Three Novels of Ancient Egypt: Khufu's Wisdom, Rhadopis of Nubia, Thebes at War (Everyman's Library)

Book Description

(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)

From Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz: the three magnificent novels—published in an omnibus edition for the first time—that form an ancient-Egyptian counterpart to his famous Cairo Trilogy.

Mahfouz reaches back thousands of years to bring us tales from his homeland's majestic early history—tales of the Egyptian nobility and of war, star-crossed love, and the divine rule of the pharoahs. In Khufu's Wisdom, the legendary Fourth Dynasty monarch faces the prospect of the end of his rule and the possibility that his daughter has fallen in love with the man prophesied to be his successor. Rhadopis of Nubia is the unforgettable story of the charismatic young Pharoah Merenra II and the ravishing courtesan Rhadopis, whose love affair makes them the envy of all Egyptian society. And Thebes at War tells the epic story of Egypt's victory over the Asiatic foreigners who dominated the country for two centuries.

Three Novels of Ancient Egypt gives us a dazzling tapestry of ancient Egypt and reminds us of the remarkable artistry of Naguib Mahfouz.

Customer Reviews:

some lovely writing, but maybe not the author's best work.......2007-05-30

Apparently these are the first three of the author's novels. This is a beautiful edition and it is also cheaper than buying the three paperback novels separately. There is an introduction, a chronology of the author's life, and then the three novels.

The introduction is a missed opportunity. I think that I might have appreciated these novels better with the help of some information about the culture in which they were written. However the introduction offers little more than plot summary. I recommend skipping it. The chronology is nice, but not tied in with the introduction.

The first novel, Khufu's Wisdom, seems to be about fate and moral choices. It tells the story of a king whose efforts to defy his fate only help to make that fate happen. It is set during the construction of one of the pyramids, but there is not much in the way of historical detail (and I think there are also some historical inaccuracies). It reads more like a biblical fable than a historical novel. It is beautifully written, but the story is somewhat simple by modern American standards.

The second novel, Rhadopis of Nubia, is much better than the first. It tells of a disastrous love affair between a king and a beautiful courtesan. It is also beautifully written, in a lavish, sometimes over the top style.

The third novel, Thebes at War, did not grab my interest and I didn't finish it. Maybe I'll try again later.

The three novels have three different translators, but all of the translations read well and have a similar flavor.

If you have not read any of the author's work before, you might also consider starting with the Cairo trilogy.

Excellent.......2007-05-21

I am so happy to have read this book. Naguib Mahfouz is a master. The stories were unique, thought provoking and powerful. I could read his work everyday forever.

Average customer rating:

Agree with prior reviewers in being a little disappointed in the prose style
Monotone depiction of the war to reclaim ancient Egypt
HOW THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS GOT RID OF THE HYKSOS

Thebes at War
Naguib Mahfouz
Manufacturer: Anchor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400076692
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Book Description

Known and loved throughout Egypt as a work that celebrates the national character, Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz’s Thebes at War tells of a high point in Egyptian history–ancient Egypt’s defeat of Asiatic foreigners who had dominated northern Egypt for two hundred years.

With a visit from a court official and a provocative insult, the southern pharaoh’s long simmering resentment boils over, leading him to commit himself and his heirs to an epic struggle for the throne. Filled with the grand clash of armies, staggering defeats, daring escapes, and glorious victories, and written at a time when Egypt was again under the sway of foreign powers, Thebes at War is a resounding call to remember Egypt’s long and noble history.

Customer Reviews:

Agree with prior reviewers in being a little disappointed in the prose style.......2007-05-18

I too looked forward to reading a book ABOUT ancient Egypt written not only by an Egyptian but by a Nobel prize winner for Literature. I guess then I too must blame the translater for the stodgy dialogue and descriptions. Style also seemed old fashioned which may or may not have to do w/ it being written in the '40's. I have read non fiction reports of this era and this war because my interest was piqued by one of my very favorite Egyptian historical novels the series: The Lords of the Two Lands by Pauline Gedge which I do very much recommend to anyone for comparison with this book.
Historically, no one can say if Ahmose had an affair with the king's daughter just as there are some fictional elements in Gedge's book.
Historians are also not sure if Ahmose was Sequenenra's son or grandson, apparently the records are just not clear. Gedge's books ( a trilogy) DO get into the roles of the Tao women (family name of the Theban kings) Aahotep, widow of Sequenenra apparently was for a time regent and was given the Golden Flies by King Ahmose, a seldom given award for MILITARY bravery. They were buried with her and are now in a museum. The mother of Sequenenra, Tetisheri, was also apparently involved in military stategy as well as in holding the family estates while the men were at war, for her as well as Aahotep King Ahmose later erected stalae stating their valuable contributions.
These facts, as well as photgraphs of Sequenenra's mummy with its 5 or more wounds to the face and head, any one of which would have been fatal, can be seen in several Egyptian history books, including Nicholas Reeves' book about Akhenaten when Reeves is laying the historical framework for the Akhenaten period.
One problem I had w/ the Mahfouz' book was his emphasis on the evil Hyksos being white skinned. Actually they were Asiatics, the point of course, was he was writing during WWII and this prejudicial and biased writing was probably aimed at British and other European colonists in many non European nations at that time. Nevertheless, just as other biased racial statements made 50-60 years ago are not "forgiveable" now just because "they came from that time period" these should not be either. He over and over again emphasizes the evil of the white skinned people and the purity of the brown skinned.
Ms Gedge manages to tell the same story without mentioning the minutae of skin color differences which were, as far as we know of THAT era, unimportant to them.
Other than that problem, which I do understand due to the history of his country and its' situation at the time, I enjoyed reading the book from his point of view, and wish I could read it in the original to find out if the prose would be better than it seems to be.

