Out of My Skin

Customer Reviews:

Naked, fierce, honest -- and street-smart!.......2002-11-08

"Some things never go away." So writes Willam Alton in this shocking new memoir [Alton survived physical and sexual abuse as a child in Okalahoma and Eastern Washington].

Little wonder. With memories of sucker-punch acknowledgements from 'Dad', witnessing his mother being repeatedly raped, and experiencing the personal attention of a pedophile called "Uncle Harold".

Imagine all that happening before your first day of school!

While Alton is brutally honest, there is a surreal, detached quality to his story telling.

"I don't remember much about my folks being married. What I do remember is the noise, the sound of flesh on flesh, of bruises rising, of bones breaking. Violence is its own language, vague and confusing, but a language all the same. Just because I hit you does not mean I don't like you, that I don't love you." Page 16

Crawling Out of My Skin showcases Alton's refreshing new voice in the angst-ridden memoir genre. Frankly I'm tired of reading cheap, psycho-babble analysis-filled memoirs of life with daddy. Don't tell me how I should view your experience. As Frank "Angela's Ashes" McCourt recently said, "Just tell the damned story!"

Alton does. And how! Drug addiction, turning tricks for booze and cigarettes, lock-up visits to mental institutions, sex, abortion, death. This memoir is chock full of the degradation too many victims experience and few in our society comprehend and understand.

I hope Crawling Out of My Skin will be read by educators, social workers, law enforcement, politicians -- all people who are faced with a current generation of Alton-like victims.

I have read many books on dysfunctional, abusive families, but I have never read such a naked, fierce and honest depiction:

"When I was done, I fell over, panting and gasping. Nothing like hurling to wear a body out. I knew I should get up. I knew that if the cops brought me home again, Momma was going to s*@t three colors...I was so tired and so comfortable that even the smell of vomit and dust didn't bother me any. So I lay there a while watching the red and green ghosts, the sunlight painted on the inside of my eyelids and listened to the dull buzz exhaustion makes when you finally get a chance to stop moving." Page 58.

This memoir is as raw as Alton is streetsmart. I couldn't put it down. Readers will be happy to know, Alton is currently working as a teacher and living with his wife and three sons in Portland, Oregon. They will also count their blessings that they never had to live a day in William Alton's shoes.

Average customer rating:

Worth the read
Embracing the power of diversity...
A thought provoking story with a message of hope for the City
Sensitive treatment of a sensitive topic

Steppin' Out Of My Skin
Danise DiStasi
Manufacturer: PB&J Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Product Description

Introducing Steppin Out Of My Skin; a book that will transform lives. "Just hit goal," is Cosima Regale's mantra, a mantra that has made her a top performer and rising star. It's also earned her a reputation as a tough-as-nails executive who focuses on results over the emotional needs of her team. But that reputation is threatened when she's hit with a discrimination complaint, and then learns of a tragic incident involving her children. Forced to confront her team's sinking morale during a time of personal tragedy, she struggles to deal with her own anger'anger over skin color. At first she ignores her it, but her anger continues to simmer. Then she tries to justify her feelings, only to discover that her heart won't let her. Out of her turmoil, Cosima heeds the advice given by friends and loved ones and discovers the power of relationships to change lives through forgiveness and healing. The four steps she takes transform her life, her team, and quite possibly, her city. Steppin' Out Of My Skin is a parable that takes place in Cincinnati, OH April of 2001. The story challenges readers to acknowledge the ingrained prejudices that lie deep within our hearts and minds and to change the behavior that results from flawed thinking. Transformation occurs as individuals apply the four steps taught throughout the captivating story; Reconciliation through the power of forgiveness, Acknowledge we have ingrained prejudices, Community is built one relationship at a time and Education is the key to breaking down the walls. Readers will be compelled to make a life long change.

