Book Description
Wise and illuminating, Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age! is a masterpiece from one of the world's finest writers, Kenzaburo Oe -- winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature. K is a famous writer living in Tokyo with his wife and three children, one of whom is mentally disabled. K's wife confronts him with the information that this child, Eeyore, has been doing disturbing things -- behaving aggressively, asserting that he's dead, even brandishing a knife at his mother -- and K, given to retreating from reality into abstraction, looks for answers in his lifelong love of William Blake's poetry. As K struggles to understand his family and assess his responsibilities within it, he must also reevaluate himself -- his relationship with his own father, the political stances he has taken, the duty of artists and writers in society. A remarkable portrait of the inexpressible bond between this father and his damaged son, Rouse Up O Young Men of the New Age! is the work of an unparalleled writer at his sparkling best.
Customer Reviews:
More Rousing than Most Oe Novels.......2006-03-09
Of the Oe novels I've read, this is one of the better ones in my opinion. A low key, understated spirituality suffuses this novel, and the narrator's engagement with the poetry of William Blake adds resonance and depth to Oe's prose (which otherwise often strikes me as okay but somewhat flat).
While the work is fiction, it is crafted from events in Oe's real life and is thus more autobiographical than American readers may be comfortable with. This is a common feature of much Japanese fiction, as with the prewar I-Novels (shishosetsu) or the works of Shiga Naoya, though it is not an unknown phenomenon elsewhere--in fact, all fiction writers draw upon their own experiences to some degree. Here the degree is stronger, that's all. In any case, Oe has refined, sublimated, organized, and crafted his experiences into a fine, well-told story here.
The afterword by the translator is okay but not very helpful, basically quoting long passages from the novel as if you haven't just finished reading it. A few good insights pop up there nonetheless. His translation work itself, though, is as far as I can tell quite excellent.
As much about poetic imagination as postwar Japan.......2004-03-29
torn between a redemptive vision of culture and a globalizing hegemony of the right, this is a splendid and pithy novel that unlocks the sublime visionary power of William Blake (as revolutionary figure) to do global work inside post-imperial Japan and the US/Anglo hegemony. The son is caught between Blake the father and Los the son, and figures a way forward for all: Mutual Forgiveness is the Path to Eternity, said Blake to real politik. I love this novel, it taught me more about Blake and poetry than most poems I read, odd for a Japanese novelist to be tutoring this way!
Over My Head.......2004-02-16
This book has a lot of references to the works by William Blake, which makes it a difficult read. Additionally, Oe explains the writings of Blake and combines it with how it teaches him to understand his handicapped child. I felt like the novel was more autobiographical than fiction. Too deep for me at this point in my reading skill level. A good message though all throughout the novel.
floating.......2003-07-23
As usual Mr. Oe's prose is sharp as a knife. As usual there is an odd humility (here in relation to the writings of William Blake). As usual we find ourselves thinking we are listening to the humble mumblings about some guy with a disabled child only to wake up somewhere quite different than we thought we were. As usual we read something entirely personal in its politic ...
What left me reeling was the way this novel floats between the fact of Mr. Oe's life and the fiction that the novel is.
Hmm.
Read it.
A.B.C.D. Encirclement.......2002-10-07
Oe lachrymosely indulges every anti-Japanese propagandist in the american media conglomerate (Ingram) with ample opportunity to smack their lips over the "moral failings" of Japan. The fact that this ineffectual moralist won the Noble prize while it was denied to Mishima speaks volumes on what supine expectations the american propaganda industry expects from Japan. Both left and right. Writer like Oe and Murakami (who deserted his own country for no nobler reason then to make more money after making a sickening porno film popular in the us) are parasites getting fat by preening all the morbid phobias of a degenerate american elite, allowing them to wallow in self-adulation. What would Mr. Oe have done during the war? Sheepishly meet the demands of an expansionist american navy? Allowed China to invade the country so as not to offend their sensitivities? ... Japan chose WAR rightfully, even with the foreknowledge that it was a lost cause. And Japan would not even exist today if Mr. Oe were around then.
Instead of Oe or Murakami or Bannana Yoshimoto's insipid writing for privileged sectors in the american market (The Nanny Diaries) feeding that markets endless appetite for peeling scabs and self-abasement try and find a video of the Shunya Ito film Pride, which angered ALL the right people in the world and was one of the most popular films in recent Japanese cinema. Or any of the great Yukio Mishima's books, who was indeed what he described himself to be "the conscience of post war Japan".
Customer Reviews:
Destiny is a Harsh Mistress.......2006-09-23
This is one of the most amazing stories I've ever read. The transformation of Miriam could be a metaphor for any woman who's ever healed from and risen beyond an abusive past. The recurring themes of love, compassion and personal responsibility are beautifully entwined. Miriam's personal journey of healing and self-discovery is and will be relevant for many generations to come.