Monotone depiction of the war to reclaim ancient Egypt.......2006-09-29

The Hyksos people, from the Asian continent, were the first foreign rulers of Egyptian land. The story of the book begins at the time when the Hyksos, lead by their King Apophis, were occupying the northern part of Egypt and when Pharaoh Seqenenra was in rule of the southern part. The capital of Apophis was Memphis while that of Seqenenra Thebes.

Seqenenra is lured into war and gets murdered. The book chronicles the war from that point on till Seqenenra's grandson and Pharaoh Ahmose finally defeats Apophis, reclaims the entirety of Egyptian territory, and starts the New Kingdom. All wars were fought along the Nile, from the southern Nubian city Napata to the final stand off at the northern city of Avaris located in the Nile delta.

I picked up the book for two reasons. I wanted to get acquainted with ancient Egypt history before I embarked on a trip there. I also wanted to read Mafouz, the only Arabic-language writer to win the Nobel prize in literature to this date. The book turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. For one the story was told monotonically, as a sequence of descriptions of the cities and battles thereat on Ahmose's campaign to Avaris. The story of Ahmose's love interest with Apophis' daughter provided perhaps the only refreshing interludes. However even this affair wasn't delivered as convincingly as it could have been. Intentionally or not, the story telling sounded old.

I had learned from somewhere that Mafouz' prose is famous for its fluidity. If such is the case the translator of this particular book may be at fault. I plan to read Mafouz' Cairo Trilogy to find out.

HOW THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS GOT RID OF THE HYKSOS.......2006-04-21

I read this because I wanted to see what kind of writing "the winner of the Nobel prize in literature" was doing with ancient Egypt. You must read the introduction probably before and after reading Thebes at War. If you've wondered how the Hyksos were expelled from Egypt, this brings that history to life. The problem with it is that its very stilted in language and I'm not sure if that's how Mahfouz thought they spoke during this time or it simply reflects the very static art and artifacts from the period. It's an exciting tale once one forgets the ponderous dialogue and the hokey love story between Ahmose and the daughter of the Hyksos King. I also was taken back by the descriptions of color of the different peoples -- the white skinned, hook-nosed Hyksos - i.e. the middle eastern Mediterranean people who had crushed Egypt 200 years before. The honey brown Egyptians (Good guys) and the black pygmies. This is probably a reflection of the time Mahfouz wrote this in 1944 when the British really ruled Egypt. If you can forgive the previous, its an imaginative tale of how the Egyptians got rid of the Hyksos.

Customer Reviews:

Not My Cuupa Tea.......2007-09-15

This book was boring!!! Well, thats, my humble, ordinary opinion. Three stories, three different authors, yet exactly the same - DULL. I managed to complete the first story, skipping a lot of the pages to do so. I tried the second and third stories as I realised they were written by different authors. Couldn't finish either of them. I tried hard to like and enjoy but couldn't. I like story lines with a bit of fun and keep the "hot and steamy stuff" out of it. Hot and steamy needs to be written quickly, fast paced and keep it short, not pages and pages. Maybe I'm "square" but I just don't like these types.

Funny & Sexy--just the thing for Summer!.......2006-11-28

**This anthology features three excellent storytellers! You won't want to miss it, trust me.

The first story is "Luscious" by Lori Foster. Her stories always have a deep sense of family that I just adore. In addition, her writing tends to have a message about right and wrong and standing up for the little guy. I just love that! This story is no exception. Things start off tense from the get go when Lucius Ryder, SWAT hunk, is stuck in a heart-stopping hostage situation. And you'll let out a great big, "ahhhh" when it's all said and done, and Lucius manages to rescue a hero of a dog.

Unfortunately, he hasn't a clue what to do with the poor little thing. His first thought is to take him to his neighbor, Marci Churchill. She's very good with animals. In fact, one would say she can even connect with them. Lucius isn't really sure about all that, but one thing he is certain of is Marci's twin, Bethany. He wants her. Bad. Now. He's been a good boy and managed to tamp down his wild urges, but now, with Bethany so close, Lucius isn't so inclined to control himself any longer. Unfortunately--for Lucius--Bethany doesn't want anything to do with men anymore. Seems, it's up to Lucius to change her mind on that score. And the way he goes about doing it is just downright yummy!

