Average customer rating:
- An essential read
- History Repeats Itself
- Determinism at work: Carrie rises; Hurstwood falls
|
Sister Carrie (Norton Critical Editions)
Theodore Dreiser
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Classics
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
20th Century
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
20th Century
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Criticism & Theory
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
British
| Short Stories
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Dreiser, Theodore
| ( D )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Sisters
| Women's Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Literature & Fiction
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Rise of Silas Lapham (Barnes & Noble Classics)
-
The House of Mirth (Dover Thrift Editions)
-
McTeague (Signet Classics)
-
A Hazard of New Fortunes (Modern Library Classics)
-
A Modern Instance
ASIN: 0393960420 |
Customer Reviews:
An essential read.......2005-12-17
Sister Carrie is undoubtedly a hallmark of American literature. Whether one reads this as a social Darwinesque glorification of American society or a scathing criticism of capitalist individualism and urban naturalism, Dreiser's work encapsulates the fabric of American society and history. Unfortunately, Dreiser has gone long underappreciated, and the sheer importance of his work has yet to be fully recognized.
Norton's edition is spectacular, compiling a significant amount of background information about Dreiser and the writing of Sister Carrie, as well as critical responses and reviews. Another edition worthy of attention is the University of Pennsylvania "unabridged" publication, regardless of one's opinions about the authenticity or genuousness of un-editing the edited (originally published) Sister Carrie.
History Repeats Itself.......2005-04-02
Here is a snapshot, written by a journalist, of Chicago and New York of 110 years ago. Dreiser, according to the excellent background notes in this Norton edition, had never read "naturalist" novels before he wrote this one, but had been heavily influenced by Balzac. What we have here is social and political messages delivered in the context of the life of a young, idealistic woman who comes to Chicago to escape the boredom of a small town and to make her way in the world. I'm reminded of the book, Devil in the White City, and how it mentions all the young women who flocked to Chicago in the 1880s and 1890s and were in awe of that booming city's majesty and bustle and life. What Carrie finds is utter indifference and dullness until a man sets her up in a "love nest." What a scandal! Soon Carrie grows weary of this guy and is taken with the true tragic figure in this story, a successful married man named Hurstwood. Hurstwood falls in love with Carrie and blows his whole life up for that love. All of this is based on a true story of Dreiser's own sister, we learn from the background notes, but Dreiser has embellished this squalid little tale to give us the demise of a man in minute and realistic detail, all the while commenting on the meaning of success, material well being, and what happiness is all about. This would all be trite if it weren't framed in journalistic realism. Carrie ends up a smashing "success" in the theater, but never finds true contentment. Question: What is the good life? Answer: It comes from internal sources, not external materialistic ones. But money, nevertheless, helps along the way to give you the leisure time to even contemplate this question. Dreiser doesn't seem to address this.
The corrosive depression that Hurstwood suffers is hard to take, but the scenes of old New York hark to today's downtown New York, south of 34th Street, where you can still see the buildings Dreiser describes, and you can still see the hard-luck people as well.
This is a unique American novel, well worth the time. This edition is also well worth the wealth of information it provides.
Determinism at work: Carrie rises; Hurstwood falls.......1999-05-29
Dreiser's Sister Carrie is an urban novel. A country girl comes to the city, ends up with a slick saleman as a kept woman, but runs off with a bar manager to New York where she finds fame as an actress. Her bar manager husband falls on hard times and kills himself. Carrie's fortunes rise as Hurstwood's falls. The characters operate in the world of the city with its mystical pull. Their decisions and some chance events help guide along the plot, but this is a world of survival of the fittest. Carrie turns out to be fit, while Hurstwood does not. There are undertones of Darwin's theories. Dreiser himself occasionally appears as a voice in the work separate from the narrator and the characters. The Norton Critical Edition contains useful reference works at the back and a bibliography helpful for starting research.
Book Description
Sam was a Chicago lawyer content to drift though life on his good looks and his wife's money, until a violent crime shatters his world. Newly addicted to watching Sister North, a nun with a popular television show, Sam embarks on a trip to Lake Eagleton, Wisconsin, to see the nun personally, seeking forgiveness and spiritual guidance. In Lake Eagleton, he finds out much more about Sister North, himself, and falling in love than he ever expected. Sister North is a novel of forgiveness and hope that takes a poignant and humorous look at what passes for love and faith in the twenty-first century.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable. Lots of laughs. .......2007-10-01
I just finished this book and I enjoyed it. I usually look for women authors but I'm pleased with my choice of this book/author. He made me laugh, maybe even taught me something (through the character's dad and also Sister North). Sweet, touching.
