Book Description
Haiti's slave revolution and its continual resistance to occupation and dictatorship are recounted through the Haitian art, poetry, photos, and essays included in this exciting anthology. The agonies and exaltations of the country and its people will garner the reader's empathy and illustrate why the Haitian Revolution is still considered a threat to U.S. foreign policy. Haiti's impact on the United States, including voodoo economics, and the effects of U.S. embargoes against the country are discussed along with plausible reasons for occupation.
Customer Reviews:
Great insights.......2005-08-27
This book provides great insights into Haitian history and how it has influenced the US, and how the US has been a key player in determining Haiti's economic & political fate. The conspiracy theories about how Haiti's misery is largely (though not entirely) due to the meddling and often racist policies of the US government suddenly seem more believable!
Excellent Book.......2004-04-05
Haiti: A Slave Revolution provides a well documented backdrop for the current crisis in Haiti. It clearly exposes the historical role of the governments of France and the US in the destabilization of the country. It lays the basis for the recent kipnapping of Aristide by the US government.
It is a must read for anyone who is interested in the history of Haiti and the role of the US.
Book Description
It all begins in the Stone Age, when a talking fish is caught by a fisherman at the very spot where millennia later Grass's home town, Danzig, will arise. Like the fish, the fisherman is immortal, and down through the ages they move together. As Grass blends his ingredients into a powerful brew, he shows himself at the peak of his linguistic inventiveness. Translated by Ralph Manheim. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book
Customer Reviews:
a wonderful work.......2007-08-24
Truly an epic journey. The story combines many themes and just as many characters. One must read about half to get a grasp on the reins and after that, it's fun. Cooking and copulation play large roles. All the talk about soup and the endless mushrooms are fantastic. Throughout the text are poems and songs. At first, they don't seem to relate. But one comes to expect them after a time. This is a big change from the style of the Danzig trilogy, much more modern. Grass makes some interesting points about guilt and shame (defecation circles, sleeping with the abbess.) The last few scenes are tremendous. Supposedly, this was Grass' present to himself. The terrific ending must reveal an optimist side to him.
Not Exactly Sashimi Quality.......2007-07-07
Gunter Grass, I love you, but "The Flounder" just isn't a sashimi quality piece of fish. It's really more something out of the frozen food section.
"The Tin Drum", the author's first book, remains one of the most white hot brilliant novels written in the last 100 years. It's the kind of book that in every sentence shows the desperate need the author had to tell his tale.
By contrast, "The Flounder" is a tepid excercise that expresses no such fiery need. Sure, there are good ideas and interesting sections. However, the whole doesn't amount to much - in fact the book is more like a Mrs. Paul's fish stick than a gourmet pan of white fish - in effect, there seems to be far too much breading and not nearly enough good solid sea food in every bite.
Perhaps it's unfair to compare everything Gunter writes to his first meteoric success. Still, when you have the power to write something like "The Tin Drum", you can't expect to get off with writing less.
Grass' weakest effort, by far.......2001-04-05
Gunter Grass, The Flounder (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1977)
I just couldn't get through it. I can't really put my finger on why, but there it is. The Flounder contains all the things I revere about Grass-- a strong sense of history, scurrlious sense of humor, strong characters put into wonderfully unrealistic situations. But this novel, Grass' weightiest (literally), never seems to come together in all the little ways that made similarly large tomes like The Tin Drum and Dog Years such wonderful reads.
The Flounder is a massive creation myth, seen through the eyes of a continually-reincarnated man, his continually-reincarnated longtime companion (who is always a cook of some sort), and the Flounder himself, who serves as a kind of fairy-godfather figure. In modern times, a group of feminists discover that the Flounder has been the architect of the overthrow of matriarchal society and put him on trial; the narrator and the Flounder use the trial as a method to go back over history and show the development of patriarchy in Poland, and how it relates to the potato. Yes, I'm serious.
