Average customer rating:
- Wonderful!
- Great book to use with young adults
- The Serpents Gift: A Book Review
- Wonderful read
- I love this book
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Serpent's Gift
Helen Elaine Lee
Manufacturer: Scribner Paper Fiction
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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| Literature & Fiction
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Literary
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Similar Items:
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Water Marked: A Novel
ASIN: 0684801604 |
Book Description
One of the most striking and heartening developments in American letters in recent years has been the flowering and attendant celebration of African-American writers and of books that have introduced to readers everywhere people, situations, and events that have, hitherto, largely been ignored, denied, or unknown. Now comes Helen Elaine Lee's supremely assured The Serpent's Gift, a first novel that gives to us -- with the fullest emotional resonance, humor, and exultation in the novelist's art -- the intertwined stories of two families from early in this century to our own times.
Central to this haunting (and sometimes haunted) novel are the mothers, a study in contrast in strength and rigidity, Ruby Staples and Eula Smalls, and their children: LaRue Smalls, adventurer, storyteller, and chronicler of his people; his sister Vesta, intimidated by life from an early age, yet determined, valiant even, to hold her disparate family together; and Ouida Staples, a rare beauty who elects, in the face of convention, to spend her life with another woman. Each will face trials and challenges and sometimes be transformed, shedding like the serpent, an old skin, reborn by the art of invention.
From its opening pages, which recount in eerily compelling detail, the death that will bring these people together, to its almost pastoral conclusion, The Serpent's Gift creates a world that is both realistic in its detail and lyrical in its presentation -- it is a superb, triumphant debut.
Customer Reviews:
Wonderful!.......2006-03-28
There are so many modern American authors with nothing special to write about. They delve into the esoteric and have no real life experience or understanding of their heretage to inspire their writings. Not so with Lee. This novel is a wonderful tale of two families unite by tradgedy and form a common bond of love. The main plot is interwoven with the imaginative tales of LaRue Smalls that reflect the meaning of their lives while bringing comfort and ties that bind. This African-American writer leaves the anger beneath the surface and shows two ways of dealing with the horrors and poverty of Jim Crow: alcoholism and violence vs love and creativity. She exchanges beauty for ashes in a universal manner. The writing is clear and the characters real. It is a novel that you do not want to miss.
Great book to use with young adults.......2005-07-29
I read this book years ago and loved it. I was reminded of it recently when someone asked me for recommendations to use for a book club at a center for teenagers and young adults. This one immediately came to mind. It combines history, compelling characters, and topical issues (including domestic violence, racism, abortion, family and work, and a lesbian relationship) in an epic story that will give young people plenty to talk about.
The Serpents Gift: A Book Review.......2004-07-11
The Serpents Gift is a first novel by Helen Elaine Lee. The story begins just after the turn of the century as Eula Smalls struggles in an abusive marriage. One night after having been brutally beaten by her husband, she and her two children run through the neighborhood hoping someone will open their doors to her. Ruby Staples welcomes Eula into her home that night. The story covers the life of these very different women and their children. Ruby's daughter, Ouida, is a passionate and beautiful woman who defies convention. In her 20's she falls in love with another woman and chooses to spend her life with her. Eula's son grows up in the loving household of Ruby Staples and her family but is haunted by legacy of his father. Eula's daughter, Vesta is visiblily scarred by having been witness to her mother's abuse. All the main characters have their own separate adventures and journeys, that are powerful and vivid.
The Serpent's Gift is a great novel but not without faults. The earlier sections of the book can sometimes be a little slow in terms of action and progression of the plot. The telling of The Serpents Gift is in third person, and toggles through the happenings of each character. This works great the most of the time, but sometimes I find myself wanting to know more about one character than another. Also I wish that Ouida and her partner had been given more attention. The amazing nature of this romantic relationship between two black women in 1920's America is greatly underplayed here, while other less interesting characters are given too much space and time.
However I think that in general The Serpent's Gift is very well written. The author has an amazing mastery of words and even more amazing storytelling abilities that make this book great.
