Amazon.com
At the outset of Sebastian Faulks's The Girl at the Lion d'Or, lovely, abandoned Anne Louvet seems almost willing to retreat into the anonymous routines of her waitressing duties--until she meets Charles Hartmann. He, trapped in a loveless marriage and feeling increasingly adrift more than a decade after serving in the Great War, is as enchanted by Anne's vulnerability as she is by his tender, almost paternal attentions. Their affair, and the cruel paradox of seeking a clandestine sufficiency, allow Faulks to pit the demands of desire against the necessities of duty, a task he pursues with tireless charm.
When Anne first arrives at the Hotel du Lion d'Or in the French town of Janvilliers, it is with the dual hope of escaping an unhappy past and discovering some degree of happiness. Undeniably beautiful and just bold enough to prod her own fate, she sees in the wealthy and restless Hartmann a soul that might redeem her own. "How was it possible, she wondered, to be awed by someone and yet to feel protective towards him too?" For his part, Hartmann senses in her the woman who, finally, might satisfy his need to offer refuge.
The secret of Anne's past, which she fears will drive Hartmann from her, conspires along with his gnawing uncertainty about her ultimate contentment to place their romance at a crossroads. Faulks, with deft restraint, never allows matters to lapse into the maudlin. Assessing the apparent inappropriateness of his love for Anne, Hartmann reflects that "there was something wrong ... in a society that could think of such generous feelings as unacceptable." Faulks's own generosity illuminates each page. --Ben Guterson
Book Description
"Beautifully written and--extraordinarily moving."--The Sunday Times (London)
From the author of the international bestseller
Birdsong, comes a haunting historical novel of passion, loss, and courage set in France between the two world wars. This Vintage Original edition marks its first appearance in the United States.
On a rainy night in the 1930s, Anne Louvet appears at the run-down Hotel du Lion d'Or in the village of Janvilliers. She is seeking a job and a new life, one far removed from the awful injustices of her past. As Anne embarks on a torrential love affair with a married veteran of the Great War,
The Girl at the Lion d'Or fashions an unbreakable spell of narrative and atmosphere that evokes French masters from Flaubert to Renoir.
"This moving and profound novel is perfectly constructed, and admirable in its configurations of place and period."--The Times (London)
"I would urge those who appreciated--
The French Lieutenant's Woman to try this one--. They may well think it superior."--Sunday Telegraph (London)
Customer Reviews:
Disappointment!.......2007-02-19
This novel was a disappointment after reading "Birdsong". The love affair between Anne and Charles lacks feeling, but the incentive to finish the book was to find out Anne's mystery. A total feeling of let-down arrived at the end of this book. There were glimpses into the background of various characters, but none were explored enough to satisfy. One gets the feeling this book was written in a hurry without thought to detail.
"I've kept too many secrets in my life.".......2004-07-20
From her arrival at her new job at the Hotel du Lion d'Or young and beautiful Anne remains reclusive and mysterious to those around her. When questioned about her past or her family she provides vague answers and possesses a gift of changing the subject. According to hints scattered throughout the narrative it is apparent that Anne has a secret to hide. While waitressing Anne becomes acquainted with a small group of local men, including Charles Hartmann who is stuck in an emotionally devoid marriage and plagued by his past of fighting during the Great War. As their friendship deepens and blossoms into a love affair Anne feels that her own past has to be revealed and dealt with before their relationship can continue.
THE GIRL AT THE LION D'OR is another example of Sebastian Faulks's principle setting of France greatly disturbed by the affects of war. As the result of being set during the 1930's this novel includes the political backdrop of the threat of another German invasion on the heels of the staggering human loss of the Great War the reader receives a clear vision of just how vulnerable France was during this era and the affects on its inhabitants.
Unfortunately I found the love affair between Anne and Charles to be rather mundane and uninspiring; the only incentive that kept me reading was to find out what was Anne's mystery. To be completely honest, without this ploy I would have abandoned reading far before the ending as there just wasn't much to keep me interested. I generally felt let down.