The novel feels as if Grass had lost his sense of dynamic while writing it. The earlier long novels each keep the reader's interest with a series of climactic events, each leading up to the larger climax upon which the novel turns; The Flounder, on the other hand, continues on at the same rlatively leisurely pace in its survey of history. And that, ultimately, is its downfall; there's just too much of it without anything really going on, on a larger scale.
Definitely a bad starting place for Grass; turn to the Danzig trilogy instead. (zero)
I can't believe it's out of print..........1999-12-31
I read this book when it first came out (1980?), and have read, in English or German, 4 other novels by GG. All were wonderful, but this was my favorite. It's "magic realism" that's both thought-provoking and very entertaining, and so well-written and translated. It's really too bad that it's out of print.
check it out.......1999-12-25
An outstanding statment by Grass on history, feminism, cooking and Joycean bodily details which encapsulates the obssession by the Germans of systems, machoness and abstractions that have led to disaster. But the book is a balanced look at the effects of excess feminism as well.
Book Description
The drastic health and environmental consequences of a new generation of radioactive weapons, Depleted Uranium (DU), currently being used in U.S.-waged wars are discussed in these essays. This "new kind of nuclear war" is examined alongside the effects on Vietnam and Gulf war veterans and the indigenous people on whose land these weapons are being tested. Among the issues covered are the collaborative military and media cover-up of DU, the government's denial of DU's toxic effects, uranium development on Native American land, nuclear testing on the Marshall Islands, and radioactive residue in the Middle East. Contributors include Ramsey Clark, Pat Broudy, and Helen Caldicott. Official government documents on DU and its effects and charts illustrating where DU is tested and stored in the United States are included for further examination.
Customer Reviews:
A Nuclear Waste.......2006-03-05
Some reviewers have attacked this book as representing the far left and antiwar perspective. I think this consideration is beside the point. I consider myself in both categories, but find this book to be a dismal collection of unscientific and fully erroneous essays. A couple of the essay authors take a more cautious perspective; they raise questions that must be addressed and point out irresponsibility and dishonesty within the Department of Defense. These contributors, however, are in the minority. The majority of the contributing essays are based on rumors (found to be false) and some essays fall into the category of the bizarre. If you are interested in gaining a better insight into the depleted uranium issue, check out some of the serious scientific studies (e.g., the study by the Royal Society).
Because this book can be held up as an example of antiwar stupidity, it does a great disservice to those of us who are trying to end the war in Iraq and hold the current administration accountable for war crimes and their attack on our civil liberties.
Caldicott needs a dose of reality.......2004-06-12
In this book Caldicott messages truths to match her left wing leanings. If you are to the far left you will love this book.
Deirdre.......2004-02-07
This book is avaliable on www.leftbooks.com
A Question of Intent.......2003-08-20
There is still some debate in the scientific community as to whther there are indeed secondary effects to the use of depleted uranium shells on the battlefield. One recent study claims that the levels of radiation in DU projectiles cannot be differentiated from that of the natural background. Some have claimed that the vaporization of DU makes the particles more likely to be inhaled, though this is also a matter of debate.
None of this scientific debate is of importance to Caldicott, who blames DU projectiles for every possible illness found on and off the battlefield, including the famous Gulf War Syndrome. Gulf War Syndrome has in fact been widely studied, and is generally believed to be a group of illnesses related to chemical weapons, oil fires and possibly innoculations; this is apparantly not important to Caldicott and her coauthors, who would rather use questionable inferences in order to find the US armed forces guilty of heinous crimes.
I try to have an open mind about this debate, and others like it, but I do admit to having a certain amount of bias when it comes to Helen Caldicott. She was always there to attack the US for its tactics and policies during the Cold War and thereafter, but was never heard to speak ill of the Soviet biological warfare program, Saddam's aggression or that of a dozen other tyrants and mass murderers.
