revolution.......2004-11-26
Alien maggots have invaded the human-inhabited planet of Harmony and Reason (HAR), gradually overrunning the planet despite the efforts of the military--aided by cybernetically enhanced 'rats' and 'bats.' Another alien race sells humans military technology and advice, but that advice too-often seems either wrong or incomplete. At any rate, the humans are losing and the maggots have just snatched another significant chunk of territory, leaving a small group of soliders (one human along with small groups of rats and bats) behind the new expanded force field that prevents human counter-attack.
Together with his heavy-drinking rats and his revolutionary bats, human Chip Connolly must stay alive in the face of literally millions of maggot soldiers and workers. Worse, the hive's 'group mind' means that even if they kill everyone who sees them, the bugs always know where they are hiding.
Things only seem to get worse when Chip and the others have to rescue aristocratic Ginny Shaw, the heiress to the human colony's greatest fortune and her Korozhet tutor. The young woman at least has the virtue of being attractive (although Chip knows perfectly well what happens to vat-born clones who aspire above their stations and develop interests in shareholders) but the Korozhet is nothing but trouble--and only Chip seems bothered by this. Against the wishes of its generals, part of the human army watches the heroes as they attempt to survive but, as long as the force field remains intact, they are helpless to intervein. Even if they could, the humans have lost every battle they've fought.
Authors Eric Flint and Dave Freer combine in a light-hearted look at the military, space-opera, and revolution. The story maintains a perfect balance between tongue-in-cheek and solid adventure, involving the reader in the characters at the same time as it keeps us smiling. The plight of the cybernetic rats and bats, as well as that of the slave-like clone humans (vats) adds a very mild political message to the light-hearted novel.
Read this book!.......2003-07-03
This is a prime example of what great fun sci-fi can be in the hands of a good author. Genetically engineered bats, rats, and "vats" (human clones serving as indentured servants) combine with the sci-fi staple of vicious bugs who imperil a small human colony in a fast read. There's a recipe for explosives and how to make a brandy flamethrower! Flint is an imaginative writer, there are few others who would make genetically engineered bats Irish anarchists at heart, and a cloned sous chef a hero.
Outstanding!.......2002-08-27
Original, fast paced, hilarious at points, fascinating... this is the best science fiction adventure novel I have ever read. Period.
The original space colonists of a distant planet and their descendents live like kings with a subordinate social class composed of "Vats", cloned humans used for menial labor. Small but deadly insect-like alien invaders arrive and begin waging trench warfare against the unprepared settlers. The vats are drafted and sent into battle, along with hurriedly genetically engineered talking rat and bat helpers.
The story picks up when one hapless vat, 6 bats, and 7 rats are separated from the main force by a cave-in and forced to look for another way back to friendly territory. The seize-the-day attitudes of the little soldiers, facing a naturally short life span compounded by a high risk of death in combat, is the icing on the cake of one hell of an entertaining story. I couldn't put it down.
Book Description
The intrepid team of mentally uplifted rats and bats, and their vat-born human leader had not only pulled off the only victory the beleagured colony's feeble military forces had won against the invading aliens, but had also uncovered the secret that the invaders were really a feint, being under the control of the other aliens which the naive humans had thought were their allies. Unfortunately, that was the easy part, because now they had to convince their boneheaded military bureaucracy (burdened with incompetents and riddled with quisling humans) of their discovery, and keep from being court-martialed, drugged into submission, or executed by the human traitors. And they had to do this quickly, before the aliens launched their surprise attack. Fortunately, they had found a way around the alien's mental programming. What's more, the daring and resourceful Fluff, apparently the ineffectual pet of one of the colony's ruling class, was on their side. Only Fluff can save us now. . . .