The second story, "Its About Time" by Erin McCarthy, is true Erin McCarthy style. Her stories always make me laugh and yet they are oh-so steamy too! I haven't read a story by her that I didn't love. This story begins as the heroine, Trish Jones, is stood up. She's feeling just the slightest bit of self-pity. Then, she spots a sexy, brooding man at the other end of the bar wallowing in his own fair share of grief. While Trish tries telling herself that Caleb is not really right for her, her body isn't all that keen on listening. She wants Caleb Vancouver. Vigorously, passionately, wildly wants Caleb Vancouver. Caleb hasn't had sex in two years and he is way the heck past ready! Trish isn't going to know what hit her once he gets his big, hard hands on her delectable curves. And he plans to leave her breathless and begging. She plans to let him...these two sure do heat up the pages!

The last story in this anthology is Amy Garvey's "Wish You Were Here". I've never read this author before, but wow, I really enjoyed her story. I thought Garvey closed this anthology with a very charming and tender romance. It was the perfect happily-ever-after, in my opinion. I can't wait to check out what else she has on the shelves! Photographer, Mackenzie Pruitt, has just inherited her Aunt's house. The little dilapidated shed out back is going to be McKenzie's new studio. She's excited to begin this new chapter in her life, but still the `studio' needs a lot of work. A LOT of work. McKenzie hires contractor, Leo Dawson, to make the little shack into the studio of her dreams. When she first sees Leo, she finds herself nearly drooling. Good lord, the man was gorgeous! Big and rough and just gorgeous! Her first thought--okay, maybe not her first thought--is to photograph him. He wholeheartedly nixes the idea, saying that if she even tries to snap a single picture of him he's out of there. McKenzie is disappointed, but agrees, what choice does she have? But what she doesn't know is that Leo has a secret lay buried in his past, one that he doesn't have any intention of revealing. But as mutual attraction turns to something much deeper, Leo has to choose. Does he risk everything and tell McKenzie his secret, or does he walk away and let her go...? You'll have to read the book if you want to find out!

A Perfect Summer Treat!!!.......2006-06-10

"Bad Boys of Summer" is the perfect summer read! Yummy hero's, feisty heroines and hot romance all found under one cover. What more could you ask for?

Lori Fosters "Luscious" Bethany Churchill has quit her job, her lousy boyfriend and has returned to her twin sister Marci's in order to figure out exactly what she's going to do next. She's not prepared when Lucius Ryder a member of the SWAT team and her sister's landlord knocks on the door looking for help with his newly adopted dog Hero. The ladies call him "Luscious" for a reason and Bethany is having a hard time remembering why she has no faith in men when Lucius sets her on fire with a kiss. Will Lucius be able to prove that Bethany is the twin he wants and no other will do?

Erin McCarthy "It's About Time" Trish Jones has just been stood up...again. Why does this keep happening to her? Needing a break she goes to her favorite pub. She has no idea that this trip isn't going to end like they normally do...no, this time she is going to meet Caleb Vancouver and this guy is just what she's looking for but will she be smart enough to keep him or will she let him ride off on his Harley?

Amy Garvey "Wish You Were Here" Mackenzie is a photographer who is set on having a beautiful old building renovated and turned into her new studio. When yummy carpenter Leo Dawson shows up she decides she'd rather have him work on her which is really weird because he is not what she normally looks for in a man. But, what she thinks she wants is not going to be what she gets.

This was a steamy, fast-paced read with wonderful contributions from each of these highly talented authors. If you're looking for titles to add to your "must read" summer list...make sure this one's at the top!

As usual, This Antho Rocks!.......2006-06-09

Lucious By Lori Foster
Sexy Lawman Lucius Ryder is attracted to his neighbor sister. He thinks that ignoring the object of his attraction is the way to go. But, Surprise! Fate interferes and soon sparks are flying between Bethany and Lucius. Lori's trademark of a sexy fun romance is accomplished once again in this story.

Its about time By Erin McCarthy
Trish Jones has been stood up again. Determined to have a pity me party, she goes to her favorite bar and meets Caleb Vancouver. He is halfway drunk, not her type, or so she though until she decides to "help" him and takes him to her place. The chemistry between them can't be denied and soon things start to heat up. Erin's sexy romance trademark shines again in this story.

Wish you were here By Amy Garvey
Mackenzie Pruitt is determined to restore the house she inherited from her aunt, for that she need a carpenter! Leo Dawson is just what she needs and more. He is one hot package of sexy male/carpenter. Sparks fly when they are in the same room. This is a sexy, tender story that will have you sighing. My first read for Amy Garvey and will not be the last.

In general this is a steamy romance by great authors that once again prove that love can be found anywhere, even with a bad boy!

