Book Description
'I could recommend The Winshaw Legacy as I a superb political novel, or as a fiendishly clever meta-novel, or as a unique modern historical novel, or as a riveting family saga, but I'm afraid that would drive everyone, yawning in terror, straight out of the bookstore. So let's just say it has naked pictures of Natasha Richardson...Can't say that? Well, let's say it's a nasty farce with lots of bathroom humor and violence which reminds me at least as much of Fawlty Towers as it does of Midnight's Children.'
-- Jay McInerney
A postmodern detective story, a scathing send-up of the rapacious eighties, a macabre Gothic -- all rolled up in a bravura tragicomic entertainment.
The Winshaw family, as their official biographer is warned by old Mortimer Winshaw himself, is the meanest, greediest, cruellest bunch of backstabbing penny-pinching bastards who ever crawled across the face of the earth.' Bankers, industrialists, politicians, arms dealers and media barons -- they rule Britannia, more or less. They also have a guilty secret in the shape of a mad aunt stashed away in a remote asylum, convinced of familial treachery during World War II and determined to effect the ruin of her entire clan.
In the summer of 1990, while Saddam Hussein is provoking yet another war, the Winshaws' biographer (a severely depressed young novelist) is piecing together the truth of their sordid legacy, and discovers that it converges bizarrely with the plot of a film he's been obsessed by since childhood. Moreover, it seems that all of this, dynasty and cinema alike, has some mysterious connection with his own troubled history. Of course whether he -- or anybody else -- will be alive when this compound riddle is solved remains to be seen.
Savagely funny, hugely inventive and passionately political. The Winshaw Legacy assumes Dickensian proportions as it excoriates the modern age of greed -- and heralds the American debut of an extraordinary writer. As The Economist concluded: Talented comic novelists are rare [but] that exclusive club -- Thomas Love Peacock, Evelyn Waugh and P. G. Wodehouse are among its members -- has admitted a newcomer, an Englishman called Jonathan Coe.'
'A remarkable achievement; intelligent, funny, and important.' -- The Times Literary Supplement
'An extravagant literary blockbuster...A grand and intelligent novel, so full of accomplishment and pleasure.' -- New Statesman & Society'
Really, something to get excited about...his big, hilarious, intricate, furious, moving treat of a novel.' -- The Guardian
Customer Reviews:
We have a new talent..........2007-08-31
I've read the book in italian transation, and it's really well-written, I think Jonathan Coe is going to be one of the top emerging talents, and this can be considered his masterpiece, together with "The house of sleep".
There's a great critic to contemporary English society and politics, referred in particular to Miss Tatcher's government, analysed with his clever ability.
It's one of the best book I've ever read.
What a come down! (of sorts).......2006-12-29
I've loved other books by Coe but this, an earlier effort, had me going until the very final pages when I felt things fell apart a bit; this, a four-star rating. The missing star is for the disappointing finale. Until the finish, however, "The Winshaw Legacy" is a great read that has all of Coe's strengths: biting social commentary, engaging characters and the ability to have this reader fall off his chair laughing when Coe delivers another unexpected one-liner.
A word of warning to the casual reader: if you're looking for a murder mystery tale, this isn't exactly what you think it may be despite the cover and description. This is a much more detailed novel than that and you have to wait a long time to get to the chaotic events the cover illustration promises. It's worth it, of course, but is not the majority of the novel.
Complex but rewarding 1995 novel.......2006-11-22
Michael Owen has been hired by 81-year old Tabitha Winshaw to produce a biography of her powerful British family. In 1942, Godfrey Winshaw's plane was shot down by the Germans, but Tabitha has always suspected that her other brother Lawrence had caused Godfrey's death to protect his traitorous business dealings with the enemy. As a result, the family had committed her to an asylum the past forty-five years. By the 1990s, the next generation of Winshaws have each amassed considerable power and wealth through grossly amoral means. Comprising the bulk of the book, Part One alternates between Owen's study of the family and a third-person history of the six Winshaw children. Connections surface throughout as the complex story flows toward Part Two's murderous conclusion back at Winshaw Towers. Coe's themes of selfish excesses in the defense industry, agribusiness, government and the media seem especially prescient ten years later.