Customer Reviews:
wow, a really fun read and very hard to put down.......2007-10-01
I absolutely loved this book - just one caveat. You should really read the first book, to get a line on the characters, events that happened before, etc., that book being The Rats,Bats and Vats. Rats and bats have been "uplifted" by an alien species, to help humans on the planet Harmony fight against another alien species that have invaded. Vats are humans who are born from "vats" (not quite clear on this), and presumably raised in creches. They are treated as virtual slaves and thrown into the war as cannon fodder. However, one manages to fight and win the first victory for the humans, with the help of his uplifted troops. Now, he is being charged with desertion in combat by the idiotic army commanders. How he and his bats and rats, plus help from a couple of human officers who know what they are doing make this a truly fun book. I do like when the bad guys are bamboozled by the good guys and the evil aliens get their comeuppance. Get this book!!! But, first, read the preceding book.
The Punishement of Success.......2007-07-09
RATS, BATS & VATS ended with the young vat hero rescuing an heiress and precipitating the only significant victory against the aliens who are invading the planet. Naturally, the high brass does not like this at all as it reflects poorly on them. They are also pressured by the helpful allied species "advising" the humans. Something has to be done and that something is that all of the heroes must be punished severely.
Naturally, the heroes do not care for this at all. The old gang of larcenous rats, revolutionary bats, drama queen primates, young hero and rich heiress come together again to not only save themselves but save their planet. They do so with a laugh on every page.
Great summer read ! Fun!.......2006-08-16
I recommend buying this book now, it is fun, a good engaging read, fun and, oh yes, fun.
Summer read. I bought the paperback that recently came out (summer '06) for a summer read. To me, a summer book is one you just read, relax, and enjoy. No deep deep thoughts, no crazy violence, nor dark magic... just something to zone out with and enjoy.
It has a plot. I liked this book so much because it is light-hearted, but not light in plot. It has a well captured plot and the story follows it. The plot pulled me in for the ride such that I never found myself wanting to go into critic mode.
It is fun. It is an enjoyable comedy that has characters with enough depth to them to carry off the storyline. I looked forward to various characters coming back into the story just to see how they would react to the issues at hand. A fun adventure.
And lastly... I give this book great credit for subtly reminding the reader of what happened in the 1st book (as this is a sequel). While I have a horrid memory and forget books easily, I also hate books that spend pages upon pages trying to redo previous books in a series. This book does a wonderful job of alluding to past events in such a manner that does not draw you away from the story at hand. Great job!
funny, but not quite as successful as the original.......2004-12-18
It is possible to read this book without reading the prior RATS BATS AND VATS, but there's not much point to that. Not only is the first book slightly better, but the second book contains a lot of plot spoilers for the first book. So, assuming you have read the first book, what's this one like?
Funny. Socially (and socialist) motivated. But slightly less successful than the first book.
The best scenes in the first book followed the action behind enemy lines. The story back in military HQ was amusing, but nowhere near as original or as involving (M*A*S*H or Catch22 did it better). The novel's highlight was the interaction between the four different types of intelligences -- bats, rats, man, and woman. With a little bit of Fluff on the side.
Unfortunately, most of the second book takes place with the bats, rats, Chip, and Ginny all separated from each other. And it takes place back in the home front. In other words, the best aspects of the first book are cast aside. In their place we get a bunch of farcical legal proceedings and a lot of conspiracy (both successful and not).
It's a funny book, and it consistently carries the plot and the characters in the same direction as they were going in the first book, but it's just not quite as magical. RATS BATS AND VATS was marvelous at playing off the interspecies misunderstandings against the romantic misunderstandings between Chip and Ginny. There is nothing that quite takes up the slack for the absence of it in THE RATS THE BATS AND THE UGLY. And the ending is more deus ex machina than the first book -- you don't quite feel like the victory has been earned.
There are some obvious open plot threads for a third book, but the authors will have to work a little harder to find a replacement for the romantic subplot that really made the first book work so well. And hopefully they will also continue to provide us with the wordplay and farce which they did so well in both RATS AND BATS novels.
