Average customer rating:
- Excellent, Erotic and hilaiously sick...
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Too Beautiful for You: Tales of Improper Behavior
Rod Liddle
Manufacturer: Doubleday
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Binding: Hardcover
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Choke
ASIN: 0385513089
Release Date: 2004-12-28 |
Book Description
An ambitious fiction debut filled with lust, longing, and moral depravity.
The tales in Too Beautiful for You, Rod Liddle’s dazzling debut, sweep readers into the lives of characters whose sexual frustrations and deviant desires lead them to the very edge of acceptable behavior—and sometimes way beyond.
In a mischievous, macabre tale about a man who loses his arm in an accident on the way back from an assignation, Liddle shows just how far a husband will go to hide his infidelity from his wife. Another philandering husband, operating much closer to home, doesn’t let fleeting pangs of guilt curtail his hunger for the sexual treats proffered by his mother-in-law. Bizarre happenings are not confined to the sexually adventuresome: one woman notices that her skin is hardening into a sort of insect carapace after she uses a depilatory gel; a suicide bomber is forced to acknowledge his abysmal failure as a terrorist when he tries to blow up a Jewish art gallery with a package of trout; and a man planning to jump out a window finds some of his colleagues all too ready to assist him.
Liddle presents his panoply of misfits and miscreants without passing judgment. The passions they harbor and the acts they commit may be shocking and scandalous, but Liddle shows that these hapless men and women are not so very different from the rest of us. Sharp-witted, sexy, and psychologically astute, Too Beautiful for You breaks through literary and social taboos with style and humor, reminiscent of the early work of Martin Amis.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, Erotic and hilaiously sick..........2005-02-03
The best book I have read in months...Rod Liddle's book is a gem.
Book Description
In a moment of madness, Ali Kingston, wife and mother of three, skips work to spend the day with Christian, a gorgeous street artist fifteen years her junior. Midlife crisis or whatever, it escalates when Ali's husband, Ed, equates her minor indiscretion with a major affair and kicks her out into the rainy night. . . and Christian's open arms. Soon thirty-eight-year-old Ali is ensconced in a Notting Hill love nest wondering how to introduce her children to the charismatic Christian, who could easily have been her teenage daughter's boyfriend rather than her own.
Meanwhile back at the ranch house in suburban Richmond, Ed is also facing unanticipated temptations, as two younger women compete to console him for the loss of his wife, while family and friends attempt to reunite him with Ali. . . with deliciously droll results. Then a disconcerting event forces both Ed and Ali to decide what they really want -- from themselves, from each other and from life itself.
From the USA TODAY bestselling author of the "Reading with Ripa" Book Club pick For Better, For Worse comes a provocative tale of midlife temptation, told with incomparable warmth, wit and wisdom by one of Britain's brightest romantic comediennes.
Customer Reviews:
Lack of communication leads to a major indiscretion.......2006-05-31
Ali captures the eye of much-younger artist Christian at a cafe and the two enter into a harmless flirtation. When she forgoes work to spend the day with Christian, and her son is injured at school, Ed is called to the hospital since no one can locate Ali. When she arrives home, and Ed discovers that she spent the day with another man, he is livid and throws her out of the house without so much as a discussion. She attempts to stay with her sister Jemma, who is not home, and with no money, finds herself on Christian's overpopulated doorstep.
Ed sees the err of his ways the next morning, and goes to Jemma's house only to find Ali is not there. When she finally turns up, she admits that she is staying with Christian and despite the relationship being minor the day before, they have now slept together, forever changing the course of her destiny. Christian is a typical 20-something. He has little ambition, no money, and squats in a Victorian flat with his fellow pals, including a former lover. Suddenly playing weekend daddy was not what he signed on for.
Ed manages to find a couple women willing to help him forget his errant wife including a producer who wants him to move to the US to make blockbusters, and his son's teacher, who is not quite as innocent as she seems. But his heart still belongs to Ali, though both are too stubborn to admit their feelings. While life with Christian is filled with sensuality, he is awkward with her children and is more of a playmate than a parent; his lack of judgment has disastrous consequences.