Monsters in disguise .......2006-01-15
Jonathan Coe's first book "The Winshaw Legacy, or What a Carve Up!" is a strange novel that from the beginning shows the reader he/she is not dealing with something ordinary. Part sociological study, part family chronicle and part an Agatha Christie mystery the book has something for everyone who is up to a good and smart prose.
In this novel Coe spans fifty years of politics and society in Britain creating memorable characters -- however nobody would want to have a Winshaw as a friend -- that stays with you long after you have finished his novel. Sociological component in "The Winshaw Legacy, or What a Carve Up!" is what every member of the family depicted in the book means. They are virtually linked to many aspects of England's culture, economy and politics. And they are always thinking only about themselves.
The family chronicles is the one written by Michael Owen, actually the main character of "The Winshaw Legacy, or What a Carve Up!", that is a writer hired by one member to writer a book about them. Needles to say that this book drives every Winshaw insane, since it is about to find many skeletons hidden in the family's closet, and Mr Owen to make lots of enemies.
But after more than 400 pages, Coe becomes a sort of Agatha Christie, killing mysteriously many Winshaw members. More than wondering who is doing it, the reader is interested in who will go next and how. The writer never loses his energy and the reader can only get more and more excited the close he/she gets to the end. And although some parts are predictable and undercooked, as a whole the novel is quite interesting and doesn't really let the reader down.
Coe's prose is easy and fast. He doesn't add too much depth to most characters, but it is not really a problem, since we are having so much fun. Early in the book someone says about the Winshaws that `they are not monsters (...). Not really'. But after finishing the book, one may wonder if it is true. Probably not, since it is a biased opinion once this sentence was spoken by one Winshaw to another.
A Satire Growing More Relevant.......2002-07-21
Some reviewers criticise "What A Carve Up!" for over-the-top satire, cartoonish portrayals of purely evil characters, and shrill polemic style. I got to the book in America in July, 2002, and while I agree that the bad guys are dealt with simplistically, the treatment may not be so far off the mark. Ten years after Coe researched this book, all his issues remain in the headlines. The West is gearing up again to topple the monster we created and armed in Saddam Hussein. Agribusiness conglomerates have devastated what remained of small farm America, brought other trouble to the towns where their enormous operations brutalise the workers and animals; and people only wonder more about the ever-increasing hormone and feed treatments used to make our food. Anyone who tunes in to certain American TV and radio networks, or reads certain columnists, will notice that right wing politicians and pundits have gone on to perfect the demonically dishonest rhetorical style Coe goes after (particularly on pp 137-138, 63-64, 385-88, 313 of the paperback edition titled "The Winshaw Legacy").
As for the charge that Coe unfairly makes greed out to be a bad thing, what Thomas Winshaw does to Phocas Motor Services in the book (pp 322-24 of my edition) was played out in many much worse factual scenarios that I know of in the US throughout the 1980's. (Look at what US Steel did to southeast Chicago, for starters.) And his analysis of this sort of capitalism couldn't be any more relevant with all the short-sighted and criminally dishonest market manipulations by politically connected that are coming to light Stateside in 2002 (Enron, Harken, Halliburton, Dynegy, Worldcom, Global Crossing, Adelphia...). Think of the havoc that these scandals have brought to individual lives among employees and fundholders who counted on these `businessmen' - really a network of interconnected charlatans - to be running sustainable companies, not inflating the value of their options to whatever unsustainable level would maximise their personal wealth. Lack of subtlety should be the last criticism pinned on someone who addresses this sort of outrage head-on.
In short, you don't need to be British to get this book, not even to appreciate the parts devoted to the National Health Service. The points he makes are just as relevant to what's happened in America under Reagan and Bushes I and II. I agree with the critcism that Coe panders to upper-class resentment by attributing all these various corruptions to one aristocratic family, when it's untitled corporate conservatives throughout society who need blaming. But he is doing a satire, and the aristocratic trope serves as the novel's framing device.
