Book Description
The novels of Gail Godwin are contemporary classics--evocative, powerfully affecting, beautifully crafted fiction alive with endearing, unforgettable characters. Her critically acclaimed work has placed her among the ranks of Eudora Welty, Pat Conroy, and Carson McCullers, firmly establishing Godwin as a Southern literary novelist for the ages.
Father Melancholy's Daughter, is widely recognized as one of the author's most poignant and accomplished novels -- a bittersweet and ultimately transcendent story of a young girl's devotion to her father, the rector of a small Virginia church, and of the hope, dreams, and love that sustain them both in the wake of the betrayal and tragedy that diminished their family.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderfully written.......2006-05-04
Ms Godwin did an excellent job with this book and her characters.
As a Christian I enjoyed reading the theology, it was thought provoking and meaningful.
There were parts of this book that were fairly predictable, where as other parts were surprising.
If you enjoy a well written book, you should enjoy this one.
A beautiful book.......2006-02-03
Godwin's writing is elegant and nuanced, and the theology in Father Melancholy's Daughter is incarnational -- not about prettifying reality or escaping from it, but compassionately, lovingly living with it. I'm starting Evensong tonight.
Godwin at Her Best.......2003-01-13
Having read all of Gail Godwin's novels, I would rank this and Evensong as her best effort in capturing the essence of a half dozen characters - characters we come to care about and identify with, flawed though they may be. The novel is a celebration of brokenness and of nurture within the community of Christian believers in Godwin's ficticious town. Unlike one's experience with formula fiction (and Christian formula fiction in particular) the reader is surprised by who ends up wearing the white hats at book's end. Godwin's message (thesis) is inclusive and moving in its reality: we are all fellow strugglers in a world most often ruled by random events.
A great story with some thought-provoking ideas.......2002-08-09
I read this book with a highlighter in one hand. There are so many thought-provoking places in this beautiful and well-written story. I am looking forward to reading the sequel, "Evensong."
Here are two great quotes:
"Not until we accept our shortcomings can we do God's will in the world. Each person has a specific shortcoming to accept and endure and try to work on. It's that person's task, it is my task. And however painful or shameful or just plain aggravating it is to me, or to you, that very shortcoming is a part of my destiny; it may even be inseparable from why I will have been valuable to the human community. Because, by bearing it, learning it from the roots up, letting it speak its message to me, offering it in my mind and my body in which to work itself out, I may be doing my part to heal what is split in the world."
"And now it is our turn to follow Him by seeking to know our own redemptive roles, seeking to find out what is my part, what is your part, your unique part, in the human drama we find ourselves enmeshed in. Don't let yourself be unduly put down by the jeers, but don't be taken in unduly by the laurels and waving of palm branches, either. Just ride your little donkey as best you can, focus daily on those places in your existence where intensity blazes up...and let God do the rest."
Father Melancholy's Daughter.......2002-07-27
Together with its sequeal, Evensong, this was one of my favorite reads. It had a depth and realism rarely found in fiction with a religious theme. The interplay between spiritual and psychological was fascinating to me.
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The American
Henry James
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 James, Henry
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ASIN: 0543903109
Release Date: 1999-12-15 |
Book Description
On a visit to Paris, the wealthy and optimistic American Christopher Newman meets the beautiful Claire de Cintré, a half-French and half-English woman of noble birth. Fueled by desire, Newman pursues Claire - aided in his quest by the lady\'s younger brother Valentin. However, Newman finds that his American optimism is little match for a proud European nobility whose Old World values he can barely understand.
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FATHER MELANCHOLY'S DAUGHTER
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GR1TPC |
Product Description
Margaret is the daughter of the Reverend Walter Gower, a church rector in the small town of Romulus, Virginia and a deeply religious man whose bouts of depression are only outward reflection of a troubled spirit.
Book Description
Jarrod, sixth marquess of Shepherdston, is asked by childhood friend Sarah Eckersley for help in the art of seduction. As the leader of the Free Fellows League, Jarrod is wary of a marriage trap--but love has a way of softening even the hardest fall.
Customer Reviews:
Very forgettable book.......2006-11-10
I won't bother with the synopsis (not only because I don't remember the entire story after just having put it down a couple hours ago) but because many other reviewers are much better at it.