A summer scorcher!.......2006-06-08

LUSCIOUS by Lori Foster. When Bethany Churchill moves in with her twin sister, Marci, the last thing she expects to find is a man who is interested in her. Not her gorgeous, self-assured, confident sister, but her. SWAT officer/landlord Lucius Ryder, also known as "Luscious" to the all-women tenants in his apartment building, wants Marci for the magic she can work with his newly acquired, badly abused dog. Marci has the gift of "reading" dogs, understanding what is troubling them and what makes them happy. Lucius wants Bethany strictly for himself and once he sets out to seduce her and prove to her how he feels, she is more confused than ever. Once you throw in the eclectic personalities of the women in the apartment building, Bethany's lack of self-esteem, Lucius's abundance of self-confidence and the dangers of his job, you have a well-rounded story with all of the feel-good qualities that Lori Foster is known for.***** IT'S ABOUT TIME by Erin McCarthy. Prosecuting Attorney Trish Jones has been stood up. Again. After waiting for an hour for her date, she makes her way to Ryan's Pub. There she runs into Caleb Vancouver who, with empty beer bottles covering the bar in front of him, appears to be successfully drowning his sorrows. It turns out that his ex-wife is getting married the next day and he's trying not to think about it. Trish eventually gets him sobered up and they enjoy the rest of the evening in pleasant conversation. After last call Trish drives Caleb home, to her home, and they spend an incredible night together, followed by an incredible morning. When Caleb hears Trish make a flip comment about their relationship to her friends, he doesn't understand why his feelings are hurt when he has only known her a scant number of hours. But he's determined to turn those hurt feelings around and convince Trish that there is something unique between them that is worth pursuing. It promises to be fun, especially when Erin McCarthy is the one getting them together.***** WISH YOU WERE HERE by Amy Garvey. Photographer Mackenzie Pruitt is excited to begin renovations to the beach house she has inherited from her deceased aunt. Her top priority is getting the ramshackle backyard shed spruced up to use as a cozy little photo studio. When carpenter Leo Dawson shows up to do the work, Mackenzie is certain that he is the most gorgeous man she has ever seen. These two are steam-worthy from the word go and begin a red-hot relationship almost immediately, but Leo is hiding a secret and there's no way they can have a future together until he is willing to share his past with Mackenzie. Amy Garvey's contribution to this anthology is a wonderfully romantic story that practically sizzles on the pages.***** This book should be required summer reading whether you toss it in your suitcase, read it in the car, or tuck it in your beach bag, you'll be glad you did!

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I Have to Love It, Since I Wrote It!
good anthology
Three Fun Stories!!!
three fun erotic romances
I paid good money for this?

Bad Boys Over Easy
Erin McCarthy , Jen Nicholas , and Jordan Summers
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758208456

Customer Reviews:

I Have to Love It, Since I Wrote It!.......2007-08-12

Since I'm one of the authors of this book (Jen Nicholas - THE CUPID CURSE), I have to say it's awesome!!

Seriously, it's got three great stories, and if you like hot & spicy romance (with, at least with my story, some paranormal thrown in), then you'll love BBOE!

good anthology.......2005-10-01

Three tales, three talented writers add up to great fun. BRAVA is Kensington's current Romantica/Erotica line. While this book is great reading - I really enjoyed it - fans of pure Brava style might find this a little light in the erotica "heat". The writers are solid. I especially like Jen Nicholas' story. It has GREAT premise for a series, and I hope to see it done down the road. However, by Brava's hot hot hot standards, the story is slower developing. About 80-page novella and the Hero and Heroine don't meet until chapter four. I am not saying this is a fault, just a "meter" for those trying to gauge the level of their romances. If you go in wanting Red Sage level, you might be disappointed. For those of use just looking for a great sexy Romance Anthology then this is dead on target.

Jen Nicholas shows bright promise as a Romance writer. THE CUPID CURSE is engaging, breezy. She is very strong with quirky characters and an original premise that lends itself more to a sexy romance series than erotica. I hope she follows through on this premise and does some CUPID tales. We learn there is not one Cupid, but thousands. There is Cupid Central where they handle details of romances. Like a Romance Publisher who receives a flood manuscripts from hopefuls, Cupid Central is flooded with letters that are along the lines of `Dear Santa' letters, only these are `Dear Cupid, please find me the perfect man (or woman...lol). When Valentine Lewis sends in her request, they naturally sit up and take notice. Gideon is a cupid in training (along the lines of a nun - how they have novices and you get an idea of Gideon's standing in Cupid Central). This is THE case to put him over at CC and get him promoted to full Cupid. Only when he shoots his arrow meant for Valentine's chosen, he ends up accidentally shoots himself in the bum!!! Love has to ensure. The story is bright, witty, engaging, but it's until chapter for until the Heroine and Hero meet. Fine by me, but other erotica readers might get antsy. As I said, the premise is perfect for a series of stand alone titles and I hope to hear more from this talented writer.

MESMERIZED is another funny tale. Amanda Dillon has men dropping at her feet, but she discounts that as they are hypnotized at the time. The one man she wants on his knees is Derek Armstrong. Derek is a reporter and he is on the trail of the elusive Amanda and wants the scoop, even if he has to permit her to hypnotize him to get the down and dirty to prove Amanda is a scam artist. This one sizzles, as Amanda doesn't quite know what to make of the sexy reporter. A delightful tale.

