Book Description
(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)
The brevity of Muriel Spark’s novels is equaled only by their brilliance. These four novels, each a miniature masterpiece, illustrate her development over four decades. Despite the seriousness of their themes, all four are fantastic comedies of manners, bristling with wit.
Spark’s most celebrated novel, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, tells the story of a charismatic schoolteacher’s catastrophic effect on her pupils. The Girls of Slender Means is a beautifully drawn portrait of young women living in a hostel in London in the giddy postwar days of 1945. The Driver’s Seat follows the final haunted hours of a woman descending into madness. And The Only Problem is a witty fable about suffering that brings the Book of Job to bear on contemporary terrorism.
All four novels give evidence of one of the most original and unmistakable voices in contemporary fiction. Characters are vividly etched in a few words; earth-shaking events are lightly touched on. Yet underneath the glittering surface there is an obsessive probing of metaphysical questions: the meaning of good and evil, the need for salvation, the search for significance.
Average customer rating:
- The body has a life of its own.
- A Little Confusing
- a choppy beginning- a magnificent end
- Whatýs Wrong With This Picture?
- Interesting but fragmentary
|
The Girls of Slender Means
Muriel Spark
Manufacturer: New Directions Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Spark, Muriel
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ASIN: 081121379X |
Book Description
"Long ago in 1945 all the nice people in England were poor, allowing for exceptions," begins The Girls of Slender Means Dame Muriel Spark's tragic and rapier-witted portrait of a London ladies' hostel just emerging from the shadow of World War II. Like the May of Teck Club itself--"three times window shattered since 1940 but never directly hit"--its lady inhabitants do their best to act as if the world were back to normal: practicing elocution, and jostling over suitors and a single Schiaparelli gown. The novel's harrowing ending reveals that the girls' giddy literary and amorous peregrinations are hiding some tragically painful war wounds. Chosen by Anthony Burgess as one of the Best Modern Novels in The London Sunday Times Review, The Girls of Slender Means is a taut and eerily perfect novel by an author The New York Times has called "One of this century's finest creators of comic-metaphysical entertainment."
Customer Reviews:
The body has a life of its own........2004-09-02
This small novel has too many characters and too many themes (intelligence work, coupon smuggling, the 'literature' business, religion, sex and love -'Love and money were vital themes in all bedrooms.')
Also, the allegories are a little overstretched, e.g. a bomb for a war that didn't end with the armistice, or the fate of the girl who believes that 'once you admit that you can change the object of a strongly-felt affection, you undermine the whole structure of love and marriage.'
The action of the latter part of the novel is caused by a deus ex machina.
On the other hand, it gives a lively portrait of poverty-stricken London after World War II with food-rationing. Also, the elliptic writing and the use of poem excerpts were captivating.
But all in all, not a convincing work.
A Little Confusing.......2004-06-07
Don't get me wrong this was a good book but I got confused with all the characters. It kind of jumped around from person to person and from the past to the present. It was interesting reading about the stories of each of the girls. It didn't really seem to follow a story line. The story finally began to come together at the great ending then just kind of stopped. Not the best book I've ever read but its worth reading anyway.
a choppy beginning- a magnificent end.......2004-02-19
there are so many girls at the may of teck club ( group housing for 'the girls of slender means)- with so many third person points of view, that one almost needs a chart to keep them straight- who's rationing what? who's dating whom?
a few of the girls stand out, but their tales are so intermingled, & their lives so distantly described that i had a hard time caring. but as a fan of muriel spark's work, i kept at it, and was well paid off by the poignant & shocking ending.
spark did quite the job of showing the reader wartime london- with its' almost purposeful frivolities, willfullness to get on, and its' crushing realities.
i recommend it to fans of her work. i suggest starting with the 'prime of miss jean brodie' if you've had no prior introduction.