Wonderful read.......2001-03-16
This is a book that you don't want to end. I wanted delve more into the characters lives as the book went on. They were so fascinating and varied. I liked the way Helen Elaine Lee integrated telling of folktales so closely with the story as well. That aspect gave the book a magical feeling and hope to the characters lives.
I love this book.......1999-08-22
I will add this book, and Ms. Lee's most recent accomplishment, Watermarked, to my Good List.
Book Description
A watching face in a market crowd, a mist-shrouded figure on the moor, a haunting presence seen only when he wants to be seenSezuan, possessor of the Serpent Gift for lie and illusion, is a chilling and ambiguous figure at the best of times. He is also Dinas father. And when he comes to claim the daughter he has never seen, the Shamer and her family are catapulted into reckless flight and danger. With nowhere else to turn, Dina must learn to see through her fathers deceit and use her own powers to her advantage.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome.......2006-06-24
I had read the first two Shamer books and had been uncertain as to actually reading The Serpent Gift. I am so glad that I did.
My praises and qualms:
- The entrance was a little slow, but the story swiftly picked up speed.
- The prose is alright -- not excellent -- and not dreadfully annoying.
- The characters were interesting and decently well developed.
- The story *flowed.*
- Even with two view points driving the book, Kaaberbol allowed only a little repeating of the same events.
- A pleasing mixture of humor and seriousness.
Overall, this book is more mature and engaging than the previous Shamer books. And now I await the publication of The Shamer's War!
Book Description
“Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field.” With those words in Genesis, God condemns the serpent for tempting Adam and Eve, and the serpent has shouldered the blame ever since. But how would the study of religion change if we looked at the Fall from the snake’s point of view? Would he appear as a bringer of wisdom, more generous than the God who wishes to keep his creation ignorant?
Inspired by the early Gnostics who took that startling view, Jeffrey J. Kripal uses the serpent as a starting point for a groundbreaking reconsideration of religious studies and its methods. In a series of related essays, he moves beyond both rational and faith-based approaches to religion, exploring the erotics of the gospels and the sexualities of Jesus, John, and Mary Magdalene. He considers Feuerbach’s Gnosticism, the untapped mystical potential of comparative religion, and even the modern mythology of the X-Men.
Ultimately, The Serpent’s Gift is a provocative call for a complete reorientation of religious studies, aimed at a larger understanding of the world, the self, and the divine.
Customer Reviews:
Highly recommend for intelligent analysis of religion.......2007-06-01
I highly recommend this book to anyone with a serious interest in studying and understanding religion. Kripal steers a course between accepting religion on its own terms or reducing it to merely a delusion; instead he offers a vision of religious studies as a form of gnostic or mystical practice capable of revealing the largely untapped human potential for extra-ordinary capabilities. Essays on the sexuality of Jesus, the seminal work of Feurerbach on religion as psychological projection, the universalism of Ramakrishna, and the allegoric interpretation of the X-Men are tied together by this overriding theme, but each alone is a goldmine of thought-provoking insights on religion and the study of religion.
An important and rewarding book for the educated reader, although those with less exposure to current academic debates (i.e., post-modernism) will have to work a bit to get the most out of it. (My main reason for giving it four stars vs. five.) Kripal's proposal of a "mystical humanism" is persuasive and important; a book well worth spending time on.
--Alan F. Zundel, The HeartAwake Center
Book Description
His career as an instructor at StarBridge Academy was a second chance for Serge LaRoche, a gifted musician. Until a freak accident took away his hands.
For young Heather Farley, brilliant but undisciplined, StarBridge was a first chance at the security and stability she had been without all her life.
But now an incredible archeological find beneath the cold surface of the school's asteroid base threatens their dreams for the future--and the future of StarBridge itself.
StarBridge - Training ground of the future.
Customer Reviews:
A depart from the normal starbridge stories.......1998-10-20
A story centering around starbridge itself and its teachers/students.
You are introduced to some new characters, and it DOES set the stage for the 6th book.
i liked 2,3, & 5 better.
