Average customer rating:
- my old sweetheart
- More a review of Susanna Moore- to correct - AHEM
- Great book
- the maniacial ravings of a writer gone awry
- Beautifully sensed and written...
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My Old Sweetheart
Susanna Moore
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Mothers & Children
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The Whiteness of Bones
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Sleeping Beauties
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The Big Girls
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I Myself Have Seen It: The Myth of Hawai'i
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In the Cut
ASIN: 0679776419
Release Date: 1997-07-29 |
Book Description
"Susanna Moore's novel astonished me--one of those brilliant objects that come along only rarely, all light on clear water, and then one realizes the faster currents underneath, the terrible swiftness of sex and time. "
--Joan Didion
In this mesmerizing novel, Susanna Moore displays a naturalist's eye for the landscape of her native Hawaii and an uncanny sensitivity to the despairing love between mothers and daughters. Lily Shields grows up amid the fragrance of night-jasmine and burning sugar cane, and the heady atmosphere of her mother's madness. For if Anna Shields is an island unto herself--fragile, glamorous, and fearfully needy--Lily is the bridge that connects her to reality.
But now Lily is a young woman and a mother herself, self-exiled from Hawaii but still attached to Anna's tragedy. And as she tries to untangle those threads of love and loyalty, Moore gives us a novel of shimmering beauty and sadness. My Old Sweetheart is a small classic, perfectly formed and mysteriously wise.
"Susanna Moore is a gifted and compelling novelist . . . in possession of her own unique voice."
--The New York Times Book Review
"I can't recall another novel like this about mothers and daughters. . . . Lily's mysterious, half-told tale delighted and touched me."
--Susan Lydon, Village Voice
Customer Reviews:
my old sweetheart.......2003-01-31
my old sweetheart is a beautifully written story about the complexity of human relationships and the richness of human experiences. It was presented in a 12-year old girl's perspective of issues such as disillusionment, adultery,and , suicide.
A very moving story that is totally unsentimental.
More a review of Susanna Moore- to correct - AHEM.......2003-01-12
I was student of Susanna Moore in a creative writing class at Yale. I take SERIOUS offense -for Susanna's/Ms. Moor's sake- when I hear someone disrespecting her as I have seen in one review above... Susanna Moore is EXTREMELY APPROACHABLE- perhaps "haughty" only in a fun sense of "playing a character"- but I found her to be more delightfully quirky- with a child's innocence, and yet NOT AT ALL, actually. She was a fine teacher also- able to field a group and be truly honest... I don't remember shat she stopped herself from saying much- kkinda liek another teacher I had before- both of whom could show how teaching is about fearlessness and honesty. I wanted to reply just to clarify that I can't - after numerous classes with Susanna Moore- I think I even used her in a college video documentary- I never, ever experienced a negative side to her character! Seh was completely approachable- and not just by me- by most of the class- I think. Some people thought she was a "character" - but- well- she is- a zany but cool one.
Great book.......1999-12-06
I loved this novel. It kept me interested until the last page. The book never gets boring
the maniacial ravings of a writer gone awry.......1999-03-05
this, to me seemed a copy of this authors previous books the same old same old. I attend Oxford and as an exchange programme I had to pick one author actually the aut was picked for me. I personally dont enjoy reading the experiences of someone who is writing fact as fiction. then I met the author at a book party and she was so haughty and unapproachable, to a female but all eyes to the males .....if you know what I mean. Luckily that same week I met Styron and William Buckley, so my time here in the states wasnt a total loss.
Beautifully sensed and written..........1998-07-05
Susanna Moore's strength is her mapping of physical and mental landscapes. Wonderful tropical Hawaii provides the setting for this tale of the life of an exotic, eccentric and highly dysfunctional family. Sensual and sad but not as precise and overwhelming as "In the Cut".
Average customer rating:
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My Old Sweetheart
Rh Value Publishing
Manufacturer: Random House Value Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0517603411
Release Date: 1985-09-11 |
Book Description
Claire Lennox, Countess of Errick and Mains, is a powerful woman in a man's world. Her slender beauty belies the strong shoulders upon which she carries much responsibility, guarding her clan against greed, betrayal and treachery. Confident and courageous, she refuses to marry--ever again. Eight years ago, when she was an impulsive young girl, she lost her heart and her husband to foolish pride. Now, as desperate rivals plot to seize her title and lands, one man is willing to risk everything to save her.
