Average customer rating:
- Lacks Luster
- Unmasking Stereotypes through Strong Portrayals
- Paid In Full...
- LOVED THE AUDIOBOOK
- Decent Reading
|
What You Owe Me
Bebe Moore Campbell
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Campbell, Bebe Moore
| African American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
African American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Your Blues Ain't Like Mine: A Novel
-
Brothers and Sisters
-
Sweet Summer: Growing up with and without My Dad
-
Sometimes My Mommy Gets Angry
-
Singing in the Comeback Choir
ASIN: 0425186318
Release Date: 2002-09-03 |
Book Description
Sweeping across fifty years of family, friendship, betrayal, and reconciliation, this is Bebe Moore Campbell's most ambitious achievement yet.
Customer Reviews:
Lacks Luster.......2007-10-06
In Bebe Moore Campbell's book "What you owe me" the beginning was captivating.
The description on the back of the book tells all, Hosanna Clark a dark skinned woman and Gilda Rosenstein a Jewish woman befriend each other and start a company. Gilda then runs away with the money leaving Hosanna troubled with emotional scars.
When I started reading the book I could not put it down, until the narrator changes. The book then becomes tedious and trite. I believe it helps that she has supplementary characters to convey her message, but she has an excessive amount of characters. It was easy to be irritated by a number of the characters. I was not afraid of the length, however that quickly changed when the stories lack of luster became clear.
Her writing skills seemed mediocre in various parts of the book. Although the book is fiction the introduction as Hosanna as a ghost deterred me from wanting to read the book, in spite of this I finished it.
If you prefer an easy to read, trite book with a ghost and not very developed characters due to the quantity of them this book is for you. I would have given the book one star but since I liked the beginning, I gave it two. This is of course my opinion. Some books that I consider great are "Blue Eyes" by Toni Morrison, "Black rednecks and White Liberals" by Thomas Sowell, and "Fast food Nation" by Eric Schlosser.
Unmasking Stereotypes through Strong Portrayals.......2006-09-05
A juicy read of epic proportions following the effects through three generations of the sins of the mothers, fathers, and society before them.
Sometimes banal, but more often engrossing, "What You Owe Me" gives us a balanced portrait of human nature and the races and cultures within it. Bebe moore Campbell is particularly strong on motivation--and that's why all the side-stories are so important--they help the reader understand whey people do what would otherwise seem unthinkable. Campbell draws the curtain of stereotypes and sets a few of them free, once seen clearly.
--Janet Grace Riehl, authorSightlines: A Poet's Diary
Paid In Full..........2005-11-21
Bebe Moore Campbell, the author of three acclaimed novels and a recepient of the NAACP Image Awards has presented us with yet another eloquent novel. Campbell tells a story of friendship, business, family, and even paranormal experiences. This is a great book. I debated on reading it since it was soo long, but I am very glad that I did. This book has a great storyline and a very satisfying ending. In reading this book, I've learned a lot of things and I would recomment this book to anybody and everybody.
LOVED THE AUDIOBOOK.......2005-08-14
I was quite surprised by the size of the audio package, but after just a few minutes into cassette 1 I was hooked. I found this story of strength, character and love very satisfying. I know the book is lengthy but if you can get your hands on the audiobook it would be well worth it. While there are a host of characters in the novel I found that Campbell was quite true to the complexity of the relationships that one has to juggle with family,lovers and friends. Being a black woman of moderate success I know exactly how Matriece feels about trying to balance your love for the "old neighborhood" with your desire to never have to go back. Although I have to credit Matriece's sister, Vonette, with my favorite quote from the novel. When Matriece is concerned that her very bright nephew may not get into a "good" college if he continues to go to the school in the neighborhood, Vonette quips, "Then he'll go to a bad one!!" It is made very clear that she doesn't expect her child to be any less driven or successful just because he doesn't follow the so-called "right" path. If you can take a long novel go for it and if you can't get the audiobook, it's like having a cast put on a play just for you.
Decent Reading.......2005-08-03
The storyline was great.
However, a bit wordy. Found myself speed reading towards the end (glancing to find the important parts). Recommend a lot of patience while reading this book. Definitely not a "quick read."