One of the best works of fiction of the 1990's.......2005-03-30
I saw this book the shelf right after it came out, and Thomas Canty's artwork is what made me buy it. I wound up reading it 5 times in a row. It tore at my heart like no other book has. Although I'm a Christian and do not believe as Gael does, her message of love, peace, and tolerance is a powerful one, and it is exceptionally told story. Christendom's shameful history plays a large part here, and she pulls no punches in weaving the historical facts into her tale. I still read the series about once a year. The later books aren't as good as the first and are darker, but the series is still breathtaking.
A world of magic and discovery.......2004-01-24
Gael Baudino takes you on an adventure that will leave you wanting more. I recieved Strand of Starlight as a gift and fell in love with it the moment I first opened the book. Gael takes you an an adventure between two religions, two ways of life. She introduces us to magic and elfs. You see the conflict between Christianity and "Magic". You will see how a race struggles to survive and thrive in a world that is slowly supressing them. In addition you follow the struggle of a women who it pursucuted, raped and struggles to come to terms with who she really is inside. I recommend this to all people who are facinated by elves, magic, fantasy, etc.!! Also grab the rest of the series!
Loved it!.......2003-06-28
I found this book in my school library and I couldn't put it down. This is one of the best books about Elves and the Lady that I have read. She really pulls the reader into the book to experiance this world of beauty and saidness which are felt so strongly by the characters. This book is great and I recommend reading the rest of the series.
A Magical Reminder.......2002-02-20
Gael Baudino mixes magic and mundane together beautifully. This book will surely remind all of us of our place in the world and our duty to others.
Average customer rating:
- Favorite Fantasy
- Strands of starlight
|
Strands of Starlight 'c'
Gael Baudino
Manufacturer: Time Warner Books UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0747409919 |
Customer Reviews:
Favorite Fantasy.......2005-03-01
This book is the most beautiful fantasy novel ever written. It has heart, and the melancholy of the elves' fading world touches the heart, and made me want to run to the woods and spend the rest of my life searching for what they had. As an avid fan of fantasy for more years than I care to count, I consider myself very well-read in fantasy epics, and this one is one of the best. Strands of Starlight is the most captivating and beautiful of the series, but once your read it, you'll be craving the next one. Good luck finding it though, they are all out of print.
Strands of starlight.......2003-12-02
In true Gael Baudino tradition this book (the first of four) in the series is the strongest. The story of a girl, a healer in Inquisition era Europe. And the last tribe of elves, who she befriends. A good story of renewal and forgiveness. But over all you'd be better off reading Gossamer Axe or Dragonsword. Two of Ms. Baudino's better works.
Product Description
The complete series.
Book Description
From the atomic age in Atlantis to the far-flung future, here is a story of interstellar war with Earth as the prize for the victor. The elder race of our galaxy, the Arisians, using advanced mental science, has foreseen the invasion of our universe by the evil Eddorians. The Arisians begin a breeding program on every world that can produce intelligent life, the goal to produce super warriors who can repel the Eddorians. Triplanetary is the early history of that breeding program on Earth, illustrated with the lives of several warriors and soldiers. It ends with the discovery of the interstellar space drive, formation of the Galactic Patrol, and the first Lens-an Arisian device that provides its wearer with mind-reading and telepathic abilities-given to the first Lensman on Earth.
Customer Reviews:
The one that hooked me........2005-11-26
This was the first "Doc" Smith book I ever found, back when his stuff was being reprinted in the late sixties and early seventies. I've been hooked on his writing ever since, even written some in the same vein (unpublished, unfortunately). Every book of his that I've seen, including this one, I've bought and read, usually over and over. Doc's ideas that good and evil DO exist, and that villains really are nasty, sometimes creepy, types, are ones that are probably outdated now, but I still think they're valid, and I intend to keep after the few of his books I've been unable to get ahold of.
Book 1, but consider reading last.......2005-10-20
First the preliminaries: this is THE classic space opera series, not full of cliches, but the wellspring of all space opera cliches. Horribly dated (or wonderfully so depending on your viewpoint) in its literary taste, social values, and science, it is a hoot nonetheless.
As is sometimes the case in popular series, after the capstone book (Children of the Lens), the author went back to do a prequel to tie up some of the loose ends and answer some of the questions fans had, and that is this book. And, it is good read in its own right. However, the series arguably stands better in publication order (2,3,4,5,6,1) than in narrative order (1,2,3,4,5,6), because this book lets the cat out of the bag. The original fans followed along with the author's expanding vision of the series, from a straightforward but innovative space adventure to a teleological history of the universe.