Well worth the read.......2007-02-24
This is a great book with well developed characters. It is different and interesting.
Plenty here to enjoy and think about.......2005-10-18
The praise about the dialogue and description is both as true as it is noteworthy. But the key matters here are the transformations of people / characters. Of Sam, Willie, Louis, Meg, Patrick, Lila and Dot, and others. Each different, one from then other, dealing with true faith unique to each person, as opposed to surface / commercial faith. Each person comes to do the right thing, more or less, because of his or her own journey to, and within, Eagleton, Wisconsin. John Lennon once wrote, Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans. In Sister North, the same can be said, through story and character -- that the plan you make to obtain religious awareness, and awareness of self or others, is not the true road that takes you to your awareness. Plus, the zinger Sam receives from (I won't say who) in answer to his big question, is, in fact, a zinger. Sam's flaws are what make him interesting, they make the reader root for him. Without cliche, but with humor and originality, Sister North takes the reader on a mixed journey of humor, tragedy, and resolution, ending softly, and importantly, on what the real treasure is within the borders of Eagleton, WI.
Excellent book.......2005-09-13
I picked up this book merely because I loved the cover art (the nun figurine sitting on a windowsill, with "Go Sister" as its label). There have been very few books that have made me laugh out loud like I did through the first few chapters. A good humorist is a great find, indeed! While the tone becomes more somber after the "incident", there is a dark humor that is addictive, all while telling the tale about one man's search for his place in the world. The intriguing mystery of Sister North kept me reading because I just HAD to know where she was. A very pleasant, well-written book and one of the best I've read in the past year.
Interesting characters.......2005-07-26
This book is chock full of interesting characters....hilarious, pathetic, and inspirational. It kept me hooked. Even in the midst of this odd story there is much truth. I don't remember how I happened upon this book but I'm very glad I did!
Book Description
Celeste English and Ronnie Frazier are sisters, but they couldn't be more different. Celeste is a doctor's wife, living a perfect and elegant life. But secretly, she is terrified: her marriage is falling apart and her need to control the people around her threatens to alienate her entire family. And Celeste allows no one to see how vulnerable she really is. Ronnie is an actress, living in New York. Her life, however, is a lie: she has no money, has no home, and her life is held together by "chewing gum, paper clips, and spit," though she wants everyone to think that her life is one of high glamour and budding fame. When their father dies, the sisters inherit a house in Prosper, North Carolina. Their mother, Della, is adamant that they forget about going there and dredging up the past. Because Della has secrets she'd rather not see come to light-secrets and heartbreak she's kept from everyone for years. Neither Ronnie, Celeste, nor Della realize just what their trip to Prosper will uncover and they must discover for themselves who they really are, who they really love, and what the future holds for them. FAR FROM THE TREE is a novel that asks the questions: can the past ever truly remain hidden? Can mothers and daughters put aside their usual roles long enough to get to really know each other? Long enough to see they each have felt the love, loss, heartache and joy that they share as women. And can two strangers realize that they are, and always will be, sisters?
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful Reading!.......2003-08-26
I enjoyed this book so much! The relationship between mother and daughters reminds me of my own personal interactions with my own daughters at times! It all seemed so real.
The sisters behaved just like some sisters do.....the way everything was eventually brought out in the open and the mother's coming to terms with her past was beautifully written.
This is a Great read! I recommend it.
Great Sophmore Effort.......2003-07-29
I also enjoyed this book. Celeste and Ronnie Fraiser, two sisters different as night and day, their beloved father has died and neither one can understand their mother, Della. Good storyline, and great characters make this story worthwhile and enjoyable reading. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys stories about family misunderstandings, legacies, joy and pains and forgiveness. I hope someone can pick this book up and decide to make a movie. Read and Enjoy!
Warm, enjoyable reading.......2003-07-21
First off, if you don't like "chick books" as my husband calls them (i.e. lots of emotion, relationship problems, love and family issues, etc.) you may not care for this book. I wasn't sure I would like it, but did--despite myself.
The authors have a gift for dialogue that is witty and entertaining, yet believable. The pacing at the beginning might seem slow to some readers, yet I thought it worked perfectly with the book. With the theme of long-kept secrets and the unintentional harm they can do, the revelations would have seemed more contrived had they come too quickly. If anything, the pacing towards the end was a little too abrupt. I felt that things were tied up a little too neatly after all the secrets came pouring out in one rush.
