Timothy, or Notes of an Abject Reptile

Book Description

Few writers have attempted to explore the natural history of a particular animal by adopting the animal’s own sensibility. But Verlyn Klinkenborg has done just that in Timothy: an insightful and utterly engaging story of the world’s most famous tortoise, whose real life was observed by the eighteenth-century English curate and naturalist Gilbert White. For thirteen years, Timothy lived in White’s garden. Here Klinkenborg gives the tortoise an unforgettable voice and keen powers of observation on both human and natural affairs. Wry and wise, unexpectedly moving and enchanting at every–careful–turn, Timothy surprises and delights.

Customer Reviews:

From difficult start to fan.......2007-06-28

I have enjoyed other writings of Klinkenborg - appreciated their direct style with carefully chosen words and well-formed thoughts. As I began Timothy; or, Notes of an Abject Reptile a found the short and often fragmentary sentences slowed my reading. As I progressed I was further slowed by unfamiliar vocabulary - huckaback, shambles, scute, taw ... Then I discovered the glossary in the back which provides a definition when context is insufficient.

As I delved further into the book my complaints turned to admiration. Klingborg's fragmentary sentence structure fits perfectly into the very concrete thought patterns he attributes to Timothy the tortoise. While Timothy may be philosophical at times it is a philosophy of life firmly planted in the natural world not the abstract philosophy of humans. The vocabulary is necessary to embed the story in a particular place and time - a critical aspect of Timothy's world.

Wisely, Klinkenborg does not carry the conceit of narration by a tortoise to the extreme. Timothy reports and/or comments on more that she would have actually been in a position to observe - most notably the travels of her owner's nephew, Gilbert White's observations re: sex and instinct in the "natural kingdom" (which, naturally, excludes humanity). But in these observations, Timothy quietly exposes the foibles of man.

Combining these elements, Klinkenborg creates a story that not only holds your attention but also requires introspection of the reader - what is the reader's (and Timothy's) place in the world?

5 stars plus!.......2006-11-18

Timothy is a tortoise. She understands and speaks English---albeit in incomplete sentences. She knows some geography. She knows the thoughts, the worries and beliefs of the inhabitants of 18th century Selborne, England. She knows what goes on in their churches and their homes, even though she has presumably never entered any. She knows what takes place in winters, even though she has hibernated through every one.

Never mind!

Suspend your disbelief. Accept that Timothy is omniscient. Enjoy her descriptions and commentary. It reads like poetry, with lots of witty bits and little jabs at the absurdity of humans. It had me laughing out loud at times.

On Easter: " 'The lamb who was slain now liveth again,' he [Mr. Gilbert White] believes. And so he says aloud to his parishioners. Though on this earth, the lamb who is slain is supper."

This book is a rare treat, so read it slowly. There's a glossary in the back to help with the names of local areas, the obsolete and botanical terms.

BTW, The Natural History of Selborne by Gilbert White, which inspired this book, is available to download at Project Gutenberg [...]. A search for "tortoise" points to several letters that mention an unnamed, old Sussex tortoise.

At a Snail's Pace.......2006-07-29

I plodded at a tortoiselike pace through this tedious, monotonous work of fiction that sluggishly shares the assumed thoughts of a snobbish tortoise. Yes, yes. I get it. Klinkenborg deliberately paced his novel to evoke the slow-creeping crawl of Timothy, but, like this book, a dozing tortoise seldom holds my interest.

The Observer observed.......2006-04-25

In Timothy, Verlyn Klinkenborg gives voice to a tortoise. The real Timothy was a Mediterranean tortoise who found herself transported to England, where she was kept and observed by the late eighteenth-century curate and "pioneering naturalist," Gilbert White. But step by step and sentence by sentence, it is Timothy who explores the mind of her observer and assembles for us a portrait of Selborne village, Gilbert White, and her own views (or are they Klinkenborg's?) on life, adaptability, and nature. Timothy is a beautiful and deceptively nuanced book.

Unique and unforgettable!.......2006-04-14

I picked up this book because I'd read a review that compared it to GILEAD, one of my favorite novels of the past 10 years. While the stories are wildly different, the comparison is a good one. Both novels are meant to be read slowly, and will evoke deep emotions about life and humanity.

Timothy the tortoise is about as unlikely a narrator as there is. Snatched from his Mediterranean birthplace, he winds up in the garden of Rev. Gilbert White, whose meticulous diaries about his 18th century parish still exist today. Timothy's reflections on the humans around him and on the cycles of life in the village are informed by his slowness, of course, and by his extraordinary longevity (tortoises often live 80 years or more, significantly longer than the humans of White's day). The novel's appreciation of the intricacies of nature, the beauty of the seasons and the value of slowness are meant to be savored, and his reflections on humans and their follies come as sly and often moving little revelations scattered throughout the novel.