Average customer rating:
- A wonderful return to Earthsea
- The Earthsea Cycle
- Something readers might want to know
- A wizard from Earthsea
- A nice way to revisit Earthsea, however this is not for new Earthsea readers
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Tales from Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 5)
Ursula Le Guin
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding
 Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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A Wizard of Earthsea (The Earthsea Cycle, Book 1)
ASIN: 0613555430 |
Amazon.com
Winner of five Nebula and five Hugo Awards, the National Book Award, the Newbery, and many other awards, Ursula K. Le Guin is one of the finest authors ever to write science fiction and fantasy. Her greatest creation may be the powerful, beautifully written, and deeply imagined Earthsea Cycle, which inhabits the rarified air at the pinnacle of modern fantasy with J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy and Jane Yolen's Chronicles of Great Alta. The books of the Earthsea Cycle are A Wizard of Earthsea (1968), The Tombs of Atuan (1971), The Farthest Shore (1972), the Nebula-winning Tehanu (1990), and now, Tales of Earthsea (2001).
If you have never read an Earthsea book, this collection isn't the place to start, as the author points out in her thoughtful foreword; begin with A Wizard of Earthsea. If you insist on starting with Tales of Earthsea, read the foreword and the appended "Description of Earthsea" before proceeding to the five stories (three of which are original to this book).
The opening story, "The Finder," occupies a third of the volume and has the strength and insight of a novel. This novella describes the youth of Otter, a powerful but half-trained sorcerer, and reveals how Otter came to an isle that cannot be found, and played a role in the founding of the great Roke School. "Darkrose and Diamond" tells of two lovers who would turn their backs on magic. In "The Bones of the Earth," an aging wizard and his distant pupil must somehow join forces to oppose an earthquake. Ged, the Archmage of Earthsea, appears in "On the High Marsh" to find the mad and dangerous mage he had driven from Roke Island. And in "Dragonfly," the closing story, a mysterious woman comes to the Roke School to challenge the rule that only men may be mages. "Dragonfly" takes place a few years after Tehanu and is the bridge between that novel and the next novel, The Other Wind (fall 2001). --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
The tales of this book, as Ursula K. Le Guin writes in her introduction, explore or extend the world established by her first four Earthsea novels. Yet each stands on its own.
"The Finder," a novella set a few hundred years before A Wizard of Earthsea, presents a dark and troubled Archipelago and shows how some of its customs and institutions came to be. "The Bones of the Earth" features the wizards who taught the wizard who first taught Ged and demonstrates how humility, if great enough, can contend with an earthquake. "Darkrose and Diamond" is a delightful story of young courtship showing that wizards sometimes pursue alternative careers. "On the High Marsh" tells of the love of power-and of the power of love. "Dragonfly" shows how a determined woman can break the glass ceiling of male magedom.
Concluding with an account of Earthsea's history, people, languages, literature, and magic, this collection also features two new maps of Earthsea.
Customer Reviews:
A wonderful return to Earthsea.......2007-05-13
I was so sure that there would be no more Earthsea books that I've even stopped looking for one. But to my surprise I suddenly found, not one but two books!
Tales from the Earthsea is not a novel but rather some short stories and a "novelette". But the storytelling and the close to earth-feel from the first books is there. These are stories about the people of Earthsea and they are told with warmth and such ease that they feel utterly real.
There are some great events in these stories but they are mostly portraits of the daily life of the common folk on Earthsea, and that is the brilliance of this book.
The Earthsea Cycle.......2007-01-04
Le Quin is back better than ever with another insight into this wondeful world. A pity that the earthsea sagas do not rate as highly as Tokeins trilogies as thye would make a wondeful film sequence.
Something readers might want to know.......2006-04-04
If any reader is familiar with Hayao Miyazaki (creator of such animated films as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle), you'll be excited to know that he, or more so his son, will be making an animated movie about Earthsea, which is coming out this summer for Japan. I'm hoping it will get over to the US soon since the trailers are exceptional. You can watch the Japanese trailes for Gedo Senki - "Tales of Earthsea" at www.youtube.com so check it out!