The characters did seem a bit one-dimensional and stereotyped at times: Celeste--proper and rigid, overly concerned with status; Ronnie--trying to appear successful and carefree while masking her increasing sense of failure; Della--hiding her past and any indication of herself as a woman in her own right in order to remain "the mother." It seemed at times as if every central character was boiled down to one flaw that she needed to overcome, and that the flaw was essentially the same in each--the keeping of a secret that would have been less devastating had she been able to share it with her family.
On the other hand, the sense of a common shortcoming strengthened the sense that they were, indeed, family. And despite the somewhat shallow characterizations, I found myself caring about what happened to each one--and hoping they'd all learn what they needed in order to make their lives work in the future.
This was not complex reading, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable exploration of the relations of a mother and her daughters--the love they have for each other as well as the damage they do to that love in the name of maintaining their own images.
As good as the first.......2003-07-02
This book is a very great family story about diggin up old secrets. The co-authors have done it again!!
Awesome! Loved the way the plot twisted!.......2003-06-25
This was an excellent book. It started out slow but DEFINITELY became more interesting as the story began to unfold.
Book Description
In a garden surrounded by a tall fence, tucked away behind a small, quiet house in an even smaller town, is an apple tree that is rumored to bear a very special sort of fruit. In this luminous debut novel, Sarah Addison Allen tells the story of that enchanted tree, and the extraordinary people who tend it.…
The Waverleys have always been a curious family, endowed with peculiar gifts that make them outsiders even in their hometown of Bascom, North Carolina. Even their garden has a reputation, famous for its feisty apple tree that bears prophetic fruit, and its edible flowers, imbued with special powers. Generations of Waverleys tended this garden. Their history was in the soil. But so were their futures.
A successful caterer, Claire Waverley prepares dishes made with her mystical plants—from the nasturtiums that aid in keeping secrets and the pansies that make children thoughtful, to the snapdragons intended to discourage the attentions of her amorous neighbor. Meanwhile, her elderly cousin, Evanelle, is known for distributing unexpected gifts whose uses become uncannily clear. They are the last of the Waverleys—except for Claire’s rebellious sister, Sydney, who fled Bascom the moment she could, abandoning Claire, as their own mother had years before.
When Sydney suddenly returns home with a young daughter of her own, Claire’s quiet life is turned upside down—along with the protective boundary she has so carefully constructed around her heart. Together again in the house they grew up in, Sydney takes stock of all she left behind, as Claire struggles to heal the wounds of the past. And soon the sisters realize they must deal with their common legacy—if they are ever to feel at home in Bascom—or with each other.
Enchanting and heartfelt, this captivating novel is sure to cast a spell with a style all its own….
Customer Reviews:
well done.......2007-10-11
This isn't the best book I've read this year, but it's still excellent. I enjoyed it and Allen does a fine job.
I enjoyed it enough that I'm planning to check out some of Allen's other work. Recommended.
Light Quick Read.......2007-10-10
This book was very refreshing and a quick read. I wish it had been a longer book. I missed it when it was done.
I Loved This Book.......2007-10-10
I read this entire book in 7 hours and it stuck with me. I really enjoyed the flow of the story, the characters, and the setting. I am a big fan of magical realism. This book is a wonderful addition to my library.
Almost perfect.......2007-10-08
This is a wonderful, engaging story of romance and white magic of the culinary variety. The prose is, in general, nothing truly elegant, but I actually found that to be a plus. The writing felt easy and accessible which made the book read more quickly than one that takes the time to dazzle with lyricism only to slow me down with an embroidered vocabulary and obscure metaphors. And the author still does come up with several beautiful choices of phrase. If you don't mind two fairly sexy scenes, this would probably be a great book to share with a teenage girl who needs encouragement to read.
What truly works here are the characters and the author's splendid imagination when describing their individual peculiarities and gifts. Similar to Tita from Like Water for Chocolate, Claire Waverly has the ability to affect peoples' emotions through the food she makes with edible flowers. Her sister's craft is her mastery of hair -- giving cuts that make men notice their wives more or make a person more confident or make it impossible for the auto repairman to cheat on the bill. Their elderly cousin Evanelle gives little gifts for no known reason, but soon after the item is given, the receiver needs it. The male love interests, the female rivals, and even a mischievous apple tree are intriguing, three-dimensional characters.
I'm not going to spoil anything, but I will say that I feel the author made a misstep very near the end that affects the resolution of the story's biggest conflict. I think it would be a very interesting topic for book groups to discuss how they feel about the turn of events on page 273, especially since from all the five star reviews, it looks like a lot of people don't agree that there's any kind of convenient believability problem. I am a writer, so I plan to ask other readers I know how they would have written that page.