a calm, quiet read.......2004-06-16
This was the third Faulks book for me to read. It beautifully describes rural France. It is slow moving yet interesting since I know what is to later become of Hartman from reading Charlotte Grey. The theme is much like Madame Bovary and Anna Karennina in which a trusting girl is led astray by a bored man's fancy. This seems to be a common European theme. I had so much empathy for Anne, which proves that Faulks is great with characterization. -very psychological yet not too deep
Beautifully written and thought provoking........2001-07-11
This story opens with a prologue about three newspaper stories. Two of the stories deal with the demise of two political figures. The third story, very brief, almost lost on the page, deals with an unknown female intruder in the grounds of the prime minister's residence. The newspaper makes the French of the day believe the girl is unimportant, but if Faulks' readers are alert, they will see him peel back the layers to show us how important her insignificance is to France. We are introduced to Anne Louvet, a twenty-something girl with a secrect. She has answered an ad to be a waitress at the Hotel du Lion d'or, and when she meets the various characters of the novel, we are equisitely and subtlely introduced to the themes that caused the fall of France. Each character represents something that is amiss in pre-World War II France. In Anne, we come to know the beauty and vulnerability of France; In Hartmann, her married lover, Jewish and wealthy, we see the noblese who makes excuses for deflowering her. In the beginning, he convinces himself that he provides for her because he feels sorry for her, but that is the only way he, as a member of the gentry, can justify to himself that his actions are of a higher calling rather than that of a typical, wayward husband. But Hartmann is not alone. Each of the members of the upper classes, in this novel, are ruthless, wolves-in-sheep's clothing, who can manipulate the weak and convince themselves that they were the victim. At work here, also, is the precursor to the Jewish Final Solution in France. Pay close attention to the characters who interact with Hartmann. The other characters of this novel represent various classes and ways of looking at the world. See if you can identify their role in the shaping of France prior to World War II. Read this novel for it's beautiful, lyrical style, but don't cheat yourself by thinking that is all it is. Faulks is a master of the written word who understands the class system in Europe; it is a subtle yet powerful character in and of itself.
The second in a trilogy.......2001-06-16
While this book is not as good as Faulks Birdsong or Charlotte Grey. It does round out the trilogy nicely and provide insight to how Birdsong and Charlotte Grey are connected.
Average customer rating:
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The Girl at the Lion D'Or
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000BZ6ZCQ |
Average customer rating:
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Girl at the Lion D'Or
Manufacturer: VINTAGE (RAND)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GNWLUS |
Amazon.com
This richly rewarding book about ecology and technology draws on 40 years of careful thought. Although it does not dwell on information technologies, the points Snyder makes about "a feeling of place" are of interest to anyone who has mulled over the ways in which cyberspace jogs our normative notions of time, space, and community.
Customer Reviews:
Wide ranging insights into Gary Snyder's lifetime concerns.......2000-09-04
I bought this book, along with the poetry collection, No Nature, to gain an insight into the work of Gary Snyder, someone I had often seen quoted, but had never read at first hand. Snyder is perhaps best known as a west coast 'nature' poet, a fellow traveller of the 'beat generation', but he is also a prominent Buddhist, bioregional visionary and literary scholar. To judge from this book he is, moreover, an accomplished and eloquent essayist. The essays presented here, articles, reviews, talks and what might loosely be called manifestos, come mainly from the 70s to the 90s and span the breadth of Snyder's interests. Arranged in three sections, Ethics, Aesthetics and Watersheds, Snyder's writing manages to be poetic, religious, political and compelling at all times. Having read this book I feel inspired to read more, I'll try The Practice of the Wild next (more prose), followed by Turtle Island (poetry for which Snyder won the Pulitzer Prize). For anyone concerned to cultivate a humane relationship with the more-than-human world, Snyder is a surefooted guide.
Book Description
The unpredictable cosmic entity known only as Q has plagued Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Starship Enterprise™ since their very first voyage together. But little was known of Q's mysterious past or of the unearthly realm from which he hails.
Until now.
A brilliant scientist may have found a way to breach the energy barrier surrounding the Milky Way galaxy, and the Enterprise is going to put it to the test. The last thing Captain Picard needs is a surprise visit from Q, but the omnipotent trickster has more in mind than his usual pranks. Kidnapping Picard, he takes the captain back through time to the moment the Q Continuum faced its greatest threat.
Now Picard must learn Q's secrets -- or all of reality may perish!
Average customer rating:
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The Q Continuum (Star Trek)
Greg Cox
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Star Trek
| Media
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: B000H2N49U |
Average customer rating:
- An interesting trivia book!
- Fun, but not worth the money
- It just doesn't do Q justice.
- Q would NOT be amused . . .
- The Best!
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Q's Guide to the Continuum
Michael Jan Friedman , and
Robert Greenberger
Manufacturer: Star Trek
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Greenberger, Robert
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ASIN: 0671019481 |
Amazon.com
Even die-hard fans of Star Trek get a little tired of the standard, oh-so-proper Federation lingo. Perhaps what they need is a walk on the Q side of the continuum and some lighthearted tidbits of Star Trek trivia. Our thoughtful host, Q, has put together a list of some of his favorite things--from the galaxy's most painful rite of passage (the Klingons', of course) to the best way to blow up a Federation starship, to the most time spent in a transporter (Scotty, who logged in 75 years of loop time). Trek fans will enjoy the random sampling of photos from all four ST incarnations: the original series, TNG, DS9, and Voyager. Q, ever disdainful of the human race, gets several (dozen) pokes in at characters we've come to know and love or hate--as well as a few you've probably never heard of. If you're tickled pink by Q's sense of humor, you'll enjoy this little book.
