Book Description
This is the story of the Benedetto family, hardworking Italian Americans from Revere, Massachusetts, a small city on the coastline just north of Boston. Anthony Benedetto is our narrator—introspective and colorful—a smart, good kid born in this country who is trying to figure out how to reconcile his family’s rich, old-world heritage with the unstoppable freight train that is America and American culture.
What Anthony creates for us is an unspoiled America of forty years ago: the feeling of being part of an extended family of grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins; the feeling of being surrounded by an intense loyalty and vibrant warmth that extend into the neighborhood and the community. Fixing place, time, and sensibilities with uncanny accuracy and grace, Anthony introduces us to unforgettable men and women who struggle toward decency and kindness, and who live out their difficult lives with an extraordinary dignity.
When Anthony’s parents are tragically killed, the Benedetto family pulls him out of the swamp of despair with a desperate, old-world love. As the New World calls to him, he gradually grows up and away from Revere but finds that it is as much a part of him as his eye color and the size of his hands. His eventual realizations—that geography is destiny, that suffering is universal, and that he is able to pass on, to his own children, the priceless Benedetto inheritance of warmth and caring—form the essence of who he becomes as a man.
The Benedetto family’s story, a tale of sorrow, hope, and redemption, gives us a lost America and a fading Italian American culture that lie beyond the clichés.
In Revere, In Those Days is a hauntingly beautiful novel by a graceful and extremely talented writer.
Customer Reviews:
Terrific, Smart and Funny!.......2006-06-04
In Revere is the coming of age tale of Anthony Benedetto and his extended Italian-American family, yet it is also the account of the city of Revere, Massachusetts some forty odd years ago.
Merullo intertwines the two into one entity. Benedetto, orphaned at a young age becomes enmeshed with not only his sizable family of uncles, aunts and cousin's but within the atmosphere that defines Revere. In doing so he creates a conflict that Anthony has to comprehend to sort out the person he genuinely is.
The troupe of characters Merullo has tenderly created is difficult to abandon. The uncle with the oversized personality, who speaks with the grace of a bull and not a 'r' in sight! The Italian grandparents are drawn with out and out perfection, gracefully quiet, yet they have skillful unspoken wisdom that Merullo conveys to the reader with charm and lure.
(Yes, I'm from New England and yes, I had Italian grandparents!)
Revere itself will be a place difficult for the reader to leave behind, from the main street called Broadway, (I have many wicked memories of Broadway...especially during the Blizzard of '78!)...to the richly ornate church of St. Anthonys to the fine grains of sand of Revere Beach; all of these are calling cards to the young Anthony's experiences.
This book is a slice of modern, everday history. A well crafted, impeccably researched and laugh aloud story that is highly enjoyable regardless where you are from!
A beautifully written work.......2006-03-13
Though I don't particularly love the two professional reviews listed here, I like the phrase "omniscient rememberance" that's used in one of them. That's part of the beauty of this novel: in addition to finely-drawn characters and places, and a lovely cadence to the sentences on the page, the author beautifully presents both the text and the subtext of the story at once, so that you are caught up in the richness of the lives that are presented within.
I loved this book for its nostalgia, for its acute observances of the life around the main character, Anthony, for the questions it brought up around my own family, and for the skilled technique in the writing itself.
A wonderful, wonderful work.
Excellent Read.......2005-11-22
I am love with this story, the characters came to life, with the town of Revere playing a major character in itself. I identified with the character Anthony Benedetto and his family and laughed out loud many times as well as wiped away tears. I literally could not put this book down, and although I am a Bostonian I know this book will capture the heart of anyone anywhere. Roland Merullo is an excellent story teller, his other books are every bit as enjoyable as this one.
In love with this book.......2005-09-29
I haven't even finished In Revere, In Those Days, yet I already wanted to review it/recommend it. I am in love with this book. Merullo's writing is exceptional--he captures complex emotions in spare, concise sentences through his careful and perfect word choice. The characters are so well-developed they feel real--and wonderful and interesting. I would love to meet Grandpa Dom. Yes, this book is nostaligic and written like a sentimental memoir--that's part of its appeal to me. I hope I find Merullo's other books (I plan to read A Little Love Story next)as wonderful--perhaps it is this family's story specifically that draws me in. When I have finished the book, I'll re-check this assessment, but for now, I can not say enough about this novel if you enjoy beautiful and clean writing, a complete, well-drawn family, and nostaligic tales of how the dynamic of family relationships affects your life path.