Customer Reviews:

Worth the read.......2006-06-10

I started reading this book and could not put it down. The author does a great job engaging you in the lives and mindsets of the main characters. It provides an honest, realistic perspective on racism and prejudice in ourselves, in the workplace and in our communities. The fact that this book offers practical solutions for addressing racism in ourselves and others makes it truly unique. I highly recommend this book.

Embracing the power of diversity..........2006-05-02

Steppin' Out of My Skin is a quick read with a powerful message. Messages on both forgiveness as well as the power of appreciating /encouraging everyone's differences in the work place. This fable makes you think about how you would handle the difficult personal and business situations that Cosima encountered, and explains how she successfully overcame these difficulties through inclusion and prayer.

A thought provoking story with a message of hope for the City.......2006-04-08

Steppin' Out of My Skin is a well crafted message of hope and reconciliation told by a committed citizen and neighor who knows and cares for her city and it's people. Danise Distasi provides her readers with an intimate and engaging portrait of transformation from inhereted racial bias to understanding and compassion that is well worth reading and taking to heart.

Sensitive treatment of a sensitive topic.......2006-04-03

Danise DiStasi, a successful businesswoman with a heart for racial harmony and justice, has blended both in a powerful tale of anger, hurt, and prejudice in Cincinnati, Ohio. Steppin' Out Of My Skin tells the story of a career-obsessed executive's journey from self-absorption and blind ambition, to brokenness and despair. Her journey causes her to confront many demons along the way (not the least of which is her family's "racial baggage") as she struggles through every parent's worse nightmare: the life-threatening injury of a child. More than a story of self-interest and prejudice, DiStasi creates a picture of how we can come together - regardless of race - by "stepping out of our skins" to view the problem as an unbiased observer.

It's timely that this book comes out on the anniversary of Cincinnati's recent race riots. It goes a long way to understanding and healing the wounds those disturbances created. This is a good read.

Sun kissed: freckles--I hate them! Mine are dark and stand out on my light skin. Help!(BODY & Q&A)(Column): An article from: Girls' Life

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Sun kissed: freckles--I hate them! Mine are dark and stand out on my light skin. Help!(BODY & Q&A)(Column): An article from: Girls' Life
Kristen Kemp , and Margaret Gelbwasser
Manufacturer: Monarch Avalon, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B000ALRGY2
Release Date: 2005-07-25

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Girls' Life, published by Monarch Avalon, Inc. on June 1, 2005. The length of the article is 447 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Sun kissed: freckles--I hate them! Mine are dark and stand out on my light skin. Help!(BODY & Q&A)(Column)
Author: Kristen Kemp
Publication: Girls' Life (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2005
Publisher: Monarch Avalon, Inc.
Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Page: 26(1)

Article Type: Column

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Book Description

Long out of print, these three Darkover books tell the tale of two Free Amazon women whose lives are irrevocably entwined.

"Literate and exciting." (The New York Times Book Review)

Customer Reviews:

A long ride, not always rewarding, but not a complet loss.......2006-12-08

This Saga of the Renunciates, makes only any sense if read all togheter. Dismiss all those comments that say you can enter Darkover at any novel.
And this books are a proof of that. "Shattered" is a short novel, almost nothing realy important happens, is just an introduction for the characters. "Thendara" is long book about the lead roles, Lorne and Jael, and as all this saga, this is a story about two particular beings, and has no impact on big planetary scale, or in Darkover history. Altough very long, I found the books very adult oriented, and heartbroken, wich made me feel the troubles and sorrows of this two girls. I was amaze how Bradley managed to pull me inn with her view of the woman`s world. "Sorcery" on the other hand is an adventure driven story, and is very entertaining. (spoilers head) But the end is somehow dissapointing, more even so, considering that is the end of all the saga. It took some time to read them all, (one after the other, I might add) and I felt exausted at end, but somehow altough this is not best on Darkover, I end up missing those the girls.

