Zora Neale Hurston : Novels and Stories : Jonah's Gourd Vine / Their Eyes Were Watching God / Moses, Man of the Mountain / Seraph on the Suwanee / Selected Stories (Library of America)

Book Description

When she died in obscurity in 1960, all her books were out of print. Now, Zora Neale Hurston is recognized as one of the most important and influential modern American writers. This volume, with its companion, "Zora Neale Hurston: Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings," brings together for the first time all of Hurston's best works in one authoritative set. It features the acclaimed 1937 novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," a lyrical masterpiece about a woman's struggle for love and independence. "Jonah's Gourd Vine," based on the story of Hurston's parents, details the rise and fall of a preacher torn between spirit and flesh. "Moses, Man of the Mountain" is a high-spirited retelling of the Exodus story in black vernacular. "Seraph on the Suwanee" portrays the passionate clash between a poor southern "cracker" and her willful husband. A selection of short stories further displays Hurston's unique fusion of folk traditions and literary modernism--comic, ironic, and soaringly poetic.

Customer Reviews:

Inspired.......2006-02-20

If Ms Hurston finally gets the readers she deserves, she will take her place among America's finest writers of the 20th Century. She is a joy to read and repays second and third perusals. The oral narrative quality of her writing places her squarely in the company of the best of her Southern contemporaries. She shares their great gifts. By all means, don't deny yourself the pleasure of reading her work.

Average customer rating:

I Agree this is an underground treasure
Sorrows Kitchen - Can I get a witness?
Great Book
One of the best books I have ever read
Shaded by the vine

Jonah's Gourd Vine
Zora Neale Hurston
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0060916516

Book Description

The first novel by the noted black novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist. Originally published in 1934, it was praised by Carl Sandburg as "a bold and beautiful book, many a page priceless and unforgettable."

Customer Reviews:

I Agree this is an underground treasure.......2007-08-30

This was a very interesting story, I enjoyed this book better than Their Eyes Were Watching God, and that says alot. The story of John Buddy is a turnpager and you will not be disappointed. The best I've read in a long time.

Sorrows Kitchen - Can I get a witness?.......2007-02-27

I loved this story. The story is so true to life for many women who are with men, who don't seem to be able to get it together, unless there is a woman making it happen.

The husband is a great orator, but isn't the kind of man he should be. His wife is his long suffering mate. I just love Zora's use of black dialet. It is so beautiful.

When I read the following excerpt, it felt like something hit me in the head. I was moved beyond words. It goes something like this: "Ah done been in sorrows kitchen, and ah done licked out all the pots; ah done died in grief and been buried in de bitter waters. Ah done rose from the dead lak Lazarus. Nothing can touch mah soul no mo!"

I highly recomment it.

Great Book.......2005-09-27

I got an excellent book from this person. thank you so much. great doing business with you.

One of the best books I have ever read.......2005-01-24

I always thought of Toni Morrison as the leader, the queen, and the matriarch of black women's fiction, but the more I read of Zora Neale Hurston, the more I feel that everyone else must have taken their cues from her!

Her writing is enchanting and thought provoking, her use of "black" language is absolutely delightful. The story and the characters are interesting in and of themselves. What makes this work really shine is the language, and the heritage and history that it preserves. She takes care to write the way that people speak, resulting a unorthodox spelling and usage that at first I had to say out loud in order to properly understand. (My grandmother didn't have to do that, though, and for that reason alone, she loved Zora Hurston.) Ms. Hurston also uses words, idioms and phrases that are unique to black america, and that my generation would likely have lost -- the news of the "Black Dispatch," "Old Hannah" rising, "hittin' a straight lick with a crooked stick." Some of the sayings I remember my Grandmother using, and some I remember using as a child. I found all of them interesting and beautiful, and I am grateful to Ms. Hurston for finding them valuable enough to put down.

Shaded by the vine.......2003-01-22

John Buddy Pearson's life got off to a rocky start. His stepfather resented him for his light skin and the fact that another man's blood ran through his veins, and often picked fights with him. John worked hard in the cotton fields on their sharecropping tract, but little could be done to please his stepfather.