My only comments are, if the author had focused on the characters and not went on and on about decoding messages, spies, etc. this book could have been a lot better. As it is I had to force myself to read it. Also, I was so sick of Sarah chasing after Jarrod I wanted to scream. Not to mention the end...Jarrod all of a sudden realized what he had??? Please! I gave it 2 stars because I was able to finish it.
There's much better out there.......2006-08-07
Started off well enough, with a cute premise and seemingly spunky heroine, but then devolved quickly. A rector's devote daughter decides to become a concubine rather than marry anyone other than her "one true love" that she had a childhood crush on and seen only once since she was 10? Her aunt and his (the hero's) godfather had a secret star-crossed romance that had a 20 year gap, but is resolved in about 3 pages? Yet they delay some more to try to entangle the younger generation into marriage themselves? And the hero's godfather and hero's parent's all had in a love/lust entanglement (including a quick mention of same-gender affairs) that would have Jerry Springer rubbing his hands in glee?
Come on, is all that *really* necessary? I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they'd be stuck there.
If you're willing to totally suspend disbelief and disregard the period sensibilities, this isn't the worst thing put out, but I'm simply grateful I got it at the used bookstore. The Free Fellows stuff was entertaining even if the romance was not.
amusing.......2005-08-02
Like the rest of the Free Fellows League, this one goes quickly. However, all of the action seems to be between the two lovebirds in this one - unlike the other three where they spend time dealing with the mission behind the Free Fellows. There are a few points of interest (such as the documents J is dealing with at first) and the confusion behind the missing duke...but since this one overlaps time with the fourth book, the plot twists seem to be more of a small sub-plot to just relate the characters back
Would have been a 5 but for the rushed ending!.......2005-06-25
I really loved this book - this couple was just loving, fun, seemed to have had a sparring, sexually charged relationship for a long time. Jarrod has so very many reasons to really be emotionally not capable of loving or being loved. In no way did one realize from reading the other Freefellow books what a horrendous past poor Jarrod had faced. No wonder he wanted to found a little group to be able to keep feelings at bay and never marry. Thank goodness Sarah had been apart of his whole life and understood some of his trauma and absolutely loved him with her whole heart and sole. Sarah really does what so many of these ladies of the ton fail to do actually goes after what she wants on any terms. In fact she actually is expecting just a seduction and being a mistress. Jarrod is for the most part too honorable for this - although he comes pretty close. This couple sizzled - so why am I upset - the ending was just so rushed - I mean there was not even one final hot romantic scene between this couple - very very disappointing - because of all the Freefellows Jarrod and Sarah seemed to have the greatest initial connection. It was also great seeing Griff and Colin so openly in love - my how far they all have fallen - romance lives on!
A Very Good Read!.......2005-03-23
Ms. Hagan Lee's "Hardly A Husband" is another very good read in the "Free Fellows League." This is Jarrod's story and it will captivate the reader just as the previous stories have.
Jarrod has been bound to an oath that he made in childhood to the Free Fellows. He has been living life enjoying what it has to offer knowing that he will never marry. That is until a childhood friend or pest comes back into his life asking for "seduction" lessons. What's a gentleman to do now? Although he would love to debauch the lady, he can't since he has made a vow never to marry and Sarah is everything that he has hoped to avoid in life. Marriage, commitment...heirs...but Sarah touches him and he finds out that love is not as scary as he thought it was but will he realize this too late?
Sarah has only one more choice in order to save her aunt and herself. She has been displaced from her home and she has only three weeks to find a husband before one is found for her. She wants to take control of her destiny and goes to her childhood love Jarrod. If she can talk him into doing what she wants she will finally get her hearts desire. Jarrod. It's a gamble but she thinks she can pull it off...maybe.
This was a very good addition to this series and found Jarrod and Sarah to be very engaging characters. I love a story where the main characters already have a past. It was fun to revisit with old friends and Jarrod and Sarah's romance was sweet and tender. I highly recommend Ms. Hagan Lee and I eagerly look forward to reading her again in the future.
Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com
![Hardly a Husband [UNABRIDGED] (Audio CD)](http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/21J0H4R3TBL.jpg)
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Hardly a Husband [UNABRIDGED] (Audio CD)
Rebecca Hagan Lee
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: 1419346296 |
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- An Exploration into Humans rather than Space
- Fantastic Series
- The worst in the series
- Rama II and Rama III are awful.
- God this is a bad book....