Best novel I have read in years.......2003-12-31
"In Revere, In Those Days" is the best novel I have read in years...sensitive, dreamy, with all the love and rough edges of growing up, and all the hopes and sorrows of adulthood. Merullo just draws you in to the Benedetto family and Revere. The story is told through Anthony's eyes and the family emerges and developes as Anthony matures and understands his clan with more clarity. Despite the troubles that surround his Uncle Peter and his cousin Rosalie the love and care that root the Benedettos are evident. It's a tale of another time, another place, that any baby-boomer will recognize.
Amazon.com
At the conclusion of the Second Demon War Saga's dual expositions, Ascendance and Trancendence, the stage is set for Imortalis--R. A. Salvatore's thunderous third act. Young King Aydrian has usurped the throne of Honce-the-Bear with the villainous Marcalo De'Unnero at his side. Simultaneously, in the desert lands of Behren, Brynn Dharielle has used political machination and her monstrous ally--the dragon Agradeleous--to free her people, the To-gai, from the Yatol yoke. Aydrian seeks to secure his throne and expand his kingdom into the lands of Behren. His strength and cunning bring him to brink of success, where he meets the heroes of the first Demon War Saga, including his mother Jilesponie, and the Dragon of To-gai, who must unite against impossible odds to save the world.
Aydrian Boudabras is one of Salvatore's most exquisite creations (no offense to Drizzt Do'Urden, of course). At some points in the novel, it's even possible to root for the feisty usurper. It's also plain to see that here, as in the previous Demon War books, Salvatore loves playing king of his own fantasy realm, free from the fetters of the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons and Star Wars universes where he has also successfully roamed. Imortalis deftly combines the characters and events from the entire Demon War Cycle into a rich and satisfying conclusion. --Jeremy Pugh
Book Description
IMMORTALIS
In this extraordinary third and final work in the Second DemonWars Saga, R. A. Salvatore weaves a diverse tapestry of characters and events from all the novels of the DemonWars Saga into an epic, unforgettable conclusion. Casting his inimitable spell of the human and supernatural, love and war, faith and faithlessness, Salvatore’s crowning work is centered on a dark young king, driven by a quest to remake humankind.
In Honce-the-Bear, King Aydrian Boudabras wakes in a cold sweat, his conscience haunted by those he has killed to garner power, including the rightful king before him, Danube, his mother’s husband. Now Aydrian is preparing his armies for war, forging loyalties, playing one adversary against the other, and giving those around him barely a glimpse of his remarkable powers. Even Adyrian does not fully understand what drives his ambition, the guiding voices he first heard from the shadow of Oracle, or the truth of his birth in the elven land—before it was stained and mortally threatened by the demon dactyl.
Yet in the neighboring Behren, the evil Yatol Bardoh is unleashing a war engine of his own, using armies of mercenaries and horrific tactics to bring down the walls of Jacintha and to drive a ferocious dragon from the city of Dharyan.
Between these two men, an explosive chain of events has been set into motion. Refugees flood the roads and valleys, alliances are formed and broken, navies clash at sea, and assassins seek their moment to strike. With Aydrian’s power and popularity turning into an avalanche, and the courageous Brynn Dharielle valiantly standing in the way of the Yatol Bardoh, the great players in the DemonWars Saga will unite and clash on a single, magnificent stage.
But as the lands run with blood, there are no adversaries like a mother and her long-lost son. For Jilseponie, once queen of Honce-the-Bear, has discovered the truth of her son Aydrian’s birth. And now she becomes the only mortal on earth with magic enough to stop her own son—by any means necessary—from his cataclysmic quest. . . .
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
In this extraordinary third and final work in the Second Demon Wars Saga, R. A. Salvatore weaves a diverse tapestry of characters and events from all the novels of the DemonWars Saga into an epic, unforgettable conclusion. Casting his inimitable spell of the human and supernatural, love and war, faith and faithlessness, Salvatore's crowning work is centered on a dark young king, driven by a quest to remake humankind.
In Honce-the-Bear, King Aydrian Boudabras wakes in a cold sweat, his conscience haunted by those he has killed to garner power, including the rightful king before him, Danube, his mother's husband. Now Aydrian is preparing his armies for war, forging loyalties, playing one adversary against the other, and giving those around him barely a glimpse of his remarkable powers. Even Adyrian does not fully understand what drives his ambition, the guiding voices he first heard from the shadow of Oracle, or the truth of his birth in the elven land -- before it was stained and mortally threatened by the demon dactyl.
Yet in the neighboring Behren, the evil Yatol Bardoh is unleashing a war engine of his own, using armies of mercenaries and horrific tactics to bring down the walls of Jacintha and to drive a ferocious dragon from the city of Dharyan.