There's something to appreciate on every page of this short and lyrically written novel. I enjoyed it while sitting in my garden, like Timothy. It's one of the most memorable and unusual novels I've ever read. You won't be disappointed by taking a chance on this one.

Tales of the Plumed Serpent: Aztec, Inca and Mayan Myths

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Tales of the Plumed Serpent: Aztec, Inca and Mayan Myths
Diana Ferguson
Manufacturer: Collins & Brown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1855858231

Book Description

Three great civilizations--each with a culture as strong, colorful, and complex as those of the more familiar Greece and Rome. Through their enduring mythology, the Mayas of Yucatan, the Aztecs of Mexico, and the Incas of Peru have left us tantalizing images of their now-disappeared societies, once among the most advanced on earth. Illustrated with more than 100 photographs of important artifacts and archeological sites, this rich and fascinating collection reveals their visions of the creation of the world (and its destruction and recreation); the forces of nature; life, death and destiny; and animal spirits. 21 legends in all, each touched with magic and mystical power, include the Aztec tale "The Feathered Serpent"; the Mayan myth of "The Rain Goddess and the Egg Child"; the Incan story "How Manco-Capac Made the First People. Bonus: a list of Gods and Goddesses.

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cambridge School Shakespeare)

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Receiving, or rather, not Receiving A Midsummer Night's Dream
Excellent for lunatics,lovers and poets!
Delightfully entertaining and a magical humerous romance

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Cambridge School Shakespeare)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Book Notes | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Education | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0521618711

Book Description

A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of the ten most popular titles from the best-selling Cambridge School Shakespeare series now available in a new edition. The new edition includes new and revised activities throughout, new black and white photos from the widest selection of stage and film interpretations of the plays, and a larger glossary providing extra support with the language of Shakespeare. In addition, expanded sections on characters, language, and performance history offer the best support for the KS3 SATs and GCSE coursework. The new edition also includes exciting new features to bring the play to life such as a visually stunning eight-page section packed with full-colour production photographs and a striking new cover design. The new edition remains faithful to the Cambridge School Shakespeare active approach, which treats the play as theatre and the text as a script to be acted, explored and enjoyed.

Customer Reviews:

Receiving, or rather, not Receiving A Midsummer Night's Dream.......2005-09-09

ORDERED MORE THAN A MONTH AGO, I STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PRODUCT AND SCHOOL ALREADY STARTED!!!!

Excellent for lunatics,lovers and poets!.......1999-08-03

If you love this play and are thrillled by the stage history and staging minutiae, the this book will send you reeling! The historical reasearch is encyclopediac and captivating. Your rude sea will grow civil with its song.

Delightfully entertaining and a magical humerous romance.......1999-06-14

I thought that the book was fantastic and delight. I couldn't put it down. I loved every minute of the book.

Step Inside . . . Snow White: A Magic 3-Dimensional Fairy-Tale World (Step Inside)

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Step Inside . . . Snow White: A Magic 3-Dimensional Fairy-Tale World (Step Inside)
Inc. Sterling Publishing Co. , and Fernleigh Books
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 1402736568

Book Description

Once there was a lovely girl named Snow White…and she seems more alive than ever before inside these dimensional panoramas. The gorgeous palace, the cozy cottage where the Seven Dwarfs live, even the animals in the forest, have an unmatched depth that makes the story extra-pleasurable for children.

Average customer rating:

Beautiful!
Wonderful
Really Good

Classic Celtic Fairy Tales
John Matthews
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0713727837

Book Description

"...well-researched, rather scholarly book...fanciful illustrations, in both black-and-white and color..."--Publishers Weekly. "Matthews...offers a very attractively presented collection...wonderfully illustrated...Not since the offerings of Jeremiah Curtin, W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and others at the turn of the century has such a collection been assembled....most were culled from various books and obscure journals that have long been out of print....Each story is followed by a short yet informative note on the tale and its sources, and there is a good bibliography and index. This book would be attractive to younger readers as well as adults interested in Celtic traditions and is recommended for most public and academic libraries."--Library Journal. "...collection is varied and brilliant...beautiful illustrations are bold and colorful."--KLIATT.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful!.......2004-10-20

Despite some tense confusion, it was overall very well written. I simply LOVED the illustrations...ah, glowing illustrations!