FUZZY LOGIC is by Erin McCarthy and is another enjoyable tale. A bit more Brava style, this story has Ashley Andrew, confession shopaholic, is shocked when her credit cards are maxed to the limit and beyond. She is forced to take on a second job to make payments on the massive debt. She to accept a job as a Pleasure Party consultant. She accidentally leaves her case of "party favors" on the doorstep of sexy next-door neighbor, Lucas Manning. This story is a riot. Ashley and Lucas are a sexy couple, but it's the witty laugh out loud humor as Lucas feels the need to make sure Ashley is prepared to peddle the pleasure toys. McCathy's style of humor is what captivated me, leaving me looking forward to more from this writer.

So this is a SUPER anthology, thought the "heat" is light.

Three Fun Stories!!!.......2005-08-15

Brava has produced another fun "Bad Boys" anthology with Erin McCarthy headlining this time around.

"Fuzzy Logic" is the story of friends that finally realize that they are in love with each other. Well, kind of anyhow. Lucas has always known that he's loved his best friends older sister Ashley. It's now time to make Ashley realize that he is not just her brother's best friend, but the one man for her? Will she finally realize that age is not a factor and that Lucas really loves her for her?

"The Cupid Curse" is the story of Gideon a cupid in training. He has accidently shot himself with the "love" arrow that was meant for Valentine's true love. This might just be the answer to a wish rather than a true curse.

"Mesmerized" is the story of Amdana Dillion. She has more men falling in love at her feet that she can stand. Of course they are hypnotized at the time. The truth of the matter is Amanda would love for Derek to fall mesmerized at her feet but because of love not hypnotism. Will these two find love or will it just be a test of wills?

All three stories were entertaining. They are fun, light reads that are steamy and sensual. Brava has the ablitiy of turning out short stories that don't cheat the reader with content...or lack thereof. This is one read that I recommend that you add to your reading list. There fun, quick, and packed with yummy heros!

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

three fun erotic romances .......2005-04-27

"Fuzzy Logic" by Erin McCarthy. The package contained adult sex toys that should have went to his best friend Pleasure Party advisor Ashley Andrews, but a mistake delivered it to scholarly Lucas Marcus instead. Lucas realizes his friend has a thriving business over the Internet, but he wants to change their relationship by making him her sex toy. .

"Cupid Curse" by Jen Nicholas. Lonely and despondent Valentine Lewis, named for her holiday being her birthday, pleads with Cupid to send her true love to her. Cupid's apprentice over a century old Gideon intercepts the entreaty. Felling capable of handling the assignment, Gideon visits Valentine only to find he no longer wants to be a virgin as he desires the mortal; she reciprocates.

"Mesmerized" by Jordan Summers. Performer Amanda Dillon hypnotizes men in her act making them desire her. Journalist Derek Armstrong joins the audience to prove she is a fake. However, this time she is unable to bring the hunk out of his trance. Show over, she takes him with her to her home so that she can undo what she did to Derek, who shammed going under, but instead finds he is mesmerized by real desire.

These three erotic romances will hypnotize readers with fine erotic tales in which Cupid would agree that love is illogically fuzzy but searing fun.

Harriet Klausner

I paid good money for this?.......2005-04-21

This book was so bad, I am now turned off from the whole "Bad Boys" series. They have gotten progressively worse, and this one took the cake. While the first story was actually readable and somewhat believable, the last two stories felt more like an insult to my intelligence. The "Bad Boys" series has lost a customer unless I know and like at least one of the authors from previous books.

Boy Scouts' perseverance put to test: summer of accidents, bad luck dogged organization's events.: An article from: The Non-profit Times

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Boy Scouts' perseverance put to test: summer of accidents, bad luck dogged organization's events.: An article from: The Non-profit Times
Marla E. Nobles
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from The Non-profit Times, published by Thomson Gale on December 1, 2005. The length of the article is 2269 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: Boy Scouts' perseverance put to test: summer of accidents, bad luck dogged organization's events.
Author: Marla E. Nobles
Publication: The Non-profit Times (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 19 Issue: 23 Page: 1(4)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

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Bad Boys of Summer 18c Flr Display

Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0758211503

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Bad Boys of Summer 24c Flr Display

Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 075821149X

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Summer heat (Bad boys)
Bruno Von Hoss
Manufacturer: Star Distributors
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Amazon.com

The Fermata is the most risky of Nicholson Baker's emotional histories. His narrator, Arno Strine, is a 35-year-old office temp who is writing his autobiography. "It's harder than I thought!" he admits. His "Fold-powers" are easier; he can stop the world and use it as his own pleasure ground. Arno uses this gift not for evil or material gain (he would feel guilty about stealing), though he does undress a good number of women and momentarily place them in compromising positions--always, in his view, with respect and love. Anyone who can stop time and refer in self-delight to his "chronanisms" can't be all bad! Like Baker's other books, The Fermata gains little from synopsis. The pleasure is literally in the text. What's memorable is less the sex and the sex toys (including the "Monasticon," in the shape of a monk holding a vibrating manuscript) than Arno's wistful recollections of intimacy: the noise, for instance, of his ex-girlfriend's nail clipper, "which I listened to in bed as some listen to real birdsong."

Book Description

Having turned phone sex into the subject of an astonishing national bestseller in Vox, Baker now outdoes himself with an outrageously arousing, acrobatically stylish "X-rated sci-fi fantasy that leaves Vox seeming more like mere fiber-optic foreplay" (Seattle Times). "Sparkling."--San Francisco Chronicle.