A wizard from Earthsea.......2005-12-19
A Wizard from Earthsea
Ged as a boy knew nothing about being a wizard, now as a wizard he must control and protect his land from invaders. As a boy Ged was called Sparrowhawk. He wanted to learn about being a wizard so he began to learn from a wizard that was on the island by the name of Ogion. Ged didn't like being taught from Ogion because he wouldn't learn anything from him so he went to the island of Roke which has a wizarding school on the island. While on the island Ged was attacked by a shadow that he didn't what it was. Once Ged graduates from the wizarding school he heads back for Gont. He makes a stop and comes upon a woman's child that is very ill. So Ged tries to retrieve the boy's running soul into the land of the dead but fails. Then he fights an entire colon of dragons and is accepted into their colony. He learns from the dragons and becomes a dragonlord. The dragons teach him that he needs to learn the shadow's name in order to defeat. He seeks help from Ogion and goes and defeats the shadow that was actually his evil side.
I liked this book for many reasons. The action in this book really kept my interest. When Ged was attacked by the shadow that was actually his evil side, that kept my attention. Then when he left Roke and he was fighting the dragon colony, that was intense and very exciting. The other part that kept me reading and interested was when he tried to save the kid's life by chasing his soul into the land of the dead. That part kept me on me toes throughout that whole part because I was expecting something really bad to happen to Ged and he would have to battle something to get out.
Another reason I liked this book was because the description of everything. When they described the black shadow they described it as a black shadow about the size of a cat with sharp claws that it used to tare Ged's face up. The author also described the dragon colony very well. The author described it as nine dragons with scaled bellies flying around looking for food on the dead isle. That dexcription helped me picture the setting in my head and better understand what kind of terrain Ged fought them on.
The last reason I liked this book was the scenery. The places were quite different and yet fit the race of people or creatures that lived there. The dragons lived on the dead isle and that fit because no one wants to live on a dead isle with nine dragons that are hungry after one year of no food. Then on Gont they had the woods to get firewood and to build houses with and the humans could also hide in the woods in case of an attack. The author really thought the scenery out a lot.
This book was very descriptive and very interesting. It kept my attention the whole time I was reading. I believe that Ursula K. Leguin did an excellent job with this book. I would definently recommend this book to anyone wanting to read a good fantasy book.
Andrew I.
A nice way to revisit Earthsea, however this is not for new Earthsea readers.......2005-07-28
Tales from Earthsea is the perfect way to get back into the Earthsea world. I originally thought this was a new book about Ged and company, however, this book contains a collection of shorter stories not revolving directly around the same characters from the first books.
The first and last stories are longer than the others and my favorites of the bunch. Le Guin really excels at storytelling when she has the ability to flesh out her characters over a longer period of time. These two stories really add the most to the world of Earthsea and are relevant to the other Earthsea books. In fact, they flesh out and provide more detail about Roke Island and the school there.
The shorter stories in the middle tend to be the weaker of the bunch, and don't add a lot to the world of Earthsea, but still make for an enjoyable read. They are fun stories that take place in the Earthsea world, but don't necessarily have the complexity and depth of her other Earthsea books (and the other more fleshed out stories in this book). I really don't think that this makes for a terrible book (as some people here seem to be very disappointed) as they are still entertaining.
If you are a newcomer to the Earthsea books, I would not recommend this as an introduction. You should definitely begin with A Wizard of Earthsea (the first book of the series). In addition, if you plan to read all the Earthsea books, I recommend reading them in order. Don't skip to this one if you haven't read at least the first 4 books yet as there are a couple of spoiler-like moments in a couple of the stories.
To sum up, I would rate the first and last stories as 5 stars and the middle stories as 3 stars. If you are already familiar with the Earthsea books, I recommend this book as a way to enjoy a bit of light reading in the same world. Just be aware that some of the stories are not as rich and detailed as previous books in the series. However, the first and the last stories do add some nice details and answer some questions you may have had in the back of your mind about some of the events in the other books.