Between these two men, an explosive chain of events has been set into motion. Refugees flood the roads and valleys, alliances are formed and broken, navies clash at sea, and assassins seek their moment to strike. With Aydrian's power and popularity turning into an avalanche, and the courageous Brynn Dharielle valiantly standing in the way of the Yatol Bardoh, the great players in the DemonWars Saga will unite and clash on a single, magnificent stage.
But as the lands run with blood, there are no adversaries like a mother and her long-lost son. For Jilseponie, once queen of Honce-the-Bear, has discovered the truth of her son Aydrian's birth. And now she becomes the only mortal on earth with magic enough to stop her own son -- by any means necessary -- from his cataclysmic quest.
Customer Reviews:
Decent book, disappointing ending........2006-10-29
I greatly enjoyed the first two books of the Second Demonwars Saga, and I understand if Salvatore had to tie the Demon Dactyl into the story somehow.
That did not make the ending of this story any better. For one thing, the ending is much too neat; no major characters die (at least not for a long while) other than a few bad guys, and the most fascinating character of the second trilogy, Aydrian (who is interesting in the sense that he is a combination of ambition, ruthlessness, and the skills of the Tou'Alfar) gets off the hook in a profoundly unsatisfactory manner.
It was almost like Salvatore was faced with the difficult choice of having to resolve the dilemma of Jilseponie being forced to fight in opposition and potentially kill her only son (who is also her living tie to Elbryan), and just decided to dodge the issue with a cop-out. Very disappointing, especially considering that the end of the First Demonwars Trilogy was so good.
Good bye to Elbryan, Gilseponie and Co........2006-10-11
I'll definitely miss some characters who have become quite memorable ( Mr.Salvatore said he has no intention of revisiting them ever again). Stories like these are the ones whcih hooked me up to the Fantasy genere and continously prod me to explore more of what there is.. The entire series is a good read (though to be honest it was a bit tedious at some places) and this last book in the series brings all the main characters together for a grand finale. The action is as good as only Mr.Salvatore can deliver in his pages and the story line was well developed. Some previous reviewers mentioned that the story was rushed at the end, but that kind of pace was necessary for this particular story.
Tedious.......2006-09-21
The author clearly set out to write an "epic" instead of a good story. Really unpleasant, no likeable characters.
what happened?.......2006-07-09
The Demon Wars started off so brilliantly with its first three editions. Even Ascendence continued this trend. Since then though, the novels began going downhill culminating with this one, which is the worst of the bunch. You would expect that the last book in the series would be the best, but not so with RAS.
Terrible Ending to an otherwise Good Series.......2006-07-09
Up until Transcendence the Demon Wars series was good. Then Immortalis came along. Salvatore tries to cram way too much content into far too short a book. You can tell he is prematurely severing several plot lines just to end the novel on a certain page number. Realistically, the book should have been at least 300 pages longer.
Book Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
Customer Reviews:
Escapism.......2004-06-11
Looking to leap back into the early 90's? Don't want to spend a small fortune on Quantum Leap DVDs? This novel won't substitute for the series, but if you're anxious to briefly rejoin Sam, Al, Ziggy and the rest, it'll do.
Sam leaps into the recent past to find that he's part of a love triangle during a medieval festival. He's leaped into the body of the man who created an integral component to project Quantum Leap that may be the cause of Sam's seemingly random travel through time. "This time it's for me," Sam desperately concludes. Soon enough, however, Alia, the evil leaper, appears, prepared to foil Sam's plan.
Rawn captures well enough the characters and the general mood of the show, using her creativity to give added perspective on the characters' backgrounds and thought processes. She gives us a window on what's happening in the present (or is it the future?) and how Sam's wife Donna copes with Sam's fate and her own. I lost track of Quantum Leap during its final season and felt that the show started to meander some at that point, so it was a bit of a disappointment for this novel to be situated, chronologically, so late in the game. I suppose, however, that my biggest frustration was that I felt I had to create a book cover to hide what I was reading. I am a proud fan of the Quantum Leap television series, but somehow carrying a slim, TV-based volume with a picture of Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell and the sci-fi lettering of the title on the cover didn't improve my self-image. I guess it doesn't really matter; if I'm going to escape, I don't want anyone else around to distract me anyway. So lock yourself in your bedroom for a few hours and enjoy a leap to the past.