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The Garden of Rama
Arthur C. Clarke , and
Gentry Lee
Manufacturer: Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Clarke, Arthur C.
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Rama Revealed (Bantam Spectra Book)
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Rama II: The Sequel to Rendezvous with Rama
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Rendezvous with Rama
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3001 The Final Odyssey
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2061: Odyssey Three
ASIN: 0553298178
Release Date: 1992-09-01 |
Book Description
In the spellbinding Arthur C. Clarke tradition, here is an exhilarating adventure into the hearts of both the Universe and mankind...
By the twenty-third century Earth has already had two encounters with massive, mysterious robotic spacecraft from beyond our solar system--the incontestable proof of an alien technology that far exceeds our own. Now three human cosmonauts are trapped aboard a labyrinthine Raman vessel, where it will take all of their physical and mental resources to surviv. Only twelve years into their journey do these intrepid travelers learn their destination and face their ultimate challenge: a rendevous with a Raman base--and the unseen architects of their galactic home. The cosmonauts have given up family, friends, and possessions to live a new kind of life. But the answers that await them at the Raman Node will require an even greater sacrifice--if humanity is indeed ready to learn the awe-inspiring truth.
Customer Reviews:
An Exploration into Humans rather than Space.......2007-07-31
This particular run in the series is what many people would refer to as "soft sci-fi." That is to say it is a story that focuses less on the science and more on the human element that must interact with said science. Clarke often has a hard sci-fi bent, but it is not unusual for him to focus on the human aspect (for example, see the various Tales from the White Hart in which the stories are more about narrative than the science being narrated). Perhaps some of the soft influence was from Gentry Lee. Regardless, this story is not what one would originally expect after reading Rendezvous and Rama II. The scattered details about the happenings on Earth over the course of Rama I and II come to fruition to create the main story arc. The focus drops off of Rama and its technology very quickly.
This third story does have a way with villianizing society, governments, and people in general. This is a story about how unrestrained and abusive humankind might be even in paradise. A scientific-minded person living in a corporate nation might identify with the themes embedded in Garden of Rama. While nothing is completely villianized, those readers that have a more optimistic view of people and society might do well to skip this one.
Fantastic Series.......2007-02-28
I can not agree with the negative reviews. I actually found Rama (the first book) the weakest (and shortest) of them all. The one that caused my emotions to come out most was the last book. Gentry Lee writes very well, I could not put the books down. I read all 4 books of this series in one go and seen in context they really are one big story, so it is hard to judge them separately. As a whole they tell one fantastic story with a stunning and tragic (open) end.
The worst in the series.......2006-10-31
I decided to re-read the first three books about "Rama" and found the quality dropping with each book. Is this third book written by the same author as the first two?
I really wanted to see the exploration of Rama in this sequel, but Clarke (Genery Lee?) gets so much into politics and character interaction/conflicts that there is less and less science fiction as the story progresses. It seems like a different author has taken over who just likes conversations, social commentary and personality conflicts.
The first third of the book is in diary form. What a horrible literary vehicle to use for such a large chunk of the story! I felt like I couldn't make it through this dull section. I had a hard time following how much time (sometimes years) elapsed between entries. There was zero story line or plot when written this way. Even when the story returned to a narrative, I only made it halfway through the book and decided it was so horrible, I just quit reading. Why torture myself?
There is a shallowness to this story. It feels like little thought went into it beyond the story outline to fully flesh it out. It moves through the years so quickly in such a matter-of-fact manner that you feel there is no depth to this world. I don't like the characters and the mysterious Rama base is never explored. There is none of the wonder, suspense or surprise of the first two Rama novels.
Rama II and Rama III are awful. .......2006-08-23
Rama II and Rama III are awful. I'm embarrassed to see Mr. Clarke's name associated with these so-called sequels. They reflect nothing of the science fiction wonder and imagination seen in Rendezvous with Rama and most of his other stories. Rama II & III are completely polluted with political, sociological & religious nonsense and modern emotionalism. Not worth reading. Certainly not worth adding to a fine collection of Clarke books.
God this is a bad book...........2006-06-21
I have just reread the whole series, book one is a very good book but each book after is geometrically worse. Book two is bad, book three is horrible, I'm at a loss to describe book four. I recommend shoving needles under your finger nails which is less painful then this series. Read and keep book one, burn the rest.