Product Description
Tales from Earthsea features the novella, "The Finder" and several short stories, including "Darkrose and Diamond", "The Bones of the Earth", and "Dragonfly", as well as a fascinating discussion of Earthsea in article form. The Other Wind is a novelfeaturing the young mage Alder, haunted by dreams of his deceased wife, lost in the land of the dead. In despair he turns to the aged Ged, now rendered magic-less, only to discover a magical bond between humankind and the dragons that may lead him to an answer for the restless dead
Average customer rating:
- A Must-read for all Ursula Le Guin fans!
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Tales from Earthsea
Ursula K.Le Guin
Manufacturer: Orion Children's Books (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic | Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Le Guin, Ursula K. | ( L ) | Authors & Illustrators, A-Z | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
LeGuin, Ursula K. | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1842552066 |
Book Description
These five superlative, evocative and enchanting stories range from a few hundred years before A WIZARD OF EARTHSEA to just before THE OTHER WIND, and feature some of Le Guin's most popular characters, including the Wizard Ged himself. The stories are rounded off with an essay about Earthsea's history and people. No Earthsea fan will want to be without this magical collection.
Customer Reviews:
A Must-read for all Ursula Le Guin fans!.......2005-09-02
This is a collection of shortstories and one reavealing novella! If you loved the books, and the recent mini-tvseries, about Ged and his journey through Earthsea, I highly reccomend this book; "Tales from Earthsea". The previous books in the series are "A Wizard of Earthsea, "The Tombs of Atuan", "The Farthest Shore" and "Tehanu" - Or you can get theese four first books in one volume as; "The Earthsea Quartet".
The last book in the series is "The Other Wind". And "Tales from Earthsea" is best read between the quartet & "The Other Wind".
On the cover of this book it says that Le Guin has, and I quote; 'held readers enthralled for more than three decades...'
I totally agree - It's a magical world, one wich I've enjoyed travelling through loads of times, in my childhood, teenage years, and even now - at 29 years of age - I still love the fantastic tales of magic, love and dragons!
This book is a good read - you wont be able to put it down. It can be read by people of all ages, and it stands on its own - you don't neccessarily have to read the other books :) The five magical stories about Earthsea reveals many interesting and useful facts to the addicted fan. It has a description of Earthsea and its people as well! Surely you must read it :) Take Care & Have fun reading!
Average customer rating:
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Tales From Earthsea
Ursula K Le Guin
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Earthsea | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OJG9ZW |
Average customer rating:
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Tales from Earthsea
Ursula K. Le Guin
Manufacturer: Harcourt Brace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Earthsea | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000OECEB0 |
Book Description
The ultimate guide for every Buffy fan, the unauthorized "Dusted" details and reviews all seven seasons (144 episodes) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in exhaustive detail—with story summaries, reviews, pop culture references, details on magic use, character development, a rolling Slayer Kill-Count and more.
Also included: Loads of behind-the-scenes information, detailed coverage of the "Buffy" comic book series, appendices to the "Buffy" novels, the music performed on Buffy and much, much more.
Customer Reviews:
The best Buffy episode guide.......2006-11-14
"Dusted" is definitely the best Buffy episode guide I've read thus far. Compared with Keith Topping's inane "The Complete Slayer", "Dusted" is funnier, more insightful, more informative and MUCH more accurate than Topping's boring, trite and remarkably inaccurate guide.
Like all episode guides, "Dusted" offers an episode synopsis and employs several "subsections" in its account of all 144 episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." What separates it from other guides is these subsections are well organized and well thought out. The subsections include "Character notes" (explaining new things that are revealed about the main and secondary characters over the course of each episode), "Glitches" (which points out mistakes and/or illogical occurences), "Demonology" (offering insights into the demon/vampire world in which Buffy must battle), "Best lines" (in which the authors pick their favorite quips from each episode...and, unlike Topping, the ones "Dusted"'s authors choose are actually funny!), and "It's Really About..." (a section that discusses what each show's subtext and metaphors are really addressing). Also, there is an amusing running death count, that tabulates the number of Sunnydale humans who buy the farm, as well as the number of vampires and demons Buffy dispatches from this earthly dimension. Finally, each episode discussion ends with a "Did you know...?" section that reveals interesting trivia about the cast, writers, producers and crew culled from various sources. Included are frequent discussions of the show's pedigree, history and background, as well as sections devoted to Buffy novels and the terrific music used in the show.