One fact that Caldicott does not consider is this: Modern DU weapons and the systems that use them have greatly increased the range, accuracy and leathality of antitank weapons, which translates into far fewer casulties for those using them, and fewer civilian deaths from indiscriminate bombing. War is and will always be an ugly thing, but modern war is at least more sparing of non-combatants than it has been in centuries.
Excellent expose of U.S. government use of depleted uranium.......2000-01-07
Metal of Dishonor is mandatory reading for anyone interested in learning the truth about the lengths the government will go to dominate the world. This is part of the so-called New World Order, under which the gap between rich and poor has spread even wider.
Iraq was just one victim of this global aggression cloaked in phony platitudes about preserving democracy and human rights.
U.S. troops, as always, are just cannon fodder. The people or Iraq, who were also victimized by the use of depleted uranium are viewed as being less than human in order to justify attacking them.
Reminds you of how racism was used to justify the trade in African people who were enslaved.
Average customer rating:
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War In Colombia: Made In USA
Manufacturer: International Action Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 War on Drugs
| Crime & Criminals
| Nonfiction
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General
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Relations
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More Terrible Than Death: Massacres, Drugs, and America's War in Colombia
ASIN: 0965691691 |
Book Description
A voice is given to the Colombian resistance in this compilation of essays by those opposed to Plan Colombia, the disastrous fumigation campaign enacted as part of the war on drugs. Background is given on the origin and evolution of Plan Colombia and the decades of societal crisis that have led to the insurgencies of today. This look at the Colombian resistance explores the struggle for political and economic democracy; the environmental impact of the large-scale fumigation program, including water contamination and plant eradication; the displacement of millions of peasants; and the inhumane policies mandated by large corporations. Contributors include Ramsey Clark, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Lucio Gutierrez, and Senator Paul Wellstone.
Customer Reviews:
Let the word out.......2007-03-17
This is a great book that talks about what really is happening in Colombia and who really is behind the murders and chaos. A must read if you have passion and compassion for Latin America and getting the U.S out!
Product Description
A tale developed around the interesting fact that a baby flounder looks different from its parents.
Book Description
Exploring the myths and realities of military service and recruitment, this handbook addresses the controversial tactics used by recruiters as well as the virtual economic draft created by the lack of job training, education, and opportunity for disadvantaged youth. Sexism, racism, economic inequality, and other forms of oppression and exploitation exacerbated by the inequities of military service are addressed, and the final chapter outlines an action plan for organizing, challenging, and shutting down the recruiting machine in local schools. This book is essential reading for youth who may be approached by military recruiters as well as for parents who want their children to make informed choices about military service.
Customer Reviews:
Get the FACTS before you enlist in the millitary. this book has em!.......2006-08-10
This book is a must read for anyone considering enlisting in the military. Using solid facts the book explains the lies the Iraq war is based on, the current GI Bill which is so shot full of holes that it is pathetic, contamination of Iraq and our soldiers as well as Iraq citizens by Depleted Uranium which causes birth defects and cancers, and the stop loss program in the military which prevents soldiers from quitting the military even though they have reached the end date of their military contract. Check out the enlistment form. One thing that caught my eye: the military retains the right to change any military law at any time, and even if you don't know about it you are still subject to it.
Average customer rating:
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The Eyes of a Flounder: Poems
Laura Hamblin
Manufacturer: Signature Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
20th Century
| Poetry
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
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General
| Poetry
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
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General
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| Literature & Fiction
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Inspirational & Religious
| Poetry
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United States
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ASIN: 1560851880 |
Book Description
Laura Hamblin writes of good mothers and bad, women who married and those who didn't, lovers and "Celibacy at Forty-two." Her "weird sisters" forage for mice and toads and contemplate silicone implants. Some of her characters demonstrate pregnancy envy, while others seem content to share a space with three dogs and a cat.
She muses on the different roles assigned to girls and boys: "boys with shellacked / faces play basketball. / Closer to god ... / they know power, / ... I begin to bleed, / am taught with the other / girls to crochet, to knit / ... Dark skein / unraveling girl."