As family members scheme to get them back together, led by their precocious nusery-schooler, it is an unexpected tragedy that forces them to address the events that caused the breakdown of their relationship and determine if it is worth salvaging.
Matthews has penned an emotionally jarring story of a woman on the verge of 40 looking for a little excitement, and getting much more than she bargained for. It starts out light and soon takes a dark turn, which is more lifelike than your average romantic plot. Some readers may want to conk Ali and Ed on the head for their stubbornness and lack of communication skills.
A Minor Indiscretion made Major.......2006-02-07
The indiscretion of a kiss from the main character, Ali, with a younger guy, turns into a major ordeal. It also turns into a majorly long novel. The first mistake of her minor indiscretion was admitting it to her husband, Ed. He hasn't admitted to her the full fledged affair he previously had to his wife. The major characters, Ali, Ed, and Chrisitan the young lover are all stubborn, in the biggest way, their refusal to change.
When Ed decides he cannot handle Ali's minor indiscretion he throws her out. After a failed attempt to move in with her sister, she has only one place to turn, the young lad she shared a kiss with, and his flatmates. She soon finds out the emotions she was feeling in a trying time were lust not love with Christian. Christian refuses to grow up, giving her children drugs and being a squatter. Christian is not there for her when she needs him the most.
It takes a major health crisis for Ed and Ali to realize that they need each other.
This book is very long, but no matter which frustrations you have with all three main characters, one is compelled to read it until the end.
Starts off with great promise, however the characters disappointed me........2006-01-03
This book grabbed me right away because I related to Ali's feelings of being in a middle-aged slump, harried from the duties of motherhood and marriage, especially when her children seemed unappreciative and her husband seemed indifferent and distant. I can only image how flattered she felt by the attention of a handsome young artist; as though she regained her own identity and wasn't only viewed as an extension of her family. It's even understandable that she played hookey from work to spend a day with Christian (although she should have called in rather than been a no-show), especially when he so persistantly and persuasively insisted that there was no harm in just being friends. Honestly, I was very prepared to like Ali as a character and to sympathize with her plight.
However, everything spun out of control in a totally negative direction once her husband Ed tossed her out without listening to her side of the story nor giving her the benefit of the doubt. It is unconscionable that she'd move in with Christian at this point rather than humbly return home to work things out with Ed. I grew very impatient with Ali's irresponsibly, especially towards her children. I can't imagine a mother being so selfish. As well, I wanted to clobber both Ed and Ali for their stubborness and self-centered behavior, and smack some sense into Christian for his attitude as well. No one really considered the children's feelings in all this. This middle part of the story seemed to drag on.
For a book to evoke such powerful feelings, it must be very well-written! It's obvious the author is very a very talented story-teller and a very witty writer. Although I didn't like the turns the plot took and I don't approve with the actions of the characters, I still feel this was a worthwhile and thought-provoking book to read, bringing to light the consequences of one's impulsive and selfish actions.
Older Woman /Younger Man.......2005-09-28
Have you ever fantasized that a handsome younger man would find you attractive and sweep you off your feet? Then this is the book for you. With a husband and children, life is complicated and there are no easy answers, not even in a book that is for the most part a humorous romance. Readers might find themselves wondering what they would do, along with the main character, as she tries to decide if she likes her exciting new life, or if she wants her old life back.The angst and confusion add to this fun story.
What in the heck?!?.......2004-03-06
I've enjoyed this author's other books. I really don't know what was going on with this one, though. There are so many discrepencies... One of the character's hair color changed by the end of the book, with no appointment at the salon. The author has no clue about Harry Potter, or Barney. There are too many to go into here. All of the little things coupled with a slow, ridiculous story equaled a poor read. Don't waste your time!!!
Book Description
Lady in Green:
"Barbara Metzer deliciously mixes love and laughter." (Romantic Times)
Disguising herself as a housekeeper, Annalise Avery takes employment at Lord Gardiner's town house. But soon the lascivious lord grows quite preoccupied by this mysterious Lady in Green, who spurs hearts young and old-including his own.