Granted, and as several reviewers here have noted, the editing could definitely have been tighter, as there are a fair number of errors that indicate sloppy proofreading. But, one must remember, it's a trivia book we're talking about here folks, not epic literature! Despite these mistakes, they never truly interfere with your enjoyment of the book.
As to those who criticise this book as being too negative...well, I, for one, like the fact it is criticial of the show, and not just another Buffy-loving puff piece. It seems a lot of Buffy fans love the show SO slavishly, that anyone who speaks critically of it is, in their eyes, traitors to the cause. In fact, the show is SO good, it can withstand criticism, and shouldn't be treated like a religious text, above honest critique. As much as I enjoy the show and count among the very finest programs ever broadcast, it is far from perfect. The authors of "Dusted", while criticial where it is warranted, obvious love the show, and are never disrespectful of it.
If you interested in a lively, insightful, amusing and intelligent "Buffy Guide", this one comes highly recommended. If you are looking for a fan book, that blindly accepts every episode as pure, unadulterated genius, undeserving of critique or analysis, go with Topping's dull-witted lovefest.
negativity and poor writing...........2005-12-07
First of all, this book had so many grammar mistakes (sentences that made no sense, missing words, repeated words, etc) that I wonder if anyone actually read it before publishing it.
In addition to the grammar mistakes, there were several mistakes regarding the show itself (so-called "Glitches" that were easily explained, for example). Now, even the official guides have made some mistakes (and yes, I notice when they do) but those books had many more redeemable qualities than this one.
And it was really negative. The writers basically trashed seasons 6, 7, and the latter part of 5. While I can agree that the show was not at its best during that period, but these writers were a bit excessive with the criticism. Some comments made me wonder about their senses of humor. They would say a scene or episode tried and failed to be funny, and I would remember laughing like crazy throughout the entire thing. Or they would say something was supposed to be a big shock but really wasn't, and I had to wonder if they talked to actual fans, for I had never heard anyone say they had expected something like that to happen.
But the book wasn't all bad. It had some nice trivia that I hadn't heard before. But as far as BTVS guides go, this is the worst I've read (I've read 5). If you want a book that will point out horrendous mistakes in the show, this might possibly be the one for you. If you want a book that will make you laugh and reminisce about the good times you've had with this show, don't read Dusted.
An unauthorized, and incredibly NEGATIVE guide........2005-10-19
I bought this book because I am obsessed with this TV show and I love to read anything and everything about it.
It is really great as far as giving us facts and pretty good insights into the show, but the reason I'm only giving up 2 stars is because of the "At the end of the day" feature.
It's great to give an opinion on every episode. I'm all for opinions. Some of them I sort of agree with.. but they go a little too far. It's kind of depressing. Almost EVERY episode is given a negative, scathing review. You end up feeling hopeless as you check excitedly at one of your favorite episodes to see what they though. It's pretty depressing. It's like they're not even fans of this show, and they're the critics who used to bash the show all the time.
They even go so far as to claim "Fool for Love" as the best episode of Season Five. ......... I know they've got to be kidding. What about "The Gift"? Which they give that a negative review as well.
Their favorite season is obviously season three. Every other season seems to be just an inconvenient bout of time to get us to the end, which they give that a negative review too.
I reccommend this book if you want to read some pretty cool facts, and if you like the dozens of "companions" to the show, but if you're like me and very defensive, I wouldn't waste the money.
A thorough guide to all seven seasons although negative in tone.......2005-09-14
Fans looking for a guide that covers all seven seasons of the series have either this book or Keith Topping's guide to choose from. In their introduction, these authors take a nasty swipe at their fellow Brit, Keith Topping (although not using his name), in saying that they won't mention trivial continuity glitches or list every pop reference. Instead, these authors like to discuss how an episode contributes to character development and fits into larger story arcs, and the underlying moral or lesson of each episode.