Contemplative and satisfying, Hamblin's observations on religion are particularly poignant, such as watching her son baptized at eight to "wash from him sins he did not commit." One of her weird sisters attempts repentance but then thinks of killing swine. Playful, full of meaning, her poems contain overlapping layers of understanding that prompt further contemplation.
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Hidden Agenda: U.S./NATO Takeover of Yugoslavia
Manufacturer: International Action Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Yugoslavia
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General
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Relations
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ASIN: 0965691675 |
Book Description
The hypocrisy and lies behind the alleged humanitarian war waged by the United States and NATO are exposed in this anthology of carefully documented critiques of the Balkan conflict. Evidence is presented to conclude that divide-and-conquer tactics were used to stimulate war in Yugoslavia; critical essays examine the Hague Tribunal, the occupation of Kosovo, media deception, war crimes, and blatant NATO aggression. Contributors include Ramsey Clark, Slobodan Milosevic, and Michael Parenti.
Customer Reviews:
Apologists for genocide.......2005-07-09
Absolute nonsense from a passle of kooks and conspiracy theorists eager to pass on propaganda from genocidal sociopaths like Slobodan Milosevic. While the reactions of the "West" to the events of Yugoslavia's disintegration and the aggression of Serbia on its neighbors (and Croatia on Bosnia) were hardly exemplary, it is facile at best to argue that the U.S. and/or NATO had anyhting at all to gain from "stimulating" war in the region. Including "contributions" from Milosevic to make the case for these brain-dead theories is like quoting from "Mein Kampf" to prove that Hitler was a peace-loving individual. Read this only if you are looking for evidence that there are still people with little enough regard for the truth and morality that they would act as apologists for some of the most evil people of recent history. This work defies all credibility and is both morally and intellectually bankrupt.
(Consider the rating to be 0 stars.)
Average customer rating:
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THE FLOUNDER
Manufacturer: Fawcett Crest
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GQV098 |
Book Description
In the realm of Alera, where people bond with the furies--elementals of earth, air, fire, water, wood, and metal--fifteen-year-old Tavi struggles with his lack of furycrafting. But when his homeland erupts in chaos--when rebels war with loyalists and furies clash with furies-- Tavi's simple courage will turn the tides of war.
Customer Reviews:
Episodic.......2007-09-07
Best known for his Dresden Files series, author Jim Butcher's foray into epic fantasy begins with the tediously predictable yet irritatingly addictive FURIES OF CALDERON. I found the book mostly epic fluff, but surprisingly unputdownable. The book contains episodic, soap-opera plotting which will inexorably compel me to find out what happens to some of the characters in spite of my overall lack of enjoyment. With names like Gaius Sextus and Legionnaires in the Legion, a Roman inspiration characterizes the book's settings and backdrop. This book firmly belongs to the young woman Amara, her missions under the First Lord and her romance with Bernard.
Some positives to begin with. I liked the magic system: humans command "Fury" elementals incipient in earth, water, air, wood, steel to do their bidding. Some of the elementals lend themselves to naturally restorative functions such as water furies while other elementals exhibit a tendency for destruction such as earth furies. For a fantasy series, Butcher injects the book with a prevalent romantic flavor. Astonishingly, I felt some of the romance here could have been written by pure romance novelists, and it almost seems like Jim Butcher has read some historical romance novels. For instance, Amara's tingling, melting reactions in response to a tall, broad-shouldered, handsome widower. The pacing is fast, and Butcher keeps the action and romance flowing in this 504-page paperback. There's some genuine gray characters and the book thankfully dismisses the black-and-white Good vs. Evil struggle in epic fantasies. In fact, treachery and civil conflict marked much of the climactic battle here with each group and character striving for their own end goals.
Possible SPOILERS ahead.