Whatýs Wrong With This Picture?.......2002-12-25
I enjoyed settling down with this interesting vignette of the lives and times of a group of single women in a hostel in London in the spring of 1945. The war in Europe has ended, and these unconquerable gals have survived. They have lived through the blitz; survived on low rations; and have kept their social world going by sharing one fancy dress among themselves. Blaring radios, and shrieks of laughter permeate the old building that has been their home for the last several years. Their amorous adventures have been fleeting ones in accord with the uncertainties of a world at war. We are now seeing them all as the first days of the rest of their lives are about to begin.
Ah, but Ms. Spark is not telling us this story just to provide an evening's light entertainment. A tragedy occurs that once again points out the absurdity of war. It is sad that there has been no time in any of our lives when this message is obsolete. It's a short novel, almost a short story writ long, but it doesn't need to be any longer than it is. The author has taken just the amount of time she has needed to paint her colorful literary portrait...and then put a big smudge right in the middle of it.
Interesting but fragmentary.......2000-11-05
Muriel Spark recreates a world that has long since vanished in her depiction of the May of Teck club, a residence for young single women . The story takes place during the final year of World War II. There are frequent changes in viewpoint and time period which became distracting. It is clear that Spark is interested in the sound of words in all their richness and haphazardness, but the collaging strategy takes force from the final tragedy. Lurking behind the narrative are a cast of characters possessing various degrees of egoism and spirtituality. The most fully drawn is Jane, a young woman employed in "the world of books." One of her unusual modes of employment is writing fake fan letters to living famous authors on behalf of a collector in the hopes of receiving handwritten replies. In her we find an idealized perspective on the literary world blended with pragmatism in her machinations. Other personalities reside at the edge of the narration and their motivations are difficult to credit. I am fairly sure that Spark is pointing out the ambiguities of our psyches, but she stacks the deck against any efforts we might make to discover what makes the characters tick.
![Memento mori [and] The girls of slender means](http://www.germanelectronics88.com/noimage.gif)
Average customer rating:
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Memento mori [and] The girls of slender means
Muriel Spark
Manufacturer: The Reprint Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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Spark, Muriel
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ASIN: B0007K3NMK |
Average customer rating:
- Friends validating friends!
- Good Read!
- Very enjoyable book
- Novel celebrating friendship
- How wonderful!
|
Thursdays At Eight
Debbie Macomber
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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ASIN: 1551668912 |
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Four residents of Willow Creek, California--the youngest in her twenties, the oldest in her late fifties--become acquainted during a journaling class and decide to continue their connection by meeting each Thursday morning for coffee and conversation. They come from very different backgrounds, but their need for friends and support draw them together and bind them in their struggles with life and love. Clare is angry and bitter after a devastating divorce; Elizabeth, a widow, is determined not to waste a moment of the rest of her life; twentysomething Karen is set on becoming an actress despite her family's disapproval; and Julia is approaching her fortieth birthday when an unplanned pregnancy turns her perfect life upside down. As each of the four women cope with cataclysmic upheavals in their lives, they rely more and more on the support of the members of the Thursday morning breakfast club. And as they are faced with difficult choices, each chooses the option dictated by their conscience and their personal moral compass rather than the easy way out.
Thursdays at Eight is a novel of everyday women confronted with extraordinary circumstances, and Macomber tells their stories with a depth of mature insight that is both compassionate and unfailingly honest. These are women with guts and fortitude, courage and determination, and readers will recognize the same strength of character found in the novels of venerable authors Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy. --Lois Faye Dyer
Book Description
Every Thursday at eight, four women meet for breakfast -- and to talk. To tell their stories, recount their sorrows and their joys. To offer each other encouragement and unstinting support.
Clare has just been through a devastating divorce. She's driven by anger and revenge . . . until she learns something about her ex-husband that forces her to look deep inside for the forgiveness and compassion she's rejected -- and for the person she used to be.
Elizabeth is widowed, in her late fifties, a successful professional -- a woman who's determined not to waste another second of her life. And if that life should include romantic possibilities -- well, why not?
Karen is in her twenties, the years for taking risks, testing your dreams. Her dream is to be an actor. So what if her parents think she should be more like her sister, the very respectable Victoria?