Wonderful.......2003-11-20

This collection of "fairy tales" is unlike any of the softened stories Disney is so fond of, like "Sleeping Beauty" and "Beauty and the Beast." This is, of course, not to say that our popular fairy tales are not lots of fun, but within THIS collection, you will find not only love, magic, and heroic quests, but also the unexpected, the bizarre, the grotesque, and -- in truly Celtic fashion -- an undercurrent of sorrow in many tales. Collected from old journals and books of folklore for the most part long out of print, each story is told in "original" wording whenever that is possible, with only the most necessary revisions, and in this John Matthews has done an excellent job keeping the Celtic Otherworld authentic while making it accessible to a modern -- and largely urban -- consciousness.

This book is listed in the children's section (and indeed it would make good reading with your child), but I have read each tale many times by myself and love them all (though I love especially the one about the old eagle, and the one about the fisherman who hunts seals until the seals take him down to their watery home to show him the pain he has wrought, and then teach him how to fix it.) Many of the stories ramble -- in what, from this and other readings, I have come to think of as a peculiarly Celtic way -- and they deal with death and loss, marriage and family, strange vows and impossible quests in sometimes confusing and unexpected ways, but this is no barrier to enjoyment, and indeed provides plenty of food for thought when you put the book down. "Morals" are not so clear cut as in our popular tales, and sometimes they are deeply buried or completely foreign to us. In this, they serve to teach us much about Celtic cultures and consciousness -- a valuable lesson for those with Celtic ancestry, an interest in Celtic scholarship, or belief systems based upon an old Celtic model.

All of this alone would make a wonderful book, but there is even more. On top of the complex beauty of the tales, the book includes strange but lovely paintings by Ian Daniels (one or two to a story - the one on the cover is my favorite) that add to the mood as you read. Indeed, a cold night, a crackling fire, and an ancient tale from this book are all that is needed to conjure a shadow of the Otherworld right into your living room.

Really Good.......2000-04-21

This story of fairy tales from the celts is very good. It has wonderful illistrtions and owinspiring storys. Anyone who is interastined in fairy tales and the celts is going to love this story. Please read this you will love it!

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Classics Illustrated Notes)

Average customer rating:

A humorous page turner

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Classics Illustrated Notes)
William Shakespeare
Manufacturer: Acclaim Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

History | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Notes | Education | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1578400104

Customer Reviews:

A humorous page turner.......1997-03-05

"The Course of true love did never run smoothe." Shakespeare's tale of four Athenian lovers and a fairy named Puck is a very funny play. I loved this story, it is a good love comedy that I would recomend to anyone who is a Shakespeare fan or a loves a good book. I would have to say that this book is for teens all the way to adults. Some of the content may not be OK for children

Average customer rating:

Fun but convoluted.

Midnight Fairy Craft & Party Book
Tracy Marsh
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Crafts & Hobbies | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1402700792

Book Description

Sprinkle a little fairy dust in your world. “All the ingredients necessary to throw a magical party.”—Publishers Weekly. “No little girl could possibly resist the crafts, invitations, games and decorations in this charming book. It’s as much fun for the moms as for the kids.”—Quick & Easy Crafts.

Customer Reviews:

Fun but convoluted........2003-04-15

If you want a lot of fun ideas for a fairy party, this book is great. But be forewarned that they are not all straight-forward and easy. The sewing projects, in particular, call for hard to find fabrics are are explained to someone with a higher sewing level than mine. Not every detail is explained, and not all the techniques are easy if you are not a seasoned seamstress. We have been working hard on this for a few weeks for my daughter's party--and it will be a fabulous party, but it has been laborious! And not cheap. Many different kinds of craft items are called for (silicone glue--who has silicone glue?) and the cost can add up quickly. But, on a positive note, there are great ideas for projects, games, and party favors.

Agib and the honey cakes, (Walck fairy tales with historical notes)

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Agib and the honey cakes, (Walck fairy tales with historical notes)
Kathleen Lines
Manufacturer: H. Z. Walck
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Arthurian Literature and Christianity: Notes from the Twentieth Century (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities)

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Arthurian Literature and Christianity: Notes from the Twentieth Century (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities)
Peter Meister
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Medieval | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fairy Tales | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0815332629