Fraser Graham tells himself there is nothing left between him and Claire but memories. Yet his heart dictates otherwise when ruthless enemies kidnap the woman who was once his innocent bride. After his daring rescue sends them running for their lives through the wild, windswept hills, he and Claire surrender to remembered passion. . .but pride and past hurts silence sweet words of love and forgiveness. As the noose of treachery tightens and a deadly plot unfolds to destroy everything Claire has sworn to protect, Fraser must decide if he will pledge his sword, his strength and his heart to the one woman he was always loved--or resign himself to losing her forever.
Customer Reviews:
Full of Discrepancies.......2005-01-23
I read the review of Thea and I agree whole-heartedly that the book was filled with discrepancies. When the book mentioned Fraser's brothers, Alexander (Arabella's twin) was left out of the book. In the Highlander, Arabella and Alexander were inseparable. Thea's review sums up the rest of the discreapancies quite accurately.
Full of mistakes and discrepancies........2005-01-04
This book contains so many mistakes that I wonder if somebody proofread it before it went to print.
In the first place, the synopsis on the back cover is misleading, since it doesn't give you a sense of how the story really unfolds. For example the back cover reads "Eight years ago (...) she lost her heart and her husband to foolish pride" But it was not eight years ago but only two (they meet in 1741, get married a year later and get divorced after one year of marriage), that would mean they parted ways in 1743 and get reunited again in 1745. Even counting from the time they first met, to the end of the book, it doesn't make 8 years but barely 4. The synopsis also reads "After his daring rescue sends them running for their lives through the wild, windswept hills..." and I wonder, when did this happen? The rescue occurred at the end of the book, not in the middle as the synopsis makes you think, and they never ran to any hills. It seems to me that the cover was designed and printed before the novel was written, and then the author changed her mind and wrote a completely different story.
Second, this book is a sequel to "The Highlander" which takes place in 1740 and maybe the beginning of 1741, and is the story of Jamie the Earl of Monleigh and Fraser's brother. However, when at the beginning of this book somewhere during the Spring or Summer of 1741 Claire's father asks Jamie if he is married yet or thinking of getting married, he responds that he is not married, that he is thinking about it but cant decide between all the lasses. That threw me off, since by that time he must have at the very least met Sophie and decided to marry her. Later in the book, Sophie magically appears as if the author had suddenly remembered her.
Another thing is that this novel does not seem to take into account the historic events of the time and place in which it develops. In 1745 a mayor uprising occurred in Scotland. I'm no expert, but I have read several other novels from this period that seem to have more consideration for history, and as I understand it, in 1745 the Highlanders rallied to Prince Charles Stuart and rose against the English in an attempt to put the Stuart king on the throne. The English crushed the rebellion and the Highland Clans suffered harsh reprisal for their participation in it. I would have thought that an event of this magnitude would at least be acknowledged in this book, but it isn't even mentioned.
The book ends abruptly. What was called the epilogue should have been the last chapter, then it needed a real epilogue to tell us what happened after Fraser rescued Claire, and what punishment was given to the villains of this story, Isobel and Lord Walter. I have rarely encountered characters so evil as these two, and was looking forward to the time when they would be punished for all their horrendous acts. To simply be told that they had been arrested and were going to be tried is not the end I had imagined for them. It is too easy and doesn't even begin to pay for all their murderous acts and cruelty. After all the suffering they caused and the violent scenes that were vividly described, I think the readers were cheated out of the satisfaction of seeing them receive their just punishment.
One think I did not particularly like, was that the characters were too young. When the book started Fraser was 19 and Claire 15. By the end they could not have been more than 25 and 20. It is not impossible to believe that a girl of only 16 years could assume and fulfill the responsibilities of an earldom, or that she could show such maturity, but it is difficult. It would have been more believable if they were a little older. But that is just my personal opinion.
All in all, I think the story had the potential to be a good one, if it had been properly developed and someone had taken the time to correct the errors. As it is, it appears that it was written in a hurry just to have something ready to meet a deadline.
By the way, I wonder what book did Harriet Klausner read, because judging by her review it certainly wasn't the same one I read. It makes me wonder about the helpful votes she received. Maybe there is another version of this book I know nothing about?