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Hardbacks
Product Description
"18 new bead designs to make your holidays sparkle". Book shows patterns to make beaded Christmas Tree Ornaments.
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The Garden of Rama
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HMPYJ8 |
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The Garden of Rama
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HKHOU2 |
Book Description
The birth of the Christian Church—and what it means for modern religion and philosophy.
This engaging guide presents an accessible overview of the birth of the Christian church, using the historical works found at the famous Nag Hammadi site in Egypt. With chapters discussing each of the major and minor documents found at Nag Hammadi, this volume also includes an overview of Gnosticism and the major players, revealing not only what the texts say, but also what they mean.
-Renewed interest in Gnosticism and the Gnostic gospels is driven by interest in the Nag Hammadi documents, The DaVinci Code, the Matrix movies, the Kabbalah, renewed interest in the divine feminine ideal, and the fact that many who've left the Church are looking for new answers in the early church
-Author is a scholar and expert who's studied with some of the top people in the field
Customer Reviews:
Excellent survey of the Gnostic texts .......2007-04-09
In addition to details on individual Nag Hammadi texts as well as some other Gnostic texts, Matkin presents keys players within early Chistianity on the orthodox and on the gnostic side. He also discusses those early times, later gnostic movements, and modern interests in gnosticism.
The book is nicely chunked: twenty chapters each divided into sections and subsections that makes it easy to finish one piece, put the book down, and return to it later so as not to be overwhelmed by all the complex mythologies of the Gnostics.
Matkin steers a middle road, neither a proponent of Gnosticism nor eager to dismiss it. While acknowledging Elaine Pagel's contribution to making the early Gnostics accessible, he doesn't refrain from criticizing her. While open to what made the Gnostics tick, he presents critics. For example, he he includes the comment of Frederica Mathewes-Green, an Eastern Orthodox writer, that Gnostic schemes to directly experience God were "so wacky".
The one real problem I face after reading this book is that it leaves me with no excuse not to read the Nag Hammadi texts again themselves ( The Nag Hammadi Library ) which, without Matkin's guidance, may overwhelm me, as they did the first time I read them. Even the second time I read them (in 2005), I can see now I missed a lot due to less preparation. I am rereading Matkin's summary of each Nag Hammadi text as I read the texts themselves. Along with other background reading in Gnosticism, Matkin has prepared me for what I hope to be a really inspiring reading of the Nag Hammadi Library. So I am grateful to Matkin for his efforts and delivery.
Good for understanding.......2006-03-18
If you are looking for a great book to understand the who what when where and why about these gospels, this is a good book for you. If you're needing a Cliffsnotes version of what goes on in the books and what they could be alluding to, this is NOT the book for you. But, I found the research good, intelligent and at times, humorous. This is a great read if you are curious about the gnostic gospels and want to know more, in a general sense, about what the gnostics were all about.
The Irony Is Many Of The Gnostic Works Were Not Written For A Wide Audience.......2005-11-19
I like to make up my own mind about things, and I knew early on in my life I'd one day read the so-called "Gnostic Gospels". What fanned the fires of my curiosity were all the occasions as I was growing up when my teachers in religious school would tell us there was "nothing of any value" in those books, and that was why the Church excluded them from its canon. So, naturally, I gravitated toward this pseudo-forbidden reading list.
The Gnostic Gospels tell stories that are at once familiar to those modern individuals who have some background in the books included in the Bible, but there is also a lot that represents challenges to the supposed accepted version of Biblical events. After poking around over the years in the subject of the Gnostic writings, I found little of deep interest there and moved on to other areas. When I happened across this Idiot's Guide to the topic, I pounced on it and found it to be a fine overview that could teach almost anyone about these writings that date to some of the earliest decades of Christianity.
Are the Gnostic Gospels valid? If the question is "are they authentic?" then the answer would be yes. They are writings from antiquity. They contain many of the same figures from Sunday School classes and offer plenty of good-natured parables and anecdotes, histories and grains of hard-won wisdom. They, do, however, at times offer claims that stand in direct contradiction to much of what is taught as ecclesiastical truth in nearly all present-day branches of the Christian faith. Who is right? Who knows. Is that even really important?
I found this Guide to be colloquial, authored by contributors with solid knowledge of the field, and it informed me about probably all I need to know regarding this subject, whether or not I ever again go on to read the actual Gnostic works.