Now for the negatives which easily overwhelmed the positives. The plotting was entirely formulaic and predictable. There's even a magical river flood akin to the flood in Tolkien's FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING before the companions arrive at Rivendale. The prose was, in general, below average to average. There's an attempt at settings and world building but I've seen better, even in pure romance novels. I hated that our 15 year-old protagonist boy Tavi behaves more like a 7,8 year-old baby often crying and screaming in terror most of the time. If I were a 15 year-old boy, I'd resent anyone calling me a "boy" or "child" at every turn, and I'd definitely avoid any emotional outbursts in public (hugging, crying). Tavi is too much of a do-gooder at 15, I know I found myself in much more mischief at the same age. For a series about a boy's coming-of-age, the first installment FURIES OF CALDERON firmly belongs to our young woman Amara, and her mission as Cursor under the First Lord of the Aleran Kingdom. I really could have done without Amara's romance with Tavi's uncle, the tall, broad-shouldered, strong and handsome Bernard. I found myself begrudging any chapter from Amara's perspective, which comprises a majority of the novel. I don't know, something about her, I just didn't like, and I liked Bernard even less. The entire combination was just... bleh. Butcher mostly employs Amara's perspective in the prolonged climactic finale featuring the battle between the Marat barbarians and the Roman-inspired Alerans at the Garrison in Calderon Valley. The interminable climactic battle was long and pointless! Almost every other chapter, there's the threat of a major death, but unfortunately, you know this type of novel lacks the audacity to kill off a major character. By the end of the novel, with *everyone* surviving for future books, it all seemed sooooo very, very, very vapidly pointless. It's funny, I couldn't take The Major Death in Scott Lynch's RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES, but I was begging for some deaths here, Amara and Bernard most of all. I would have given the book 2 stars if this novel had killed off Amara and Bernard! Most of the protagonists I found aggravating or unlikable. I disliked Tavi, hated Bernard and Amara. I liked Tavi's Aunt Isana (though she sparingly appears), I enjoyed the redoubtable warrior Aldrick's mistress, the water witch Odiana, and I definitely enjoyed our disillusioned antagonist Fidelias. Finally, the magic is egregiously overused. It's a danger of fantasy novels, but magic users here fling their furies at foes and allies alike with impunity and without any limitations. Whenever Amara needs some aid in a pinch, oh let's just call on her wind fury Cirrus to fly her to safety or deliver a lethal blow! Oh someone suffered a fatal wound? Fear not, Isana's water fury Rill to the rescue! It gets seriously out of hand, and you start to question whether death exists for our main characters in Butcher's world at all.
Anyway, I can't believe I want to read the next novel in this series after this poor fantasy effort. I guess Jim Butcher hooked me enough to find out if/when Tavi will ever get his fury, who Tavi's parents are, will we see Tavi's Marat rival Kitai who turns out to be a girl, will Tavi grow out of his crying and screaming, will Amara and Bernard ever die. Episodic? Anecdotal? Fluff? Yep. Yep. And yep.
fast and furious [no spoilers].......2007-09-06
"Furies of Calderon" starts "The Codex Alera" series with appealing characters amid pure storytelling. The characters and environment details are exceptional plus the intriguing tale has plenty of adventure and suspense. Constant action outside of the great battles develop all of the characters sufficiently, protagonists and antagonists alike.
The magic is fascinating yet overwhelming since an entire populace has it. Aleran's work with at least one fury, a spirit like entity related to air, earth, fire, metal, water, or wood, and each fury has special abilities and strengths generally depending upon the creativity and skill of the crafter. Unfortunately young shepherd Tavi cannot summon any furies and relies solely on his strength and wit to function in an enhanced realm.
There are countless characters throughout, the sneaky Cursors Amara and Fidelias, the dangerous duo furymasters Aldrick ex Gladius and Odiana, and Tavi's guardians Aunt Isana and Uncle Bernard (sister and brother). All individuals receive enough literary consideration to understand their primary motivations but leaves adequate mysteries unresolved as excellent cliffhangers for future novels. Several of them unreasonably survive near death experiences, a trait numerous authors exploit with their favorites.