One of the Worst.......2004-11-09
This book is awful. The "vernacular" -- "ye ken," "willna," "oot," "verra," "canna," "breeks" -- gets in the way at best, and is absurd at worst -- i.e., "ye arena going to miss the best part." There is no character development -- they meet, fall in love, she divorces him . . . . Really, one of the worst books I have ever read.
well written mid eighteenth century Scottish romance .......2004-10-27
In 1741, teenage Lady Claire Lennox fell in love with Fraser Graham, who reciprocated her feelings. They married in a love match, but their relationship collapsed when she believed he betrayed her as he was there when her father was brutally murdered.
Eight years later, Claire as the oldest of four sisters leads her clan though her uncle has powerful influence over her. However, she has avaricious enemies from within, who have made deals with outsiders that would destroy her and her clan. Fraser still loves Claire and knows that serpents inside her clan have plotted her demise. He would die to keep her alive and his chance has finally occurred; he rescues her from abductors who now pursue them with an urgency to kill.
This well written mid eighteenth century Scottish romance is clearly aimed at fans of the sub-genre who will fully appreciate the authenticity including the vernacular that makes the period so alive in the capable hands of Elaine Hoffman. The story line takes its time to set the background of the era and enable the audience to know the key players, but once done moves into ultra speed. Claire is a wonderful besieged heroine who feels with evidence and encouragement by her uncle and aunt that her beloved more than failed her when her sire was killed. Fraser seizes his second chance to prove his love and loyalty to his spouse, but must risk his life to do so. This is must reading for readers of tense Highland dramas with fabulous casting, who will look forward to the siblings' tales.
Harriet Klausner
Customer Reviews:
Five and a half stars.......2004-08-25
This book is my favorite of the Megamorphs Alternamorphs etc. except for the Hork-Bajr chronicles. I loved hearing Elfangor's story and learning about Tobias's mother. You also get part of Visser Three's story, and an inside scoop on Arbon and the Taxxons. (The Answer #53)
I think that it is a definate must-read in the series, and it explains a lot. For some parts of it, it helps if you have read a few other books in the series.
Andalites and Yeerks.......2003-10-08
"Just give the humans over to the captain,they aren't your problem." I was wrong, the humans were my problem. Infact,I was about to have alot of problems.' These are the words and thoughts of Elfangor Sirrinial Shamtul,an Andalite aristh or cadet in training to become a warrior. The Andalites and the Yeerks have been at war for many years. Neither side seems to be able to destroy the other. Arasth Elfangor has has been called to the battle bridge, to be sent on a mission within the hour. The mission that will change his life forever. This is a colorful book in which Applegate throws in some good descriptions of what is happening at the time. *A thrilling book that keeps the pages turning. Visser Three's story is also told in this story. It tells who is responsible for creating the abombination that calls itself Visser Three,the only Yeerk to have aquired and Andalite body. Let us hope he is the last. When danger rears its ugly head, Elfangor puts his hoof down and stands up to the Visser. A must read.
The Cheated Book.......2003-03-23
We've got a problem here. On one hand we have...The Andalite Chronicles, far and away the best book in the Animorphs series. Mixing in elements from different genres (plenty of science fiction, a little adventure, a sprinkle of romance (!) and just enough twist to make it superb,)it cumulates in an interesting truth that I never would have guessed, but makes the series so much better. I'd love to tell it here, but no spoilers :(
On the other hand, I would never recommend this series because of the anticlimaxes in the last book. This makes for Elfangor, Loren, Alloran, and Tobias being cheated, but this bright star doesn't balance out book 54 (you can see my review there).
A major mustread!!!.......2002-12-20
The Andalite Chronicles was one of the best books I've ever read!
When Elfangor and a fellow artish are called to board a Skirt Na ship,he finds two humans,Lorren and Chapman (ring a bell?).Before they return the humans to Earth, they must first go after a second Skirt Na ship which holds the Time Matrix, a deadly weapon.Through their adventure to retrieve the Time Matrix, Elfangor And Lorren fall in love. In the end, Elfangor goes to Earth with Lorren,morphs to human, and marries Lorren. But it soon ends when the Ellimist takes Elfangor back to his people so that one day, he may give the Andalite Morphing power to five human kids.