Average customer rating:
- The Gift of the Rainbow Serpent
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The Gift of the Rainbow Serpent
Joan Greenlees Abramson
Manufacturer: Elton-Wolf Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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Literary
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ASIN: 1586190342 |
Customer Reviews:
The Gift of the Rainbow Serpent.......2002-02-18
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the way Joan told the story of all the characters and the way she would develope her characters history and the way she moved from character to character. Hers was one of the rare books that I could follow with ease and not get confused, with needing to constantly turn back pages (especially since I don't have the time to read books straight through), to figure out "what was going on and with whom, was exactly how and when did they come in". So many books that have a lot of characters tend to get confusing with all the details that get a little lost when you have to put a book down. Other writers should take note. I also enjoyed her discriptions of the outback of Australia and the different types of Opal's. I felt like I was there! I would like to see a sequeal - just to know what happened to some of the lesser characters in the book. Joan made you really feel for each one of her characters. This book has a little bit of everything from a little romance, to some suppense and a mystery. I highly recommend it as a very enjoyable read!
Average customer rating:
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General Flying Serpent
Manufacturer: J-Mart Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: 4902431165 |
Average customer rating:
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Serpent Gift
Manufacturer: HODDER CHILDREN'S
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GT4DOO |
Book Description
In his classic study The Masks of God, Joseph Campbell conducted us on a fascinating global tour, showing how the seeds of myth grew in a similar fashion throughout the history of civilization. Before Campbell there was Sir James George Frazier who, in The Golden Bough--his pioneering study of magic, relgion, and folk custom--demonstrated how world mythologies exhibit "the effect of similar causes acting alike on the similar constitution of the human mind in different countries and under different skies." Now, in Beyond the Blue Horizon, eminent astronomer E.C. Krupp guides us expertly through a bewildering maze of cultures and civilizations--from the stone age to the present day--making clear that while the skies of these diverse peoples may vary, they speak nearly the same language. Beyond the Blue Horizon is a treasure trove of myths, legends, and stories in which people have, through the ages, attempted to understand the cosmos and its meaning for humankind. Collecting an astonishing amount of lore between the covers of a single book, Krupp explains why our ancestors were so intrigued by the heavens, and what their celestial stories meant. Readers will learn, for example, that many cultures saw a rabbit--rather than a man--in the moon, and that this moon-rabbit, as a symbol of sacrifice and rebirth, is a cousin of our own Easter Bunny; that to our ancestors, an eclipse challenged the stability and integrity of heaven and thus threatened order and life on earth; that the magical sleighride and chimney antics of Santa Claus echo the ancient journeys of shamans and witch doctors; that our "dog days" of July and August originated in Roman times with the summer appearance of Sirius, the Dog Star; and that the contemporary stories of UFOs reveal the mystery and meaning the sky still holds for us as we approach the twenty-first century. Of course, there is much, much more that will delight and intrigue; even readers familiar with world mythology will find plenty that is new and strange in Krupp's rich panorama. An epic, authoritative, and cross-cultural exploration with over 150 illustrations, Beyond the Blue Horizon tells how all civilizations searched the sky to understand to universe--and our own place in it.
Customer Reviews:
Extensive.......2002-07-07
Krupp has written a book that is comparable to Frazer's Golden Bough and Campbell's Hero With a Thousand Faces. He traces the evolution of sky myths from cultures around the globe. Krupp does an excellent job of capturing the meaning and beauty of these stories, and pieces them together in a well-crafted narrative.
Really Facinating Book..........2000-03-28
Beyond the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Planets, is a very interesting and amazing read-- it confronts many possibilities of the place outside our blue sky, and gives the reader something to think about for long after the last page is read. Not only is this book worth reading for the pure fun of it, but it teachs you things that may come in handy at dinner table conversation. Facinating is the word that comes to mind... the myths about the stars and planets can sometimes be good bedtime stories, and over all, this book keeps you wanting more.
Average customer rating:
- Well, I am a fan of Weiss & Hickmann so...