Still, there are so many people I would recommend this to. Fans of Chocolat, Practical Magic, and the Southern charm of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe will probably love this book. Likewise, I think this story would make a lovely movie. I am charmed and impressed by this author.
disappointing .......2007-10-07
I was so looking forward to reading this book, and unfortunately was very disappointed by it. I am surprised that so many people have rated this book so highly. I found it to be poorly written and uncompelling. It read in a predictable shallow fashion; no good character development, and prose that did not stir emotion or intellect.
Average customer rating:
- Heartwarming and appealing
|
Circle dance: A novel
Sharlee Mullins Glenn
Manufacturer: Bookcraft
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
| Baby-3
| Ages 4-8
| Ages 9-12
| Animals
| Arts & Music
| Books on Cassette
| Books on CD
| Authors & Illustrators, A-Z
| Computers
| Educational
| History & Historical Fiction
| Issues
| Literature
| Obsessions
| People & Places
| Popular Characters
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Religions
| Science, Nature & How It Works
| Series
| Sports & Activities
ASIN: 1570085706 |
Customer Reviews:
Heartwarming and appealing.......2004-07-29
I laughed (even hooted) and cried my way through this deceptively simple story. The depth and understanding of youth, of family, of love, and even of the Native American culture was amazingly adept, thoughtful, and insightful. Britta was loveable and spunky - reminded me of myself. A book everyone should read.
Average customer rating:
- Not just a house, it's a home
- Moving...
- Delicious new voice
- Lila rules
|
Moving Lila: A Novel
Julie Fleming
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| 18th Century
| 19th Century
| 20th Century
| African American
| Asian American
| Classics
| Collections & Readers
| Drama
| General
| Hispanic
| History & Criticism
| Humor
| Jewish American
| Letters & Correspondence
| Native American
| Poetry
| Short Stories
| Women Writers
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0312244096 |
Customer Reviews:
Not just a house, it's a home.......2001-02-07
A very fun story. There are a lot of memories here that are shared and there's even a little bit of information that some of the family members try not to share. What a unique story.....moving a house because of a last request from a father who has passed away. Truely a fun, quick, unique read. Read this book, it's intriguing as well as fun and will give you a lift.
Moving..........2000-11-25
This novel had me intrigued at page one. The entire concept of moving a house, moving a memory, moving a life resonated throughout the novel. It is a journey, one that the reader feels a part of, one that the reader cares about. Mira, Kat, Ray, Wesley, all visable characters. And the house, it has a life of its own, filled with happy and sorrowful memories. Fleming shows that houses are not just objects, but homes, for good or bad, they are homes. A great read.
Delicious new voice.......2000-04-12
Moving Lila is a fresh and engaging novel that manages to be simultaneously moving, funny, and thoughtful. A wonderful read, enjoyable on every page.
Lila rules.......2000-03-01
I guess the true power of this novel lies in its ability to be interesting on every single page. A rare feat. The writer treats her characters tenderly and with compassion, and though perhaps not its main design, Moving Lila leaves a reader with the feeling they've just taken a life-affirming ride through the Deep South. Here's to Lila getting the attention she deserves.
Book Description
The Katurran Odyssey is a remarkable visual achievement, filled with spectacle, fantasy, and wonder on every page. This epic tale of faith, hope, and selfless heroism is illuminated by the stunning illustrations of Terryl Whitlatch, the principal creature designer for the Star Wars prequels, and is brought to dynamic life by the storytelling of screenwriter and author David Michael Wieger.
Bo-hibba is a remote island in a faraway time and place that is populated by animals who are at once fantastic and startlingly real. The island's survival is threatened by the Long Winter, and not even the High Priest's ancient ceremony of renewal can put an end to the suffering from the hunger and the cold.
Katook, a small but courageous young lemur, lives in the village of Kattakuk. When he dares to enter a forbidden area on the island and witnesses a shocking act, the outraged priests banish him from the island forever. Forced to journey across the vast sea in search of a new home, Katook encounters great perils and marvels on his quest and undergoes profound tests of trust and friendship. At last, he finds the place where the secret of the Long Winter is revealed and where he must confront his greatest fear if he is to save his family and his island home.
Like such classic works of fantasy as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Rien Poortvliet's Gnomes, C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, Brian Jacques's Redwall series, and Brian Froud's Faeries, The Katurran Odyssey creates a mythic world imbued with beauty, adventure, and transcendent imagination.