Riveting and memorable...definitely worth your time.......2006-08-07

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book - I loved Mists of Avalon, but wasn't fond of the other Avalon books. I wanted to like Darkover, but the two other Darkover novels I read (Stormqueen and Hawkmistress) didn't appeal to me much.

And then I began The Shattered Chain.

It started off exactly as I'd feared it would - a band of Amazons (just...read the other reviews for technical details) walk into a town and are laughed and jeered at by the men and treated with greater hostility by the women. I thought at this point that the book would be full of "Woman Power" and show how strong these Independent Women had to be to exist on a world like Darkover.

But the novel quickly became something more than that. I felt that it greatly picked up when we were introduced to Magda, the Terran - because for the Terrans, men and women are pretty much equal. And this viewpoint GREATLY helped balance out the supressing Darkover views, and made them not just bearable, but interesting. The resulting main plotline between the Terrans and Darkover people, with the Amazons building the bridge between the two worlds...it was pretty awesome. And of course there's all the subplots, and the huge personal developments taking place within the two main characters: the Terran woman and the Amazon one.

This book has some good action scenes, but the major focus is definitely on the characters themselves, and their relationships to one another and the world. Normally I would stay away from something like that, but the Terran/Darkover worlds created here are so interesting that it's pretty much impossible to not be caught up in it.

It had great, memorable characters, a great plot, and scenes you'll remember for a long, long time. I'd say it's definitely worth a read for anybody who likes fantasy/sci-fi...and books in general.

Terrific Darkover trilogy!.......2005-10-16

I've read most of the Darkover series during the last five yrs. I started off with MZBs Avalon books & ended up hooked on the Darkover series.
In many the Darkover books the renunciates (free amazons) are mentioned, but usually not in much detail. It was wonderful to stumble upon a whole trilogy of books about them. They explain
how & why the group started, and how they worked out a way to marginally fit into the society by being of service to both Darkovans & Terrans. I thoroughly enjoyed this series & would highly recommend it to any MZB fan.

More than a fantastic novel, a manifesto.......2005-07-28

I am an avid MZB fan and have read most of her novels, but the Darkover series is the closest to my heart and The Saga of the Renunciates stands above all. This novel is more than just a story, deconstructing femininity is a central part of this trilogy: as a reader I found myself pondering the same questions that trouble the women on Darkover and thinking that eventhough they are only sci-fi characters, their insigth would change a lot of women.

The first novel is about a group of mercenary warrior women who hire themselves out to Lady Rohana to rescue her cousin from the Dry Towns, a country where married women are kept in chains. Rohana's cousin never makes it but she does bring back Jaelle, her 12 year old niece and a very unconfortable awareness of the invisible chains she has fashioned for herself.

In the 2nd part we meet Magda and Peter, two Darkover-born Terranan and the best spies the Empire has on Cottman 4. Altough Magda is the better agent, as a woman there is not much she can do outside HQ. When Peter goes missing on a mission and his superiors have no plans to rescue him Magda disguises herself as an Amazon and goes looking for him. All goes well until she meets some real Amazons whose leader is none other than a grown up Jaelle.

The final chapter in this story is about a journey to a mythical city in the enormous mountains of Darkover where an all-knowing sisterhood of wise women is supposed to be hidden from all but those by whom they wish to be seen. Jaelle leaves everything behind for even a chance to get there and Magda has no choice but to follow.

Better on rereading.......2005-01-01

I read these 3 novels in the late 70's-early 80's and loved them...recently found the 3 novel compendium and enjoyed it more the second time around. What a wonderfully imagined world!! How I wish we had something like the Guild here on Earth! As an old feminist in my 70's, I cannot recommend them more highly...READ!!

Average customer rating:

a surprisingly complex story and one of Darkover's best
Womanhood
Best in the Trilogy
Loved it!
Two different worlds ...