Book Description
Volume I Books I thru IV Why do we have South Carolina Title 62 Probate Code 62-3-901? When will this Law be Obeyed? 1. William Mc Queen died June 23, 1972 2. The deeds prove that this is his land 3. Effie. LueEtter and ReGenia Mc Queen are the Heirs When these three things are proven, the heirs take Title. Patriot's Point = the Government, this mean that her father William Mc Queen owned this land, but this hand full of people, denied the heirs of William Mc Queen, from claiming this land. This land is part of a ROYAL LAND GRANT given to John Mc Queen in the 1700's. So how did people other than the heirs get this land? King George gave this land to John Mc Queen. And this land is to be passed from heir to heir. There was a "Cloud on the Title, for lot 40 block "A, St. James, Goose Creek." There was alleged to have been a division for this land, but this hand full of people divided this land among themselves. Are they the heirs entitled to inherit WILLIAM MC QUEEN's estate or should the government get caught stealing it? This is Gulf Oil Corp., Exxon Mobil, etc. This is the land that was filed in the 1990 "Income Taxes." But Joseph Mc Queen died in 1918. The Litigation of William Mc Queen's estate, took place in 1975, three years after the death of William Mc Queen, but the heirs didn't receive their properties. It is being used by others. The documents within these 4 volumes prove, who the real William Mc Queen is and how the properties were pass from the Carolina Charters of 1663 and1665, to John Mc Queen of 1703, Alexander Mc Queen in 1791 plat # 2232 then Joseph Mc Queen who as of 1918 was the last heir then to William Mc Queen, Joseph's son and her father was Joseph's last heir. She is one of his three legal born Mc Queen daughters. Where is their properties? This property passes from heir to heir. Is the State of South Carolina, or the City of Charleston heirs? She thinks not. Deeds F70 page 214, U68 page 579, H67 page 37, H80 page 355, etc. has the name of her father, not the William Mc Queens that were created for the purpose of denying the heirs of their father properties. These deeds are for Atlantic Refining Co. And this is the land that was filed in the 1988 "Income Taxes." But William Mc Queen died in 1972. Property cards were created to have people other than the heirs claim this property. And now again the property that she is paying taxes on and have been paying taxes for 14 years has been sold to MeadWestvaco. How can one sell something that is not their and get away with it? Did anyone get the consent of the heirs? Is there no laws in South Carolina? This will be seen in deed 3325 page 98 from Berkeley County, South Carolina where TMS#'s were created. The same properties are listed within deed C26 page 399, but this deed had no tax numbers. So how were the taxes paid? Royal land pay no taxes, and only heirs can claim this kind of properties. There is a man, a Mr. Horace Williams that own land in South Carolina, but this man is in jail for cutting timber from his land that he has a deed. Where is the Law? How does the court's place a man in jail for cutting timber from his own land? Does anyone care? This had not just happen to her and Mr. Williams, but this is happening to other people. And guess what, your family may be next. Everyone is paying as of May 21, 2004 $2.13 for gas, why? Why are the American people the ones that must always suffer? She bet the handful of people that are controlling the gas and oil in South Carolina don't care. As she said controlling is not owning, because they are not royal heirs.