John always longed to see what life was like "on the other side of the tracks", so after a particularly serious brawl with his stepfather, he decided to go for it. He moved across the bridge, where children went to school in their free time, and his real father, Alf Pearson, resided on his large plantation. Alf encouraged John to attend the local colored school in his spare moments, and it was here that John first lay eyes on the smart and beautiful, albeit young, Lucy Potts. John, with his high yellow skin and godlike stature, was a favorite among the ladies on the Pearson estate. However, he cast their advances aside as he pined for Lucy.

John and Lucy eventually married and moved to Eatonville, Florida, a "whole town uh nothing but colored folks", where John was called to preach the gospel, honing his already strong speaking skills. John was still a favorite with the ladies, and in a position to do so, he strayed from the mores he was supposed to uphold and engaged in illicit affairs. Thus begun the descension of our character, as his deviant ways became exposed and no longer shrouded in his notoriety.

Zora Neale Hurston's first novel, Jonah's Gourd Vine marks the beginning of a dazzling writer's craft. Peppered with the southern dialect that Hurston is so well-known for, it was, at times, a bit unclear as to what the characters were saying. I found myself saying sentences, and even paragraphs, aloud to discern their meaning. Lucy's character is particularly strong throughout the story. John's character, to me, represents both the "good guy" and later "the bad guy," as I was taken through his struggles, comeupances, and downfalls. I believe everyone should read Hurston, if only for her superb use of language and, in this case, biblical themes. Jonah's Gourd Vine is a great place to start.

Reviewed by CandaceK
The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

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Jonah's Gourd Vine, Mules and Men, Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
Manufacturer: Quality Paperback Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000F1CYLW

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Jonah's Gourd Vine

Manufacturer: HarperCollins (paper)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 039700754X

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The Hammers of Creation: Folk Culture in Modern African-American Fiction (Mercer University Lamar Memorial Lectures)
Eric J. Sundquist
Manufacturer: University of Georgia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | African American | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Classics | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
African American | History & Criticism | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0820314609

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Jonah's Gourd Vine
Zora Neale Huston
Manufacturer: TRAFALGAR SQUARE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OLIUWU

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Jonah's Gourd Vine; Mules and Men; Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
Manufacturer: QUALITY PAPERBACK BOOKCLUB
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UC720Y

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Jonahs Gourd Vine
Zora Neale Hurston
Manufacturer: TRAFALGAR SQUARE +
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SHA4MY

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Jonahs Gourd Vine Mules & Men Their Eyes
Zora Neale Hurston
Manufacturer: QUALITY PAPERBACK BOOKCLUB
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000SI488Y

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Zora Neale Hurston Jonahs Gourd Vine Mules and Men Their Eyes Were Watching
ANOR NEALE HURSTON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M15YZS

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Australian SF Reader

Oh, What Could Have Been...

Reads like a romance novel

If I weren't a fan of Douglass, I probably wouldn't continue the series

Complicated, yes, but a ok start to a very epic series
Hades' Daughter (The Troy Game, Book 1)
Sara Douglass
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Gods' Concubine (The Troy Game, Book 2)

Darkwitch Rising: Book Three of The Troy Game

Druid's Sword: Book Four of The Troy Game

Pilgrim: Book Five of the Wayfarer Redemption

Crusader (The Wayfarer Redemption, Book 6)

ASIN: 0765344424

Amazon.com

In the ancient world, Crete is not the only land with a Labyrinth at its heart. Labyrinth magic protects Troy and the Greek city-states, as well. Then Theseus steals away Ariadne, Mistress of the Cretan Labyrinth, who for love of him betrayed her own father. But Theseus abandons Ariadne for her sister, and in revenge, Ariadne unweaves the magic of all the world's remaining Labyrinths, unleashing an age of catastrophe. The gods weaken, Atlantis sinks, and Troy falls. Then Brutus, the warrior king of lost Troy, is promised a new Troy and a new Labyrinth if he carries out the destructive will of a mysterious, beautiful figure who appears to him in visions. But is she the goddess Artemis, as she claims, or a vengeful woman who has abandoned both mortality and mercy?