Thendara house (Darkover)
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Manufacturer: DAW
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0879978570

Customer Reviews:

a surprisingly complex story and one of Darkover's best.......2004-05-15

"Thendara House" is a sequel, of sorts, to the previous Darkover novel "The Shattered Chain." The reason I say "of sorts" is that Bradley has always intended for each Darkover novel to work as standalone novel. The events of "Thendara House" just happen to be set after those in "The Shattered Chain" and continue the story introduced in that novel. This is a novel of the Renunciates, an order of women who have rejected society's role for them and exist as a societal alternative for women.

This novel switches between the viewpoints of two characters: Magda Lorne and Jaelle n'ha Melora. Magda, or Margali as she is called by the Darkovan natives, is of Terran heritage (and is an employee of the Terran Empire), but she was raised on Darkover since she was a child. During the events of "The Shattered Chain", Magda took the Oath of the Renunciates under duress when she was trying to rescue her former husband, Peter Haldane. By the end of that novel, she decided to honor that Oath and came to believe in it. Thendara House is the chapterhouse of the Order of the Renunciates and Magda is to spend the next six months in training at Thendara learning the ways of the Renunciates. Jaelle is the Renunciate who took Magda's oath (this is a special relationship). In order for Magda to be able to fulfill her obligations, Jaelle agreed to work at the Terran spaceport for the 6 months that Magda is at Thendara. Magda is also now married to Peter Haldane, Magda's ex-husband. Peter, like Magda, is a Terran citizen who was raised on Darkover and works for the Empire.

Neither woman truly belongs where she is. Jaelle feels alienation because she is a Darkovan working at the Spaceport and everything she is experiencing is new and different and strange to her. Her relationship with her husband is also becoming strained as she is still struggling against those gender roles she had thought she left behind when she joined the Renunciates. Magda knows that she can never truly belong to the Renunciates because she is Terran and, at least for a time, she has to hide who she really is to fit in at all.

"Thendara House" is a more complex novel than it at first seems to be. Bradley works through the ideas of belonging to a culture and what happens to those cultural transplants which are put into a new and different environment. She works with the friendships between women and the complex relationships that women can have, both casual and intimate. "Thendara House" is the best of the seven Darkover novels that I have read so far and this came as a pleasant surprise to me.

-Joe Sherry

Womanhood.......2002-04-22

I liked the book because it struck specific cords. It speaks of love in it's many forms, but mainly it speaks of mixed loyalties. Everyone can relate to some of the events on an interpersonal base, but mainly people can go beyond the situations and relate to the feelings. The author has a brilliant writing that vividly evokes the characters feelings. It makes for good reading, especially when the reader can keep an open mind about the particular way in witch human relations are presented, non judgmentally.

Best in the Trilogy.......2001-09-14

This was the first Darkover novel I read and since then I've read probably 6 or 8 others. I think I like this one the best, although Hawkmistress and Stormqueen come in close. The conflict between the two societies is enhanced in this novel because of the culture shock Jaelle and Magda go through in each others opposite world.
I would recommend this to everyone.

Loved it!.......2000-10-14

'Thendara House' follows 'Shattered Chains' in the Darkover series, and continues to focus on the Guild of Renunciates, particularly Magda and Jaelle, as they grow into stronger, more self-aware characters. Both are experiencing growing Psi-powers, and their destinies seem intertwined as they navigate the Terran/Darkover political world, explore the conflicts and pressures of their Oaths, and struggle to figure out exactly who they are, what they stand for, and where they belong.

I really enjoyed 'Shattered Chains' and 'Thendara House' gripped me from the very first pages. I read through this novel--longer than 'Chains'--over a weekend, during which I hardly put it down, and never left it behind! I just started 'The City of Sorcery' the next in the Renunciates grouping, and am already totally into it--thank goodness it's friday!

Two different worlds ..........2000-08-26

Two different worlds have conflicting problems. One of the major ones is that the two worlds are trapped on one, together.

Two cultures, one is male-dominated and another is ruled by technology. The cultures continue to fight for dominance and in the middle of it two women from different cultures find themselves working together ...