Book Description
Volume II Books 5 thru 8 Book 5 This book is about the denial letters over the years. No one really wanted to get involved with, the estate of the real William Mc Queen's "getting" settled. Why? Because so many are involved in keeping my father properties among themselves. Within these Volumes you will see some of your finer families are involved in the denial, of the "real" WILLIAM MC QUEEN. Book 6 Within book 6, it is clear that John Mc Queen of 1703, was the GRANTOR of this land, by the small amounts of copies of grants, royal land grants, state plats, colonial plats etc. These royal grants were given to JOHN MC QUEEN by the KING and as stated in the Carolina Charters of 1663 and 1665 ONLY an heir can get ownership of this kind of land. This land has gone from Mc Queen to Mc Queen, so what happen to ReGenia Mc Queen's turn? Book 7 Book 7 clearly shows, that in 1791 Alexander Mc Queen by plat# 2232 owned the 7th District, which is all of Charleston, South Carolina. It covers block "A"etc, deeds C26 page 399 and 3325 page 98, in Berkeley County and Charleston County deeds A219 page 325 and A116 page 215, and can be found within these 4 volumes. Why does the ex Governor of South Carolina have his name on a deed within deed A219 page 325? Why did he sign deed S117 pages 328, 329 and 330, all of which he was not authorized to do. Is he one of my father heirs? Is he also part of the plot to deny the heirs of the "real" WILLIAM MC QUEEN. Why is block "A" so important to these people? Did you know that in 1698, there was a place called White-Hall Palace and maybe the first White House. And it was owned by the Lords, that is the 8 Lords Proprietors, of the Carolina Charter of 1663 and 1665. Book 8 Book 8 is for Joseph Mc Queen, my grandfather. Block "A" is for Gulf Oil Corp. And this is why I, after 32 years have not received , what is lawfully, mine under Probate Code 62-3-901. Joseph Mc Queen's son was William Mc Queen, my father, but before the HEIRS were allowed to claim our father properties, other William Mc Queens were created. And evidence within the 4 Volumes will prove this fact. Probate Code 62-3-901, three things must happen 1. William Mc Queen died June 23, 1972 2. The deeds has the name of William Mc Queen 3. Effie Mc Queen Johnson, LueEtter Mc Queen Stots and ReGenia Mc Queen Teasley are his heirs This is what is needed to take TITLE. But his estate remains open after 30 plus years, in Charleston, South Carolina, why? The fact remain that there was suppose to have been a division of properties in Dorchester and Berkeley Counties of some of this land the heirs of William Mc Queen received 11.60 acres, out of 4,400 plus square miles and or the three counties, Dorchester, Berkeley and Collecton Counties in South Carolina.
Product Description
An epic tale of friendship, betrayal, loss, accountability, and healing.
Average customer rating:
- Unmasking Stereotypes through Strong Portrayals
|
What You Owe Me
Manufacturer: Recorded Books LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 078879468X |
Customer Reviews:
Unmasking Stereotypes through Strong Portrayals.......2006-09-05
Hours of juicy listening to a story of epic proportions following the effects through three generations of the sins of the mothers, fathers, and society before them.
Sometimes banal, but more often engrossing, "What You Owe Me" gives us a balanced portrait of human nature and the races and cultures within it. Bebe moore Campbell is particularly strong on motivation--and that's why all the side-stories are so important--they help the reader understand whey people do what would otherwise seem unthinkable. Campbell draws the curtain of stereotypes and sets a few of them free, once seen clearly.
--Janet Grace Riehl, "Sightlines: A Poet's Diary"
Book Description
Dr. Reilly Stanton, eighth Marquis of Stillworth, must mend his injured pride by proving himself a hero -- and not a drunken wastrel, as his former fiancée claimed. Against all sane advice, the Londoner takes a medical post in a tiny fishing village on the remote Isle of Skye -- and is convinced that he can cope with the primitive conditions, horrendous Highland weather, and rampant illness. But Miss Brenna Donnegal is another matter entirely....
Try as he might, Reilly cannot ignore the toweringly tall lady with flaming chestnut locks and an equally fiery will. She has filled her father's former role as the local physician, and is more than annoyed to find the urbane Dr. Stanton taking over her work and her father's cottage. By fair means or foul, she will give the usurper his comeuppance. But what begins as a sparking tug-of-war between two proud hearts soon flames to a passionate fire...
Critically acclaimed author Patricia Cabot delivers an exquisitely warm and witty novel of love set against the dramatic backdrop of Scotland's magnificent Isle of Skye.
Download Description
Against all sound advice, Dr. Reilly Stanton leaves London and takes a medical post in a tiny fishing village on the Isle of Skye off the coast of Scotland -- and is convinced that he can cope with the primitive conditions, horrendous Highland weather, and rampant illness. But the ravishing Miss Brenna Donnegal, who had taken her father's place as physician, is another matter.