Hades' Daughter is a dark, bloody epic of power, passion, and betrayal. The opening is bumpy--which is no surprise, for the early events range from Theseus's treachery to the fall of Troy and beyond. The prose and pacing become smoother as the saga focuses on Brutus and the princess Cornelia, whose father Brutus killed and whose city he destroyed. Brutus takes Cornelia as his wife with as horrible an act as possible, short of death. Nonetheless, a relationship grows between them. Unfortunately, given their extremely rocky start, it's never clear why Cornelia undergoes a change of heart, but this self-contained first novel of a new trilogy will appeal to some fans of high fantasy, historical fantasy, and those who enjoy Greek and British legends. --Cynthia Ward

Book Description

The Troy Game, Book IHades' DaughterAncient Greece is a place where mortals are the playthings of the gods-but at the core of each mortal city-state is a Labyrinth, where the mortals can shape the heavens to their own design. When Theseus comes away from the Labyrinth with the prize of freedom and his beloved Ariadne, the Mistress of the Labyrinth, his future seems assured. But she bears him only a daughter-and when he casts her aside for this, the world seems to change. From that day forward, the Labyrinths decay, and power fades from the city-states.A hundred years pass, Troy falls, the Trojans scatter. Then Brutus, the warrior-king of Troy, receives a vision of distant shores where he can rebuild the ancient kingdom. He will move heaven and earth to reach his destiny. But in the mists is a woman of power, a descendent of Ariadne, who has her own reasons for luring Brutus to this lush land. Her heart is filled with a generations-old hatred, and her vengeance on him will not be thwarted.If Brutus makes the journey successfully, it will be the next step in the Game of the Labyrinth, and the beginning of a complicated contest of wills that will last for centuries....

Download Description

Sara Douglass returns with a brand new fantasy series: The Troy Game.

Customer Reviews:

Australian SF Reader.......2007-08-01

This book is too long and too messy, and for a fantasy book, none of the characters were interesting enough to put up with for that long.

A man and a woman, mythological and historical characters that you have probably heard of, but changed in this book, end up opponents down through the ages, a conflict that his its root in their original meeting.

The first part is not so bad, then, blah.

Oh, What Could Have Been..........2007-07-17

Douglass made a bold attempt in this book, and in several places she nearly succeeded in writing a fairly well-rounded story. However, she has a long way to go with this series.

I enjoyed the characters very much, and empathized with them all. his is not to be taken as I LIKED them, mind you. Cornelia does not become likeable until halfway (at least) through the book. Brutus proves interesting at the beginning, but at the end I was wishing he would fling himself off a cliff in a fit of kingly rage.

I do believe this book would have been fantastic if Douglass' writing style hadn't jarred so horribly with her chosen setting. This book reads as clumsily as a 7th grade English essay. That this book was even published without some serious editing gives me hope that one day my piddly manuscript will be snatched up by the same agent.

Reads like a romance novel.......2007-07-14

This book was waaaay longer than it needed to be, in my opinion. Much of it reads like a Harlequin novel. He said, she said; and repetitive situations of misunderstandings between lovers. I listened to it on audio, but if I had read it in book form there are several areas where I would have skipped a few pages. The motivation for the characters is one dimensional but explained in excruciating detail. I think the book would have been better if she hadn't tried to excuse the characters' bad behavior.

There is some potential here. The "game" is an interesting concept, and I would be interested in the characters if they were more subtle. There are a few characters that are not overexplained who are interesting, such as Mag. I will probably read book two to see if it gets any better. Perhaps she is setting the situation up for a more complex sequel.

I would recommend buying this book used or at a discount, but not at full price. Even in rush hour traffic I don't think I'd listen to the audio book again (because of the writing, not the narration).

If I weren't a fan of Douglass, I probably wouldn't continue the series.......2006-10-31

With Hades' Daughter, Douglass kicks off her 4-book series "The Troy Game," in which descendants of the ancient Trojans journey to a new, foreign land where, with the assistance of The Game, they begin to build Troia Nova. Along the way, they capture Cornelia, a Greek princess who is brutally forced into marriage with the Trojans' leader Brutus. Brutus ultimately plans to abandon Cornelia for Genvissa, the woman whose mystical powers will ensure that he and she will reign as king and queen.

Unfortunately, none of the main characters are particularly likeable, so I didn't find I had much emotional investment in their well-being. Also, "The Game," referred to many, many times, remains even at the end of the book a somewhat confusing and nebulous concept. I do like Sara Douglass, so I'll still finish the series.