Minor Indiscretions:
"Metzger's prose absolutely tickles the funny bone." (L.A. Life Daily News)
Melody Ashton is shocked and appalled when lecherous Lord Coe asks her to become his mistress. But despite her refusal, he's determined to win her heart -- for never has he been so hopelessly in love.
Customer Reviews:
Another hilarious Metzger romp; fun reading .......2005-04-02
Lady in Green: Another laugh out loud Metzger novel. I've read so many, I keep a watch out for the dog and there he was. A mongrel Clyde who saves them all from a fire in the end. But... back to the story. Annalise Avery, an heiress, escapes from her stepfather and a faithless fiancé to her Aunt's house in London. Her aunt is away, and Annalise with her protectors (Nanny Henny and her former highwayman husband Rob) are taken for servants and asked to stay on since the house is to be rented. Lord Gardiner "Gard" has decided to rent the house for various rendezvous' with whatever lady takes his fickle fancy. From the beginning his plans run awry! The ugly humpbacked, hairy mole housekeeper Anna Lee seems to have the upper hand in keeping Gard from enjoying his ladies. The funniest portions of the book are how Anna Lee (Annalise in disguise) imaginatively prevents Gard from ever partaking of his ladies!
Along with Gard's struggle with his chosen ladies and puritan housekeeper, he meets and protects a mysterious woman in green who rides a beautiful part-Arabian horse each morning. He finds himself attracted to her and discovers along the way that she is the missing heiress. He also discovers she is hiding in his own rented house! I'll leave you to read how it all works out. Can this faithless lord make Annalise happy?
Although this was a entertaining story, I was not impressed with the characters Annalise or Lord Gardiner. I did find him a bit too amorous and not really likable though he was kind. Neither touched my heart as other Metzger heroes and heroines have. Annalise was a bit insipid as herself but I loved her as Anna Lee. Henny (the nanny) was interesting because when she was angry at Lord Gardiner or her husband Rob, she would retaliate by feeding the good food to Annalise or the dog instead of to the men.
Worth reading but be sure to catch other Metzger novels (An Angel for the Earl and The Primrose Path) for more endearing (and funny) characters.
Minor Indiscretions: While a bit choppy and hard to follow at times, this is a charming tale of a rake and a sweet "schoolgirl." Melody has to bear much on her shoulders. She has to bring a rather unorthodox home for orphans and her mother back from the brink of disaster. Her mother has been accused of misappropriating the funds for the home and someone is sending blackmail letters to "patrons" of the home. Lord Coe has connections to one such person being extorted and sets off to put an end to it. He had met Melody earlier under different circumstances and now instead of believing she is an innocent, he decides she is corrupt and conniving. All the better to make her his mistress! The remainder of the book Lord Coe (in pursuing Melody) comes to meet the other assorted characters - children, half grown spoiled debutante, immature mother, and Amazon nurse. Melody and he get to know each other and revise their opinions over and over. There are lots of funny circumstances when you throw a badly behaved dog and badly behaved magistrate into the picture. It all sorts out in the end, mysteries are solved and you find out all the "dirty laundry." Very good reading.
Hardly Metzger's best.......2005-03-19
Neither of Lady in Green's lead characters is very likeable. Annalise plays cruel pranks and spreads tales that harm Gard's reputation in order to force him to be moral, which is later supposed to show her love for him. ? Gard is a certified rogue and womanizer, even attempting to bed someone else the night before he plans to propose to the heroine (it's his late free night, you know). ! He does improve as he learns a few things about women and their plight, but he never becomes heroic in any sense. She is quite sanctimonious, but she falls in love with him even though one of the reasons for breaking an earlier engagement is that her fiance had a mistress. It's more hypocritical than it sounds. This story is conventional, trite, and dull. The romance is unconvincing, with her falling for a man she can't stand and him loving her without ever knowing her as a person. Don't bother.