Julia is turning forty this year. Her husband's career is established, her kids are finally in their teens and she's just started her own business. Everything's going according to plan -- until she gets pregnant!
Customer Reviews:
Friends validating friends!.......2007-02-06
Thursdays at Eight is an excellent friendship book. The four main characters each have varying issues to contend with in their individual lives.
At age forty, Julia's life is flowing smoothly for her and her family until she shockingly finds out she is pregnant. How will she handle this surprising twist of fate?
Elizabeth is a widow who is determined to live her life to the fullest. Is romance in bloom for her or will she continue to be totally driven by her career?
Clare is extremely angry after her recent divorce until she discovers a painful truth about her ex-husband. How will she handle this unexpected news?
Karen, the youngest member of the group, dreams of becoming an actress. However, her parents would prefer her to be more settled like her sister, Victoria. Which path will she ultimately choose?
Indeed, each character grows due to the triumphant strength and support of their friends. I found this book to be a calming, peaceful, and fulfilling read. I highly recommend it to anyone who desires to witness the changes that these four powerful women are able to successfully endure. They transformed before my very eyes.
Good Read!.......2006-08-15
Great story line. Four (4) great stories about 4 woman and life challenges. Debbie is an excellent author whose stories reach out to you in a way that will force you to continue purchasing her books.
Very enjoyable book.......2006-08-01
I really enjoyed reading this book and looked forward to continuing it each day while riding to and from work. It was so good that I quickly loaned it to my friend who also enjoys reading books by Debbie Macomber.
Novel celebrating friendship.......2006-06-12
This is a wonderful story of 4 women who meet in a journaling class and become very good friends. Each of them chooses a word that illustrates the situation they're in or how they view themselves. As I also see the benefits of keeping a journal and also understand how important and beneficial good friendships can be, I really enjoyed this book.
How wonderful!.......2004-11-15
What wonderful friendships these four have formed! They are very lucky. Although predictable, I did really enjoy this book. The characters were very easy to like. I did wonder if this book had a proofreader because I found two typos.
These four ladies develop a warm bond that you will long to be a part of!
Average customer rating:
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Thursday's at Eight
Manufacturer: Harlequin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H0ZS14 |
Average customer rating:
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THURSDAYS AT EIGHT
Manufacturer: Mira Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H2FO1Q |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR), published by The Register Guard on August 16, 2003. The length of the article is 898 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: League suspends eight Ems for brawl.(Sports)(Everett has nine players penalized in the aftermath of Thursday's altercation)
Publication:
The Register-Guard (Eugene, OR) (Newspaper)
Date: August 16, 2003
Publisher: The Register Guard
Page: D1
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Average customer rating:
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Eight hours to letter-carriers: Speech of Hon. Benton J. Hall, of Iowa, in the House of Representatives, Thursday, July 15, 1886
Benton J Hall
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Political Science | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books | Comparative Government | Constitutional History | Elections | General | Government | History of the State | Imperialism & Independence | International Institutions | International Relations | Leaders & Leadership | Levels of Government | Movements | Party Politics | Political Doctrines | Political History | Political Theory | Psychology | Public Administration | Public Policy | Research | Rhetoric | Rights | Systems Of Government | United States
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ASIN: B0008BK03S |
Book Description
Coren Lanra is the head of security for DyNan Manual Industries. A former Special Service agent, he's never cared for bureaucracy, piracy, or deception. Lanra's troubles begin when Nyom Looms, daughter of DyNan president Rega Looms, is murdered during an ill-fated mission to smuggle illegal immigrants from Earth to the colony Nova Levis. The question is, why? The only clue might be contained within the positronic brain of a robot that had accompanied the victim, but it has been deactivated, and Lanra is denied access to its memories. With the help of roboticist Derec Avery and Auroran ambassador Ariel Burgess, Lanra searches for the identity of a killer, before more lives are lost.
Download Description
A thrilling new robot mystery set in the world of the late SF Grand Master and beloved author, Isaac Asimov.