Customer Reviews:
Strong characters make for a good read.......2006-03-19
This story takes place in the remote Island of Skye, where Dr. Reilly Stanton ventures to take a medical post to prove him self to his ex-fiancee, Cristine King, that he is not a drunken wastrel. Far from a drunken wastrel Reilly Stanton is the eighth Marquis of Stillworth and a doctor who actually cares about the people on the island of skye.
Appon his arrival at Skye mayhem begins. Stubben his drunken fairymen falls in to the sea and Reilly has to dive in to his rescue. Only to be showed up by Miss Brenna Donnegal who after Reilly declared Stubben dead brought him back to life, well sort of. After their first initial meeting with the help of Lord Glendenning their paths cross more frequently.
Brenna is an interesting character, alone on the island after her parents took a trip to India and left her at her Uncle's she returns home to the island of Skye intent on curing the people from the disease Cholera once and for all. With a hint of vengence after her father was laughed out of London for his theory on how the disease origonated. Only now Reilly Stanton is there and muddling with her plans. Lord Glendenning has been trying to get her to marry him. Now Reilly is convinced as a woman she can't live on her own. Brenna is out to prove her self and her family.
What a hero - Physician, Marquis, and great sense of humor.......2003-05-19
This rating is actually closer to a 4 1/2 star book.
Lady of Skye is an unusual romance novel. It distinguishes itself with Dr. Reilly Stanton, first known as a physician, and secondly known as a Marquis. Reilly is determined to demonstrate to his friends and the ton that he is a dedicated physician and that he treasures that title much more than his title as eighth Marquis of Stillworth.
The story opens with Reilly arriving on the island of Skye to set up a medical practice. Skye is a far cry from London and has few of the conveniences that city offers. Skye's physician has moved from the island, leaving the position of physician open. However, the former physician's daughter, Brenna, has returned to the island and is their acting physician. Brenna, within the first few pages saves the life of a drowning man (who Reilly had announced was dead), wears the breeches of a man, and swigs liquor straight from the bottle. All of this certainly gains Rielly's attention and the framework is set for a charming and humorous romantic story.
Dr. Reilly Stanton is a thoroughly charming hero with a fantastic sense of humor. One of the strongest parts of this book is our ability to read his thoughts that make you laugh and laugh. He is not a conceited man and is actually a humanitarian. He has some pretty stuffy sayings that are probably typical of 1850s England but they sometimes tear at his overall hero appeal. However, he is a strong hero that knows gentleness. Reilly is a very entertaining and his entire personality is so pleasant! Cabot certainly knows how to write attractive male leads without sticking to the old stereotypes. He does not relish his title and chooses to ignore it - even at the end of the book! Of course, he is very rich. He is one of the most likable heroes I have read.
Brenna is a good-natured heroine. She has just the right of amount of assertiveness for a woman during this time period and is an overall kind woman. I did not think it necessary to introduce her acting the man with her pants and liquor swigging. She is much the lady for the balance of the story and mostly wears dresses and drinks from a glass.
This book centers most of its plot on the romance of Reilly and Brenna. Brenna is up to some very strange things on the island of Skye and no one can figure out what it is. Her strange doings become a significant part of the book. There is no murder mystery here - thank goodness. The real enemy in this book is an illness.
The story drags a little in the middle. But once Brenna and Reilly begin a relationship, the entire book warms. Their time together is sincere and fun. We read about two very well developed characters that discover they have a tremendous amount of similarities and interests. There are few sensual scenes but they are spicy when presented. I would rate them about a 4.0 out of a 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines).
This is my second Cabot book and I have enjoyed them both tremendously. It could have easily been a five star rating if the middle of the book did not drag somewhat. However, should you sense the story dragging when you read it, just stick with it. It is worth it! And by the end of the book you will be thinking as you put it down "I wish it didn't have to end".
Slow Moving!.......2003-02-01
I agree with the person that called this a "so,so read". I was disapointed after reading "Educating Caroline" which was a very good story. Now, I'm not sure I should read anymore of Ms. Cabot's books. I liked the two main charactors, but the almost constant revealing of their thoughts and thinking things out was oh so boring. When they were acturally together, it was good reading. I started skipping paragraphs frequently in order to get to the good parts of them being together. The intimacy was well done.