Customer Reviews:
stunning piece of work.......2007-06-26
this is a truly amazing book. i remember walking through my local bookstore and seeing the cover, i just had to pick it up. the artwork is just so beautiful, it's such a shame that the tradition of adding illustrations (especially full page spreads, digitally colored, with tons of cool aniamls frolicking all over the place) has fallen by the way-side. each page is full of breath-taking artisty which at first glance appear only to be inhabited by modern-day creatures, but up further investigations (hours and hours of fun drooling over all the little details that bring the characters to life) all of these fantastical characters just leap right off the page.
the story itself is a charming bit folklore, greek architypes, and the whimsical fantasy of childhood dreams. the characters are at the same time familiar and strikingly unique. i found myself entranced (?) by their struggles and discoveries. my only nagging little bit of criticism was that the catalyst's eyes turned blue to denote that he was special/ different from the rest of the pack. personally i think having a character with orange eyes is pretty rockin, but i understand that the author/artist had to give him some trait that would force him out of the village and onto his quest. yellow eyes would've been fine, or better yet a nice violet-y color, hell his eyes could have just changed from one color to another depending on his mood.
but i digress, the books awesome and i totally endorse getting your hands on a copy asap.
If children owned coffee tables. This would be displayed on them.......2006-12-16
A beautiful and lavishly illustrated story of hope, friendship, and discovery, I have read many comparisons to DINOTOPIA but found David Michael Wieger's story somewhere between WATERSHIP DOWN and GULLIVER'S TRAVELS. Wieger's story of a lemur's exile after his Lutheranesque defiance of his tribe's blind religeous obeisance could have easily been a fine standard novel. However it absolutely glows as a graphic story.
The magnificent artwork of Terryl Whitlatch and the vibrant colouring of Stephanie Lostimolo have elavated this book to a prestige format.
The Katurran Odyssey is populated by animals both extant and extinct. unlike DINOTOPIA there are no humans on Katurrah but look to the backgrounds for many cultural influences. From Aboriginal petroglyphs, Assyrian ruins, Angkor Wat temples, to Sumatran Architecture and Tuareg Tents. Human influence is never far behind, but with a Katurran twist.
The Katurran Odyssey could lure non-readers with it's lush imagery, and thrall them with it's timeless story. A perfect gift book for anyone and everyone, from avid readers to occasional dreamers. I anxiously await book two.
Astounding.......2006-11-06
Clever, witty... any and all positive opinions apply toward this astounding book.
Please please PLEASE let there be a book 2!
Step away from the computer.......2006-06-30
Trying to locate books for my nine year old that would hold his attention as well as the computer seems to, the illustration in this book jumped out at me. He read it cover to cover that very day. This is "Book One - Finding Home"...he is (im)patiently waiting for "Book Two".
Definately a must read.
An AMAZING ride.......2005-07-13
Wow. So many good things to say about this book and so little space to say it in. I suppose I'll spare your eyes the pain of mucking through all of the wonderfully mushy feelings that I have for this book and give you the bare bones.
First of all, the art. It's the first thing that you'll notice and the main thing that will stay with you long after you've closed the book. It completely floored me. In fact, it was the art that kept me hungering and searching local bookstores until I finally had my library order it for me just so I could finish it. I simply can't get enough of the beautiful artwork in this book; leafing through the pages has kept me occupied for hours.
Then there are the characters. You will never be able to forget the creatures that you will meet as you travel through this fantastic universe with Katook and Quigga. The two main characters themselves are wonderfully built and each have a solid back story to support them throughout their journey. But the other animals that live within the pages of the Katurran Odyssey will captivate minds of all ages. I know that many of the creatures that I saw in the book I had never heard of before, making each turn of the page in itself exciting at the anticipation of what I would see next. In fact, one of the most endearing things about this novel is that every animal drawn or spoken about has existed at one point or another, be it in prehistoric times or modern day. In fact, Quigga himself is of a recently extinct species of zebra known as Quagga.
The lessons learned as you read this book will ring VERY true to every reader, no matter the age. This makes the book a great tool for the kiddies and also a wonderfully lifting, spiritual reverie for the more mature audiences.
Alright, to keep it short and to summarize the review, this book is a MUST BUY. You will come away from this book better for the experience, I assure you.
Book Description
When a one-way time tunnel to Earth's distant past, specifically six million B.C., was discovered by folks on the Galactic Milieu, every misfit for light-years around hurried to pass through it. Each sought his own brand of happiness. But none could have guessed what awaited them. Not even in a million years....