Customer Reviews:

unimpressive .......2006-12-28

The short summary of this book is that it's about a guy who can stop time. He uses his talent mainly to undress women without them knowing. He's a nice guy about it so nothing overly disagreeable happens to them, he pretty much just looks, no harm done (arguably).

Having read the reviews for this book, I was expecting a book that approached sexuality in a thoughtful way. I knew the book would involve a lot of sex, but was expecting it to be done in an insightful way. Indeed, the first quarter of the book was really well done, just what I was hoping for. The writing was beautifully done and there were thoughts every few pages that would make me stop and think for a minute. And the titillating plot kept things moving at a nice pace.

Unfortunately, after the first quarter or so the book turns into pornographic garbage. Eventually the main character decides to write erotica in order to leave it for the women he undresses. To me this seems like an excuse for the author to indulge himself and try to pass it off as literature. There's nothing thoughtful about these situations involving the UPS man, the lawn-boy, the lonely divorcee, and way too many dildos.

Overall the book was disappointing. Oh, it's entertaining. I even enjoyed much of it just for the shock value, but that's all it was. And it certainly isn't enough to consider this a "good book". It depends what you're looking for I suppose.

Almost Shocking.......2006-08-16

You can read a hundred reviews where people mention "sexual" and I still don't think they'll ever prepare you for how blatantly graphic this novel is. And it's not graphic in an erotic way, it's just detailed to the point of being absurd and somewhat hilarious. If you watch movies or HBO in this day and age, it's hard to consider things shocking, but this novel becomes pretty close. You keep thinking that the author can't possibly top himself, then 20 pages later you find the narrator doing or thinking something even more outlandish or absurd.

The plot is pretty simple: Arno is a guy with a special power. He can stop time. But, like Faustus, he doesn't use his power to achieve greatness. He doesn't do magnificent good or evil. He simply uses the power to freeze time and undress women. Sometimes he leaves them a gift or some self-penned erotica.

I don't know that I really liked this novel, but I enjoyed reading it and I would tell any person to give it a shot, even though they may end up offended by all the graphic content. Baker is an extremely gifted writer and has a firm grasp of language, but it's impossible to figure out if the character he's writing is the weirdo, or if Baker himself is the weirdo for dreaming him up.

Fascinating; High sexual content.......2006-02-23

Without question, one of the most original and fascinating premises I've ever encountered. What would you do if you were able to stop time? Think about it. This is a relatively short book and extremely sexually charged. Not for the prudish or even the moderately straight laced.

For people who enjoy hating themselves.......2005-08-31

The book is amazing, it so well describes........ well... sex. In reality it is like living out a fantasy if your fantasy got progressively more perverted and disturbing. Yet, throughout its unbelievably graphic "intercourse" scenes, the writing is flawless. Indeed, if I were to describe pornographic sex, I could only dream of being half as good as Nicholson baker. The first half of the book is almost designed for any guy who has imagined stopping time - and what you'd HONESTLY do if you could. The rest I'd say "enter at your own risk" but if you ate light and have a strong gut, it is still very well written and even... dare I say it... enjoyable. Give it a shot. If you're a conservative republican, don't even bother looking the direction of the book, but for the rest of us, maybe you'd enjoy giving it a shot. I'm glad I did.

all I can say is "wow".......2005-07-26

Not for the prude--but wow I wish I had written this. Really really elegantly done.

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The Fermata
Nicholson Baker
Manufacturer: Chatto & Windus
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Binding: Hardcover

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THE FERMATA

Manufacturer: Random House New York
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ASIN: B000GXF6B4

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THE FERMATA.
Nicholson. Baker
Manufacturer: Chatto and Windus
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LA STORIA SI E' FERMATA A CANOSSA?
Lino Lionello Ghirardini
Manufacturer: Bizzocchi Editore
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Ultima fermata, Auschwitz: Storia di un ragazzo ebreo durante il fascismo (Storia)

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Ultima fermata, Auschwitz: Storia di un ragazzo ebreo durante il fascismo (Storia)
Frediano Sessi
Manufacturer: Einaudi ragazzi
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The Fermata
Nicholson Baker
Manufacturer: New York Random House 1994.
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FERMATA
NICHOLSON BAKER
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Fermata d'autobus

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Fermata km 501 (Paralleli)
Marosia Castaldi
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Disappointing

"a leap into the light, not the dark"

Good, though Polkinghorne has better

Strong Science, Weak Theology

Honest, lucid, and persuasive.

Quarks, Chaos & Christianity, Revised and Updated: Questions to Science and Religion
John Polkinghorne
Manufacturer: Crossroad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Science & Theology: An Introduction

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Quantum Physics and Theology: An Unexpected Kinship

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ASIN: 0824524063

Book Description

This updated and revised edition should please readers who have been buying this book ion great numbers over more than a decade, and help the book to an even larger readership in the future. John Polkinghorne is certainly a rare authority in his field.