Book Description
Captain's log, Stardate Eleventy-leven eighty six point negative nine. Charted a blah blah blah with my blah blah crew today, collecting samples of blah blah blah...
Aren't you tired of surveying all the brave new worlds and startling new civilizations of the galaxy with the safe, polite, politically correct members of the Federation? After all, they only have fun when they break their own rules and leave a communicator behind on a planet of curious mimics, or travel through time to play with tribbles. Wouldn't you rather travel the stars with me?
Who am I? Spelled the same way front as back: Q! You've heard of me. All-seeing, all-knowing, dashing beyond comparison. The Q have been here since the dawn of time (and in some cases, a little before that, but that's another story), and we've seen it all. But I've put it all together in a form you can understand. The title? Q's Guide to the Continuum! (Well, what did you think I would call it? Picard's Incessant Droning About Stellar Gas Formations?)
Want to know what the longest-lived race in the galaxy is? It's here. Ever wonder who is the greatest mass murderer of all time? I know that, too. And are you dying to find out if a certain relative of mine ever played the harpsichord while dressed like a Victorian nobleman? Well, there are some things I won't tell you, but the rest will be revealed in Q's Guide to the Continuum! (Love that title, don't you?) Prepare to be enlightened!
Customer Reviews:
An interesting trivia book!.......2002-07-19
A somewhat interesting trivia book with several black & white photo's thrown in for posterity's purpose. This book present's a slightly more acidic Q than usual, no big deal though. It is definitely overpriced for what you get. Definitely one for the collector's and maybe Star Trek novices who want to find out a little about Star Trek history without trudging through the encyclopedia.
Fun, but not worth the money.......1999-09-08
The book is good, light and funny, but US$16.00 is very steep. I read the entire book at the bookshop and did not pay a cent.
It just doesn't do Q justice........1998-12-22
Although there were a few funny lines here and there, this book was not worth the money I paid for it and I ended up returning it. It should have been called "Sinical Superlatives" by someone desperatley trying to capture Q's sense of humor. I was quite dissapointed and would not recommend this book.
Q would NOT be amused . . ........1998-10-30
. . . Nor was I. To be fair there were some funny parts to this book, there just weren't nearly enough for me to recommend it. I found most of the book rather boring.
The Best!.......1998-10-13
The best book I have read in a long time. Amazingly funny! Totally cool!
Average customer rating:
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Q Continuum: #01 Q-Space (Star Trek Next Generation (Numbered))
Greg Cox
Manufacturer: Rebound by Sagebrush
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Cox, Greg
| ( C )
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| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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General
| Star Trek
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Next Generation
| Star Trek
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ASIN: 141767041X |
Average customer rating:
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Star Trek - Q Continuum
Greg Cox
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Star Trek
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| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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ASIN: B000LS69W4 |
Product Description
5 massmarket paperback Titles in Star Trek the Next Generation Series - 42 Thru 47 - Infiltrator - Fury Scorned - Intellivore - To Storm Heaven - Q-space the Q Continuum
Product Description
Jean Luc Picard and Q meet again
Book Description
Comprehensive interfaith coverage of the important female figures
This friendly, approachable guide introduces readers to the famous and infamous women of Scripture, describing in everyday language the contributions these women made in their time and ours. From Eve, Sarah, and Esther to Mary and Mary Magdalene, it discusses well-known women of both the Old and New Testaments, examining their role in Biblical narratives, their place in the Jewish and Christian faiths, and the lessons their stories impart to women today.
Customer Reviews:
Very Good Overview.......2006-06-18
I enjoyed the overview. This will be a good book for those who would like to brush-up on the women of the Bible but especially for beginners who have not read much about them!
very good book.......2006-04-22
I own this book and Catholism for Dummies..both good book....you can find out about the womane of the bible and about the Catholic Faith if you wish...I reccomend both these books....Fr. Trigillo is very upfront and honest about his writing and there is lots of information that you can understand.....
Another Success!!.......2005-07-28
One can't help but love the writing style and presentation of the authors Father Trigilio and Father Brighenti! If you liked "Catholicism For Dummies" and "The Everything Bible Book" from these authors, then don't hesitate before picking up a copy of this one too. It's an easy and fun read, as well as a phenomenal resource for Religious Ed. teachers, Bible Study groups, prayer groups and everyone else who has questions from time-to-time about people in the Bible. If these two authors keep it up, a library of their books will be just about all one needs!
Books:
- The Little Sparrows (Orphan Trains Trilogy, Book 1)
- The Looking Glass: A Novel (The Locket Series)
- The Lost Upland: Stories of Southwestern France
- The Painted Kiss: A Novel
- The Place of Dead Roads: A Novel
- The Puttermesser Papers: A Novel
- The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic
- The Royal Game & Other Stories
- The Solitaire Mystery: a novel about family and destiny
- The Summer Before the Dark
Books Index
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Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War
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On Green Dolphin Street: A Novel
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Human Traces: A Novel