Slow Moving!.......2003-02-01
I agree with the person that called this a "so,so read". I was disapointed after reading "Educating Caroline" which was a very good story. Now, I'm not sure I should read anymore of Ms. Cabot's books. I liked the two main charactors, but the almost constant revealing of their thoughts and thinking things out was oh so boring. When they were acturally together, it was good reading. I started skipping paragraphs frequently in order to get to the good parts of them being together. The intimacy was well done.
Slow Moving!.......2003-02-01
I agree with the person that called this a "so,so read". I was disapointed after reading "Educating Caroline" which was a very good story. Now, I'm not sure I should read anymore of Ms. Cabot's books. I liked the two main charactors, but the almost constant revealing of their thoughts and thinking things out was oh so boring. When they were acturally together, it was good reading. I started skipping paragraphs frequently in order to get to the good parts of them being together. The intimacy was well done.
Book Description
Second in the delightful new Scumble River mystery series... When school pyschologist Skye Denison's beloved grandma is found dead in her bed, an autopsy proves it was murder. And Skye is determined to find out whodunit, even if the answer lies in the rotten roots of her own family tree.
Customer Reviews:
Skeletons in the family closet.......2004-12-24
Skye Denison enjoys her daily visits to her grandmother to hear stories of her family's history. On one of her visits she is horrified to find that her grandmother has died. She calls the local coronor, Simon, whom she is dating, much to the disgust of her family, who like to keep family business private. Soon she finds herself investigating her kin and alienating many of them in the process. If this isn't enough, she is in trouble with her school district's superintendant who wants her to falsify her school psychologist's records in order to please an influential parent. A third complication is her love life which now includes two men who vie for her affection. Having been a school employee with a job similar to Skye's, I recognize the problems she encounters with parents and administrators. My only objection to Skye's behavior is that she seems to think nothing of being late for school or trying to take last-minute personal days when she has other things to do. Most school employees are very conscientious about their attendance. This book is the second in the series and shows good progress in plot and character development. All in all, it's an enjoyable read.
Absolutely Riveting.......2004-03-17
I just love Skye Denison, Denise Swanson's amateur sleuth. She's a school psychologist who has to battle parents who can't wrap their flaccid minds around the fact that perhaps their little Betty or Reginald isn't as perfect as paradise. With these little battles to...well, battle, the last thing poor Skye needs is someone to murder her beloved grandmother, Antonia Leofanti. But someone has. Sky finds her grandma dead as the proverbial doornail in the poor old lady's bedroom, with the covers pulled up over her head, only a cloud of wispy gray hair peeking over the top. Later on the same day, or perhaps the next day, Antonia's maid and caregiver, Mrs. Jankowski is found in an abandoned well or some such, along with a half a pan of poisoned brownies jammed in beside her. As if all this isn't enough, Skye is almost positive that the person(s) who murdered her grandma and Mrs. J is a person in her family. This is a fun, fast mystery that I had a terrible time putting down.
Down-home Murder Mystery.......2003-09-10
This was my first time reading one of Denise Swanson's books and I will definitely read the rest of the Skye Denison series. From the very first chapter, I was hooked on the small town flavor of the book. Ms. Swanson's writing style takes the reader through twists and turns that entice the mystery connoisseur. Perfect light reading for a vacation.
Good, but..........2003-07-16
I thought this book was good, but I didn't really get into the storyline that much. The idea of her grandmother being murdered by a family member is a very good one, but Ms. Swanson didn't really live up to my hopes. This book could have been much better handled with the idea, and the fact that someone from the family was the responsible for the murder was an interesting one.
So far, of the three books that I've read in this series, the first one is still my favorite (Murder of a Small-Town Honey). I hope that the fourth book (Murder of a Snake in the Grass) becomes my new favorite once I find time to read it.