Informative Overview of Gnosticism.......2005-10-01
If you are interested in Gnosticism you are probably not an idiot; with that said, idiots (and the rest of us) will find this book to be a detailed overview of the origins, texts, and views of the present-day and old-world Gnostics. As with all Idiot's Guides, the information in this book is very well presented for readers of any age or background. The author's wording makes the text easy to read and, most importantly, easy to comprehend.
J. Michael Matkin, the author, does not just give a one sided view of Gnosticism. Rather he provides distinct differences in viewpoints along with research to help the reader make his or her own decision.
This book is an admirable accomplishment. Many existing books on Gnosticism use an almost "Shakespearean" tone that leaves much interpretation to the reader. This is highly recommended for those readers who don't want to have to stop and contemplate each sentence.
Chapters:
(1) Why Read the Gnostic Gospels? - The Gnostics deserve a hearing. In this chapter, reasons why we should take the time to examine the Gnostic teachings.
(2) Are You in the Know? - A fast and furious overview of the general Gnostic beliefs. The Gnostic fascination with the cause of pain, suffering, and evil in the world. A look at what they thought would solve it all.
(3) Fighting for the Right - What we know about the Gnostics primarily comes from the writings of their enemies. An introduction to the principal orthodox Christian writers of the second and third centuries.
(4) The Gnostic Lineup - Who where the Gnostic teachers? A brief biography of Simon the Magician, Basilides, Valentinus, and Marcion.
(5) Death and Resurrection - Gnosticism receded after the third century, but continued to exist in many forms. Throughout Western history there have been occasional revivals of Gnostic thought. The discovery of new Gnostic writings, especially the groundbreaking find at Nag Hammadi.
(6) The Gospel of Thomas - An introduction to the most famous and infamous of the Gnostic Gospels. Meet the Apostle Thomas and his missionary whirlwind tour through Syria, Persia, and India. The big question: is it really Gnostic?
(7) The Gospel of Mary - A look at the only gospel named for a woman. Who was Mary of Magdala?
(8) The Gospel of the Egyptians - The first of many speculative histories written by the Gnostics. This one is a preparation for baptism.
(9) The Gospel of Truth - This one may have been written by Valentinus himself. We'll see a master Gnostic teacher in action.
(10) The Gospel of Philip - More of a collection of quotations than a narrative. It gives us a Gnostic reimagining of the process of intimidation.
(11) The Revelations of the Apostles - Experiences of the Divine were very important to the Gnostics. These texts are all revelations supposedly received by certain apostles.
(12) Acts and Letters - A hodge-podge of texts supposedly written by or about certain apostles. Also, the strange discovery of another version of the Gospel of Mark.
(13) The Beginning of the End - A series of Gnostic myths about how we got here and where we are going.
(14) The Divine Feminine - Gnostic writings demonstrate an esteem for the feminine side of the Divine. These texts all demonstrate the female void in Gnostic spirituality.
(15) The Sethite Literature - Books starting a little-known character from the Hebrew Bible. Seth the son of Adam becomes the father of an immortal race of people. Gnostics saw themselves as members of that race.
(16) The Soul's Journey - Texts regarding the individual spiritual journey. A focus on ethical teaching, and a speculative take on resurrection.
(17) Prayers, Liturgies, and Initiations - Gnostics at prayer. Worship life in a Gnostic community, evidenced by this group of texts.
(18) Speaking to the Church - Gnostics remained within the larger Christian community for some time. How did they cope? A selection of works showing the many ways that Gnostics persuaded or sparred with their fellow Christians.
(19) Gnu Gnostics - Where are we at today? The revival of interest in the Gnostics and their writings. Its impact on pop culture and on the church.
(20) New Stories, Old Stories - the Gnostic Gospels continue to fascinate us and provoke us to question. A look at some of the speculative literature, including Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code," based on the new Gnostic discoveries.
Books:
- Footsteps of the Hawk
- For Us, The Living: A Comedy of Customs
- From the Bottom Up: One Man's Crusade to Clean America's Rivers
- Galatea 2.2: A Novel
- Georg Jensen: A Tradition of Splendid Silver (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
- Getting Mother's Body: A Novel
- Girls' Poker Night: A Novel of High Stakes
- God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian
- Goodnight Nobody: A Novel
- Heavenly Date and Other Flirtations
Books Index
Books Home
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Mother and Two Daughters