Reader over 25.......2002-09-20
Here I am back again on my quest to reread and review all of the Animorphs books in the series. I noticed there are other reviewers who are older than the target audience, and I'm one of Those out there who enjoyed the series even though it "was for kids." This novel has a broad based appeal to it, for many reasons, and on many levels.
This book is more in depth and has better character development/longer story than most of the others simply because its twice as long in page count. For some readers, like myself, that's an advantage, but for others who have less patience for reading, this probably isn't a good one to start out with. The novel stands fine on its own, but reading the rest of the series of Animorphs 1-13 would be helpful, if not critical to understanding the small bits and parts to the plot.
The main character is Elfangor, known in books 1-13 as the dying alien called an Andalite who gave five young humans the ability to become any animal they touch. This process, called "morphing" was technology known only to the Andalites until that time. This novel tells the story of his life from the time he enters the military, until his gruesome death which began the Animorphs series in book #1: The Invasion. Full of fire to leave his cadet status behind and become a full warrior, Elfangor finds himself and a fellow cadet in a small mission which balloons out into something much larger. What begins as a standard boarding of a Skrit-Na ship (think the famous aliens from Close Encounters, although they're expanded on as having two different life cycles in the book), lands two humans in Elfangor's daily life. One of them is a girl named Loren, and the other is a name fans will recognize from previous series, Chapman. The humans were abducted by the Skrit-Na as either medical experiment fodder or to be placed in a zoo, and they're promised to be returned home. Elfangor and his comrade Aubron are assigned with a less-than-favored War Prince to take the humans back to earth, erase their memories, and send them on their way. It turns out, however, that Aubron learns something from the data downloaded from the Skrit-Na records, and to the entire crews amazement, they have a location for the most powerful weapon ever known, the Time Matrix. Believed to be a creation of the Ellimists, it has the ability to alter history itself, wiping out entire races before they ever have a chance to exist. As if the fact this super weapon has been found is not enough, its destination is enough to knock the Andalites off of their hooves. The Time Matrix is destined for the Taxxon home world, which is riddled with their most vile enemy, the Yeerks. They will not hesitate to use it as a weapon of mass destruction or worse. Taxxons and Yeerks have an alliance, the huge centipede like Taxxons become voluntary hosts for the parasitic, slug like Yeerks. Their home world is far from any place either cadet wants to go, but duty demands they grow up very quickly and go to war if necessary. The chase for the Time Matrix results in both action, humor, and tragedy as the reader is introduced to who we know as the ultimately evil Visser Three. There are several interesting twists and turns to this book, although nothing which immediately leaps out until the end. It's a very well written, well thought out story with the usual blend of suspense, battle, humor, fleshes out more thoroughly what the Andalite world and life is like, and a story about growing up. In my opinion, part of the appeal which reaches all audiences of all ages is we can relate to the characters. We feel for Elfangor, even as he has to make some harsh decisions, such as killing thousands of defenseless Yeerks. Even if they're his enemy, is that not murder? Will he defy direct orders of his commander and ruin his future by doing what he thinks is right? Is it truly right at all? These aren't the main points of the book, as it focuses on the story itself much more. They do, however, exist, just as the strength of the human spirit is shown with Loren, and the devious greed and darker side of human nature is displayed by Chapman. At one point, he tries to strike a trade with the Visser by selling out the entire planet earth to be slaves. In contrast, Loren's inner strength keeps the Visser from completely taking control of the awesome power of the Time Matrix. This book also gives a very, very interesting twist to the character of Tobias. That one, I admit, caught me completely off guard, and Tobias fans will love it. What's told in this book is important in some of the others in the series which come after it, particularly those which deal with Tobias directly. All in all, this is a very good book which is well written, and an overall good read. It's a very refreshing approach to Sci Fi, taking a very old idea of time travel or meddling with time and remaking it to be new again.
Product Description
Before the Animorphs..... there was Elfanger.
Product Description
multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
Book Description
This volume is a collection of research, essays and interviews on the efforts of the religious right to undermine mainline churches.
Customer Reviews:
But it's really not that hard.......2007-10-11
What is right is still right, right? Do we accept the inspired scriptures or not? Do we honor the witness of the saints and martyrs of the Christian faith, or do we pacify ourselves with post-modern, revisionist histories and philosophies? Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience tell the clear truth. This book fails to do so.