-Ater
Interesting Small-Town Cozy!.......2003-07-12
In the 2nd book in the Scumble River mystery series, we see amateur sleuth, Skye Denison working hard at fitting into her hometown and finishing up the school year. Skye is a school psychologist, returning home to live and work after humiliating herself while delivering a valedictorian speech 12 years prior. It seems that Skye left with a chip on her shoulder about "the small minds of those in a small town" and has to return home with her tail tucked firmly between her legs after losing her last job. Since she left her last job in disgrace (although it was not her fault), the only job she can get is in the school system that she shunned when she left town. While trying to re-establish herself in her hometown, she helped to solve a previous case that cleared her brother of murder.
In this case, Skye has been spending a lot of time with her grandmother to re-establish broken ties and to learn more about family history. When her grandmother dies suddenly after being given a clean bill of health from her doctor, Skye gets suspicious. And when she learns that her grandmother's caretaker has vanished, family members start to hypothesize that she murdered the grandmother. While suspecting everyone (including her own family members) Skye determines that she will ferret out some old family secrets and in doing so will prove who killed her grandmother. Add to this that Skye is having difficulties with some students at school, and you have an interesting, engaging cozy mystery!
I enjoyed this book much more than I had the first book in this series. I felt that the first book was valuable for its character development but did not offer as much of an interesting read as this one did. I like the characters in Scumble River, and enjoyed all of the relationships between family members as described in this book. I also enjoyed the fact that Skye faced a huge ethical dilemma, and it was interesting to see how she would handle this situation. If you like cozy mysteries involving small towns, give this series a try.
The first book in the series is "Murder of a Small Town Honey". Enjoy!
Average customer rating:
|
Lady of Skye
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GSE2AA |
Book Description
"About Time" serves as the definitive (albeit unofficial) guide to "Doctor Who" Seasons 12 to 17, the main bulk of the Tom Baker era. Written by Lawrence Miles (Faction Paradox) and Tat Wood (SFX, TV Zone), About Time not only examines the usual continuity concerns (alien races, etc.) in bursting detail, but looks at how the political / social issues of the 1970s affected the show's production. Essays in this volume include: "Where (and When) is Gallifrey?", "Why Couldn't the BBC Just Have Spent More Money?", "Why Does Earth Keep Getting Invaded?" and "'War of the Daleks': Should Anyone Believe a Word of It?"
Customer Reviews:
To Who It Definitely Concerns.......2006-08-10
"About Time" is the best work written so far about Doctor Who. It is incredibly thorough and somewhat witty, and shows connections that would have made James Burke blush.
Besides giving accurate continuity (which tries to be as objective as possible, unlike "Ahistory" or "The Discontinuity Guide"), "About Time" also offers where the ideas for the stories came from, arguments (both pro- and con-) about the merits of the show, and many, many anecdotes which are a lot of fun to read, as well as a plethora of gaffes and plot points that don't make sense (of which there are many in Doctor Who).
The big thing which is missing is of course a proper synopsis or summary of each story. However, it is more likely that if you have bought these books, you have already seen the stories several times over and just want to read more about them, so a summarization would be a waste of paper. (And if you have not seen Doctor Who, the book has no intention on convincing you to see it.)
This fourth volume covers the Tom Baker era from its inception all the way through the untransmitted story "Shada".
Much is said about the problems with and during production, about the ego clashes that were bound to take place, many of the conflicts with scriptwriters, producers and even occasional fanboys, and quite a few interesting tales about why certain stories work and why some do not.
And yes, there are some new anecdotes about Douglas Adams.
I very heartily recommend this book if you want a very intensive and enjoyable romp through the good old days of the mid to late 1970s and how Doctor Who managed to survive the changeover to "The show with the scarf-wearing, jelly baby eating, sonic screwdriving, robodog-owning, cavegirl's best friend", and having done that, to still keep its identity in the wake of increased competition with other, sometimes more sophisticated science fiction.
Those who do not wish to buy all six volumes will probably buy "The Discontinuity Guide" or perhaps something else, and will definitely miss out on a lot of gold here. (Always keep gold in mind in case of Cybermen.)