Minor Indiscretions has a better heroine (although she seems too together for her age), although it was disturbing to have the hero want to make a 17-year-old, JUST-out-of-the-schoolroom girl his mistress (no, not his wife, his mistress). Other than that, the hero becomes quite likeable as he's seen interacting with the children she cares for. But Metzger ignores so many of the conventions of the day, that it becomes annoying for a reader reasonably versed in such matters. The love between them is uncertain, even though a friendship seems real enough. While somewhat better than Lady in Green, I found this one uninspired and uninspiring.
An amusing romance story that will tickle your funny bone!.......2002-02-22
"Lady In Green" by Barbara Metzger is one funny romance story. At times I almost laughed until I cried at the humor intended. A book that does not disapoint!
Average customer rating:
- Captivating story that does not let go
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A Minor Indiscretion: Captured in Morocco (Authentic Life Stories)
Hutt, Graham
Manufacturer: Authentic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Inspirational | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Memoirs | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1850785783 |
Book Description
This is the thrilling story of how Graham Hutt and his friends were arrested and imprisoned in Morocco. All because one of them possessed a small black bag containing something the police and a judge were to deem `illegal in Morocco' - Bibles. The penalties totalled nearly half a million dollars, plus imprisonment; and all because of this `minor indiscretion'.
Read of the author's long fight to prove his innocence, regain his yacht and the freedom to visit the country he loves: Morocco. This is a fast-paced chronicle of the friends' adventures, with unique insights into the Arab culture.
Customer Reviews:
Captivating story that does not let go.......2004-12-03
I could not put this book down once I started reading it. Beware, the same may happen to you. This story needs to be told. In today's world, we need to learn from the insights of ancient cultures trying to fit into the new millennium. Graham gracefully allows us to experience the roller coaster ride of emotions he went through. Even though he suffers greatly, he never uses this opportunity to show anything but love and understanding toward the people of Morocco, indeed he encourages people toward better understanding of this culture. This is a great story from a man who has sailed extensively in this region and even revised the North Africa guide for sailors. Through Graham's eyes we learn to love and respect the people of North Africa and hopefully to appreciate them in a new way.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting
- A Perfect Regency!!
- A TREAT ~ REGENCY WITH HUMOR AND WIT !!
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Minor Indiscretions
Barbara Metzger
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Regency | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0449218724
Release Date: 1991-03-31 |
Customer Reviews:
Interesting.......2005-03-19
While a bit choppy and hard to follow at times, this is a charming tale of a rake and a sweet "schoolgirl." Melody has to bear much on her shoulders. She has to bring a rather unorthodox home for orphans and her mother back from the brink of disaster. Her mother has been accused of misappropriating the funds for the home and someone is sending blackmail letters to "patrons" of the home. Lord Coe has connections to one such person being extorted and sets off to put an end to it. He had met Melody earlier under different circumstances and now instead of believing she is an innocent, he decides she is corrupt and conniving. All the better to make her his mistress!
In the remainder of the book Lord Coe (in pursuing Melody) comes to meet the other assorted characters - children, half grown spoiled debutante, immature mother, and Amazon nurse. Melody and he get to know each other and revise their opinions over and over.
There are lots of funny circumstances when you throw a badly behaved dog and a badly behaved magistrate into the picture. It all sorts out in the end, mysteries are solved and you find out all the "dirty laundry."
Very good reading.
A Perfect Regency!!.......2000-12-09
This is one of my favorite Regency romances, and I have read quite a few. I have kept this one and have read it over and over because it is just that good! I haven't found many romances as enjoyable as this one.
The characters are well-developed and believable. Plus this book delivers many laughs! You will be laughing out loud at some of the antics that occur in this book (imagine shooting a handsome Lord in the foot!). A wonderful and involving story.
This book is now out of print, but get your hands on a copy! (use Amazon's search or the zshops, but get it)
A TREAT ~ REGENCY WITH HUMOR AND WIT !!.......2000-12-02
Barbara Metzger is such a hidden talent ~ Certainly deserving of more recognition. Minor Indiscretions is a gem.