THE SAGA OF PLIOCENE EXILE
Volume I:THE MANY-COLORED LAND
Volume II:THE GOLDEN TORC
Volume III:THE NONBORN KING
Volume IV:THE ADVERSARY
. . . and don't miss A PLIOCENE COMPANION
Customer Reviews:
Best Damn SciFi series EVER!!!.......2007-07-24
from the first page to the very last page ending the entire series, i've loved since i acquired the first book. i cannot remember how many times i've read and reread them, even having to replace every single one when they were stolen from me. The whole concept of mental powers have always interested me so seeing a series with that in mind was right up my alley.
Because of this series, i want the intervention to hurry up and happen so i too, can regen myself to my 20's and take off from this planet.
Halfway through the saga, I'm cautiously positive .......2006-09-25
I have just finished the second book in this four-volume "saga" (which is itself part of of a larger series that encompasses a two-volume middle and a concluding trilogy). I'm generally a sucker for well-done grand operatic series (say, like the first four Dune books, or Dan Simmons' Hyperion novels), so I was excited to recently discover this one that I had somehow overlooked, and all the more so in light of the fairly positive reviews that it had generated here on Amazon. Still, it struck me as curious, perhaps portentous, that May's sprawling series had never been honored with any of the genre's major awards.
Well, now being at the halfway point (of the first set), I think my wariness was partly justified, yet at the same time, I must say that I plan to press on with the others, which says something good is going on, because if something really blows, I have no compunctions about seeking greener reading pastures elsewhere. (As I did, for example, after wading through the first three of Alistair Reynolds' meandering, prolix space operas. A similar fear has kept me away from Peter Hamilton's books to date.)
May is a fine writer. Some people complain about her massive vocabulary, which I find to be a fairly ludicrous objection. (You want basic vocab: read Orson Scott Canard.) Nor do I think that she rhapsodizes in excessive detail over minor incidents (aka, Tolkienitis) to flesh out a thin plot; in fact, major confrontations sometimes seem to zip by almost too quickly. The human characters, esp. the core "Group Green" whose bifurcated adventures we mostly follow, are complex, believable, and interesting; the "exotics" (aliens) only slightly less so, for the most part. However . . . you really do almost need a program to keep up with the huge and ever-growing cast of characters (there is a companion available to the series, but beware of using it, because unsurprisingly, its synopses tend to give away plot points in advance), and sometimes that reeks of complexity for complexity's sake. But my biggest objection, I think, is that too much of the plot revolves around points that seem to me redolent of someone who played a tad too much Dungeons & Dragons in their day. (These books were written in the early 80s.) Both the exotics and the humans are endowed with "metapsychic functions" (shall we just say, superpowers?) of different types and combinations, which come in both "latent" and "operant" varieties. Hmmm. That stuff grates on me after awhile, and reminds me way too much of those stupid role-playing games where such powers and their "levels" (not to mention the acquisition of special uber-weapons, which also play a role herein as well) are determined by dice rolls and other tedious, capricious methods that help make them, overall, quite unbelievable. There's a lot of that sort of deus ex machination in these books, and its resemblance to D&D is exacerbated by the overwhelmingly fantasy (rather than science-fiction) feel to the series, which the publisher then compounded with atrocious cover-art.
Anyway, I'm giving it four stars for now, though three and a half would be more accurate. The plot(s) are engrossing enough that I plan to keep reading, and I also admire the degree to which May has managed to weave a decent amount of technology (the basis of most science-fiction) and social commentary (natch) into her narrative, as opposed to the repressed romantic navel-gazing with which most fantasy fiction is usually associated. I'll keep you anonymous readers posted how I feel about it after I make it through a few more.
Works for me.......2006-06-09
I've been reading science fiction for a long time and confess to a weakness for space opera. Of all the universes I've visited, this one doesn't let go. I've read all 9 of the books that comprise May's Galactic Milieu universe--at least four times. There are two reasons folks love this universe, particularly the Exile quartet: the delightful mixture of classic sci-fi elements with fantasy, and the fact that the story is circular; that is, questions are answered, stories are completed, and it all is connected.
A group of eight malcontents flee a far-too-orderly, benevolently dictatorial galactic civilization through a gate into the Pliocene, 6 million years in the past. It's a one way trip and they don't know what they'll find when they get there.
What they find: the origins of some of our most deeply felt legends about little people, elves, trolls and others. And space ships. And laser lances. And amazing mind powers. And sex. And violence. Not much rock and roll, though.
No, this isn't Steinbeck, or even Silverberg. May is telling a rip-snorter here, not going all LeGuin on us. That's why I love the books. They're just loads of fun.