Overall, this guide is awfully negative, and the downbeat tone gets irritating after awhile. I can agree with Miles that the series went downhill after Season Three (high school angst is more traumatic than postsecondary angst). But whereas I loved the Trioka, at least in their earlier appearances, and the evil-Willow arc, this guide is utterly scathing toward those story elements. I was curious how these authors would react to my favorite episodes, and very often they loathed them, such as "Fear Itself," "Superstar" ("extremely stupid"), "Gone," and "Grave" ("genuinely awful"). Nonetheless it's interesting to read another perspective, and a book can still be fun even if I disagree with the authors.
There are one or two pages per episode - actually quite a bit because each page is large and the book uses a fairly small font - plus numerous sidebars and material covering novels, comics, music, etc. The overuse of brackets is quite irritating; the authors seem incapable of writing more than ten words without putting a tangential thought in brackets.
They're fans, and there's no doubt about it.......2005-01-18
I have to step up to the defence of DUSTED, which is my favorite book written about BUFFY and the one that gives the most complete analysis of the world created by Joss Whedon. I especially got a kick out of the Slayer Kill-Count, which keeps tracks of the creatures that Buffy slays, and the category (can't remember its name) that logs how many students die at Sunnydale.
It's sometimes said that the DUSTED authors aren't fans because their reviews get negative after Season Three. First of all, this quite simply just isn't true. They say many, many good things about Season Four, even claiming that many of the episodes are underrated. They also say many nice things about Season Five, mainly criticising that it drags a bit. (Which it does, actually.) In fact, they go out of their way to say that the show doesn't have an actively BAD episode until "I Was Made to Love You," which is in the last third of Season Five.
Sure, they don't care for Seasons Six or even Seven a great deal. But then again, I don't recall reading that BUFFY fans were obligated to like those seasons. Many fans (myself included) felt the series was continually running out of steam, and that the producers certainly by Season Seven had just run out of good ideas. Each week was like watching a sick friend linger in the hospital, hoping they'd get better.
Taking everything into account, this book taught me more about BUFFY than any other text, and I'm now rewatching the episodes with a fresh eye after reading DUSTED.
Average customer rating:
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Comfort for a Child's Heart
Helen Haidle
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1576735699
Release Date: 1999-04-25 |
Book Description
Our Good Shepherd … Like a flock of lambs tended by a good shepherd, children need someone to love and care for them. Someone who will always be there to comfort, encourage, and guide them during everyday life and in hard an scary times. Jesus is that Someone. See in the 23rd Psalm -- one of the Bible's most treasured Scriptures -- how Jesus loves us, encourages us, and takes care of us, even in the "very dark valley." Family activities, discussion questions, memory verses, and Bible promises make this a message kids are sure to hold in their hearts. Cherish the awesome love that Jesus, our Good Shepherd, offers us -- and share it with the little lambs in your life.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read.......1999-11-28
The title of this book sums up it's contents. It has taken the well loved 23rd Psalm from the Holy Bible and broken it down line by line.
It begins with 'The Lord is my Shephard.' Following that sentence as well as every other sentence in Psalm 23, is a 'most wonderful' analogy, (short story) coupled with select scriptures from the Bible to reinforce the story.
All the analogies use real sheep with real shephard's, as in a Fable. But, the meaning 'drives straight to the heart' of young and old alike, us being Jesus' Sheep, and him being our Shephard.
Each chapter supplies questions, and easy projects for the family to do together, making this an excellent family devotional book also, should you choose to use it that way.
The recommended ages are 4 - 8. However, I think age 2 to adult would find it interesting.
Would be a great help for new Christians with children, as well as mature ones.
This is the book that our 19 year old daughter says she wishes she had when she was young. Our 14 year old son, enjoys it as well, as he can directly relate to the stories, and helps him to stay focused on God, as opposed to himself. Our 8 year old daughter 'loves' this book also.
The simplistic artwork is beautiful and the pages interesting and uncluttered.
I wish every Christian knew of this book and had a copy to keep and share forever.
Average customer rating:
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Comfort Childs Heart
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0310701260 |
Book Description
Through the 23rd Psalm, this book will teach children that Jesus loves us, encourages us, and takes care of us, even in the "very dark valley."
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