The heroine Melody Ashton, barely out of the schoolroom, is now home to deal with the family scandal. Lady Ashton has been a guardian to several orphans (ahem... illegitimate children of the ton) and now is accused of stealing the contributions. Lord Coe comes to investigate on behalf of his sister, whose child also resides at the manor. Melody and Lord Coe, having met earlier (smile), continue their courtship in the middle of mayhem. This includes pigs running wild, a dog inapproriately named Angel, the self-medicating Lady Ashton and many others. I would mention more of the story but I wouldn't like to ruin your enjoyment. It's pure fun and I promise you that you will laugh out loud.
What pleases me the most; is that the essence of a regency remains. The writing is clever and the dialogue witty. I've read two of her books so far (the other ~ Lord Heartless ~ Recommended) and look forward to more. It's always a treat when you find a writer of this quality.
Average customer rating:
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Barbara Metzger Set: Valentines, Road To Ruin, Lady in Green, Minor Indiscretions, A Suspicious Affair, An Angel for the Earl, The Defiant Miss Foster, A Highly Respectable Widow, Rake's Ransom, A Loyal Companion Father Christmas, Christmas Wishes (12 Titles in 6 Novels)
Barbara Metzger
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000PHHFII |
Average customer rating:
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Minor Indiscretion
Manufacturer: HEADLINE (HODD)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GSKZW4 |
Book Description
Presented by legendary comic book author Jim Shooter, this book is a fast-paced science fiction novel with all the flair and fun of a comic book.
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
As you find out at the end, two brothers (with bad pun names - Dr. Know and Rex Monday), are born with strange abilities. World encompassing telepathy, and the reverse, and super genius level intelligence. So, one sets out to make things better, one eventually to stop him. Their incredibly powerful children, are, of course, horribly screwed up. A time travel mistake produce the title character, a man who has never been born, and is hence invisible and immaterial most of the time, except to this extraordinary family, or the occasional other sensitive. This, of course, can be used a superpower. It also makes him immune to the mental abilities of the two brothers. One of the super powered sibilings fancies him because of this, because he is one of the very few men her father cannot mind control, while, basically, he is shagging her.
Things spiral out of control, escalating into violence, and assassination.
In a twist, the end of the story encompasses areoforming, after the two megalomaniacs are out of the picture, Thanks to Nobody and their wife.
Comic book prose.......2007-08-03
James Maxey has created a short novel with a comic book feel. All the superhero-ness and action that I love of comics, but without the art and with added depth of character, description, and exposition. A quick, fun read, I would have loved it even more if I had read it in grade school - the style is effortless to read, and it holds interest well. The reasoning behind the characters' origins and the way things progress seem to have been well thought out. I will probably pick up another of Maxey's books for a vacation read.
Brain candy.......2006-01-31
I won't pretend this is great literature, or even great s.f. But it does make an entertaining read. Take one part *Mystery Men*, two parts Alan Moore's *Watchmen*, mix thoroughly and enjoy.
This book is both a parody and an exploration of the comic book superhero universe. The protagonist is a man whose superpower is that he no longer exists . . . sort of. He's employed---sort of---by the man who created the universe . . . sort of. Nothing is quite as simple as it should be in this novel. While Maxey doesn't acheive quite the same character depth as Orson Scott Card, he shares his tendency to explore the mind even of his darkest characters.
An entertaining read.......2005-11-25
I had reservations about buying this book based solely on the title and the cover art. It had received good reviews all around, so I gave it a chance.
The novel turned out to be fine; a fun read all in all. I felt that the characters were strong and interesting, even if some of their powers weren't. Nobody's plight of being invisible drew me into the world, with the beginning portion of him haunting houses being particularly amusing.
I only had one issue with the story, that being how the world was formed. Sounds weird, I know, but if you read it you'll understand - I'm trying to remain spoiler-free.
If you like superheroes, then this novel is a safe bet. If you're a fan of fiction in general, and you don't have a problem with superheroes, then you'll most likely have fun.