- Not as good as Weis and Hickman's previous novels
- Engrossing but ultimately unsatisfying
- A Dragon Story and Much More
- Great Addition
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The War of Souls Trilogy Gift Set: Dragons of a Fallen Sun, Dragons of a Lost Star, Dragons of a Vanished Moon (Dragonlance Series)
Margaret Weis , and
Tracy Hickman
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Hickman, Tracy | ( H ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Weis, Margaret | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Dragonlance Chronicles Trilogy Gift Set
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The Soulforge (Dragonlance: The Raistlin Chronicles, Book 1)
ASIN: 0786930020
Release Date: 2003-09-01 |
Book Description
This slip-covered gift set contains the three New York Times best-selling titles that make up the epic War of Souls trilogy: Dragons of a Fallen Sun, Dragons of a Lost Star, and Dragons of a Vanished Moon. Authored by Dragonlance saga co-creators Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman, these titles each hit multiple best-seller lists upon initial release.
Customer Reviews:
Well, I am a fan of Weiss & Hickmann so..........2007-07-08
Great books. I have to admit that vol. 2 was a bit slow and dull at first but vol. 1 and 3 and most of vol. 2 made up for this. Didn't much care for the lovestory between Silvanoshei and the dark knight Mina so all this about Silanosheis love that wasn't returned is a bit dull for me (yes yes, I am a guy). But all in all I would rate this as a 5 star product. Another great story from Weiss & Hickmann.
Not as good as Weis and Hickman's previous novels.......2007-06-05
First let me start off by saying that I did enjoy these books. But I enjoyed the previous books more. The Chronicles Trilogy was the first set in the Dragonlance world and I must say the best. It all sort of went downhill from there, albeit a long hill with a small angle but still downhill. I really thought that with The Second Generation and Dragons of Summer Flame that led up to The War of Souls Trilogy, that there would be a "rebirth" (if you will) of the Dragonlance Series. But sadly that wasn't to be. An IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: I have been led to believe that the writers, Weis and Hickman, actually have very little creative control over the Dragonlance Series. I believe that these books are meant to be companions to the world of D & D. I enjoy reading not throwing dice to see how much damage I do. As such, maybe they threw dice to see how the storyline would unfold. I don't know.
The Good:
The story is great. The action is great. Tas the loveable and unlikely hero is back. There is a lot of action and intrigue to keep you interested. The whole trilogy is one big twist after another.
The Bad:
I'm afraid there may be more bad than good...but only just. The number one problem, and it is SERIOUSLY BAD, is the typos. Did anyone actually proofread this book? I mean seriously it is bad. By the middle of Dragons of a Lost Star (second book in the trilogy), I was almost ready to call it quits just because it was so hard to make any sense of it. Misspelled words...bad punctuation...missing words...extra words. Just really, really, really bad. They need to fire whoever edited this book.
Now about the problems with the stories themselves. POTENTIAL SPOILER
My best advise to the readers about these books and this goes for pretty much ALL of the Dragonlance novels: Don't get attached to ANY character because they ALL die. The writers spend 3 books building a character and getting them developed then kill them. Why would you do that? Take a lesson from R.A. Salvatore or Terry Goodkind and keep your main characters ALIVE. It's what keeps readers coming back for more. If Salvatore had killed Drizzt after his first trilogy, Salvatore's career as a writer would have been a lot less eventful. Same goes for Goodkind's Richard in the Sword of Truth books.
Let's see who has died along the way to The War of Souls. Keep in mind these are MAJOR CHARACTERS!
Sturm Brightblade, Tanis Half-Elven, Caramon Majere, Raistin Majere, Tika Majere, Alhana Starbreeze, Crysania, Goldmoon, Laurana, Palin Majere, Riverwind, Steel Brightblade, Tanin Majere, Kitiara Uth Matar (who needed more development), Berem the Everman (death was justified), Flint Fireforge, Tas Burfoot (dead but brought back) and I'm sure there were others but I think you get the picture. And again these were major characters. Why even bother developing them if they are so expendable? Heck, I wouldn't even bother being creative with the names. Maybe I can write a Dragonlance novel. "Here is Sam. Sam is an elf. Sam has to overcome insurmountable odds to save the world. Sam overcame the insurmountable odds and saved the world. Now Sam is dead." There, I just wrote a whole Dragonlance novel in five sentences.
What was the point of "The Second Generation" and "Dragons of Summer Flame"? They introduce new characters and then killed them all. Stupid.