Many of the accounts collected in this book have basis in fact, but are portrayed through lenses tinted with an agenda that deny the truth of scripture. They are presented with blinders that ignore the divisive, disruptive, and (dare I say it) well-funded backing of left-wing interests, like those open-minded, "inclusive" folks who demanded division from the church and sued to rip property away from the United Methodist Church for use by people who rejected the Discipline.
I would urge open-minded people to read the book, but not because it portrays an accurate or balanced picture of reality. Instead, recognize it for what it is. A biased, agenda-driven piece of propaganda that will be touted and hailed by liberals as a great work in forums like the General Conference of The United Methodist Church. Incidentally, there are equally biased works available that reflect an opposite view. Fortunately, John Wesley expressed a goal that was a little bit closer to the mark--to be a Bible Christian, not almost, but altogether.
Extreme left- and right-wing interests might be playing hard ball. This book is certainly trying to. So is Satan. God has given us a different opportunity, though. It isn't hard ball or soft ball. In fact, it isn't a game at all. It is grace. We have the opportunity to accept that grace and to learn about God's plan through the scripture. If our conduct conforms with scripture as our guide, we might be close to God's plan. Given a choice between scripture or the leftist introduction and articles in this agenda-driven, post-modern, right-wing-bashing book, I'll stick with scripture.
PNW Pastor.......2007-08-26
Swecker gives an excellent background of how organizations that are not the church, like the Institute for Religion and Democracy (IRD) have assulted mainline churches with agenda causing some of the issues mainline churches face today. He gives good historical background and the make-up of these organizations including the names of the board of directors, to illustrate how a few folk who are not within the mainline church organizational structure can infulence change. He also calls to accountability the church to "wake up" and see what is really going on. An excellent read .
STORY OF A HOSTILE TAKEOVER BID OF CHURCHES.......2005-06-08
In hierarchical and authoritarian institutions like today's Roman Catholic Church and Southern Baptist Convention, debate and dissent are discouraged. Mainline denominations are heir to forms of governance that are representative and transparent. It is the openness of the governance processes of these churches that the radical right has exploited to turn them into battle grounds in the culture wars. Attacks on mainline Protestant churches are meant to discredit these democratic bodies so to impose rule by strict dogma and autocratic governance. This tactic is often on view when the conservative "renewal" factions in the mainline denominations foment internal dissent and generate conflict. In some cases, unaware theologically conservative Christians seeking spiritual renewal are being used by the "renewal" factions for hardball political power designs.
The question remains, why would Richard Melon Scaife, Adolf Coors, Howard Ahmanson, the Bradley Foundation, the Olin Foundation, and other secular political operatives care about funding a multi-million dollar crusade against mainline churches and the National Council of Churches(NCC)?
Think about this: While the members of churches affiliated with the National Council of Churches account for about a quarter of the population, approximately half of the members of the U.S. Congress say they are members of these communions. NCC church members' influence is disproportionate to their numbers and include remarkably high numbers of leaders in politics, business, and culture. The prevailing ethos of American culture is and has been shaped by the leadership and membership of theses churches. Moreover, these churches are some of the largest land owners in the U.S., with hundreds of billions of dollars collectively in assets, including real estate and pension funds. A hostile takeover of these churches would represent a massive shift in American culture, power and wealth for a relatively small investment. If this sounds far-fetched, one need only consider how right-wing groups during recent decades have taken over and now wholly control the Southern Baptist Convention.
Theologically conservative Christians who are seeking spiritual renewal in mainline churches need to look carefully at the hard ball tactics of these secular operatives. The church needs spiritual renewal; what it does not need is more political hardball and takeover bids. If these secular operatives like Scaife and Coors achieve a hostile takeover of mainline Protestantism along with the dismantling of the NCC, they will have muted an important part of America's social conscience and significantly diminished its capacity for civic discourse. The soul of the church is at risk.
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- Patience and Sarah
- Peel My Love Like an Onion: A Novel
- Quicksilver & Shadow
- Ravishing of Lol Stein
- Remind Me Again Why I Married You
- Searching for Caleb
- Sleeping Arrangements
- Soñar en cubano
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