Complicated, yes, but a ok start to a very epic series.......2006-02-20

This is the story of a woman scorned, and the terrible power she unleashes to hurt the one who scorned her.

The game is an eternal safe guard to all the Aegean cities. It involves a dance that gathers evil and a dance that traps it. By killing this game one woman unleashed all that evil upon the world. The great Aegean cities die, and the once proud people of Troy are gathered as slaves.

But all this changes with Brutus. He is the last of the men on earth who can control and make the game, a Kingman. Together with the mistress of the labyrinth he can make any land safe and prosperous. And he is called to do so by a woman from a far away land...

This is a ok book, even if it does have its fault. The game is hard to understand, the characters are wholly unlikable (but they have to be if you want them to remain compelling and change during the next books) and the feminist/land mystical connection is a little much, even to a female pagan. Cornelia falling for Brutus because while raping her he managed to give her pleasur is not only laughable it's offensive. But still, this is one interesting book, and I will rate it four stars and head on the next book.

Three months later-in retrospect I don't think I like this series very much. It's not very well written, it has no likeable charecters and a lot of the actions are brutaly offensive. Faced with the forth book recently published I find I've just lost intrest. In retrospect I think I find Sara Douglass's writing to be very dark and depressing and gloomy-but not always in a way that works. I wouldn't advise reading her stuff, excepting Threshold, unless you can work a two week depresion into your life.

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Hade's Daughter The Troy Game Book One
Sara Douglass
Manufacturer: Voyager
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0732271649

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Hades Daughter :Troy Game 1
Sara Douglass
Manufacturer: ST MARTINS PRESS *
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000Q1HVWI

Hades' Daughter: The Troy Game, Book I (Unabridged)

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Hades' Daughter: The Troy Game, Book I (Unabridged)
Sara Douglass
Manufacturer: audible.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Download
ASIN: B0001ZYZLE

4-book Set; the Troy Game Series Book 1-4; Hades' Daughter; Gods' Concubine; Darkwitch Rising; Druid's Sword By Sara Douglass

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4-book Set; the Troy Game Series Book 1-4; Hades' Daughter; Gods' Concubine; Darkwitch Rising; Druid's Sword By Sara Douglass
Sara Douglass
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Druidism | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000V4R24C

Product Description

The Troy Game Series Book 1-4 by Sara Douglass.

Customer Reviews:

See an Icon in her Whimsical Innocence.......2006-04-08

When the planet Krypton exploded, Argo City miraculously survived under a bubble of air. However, the ground soon turned into kryptonite. Despite the diligent efforts of scientist Zor-El, Argo City was soon destroyed, save for Zor-el's daughter, Kara. He sent her to Earth, where he had discovered another Kryptonian survivor: Superman. In a quirk of fate, Superman is in fact Kara's cousin. Discovering her rocket, Superman takes the newly arrived Supergirl to a local orphanage, where, under the guise of Linda Lee, she must remain hidden. For Superman realizes she needs to learn Earth's ways, and he sees an opportunity to develop a secret weapon.

I have a personal caveat when it comes to reading vintage comics: plot over character. This is especially true for silver age super-hero comics, which were predominantly aimed at kids, and so went more for elaborate plot gimmickry. Another caveat must be brought to "The Supergirl Archives" Vol. 1: this series of stories, written by almost exclusively adult men, was aimed at girls. As such, it's not hard to see certain presumptions of the day taken at the heart of most of these stories. Indeed, the central premise of the series it pretty "girl-friendly": Supergirl must live covertly as Linda, never allowing her existence be known. When she does go into action, it's usually to prevent some disaster, or solve some minor problem around the orphanage. In other words, Supergirl wasn't given much opportunity to punch out Lex Luthor.

Written mainly by Otto Binder, the stories are whimsical, and get a great deal of mileage out of the simple idea of a 15-year-old girl with super powers. While Linda can't operate in the open, she does get a great deal of satisfaction in being able to help her fellows at the orphanage, be it to help them with adoption or simply blowing away rain clouds. Jim Mooney's art, while similar to the other artists on Superman, is still very good, and grew more distinct as the series progressed, conveying the good natured fun cleanly and with tremendous energy.