Welcome counter to ultra-right-wing SF.......2004-11-21
A small group of rats, bats, a single vat-born soldier, and a wealthy civilian woman have defeated an invading Magh army, but the Magh are far from mankind's only enemy. Mankind's putative ally, the Korozhet, now control most of the army's high-ranking officers as well as the rats and bats. The first thing they command is that those responsible for the Magh defeat by arrested and eliminated. For wealthy heiress, Virginia (Ginny) Shaw, the result may be even worse. She can't be disposed of easily--she does control more than a third of the shares of the colony--but she is subject to Korozhet mind control. It doesn't take humankind's traitors long to separate her from her lover, vat-born Chip Connolly, and drug her to the point where she can barely recognize herself. Once she has signed away her controls, she will be completely disposable.
A combination of smart lawyers, scientists, and logic-splitting rats and bats who can somehow believe that the Korozhet are both wonderfully kind and simultaneously horrible murderers, are all that stands between the colony and its destruction. Depending on lawyers is notoriously dangerous, especially since some of the best lawyers are on the other side, but Chip, the other soldiers who disobeyed headquarters commands, and the other humans involved have little choice.
Authors Eric Flint and Dave Freer combine in an amusing takeoff on old-fashioned space opera. The rats and bats are charming with their Shakespearian and Irish accents, but have nasty enough habits to make them interesting (if they aren't fed every four hours, they just may make you their meal). As a welcome contrast to much military SF, the story doesn't preach an ultra-conservative anti-environmentalist message.
THE RATS, THE BATS, & THE UGLY is an enjoyable, if lightweight adventure story. Freer and Flint are capable writers and the story sucks you in and keeps you reading.
Average customer rating:
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Rats, Bats & Vats Display
Dave Freer , and
Eric Flint
Manufacturer: Baen Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0743433343 |
Book Description
The Long Discourses of the Buddha is an invaluable collection of the teachings of the Buddha, revealing his gentleness, compassion, and penetrating wisdom. These thirty-four discourses are among the oldest records of the Buddha's original teachings. This book is a companion to The Middle-Length Discourses of the Buddha, and The Connected Discourses of the Buddha.
Customer Reviews:
Digha Nikaya.......2007-10-05
This is a very handy excellent translation of the long discourses of the Buddha from the pali canon.
Excellent teachings, excellent translation........2007-01-16
A well-printed, well-annotated tranlation of one of the major collections of Buddhist suttas. Priceless.
You should get this if you want to know what the Buddha really taught.......2006-12-14
I admit it: I find most of the books written by monks interpreting the Buddha easier to read and more "inspiring" than the Buddha's actual words, or what we have available as memories and translations of Buddha's words.
However, after sitting down with this book for awhile, I am really liking it. At first it is a little strange, kind of dry. But the more I read it the more I like it. It's as if it was written in such a way that if you open up to it, it just kinda sinks in.
I have seen several other such books of the teachings of the Buddha, but this one is my favorite so far. Highly recommended.
The Digha Nikaya.......2004-01-31
This book is a modern translation of the Long Length Discourses of the Buddha, a seminal collection of early Buddhist texts. The Digha is part of the scripture of the Theravada school of Buddhism. The Theravada school is is the oldest surviving form of Buddhism and is still practiced in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, and elsewhere. Together with other forms of Buddhism, Theravada has attracted a great deal of interest in the West, and this book will be invaluable in making its teachings accessible. This collection of discourses is considered canonical by all other schools of Buddhism. Subsequent understanding of the Buddha's teachings built upon it, even when they seemed to depart from it.
The Digha is a collection of 34 discourses (suttas), originally written in Pali. The form of the teaching differs from that of later Buddhist teachings in that in the Digha, the Buddha is presented as a person wandering through India and teaching his disciples, followers of other sects, kings, princes, gods, and anyone who is open to listen. The teachings are difficult but the emphasis in this collection is on psychology more than metaphysics. The Buddha described his dhamma as designed to end suffering and to teach people how to be happy. That is the core of this volume.