Summary of my review:
These books have a great story, great plot, and great characters who will all die. Or if that sentence had as many typos as these books...Thes books have great story great plot and grate charactrse woh will all dye.
Engrossing but ultimately unsatisfying.......2007-05-13
I have been a long-time fan of Weis and Hickman and their Dragonlance books. They have an uncanny ability to write engrossing stories full of conflict and angst and failure that somehow still come together at the end on a note of acceptance and hope. In general, the characters end the stories as better people than they started them as, and the price the characters pay is redeemed by what they gain by the end. I looked forward to this new series. The story is certainly engrossing -- I found it hard to put the books down, even during the darkest and bleakest points in the story. But unlike their earlier works, Weis and Hickman don't manage to wrap this one up well. Several story lines end abruptly, as if Weis and Hickman just ran out of steam on them and gave up. More important, almost none of the characters end the story having learned anything important. The sacrifices made by the characters remain unredeemed at the end. I was left disappointed and unsatisfied. Go ahead and read the story -- it is well written. Just be prepared to feel incomplete at the end.
A Dragon Story and Much More.......2007-05-08
What makes this series so fascinating are the set of characters, especially the kender, who adds just the right amount of comic relief, and the freshness that comes from a vivid imagination on the part of the authors. You won't feel like you've read anything like this before.
Great Addition.......2007-03-27
I've been working on the first book of the three and so far I'm enjoying it as much as all the other Dragonlance Novels I've read. If you love the Dragonlance novels, you won't be upset with this pick.
Average customer rating:
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Prince Star
Anne Dalton
Manufacturer: David & Charles
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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: 071822101X |
Average customer rating:
- Sun,Moon, Star, Incarnation
- Children's Story?
- The beauty of simplicity
- A giggle and a tear jerk.
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Sun Moon Star
Kurt Vonnegut
Manufacturer: Harper & Row
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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
Poetry | History & Criticism | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
20th Century | Poetry | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Vonnegut Jr., Kurt | ( V ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0060263199 |
Customer Reviews:
Sun,Moon, Star, Incarnation.......2004-11-24
I read this book to my own children when they were small. Sun, Moon, Star, is an experiment which worked magnificently. There are thousands of stories and storybooks about Jesus born in a manger, and all his loved ones and visitors: in this book, the reader sees the events of that morning of Glory through the eyes of an infant Savior, seeing the world He created through eyes He created. A miracle of a small Jewish King born to see the world through our eyes, and yet never compromising the Creation he came to redeem.
Vonnegut's book is beautiful and striking in its simplicity of deep rich images, and a simple story containing the grandest meaning of all. This is a classic Christmas story told so uniquely one will return to it in memory years later, for a theological lesson so important, a child alone can grasp it.
Elizabeth K. Best PhD
Children's Story?.......2000-06-07
A book about the world as the baby Jesus saw it after his birth . . . just shapes and colours. Seems to be a child's tale at first, but no child would probably get much out of it. Just a few words, and some pictures. I wasn't that impressed, but the story and method of presentaion may be charming enough for some readers. Not Vonnegut's best effort. Although, it is original! I've never seen an approach even remotely close to the one taken here.
The beauty of simplicity.......1997-07-28
A fabulously original take on the birth of Christ. The simple images serve to compliment Vonnegut's child-like prose perfectly. The depth of imagination it takes to write a compelling, joyful story about the first Christmas, through the eyes of the baby Jesus, is mind-boggling. Never has a Christmas story - or rarely a story of any kind - said so much with so little.
A giggle and a tear jerk........1997-07-08
It is quite an odd thing for a biting satirist like Vonnegut to write a children's story. Odder still is the way this one was written. First the artist provided the pictures, then Vonnegut wrote words to fit them. Telling in an unusually "cute" style the sights that met the eyes of Baby Jesus just after being born, the story is likely to make the reader feel young and innocent again
Product Description
An Illustrated Guide to the constellations, sun, moon, planets and other features of the heavens. Includes 150+ Color Illustrations
Book Description
The best-selling guides to your Sun, Moon and Rising Signs are fully updated and available for the first time in one volume. If you read your stars every day you will know your Sun sign and what it says about your basic personality. But your Rising Sign, and your Moon can reveal far more about the real you, and the three taken together will give you the most accurate self-portrait of all. With this easy-to-read guide you will discover the truth about your personality.