Jaelle, now married to the Terran Peter Haldane, is trying to fit into the life of a Terran. Her life has changed drastically. She has to eat the same things that Terrans do, dress and talk like them and also get used to their lifestyle (which is nothing like her own). Two of her major problems are; one, she can't understand how the medics, who are men, can be so impersonal about women. The major issue for her though is ... her husband is supposed to stand up for her, fight for her, and think for her. What's with that?!?!?!

Magda is living with some Renunicates now, widening the way her mind think and making new friends. She finds that she can think and speak for herself. She also finds that some people, men and women alike don't support the Renunicates and their way of thinking, while others agree with Renunicate ways.

After a time the two women have to put together the information they learned as well as their differences, combining them and using them together may be the only way that they will survive ...

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8 Titles in Darkover Series - Star of Danger - World Wreckers - Darkover Landfall - Shattered Chain - Forbidden Tower - Sharra's Exile - Thendara House - Red Sun of Darkover
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000RZKYI6

Product Description

Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.

Marion Zimmer Bradley - 5 Darkover Novels - Two to Conquer, Sword of Chaos, The Winds of Darkover, The Other Side of the Mirror, & Thendara House (Darkover)

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Marion Zimmer Bradley - 5 Darkover Novels - Two to Conquer, Sword of Chaos, The Winds of Darkover, The Other Side of the Mirror, & Thendara House (Darkover)
Marion Zimmer Bradley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000WQX16W

Product Description

Set of 5 novels from Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series: Two to Conquer, Sword of Chaos, The Winds of Darkover, The Other Side of the Mirror, & Thendara House.

Oath of the Renunciates: The shattered chain, Thendara House

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Darkover

Oath of the Renunciates: The shattered chain, Thendara House
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Manufacturer: N. Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
Similar Items:

ASIN: B000720NZ8

Customer Reviews:

Darkover .......2007-07-31

I started the first Darkover novels in the 1970's. When this came out, it was it was during the Women Liberation movement, so it was not surprising, the series from the beginning has been feudal family relationships with psi powers. Most of the strong female characters have either been heads of Towers or renunciates. Zimmer has covered a lot of topical subjects during this series and this was really the first social topic. The stories are well written and interesting, just occasionally heavy handed on how "evil" men are.

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Thendara House
Marion Zimmer Bradley
Manufacturer: DAW Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NW3P1Q

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Thendara House

Manufacturer: Daw Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HEOEW4

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Thendara House

Manufacturer: D A W Books, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HZIO06

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Thendara House

Manufacturer: D A W Books, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HZK3T6

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Thendara House

Manufacturer: D A W Books, Incorporated
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HZLSQ8

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Mindbridge

Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HWA5I8

Average customer rating:

weak characters but fasinating ideas

Quick, enjoyable read

One of the best Haldeman books

Well-written, exciting book. Not perfect.

A classic! Glad to see it back in print.

Mindbridge (Gollancz SF Collector's Edition)
Joe Haldeman
Manufacturer: Gollancz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Haldeman, Joe | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books | Adventure | Alternate History | Anthologies | General | Graphic Novels | High Tech | History & Criticism | Series | Short Stories | Space Opera
Similar Items:

All My Sins Remembered

Old Twentieth

The Forever War

Camouflage

None So Blind

ASIN: 0575071141

Book Description

Jacque Le Favre is a tamer, a member of one of the exploration teams that humankind has been able to send to the stars. His first world is the second planet out from Groombridge 1618, a rather unpromising place until they encounter the alien L'vrai, with its awesome and appalling gift of telepathy.

Customer Reviews:

weak characters but fasinating ideas.......2006-08-15

OK, this is not the stuff of new. Basically what we have is a first contact story with a non-human race that once again proports to have staggering powers and abilities that far surpass humanity. Nevertheless, Haldeman weaves tremendous amounts of satire and wit that keep the readers attention through a rather overdone plotline. While I enjoyed the read, I found this was a book with great potential and fasinating ideas that never bears fruition. The characters are cardboard cutouts and integrating any type of romance in that atmosphere (which it did) leads to some tedious dialog and pointless situations.
The book gets interesting once we meet the alien race and becomes a great page turner. I loved Forever War as well as All My Sins Remembered but this felt a shadow of a book compared to the former two.