Review of James Maxey's "Nobody Gets the Girl".......2005-08-02
"Nobody Gets the Girl" is a takeoff on super-heroes, somewhat reminiscent of Grant Morrison's "Superfolks." Maxey, however, veers in a different direction. Where Morrison asks the question, "What happens to a super-hero when he can't keep going anymore?", Maxey asks why such people should exist at all--and comes up with a creative answer.
Others have tackled the same issue, both in novels and in the comics (see Valiant Comics' revival of Dr. Solar, Man of the Atom, as an example), but Maxey's approach is lighter, somewhat tongue-in-cheek. It might not be to the taste of those who prefer their super-heroics written straight, but it works.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent exposition of leading Sufi Philosopher.......2006-10-23
Ibn Al-Arabi, known affectionately as 'The Master' by many Muslims, is one of the leading mystics and philosophers the world of Islam has ever produced.
Ibn Arabi was an enigmatic, many-faceted genius. A visionary poet, philosopher, mystic, theologian, and great writer in one, he combined a great and penetrating intellect with a profound mystical insight into the mysteries of the Islamic faith.
Unfortunately as with many key Islamic philosophers, good English translations of this thinker's works were unavailable for Western scholarship until fairly recently. Chittick, an expert on Persian literature (and who lived in Iran until the revolution) translates many sections of Arabi's key texts and expounds his vision of God, the universe, and man.
Ibn Arabi's work is immense in scope and range. Essentially his philosophy is an attempt to work out how the divine One, changless, eternal, and perfect, relates metaphysically to the created universe. Essentially Arabi takes up the classic philosophical problem of the One and the Many, and offers a grand solution based on Islamic theology, mysticism, and philosophy.
Central to Arabi's system of Being is the idea of God having 99 names. In the Quran, God is said to have 99 'most beautiful names' which are his attributes. In Sufi thought, these attributes are also reflected in the universe and in all creatures, though only in human beings (the most complete of God's creations) are all the 99 names encompassed.
Also important in Ibn Arabi's thought is the human quest to find God. Using the hadith 'I was a hidden treasure, so I made the universe to be known', Arabi constructs an elaborate mysticism of love, based on the search for the human lover for his hidden beloved, which is God. Translated from poetic and mythical terms to philosophical terms, the meaning of human existence is to find God, the Absolute who underlies all, who is present in all but also entirely incomprehensible and hidden. Ibn Arabi's metaphysics also includes a comprehensive system of theophanies, manifestations of the hidden One in the universe (which include the cosmos itself as the highest theophany, along with man).
The other main aspect of Arabi's system is the detailed study of man, the microcosm. Because man is the perfect mirror of God (in the sense all 99 names are in man) the best path to understand God is to know the Self. In Arabi's system there is the realm of ordinary conciousness and the realms of the imagination, and of mystical conciousness, which are treated as being as ontologically 'real' as our experienced, sense world is.
While Chittick sometimes offers some odd conclusions, his explanation of Arabi's key ideas and his translations of his texts are very good. Unfortunately they only tend to whet the appetite, and they only represent a small fraction of Arabi's complete works, the majority of which is as yet untranslated into English.
textbook style guide with detail and clarity.......2006-08-15
One of the difficulties with having such a unified, unique and untouchably elevated God is in reconiciling Him with the nitty-gritty intimacy of life and creation.
Allah is way up there...yet He still dictates stuff way down here.
Allah is so transcendent..yet religious experience demands an intimate spiritual connection.
How do these things happen?
well you see, it's quite simple really :)
It's mostly to do with this concept called 'barzakh' - loosely translated as 'phased intermediation' such that the cosmological make-up of the world consists of several layers, each of which denotes an element of the divine attribute made manifest. This whole system culminates in describing the universe as a "Theatre of Manifestation" of God's attributes (illustrated through the 99 names of Allah). This means that the divine essence permeates through every atomistic fibre of matter in every infinitessimal stitch of time.
Similarly, the consciousness of man is a barzakh - bridging the gap between the terrestial base form of clay and the ultimate climax of spiritual experience, 'fana' - a cosmic consciousness of unity with the Divine.