Customer Reviews:
A Must-Have!.......2000-06-21
The book "How to Read Your Star Signs : The Only One-Volume Guide to Your Sun, Moon and Rising Signs" is a great book! It is an easy-to-read informative book that can guide you to discover the truth about your personality. It is a great book and I suggest everyone interested in your star signs should get it!
Book Description
Day and Night, Vincent's the one. Galison's stylish silver portfolio holds 6 cards showing the strong son of southern France shining on the purple hills and olive groves in Olive Trees, 1889, from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. The mood changes for the 6 cards showing Van Gogh's beloved Starry Night, 1889, from the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Twelve envelopes, too.
12 4-3/8 x 5-3/4" cards, 12 envelopes
2 images
Average customer rating:
- Brust blends a modern story with a classic folktale
- This book is Wretched
- Literary Metafiction, Lite
- Powerful Story about Storytelling and the Power of Myth
- Great Work
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The Sun, the Moon, and the Stars
Steven Brust
Manufacturer: Orb Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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
Brust, Steven | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312860390 |
Book Description
Once upon a time there was a kingdom that lived in darkness, for the sun, the moon and the stars were hidden in a box, and that box was hidden in a sow's belly, and that sow was hidden in a troll's cave, and that cave was hidden at the end of the world.Once upon a time there was a studio of artists who feared they were doomed to obscurity, for though they worked and they worked, no one was interested in the paintings that stood in racks along their studio walls.The Sun, the Moon, amp; the Stars is a tale of two quests, of two young men who are reaching for the moon. And the sun. And the stars.
Customer Reviews:
Brust blends a modern story with a classic folktale.......2007-04-21
Steven Brust likes telling more than one story at a time, quite literally. In this novel from early in his career, Brust gets ambitious, telling the story of an artist struggling with his identity and talent and the hero of an old Hungarian folktale with, perhaps, too much confidence. It is easy for a reader to draw parallels between Brust's main character (in the modern section) and Brust himself, but that may be disingenuous. The artist in the story does not work and play well with others and only learns a little bit of empathy through some painful events. The interludes containing the folktale bring another layer of meaning to the main story and entertain fully.
This book is Wretched.......2006-11-15
Once upon a time there was a girl who read a book so bad that it gave her a headache, and now she is suffering from insomnia and has no recourse but to write a review on amazon explaining the horrors of the book.
Not only is the painter described in it an absolute moron with no mind for artistry or understanding of innovation, the author has a similar ham-fisted lack of eloquence and subtlety. His motifs are inserted with the grace of a brontosaurus using its tail to perform an eye exam. There are so many things wrong with this book that I kept checking the author's bio at the back, trying to see if maybe I had made a mistake and picked up one of those books by a 10-year-old amateur that some publishing companies put out for laughs.
Ok, I think I've made myself clear.
Bones?
Literary Metafiction, Lite.......2006-08-01
All books are unique, but this one is a little more unique than most. It's one of my favorites, but what it is -- and what it isn't -- takes a little explaining.
It's written by an author best known for his swashbuckling fantasy stories, but this book bears little resemblance to Brust's other fictions. There is a hint of Vlad's cockiness and introspection, a bit of the philosophical debate found in Freedom and Necessity. But it is not speculative fiction of any sort -- science fiction, high fantasy, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, etc. If that's what you're looking for, look elsewhere.
It was first published in a series of modern retellings of classic fairy tales, but the fairy tale element is minimal here, so again, if that's what you're looking for, you'll be disappointed.
On the surface this is a story about painters and the visual arts, young artists struggling to make a living post-college, but that, too, is deceptive. Some knowledge of and interest in painting will certainly add to your enjoyment of this book -- particularly some of the clever section headings, which are titles of well-known paintings. On the other hand, the book does not require such knowledge, which may make the very broad level of treatment given to art history and visual theory frustrating for people who come to the novel expecting these to be the focus.