Quick, enjoyable read.......2004-07-27

In addition to using several sci-fi concepts in a well thought out way, this book brings up many thought provoking ideas. These mainly revolve around how much we really do not know about the universe, and the fact that hardly any of our theories work on all levels. The true gem of this book is in the ending, which makes it worth the read. To say more would take away from the book ;)

And now comes the part where I must complain. To call this 'a genuine masterpiece' as per the cover is a bit strong. This book is puffed up with such things as charts and graphs that only the most picky? will care to study. Also, an unnecessary sex scene, which clashes with the book's later attitude on the subject.

One of the best Haldeman books.......2003-02-13

Haldeman has a dedicated following for a reason, one of the big reasons is this book. I read Mindbridge after reading Worlds and Worlds Apart. Since then I've read most of Haldman's novels. My favorites are easily, Forever Peace, Forever War, Mindbridge, and Worlds Apart. This is a great place to start if you are new to Haldeman. My only complaint is it's a little short. More like a long novella. It does make for a nice quick read on a weekend when you want to relax with a good book.

Well-written, exciting book. Not perfect........2002-10-13

As expected from Haldeman, technically excellent book.

One way the tale may be described is as follows: Humanity discovers two 'techonologies', a 'translation' mechanism that makes possible the exploration & colonization of distant planets, and an alien organism that acts as a 'mindbridge' and pushes humanity onto the path of telepathic communication. Both discoveries are detailed out with numerous complications, each comes with its deadly and inconvenient caveats.

As a result of the Levant-Meyer transition and the mindbridge, humanity is able to meet and communicate with an alien race, the L'vrai, of shocking capabilities and mentality, and this encounter is detailed in the later parts of the book.

The description of the discovery of the Levant-Meyer translation, in terms of an accidental finding by a scientist doing a totally unrelated experiment, is a retelling of a story that has been true in many scientific discoveries. (Even has a name: Serendipitous.) The idea that humans went on using the effect, perfecting it by trial and error, but not having a theoretical grasp of why it works, is a bit harder to swallow but not totally implausible. (Being a theoretical physicist myself, I would imagine that the appearance of such an effect would lead to thousands of theorists pouncing on the problem like a pack of wolves.. of course it is totally possible that they might not be able to properly understand the effect for a long time.)

The description of Lefavre's father's scientific rise and fall, with a refutation quickly disproved, is quite cute -- and realistic. Many talks at the American Physical Society have created fame and infamy for the speakers as they claim to refute, prove, disprove theories and conjectures.

The description of the use of the Translation effect, its exploitation by money-making companies, and the highly inconvenient 'slingshot' caveat, are narrated well. The chapter detailing an advertisement is an unusual and quite effective narration style.

The second technology, the "Mindbridge", is explained with some imagination -- to be a complete mystery for two centuries, until it is found that the bridges were built as part of an elaborate game by a godlike race that existed a million years ago, on some distant planet.

This tale is told in an irregular chapter --- a flash-forward to the future. The hints in this chapter, of many wonders to come, of our descendents overcoming many barriers and possessing telepathic abilities, provides a feel-good optimistic vision. On the other hand, the flash-forward is too short -- it would be nice to know a little bit more about our future voyages to the stars!

The social vision of Jacques Lefavre's own times are not quite so hunky-dory, and has its gloomy ominous aspects, which seems more typical Haldeman. The company which in principle you can leave any time you want, but in practice you are bound to by the threat of poverty, reminds us of the sinister multinationals of today -- these multinational companies have the world in a much tighter deadly grip than they did in Haldeman's time forty years ago. Some of Haldeman's dark visions have unfortunately come true.