Many scholars believe that the Digha was written specifically to introduce the Buddha's teaching to lay followers. Most (but not all) the suttas in the collection involve discussions between the Buddha and various lay people or followers of other sects. The suttas in the collection include a great deal of mythology and story-telling. These factors, together with the content of the discourses, tend to show it was designed for a large audience, rather than only for close followers of the Buddha's teachings. They remain an outstanding source for those wanting to make a serious effort to study the Buddha.
Many of the Suttas in the collection present important expositions of the Buddha's dhamma (teaching). The first sutta in the collection, translated here as "What the Teaching is Not" is basic but difficult. The reader coming to the Digha might want to begin with the second sutta, "The Fruits of the Homeless Life". This sutta is widely studied and is a beautiful exposition of the Buddha's teaching and its value.
Sutta 15 of the collection, the "Great Discourse on the Origination" is the most detailed single discussion in the Pali Canon of the Buddha's fundamental and uncompromisingly difficult teaching on dependent origination -- impermanence, selflessness, and interconnectedness. Sutta 22, "The Greater Discourse on the Foundation of Mindfulness" is the basic meditation sutta which should be studied by those wishing to develop a meditation practice. Sutta 16, the longest sutta in the Pali Canon, tells the story of the Buddha's last days and of his passing. In it the Buddha exhorts his followers to "strive on with diligence" to achieve their goal of enlightenment. Sutta 31, the Sigala Sutta, differs markedly from the remaining suttas in the collection in that it consists of the Buddha's rather worldy advice to a worldly young man.
I have the good fortune to belong to a Sutta Study group led by an able teacher where for the past year or so (the group has been meeting much longer) we have explored this collection in depth. We generally have one person assigned to lead the discussion of a Sutta (our group averages about ten) and we all read and discuss it over a two-hour session. (The longer, more difficult suttas require several sessions.) This is an ideal way to study the text. If such a group is unavailable to you, the best way to proceed, I think, is to read the collection slowly -- do not try to rush or to do it at once -- concentrate on the sections that seem to speak to you and go back to them. This is a text that is not meant to convey history or dogma but to encourage reflection, meditation and study.
The translation of the text is by Maurice Walshe, a scholar and a distinguished Buddhist lay practioner who also translated the works of the Christian mystic, Meister Eckhardt. Walshe wrote a useful introduction covering key Buddhist concepts, a summary of each sutta, and brief notes. His translation is homespun, colloquial, and accessible. It serves its function of allowing the reader to approach the text and the Dhamma.
Walshe and Wisdom Publications have done great service in making this volume available to interested readers in the West. (Wisdom has also published companion volumes of the Middle-Length Discourses and the Connected Discourses.) This is a difficult book but will repay the effort many times. May this book help the interested reader to understand the teachings of the Buddha.
Butchered Translation.......2003-08-11
It is amazing someone would spend so much time to translate a text like this only to not translate it in it's entirety. I have seen this before with Conze's translations of Buddhist texts which are equally appalling. This being a ancient religious text, it has repetition. But it is there for a reason. One, often an important point is repeated so that you remember it. Two, with Buddhist texts, many of them are meant to be a meditation, the repetition is part of that. Third it is a poetic device. But again when you buy a translation of a text don't you expect to get the WHOLE text and not have it edited at whim by the translator. The Sutras are the equivalent of the Bible in Buddhism. Wouldn't you think something is wrong if every time a translation of the Bible repeated itself (as the synoptic gospels do) that you just got a note instead of the actual text. I can't believe Wisdom even published it, no one would publish a bible that way. Worse still, Walshe doesn't note the majority of the items he leaves out but just gives you a ... to indicted he didn't feel the point was important enough to translate. And these often come a point where it really interferes with the reading of the text. I want my money back.
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