The Precursor.......2005-10-04
With _Triplanetary_ E.E. "Doc" Smith established a path for science fiction that still shows in today's sci-fi. Admittedly the science theory is woefully out-of-date, but hasn't it been said that one should never let science get in the way of a good story? As to that, what better story could you tell? The concepts of good and evil, responsibility, desire for human greatness (as a civilization, not as individuals), as well as socio-political theories of democracy and despotism are all covered here.
Following sci-fi greats drew strongly from Doc's work, as evidenced by Gene Rodenberry's love of the words Space-Time Continuum, which Doc was using before the fifties ever rolled around. Also, Heinlein's 1950's "juvies" included many of the same values, and even some very similar plot-lines (read _Have Spacesuit Will Travel_ and tell me I'm wrong). However, Doc's biggest influence came in the area of the powers of the mind. While everyone else was sitting around talking about the wonders of atomic energy, going to the moon, or breaking the sound barrier, Doc was dreaming up insane applications for the theories concerning the powers of the mind. He beat Asimov's Foundation by years to the idea of statistical psychology, or psychological statistics. He was playing with the idea of telepathic, telekinetic, tele-whatever you want, at least a decade before it became mainstream sci-fi material. He was an original, and, like so many true originals, had been forgotten to the point that only hard-core sci-fi junkies managed to glean bits and pieces of his work through the 90's. Now, however, he is being returned to print (Thank God) and his bloody fisted, swashbuckling, death-defying, self-sacrificing, and sometimes remorse-ridden heroes of space can return to people like me, average Joe's who never knew Doc existed until we got to digging through our college library stacks for sci-fi treasures after becoming utterly disgusted with trying to find anything decent on the mall bookstore's shelves.
So, I thank goodness for Amazon, and thank Doc Smith for sci-fi as I love it.
The Lensman Saga.......2005-03-23
I read this series for the first time in 6th grade and have reread it every 5-10 years since. While its a bit dated in language and it reflects 40's mores, the storyline is solid. I have given my copies to teenagers in the neighborhood and they come asking for the next book about a day later the same way I did 40 years ago. This is a rip roaring space opera that pits ultimate good against ultimate evil with the predicatable result. The only real snag in the ointment is the last book of the series (masters of the vortex) it has never belonged to the rest of the series. books 1-7 (triplanetary to children of the lens) really encompasses the series.
Traditional Space Opera.....pre Star Trek.......2005-03-09
Pehaps Roddenberry was inspired by this series by E.E. Doc Smith. The characters and plots are a little dated but are still entertaining after all these years. While a little dated in spots it still stands up today for readers young and old.
Book Description
Stonewall Jackson. His very name evokes the image of the solid, immovable Confederate general whose sobriquet, earned at the Battle of First Manassas, no longer requires quotation marks. In this volume, Stonewall's pious Christian character, service to the church, unwavering commitment to duty, affectionate role as husband and father, as well as his magnificent service to Virginia are carefully recorded by his close friend Robert Lewis Dabney.
Labeled by some a religious fanatic, General Jackson was simply a consistent biblical Christian who lived out his faith every day, seriously and without compromise. Dabney's account of military life in the field with General Jackson provides poignant insight into the character of the General as they discuss theology and military history, pray together, and gallop to the sound of the guns. In a day bereft of true heroes, Stonewall's gallant deeds and virtuous conduct still move our hearts with admiration. He shows us how a Christian soldier should live and die.
Customer Reviews:
a soilders story.......2003-10-06
this book tells the story of the shenandoah campaign in 1862 through actual soilders acconts they unfold like a story and the pictures are great as a former resident of the valley i LOVED the illustraion of the valley and it is very helpful while reading this book you'll learn a lot about the battles and about the personal stories highly recomended
Customer Reviews:
Life & Campaigns...........2005-11-26
This is absolutely great! General Jackson was a Christian and a warrior. This is by far the best Civil War book I have read.
A Soldier in the Army of God.......2004-10-28
Summary
One of the difficulties in reviewing a biography is resisting the temptation to write a summary of a summary. This is made more difficult when the author has no specific purpose in writing the biography. Robert Lewis Dabney, however, wrote with a clear goal in mind-to vindicate the cause for which his hero, Lt. General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, fought. Dabney's motives were two-fold: to use Jackson's Christian character as an example of hope and perseverance to Jackson's defeated countrymen (vi., all citations and summarizations will be cited by page numbers within parentheses). Secondly, Dabney sought to vindicate the cause for which the South fought-the doctrine of state's rights as Dabney interpreted it. Dabney attempted, not so much to narrate Stonewall Jackson's life, but to give reasons for why Jackson faced each situation, during war-time and peace-time, and the influences that drove Jackson.