Like many other White writers, Haldeman's vision of the future involves mainly the white world, although there is the token chinese and the token black. Today's Third World is absent from the picture. This could mean two things -- either, the Third World has continued to wallow in poverty and the White world has managed to keep 4-fifths of the world's population confined to the peripheral status that they are in today, or, that the White world has somehow managed to do away completely with those inconvenient people already.

Granted, this is a feature common to most white SF writers (exception: Ursula LeGuin), and JH in fact deserves some credit for each of his two nonwhite characters.

For the Chinese character,I appreciated the fact that he is speaking and thinking in Chinese, i.e., Chinese still exists and the world does not all speak English. (Not all white SF authors are as merciful in their visions of their future; in particular, American authors often seem to be so uncomfortable with the existence of all those alien languages that they often quickly postulate that the World's people will all soon speak English.)

For the black female character, I appreciated the fact she was at least partly African, had a good African name unpronouncible to Jacques, and was not blackAmerican or similarly 'tamed' by the white man.

Haldeman's treatment of his secondary characters is methodical but not particularly good. I did not get to care about the team-leader of Lefavre's group (Tania), and I wasn't emotionally moved by her death. The sudden deaths in the book would have been more jarring and effective if we cared a bit more about the characters. Carol, Lefavre's mate/wife appears to be a person the reader might have liked if the author had done her more justice. The idea of Carol's living on in Jacques' head, after her death, had little emotional appeal to me since I did not care much about her in the first place.

More praiseworthy is the way the author introduces us to Lefavre himself, his brutality and humanness together, so that we know him as an unpleasant person but do not dislike him. (But perhaps don't care too much about him either.) His characterization is somehow central to the story -- it is his unpleasantness (according to the L'vrai, his "animal-ness") that allow the L'vrai to communicate through him. Again, this characterization was technically adequate but not quite masterly.

In summary, despite its shortcomings, a book well worth reading if you're a SF fan.

A classic! Glad to see it back in print........2001-10-16

I first read this book about 15 years ago and ever since I have kept a couple of copies around to share. It is a great story and I haven't read anything like it. The other reviewers discussed the plot pretty well (and to give the story justice would take too long), let me just add that there is a certain pace, style and tone that is Haldeman's finger print and it is in fine form here.

Haldeman has a rare gift for making the strangest futures seem very real. There is a reason his books keep getting re-printed year after year, and this book is a prime example.

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Mindbridge
Joe Haldeman
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press, c1976.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UE0PTM

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Mindbridge
Joe Haldeman
Manufacturer: St Martins Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000REHVTW

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Mindbridge
Joe Haldeman
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000GRK76Y

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Mindbridge
Joe Haldeman
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NUWR9O

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Mindbridge

Manufacturer: St Martins Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HLX6XK

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Mindbridge
Joe Haldeman
Manufacturer: New York: St. Martin's Press, 1976
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O3MVFU

Average customer rating:
Mindbridge
Joe Haldeman
Manufacturer: St. Martins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NWBKGS

Average customer rating:
Mindbridge
Haldeman Joe
Manufacturer: St Martins Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000NYBAYI

Average customer rating:

Awesome Cookbook

chicken recipe is well worth the price

Food

Zuni rocks my kitchen

Desert Island Cookbook

The Zuni Cafe Cookbook: A Compendium of Recipes and Cooking Lessons from San Francisco's Beloved Restaurant
Judy Rodgers , and Gerald Asher
Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
California | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
West | U.S. Regional | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0393020436

Amazon.com

Judy Rodgers, chef-owner of San Francisco's Zuni Cafe, has produced a true classic with The Zuni Cafe Cookbook. This book gives the cook and the reader two accessible temptations: to read from cover to cover, and to cook from cover to cover. One of the great voices in food writing today, Judy Rodgers truly stands shoulder-to-shoulder with any of the master food writers who have preceded and influenced her. Her writing is as delicious as the famous Zuni Roast Chicken with Bread Salad, as simple and elegant as the Zuni Cafe Caesar Salad.