Simply one of the best..........2006-04-01
As another reviewer mentioned, this is one of the few series of books that I will return to every few years, and enjoy just as much the Nth time around. In my opinion, May is a master: Her plotting is tight, her characters are fun (and flawed), and her dialog is very good (and often funny!) Finally -- and so FEW of her contemporaries seem to be able to do this -- this is not another trite GoooD vs EeevilL tome. That's right, May is capable of creating sympathetic characters on both (even many!) sides of a conflict. In my mind this series is one of the most underrated sci-fi/fantasy series of all time. The series climax, between the "court jester" and the "dark king" is amazing. Buy them, read them, enjoy.
Skim the first section, then it gets good........2005-08-18
I picked up this book after having it recommended to me by friends who are also scifi/fantasy fans. I struggled through the first third of the book bored out of my mind as she introduces too many characters, seemingly unrelated and goes into their background story which I don't care about and just confuses me,plus 1 set of aliens seemingly unconnected with the rest of the story and finally 1 set of preshistoric humans who also seem unrelated. My boyfriend noticed I was reading it and said he'd once started trying to read it and could never get through it.
However, I stuck with it and just at the end of the first section the book started to interest me. The fact that this group of people was taking a one way time gate back to the prehistoric past was an interesting concept.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD
This group of misfits in future society travel back to the past.... and are immediately enslaved by aliens. The women are to be used for forced breeding. (side note: I notice this was published the same year as Handmaids Tale, wonder if one novel influenced the other?) The last two sections are interesting reaction to this alien infestation of prehistoric Earth. The writer puts in a lot of interesting European mythology into the book - which I found interesting. (Though I can see how others might not like it). She also tries to explore human psychology, character and motivations in an interesting way.
Anyway, I can't say I'd recommend everyone read it, but I'm definitely glad I made myself read beyond the first 60 or so pages. I am going to read the rest of the series.
So my suggestion to those interested is to skim the beginnning (you can always go back & read the character's backgrounds after you know who is who) and that not all the books editions have the tacky/cheesy cover that is shown on this page or it really would have scared me off!
Customer Reviews:
Super Reader.......2007-08-30
For a fan of this series by Julian May, and I have read them many times, this is excellent. Lots of tidbits you may have missed when reading, too.
This includes the information on the various different types of operant powers, the society of the Pliocene, as well as of the milieu and the technology that Marc Remillard manages to bring back.
An essential book for Julian May fans.......2002-11-09
It has to be asked - is it necessary to add this book to your shelf? Do you really need another 'Readers Guide' type book?
Well, if you're a fan of Julian May's sprawing 'Galactic Milieu' series, (a page-turning & adventurous retelling of 'Paradise Lost' long before Phillip Pullman thought to do it) and a member of the Julian May discussion group
Alright, so it only covers the 'Exiles' part of the series (this book really needs an update) but the glossary is quite useful even if some of the entries are short, and the three interviews with the author are worth the price of the book by istself.
Only To Complete Your Collection..........2002-01-31
This hard-to-find book is a companion to the four-book Pliocene Exile Saga by Julian May. (The saga itself was followed by two related series, the Great Intervention and the Galactic Milieu.) I remember way back when these first came out, I was but an ignorant lad and I too readily dismissed them as foolish tripe of the most juvenile sort. I mean, one-way time travel back to the past of Earth's Pliocene era? Where strange aliens ruled? And people ran about, zapping each other with mind powers? Yeah, it sounds hokey, but it's actually really good and quite addictive stuff.
In any case, this volume is a reference guide to the saga. It has some nice maps and it reprints three interviews with the author, which are rather informative. It also includes a bibliography of sources that inspired her, references to real poems that were quoted in the saga, and a discussion of why cats are great.
The core material, however, isn't so compelling. By deliberate design, May doesn't give away too much about any characters in these listings, so they tend to be very skeletal. A typical entry will read something like "Joe Bloggs was a powerful redactor who lived in Goriah and fought in the Great Tourney. For details, read his adventures in 'The Golden Torc'." Um...okay. By comparison, most guides of this sort for other series will spill their guts about every tangential detail.
Also, keep in mind that the guide only covers the Pliocene saga and it treats characters from the other two series only insofar as they had relevance to this first set of novels. So, if you want the lowdown on Rogatien Remillard, for instance, you're out of luck.
This is a good book to have if you wish to complete your collection, but is otherwise fairly superfluous.