What the book is, as the main character Greg says explicitly, is an attempt to understand something of the process of artistic creation. And while it's ostensibly about painting, the book is written by a writer, so it's no great leap to understand much of the content as about writing. It's a metafiction, a writing about writing. But because the story is about a somewhat similar artistic pursuit, painting, it's an easier to understand metafiction than, say, Borges or the like. When we see how Greg's painting develops -- from his moods, from past works and influences, from the story he tells, from his surroundings and situation -- it's easy to understand how these things may be true for any artistic pursuit.
Two more things need to be said. First, in addition to the above, the story itself is quite entertaining. There are a number of fully realized characters that have different, often conflicting, opinions, and the way the story plays out has a level of drama that is not at all in keeping with the dry and intellectual tone one might expect when words like "metafiction" are tossed around. Yes, some of the characters aren't perfect, but we're talking about artists here: people with both the arrogance to believe their work is good enough to be thrust on society, and yet the sensitivity to need support and acclaim for their work. They are not perfect, yet they are thoroughly real.
Second, this book can be quite inspirational. The central story revolves around Greg's attempt to paint on the biggest canvas he yet has attempted: to conquer what he thinks of as The Monster. While on a literal level this book is about painting and as mentioned can more properly be understood to be about writing, really as a reader it has applicability to any large creative project we may choose to undertake. It's a book that can be appreciated on many levels: intellectually for the metafiction, inter-relationships and references; as entertainment for the drama; and as inspiration for the inner artist in us all. For all these reasons it's among my most beloved and most often re-read books.
Powerful Story about Storytelling and the Power of Myth.......2006-05-27
Returning once again to Steven Brust, I am now choosing to review not one of his Vlad Toltos or Dragaera books going on to a much deeper book by this very creative writer. There are two editions of this book that I know of. The current Orb edition and a much older Ace edition.
Quoting from the back's of the books:
Once Upon A Time
there was a kingdom, that
lived in darkness, for the Sun, the
Moon, and the Stars were hidden in a box ...
which was hidden in a sow's belly ...
which was hidden I a troll's cave ...
which was surely hidden at the end of the world.
And ...
Once Upon A Time
there was a struggling young painter
who also lived in darkness, and - like
the hero of that Hungarian folktale - was
beginning his most perilous quest.
shooting for the Moon. And the Sun.
And the Stars ...
Once Upon A Time
there was a studio of artists who feared
they were doomed to obscurity, for though
they worked and they worked,
no one was interested in the paintings
that stood in racks along their studio walls.
The Sun, the Moon
& The Stars
is a tale of two quests, of two young men
who are reaching for the moon. And the sun.
And the stars.
This is a story that I read every few years. Each time I read it I get more from it. The story is of a artist telling his friends a fairy tale he was told in his youth. In telling them the story he is living a fairy tale in that he is attacking the biggest canvas he has ever painted. One he bought after selling a painting that has sat blank for a long time. Now before giving up on being artists living in community he tries to tackle that canvas.
As both a write and a painter this story draws me in. Each time I read it, I hope to become better at both my crafts. This story is a modern day fairy tale told with compassion, conviction and daring. It dares us to learn to dream again, to hope to wish, and maybe if we are lucky the magic of the story will rub off on us.
Great Work.......2005-10-29
Although it has been a year since I've read this book I felt I needed to add my review to dispell some of the negative remarks from some of the other reviewers. Those that did not rate this book highly must not have "got" the book at all. There were times when I first started reading this book that I thought "what in the world is he talking about" but as the book progressed it all made since and the folk-lore tied in nicely to the story of the artist.
Not an artist myself but a friend of several, I can clearly see what Brust is doing. It's a great story of a man and his struggle with life and his own art (artists are so tuff on themselves). And yes, the main character is very self centered (and a bit self rightous but aren't we all!). Despite that this is a great read, although I would suggest "To Reign in Hell" and "Freedom and Necessity" because I beleive they are better written books, I loved them both. "Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille" may not be better written but is a very humorous book if you would like a light read.
Everything considered, I would highly suggest this book. It is well worth the short amount of time it takes to read.
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The Song of Hiawatha
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Manufacturer: Adamant Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Mythology | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
19th Century | United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0543897206
Release Date: 2000-02-16 |
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