While firmly anchored in the food sentiments of California, Rodgers explores the honest cuisine généreuse of France, Tuscany, Umbria, Sicily, Catalonia, and Greece. Her chapter "Small Dishes to Start a Meal" runs to 65 pages! Look for her Lentil-Sweet Red Pepper Soup with Cumin and Black Pepper, her Citrus Risotto, and her Tomato Summer Pudding. Be sure to try Short Ribs Braised in Chimay Ale, and Rabbit with Marsala and Prune-Plums. Chapters are devoted to eggs, starchy dishes, sausage and charcuterie, and the cheese course; you'll also find all the basic chapters one might expect. Throughout, Gerald Asher provides insight into matching wines with foods.

Rodgers's natural instinct is to share and to teach, and the instructional material in The Zuni Cafe Cookbook is like a deep-tissue massage, improving any cook's posture and performance. Rodgers's fine book invites both the novice and the experienced cook to delve deep into the heart of real food and real cooking. --Schuyler Ingle

Book Description

For twenty-four years, in an odd and intimate warren of rooms, San Franciscans of every variety have come to the Zuni Café with high expectations and have rarely left disappointed. In The Zuni Café Cookbook, a book customers have been anticipating for years, chef and owner Judy Rodgers provides recipes for Zuni's most well-known dishes, ranging from the Zuni Roast Chicken to the Espresso Granita. But Zuni's appeal goes beyond recipes. Harold McGee concludes, "What makes The Zuni Café Cookbook a real treasure is the voice of Zuni's Judy Rodgers," whose book "repeatedly sheds a fresh and revealing light on ingredients and dishes, and even on the nature of cooking itself." Deborah Madison (Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone) says the introduction alone "should be required reading for every person who might cook something someday." 24 pages of color, 50 black-and-white photographs.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome Cookbook.......2007-09-15

I was eager to purchase this book after tasting the best "Roasted Rosemary Potatoes" I have ever eaten in my life at a friends house. I am a simple cook, but love good food. This book is beautifully written, and does not intimidate me. I feel as if I can make every recipe and make it successful because Judy Rodgers will walk you through each step. I have not tried a recipe yet, but will soon. I am just enjoying reading it right now. You really want to savour this book as you read it.

chicken recipe is well worth the price.......2007-05-07

zuni is my favorite san francisco restaurant. i bought this book for the chicken recipe, the restaurant signature dish; it works perfectly and satisfies a life long goal of making a perfect roast chicken. have only glanced at other recipes.

Food.......2007-01-11

The book was bought as a gift. I looked at it and I do not know if I would purchase a copy for myself. Some of the ingredience might be difficult to obtain if you do not live near the coast. The recipies seemed advanced.

Zuni rocks my kitchen.......2006-04-17

I have not eaten at the restaurant, and I have no special culinary skills outside of being a good home cook. In fact, I can rarely follow a recipe.

This book is a really fun read, and inspirational. Some rather mundane foods, like stale bread/onions/greens/cheese come together in a most divine way, with lots of variations possible and suggested. It's called a Panade.

The big revolution here is salting meat and waiting for the herbs to seep in for a couple of days - a dry brine. Genius, and totally effective.

I think the recipes are easier than they look. I am not put off by a three page description because once you read it, it is your own. Not intricate technique, just great ideas!

Desert Island Cookbook.......2005-07-17

As my cookbook collection continues to grow, this book remains one of my favorites. It is a well written classy book that I personally admire. It is definately a book for foodies and not a quick reference for some quick dinner ideas.

The recipes are very obviously real and tested and if one wishes to acheive the best results do not try to take shortcuts. As far as finding certain ingredients, there is a wealth of resources availible online and virtualy any ingredient that you can imagine can be found if you look.

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