Not A Typical Leap..........2003-11-08
Knights Of The Morningstar probably would not have made a good teleplay for the Quantum Leap series. The action which takes place between the characters in the time main character Sam leaps into is not terribly well developed and is overall a bit silly. The magic of this story is the stuff that goes on back at the secret lab Sam's been trying so hard to return to. The author is far better at writing emotions and empathy than a great storyline in this particular instance, but she is very good at making the reader feel for the gang behind the scenes at Project Quantum Leap. The whole bit with the second Leaper could have been eliminated, or perhaps been created more integral to the basic plot. It's an enjoyable read, but unlike any other Leap book I've read so far. Thought-provoking and emotional.
a good read.......2003-08-16
Several years ago I had a roommate who bought a bunch of Quantum Leap novels. I read all the ones she had, and this is the only one that I really liked. The characterizations really seemed right. I especially enjoyed Sam's though that the most confusing part of this whole Leaping business was trying to carry on two conversations at once.
Oh boy!.......2003-01-24
A fun read with the return of the evil Leaper, Alia. Rawn has a nice grasp of the characters from the series and crafts a story that will entertain not only Leap fans but members of the Society for Creative Anachronism of which the story is set around.
Return of the Evil Leaper!.......2000-06-24
An excellent story with plot twists worthy of Dr. Beckett.
Average customer rating:
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Knights of the morningstar: A novel
Melanie Rawn
Manufacturer: Boulevard Books
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Binding: Unknown Binding
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Rawn, Melanie
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ASIN: B0006QMN4O |
Average customer rating:
- Visually stunning and an esoteric piece of work!
- MISTRANSLATIONS COMMENTED BY MANY STOCK PHRASES
- Eternal spiritual truths resurface after a millenium
- The Universal Truth
- EVERY QUATRAIN IS NOW A DEEP & ENLIGHTENING SPIRITUAL LESSON
|
Wine of the Mystic : The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam : A Spiritual Interpretation
Paramahansa Yogananda
Manufacturer: Self-Realization Fellowship Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0876122268 |
Customer Reviews:
Visually stunning and an esoteric piece of work!.......2005-06-12
The spiritual interpretation of "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam" by Paramahansa Yogananda reveals to the reader the depth of Yogananda's spiritual understanding and attainment. Yogananda interprets the poems in a very esoteric manner which leaves all sincere readers on the spiritual path breathless with admiration and veneration for Omar Khayyam.
Yogananda's commentaries on these poems will leave every scholar on mystical Islam to shame. His depth of understanding on Sufism is a welcome diversion of Yogananda's main spiritual books. Yogananda's main goal was to show the unity of Hinduism and Chritianity to the west. But this book clearly shows to the world that Yogananda DID NOT neglect the second most popular religion of this primitive earth- that is Islam.
The illustrations are amazingly beautiful with a touch of Islamic art. But it is the interpretations of the poems that this book shines out. There are three levels of interpretations of each poem. The word for word translation; the practical application of the poem and last but certainly not the least, the deeper spiritual meaning and application of the poems.
Lastly I would love to recommend this piece of timeless art to all the Muslims of this sordid world. The reason is because this book shows the reader the deeper aspect of Islam - which is Sufism. Muslim mystics like Rumi and Khayyam are dangerous to orthodox Muslims because these mystics have already realized Allah and are beyond the mundane rituals of basic Islam. Their state of spiritual attainmemt is similar to that of Yogananda, Jesus, Buddha, Ramakrishna, Sai Baba, and so on.
Thus no one is in a better position than Yogananda (except for those souls who have realization), to interpret these poems the way Khayyam had intended it to be understood. I would also like to recommend other books about Sufism which would compliment this book beautifully.
MISTRANSLATIONS COMMENTED BY MANY STOCK PHRASES.......2004-07-12
In the Fitzgerald text that HH Yogananda comments, the Persian poem is not truly TRANSLATED: that is well explained in the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Yogananda dispensed with real translations to base his commentary on. That was unwise, for translators of the poem see how great the differences are between Fitzgerald's work and a translation of Omar's poem. With such an infirm basis to work on top of, the "interpretations of Omar" by Yogananda become formidable hocus-pocus - they are, rather, what he reads into Fitzgerald's book - which differs from the work of Khayyam considerably.
(1) In this process Yogananda uses mistranslations as deep symbols to interpret; hence ERRONEUS guru dealings.
(2) He repeats himself up to gruesomely by STOCK PHRASES - very boring to some.
(3) MESS: To complicate things further, there are today TWO VERSIONS that lay claims on bringing Yogananda's (non-savoury) interpretations. These independent versions often differ. It means you may not be sure you get the true wordings of Yogananda - after the essentials of Khayyam have been done away with by Fitzgerald.