Customer Reviews:
Updated Robots, Realistic Characters.......2003-02-01
Sometimes sticking too close to the way something was originally done is a good way to damage a new piece of work. Tiedemann doesn't seem to make that mistake in Chimera. Instead, as in Mirage, he updates the basic material, bringing it more in line with contemporary information about nanotech and AI. He takes what Asimov did and makes it his own.
More than that, though, he's done a thoroughly excellent job of creating fully-fleshed, believable characters, real people with real problems. He places them in a fast-paced thriller plot that flows logically and answers questions both about the action of the story and the larger issues nesting within the Robot universe Asimov created. Rather than do a straight imitation of Asimov's style, he has written his own kind of narrative, matched to the content of his storyline.
The creation of Bogard in Mirage was a masterful twist on the 3-Law scenario. Tiedemann continues to play with the limitations and implicit possibilities in Asimov's original structure in this book.
The Caves of Steel in Chimera are both creepier and more plausible, the psychologies of the various habitues matched against each other in elegant dialogues and plot twists (as in one character's surprise visit to a Spacer party in the open air!). Tiedemann displays a deft hand at depicting the inner realm of the human condition, a trait he displays much more fully in his own original novels.
More! More!
Not like original - Mark Tiedemann is no Robert Silverberg.......2003-01-28
I really can't read this book. The text does not flow like Asimov's books. It reads like something else. It is a littlke too fast paced, with too little dialogue and I think there is not enough reflection on the background and the possibilities.
The basic premise has got something wrong with it. It's not tied in too well to other things.If Asimov would use any of these ideas,he would offer some explanation. Asimov also, by the way,often had some short third person narration interspersed in
his books and this is totally missing.
Robert Silverberg expanded a few Isaac Asimov stories into books and he did it in keeping with Asimov's style. Robert Tiedemann is no Robert Silverberg. If Asimov had been alive, I don't thinmk he would have approved of this, except if he decided not to care
I give it two stars because at least this is a try. Also, I only have this book,not its predecessor.
Almost As Good As The Originals.......2001-05-01
Tiedemann recently resurfaced with this, his second attempt at new robot mysteries. And again, he's done an impressive job.
Asimov's original robot novels were generally straightforward. While not predictable by any stretch of the imagination, the mysteries themselves were fairly simple. Tiedemann has taken Asimov's "universe" but made the mysteries more complex and expanded the scope of the setting to fully explain political situations, alliances, development of society in settler and spacer worlds...many of the things Asimov himself never fully developed. This all amounts to a fairly complex mystery novel set in Asimov's vision of the future.
The novel is not without problems. One criticism I had of Tiedemann's first novel still holds true - two of the main characters have an extensive past together yet Tiedemann makes no mention of this fact. Some of the ideas in Chimera also come across as a bit far-fetched in the context of the setting that Asimov established.
All-in-all, Chimera is an entertaining read. If you're a fan of Asimov's original robot novels, its definitely worth picking up. If you've not had exposure to the originals, however, start with them.
more robots!!!.......2001-04-23
Asimov was open to exploration of his laws of robotics by third parties and this new mystery is a vivid example of Asimov's enduring legacy! Tiedemann's second robot effort shows real maturity
Average customer rating:
- He lived a life well thought out
|
Joseph Campbell Collection: Mythology and the Individual: Volume 1 (Campbell, Joseph, Joseph Campbell Audio Collection.)
Manufacturer: Highbridge Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
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ASIN: 1565111877 |
Customer Reviews:
He lived a life well thought out.......2005-08-21
No matter how many times i listen to Joseph Campbell I always hear something that I missed before. So I keep listening.
Product Description
5 tapes:
1. The celebration of life
2. the individual in oriental mythology
3. symbolism and the individual
4. new horizons
5. the vitality of myth
Product Description
Set of 5 Audio Cassette tapes 7 1/2 hours of classic presentations at Esalen Institute. Volume II (2, two) of the series (two volume series)
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All the Stories of Muriel Spark
Memento Mori