Average customer rating:
|
Saga Pliocene #01 the Many-Colored Land
Julian May
Manufacturer: Del Rey Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
May, Julian
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0345008405 |
Book Description
In its first thousand years-from the revelations to Muhammad in the seventh century to the great Islamic empires of the sixteenth-Islamic civilization flourished. While Europeans suffered through the Dark Ages, Muslims in such cities as Jerusalem, Damascus, Alexandria, Fez, Tunis, Cairo, and Baghdad made remarkable advances in philosophy, science, medicine, literature, and art. This engrossing and accessible book explores the first millennium of Islamic culture, shattering stereotypes and enlightening readers about the events and achievements that have shaped contemporary Islamic civilization. Jonathan Bloom and Sheila Blair examine the rise of Islam, the life of Muhammad, and the Islamic principles of faith. They describe the golden age of the Abbasids, the Mongol invasions, and the great Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires that emerged in their wake. Their narrative, complemented by excerpts of the Koran, poetry, biographies, inscriptions, travel guides, and even a thirteenth-century recipe, concludes with a brief epilogue that takes us to the twenty-first century. Colorfully illustrated, this book is a wonderful introduction to the rich history of a civilization that still radically affects the world.
Customer Reviews:
Great Book that Contains Accurate History of Islam.......2007-06-27
I ordered this book for a college course, and it was great front to back! Two chapters went more into detail than neccessary considering the "Golden Age" yet the book accurately describes the history of the Islamic World from the prophet Muhammed and before up to present day. A definate buy for those who want to know more about the history of the middle east concerning Islam.
Excellent Historical Overview and Background.......2006-05-30
In trying to better understand Islam, I bought this book on Amazon and have found it to be quite good- excellent, in fact.
I was not looking for an in-depth scholarly work, but an overview and perspective. Mission accomplished. Each chapter is neatly organized into topical information that follows logically and neatly dovetails into the previous chapters.
The full color photographs are excellent- I truly wish more books would offer up such visuals as well as Bloom and Blair have in this book.
If you're looking for depth ad naseum, this isn't your book. But if you're looking for an interesting read with a reasonable index and reasonable "cast of characters" outlined both in the book and in the index, give this one a shot.
History written by art historians.......2004-03-23
This book does not give an accurate or chronologicaly coherent description of the birth and rise of Islam. The authors of the book are not Islamic historians, they are art historians writing about an age and culture that did not produce significant works of art. To a person unfamiliar with Islam it seems complete and accurate.
This book explains it all!.......2002-10-20
This book is the companion to the PBS movie, Islam: Empire of Faith. I began reading this book, full of stereotypes against Islam. This book really opened my eyes. The whole History of Islam has been filled with misunderstanding. I would recommend this book to any person. It is extremely well written, and it would help anyone to better understand Islam!
Fascinating.......2002-01-29
This is a wonderful introduction to the Islamic Empire and (to some extent) Islam itself. It's meant to be a companion to the PBS video "Islam: Empire of Faith." It covers the same time period (the first 1000 years of Islam), but doesn't have the same exact content as the video. There is some overlap, but not enough to make either the book or the video redundant. This book is written by a husband-and-wife team of professors (historians) at Boston College. This is not dry history, by any means, but a vivid description of Islam and its origins, practices, and political rule. It's not sensationalist and/or imbued with the "Islam as Enemy Number One" mentality that pervades so many modern books about Islam (many of which are written by journalists or other people not qualified to be writing about Islam, Muslims (American or not) and the Muslim world in the first place). It's just fascinating reading about the second largest religion in the world and how it built the most glittering civilization the world had ever seen. The authors themselves say that to understand Islam today, we must focus not on the misdeeds committed by a few in its name, but "appreciate its glorious history and achievements." It doesn't have much on Islamic beliefs and practices or Islam and politics: it really is mostly history. But it's history that puts Islam (modern and past) into perspective and that will (hopefully) help us Westerners put some of myths about Islam finally to rest.
Books:
- Six Months Off: How To Plan, Negotiate, & Take The Break You Need Without Burning Bridges Or Going Broke
- Small Crimes in an Age of Abundance
- Small Worlds: Maps And Map Making
- Snakehunter
- So Vast the Prison: A Novel
- Some Dance To Remember: A Memoir-novel Of San Francisco, 1970-1982 (Southern Tier Editions)
- Something Gorgeous
- Sugar Cage
- Tenor of Love: A Novel
- The Almost Meeting: And Other Stories
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: Eradicating Poverty Through Profits
- Library Lion
- Elizabeth I
- Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through Spain and Its Secret Past
- History: Fiction or Science
- Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Patience, Pearl: Verse Translations
- Linnaeus: Nature and Nation
- Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance
- Electronic Resumes: A Complete Guide to Putting Your Resume On-Line
- The Missouri Jobbank