Even though the occasional sentence structure suffers from rambling, the novel would be more acceptable by young readers if not for the rare vicious incident where its specifics aren't essential to the plot. A detailed map of the significant terrains and comprehensive appendix would have been useful.
I recommend this series to any fan of the fantasy genre.
Thank you.
Excellent Fantasy Read.......2007-07-16
My girlfriend picked this book up for my birthday last month and I devoured it over the course of several days. The setup does take a little while, but I did not feel that it dragged, and it was well worth it once the action really began kicking. This is definitely a page turner, as the characters face crisis after crisis and combat after combat. The concept of "furies" - elemental spirits that bond to almost everyone in the land (with the exception of Tavi, one of the protagonists) - is a well-executed one and Butcher was very creative in how he had his characters use them to help them in various situations. The world itself also feels well fleshed out and most of the characters really do read like characters, not just caricatures - the protagonists are likeable and you root for them to come through, while the antagonists are a mixed bag - they range from truly evil (Kord), to conflicted but determined to follow their beliefs (Fidelias). Well done there.
The only disappointments I had with the novel were minor - he really lays it on a bit thick in the ending, specifically the last chapter, rather over the top and kind of indulgent (the very last couple of paragraphs are nice though). And his sexual morality seems rather on the conservative side (good guys blush at nudity, enjoy only fleeting kisses and nothing more - bad guys enjoy nudity, sex, infidelity, rape, etc), which seemed somewhat out of place given the darker aspects of the plot. Perhaps he wrote it this way because he was going for a younger audience, but then again, there are some pretty sinister scenes and chapters that may not sit well with kids (or more likely their parents).
Despite those two complaints, I'd have to give this a strong recommendation to anyone into the fantasy genre. The book is well-written, with nice description, believable motivations and a gripping tale in a land rich with magic and history. I'm very much looking forward to continuing into the series.
Oh, and as a side note, both of the "professional" reviews at the top of the page have typos and/or misinformation. User reviews are much better for this novel.
Do not eat this book.......2007-06-15
OK, silly heading, I know, but it's what came to mind, because this book reminds me of a dessert: no nutritional value, but still tastes pretty good. And that is this book in a nutshell, for me. The writing is lazy, cliches abound, the plot is totally predictable and rather derivative, but yet it is still entertaining. For all its flaws this book is good to relax with if you just want to unwind at the end of the day and not have to think too hard--it's literary meringue. I just wish it wasn't quite so cheesy.
Amazing.......2007-06-10
I've found Butcher's series to be a fantastic series which rivals that of Fiest, Jordan, Martin, and Goodkind. Unlike the previous authors Butcher's story is much more involved with character development, he's more restrained with random plot threads, and each novel gives some sense of cloture. Whereas at times with Jordan and Martin you can get drowned in the subplots, Butcher's subplots enhance our understanding of the characters seem to have definitive path, albeit with a few twists, and are all together interesting. Finally, the series seems to be on shcedule of 1 book a year. If you love Martin, Jordan, Fiest, and Goodkind (and especially if you get frustrated with them) you'll love the Codex of Alera.
Books:
- Hallucinations: or, The Ill-Fated Peregrinations of Fray Servando
- History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- How Movies Helped Save My Soul: Finding Spiritual Fingerprints in Culturally Significant Films
- How the Other Half Lives (Penguin Classics)
- I Lost My Tooth (level 1) (Hello Reader)
- In Your Wildest Dreams (Warner Forever)
- Incas : Book Two: The Gold of Cuzco
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Dark Desire
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- The Death of Vishnu: A Novel
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Getting Haiti Right This Time: The U.S. and the Coup (Read and Resist)
The Uses Of Haiti
Paradise Lost: Haiti's Tumultuous Journey from Pearl of the Caribbean to Third World Hotspot
Notes from the Last Testament: The Struggle for Haiti
Haiti in Focus: A Guide to the People, Politics, and Culture (In Focus Guides)