It's hard to pin down any favorites. Most are quite fun and satisfying. There are some that take the premise of the character to illogical extremes, as Superman puts Supergirl through some harsh and dubious tests to prove her ability to keep her secret. There is also one story, "Mighty Maid", in which Supergirl poses as Superman's super-powered girlfriend, that is just creepy when one thinks about it too much. However, these are minor pitfalls in a collection of stories that feature Supergirl trying to develop immunity to kryptonite, and then accidently giving a normal cat super powers, Supergirl getting adopted by a police officer and his wife, and a team-up with the Legion of Super-heroes, among others.

"The Crisis on Infinite Earths" killed and then erased this version of Supergirl from existence. She's recently been reintroduced after a couple of different versions. It's nice see the character when she was fresh and simple.

Wonderful book of Supergirl adventures.......2006-04-01

I am a fan of the Superman family of comics and love Supergirl. It was a joy to read this book and learn of Supergirl's origins. The book is very well made and the graphics are terrific. I would highly recommend this book to any fan of Supergirl. I just wish there was a similar book written for Superboy and also one for Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen. I loved those comics as a kid as well.

Tales of the Girl of Steel.......2006-03-30

The first Supergirl Archive contains the introduction and the earliest adventures of the Silver Age(classic) Supergirl, the one and only Kara Zor-El. In this book, you will see Kara struggle with maintaining her superhero identity(as Supergirl) secret from the world, and you will laugh at her ingenuity as this spunky female superhero finds ways to balance the secrecy and still fight the good fight as Supergirl. By modern standards, the art may seem simplistic, but the stories are fun, and move along at a relatively quick pace. Stories included are : Superman #123, and Action Comics #252-269.

~part 2~

The second Supergirl Archive includes the following stories: Action Comics # 269-285. In this volume, Supergirl(a.k.a Kara Zor-El) is publicly introduced to the world as Supergirl. Also, this second hardcover collection of classic stories contains Supergirl's first encounter with the futuristic superhero team, the Legion of Superheroes. Once again, these classic stories are suitable for all ages.

Jerry Siegel's original Supergirl is the best!.......2004-02-14

I really love the first and original Supergirl/Linda Lee by Jerry Siegel! She was truly, truly the best, compared to the later supergirls. I hope WB can adapt Jerry Siegel's original Supergirl/Linda Lee and add her to TV's Smallville later on! Also, the comics writers made a huge mistake by killing the original supergirl in the 1980's and coming up with inferior supergirls afterwards. They should have just retired her peacefully on earth and leave Linda Lee/Supergirl alive! To me, she's always been Earth's Guardian Angel after Superman!

Pure Silver Age fun........2003-11-02

The best part of the Supergirl archives is that it is strongly set in the Superman universe where the most outlandish things can happen with nary a bat of an eye. This is the tall tales and folklore of the 20th Century.

A fun read and a vacation from the all too self conscious comics of today.

Book Description

Why was I born? Why must I die? How can I interact with the universe? Are there really visions? Is there a Deity? The First Americans had the same questions. In Exploring Native American Wisdom, you are invited into a mystical dimension, where humans communicate with the Oldest Spirit of Creation, Grandmother Earth, animals, fire, wind, and water. The wisdom of the Old Ones unravels the mysteries inside us waiting to burst forth with a new understanding of our place in the circle of life. Enemies become worthy opponents. Pain becomes purification, and strife disappears. There are no problems, only challenges, when we discover that everything is sacred and that our souls are very old. Trudging becomes dancing as we gain the strength and perseverance to make our lives new each day. Exploring Native American Wisdom reveals how to live fully in a rapidly changing world, while reopening the ancient door to the divine power and wisdom within.

Customer Reviews:

Exploring Native American Wisdom.......2006-08-07

This book has very little substance -- a very brief and superficial outline. Not worth $11.

An impressive and "reader friendly" new age guide.......2003-03-08

Collaboratively compiled and written by writer, teacher, artist, and natural health consultant Fran Dancing Feather and author and metaphysical studies expert Rita Robinson, Exploring Native American Wisdom: Love, Traditions, And Rituals That Connect Us All is an impressive and "reader friendly" new age guide to the supernatural that draws upon Native American traditions and Native American mysticism. Deftly guiding the reader on a journey into a spiritual plane of energy and power, Exploring Native American Wisdom is an insightful metaphysical treatise that is confidently recommended for students of Native American Studies and Metaphysical "New Age" Studies.

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