This book, with neat chapters, concepts and illustrations explains each of the steps of the divine governance of the universe and the methods of Godly consciousness as espoused by the great master of Shaykhs - Ibn Al Arabi. The first few chapters very lucidly run through the groundwork of the concept of the 'divine names' and some basic ontological and metaphysical concepts. This sets the field for a stunning climax where Professor Chttick weaves together the epistemic nature of prayer and spiritual discipline - so that the consciousness of Man mirrors and chimes in a unified beat with the inner harmonies of the universe. Everything is ONE....Everything resides in the ONE.
I have to admit, things get a little spooky and hazy towards the end and I struggled to form a coherent sense of what the whole things was about - in total....but maybe that's something you can't learn from a book.
To cut things short, this is a stunningly awesome book. A little hard going and tedious to begin with but definitely well worth the effort.
The Best Work on Ibn Arabi's Non-Dualistic Cosmology to Date.......2000-08-14
Ibn Arabi is not easy reading. By far the best and most comprehensive book to date is this one -- perhaps Chittick's most important work yet. SPK is primarily a collection of translations from various sections of Ibn Arabi's greatest work, the Meccan Revelations, and is structured more as an anthology. Chittick puts in his own commentary here and there which helps decode the complexity of some of the passages. But for the most part, he allows Ibn Arabi to speak for himself.
Although the book is long, you don't have to read all of it. Chittick is not arguing a thesis, but presenting Ibn Arabi's view on a variety of subjects which are fundamentally rooted in a non-dualistic cosmology where only Allah 'is'. You can read just the introduction of the work (where Chittick gives a bare-bones sketch of the Shaikh's worldview) and then start plugging away from the various passages at your own convenience.
In my opinion, SPK is better than Chittick's more recent THE SELF DISCLOSURE OF GOD which is too technical and requires quite a bit of familiarity with Ibn Arabi in particular and sufism in general.
An expository not a deconstructive work.......1999-06-05
Chittick allows Ibn Arabi to speak for himself without attemptiong to fit him within a philosophical paradigm like other authors (Nicholson, Affifi). This itself is a landmark step in oriental studies.
A wonderful book to read.......1999-04-26
This is a great book for any one who is interested in true no nonsense spiritualism. Ibne Arabi as always proves himself a true master of this path. I would like to mention a couple of points which has left me confused as to the real position of this great master. He puts a great deal of emphasis on the fact that a true "traveler" is always mindful of the " Sacred Laws" of Islam and never for a moment undermines them. One might ask the question as to what is "Sacred Laws" and what are the sources of them. Quran rarely mentions anything about the Laws in a detailed fashion and those hadiths left from Prophet are uncertain , and more importantly there has never been much agreement about what the Sacred Laws are among the jurisprudence. Four canonical schools among the jurisprudence were established , at the expense of other schools, due to the fact that there was almost a chaos due to many schools of Law each with their own version of "Sacred Laws". So it seems that "Sacred Law" is more or less in the eye of the beholder and very much " relative". Moreover it is very confusing that Ibne Arabi should accept the very notion of " four cannonical" schools of law randomly picked by the ruler of the time. An indication that Ibne Arabi perhaps avoided any topic which would have brought him face to face with the political powers of his time. The second confusing aspect of Ibne Arabi is his almost total silence in regards to socio-political aspect of Islam and Islamic society. He never touches upon the early history of Islam and the shortcoming of the "Companions" of the Prophet as though he either sees no problem with that history at all or he is afraid of a backlash. It is unlikely that a man like Ibne Arabi would give a blank check and a money back guaranty entry to heaven to Mohammad's companions irrespective of their socio-political behavior. Why is it so important that we put the companions of the prophet under a microscope? It is because their behavior is particularly relevant to all moslems since according to a hadith attributed to Muhammad " my companion are like stars, any which one one follows is lead to truth". Does Ibne Arabi accept this hadith? How does he , or better yet Prophet Muhammad himself, justify the turmoil and killings and political injustice which was exercised by companions after Mohammed's death? Moslems rarely touch upon this aspect of their history and almost never discuss it and Ibne Arabi, unfortunatly, seems to fall under the same category.
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