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing.......2005-06-09

I found this book to be confusing and contradictory as if the author doesn't really believe what he's saying. I will say that there are many good points made, especially in the first couple chapter. Then in "Whats Been Going On" onward the quality dropped sharply. Here are a few problems I saw reoccuring.

- He makes the point that `Chance" is how nature gains an independence from the strict `laws' of nature.
However, chance may be just more reliable strict laws that we don't understand.

- Having 5 fingers was happenstance, but not being able to worship, consciousness etc. However, he also says that there is no magic ingredient to make life. However when did the worship characteristic come in for humans? He seems to be saying that it is much different than physical attributes which happened by `chance' but also that God does not enter in one day and give humans consciousness (evolution was a continuous process p. 52).

- P. 52, we hope to one day understand the biochemical pathways that got life going, but consciousness is a different story (centuries away from understanding). If we one day understand consciousness too, how is he not being a reductionist?

- He uses chaos theory as a stab against reductionism. Just because we can't take into account every variable does not mean it is not a reducible system. `Clouds' are still mechanical creatures even if we can't predict them. The mechanics is just very complex.

- Can Scientists Pray has a plethora of obvious theological problems dealing with God's will and the future.

- Things not made clear: Where does are self-awareness come from? Some things are determined by evolutionary chance and others not? How do you differentiate between the two? Why does chance give us metaphysical maneuvering? Just because we don't understand something we're going to bring metaphysics into it? Isn't this God of the gaps?

- Overall, this book was not very convincing of any of the points he was trying to make. To the Christian, he seems to want to put God into the box of science. There must be a better approach to the God/science question.

I'm sure if I reread it, some of these might be cleared up, but there's many more books of more worth to read first.

"a leap into the light, not the dark".......2004-11-18

I'm guessing that Polkinghorne wrote this book around the same time he was preparing and presenting the Gifford Lectures (1994) as this book and the text of those lectures (published as "The Faith of a Physicist") cover some of the same themes rather closely. While that volume (FP) is broader in scope, this one sets its sights more narrowly. Neither book precludes the value of the other; both are interesting. QC&C is a rather quick read by comparison, so if theology and physics are not your usual cup of tea, this may be the right choice for you.
Sir John Polkinghorne, for those readers who might not be familiar with him, is acclaimed as both a quantum physicist and an Anglican priest/theologian (and he's been knighted [KBE], but isn't everybody on that side of the pond these days?). He has won the Templeton Prize and is a Fellow of the Royal Society. His theological thinking is, for the most part, quite classical, although he conspicuously also holds some process ideas regarding God's relationship to 'time' (this is an area in which many readers -- me, for example -- will respectfully disagree with him). His views are perhaps slightly different from the usual perceptions of the ID school of theistic scientists, which alone might be seen as recommending him as an interesting author.
My impression is that the target audience for this book is the Christian reader interested in the science-religion dialog and in questions of freedom and the 'problem of evil.' But I also think this might be a valuable book for agnostic scientists and anyone else interested in these topics. Polkinghorne says, "Many people seem to think that faith involves shutting one's eyes, gritting one's teeth, and believing X impossible things before breakfast . . . Not at all! Faith may involve a leap, but it's a leap into the light, not the dark. The aim of the religious quest, like that of the scientific quest, is to seek motivated belief about what is the case . . . "
Polkinhorne's style is both highly learned and gentle, balancing confidence with cognizance of humanity's unknowing. He is one of several important voices in the science-religion dialog.

Good, though Polkinghorne has better.......2003-02-15

Polkinghorne writes a book with remarkable ideas though not without weaknesses. He doesn't view religion as our internal response to an external world, but considers science and religion intellectual cousins, each providing answers. He goes some distance, surely to be misunderstood and misused, in showing the malleability of practicing science "an act of intellectual daring" when viewing fact and interpretation, experiment and theory as independent while they are actually mixed up in perspectives we bring to nature. This is more about scientists as humans than science as flawed. Science invites challenge, inherently policing itself, sometimes scientists do neither. Though bias is present, this is not the end point as open publication, debate and test are always available. Science is refutable. He touches upon absurdities proffered by "modern philosophers" who state we invent theories of nature, we do not discover them. As Polkinghorne notes, our theories wouldn't work if they didn't represent part of the truth. Nature continues to impose itself as final judge, regardless of fashionable politics.

Given that unpictureable electrons provide surprises, Polkinghorne is not surprised to find an unpictureable God to do the same. He accepts the oddness of quantum like he accepts the oddness of Jesus as simultaneously man and God. We're not sure how the oddness of say, astrology, with a longer history, many texts and practitioners may fit this view. To Polkinghorne the issue is not fact vs. opinion but interpreting our experience of the way the world really is, without adding "to us", which without the verifiability science bears, may have less to do with reality outside our minds while much to do with what it means to be human. He views God as "faithful". The natural gift of a faithful God being reliability of his creation's operation. Ignoring tribal aspects of the Hebrew God, God is also loving, thus granting independence, which by itself is disarray, so both order and independence in the universe. "Chance is a sign of freedom, not blind purposelessness." (Take that, Creationists.) "Shuffling explorations of chance lead to deterioration and fruitful novelty."