Now it really starts to get good..........2005-07-02
ABOUT TIME 4, the second (don't be fooled by the numbers, Mad Norwegian decided to start in the middle of the series because the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Doctors are the ones most known to viewers of the show, especially in America.) in Mad Norwegian's exhaustive series of guides to the televised adventures of Doctor Who, covers the bulk of the Tom Baker years; the period where the show was first noticed, for the most part, in America; the period with the classic team of producer Philip Hinchcliffe and, as I mentioned in my review of ABOUT TIME 3, my favorite Who writer, script editor Robert Holmes, and the time frame where Douglas Adams was script editor. To most casual fans then, this is the book that will mean most, because it's the Fourth Doctor's book; to myself, the ABOUT TIME series gets interesting because here is where the authors start disagreeing on what is good Who and what isn't, and more importantly actually state the differences. More on this later.
ABOUT TIME 4 details the first six years of Tom Baker's run on Doctor Who in the same sort of insane detail that ABOUT TIME 3 started. Each story is examined by the authors on every level imaginable, from the memorable moments, to the development of the main characters, to the continuity and history of the show, and to the monsters and aliens and other creatures that were staples of the show. Each story has a section about the most glaring of plot holes, continuity errors, or just plain wrong things about the story, as well as background history on what was going on behind the scenes during the filming of each story. The level of detail is mindboggling at times-as I said in my other review, Miles and Wood devote as much space to the Fourth Doctor as other guides do to the entire 26 years of the series run; if anything, perhaps they use too much detail, but one can hardly quibble about the authors spending that much care on a subject, rather than being lazy.
Of interest to many is the coverage of the time Douglas Adams spent on Doctor Who, first as the writer of THE PIRATE PLANET, then later as script editor of Season Seventeen. Fans of the Hitchhiker's Guide who aren't aware of this aspect of Adams' life will be interested in how much of the Guide turned up in Who, and vice versa.
To me though, the most interesting part is that where, in ABOUT TIME 3 the critiques of each story were mostly in agreement over the quality of said episode, as time goes by in ABOUT TIME 4, the critiques are broken down into a defense of the episode and a prosecution of it. It's interesting trying to guess if one author disagrees with the other, or if they're presenting both sides of a controversial story. Given what I know about Lawrence Miles, I would say the former, though I can't be certain; it is interesting though to see a guidebook give more than one opinion on a story, rather than following some sort of editorial party line (and it gets really good in ABOUT TIME 5, when the John Nathan-Turner era gets in full swing, but that's another review.)
ABOUT TIME 4 is an exhaustive, detailed, and moreover honest guide to some of the most crucial years of Doctor Who, and is highly recommended.
Customer Reviews:
The most in-depth episode guide available.......2007-03-19
The ABOUT TIME series is the most in-depth (though currently incomplete) guide to Doctor Who. Volume two in the series examines Seasons 4-6, the adventures of the second Doctor. In addition to production notes and an critique of each episodes, there are notes and essays on continuity and the series in a cultural context. While not as handy as a one volume guide, the ABOUT TIME series makes for a much more interesting read.
Customer Reviews:
Early Christianity the Way It Really Wasn't.......2006-06-01
Banks has painted a picture of what he believes Christian life and worship were like in those earliest days after the resurrection. There was no institutional structure or authority. There was no ritual. There was little doctrine. It was, basically, the ancient Mediterranean version of going out with your buds for Sunday brunch.
It's a very pretty picture. Sadly, it isn't true. Trust me, I've spent my entire adult life trying to get a grip on what authentic early Christianity was like, and it was nothing like this. If you want the real story, I'd suggest you read Wayne Meeks' 'The First Urban Christians: The Social World of the Apostle Paul', especially chapters 5 and 6. It may not be as romantic, but it's a much more satisfying story than the one Banks tells.
Puts 1 Corinthians 14:26 In Context.......2005-04-23
Robert Barnes is a scholar. I would argue that he is one of the most gifted scholars in the entire house church movement. This book can show you why I feel that way.
Barnes does his research. He is not merely writing what he thinks the Church looked like in the first century but he dives into Church History itself to show you historically what it looked like. The book takes 1 Corithians 14:26 and applies it to the house churches listed in the New Testament. In the end, Banks does a wonderful job of showing the reader how radically different our church "services" are today compared to the first century. Banks then tells us how to apply the apostolic traditions (1 Corinthians 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6) to our current churches whether traditional or house churches.