Book Description

Intended as "the other bookend" to Jessie Weston's work some eighty years earlier, this essay collection provides a careful overview of recent scholarship on possible overlap between Arthurian literature and Christianity. From Ritual to romance and Notes, taken together, bracket contemporary inquiry into the relationship (if any) between Jesus and Arthur. T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land" is here regarded as one strand joining this matter to many a recent literary riddle (such as the meaning of the term "postmodernism"). Without reprinting work readily available elsewhere and no longer subject to revision through dialogue with fellow contributors, Notes attempts to do justice to all sides in twentieth century exploration of christianity's contribution to an art form which is also grounded in early European polytheism ("paganism").
G. Ronald Murphy, S.J., Kathryn M. Talarico, Deborah Rose-Lefmann and Anne Huntley-Speare contribute essays prepared especially for this book, which also includes revised reprints ofwork by Tom Artin and Henry Kratz. Selections from Jacques Ribard, I for William and Joachim Bumke are available here for the first time in English.
Jew, Christian and secularist will find their own world view respected throughout, though rarely rubberstamped. Similarly, "christianists" (those who, whatever their own religion, regard medieval Christianity as relevant or central to medieval Arthurian literature) agreed more readily than "nonchristianists" to contribute to the volume. By a process of self-selection, then, the nonchristianist position is somewhat underrepresented in Notes, perhaps because that stance was dominant throughout the decade in which this survey was assembled.

Briar Rose; the story of the sleeping beauty ([Walck fairy tales with historical notes])

Average customer rating:

brier-rose (sleeping beauty)

Briar Rose; the story of the sleeping beauty ([Walck fairy tales with historical notes])

Manufacturer: H. Z. Walck
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Customer Reviews:

brier-rose (sleeping beauty).......2004-04-27

Briar-Rose: "The story of the sleeping beauty"
This German version is similar to the Disney version. Is easy to read. But if I had to choose a "sleeping beauty" version I will definitely choose the Giambattista version because in this version we can find a very complicated story when the Princess is more than a object who falls asleep and wakes up, in this version she is more active and she has to overcome many difficulties to find the real happiness, we can also find marital fidelity that means that is ment more for adults than for children, It is also hard to read because the vocabulary. This is my point of view I understand that everybody has different taste, but is you like suspense or if you like complicated stories you will like this one.

Book Description

The best book on military training from platoon to division level that has been published in any army.--Army Magazine

Customer Reviews:

Overrated & Outdated.......2004-11-13

I am an Assistant Professor of Military Science at an ROTC university and I used this book for my class, based on the excellent reviews it has received. However, both my cadets and I found the reading to be dry & many of the issues brought up by the author may have been relevant during the Vietnam & post Vietnam area, but do not apply to the modern Army. The book might be better suited if one was strictly studying the Army during the Vietnam area, but I cannot otherwise recommend it.

If Resources Are Limited...........2001-05-17

Athletes are coached to "play within themselves" while striving to set new performance standards. In the business world (as Buckingham and Coffman explain in First, Break All the Rules), the most effective managers are those who focus almost entirely on their people's talents and get those talents in proper alignment with the tasks to be completed. The United States military services (especially the Marine Corps) take an entirely different approrach: Through what is indeed basic training, they require everyone involved to master essentially the same skills, within the same schedule, under the same conditions, etc. Only later are graduates of this rigorous process selected to receive more specialized training, usually according to their talents.

This book will be especially valuable to those organizations which have limited resources to invest in formal training. More than 90% of what is learned in any workplace is the result of on-the-job (i.e. informal) training. Collins and Bolger have obviously taken a close look at all manner of formal training programs, including those in the military srevices. They also fully understand the importance of informal training. If your organization has limited resources but a great need to increase the value of its human capital (i.e. increasing the quantity and -- especially -- the quality of what they understand and what they can do), what this book offers would be an excellent starting point. I'm not damning with faint praise. Eventually, if and when appropriate, I would then recommend Peter Senge's The Fifth Discipline and The Dance of Change.

All organizations, regardless of size or nature, must constantly focus on increasing the effectiveness of on-the-job training. There are always at least a few people in each corporate department or small-to-midsize company who are both knowledgable and passionate. "They really know their stuff." They love to explain what they do and how they do it. Others probably think of them as "born teachers." Put them to work as trainers and be sure to reward them generously for their services. Provide books such as Collins and Bolger's to assist their preparation. One effective strategy is to have them conduct what I call "brown bag seminars." Employers or supervisors provide the food and beverages, welcome the participants, wish them well, and then leave the room. Any organization's most valuable assets really do "walk out the door at the end of each day." It is also important to remember that those assets are located between two ears.

Easy to Understand Approach to Training -- Pratical.......1999-10-15

A very good read if you are looking to improve the quality of your training programs. Stresses the importance of continuity, breadth, and the leadership role. If you are tired of elaborate and expensive training programs which are difficult to develop and sustain (and therefore not that effective!), you might want to try this book out! I have never served in the military yet found it quite useful. Good civilian application if you understand the military.

Common Sense Training a Working Philosophy for Leaders

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Common Sense Training a Working Philosophy for Leaders
Lt. Gen. Arthur S. Collins
Manufacturer: Presido Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000R3CFXA

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