CONCLUSION SO FAR: In this work there is too much inept or senile-looking handling to deal with.
Eternal spiritual truths resurface after a millenium.......2003-06-10
"It takes one to know one," is here shown to apply to mystics. In this award-winning volume, Twentieth Century Indo-American sage Paramahansa Yogananda applies his irrepressible spiritual pursuit to Omar Khayyam's Twelfth Century masterpiece. Like most cultures through the ages, Kayyam's Persia was much friendlier to his mainstream career (in mathematics and astronomy) than to his spiritual revelations. The wondrous poetic beauties which sparkle through his Rubaiyat express his personal, non-canonical insights into Enlightenment (aka: the Kingdom of Heaven, Nirvana, Samadhi) are in metaphors - symbolisms whose spiritual implications register only for those "who have eyes to see" - who have themselves had a glimpse of higher spiritual realms.
The publisher of Wine of the Mystic has included an eye-opening foreword to this volume that puts these complexities into perspective, including 1) the fact that Edward FitzGerald (translator for the most famous English-language editions) only grudging acknowledged the mystical significance of the work, 2) FitzGerald's poetic techniques that faithfully capture the *spirit* of stanzas even when they are not linear translations, 3) the tradition among Sufi mystical poets of using wine as a symbol for Divine Intoxication.
Why should a poem that is merely (on the surface) a hymn to the joys of drunkenness survive for a millenium and continue to fascinate cultures around the world in languages so unlike its author's? In his introductory words, Yogananda summarizes the miracle of FitzGerald's (apparently materialist) translation by called him "divinely inspired to catch exactly in gloriously musical English words the soul of Omar's writings." To those who have received a hint of the Divine Intoxication, a deep intuitive chord may be struck by Yogananda's explanation: "Profound spiritual treatises by some mysterious divine law do not disappear from the earth even after centuries of misunderstanding, as in the case of the Rubaiyat."
As to the book itself (Wine of the Mystic)? The awards it has won, the beauty of its color illustrations, tastefully selected type faces, and rich reproduction make this volume irresistable immediately upon opening its pages. Readers are then embraced by Yogananda's sensitive and unprecedented bouquet of insights as they are welcomed to a never before dreamed of wine-tasting.
There is *no* edition to compare. This volume will reward your reading and re-reading for years. A gorgeous gift item.
CONTENTS:
Introduction of author's (Yogananda) insights.
Foreword of publisher's (Self-Realization Fellowship) history and spiritual perspectives on the Rubaiyat's.
Presentation of each Rubaiyat quatrain, along with FitzGerald's translation, Yogananda's glossary of spiritual symbolism, Spiritual Commentary, and Practical Implications for the reader's spiritual work.
Addendum reprinting all of the verses (FitzGerald translation) without interruption.
The Universal Truth.......2002-08-26
as interpreted by Yogananda. Here Yogananda does a commentary
on "the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam." Also an interpretation. Yogananda made
the fatal error of believing that there was only one religion or truth. And that he,
himself, could discern it in all religions. He did that with the Bible. He does
this here with a Sufi poem. But this is a fine book. Very beautiful. But Yogananda's
Self-Realization Fellowship was and is Hinduism straight up the middle. Not
Original Christianity and Original Yoga as he claimed. So this book is an Islamic
poem as interpreted by a Hindu. And I think that you had better realize that
before you buy this book. And it is a beautiful book. Yogananda was always a
great writer. Most of his books are real "choppy" because they are taken from talks.
But when he wrote, it was excellent. He was quite a writer. And it comes out
in this book. But if you want the "real stuff," buy Yogananda's "God Talks to
Arjuna." Thank you.
EVERY QUATRAIN IS NOW A DEEP & ENLIGHTENING SPIRITUAL LESSON.......2000-04-06
This wonderful book is not just A TRANSLATION of the Rubaiyat, it is a collection of deep spiritual discourses which are meant as an exhortation to the soul (what we essentially are) to transcend beyond this ephemeral world of temporary illusion and to ever constantly search for the real truth which lies within every one of us.
Books:
- In the Shape of a Boar
- It Happened in Boston? (20th Century Rediscoveries)
- Japanese Celebrations: Cherry Blossoms, Lanterns And Stars!
- Johnny Mad Dog: A Novel
- Kalki (Penguin Twentieth-Century Classics)
- Koolaids: The Art of War
- Logan's Storm: A Novel
- Lydia Bailey
- Making Waves #4: Thrill
- Mala Onda/bad Vibes (Punto de Lectura)
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