Does a world with concentration camps look like the creation of a powerful, loving God? With this we meet the "free will defense" the potential for moral evil is price paid for the greater good of human freedom. And what about natural disasters like quake fallen churches killing 50000 in 1755 Lisbon, or cancer? Polkinghorne provides the "free process defense", God faithfully letting nature follow nature's laws. Perhaps violating his own reasoning by allowing answered prayers through adjustments to chaos theory's great attractors, he notes, through "free process", the same biochemical rules allowing evolution also enables cancer. It's a package deal. Natural disasters are not gratuitous, but a necessary cost of life, though not alleviating tragedy of either. Disregarding what need an all knowing God would have for experiential suffering, Polkinghorne supplies the relieving Christian view - God is not simply a pitying, compassionate spectator but a fellow participant in the world's suffering, known through the experience of Jesus.

Strong Science, Weak Theology.......2001-11-03

As one who is searching for a philosophy that is able to reconcile my rational/empirical side with my deep sense that there exists the Divine, the title of this book caught my attention. I was looking for a theology that would enable me to pass through the doors of a church without leaving my intellectual integrity on the doorstep; could this book offer such an insight? Well, there was real promise in the first few chapters.

Upon reading the words, "Faith may involve a leap, but it's a leap into the light and not the dark," I remembered thinking, "Yes, he's onto something here." The author goes on to state that neither religion nor science deals simply with pure fact or opinion, they are both part of the great human endeavor to understand. Again, a resounding "Yes" was uttered from my lips. I also found favor with his assertion that it is not the vocation of science to make "value" statements however science does acknowledges that value exists. For example, to science, sound is vibrations in the air, but to the appreciative mind some vibrations may be perceived as beautiful music. Value perceptions are just as much a part of our reality as empirical evidence. This is an important distinction and this point alone could have been the basis of a very coherent argument for the appreciation of each discipline thereby eliminating their fight for a monopoly on Truth.

He does present some other worthwhile illustrations, for example his analogy of prayer to laser light (you'll have to read it) but for the most part the remainder of the book gets bogged down with age-old arguments of mind-body dualism, "proof" of God's existence, the problem of evil, and the literal interpretation of the Resurrection of Jesus. I remembered thinking on occasion, "where is he going with this and what was the original intent of this book?" He makes some rather obvious contradictions and frequently gets caught in the same "God of the Gaps" logic that he rejected earlier in his writings. The book struggles to stay coherent but looses the battle in the final 3-4 chapters. I was left with the feeling that the author's theology was somewhat naïve and would benefit from a good dose of Alfred North Whitehead. Just my opinion.

Honest, lucid, and persuasive........2001-10-01

Simplistic and erroneous thinking about "religion" and "science" is rife in our era. John Polkinghorne sets himself the task of accurately describing the relationship between them. He refutes the usual lazy assumption that the two belong to completely unrelated categories, like walruses and carpenters. Polkinghorne is convinced that in fact science and religion (at least Christianity) both require a similiar method of truth-seeking. He believes that the search for truth in science was influenced by the Christian belief in God, and that the logical connection between believing in a Creator and studying the creation still holds. He thinks scientific metaphors shed light on theology, and vice-versa. Thus, not only is there no conflict between being a scientist and a follower of Christ, the two disciplines inform and supplement one another.

Polkinghorne's words seem to carry a special gravitus. Part of the reason for this, of course, is that he knows his stuff: he was a first-class scientist, physics prof at Cambridge, before getting into theology. Also, in this book, he writes with the kind of restrained simplicity that is good style for scientists writing for the masses, that strongly suggests great intellectual power, sheathed as it were. But probably what gives his argument greatest force is his honesty. The more I read Polkinghorne, the less believable it seems to me that his argument for Christianity might be given either in ignorance or in defiance of the evidence. He might concede too much at times, and he tends to be cautious, but he does not seem to put more weight on an argument than the evidence can bare.

I especially liked what Polkinghorne said about faith and reason. "Many people seem to think that faith involves shutting one's eyes, gritting one's teeth, and believing X impossible things before breakfast . . . Not at all! Faith may involve a leap, but it's a leap into the light, not the dark. THe aim of the religious quest, like that of the scientific quest, is to seek motivated belief about what is the case. . . " While a lot of people (both Christians and skeptics) seem to prefer to define faith as believing something contrary to the evidence, I don't think that is either the Biblical or the historically usual Christian point of view. Polkinghorne's argument on this point stakes out the mainstream of Christian thought, in my opinion.
Readers who would like to think through the relationship between faith and reason, and between various faiths, in more detail, might find my book, Jesus and the Religions of Man, worth a read as well.

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Quarks, Chaos & Christianity; Questions to Science & Religion.
John Polkinghorne
Manufacturer: Triangle
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000ORN5S8

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Quarks, Chaos, and Christianity: Questions to Science and Religion.
JOHN: POLKINGHORNE
Manufacturer: Crossroad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UCW24K

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Quarks, Chaos and Christianity: Questions to Science and Religion
J.C. Polkinghorne
Manufacturer: SPCK Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OR9MBW

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