A must read for those longing for pure worship of God and not the worship of men (Mark 7:1-13).
WARNING!.......2004-02-12
WARNING: This book could turn your world upside down! When we look at the Book of Acts, it's clear that church was much, much more than punching the clock on Sunday morning-it was a way of life. The church also wasn't any particular building or institution-it consisted of communities of friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors who gathered together in homes for worship, prayer, reading Scripture (including the Gospels and Epistles as they became available), fellowship, and a communion meal. Unlike other recent books on house church, this book doesn't try to present an argument for house churches, it just depicts a very accurate but simple story of what it would have been like to attend a church meeting in the 1st Century. Read it and you'll realize that church was more like a family barbecue than whatever it is we've turned it into today. Utilizing relational house churches today might be a great way to reach people who don't want to attend an institutionalized meeting in a church building, but value the opportunity to gather with family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors in a manner similar to the church of the 1st Century.
Eye-opening account of First Century church.......2000-12-31
When I was growing up, I would read accounts of church in the Bible and see in my mind rows of pews facing a pulpit. My own experience of church distorted my reading of Scripture. But even for those of us who have long since quit visualizing rows of pews when we read accounts of New Testament worship, the tendency to read our own experience back onto the text, and so to miss much of what was really going on, is always at work.
Almost every congregation I work with as a consultant likes to think of itself as a New Testament church, yet every one of them, in very basic ways, ignores many of the core principles that shaped the New Testament church. Not intentionally, to be sure, but out of ignorance of how the New Testament church related or from a largely unexamined assumption that some very radical differences between New Testament practices and ours are superficial, with no consequence for the vitality of church life or the effectiveness of its mission.
This carefully researched fictionalized account of a first century house church meeting gives the reader the flavor of a community worship experience that few of us have personally experienced, and so gives us a glimpse of what we may be missing when we settle for "church as usual." And it can show us just how far we have strayed from the New Testament pattern with some of our modern practices and concerns.
A couple of churches I have worked with have struggled with the question, "Is it okay to have meals in the church building?" In the house church meeting dramatized in this booklet, the fellowship meal is the central event of the worship. In emphasizing the importance of eating together for nurturing Christian community, I have told some churches that for the New Testament church, the question would not be, "Is it okay to have a meal at church?" but rather, "Is it possible to have church without eating together?"
For anyone who wants to catch the flavor of what going to church in the first century was like, this booklet is a delightful read.
Visitor to an early Christian house church tells about it........1999-06-17
Robert Banks, together with his late wife, Julie, have been leading voices in the movement of Christians away from the institutional church and back to the homes, where it all started.
In this book, Dr. Banks sets forth a fictional account of a visit to a first-century house church. Sharing a meal, talking about the simple things of ordinary life, praying together -- a picture of what it means to BE the church, instead of just going to church.
Books:
- Wonder When You'll Miss Me: A Novel
- A Hole in Texas: A Novel
- A Sultan in Palermo (Islam Quintet 4)
- Ain't No River
- Akhenaten: Dweller in Truth A Novel
- Almost Perfect Moment, An: A Novel (P.S.)
- August Wilson: Three Plays
- Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions
- Blind Vengeance: The Roy Moody Mail Bomb Murders
- Circle of Stones: Woman's Journey to Herself (Circles of Stones , Vol 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Benjamin Franklin: An American Life
- The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: 200 Delicious Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
- Teacher, Teacher, I Declare!: And Other Little Tattle Tales
- Pillsbury Doughboy Family Pleasing Recipes: 170 Super-Fast and Easy Recipes That Everyone Will Love
- Ovarian Cancer
- The Feynman Lectures on Physics including Feynman's Tips on Physics: The Definitive and Extended Edi
- The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: Revised and Updated: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Be
- Staking Her Claim: The Life of Belinda Mulrooney, Klondike and Alaska Entrepreneur
- Profits in the Wilderness: Entrepreneurship and the Founding of New England Towns in the Seventeenth
- Bond's Top 50 Retail Franchises