Review
Stonewall Jackson's life is described by hardship, courage, and fidelity. Jackson was born on 21 January, 1824 in Clarksburg, VA. Within the first six years of his life Jackson's sister and mother die, forcing him to live with relatives. Although he experienced hardship with his relatives, at the same time he began to cultivate diligence and devotion to family and country; it was at West Point that the diligence would come to full fruition. Jackson was by no means intellectually prepared to study at West Point. This was evident by his finishing his first year ranked 71st in the class. His diligence paid off as he graduated in the top third of his class.
After finishing at West Point, Jackson would soon head to Mexico to serve in the Mexican War. This proved to be a crucial period in Jackson's life as he distinguished himself as competent artillery man and began an interest in Christianity. After exploring the different denominations Jackson was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in the early 1850's (60-61, he did not actually join the church until he moved back to Virginia). It could be argued (and Dabney takes its truth for granted) that one cannot understand Stonewall Jackson without understanding his Christianity which occupied every moment of his existence. In fact, Dabney uses Jackson's religious convictions to tie in all other themes in his life: "As God's nature and will were to him the standard of that which is right, and the fountain-head of obligation, so, whenever he found a fellow-creature clothed by the sanction of right, with legitimate authority over his conscience, he honored and obeyed him within his proper sphere, as a bearer of a delegated portion of the majesty of heaven; and his respect became a religious sentiment" (87). This mentality above all else would be the force that drove Jackson into war; having sworn fidelity to Virginia and seeing her cause as God's cause, he could then fight for Virginia and the South as he was fighting for God.
In speaking of the cause for Secession and Jackson's belief in it, Dabney is at his literary best. Dabney described Jackson as a "States'-Rights' Democrat" and spends the next thirty pages describing the implications of that view. Dabney argued that the right of a state, primarily Virginia, accepted the Constitution on one condition: that she could retire from the Union if she found the situation to be unsatisfactory to her sovereignty (130). Although this part of the book shows Dabney at his best, it is hard to see how much of these thoughts are Dabney's and how much are Jackson's. Dabney briefly mentions slavery and that it was "not the cause, but only the occasion, of the Southern resistance" (163).
Understanding the political and religious convictions of Jackson, Dabney then applied this understanding to the Civil War. Jackson fought each battle with the same intensity with which he lived every other aspect of his life: a religious devotion to God coupled with a fervent desire to his superiors. Although Dabney never explicitly phrased it this way, Jackson saw himself as a soldier fighting in the army of God. The Southern Cause was God's cause, or so Jackson thought. As a result, Jackson could attribute each victory in battle to the blessing of God, as his letters to his wife show (229).
Critique
Although one may fault Dabney with writing a biased account of the Civil War and his hero in particular, Dabney would have freely admitted as much. Dabney was privy to much personal information about Jackson and had the advantage of serving as his chief-of-staff for a year in 1862, giving him key insight into important battles. Although his prose was laborious at times, having warmed up to his subject he could reach elegant literary heights. A fine example is his defense of Virginia in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for an invasion of the South, "But when the tyrant tried the perilous experiment, he was startled by a result as unexpected as that which followed the touch of Ithuriel's spear. She, whom he thought a patient, hesitating...paralytic, flamed up...like a pyramid of fire, and Virginia stood forth again in her immortal youth, the unterrified Commonwealth of 1776...wielding that sword which has ever flashed before the eyes of aggressors, the Sic Semper Tyrannis" (157). Civil War studies have moved beyond Dabney's time, but his work has rightly gained the title of a classic.
Very informative and enlightening........1999-08-11
I found this book most informative, especially as it was written by a contemporary of Jackson's. (the first part of this book went to print during the Civil War). R.L.Dabney served for a time with Jackson and was asked by Mrs Jackson to write this book. It is, as I suppose it is to be expected, a bit biased in Jackson's favor and the "speak" takes a little getting used to since it was written over one hundred years ago, however this lends this book an air of authenticity. I found the use of Jackson's letters to his wife very informative as they reveal his strength of character and his true devotion to his religion and to the Southern cause as he perceived it. Overall I found this an inspirational book that only served to deepen my already profound respect for this great hero.
Customer Reviews:
Surprisingly bad, the worst in the Time-Life series.......2001-06-05
I've found the Time-Life series to be generally well done, presenting mostly introductory and basic material, but at least accurate. This volume is an exception. Despite conferring with Robertson, Jackson's main biographer, the author still repeats the myths about lemons, Jackson standing sole guard for his army, etc. etc. Overall the analysis seems light and the maps, which are very good in some other volumes, are too few. This book seems to me to only be worth reading for the illustrations. Skip it, and get Tanner's book instead.
Product Description
A Christian Calvanist view of Stonewall Jackson campaigns of the civil war
Book Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.
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